So. I have no excuse for being dead for so long. OTL. BUT. Thank you for reviewing still! I appreciate it very much.
Seriously, guys, you're awesome and stuff. Thanks for leaving feedback. I really, really appreciate it.
Now, to the actual story! 8D Hope you guys like it. =w=b
To know how to wait. It is the great secret of success. - Joseph De Maistre [1753-1821, French Diplomat, Philosopher]
Yao had realized it first, with the air changing and the Akuma screaming. He didn't know how, exactly he knew…but he did and he had raced out in the middle of a small skirmish.
"YAO!" Lenalee had yelled, giving chase with her dark boots as Yao continued to run.
"My little brother…my little brother…" he whispered faintly as Lenalee touched his shoulder lightly.
"We'll get there in time to rescue him," she replied firmly, eyes narrowed as she moved him forward. "We will."
Japan his little brother, the boy he had cared for so many years…
His scar throbbed as he bit off the pain, ignoring it. Remember history and forget animosity…
Japan was family and family, no matter how convoluted it was China would help him out. Because, in the end, what was more important?
In the back of his mind, the more rational part of his mind, the part that helped him survive so long as a nation, he was hating himself. This was the same boy who had raised his hand against him, who left the scar still throbbing on his back.
It was easily a chance to watch him be destroyed by his own people.
Making it to the clearing, his eyes widened and every thought about leaving Japan behind to die was wiped out.
His little brother was held by one of those Akuma, his head about to be blown off.
By then, the others had caught up, Allen Walker flying forward with his innocence activated as someone shouted Kiku's name. He couldn't tell who, all he knew is that he flew forward, caught his brother as he fell and tumbled for a bit before sliding to a stop against a rock conveniently there.
"Kiku, it's alright," he crooned, not knowing what else to say, what else to…do.
Was it truth for him to speak as he did or was he trying to reassure himself?
In either case, his brother was alive. The heavens be praised, his brother was ALIVE.
"Yao…nii-san…"
…
Nii-san…Big brother…that…when…
All coherent thought flew out of the ancient country's head, clutching his little brother to his chest, close to sobbing.
America had raced over, rifle aimed towards the Level four Akuma and fired, eyes narrowed. All those days out in the Wild West had done him good, his shot ringing out amid the noise and striking the Akuma in the head. Jerking out another bullet and reloading quickly, he was backed up by Matthew and Arthur who both had their own weapons raised and primed at the Akuma.
At that moment, two figures appeared above Yao and Kiku, one looking quite familiar to Ivan who immediately swung around, rifle raised and shot rapidly. Wordlessly, he raced forward, ditching the rifle while drawing his pipe in one fluid motion. He swung it towards the duo as Allen, turning his head, realized who those two were.
Eyes now lit up with caution, Allen pulled out Crown Clown, now a blade as he angled it in the light and flew forward in front of Ivan. "Road! Tyki!" he called with a small grin unlike his normal cheerful self. "What brings you here?"
Road laughed, shaking her head. "My, my Allen Walker!" she replied, hopping nimbly down the building she was on and in the process, in front of Ivan who had his pipe still drawn, a smile still settled on his face. She peered curiously at Ivan who smiled eerily, holding out his pole.
"I believe we met back at my home," he stated as a fact as Road closed her eyes briefly and nodded.
"Ivan Braginski is it?" She smiled. "We have met, right before you interrupted me from saying something rather special to the exorcists," she chided, her smile widening as Ivan's eyes narrowed.
"I would hope that you would keep your mouth shut," he growled, hands tightening. "I wouldn't want to hurt a child in such a manner."
Road laughed, holding her side as her laughter died into giggles. "Ivan, you cannot keep hiding the truth from the exorcists!" she scolded lightly as the countries' eyes narrowed. "After all, what would happen if something were to tell them? Something…" Her eyes gained a glint, smile still playful. "Or someone."
