Reckoning
Chapter 15
for all those who lost

-LAVI-

Everything was all right. All of them were okay. Lavi was sure that all of the others were revived, too. Chaoji, and Lenalee, and Allen, and even Akicho. He looked at the girl. She was looking especially pale, but had a pulse, at least. "Chaoji. Take her. We've gotta find Allen!"

-YU KANDA-

Kanda stumbled through the door of that bastard Noah's room that would lead back to the town, supporting the vampire. That's when he heard the stupid rabbit yell, "Yu's underwear!"

He growled a little and flung the door open. "Bring it on, you retarded rabbit," he spat. The rabbit happily exclaimed both Exorcist's names and Kanda simply demanded, "What's going on here?" He looked around and noticed that Akicho was on Chaoji's back, unconscious.

Lavi shrugged. "I don't know, either," he deadpanned. "Hey! Get your ass out here, beansprout!"

The beansprout's voice yelled back, "Who're you calling a beansprout, stupid Lavi!" Kanda looked up. His voice was coming from…

"The beansprout's voice is coming from the sky."

"The name's Allen, BaKanda!"

Kanda dropped the vampire onto Lavi and walked over to Chaoji. "What's wrong with her?" he asked sharply. "Let me see." He practically dragged her away from Chaoji. "Heh. She's just out cold."

She groaned a little and squirmed away from him." God, go away, Lavi! I'm trying to sleep!" she grumbled angrily. Kanda smirked a little and slapped her forehead gently. "Don't hit me!" she snapped, hitting his hand away.

He snapped, "Open your eyes. I'm not the stupid rabbit." Her brown eyes opened and once they landed on Kanda, she sat up quickly.

But they soon narrowed and she smacked the back of his head. "You idiot! You said that you wouldn't die!" she yelled, glaring angrily at the Japanese Exorcist. "But…" reaching around, she pulled him into a hug. "I'm glad you're okay, Kanda."

He didn't reply to her hug, just quietly said, "Sorry for dying."

"You should be," she shot back playfully.

Someone cleared their throat and Akicho quickly pulled away to see Lavi looking at the two smugly. Kanda glared at the stupid rabbit and Akicho's face turned a deep red. Lavi simply smirked. "Someone wants to see you." He stepped aside to reveal the beansprout.

Akicho's face lit up and she quickly hugged Allen. "You're all right, you're all right! I thought that Tyki had you for good!"

The beansprout smiled and hugged her back, replying, "Well, thanks for having so much confidence in me, Akicho. At least I'm in one piece, right?" She pulled away and nodded. "Kanda and Krory are okay, too, right?"

She laughed. "Yeah, clearly, if Kanda is still able to call you a bean sprout, right?" Allen grumbled something in reply and she laughed again. "Well, you guys go check for danger. I'll look after Krory. Now that the Noah have another Ark, I think all my transporting power has been taken to that Ark, too. But maybe not, so just check that everything's green."

After scanning the entire town, Kanda and Chaoji met up with the beansprout and stupid rabbit. "Something's been bothering me, Kanda," the beansprout said. "What's with that huge mark on your chest? You've always had that, right?"

"It's nothing," Kanda snapped.

The beansprout clapped, his face turning eerily happy. "That's not very nice of you, Kanda. Let's play catch with the conversation ball!"

He snapped, "Shut the hell up!" He was sure that everyone else could practically see the tension. "Anyway, isn't there a way out of here, beansprout?" he demanded.

"My name's Allen, you bastard!"

"Quit fighting, guys."

The stupid beansprout opened a door to nowhere and thought it was a great idea to hang onto Kanda, who grabbed the rabbit, who Chaoji grabbed. Of course, what a wonderful way to die. "Fall by yourself, you damn beansprout!"

-AKICHO LAMURIA-

I sighed. Well, everyone's okay. I had dragged Krory up to Lenalee and Cross, and then, I went to find if there was any way out. But that one door that could lead out was gone. I looked down in defeat. Looks like Allen was the only one who could get us out of here now.

