Chapter 7
Aw, no reviews or favorites :( oh well! Enjoy!
Gin's POV
"Thanks again, Allen," I say sincerely. I can't believe he still has this! Kanda just che'd and looked away from the two of us.
Such a buzz kill.
In the midst of the little fog from the water, I yawn. Kanda che's once again and Allen looks down at me and smiles as I hang the watch and chain around my neck.
"Tired?" I nod, looking into the water. "It seemed like you should have gotten plenty of sleep though. What happened?" he asks, curious.I smirk.
"Curiosity killed the cat, Allen," just as Kanda said-
"She was losing to me in a fight." Allen looked between us, shocked. Then he glares at Kanda.
"You didn't hurt her did you?" he asks, venom dripping from his voice. I tsk as Kanda smirks again.
"As if. I wouldn't let Pretty Boy hurt me. Like he could," I added quietly. Allen laughed silently and shook his head, grinning from ear-to-ear.
"We're here." I look up at the Finder. I had forgotten he was here. We step onto dry land, the Finder following us. Hm, I guess we need Finders? What do the do, anyways? "Hurry, we might miss it." The three of us nod and all of us run into the city, me and Allen following the other two. Allen pulls out the black booklet and opens it.
"Read it aloud," I say quickly. He nods quickly and reverts his gaze back to the booklet.
"Ancient City Martel. It is now an abandoned city where a ghost dwells. The investigation started with an eerie legend that was being discussed by the locals." Although he wasn't looking over at us, I could see Kanda's ear twitch as he listened. "The ghost is a deceased citizen-"
"Well, of course it's deceased. It's a ghost, ne?" I said, interrupting with a wave of my hand. I mean, if someone is a ghost, it automatically means they're deceased. No reason to put that in the booklet. Allen clears his throat, and I sweat drop. "Sorry, continue!"
"Anyways," he said, sending me an annoyed glare, "The ghost is a decease citizen of Martel. It spited those who left the city, and as more left, it's face became more and more ugly. And in order to escape loneliness, it kidnaps children who get near the city." I snort after a short silence.
"Someones a pedo." Allen chokes on nothing and looks at me, his face red. Kanda just che'd. I suddenly saw tracks ahead of us. We're on top of a tunnel. "Umm-"
"But there's one thing I still don't understand."
"Just worry about the train for now!" screamed Kanda as he smoothly jumped over the ledge of the tunnel, his hand supporting him. Wait, train?
"Please hurry, the train has come!" yelled the Finder from below us, crouching on a steel beam.
"Whaaat? We're going on that?" me and Allen ask at the same time, with no doubt the same awestruck and dumb expression. Nobody answer us and suddenly Kanda and the Finder jump, followed by me and Allen not a second afterward. The only thing I could think of at the time was, 'I'm glad I didn't pick a skirt.'
I unfortunately, didn't jump right or something. I personally don't care, but Kanda seemed to mind a lot when I ended up on top of him as we landed on the fast moving train.
"Get the hell of me!" I smile with my eyes close and crawl of him, too afraid to stand up with my legs feeling like jell-o.
"Illegally boarding a train..." Allen said, dazed.
"We've always done this way," Kanda answers, still annoyed. The Finder quickly opens one of the escape doors and we drop inside. Of course, being the gentlemen they are, I had to wait until everybody else dropped in. As I lowered myself from the top of the train, one of the train worker or whatever they called opened his mouth nervously.
"Excuse me, passengers!" I noticed he was looking up at me and a small blush formed on his face. "This is the first class train, and normal citizens are supposed to be in the s-second class train," he said, stuttering with the blush still on his face. I narrow my eyes as I hang from the open door until I could drop safely to the ground. Fucking perv.
"We're the Black Priest. Please get a room ready." I looked over at the Finder then back to the perv.
"The Black...?" He looked at all of our shirts, not excluding mine, and noticed the cross. He bowed deeply.
