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Chapter 27: Falling

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Klaud's POV

The silence down in the basement was growing thicker by the minute as explosions rocked the Black Order's Headquarters. I could feel the vibrations under my feet as I leaned against the rail near Hevlaska. Assigned here to protect the Innocence holder, I've been holding my position so far so good now; no enemies in sight. Hevlaska was right behind me, and she could talk, so it wouldn't be bad to hold some sort of conversation here would it?

Clearing my throat, I crossed my arms and felt the presence of the beautiful being rise up behind me. A gentle and kind feeling washed over me as she waited for me to speak. Within seconds, silence still spiraled through the big space of the basement as I tried to conjure up a topic. I wasn't much of talker, in my childhood, and now. I was definitely a yeller however; especially at Komui.

"You wish to speak with me General Klaud? An Innocence examination perhaps?" Hevlaska inquired out of the blue, surprising me by her suddenly speaking voice. I tried not to show the astonishment on my face and turned to her, Lau Jimin climbing off of my shoulder to sit on the railing.

"Ah no, that's not necessary Hevlaska."

"Hm? Then what would you like to speak about? The prophecy?"

I froze at the last two words, memories of when I spoke to Komui about the prophecy flying back. How it couldn't be possible for Nova to be in it. Not someone who's so new to being an exorcist. But then again…

"Is she really involved in it? Will she really have to disappear and become unknown from the Order?" I quietly asked as I glanced up at the glowing Hevlaska, seeing her large lips frown slightly.

"I see that you do not approve of this?" Hevlaska softly said, her ancient voice echoing around the basement.

"It's just…why her? Why the last of the Krest's?"

"That is something I cannot answer General. Prophecies are prophecies. There's no right way to explain it. But as to her disappearance…yes. I do not know how she will disappear but I know that she will. And the entire Order will be aware of it." Hevlaska finished as silence filled the room again, leaving me to my thoughts.

The ones who are here…that Noah and those two Shigai….they're here for Nova…I can sense the Noah's hatred of the Krest line from down here. That monster is somewhere in this building, and they want to get rid of Nova. Is it so they can stop the prophecy? If so, then she needs to escape!

"If-If that's what she needs to do-to disappear- then she has to do it fast! The people up there are going after her!" I exclaimed as I faced Hevlaska with wide eyes. The atmosphere in the air changed into worry as Hevlaska stayed still in surprise.

I immediately realized our situation and slammed my gauntlets on the railing, startling Lau Jimin in the process. We can't do anything! I have to protect Hevlaska! I sighed in frustration and leaned against the railing, looking over at Hevlaska. The being rose up to meet me with those frowned lips once more.

"I'm sorry if I keep you here General Klaud,"

"Oh no, don't say that, you're also a top priority. You mean a lot to us Hevlaska," I retorted with a slight smile on my face.

"….thank you,"

Then once more, a more comfortable silence settled between us, down here in the basement as we waited what would happen next. As long as no one came down, we would be fine.

"I just hope you're okay Nova," I whispered, knowing how much she loves this place and everyone here. It would be heartbreaking to hear that she has gone away. Yet…it might have to happen anyway. That's what fate does to us. It takes us humans into its arms and twists us in many ways possible, distorting the path we think will happen.

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Nova's POV

I winced as one of the nurses pulled a little too tightly on my bandages as she finished tying it on. She gave me a glance of apology but I just think that it's a way of saying that I shouldn't be hurting myself like this and that I should just stop giving them heart attacks at our sometimes very bloody appearances. The blank faced looking nurse stepping out of the bathroom, leaving me to pull on a black t-shirt and my bloodied exorcist jacket.

As I stepped back out of the bathroom I noticed that Tigress was on top of my assigned bed, snoozing. Her tail was wrapped around her body, touching her nose and flicked when she opened her eyes, seeing me. I gave her a small smile and petted her head, stroking her fur as she purred quietly. I glanced up while petting her and noticed that things were pretty quiet around here; all the nurses were simply sitting by each other, idly chatting since I was their only patient for now.

