DGM

More Than This

Chapter 24

Awakening

Kanda stared at Kumari in the infirmary bed. It took awhile, but they were able to bring her back to the Order. He hadn't left her side since she passed out though. She wasn't unconscious just because of her injuries though. Her innocence took a lot of energy out of her. Maybe some life energy as well. Her words rung through his head. SHe was so determined. She hurt and upset. She didn't care if she became a fallen one or if she died as long as the innocence stayed protected. To not be destroyed. She said she must fight. She turned her father into an akuma. He wondered why he didn't panic so much though. He was. . . . . . . disturbed, but he also had a feeling that she would survive. That she would keep her innocence. Yet, he lost a part of himself for that one moment. When her innocence tried to kill her, but then it accepted her again. What had happened? "You should go get some sleep Kanda." Matron said.

Kanda looked from Kumari to Matron's stern and concerned face. He looked back at Kumari and closed his eyes. "I meant in your room." Matron said as she turned off the light.

"I'm not the one injured. That means you can't tell me what to do." Kanda said.

Matron sighed and walked out. Kanda opened his eyes and for some reason he reached his hand out and locked it with hers. He squeezed it and felt guilty for her condition. He wasn't trying hard enough to break that stupid barrier. He didn't get there fast enough. He shouldn't of left her side after her last mission. He should've said something to get her out of her anger. He knew he could do that, but in the end he would've wound up right here in the infirmary with her. In the end, Kumari was on the brink of death again. She would survive, but even still. . . . . . .

Kumari looked peaceful. She hadn't moved even once since she passed out. He wondered if she could still feel pain. Even in her sleep. Her breathing was normal and her chest would rise once in awhile. Then slowly fall back down. That was the only signal that was given that proved she was still alive. "Ku. . . . mari." Kanda whispered, caressing her cheek.

Kanda fell asleep and the moon shone brightly through the window. The captivating and entrancing moon glowed, lighting up the sky, and the light was enough so that you could see Kumari's face. Everything was quiet. Not dark, not eerie, tranquil, serene, and calm. Chester walked in and stared at Kumari then at Kanda. He jumped on the bed and laid down beside Kumari's feet. He stared at Kanda then closed his eyes. Kumari had been out for some time and he missed her. She would always smile and talk to him. She was pleasant and his master. She saved the pup's life. So he would do everything in his power to protect Kumari. It was his duty. He didn't understand that's how Kanda felt. He didn't understand that until he saw his face when she went out of control. That was the first time that happened. It was strange. She should've become a fallen one right off the back, but she didn't because god didn't see her fail appraisal. The innocence went berserk to protect her because her anger made her lose herself. How she got so mad over something simple that was spoken was strange. It had to be Wisely. He must've done something, but if she didn't go berserk she would've died. What made Chester hurt was that when the innocence started to reject her and almost klled her. She could've just stayed down and lived. She would've lived and her innocence would've been destroyed, but she somehow mustered enough strength to get back up on her feet. Her fear and her courage, her will, it was extraoridinary. He shouldn't of expected anything less of her, but no one expected that.

Soon Chester too fell asleep. And soon night vanished and the sun came out. Kanda and Chester had woken up and all the nurses and Matron had come back. Occassionally someone would come by to check on Kumari. The day had come and go and it was a week later before anyone knew it. Kanda had been forced to leave the hospital wing though. Chester was kicked out. Matron fixed Kumari's IV and stared at her. Kumari should've moved or showed some kind of signal of waking up soon, but didn't. Matron left the bedside and a nurse watched over Kumari. "Everyone is worried about you Miss. Janco. I hope you do wake up soon. Everyone wishes that. It's just like when Allen Walker found himsel fin here. Everyone truly cares about you exorcists." she said while putting a cold rag on her forehead. Kumari had a fever.

The nurse smiled warmly and checked Kumari's pulse. It was steady, but it was a little slow. She looked at Kumari's emtionless face. She wasn't sure what, but she caught something. What was it? It was just her imagination. Had to be. She put the water on a stool and went over to the window. She opened the curtains that had been closed a few hours ago and opened the window. She breathed in the ocean mist. She heard a small noise and turned her head around. She blinked as she walked over to Kumari. She slowly smiled as Kumari's eyes twitched. Her fingers slightly moved and her brows furrowed. The fingers stopped moving and her body shivered. The nurse turned around and hit the stool causing the bucket of water to fall, but she disregarded this. Matron came into view and she stopped right in front of her. "What's wrong Miy? (my)" Matron asked.

"Kumari she. . . . . . . moving. . . .she's. . . . she's. . . . . " Miy tried to find words, but Matron understood and went over to look at her. She smiled and started running down the halls causing a commotion. "Komui! Komui! Supervisor Komui! Komui!" Matron shouted down the halls.