"Y-Yes sir!" he said as he straightened up and hurried away, motioning us to follow.
"What was that about?" Allen asked as I drop down into his arms and smirk as his face gets red.
"The rose crest you carry on your shoulder is the symbol of vatican, and it allows you to enter any place you desire." Allen put me down and looked at the symbol on his shoulder. The Finder bowed slightly and looked at us. "By the way, I will be supporting you until we reach Martel. The name's Toma. I'm one of the Finders. Nice to meet you."
I nod my head in return and Allen smiles kindly. Of course, cold-hearted Kanda just turned away and walked into the compartment that the perv from before had showed us to. I sat across from him and Allen scooted in beside me, once again looking at the booklet. I had the urge to prop my feet up beside Kanda. He scowled and pushed them off as I smiled innocently.
"All right, the question I was wondering about earlier... What does this eerie legend have to do with the Innocence?" I looked at Kanda expectantly. From my point of view, he seemed too lazy to explain.
"Che." Allen sweat dropped. "An Innocence is...," he started, looking out the large window, a bored expression masking his face. "a substance that has changed over the years, from the time of the Noah to the present. In the beginning, it was sunk at the bottom of the sea, but... As the power of the stone lured us to it, we discovered it."
"Seems like your ancestors were a little greedy to me," I said, also looking out of the window, watching the trees rush by. I could feel his glare on me.
"But it's appearance changed every time, and it could appear out of nowhere in any form. The stone always causes eerie illusions, for some reason..." he said.
"So that means the "Ghost of Martel" might have something to do with Innocence?"
"Yeah." Kanda looks away from the window, his gaze downcast. " "In an eerie place, there lies Innocence." That's why the church always investigates these kind of places, and whenever they feel there's a high probability of Innocence, they send us in." I could tell Allen was thinking, but the only thing that I could think of after hearing this was,
"So we're pretty much like the churchs' tools." Kanda's head snaps up and his eyes bore into mine as I stare back defiantly. "And the Black Order is God's tool, am I right?" I ask, hearing the anger in my voice and not trying to hide it. I'm not a fucking tool! And why the hell should I care about "God"? He's done nothing for me since the day I was born!
Allen's eyes suddenly widen and even Kanda looks shocked as he glances at his own black booklet.
"This.."
"That's right," says Toma from the hall. "I too, was apart of the investigation, so I have seen it before. The Ghost of Martel is..."
We sit in silence until our stop comes and we rush over the barren land down a hill. I could faintly see the outline of a city in the distance.
"The Ghost of Martel... is only a doll," Allen repeats, still shocked.
Living between the rocks and the dry land, the citizens lived a horrible life. And thusly, Martel was called, "The Land Forsaken by God."
Living in despair, the people started to create dolls in order to forget about their situation. Joyous dolls that dance and sing.
But in the end, the people got tired of creating dolls and eventually moved away. However, the dolls that were left behind still moved as the always did. Even now, after five hundred years.
"It wouldn't be surprising if the Innocence was used to create these dolls." I snapped out of my thoughts and glanced at Kanda. Suddenly, we were surrounded by a dreadful feeling, or at least I was. It made my heart hurt, no matter how cheesy that sounded. Goosebumps crawled up my arms and legs and I wrapped the crimson cloak closer around my body, shivery from the chills.
"The Finders," I whispered. It can't be good.
"Damn it. We tried to get here as soon as we got the transmission. But they're already dead." Allen clenched his fist and his eyes wavered. "Hey, you. I'll say this before we start. I don't care if you're on the verge of death, if I find you're a nuisance, I'll leave you behind. That goes for you to, Gin." My ears perked up as I heard my name come from his lips. Allen glanced at him, then me, and shook his head, surprised.
"In war," he continued, "there are always sacrifices, so don't think of us as a team." Allen glared at him then looked back down over the city.
