Requiem of Time: Chapter Forty - Allen


To have two women.

Ultimately, Allen did know what Rhode had been getting at. He just couldn't believe it. After all, the Fourteenth had mentioned it, and Road had hinted towards it, but for Rhode, his Rhode, to bring it up...

He loved Rhode. Nothing could deny that fact. She was the first to capture his heart, and he had let her twist it around until they married. Having her taken away from him, when he first entered this life, had tore at him. Seeing her not recognize him had shattered him. Having her back filled him with life again.

This new dilemma forced him to put Lulubell up at that level. The Fourteenth loved her, a crush bordering on obsessive, and sometimes Allen felt it was hard to distinguish himself from those feelings. Hard, but not impossible. But even so, he couldn't deny what he had admitted to himself when he thought he had lost Rhode, when the Fourteenth was still asleep, nor when he was in Rhode's world with just himself: without Rhode, Lulubell would be the one he loved.

The question lay at how he felt about Lulubell now, with his Rhode back. What distinguished her as a friend, or more than a friend? A friend was someone you trusted, enjoyed being around, was someone to relax with or do things with. Okay, maybe that wasn't the best way of looking at the Noah of Lust. He did have an intimate understanding of her, though, and at times being near her was enjoyable. And she was trustworthy, so long as you knew what to trust her in.

How about more than a friend?

Could Allen see himself in her embrace? Compare her to Rhode. Did his heart-rate accelerate at the mere sight of her? Could she bring a smile to his face when it felt like nothing else could? He imagined himself holding her again, a lithe yet mature body so different than Rhode's own. He imagined her catlike tendencies, the coolness of her soft skin compared to Rhode's warmth. He remembered when he first penetrated her mask, finding the core and essence of what made up the woman known as Lulubell. He remembered her weakness the first time he had sealed away Lustul for her, and he remembered the trust she had put in him then.

He thought of the kitten she could be, gently cleaning his hand of catnip, and the tiger, fighting valiantly for the Earl's wishes. So many forms and faces, yet she remained the same. He remembered the feel of her lips on his, most recently only a couple of days ago, and the taste that opposed the candy that he usually found on Rhode's.

Did he love her, as had been stated by both Rhode and Road? Maybe, but not in the same way he loved Rhode. He could, though. He realized now that he could. He loved Rhode with all his heart, but with Lulubell he held himself back, "repressed the feelings" Rhode had said... Because he was already married. Rhode had a skewed view of betrayal, but Allen felt like not holding back would be one.

All this thinking was making his head hurt, and it was distracting him from what he was supposed to be doing.

"I found them," Cross mentioned, and Allen sat up.

Finally, he thought to himself before he was standing next to Cross. The two of them where in not the Fourteenth's private room, but the main 'heart' of Noah's Ark. The room the Millennium Earl himself had used to control the Ark. Before them stretched a screen, the one Allen guessed the Earl had also used to see and hear through his Akuma 'eyes and ears'. Well, now Allen could also do that, through the scattered Akuma modified by Cross or himself.

The screen portrayed a heavy ferry ship, though only a small group of people could be found on it. The modified Akuma was descending towards that small group, and some of them had already noticed. By the time the modified Akuma was just in front of them, all three were staring.

"That's Cross's, isn't it?" the voice of Tiedoll came through the speakers of the Arc.

"I am an Akuma modified by Marshal Cross," came another voice, high pitched.

Winters and Cloud Nine stepped up, but it was Tiedoll who continued, "Do you bring a message from your master?"

A nervous laugh from the speakers, then, "Ah, actually I was sent only to find you and stay with you for as long as possible."

Allen tried not to, but with the thoughts hounding his mind, he could only stare at the first woman he had ever dated. Doubtless, she was beautiful, a match against Lulubell's human form. His mind fleeted back...

"So you are Cross's apprentice... Exactly how similar are you to him?" Cloud Nine asked over her glass of wine, purple eyes staring down at a sixteen your old Allen who was on the floor with Lau Shimin.

Allen froze at that, the monkey pulling his white hair. Then, he scowled. "I am nothing like him. I do not throw my debts on every person I pass, nor am I a womanizing drunk who is only concerned with how he looks. The only thing similar between him and I is that we are both Criticals."

Cloud Nine, wearing her purple blouse and white pants with her legs crossed, looked down at her glass and took another sip. "A pity. I miss having someone to drink with," was all she said, more to herself than him.

"A youth his age should not be found drinking," Link mentioned from his place, standing erect next to the door with his hands behind his back. Neither Exorcist paid attention to him.

Allen laughed as Lau Shimin put on the oversized mask of Crown Clown and began jumping around, the large cape flapping around with his movements. Cloud Nine smiled at that as well.

