I'll just put a warning out there, there's some...foul language in this chapter, but I'm sure that you've seen all there is. I don't really use other curse words other than 'bastard', 'dammit', or 'asshole' so other words that you may know, I won't know so it's all good!
Enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter 15: A Strange Way of Meeting Again
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Nova's POV
Nothing could be worse than being stuck in a room filled with decaying corpses. The smell was just so refreshing. Oh, and to add to this, every time that I tried to move; my ribs would respond and decide to burn my insides with fire. Oh yes, such a wonderful time, being stuck inside a room in this sort of condition.
"Dammit, I can't see anything!" I yelled as I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing for some light, any light.
"Yeah I know so stop repeating it!" Sam retorted back, pulling at the bonds around his wrist with a grunt. I sighed loudly and leaned my head against the wall, hoping that there was some way out of this. We were both quiet for a few minutes before there was a creak from across from us. Both stiffening, I could sense that Sam had moved slightly closer to me, his leg beside my own.
Suddenly, the door was thrown open, shining light on both of our faces. Crying out in pain, Sam and I both squeezed our eyes shut till we could see again. Looking at the person who entered, I narrowed my eyes as I recognized one of the people who dragged us into the restaurant where they drugged us. It was a man no later in his thirties with dark blue hair and cold brown eyes. And this man with these cold eyes approached Sam and I with the cockiest looking gaze on that smirking face. The man kneeled down in front of both of us, a small smile on his face as he met my burning gaze.
"Normally we'd never come visit the ones we've captured, but we've got a couple of guys who'd like to meet you," I froze at his sentence, unbelievable anger rising from the deepest part of my heart. Sam also stopped struggling at this, his eyes wide as well. The man in front of us grinned widely as he untied my bonds, moving my arms behind my back.
"You're sick! You're all disgusting. Evil. Bastards!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I tried to lunge away but he tightened his grip around my wrists to the point where it felt like they would snap. At this point, Sam started yelling as well, a stricken and shocking fearful look in his eyes.
"Don't stop fighting them! You hear me? No matter what! I'll be there soon!" I turned my head towards him as we left, a rage filled glare met my own, a promise made in that moment.
"They're going to regret untying me," I said in a low voice as the door was shut behind me and the man, leaving me to a crowd of unruly, cocky looking assholes who looked at me like I was some sort of meal. With a frown of disgust, I met all of their gazes as the man shoved me forward. Stumbling on my feet, I looked behind me as the semi circle turned into a full one, locking me in.
"So, is this what you do when you have a female guest around?" I spat as I surveyed my surroundings, ignoring the hungry looking glares in their eyes. Okay so we were still in the restaurant, but all the tables were gone. The room where we were locked in was in the back near the freezer and their back door was bolted shut, the only way out past these bastards. With a glance to my left, I spotted my torn exorcist coat along with my necklace of Innocence hanging on a coat rack by the front door. Sam's jacket and swords were there as well.
"What's your name girl?" One man said gruffly, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he glared down at me, a smirk on his lips. I looked at him straight in the eye and narrowed them, clenching my fists by my sides.
"The name's Nova. And I've got something to say. You better be ready because I'm going to beat you all so hard for thinking you can get away with this." I threatened, tensing up as they all started growling at my threat.
"What was that?" The man with the gruff voice asked, his face looking beyond pissed now. I closed my eyes for a second, taking a breath.
"You bastards are going to get what you deserve." I whispered as I opened my eyes, glaring at all of them with blazing anger. They've pissed me off way beyond the point of forgiveness now. One man came charging at me from behind but I simply sidestepped him and grabbed him by the arm, turning and flipping him on to the ground, cracking the floorboards. I hissed when my ribs responded with a stab of pain and held my hand to my side, looking at the other guys as if to say who else wants a go? I'll just kick your ass!
"Get her!"
And with that, I was immediately beating everyone in that restaurant with every ounce of strength I had.
