Well for being my first AU its going pretty good i think. People are actually reading it and I might shorten it from the length of the previous one.
Thanks to DarkFlame Alchemist. Ur the first light in this AU fanfic I have seen. I hope i get more as the story goes on. Also thanks to Violet the Wolf for adding UP to story favs.!
.: Playthrough 2 :.
= Choose Your Hero[ine] =
When you change the rules, you change the game.
- 21
Kanda stood in the stupid moyashi's living room. He couldn't believe that Lavi had actually talked him into going to the moyashi's house and talk to both Cross and Allen about that game. Apparently Cross and him knew about that game that Lavi had talked to him about some days ago. It wasn't liked Kanda had agreed to join that stupid child's play but Lavi had convinced him to see what Allen had to say. Nothing that the old womanizer or the beansprout could say would change his mind. Tiedoll, his pseudo-father, couldn't even though he tried several times during the last three days. Marie, his bodyguard and adopted older sibling, tried and failed miserably. Lavi's attempts were always futile to begin with so his failures weren't that much of a surprise to him.
Hearing footsteps nearing him, Kanda shut his mind out of the happenings of past few days. -
"Surprised you actually came, Bakanda." The sixteen-year-old British boy called in perfectly fluent Japanese. His white hair and grey eyes slick with the type of image that rich little kids have. Head-to-be of the Walkers, the Family of the Black Rose, Allen was quite genius as much as Kanda hated to admit it and a complete whiz with poker. The catch with that was that he cheated and when all else failed he knew pretty well how to count cards.
"I would've booked it had the stupid usagi not dragged me here." Kanda glared down at the Brit who only smirk like always.
"Excuses, excuses. Blame it on Lavi but you stayed this whole twenty minutes while Lavi talked with me and Cross. You just keep blaming everyone but you, Kanda," Allen exclaimed triumphantly.
"Spit it out, Moyashi. What's up with this stupid kid's game?" His voice and glare were the same rough ones but the Brit could tell that the older Heir felt interest in this. Why would he have stayed otherwise? All of them took a sit in the house's study and began talking.
"What my people have told me is that the ones attacking our lower gangs is a hidden group," Allen played around with a pen between his fingers all the while speaking to them from the otherside of his desk.
"Any intel on who leads them?" Lavi spoke up.
"What I got was simply a name that they go by. The Black Briar-Rose," Allen said concerned.
"They're using the codenames of the Four Houses," Lavi added seeing the meaning of the name. "Allen's is the Family of the Black Rose. Kanda's is the Family of the Black Lotus. The Noah's are the Family of the Black Iris. Mine's the Family of the Black Sunflower. Those names are what represents the family."
"In other words they're declaring themselves the black rose within a thorn shrub," Kanda said figuring it out.
"They want to start something with the Houses which explains the attacks and name." Allen kept playing with the pen while he spoke. He stopped a moment to draw a sketch of what he was thinking. "First they headed to attack the House that is weakest at the moment."
"That would be yours since the accident," Lavi interrupted. When he looked up Allen was given him a blank stare of spitefulness which Lavi clearly saw as a threat to his life. He gulped down his words immediately, "Sorry bout that."
"If they're attacking by weakest it would make sense that they'd leave the Noah for last," Kanda suggested wanting to leave the place as fast as possible.
"Then, if our theory is right, after gaining the number of men they need, the Black Briar-Rose would be heading to the Black Lotus Family," Allen sketched a little shameful lotus. He had to admit that although he was good at many things drawing was not one of them. He looked up at Kanda who, not to the slightest of his surprise, was not worried a bit. "Cross had already informed Tiedoll about this Kanda. He won't leave you unprotected."
"I'm not," he countered. "I have Marie and I have Mugen," he added tightening the grip on the sword his belated swordsmaster, Zhu Chan, had left him disguised at a cane.
"That won't be enough," Allen said catching their attention. "Black Briar-Rose is using the game that Inaguri created to their advantage. They can recruit easier than we can without having to uncover themselves. All through the game."
"I already told Yu what needs to be done," Lavi said sliding against his chair like a bored child.
"I'm not joining that dumbass game." To both, Kanda's choice seemed unwavering.
"C'mon, Yu," Lavi whined tired of his stubbornness. "Just join and get one. Once this stupid molehill is over with all that needs to be done is to terminate the contract and leave the controller alone to collect dust."
