Chapter 1 - Because they see her skin before they see her heart

Louisanne looked at the great stonewall that stretched around the Tower of the Black Order and sighed deeply. The girl with dark skin and blue eyes was standing before the Black Orders current Headquarters (at least that was what she had been told) and searched for a way to enter. Her appearance was a more than unusual one. Her dark, brown skin showed a tint of a dirty grey here and there, her hair was short and curled only going to her chin. The night blue color of it always attracted unwanted attention just as much as her eyes. They were of a deep ocean blue with a slim golden rim around the irises. Also her choice of clothing was not the one, a lady or a gentleman would expect from a girl from the 18th century. The grass green shirt she wore had a big collar and short sleeves with a red fringe. The humming bird that was sewn on the back was rich in details.

One would never have expected that she had done it herself. Albeit it's originality and beauty, the shirt was a little too big for her. Actually it would have gone to her knees hadn't she fixed the excessive part of the cloth with a black smooth looking belt which she had knotted on the right side of her hip, the residual part swinging around slightly with every step she took. The jeans blue leggings she was wearing may not have looked very warm or comfortable but still she thought it was much more convenient than a skirt or a dress. She just hated them. It made her feel weak as if it wanted to remind her she was just a girl. The skin that should usually have been exposed by the leggings was hidden by large brown and clearly overused tramping boots. Everyone who saw her just thought she was a vagabond with no possession at all which in her case , was not the exact truth. The only thing on of value was a simple golden necklace with a large pendant attached to it. The stone that was inwrought into it was emerald green. If someone had taken a closer a look at it, he would have noticed a pulsating gleam emanating from it's core. A sharp wind blew past her and tugged at the sling bag on her back and the torn brown cloak she was wearing. She examined it pitifully. How long had she been wearing this one? She had no idea but it sure was not going to sustain any more travelling the way it was now. Maybe she ought to just throw it away. Again her gaze locked on the huge wall and the gigantic tower behind it. Had she really made the right choice? Was it really the place she should be in right now?

She didn't know and she nearly regretted to ever have come here. Another strong wind came and she began sneezing. She looked at the dark sky and frowned. A storm was coming and she didn't want to stand here, in the middle of nowhere on a cliff many hundreds miles above the sea level, getting soaked wet to the skin. She had already had her fair share of it this month. Her gaze wandered to the wall again and of course nothing seemed to happen. She felt her patience thinning by the second and made an annoyed sound. "Hello? Anybody home?", she yelled in exasperation as small droplets of water came in contact with her dark skin and night blue hair. Thunder rumbled above her but nothing happened. Tired of this stupid game she gripped at her bag, taking a few steps backwards. Once she thought it was enough she ran forward and jumped, just an inch before hitting the wall, into the air landing gracefully on it's top, looking at the now fully visible building in front of her. Her heart sank as she saw the totally damaged fortress in front of her. It looked abandoned. It could only be, seeing the way it was destroyed.

Louisanne let her shoulders hang but still jumped into the yard behind the gate she had been standing in front of a few seconds ago. Her eyes caught every detail, every fissure in the walls and all the holes that misshaped the dark tower. Rain was now pouring down heavily and without a second thought she ran through one of the smaller holes. Even if the tower was abandoned it didn't mean she did have to get wet. As soon as she was inside, she sat on a rather large piece of brick that had undoubtedly once formed the wall behind her. Chin resting on the palms of her hands she began to wonder what catastrophe might have caused such great damage. She knew that something must have happened in this place… it reeked of blood and death, as well as explosions.

A chill ran down her spine as she imagined all the dreadful things that might have happened in here. But she already had a clue who was behind this… A sudden noise coming from below made her jump in surprise, letting her stumble and fall on her back hitting her head on exactly the spot that was always hurting her. She cursed under her breath and stood up again. Quickly, she took her bag and moved to the edge of the hallway where a small white light was coming from. She peeked over the actually still intact handrail partially supporting on it. Further down there were people entering something that resembled a big gate in a mosaic like fashion. She stared in amazement totally caught by the scene she was witnessing when suddenly she heard metal break and the bars, which were supporting her, began to sag away.

Before she knew, she was falling. She shrieked making all the people down in the tower look up and gasp in shock. Instinctively Louisanne inwardly screamed the one sentence that first came to her mind: "Innocence activate!" A flash of green burst out of the pendant that till had just been dangling around her neck. The once slim chain began to glow in a vivid green. The light separated and formed anew around both her ankles and wrists while one part still rested around the teenager's neck. When the light died out five thick golden rings were tightly attached around the limbs. A dark rag spread out of the back of the ring to which the pendant was still fixed and spread to the other parts of her Anti-Akuma-Weapon. Louisanne vaguely resembled a bat as she stretched out her arms and legs in order to brake her fall. The only sound she made as she hit the ground was a light tip of her shoe. Instantly the Innocence deactivated, shrinking back to the necklace it originally was. Still the people of the science department caught a glimpse of it. The torn cloth shimmered sinisterly, it's color changing with even the slightest breath of wind or move, a wave of color like from a soap bubble speed over it, although the fundamental color still remained a ominous black.

