Thank you so much for bearing with me thus far, dear readers~ this fic has finally come to an end and I'm truly grateful for all your support~ I was planning on writing an epilogue/extra chapter, but it depends on if you want to read it or not, so please do let me know!
D Gray-man belong to Hoshino Katsura~
Broken Moonlight
Chapter 18: Genesis
Neah noted that the blossoms which he had retrieved had not been harmed by the destruction that had befallen the island, and reached out to lay the shriveled bloom upon Kanda. Mana proceeded to reach out and carefully close Kanda's eyes, lidding the dull blue orbs that stared at nothing.
Allen could only watch in disbelief as the first tear spilled down his cheek. He spread his arms, blocking the two Noah from moving any closer to Kanda. "No! He's not..! He's not…" he hissed, unsure of just why he was so affected.
All he could confirm was the utter pain at the sight of Kanda's face which had grown paler than what could be deemed normal. The sight angered him for whatever strange reason, although what he was angry at, he didn't know.
"Allen," Mana admonished gently. "There are some things that you need to accept."
"Not this!" Allen retaliated, his wavering eyes glaring at the long-haired man whom he had once seen as a father. "I won't accept this… I can't accept this…I need to know what happened…"
"What do you mean?" Neah questioned, puzzlement evident in his voice.
Allen shook his head, his gaze drifting down to Kanda's limp form. "He was the one that saved me…" he murmured. "I know it. But I don't even know why or how…"
The words drifted into the silent air, transient in their softness as Allen's heart contorted painfully within his chest. Lowering his head into his hands, he began to cry silently, tears spilling irrepressibly from his eyes without a sound escaping his lips.
Neah lowered Allen's arm and reached out to wrap Kanda's hands around the arrangement of seven lotuses that nearly glowed in the darkness of the night that surrounded them.
Despite the tension between the Noah and the exorcists and the roaring of the flames that remained upon the crimson-watered ground and what had once been a stretch of forest, the blossoms seemed to exude a serenity that instilled a sense of calm upon the small expanse.
Allen's jaw clenched as an angry sob left his lips. He glared between his fingers at the figure of the raven upon the ground who seemed almost asleep, was it not for the lack of breath and heartbeat that was found within him.
He didn't understand. He had initially sent Kanda to be with Alma with the assumption that they would die together. The thought had brought him a sense of peace back then in knowing that he could quell the sufferings of both second exorcists.
But now…now he couldn't bear the thought of having Kanda leave. His glare was soon hidden by hands once again as another anguished sob left his lips. It was selfish of him, he realized, but he didn't want Kanda to return to Alma.
After having seen the second exorcist once again, albeit briefly, he had fought with the intention of resuming his life with the others and with Kanda. That opportunity had danced upon the tips of his fingers, and he could not reach it. He couldn't reach it, and it had fallen out of his grasp completely.
"Kanda…!" The cry left his lips as a scream of agony, unlike anything that had plagued him from physical injury. The weight of the realization that this was indeed the end pained him immensely as sobs wracked his body, bent over Kanda's still figure.
The scene was silent, save for the heartbreaking cries emitting from the lips of the white-haired exorcist. None had the heart to silence him, but none had the will to console him either as he grieved over the body of the raven which lay cold upon the ground.
The two brothers flanking either side of the white-haired male exchanged a look. Standing, Neah stepped around the body of the long-haired exorcist, moving to kneel upon his left side facing Mana. The older of the two reached out and Neah took his hands into his own, holding them with a certain tenderness.
"So the little infant fell into a deep sleep," the two began to sing together softly, their voices drifting over the air and into the ears of the two sides causing all heads to turn and face the scene before them.
Falling abruptly silent, Allen stiffened as the melody drifted into his ears, his tear-reddened eyes widening despite his head not lifting from where it was bent over Kanda's body.
"Among the grey ashes in the flames shining… first one, then two… Surfaces numerous of your faces…" Allen lifted his head to stare at the twins, tears refusing to stop flowing down his cheeks, only to note the stares down at Kanda with such mild gazes. None could bring it in their heart to silence the two.
As they sang, the destruction seemed to grow distant and muted before it dissipated entirely, leaving the land charred and barren. Lights akin to fireflies drifted around the scene peacefully in an almost surreal spectacle as the song drifted through the silent night.
"A thousand dreams trickle back to the earth, on the night where silver eyes were trembling, the shining you was born…."
