Birth was the death of him. - Samuel Beckett
Kanda took a breath, calming his nerves. Whatever the cause, whatever this might be, it didn't matter. He would kill the Noah just like he did in the past, no matter how many damn times it took. Taking a step forward again, Kanda narrowed his eyes, angling Mugen in the dim light. America, Alfred had slowly stood up, white hair fisted tightly in his fist, glaring at Kanda.
Allen was dangling a little weakly in the Noah's grip, having been clubbed in the face with debris that flew out.
"Oi!" Kanda shouted, taking a threatening step forward yet again. "Let the damn Moyashi go!"
Alfred leered at the boy, his blue eyes now a dark thunderous blue. "This is nice…this body, this sort of…living spirit. I can have my own identity as a Noah while at the same time have this boy's essence crushed down," he crooned, stroking Alfred's hair which would have looked comical had it not been for the fact that Alfred had a dangerous smirk on his face. "The other body I awoken…It was so easy to take control…This boy actually fought me. You've seen me before right, Kanda Yu?"
"Skin Bolic. How the fuck could I forget your face? Left me with a damn big scar from your fight," Kanda snapped back as the Noah laughed, shaking his head.
"I am not Skin Bolic!" he crowed, shaking his head with gusto. "That weakling died in the Ark where you killed him. I was merely waiting for my true awakening in my new retainer." Smirking, he chuckled a little darkly. "Surely you haven't lost touch with that battle Kanda Yu?" he asked slowly, tilting his head. "Or does the Black Order know nothing about the Noah?"
Lenalee readied herself as she tried to focus on what the Alfred was talking about. Her mind spun as she stored the information for later then looked around for survivors. Looking at Alfred then at Allen, she decided to act while the Noah was distracted, at least, to give them some breathing room.
"Innocence, activate!" she shouted as Lavi's eyes widened. The red haired bookman managed to jump out of the way as the Chinese girl leapt forward, kicking twice. "Kirikaze!" The wind burst through the room, throwing the Noah out who was caught off guard and the debris with it. Lenalee narrowed her eyes then kicked a burst of speed into her legs, flying forward and kicking the Noah's arm to let go of Allen.
The Noah grunted as he let go of Allen and then dropped to the ground, landing with a thud as Lenalee caught Allen then as she landed on the ground near where the Noah was, kicked off to get away from a safe distance.
In the meanwhile, Kanda dropped to the ground, sword glinting in the light. "I don't give a fuck about all of Noah shit. If there's an enemy, I'll destroy it," the Japanese boy snapped as another katana joined him, angling the blade towards Alfred.
"As much I would like to agree with Kanda-kun's sentiments," Kiku said as he stepped up, blade point towards the Noah nation, "Alfred-kun purposely went out of his way to come out and save someone like me."
Sending a glance at Kanda who frowned, Kiku smiled slightly. "I have a debt to him and to you all." Pausing, he thought for a moment as the Noah got to his feet slowly and stared at the two, as if waiting. "If innocence is what polar opposite of a Noah is, then we should be able to cut through the part of the Noah that is Alfred, right?"
"Yeah, that's about it," Lavi called as he swung his hammer back and forth. "Beat the crap out of him to the point of death then somehow get back America, Alfred," he said with a slight smile. "Sounds like fun."
The Noah laughed, holding out his hands. "I dare you to try and hurt me! I'll kill you all!"
Meanwhile in the debris, Matthew managed to pull himself out, wincing at the pain from being bodily tossed into a wall as he winced, getting back up to his feet. Coughing from the dust, he looked around at Lenalee who was taking care of Allen then the memories of what happened hit him hard. "Al…!" he whispered, then heard noises of battle and raced over to the broken edge of the building.
Kanda was dashing at the Noah who shot back every blow towards him as Kiku joined up on the frontal assault, trying to stab Alfred in an area that wouldn't kill him. Lavi was long distance, swinging his hammer towards the Noah who easily blocked off the huge black hammer.
Matthew couldn't bear to watch his twin fighting and remembered what Alfred told him. Wasn't this like every play, every single heroic play that Alfred made him watch with him? Kill him once he lost control…
This wasn't a story, a play, nothing like that at all! Matthew couldn't hurt his twin, couldn't hurt another part of him…
"…Alfred has lost control," came a rather calm voice behind Matthew as the Canadian turned his head, staring at Ivan who had picked himself out of the debris, blood trickling down his head where his head had landed against the wall rather hard.
"Russia…" Matthew whispered almost pitifully as Ivan reached into the rubble, his gaze unreadable. Pulling out a pipe sticking out of the ground from the ruined plumbing, he stared at the fighting below and shook his head.
"It is most unfortunate that Alfred fell to the Noah…I had been expecting for him to fight." He took a breath then readied his weapon of choice. "But I will let him die with dignity."
"Non! You…you can't kill Alfred!" Matthew cried out as he grabbed the pipe out of fear. "You can't hurt my twin!"