"Road, why don't you get to the point then?" the other man spoke as Road sent a smile to her brother figure, Tyki Mikk. The man continued, nodding towards the exorcists who were stark still, not wanting to say a word. "It's about time they know, and besides…" His smile tinged upwards more, turning more into a smirk. "You wanted to play a game right?"
Lavi was tense, his mind flowing together to match the pieces of the puzzle still lingering in his mind. The Noah obviously knew more than the exorcists did, which then gave them the advantage over them.
Then there was Ivan, who obviously did not approve of the information about to be divulged by Road and Tyki. So they all knew, or at least Ivan knew what the Noah were about to say. Lavi thought that there was a slight possibility that he could be off, that there was nothing and that Ivan was off about what they were going to say.
Somehow, deep in the corners of his mind, he doubted that very much. He sent a glance behind his shoulder and noted that the others were tense, ready to spring if the time called for it then turned his attention back to the Noah.
Still, at any rate, they were the enemy. The innocence in his hands told him that much at least.
Road smiled then nodded. "Yes that's right!" she cheered, clapping her hands with glee. "I wanted to play a game with them but he interrupted me." She motioned towards Ivan as the Russian growled softly.
She waved her hand and smiled darkly, eyes filled with malice. "Let's play a game in my realm shall we?" As she said this, a dark sphere formed around the exorcists and their allies but before it could complete, Alfred sprang forward, punching the Noah girl across her face.
He had been holding back, but something inside of him bubbled, a foreign voice in his head telling him if he was a damn hero then go and save the people around him. That was when he acted, moving on instinct to attack the person harming people he cared about.
Guided by the gut feeling welling up inside of him, Alfred let his fist fly again, this time knocking the Noah off the ground by the force of his punch. "We're not playing any game with you," he growled threateningly, curling in his fist in case the Noah decided to try anything else.
Road rubbed at her bleeding lip, eyes silted dangerously. "You damn-!" She wasn't screwing around anymore as she held out her hand. She thought for a brief second then let a small smile flicker across her face. "You damn country!" she called at him as Alfred's face paled, glancing briefly behind him. "The great United States of America, punching a little girl like me?" She laughed as Alfred stood frozen, unable to move.
That girl was just...spouting...secrets just like that.
The battleground was silent for a brief second before Tyki jumped into the battle, punching the country across his face then threw another kick at him. Alfred managed to swerve from the leg blow, fists tightening. "You…!" he hissed as Road laughed again, a cold laughter, one that sent shivers up spines.
"Does it scare you?" she taunted, still laughing. "Your allies could turn on you now, wanting answers, hating your betrayal!"
Alfred gritted his teeth and snarled lividly, clenching his fists. "I'm a hero," he replied testily, blue eyes flared with rage. "I don't betray anyone!"
Road laughed, the laughter gaining a more high pitched tone. "Aren't you idiotic for a country? Of course you'll betray someone in your lifetime!" she called, obviously enjoying the little argument. She glanced over at the exorcists to watch their opinion, to see their reaction at being lied at.
She expected something along the lines of…well. For the longest time, they had been traveling together, lied to every moment of their journey. Sure the Black Order kept things hidden from their own, yet this, this was big, it was a lie that covered the fact that they were nations. If well timed, they would all demand answers, getting angry and frustrated, which would give Road the mental advantage.
Lavi had a shocked expression, hands patting around for some scrap of paper to note this down. He knew, he just knew in the back of his mind, that there was something wrong with the group they were traveling with. There were too many coincidences, too many strings that were yet to be unraveled from! Considering Road's words about the countries keeping the secret from them, he shook his head. Anger, emotion in general was to be pushed off for the Bookman's purpose, for recording history.
This was not the time to screw around and flirt with his anger and emotions.
Allen's face was blank, trying to process this and strangely, it made sense, especially when he glanced at Arthur whose face was contracted with fear. In all the situations, for a personification of a country to exist, it shouldn't make sense! It shouldn't…but it did. Because Arthur was England and thus…Allen was one of his own people.
