I hope you enjoy because I've had an epiphany of sorts. I actually wrote down a plot for this story (I had a rough idea in my head before, don't judge). It looks like it's going to be reeeealllllyyyy long. Oh, and for those of you who love Timcampy, I must apologize in advance. He is going to die. Please forgive me!
Chapter 17
A New Life
Kanda had been an Exorcist for years. It was hard for something to disturb him, especially through violence. Yet here was a vile scene beyond anything he had seen in several years. Bodies littered the floor, blood pooling and soaking the Finders' cream-colored uniforms. Limbs were twisted into unnatural poses. Kanda wasn't even able to tell if they were alive or if they were dead.
The smell of burning paper wafted to his nose. Kanda somehow knew where it was coming from. He darted towards the research storage rooms. Just as he was about to run into one, a white wall knocked him down. Kanda stumbled back, eyes raging as he took in the white-haired boy walking out of the burning room.
"Moyashi?" he growled. "Why are you doing this?"
The boy's eyes were blank and cold. The gray color was flatter than a metal. Kanda didn't see an ounce of free will in him.
"I am not called 'Moyashi'. I was ordered by my master to wreak havoc on the Black Order. There was an underlying wish for it to be specifically in the records of the science division," he replied. Kanda felt a shudder run through him. This was not the same boy he had met earlier. There was no doubt that the Earl had done something to him. If the Earl could control one person, what was stopping him from controlling other people?
Kanda tightened his grip on Mugen.
"Did you attack Fou, the guardian of this branch?" Kanda demanded. A low chuckle drew his attention away from the boy. A man in a dark suit approached them, a butterfly drawing into his palm.
"Shounen had nothing to do with that thing. All the credit goes to me," he informed the Exorcist. There was amusement in his voice. Tyki Mikk slung an arm over Walker's shoulders, carding a hand through the pale hair. "Isn't it amazing? The Earl took an obstinate Exorcist and made him into our puppet. Nothing short of a miracle."
Kanda scowled and brandished Mugen at them. "All the more reason to kill him!"
If Walker lacked emotion, then Tyki was overflowing with them. His golden eyes seemed to have become enraged. He clutched the white-haired boy tightly. The anger passed as quickly as it had come and the Noah of Pleasure smiled.
"This little Apprentice doesn't remember his name anymore. Did you know that? I think he should be renamed. How about the name Ace?" Tyki joked. "After all, he is such a wonderful cheater at playing poker."
"You're sick," spat Kanda. Tyki smirked knowingly.
"Since when have you cared enough to say something like that…Kanda Yuu, the Second Exorcist."
The Japanese youth felt his heart drop into his stomach. They knew. They knew about the Second Exorcists.
A heart shaped door appeared behind Tyki and Walker. The Noah's face became disappointed. He reluctantly turned towards the Exorcist apologetically.
"It would seem our time is up," he said regretfully. "I would have liked to stay a little longer, do a bit more damage than burning a few rooms and killing a guardian spirit."
Tyki pulled his arms away from the boy, bending down to whisper a few orders into his ear. Walker obeyed without a word. He turned around and headed towards the door. Kanda saw him leaving. He couldn't allow a potential threat of Walker's level get away. If the Order couldn't have the boy, then neither could the order. Kanda lunged forward with Mugen aimed for the soft flesh of Walker's body.
A hand pierced through his stomach. It sliced through muscle and tissue. Mugen clattered to the floor uselessly. The teenager coughed up blood and collapsed as Tyki withdrew the now bloody glove.
"Never aim your sword at him again Exorcist," Tyki whispered harshly. "The only ones who are allowed to hurt him...the Earl and myself."
The Noah left Kanda to bleed out and left through the door.
::+::+::+: ϒ :+::+::+::
"Is it safe to let him wander around?"Sheryl asked dubiously. His attention was on the said boy and his daughter. They were in the rose garden. Road was weaving the flowers she had picked into snow-white strands. He hadn't so much as batted an eye since she had sat him down.
"He will go nowhere without an order," The Earl assured him. "It'll be interesting to see exactly how far my influence spreads over those under my control as well."
Tyki paid no heed to the two children in the garden. He merely sipped at the glass of tea in front of him. He was somewhat concerned about Walker, but he didn't know why. "Is it possible for him to develop emotional bonds with other people?"
Sheryl snorted. "I hope not. It's bad enough that we have to adopt him into the family. I can't even imagine having that thing following me around like I'm the best thing in the world. You would be his uncle, Tyki; he'd follow you even more than he would follow me."
The Earl (in human form) chuckled at them. He loved when two siblings argued. Something about their loving bond felt nostalgic to him. He supposed it was the closest thing to what he and his beloved fourteenth had, that thing called 'brotherhood'.
"If it is possible for a puppet to become emotionally attached, then I have failed," he told his two companions. "However, it is still a failure that can be utilized."
Tyki didn't like the tone of the conversation so he changed the subject.
"Why exactly did we destroy the Black Order's research?" he asked. Sheryl nodded in agreement. He had been wondering the same thing himself. The Earl began to pout.
"The Exorcists were on the verge of creating something that had the capability of locating the Heart." He shrugged. "It wouldn't be any fun if this wasn't a race between us and them.
"Besides, we can't fight the Heart with only five Noahs."