Chapter 2 - Two parts of three
"What!", came the voices of Reever and Kanda in union, the difference being that the navy-haired kendoka barked at the scientist while the Australian's was barely above a whisper. They couldn't believe it, it had to be a bad joke.
"What are you talking about?" Everyone's eyes locked on the young girl, who had spoken in a shocked and hollow voice, eyes wide, making their golden-rimmed centers more than just evident. Just now, it seemed like Johnny noticed the stranger that was standing to his left. As he took a closer look on her appearance, readjusting his glassing as if trying to see her clearer, he began to shake from head to foot. His latest encounter with Lulubell, the Noah of Lust, had left it's marks. Not only physically, but mentally too.
He shied away as she gripped him hard by the shoulders and began to shake him violently, as if hoping to hear something clatter inside the young man. "Tell me right now where that god damn bastard is! Where is Cross!", she screamed, still continuing with the motion and getting dangerously close to the mark where Johnny sure was about to puke. No one dared to get close to her. She looked out of her right mind.
Johnny, who by now had gotten slightly green in his face, weakly raised a finger and pointed at the entrance of the Ark while his other free hand shot up to his mouth holding back whatever was trying to fight it's way out of his poor stomach. Like a scalded cat, Louisanne let go of the mistreated scientist and ran towards the indicated direction, ignoring the shouts and commands directed to her. Anger and disbelieve were flooding her mind like a virus eating away any logical way of reasoning. She would never forgive that bastard Cross if he was to disappear again or worse die. She would never ever pardon him! It was his fault after all that it had turned out this way!
"Wait! You can't go in there now! You'll get lost!", shouted Reever as he saw the girl make a mad dash for the entrance of the enemies former basement. To say that he was confused was the understatement of the century, although he had some sense of déjà-vu even if he couldn't place it right now. But he would oh too soon. Still, for now only one thing mattered: Stop this girl from entering the Ark and maybe prevent her from bumping into the people from Central or even worse… Malcom C. Leverrier himself. If that happened, she was as good as condemned. Her outer looks would be enough for that sadist to let her get killed on the spot or worse experimented. But it was too late. He could only watch as Louisanne's small and skinny frame was engulfed by the white light of the Ark's entrance. He cursed under his breath.
Allen wandered around aimlessly, mind and senses blank to everything around him. His thoughts were all muddled together in an incomprehensible mass, with no direction and order. Everything around seemed dull and gray, lifeless even the small golden object nervously flapping by his side. This place was so unfamiliar to him. He felt the tearing desire to flee to somewhere safe. Anywhere, where he could be all by himself. He needed it. That picture was haunting him: all that blood and his masters mask on the window sill in that sickening red puddle…and the smell of gun powder hovering in that room. It had been impossible for him to move. His worst fears had come true once again. His master was gone, not having left the smallest bit of information, leaving him in this mess he and the 14th had caused. A mad and grieving grin shot across his face as he reminded himself of yesterday nights revelation. He was the Musicians host and in the near future it's memories would eat his soul away. He felt his stomach make some unpleasant twists and turns as he contemplated that information again. He didn't know where exactly he was going, all he was sure about was that his feet knew perfectly where to take him.
Timcanpy didn't know what to do. Confusion and fear were mixed inside of his small round body. Of course, as an in animated object it should have been impossible for him to have feelings at all but still, he was a special golem after all. And even though he was never going o be close to a real, breathing and living creature, he was capable of understanding emotions, although not as strongly as his young master who was now walking slowly down a dark corridor. Not only was he worried about the way he looked but about his apathy towards his surroundings. He seemed more like a ghost than a human being and it scared Tim to no end. But what worried him more was the fact that he couldn't sense his master Cross at all. It was odd. Usually he would be able to feel where he was. He could as well have been on the moon and Tim still would have been able to tell he was there. But now… nothing at all. Tim dropped himself on Allen's shoulder but didn't earn any reaction from the albino. But he could see a torn and painful smile on the youth's face. One that sent chills down his long golden tail. He knew that smile all too well. And then he felt it. A presence he had missed just as much as his masters: The one close to a caring mother.
Allen snapped out of his trance as soon as he realized that Timcanpy was acting very out of it, considering the situation. The golem that had shortly sat on his shoulder, sulking and maybe even grieving upon the loss of his master, bolted up into the air and frantically swished from side to side in search for something. A faint and small piece of hope spread through Allen's body as he watched the little golden ball. Maybe he actually felt master Cross's presence? "Tim,", said Allen in a rushed voice and caught the ball shaped golem in his fingers trying to calm him down, "do you feel the masters presence?" But as the golem shook it's round body in a no, the small smile that had battled it's way to his face was whipped away. But none the less he observed Tim's behavior closely before releasing him from his grip. Instantly, the little ball sped through the dark corridors with Allen following him. Whatever was driving Tim to act that way- there had to be a good reason behind it.
Louisanne blocked the blinding light with her arm as she passed through the gate of the Ark. It was just too bright. She shut her eyes even tighter, going blindly further and further. And when all of a sudden, the light was gone. She blinked in confusion her vision becoming clearer with every lash of her eyelashes. Her gaze wandered over the countless snow-white and small houses that were now standing in front of her. The way they had been built, remembered her of the cities further south like in Greece or Italy. She spun around herself at least three times before she stopped drinking in her surroundings. It was so beautiful. She looked up at the clear blue sky above her and noticed something glistening in the blazing light of a non-existent sun. She tilted her head to the side watching the object draw closer and closer. Funny, she thought, she actually knew that tiny ball and then, before even actually realizing it she recognized that form. It was… "Tim!", she called out jumping high into the air directly towards the small golden golem, who shot at her with incredible speed. The impact it made on her chest knocked the air out of her lungs as she fell on one of the roofs with a loud bang, but she did not care in the slightest. Snuggling into her tummy and lap, Timcanpy was seemingly crying like a spout, soaking her clothes. Louisanne either did look as if she was forcing back the salty waters as she patted the small golden ball. "Hey, little one. Tsch, tsch, there's no need to cry. I've returned after all.", she whispered smiling softly at the golem. She really had missed him a lot. "So where's that damn idiot of a general, Cross?", asked Louisanne Tim with an undertone, "I mean, Marian is not the kind of man that gets killed so easily. Just like pests: Try to tear them out of the earth and they'll always grow back." Her laugh was broken and nervous as she observed Tim. The golem's tears disappeared only to being replaced by a look of utter defeat. He dropped his wings and huddling even further into her coat. Her strained cheerfulness dropped at the sight. So it was true- the attack on Marian Cross. Absentmindedly she stroked the elegant wings of the golem and stared at a spot close to her feet when she noticed something. Why was there a dark blur getting larger?
Allen was ready to strike now. Crown Clown was activated and he had managed to sneak behind the person that seemed to have caught Timcanpy. He was sure it was a girl, a skinny one he might add, but right now he didn't bother about it. As soon as he had seen that dark skin he knew that she had to be a Noah and even if he was not going to hurt her, there was a fear crawling up his spine. How had she managed to get into the Ark? He was sure that as a Noah she was not here alone and it frightened him. He did not want to relieve another attack but still, he was hesitating. She did not look like threat and what puzzled him most was that Tim did not try to fly away from her. This was all so confusing. First the golem had flown off, as if struck by lightning, and then he had nearly lost his track after Tim had entered the Ark. He tightened his grip around his sword. He would try not harm her, unless necessary.
Louisanne knew that the attacker came from behind. Whether it was reflex, instinct or experience she was not sure, maybe a mix between all those three. But as soon as she had spotted that shadow coming from above her, she jumped to the left onto a tower like building while catching a glimpse of her assaulter, Timcanpy frantically flying around their heads. It was a boy with a white cloak waving around his shoulders and a silver mask dangling around his neck, one side ornamented with a sun on the left and with a black pattern on the right. He was small and wore a black combat dress that resembled those of the other two people she had met earlier. He seemed to wear a white hood as she couldn't see any other color on his skull, until she realized it actually was his hair. But what instantly caught her eye was the long scar on his face, shaped like a pentacle on the forehead running down his eye and left cheek. Without thinking about it she already had a description for it in her mind. This scar, was a curse.
They scrutinized each other for a few, long seconds estimating the others strength. Louisanne sighed tiredly: "Can anybody explain me why people keep trying to slit my throat the whole day long?" Allen's silver eyes narrowed dangerously as he considered the girls words. Had she already attacked the few remaining members at the old Black Order's castle?
