Chapter 6: Stolen
It only took three seconds.
Link grit his teeth as the Level III's fist crashed against the wall of Miss Lotto's Time Out, letting out an enraged roar that made the lady exorcist cry out in fear. "Stay calm." The Inspector said over his shoulder. "Focus on keeping the barrier in place." He himself had arranged a number of spell strips over the translucent wall, hoping to reinforce it, but the effect was minimal at best. Innocence and Crow spell work were entirely different and, from the evidence here, not very compatible.
"You got this, Miss Lotto." One of the finders spoke up, his own voice wavering. The second finder added his own words of encouragement, but they were lost to the Inspector.
"You can't hide in there forever!" The Level III roared, punching the barrier again. This time, a large, spiderwebbing crack formed where its fist made impact and a spell strip fell away. "Give me the Innocence!"
"This is bad." Link retreated a step, his arms still raised and a bead of sweat sliding past his eye. Miss Lotto had the Innocence in question tucked in her satchel. The demon's fist struck twice more, and he knew for certain the barrier was going to shatter. It was only a matter of when. Frantic, the Inspector looked around the immediate vicinity. Where were Walker and Miss Lee? He'd lost sight of both of them earlier in the fighting when a twin pair of Level II's made an appearance. A vicious duo, both designed with a set of vicious, rotating knives.
Link winced as the Level III struck the barrier and splinters of glass-like Innocence flew at them. Two more of his spell strips fluttered spent to the cobbled ground at his feet. Shit…Walker! Neither exorcist was in sight.
Crash! This time the akuma's fist remained where it made impact, grinding its knuckles in small rotations as it bellowed, "Trust me when I say this'll go much easier for you if you just roll over and die! I'm going to tear your hearts out and eat them while you're still standing, maggots!"
Link tensed as the Level III drew its fist back one last time, then abandoned all hope the Time Out would hold. He turned and grabbed Miss Lotto by her shoulders, forcing her to the ground and shielding her head and body as best he could with his own. The two finders did the same, and with one arm wrapped around the trembling accommodator, Link withdrew one last spell strip from his coat. A Flame Feather wouldn't do much good at this point, but whatever the cost, he couldn't allow the monster to kill an exorcist.
Miss Lotto yelped as a figure shot out of the sky like a meteor, crushing the akuma's head and killing it instantly. "Are you two all right?" A female voice called.
It was Miss Lee, and Walker was with her. Three seconds, that was all it took for Miss Lee to bring down the Level III and save their lives. Link breathed sigh of relief as the pair landed in front of them. Walker ran past him and knelt beside Miss Lotto, who had fallen to her knees and put her head in her hands, but Link only paid him the slightest mind. Just enough as his duties required, but it was Miss Lee who held the bulk of his attention. He studied her face as though seeing it for the first time and saw there was such a fire behind her eyes. A resolve that quite honestly rattled him inside. The young woman brushed her black hair away from her face and surveyed the area around them, watchful as an eagle surveying her territory. God, had she always been this way? Had he simply never noticed or bothered to pay attention?
Miss Lee noticed him staring. "Is something wrong?"
"What? No, it's nothing." Link shook himself out of his reverie and resumed his usual demeanor. "Well done, exorcist."
The young woman patted him on the shoulder and grinned. "You as well." She nodded to the spell strip still in his hand, then joined Walker and the finders in comforting and congratulating their worn out comrade. Link remained rooted to the spot, shaken. Awestruck, even.
Three seconds, and he was hers.
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Author's Notes: Short one today.
D. Gray Man is owned by Katsura Hoshino.