My Damsel Breathes Fire
By Misster Cackles

: / / / / :

"Inside this capsule, your air will be your enemy, instead of me. Your answers and your reasons and why you breathe faster is because inside you hold yourself for a ransom now that there is no way out. So how, how on earth did you ever find a way in? My damned soul needs fire; my damsel breathes fire.
...
"Your fine charisma, my charm and twisted energy and how they meet is so perfect, but the portrait is dangerous after we split hairs and raise them ‘cause we made all the changes so there's no way out. So how, how could you see me? You're blowing smoke here, but my damned soul needs fire; my damsel breathes fire."
- Evans Blue; My Damsel: A Confession to an Adversary

: / / / / :

The Earl smiled at Tyki and tossed him a card.

With ease, the Portuguese gambling Noah leaned up in his chair and set his hand on the table top just as the card slid under it. Tyki set his other arm on the table, propped on its elbow so he could lean on it, obviously bored with how slow the process on rebuilding the egg was. The Earl had the Skulls working over time to make the new egg; the akuma were important. Their evolution is important, and with those "pesky Exorcists" killing more and more of his lovely akuma, the less that they would evolve. The Earl still hadn't let the Noahs understand what the akuma's evolution meant, chuckling darkly whenever the subject was brought up. Even Road, the favorite, couldn't ease her way through to get information.

Tyki flipped the card over in his hand and was greeted with the low, morning:

"Delete... Deleeete... Deeeleeete..." Another name card. With nothing else better to do, Tyki let his bright eyes scan the two names written on the walls behind the Keeper of the List Cage.

Moments later, Tyki looked up at the Earl who was seated across the circular table from him with surprise while the ghoulish man just smiled back. Unable to keep the question to himself, Tyki asked, "...Why these two? Surely Bookmen have nothing to do with Hearts."

The Earl laughed at the reference. "Very true, very true, Tyki-pon! But they hold much knowledge; what if they happened to know anything of the other side? Kill them if they don't know anything, or...persuade them if they do.~"

: / / / / :

Lavi entered and scanned the cafeteria, expecting to see the large stack of empty bowls that indicated that Allen was there for breakfast, yet the stacks of bowls were missing and alas, so was Allen. Lavi didn't even frown, not too concerned that Allen hadn't shown up for breakfast; it was still what Allen called an ungodly hour, even long after the time Yu wakes up. Bunny ears perked and sent his eyes searching again for his long-time best friend, knowing he should probably be down here by now, slurping his soba. The bunny ears deflated as he shuffled with a sigh to the kitchen counter; Yu wasn't around, either...

"Oi! Jerry!" Lavi called into the steaming kitchen, leaning as far as he could in. Now December, the days were terribly cold in Europe; stove heaters were just installed into the entire Order member's room by November, but everyone wore heavy shawls and many layers of clothing when roaming the stone-cold corridors. The cafeteria was very warm, thanks to the constant fire going on for cooking. It looked to be a harsh winter, but Lavi was sure if everyone bundled up and slept with extra quilts, they'd make it.

The flamboyant Indian came to greet him, cheerful as ever and wearing the familiar no-sleeved shirt. The redhead muttered under his breath, rather envious for the chef who kept warm all day.

"Why good morning, darlin' bunny! What can I make for you today?" Jerry pulled out a notepad and pencil from his waist apron, posing for his order. Lavi considered and glanced over to the food that was prepared on the long open counter but didn't see anything he felt like eating. Breakfast just wasn't really his meal. Instead he smiled winningly at the amazing chef.

"Could I bother you to make me some of your absolutely delicious yakiniku?" Lavi asked, "They're amazing and melt in your mouth!"

Jerry smiled and pocketed the paper and pencil. "Sure thing; wait one moment!"

"And a tall mug of hot chocolate?"

"Make that two, please, Jerry! And a Blue Mountain coffee for Komui, please! Brother destroyed the coffee pot last night in the labs..." The head chef looked back, and smiled brighter at the name of his best friend and his experiments. He nodded and went to work.

Lavi looked over his left shoulder, raising a hand to Lenalee in greeting, lips lifting. "Hey." She covered her mouth and gave a yawn in return, which squeaked a little at the end. Lavi noted her appearance was more ruffled and she had outlines of circles under her eyes.

“You all right?”

Lenalee blinked at him. "Huh? Of course; a little tired, but fine: Allen, Kanda and Marie left on a mission earlier this morning, around three," - Lavi made an 'oh' sound; that was the reason he wasn't seeing them - "and I wanted to see them off." Jerry came back with the drinks and set them on the counter, leaving immediately now that the grill was still going and it was starting at the time that the scientists came in from their all-nighters to consume abnormal amounts of coffee themselves.

The redhead fixed Lenalee with a questionable look, and asked seriously, "Did you even go to bed last night, Lenalee?" She hesitantly shook her head with a sheepish smile, a light blush coming on her cheeks, and said Johnny wanted to inspect the crystal anklets some more to see if he could get anymore data on the new Innocence form. Lavi sighed, pushing a mug towards her.

"Take Komui his coffee and drink your sweet then head to bed; I'll get you up in a couple of hours." Lavi said, and before she could even being her protest, he took the last two mugs in both hands. He gave her a wide grin and they shared good-byes, Lavi watching her sip her mug as she head off to the Exorcists dorms, a small sigh leaving his mouth in a somewhat longing way. The Bookman Junior leaned against the counter to wait for his food, taking sips of his hot chocolate with a frown.

