DGM

More Than This

Chapter 25

Rare Kindness

Lavi watched as Kumari tried to activate her innocence in the middle of an empty room in the building. He frowned and looked saddened. She had been trying for so long. Not just hours. Days. He should say nights. Her innocence wouldn't activate though. He didn't like saying this, but she looked pitiful. He didn't like to think it and he wouldn't say it aloud, but it was true. She reeked of desperation to activate it, but it wouldn't. He was just an observer in history. He couldn't help her no matter how much he wanted to. Bookman would kill him. Kumari was killing herself though. She was not only forcing herself to stay awake during the night and going past her limits at nights, she was practicing as well. SHe tried and tried, but fell right back down. She kept blowing herself into the wall. Her hands kept glowing and hurting her. She was too desperate, but she was more determined than ever before. She kept getting back on her feet and kept trying. "Why are you observing her as well?" Lavi asked quietly.

"You know exactly why LAvi. After what recently happened I have to keep a close eye on her. Nothing has happened with Lenalee or Allen to make anyone believe they have the heart anymore, but they don't doubt it either. We can't let this bypass us though. The importance in this situation is extreme. If she is the heart and we miss this it'll be a grave mistake." Bookman said.

Lavi hated it when he went bookman on him. He nodded in understandment though. Kumari stood up from another self- attack Lavi called it. She looked beat and her clothes were shreaded. No one suspected anything and they should have. If they did they paid no heed to it. Kumari flew into the wall and stayed there for a minute. She slid down to the floor and blood drizzled down her mouth and she felt it come up her throat and in her mouth. SHe gave a small, weak, pathetic cough and wiped her mouth. A rock fell from the wall and hit her head. It went to her foot and she stared at it. She stood up and crushed it with her foot. "Again." Kumari told herself. "And again. Until you get it right."

"Do you think she is the heart?" Lavi queried.

"It wouldn't be that easy to discover the heart. There's going to be several assumptions before we actually find out which piece is it, but then again, we may never know." Bookman said.

Bookman could at least answer a question like a normal person and not like a robot. Kumari closed her eyes and focused on her hands. The crosses appeared and glowed red then green. The bracelets shook and the air picked up around her, waving her hair around. Her sais clinged to her and jingled when they hit her belt or button. Kumari almost had it then there were a few sparks. Lavi didn't know if that was good or bad. He soon found out. SHe forced her innocence to activate and she paid dearly. It looked like her hands deformed for a minute and she was electrocuted throughout her body then collapsed to the floor on her knees, crying in pain. She deactivated her innocence then put her hands on the floors, shutting her eyes and her arms trembled. SHe barely opened her eyes, face scrunched up in pain and she bit her bottom lip and you could see her doing so. "So close." Kumari muttered.

"Why doesn't she give up?" Bookman mumbled.

Kumari started crying and the tears rand down her face then fell off onto the ground. She hit the floor despite her hurting hand. "All I want is to protect everyone. I want to fight. I promised to father. I prommised to my friends. I promised to myself. I vowed I would. So why won't you activate? You fight for me. You reject me. You almost kill me and then you fight beside me again. You come back and now you won't activate. Why?. . . . . . Why?. . . . . . .Why? Why? Why!" Kumari said, crying more tears.

Lavi watched in vain as Kumari beat herself up. She blamed herself like always. "Everyone thinks I'm so strong, but I'm weak. So, so weak. It's only because of the stupid elements. They don't even understand how much energy it takes or how painful it is to not let the flames burn everything around me. It's so dark and deadly. I still wish to protect. . . . . protect them. My friends. Life. Everything. So why can't I? When I finally accept it, accept the duty heart and soul, mind and body, you refuse to work. Why?" Kumari cried in despair.

That's how Lenalee thought all the time too. She still does every once in awhile, but now she knows she's one of the strongest, but Kumari. . . . this wasn't logical. No one understood and probably never would. She just made it so complicated. "Acting like that won't help at all idiot." Kanda said as he stepped in front of her.