The first time Allen had really met Cloud Nine. She had sent for him, intending to learn about him. Then she had done so again, and he learned about her. They got to talking, and then to flirting...

"Where are they?" Allen asked.

"Heading for Arromanches, France. We can meet them when they get there," Cross mentioned, leaning back from the machine and closing his eyes as he took a drag. Nonchalance seemed to bleed out of the man. Allen felt only the weariness.

"Tell me when they land," Allen sighed, then headed back to the plush couch. He needed to rest his eyes again. Needed to think.

Cross huffed. "I'm not your damn messenger-boy, idiot apprentice. How 'bout you tell me when they land?" Allen said nothing as he collapsed in a heap. Cross eyed the man – not a boy. He noticed Allen's body language and refrained from pressing the matter. "Ingrateful little shit," he mumbled.

XXXX

Allen took off his top hat to run his hand through his hair once before stuffing it back on and walking through the doorway.

He stepped out into a grassy plain, and a moment later Cross stepped out behind him. They were on a hill, and down a gentle slope only about twenty yards away was a dirt road. On that road were currently three Marshals, five Finders, and one modified Akuma in the shape of a gold... crab with wings might be best to describe it.

A sea breeze bit at Allen's chest through the open jacket, but he paid it no mind. With only a shared glance with Cross, they both descended the hill.

"It's Walker!" one of the Finders shouted upon sighting the duo, and all three Marshals rounded on them suddenly.

Allen smiled at their guarded expressions, and the widened eyes that saw Cross just behind him. When he was close enough, he bowed slightly and said, "Good evening."

None of the Marshals made any threatening moves towards their anti-Akuma weapons, but it was obvious each was on the verge of activating. Tiedoll's elderly face had none of his usual friendliness, while Winters seemed to have it in abundance with the low chuckle behind his leather mask. Cloud...

The reserved yet feisty woman was in no mood for games today, while Lau Shimin growled softly, picking up his mistress's feelings. For some reason, it was strange seeing her completely geared up as a Marshal – he was used to her normal clothes. Like himself and the others, the heavy black coat with gold lining hung from her shoulders and was buttoned entirely up the front – though hers was sleeveless. She also wore that strange gold contraption on her arms, the linking pieces covering everything save the fingers. Beneath her belt the Marshal jacket flared out like something Cross would wear, though the front was open to reveal her pants and gold shoes.

The five of them had to make quite the sight, between their ominous black and extravagant gold.

"Nine!" Allen shouted, still locked in the parry with the two Level Fours. He dislodged to make a retreat, but they pressed, trapping him again. "No, NINE!"

Similarly around the room, each was trapped in their own way. Tiedoll, he had been left in the last room, but the rest could not be of help either. Miranda, eyes closed and near fainting as she struggled to hold the last vestiges of a Time Recovery. Crowley, slumped against the far wall. Lenalee slowed by a Dark Matter spell Allen didn't have the time to break, while under hot pursuit in the air. Lavi, equally surrounded by a great number of Level Fours. Kanda and Chouji, together confronting Wrathra. Cloud Nine...

Lau Shimin had been slain, and from his corpse Tryde had retrieved the fragment of Innocence. With a final huff, he turned and began to leave the room, destroying the fragment as he went. Cloud Nine was left on her knees, defeated, defenseless, and surrounded by as many Akuma.

"Death Ball! Crown Belt!"

A resounding boom scattered the Akuma near Allen, while Crown Clown worked at keeping the Akuma away as he ran. Too late.

Three beams from separate Level Threes impaled the downed woman, one searing her, one twisting the flesh, and the last simply running through her like a hot iron bar. Unique abilities in each Akuma, and the combination had her cry out in agony.

The Sword of Salvation whirled as Allen hacked a Level Four in pieces without even looking, and the next that parried was rent apart from the inside by a Crown Belt impaling it then splitting from within. Others were barred confrontation by the separate Crown Clown. With a roar, Allen leapt with a spin and cleaved two of the Akuma attacking Cloud in a single swing. Upon his landing, he threw the sword, and the third fell with a gargled sound.

A moment later the sword flew back into Allen's hand as he recalled it, but he only lodged it back into his arm and knelt by the blond woman. Too late.

With one hand he supported her, checking for a pulse. Her purple eyes were still open, but not exactly staring at anything. Explosions went off all around him, but Allen didn't notice. His heart clenched as he felt no sign of life from her. No tears, though. Not anymore. The hand on her neck moved to close her eyes one lid at a time, so she looked like she was resting, and he gently kissed her forehead.

He had never minded her scar, not even a little. It merely made her distinguished. And now she was dead.

