Hi guys, given the somewhat 'twist' with Nova training with General Sokaro, I saw that some of you didn't like that idea very much or didn't see the point in why. I understand that. I just wanted to give the idea a try. I'll respect all of your views even if they're negative. So please, if you still love this story, even with some outrageous ideas planted in it, continue reading.

Another point I wanted to talk about: this long three/four week long late update. I thank you all for being SO patient with me. School's been bugging me lately and I haven't had the time to type-even while I AM on the internet doing homework. I'm also working on my own story (non-anime) and I've been writing on that too, so with school, orchestra, and basically not trying to die from stress and homework, the time to update things is becoming harder now.

I'll do my best in the upcoming months to update when the time comes!

(This part is completely irrelevant to the above)

Could you all do me one favor though? Pick which one is better:

A. Updating once a week

B. Updating twice a week (two is sort of my limit when it comes to updating but I'll do all of my homework early if this becomes the most voted! Which would probably lessen the stress that's placed upon me)

C. Updating every few days (and possibly making my days crammed with thoughts of what's going to happen next in the story till it's completed which I wouldn't mind...)

D. UPDATING EVERY DAY.

Please choose! I'd just like to know what you would think! Don't worry about what would happen to me when you make your choice. Just...choose on how it would benefit you in knowing what's going to happen.

I know this is a long author's note, I didn't mean to make it this long, so...ON WITH THE STORY!

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Chapter 24: The Battle Commences

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Nova's POV

"Hey, have you heard that Sam's gone missing?" My head snapped up at the sudden news, staring at Lavi's serious emerald eyed gaze. Everyone at the dining table was staring at him, waiting for more of the topic. We were just having a nice, conversational dinner when he decided to drop that bomb on us. I had just come back from another training session with General Sokaro and had been leaning against Kanda's side ever since, depending on him to stop me from smacking my head against the table in exhaustion. Sokaro said that we'd been finished training in about a month or so. He said that my level of sync with my Innocence is getting to the point of what it once was. So now he's pushing me to the point of overexerting myself-to get my rate higher than it was. Under Rouvellier's orders.

"Maybe he's just on a long mission?" I suggested, popping a strawberry truffle into my mouth. Lavi shook his head in disagreement, the zipper on his jacket clinking.

"No, it seems like he finished his mission long before he disappeared. I overheard some of the finders from that mission whispering that Sam had just suddenly up and went. There was no trace of him. The Generals had even been cautious enough of placing a tracker on him, but the finders found it on the floor inside his hotel room. It's strange..."

"Maybe its because he has the Master inside him?" Lenalee offered, giving Lavi a questioning glance. The red haired exorcist shrugged at the possibility. My interest was piqued at the mention of the Master in him. Who's this Master? And a Master of what?

"What Master?" I decided to ask, catching Lavi's widened eyed gaze. What, was I missing something?

"You don't know? Sam has the Master of all the Shigai inside him," Allen explained, making me stiffen at the mention of the Shigai. Kanda seemed to sense this and wrapped his arm around my waist comfortingly.

"Then that has to be it...the Master must've already taken over and met up with Avon." I concluded, meeting everyone's gaze. The expression in Lavi's eyes made it clear that that could be the case.

"And...they want to destroy the Order." Allen jumped at this, a look of pure astonishment on his face. I nodded solemnly, understanding how they felt.

"Why? Why would they want to do that?" Lenalee inquired as she leaned forward with anticipation. I sighed as I remembered my terrible fight with Avon in her real form before she took over my body.

"The Master hates the Black Order for some reason and wants to destroy it, as well as the people who have nothing to fear in this life. Avon told me that after they destroyed the Order, they would kill us and the people who live without a single drop of fear."

"Hm, well this Master seems a bit stupid to start spouting things like that. We exorcists aren't that weak, we can fight him!" Allen encouraged as he put on a brave front of a grin. I met his gaze for a moment before shaking my head in disagreement.

"Although I think the same, there's just something inside me saying to take precautions and prepare before they arrive. Something is telling me that their power isn't what you think." I half said to myself and to the group.

"Well okay then! Let's go tell Komui!" Lavi said as he shot up from his seat, dragging Allen and Lenalee along with him. I leaned my head against Kanda's shoulder, closing my eyes as I felt his hand stroke my head gently.

"You should rest, gather your strength." He quietly suggested to me as he took my hand in his own. I nodded and opened my eyes, getting up to follow Kanda out the dining hall. The halls were quiet as we strolled through them, my hand linked with his, our footsteps echoing.

"You know...I can't but wonder...how can you live with this?" I lifted our intertwined hands to show him the black chalk like skin that was my own. Kanda stared at my hand for a moment before meeting my gaze as we walked.