"Lavi's right, Kanda." Kanda didn't bother to look at either of the Heirs. The American redhead was enough to annoy him about that game. Now a fucking moyashi was to tell him what to do too? Allen sighed seeing there was to be no cooperation from him. "I somehow knew this was going to happen." He opened one of the drawers from his desk and took out a manila folder and a black lidded box the size of the folder itself. He threw it on the side of the desk nearest to Kanda. The asian teen didn't take his eyes from the oh so interesting outside view that he could see from Allen's studio. "Since you're too stuck up to make a decision by yourself, I took the liberty to speak with Tiedoll and get you signed up."
This definitedly took his attention from the black, starless sky bringing him up to his feet in completely derangement and anger. He slammed his hands on the desk, "You did what?"
Lavi had to cover his ears from the intesne yell filled with pure hatred and killing intent while leaning away from Kanda. He turned to Allen who had the boldest smile on his face ever. Lavi's own smile twitched, half amazed and half scared. That little British kid had messed with things perhaps a bit too far. "I don't know if I should be surprised or if I should run for my life now that I can."
"Too late," Allen said stepping back feeling the killing intent way too menacing. This made Kanda's attempt of slicing the moyashi's throat with Mugen a failure. Pulling it back and stabbing the desk insteand Kanda glared at the white-haired boy. If glares did killed, Allen would be ten feet under by then. "Now let's take a breather, shall we?" Allen raised his hands in surrender, "To begin with I only suggested the idea of Exailion to Cross who then, by his own accord, informed Tiedoll and Bookman. I had nothing to do with you getting signed up."
"You had to do with it and since you're the only one I can kill, I might as well," Kanda said through gritted teeth, veins clearing popping from his neck.
"This was supposed to happen either way, Yu-chan, and you knew it." Lavi almost fell off his chair when the plunged swords was directed at his head. "Y-y-y-you know I'm right and so is Allen!" Lavi stuttered with the courage he had left. "This is getting a little out of hand. So if nothing else works we have to level the battlefield and we need to get down to their level."
"Playing a stupid game won't help us one fucking bit!" Kanda shouted almost getting Lavi's throat by a mere inch stabbing the arm chair instead.
"It can actually," Allen said getting both's attention. "The Noah refuse joining us to fight againt Black Briar but Tyki did give me some useful information."
Lavi's eyes narrowed showing an emotion of hatred that emerald eye never gave, "You still talk to that bastard?"
"He is my family," Allen answered while prying some papers from inside another drawer. Spreading them across the table Lavi inched a bit to look at the intel.
His eye widened and he frowned and went to his usual thinking pose were he placed his chin in his fingers. "Is the info reliable?"
"Wisely got it himself I was told," Allen answered.
"What is it?" Kanda said letting the anger pass little by little.
"Intel about a glitch in Inaguri's game." Lavi studied the many papers scattered on top of the desk. One caught the best of his curiosity. Picking it up he directed his words towards Allen, "Have you located the bug?"
"Not yet." Allen picked a file that was Kanda's up again. "But according to Tyki it has to be someone related to the one who created of the game."
"Inaguri's relative?" Lavi asked confused.
"Inaguri Co. only owns Exailion. Someone else created the game and sold it to them," Allen answered.
"Give me that." Kanda snatched the file away from the moyashi's hands. He read a couple od pages before asking, "You mean to say that someone related to this Hughes Mason is most likely the bug?"
"I dare say so," Allen said rather pleased that they understood eachother. "Which is why Cross and Tiedoll agreed on my decision of getting you his only living relative as your Excell." Kanda read further until the page of his Excell and only scowled. Lavi read over his shoulder amazed. "I would say 'I'm sorry' but I'm really not," Allen smirked. "But it seems that you got stuck with the Ace of Spades."
"Thanks and come again!" Reiyo finally turned the sign to Closed. Once inside the locker rooms she places her apron away closing the locker door. A second passed before she slumped against the door.
"Are you okay, Rei-chan?" Keiko came from counting the money of the cash register.
"Yeah, I'm good," Rei said sulking in her little corner. She was smirking with regret in her head. The one day she gets to make the most important person in her life happy, she completely forgot about it. Today was August 23rd and to Reiyo's complete dismay it was also Gemma's twelve birthday. And thanks to her fish-type memory span, she had completely forgotten about the cake.
