Author's Notes:
I wrote a lot more than I wanted this chapter to contain…! And because I promised you that we would continue with Lulubell's raid I had to burn the midnight oil to add the last few scenes! *lol*
Sorry for the wait and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
P.S. The title only matches the end of the chapter…
Disclaimer: D. Gray-Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino
Kapitel 49: Massacre's Prelude
There was no point in continuing the interrogation for the moment, Link knew. He didn't doubt that Ellen Kanda knew more than she was willing to explain, but he did not yet reach a conclusion on how to get the missing bit of information out of her. He sorted his papers and put them back in a slim folder, then he cleared his throat. Only slowly did Ellen react to him; she was still staring at her reflection with wide eyes, but after a while she turned her head towards Link. He frowned when he saw her troubled look.
"It is really there…," she whispered hoarsely and Link got up once again with a sigh, stepping to the window next to her, peering outside.
"I can see nothing," he told her, "your mind must be playing tricks on you." Ellen shook her head, grabbing Link's arm, the fingers of her Innocence hand digging into the fabric of his sleeve. Link sighed again, then he gently removed her fingers from his arm. "We do not know what will happen now that you have received the powers of the 14th. You must be prepared for anything. We want to help you, Ellen." Ellen clenched her hands into fists, staring down on the floor. "If you refuse to cooperate it will be unnecessarily difficult. Maybe you need to put more trust into Inspector Leverrier and me."
"I fear what is happening to me," she started, refusing to look back at the window. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling quite nauseous. "But there is nothing else that I can tell you." Link snorted in disapproval, but then he put his hand on her back, guiding her out of the room.
"Very well. You probably need to get some rest. I will accompany you to your room," he said and Ellen nodded.
-
When Kanda returned to his room to change his sweat soaked clothes, he was very displeased to find Leverrier's watchdog sitting in a chair opposite Ellen.
"What's going on?" he demanded in apprehension. Ellen looked up in surprise, she probably hadn't heard him entering. Kanda didn't like how distracted she seemed.
"Oh, Kanda! You are back?"
"I just wanted to go to the shower room and needed new clothes. But why is he still here?" When he was pointed at, Link raised out of the chair, looking at Kanda with a calm expression.
"Ellen felt unwell and I accompanied her to her room. If you have already forgotten; I was asked not to leave her side." Kanda snorted in irritation, then he walked over to Ellen, looking at her.
"You seem a bit pale. What's wrong?"
"Oh, I don't really know…," she replied and tried smiling, "I guess all these complicated things wear me out a bit…"
"You should pay attention to your health," Kanda advised, "your body's probably already under more strain than usually."
"I am not ill…," Ellen replied to that with a small laugh, but Kanda snorted, "do not worry about me. Take a shower, it will be dinner time soon, we can meet in the dining hall when you are refreshed." The dark haired exorcist was reluctant to agree, but after a while he nodded, grabbed something to wear and left the room. When he was gone, Link sat back down again and watched Ellen rub her forehead.
"You did not tell him of what you saw," he said, "maybe it is for the best not to talk about things concerning the 14th. It might just spread suspicion and mistrust." Ellen sighed, folding her hands on the table.
"I do not think that Kanda would start being suspicious of me. But I did not feel like speaking about that spectre I saw. Maybe it is only temporal, maybe it will come to pass…" Link remained silent for a while, but then he spoke the words that Ellen was too afraid to say:
"I don't think it will."
-
When Ellen and Link arrived at the dining hall, Kanda was not there yet, but Rabi was.
"Where is Kanda?" Ellen wanted to know when she took a seat.
"He went to bother the Science Division again. About Mugen, you know? He feels like half a man without his Innocence!" Rabi laughed and Ellen smiled at him. "By the way… We were training before and Yu told me something funny." The girl looked up in wonder and saw Rabi smirking at her. "Is it true that you hit him directly in the face?" Ellen blushed when she heard that. "So it's true! I thought it strange that Yu would tell me about this, because I expected it would be too embarrassing for him."