Allen set the corpse down and turned to the rest of the room. His left eye thrummed and beat with waves of agony, but he paid it no mind. Anger honed his mind and burned his blood hot. With Crown's Edge, he aimed his hand and fired the small golden rings in a sudden five fingered barrage. Hundreds and hundreds of the gold crowns impaled the Akuma, enough to effect even Level Fours. Explosions followed, sweeping through the room as Crown Clown protected him from retaliation.

"I know what your thinking, and no, I am not a sympathizer for the Millennium Earl," Allen started immediately, still smiling.

"Straight to the point, aren't you?" Tiedoll sighed. Allen reminded himself that he hadn't actually met any of these Marshals before in this life.

Cross stepped forward, so that it was two Marshals against three. "I know he looks like a snot-nosed brat, but he is really just an idiot apprentice. At least hear him out first."

"Cross, what is going on?" Cloud demanded, overlooking Allen for her familiarity with the other man. Of course, she wouldn't remember a thing about him. For some reason, that hurt a little bit for Allen.

"We are going after the fatass," Cross shrugged, then gestured for Allen to continue.

"I know the current location of his Ark," Allen put in, and the eyes returned to him – along with no small amount of distrust. Well, he hoped to change that if he was to work with them.

"You must excuse me, but of course you would know the location if you were an Earl sympathizer. I have absolutely no reason to trust you," Tiedoll mused, the most casual of the bunch but by no means unprepared for a sudden attack.

"Thirty-five years ago, one of the Noah – the Fourteenth Noah – betrayed the Millennium Earl," Allen mentioned, breaking into a story without preamble. The other Marshals blinked. "He and his brother, Mana Walker, left on the run, hounded by a vindictive Earl. Some, like Master here, became collaborators with the Fourteenth, temporary allies united by a mutual opposition against the Millennium Earl. However, the Fourteenth knew that one day the Earl would catch him and kill him, so he found a pregnant woman and implanted his Noah essence in her unborn child. Shortly following that, the Millennium Earl finally found and killed the Fourteenth Noah."

Allen could see they were following his story easily and catching at what he was hinting at if not exactly believing him. His only hope was Cross for winning them over. "The child was born and found compatible for a fragment of Innocence – an Apostle of God – but for some reason or other his parents left him at a circus as an orphan. There he met Mana Walker, and the man adopted him as his son.

"Mana died one day, and in a moment of weakness the boy fell prey to the Earl and brought Mana back as an Akuma. In return, Mana cursed him with an eye forced to see the suffering of Akuma." At this point, Allen activated his eye. "His Innocence fragment reacted ahead of him and slayed the Akuma, leaving him orphaned once more. Not much later, this bum of a Master found the boy, starting his training as an Exorcist.

"It's obvious where I'm getting with this, but that's the most of it. Yes, I have the implant of the Fourteenth Noah within me, but I am an Exorcist and further I am a Marshal. Look at me and see I am not a Fallen One; I have not betrayed God for the Earl."

After a moment, Tiedoll turned to his two companions. "The kid has a point, I suppose."

Winters shrugged. "I still say we kill him. Would probably be more fun than those lousy nuisances we've seen on the way."

"Look, you all know me at least. I trust the ingrateful brat with my life. With him, we have a shot at ending this war and being the heroes."

A pause of considering, then Cloud Nine sniffed. "If Cross trusts the boy, then I suppose I will too."

Allen stared at her. She called me a boy? His pride was mortally wounded.

Allen's already accelerated heart rate beat even faster when he realized she was leading him to her bed. Her flawed yet so flawless face was flushed as her lips worked against his, and his heart skipped a beat when he realized her fingers were working at the buttons of his jacket. Her back was arched into his own hands, yet he hesitated in going further.

Breaking the kiss, he gasped, "You want to- ?!" She silenced him with her lips again, and a quick jerk took the silver and black Exorcist uniform from his shoulders, leaving only the white formal button-up shirt.

Cloud Nine had always been a passionate woman, and eighteen he may be but he had never actually... Well... He blushed as he let her lead him.

"Sometimes," Cloud whispered, only a little out of breath, "you must forget the war and the needs and the many, many problems. Sometimes you must just lose yourself in the moment and find a small happiness in a world of darkness."

It sounded a touch poetic, even without the pleasant shivers she sent down his spine. She smiled at him when he nodded, then guided him onto the bed.

Inexperienced he may have been back then, but she certainly hadn't been calling him 'boy' by the end. He held onto that thought stubbornly. At least she was willing to stand on his side. What about the other Marshals?

Allen looked at Tiedoll and Winters. The former was most likely inclined to agree, while the latter the exact opposite. However, before either could form their replies, strict training at the hands of the enemy picked up a movement.