Kumari lifted her head and stared up at Kanda. Her eyes were now pink and puffy. She still cried. "I feel so useless. SO worthless Yuu. It kills me." Kumari whispered.

"You need rest. You haven't slept in days and you're exhausting yourself. You've strained yourself." Kanda said.

"What? How did you. . . . know?" Kumari asked.

"I know just about everything that runs through that head of yours." Kanda said.

"Then you understand I can't sleep just yet." Kumari told him.

"You can't deprive yourself of sleep. It's bad for your health. You do that too much and it's gonna kill you one day." Kanda said.

Kumari stood up and grimced. She held her arm and stared at the floor. She about to try and activate her innocence again, but Kanda held her hand in front of their faces. Kumari stared at it and noticed it looked in terrible condition. Maybe he minute of deformity did something to it. "Stop that. You're hurting me Yuu." Kumari said.

"I'm barely gripping it." Kanda stated bluntly.

Kumari looked at his fingers and realized how loose his hold was. She pulled her hand away and looked away ahamed. "I feel so lost and alone without it. I need it to work. I can't stop until it does. Please Yuu, I need your understandment and you can't stop me." Kumari said.

"You're not alone. You may be lost, but you're never alone." Kanda said, voice sounding off, but soft for once.

"It always feels that way." Kumari said.

"I understand, but you need to rest. Take your time. You're safe. Everyone is safe. Doing this right now after you just woke up is just damaging you. Go back to your room." Kanda said.

"Yuu, I can't." Kumari said.

Kanda scowled and picked her up over his shoulder. She blinked and pounded on his back and kicked him like a child, but she stopped after a bit. She was so exhausted and knowing Kanda, it would be totally useless. SHe let her arms and legs hang. She stared at the floor and he carried her out of the room and down the hall. "I don't want to go to my room." Kumari whispered.

"You're going to bed." Kanda stated.

"I don't want to go to my room. I don't want to be alone again." Kumari said.

Kanda sighed and stopped walking. He put her on her feet and stared at her. She looked up at him and she frowned, staring at their feet sadly, lost, feeling dead and alone. Kanda put his hands on her arms and she lifted her eyes, but her head was still downwards. Her eyes were half lidded and she was still crying. Shockingly though, Kanda pulled her in and hugged her. He really was spending too much time around Allen and Lavi. She raised her hands and put them in his jacket, locking them around his torso, crying in his chest. Allen and Lenalee came by with a few others and they stopped, hiding behind pillars and watched. "I don't want to be alone again. Not again. When I'm in my room I feel so horrible. SO alone. I hate it. I need my inncoence. I can't rest there because without my innocence I feel even more insecure. I feel so dead." Kumari told him.

Kumari felt Kanda's lock tighten and he gritted his teeth. He hated it when Kumari acted like this. "You are never alone. I told you that. You aren't dead either. You feel tired and exhausted. You were hurting when your innocence disobeyed your wishes. You are alive. You are not dead. Now stop acting like you are!" Kanda responded.

"You don't understand." Kumari murmured.

"You need to sleep." Kanda said.

"You keep saying that, but I can't sleep until I'm whole again." Kumari said, hiding her face in his shirt.

"Now you sound just like the beansprout." Kanda muttered.

"I don't want to go to my room." Kumari said.

"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep then." Kanda said reluctantly.

"No. I don't want to go in there. I don't know why, but I don't." Kumari said.

"My room?" Kanda asked.

"I don't want to sleep." Kumaro told him.

Kanda stared at her. She looked really tired now that she didn't have her adrenaline going. He was getting really tired of her saying that. "For the last damn time you need to sleep. If you don't go I will make you move." Kanda said.

Kumari pushed him away and her tears fell off her face. She stared at him like he was some kind of vile creature. He kinda was. SHe turned around and started running away, but Kanda stood there. He sighed and walked after her then she fell face first onto the ground. SHe lifted her head and Kanda held his hand out. Why was he being so kind tongiht? "Go away." Kumari said.

"Take my hand." Kanda said.