"Oh, he deserved it! I did not mean to hurt him, just… Well, show him that there's strength in my arms as well," Ellen defended herself but it only added to Rabi's amusement and Ellen's embarrassment.
"Don't feel bad Ellen! I guess Yu was very pleased! He really likes the type of women that can deal out hits!" Ellen sighed, but then she recalled something. She bent over the table a bit, closer to Rabi. It was not as if Link couldn't hear her, but she still felt the need to try keeping it private.
"There is actually something I was meaning to ask him, but I did not really dare to. You are his best friend, so you might know as well." Rabi grinned and nodded eagerly.
"What it is?" Ellen hesitated a bit, but then she decided that it wouldn't really hurt to ask – at least she hoped so.
"When he and I were at Mister Li's office, there was something he said that would not leave my mind…"
"Something Komui said? What?" Rabi wondered and looked into Ellen's frowning face.
"Was Kanda once romantically interested in Linali?" Rabi seemed very surprised and scratched the back of his head indecisively. Ellen noticed it and pouted. "So he was? Tell me about it!"
"I don't know if it is my place to talk about it…Shouldn't you ask him yourself?" Ellen snorted, feeling a bit irritated and Rabi backed away from her.
"Do not speak such nonsense! It's not as if you two wouldn't be discussing things about me when you're alone. And I'm not talking about little things either – private things!" Rabi felt himself a bit cornered and decided that in terms of danger, the one coming from Ellen was more immediate than Kanda's anger afterwards.
"Okay! Fine, fine! Actually there isn't much to tell you about it," Rabi gave in and Ellen sat back in her chair, listening. Link pretended not to care, but the fact that he had taken out his notebook was quite unsettling in Rabi's opinion.
"Why are you taking notes? You're not planning to blackmail anybody, right?"
"This is unrelated. I don't record meaningless things," Link replied with a snort and Rabi sighed, not convinced at all.
"Oh well… I used to discuss pretty much anything with Yu – well, you know, I talk and he either listens or doesn't, depending on the topic. But he's more outspoken about women than I actually thought. Anyway, he just mentioned once that the only woman he knew worth pursuing was Linali. She was the only girl he knew that was worth the trouble that would come with loving her in his opinion. I can't say that I don't agree; she's strong, bright, beautiful and has her own head. On top of that she's also an exorcist. But all these qualities, and probably more things that he didn't even consider before, he found in you… You really don't have to worry about anything." Ellen still pouted. "Come on Ellen! You can't be angry about the fact that Kanda dared to look at other women before he met you! You didn't strike me as being the jealous type!"
"I'm not jealous!" Ellen argued in irritation, "it's just… If he could have had someone like Linali, then why would he want me?" Rabi groaned and shook his head.
"It's not as if he could have had her; he just thought about the possibility – he was considering it. Thinking about the good and bad points. Apparently he decided against it, don't you think?"
"You're talking about unnecessary things again…" Ellen turned around and found Kanda standing behind her, wearing a disapproving frown. He walked around the table and took the free spot across Ellen, darting angry looks at Link and then at Rabi. "What nonsense have you talked about?"
"I was just reassuring Ellen that you don't have any romantic interest in Linali!" Rabi explained.
"I heard you well enough," Kanda said, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Well, I wanted to know about it!" Ellen justified herself and Kanda rolled his eyes, "I am just surprised… Linali is so beautiful…"
"And you aren't?" Kanda wondered and Ellen blushed, "Don't be an idiot and reduce your qualities to your looks alone."
"But you're so beautiful as well!" the white haired girl argued and Kanda snorted, "I'm surrounded by beautiful people," she said with a defeated sigh.
"Stop being so whiney. Didn't you always insist on the fact that you're not vain?" Kanda asked in irritation. Ellen pouted and Kanda decided to change the topic. "Have you eaten already?" Ellen shook her head, "then go order something!" Ellen wanted to be cross with Kanda for a bit longer, but actually she was too hungry. So she gave in, which Kanda promptly rewarded with a quick, little kiss on her forehead.
"You're an idiot," he told her and Ellen smiled at him.
-
When it was getting dark outside, Kanda decided that it would be best for them to go back to their room.
"What? Isn't it only a bit after eight o'clock?" Ellen wondered and stood up. She, Kanda and Link had gone to the garden for a bit of fresh air. The quiet garden and the early evening breeze had calmed Ellen and she had almost forgotten about the shape in the mirror.
"It is, but it's getting cold and you haven't brought your jacket," Kanda told her, "if you catch a cold then I have to listen to you snoring at night. I don't like that idea." Ellen, despite wanting to be put off, had to laugh at that.
"Well, if you insist, then let us withdraw inside," Ellen said. "To tell the truth, I am a bit at a loss of what to do with all this time at my hands! We have not been given new missions yet."
"How about using the time to recover? We've all been in big battles," Kanda said while they were walking up to their room, "I thought you didn't like fighting, so why are you so keen on going out again?"
"It is not that I am keen on going out to fight again. I just got used to a life of constant moving about…," Ellen told him and Kanda snorted.
"You had enough things to do before you became an exorcist. What were you doing all the time?" he asked and Ellen thought about that. Somehow this time seemed so far away even though not even half a year had passed. "You don't remember?" Kanda asked when Ellen kept silent.
"I do remember! I did what all the other girls do as well!" she replied in slight irritation and Kanda snorted in amusement.
They arrived at the door and Link cleared his throat to get the couple's attention.
"I will now withdraw to my room to give you some privacy," he said and while Kanda nodded in approval, Ellen couldn't help but blushing.
"Privacy? What? It is not as if we- We won't-," she stuttered but Link only bowed shortly and closed the door of his room behind himself. Ellen touched her hands to her pink cheeks in embarrassment.
"Why the hell are you so flustered?" Kanda demanded and opened the door. Ellen slowly followed him inside and closed the door with a deep sigh.
"He said he would give us privacy!" Kanda nodded "I do not want him to think we sleep together!" Kanda raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"And why not? What if we do?"
„It does not matter if we do or if we do not! It is nobody's business having any thoughts about it!" she argued, "that's not-"
"Proper," Kanda concluded, stressing the word with quite a bit of annoyance. "I got it. Now calm down again, you're being an idiot." Ellen sighed and let herself fall down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Kanda sat down as well, glaring at her. "We're married. We're expected to have sex every now and then. Isn't that the point of marriage?"
"Are you mocking me? Of course that is not the point of marriage!" Ellen replied with a frown and Kanda snorted, pinching her nose between his fingers. Ellen squeezed her eyes shut and Kanda used the moment to bend down and kiss her. When Kanda let go of her again she was pouting.
"I do not really know what you have in mind, but does your embarrassment mean that we won't be intimate again just because someone might know? Isn't that a complete waste? It's obvious that you aren't a chaste virgin anymore. You didn't get pregnant out of nothing after all." Ellen crossed her arms over her chest, still looking a bit cross.
"No."
"No what?" Kanda asked and Ellen sat back up again, flattening her hair against her head.
"We won't lead a passionless marriage, nobody expects that of us and I do not want to."
"Well, that's a relief," the dark haired man joked and Ellen boxed his shoulder, unsure of whether she should still be angry or amused. Kanda wrapped his arms around her gently, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"Now that we are alone… There is actually something I wish to tell you," Ellen said, holding her hand in front of her mouth before Kanda could kiss her. He frowned, but then he nodded. "We still have time afterwards, it's still early. But please listen for a while."
"I'll listen… What is it?" Kanda asked, letting go of her again.
"It is about my connection to the Noah side…," she said silently, because she still feared that Link might hear her. This was nothing she wanted to tell either him or her uncle, but she felt that her thoughts and worries were safe with Kanda.