"That doesn't matter to me," He simply replied, moving his hand so that he held the palm of my hand in his fingertips instead. Still holding my gaze, he raised my hand to meet his lips and kissed it softly. Heat crawled up my neck as I tore my gaze away from him, dragging him behind me to walk in front of my door.

"I get your point," I muttered under my breath when his hands slid around my waist again, now behind me. In a delicate manner I didn't know existed, he moved the hair from the side of my neck with gently fingertips and ducked his head to press his soft lips against it, making me squeak in surprise. Kanda chuckled at my reaction as he pulled away, his hand wrapping around the doorknob to push the door in.

As we walked over to my single bed, I flopped down ungracefully and sighed in relief at the comfort of my bed, resting my head in my arms. Kanda did something I didn't expect him to do and laid down next to me, propping himself up on his elbow. His fingertips softly moved the hair away from my face. I tried to fall asleep but couldn't when I felt his gaze locked on me the entire time.

"Would you stop staring? I can't fall asleep," I murmured as I cracked my eyes open a bit to see Kanda intently staring at me. See? I can't fall asleep when someone as hot and quiet as him is staring at me like that!

"Fine, how's this?"

Surprised couldn't express my shock when I felt his hands wrap around me, pulling me to him as he fully laid down with me. I grinned inwardly against his chest, his steady breathing coaxing me to fall asleep. As if Kanda could sense my inward grinning, he grunted and shifted beside me.

"Stop smiling," He growled in a low voice, making me roll my eyes. I closed my eyes and let out a huge puff of air, glad that Kanda was beside me. When he wasn't, I felt this sort of missing piece inside me. Like I wouldn't fit with anyone else.

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Kanda's POV

As I held Nova close to my chest, I couldn't help but want to fall asleep beside her. Her rhythmic breathing was also sending me off into the world of dreams. But I couldn't. Watching her sleep with that angelic look on her face was the one thing that was constantly keeping me awake. Honestly, when I had gone and laid down next to her, I thought I was going to lose control for a second. Could she not see what she was doing to me by letting my lie on her bed with her? Seriously, has she never been in a relationship before? Wait, I never asked that.

Twenty minutes probably went by before I heard her start to whimpering noises. I slowly pulled away from her to get a look at her face and what I saw confirmed my thoughts. Her fear stricken face seemed to show it all. A nightmare. Geez, this girl never gets a break from anything. I brought a hand up to her head and began stroking her hair slowly, hoping at least this would calm her down. Her expression seemed to soften a bit at my action so I decided to continue maybe until she woke up. If this would help her get through the nightmare, then I'd do this for as long as I'd need to.

I could only wonder what her nightmare was about.

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Allen's POV

I listened closely to Chief Komui's orders as he instructed us on how to prepare for the upcoming battle with the Shigai. When we had told him how we came up with a conclusion to Sam's disappearance, he immediately said that that was what he was thinking of as well. Pfft, yeah right. Anyway, the Science Division is going to keep watch of all the monitoring systems outside the tower to see if they would come this way. One of the Generals would then move to the basement to ensure the Innocence's safety, and the others would spread around the tower to watch for any signs of intruders. Us exorcists would do the same as the other Generals and wander around the tower in pairs.

Komui asked me to pair myself with Kanda but I refused, not wanting to be with that bastard who always calls me a Beansprout. Despite his whining, I refused, instead wanting to be with Lenalee. She in turn agreed with a bright smile, earning Komui collapsing on the ground in despair. As the two of us walked out of his office, I noticed Lavi looking lonely and invited him along with us. He perked up for a second before giving us a small smile, telling me that it was okay. That he needed to talk to the Old Panda for a minute.

As Lenalee and I walked through the now bustling halls, I noticed that I didn't see Kanda or Nova around. Assuming the only possibility, I asked Lenalee to stop for a second as I stood in front of Nova's door. With a few loud knuckle knocks, the door was pulled open with a pissed off looking Kanda.

Whoa, that's surprising.

I peeked inside the room for a second to see Nova curled up on her side as she slept soundly. With a growing smirk, I met Kanda's gaze mischieviously, seeing that look in his eye catching on. A hand wrapped around the scruff of my collar, bringing me close to his pissed off face.

"Don't even think of it. If you even say a word of it, I'll cut your head off." He hissed at me, pushing me back. I stumbled on my feet but regained my footing with a smile.

"Of course not Bakanda! I know you, you wouldn't do something like that. Anyway, Komui wants us to patrol the tower in pairs so I thought I would just let you know." Kanda stared at me for a second before he took a step back inside the room.