Ivan stared at Matthew with wide eyes then shook his head. "You do realize what this means, da, Canada?" he asked with his eyes narrowed now. "Alfred is no more. He is gone. What more do you wish to see of him suffering under the Noah?" The Russian snapped as Matthew almost let go of the pipe.
"…I won't let you. You can't let him…!" he pleaded as from the rubble, Arthur managed to force himself out, wiping the blood off his lips.
"Bloody twat…" Arthur growled, eyes narrowed and filled with contempt. "I didn't think it would come to this…"
"Does England agree?" Ivan called, tilting his head as Arthur glared at him.
"Are you expecting me to agree with your bloody idea Russia?" the empire snapped, glaring at him. "There is no way I would agree with killing of him. There should be a way to hold him down…so that he isn't able to hurt anyone anymore." Reaching into his coat pocket, he growled softly. "I hoped I didn't have to use this."
Ivan watched this all with a growing frown then shook his head. "Are you trying to save him even now?"
Arthur froze for a brief moment then growled loudly. "Bloody yes I am, Russia! He was my colony, he was - is basically my son!" Something that he would never admit to Alfred, but, if Alfred was at risk of dying… "Why wouldn't I try my best to save him?" Snarling, Arthur stood his ground as Ivan watched the empire then shrugged slightly as Yao entered the room with Gilbert and Ludwig not far behind him.
"What…what the fuck happened here?" Gilbert asked rather loudly as he glanced around the room. "Where's America? This was his room right?" At that moment, electricity filled the air as the small group raced towards the broken wall.
Yao gritted his teeth at the sight of his younger brother figure fighting off the Noah as he jabbed his finger towards the sight. "That is not America any longer," he said as he lowered his finger. "We have to stop him or else what we have fought so long for will crumble!"
"Y-You can't…"
A small voice echoed through the room as Arthur turned then stared at Allen who was still in his crown clown form. "You can't…There has to be a way to get rid of the Noah," the British boy spoke again, forcing himself up from where he was set on the floor. "Killing him won't do any good…"
Ludwig, who had been silent and watching the group, finally spoke up. "You might want to think quickly, I believe Alfred is losing more control as we go on."
"Then what the fuck are we waiting for?" Gilbert shouted, joining the fray. "We can't just let things end this way!"
Allen nodded to that, getting back up to his feet as he glanced at the countries then jumped off the broken wall and to the battleground. Racing towards Alfred, he swung his blade at Alfred who immediately leapt backwards from the blade, laughing at Allen who gritted his teeth.
"You can't do it~!" the Noah leered at Allen who swung his blade again at the Noah. "You can't hurt him!"
"I won't hurt Mr. Jones, I'll free him instead!" Allen shouted, spinning the blade in his hands to match blow for blow. Parrying off the blow to his head, Allen moved low, draping his cloak over his frame as he crashed through the lightning to slash through the Noah.
Taking this opening as the Noah lurched backwards, clutching at his chest, Lenalee sprang forward quickly, jumping sideways as Allen drove in the blade deeper into the Noah.
More speed Dark boots! She shouted mentally then kicked in the blade through the Noah Nation's heart. Allen let go of the blade then moved to cover Lenalee as the Noah screamed, lightning erupting through the fields, fire springing around the group where the lightning stuck the ground.
Lavi moved quickly, spinning his hammer into the air. "Wood Seal, Roots Entwining Heaven and Earth!" he shouted as the water from near by rivers came forth to quench the flames. The other nations ran up to where the three were, Allen still covering Lenalee carefully.
Lenalee peeked out from behind Crown Clown, staring at Alfred carefully. "Allen…" she whispered softly, "Check on Mr. Jones…"
Allen nodded then moved towards the boy, pulling out the blade slowly and staring at the Noah who stirred, staring at Allen.
"You didn't win," the Noah said with a scowl, "I'm still in control…"
Arthur snarled, his former pirate swagger returning with each step, the fact that he was a damn empire radiating off him in pure rage. "Unhand my boy you sodding wanker," he hissed angrily, pointing the gun at the Noah, "-before I tear you out of him myself."
"Your boy? Hah! Don't make me laugh! He betrayed you, left you to be alone again when -!" A shot rang out towards the Noah's left ear, thunder blue eyes staring at the Empire in shock.
Arthur's green eyes grew livid at the thought, anger rolling off of him in waves, his right hand on his pistol, smoke still rising up from the barrel. "Alfred might have claimed his independence but he is still my boy, my son! You will not take that from me no matter what you might try to twist your words to turn me against him! Now, return him!"
Ivan stepped up to Alfred, the Noah, glaring at the boy. "Return my friend to me," he growled as the Noah turned on him, glaring.
"What friend, Ruski? What friend? He doesn't trust you, he calls you strange. You're alone and you'll always be alone!" the Noah snapped as Ivan snarled even more, purple eyes livid as he lifted his pipe into the air to swing down before Kanda stopped him with his blade.