"Did anything new come up?" Ellen shrugged indecisively at that.
"Yes and no. Actually, when I was in the Ark – where the piano stands, I think you remember," Kanda nodded, "I saw someone in the mirror. I thought it was something to do with the Ark, but today, when I was talking to Mr. Link, I saw the shape in the reflection of the window." Kanda looked surprised.
"You saw a shape in the mirror?"
"Yes… And Mr. Link couldn't see him. But he was there. And I fear that he still is…," she whispered. Kanda frowned, but then he grabbed Ellen's hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Well, let's find out then," he said and Ellen wanted to protest, but Kanda shoved her to the mirror next to their wardrobe. "Is he there?" Ellen hesitated to look, but when she did she sighed deeply. Behind her and Kanda was the black and white reflection, staring at her with wide, hollow eyes. "What is he doing?" Kanda continued to ask when Ellen nodded.
"Nothing at all… he's just floating in the background, staring at me…," she replied and shivered. Kanda stared into the mirror but he couldn't see anything there.
"If he doesn't do anything then just ignore him. I doubt he can harm you from within the mirror," Kanda said but Ellen shook her head, turning herself around, facing away from the reflection. She put her arms around Kanda's neck, resting her forehead against his chest.
"It's not just a reflection… It's a portent… Something will happen, I know." Kanda didn't know how to reply, but after a while he guided her back to the bed, sitting down.
"Listen, Ellen… Do not worry that much. Even if you turn into a Noah, that won't mean that you would suddenly change sides."
"Actually, that is not my biggest worry," Ellen confessed and Kanda raised an eyebrow. Ellen sighed and looked up at him, a pained expression on her face. "I worry that my mother and Mana might be connected to it. And I wouldn't be able to bear that…"
"Because of the score and the song?," Kanda asked, "It doesn't have to mean that much…"
"It means everything!" Ellen snapped and Kanda frowned. „Everything I knew would be changed. Everything would be different."
"Ellen. What exactly is going on? Do you think that your family collaborates with the Noahs?" he wanted to know. Ellen hesitated. In one way or another they surely did, but not necessarily knowingly. Her mother was acquainted with Tyki, and there was no guarantee that this new minister was not also a Noah – on top of that she wanted Ellen to marry into this family. But Kanda didn't need to know that…
"I am afraid that they are connected to them, yes… Not all of my family, just my mother and Mana…"
"What makes you so sure?" Kanda asked and Ellen touched her forehead, pointing at the pentacle. "What has your curse got to do with it?"
"Mr. Link asked me to think of an instance when the power of the 14th could have been transferred to me. And this is the only moment I could think of. The 14th was killed by the Earl. Mana died under mysterious circumstances. And what did I do? I called him back and he cursed me. What if he gave me more than a curse? What if he also passed on his powers to me?" Kanda put his finger to his chin, thinking about the probability of that guess.
"But wouldn't that have been a gamble for him? How could he have been sure that you would call him back? If you hadn't he wouldn't have been able to pass it on." Ellen lowered her head.
"I was a weak girl back then… There was no way that I could live without mother or Mana… I was bound to bring him back…," Ellen said silently. Kanda studied her, but then he pulled her near.
"Stop thinking about it, Ellen. There is no proof that what you make up now is the truth. You'll only make yourself mad if you continue to doubt your mother and Mana." Ellen sighed deeply. "Ask your mother, ask Cross. What you need now are not assumptions, but the truth."
"I know… I must find a way to talk to them… But-"
"No buts," Kanda said forcefully, grabbing Ellen's face between his hands, glaring at her. "Understood?" Ellen nodded because she couldn't properly articulate sounds while he pressed her cheeks together. "Good." He let her go and kissed her gently. „We'll find a way to get you to talk to them." Ellen smiled at Kanda, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I admire how calm you can stay. Doesn't it even trouble you that something strange is happening to me?"