Louisanne exhaled and looked at the group of people around her. Surprise and shock was written across their faces, some of them even horrorstruck as they scanned her features. Upon realization Louisanne's hand shot up to her head only to grab at her hair. The hood of her cloak had fallen off. But before she could say anything, a heavily bandaged man who lacked a leg, with a face as if he had seen devil himself, pointed accusingly a shaking finger at her screaming enemy and a word that sounded like the name Noah, the one that had built the ark as the Bible said. Just in time she heard the swishing of air behind her and quickly activated her Innocence once again. But instead of separating into 5 bracelets, the golden metal seemed to melt and reform into a stick, looking like a shakujo staff, while the necklace became smaller, pendant still hanging at it. The staff was adorned with a golden semi-circle at it's end and a big ring at the other with convoluted engravings in the slim material. On the peek was a spear-like attachment. The middle that bound the two golden parts together, was resembling the dark rag only that it had solidified and was now harder than diamond as Louisanne knew.

She blocked the hit and looked her assaulter straight in the eye. It was a youth with long dark hair, just as blue as hers. He had a slim and masculine face and toned muscles, surely fruits from years of hard training. His eyes were of a dark brown with hostility written in them. Hadn't he threatened her with his katana then she maybe would have blushed. Just maybe. "You.", he snarled and applied a little more pressure but she didn't move an inch, "What is it now? Have you come with some more of your Akuma?" Louisanne looked at him in bewilderment.

"What are you talking about? I'm an Exorcist!", she yelled and pushed the young man back with an unbelievable amount of strength. He recoiled, still in attacking stance, studying her with a raised eyebrow, his eyes falling on the green shining pendant. He frowned slightly before his eyes filled with awareness and he stared at her opening his mouth to say something when suddenly another person came rushing towards her. She swept into the air and landed a few meters further away. The person that had tried to land a hit was also a young man who was maybe older but surely shorter than the other one. His brown hair was bound to the back of his head standing up from it in a spiky fashion. His round face showed blind fury as he again tried to attack her crying out fiercely, his left hand lunging out. Again she dodged but this time she rammed her staff into the wall so that she was now standing on it above their heads. "Why did you let your chance slip, Kanda-san?", he asked scandalized as the male approached the spot there he was standing underneath her, "She's the enemy! I can see it. She must be with those devils!"

Louisanne lifted an eyebrow while sending him a glare, although she would not have needed to because the navy-haired youth did exactly the same, only in an even more menacing manner.

"She's not a Noah, Chaoji.", he said sternly while looking up at her. She looked at him in surprise: "What makes you so sure I'm not the enemy? Never let your guard down until you know." He gave her an annoyed look but nothing more. "You don't have their eyes, neither do you have the stigmata.", his voice was strangely calm but a hint of anger swung in it. She tilted her head to the side. "Stigmata?", she repeated clueless. An unexpected eruption-like hit shook the whole wall and interrupted her musing. The brown haired, freckled man had punched the wall and was now screaming angrily: "Kanda-san, what are we waiting for? Haven't you heard what she just said!? I bet this girl is a Noah! I mean look at her: Dark skin, dark hair and golden eyes. We had enough opportunities to know what our enemies do look like!" The man named Kanda glanced at her again scowling even more. He was not sure if this person was as harmless as she seemed to be at first glance. "Come down.", he ordered his tone letting no space for denial. She eyed him suspiciously but did as she was told. Jumping down while getting hold of her staff, which she got out with ease she reached the floor again weapon ready to strike if she was being attacked again. The air in the room seemed dense, nor the two Exorcists nor the scientist made a move seconds passing by.

Louisanne snorted and looked at the man that had called her enemy first. He whimpered as he understood she was looking at him. She grinded her teeth and closed her eyes shut before she opened them again, determination showing in them. She lowered her weapon till it's tip was resting on the cold concrete. "What do I need to do in order for you to believe me that I'm no harm?", she asked, with as much control she could muster. She hated the feeling of others fearing her for her outer looks. She was sick of it.

Kanda first did not react. He glanced at Chaoji beside him who was shaking violently. If there wasn't something happening in the next few seconds he would strike out again at the girl again for sure. "Show me your forehead, then we'll see.", he replied, prepared for an evil surprise if it was to follow his words.

She scowled but lifted her right hand and brushed away some of the few strands and bangs of blue hair. Underneath them…was nothing as everyone could see in the bright white light of the Ark. Sighs could be heard all over the place and suddenly the tension was gone. Well, nearly. "That doesn't mean anything.", grumbled Chaoji teeth partially gritted and bared. Kanda shot him an impatient glare and left him on the spot. If the other couldn't control his wrath then it wasn't his problem. He went towards Louisanne who deactivated her Innocence but did not allow herself to relax. After this entry she was a little more than weary of these people.

Just as Kanda reached her another person came into view, a man with blond spiky hair. His appearance was the one of an Australian in his later twenties. He came to her, a clipboard in his hand that rested lazily on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for this commotion just now. But as you may have seen we went through some rough times lately.", he said apologetically reaching out to her, "My name is Reever Wenhemm, I'm charge of the Science Department of the Black Order Headquarters." Louisanne hesitated to shake his hand but upon seeing face that didn't hold any negative emotions she dropped her hostility. "So,", Reever said and looked at her with interest, "you are an Exorcist? How did you know about our location?"

Just as the young girl was about to answer a man came rushing towards them. On his face balanced a pair of large glasses and his brown hair was made into two small knots. His white coat fluttered around his legs as he ran towards his superior who was staring at him in astonishment. "Johnny? What are you doing here?", asked the Australian staggered.

The young man came to a stand panting heavily after he had run so fast. "It's- it's one of the generals.", he said from gasps of air. His voice trembled, "General Marian Cross was attacked!"

The title is actually a reference to the spoken poem "To This Day" by Shane Koyczan. It deals actually with bullying in school and how people are often judged upon their appearance and how much they suffer from the treatment. It is frightening and heartbreaking how much of it is true. Official site: /listen Youtube: watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ltun92DfnPY