"I don't like the way you're thinking." Kanda glared at him. But before he could say anything, there was an explosion. I covered my face and squeeze my eye shut as hot air flew past us. Me and Allen quickly ran towards the fire. Standing on a finders head was one of the ugliest monsters I every saw. He reminded me of a joker, but his face was in a twisted smile. He said something right before Allen reached for the thing with his arm, Innocence already activated.
"STOP IT!" The thing's face contorted in surprise. Allen's eye activated as he looked at the monster standing before him. So that means he's an Akuma. It smiled widely as Allen stared up at it in surprise; it had grabbed his Innocence.
"Who are you?" It asked. It's voice sent shivers down my spine as I quickly helped the Finder behind a large piece of building that had fallen, leaning him gently against it. "What are you?" I heard right before a loud crash. I quickly looked up to find Kanda a few feet behind me and a big hole in a building with dirt coming out.
"ALLEN!"
"That idiot," I heard Kanda say.
"He was different from the others in the white coats. He was wearing a black one!" the thing said, as if that was the only difference he could see. He suddenly shuddered and looked at his hand, frowning. I couldn't see why he was grinning like that. "Oh~ I get it... That power... You're the ones called "Exorcists", eh?" I saw Timcampy fly over a large pile of ruble and it started shaking. Allen shot up, moving a large piece of the wall off of him with his Innocence arm, his breathing already ragged.
"You're the one that killed the Finders..!" He said through his teeth. His eyes had taken on a new emotion, one I hadn't seen for a while; rage. The Akuma grinned, looking insane. As it rushed towards him, I spotted Kanda squatting on a building with the moon shining behind him. He looked at Allen for a moment then moved his gaze to something.
I looked over to see A figure wearing a tall hat that shaded his face holding a small girl with blonde hair showing under her hat. They were drabbed in ragged clothes and the girl's eye was bandaged. Kanda drew Mugen and once again took two fingers and grazed them over the blade all the way to the top of it.
"Can you hear it? The sound of my heart... I'm getting excited! Exorcist, Exorcist, Exorcist!" I turned around to see the Akuma shiver as if in ecstasy. The level one akuma suddenly screamed and I saw Kanda jump into the air and swing his katana.
"Mugen, Return of the Apocalypse! Underworld Insects! First Illusion!" As the katana moved through the air, demons seemed to appear from it and went straight through both of the Akuma. Kanda gracefully lands beside the Finder I had put against the rock and puts Mugen across his back in it's sheath.
"Kanda, what-"
"Hey, what's the deactivation code for the talisman?" I quickly rush beside him.
"Y-You came, Exorcist," he said, his voice the voice of a dying man.
"If you want to avenge you're comrades deaths, then hurry up and answer me." I looked over at Kanda, who refused to meet my eyes. He really did care...
"Ha... Have... hope... "Have... Hope"" he repeated. I took his hand as I felt his life end. Gone, just like that. Kanda rushed to the two figures inside the cube.
"NO! The dolls..." I looked at him to see him looking around and fidgeting with his hands, looking nervous. "Err... Errrrrr..."He looked at Allen with a weird expression before an evil looking aura surrounded him. "I'll kill you right here! I'll kill you kill you kill you kill you kill you kill you! I'll kill you first!" he said, looking at Allen.
"Come with me," he said, without some of the commanding tone he always used. Kanda grabbed the doll and the little girl and jumped onto a building, and I followed. Allen could take care of himself.
"I'll get you two later anyways!" I looked back at Allen and smiled, just a small smile that I hoped would help him somehow.
"I won't help you defeat him. It was your fault you acted on your emotions in the first place," Kanda said as Allen looked up at us, either hurt or something else in his eyes, I couldn't tell. He lowered his gaze and looked at the Akuma.
"All right, go ahead. You have Innocence, so there's no need for me to worry. I'll destroy this Akuma then get going." Kanda turned his head around. "Oh, and Kanda!" Kanda looked back at him with annoyance. "Protect Gin!" I widened my eyes and looked at Kanda, who averted his gaze with a che.