The sudden shaking of the building caught me off guard, making me stiffen in surprise. Was that us? Fighting? I wondered how Kanda was doing and whether or not he was still alive. I noticed that the nurses were doing something, tying something together as they huddled close to each other. Approaching them silently, I tapped the shoulder of one of the silent nurses and asked what they were doing. It seemed as though they were making emergency escape lines out of some of the old, spare bed sheets that they never used and should use for something. This was that something.

"Since you seem to be feeling better, why not help us out?" the Head Nurse called out, gesturing me over with a wave of her hand. I still couldn't understand why they would want to do something like this. For what reason? Still, I came over and sat down in front of her, taking two bed sheets, beginning to tie the two together.

"Couldn't make a quilt or something out of these? What's the point of making escape ropes out of bed sheets?" I inquired as I grabbed the next pair, realizing that the entire clump of nurses here were holding one entire line, all working together as they added more and more. This is going to be one long line.

"Just in case someone needs to go somewhere I suppose? To do an important task?" Head Nurse replied with a shrug, tying with a very concentrated look on her face. I nodded at the suggestion, thinking that that could be a reason.

"Did you just decide now that you would make something like this?" All the nurses chuckled at my question, making me blush slightly.

"No girl, we've been at this for about a month now, only getting a minimal amount of time to even do a little. Now that we have a little time because of all the fighting, we might be able to finish it."

A soothing silence wandered into the room as we all participated in the tying-bed-sheets-to-each-other activity. I even found it a bit calming from my torrent of thoughts that were constantly whirling around in my head. For the first time since I came here, this moment was the most peaceful moment I've ever had with people like this. I hoped to remain in it longer.

Sadly, moments like this never ever last for me so as soon as I caught Tigress sitting up straight eyes wide, I knew that something was wrong. I nodded to the Head Nurse and stood up carefully, making my way over to my partner. I scratched the fur behind her ears, but she shook her head away, eyes alert. Glancing around, I tried to sense any kind of akuma within the room but it wouldn't make any sense; they'd have attacked by now.

"What is it girl?" I whispered to Tigress who leaped off of the hospital bed and over to the somewhat large glass window of the infirmary. She seemed to stare at it intently, and in doing so, I had a feeling that something was coming.

Turning to the Head Nurse, I caught her eye and looked into her gaze seriously. Suddenly, she seemed to understand with a frown of acceptance and a nod. I heard her whispering to the other nurses and soon they were up on their feet with the emergency line hanging from one of their shoulders. I glanced over my shoulder to see where they went: in one of the examination rooms. The Head Nurse came out again with the line around her arm.

Setting it down on the bed, she gave me a small nod before heading back into the room, shutting the door behind her. I could hear the door lock. They knew it was my job to do this. I glanced at the line and smirked. I guess it would have some sort of use now.

Whatever was coming hadn't appeared yet, and I was on the side of hoping that it wouldn't. Most of the times, my thoughts are wrong and what I think will happen is the opposite. Well when something crashed through that window and had the body of an akuma that looked extremely familiar, well that's when I knew that I was screwed.

A Level 3 was standing right in front of me, looking menacing…but injured. Very injured. He had an arm ripped off; the mask that covered his face no longer existed, revealing his billions of wandering eyes, and chunks of building stabbed into parts of his body. Just who had the power to do this?

"You! You are going to die by my hands girl! Your guy won't ever get to see you again because of what he did to me," The red Level 3 spat in my face, pointing at me with its one good arm. I frowned at what he just said. My guy? Kanda!?

"Oi, you fought with Kanda?" I asked in a low voice, bringing out my katana and aiming the blade at him.

"Yeah and he killed off my two partners along the way of almost killing me if it hadn't been for that damn Tyki to finally step in. He's crazy. A monster,"

I smirked at his words and turned the katana over, its blade glinting. "Is that so? Before I kill you, answer me this, was he alive when Tyki intervened?" The Level 3 scoffed as it clenched its only hand, grinning at me.