And as if she could read her mind Keiko pronounced, "Forgot Gemma-chan's cake?"
A ton of bricks fell upon Reiyo's subconscious as tears of remorse fell down her eyes. "I'm the worst sister ever."
"Not on my book," Keiko chirped taking a box from behind her showing it to her.
"Keiko-san!" Reiyo called gratefully to her senior coworker and boss. "You're my savior!"
"You're welcome," Keiko said giving her the prepared box. "Here," passing another box the size of a fist. "I got you that thing you said you wanted fix for her too."
"I love you, Keiko-san." Reiyo opened the box to find it neatly covered in vanilla frosting and spelled in neat handwritting was written 'Happy 12th B-Day Gemma' in strawberry flavored letters. "Perfect. Thanks a lot, Keiko-san."
"Don't thank me. Gemma deserves it." Keiko went up to her locker putting her stuff away.
"Mind me leaving early?" Reiyo was hassling with her stuff and the box trying not to topple it all over.
"Go ahead and congratulate Gemma for me, yeah?"
"Will do! Thanks, Keiko-san!" Reiyo shouted running out of the store through the back door. Jogging through the streets she was barely able to make the train home.
Arriving to her place she got there tiptoeing her way to the kitchen table. Placing the cake box on the table, in complete darkness, she attempts to get to Gemma's room. Opening the door slowly she finds Gemma reading books from school. What was she thinking? It was a damn Friday and her birthday to top it off.
Knocking softly on the door she got Gemma to turn her head. With a smile Reiyo whispers, "How's it feel to be twelve and young?"
"Not as badass as being seventeen and free," Gemma giggled mocking around. Reiyo lets the the cussing pass for being her special day. Rei motions her down. Gemma stares at her dumbfounded. "But it's almost one!" Gemma's whisper was like a shout to her, "Grace will be mad as heck if she wakes up!"
"If she wakes up," Reiyo said lifting a finger and winking at her. "We're just gonna have to be all hush about it." Taking Gemma downstairs, Reiyo covers her sister's eyes once on the first floor. Placing Gemma's own hands on her eyes, Reiyo goes and stands behind the table. "Ready? Now."
Gemma removes her hands to see twelve candles spreaded across the cake burning brightly. Her face illuminates with splendor and gratefulness. Leaning on the table's edge, Gemma stares at the magnificent treat that she has never had since she was very little.
"Oh Rei!" she exclaimed in a higher whisper than she intended to. She was just so overjoyed with the surprise that it lit her up like the fourth of July. Reiyo smiled, this was what she wanted for her life to be; a life full of joy everyday, no tears nor fears. "It's wonderful!"
"Now blow the candles and make a wish," Rei said getting ontop of the counter of the kitchen. Gemma stood there looking at the candles before blowing them off.
"Come," Reiyo motioned her little sister to her. Once there, Rei gave her the small box that Keiko had given her. "Open it. It's my present for you."
At opening it Gemma almost shrieked from her joy. Taking the slim silver chain, she dangled the small silver, oval locket. A present that was once their mother's before she died and they were sent to foster care. Before everything bad began to happen it broke. Reiyo had taken care of it saying she would fix it. It took over eight years but she kept her promise. Opening it, Gemma saw the same engraving that Reiyo's treasured tag had imprinted on it.
'Your path is not something you follow but what you make with every step you take.'
"Rei, my locket! You got it fixed!" Gemma squealed. "You're the best sister ever! I love you, Reiyo!"
Reiyo smirked at her and leaning in ruffled Gemma's hair, hearing the clinging of metal against her own chest. For this one occassion has she chosen to wear the tag and metal beads necklace that she had gotten from him. "Happy birthday Gemma."
All heaven was disturbed when the front door got busted off its hinges and seven people came in. Out of instincts Reiyo jumped off to shield Gemma thinking that it was robbers. But as the light of flashlights hit her eyes, Reiyo noticed that they were too well suited for being robbers. The guns they held, though, didn't make her prediction too far-fetch.
One spoke over all the others. A tall and broad man, bald and tanned wearing a black coat. Reiyo saw his white eyes and rationalized the man's blindness. "Gemma Mason."