Allen wiped at his eyes, his heartbeat speeding up at a rapid pace as he listened to the song that he had first heard when he himself had sung it back upon the first ark.
Beneath their feet, lush grass had begun to sprout from the bloodstained ground, covering the carnage that had been laid upon the land. Foliage began to sprout where the forest had once been as it too began to regrow with a vibrant passion.
Even the exorcists that had fled out to sea with the aid of one of Komui's decent inventions had docked upon the high shore of the island and stepped out, viewing the scene with stunned gazes yet still not breaking the silence as they drew closer to the three groups.
Lenalee's lips parted in a silent gasp as she caught sight of their fallen comrades and the Noah that had also been brutally slaughtered by that monster that had taken over Allen's body. The sight was near unreal… Her eyes only widened further as they shifted to Allen, Kanda, and the twins.
Lavi's somber, dim eyes viewed the scene as he took it in and made careful note of it, storing it within his unusually adept memory. He bit his lip at the sight of his two friends that only seemed to add to the grimness of the otherwise surreal scene.
The eyes of the onlookers stared at the dreamlike events that transpired before their eyes, mesmerized by the phantasmagorical scene. It would near be a crime not to be, considering the utter unearthliness of the restoration that seemed to be birthed from the voices of the two.
"Across millions of years, the prayers have already returned to earth…"
His gaze drifted down to Kanda, who lay serenely between the two. It was a sight that transfixed him, his tears going unregistered by his own mind as he reached out towards the hands of the raven that were wrapped loosely around the seven lotuses.
The partially lidded eyes of the two brothers trailed over to the figure of the younger male watching him with almost glazed gazes as he moved before hiding their glowing eyes behind dark lids as their grip on each other's hands grew fervently tighter.
"I will still continue to pray….please bestow upon this child you love….upon our joined hands leave a gentle kiss…."
The last notes lingered in the air long after the brothers lips had sealed. Their eyes were shut and their hands grasped each other with a determination as Allen's hand laid upon Kanda's just as the final lotus opened into its full glory.
"Kanda…" he whispered, his voice barely audible as his hands gripped those of the second exorcist tightly. "Don't leave me, Kanda….I love you.." The words barely registered in Allen's own mind before they left his lips, but he couldn't care less. All that mattered now was the second exorcist before him.
It was selfish to say such a thing - he was aware. He had never taken time to think much about his own character, but now that he had, he realized just how self-seeking he was. It was only pressed further as the words passed his lips. He couldn't even apologize to Alma in his mind as he begged anything to return Kanda.
The light emanating from the lotus blossoms were dimmed as light broke over the waters of the sea. As eyes drifted over to observe the sunrise, Allen's gaze did not move from where it laid upon Kanda. His tears remained adhered to his eyes, the trails of water drying upon his cheeks.
Impulsively, he lowered his forehead down to where his hands gripped the raven's in a death-grip. Taking notice, the twin brothers smiled vaguely and stood, moving away from the two and leaving them to themselves.
As the already brightening sky illuminated the island, clothed with lavish growth, black eyelashes fluttered. Pale skin took on the lustre of life as dark eyes unlidded to stare up at the sky. Drifting down, Kanda caught sight of the white-haired boy, leaning down above him with what seemed to be a death grip on his hands which, for some reason, were clasped around a familiar arrangement of pale pink flowers.
"Get off me, Moyashi - you're heavy," he whispered raspily, his voice strangely dry.
At the sound, Allen lifted his head to stare at Kanda. His eyes widened as the tears that had refused to leave finally fell. Instead of taking heed to the command of the raven, he compulsively threw his arms around the neck of the second exorcist.
"What did you think you were doing, BaKanda!" he shouted, his voice resting as the mediator for a sob and laughter.
Kanda tensed at the movements of the white-haired boy before sitting up and sighing, a faintly amused smile settling on his lips.
"If I didn't do anything, you, like the troublemaker you are, would have destroyed the world. As much as I despise the world, I despise letting you do what you want more," he stated sharply, his words harsh, but his voice hinting the amusement he felt.
"Stupid - the first thing you do when you get back is tell me I'm heavy!" Allen complained, still crying as he raised his left hand to give the raven a sound whacking. He rubbed his eyes to rid himself of the blurriness characteristic of tears.
His eyes drifted over to his hand only to realize that it was no longer the black characteristic of his parasitic innocence. His eyes drifted to his surroundings, to see that the bleeding stigmata had also disappeared from the foreheads of the Noah.