Matron found herself slamming open the Komui's office doors. Komui had his head on the desk and was drooling, exhausted. Reever, Johnny, Tapp, Russel, and a few other scientists stared at her. The same for Wong and Bak who were in there and Rikei, Shifu, and Lou Fa who had been transported to headquarters for the time being. "Komui!" Matron shouted.

Komui raised his head and adjusted his glasses. His eyes drooped and he was ready to pass out, but he caught Matron's burst of joy and rubbed his eyes, wide awake. There were many people behind her, curious. "Yes, what is it?" Komui asked.

"Kumari. . . . . .she's. . . . . she's waking up right now!" Matron exclaimed.

Komui was stunned for a moment then hopped out of his chair and dashed down the hall with Matron. The scientists dropped their stacks of paper and looked at each other. "Did I hear her correctly?" Johnny asked.

"If you heard the same thing I did then yes." Reever said.

"Kumari is waking up!" Tapp cheered.

"Then what are we doing here?" Russel responded.

The scientists ran out and Bak looked at Wong. They soon followed them and then bumped into Krowley and Miranda. "Krowley, Miranda! We need you to go spread the news around." Reever said.

"What news Reever?" Krowley asked.

"Kumari is waking up." Reever said and ran down the hall again.

The two exorcists stared at each other and slowly smiled. They were about to head to the infirmary, but then dashed down the halls and shouted out the good news. People all over the Order started disappearing for some reason and everyone was wondering why. A finder ran into Lavi and Lenalee and apologized, but then stopped, confused. "Hey, what's going on? Is there something big happening? Did Komui create another Sir Komlin?" Lavi asked.

"You haven't heard?"

"No." Lenalee answered.

"Kumari is waking up." the finder said and ran away.

Lavi stared at Lenalee. Lenalee looked at Lavi. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Lavi said.

"Wait, we should go tell the others." Lenalee said.

"Oh, right." Lavi responded.

Lenalee and Lavi slammed opened the cafeteria doors and everyone looked at them. Kanda and Allen stopped fighting for a second too. All attention was on them. "You guys are never gonna believe this. Kumari is finally waking up!" Lavi declared and the two ran away.

Komui looked down at Kumari. Everyone tried to look over one another and were smiling and praying this was really happening. The exorcists squeezed through while Kanda just shoved people out of the way. Lucky Chester, he crawled around and stood on a chair with two paws on the bed. The people were talking, but the fuss soon stopped and silence was all there was. Kumari's arms trembled for a minute and a sot noise came from her mouth. Her eyes continued to twitch and hope was in the air. Kumari's eyes fluttered opened and her mouth was in a small O shape. She closed her eyes for a second and then opened them again after her eyes adjusted to the lights. When she could see normal again she stared at her friends' faces surrounding her bed. She was staring right at Komui though. He was smiling with his mouth open. "K. . . Komui?" Kumari murmured, but it was so quiet everyone heard.

Everyone beamed and cheered. Kumari didn't change her facial expression, but her mouth was still in that tiny O shape. Chester climbed on the bed and licked her face. She winced, but forced herself to sit up and look around. Chester wagged his tail, chased it, then barked, tongue out. Kumari looked down at him and the past events flashed before her eyes. "Chester. . . . . . . you saved my life." Kumari said softly.

"So did Lavi and Kanda." Chester barked.

Kumari was shocked for a moment when Chester spoke, but remember he did have innocence. She stared at Lavi who was smiling with his hand on Allen's head and leaning forward, laughing, grinning like a fool. Kanda had his arms folded arcoss his chest and stared at her like he didn't care, but his eyes told another story. Tiedoll cried tears of joy not too far off and that annoy Kanda though. Kumari closed her eyes then smiled, gazing at the two. "Thank. . . . . . you." Kumari said, voice soft and quiet.

"I know this is not the best time to ask since you just woke up, but can I see your hands? How do they feel?" Komui asked.

Kumari stared at the blanket and the memory of Tyki crushing it came to mind. It had hurt her so bad. Even though she still had her innocence it pained her. Her eyes became soft and her eyes were half closed. Tears welled up and then ran down her face. "It hurt. . . . . . so much." Kumari whispered.

"What? Kumari, what hurt?" Lenalee responded, her hands on Kumari's shoulders.

"Watching my innocence being destroyed. Feeling it being destroyed. It was like. . . . . . I lost everything I was. I felt so alone and so dead, but then I heard someone." Kumari mumbled.

"No one said anything unless it was us shouting your name and telling you to stop." Lavi said.

"Actually, I heard a faint noise. I couldn't understand it, but I definiately heard something." Marie said.