"What do mean by that?", he asked, feeling some sort of vibrancy going through the sword in his right. He stared at it in astonishment for a heartbeat. His Innocence had never done that before and he could feel the snow-white fabric around him tightening. He and his Innocence had, since the incidents in the Arc, developed a strong bond, probably stronger than anyone would have expected. In a way, it allowed the albino to sense what his other entity felt. And it was scared. So much that he actually had to push himself not to get overrun by its emotions and run away.
"My name is Louisanne. I'm an Exorcist and former student of Marian Cross.", she said clearly, although Allen could swear he had heard a mumbled «Idiotic master!». As if on cue Timcanpy settled on the girls shoulder and flung his tail around her neck. He was speechless. If Tim accepted her without hesitation she wasn't lying. She tried to look relaxed and composed.
"I'm really sorry for making such a riot all over your organization. But that is nothing uncommon for me.", she rubbed the back of her left hand with the other one, briefly closing her eyes, "People still seem to have prejudices even after all these years."
Allen lowered his sword, but didn't dare to deactivate it, maybe because Crown Clown made him feel strained nevertheless. But he was pretty sure himself that this girl would not fight him. What he found strange, was his urge to believe her and put some trust in her words. Who knew…there was a slight chance that she knew something about Cross and the 14th. But, there just was no way she could. Allen shook his head, trying to get rid of his confused thoughts. Yet, why did he have these thoughts in the first place?
"Are you really his student?", asked Allen in his usual polite way. Or at least he tried to do so. The way things were just now, with the attack, his master's revelation of him being killed sooner or later and said master's sudden disappearance without leaving any clues or answers, made it difficult for him not to snap at somebody. Although it probably might have helped to vent some of his frustration he knew it wasn't right. He knew the girl wasn't at fault for his own troubles. Louisanne nodded slowly, sure that this was not the end of the questioning.
"Prove it.", demanded Allen, waiting for a verbal answer but it never came. Instead she threw a small notebook at him, which landed before his feet. He gave her a puzzled look but her eyes told him to open it. Allen bent down deliberately, not losing sight of the girl in front of him and picked the small object up. It looked as if it had already seen better day. The leathern cover was flaking off the material that had been used as a base , greasy stains plastering the once surely pretty adornment and with pages that slowly had turned yellow and brown from use.
Allen involuntarily raised an eyebrow and flipped it open, paling considerably at the sight: Debts- unbelievably high debts were recorded in it. The young man felt suddenly very sick, as if he was being used as a punch bag by his master again. As if it was on fire, he threw it away with a muffled yelp, Louisanne catching it in a swift and elegant move. She smirked a little seeing how distraught the boy acted upon seeing something he more than just surely had lived or was still living through himself.
"So he made you pay too?", she asked coyly putting the notebook back into the depths of her sling bag. In response Allen just nodded stiffly.
"Do- don't tell me he made you pay all of that!", he nearly whispered all color missing in his facial features. This was twice the amount of his and Jasdevi's, the Noah of Bonds, debts together. How much of a cruel and sick scumbag could Cross be to make a woman pay for his debts?
Louisanne's playful grin faltered a little and she shrugged as though he had asked her what the weather would be like tomorrow and she had no clue.
"I don't care how much I had to pay for him. But what makes me crazy with fury is the fact that I spent the last five years to pay off his debts. I'm just relieved there aren't any livid barkeepers following me anymore.", she said looking away from his face, wringing her hands so forcefully that Allen could clearly hear her knuckles crack from where he was standing a few feet away.
Allen couldn't help but notice that she must have lived some kind of trauma too. She just had to. He was talking about his master after all. But the girl's voice interrupted his trail of thoughts as now it was filled with acid,
"And that's why I will not forgive that bastard if he dies! I just hope that this is one of his tricks to avoid nasty people asking him questions."
Allen stared at her. So she knew Cross was dead but didn't believe it. Just as he was about to open his mouth and ask one more question he could hear his name being called harshly. He turned around just in time to see Link appear from behind, his charmed papers ready for the attack.
"Walker, get away from this person quickly!"
"No, Link, stop! She's not an enemy!"
