Author's note: Hello everyone I hope you all enjoyed the two first chapters I'm sure you've noticed some similarties from the anime and manga. The reason for that being it's based on canon but as you all of we are aware funimation hasn't fully finished all of the first anime but are in the process doing it. So there may be a couple of episodes later in the fic that are not yet aired so there may be spoliers but for now fellow readers there is no need worry. I also want to say a massive thank you to my wonderful beta Hanashi o suru. It also took me two days to make this chapter. Half a day to write the notes and the orginal summary of the chapter and episode and half of my evenings and mornings to type the story.
Disclaimer: See prolouge
"This is the Black Order, huh?" Allen asked Link. It was…darker than he imagined it…not like he didn't already imagine it to be a rather dark place. To be frank, this was gothic dark to the silver-eyed boy. On the other hand, something about it seemed…nicer than his orginal prison cell. How was the possible?
The duo had made their way into the Order where they were currently walking along the side path of the canal that had an occasional boat going in and coming out. "Stay close, I don't need to lose track of you, before we get to the Supervisor here."
"Supervisor?"
"He's…eccentric." Link explained, "He's the head of this Branch, though how he could've possibly made it to his current position baffles my mind."
"How so?"
"Walker, it's easier for you to see what I mean." Link decided, and they continued to walk in silence.
"How big is this place?"
"Larger than what you're used to, but it shouldn't be too difficult to…" Link trailed off, stopping suddenly, the action caused Allen to bump into his guardian, as he wasn't prepared the suddenness. "Then again…this is you we're talking about."
"Hey!" The younger pouted. "I don't get lost."
"Prove me wrong, and I'll get you more Dango than you can possibly eat."
"Deal!"
. . - * - . .
Fifteen minutes later, saw the young Exorcist lost. He only stopped for a second, Timcanpy having drifted from its place on his head, not wanting a repeat in London, Allen had given chase to his golden Golem.
He assumed Link had been following him, he assumed the older was eventually going to shout at him to get back over to his side. But he never did. Would Allen had noticed regardless? Perhaps not, as he was completely preoccupied with trying to catch Timcanpy.
He never realized he had gotten separated from Howard Link.
"Tim! C'mon, get back here!" Allen called out, only to be met with empty space when he made to grab his mischievous companion. "Jeez!"
If Golems could laugh, Allen was more than certain that Timcanpy was cackling up a storm.
"Not funny." Silver eyes looked around, thinking he'd see his Guardian near him, only for him to become frantic as he realized he didn't have Link around him. "L-Link? Link! Uh-oh…"
Timcanpy was smug.
Allen was almost petrified. "M-maybe if we go the way we came…?" He said, only to head in the incorrect direction he was meant to go.
. . - * - . .
"Oh, Inspector, what brings you here?" The pleasantries were there, but Link knew he wasn't exactly as welcome.
"Head Branch Komui, Lvellie isn't here." Sighed the German male. "Walker, will you—?" He cut himself off when he turned to face the other male that was supposed to be around him. "…damn it, Walker."
"Walker?" the other man, Komui, inquired, "Who might that be?"
"Komui, I sent a letter in advance about the arrival of myself and a new Exorcist." Link sighed.
"Brother, did you really lose an important letter like that?" A young girl's voice calls out, the owner holding a tray with a single coffee mug on it. She was innocent looking, her hair tied in pigtails, and she wore a black form-fitting jacket with a miniskirt that matched the black and white color scheme. Over her heart was the Order's emblem, framed by two thin lines of white with a silver button in the lower right of the fabric-y frame.
The same thicker portions of the fabric was used as the cuffs of her sleeves, and on her shoulders. The jacket was complete with an open high-collar where the zipper was hidden beneath a strap of fabric only fastened across the track with a silver snap.
"Oh, Lenalee~!" Komui called out, seeing the familiar face enter his office, "You came to visit me~!"
Lenalee could almost feel that bead of sweat fall down her cheek. "Komui…"
"A pleasure to see you again, Miss Lee." Link greeted.
The Chinese girl stiffened, eyes darting around the office.
"Worry not, Inspector Link isn't here with Lvellie, Lenalee." Komui said, taking note of his sister's tense posture. When she released the tension in her shoulders, both parties were aware she still wasn't as calm as she could be.
"I-Is he not here?"
"No, Miss Lee. I'm actually here with a new Exorcist." Link told her, "At least, I was until that fool got himself lost."
"You lost him?" Komui asked.
"Of course I haven't lost him!" Link scowled. "Pull up your security feed. The sooner he is found, the sooner he can be certified as an Exorcist to this Branch."
"What should be look for?"
"He won't be too hard to miss, believe me." Link muttered.
. . - * - . .
