Book Thief101: You asked about the part between the Fourteenth and Allen. In this story at least, the Fourteenth 'likes' his whole family, which is why he had only sealed away their true Noah's and garbled their memories instead of outright destroying them (IE Rhode's 35 year old memory block). When Rhode awakens from that (think Tyki after Allen stabbed him), the Fourteenth offers to help seal that away again (and last chapter Tyki was asking Allen to do that for him; seal away Joyd). The why behind it, like "did the 14th offer because he liked Rhode" if that's what you meant, the why hasn't been specificly stated, but it was implied that the method made it easier for him to take over Allen. And I choose Skittles. :D

Notice: *author waves* Well now, manga chapter 189 came out... And, well... That was interesting. I'm almost at the threshold of drawing the line where I say my story is deviating from canon, but for the most part I should be able to continue following it for a wee bit longer. And by deviate I mean where the new material is completely obliterating my story's ability to follow it, so I'll say 'my story follows up to chapter 190' or something. That hasn't happened yet, but I just want to give a heads-up.


Requiem of Time: Chapter Twenty - Lavi


Lavi felt nervous butterflies in his stomach as his weight shifted automatically from one foot to the other when the boat rolled over another wave. He could detach himself from his emotions if he wished, but to do so would admit to there being emotions involved in the coming affair. And to him, there weren't. His obsession over Chomesuke was purely a matter of friendship. Of course.

Currently, the bookman and Allen were on their way to Japan, on the boat Cross had taken previously. The crew sweat-dropped at the sight of another coffin - almost exactly the same as the one Cross had - resting on the deck. What was it with these Dark Priests and their coffins? Allen was standing near the bow of the ship, silent since the journey had begun, while Lavi leaned against the side railing.

Lavi sighed to himself as he stared out at the long expanse of water. Getting Allen to accept bringing him along hadn't been too difficult. To put it simply, Allen didn't know what Chomesuke looked like, her true name, or what to do with her once he re-modified her. The acceptance didn't come without conditions, of course. Once the Akuma business was done, Lavi was heading straight back to China - Allen wasn't even going to let him get off the boat.

Lavi found the strictness of his own security unnecessary, but he didn't argue. He knew Allen had his reasons, and they were, to put it simply, reasonable…

"CHARLES!"

Ninth Circle: Dante's Redemption, a near suicidal move, depending on the circumstances. Allen had allowed his apprentice to stray from him when they entered the labyrinth, and that was the price to pay.

"VICTORIA!"

She had promised that she would come back, that she could easily handle a few dozen Akuma while Allen handled the Noah. Lavi had been there for that, and from what he observed, Victoria had been right - she was handling them easily. But then, that Level Four, under enchantments by the Skulls… No one but Allen himself could have wiggled out of that ambush…

No one but Allen himself. That was a key phrase in this business, and it had been proven time and time again as Allen stood at the head of the Third Faction. The only Exorcist capable of boldly walking into a room full of Noah and walking out again, the only man able to face the Millennium Earl to a standstill, the only one under no real threat from Akuma - not anymore, at least. No, Allen could handle almost anything alone. It was himself that was the real threat. Allen's internal battle against the Fourteenth, the slipping sanity, all that was Allen's true enemy.

Lavi turned his head to glance at the man occupying his thoughts, and instead saw only a boy. They had been so innocent back at this stage, the grinning Allen more concerned about his next meal than the next attack. Not anymore. And with the death of Sarah, it truly was back to the war. It was time to kill off emotions, harden hearts, sharpen weapons, and tighten fists. So long as Allen stood stable, they had a chance.

Just like how Chomesuke stands a chance, right, bookman? an annoying voice asked with amusement. Lavi blushed and looked out to the water. No matter how hard he tried to focus, his thoughts kept slipping back to her.

Allen felt ready to face the coming storm, ignoring the clear skies above. Into the heart of Noah, he described it. Armed with catnip and Chinese candy (Rhode had no lasting favorites, instead interested in the exotic variety), he was ready to face his surrogate family.

Without turning, he asked, "So Lavi, what do you think about this whole situation?"