"No, it doesn't. I'll just try my best to support you –wherever you came from, whatever you do, whoever you are."
"And why?" Ellen asked in surprise, but Kanda just pushed her into the mattress, hovering above her.
"I have my reasons," he told her, whispering against her mouth, then he kissed her. Ellen laughed into the kiss, putting her arms around his neck.
"Thank you…" Kanda sighed and nodded. Ellen was a bit surprised to feel his breath blew over her lips when he sighed, but he silenced the things she wanted to ask with another kiss. He did not intend to let her get away at the moment, Ellen knew; what exactly he wanted to do, that she had no idea of. But at least she had the reassurance that he would not do more than she was willing to allow. As no resistance came from Ellen, Kanda put his hands to her chest, slowly feeling the outline of her breasts.
"What are you doing?"
"Feeling if the beansprout matured a bit," he replied and sat on his knees, one on either side of Ellen. Ellen pinched the skin on the back of his hand, but then she started unbuttoning her vest, Kanda observing her.
"Don't stare at me. I do not like that…," the girl complained, visibly flustered.
"Who are you undressing for?" Kanda countered and Ellen frowned. "I clearly remember you showcasing your breasts back in the Ark – you didn't seem to care then even though I didn't think that proper." She rolled her eyes, but was still a bit embarrassed about it.
"This was under different circumstances; when fighting in a life to death battle you cannot fret about ripped clothes. You came back without the upper part of your uniform as well," she argued and Kanda snorted in amusement.
"Did you mind?" Kanda wondered and helped Ellen pull the vest away.
"I do like looking at you. You are a good looking man after all," she said, but then she pinched his sides, which made Kanda flinch, "but you're a bit on the scrawny side."
"Tch, don't complain," he snorted, then he started unbuttoning her shirt.
"Oh, I would not dare to. I just wonder how you look when you are a bit older and properly grown up."
"Well, we plan to stay together, so just wait and see," he said with a small smile and kissed her. Ellen seemed surprised at first, but then she laughed and nodded. He continued opening her shirt and then he put his hands against her warm skin. "I am not disappointed," he commented approvingly. His wife laughed in amusement. She actually didn't even mind him touching her. His hands were gentle and warm; there was nothing that could make her feel uncomfortable. "It has been too long since I last saw you like this… We've spent too much time apart…," Kanda mused and let go of her, climbing over her to let himself fall on the bed beside her. Ellen turned her head to the side, studying him.
"That is true… We have also returned some time ago… And yet…"
"I am more patient than I appear to be," Kanda said, "but get dressed in your nightgown. The state you're in is tempting." Ellen had to laugh and rolled on her side, embracing Kanda.
"I do not mind. I do not mind that, Kanda…," she whispered against his collarbone, brushing her nose against his throat. "But I am embarrassed…"
"Why?" Kanda wanted to know, closing his eyes, enjoying the little regular, warm puffs of breath that hit his skin.
"Well… At the moment nothing much about me has changed… But I'm still pregnant…" Kanda cracked an eye open, looking down. The unruly mop of white hair was the only thing he saw. After a while Ellen lifted her head to look at him. "That's why I feel uncomfortable. I feel uncomfortable in my own body…," she confessed.
„Hmm… So you do not want to be touched or looked at?"
„No, that's not exactly it… But don't you feel strange?" Kanda didn't answer for a while, thinking about her question.
"It is strange to think that you have a baby inside of you… But I don't think that should stop us from touching each other… It would be a bit difficult sleeping with you if that was the case…" Ellen laughed and shook her head.
"Do you…? Want?"
„Want to see it?" Kanda asked and Ellen sat up, nodding. Kanda, suddenly a bit nervous, sat up as well. "I think…"
"Mm…," Ellen unbuttoned her pants and pulled them down, also slipping out of her open shirt. She kneeled on the bed in front of Kanda, only in her underwear. Kanda studied her; she no longer had exactly the same body as she did some months ago. On top of having a fuller body in general, there were also new scars and bruises. Small one, bigger ones. Somehow looking at her, sitting there exposed like that, with her chopped off hair and evidences of past battles etched into her body, made Kanda a little sad.
