Disclaimer - I do not own DGM nor Bleach

Chapter Thirty - Wrath

Looking rather abashed Allen and Lenalee hurried to catch up to Lavi and Hitsugaya, who had managed to put some distance between them. It appeared that Hitsugaya was on a mission, pressing ahead and leading the group down a corridor, away from the room where the sounds of fighting could still be heard. Lenalee glanced back, a concerned look in her violet eyes, but didn't say anything as the group pressed onward. She knew that Krory could take care of himself but that didn't stop her from worrying about him; he was, after all, a member of her family.

"Do you even know where it is that we're going Chibi?" Lavi quipped as he followed the white haired boy down the corridor, his hands behind his head in a casual manner. Despite the fact that the sounds of the Ark crumbling around could be heard he appeared calm and collected. A testament to his training as a Bookman.

"It's Hitsugaya," the youth snapped, not even bothering to turn and offer the red head a glare. "And we're going to the top of this damn tower… that's where we're going."

"Alright, alright," Lavi said, attempting to defuse the situation before he ended up on the receiving end of the boy's blade. "I was just asking, you don't have to be so grouchy." Of course the question of whether or not the boy knew how to get to the top of the tower came to mind but the Junior Bookman had the sense not to give voice to it. He had learned that particular lesson already and had no desire to see Hitsugaya's dark side emerge once more.

Allen took note of the fact that the smaller white haired male seemed even more irritable than normal, a feat in and of its self, and had several thoughts about why exactly this was. Most of which centered around that rather strange moment between him and the twins earlier. The look in his eyes had been so dark and cold and there could be no doubt that Hitsugaya had fully intended to kill the pair of them. And, from the look of things, their deaths would have been slow and painful.

"Oi Moyashi!" Lavi exclaimed, breaking into Allen's thoughts.

"What?" Allen snapped, too distracted by his train of thought, which Lavi had just effectively derailed, to even notice that he'd actually answered to the much loathed nickname.

Lavi, on the other hand, noticed. "Wow… things are getting really bad if he's actually answering to Moyashi… I think we should all be concerned."

"I'm deeply concerned," Hitsugaya deadpanned, gazing at them over his shoulder as he paused. "For the sanity of this entire group."

"Ouch Chibi," Lavi said, placing his hand over his heart. "That was harsh… and completely uncalled for."

"You'll get over it," Hitsugaya tossed back, not even the hint of remorse in his voice. His gaze shifted back to the front as he continued on his way, somehow sure that he was going in the right direction, as strange as that sounded. He was getting the strangest sense of déjà vu from the scenery but didn't comment on this fact to any of the others lest they begin to question his sanity in much the same manner that he was now questioning theirs. "Or die with it one."

Despite his concern over their current predicament Allen actually twitched a smile as he listened to the two of them argue back and forth. He had to admit that it was actually amusing when Lavi was picking on someone else for a change.

"What are you laughing at?" both Lavi and Hitsugaya snapped, turning to glare at Allen simultaneously. Covering her mouth with one hand Lenalee couldn't help but laugh at the comical expressions on each of their faces, forgetting for the moment that they were in a race against time where their lives were at stack. Or at least hers, Lavi's and Krory's… for Allen and Hitsugaya the stakes were a little higher. If they didn't manage to escape this place before it was destroyed they would lose their very souls.

"Oh nothing," Allen said, holding up his hands in a placating manner. "Don't mind me… just go on about your business and pretend I'm not here."

Having traveled some distance down the corridor, the sounds of the battle between the twins and Krory no longer audible, the group came upon another door. Reaching it they paused, each gazing around at the others in the group before their gazes shifted back to the door. There was no way to know what was located on the other side but the only way to find out was to open the door and step through the threshold.

Reaching out Hitsugaya grasped the door handle and pulled it open. "Let's just get this over with."

"After you Chibi," Lavi said, gesturing toward the open door with a flourish. Rolling his eyes the white haired boy stepped inside the room, followed closely behind by the other three members of his group. At first the room appeared to be empty and… oddly decorated. "Well this is weird," the red head commented as he gazed around.

"I don't think this is the room that we're looking for," Allen said as he too gazed around the room.

"We're not alone," Hitsugaya muttered, his gaze focused on a spot across the room. He continued to glare at seemingly nothing for a few moments, making the others think that he had completely lost his mind, before his eyes narrowed slightly. "There…"

"But I don't…" Allen began before his gaze fell upon a figure who seemed to be walking toward them. "Guess there really was someone there after all," he said with a somewhat nervous laugh. He was still tense after the fight with the twins and was a little apprehensive about what kind of situation they had just placed themselves in.

"Noah…" Hitsugaya said in a low and feral tone, not really sounding as though he were speaking to anyone in particular. His gaze was focused on the approaching figure, the boy seemingly having a one track mind. And it was completely focused on the man across the room.

"How did you know?" the large man said, eyeing the group through cold eyes. He was in his white form, not yet having shifted to his true form, so he had no idea how the boy had guessed what he truly was. Confirming suspicions he shifted to his 'black' form, menacing eyes turning golden as his skin darkened and the stigmata appeared across his forehead.

"Doesn't matter," Hitsugaya said, his own eyes shifting to a tawny gold. This was familiar to the others at this point so they barely even reacted as they saw it. "All that matters is that you're going to die here."

"Big words for such a little runt," the Noah growled, his gaze focused intently on Hitsugaya. "But are you going to be able to back them up?"

"I…"

"No, he isn't," Lavi interrupted the boy's words, grasping the handle of his hammer and stepping forward. "But I am."

"What the hell?" Hitsugaya snarled, his tone feral and menacing as he turned to face his comrade. He was angered by the fact that the junior Bookman was interfering, not willing to run out on another fight. Even though he couldn't remember anything about the previous fight, running or otherwise.

Completely ignoring the outburst from the small white haired boy Lavi turned his attention toward Allen and Lenalee. "Take him and get out of here… I'll deal with this guy."

"Oh like hell you will," Hitsugaya growled, his eyes narrowing.

"Right," Allen said, grabbing one of Hitsugaya's arms while Lenalee grabbed the other. Both had to use a great deal of strength to subdue the smaller boy but they did manage. "Take care of this and then catch up to us."

"Right," Lavi said, nodding his head.

"You aren't going anywhere," Skinn snarled, his eyes focused on the trio who were attempting to make an escape. Stepping forward he made a move to stop them but was halted by a fierce blow from Lavi's hammer. "I'm your opponent so you should probably focus on me."

Hitsugaya fought against their hold as he was pulled from the room, muttering incoherent curse words the entire time. Despite this Allen and Lenalee managed to get him out of the room so that they could continue on their way toward the top of the tower.

"Why did you do that?" Hitsugaya demanded once they were out of the room and in yet another long corridor.

"Because you're acting strange," Allen retorted, leveling his gaze on the smaller white haired boy. "Lavi can handle that guy… we need to get to the top of the tower and see if that door is there."

Hitsugaya paused, blinking a couple of times. He wasn't used to mild mannered Allen speaking in such a way and it actually gave him pause. He recovered quickly however and once again began walking forward, as though pulled by invisible strings.

But pulled toward what? That was the question.

A/N - Sorry for the delay in updates, trying to work through some things at the moment. Hope that you enjoyed the chapter.