The bookman used that as an excuse to focus on something besides the smiling girl in a pink kimono. "Japan or being sent to the past?" Allen mentioned the latter. "I think it's sketchy."

Allen glanced at him. "How so?"

"I've read a few books on time and theories behind it. One in particular stands out. To put it in simpler terms, it is the theory that if one were to be sent to the past, no matter what they change, it will all be the same in the end. Hypothetical nonsense at the time, but now that we are here…"

"Mind explaining that a bit more thoroughly, Lavi?"

Lavi laughed sheepishly. "Right. Well, it's like there are certain events in history that simply have to happen, for example a man's wife dying from an accident. Now, according to the theory, if said man went to past to save her from the accident, another accident would take place that would still claim her life. Some books described it as Time being its own entity, trying to heal itself from damage - damage being the changes made.

"And here we are. We have foreknowledge, we have more power, we are more skilled, and yet what have we changed, Allen? I tried to save Daisya, yet a team of Akuma distracted me right when I first heard him confronting Tyki through my golem. And Marshal Yeeger, Allen, goes unsaid, not to mention Suman Dark. No matter what we do, it just seems useless."

"What about the Finders from Barcelona?" Allen asked, his voice hitching halfway through. "Did we have over 100 'accidents' following their victory?" The young Marshal clung to this fact; he couldn't bear this second chance being reduced to futility.

Lavi paused for a second, holding Allen's penetrating gaze, before sighing. "No, we didn't. Which brings one of the lesser adaptations of that theory: that some events don't particularly matter. John C. Rodger can live or die in either timeline as his life - or death - mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. That's the theory I'm hoping for, as it gives even a slight chance that Chomesuke could be one of those insignificant deaths, that Time allows her to live this go around."

Allen's claw tightened so hard on the railing that the metal began to dent. "And what decides if something is significant? This John guy might mean nothing to us, but he could mean the world to some woman, or his kids, or his parents. Who decides this grand scheme?"

If Lavi was taken aback from Allen's anger, he didn't show it. His one eye stared neutrally back at Allen. "Who better than God Himself?" This time, it was Allen who looked surprise, but Lavi was quick to put this matter behind them. "But again, that's just merely a theory. We can always hope, right, Allen?"

Allen was looking back at the water now, and he uncurled his hands from the railing to see the harsh warping. "Right… We can always hope." But how often are you wrong, Lavi, when it matters most?

****

"Title: "Marshal on the Sinking Ship.""

Lavi looked up at that, casually unhooking his hammer with a grin. A Level Three… Well, this would be a real cha-

A gold dot had suddenly pierced into the Akuma, and a moment later it exploded. Lavi looked over at Allen, who casually blew on a smoking finger. "Crown Edge."

Lavi sighed. He had been hoping for a little action on this boat… which is why he perked up when there was a sudden rain of Akuma bullets. Artillery hidden in the clouds. Allen glanced up before creating a Crown Belt that covered the entire ship, excluding the mast that had been destroyed by the initial fire. That left Lavi to the fighting.

"Ozuchi Kozuchi!" he shouted as his hammer poofed into a normal size. More bullets shot through the clouds, hammering harmlessly into the white expanse of cloak. "Extend!" Slamming the base of the Innocence into the deck, Lavi rocketed into the sky as his hammer's shaft elongated (wink, wink).

Soon, Lavi was high enough to see the attackers. A mere group of Level Ones and a commanding Level Two. They never really stood a chance.

On the deck below, Allen watched as the sky lit up with mini-explosions, his cursed eye zooming into the location and seeing the souls break free of their bondage. The sight never got old or less satisfying.

Lavi's hammer retracted until he was safely on the deck again, Allen also removing the Crown Belt armor from the boat. A big change from the crash landings Lavi used to have when 'flying' with his hammer. Lavi saw Allen staring at the demolished mast. The young Marshal sighed. "Now what?"

Lavi patted him on the back, grinning. "Now, we wai-"

"Time Reversal!" a voice shouted suddenly. A gaping Allen and Lavi watched as a burst of golden light later, the mast was completely restored. They turned as one to see Miranda standing there, her crystal-type Innocence activated. She winked at them. "Support."