Lenalee had a faint smile on her face because she knew from her home country, from Yao, from China. It wasn't as foreign as she thought it would be.
And as for Kanda…he still was silent, he was dreaming of that man again…he still didn't know even now.
Road was surprised as she directed her attention to the exorcists. "You knew." She stomped her foot angrily. "You knew!"
Alfred decided not to ponder on this fact and charged forward, tackling the Noah head on. Falling backwards against the broken shrine, the others could hear a loud clatter and bang as Road shrieked with anger. Alfred had pinned her to the floor, about to punch again when Tyki darted in, eyes narrowed and punched through the country and out, watching Alfred's eyes widened with surprise. "Noah of Pleasure," Tyki replied to the surprised man, smirking. "I can phase through anything I want and in turn while I drag my arm out of your chest, I'll grab your heart."
Alfred glared at him about to throw him, and then froze, pain arcing through his chest. S…Shit was the Reconstruction acting up? Sparing a glance up at the Noah, Alfred breathed deeply, trying to control the pain. Tyki felt him tense and smiled slowly, wrapping his hand around the country's accelerating heart. "I'll do it…nice and slow."
"That is," Another cold voice interrupted the Noah of Pleasure. "Unless I shoot your head off first." Tyki noticed the barrel at his head, the owner, one Matthew Williams, extremely pissed. "I don't care how fast you can phase through anything, you can't be fast enough to avoid a bullet from close range," the Canadian growled angrily, eyes narrowed.
Tyki stood up slowly, dragging Alfred with him as his eyes watched the others lifting their weaponry to attack the Noah duo. He smiled slowly and nodded, tossing Alfred at Matthew who let go of his gun to catch him. Noticing that even if he and his sister took them on, it would be pointless with too many people, exorcist and country alike. Thus, a strategic retreat would suffice for now. There would be plenty of playing around later. "We'll have a fun time, exorcists, countries," he called, waving his hand. "For now, we will take our leave."
And like that, they were gone.
Trudging back to Korea was painful, Ivan carrying Kanda over his shoulder, Matthew supporting Alfred who had a dull pain in his chest still. Yao was carrying Kiku and refused to allow anyone else to carry him, as if he could not believe that his precious little brother had been in danger of all things. Arthur was thus left with the task of explaining to the other exorcists.
Damn those others…
A long silence floated throughout the crowd, as if unsure of what to say when Allen broke the silence. "…You….you're really….England," he asked with an uncertainty as Arthur sighed, shifting awkwardly.
"Yes…yes I am England, the British Empire," he said, not turning around to face them. "We are all personifications of…our respected country." Lavi was silent then turned to look at Alfred who was trying to convince Matthew to actually let go of him.
"Then he…he's America," the Junior Bookman said slowly as Arthur winced at the accusatory glare from the boy's eye.
"…Yes he is America." He turned around and faced them, stopping completely in his tracks. "You deserve answers," he said as the three stood there, expressions mixed. Lavi looked a little angry at being lied to but seemed to be getting over it. Allen looked completely confused while Lenalee looked as if she understood.
In the back of his mind, Arthur wondered why? Usually, those who knew about the country's existence would be either like Lavi or Allen…unless someone already told her…He could guess who too. "However, now is not the time to explain everything, not while there could be Akuma around the corner. We're still in danger here." He sighed, hoping that they would agree. Hopefully. "Can our explanations wait until we arrive in Korea?"
Allen promptly agreed, smiling at Arthur who then turned to Lavi. The boy stared at Arthur for a long moment and then grinned, clapping the man on his shoulder. "Sure Caterpillar! I rather not get attacked here anyway!"
Arthur smiled briefly before whacking the boy across the head. "How many times have I told you not to call me Caterpillar?" he snapped as Lavi yelped, grabbing his head in pain.