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Kanda's POV
As I gazed up at the setting sunset, I realized that we hadn't even eaten dinner yet. The whole team was dying of hunger right now and we were almost to the next town from Shion which was a relief. Tigress, still looking as tensed up as ever stopped by a nearby tree and shut her eyes for a moment. The four of us stopped next to her, used to this now. Ever since she started her search, the tiger needed to stop a few times to make sure she was going the right way, according to-well some invisible 'Nova tracking' radar or something. Soon she was up on her feet again, taking the lead as she broke into a slow run, making the four of us walk a little faster behind her.
"Do you think-"
"It's gotta be!" Allen finished Lavi's sentence with a bright smile as the four of us started running as Tigress began taking wider leaps. I glanced over to the rest of the team and saw them all grinning in relief. I probably was too. Up ahead, the outline of another town came into view, boosting our motivation to reach it; one for Nova, and the other-well food.
When Tigress stopped in front of the sign Allen bent down to pick her up and the four of us looked up at the name of the town: Kingsley. From what it looked like, they didn't get very many guests because as soon as they spotted us, they started charging as if they were a hungry pack of wolves. They started pushing us over to a nearby restaurant which was filled with people and sat us down immediately, a waiter already there, a pen and paper in his hand to write down our orders. While Allen ordered every piece of food on the menu, I cast the rest of the team a suspicious glance, despite being hungry. The way those people acted when we stepped in was beyond weird, but then again maybe not. But it can't be too safe to be a little doubtful about it.
"You know, the way they reacted was really weird," Lenalee whispered to all of us as she leaned forward, her hand over the side of her mouth to hide what she was saying. Lavi nodded in agreement as he leaned forward as well, adding on to it.
"I think I read in a board back at the train station that Kingsley was known for robbing tourists. Do you think that's true?" He asked as he met all of our gazes with a worried glance. I thought about it with a frown but considered it possible with how quickly they moved.
"If it says that on the board where everyone can read it, then I guess it is." I replied as I crossed my arms in front of me.
"Hold on, if it's true then Nova's in trouble! If Tigress stopped here, then she must've gotten robbed!" Allen exclaimed in a hushed voice, leaning in as he looked at all of us with wide worried eyes. It dawned on all of us right then that he was right.
"Holy crap, he's right," Lavi muttered under his breath as he glared down at the table with a troubled look in his emerald eye. Right in that moment, the food that Allen had ordered came, filling up the entire table. We all glanced at each other hesitantly, knowing for sure that something was suspicious with the food already.
"Don't eat it," Lenalee warned everyone, a frown on her usually warm face of hers. We all nodded in agreement as we glanced over at some of the people who kept staring at us with a frown. Then, with a stare off for a moment or two, the ones who stared stood up and made their way out of the restaurant, heading into another one across the street. I met everyone's gazes and nodded as we all stood up, paying the bill as we exited the restaurant, not touching a single piece of food.
As we stood outside the restaurant, the business outside seemed to have gathered even more, focusing on the area where the people who stared went into earlier. Lavi exchanged glances with all of us, a frown on his face as he fingered his Innocence with the tips of his fingers. Allen looked down at Tigress who was now bristling as she glared at the restaurant we were staring at. With a nod of certainty, we all walked towards the restaurant, about to push open the door to it when something crashed through the front window.
We all froze in that moment outside the door to see that it was one of the people that were staring at us back in the other restaurant. Another person crashed through and slammed into Allen, knocking him to the ground and dropping Tigress. Lavi immediately suppressed his chuckles as Allen shoved the unconscious man off of him, a pissed off look on his face. Right when we were about to go in, Allen fell flat on his face as a rock slammed into the back of his head. With a slow turn, Allen glared angrily at the person who threw it; the waiter who seated us with a cold look in his eyes.
"Why'd you throw that?!" The silver haired exorcist demanded as he took a step forward at the waiter who smirked. Suddenly, the people who were inside the restaurant we were just in filed out and formed a line with the waiter in the middle.
