A/N: Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving weekend. I once again slept the day away, which is why this chapter is coming out so late.(x Anyway, thank you to Takei Daloui, jy24, and Lena-luvs-cats for being amazing and reviewing!(:
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Okay, I admit it, I haven't exactly invested my time in impersonating Hoshino so that I can claim rights to this fandom. So sorry! :(
Chapter 14
Time Frame — Morning of January 17th, 1896
—3rd Person POV—
~Allen~
"Quick!" Lenalee turned to Miranda with a shout, "Run!"
Miranda didn't bother to protest once she witnessed the Akuma peeling away their human skin with a sickening snap. With a terrified shriek, she turned and fled down the street, sobbing once more, and Allen and Lenalee were able to confidently activate their Innocence and turn their back on her once she disappeared from view. No words were required between the Exorcist duo as they split up, each luring a different Akuma their way.
Once Allen reached an empty alleyway, he whirled around, Crown Clown flaring about him as he faced his Level 2 opponent, his expression pulling into a grimace as he observed the grotesque creature resembling a clown, just like the ones he vaguely remembered from the circus.
"An Exorcist?" the Akuma giggled maniacally, gazing at Allen with a twisted sense of awe. "I've never come across an Exorcist before!"
"It would explain why you're still alive," Allen sneered, readying his claw.
The Level 2's grin widened into something inhuman. "I am Pierrot! Can you hear my heart? I think I'm excited!" He then began to chant, "Exorcist! Exorcist! EXORCIST! Eeeuuu… Urrrrr… Rhhhhh!" The Akuma released odd keying noises from the back of its throat, trembling and shivering as if in excitement, its expression pulling and distorting with madness.
Allen eyed it tensely. His memories of the Level 3 were a mere distance blur of terror from seven years prior. The only thing he could clearly compare this Akuma to were the Level 1s he'd occasionally fought against. I can see it differentiates from a Level 1 for more than just power and appearance. It can feel… emotions. He's getting excited from battle, and the condition of the soul that's imbedded inside it… has deteriorated.
The wide grin from Pierrot abruptly dropped, its expression withdrawn as sweat began to gather along its forehead. "Uhhhhhhh. Urrrrrrrr." The keying noises picked up once again before its features warped into a frightening appearance. "I want to kill," it hissed, stepping closer, "I want to kill. I want to kill. I want to kill. I want to kill. I WANT TO KILL!"
"HYAH-HYAH-HYAH-HYAH-HYAH-HYAH!" Pierrot screeched as it finally launched forward.
BOOM!
"Ugh…" Allen groaned, coughing and hacking as he choked on the dust permeating the air. The alleyway was now in crumbling pieces, the force of Dark Matter and Innocence clashing having caused a shockwave, but fortunately for Allen, his cloak had prevented him from receiving any hazardous injuries. From his peripherals, the white-haired boy took note of the Level 2 already rising to his feet, and swiftly snatched a chunk of concrete, launching it right at Pierrot. Jumping to his feet, he rapidly sped towards it, knowing a single attack from Crown Clown would be more than enough. "Cross Grave!"
But all that met his attack were more slabs of asphalt. Allen instantly pivoted on his feet, and once more attacked. "Cross Grave!" And with a prompt slash, the Akuma was torn in two. Finall—wait. That… that wasn't the Akuma…
"Over here! Over here!" Pierrot's voice squealed behind him, and Allen swiveled around, gazing with horrified eyes at the inverted version of himself, standing right before him. Leaning closer to him, Pierrot sneered at him with Allen's own face. "How do you like this~?" And quite abruptly, hacked at him with claws similar to his own.
Luckily, his cloak reacted and took most of the brunt, apart from the single claw that tore into the side of his cheek.
Allen stumbled back with a flinch. "Me…?" His wide eyes flitted between the fake-Allen and the Pierrot that he'd torn to pieces only moments ago. But the Akuma that he thought he'd destroyed was quickly crumbling to mere dust, while the fake-Allen remained.
"Heh heh heh heh," Pierrot grinned menacingly, taking a step closer. Allen felt sick as he watched the Akuma distort his own face into something sinister and cold-blooded. "Your power…" Pierrot teetered as he leaned down and smiled at him, "You underestimated me, didn't you? I'm a Level 2 Akuma. I'm not like the ball-shaped ones. I have unique abilities… I'm an evolved Akuma andthis is my ability." Pierrot gestured to the mirror-image of Allen he possessed. "And now, I'm going to kill you!"
"AHH!" Allen shouted, attempting to dodge being stabbed by his own claw, right before Pierrot instead slammed him away with a resounding boom. "Crown Belt!" Allen used the white strands of his Innocence to halt his decent, but even so, he'd hurtled through quite the number of brick walls. "That's it!" Allen growled as he stumbled to his feet, wincing from the broken rib or two that the blow had caused him, causing his breath to hitch. But it didn't deter him in the least. "I'm going to slaughter that thing!"
"Allen!" a familiar voice cried.
"Eh?" Allen swiveled his head over, and followed the sound of his name to Miranda, who was hunched over beside a building across the street. "Miranda! You need to get out of here!"
"I c-can't," the older woman whimpered, nodding her head over a stray chunk of concrete that was crushing her leg. Cursing furiously, Allen ignored the pain in his ribcage and immediately raced over. Crouching by the frightened woman, Allen leaned over and shoved away the slab of rock. "Got you~!"
Allen could only gasp before Pierrot (whom had been disguised as Miranda; he was such an idiot!) was crushing his body to the ground. The Level 2 cackled with glee. "I'm going to kill you now!"
"In your dreams," Allen spat, momentarily chocking on the blood gathering in his mouth, before shouting, "Crown Belt!"
Pierrot was too close to get away this time, and with a nauseating snap, white strands wrapped around the Akuma and sliced it to pieces.
A/N: If you guys hadn't already made the connection, that was the Akuma Allen originally fought in Mater. Sorry, I was too lazy to come up with my own Akuma, and I couldn't recall what the abilities of the Akuma that originally invaded the Rewinding Town were. By the way, I'm probably not going to do the fight scene with Lenalee. This isn't even supposed to be an action story, so that's probably the last fight scene you'll seeing for a while. :p
Either way, I hope it turned out decent. Let me know your thoughts in a review.(: