Reckoning
Chapter 10
familiarity

-YU KANDA-

They all landed together in that unfamiliar world, alongside Lenalee. She was still shivering while Allen comforted her, blabbering about how Akicho had given her a smile, and let go. She said that she'd tried to hold on to the other girl's hand, but Akicho had been the one to let go.

Kanda growled a little, his hands curling into fists. She couldn't stay out of trouble for one second. It was why he had to stay at her side, or she'd be dead. But Kanda couldn't help but look around, slightly worried for her safety.

This Ark is huge. Just where did she land?

-AKICHO LAMURIA-

I woke up in a town of white buildings. I knew where I was. I was in the Ark. Staggering to my feet, I looked around with a frown. I was alone. Lenalee must've landed somewhere on this floor, too. I had to find her, quick.

But then I remembered. While I was falling, I had seen someone else flying towards us.

In fact, it was more than one someone… It was Kanda, Allen, Chaoji, Lavi, and Krory… those idiots. Why did they follow us?

Suddenly, the floor shook and the buildings started to blow apart, and a weird blue glow started to appear in the sky. I knew that this place was going to fall apart in no time at all. It was just a matter of time. I just needed to know how much time I had before the whole place basically disappeared to nothing.

So I wandered around. I knew that the Ark had an exit. If I could find that door and find my friends within that time limit, I knew that I could all get out okay. I heard a few large explosions in the distance, and, looking hopeful, I dashed towards them.

It had to be those idiots that decided to blow up things for fun. Allen, Lavi, and Kanda… oh, and Krory and Chaoji. Of course, and Lenalee was probably with them. I knew that they had to be there, on that floor, but I had to wonder if any others had come, too.

I got to the sight of the explosions and found no one. Absolutely no one.

Frowning, I ran in another direction. If I guessed right, there was still something I could do. But I needed help in order to do what I was planning on doing.

-YU KANDA-

That damn Noah… Kanda's plan was to slice him in two the next time they met.

The first thing he did was give them a key, which Kanda was sure was a trap, and taunt the bean sprout, and the second thing he did was ask where Akicho was. That stupid Noah acted as if he was the only one who was worried about that stupid girl…

No, Kanda was not worried about her. It was just that Lenalee was freaking out when she had to tell everyone else that Akicho wasn't there with them, and she'd fallen somewhere else on the floor. But no, Kanda wasn't worried. He knew that she could handle herself.

… Okay, so maybe he was kind of worried. Just a little! Don't say a word. … Don't laugh, either.

Tyki Mikk, Akicho had said the Noah's name was. A door popped out of the ground, and Tyki had revealed it to be "Road's door." Road… Allen had the most reaction to her name. He also had the most reaction to the damn Noah.

Of course, then there was the falling building… It should've crushed that damn Noah, but he was alive and well. As proven by the key that came flying out of the rubble at Kanda, who caught it.

Kanda looked around and hoped that he'd find Akicho. But the only choice they had was to go through the door.

He looked around frantically, which was everyone else's calm, as they ran towards the door and through it, but it was to no avail.

She… she couldn't be dead. She wouldn't die that easily. Allen and Lenalee seemed to be looking around for her. Allen proposed a vote soon after, realizing that the Noah was right and the entire Ark was falling apart. In the results of the vote they had all decided to stay and look. Except for Kanda, that is.

He had to keep his hard ass exterior, didn't he?

"She can take care of herself," he told them sternly, not giving way for his worry at all. "Let's just go. She's not a baby." Allen and Lavi soon agreed, then Krory and Chaoji followed. Lenalee was the only one dead set against leaving her behind.

The bean sprout used the key to unlock the door, but they weren't out of the Ark yet. In fact, they were in the room of the very Noah that had been following him and the rest of the Tiedoll unit.

Glaring at the Noah, Kanda put his hand on Mugen and grinned wickedly. "Leave. I'm not doing this for you so don't get me wrong. He's after General Tiedoll, and that means it's my job to kill him." His sword was drawn and activated his Innocence as the Noah, Skin Bolic, stood on top of one of the rocks in front of him.

Skin simply looked around. "Where is she? I though Akicho was with you guys. She was supposed to come here, too." His look became angry, almost feral. "Did you lose her?!" he demanded angrily, glaring at the Exorcists, all of whom were shocked by the fact that Skin knew Akicho's name.

Finally, Kanda piped up, "She stayed behind. We couldn't afford to waste any time looking for her." His glare increased at the Noah's angry look.

The Noah growled at him. "Damn you."

The Exorcist scoffed, his grip on Mugen tightening. "Why would you care? She's just another Akuma, especially to you bastards." He noticed Skin's fists tighten and his glare become more dangerous. "It's not as if she's anyone important, especially not to you bastards."

-AKICHO LAMURIA-

I knew my way around this place. It was how I transported myself for my missions all those years ago. But it's kind of like riding a bike. Once you've done so, you don't forget how to move around inside it. I didn't need any help from the Noah or the Exorcists. Not on this level, at least. Maybe I would when I entered the next room, but not so much here.

Looking around, I finally found what I was looking for. It was a door. A simple door, yes, but it was different. Every other door needed a key to turn into a portal to the next level, but this door was special. The only way you could tell if it was the right door was by the marking on the doorknob. All of the others were unmarked, but this one had a single pentacle on the front. Smiling in satisfaction, I pushed open the door to face the swirling black and purple portal.