When I walked back up, I was greeted by the sight of Lenalee and Cross, who were probably just talking, and Lavi and Allen freaking out badly. I laughed a little. Things were going back to normal.

It was time to go home. Maybe I would be able to stay with my family this time.

I looked to Kanda, and I saw the sapphire dangling from the chain around his neck. "You kept it on?" I asked happily. He looked over to me and nodded. "I'm glad that it could help you."

He smirked a little. "Yeah."

I watched as Allen played that familiar melody so we could finally leave. I knew now that I had always been connected to this Ark.

A door opened in the middle of the room, and the chains connecting the Ark to Edo shattered. We were going to be going home. Lavi jumped out of the door first, then Allen and Lenalee, and finally, me and Kanda. Kanda dragged Chaoji out, and I helped Krory out of the Ark, too.

I noticed the General on the ground, crying. Walking over to Tiedoll, I knelt in front of him. "We're all going home now, General."

It took a while, but we all got back to Headquarters after a brief run-in at the Asian Branch. Once again, we all stood at the gate to the Ark, and the entire remainder of the Order was there, holding up a huge Welcome Home banner for all of the Exorcists. After a nod from all of her friends, Lenalee immediately ran to Komui, and I couldn't help but start to cry.

Kanda noticed and scoffed. "You're not seriously crying, are you?" I looked up at him. "You're such a child."

I pouted and retorted, "I'm not a kid, Kanda!"

Everything else happened really fast. When Miranda deactivated her Innocence, I watched as everyone's wounds came back, including mine. I felt blood running down the side of my head, and some of my ribs snapping. I fell as my twisted ankle gave out. I held onto my side as all of us were wheeled away to safety.

This was it. We were home, and the danger was over.

For the next few days, I spent time in either the hospital wing or the Ark. Thank God I didn't get caught, though. I visited each room of my family, each room that they ended up fighting in. Skin, Tyki, Road, Jasdevi, Lulu… they were okay, right? I even got up the courage to visit some of the rooms of the family I wasn't familiar with; Maitora, Fiidora, Toraido, Maashiima, Sheryl, and Wisely, were some of them.

When I walked back to the infirmary with the help of my crutches to visit all of my friends. When I walked in, everyone was being excessively lively. Even Kanda and Tiedoll. All I could do was laugh at their antics. "Kanda." The blue-haired Exorcist turned to me. "Hey. I just wanted to check up on you, since you seemed to be really hurt." I grabbed one of his formerly burnt hands and looked down at them. "Just as I thought. You're healed."

He shrugged. "Yeah. You know why." I looked up at him worriedly. "Stop worrying. Aren't you hurt, too?"

"Just a few scratches here and there, but nothing too big. I do have a few broken ribs and a twisted ankle, but hey, I'm alive and moving." I smiled widely. "Besides, the twist wasn't so bad. The twins patched me up pretty good."

Kanda's eyes widened. "The Noah helped you?" he demanded quietly. "Why?"

My smile faded a little. "Yeah, but I guess it's 'cause they owed me." I sat on the edge of his bed and looked down. "I just want to keep going so I can find my own way to live. If it means turning to the people I should hate, then I'll do it."

His eyes narrowed and he snapped, "You won't be able to save them."

"I know. But hell, I can try." I looked up at him and grinned sheepishly. "Besides, who else is gonna save my ass if you guys aren't around?" He grunted in reply. "Yeah, thought so. Now, you get some rest."

He pulled away. "I don't need rest."

I pushed him back down and snapped, "Shut up and do what I tell you for once in your life! A little rest won't kill you! Besides… something big is going down with the Generals and other Branch Heads." I looked towards the door and grimaced. "These two men were walking down the hall, and they looked really angry."

Kanda sat up and exclaimed, "What?! Who?!"

Shrugging, I replied, "No clue. All I know is that it's probably not going to be good for any of us that were involved with the Ark."

