"Lanel"
NoahAllen
'Allen's thoughts' (when he's talking in his head)
More waffle from the one and only Rika. Enjoy!
NO! I do not own anything!!
Chapter Five- United
Komui looked at them seriously. "I'm not sure about letting you do this after what happened the last time" he warned, eyes lingering on Lenalee for a moment. "But we need Allen back. If there's any hope at all, no matter how small it is, we have to take it." He surveyed the gathered exorcists thoughtfully. "Just be careful, all of you. I don't want to trade any one of you for anyone else, so if you can't bring Allen out of there, you must all come back and we'll think of something else." His eyes narrowed, looking straight at Kanda. "That's an order."
"Tch."
"Don't worry brother, it'll be fine. We'll be back in no time, with Allen, you'll see."
They all looked at the unresponsive Allen, propped up on the couch, his eyes glazed and unseeing.
"There's no way we can fail!" Lavi exclaimed, bringing his fist down onto his other palm. It seemed now a definite plan had been formed his usual positive attitude had returned full force. He ruffled Allen's hair affectionately. "We'll soon have old Moyashi back!"
Kanda scowled, moving Allen's body away from Lavi's offensive touch and smoothing down the now messy white locks. "Idiot. We don't even know if he is in there, never mind if we can get him out." As he spoke he unconsciously put his arm protectively around Allen. Out of all of them, he was the least happy about this plan, and he especially couldn't see why they had to bring Allen's body along too. It was going to be pointless as it was traipsing through the deserted white streets of the Ark, but the fact that they had to do it carrying an empty shell of a exorcist as well… well, let's just say Kanda wasn't in the best of moods.
It had been old Bookman who had suggested that they take Allen's body back into the Ark with them, and naturally Komui had immediately agreed with the idea. Bookman's theory was that since something had happened when they passed through the Ark the first time, they should try it in reverse. It hadn't taken much persuasion on Lavi's part to get the others to agree since they were all at their wits end and having a definite strategy gave them all renewed hope. Only it seemed now that Kanda was having second thoughts.
The others shifted uneasily, looking everywhere but at the couple on the couch, then Jim cleared his throat nervously. "If you'd rather not go, we can do this without you."
Kanda fixed him with a heated glare. "If you think for one minute I'd let you take him in that thing without me there to make sure you don't screw this up you're more stupid than I thought."
Jim flushed angrily at the slight on his intelligence but managed to stop himself from snapping back, knowing everyone's tempers were running short, Kanda more than anybody, since his fuse was shorter to begin with. "Alright, sorry."
Looking slightly mollified, Kanda turned his attention back to the supervisor. "The Kiwi is right though. We don't all have to go." Komui frowned and gestured Kanda to continue, albeit with some reluctance. "I can do it alone."
Komui opened his mouth to refuse but paused, eyes resting on Lenalee who was staring in disbelief at Kanda. He closed his mouth and bowed his head in thought, staring absently at his cluttered desk. If he let Kanda go alone, then Lenalee would be safe from harm. Not that it should be dangerous, but if something like what had happened to Allen happened to his sister…And perhaps Kanda deserved this opportunity. The secret romantic in him played out a clichéd, sentimental reunion between the two exorcist generals in his mind's eye. His mind then replayed the same scene, this time with the rest of the team there. For some reason it didn't seem as romantic. Or maybe he didn't want Lenalee to watch and have her innocent mind corrupted…
"…mui? Komui? Lenalee give me a hand would you please?"
Thud.
Komui blinked a few times, clearing the stars from his vision and bringing his sister into focus. She was holding a tray in her hands. Jim was hovering behind her, torn between laughing and…no, he was just laughing.
Lavi looked at the expression on the supervisor's face. "Oh come on Komui, you can't seriously be considering this!" He stood angrily, pointing at Allen still propped up on the couch. "We've already decided, we're all going in!"
Komui steepled his fingers and sighed. "Kanda, please take Allen down to the Ark and wait for me there. I need a word with these three if you don't mind."