"Because you caught our scam," The waiter replied as he took out another handful of rocks in one hand, and a pistol in the other, a sadistic smirk on his lips. Allen frowned at this as he clenched his fists, glancing over at us with an angry glare. With a nod of understanding, we lined up next to Allen, all meeting the eyes of the ones who looked beyond pissed.
"We're looking for someone, hopefully you've seen her?" Lenalee asked as she looked at the waiter expectantly. The waiter narrowed his eyes for a moment before breaking out into an even wider smirk.
"If it's someone like you people then yes; two of people like you actually fell for our trick! And we robbed them of those expensive looking jackets and weird looking weapons!" I exchanged gazes with the others as we tried to figure out who the other person was. Allen met my gaze and narrowed his eyes, mouthing the name to all of us. Sam.
"Where are they?" I demanded, a hand wrapped around Mugen's hilt tightly. Nova's face down body kept appearing in my mind, lifeless. The waiter's defiant gaze faltered for a second before he put it up again, a smile on his face.
"If you can beat us, we'll tell you." He suggested as he threw up a rock and caught it in one hand, a cocky look on his face. I scowled deeply as I personified the aura of pissed off. Allen let out a short laugh, activating his Innocence arm and bringing it in front of him.
"This will be over in a second," He said as he met the waiter's confident glare.
"Oh yes it will," The waiter replied as the line of people next to him pulled out pistols and rifles of their secret hiding spots, aiming it at us.
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Nova's POV
I panted heavily as I stepped back from the heavy muscled body that was face down on the floor. Blood seeped in between my fingers as I turned around and ducked under a punch that was aimed for my face, sending a blow of my own to his gut. Instantly, I got out from under him as he collapsed on the floor next to his buddy. Oh yeah, these guys got what they deserved. I freaking made sure of it. An anger filled yell broke me out of my thoughts and I tensed up as another one of those beefy men came running at me at full speed. I jumped away from him and looked over to the side to see a broken floorboard sticking out from the pile of unconscious bodies. I pulled it out and held it in one hand, watching as the man came charging over to me again. As I dodged his attack again, I brought my hand back and smacked the floorboard in the middle of his face, letting go of it and punching him in the nose. As he fell back, I looked back at the door where Sam was, heading towards it slowly.
"Sam?" I called out as loud as I could; coughing up a round of blood next to the wall I was leaning on.
"Yeah? You about finished with your angry phase?" He teased back, making me chuckle a bit as I moved again, using the wall as support.
"I'm about fin-what the holy crap!" Out of nowhere, a guy came from behind a wall and tackled me to the ground. I instantly pressed my lips together as I tried not to scream in pain, my ribs probably puncturing a lung already. Tears of unbearable pain streamed down my face as I took in deep breaths, yelling in pain as the dude on top of me wouldn't get off.
"Get. Off!" I punched the guy in the face but moved his head and pulled out a knife from his back pocket, bringing it down on my face. I turned my head, just as the knife grazed my cheek, sinking into the wood next to me.
I launched a blow at him once more, striking him in the nose when he pulled the knife out of the wood, about to strike again when I heard wood and glass breaking as something big came in. Suddenly, the guy was off of me and sent into a wall across the room, unconscious. I pushed myself up into a sitting position, wincing as I held my side and flinched when someone knelt by my side. With a turn of my head, I widened my eyes to see the face that's been in my mind for so long.
"Kanda!" I exclaimed in surprise before I broke out into a grin, relieved that he was here. The same went for him, a softened look in those dark eyes of his as he carefully helped me up. I turned around to see Allen, Lavi and Lenalee and surprisingly Tigress, all grinning at me-except for Tigress. I returned their grins with a nod and suddenly realized.
"Sam's in the back room over there. Tell him I'm okay, he's been wondering." I mentioned as Lavi nodded, heading over to the room with Lenalee at his heels. Allen wandered back outside quietly, leaving Kanda and me alone for a little while. I looked up at Kanda's face, seeing his eyes closed, a peaceful look shown in his expression.