Lavi frowned. If both he and Miranda were here… then Lenalee-

At Asian HQ…

Lenalee's eye twitched. Everyone had gone to Japan but her.

Back with Lavi…

Lavi laughed.

While Allen tried to get a grasp of the fact that Miranda had stowed away, Lavi turned a sigh to her once his laughter was finished. "Actually, can you deactivate your Time Reversal, Miranda? We need the broken mast to lure Chomesuke out."

Her grin faded at that, replaced by a sheepish smile. "Um… I, er, can't?" At Lavi's raised eyebrow, she quickly explained, "Unchained, this Innocence is actually much stronger than the old Time Record. Instead of temporarily restoring something to its original form, it actually pulls the object back in time. We would need to destroy the mast ourselves to have it destroyed again."

Lavi blinked in surprise. Just then, Allen suddenly pointed a finger at the female Exorcist. "What are you doing here?!"

Miranda grew a stern look as she placed her hands on her hips. "If Lavi is going, Marshal Allen "Musician" Walker, then I too am coming. You could also use the support."

Allen placed his palm upon his forehead. "Lavi isn't "going," Miranda. As soon as we find Chomesuke I'm sending him back, and now you are going to have to go with him."

Miranda opened her mouth, but a deafening crack stopped her from speaking. She sent large eyes Lavi's way, as did the members of the crew peaking their heads from behind hiding places, as the bookman grew his hammer to a massive size and demolished the mast in a single swing.

He grinned back at everyone. "Now, we wait." Allen sighed, exasperated.

****

Not too much later, there was a bubbling from underwater. Lavi noticed it first, and he eager rushed to that side of the boat. Allen and Miranda followed.

In a burst of water, a large, gold Akuma rose. It's eyes were a menacing red, and around a large, spherical head was a medieval throat guard. In a gap between the front of the guard was a smaller, second head with swirly eyes and a squiggle for a mouth. "Akuma are Akuma, but I am an Akuma remodeled by Cross Marian, cho."

All the butterflies of anxiety in Lavi's stomach burst out in excitement. "Chomesuke!"

The Akuma seemed taken aback by that, but once it saw that the Exorcist wasn't going to attack it, it registered what he had called it. "Chomesuke? Is that what you will call me, cho?" The Akuma then blushed, red tingeing the larger yellow head. "It's a cute name. Yes, call me Chomesuke, cho."

In this war, the things most precious to us are taken before we can fully appreciate them. Enjoy what you can when you can, with no regrets, only looking back to recall fond memories. That is how we are to survive, that is the human's ability to continue onward despite the looming defeat.

And with that reminder, Lavi did not hold himself back. "Chomesuke!" he shouted again, actually hopping from the deck with a wild grin to embrace an old friend.

"Ch-ch-ch-cho!" Chomesuke shouted, waving her arms around when she saw him approaching. The impact made her lose control of her flight momentarily, almost sending them into the water, Lavi laughing the whole time. "I came to deliver a message, cho! What are you doing, choooo?!"

Allen and Miranda shared a small smile at this, glad to finally see Lavi so happy after so long. The marshal especially took a good look at the Akuma, his eye activated by its presence yet the soul used to power it no longer bound and in agony from the Akuma's existence. The soul was a young girl, and by description he guessed that to be Chomesuke's human form. Unfortunately, his eye also managed to see the dark matter seeping from the Akuma, a sign that it was still a servant of the Earl despite its freedom.

Once everything was squared away (IE Lavi finally pulled off of the Akuma), Chomesuke could finally deliver her message from Cross. "Allen Walker, if for some reason you brought along your 'group of annoyances' or pretty ladies, he wants you to send them back now. Edo is too much for them." Allen nodded at that, sending a smug look Lavi and Miranda's way. Chomesuke then looked up at the broken mast. "Now, let me help you get to the island." And without further adieu, the Akuma floated to the back of the ship and placed her hands on the wood. A moment later, the boat lurched forward at almost three times the speed it traveled earlier.