Lenalee didn’t bother to hide her attraction for Allen, yet was oblivious to Lavi’s attraction towards her as Allen was about hers. She seemed even more determined to get Allen to notice her in a romantic way when Kanda had come forward and demanded the for the moyashi to go out with him; Lenalee started to pull her skirt higher around her waist while at home enough that it showed parts of her thighs and hovering around the science departments where Allen usually popped up to get his Innocence examined. Lavi was just surprised that Kanda hadn’t said anything on it yet, the possessive bastard he was; surely he’s noticed her attempts.

Johnny and Reever came towards the counter to order and they exchanged greetings, and Lavi told Johnny not to keep Lenalee up so long next time when he wanted to see her Innocence. Reever coughed and said he was going to find a table before the others arrived while Johnny only nodded vaguely at his co-worker, but gave a perplexed 'huh?' at the Bookman.

“What? Lenalee didn’t come to see me at all last night,” Johnny said, “She came in and pulled Reever out for a while, however.” Johnny leaned in close, putting a hand by his mouth and gestured to the science department head officer by pointing. “It’s rather obvious, but Komui’s still clueless, which is good; I wouldn’t want to know what he’ll do to Reever when he finds out, though.”

Lavi blinked in surprise. Reever and Lenalee? Well, now that he thought of it, it made much more sense as to why Kanda hadn’t told her off yet; even though friends Kanda wouldn’t hesitate to prove what was his. Lenalee wearing her skirt higher just in the Order and hanging about the science departments… She wasn’t doing it for Allen, but for Reever. Lavi sighed to himself and wondered how he could have missed such important details as a Bookman’s apprentice.

Probably because you never wanted to know that she was seeing someone else.

The redhead grinned at his geeky science friend, nodding, hiding his pained wince and laughed an awkward laugh and hoped Johnny didn’t notice. “Let’s hope it won’t be soon!” Let’s hope Komui keeps closer tabs on his sister.

Johnny laughed with him before Jerry came back with Lavi's food and they said their partings, Lavi feeling a heavy weight on his chest, which he ignored and sighed instead. Lenalee was still clueless about his affections towards her, but it was something Lavi would have to deal with since he wasn’t supposed to be in relationships because he was the Bookman’s apprentice. He scoffed at himself and didn't feel like eating in the cafeteria; they didn't have any valuable books or documents in his and Bookman's room so he headed on out that way until someone called him back.

"Lavi!" The redhead turned to a breathless Finder fisting his black diamond-shaped golem in her hand. Lavi thought he heard the golem buzz but looked at the cloaked woman instead with a curious expression. She thrust out the hand that held his golem and panted. "Looking...everywhere...a call." Freed and finding a nearby receiver, the golem bzzt and flew erratically around the phone, then flew to him, then back. Lavi raised an eyebrow at its behavior; apparently the call was long distance. He said his thanks to the Finder who noticed his filled hands and hooked the golem to the phone, nodding for the transmission to be received once she left. He leaned against the wall and picked at his yakiniku.

“Lavi.” Ah, Bookman.

“Gramps? What are you doing calling long distance? When did you go on a mission, last night?” Lavi replied after a mouthful.

“I need for you to do me a favor.”

“Eh? What for, Gramps?”

“Stop asking questions, stupid!” He heard a long exhale from the other side before his teacher spoke up again, sounding softer, almost regretful. “I need you to go to Portugal; some Finders are claiming to have spotted a couple level threes by the port surrounding a government building and are coming back to base.”

Lavi's eyebrow rose higher, glancing from his plate to the golem. “It may take me a while because I’ll have to go through the Ark to get to France and fly down to Portugal, but what are akuma so strong doing circling a, a government building, you say? And you’re expecting me to fight on my own against level threes?” He made an incredulous sound, bringing his slightly cooled drink to his lips and took a noisy sip.

“You’ll have back-up.”

“Who? Miranda, Chaoji, and Krory are out on missions, and Allen, Yu, and Marie left earlier this morning.”

“Then drag Miss Lenalee out to go bird-watching with you.”

Widening noticeably, the emerald eye darted to the golem and stared, nearly dropping his tray in shock. Hurriedly, he cleared his throat, taking another noisy drink from the hot chocolate to cover in his small silence. Crow were watching the Bookman as they spoke; bird meant Crow, but they only said it in presence of a member to confuse it as ‘akuma’, even more so lately since Bookman told him to be extra cautious around central members. Bookman had said ‘bird-watching’ because he knew that central would probably not do anything in front of the oblivious.

Lavi laughed quietly out loud, staging. “Lenalee is resting for a while and I'm eating right now, but the bird situation can’t wait, can it? Can’t wait for Lenalee to wake-up?”

“…I’m afraid not, Lavi.”

Suddenly, Lavi asked, “Where you at, Gramps? Headquarters got a call from the Asian Branch earlier today concerning new information with the Crystal Type Innocence. I could deliver the information to you in person and help out with the birds?” He just needed to make sure that he wasn’t alone, please let him not be alone.

“…”

“Gramps?” Lavi’s heart thudded uncomfortably.

“Tell me what they had to say,” the reply came, and Lavi felt as though there was a lump keeping him from speaking and his mouth was dry, but he swallowed despite himself.