Louisanne couldn't see Allen's face but from the sound of his voice she could tell that what that man was planning was nothing good. Swiftly she tried to jump out of his field of vision behind a nearby pillar while Allen seemingly was trying to get into that man's way. But that didn't do anything much. Ignoring the albino's words the blond made a quick motion with his hand, chanting something that sounded like a short incantation before the papers that had first hovered in mid-air sped towards her. First it caught her ankle and immediately she felt like she was being pulled down heavily as if it was attached to an anvil. Next came her legs, her haunch, torso, arms and lastly her face. But it didn't matter as she had already been stumbling with the first paper clinging to her and was now falling onto the hard stone.
She twitched at the impact but no sound escaped her mouth as it was layered with one of those sheets. She tried to wiggle out of this restrain. The sensation was not nice. It felt as though she was slowly being crushed. The shouting not far from her made her look up. In her haste she hadn't had the chance to take a better look at her assaulter but now she could see a young man who was a bit taller than Allen.
Blond hair was neatly braided back, though some strands were hanging loosely around his rather edgy face while his bordeaux-red suit looked impeccable. Two dark dots were standing out on his forehead that was now furrowed in anger as he argued with the younger boy.
"Walker, do I have to remind you that your situation is already precarious? Meeting with someone like …"
"Yes, Link, I do know that but it wasn't my fault. You weren't anywhere to be found, so I decided to go. I figured that maybe we would cross each other on one of the corridors and then Tim suddenly flew off and led me here.", Allen explained, trying his best to calm the man, "I really am sorry and I do understand that you are upset but please, release her first. She hasn't anything to do with the Noah's. I'm sure of it."
Two cold brown eyes locked onto her form analyzing every little motion and expression on her face. After having kept her head up for long enough Louisanne let it fall back on the floor again, now only seeing two pairs of legs. Seemingly the guy turned back towards Allen because his feet shifted slightly and he addressed the boy again, this time in a much calmer way.
"Are you sure about this, Walker?"
There was no verbal reply but Louisanne concluded that the boy must have nodded since the man named Link lifted his arm and just a few seconds later Louisanne could feel the weight on her whole body diminishing. Slowly she stretched her limbs and began tearing of the scraps of paper that were still defying gravity, not letting go of her hair and clothes. Allen rushed to her side, flustered and apologizing, rambling a little she noticed.
"I'm so sorry. Link can be a bit rash.", Allen justified which earned him a fierce glare from said person but nothing more.
"Come one let me help you."
Louisanne looked at him pointedly, maybe even menacingly as Allen seemed a bit surprised about her expression.
"I'll be fine, I can do it myself, thank you.", she replied quickly not looking up. She did not like to be helped by others. It felt awkward to her.
"Would you be so kind to introduce yourself?", asked the man Allen had called Link while Louisanne dusted herself down. She looked up meeting his gaze with a glare, straightening.
"My name is Louisanne, a pupil of Cross' and wishing to join the Black Order as an exorcist, although I have the distinct feeling of not being welcomed here." She must have sounded harsh as Link's eyes narrowed some more.
"If you were so polite- I would like to know your name since you asked me mine. I at least want to know who attacks me from behind without warning next time."
His eyes became icy confirming that her words had some notable effect.
"Inspector Howard Link from Central.", he retorted curtly yet with a hint of pride hidden in it but Louisanne couldn't grasp any meaning behind it. She was not sure what he meant with Central, she couldn't even remember if Cross had ever mentioned it to her before. Useless idiot!
She noticed the reproachful look on Allen's face. Still there was something else permeating the air, a distinct feeling of animosity coming from Allen. It was seemingly not directed at anyone in particular but it was not hard to guess that it involved what the blond had just said. The change in atmosphere was too abrupt to not notice it.
Howard Link though seemed used to be used to it or rather to have mastered ignoring it (Louisanne made a third guess that maybe he was just insensitive). It was evident that the two young men knew each other very well by the way they behaved and talked with one another.
Louisanne assessed each of these small details before shouting reached them and made all three turn their heads in the same direction. On the roof of a house next to them stood a tall tan man with dreadlocks, looking wired and very annoyed.
"Allright, found them!", he shouted, bending over the edge of the white concrete at someone in the alley down below earning him a positive reply.
Scratching the back of his neck forcibly he turned back towards them yawning, showing the clinical condition of his tonsils not bothered there was a lady nearby. For all she knew, Louisanne did not care. The last thing she would consider herself to be, was a lady.