"Sure, now go away." In a second, he shut the door in my face. I sighed as I wandered over back to Lenalee and shrugged as we continued walking.

Typical Kanda.

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Nova's POV

I woke up to the shut of the door and saw Kanda walking back over to the bed. I sat up and yawned, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Kanda leaned against the side wall, his arms crossed over his chest with a scowl on his face.

"Hey, what's up?" I greeted as I hopped off of the bed, stretching my arms high.

"We have to go patrol the tower. To catch the enemy, if they come." Kanda grunted back as he moved forward to pat down a section of hair that stood up. I smiled to him in thanks and pulled my hair back in a ponytail.

"Okay, let's go." I pulled open the door and walked out, Kanda following behind.

For some reason, it felt like Kanda did something while I was napping. Was it during my nightmare? Ugh, I don't want to think about that anymore. It's too frightening to even think about. All I wished for was that it didn't happen. Which is why I would fight with everything I had if the Shigai came today.

I walked beside Kanda quietly, my hands shoved in my pockets, trying not to let the images of the nightmare come flying back into my mind. Kanda wasn't suspicious of anything, thank god, so I was alright for now. He wouldn't be asking any questions about why I was quiet. I'd rather not have to explain it to him.

We wandered around the halls for a few minutes when we turned a corner to see the training room. I exchanged glances with him and shrugged, deciding that we should check it out. I hesitantly walked in, glancing around the entire area but not seeing anyone that resembled Sam or Avon. Kanda followed in a moment later, staying close to my side as a dark atmosphere suddenly dropped into the room. I tensed in anticipation and activated my Innocence, the machine gun in my hand. Kanda did the same and as we stood there waiting, the whole bright room dropped in color, fading into a deep purple.

"You're even more dashing than before," I turned my head to the direction of the voice and saw his familiar face, only dressed in a black and white tuxedo, a tophat placed on his head.

"Tyki? I thought it was just the Shigai?" The Noah smirked at this, his yellow eyes glinting mischieviously.

"Oh they're here. Just after someone else." I sensed Kanda's rising anger as Tyki approached us like a lion.

"Who?" I demanded as I raised my gun to his forehead. Tyki's smirk grew wider at this and brought a hand out from his pocket. He stretched it out to the side and I could've sworn that I saw that the walls rippled with a tinge of pink.

"Allen Walker. However, I'm here for you dear." I gritted my teeth as this as he moved his arm towards us, the walls now gaining thousands of ripples. The dark walls soon shimmered with fluttering wings and Tease flew off it, heading straight towards us. The mass of Tease turned into a cyclone, encircling Kanda and I, preventing us from escaping.

"What exactly do you want?" I snapped from inside the cyclone, hearing Tyki laugh manically.

"He wants to kill you, can't you see that?" Kanda growled beside me, his back against my own. I scoffed and rolled my eyes, frowning.

"Of course I can, I just-" Before I could even finish my sentence, the Tease that was swirling around us suddenly flew up, lifting the curtain for a moment so that I could see Tyki's victorious grin. Then as I changed my machine gun to my scythe, I bent down on my knees, following Kanda's suit just as the deadly butterflies descended on us in a black wave.

-.-.-.-

Lenalee's POV

Allen and I stared at the person we knew standing right in front of us. Turns out that Nova was right. Sam had been taken over. With our activated Innocence, we waited for the Master of all the Shigai to attack, but with that cold smirk on his face, I couldn't really tell whether he was going to or not. We stood in the Science Divison's area, no one here except the three of us.

"You won't win against me, you puny exorcists," Sam seemed to say in a deeper voice, his blue eyes glinting unusually. So this was the Master. Allen bristled at this and clenched the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Don't insult us," He growled, his left eye turning black as he saw the form of the Master in that eye and Sam's body in his right. The Master laughed before he stopped short, his eyes narrowing with a smirk.

I scowled at this and looked up just in time to see the girl named Victoria from before come shooting down towards us. With quick reflexes, I grabbed Allen by the waist and jumped into the air, just as Victoria landed on the ground softly.

"Thanks Lenalee," Allen breathed in relief as he gazed down at the two enemies. I nodded as I continued to look at Victoria, seeing her blue eyes fade to a deep blood red. It was Avon.

"This is going to be hard," I replied back to Allen, watching the two Shigai grin up at the both of us. Hopefully we wouldn't have to face these two on our own for long.

"Yeah, we've already seen what Avon can do, but the Master is still a blank card."

Yup, definitely a complication right here.

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Yeah, chapter end! Hope you all enjoyed it! Remember to cast in your vote from the message above! I love you all! Please remember that no matter what you choose! And I'd do anything for you guys! XD The plot's moving along nicely isn't it?