A silver gaze drifted over to his adoptive family to see them smiling warmly at him. His breath caught in his throat with shock as he reached down and tugged Kanda's coat open before yanking at his shirt to reveal his chest.
"Oi! Moyashi! Quit stripping me!" Kanda snapped sitting up. Lifting his hand, he brought it down upon Allen's head none too gently. The action did not even seem to register in the mind of the white-haired teen as Allen merely stared, stupefied, at his chest.
Kanda frowned, moving to pull his shirt back into place, feeling strangely exposed under the silver gaze. However, even the raven too stopped short as his eyes drifted down to his scar ridden body. A lack of the black tattoo on his chest had made itself known. Stunned, he laid his hand upon where the black marking should have rested, but there was no sign of the marking.
"It's...Allen, BaKanda…" Allen responded automatically, his voice lacking edge and the same amazement resting within his own silver gaze.
"The world is being cleansed of both Innocence and Dark Matter," Mana declared, his gaze lifting from the pair to face both the Noah and the exorcists. "Noah's genes have been destroyed as well. That has always been the desire of Noah: the destruction of this pointless war."
"Welcome to Genesis," Neah added, a grin spreading over his features as he looked from Mana to the two groups.
Allen stared up at the twins before a chuckle left his lips. Soon, he had dissolved into laughter, lying on the ground and staring joyfully up at the sky. His gaze drifted over to Kanda, who stared at him as though he were insane. Allen grinned.
"It's over, Kanda!" he declared, awe audible in his voice. "It's over. Everything is over."
As the realization dawned upon both the raven and the onlookers, smiles spread over faces, and his laughter was accompanied by that of both exorcists and Noah alike. Even Kanda allowed the hint of a smile to curve onto his lips.
"It is, isn't it…" His dark gaze drifted around to view their surroundings that looked lush and beautiful compared to when he had last seen it, bare and bloodstained.
Komui had grabbed Lenalee into an embrace, tears spilling from his eyes, yet no expression of comical happiness upon his face. This came as no surprise to Kanda, as the man had been the Head of the main branch of the nightmare known as the Black Order. For something so dreamlike as the termination of it all, no doubt the man had many burdens fall from his shoulders.
His expression was mirrored upon Lenalee's face as she smiled widely, burying her face in his chest to hide her crying face from whoever was there to witness it.
The smile that had crawled onto Lavi's lips soon turned into a grin as a triumphant shout passed his lips. He grinned and swung his arm around the nearest person to him hugging them tightly to himself in complete and utter jubilance.
"Ah… Excuse me," a velvety voice called somewhat awkwardly as a throat was cleared beside the redhead.
Lavi glanced over at the person he had thrown his arm around only to find the former Noah of Pleasure standing beside him, staring at him with faint amusement.
"Aah- sorry," the rabbit apologized, drawing his arm back sheepishly and moving away.
The Noah stared at him inscrutably for a few moments before sighing and shaking his head, a faint smile playing on his umber lips. No words left his throat as his gaze turned back to the two twins that made the Millennium Earl.
Mana turned back to face the sight of his adoptive son smiling jubilantly at the raven that had returned to them, and a gentle smile drifted onto his own lips. Neah caught sight of both, and chuckled faintly before stepping over to them, and sitting down before them. His older twin was quick to follow his example, his golden eyes veritably shining brightly.
"You made it, Kanda," Neah stated, grinning at the second exorcist. "I'm sorry for putting you through all that."
"..." Kanda merely stared expressionlessly at the 14th Noah, his mind growing blank for a few moments as he registered the sight of the two brothers, one whom he recognized as the 14th, the other who he could not say he knew.
"It's okay - you don't have to forgive me," Neah assured, leaning back and balancing himself upon his arms, stretched out behind him. "I caused a lot of trouble."
"Che. There's really no point in holding grudges now that everything I hate is gone," Kanda responded honestly. There really was nothing left to hate. The Black Order was gone, as were the Noah. Innocence and Dark Matter had both been eradicated as well. The only thing that remained were the individuals, who he was not amicable with, but did not hate either. Except maybe Lvellie.
"I'm glad you realize that," the long-haired twin stated with a smile. Extending his hand in a benign motion, he offered it to the long-haired male. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mana D. Campbell, or Mana Walker. But you can just call me Mana."
"Walker…?" Kanda inquired, his gaze narrowing in slight mystification, his gaze automatically drifting over to Allen.
The white-haired teen, in response to the unsubtle gaze rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, smiling in his happy way that Kanda found both irritating and endearing both at once. How that worked, he wasn't certain, but that was definitely what he felt.
