I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you all for your kind words of inspiration. It truly means the world to me, to see others enjoying this tale as much as I do. Stay amazing you beautiful people!
I want to apologize for the long period of time between chapters, its been a difficult time this past month, I hope all of you will understand. Now I am back with more ideas than ever!
Now back to the story!
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Daylight drifted in through the massive stain glass windows that lined the walls of the cafeteria. Dust illuminated by the light danced on the air, swirling and coming to rest amongst those asleep on the floor.
Anyone who was sober enough returned to their rooms to get ready to get back to work. Any one who wasn't sober found themselves indulging in a tall mug of pitch black coffee to try and shake last night's festivities. No one dared to wake the three in the corner.
Kanda slept with Allen resting on his lap, snuggled into his chest. Lilly had toppled over in her sleep, her head resting on Kanda's leg. His arm was protectively resting on her tiny frame. The peaceful air about the three kept others from rousing them. It was rare for both Allen and Kanda to sleep uninterrupted.
After an hour the three roused from their sleep. Heading back to Allen's room for a fresh change of clothes. Lenalee had laid out another of her old dresses for Lilly to wear. The dress was very simple, a pale aged white top, with a slim blue ribbon threaded through the neckline. The connected skirt was a dark navy blue color that hung down to her knees. Kanda insisted that she had her tied up with a matching blue ribbon. After she was changed she looked almost like a pale China doll.
Lilly was still too tired from last night's festivities to put up a fight about her hair. Once Kanda finished with her hair, Allen picked Lilly up, resting her against his chest so she could rest her head on his shoulder. After a moment she began to nod off.
"It may be easier for her to see Hevlaska while she's asleep. Less of a shock." Kanda sighed.
Allen nodded and the three headed to Komui's office to start the process.
"Oh how cutteeeee!-" Komui began to squeal before Kanda slapped a hands over his mouth. Silencing him completely. He understood after he noticed Lilly was asleep.
"She should see Hevlaska while she's still asleep. Last thing she needs is to have the life scared out of her." Allen whispered.
Komui agreed and let them to Hevlaska's chamber. After they got on the lift it shot them up to her eye level.
"Who have you brought to me Komui?" Hevlaska's calm voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"This is Lilly, she's an accomadator of a parsitic innocence. I believe." Komui explained.
Hevlaska's whisps of hair reached out and gently took her from Allen. Gently cradling her. "This child has not held this innocence for very long... The innocence was forged into the blade of the dagger she was stabbed with... When it came into contact with her heart, the blade melted and sealed itself within her heart to keep it beating..." She explained.
"Holy shit..." Allen mumbled, unable to process the information.
"Heed this warning... Should the innocence be removed from her body, she will die... Although if given enough time, the heart will heal fully, only then can her innocence be removed safely..."
"How long until that can happen?" Kanda asked.
"The heart of a young girl is a fickle thing, even I don't know how long the healing process will take..."
"Is she the one who carries the heart?" Komui asked.
"No, she does not carry the heart, this I am sure of." Hevlaska finished and placed Lilly back in Allen's arms. "She does hold a great deal of strength within her, her synchronized rate is at fifty-seven percent dispite the short time shes accomidated her innocence."
"That's good news." Allen sighed, relieved.
The three bid Havlaska farewell and headed back to Komui's office. Lilly has woken up on the trip back. Lenalee and Lavi joined them on the couch.
"Okay now the biggest task is out of the way, you guys can get on with the tour before your next mission briefing." Komui smiled.
"Whaaaa!?" Kanda and Allen groaned in unison. "Komui we just got back!"
"Don't worry it's just a couple towns over. You won't be gone more than three days if you keep at it." Komui sighed.
"And just who is going to look after Lilly while we're gone, she doesn't know this place well enough yet, chances are she'll get lost or hurt!?" Allen protested.
"Just leave Lilly to us." Lenalee chimed in.
"What do you think Kaga?" Kanda asked softly, patting the top of her head.
"... You should go... I mean what if there's someone needs you like I did? Besides I'll be here with aunty Lena and uncle Lavi." She smiled.
"There you have it. We're going." Kanda sighed and pulled Allen closer to his side.
"But Yu..." Allen whined.
"No buts" Kanda and Lilly said in unison. The whole room erupted with giggles.
"Pfff like father like daughter" Lavi chuckled.
"I do have one condition" Lilly grinned.
"And that would be?" Allen questioned.
"When you leave you have to smile." She finished.
Much to everyone's surprise, Kanda replied first. "Its a deal then."
The rest of the day the group lead Lilly through the winding hallways of the order. They came to a stop at the Generals wing.
"Lilly no matter what you do, stay out of these rooms. Specifically that room." Allen lectured while pointing at and ornately decorated crimson door lined with swirls of gold colored grape vines.
"Why?" She asked, curious as to why that specific room was so forbidden.
"A horrible womanizing monster lives there. He will make your life miserable!" Allen growled.
"That's General Cross's room, he was Allen's mentor." Kanda cleared the confusion.
"Ohhh...okay I'll stay far away!" She grinned.
The tour continued back to the cafeteria, Lavi initiated an eating contest between Allen and Lilly. Much to everyone's surprise Lilly was the victor. Everyone was happy that Lilly was finally eating like she should. The contest had drawn a crowd.
"Looks like you've got some competition now Allen!" One of the onlookers shouted.
"I'm okay with that. She can eat me under the table any day." He smiled, wiping some stray mashed potatoes from Lilly's cheek with a napkin.
The crowd dissipated and Kanda, Allen, and Lilly returned to their room. Allen and Lilly fell asleep the instant they got the bed. Kanda packed for their mission before heading to bed himself.
The next morning Kanda and Allen left early, leaving Lilly with smiles as promised. Once they were out of sight, Lilly ran back inside towards the generals wing. She was itching to find our who was behind the forbidden door. Especially since she learned that he taught Allen.
Lavi and Lenalee noticed that Lilly was no longer behind them, they began to run all over the order looking for Lilly. They checked her room, the cafeteria and Komui' office. She was no where to be found.
Lilly somehow managed to find the crimson door again. Except this time it was open. "H-hello? Anyone there?" She spoke to the dark room eliminated only by the morning sun hitting the wine colored curtains.
Low groans began to rumble through the room, followed by a thud. The smell of wine wafted from the room.
"Oi kid come here..." A low tone voice growled from within the room.
Lilly hesitated before reaching for the door knob and pulling the door shut. Then running away from the room as fast as her legs could carry her. It didn't matter where she ended up as long as she was away from that room. Thankfully she ran head first into Lavi, knocking him over.
"Lilly! Where have you been we were looking all over for you!" Lenalee yelled, picking Lilly up so she couldn't keep running.
"You went to General Cross's room didn't you." Lavi sighed.
She nodded but didn't say anything.
"And after Allen told you not to..." Lenalee sighed.
"I'm sorry... " Lilly whispered.
"Doesn't matter anymore, now let's go get some breakfast, were going into town to get a couple things." Lavi smiled. "You need more than Lenalee's old dresses to wear."
"Don't forget we have to go too the orphanage too, I need to drop off those blankets." Lenalee added.
The three of them headed to the cafeteria for a good breakfast before setting out to town.
XXX
Phew so sorry about the boring chapter. I'm glad to be back into writing this. The next chapter is going to be more exciting. I promise.
Thank you so much to those of you following the story still, I'll put a special treat in the next few !