“Th-they said that the possibility of Lenalee being the Heart has doubled, but it's likely that anyone else who changes to Crystal Type is in the running to be the Heart.” Lavi swallowed harder, the chocolate aftertaste leaving behind something bitter. “There are no group of Finders, are there? You’re there now, aren’t you? Tell me where you are.” He said softly.

“…you know, I don't say it aloud, but you could make a decent Bookman, greenhorn," Bookman replied. “I'm in Portugal, nearing the port. If you aren't able to come out right now, that might be for the best. It's also probably best if you don’t worry about finding out what General Cross Marian said -”

The shattering splash never registered to him as his arms slacked and fell to his sides, dropping the tray. Around him the cafeteria went silent, but the Bookman's Junior didn't notice. Lavi’s eye was as wide as ever, face pale, mouth open and a great anxiety overcame him. Screw with the codes, he had to know! With speed, he grabbed the golem from the air, gripping it hard until his knuckles turned white and the pointed edges of the golem punctured the first layer of skin.

“Dammit, Gramps!” Lavi shouted for all that it was worth at the golem, not realizing or probably not even caring that all that was coming from the golem now was the static meaning that the transmission had ended. He willed himself to think that Bookman would be able to hear him even though. “Who’s there with you now? Which one of central’s dogs is there now! Who is it, dammit!?”

He flung the golem away from him and took off running out the cafeteria doors, leaving the mess behind on the floor. He needed to get to Portugal quick! A hope that maybe his teacher could defeat the Crow members seemed all too tempting to believe in. Lavi ran as fast he ever had before to the science department, not sparring word to a stuttering Komui and Lenalee as he entered the Ark, momentarily blinded by the sudden brightness and consumed by warmth that was only in the Ark, and found shortcuts through the empty streets to the door that opened the branch in France.

“Bonjour, Lavi!” The Branch Chief called to him, waving from her work station. Lavi ignored her, mindset.

Lavi didn’t waste any time with stopping for anyone, or excusing himself when he bumped into a few people; he had to hurry! He didn’t even want to think what it would be like if he was too late… It was snowing outside, and Lavi hadn’t even thought to put on his winter cloak was he started for France, but he wouldn’t let it matter even though he was in Strasbourg, almost the French and German border, and will have to travel over five hundred miles to Lisbon. He pulled Nyoibo from its holster and readied it.

“Grow, grow, grow, and grow!”

: / / / / :

Needless to say, Lavi was frozen to the handle of the shape-shifting hammer by the time he touched ground at the port in Lisbon, the beginnings of night settling. When his feet touched ground, he stumbled and fell forward, shivering and sneezing up a storm. It was snowing here, too, and Lavi was only the slightest bit concerned at the warmth coming from his cheeks and the dizziness he felt when he sharply turned to search for his teacher immediately. Shit…

World swirling before his eye, he fell on all fours in the snow, cold right hand gripping tight of his Innocence, retching up the nearly nothing he ate that day.

“What on Earth… Hey!”

Lavi’s foggy brain slowly registered that someone was talking to him; much less in a different language than English. Portuguese, they were speaking. Lavi rolled his lone eye sourly; of course most people from Portugal spoke Portuguese. He turned over on his rear to get a good look at the man who called to him, his left eye squinting at the silhouette in the bright doorway to what appeared to be a diner.

Lavi coughed out the acidic aftertaste, sluggishly standing to meet the man who beckoned him closer. Lavi shuffled forward enough to where he could feel the warmth coming from the inside, but no further even though tempted by the small protesting growls that came from his empty stomach; he was here for important business!

“Do you speak English?” Lavi asked breathlessly. It wasn't as if he couldn't speak Portuguese, but his head felt too muddled to translate. The man, as Lavi could see better in the closer distance, was large and rough; dark, sleeked hair and rich skin though with a thick, rough and knotted beard, like a fisherman’s. With an apron around his middle, the Bookman-in-training could tell he probably worked inside the diner by the splattered mess on it.

The man nodded, affirming it with, “I do.” His accent was thick, and he gestured behind him again, inside. “Come inside, sir! Surely you’ll become feverish; worst winter yet they says! Worst they seen in a decade! Look it; your face already seems to get its chill! If you’re not ill already, then you’ll be so in a mo.”

Lavi declined. “I’m looking for someone, an…an old man! About this tall,” he moved a hand to his chest to where Bookman’s hair would come to, “and he was traveling with others; I don’t know how many, but probably two or more? Cloaked people?” The diner worker stroked his tangled beard thoughtfully, and after a moment he started to nod.

“Yea’... Yea’, I’ve seen a group like them around here.” He appeared to be trying to remember something. “An older guy came in earlier this morning, didn’t order anything, but seemed nervous as heck, poor man. He came in to use the phone, wanted to make a call to his grandson. I say it’s wrong to listen in on someone, but this man was talking strangely about our government building. Do you…?” Lavi interrupted quickly.

“Which way did he go, do you know?” Nimble fingers reached out and grabbed the larger man by the shoulders, and the other recoiled in what seemed to be pain, covering his ears, knees shaking.

“What the heck is that?” The redhead just realized that he was still holding on to his Innocence when he touched the man and that the man would reject to it because he wasn’t compatible to any of it. Lavi grimaced at his forgetfulness.