"Why should I?" he said, but not loud enough for Allen to hear. I face Allen again and wave, smiling widely with my eye closed.
"Have fun, Allen~" Then we ran. I could hear the fight as we continued on. I tried to ignore all the crashes I heard. Allen was in danger. I could tell. My eye, the one I hid, it seemed to pulse to the beating of my heart.
"An underground path?"
"To protect from the strong sunlight, there's an underground district below the city. It's like a maze, if someone goes in without knowing their way around, they'll get lost. But there's an exit that leads through the cliffs to the sea." I looked at the girl. "That thing called "Akuma" can fly... I think it's best if we stay underground." I have to admit, that was a good idea.
We jumped to the ground behind a falling building. Suddenly, there was a ringing noise coming from Kanda. He looked at his shoulder. A black golem, as I found out what it was called, with bat looking wings landed on his shoulder.
"Oh, it's Toma. How are things there?"
"I was investigating from a different abandoned block. There seemed to be a heavy battle going on, and I heard a huge blast, and now Sir Walter's whereabouts are unknown." I sucked in my breath.
No...
"Oh, it seems the Akuma has come out from the roof and is trying to catch the golem."
"All right. I'll send my golem as a guide, so only bring Tim. We don't want to stay here much longer." My heart skipped a beat. We were leaving Allen behind... "We need Tim's ability right now."
"Ok." Kanda turned towards the doll and little girl.
"All right. We're gonna go underground, but do you know the path?"
"I... do."
"Guzuro," the girl said tentatively.
"I... have lived here for over five-hundred years. There's no path I don't know." He removed his hat and looked up at us. His face was taut and grotesque. But... it was him. And that was enough for the little girl. "Hehe... Ugly... right?"
"I'm surprised you can still talk." I glowered at Kanda and hit his arm, since I would have to stand on my toes to reach his head."What the hell, brat?"
"No need to be so mean. What's it matter what he looks like? That little girl right there doesn't seem to mind. Why should you?" He scowled at me but didn't reply.
"You guys... came here to take my heart... right?" The doll asked. I turned to Kanda sharply.
"Yes, it'll be better if we get it right now."
"Kanda!" The girl had flinched and was looking at us, as if we were trying to kill her.
"We don't need the trouble of carrying around a big doll with us." The girl jumped in front of the doll with her arms spread apart, guarding him.
"Gu-Guzuro's the only one that knows the uderground path! Without him, we'll get lost!"
"And who are you?" he asked with no sympathy. I doubt she would want it, though.
"I- I'm Guzuro's-"
"She's just and abandoned kid!" he said, interrupting her completely. He coughed. "I found her...so...I...I adopted her!" He fell into a coughing fit with the girl calling his name.
"Sir Kanda." I turned around sharply, my muscles tense, until I realized it was Toma. A strange feeling pounded in my head.
"I'm sorry. But I can't back off now. Also, we can't let your heart fall into the hands of the Akuma." Kanda... said sorry. "You can keep it for now, but, in the end, we're still gonna take your heart." To the girl, he said, "Sorry for dragging you into this." My mouth twitched and a wide smile formed on my face as I rushed and hugged Kanda.
"H-Hey! Get off me brat!" He tried to pry me off. I looked up at him and grinned, teeth and all.
"You have a soft side, Kanda-kun!" I can't believe it! I never thought he would, even after barely knowing the guy for a day!
"Damn brat! Let go!" I let go and ran behind Toma, giggling.
"It's Timcampy." Toma held out his hands. In them was golden pieces of rock looking things. Suddenly, the pieces started coming together in the air.
"Show me the info on the Akuma, Tim." The golem opened it's mouth and leaned back. A image of the Akuma appeared and showed us the fight. I winched as I saw him slash through Allen.
"It's like a mirror.." Kanda said. I admit, he was pretty smart.