"It was my innocence at first, but then someone else spoke and stopped me from putting the sai through my head. . . . . . . . . . It was my father." Kumari said and something sparked in her eyes.

"That's impossible. Your father is dead." Bookman said.

"But he was there." Kumari murmured.

"Not that I don't doubt you, but you culd've been hallucinating." Lavi said.

"Maybe." Kumari whispered.

"Kumari, can I see your hands?" Komui repeated.

Kumari took her hands out from under the blanket, but cringed. Her muscles ached, but her hands. . . . . hurt. The blood bracelets were still on and a small red cross was engraved on the back of both hands. It flashed then slowly disappeared. Komui examined her hands, but the pain got worse and she shut her eyes and hissed. "They burn." Kumari said with a pained face.

Komui stared at her while he poked around on both of them. "Really? How interesting."

"How do you find my pain interesting?" Kumari responded, irritated.

"Because Lenalee's ankles didn't hurt when she became a crystal type. Which is a parasite type that came from her blood. That's why you have these bracelets apprently. They hold your innocence in them. Also, you can only become a crstal type if you were an equip type before. That's the theory and so far, it's true. But what I don't get is that your innocence became a regular parasite at first then became a crstal type. Then your innocence had also been crushed, losing it's form and did the same thing as Allen's, but you somehow managed to get it in the same hour unlike Allen who took days." Komui said, continuing to mess with her hands.

Kumari flinched and then gave a small cry, pulling her hands away. Komui blinked then readjusted his glasses again. A glint came off of them and Kumari got panicky from his stare. "Shall we fix your innocence? It seems your hands are still injured." Komui said, putting on a helmet and pulling out a drill.

Everyone held back the crazed Komui as Kumari freaked out, ready to hyperventalate. "She just woke up chief! Give her a few days. They might heal." Reever said.

Komui continued to try to get near her, but Kanda took mugen out and put it to Komui's throat. Kumari stared at Kanda's dark, cold, bitter face towards Komui and smiled. She had hurt him when he tried to help her. She had an idea to make up for that, but she hoped it didn't cause too much pain and that it didn't hurt that long. "Is it true?" Kumari asked.

Kanda stared at her, emotionless. Clearly he was confused, but he wasn't going to show it. "Did you help Yuu?" Kumari said.

"He practically jumped me to get you away from me and take you to the hospital, saved your life during an akuma attack while we were transporting you, and he stayed by your side the whole time you were out until Matron kicked him out." Lavi said.

Kumari smiled kindly. "Come here."

Kanda gave a weird look, but sheathed mugen and went over to her bedside. Chester laid on Kumari's feet and stared at her. Kumari used her finger to signal him to come closer and closer. "Closer." Kumari said.

Kanda was finally face to face with her and he frowned as always. Tiedoll stopped his tears of joy and stared at the two, smiling. Kumari brushed his hair and he was a little irritated. Kumari just laughed at him. His face w as priceless. She grabbed his coat and pulled him even closer then kissed his cheek. He blinked then gazed at Kumari, face red. Lavi saw Kanda quickly turn his head in another direction and he got closer then he grinned. "My god! Yuu is blushing!" Lavi exclaimed.

"What? No way. Really?" Lenalee responded and surely enough, he was.

"What happened to embarassment being a signal of weakness Yuu?" Kumari said, hand in front of mouth and she giggled.

Kanda glared at her, but the blush was still on his face and everyone was laughing. "Awwwww. Yuu need a hug?" Kumari asked, arms wide open.

Kanda had a growl traveling up his throat, but he wouldn't growl at Kumari. He looked at her face, but then his eyes traveled down to her wounds. They were healing slowly because of it coming from the Noahs, but also because she had been out for some time. Kumari noticed this and frowned. She put her arms down and she gripped her blanket. "I'll be fine. My wounds came from my own stupidity. I shouldn't of let that damn Noah get to me, but. . . . . . . . he was messing with my head somehow." Kumari said.

"Do you mean Wisely?" Allen asked, remembering what he did to him and Kanda.

"Yes. I'm not sure what he did, but he was toying with me, but didn't say anything and he didn't make me relive my past, but. . . . . . . . . . " Kumari trailed off.

"Then it's not your fault you got angry." Johny told her.

"I suppose not, but I should've known better. It was because I let my anger get to me that my innocence started rejecting me and almost killed me." Kumari responded.

Everyone flinched at the cold tone in her voice. "Honestly, I've never felt pain worse than what came from my innocence."

"At least you didn't become a fallen one. That's all that matters." Reever said.