It was a trade secret, one that I was very glad still existed. See, most Akuma weren't smart enough to get up to the Millennium Earl's chambers or the Noah's rooms by themselves. So, the Noah created a shortcut for the Akuma to report back.

All I needed to know was the stairs that lead to the next level. I knew where I had to go, who I had to find; Lulu Bell. She was like my older sister, always willing to help me. I just had to pray that it didn't change one bit.

-YU KANDA-

This Noah was psychotic. It was almost to the point of somewhat humorous. His gaze moved from one Exorcist to the other, before finally settling on Kanda. He seemed to challenge Kanda, who accepted it quite fast by holding Mugen even tighter, if that was possible, and advising everyone else to leave.

"You guys get moving. I'll handle this joker."

Everyone else almost immediately protested, but were soon silenced by the earthquake that shook the room they were in. The Exorcists were only feeling the aftershocks of the real earthquakes.

They only had a hundred and ten minutes to leave.

The bean sprout volunteered to say behind, too. "While Kanda and I are fighting, go through the exit to the next room. When we're done here, we'll catch up to you," he then said. Kanda listened to them bicker over who'd be fighting and finally snapped.

"I'll be damned if I'm stuck here with you," Kanda growled. As much as he would've appreciated the help, not that he'd admit it, he would not work with the bean sprout. "I said that I'd handle it." He moved his sword to point in the bean sprout's face and ran it across some of his white hair. "Get out of my sight, or would you rather me slice you in half?" When no one made a move to leave, he activated Mugen's abilities in order to scare the shit out of all of them. "First Illusion: Underworld Creatures!" The insects floated after his comrades and Kanda sighed.

The stupid rabbit finally burst out, "I don't care! Let's just leave his ass here!" Everyone else agreed and stormed off angrily, still upset that they were attacked by their own teammate.

Lenalee made him promise to follow them before he turned back to Skin. Time to start fighting.

-AKICHO LAMURIA-

I wasn't lost.

Stop looking skeptical! I was not lost!

Alright, fine. As much as it pains me to admit it, I was sure that Lulu's room was on the left, but when I checked, all of them were empty, and none of them looked like Lulu's room.

Fine, I was lost.

I groaned. "God damn it, Lulu! Why the hell did you move your room?!" I yelled.

-YU KANDA-

Skin turned into this beast-lion hybrid, with golden skin and all. "Twin Illusion Blades!" Kanda yelled, activating Mugen's second illusion. He watched as the Noah shot several bolts of purple lightning at him, dodging them all but one as he got closer. He deflected the last one, activating Eight Flowers Praying Mantis. Stupid Noah dodged all of 'em.

It'd been around ten minutes in of fighting, and neither one of them had taken a hit. All that Kanda had done was get rid of a few of Skin's yellow spikes. He smirked, but it soon fell of his face when he realized that Skin had also gotten a hit in. He'd been hit in his right arm.

Growling, Kanda and Skin both rushed at each other, using their special attacks as they went. They were both fighting hard, as Kanda got a hit in to Skin. But his blade sparkled with purple lightning again. Kanda now realized who he was fighting against. He wasn't just fighting the mastermind of those Akuma battles. He was fighting a real warrior that had strength and power.

But he wasn't as smart as Kanda would have hoped. In fact, the only reason he didn't fight Kanda, Marie, and Tiedoll was because he couldn't decide which one he wanted to face first.

He… he is stupid.

All Skin wanted was to do was fight Kanda one-on-one, without having to worry about choosing who he'd fight next. He was laughing hysterically, as if he'd just told a very funny joke. More lightning shot at Kanda, who deflected it again.

Smirking, he replied, "You're wrong. This place will be your grave." He smirked at the Noah and moved his swords into an attacking position. "That's after I beat the shit out of you."

Skin simply laughed. "You're only using your anger! That's so typical! I am Skin Bolic of the Noah Clan. Your name… is…" he trailed off, waiting for the Exorcist to state his name. Said Exorcist just glared, not even twitching.

"Kanda."

After replying to the Noah, Kanda watched as the purple lightning struck all around the room. The Noah was much more powerful than Kanda had anticipated. Maybe it would take a little longer than he had originally thought.

Suddenly, Skin looked up to the Exorcist, asking, "Kanda?" Said Exorcist looked up as well with one eyebrow raised. "Do you like sweets?"

So the Noah had a sweet tooth. Not too surprising, considering his size. But Kanda's answer… well…

He simply smirked dangerously, narrowing his eyes at his new opponent. His grip on Mugen tightened again as his grin grew practically feral. "Can't stand them."

Hahaha, sorry for cutting it of shortly, but I'm real excited for the next chapter. I got volume 23 of D. Gray-man, and many of my predictions have been coming true! Of course, not the predictions that I'm going to be using in this story, but ones that I made for myself. There are going to be certain parts of my predictions that I have factored in to my story, but there are many that I haven't. Ahahaha... it's why my ending is going to suck. This story, like the other two that are currently active, are the ones that I have planned out.

Anyways... I'm going to finish this real soon, probably by the end of this summer, hopefully. If my schedule keeps up like this, I'll be more active in the spring and summer, hopefully. We shall see, all!

Please review, I'm very interested in getting outside opinions! m(^_^)m