“I apologize,” he hurried and stuffed Nyoibo back in its holster, “but I need to know anything and everything about what happened to that man and the others he was with! Please, anything!”

The man shrugged helplessly, unable to give Lavi anymore information.

“NO!” Lavi cried out, punching right near the man’s face, on the side of the door.

The Portuguese worker became angry. “Look here, sir; you either go or I’ll be forced…” He drifted, looking past Lavi at new comer footsteps, eyes widening with what appeared disbelief and joy all in one. He cleared his throat, and all anger had vanished from his face as he called out to the person behind Lavi in sweetening Portuguese.

“Ah! Good day, Lord Tyki Mikk! Coming in for warm broth?”

If Lavi had been frozen to his hammer when he reached Portugal, it was nothing as he felt now. Slowly he turned to meet the other, left eye wide with the same disbelief, yet fear for being alone while left to fight a Noah. Would Tyki do such a thing as to attack him in the streets where anyone could witness it?

Tyki didn’t even spare him a glance as he returned the diner worker’s greeting, lifting his top hat to tip it while the other was used to point his gentleman’s cane down the street. “Sorry, Olhado, not tonight. Good madam Tricia invited me to dinner this evening after I head on to pick up Sheryl from the office. Apparently Road…” Lavi stiffened even further, knowing now that Tyki did notice him and was making an emphasis that there were more Noah in Portugal with him.“…was being too impatient to wait for her father to come home.”

The man - Olhado – grinned. “Oh yeah? How is the good lady Tricia? Is she feeling any better; its cold this year ain’t it? Like I was telling this one here…” he motioned to Lavi while on the inside he was begging to disappear. He saw Tyki flash dark eyes toward him, a small smirk playing on the Noah’s lips as though knowing what he was thinking. “…Coldest winter in a decade!”

“She’s perfectly fine at the moment, I assure you.” Tyki hummed, tilting his head. “I was pretty sure that it was in two decades ago?” Olhado blushed in embarrassment, easily affected by anything Tyki said to him obviously because of Tyki’s higher social title. Lavi could see that the Noah was fighting to keep his friendly smile from growing to something smug.

“A-ah, that…that’s right!” There was a sudden clatter from inside the diner and Olhado flushed beat red and excused himself from the conversation in a hurry, wishing both gentlemen a good night. The door closed and the only illumination came from the gas street lamp. They were alone on the street, and Lavi’s hand inched ever-so carefully to Nyoibo. In public or not, Lavi wouldn’t take any chances at all.

Tyki hummed again, this time out of slight annoyance, and turned from Lavi but didn’t continue walking to where he had gestured to earlier with the cane. “What are you doing, boy; I have no business with you this evening. Go inside and have Olhado fix you a bowl of broth, on my tab.” He then gave a side long glance to the Bookman, dark eyes hard and serious. Then he said, barely a whisper:

“As far as they know, I am human and only know of the name.” Any noise in the night was unexpectedly ten times more audible because he felt as though he couldn’t breathe for a good long moment. Lavi could hear the soft static in the air of snow falling, the tops of buildings creak from either cold or age…or possibly from someone standing on them.

Panic clutched at him from the inside out and was about to show on his face until Tyki gave him a cold, blank glare. Like the kind he gave Allen when they were fighting before turning into that stronger Noah. It plainly told him to get a hold of himself before he made it obvious and got them caught.

Lavi forced himself to stay calm, thinking quick on what to do despite his fogged mind: Fighting an every-man-for-himself battle was pointless on his part, even if it might help destroy a Noah in the process. Yet, if Judgment hadn’t even killed Tyki in his ultra-powered form, he didn’t know what use one or two Crow members had on the Noah; Lavi had already figured this because it didn’t appear that Cross had even put up a struggle against the mysterious person from Central, and the killer had won by default: Cross already knowing he had said too much and knew he was to be hunted, and Innocence couldn’t (or wouldn’t) harm humans majorly.

If he ran away, probably did as Tyki said and went back to the diner, he’d be a sitting duck. Lavi felt deep within himself that he came too late for his master and that he was already long gone, so that left Lavi as the new target in stuck in Portugal as long as they didn’t know Tyki was the embodiment of Noah’s Pleasure. If he tried to go back to France now, he surely would die on the way, by the weather or an assassination. Feeling his fever was catching on fast, Lavi suspected that it would take a full two days at least to think as sharp as before, not to mention he was suffering from hunger pains. This solution, however, was an absolute no way; he could not let the Noah go free.

Then there was the last easy-to-see option, yet that was a no brainer. Turning himself in to the same ones who killed Bookman was an easy answer: No. Fucking. Way.

The redhead gave a helpless expression to Nyoibo, wondering if he did a trick to avoid Crow the Innocence would turn on him. He shivered violently at a sharp breeze and counted his limited blessings before inhaling a shaky breath and made a hardly believable grin, having to trust in the only facts that he knew: He had to survive, and Tyki didn’t want to be caught, leading Lavi to believe (of course with doubt) that Tyki was unsure about the Crow’s power.

Life was so risky sometimes.

“Ah! You said you’re going to see R-Road?” He wouldn’t lie and say talking to and about a Noah was strange on the tongue, especially if he was to talk civil, but Lavi still walked cautiously to the undercover Noah, standing a good meter away in fear that his Innocence may react vice versa as Noah to Innocence; Neither didn’t even though Tyki’s eyes widen just the slightest bit, watching Lavi suspiciously. He couldn’t help from grimacing when he stood one step closer so they at least staged to be on friendly terms with each other.