"W… Why are you looking at me with such a rueful expression?" Ellen asked, slightly uneasy.
"You have scars…," he replied silently and Ellen gave a small start, then she lowered her head in shame, "no. It's not your fault and it's not that bad," he assured her and reached out his hand to stroke her cheek. "But you went through quite a lot…"
"Well, apart from these scars I also managed to get myself pregnant since I became an exorcist. I think that's worse than a few scratches…"
"I don't know if it's good or bad. It's just a fact now," Kanda told her and Ellen nodded. "Now…" He hesitated a bit, but then he reached out and put his hands on her stomach.
"There is nothing there, right? It is strange," Ellen said and covered her husband's hands with hers.
"But you are sure that you are pregnant?" Kanda asked and Ellen nodded. "You're not as thin as you were before you got pregnant. I wonder how it looks when some more months pass…"
"I prefer not to think about it. What kind of uniform will I wear in a few months?" she wondered, keeping Kanda's hands still in place.
"None at all – you shouldn't have to fight anymore once that time comes," Kanda said, pulling his hands away to wrap his arms around Ellen. He put his chin in top of her head, "but it would probably look funny." Ellen hit him. "I bet the guys of the Science Division would have a lot of fun designing your future uniforms."
"Hmpf!" Ellen huffed and Kanda let go of her. „I wonder if everyone knows by now…"
"Probably. I doubt Komui and Jerry can keep quiet about it…," Kanda replied and Ellen sighed.
"This is quite embarrassing…"
"It's not that bad, stop pulling such a face." Ellen pouted, but then she pulled at Kanda's sleeve.
"Take that off. I want to go to bed…," she said and Kanda nodded.
„I'll get your gown."
„I do not need my gown… It is warm enough… Right?" she wondered, trying not to be embarrassed. Kanda looked at her in surprise, but then he smirked. "Do not look at me like that!" Kanda chuckled, then he pulled off his clothes and switched off the light. Ellen still pouted when he climbed into the bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back to his chest. She rested her head on his arm, closing her eyes. "Just don't drool on me." Ellen's face turned red and she hit her elbow against Kanda's chest.
"Good night!" she snapped and Kanda, not really hurt by her attack, laughed into her hair.
"Good night, beansprout."
-
Sleeping with Kanda's arm as a pillow was nice in one way, but after sleeping cuddled together like that, in the same position for a few hours, Ellen's neck was stiff. And Kanda's fingers were numb and prickled after getting the blood circulating again.
"Maybe we should not sleep like that," Ellen suggested, rubbing her neck. Kanda didn't comment that. "Do you think we should wake Mr. Link?" He closed the door of their room and frowned.
"Why would that be necessary?" Ellen hesitated, but she still wanted to go knock, only that Link opened the door before she could.
"Guten Morgen," he greeted and Ellen, a bit flustered, greeted him as well.
"I just wanted to see if you were awake, we were going to the communal bath."
"That is very considerate of you. I will accompany you," he said and followed the two to the communal bath. Kanda was not very happy having Link going everywhere Ellen went, at least until it was time to go to sleep. But both of them had to put up with it at the moment, it was just a bit unsettling that Ellen seemed to take it so lightly.
This time of the day the communal bath was quite crowded, but there was enough space at the sinks to be brushing their teeth.
"Aren't you usually going to the more private bath rooms?" Kanda asked and handed her a toothbrush, "why did you want to come with me?" Ellen took the toothbrush and raised her eyes to meet her reflection in the mirror.
"Because I find it easier to look into the mirror when I am not entirely alone," she confessed and started brushing her teeth.
"You still see that shape then?" Link wondered and Ellen nodded silently. Actually, she was beginning to get used to the shadow.