"It's nice to see another face other than Sam's again," I softly said as I leaned my head against his shoulder, shutting my eyes. Was it my imagination, or was there a hand wrapped around my shoulders, bringing me closer?
"You're such an idiot sometimes you know?" He replied quietly in my ear, his breath tickling it slightly.
"Of course I know; that's why I left." I felt a puff of breath tickle my ear again, indicating that he scoffed.
"Making me worry like that," I opened my eyes at his reply, noticing him stiffen slightly. I smiled softly and shut my eyes again, leaning into him a bit. So he really does feel like that?
"Sorry," I whispered, chuckling slightly as I felt my world sway. The exhaustion was finally getting to my body, and it felt like I wasn't going to wake up for a while.
"Sorry Kanda, I'm gonna have to clock out for now," I whispered again before I fell unconscious for the second time that day.
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Sam's POV
When the door was kicked open and Lavi and Lenalee stepped in, I knew that I'd be alright. As Lavi told me that Nova was okay, I felt a huge weight pick up off my shoulders in that moment. Why I worry about her? I don't know, I just did. As I stepped out of the room, Kanda was there, carrying Nova in his arms, unconscious.
"She needs to see a doctor," He quietly said, his eyes lingering on her form for a moment before meeting my gaze. Lavi moved forward, took a worried glance at Nova for a second before he nodded, heading for a nearby phone outside the restaurant. I stared at the person who practically saved us from this predicament and felt indebted to her. She fought even though she was injured as badly as she was, and that was something I respect.
I cleared my throat as Lenalee tossed me my coat and swords, giving me a nod before leaving the room followed by Kanda and Nova. To my surprise, I saw a familiar tiger walking by the long haired man's side, her eyes locked on the unconscious form of Nova. What was Tigress doing here? With a shake of my head, I cleared the thought and buttoned up my jacket, strapping on my swords, making sure they were alright. I stepped out of the destroyed restaurant and blinked as unconscious bodies of the rest of town lay on the floor. Hm, seems like Lavi's group took care of them.
"I'll be taking my leave from here," I called out, catching the attention of the team that was leaving. They all turned around and met my gaze with a astonished ones. I gave them a small smile and shrugged, putting my hands behind my head.
"Hey, I've still got a mission to do." I nonchalantly replied as I turned around, heading off into the opposite direction, in search of another town with possible Innocence.
"Hey, thanks for being with Nova!" Allen exclaimed behind me, earning him a wave of goodbye.
"She was good company!" I yelled in reply before I was too far away for them to reply back.
With a smirk, I continued walking forward, as a dog of the Generals.
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Kanda's POV
What luck, as soon as I'm able to finally see Nova, she goes and faints on me. But I sighed with relief as the nurses took her away back in the town of Shion. At first they gave us a look of disgust as they recognized the people from only hours ago, but when they saw our almost dead companion, their expressions changed slightly, the doctors agreeing to take care of her. Meanwhile, the entire team decided to fill their empty stomachs in one of the finest restaurants here. Since they took in Nova, we were completely sure that the food wasn't drugged, since they did that for us. I admit, when Allen swung his long arm at them, taking down most of that line of people, I was pretty amused.
Lavi, the Moyashi and I had then proceeded to beating the answer out of the some of the people who were still up, who complied easily, pointing to the restaurant we were just about to enter. And that was when I kicked down the door to see Nova about to get stabbed by this peeved off looking guy who was on top of her. That for some reason just complete brought me on edge, tackling him in an instant, sending him into a wall and rushing back over to her side to check if she was alright.
I mean after that, I didn't want to believe what I had said to her earlier, but it was the truth. I was worrying like crazy, wondering if she was dead or not. Without an answer, I'm not sure I would've been able to sleep at night. It was just one of those answers that you had to have, you know?
As I sipped the last of my tea, I was receiving the glance from Lavi that I knew so well. It was one that said that he knew something, but didn't want to explain. With a tilt of his head, we both stepped out of the restaurant and leaned against the side of it, both enjoying the cool fresh air.