Kumari stared at it and slowly reached out her hand and he gently pulled her up to her feet. She stared at the black and white tiled floor and Kanda stared at her with his casual frown. "You'll get it back, but by doing this you're hurting yourself. You need to gather energy to actually work with it. Now let's go." Kanda said.

She looked up at him and yawned. She was tired. "I don't really have a choice." Kumari said, yawning again.

Kumari crawled into Kanda's bed and put her head on his pillow. He put mugen against the wall and Kumari stared at him. He was about to lay on the floor, but she grabbed his wrist, ignoring the pain. "Thank you, but I can't deprive you of your bed." Kumari said softly.

Kanda got in bed and faced her. She got closer to the wall and put a hand on his chest. She nuzzled him and put her head in the crook of his neck. SHe closed her eyes, opened them, closed them, opened them, and repeated it a few more times. She wanted to stare at Kanda a little longer before she fell asleep. She closed her eyes, but she didn't open them again for the rest of the night. Kanda was relieved that she finally went to bed and closed his eyes. He breathed out of his mouth and felt Kumari breathe on his neck. He opened his eyes and stared at her. He had been too kind, but he knew of he said one wrong thing she would go off the handle. That's just how she was and will forever be.

Kumari pulled him closer and place her head on his chest. Kanda stared at her head and he picked his hand up to touch her face, but he stopped. "Yuu. . . . . . . . . don't leave. . . . . . . . . . . me again." Kumari uttered and his eyes widened. He now understood what she meant earlier. WHat she had been saying all along. Ever since that day she was suppose to of died she had been alone. Kanda had left her there, but by mistake. They thought she was dead. So she had been alone. "Yuu. . . . . . . . " Kumari whispered.

Kanda closed his eyes and slowly wrapped his arms around her frail and fragile body. She was shivering and cold. Ever since she had woken up she seemed broken, but faked a smile and continued to be herself, but didn't watch her words. Chester could tell something was up as well, but he didn't do anything. Kanda took the blanket and placed it around her body because she needed it more than he did. He stared at the bracelet he had on his wrist. That he had always had on his wrist. Kumari gave it to him and he never took it off. He didn't know why either. Once again, he pulled her close, wrapping both arms around her body, hugging her, frowned, and closed his eyes. Every battle she fought, every time she came close to death, every time she had been severely hurt, and every time she was suppose to die, but didn't replayed and replayed in his head. SHe was right. She did seem strong, but she had been the weakest exorcist here because she can't do hand to hand combat with the enemies and that's what she's best at. That's why she tried to munipulate the innocence into her sais, but it was hard for her and took a lot of energy.

All the exorcists had their reasons for fighting and he lost his a long time ago and didn't even remember what it was. Now, he has found his reason. Now that he recalls all the fights, he watched helplessly as Kumari died more and more each time. He didn't show it, but only because he couldn't. He was too stunned. It was partly his fault she had gotten so hurt. "I will protect you. I will not. . . let you fall again." Kanda muttered.

Kumari seemed to of heard him because she smiled. Kanda scoffed. He sounded like Allen now, but Kumari always did like it when Kanda leet his soft side out. SHe would tell everyone he was just a big softie, but never showe dit because he was shy. He never believed that and thought it was absolutely ridiculous, but maybe she was right. "Yuu. . . . . . thanks." Kumari mumbled in her sleep.

Kanda placed a hand on her head and brushed her hair. Her words made him feel all warm and nice, blissful, inside. He could never figure out why and he thought about it long and hard realizing the truth. She knew him inside out. That was basically it. Kumari knew him, understood him and his ways, accepted them like he had accepted her, and she loved him. He slightly opened his eyes to gaze at her. He hoped the war would come to an end soon. Once it did Kumari's suffering would end. So would his. So would their friends. Lavi and Bookman could travel the world and record smaller wars and life. Will would return to his family. Allen and Lenalee would probably travel the world for a bit then come back to the Order since they had nowhere else to return to. But what would he and Kumari do? That question still remains unanswered.