"At least nobody else can see him. I have to calm down and see this in a more positive light," Ellen thought, watching the shape gently swaying behind her. "As long as he does not try to speak to me it should be fine. Somehow he is like an Akuma soul."
"Well! It is no big deal!" she said aloud, so as to reassure herself.
"What?" Link asked, looking at her in confusion.
"Are you still dreaming? Weak up, beansprout!" Kanda complained and washed his face.
"Morning everybody," Rabi said sleepily, coming into the room with Bookman. When he saw Ellen he blinked in surprise. "Huh? What are you doing here in the men's lavatory?" he wondered looking her up and down. She was again dressed in trousers, white shirt and black west. She even wore a ribbon around her neck.
"Brushing my teeth. It is not as if there would be men running around without clothes on," Ellen said nonchalantly. Rabi raised an eyebrow suspiciously, but then he shrugged and started brushing his teeth.
"But you seem tired! Did the two-spot keep on interrogating you the entire night?"
"Two-," Link shouted indignantly, "what insolence!"
"Actually no, I have a sore neck because I slept in a strange position," Ellen replied and Kanda snorted, combing his hair, while listening to the chatter. He was not keen to be part of it, especially not early in the morning. "But let me speak a word of advice, Mr. Link. Our dear Rabi still is a child. He likes coming up with nicknames. If you do not like it you should be more forceful," she said and Rabi had to laugh.
"What? Aren't you forgetting that you are the younger one of us two?" Rabi wondered and Ellen, putting the toothbrush away, shook her head.
"Oh, not at all."
"Then why are you talking like that?" he wondered in amusement.
"I am practising," she retorted and took the comb Kanda handed her, brushing her hair.
"What? Sounding like a mother?" he asked and laughed. Link listened to that exchange with a frown; weren't they taking him seriously as an inspector? As Kanda had realized before, Ellen didn't seem as unsettled about being put under the Vatican's observation as at the beginning. There was no way of telling whether she was just being polite and covering her anxiety or if she really did not mind him following her.
"You seem pretty cheerful this morning. Considering how long you were agonising over these matters, I wouldn't have expected you to recover your spirits this quickly."
"Oh well… Pregnancy, doubts, observation… I cannot change anything and no matter how much I think about certain things I cannot find out the truth. I need to ban bad thoughts from my mind for the moment," she explained and looked at Kanda, "right?"
"Hnn," he hummed in agreement, then he turned away from the sink, "I'll go training."
"What? Before eating breakfast?" Ellen asked in surprise and Kanda snorted.
"Just thinking about what you ate yesterday makes my stomach turn around," he said, making her pout slightly. "I'll eat afterwards."
"Good. I will see you later today," she told him and he turned around, leaving the lavatory.
"Oho. Things seem to go well between you two," Rabi observed.
"That is none of your concern!"
-
There was quite a commotion when Ellen and the others were making their way to the dining hall.
"I wonder what's going on," Rabi said, "that's laboratory five, isn't it?" They were in front of a huge arch that led into a big hall that rarely got used as far as Ellen knew. Today a lot of people were hanging around.
"There's a sign blocking the entry," Ellen said, "entry only for the science division?"
"Ah, a good morning!" River, who was standing in the hall, greeted them, walking up to the group.
"Oh! The egg!" Ellen said in surprise when she saw the Akuma plant in the hall, "did you take it out of the Ark?"
"Yes, that way we wish to gather more information about Akuma," he answered, but Rabi frowned.
"How about fixing my Innocence first?" he demanded in irritation, but River only laughed uneasily, scratching his head.
"I would really love to do that, but we have a huge amount of work to do. A lot of people collapse from exhaustion. Please be patient, Rabi..."
"You look really tired as well. I have some free time at my hands, if you need me to help with anything just tell me," Ellen offered and River smiled at her.