"What?"
"The Akuma... he's backwards. Watch. When he took the image of Moyashi, his clothes, his weapon... it's backwards."
"Moyashi?"
"It's him. See, even the slash is backwards... and this fake had no insides... it's just like a 3-D doll."
"Then this isn't just a copy ability," I murmured. Kanda nodded.
"More precisely, he's using something to copy off of..."
"And whatever he copies," I added. "he can equip and use it as if it is his own." Kanda made a face. I bet he was pissed at Allen for letting the Akuma copy his arm. Although it wasn't his fault.
"We should have searched for Sir Walter," Toma said. "We can't even tell if Sir Walker is real, even if he's not alive." This guy isn't as smart as I thought.
"Of course we can. He would be opposite of the original Moyashi." I snickered and Kanda glared at me. "What?"
"Oh nothing! I mean, you were pretty observant to notice the switch! And you would have to have known that Allen's cursed eye was on his left eye to see that the copy's one was on the right. Are you sure you don't like your Moyashi?" I asked innocently while smirking. His face grew red with anger but before he could say anything the girl and doll got up and started walking around the corner.
"Th... Those two are gone! They fucking ran away! Damn it, where could they be?" Kanda was already past the point of no return on the annoyed meter.
"Sir, Kanda... behind you." We both looked behind to see Allen.
"Ka... Kandaa... Za... Zakkiii."
"This isn't him! He never calls me-" My eye pulsed once again and I look around.
"I-It's a mirror image!" Toma said.
"It seems we have an incredibly stupid one here," he said as he activated Mugen. But, something is... wrong. I feel the same cold chill from before, but not from Allen...
"Ka..n..da... Do..!"
"Return of the Apocalypse!" My eye widened and I looked over at Kanda for a split second. "Underworld Insects! First Illusion!" Those same demons went flying at the copy, who had tears forming in his eyes. "Die!"
"Wait! Kanda!" A white armor covered hand blocked the demons. And I turned around to face Toma, knowing Allen would sort things out. I ripped off my eye patch and the world around me seemed to pulse. I covered it with my hand, kneeling over. As I looked up at Toma, he looked normal. He looked down on me and I uncovered my eye, I saw a black upside down cross that seemed to shine brightly coming from Toma.
"Wha-?" The cross was on his chest, over his heart. It wasn't big, but... it seemed evil. "What is that?"
"Kanda! I have an "eye" that can tell people apart from Akuma! This person is not an Akuma!" I realized that too. I scooted away from Toma, feeling fear grip my heart.
"Toma... Toma is the Akuma... TOMA IS AN AKUMA!" I shrieked. The cross on him seemed to pulse as he opened his mouth and a long tongue came out. He reared his hand back and it quickly changed back to the Akuma. I hit Kanda square in the back as he went flying into the wall. The Akuma held him up against the wall by his throat, still in the form of Toma except his arms.
"You bastard...when did you...?"
"Hehehe, when you were talking with him! I found the one you call "Toma" at the same time I crushed that golem!" He laughed again and i trembled. Not from fear anymore, from anger. raging, boiling rage that flared up inside me."I thought if I wore this "image", then you wouldn't notice. See, didn't you notice this was a mirror image too?" He laughed again. "And I made him wear the "image" of the white heaired one... hehe. Smart, wasn't it?" I could see him moving his hand down his face the body started ripping, like paper.
"My skin is duplicate paper. I really got you good." The rage inside me flared up again. It threatened to take over. I couldn't let it though! I can't!
"Ha!" My eyes widened as the Akuma slashed across Kanda's chest.
"KANDA!" It was too much, I'll just let the anger out! I watched in horror as the Akuma laughed and kept tearing at Kanda's body. I closed my eyes and blocked out the noise. Damn it! Damn it all!
How was it? I personally think the beginning could use some work. But the ending isn't that bad. Cliff hanger, yes, but will be updated soon!
~Usagi-san