Kanda, sensing victory, said nothing as he nodded and lifted Allen from the couch, carrying him bridal style, Allen's vacant body hanging bonelessly in his arms.
Jim opened the door for them, his face impassive as he closed it behind them and turned back to face the desk.
Silence reigned.
Eventually Lenalee spoke tentatively. "Brother, why won't you let us go?"
Lavi snorted. "He will."
"Don't overstep your boundaries, Bookman Jr." warned Komui severely. "Think about it. If this works, they aren't going to want an audience."
"What do you…oh." Jim blushed while Lenalee cracked a huge grin.
"Brother, fancy having thoughts like that!" She shook her head, still grinning and Komui knew then that he had her convinced.
She looked at the two men standing behind her. "He is right, you know. It could be a bit embarrassing if it does work- and no, that's not an excuse to go and watch!" she added, glaring pointedly at Lavi, who gave her a winning smile, as though the thought had never crossed his mind. "Ok fine, but you owe me big for making me miss out on something that can provide me with material to tease Yuu with for months."
"Lavi, you're hopeless!" laughed Jim. "Alright, we'll wait behind. But if something goes wrong, you have to let us go in after them."
Knowing it was the best deal he was going to get, Komui nodded although it was with some reluctance. "Only if something really goes wrong."
Allen stared through his hands at the floor he could see through his feet. In the mirror the reflection was also sitting on the piano stool, but NoahAllen was kicking his legs carelessly, watching Allen with bright, interested golden eyes. Lanel was sitting on top of the piano, legs crossed, with his elbows resting on his knees, chin on his hands. His odd purple eyes were closed and he seemed to be humming to himself.
You're still thinking too much. You'll give yourself a headache.
Allen jumped, startled from his thoughts by the voice of the Noah echoing in his mind. "I'm having a little trouble getting used to the idea. I've spent years fighting the Noah, and now I find out I'm one of them."
Noah Allen sighed and stopped swinging his legs. You'll be no different than you are now, what else is there to think about?
"Argh!" Allen threw his hands into the air. "Nothing! Alright! There's nothing!"
"Allen Walker, you are wasting valuable time conversing with yourself. If you do not act now you may lose the opportunity."
"What?" That got his attention. He sensed the Noah's quickening of interest too. Lanel gracefully slid from the piano and approached the ever-present holographic screen hanging silently in the centre of the room. Pictures were still flashing across it, but Allen had hardly spared it a glance since they had moved his empty body from the hospital room.
"They are coming to get you" Lanel said, pointing to the flickering screen. Allen watched as Kanda entered the Ark room holding his body.
What are they doing? the voice whispered in his mind
"I don't know" Allen replied, watching the screen curiously.
"They are smarter than I gave them credit for" said Lanel grudgingly as he circled the screen with long measured strides, one hand rubbing his chin as he thought.
What's that idiot on about now?
Lanel glanced at him briefly and not for the first time did Allen suspect that the angel could read minds. He did not however, answer the unasked question that had flitted across Allen's mind, but continued to stalk around the image hung in the middle of the room.
"You should proceed quickly. If your body is brought too close then all will be lost."
"Why?"
"Your mind will be drawn back to your body, and you will have lost the only opportunity to bond with your inner Noah."
We won't ever get another chance? NoahAllen sounded rather troubled, his anxiety transferring across to Allen, who scrubbed his face with his hands and sighed. "Alright, whatever. What do I have to do?"
"Open your mind."
"What?!" Allen gaped at the angel. "Open my mind? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
Think about it. I've only come forward at times when you no longer tried to hide me- when you stopped trying to be all nice and polite.
Allen frowned, turning this new idea over. "I'm still not sure how…"
"Idiot human!" snapped Lanel, for once showing more emotion than the pleasant calm front he had only exposed until now. Allen blinked in surprise. "You are still wasting time you do not have!"
Allen glanced once more at the screen. Komui was standing before Kanda, gesturing wildly, using lots of pointing and poking Kanda in the chest. Behind Komui, Lenalee, Jim, Lavi, Reever and several other science department members watched with bemused expressions. By the looks on their faces they couldn't hear whatever Komui was telling Kanda, but they found the scene amusing to say the least.