In no time the boat reached the shores of Japan, specifically before the large, red arches Chomesuke had taken them the first time - and where Cross had landed. Once the Grave of Sarah had been unloaded, it was time to say goodbyes. But before that…

"RE-re-model me, cho?" Chomesuke asked as she transformed into her human form (Lavi 'Strike!'ing in the background). "Why would you do that, cho?" Crimson yet human eyes, long brown hair, cute pink kimono with its red and blue sash, surrounded in a breeze of Sakura pedals… Every bit beautiful as Lavi remembered.

"The Earl is going to be a bit more forceful in coming days. You won't be able to hold him off for long. I'm going to remove the self-destruct command from within you as well as completely remove all traces of the Earl from you," Allen informed simply.

Chomesuke looked confused. "And then you are sending me to China, cho? You don't need a guide, cho?"

"No," Allen said simply, before removing his top hat and concentrating. The ace was such a blessing in moments like this. He focused on magic. "On…" One short incantation later, Allen pulled out his Sword of Salvation and makes a quick slash above her. A light from the ace surrounded the sword as he did so, and only his eye was capable of seeing the result.

The unbound soul, another Chomesuke floating about her human form, was suddenly severed from the girl. Allen watched as she awoke from a slumber-like state, smiling at him as she passed onto Heaven.

The remaining Chomesuke let out a pained sound at that, collapsing onto one knee. Lavi was by her side in an instant, sending a searching look Allen's way. The marshal replaced his top hat. "I have removed her primary power supply. From now on, she will need to eat food, like us. Also, without that binding soul to corrupt, Adam should no longer be able to evoke the bloodlust."

Allen glanced back at the boat, watching as Miranda yet again restored the mast. "Now, you three head back. I will be fine on my own."

Lavi helped Chomesuke stand, the pain slowly fading, and sent a look Allen's way. "Thank you, Allen. This means more to me than you know."

Allen's response was a smirk and a wink. "Oh, I think I do know. Have fun!"

"Beansprout…" Lavi grumbled softly as he helped Chomesuke back onto the boat, a blush on his cheeks. It wasn't like that!

With a final few parting words between Allen and Miranda, the trio was back on the boat and heading back to the main land, leaving Allen behind to face the Earl, the Noah, and God knows what else.

Miranda spoke with the crew as they sailed back, giving Lavi and Chomesuke space as they spoke. And speak they did, as Lavi explained the immensity and paradox of the situation he, Allen, Miranda, Lenalee, and Crowley were in.

"Long ago, there was another crew on another boat. A modified Akuma by the name of Chomesuke saved us."

Chomesuke, in human form as to not scare the crew further than she already had, listened to what he explained, blushing as he emphasized her exploits.

"And that was the last I saw of her, a lone Level Two going against that fusion of Level Threes."

The story went on as well, if not a summary of his life as much as small points as to where the war had headed.

"And finally, when we - along with Allen - went to kill the Earl, another Level Two with a peculiar ability happened to do the unthinkable. It sent the five of us back to the past, to a time a few months ago. And, well," Lavi grinned at her, "I figured that since we didn't need your help as much this time around, we could at least manage to save you from an early death."

"B-But I'm an Akuma," Chomesuke stuttered, surprised by his words, "a machine that follows orders, cho. Why would you, an Exorcist, care enough to save me, cho?"

You are more than a machine to me, Chomesuke, Lavi thought to himself, capable of at least admitting that. You are a friend - one of the many I lost in this war. I would do almost anything to keep you from harm.

"Why?" he speculated, looking up into the darkening sky before looking back down at her with a grin. "I'm repaying old debts."

Chomesuke looked at him for a moment, and a short silence passed between them, before she blushed and smiled. "In that case, Exorcist…" Lavi was surprised to see her glomp him.

"Thank you."


AN: Well, folks, while I was unable to live up to Angel Fantasy's ridiculously high expectations (T_T) of getting this done by last Friday, I did manage to finish the chapter relevantly fast considering everything else that got in the way. Anyways, here's Chomesuke for yall. And before I get any reviews about it, John C. Rodger is a name made up on a whim (NOT an OC). Now, until next time!

Err, right, 'poll' results, if it could be called that, is overwhelmingly "don't tell us." So I won't. Thanks for the virtual sweets!