"Who're you people?" Reiyo hissed through gritted teeth.
Tilting his ears to Reiyo's direction he listened. "No need for you to know. Where is Miss Mason?"
"The girl has the target Mr. Marie," one of the suited guys called. Signaling with two fingers, a couple of suited men came over to them.
"G-Get off me!" Reiyo fought against the strong hands that held her back.
"Rei! Reiyo!" Gemma shirked in terror as another couple of men began to fetch her. Kicking and punching for both was futile; they were too strong for a couple of girls.
"What the fuck's going on down here?" Grace said half drunk, in her nightgown, and cussing at the men.
"Ma'am if you would come with me. I'll explain," the man from before, Marie, said taking Grace into the living room.
"Let her go!" Reiyo yelled struggling to keep the hands loosely. "Let her go, you bastards!"
"Ma'am can you vouch that Gemma Mason is Hughes Mason?" Marie asked her.
Grace scoffed, "That's what the birth certificate says."
"Then here's a contract saying that you won't disclose anything that happened tonight and will recieve a compensation from our family. In exchange you are to bestow upon us the rightful ownership of Hughes Mason's daughter," Marie said giving the paper and pen to Grace.
Grace took the pen and scribbled her signature, "Take both of them for all I care."
"No! Rei!" Gemma was sreaming petrified.
"Gem!" Reiyo yelled. Kicking one of the two men who was holding her in the groin, she elbowed the other. Running at the two who held Gemma, she kicked them both in the head making them let go of the girl. Pulling her back into a corner, Reiyo scowled at the two left that pointed gun at her.
"Give us Mason's daughter," Marie said calmly. "This will be the last peaceful request I make. Give her to us."
"Y-You said you wanted Mason's daughter!" she exclaimed the statement rather than the question she intended it to be. "T-T-Then take me!"
"You? There's only one daughter of Hughes Mason listed in codis," he responded. He was talking about the fingerprints that people have to give now that national security was taken so seriously.
"Because my prints aren't under Mason. They're under Niyishima-Mason, Reiyo. My mother, she changed my last name because of her affair with Hughes, before they got married. I'm Mason's illegitimate daughter!" Reiyo confessed already sweating from the intense situation.
"Sir," the man from before said holding a small computer said to Marie. "It seems to be true. A certain 'Niyishima-Mason, Reiyo' is listed in codis as daughter of Niyishima Aori and Hughes Mason. It would seem that Master Mikk's search rendered him names with only the last name Mason listed for father's and daugther's name."
"We have our orders to take Hughes Mason's daughter back," Marie repeated his orders. "I will bring the original target. The information can only be drawn from her."
"No!" Reiyo called when they approached her. "I'm the oldest daughter. I was the only one of us two who met him. Gemma didn't even know him. She can't give you what you're looking for. Take me!" Her last shout out made her think for a second to what she was getting into. Making her mind up she frowned at them adn repeated the words calmly, "Take me."
Marie contemplated the issue for a minute. "Very well," snapping his fingers the two standing men took Reiyo from her forearms while she no longer gave any struggle.
"Rei! Rei, don't go!" Gemma shouted. The men that had been brought down were pushing her back once she reached the front door.
Reiyo followed the two man to a black car with another parked behind it. Opening the door for her another pushed her head down into the car, "Get in." Shutting the door Reiyo looked at Gemma and heard her muffled yells for her to not leave. Marie and another man entered the front. The men holding onto Gemma let her go and got into their vehicle. Riding away Reiyo couldn't help herself but to look back from the rear window at the little girl who ran after the cars. She kept running and running until a mishap on the road stopped her, tripping her. The silhouette vanished in the dark night just as the screams calling her name were nothing but echoes in her head. Slipping off from the back of the sit Reiyo couldn't keep in the sorrow anymore. In the span of no less than five minutes everything she cared for was threatened before her eyes. She did what she knew to be best and gave herself up to protect Gemma. But it was the only solution that would keep Gemma safe. It didn't matter as long as her safety was secured even with Grace she would be safe. Altough- the tears trickled down her cheeks as she began to cry silently- it completely broke her heart having to leave her.
Sorry for the long wait! I just had to get my ideas straight. So, how was it? Is it getting interesting?
Please review!