It made Lavi sick that he had to hide with a Noah to keep out of the hands of the people who were suppose to be on his side, and killed his teacher; A Bookman, for fuck’s sake! Those who only observed and recorded their surroundings! This thought sparked renewed anger within him and he forced himself to stay focus and prayed to any god who was listening that Tyki would play along. He added a glare for good measure, though thinking it didn’t do any good when he saw that Tyki’s eyes filled with sly mirth, understanding the situation the Bookman Exorcist was placed in.

“Why, yes I am.” Thank you god above! Lavi couldn’t hold back the small exhale of relief and waved his hand easily to the road before them for Tyki to lead the way and he did, snow either crunching or sloshing beneath their feet as they went. Lavi tried to be mindful of the ice underneath stiff looking snow as he continued at a slower pace behind him, able to keep a watchful eye on the Noah incase he did do something sneaky. He kept senses out for the rooftops, as well, wary of the steady creaks and pops that seemed to follow them. If Tyki was alert as Lavi was, he didn’t show it; he looked totally relaxed, shoulders loose and posture slacked, and Lavi saw the puffs of warm air escaping from him and saw that his breathing was normal (Lavi had just noticed his own was rapid and tried to control it, but he was shivering too much to keep it even). Was he really so confident in his disguise?

Lavi glared holes into the elder man’s back and finally Tyki glanced over his shoulder, a smile on his face that looked amazingly genuine which Lavi gave him unwilling credit for being a great actor. Lavi wouldn’t admit it to anyone that it helped ease his nerves a little and he was able to at least lax his face into the mask again and give a more believable grin in return.

“Is she expecting to see you?” Tyki asked casually, and Lavi felt almost sick again, tightening angry, repulsive coils in his stomach, for allowing himself to become so comfortable in a Noah’s presence, even if it wasn’t much at all. Shouldn’t he be choosing the lesser of two evils? Inwardly, Lavi snorted as he questioned himself if he would rather be dead than alive. There was another noise from somewhere above and Lavi hastened a step unnoticeably.

Lavi made a negative noise in reply to Tyki’s chatter, yet hummed in thought to make their act more believable. “Well, yes, actually. It’s my fault, I mean. She was supposed to meet me this afternoon at that diner, but I had only just arrived.”

Tyki nodded. “Is there a message you wish to tell her?” Lavi faltered in his steps before coming to a complete stop. He knew it would be too good to be true: the Noah had tricked him and was now going to worm his way out from the Exorcist and leave him for the Crow to keep them occupied while he made a run for it. Sneaky fucking Noah! Tyki noticed that he stopped, and looked around, feigning curiousness down to the dot. In the Portuguese’s eyes, Lavi could still see the mirth in them. Fuck him, he was toying with him!

“Is something the matter, my dear boy?”

Lavi nodded hard, trying to keep the slightly frightened look from his stage mask. He didn’t want to come off as pleading to his Innocence, remembering what had happened when Suman begged for Tyki to spare him. He did, however, allowed his anger to come through, appearing ticked at the other. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to like to deliver the message to her myself?”

Tyki didn’t reply, but his smile grew into a sadistic smirk. Lavi swallowed uncomfortably, mouth opening to form the one word, “…P-please.” The word tasted foul when asking the Noah. Lavi blamed that he suffered to the Noah’s will because he was feverish and wasn’t in his right mind, and didn’t really want to be left to fend off Crow on his own. He sneezed for good measure, shivering. The redhead pulled the scarf tighter around his neck and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Tyki appeared surprised, laughing lightly. “Well, of course! What were you expecting me to do? Tell her your possibly private message myself? No, no; I’m sure you could do that on your own.” Sneaky fucking bastard of a Noah! He wanted him to think that he was going to drop him off and wanted to hear him beg! Damn him! Lavi flushed with angry embarrassment.

“Yet, would you mind if we stop by the minister building, kind boy? I do need to see my brother,” Tyki said as though he cared as to what Lavi would mind. “From there we can take a carriage to his manor.”

Lavi, still rather angry with himself, only scoffed at the other’s politeness, sighing heavy with exhaustion, “Yeah, sure.” He would have to be on the look out for those akuma Bookman told him about this morning, weighing his odds against a couple of level threes. Lavi decided to use his time wisely to know as much about the Noah as possible for recording purposes.

“Is this what you do in your spare time? Look spiffy and put commoners down to size?” Lavi asked with heavy sarcasm. Okay, so maybe he was going to get his shots in before he ran out of chances. Beside him, Tyki huffed indignantly, but grinned cockily.

“No, that’s what I do for fun in my spare time, dear boy,” Tyki said. “I work with Sheryl part-time at Lisbon Hall, or I help Road in her homework when I absolutely have nothing better to do. Other than that, I sign papers for the military that need Sheryl’s approval on which countries to attack.” He laughed shortly, “Of course, I signed all of them!” Lavi raised the lone eyebrow, almost slipping on a sheet of ice. He carefully avoided from doing damage to himself, and sneezed hard.