Kumari opened her eyes and found herself staring at Kanda's face. Oddly, she blushed from the closeness and put her hands on his chest. She could feel his arms around her stomach and she tried to get free, but she couldn't. SHe was still too weak for anything anymore. Kanda held her tighter and she blinked. Why would he still be sleeping? Maybe she didn't get that much sleep? 'Should I wake him?' Kumari thought. She noticed that the blanket was only on her and was actually wrapped around her. So she could squirm all she wanted to, but in this position she was getting no where. She placed her head against hischest and a little bit of his neck. Even without the blanket throughouot the night he was so warm while her skin was ice cold. She recalled last night's events and sighed. His rare kindness shone through last night. She needed it though.

'I cause him so much trouble like always. I see myself as a burden, but does anyone else think that? Everyone of us exorcists see ourselves as a burden to our friends, but never really are. Only because their friends refuse to think that, but are we really? No one is perfect, but still I feel so useless and worthless. Again. Coming back to the Order gave me spirit and more confidence. Though I miss my free will travels and the friends I have gained, I wouldn't leave the Order. Now my heart is set on fighting until the very end. Still I wonder what will happen after the war? What comrade or comrades will we lose? What will happen to us? What will happen to the innocence, the akuma? Where will I go? Will Yuu come? WIll he stay? If I leave will I see my friends again? What will I do? Will we win the war first of all? I just need my innocence. Then maybe I won't feel like a burden. Maybe I won't be a burden.' Kumari mused.

Kumari hadn't noticed that she had a tight hold on Kanda's shirt and her nails would soon dig into the threads and his skin. SHe looked at Kanda then at his shirt. Slowly, carefully, and with ease she unbuttoned it and pushed it away so she could stare at the tattoo on his left shoulder. It had the number three on it, but she didn't understand that. He was a second exorcist. So did it stand for the stage of the curse? Gently, her fingers tickled over it and she knew her lips trembled as she forced herself not to cry. SHe laid her hand flat against the mark and wished she could erase it. The lotus on the stand on the other side of the room marked his life span. Quite a few petals had fallen already and even though this lotus was such a dark thing for him, he loved lotus flowers. They were beautiful and it's an amazing process they have. Kumari was so deep in thought that she didn't realize that Kanda was awake the whole time and now his eyes were open, staring at her. "Is something wrong?" Kanda asked.

"Y. .Yuu? Y- You're awake. I. . . . I'm sorry I just couldn't help myself." Kumari said sheepishly.

Kanda sat up and Kumari ended up sitting on his lap. Sorta. She was sitting on his leg and holding onto him, but her feet were still in the blanket and on the bed starting to fall off the bed. Her back was only a few inches away from the wall and Kanda was scowling. He never did like her staring at his curse. SHe knew everything and he knew what ran through her head. Kumari could never help herself. She always found herself staring sadly. SHe didn't pity him, but she didn't like the fact that he was cursed because of the Order. Kanda looked down and finished unbuttoning the shirt then took it off. "Y- Yuu, wha- what are you doing?" Kumari asked.

"If it'll satisfy you then stare at it, but it's not going to leave. It's going to stay until the day I die and my body decays." Kanda told her.

Kumari looked at the mark then at Kanda. She leaned on him with her eyes half lidded. "I know." Kumari said sadly.

"Everything is going to be fine." Kanda mutttered.

"What do you mean?" Kumari asked.

"Your innocence. It's still there. It's not going to leave. You just can't activate it yet. You need to regain your strength. Rest yourself. It's going to take time and if you heard about the beansprout's situation, the innocence possibly seeks something as do you, but it's what you both seek that you must find out. You can't beat yourself up because this isn't your fault." Kanda explained.

"Seeks something?" Kumari murmured.

What was it she did seek? Protection of her friends? Of Kanda? To defeat the Noahs? To save the world? SHe didn't know. That's probably the reason why she wasn't at her fullest for all these years. "Thanks Yuu. I'm just a bothersome person and yet you continue to appease me, to keep me safe, happy, healthy." Kumari said.

"All that's childish." Kanda muttered.