"Once your body is brought into the Ark you will be drawn back to it. The closer it gets, the stronger the pull will be until you cannot resist it."
Allen, who had been wondering whether it would be the pull from his body or the desire to see Kanda that would be strongest, sighed heavily. "Fine, open my mind, I got it."
See you on the other side his reflection winked at him, and Allen was suddenly worried.
"…and you both better come out of there, because I do not want Lenalee going near that thing until we know exactly what went wrong before, you understand?"
"Tch. As if I'd fail a mission" idiot. Kanda rolled his eyes and resettled Allen in his arms. "There better not be any danger in there" he grumbled, suddenly very aware that he wouldn't be able to reach his sword if he needed to.
"I could always send Lavi in with you…"
"NO!" Kanda flushed with embarrassment as everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at him. "No," he continued in a quieter tone. "We'll be fine."
Komui nodded tersely. "Go on then, but don't be long." He pulled something from his pocket and released it into the air. "Normally I'd just say take Timcampy with you, but since we have no idea where it's gone…" The golden golem had been missing since before the last mission, and if Allen knew where it was, he hadn't said anything. Kanda eyed the new black golem warily. "What's this for?"
"I've done some adjustments so it'll work within the Ark. I want you to keep in contact at all times. Report everything, you hear me?"
Kanda nodded once, a quick jerk of his head and turned to face the Ark's portal. "I'll be back soon. We both will." And he stepped into the light.
"Open my mind, open my mind, open my m- What was that?"
He's here
"Your body is within the Ark."
Both answered at the same time, but it was the golden-eyes reflection that Allen turned to. "I can feel the pull. We need to do this quickly."
I'm ready, but something is stopping you from doing this. NoahAllen cocked his head to one side, considering. You're worried that your friends will not accept you. You should not worry about what you can't alter.
Allen thought about this. 'Am I really worried about that?'
Yes
'I shouldn't be. They're my friends, right?'
Yes. And you will still be you. Don't worry about such trivial things.
"This is taking too long!" Lanel said loudly "Do it now, or so help me I'll-"
"You'll what? I thought you couldn't interfere?" Allen's nerves were frayed to breaking point, and the pull to return to his body was tugging at his mind mercilessly.
Lanel frowned, watching Allen try and grapple his mind free of all the forces wrenching at it. Well, there was only one thing for it.
He swung his fist at Allen's head.
"Jesus!" Allen jumped, startled by the sudden movement, his left arm moving to intercept the strike, but instead of halting the blow, his arm was knocked aside by the angel's superior supernatural strength. He fell back, head reeling from Lanel's punch and lay there, gaping stupidly up at the angel. "You hit me!" He didn't know what surprised him more, the fact that the angel had hit him, or the fact that he could be hit, insubstantial as he was.
"Yes I did. If you will not do as you have been told, you are of no use to this world!"
Is he going to try and kill you?
'I hope not, I rather like him.'
"You are still wasting time! Stop conversing with that voice that is jabbering on in your head and get on with it!"
Jabbering? That's rather insulting
"I can't concentrate! There's too much going on!"
Wearily, as though it cost him a great deal of effort to restrain himself, Lanel reached down and pulled Allen to his feet.
"Thanks. Look, I'm sor-" He didn't get to finish as Lanel punched him heavily in the face. Allen reached up, testing his nose carefully. He could taste blood but at least it wasn't broken. His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I don't know what you're playing at, but I suggest you stop it."
"If you are not going to do this you are useless. You will be pulled back to your body and nothing will have changed. This war must end Allen Walker, and unless you embrace your full power, you will not be on the winning side."
"Damn you! I'm trying my hardest here!"
Just let me at him!
'No, I don't want to fight!'
He does though. Don't you see, we cannot do this because you're holding back!
'He is not my enemy!'
He's trying to kill you!
'No he isn't, he's trying to make me lose it!'
And that's what we need!
'I-'
No, you listen to me. I've had enough of you being polite! He's hurting you, so hurt him back!