"I don't think I'm going the right way…" Allen sighed, feeling defeated. "Where did I end up?"
It was a question that was fair enough for him to ask. After all, he didn't exactly have an idea of where he was. Most of the halls in the tower were so similar, only a small handful were different from the rest. For example, the current hall he was in had a large area to his left that had a little equipment along the wall. Allen wasn't sure why such a large empty space was there, nor did he know what it could possibly be used for.
It was only when he passed a set of pillars did he catch movement in his peripheral vision. Turning his attention to it, he saw someone practicing movements with a sword he was unfamiliar with. There was much grace with each motion, almost like a dance.
Beautiful and dangerous. Graceful and fierce. The person's hair, as long as Allen's own, swayed with their movements their body, long dark, and was held up in a ponytail. It took the young male to realize they were male as well.
Another thing Allen realized was the man's body was toned, though had gauze wrapped around his torso and shoulders. Only when he trailed his eyes back to where the man's face was, did he realize he was blindfolded. It left the white-haired boy in awe that such a person had so much confidence to train without the use of his sight…and with such a weapon!
"Either train on the other side of the damn room or get lost."
The baritone voice startled Allen out of his apparent daydream. He frantically looked around, before dumbly pointing to himself. "U-Um…me…?'
"Che." The man kneeled to placed his weapon on the ground, and then proceeded to raise his arms to remove the blindfold, while standing back to his full height. His glare pinpointed where Allen stood. Sharp cobalt eyes practically stabbed him through the younger's soul from where he stood, and the poor victim found himself unable to move. "Who the hell are you?"
"Sh-shouldn't you be saying who you are first?" Allen shot back.
"I asked first." The man angrily remarked. "Actually, I don't give a shit. You're as good as dead."
"Huh?"
"I have no clue how you managed to wander in here, but an Akuma isn't welcome here. Damn gatekeeper not doing his damn job."
"A-Akuma…? AH! NO, WAIT! I'm human!"
"Well, if I cut you open, we'll know for sure, now won't we?" Picking up the chokuto he had put down to remove his blindfold, he aimed the blade right at Allen. "Prepare to die."
"Eh? AH!" The younger barely had time to invoke his Innocence arm before the blade came at him full force.
"The fuck is with that arm of yours?"
"I just said I'm not an Akuma! I'm an Exorcist, I swear! This is my Anti-Akuma weapon!" Allen winced, before taking a look at his arm, his silver eyes widened in surprise that his arm had been cut.
"For all I know, it's a partial Akuma change." The man sneered. "This just shows I won't have to hold back."
. . - * - . .
"There!" Link pointed at an image with two people in what the German male had deduced to be one of the indoor training grounds. "…please don't tell me he's found himself on the receiving end of Yu Kanda's wrath…"
In the image, Allen is doing his best to avoid direct attacks from Kanda, his arm was already invoked, but it was clear he was injured early on. The large slash in the weapon was proof enough, after all.
"Mm…looks like he got the full force of Kanda's wrath." Komui noted. "Well, that's a shame…Kanda just came back from a rocky mission too…"
"Brother, stop procrastinating, and find that note!" Lenalee scolded. "Geez…"
"What's going on?" Another person enters the room, taking note of an annoyed Lenalee, and— "Why is there someone from central here?"
"Not for inspection." Link sighed. "I was sent here with a new Exorcist under Lvellie's orders…your head chief seemed to have failed to get his important memo."
"Reever, you have to stop Kanda from killing him!" Lenalee said, upon seeing something on the screen. "Stall him, at least!"
"Huh…?" The man, Reever, was still confused, as he looked between Link, Lenalee, and the Branch Head who was looking for that letter. His gaze landed on the holographic image and became frantic as he fished his earpiece out of his coat pocket, and connected to the Golem that was nearby the scene. "KANDA! STAND DOWN, STOP YOUR ATTACK, DAMMIT!"
. . - * - . .
"KANDA! STAND DOWN, STOP YOUR ATTACK DAMMIT!" The voice instantly ceased Kanda's – as Allen was fairly certain that was the name of this man now – attack, though the blade barely left room between his face and the very sharp weapon just barely missing him.
"Sc-scary…" Allen breathed.
"Oi, Reever, who the hell is this shit?"
"He's not an enemy, Kanda. At least, we're pretty sure he isn't. The kid came here with someone from Central…he's supposed to be an Exorcist. Same as you."
"That's not reason enough to—"
"Ah~! I've found it! No wonder I had no desire to look at it…"
"Brother…"
"Komui…"
"Here, Reever~ Read it~"
"DAMMIT KOMUI, IT'S—ugh, never mind." Allen didn't miss the defeated tone in the man's voice. He cleared his throat, "It says, 'dear Komui, within the month, Lvellie is most likely going to send a kid to you by the name of Allen Walker…there may be another person with him. Good luck.