"Yes, but you trust and tend to do such childish things once you find someone to understand you. To love you. You can allow yourself to do such things because they will love you until the very end, yes?" Kumari responded.

"When did you become so wise?" Kanda mumbled.

"When did you become so kind?" Kumari retorted.

"When I told you I loved you." Kanda said.

"Twice you've said the word." Kumari mumbled.

"You need more sleep." Kanda said.

"Not tired." Kumari told him.

"You're not going to train. I saw what happened. It shocked you again. In this condition you're only going to kill yourself." Kanda said.

"Who said I was going back to training just yet?" Kumari responded.

"You do and I'll kill you." Kanda warned.

"You couldn't hurt me intentionally." Kumari said.

"If it's to keep you alive I will." Kanda said.

"I'm sorry to burden you like this." Kumari replied.

Kanda didn't respond. It got silent. It wasn't bad. It was nice. Calm. Serene. They carried on a silent, unspoken conversation. Kumari shut her eyes and wished she couold get closer to Kanda, but she was already touching him and he seemed so far away. She hugged him and pulled her knees close to her stomach. Kanda stared at her. SHe was vulnerable. So vulnerable. So saddened and scared. Her body twitched and when she opened her eyes a few tears ran down her face all on their own. She shook her head and they ran down her face then fell onto the sheets or Kanda's skin. He put a hand on her head causing her to be startled. She looked up at him and smiled. She shouldn't be acting like this, but she can't stop herself from it. She cuddled with him and held him close and held him tight. SHe didn't know what to say. She wanted to speak, but no words were spoken. "Can I. . . . stay here for awhile?" Kumari asked softly.

Kanda nodded and they sat there for moments to pass. Time seemed to have frozen on their part, but they knew that wasn't true. The noise coming from the science department was proof enough. They always made such a racket. Kumari didn't make a single movement nor did Kanda. Nor did they utter a word. Kumari stared at Kanda's cold face, but hsi eyes were mixed with emotions. Kumari's eyes started to fall and she soon passed out, leaning on Kanda. Kanda stared at her for a few minutes then got up. He put his shirt back on, but didn't bother to put his uniform on. He walked over to the window and stared out at the ocean. He turned his head around and stared at the lotus in the hour glass as another petal fell. That makes three more since the year started. He walked out of the room, but for the first time in a long time, forgot mugen in the room.

When Kanda sat down to eat his friends stared at him. Something was off. He wasn't wearing his uniform. Just pants and a whirt buttoned up shirt that was a little baggy. Just a tiny bit and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Besides the undecency something else was off. Tiedoll adjusted his glasses and chuckled. No mugen. Lavi obviously noticed that too because he smiled and a devious glint appeared in his eye, but when he went over to Kanda he looked. . . . . . . weird. The coldness in his face was gone and he was deep in thought that he didn't even notice Lavi was a few feet away. He was eating slowly and looked at the table. Kanda then bit his lip. 'I'm sorry to burden you like this. I'm just a bothersome person. I just don't want to be alone. I want to be whole again. I'm sorry. Yuu, don't leave me again. I don't want to be alone again. Not again. When I'm in my room a feel so horrible. I can't sleep until I'm whole again..' Kumari's words echoed in his head. "Kanda?" Lavi asked.

Kanda didn't respond. Lavi waved a hand in front of his face, but he didn't say anything. In fact, he was in a total daze he didn't even notice it. "Yuu?" Lavi asked.

Nothing. Lavi scratched his head and tipped his head to the side. Tiedoll's glasses flashed and he blinked, curious to what was going to Kanda's mind. Lenalee had toild him about what he did last night, but how far did things go? Kanda put his food down and blood came from his lip. 'I'm just a bothersome person. I'm sorry to burden you like this. Yuu, don't leave me again.' Kumari had been so vulnerable. She may have physically healed, but not mentally. The damage was done and who knows how long it would take for her to heal. So vulnerable. So weak. So disturbed. "Yuu? Yuu. Yuu? Yuu. Yuu. Yuu. Yuu!" Lavi shouted in his ear and Kanda twitched.