"Only barely," He whispered with a sadistic smile, making me narrow my eyes dangerously. My purple eye closed in on his figure while the silver remained the same.

"You're really looking for a way to die aren't you?" I asked with a tilt of my head, flashing him a grin as I pulled my arm back.

"I'll kill you first," The Level 3 replied as he brought his arm back as well, poised with his foot back. I scooped the pile of bed sheet line over one shoulder and tensed as the akuma's metal fingertips clashed against the blade of my katana, his many eyes all focusing on me.

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Kanda's POV

"Damn, you just had to interfere," I muttered as my hand pressed against my torso, feeling for the hole that one of the Level 3's impaled into me.

Tyki stood in front of me silently, his dark matter strips flickering as if they had their own spirit. He had managed to come in between me and that red Level 3-right when I was about to destroy him too. I was barely able to stand; using Mugen stabbed into the ground to help me balance. Yes, fighting against Level 3's all at once can do that.

I narrowed my eyes as I felt the sticky blood cling my shirt to skin and moved my hand away, pulling Mugen out of the ground. I focused on breathing evenly as my vision swam. I had to get through this guy to kill the red one before he got to Nova. I took a step forward to attack but froze when a black tendril shot into my thigh and immediately came back out. Wincing, I took a deep breath and was about to activate my double illusion sword again when the black strips around Tyki's shoulders suddenly decided to go berserk and come straight at me.

I reacted instantly and almost blocked all of them, one escaping to lodge into my arm with Mugen, the others following, soon stabbing into multiple parts of my body. I stood there panting as blood continued to soak into my jacket, now in new places. Damn, I'm too exhausted to even do anything else?

Suddenly, a circle of white humanoid beings popped out of nowhere, surrounding Tyki as they held white bows in their hands. I blinked at this, recognizing their familiar structure. Is this…who I think it is?

"Oh my Yuu, you're a mess!" General Tiedoll called out as he approached his student with a gentle smile on his face. I turned slightly and scowled, yet a bit relieved that he was here.

"I'll take it from here Yuu. Marie why don't you lead him out of here?" I heard the approaching footsteps of my longtime friend, Noise Marie.

"Kanda, you're wounded bad," Marie greeted as he nodded, listening in with his headphones.

"I can handle myself old man," I growled as I clenched my grip on Mugen, feeling the wound on my arms scream in pain. General Tiedoll glanced over at me and shook his head, smiling.

"You don't know when to give up do you Yuu?"

"Don't call me by my first name,"

"Yuu, you still haven't changed,"

"Yeah, not planning to either,"

"You're wounded Yuu, go get your wounds treated and let the General handle this one."

"Stop calling me by my first name!"

"Marie, just get him out of here before he hurts himself even more," General Tiedoll instructed seriously as Marie came up behind me, taking hold of my arm. I hesitated for a moment, looking at Tyki's silent gaze.

"I have to finish this fight," I said quietly, meeting General Tiedoll's gaze.

"Yuu, there's no need." Another moment of silence. I closed my eyes and after a minute nodded once, turning to meet Marie's closed eyes.

"Don't die on us old man," I growled over my shoulder as I walked behind Marie out the door.

"Your friends are holding up pretty well. Lavi, Allen, and Lenalee are ganging up on someone in the Science Division. I can sense General Cross' presence there as well. Strange."

I was surprised by General Cross' appearance but what my mind focused on was Nova. Was she alright? What about the-

"Oh shit," I suddenly said, stopping Marie in his tracks. He could sense the dread in my voice.

"What?"

"Do you sense a presence in the infirmary? Two perhaps, besides the nurses?" I inquired as turned in the direction of the infirmary. Marie raised his eyebrows at my request but did it nonetheless, focusing as his features relaxed for a moment.

"Hmm…besides the nurses…yes! Oh no…there's a Level 3 there and a girl who's barely holding up. What's she doing fighting someone like that!"