Sincerely, Cross Marian.'…that's it."
"…it was from Master Cross?" Allen asked, his head cocking to ne side in confusion.
"General Cross's disciple, huh?"
"U-um…more or less…"
"Che." Kanda withdrew his weapon, sheahing it in a single motion, upon picking up the saya he dropped.
"Erm…Kanda…?" Allen called to the retreating male. He was met with a glare. The boy wondered if there were other emotions he had, or if scowling was the only one he knew. Regardless, he held out his right hand, "That's…you're name, right? No hard feelings?"
"I don't shake hands with cursed people." Kanda sneered, "You'll die within a month of being here."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?! HEY!" He was promptly ignored, the elder leaving him alone, and in annoyance. "Jerk…idiot…dumb ass…"
"Walker, please don't move from that spot. I'll be over to retrieve you." Link's voice rang out.
Allen sighed. He wouldn't argue with Link on that one…not that he wouldn't rant about that Kanda guy on the walk to the supervisor's office, at least.
. . - * - . .
"We haven't been here a full hour, and you managed to destroy your arm." Link growled. The duo were being led by Komui, whom Allen was introduced to upon Link retrieving him. AT the moment, they were currently walking down a long flight of stairs where in the distance Allen could make out machinery he was far from familiar with. It looked almost like something one would read about…
"We're currently in the Science division." Link informed his charge. "Try not getting lost. Again."
"I'm sorry…" Allen said in a small voice. "I know I shouldn't have engaged, but…"
"Kanda's usually less hotheaded than that." Komui apologetically told the white-haired male. "Though that attack was really one for the record books, if I do say so myself. I guess his mission went pretty far south for his liking."
"Oh…"
"You say you can repair the damage?" Link implored, though otherwise skeptical of this man's abilities.
"Of course, I'm the Branch leader for a reason~!" The Chinese man preened.
A third party sighed, shaking her head almost in pity. "I'm already feeling sorry, to be honest."
"Lenalee~ I'm not that bad."
"You are." Lenalee huffed. "It's no wonder Suman steers clear of you so much."
"So…you're Lenalee, then?" Allen asked, feeling minorly ashamed he hadn't caught her name. "It's nice meeting you."
"Likewise. I'm really sorry for my brother in advance." Silver eyes blinked, before looking to Komui, and then to Lenalee. "And your name is Allen?"
"Um…yeah…you and him are…siblings…?"
"Walker, don't be rude."
"Erk…"
"No, it's perfectly fine. Komui is my big brother…though he can be a bit much."
The Inspector looked to Lenalee with a curious expression, "And you're apologizing because…?"
"We're here~!" Komui cheerfully announced, opening the door to let the group in. He retrieved a stool for Allen to sit on, and gestured for the younger to lay his arm on the examination table. "Now, can you show me your arm?"
"Huh?"
"Your arm was damaged with that attack from Kanda earlier, isn't that right? There's no need to have to endure that pain."
The young male eyed the Supervisor skeptically, but placed his arm on the table as instructed. It was plain to see that his arm was in bad condtion after that. A nasty mark marring the already unsilghtly red, wrinkled skin.
"Looks bad…" Link noted.
"Hm…the nerves were damaged." The supervisor pointed out, eying the damaged twitching limb. "Lenalee, go get me the anesthesia. For the boy."
"Okay…" Lenalee said, going to retrieve what was asked of her.
"Can you activate it?" The Chinese man asked of the British male.
Confused, Allen nodded, "Activate."
The limb was replaced with the giant white claw, the scarred tissue returning to a large crack in the shell. Komui sipped his coffee, nodding in approval. "Hm, you're a parasite type."
"Parasite…type…?"
"Correct. The kind of accommodator that can morph their body into a weapon. It's the rarest type of Anti-Akuma weapon around." Komui continued to explain. "A parasite accommodator and their weapon are synchronized in a symbiotic kind of way… Before their very eyes, two very dangerous looking tools were brought out from almost nowhere.
"Komui…? What's with all that equipment?"
"Oh these? It's just for repairs." Komui stated matter-of-factually. "It's quite upsetting, so, unless you wish to be traumatized, I suggest you look away."
As much as he didn't actually wish to step outside, something told the German male it was probably for his own good he do as his gut was telling him. He stepped outside, and waited by the door. The moment he heard traumatizing screams being accompanied by the sound of a power tool coming to life, did Link find himself jumping in a little fear, but a lot of surprise.
"J-just what is he doing in there?" Link found himself asking in fear.
. . - * - . .
"I'm never going to break my arm ever again…" Allen sobbed, cradling his numb limb to his chest.