Kanda reached for mugen, but he didn't grasp it. He remembered leaving it in the room and his face fell. He stood up and Lavi stared at him. "Yuu? Yuu, you okay?" Lavi asked.

"DOn't call me that!" Kanda shouted as he put his hand around his neck.

Lavi moved his hands around frantically and pleaded for forgiveness and help. Lenalee came over and made kanda let him go with was fairly easy for once. Then Allen said something and a huge fight started until Kumari screamed. Kanda instantly ran back to the room and the others were right behind him. When they got to Kanda's room Komui and a few others were already there and Kanda pushed past them until he found himself staring at Kumari crumbled and broken on the floor, holding her head with both hands and crying nonstop. She violently shook and when Kanda took a step forward she crawled to the corner. 'Did she have a nightmare? Was it her innocence?' Kanda thought as he stopped. Kumari looked up from the ground and at Kanda. Kanda felt his heart stop beating for a minute then Kumari hid her face again. "Kumari?" Kanda whispered.

Kumari perked, but didn't look at him. She didn't reconize him. Kanda could tell. He took another step and she flinched. "St- stop. Ge- get away fr- from me." Kumari stuttered.

Kanda knelt down beside her and she stared at him with fear. After a few minutes she tackled him and cried in his shirt, scared. "Y- Yuu, why did you leave? I g- got w- worried be- because y- you left m- mugen." Kumari stammered.

Kanda stared at Kumari for a moment then at Komui. SOmething wasn't right. Kumari was changing and it was actually scaring him. "I went o get something eat. What happened?" Kanda said, trying to be straightforward.

She dug her nails in his back and it was pretty painful because they got deeper and deeper. She refused to look at Kanda though. "It was just a nightmare." Kumari murmured, but there was something she was hiding. "It was just. . . a nightmare." Kumari repeated, but this time it sounded like she was trying to comfort herself.

Kanda winced when her nails went deeper, but said nothing. Blood went down his back and stained the white shirt and Kumari realized she was causing him pain. SHe pulled her nails out and apologized, but it was barely audible. "You said you wouldn't leave." Kumari whispered in his ear.

"I was going to come right back." Kanda mumbled, but stared at Komui who looked concerned still.

"Kumari, I think we should go to my office for a bit. Let's have a little discussion, okay?" Komui said calmly.

Kumari nodded and tried to stand up, but fell down. SHe tried again, but wound up with the same result. SHe punched the floor and Kanda got up, holding out his hand like last night. She stared at it for a moment then put her hand in his. WHen she stood up she held onto Kanda's arm for support and buried her face in his shirt. Her legs shook and a few sounds escaped her mouth from pain. She tried to walk or move her leg, but couldn't. The lower part of her body was frozen. "Damn it." Kumari whispered.

Kanda sighed and put his free arm under her legs and held her bridal style, looking away from her because he was being shy because everyone was watching. Kumari blushed and stared at his shirt, but leaned her head against his chest. "I'm sorry. I'm just burdening you even more." Kumari mumbled.

"Stop saying that." Kanda told her.

"But it's tr-" Kumari was cut off by a large amount of pain in her head. Sparks appeared around her hands and traveled up her arms then it spread all over. Kanda stared at her as she shone brightly because of her innocence. Kumari's grip loosened and she went limp as her eyes glazed over. She passed out and Kanda gently shook her with his arm. She didn't wake up. "What's wrong with her innocence? It's hurting her." Lenalee said, running over to them.

"I have a theory, but it's not a good one." Reever said.

"I think I know what you're thinking Reever." Komui muttered.

"Kumari. Wake up. Kumari!" Lenalee said, shaking her.

Lavi stared at her hands and noticed something. He touched it and a bizzare sensation overwhelmed him. He froze and his eye widened as the sensation turned to pain. A splitting headache too. He couldn't help but wodner if this was the pain she had expierence because he felt ready to pass. He backed away and fell down, blinking. She stared at the crosses on her hands. They were suppose to be green, but instead they were red. Dark, blood red. "We need to take her to Hevlaska immediately!" Komui shouted as realization dawned him.