"I'm Neah's older twin brother and Allen's adoptive father, you could say," Mana responded warmly to the confused venture.
"A Noah?!" Kanda couldn't help but exclaim stunned by the revelation. His dark gaze drifted from Allen to Mana, perplexity in his narrowed gaze.
"The Millennium Earl," Neah interjected somewhat mischievously, shifting to link arms with Mana, who had turned to him with an expression of faint mock-betrayal shining in his golden eyes.
"Brother…"
"You're that thing?" Kanda questioned incredulously.
"It's a long story," Neah responded simply, smiling at Kanda. "We'll save it for another time maybe."
Kanda shrugged, relaxing slightly as he looked from one to the other and sensing no form of hostility. He glanced down at himself only to realize that his uniform was still undone, leaving his bare skin exposed. Hastily, he buttoned up his shirt and fixed his coat over it to cover himself.
"We need to thank you, Kanda," Mana suddenly stated, his mild voice alluding to genuine gratitude as he smiled kindly at the second exorcist. "If it weren't for you, I may have never seen my beloved Neah and dear Allen again. This world may have been destroyed. You saved us, Kanda."
The praise caught the raven off guard, as he had not been expecting such high words from the man that was apparently both the Millennium Earl and Allen's adoptive father. Nonetheless, in the face of such mildness of tone while receiving such honour.
"Kanda's flustered!" Allen exclaimed in disbelief, his silver gaze widening at the long-haired male beside him.
At the outcry, heads of both exorcists and Noah turned to stare at the conglomeration of four, causing Kanda to feel unexpectedly self conscious. A characteristic scowl spanned his pale lips as his eyes narrowed. He lifted his hand and abruptly dealt Allen a smack upside his head of white hair.
"Shut up, baka Moyashi!"
"Oww- It's Allen, BaKanda!"
The exorcists automatically distanced themselves from the group while the Noah merely stared in amazement as the intensity of the glares that the two directed towards each other smoldered in the air. Some could even see the flamed burning around the two bodies.
The twins sitting before them exchanged a look before Neah pushed himself to his feet. Moving behind the two, he abruptly brought his fists down on their heads, a pleasant grin on his features as the flames subsided and the two nursed their aching crowns.
"Save the quarrelling for later, you two," he advised cheerily before returning to Mana's side and lowering onto the soft grass.
A groan passed Allen's lips as he stared up at the 14th Noah. "You're my family - you're supposed to side with me," he complained. Neah merely shrugged and moved closer to his older twin.
Allen watched them for a moment before frowning slightly. There had been something on his mind for a small while now, but in light of all things recent, he had not been able to ask.
"Mana, how come you could defeat that thing so easily when so many people couldn't? Is it because you're the Millennium Earl?"
The two brothers exchanged a look before shaking their heads and chuckling.
"It's because Mana is beautiful," Neah responded brightly. The older of the two sighed and glanced over at him fondly, but with a hint of weariness.
"You won't stop that?" he questioned. Neah shook his head. Turning back to Allen, the long-haired Noah smiled. "I suppose part of it goes to your innocence, which is quite powerful," he replied. "But there are many things that lead to the loss of a battle, namely the loss of calmness or resolve. Under the presence of someone that had defeated it before, Destruction could not maintain its spiteful composure and acted out of impulse which led to its defeat."
Mana chuckled and sighed, tilting his head back to watch the sky, stained in muted, warm hues of pink, peach, orange, and yellow. Allowing his gaze to slip closed, he drew in a quiet breath, the crisp yet mild morning air drawing itself into his lungs.
"But let's not talk about such things. The time for conflict is over," he declared softly, his eyes sliding open partially, drifting from his younger twin to the two exorcists with a blissful smile. "This is an era of peace."
Kanda's dark gaze moved from the older of the two twins to the younger, and then to Allen. His stance relaxed itself once again as a near invisible hint of a genuine smile crept onto his lips.
"Yeah…" he concurred, his gaze drifting over to the horizon where the sun watched the jubilant scene, shedding its light upon the rejoicing figures on the island. His hand inched closer to Allen's as he twined his fingers with that of the younger white-haired male. His lips barely parted.
"This is a new beginning."
And that's it. Unless bonus chapter~ please do remember to tell me if you want me to write it or not ^.^ I'm sorry if this was an unsatisfactory ending, but I'll try to do better if I happen to write another fanfic to post ^.^"