Something clicked, and Lavi slowly stopped waking to gape at the elder man. Minister Kamelot. Signing ceremony. Shooting… “I read the papers, a couple months ago…” He trailed. Tyki once again paused to look back, a mix between a smile of wicked knowing and brows arched in question.

“Yes?”

“…I-I thought of it odd how the man who practically begged for the allegiance with Portugal suddenly ends up committing homicide after working so hard to get the signing.”

Tyki kept quiet for a full five seconds, only a grin etching into his features. Then he said in an odd tone, his eyes going wide and his irises turning into horizontal slits. “People do strange things to start wars. It doesn’t surprise me.” Lavi took a shaky step back, and Tyki blinked, face blank as though nothing had changed. His smile was sadistic, however.

Lavi’s throat was dry and he suddenly felt like he was standing next to a time bomb. Commanding for his numb feet to move, he carefully slid around Tyki, seeing the Minister building further on down the road, but not too far. Tyki followed closely and Lavi asked another question, ignoring any topics that had to deal with war.

“…I-Is this Sheryl guy your real brother? Or is he like…distant family?” ‘Distant family’ being emphasized just in case Tyki was staging about having a brother, too, ‘cause it didn’t seem too likely that Tyki happened to have a brother who just so happened to be Minister of a country.

Tyki sped up his pace only a little to where they were side by side and neared closer to the Exorcist, stumbling almost unnoticeably. He gave a short laugh and took a glimpse of the younger one.

“Sheryl Kamelot is my older brother, that’s right.”

Lavi made a confused noise, tilting his head. “Surely your entire given name isn’t Tyki Mikk.” And Tyki barked with laughter making Lavi fume at being mocked.

“By god, Mr. Eye Patch! I thought you to be smarter than that given your occupation as a learner! Come on, think about it; it’s not that hard.”

As soon as Tyki finished his taunt, Lavi did realize how it was. “So, Mikk’s your family name… Then, it’s Sheryl! He’s either your half or step brother, isn’t he?” The older gave a nod.

“Correct; literally he’s my half-brother. Of course same mother, but…” He trailed, looking the slightest bit troubled.

Yet by now Lavi was curious as to how Noahs had real families outside of their war. Sure, he’s seen that Tyki had once been a miner and had human friends, too, but he didn’t even once think about if any of the Noahs were related outside from the Noah family itself.

“But?”

Tyki shook his head, “No, it’s not my story to say. If you don’t value your life so much, perhaps you could ask him yourself.” Lavi didn’t reply.

The next few moments were served only in silence, Lavi drifting as far away as possible from the Noah without seeming to be obviously awkward in each other’s presence. Now not so nervous, Lavi was able to notice differences in Tyki that he hadn’t before since the last time they’ve met. Probably namely his longer hair and a darker skin tone skin rather than the normal gray of Noahs or the actual pale Portuguese skin from the train way back when. This time it was still gray, but had a brown undertone to it.

The smartest thing that came from his mouth was, “You look different.” Tyki looked down at him with a queer look before a light grin stretched over his lips when he saw Lavi’s face turn redder from embarrassment than the cold. He faced forward again.

“Road wanted me to grow it out; if it’s my hair you’re talking about, Mr. Eye Patch.” He laughed politely, “Sometimes it can be a hassle, but she won’t let me cut it!” Then Tyki laughed real this time, something warm as his breath came out in steam in the cold air, ending with low chuckles. “My niece is spoilt most of the times by my brother and can be a real handful, but she quite the interesting character.” Emerald eye widen.

“She’s your niece? I thought No-”

“Oh! That’s great,” Tyki said in a cheerful manner, interrupting Lavi on purpose before he could even finish his aloud thinking. “Sheryl’s out waiting, already! Follow me, dear Eye Patch.” Lavi glanced ahead, seeing a waving silhouette, and sped up to match the Noah’s pace, having slowed down a little from being cold and tired, still separated a little more than two feet, and scoffed at the nickname.

“Don’t call me that,” he complained with a hint of malice in his voice for remembering that he was indeed in the presence of an enemy. Tyki called him ‘Mr. Eye Patch’ when they met for the first time in Edo as enemies. Tyki regarded him easily, giving him an amused side glance.

“What is your name, dear boy? Road never gave me the pleasure of telling.” Tyki asked and stepped in front of him, leaning over a little to meet him eye for eye. Lavi noticed something immediately when he did this: most people, aside from those from the Order, were awkward when talking to him face-to-face because they didn’t know which eye to look at, wither to be polite and switch from one to the other despite the eye patch, or ignore eye contact completely. Lavi noticed Tyki acted like his friends at the Order and looked in his good eye and only that eye.

Lavi shifted his weight in the snow and looked downwards to Tyki’s footprints. If he had to guess, he’d say ten or eleven inches.

“I don’t want someone like you to call me by my name, alias or not. If you must address me, call me Bookman.” Lavi answered in low tones; he knew already that he was going to have to take the name of ‘Bookman’ instead of ‘Bookman Junior’ if his teacher was truly dead. He waited a few moments for Tyki to turn and get back on track, but he still hadn’t moved even after a minute. Curious, he looked up again, gasping automatically at his close proximity. Lavi stumbled backwards, hands coming out of their pockets, alarmed, and almost reached for Nyoibo if Tyki hadn’t gripped at the wrist first.