Though that did not stop Allen from making a playful remark: "Oh Didi, it's nice to see you too. Would cover your mouth with a hand please, we have company."
The man in a lab coat, closed his mouth shut about to rant that he had had to get up to look for them because they had not been able to find them in headquarters when his eyes fell on the sole female around.
Instead of getting flustered for his laxity, he, just like anyone else that day, went rigid. His eyes seemed to bulge when his brain concluded that something with this situation was wrong.
"What are you two waiting for? She is a Noah!", he hurled, taking a few carefully placed steps back towards the hidden staircase he had taken to get onto the roof.
Louisanne knew it wouldn't do her situation any good yet she couldn't else but openly glare at the man, making him falter and shrink before their very eyes. She could feel anger boiling inside her and not just any kind, it was blind rage that made her irrational at times, just like a certain red-haired lady killer she knew. She hated it when her emotions led her to do things she usually wouldn't but today had been too much.
She could take being screamed at, she could take being given the bad eye, she could take being ignored but she would not let herself being compared to these monsters anymore.
It was just then that a large group of people came bursting from a trap door next to them or simply jumped onto the roof from down the streets, mainly a girl with short green hair. If the black uniforms were a give-away it was safe to guess that all of them were Exorcist, on high alert and all of their eyes locking onto her instantly. Didi's scream must have alerted them as all were battle ready, trying not to let her have the upper hand should a fight break out.
"What do you want with us! Haven't you done enough already?", it was the girl and her violet eyes held nothing but hostility and some minor confusion, probably as to why her comrades had done nothing to stop the threat that had entered their base of operations.
Something inside her exploded violently.
Instead of screaming her head off she turned around sharply towards the man called Link, crying out loudly once. Everyone flinched and took a fighting stance when suddenly Louisanne let herself drop onto her behind and held her arms outstretched, wrist turned upwards. The inspector wasn't the only one giving her a perplexed look.
To him, just as to the others, who were ogling this unrealistic scene, the cry had sounded like the beginning of a fight – not its end.
Louisanne did not move, did not even blink as her face stayed a mask of defiant resolution.
"I've had enough of this. If you would please put your bindings on me so that anyone will come to understand that I mean no harm, I would be more than thankful.", her voice was as bitter as spoiled wine.
The people around her looked at each other puzzled when Allen came closer to her and crouched down onto her level, so that he could see her into the eye. His smile was sincere and apologetic but it did not calm her in the least. She knew that it would not change the problem at hand. The issue of her looking like the enemy.
"You do not have to go this far you know.", he put a hand on her shoulder, shaking it lightly as if hoping that it would make her some to her senses but she did not budge. When she set her mind on something, it was next to impossible to make her take a step back until maybe she saw that her actions caused another one she held no grudge against pain. It had been that way ever since… ever since he had awakened her.
At the moment though there was no one that could be harmed and so the poor boy would not have a chance at changing her mind and make her realize what kind of image she would force onto herself should she be taken to headquarters handcuffed. Not that she cared. It was already a lost battle with her appearance she figured.
She ignored Allen's kind words, her eyes boring into Link's evaluating ones. After an internal moral debate that seemed to last only a few seconds, the inspector tugged a small blank piece of paper out of his sleeve and put it around both her wrists almost gently. A sign of his finger made the parchment glow in a soft light and just by the slight increase of weight Louisanne could tell that it was doing its work.
It was strange to see what kind of effect a gesture so small could bring about. The tension lessened, the attackers letting their guard down but the distrust and fear in their eyes stayed nonetheless.
Louisanne got up without help, turning toward Allen who looked somewhat distressed. Louisanne had labeled herself an enemy and he knew that even if she worked harder and with more vigor than any of them, it wouldn't change people's view on her once they caught a glance at the girl with grey skin, blue hair and a charm-cuff around her wrists.
But Louisanne was well aware of this already. She would face the challenges head-on like she was used to. Head held high she spoke to the only the only other person who had changed kinder words with her: "Would you take me to Chief Komui, please? Cross left me with the instruction to go see him once I arrived."
Allen nodded, showing her the way with one hand while gently tugging at her elbow to guide her through the small crowd that followed them down the stairs.