It wasn't good. It wasn't good at all.

Their names were Malcolm C. Lvellie and Howard Link. They were Special Inspectors from Central. They were here to uncover what really happened to all of us in that Ark, and why Allen was so powerful. Things weren't going our way, and the scale of power was being tipped as their control over the rest of the branches of the Black Order was established.

We had to hide the truth about Allen from them, but what about the truth about me?

-TYKI MIKK-

He looked lazily out his window, watching as the rain kept falling. He groaned softly, letting his head fall against the cold glass. His gaze moved down to his hands, which were now permanently gray. Ever since that boy, Allen Walker, struck him with his sword, he only knew that he'd felt pain around his middle, and where his heart was. Everything else was a blur to him.

He and Road were rescued by the Millennium Earl, who wasn't very happy that both of them had failed to kill the Exorcists and had allowed the Ark to fall into the hands of the Black Order. Road was still recovering from Bookman Junior's last attack that forced her to retreat. That was probably the first time that she'd ever left the battlefield truly harmed.

And Akicho…

Tyki's fist clenched tightly, turning a pale gray in color. He didn't even know if she was still alive. He had no idea of how he could find out. He sighed, letting his hands fall limp at his sides. It'd been a few days since the battle, and he knew that it was only a matter of time until Lulu was sent in to take back the Akuma Egg from those Exorcists.

He bit his lip. They had to get that Egg soon, or Akicho would…

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Running his hand through his now shoulder-length hair, he looked to the door. Maybe the twins would know something. After all, they were Akicho's age. He stumbled towards the door, lighting up a cigarette.

He passed the doors of Lulu, Road, and Wisely, finally stopping at Jasdero and Debitto's. He pushed it open, and marched in. The raven-haired twin looked up from whatever he was doing, and chided, "Smoking isn't healthy, Tyki-pyon. You're gonna get cancer and die." He paused, then added, "If you do, can I have your room? It's getting crowded in here."

"That's only because you two are such slobs," replied Tyki nastily. He looked around the pigsty – I mean, room – and dropped his cigarette butt on the floor. "I hope you don't mind; it may lighten up the smell."

Jasdero protested, "Hi! We don't smell that bad! We took a shower less than two months ago!"

Pulling out another cigarette, Tyki muttered, "Well, that explains a lot." He looked at the desk in front of the two. A book? He snatched it up, flipping through the pages. "I didn't think you two could read," he said dryly, noting how "advanced" the vocabulary was. He smirked a little and put it back down on the desk.

Debitto drew himself up indignantly. "We're gonna try and impress Akicho when she comes home. She always wanted us to be able to read."

"Jasdevi is gonna read a bedtime story to her!" Jasdero cheered, looking up eagerly. Tyki twitched. Those two were… unhealthily attached to her. "She always read one to us."

The Noah of Pleasure's eyes softened. Akicho was that kind of person. "She's actually what I came here to talk about." He moved a pile of junk off of the bed, sitting in its place. "You two know the real story behind Akicho's past, right?"

The twins nodded solemnly. "We always were against keeping her in the dark," the dark-haired twin replied. "Is it about that Egg that was taken by stupid Cross?" he spat bitterly.

Tyki nodded. "Yes. You know what happens if she comes in contact with it, right?"

The two nodded again. "Yeah, Jasdevi knows what'll happen." It was Jasdero who answered. "But doesn't she already know?" he asked, tilting his head to the side curiously. "Didn't you tell her, Tyki-pyon?"

"Don't call me 'Tyki-pyon,' you morons," he snapped instinctively. Then he stopped, and sighed. "No, I never told her anything. If the Earl found out if I did… he wouldn't hesitate to kill her." Jasdevi both straightened up at the mention of the words "kill" and "her" in the same sentence.

Horrified looks took over their faces. "No way!" Debitto exclaimed indignantly. "Jasdevi wouldn't let her die! We'd stop him before he could even lay a finger on her!"