'But that's not who I am!'
That's right; it's who you are meant to be.
'But-'
Just let go!
'I can't!'
You can!
"You must" Lanel interrupted the internal argument. "Or I will kill you."
"Kanda, what is it?" Komui's concerned voice drifted from the golem, having just picked up Kanda's small exclamation of surprise.
"He has a nosebleed. And a split lip."
"What?"
"It looks like someone punched him, but there's no one here and it keeps getting worse."
"What do you mean?" Komui sounded even more worried now. Kanda hoped that his desire to keep his little sister safe was stronger than the urge to send in backup.
"It's nothing, I'm just imagining things" Kanda lied, even as he watched the bruise that was forming around Allen's right eye darken another shade of purple.
"Hmmm" Komui didn't seem convinced, but t least he didn't press the issue. "So, how is it going?"
"It's empty. No sign of any life at all."
"Well, keep looking. Stay in touch."
"Now I'm pissed" the Noah growled, getting to his feet.
"Good, perhaps we are getting somewhere."
'If you're in control now, why is he still fighting? Isn't this what he wanted?' Allen asked from within his mind.
I don't know the Noah replied, watching Lanel warily.
"No! For crying out loud, do you not understand? You must be united, not two separate entites!"
'United?'
Not one above the other- both equal, in balance
'I think I understand'
I hope so. Let's try this again. Open mind, remember?
'I remember. Open mind.'
"Still nothing. This is pointless. I could wander around forever and find nothing" Kanda grumbled in the general direction of the golem. He put Allen's body down against the a wall and slid down beside him.
"I'm sorry Kanda, I don't know what to suggest except-" Komui was interrupted by Lavi's loud brash voice as he seized the supervisor's microphone. "Have you tried calling him? It worked the last time."
Kanda thought back to the first time they were in the Ark all those years ago. Deciding Lavi was right (and hating himself for actually admitting it, even if it was only in his head) he cleared his throat self-consciously, reaching for the golem. "I'll talk later" and he turned it off, not wanting to let whoever was present at the other end listen to him call for Allen like a lost child. He took a deep breath. "Moyashi?"
"Ignore him, you must not get too close to your body- you are so close!"
"Just shut up!" Allen snapped, wishing Lanel would just leave and let him get on with it. 'I just want to go home' he muttered to the Noah.
"Soon"
"Did you just-" He turned to the mirror
"Yes, we are both using your mouth" the Noah sounded a little surprised
"You are so close!"
"SHUT UP!" they both yelled at the same time, and were immediately swallowed by a blinding white light.
"Oi, Moyashi, are you in here?" Damn it he felt stupid. "Allen Fucking Walker, if you're in here, you better answer me or so help me, when I do find you I'll-" he sighed, looking at the bruised face of the man sitting next to him. If he did find Allen he wasn't going to let him out of his sight again, but he wasn't about to shout that- he was sure Komui had ears everywhere.
"Yuu?"
The voice made Kanda jump in shock, scrambling away from Allen's body before he managed to get himself back under control.
"Yuu, stop sitting on your arse! There's no nee to look so surprised."
The voice wasn't coming from his body, nor from anywhere that Kanda could see. He looked up suspiciously at the clear blue sky of the Ark's interior. "Moyashi?"
"No, it's the Pope. Of course it's me, BaKanda. Just hold on a minute and I'll open a door."
He waited. Nothing happened.
"Why is this not working?" he heard Allen ask.
He frowned, confused. "How am I-"
"You are trying too hard" a strange musical voice that Kanda did not know said. "Just will it to happen."
"Who are you talk-"
"Will it?" Allen sounded sceptical
"Yes."
"Damn it Moyashi, stop ignoring-"
"Oh, okay. Will it, right."
A door appeared from no where before Kanda, who just stared at it for a moment.
"Are you coming in or not?" Allen's voice asked, sounding faintly amused. "Bring my body along too will you?"
A/N
Well that was longer than my average crap. Can't you tell I don't have the internet at home at the moment…I have nothing else to do!!
LOVAGE!!