It didn't matter. As soon as I heard that, I took off in a fast paced walk towards the infirmary with Marie tailing behind hurriedly.

"Hey what's wrong Kanda!"

"We have to get there before she dies!"

If Nova dies….

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Nova's POV

I now had a section of the long bed sheet rope tied around the Level 3's body, pinning its one arm to its body. I don't know exactly how it happened but I know that Tigress was helping me out along the way. We had clashed for a few moments but then my wounds started to act up on me again, making me switch to another tactic; which was resolving to tie his arm to his body so that he won't attack me.

Well that's a stupid idea, now realizing my current situation. A boot was pressed against the side of my cheek, shoving my head into the tile, and another was slammed down on my arm. Tigress had already sunken her fangs into the Level 3's shoulder, biting the bloody hell out of it.

"That'll teach you to not mess with akuma like us." The Level 3 seethed as he stomped on my arm again. I cried out in pain and formed my machine gun, aiming it for his head, immediately firing. Tigress jumped off as the Level 3 fell over to the side. I scrambled to my feet, the extra end of the bed sheet line wrapped around my waist. My chest wounds twinge with pain, making me freeze for a second.

"Gah, you!" the Level 3 ran out through the smoke at top speed, catching me off guard as he rammed into my body with his head. I was sent into the broken glass window and out on to the balcony.

In that same moment, the doors to the infirmary were kicked open and I saw Kanda and someone else run in. Before I could say anything, the Level 3's foot slammed into my chest wound, making me flinch in pain. He kept pounding on it, each hit preventing me from moving away because of the impact. I could feel the stone behind me creak.

"Oi! Bastard, get away from her!" Kanda yelled as he approached, his expression looking murderous.

Before the Level 3 could land another kick I managed to catch it in my hands, glaring up at him. What surprised me was the look of satisfaction in those many eyes of his. I could now hear the slow cracking of stone. I glanced beside me and saw cracks spreading all around the rails of the balcony. Eyes widening in dread, I glanced back at the Level 3 to see him grinning. One stomp was all it took and I would be sent plummeting to my death [1].

A hand appeared around the Level 3's shoulder and pulled him back, revealing Kanda's pissed off face.

The grin on the Level 3 widened. Kanda met my gaze.

"Kanda…"

The foot I caught was suddenly gone.

"Don't worry…"

My hands caught the foot again and the cracks had ceased.

"I'll see you again when we face the Earl,"

Kanda's eyes widened as the stone behind me fell apart and I threw the Level 3's foot away from me in the midst of falling back. Within seconds, wind was brushing past my face and I could see the broken stone of the balcony getting smaller and smaller as I went down. The length of the bed sheet rope was thinning out around my waist. I waited for the complete fall but was surprised by the sudden jerk of the line ending, undoing the knot I made, causing me to grab on to it by pure reflexes. I thought for a second…

The other end was attached to the Level 3.

"They can't be…" I whispered as a small smile appeared on my lips. My smile was immediately wiped off when I felt a slight shake in the line, as if someone had been pushed…well shit. That damn Level 3 must've jumped straight off.

The wind resumed rushing past me and I could see fog thickening as I plummeted downward. Closing my eyes, I only hoped for some sort of way of surviving this fall. If I were to be in this prophecy that Hevlaska mentioned, then I must be alive at some point.

Fate sure can be cruel.

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Hello again! Glad you could join me on the end of this chapter! Sad to come again only to see this happen. _ Yeah. Hope that Nova's last words weren't cliche or anything like that? haha. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I finally said I'd update and did! Keep the reviews up guys! We've finally reached a 100! I'm sooo happy! This is my first story to ever have that and I'm very grateful to have you all as my readers! Once again, you are all the BEST. Such great people. You've given me so much support and I hope that my chapters make up for all of that in return.

Review my fellow readers!

[1]: I had the Headquarters positioned really high up so if anyone were to fall out the window they would fall to their death.