"Thank you Ellen, if you want you can go to the infirmary to help out the matron. Oh, and by the way, congratulations on getting married! I was really surprised when I heard it from Komui. I was even more surprised when I heard about you having a child!"
"Ahaha," Ellen laughed uneasily, "thank you! I am still not really believing it myself," she admitted, trying to appear cheerful.
"Well, don't overdo it," River advised, then he was called back by the scientists to do more work.
"News is spreading fast!" Rabi commented and Ellen sighed, "don't be troubled! Let's go eat something!"
"Yes! I am hungry! Come, Mister Link!" Link trotted after Ellen and Rabi, following them into the dining hall. It was quite packed and the noise level was also rather high for this time of the day.
"What a commotion!" Ellen said in awe, looking into the hall when she stood at the counter, waiting for Jerry to appear. "Do you know if there was an increase of personnel, Mr. Link?"
"There was. There are a few people here on order of Inspector Leverrier, but the other Branch Leaders are here as well, and all of them brought people with them."
"It rarely is that loud at the order," Ellen mused, but Rabi shook his head.
"It used to… You were unlucky that you came at a time when many people died…," he told her and Ellen lowered her head.
"That is true… I hope this war is over soon. No more people should die; not on our side or on the enemy's side. It's a waste of lives," she said and Rabi shrugged.
"I bet a lot of people don't care about what happens to the Noahs. You're just too kind Ellen," he said, but Ellen didn't answer as Jerry appeared with a cheerful smile, ready to take their orders.
"You should eat more healthy things," Link said, overlooking Ellen's food when they sat at a free table. "I took the liberties of consulting some books and I have made a list of things that you should and should not eat in your condition." He pulled out a parchment and handed it to Ellen.
"What? Why should that be necessary? I am a parasitic Innocence wielder. It does not matter what I eat as long as I eat," she argued, studying the long list.
"How dutiful of two-spots!" Rabi commented, earning himself a glare from Link. "But that odd mix of food you have in front of you really is a bit gross if you plan on eating it all as your breakfast…," he continued, "I understand why Yu didn't want to eat with us…"
"Do not be silly, Rabi-"
"Ah, the mother speech again!" Ellen pouted and refrained from finishing her sentence. Instead she turned towards Link, who had only pie in front of himself.
"But where are your nutrients? I know that this is your guilty pleasure, but a man your age needs to eat properly as well!"
"I am neither a woman, nor pregnant, nor 15 and still growing," he replied and Rabi snorted.
"You didn't grow very tall with this kind of eating habit, even Ellen is almost as tall as you," he stated, but Link ignored him.
"How old are you by the way?"
"19," Link replied and Ellen widened her eyes.
"And you already have this sort of position within the Vatican? I am awed, Mr. Link!" she said in surprise. Rabi had to chuckle at that.
"Ellen, watch yourself. You're a married woman, don't fall for his intellect and position!" he advised and Ellen blushed, glaring at Rabi. "What? It's true! You have a soft spot for that!"
"Do not listen to him, Mr. Link!" Ellen said with a huff, deciding to ignore Rabi for the rest of breakfast.
"… I won't…"
Only a matter of minutes latter and barely finished with her breakfast, a sudden jolt went through Ellen and she shot up.
"What's the matter?" Rabi asked, but Ellen just felt something in her chest clench and her eye activated itself. She ran away from the table, Rabi, Link and Bookman needed a moment to stand up as well. "Ellen?!"
"Akuma!" she shouted and Rabi gave a start. "I can feel them! Hundreds of them!" She was pale while running towards where her cursed eye guided her. This mustn't be happening! She didn't want more blood to be spilt, she didn't want more people to die! Whatever was happening; she had to stop it!
To be continued…
Notes:
Not an M scene, but we had some Kanda/Ellen moments ;3 Their relationship is changing for the better and I hope it doesn't appear rushed.
Well, with this chapter far longer than I intended (because I added a heap of scenes) I will try to keep the "massacre" short.