"What?" Kanda asked.

"Now!" Komui shouted, clearing the way.

Kanda gritted his teeth, possibly knowing what Komui was thinking. He ran down the halls and Komui followed. He could hear the others following because they were confused and concerned, but Kanda ran faster and heard Hevlaska say something. "Kanda, hurry. I feel some aura coming off of her innocence. I fear the worst." Hevlaska said and Kanda jumped over the railing, landing hard on his feet.

Kanda stopped when he got to Hevlaska's chambers. Hevlaska reached out her tentacles and Lavi, Lenalee, and Will came from behind. Soon the others came into sight, but Kanda ignored them and held onto the railing. What was going on? Hevlaska saw how distraught Kumari was when her eyes opened slightly. Her hands continued to spark and then her arms looked like they had been hit by an invisible force. Hevlaska put ehr fore head to hers and concentrated. "58%. . . .55%. . . . 48%. . . . 43%. . . . . 39%. . . . . . 36%. . . . . .32%. . . . . . . .27% . . . . . . . 23% . . . . . .20%. . . . . 18%" Hevlaska counted down.

"This isn't good." Bak said as he held onto the railing like Kanda.

"17%. . . . . . . 15%. . . . . .12%. . . . 9%. . . . . "

"Hevlaska, take her innocence!" Komui shouted.

"8%. . . . . . . . 7%. . . . . . 4%. . . . . . 3%. . . . . . 2%. . . . "

Kumari screamed in pain as her hands shone a dark red color and pain coursed through her body. Why was it rejecting her? Hevlaska quickly took her innocence out as she said 1% because if it went down to 0 Kumari could've died or fallen. "It depleated so fast. I've never seen anything like that before." Bookman said.

Kumari stopped screaming and her eyes dulled, half closed, she stared at Hevlaska calmly. "In. . . . no. . . . cence." Kumari murmured as she reached her hand out then it fell.

Kumari's innocence sparked red then turned green. Kumari felt tears run down her face once again and Hevlaska looked at her. Her feet dangled and her head was leaned back. "In. . . no. . . cen. . .ce. . . . come back." Kumari whispered.

"Kumari, are you alright?" Hevlaska asked.

Kumari struggled in Hevlaska's grip and then she fell. She started to fall down to the ground and everything passed her in slow motion. 'Did I push myself too far? What did I do wrong? Am I no longer an accomadator? Why is this happening? Please come back. I need you. I can't live without you. Please. Please. Please!' Kumari thought, but then a large amount of pain went through her head and she reached her hand up, wide eyed. Black spots could be seen in her vision and she was caught by Krowley because Kanda had been too shocked to move. Krowley landed on the railing then jumped onto the floor. "Is she going to be alright?" Will asked, kneeling down.

Kanda turned his head around and he stared at Kumari, stunned, disbelieving what happened. Kumari stared at him and she looked worse than before. She hugged herself and tucked her head in her knees. "Kumari?" Lenalee whispered, sitting beside her.

Kanda kneeled down in front of her, putting a hand on her shoulder. SHe didn't look at him. Her inncoence had spoken to her. "My innocence. . . . . is. . . gone." Kumari muttered.

"No it's not." Allen said.

"No it's not! It's no longer mine. I'm no longer the accomadator! I'm. . . . . no longer an exorcist." Kumari shouted.

"What?"

"It's not possible. It's impossible." Komui said, eyes bulging.

Lenalee hugged her and Kumari cried on her shoulder. All she wanted was to protect everyone. That's all she wanted and now she no longer can. SHe was no longer part of the war. No longer an exorcist. Nothing but a mere human who awaits their death by an akuma or a Noah or illness. WHen she wants to fight it leaves. Why? WHat happened to her father's words? 'I've always been here. I will always be here. Don't give up just yet. Try again. Your inncoence is still here.' That's what her father said. "Please. . . . . . please. . . . . . come back!" Kumari cried before she fell forward and passed out in Kanda's arms. "Please."

"Oh Kumari." Will muttered.