Allen took two steps back, and before his heel was back on the ground a small series of thunks could be heard. Arrows had whizzed through where he had been standing and now were imbedded in the ground a small distance away. Allen had reacted on instinct, and he knew that Innocence would be of no help here. Grave of Sarah began to rise out of the ground.

Cross cursed at the sight of the squad of Crow approaching, and the other Marshals grew dark looks. "You led them here?!" Allen growled, already focusing on the spells he knew to counter their 'holy' magic. "On..."

"I assure you, we did not know," Tiedoll muttered, while Winters made an almost hissing sound of displeasure.

Strangely, the Music had become almost a part of Allen in recent days, that gentle hum in the back of his mind that entranced him and at times bled away stresses as he simply listened to it. However, around the time Crow appeared, another hum began, a more human sounding one. Why did he recognize it?

"Allen Walker must die. The Duke Millennium wishes it," a cool voice announced, and Allen's head whipped around.

On the knoll he and Cross had come from now stood a second Ark Gate, and before that were seven faces he didn't quite want to meet yet. Joyd, both parts of Bondomu, Sheryl Camelot, Skin Bolic, Wisely, and to lead them was of course Lulubell. Her presence had caused the Fourteenth's humming.

Allen glanced for Rhode, but the blue haired girl was absent of this gathering.

Cross and Allen took a step back so they were side-by-side with the other Marshals, and those three only gave Allen one last uncertain look before activating their Innocence fragments. Allen did the same, making an equally grand show as the others as Crown Clown burst to life around him, swirling up his arm and settling as his angelic cloak. Allen drew his sword in the usual flashes of light, and as he did so Crown Clown drifted off to hover next to him.

Wrathra grunted as Lau Shimin beat into his arms. The giant monkey was relentless, and the retaliatory aspect of Wrathra's power was useless against the Innocence beast.

Throughout the town square similar battles were taking place, on a proportion Allen had never seen before. A particularly powerful blow took Wrathra off his feet and into a nearby building, building to the demolition. Tiedoll's white beast of Innocence grappled with Lulubell's dragon form, giant limbs crushing buildings and decorations alike in the struggle. Winters was a beast of war, his double bladed Torment a whirling frenzy against the creations of Bondomu. Those twins and destruction went together hand in hand, and their arsenal of abilities had only increased with the unlocking of their true Noah forms.

Rhode giggled, hands locked behind her back as she grinned at Allen. Next to her and similarly dressed was Joyd, smirking in that friendly arrogance. Allen used the point of his sword in the ground to steady himself as he panted, exhausted already. Crown Clown on his back thrummed with need and energy, urging Allen to fight onward.

Behind Allen's opponent Noah, Tiedoll's monstrosity suddenly tumbled to the side, and seventeen year old Allen knew it had to be Sheryl's doing. Lulubell pressed her advantage and bit into the thing's neck.

Allen sucked in a breath and lurched himself forward, sword behind him and prepared for a swing.

Every time the Marshals and the Noah came into confrontation, rubble was always left in the battle's wake. However, this time, none of them appeared willing to fight just yet. At least, once their Innocence fragments were activated, they merely stood there, impassive – even Marshal Winters. If Allen was the target, they wouldn't interfere.

Some allies I have, Allen thought blandly. But then, the fun has only just begun.

Near the same time they all activated, ten more problems showed their faces. Four for the Crow, three for the Marshals, and three for the Noah.

The tip of the Sword of Salvation hit the ground as Allen lowered his arm. That hand, still holding his sword, came to rest on his stomach as it shook suddenly. Just a twitch, then another. And another, and once again as a small sound could be heard. "-Ha..."

Twitch. "Hahahahahahahahaha!" Allen tilted his head back and laughed at the sky. His hand clenched his jacket with the sword, twisting it as he just roared. So.... So ridiculous!

Always so ridiculous!

Ten problems shifted the formless shadows to become ten black cloaks. Allen's eyes flashed in further amusement, grin stretching just a bit wider through his laugh, as he caught sight of the dark grey 'masks' of the black Crown Clowns. Spades for masks, all of them. So perfect, so completing.

"Hahaha – A- ha! -Aces! - ahahaha – ev-everywhere! Ahahahahahaha!"

And then the cloaks, as one, reacted.


AN: Frustrating and frustrating. FF changed their text presenter AGAIN. They used to allow asterisks for scene changes, and then they changed that to not allowing them. Then, a year or two later, they allowed it again, and now AGAIN they don't. Not only do they not allow them, but they REMOVED all previous ones in all chapters, meaning I got a garbled blob with no breaks for ALL my stories. (Insert harsh and violent curses)! I in no way want to go through over a million words and edit in scene breaks. -_-