"Hi! That's right!" Jasdero agreed, nodding furiously. They both stood up sharply, brandishing their guns. The book they were reading fell to the floor. "We'll kill him ourselves!"

Tyki stepped forward and slapped the twins' heads. "If the Earl hears you, we'll have no chance."

Debitto peered up at the taller Noah curiously. "How long have you been the rebellious child?" he asked. Tyki scoffed. "Don't deny it; you just said that if the Earl hears us, we'll have no chance."

Sighing, he lit up a cigarette. He took a seat on the bed, pushing more books off of the blankets. "I'm not going to rebel against the Earl. I'd have to be stupid to do that. But… I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I have no light left." He stared down at his gray-skinned hand, clenching it into a fist.

-AKICHO LAMURIA-

Allen was separated from Cross, and was being forced to use the Ark in whatever way Lvellie demanded that he decided. He even sent his crony, Howard Link, to watch Allen all day, every day. That bastard was willing to toss the lives of the only remaining Exorcists away to stop the Millennium Earl. He didn't care how many of the Exorcists died. His only concern was winning.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. Everything was falling apart. Allen was being torn from the rest of us, suspected of being dangerous, and Kanda, Lenalee, Lavi, and the others were all still in the hospital wing. My hand flew to my side unconsciously, to my bandaged ribs. I got lucky; a few broken ribs, one or two shattered, a few scratches on my body, and a twisted ankle.

But I couldn't sleep. I was having nightmares again. This time, I was always in a cold dark place, and I couldn't see anything. I was the only one there. But I heard a voice…

"Don't you worry. I'll get you out of there, I promise you. Just hold on a little longer, okay? I'm coming… Kumari."

Footsteps and yelling snapped me out of my trance. I looked up to see someone running right out of Lab Five, closing the door behind him. A confused look spread over my face as I carefully glanced around. No one was looking. I pulled open the door, careful to make sure no one heard anything, and tiptoed inside.

As soon as I closed the door, I felt something stirring. My heart started to pump faster, and I clutched at my chest, gasping for air. I fell to my knees, panting, and waited for the feeling to pass. It didn't pass quickly, though, and as it was fading, I crawled closer to whatever was down that long, dark hall.

I stopped suddenly. My body didn't want me to move…

Reaching out, I felt my hand touch something.

It felt… familiar.

A bright flash reached out among the hall. My hair flew back, and my eyes widened. My hand sunk further into the object. It was the Akuma Egg that Cross and Allen brought back from the Ark. I shrieked as the Egg pulled me into its clutches, trying to pull my hand back out of the egg.

Then nothing.

-YU KANDA-

Bean sprout? Under surveillance.

Idiot rabbit? Still as stupid as ever.

Lenalee? Traumatized by Lvellie.

Akicho? … God knows where the hell she was.

She'd been missing since breakfast, when… what was his name? Ah, Link. Link announced that the bean sprout would be watched. She'd stood up and walked off, not bothering to finish her meal. It'd been at least seven hours; she should've been seen by someone.

Anyone who tried to defend the bean sprout was thought of as a Noah's agent, too. No one could truly voice their opinions anymore without being criticized for them. Even Kanda had to keep quiet now.

But Akicho… she had more at stake. If she was found out to have ties to the Noah, forget her being an innocent person. She'd be killed in an instant.

Kanda stayed as far away from Lvellie and Link as he possibly could. He, too, had an awful past with the inspector from Central. He was the one who performed that horrible experiment on him. He was the reason that the Japanese Exorcist couldn't die.

And he'd be damned if he allowed Akicho to receive the same damn treatment as he did in the old Order.

And here is where things start to get really fun.

I'm almost done writing this story, and I'm so happy with how it's turning out. Please don't expect anything, guys, because starting with the Level 4, things get weird. No predictions... just... omigosh I'm trying to hard not to spoil anything for it.

Please leave a review! ^^

XOXO