Memories of Timcampy’s saved images of Allen’s Innocence being destroyed came to mind automatically, and Lavi could barely feel the spark, that intense charge, of Noah’s power being so close to his hammer-shaped Innocence. His pulse was erratic as he literally saw the change in color of Tyki’s eyes, even though a quick flash, it was still noticeable. Could Tyki feel that electrical charge, too? Would being so close to his Innocence cause him to change into his Noah form? Lavi was still with fright; would a Noah really be lesser of two evils?

It was the longest silence Lavi could say he ever lived through, and he watched Tyki slowly swallow and open his mouth, eyes unreadable. He replied in the same low tone, “I wonder just how many names you’ve used… How many of your other selves do you remember? How many of them are still there, right underneath that thin surface of skin?”

Lavi gaped at the Noah of Pleasure, unsure how he felt about what he asked. His heart was still rapid, and, finally coming from paralyses, he tugged hard, wrenching his hand from Tyki’s grasp.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, you bastard!” Lavi whispered harshly, teeth clenched. “Don’t ask questions like that when you’re pretending to be human!” He snorted some, “In fact, don’t ask questions like that at all! No – don’t even ask questions!”

Lavi stomped a step backwards, and ended up slipping on ice, feeling a twist happen in his ankle. Lavi cursed aloud and screwed his eyes shut tight, falling on his rear ungracefully. The redhead sighed tiredly, exhaustion from flying over countries in the freezing December taking its toll. He allowed himself to slump back, lying fully in the snowy street. Already Lavi felt some of the slush seep through his shirt and shivered violently.

Tyki hovered over him, appearing startled, though that emotion looked genuine. “What, pray tell, are you doing, dear Librarian?”

Lavi regarded him with a half-dazed eye, his face flushed more than ever with his new cold; he was trapped, and was only delaying the inevitable: there would be no way that Tyki would let him live if they had managed shake off the Crow members. The green eye closed slowly, and reopened just as slow, yet only now appeared empty. He was a true Bookman, now, and so he must act like one; showing emotions could be used against him, and they served no purpose when in war.

Lavi rolled over and onto his knees and shakily stood, favoring his right leg. Tyki stepped back and watched him, amusement lacing throughout his features. The Bookman drew in air and said loudly, “I don’t know if your being here was consequential, Noah, but I don’t feel stupid enough to fight off you or any of them fucking Crow members in the end!”

Tyki’s eyes widen with disbelief, colors flashing from chocolate brown to the molten gold, and stayed on the Noah color.

Then, he laughed.

Lavi tensed as the Noah couldn’t control his laughter. What was so funny about it? He just announced to the entire street that Tyki was a Noah, even the Crow members! Lavi gasped silently, realizing. He whipped around, disbelieving, as he searched the tops of buildings. All clear. The sound of his enemy slowing his laughter to a small chuckle made him turn around, prepared yet berating himself mentally on how he could let his guard fall like that just because Tyki Mikk said he was being watched and had to pretend. The newly appointed Bookman demanded an explanation how he knew Crow was in Portugal.

“You’re so paranoid, my dear Librarian.” Tyki stated with a mean grin, advancing towards Lavi in measured steps. Lavi glowered, stepping and limping away that matched Tyki’s. “That’s very unbecoming for a man.” The Noah’s eyes flashed between the yellows, his rich, darkened skin turning lighter to the recognizable Noah feature. The air seemed to swirl around Tyki, and Lavi could distinctly feel the air getting chillier despite it already being winter, but it was more than that: his chest became heavier and his insides were deathly cold. Remembering the last form he saw Tyki in, Lavi almost shook with fright but willed himself to grab Nyoibo, teeth bared and single green eye murderous. Yet with this fierce out front towards his enemy, he still felt twenty times smaller against Tyki knowing that this Noah had already cracked his hard-to-brake Innocence once before.

Tyki only grinned at the Exorcist Bookman, feeling the Noah urges within him to just kill the boy instead of toying with him. He opened his mouth, “It’s unbecoming because it shows weakness and emotion.” He smirked even more when he saw Lavi twitch. “You’ll be an awful Librarian if you show anything, right? You’re failing now; not once acting nonchalant…”

Lavi gritted his teeth, growling. “I’ll worry about that on my own; you just worry about your dying wish! Now tell me how you knew the Crow were here! Tell me if Bookman was with them!” He could have sworn that he saw a shadow flicker from Tyki’s body, and in response he invocated his Innocence and it grew three times larger.

“Oh, they were here, alright, dear Librarian,” Tyki mused tauntingly, waving his free hand idly. “Came in, destroyed the akuma, and killed your Bookman teacher.” He laughed shortly. “All on this same street, too. Look on over there, at that alley; I’m pretty sure that is where they stashed his body…” The Noah pointed a gray hand to a passage that was close, but sighed in an obvious staged way, hand falling. “But some people came in earlier in the day and called the police. He’s probably six feet under by now.”

“The Crow, you bastard!” Lavi hollered. “Where are they!”

Tyki shrugged easily before his eyes became wide, irises contracting into horizontal slits again. “Dead. I killed them.” As Lavi gaped, Tyki raised his hand straight in the air with his fingers outstretched. He suddenly gripped into a fist, and a second later the nearest gas street lamp’s glass box shattered, the flame flickering out from an unfelt wind. Lavi was shaken and stepped back, wondering if he’d be fast enough to flee on Nyoibo, but Tyki was advancing fast towards him and, with Tyki, the shadows were surrounding darker around them. A breeze circled and shifted the darkness around Tyki, and Lavi saw a black, ridged tentacle form from the Noah and come straight for him at a too-fast of speed. Shit, he wouldn’t be able to dodge it, so he lifted Nyoibo in front of him in hopes of being able to block Tyki’s attack.