"Komui, I question your methods." Link bluntly stated, though was more concerned about his charge's mental health. "What in the hell did you do?"
"Fixed his arm." Komui said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "That reminds me, I recommend not using that limb any time soon, at least until the numbing agent wears off…so he's quite useless until tomorrow~!"
"I want to hit you right now." Allen groaned. He hated his arm in this state…it gave him bad memories of the past before he met Mana.
"Now, now~ we're all friends here~!" Komui chimed. "Ah, we're here!"
"Where is—AHHH!" The ground beneath his feet was suddenly gone as Allen was lifted in the air. "W-what's happening?! KOMUI!"
"In…no…cence…"
If Allen's hair hadn't already of turned white from trauma, it would've in that moment. He began struggling to get free from the creature's grasp. "LEMME GO! KOMUI, DAMMIT!"
"Oh, don't be that way. Hevlaska is harmless." Komui called from below. "And I was serious about your arm. It'll be useless until tomorrow."
"I'm doubtful he'll listen." Link sighed. The ordeal went on for short while, Allen's struggles coming to a stop when he finally did manage to invoke his left arm. The action only caused him pain, and despair upon seeing the disfigured form his claw had taken.
"He…overpowered…the anithesia…" The otherworldly being was surprised. As were the other two on the platform. "Please don't…force an invo…kation…when your nerves are numb." She scolded him soon after.
She placed her forehead against Allen's, though it did little to calm his nerves. She began muttering different percentages, before stopping at eighty-three percent. His current rate of synchronization.
Only 83%? Link found himself wondering.
"…the more difficult it is to do an invocation." Hevlaska was explaining to Allen. Link himself didn't exactly need to pay attention, as he knew at least the basics of the synchro rates. The higher the better, the lower, the more dangerous it is to attempt to invoke. "…Allen Walker…your Innocence will create a great 'Destroyer of Time' in the dark future. That is what I had felt…with my power…"
"…a destroyer?" Link heard Allen ask, and looked to his charge whom was now safely on the lift once more.
Komui was clapping, and in anger, Allen made to punch him. Only to be blocked by the clipboard the man had in his possession. Honestly, if the younger hadn't done anything, Link himself would've given a Komui a black eye. Sighing, he tuned out the whole discugssion of the God Crystal, and what the Black Order stood for. He heard it all before, he didn't need to hear it again.
Again.
. . - * - . .
"Hey, Link?" Allen asked, after their misadventure with meeting Hevlaska. Currently, they were in Allen's own room. It wasn't much in terms of space, but it was enough for the time being…even if it did remind the younger of an actual prison. The room was stone from floor to ceiling, and although there was a window, Allen didn't have any light at the moment given his room faced the east, if he was correct in assuming. He'd probably find out when the sun came up in the morning.
"Yes, Walker?"
"Do you think…I'm prophesized to be that Destroyer of Time thing…because I'm the Heart…?"
"Who really knows?" The German born said, deciding to take to reading. He packed some books with him, though there weren't any places to store them. His room was right next to Allen's, as this one was too small for two people.
"You know?"
"Know what?"
"I still don't think I needed people looking after me." Allen said with a snarky grin. Link chuckled in response, but said nothing more as he picked up where he had last left off in his novel.
It was interesting…though as the younger thought back to that day, he truly wondered, why had Cross bothered training him at all, if he was just going to dump him in the care of a bastard no one likes?
He lived on the streets long before he had ever met Mana, so it was no question he could take care of himself.
Then again, if Cross hadn't done what he did, he wouldn't have ever met Link and the sentient Innocence he grew to care for.
Cross wasn't the best caretaker, but it wasn't until he met Apocryphos did he finally understand why the red-headed man was concerned. The Heart resided within him.
"Walker, we should sleep." Link said, standing up. "Sleep well, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."
"Huh? Oh, right. Good night Link." Once the door shut behind him, Allen reached into his bags, and found his prized photo. It was a picture of him and a clown. He smiled sadly, "Well, Mana…it took a while, but I finally made it. I'll keep walking, just like I promised you I would."
Author's note 2: Wow that chapter was very hard for me to write as in the orginal episode and manga there were a lot of things said. As I said in the first author's note I'll try and update every Sunday but please follow my twitter RoseRozu so that you're up to date and to see if I am unable to update. Thank you for reading and please comment and I recommend to visit my beta, her fanfics are awesome ;)
… … … …
Note from the Beta: Hi guys~! I hope you enjoy the chapter. Between the orginal, and what I ended up editing, adding and what not…the differences is actually astronomical! Hehehe, no, but seriously, this one took a while to edit, and with FF doing nothing about the whole uploading a story chapter to Doc Manager? Ugh. I can only handle so much BS on their part. Well, mini-rant aside, I guess we'll see y'all next time, btw~!