"What did you need Usagi?" I growled out as I glanced over at him from the corner of my eye. For a moment, he didn't reply but with a small chuckle, I felt his hand clap my shoulder.
"I'll just say this; if you're going to go after her, don't screw it up. You know how you are sometimes. You get set on edge easily and you misunderstand things…most of the time. So, just don't mess this one up alright? I know what she means to you," Lavi quietly said as he met my astonished gaze, a small smile on his lips. As he finished, he clapped my shoulder again before stepping back inside the restaurant to where Allen and Lenalee were waiting.
With a ghost of smile gracing my lips, I leaned against the wall as I looked up at the starry night sky, the stars reflected in my eyes. To think Lavi could say something like that. I guess he wasn't such an idiot all the time.
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Nova's POV
Brief flashes of what happened in the room came before my eyes.
I was screaming so much because of my snapped ribs.
I couldn't do anything but bear the pain, no one else to bear it with me, all alone.
"Don't worry, I'm still here." Avon's voice echoed inside my head, making me open my eyes against the white light shining in my face.
"Just to put this out there; when you're in your weakest state of mind, your energy depleted at its maximum extent, and your physical body unable to endure anymore, I can come in there and take over your body at anytime."
"You're still on that?" I whispered as I pressed my hand to my forehead, trying to catch my breath.
"Of course; I still need to carry out the mission I was sent here for."
"Which is?" My head pounded in pain as she laughed lightly, her voice like bells.
"To destroy the ones who tormented you,"
"Stop joking," I hoarsely replied as I sighed, staring up at the ceiling with unfocused eyes.
"I'm not! I can't really talk to you like this so when we meet again, back in that white room, I'll explain some more."
"Yeah? And just how am I supposed to get there again?" I asked myself as I shut my eyes against the pain, biting the bottom of my lip.
"Through your dreams, just will yourself there and I'll help you along the way. Just do that and you'll get to see me," With that, her voice faded from my mind and I was left alone in the empty room excluding the bed and table with a bin of water. As I forced myself to sit up, I held my head in one hand, trying to remember what happened.
I remembered beating the crap out of a lot of guys, Sam and I getting drugged, me almost dying multiple times…and Kanda somehow appearing next to me. I snapped my eyes open as I remembered him.
"Making me worry like that,"
I widened my eyes as I recalled what he had whispered in my ear before I knocked out. With a hand to my lips, I looked down at my lap, trying to make sense of what he was feeling. I may be a little bit of an idiot, but I'm not that stupid to realize what he was feeling. So he likes me then? If so, then what I needed to find out for myself was whether I liked him too.
Well I mean I do like him, he's been really nice to me lately, but for the question of do I like him? An answer to that was…complicated to come up with. I've never really had relationships with many guys except for my brother so I don't really know what it's like to like someone. Maybe…an idea sprouted in my mind, not something stupid, but kind of like a test.
"I mean, he wouldn't find out if I just make the questions vague right?" I muttered to myself as I poked the side of my cheek, pondering.
"He wouldn't be smart enough to figure out that I'm talking about him right?" To why I'm asking these questions to myself I don't know, but for some reason it was assuring me to carry out the idea. As I scratched the back of my head, there was a knock at the door, making me look up in curiosity. With an inward groan, I smiled warmly as the guy I was thinking about stepped in, a flicker of relief passing in front of his eyes. As he sat down in a nearby chair next to the table of water, I was indecisive about going with the plan.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly, startling me out of my thoughts. I lowered my poking finger from my cheek and put my hands in my lap, grinning.
"Yup!" I replied cheerfully as I tilted my head to the side.
Well, here goes.
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Phew, now that that long chapter's over, I'd like to thank everyone who has been with this story! It really means a lot and I'm super happy that you love it! I'll update again somewhere in a few days or weeks because of upcoming school. So as you patiently wait for a new update, go ahead and look back at the chapters before this, of Kanda and Nova's quirky relationship and all that jazz.
-FallenWing21