"…Asshole. You know you're dead, stop buying time!" the Japanese boy snapped as the Noah growled, holding his wound. "Or do I have to cut you piece by piece for you to let go of Jones?"
"That won't be necessary~!" a childish voice spoke as Kanda snarled then looked up, where the voice was coming from. Road giggled then swung down, hugging Alfred close to her chest. "I was wondering when you were going to wake up brother!" she said with a pout as Alfred smiled slightly and patted her head.
"Well, I got hung up by these guys. Should we go?" Wincing, Alfred got to his feet, ready to leave as Kanda moved to strike, before Canada, Matthew shouted, tearing free from Gilbert's grasp and latching onto his brother, crying.
"Al! Al where are you? I know you're in there…Where are you?"
Matthew's voice shook through the Noah's body, down to where Alfred was sleeping, imprisoned by the Noah.
Alfred stared at Matthew for a moment, the critical moment where all might change as the Noah reached up to strike Matthew away.
No.
No.
No. No bastard would touch his little brother.
His mouth formed the words, finally speaking up during this long ordeal of being locked down under the Noah.
"Don't touch my brother!" he yelled, a surge of innocence welling up from within and lashing out at the Noah.
"Don't abuse my body!"
The innocence grew stronger.
"And most of all, STOP MAKING THE HERO LOOK WEAK!"
He screamed the last words, punching through the cage that incased him and right through the Noah's soul. "You can't get rid of me!" the Noah shouted, reaching out to touch the boy as Alfred snarled.
"I'm the goddamn hero! Don't even think about touching me again!" he shouted as the Noah hissed.
"You're too weak. You call yourself a nation and yet you don't even realize your own potential! There's so much rage that could be harnessed, you could rule the world with fear if you tried! I'm here to make that happen, for you and for my own family!"
Alfred snarled then reached out, grabbing the Noah's soul. The Noah roared, grappling at Alfred's hair, the two fighting like mad for control.
"Like hell the hero will let that happen! Heroes don't take advantage of weaknesses or hurt anyone!" Alfred growled before he struggled to resume control, still fighting desperately with the Noah.
How was this happening? Two souls trying to fight for dominance over one body, it was in England, Arthur's fairytales! Despite all of that, Alfred knew that he couldn't afford to lose. Not when people depended on him…
Alfred shouted again, forcing both the Noah and his own body away from group, trying to regain ground before the Noah roared, his power and his rage exploding out of Alfred's body, lightning arching through the air as the boy snarled, racing through it to strike at him with his bare fists, knocking them both to the ground.
The lightning ceased both inside and outside as Alfred's eyes grew heavy but managed to draw back his fist one more time to punch the Noah in the face while straddling him. "That...That's for hurting my friends..."
Punch.
"That's for making me look damn pathetic."
Punch.
"That's for hurting my brother!"
Punch.
"That's for thinking you can take over a hero!"
The Noah hissed but grew unconscious immediately after Alfred punched him once more in between his eyes before the boy wavered and collapsed next to him, letting his eyes finally shut.
Meanwhile, Gilbert formed what just happened the best way possible in his own words.
"…What the fuck just happened?"
Ivan and Arthur had thrown themselves down to avoid getting hurt as Road had to back off as well as the Noah convulsed, clawing at his chest but managed to catch her sibling, petting his hair.
Ivan shook his head, clearing it, before reaching over and nearly tearing the boy out of Road's arms, glaring at the girl who scowled slightly and glared back. "You have my brother," she said with a frown. "I want him back."
"…I will be damned before I let go of America again to the likes of you," Ivan spoke, all childish front gone. In its place was a pissed off nation, ready to lash out against Road who stared at Ivan.
"Relo!" A pink umbrella floated down, the pumpkin head squawking at Road. "Master Earl is calling you back!"
Road made a 'tch' noise with a click of her tongue, shaking her head. "Relo, the Noah of Rage has awakened again," she said with a frown in the group's direction. "I'll go back, but he needs to come and get him for himself because Brother's being stubborn and mean."
'Relo' stared at Alfred still in Ivan's arms then nodded, ushering the Noah on through her door while the exorcists snapped out of their dumbfounded states and raced after the Noah. "Master Earl will learn of the new Noah, Relo! We just need to get out of here Relo!"
And like that, the Noah and the umbrella were gone, leaving the small group stunned and staring at the now slumbering boy nation in Ivan's arms.
Gilbert shook his head slowly and stared at Alfred. "Seriously, what the fuck is going on here?"
Ivan slowly stood up, the boy in his arms as Arthur moved to pet the boy's hair slowly, gently, betraying his normal scowling persona.
"Wouldn't we all like to know?"
...Five months. Sorry about that guys. Well, um! There's not much I can say about this chapter, other then sorry for taking forever! D:Tell me what you guys think and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING! I love you all. *throws cookies*
If some things seem weird...just. Yeah. Mention it. I'll try my best to fix it!