"That power wasn't mine though. I don't know why, but everything that happened, those technics, all of that, it wasn't me and it bothers me. I'm grateful I'm alive, but the innocence took control and because it did I went berserk, but then it tried to kill me for what it did. It doesn't make any sense." Kumari said.

"I thought your anger made you do all that?" Lavi responded.

"No. I got so angry. All I really remember is bits and pieces, but that power, it was dark. It wasn't me." Kumari said.

"It was scary." Allen said gently.

"You need to lay down." Matron said.

"I feel fine. Perfect even." Kumari told her.

"Lay down." Matron repeated.

"Can't I go to my room then?" Kumari asked.

"No. You are still healing and need to be looked after. Lay down." Matron said.

"But I-"

"No buts. Lay down." Matron ordered.

"Fine." Kumari caved, pouting, and laying down.

Everyone started to leave after so much time passed, but Kanda was actually the first to leave and Kumari didn't mind the fact that he left. She was actually glad because she wanted to talk to someone else in particular. Lavi was about to leave when she grabbed his wrist despite her burning hands. Bookman, who was in the corner, raised his head, curious, but neither one knew he was still there. Lavi was like her brother. Bookman was like her grandfather. She knew what their duties were and this disturbed her. She feared the day they would leave. Lavi and Bookman were the only left in the room with her though and she was happy about that. "Wait Lavi, I need to speak with you." Kumari said, sitting up.

Lavi grinned and sat down in the chair beside her bed. Kumari stared at him. He was so happy and joyful, but was this all a disguise. Was this really Lavi? Was Lavi even his name? Did he even think of her as a friend, a sister? Was he real or just another bookman. "What'cha need to talk about?" Lavi asked.

"I know I shouldn't be asking this of you, but can you help me with something?" Kumari asked.

"With what?" Lavi asked.

"I need to train." Kumari said.

"Why?" Lavi asked.

"My hands burn and I know already that I won't be able to activate it right away. I need to see if I'm as strong as you guys. The only reason why I could easily fight everyone is because I create fire made of innocence which burns the Noahs and can kill them, but that won't work on all of them and I know that I'm not that strong. I just went up a level and I need practice. I need to be prepared. I need your help. Whether anyone else believes it or not I'm one of the weakest exorcists here. Despite my high synchro rate." Kumari told him.

"Why me?" Lavi responded.

"You work with elements like me and I thought you would understand better than anyone else. I don't want anyone to know about this so I want to do this at night or while we're on missions, but I don't see me being sent anywhere anytime soon. You of all exorcists can help me more than the others seeing how we both use fire. I need to work with the water too and that would be good to counteract the fire. Also, you two are very intelligent so I'll need some guidence. I know this is a lot to ask, but I need your help." Kumari pleaded.

"Kumari, you aren't weak. You are one of the strongest exorcists here." Lavi responded.

"No I'm not. Maybe physically and in hand to hand combat, but with my innocence and mentally no. I have to work on the mentally myself, but I want your help because you are comparable to my innocence and you know more about innocence than I do." Kumari said.

"I see your point, but I can't help you. Why not ask Len-"

"No. Just go." Kumari responded, turning away from him.

"Hey, that's not fair. Don't give me the cold shoulder. Kumari!" Lavi whined.

Kumari stared at the wall. ONly Lavi could help her. Kumari knew that and so did Lavi, but he wouldn't do it. Lavi sighed and stood up. Kumari didn't even glance at him as he left. She wasn't angry, but she was disappointed. If Lavi said no then she couldn't change his mind. She was too tired to try anyways. She'll just have to do things on her own. "Like always." Kumari whispered.

Hevlaska stared at Kumari and lifted her up. Kumari felt strange as she checked her synchro rate. Hevlaska put her head against hers and Kumari felt relaxed suddenly. "8% . . . . . .23%. . . . . . 34% . . . . . . 44%. . . . . . 54%. . . . . 62%. . . . . . . . 62% is her limit." Hevlaska told Komui.

"It depleated by much." Komui achknowledged.

"Indeed." Bak agreed.

Kumari wobbled as she walked over to Reever and held onto him for balance. Reever smiled, but Kumari wasn't paying attention. "She still has healing to do and she can't train. She also can't be sent on any missions for awhile." Komui said.

"I agree. She mustn't strain herself and get use to her new innocence." Bak said.

Kumari ignored Komui and Bak and headed to her room. She laid down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. How could she help Sunshine or Ori if she wasn't capable to of taking care of herself? How could she be considered a good exorcist after what had happened? Why was everyone so worried? So many questions. So little answers. As always. Night was appraoching and she would go train soon. "But I'm so tired now. I need to learn how to exceed my limits though." Kumari mumbled.

She turned over on her side and stared out the window. "I will not let it happen again. I will not fail my title as an exorcist or let you down father."