"If you are done fooling around," Ivan cut in from where he was. "We should go. Our boat is due to arrive as was our prior engagements."
In Italy, Feliciano was running after his brother who was storming ahead. "Fratello!" he cried, reaching for him. "Fratello no! Not him!"
Romano spun on his heel angrily, staring at him straight in the eye. "The last time you had a fucked up dream, besides when you were in Austria's home," Romano had no qualms at saying country's names out loud. There was no one around them anyway, "-was back then, when they were fucking around with people in the Vatican, here, in OUR home! I want answers. Why are they trying this shit again?"
Romano was a little angry. Why was it always Feliciano in EVERYTHING? Art, Grandpa Rome…but for once, he did not envy his brother. Not with the kinds of dreams he had.
"B-But Fratello…not him…not him…" Feliciano was easily bawling now, tears flooding his eyes. "H-He's scary! He hurt so many people…" Romano stared at his bawling mess of a little brother and sighed, grabbing his hand.
"I'm scared like fuck right now," he muttered darkly as Feliciano stared at him. "But that's not stopping me."
Storming right up to the guards standing side by side in front of a hallway, Romano glared at them both, although he was quaking in his boots. "Let me through," he ordered as the guards glanced at him.
"What does a child want with Inspector Leverrier?" One guard asked brusquely as Romano glared at him. The guard took notice of the glare and stared back through his visor. "Well?"
"Romano Vargas. Now. Let. Me. Through." The other guard's eyes widened and whacked the other guard in the back.
"Idiot! It's them!"
"Who's them…?" A long pause. "…Oh. OH." The guard bowed rapidly. "Excuse my rudeness!" Romano shoved past him, eyes narrowed as he walked forward, Feliciano by his side.
"Stupid guards," he growled as Feliciano trembled even more, silent as they stepped inside a well lit office. That did not help with the impending doom feeling, floating throughout the room as Romano walked up in the middle of the room. The man working on his papers glanced up, stared and smiled, a cold gleam in his eyes.
"Ah…the Vargas brothers. How may I help you?" he asked as Romano growled again.
"What the FUCK are you doing to my brother?" he hissed as Leverrier's eyebrow rose. "Why the hell is he having those fucked up dreams? I thought that you would stop with those damn experiments!"
Leverrier blinked then smiled slightly again, standing to his feet. "This war," he began slowly, making his way to the two countries staring at him, "Is fought to keep humanity safe. Surely your brother can spare a bad dream or two?"
"Not if it makes him collapse in the middle of fucking Mass!" Romano shot back, wondering where the hell his bravado was coming from.
"And what would you like me to do mm?" he asked, eyes cold, staring down at them. "Stop our war and let you die?" Romano felt the fiery words die in his throat as he just glared at him. The Inspector smiled, shaking his head. "I know not exactly what this…condition of your brother's is…But we're fighting for the world…we're fighting for you."
He leaned down, staring at the two brothers.
"Is that not good enough?"
To the Anons who left reviews, here's my response!
To Derpderpderp: THANK YOU. I needed the con criticism! *gives cookies*
Let me see if I can answer your reviews…
Russia's da: Oh yeah, that…One chapter, after I uploaded it, another reviewer pointed out that I spammed the 'da' too much too. So…I've been working at it. ^^; I'm trying not to use it as much, so y'know. It actually makes sense when I use it.
Nations have GUNS: I thought of that, but I wanted to throw in drama…I guess it didn't work out too well. xD;
To Other Anon: Thank you too~
7000 Years old: Well, I remember back, back, back in the beginning of D. Gray-man, they mention the war being 7000 years old. So I took a few liberties and made the Earl's age 7000.
Kanda's glare feeling: Y'know, I wish I actually covered that. I'll make sure I'll do it next time, thanks for pointing it out!
Lithuania: *facepalm* I guess that didn't make sense either. Maybe when I'm done with this thing (wheneverthatmightbelol), I'll go back and edit it.