Footsteps crunched in the snow and became louder, approaching the scene, and Lavi whipped his head around to demand that the people run away. A sound escaped from his throat, but died off as he looked into the face of another Tyki.

“Little brother! There you are!”

Immediately the air felt warmer now that the shadows had retreated and the wind stopped swirling. The tentacle had dissolved into the nothingness it came from, and the Noah of Pleasure turned into the average Tyki Mikk once more, golden eyes taking longer to turn to their native dark brown color. Tyki smiled at the approaching man that Lavi now saw more clearly without Tyki’s dark aura surrounding them. He was just about the same height as Tyki, a little taller perhaps by age, but now with the light he could see that he looked almost nothing like Tyki: He was Portuguese, yes, with the same body build Tyki had, and his hair was just as long, but that’s where the similarities ended.

“Good evening, Sheryl,” Tyki said with a cheery tone, genuine, that made Lavi feel edgy about this new man; surely he saw Tyki? There was no denying that a bloody tentacle hadn’t come from him. Lavi felt more sickening weight drop in his stomach as he heard what Tyki said next:

“You took care of any witnesses?” They greeted each other warmly, like family, but Tyki pushed Sheryl at arms length away as he tried to plant a kiss on his brother’s cheek. This closeness reminded Lavi of Road when she sees Allen, so the same horrid weight became a thought: Sheryl was a Noah.

“But of course, Brother!” Sheryl’s voice was disturbingly light and cheerful, as though even talking about babies dying wouldn’t ruin his spirits. A firm look came over his face, however, and Lavi was shocked at the slight scolding he was now giving Tyki.

“If I wasn’t in sight to know it happening, I wouldn’t have been able to make people turn away in time. Please do not draw anymore attention to yourself; it was hard enough trying to explain why your skin had suddenly changed color overnight. I wouldn’t like to add eye color, or your Noah’s form to the list.” Sheryl gave one glance to Lavi for the first time, eyes widening in surprise by his presence. A slow smirk came over his face.

“Even if it is to take care of some…pests.” Tyki gave a low chuckle and waved a hand to Lavi, facing him as he spoke. Lavi glared and readied Nyoibo.

“Sheryl, this is Bookman. Bookman, this is my brother Sheryl whom I was telling you about.” Tyki couldn’t help the smirk that came over his lips as Sheryl’s eyes went wide again.

“Bookman? Is he…”

“Ah, I should say…newly-appointed Bookman.” Tyki interrupted Sheryl’s question hastily, making Lavi feel out of a loop. Especially when they begun talking about him as if he weren’t there to begin with.

“Oh, I see, but he's still one of the two. Does he know?”

“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter; he’s also an Exorcist.”

“But they’re no fun when they’re injured! You can obviously tell he’s sick, and…why’s he favoring his leg?”

Tyki gave another low chuckle and Lavi could only wish his angriest glare could set fire to people. “He slipped on ice and twisted the ankle.”

The new Noah mock slapped Tyki on the arm, a playful glint in his dark, slanted eyes, “Surely you had the speed to catch him before he hit ground, brother; and here I thought you were a gentleman.” He huffed and smirked slyly. “So it’s only your face and manners that attract the crowd. What would you do if they found out how rude you are alone?”

Tyki ignored the question, almost torn on what to do with the Bookman: he wasn’t lying when he told Olhado he was invited to the Kamelot’s manor, but if he killed the redhead now he’d most definitely stain his suit with the boy’s blood, even if he used Tease; they weren’t exactly clean all the time. A thought of taking the Bookman along with him made itself known a couple of times, yet the boy’s Innocence would be troublesome to deal with later, especially if Tricia was to wake with her daughter smashed into a pulp. Not that Road would allow herself to be caught off guard even in sleep, mind you.

Then there was the idea that Sheryl caused since he hadn’t even thought of it when he set eyes on the Bookman earlier tonight: What if – if being a giant leap of hope – what if the Bookman did know? He hadn’t been the previous Bookman’s successor for no reason, right? Wasn’t that why the Crow members had been following the Bookman? The Earl wanted him alive if he did, but how was he suppose to get that sort of information from a Bookman? Then, if Tyki slipped by this chance, who knows when next time he would have his chance alone with Bookman again; even their crossings by the port had been purely coincidence: Tyki went to meet Sheryl and heard an argument, and the more he approached, the more he felt the twinges of Innocence nearby. He’d taken Bookman’s invitation for a stroll just to fuck with his head, having witnessed his teacher’s death early afternoon.

Lavi watched Tyki for a full two minutes in silence and decided he did not like that deep thoughtful look on his face. The Noah was staring right at him unblinkingly and he could be staring at a wall for the expressionless face he was wearing. Finally Tyki opened his mouth, eyes still dazedly seeing nothing, and asked slowly to his brother, “Do you think Tricia would be upset if I brought a dinner guest?”

Sheryl, who had been waiting for a response from his younger half-brother on what to do with the Bookman Exorcist, was certainly not expecting that, but answered anyway. “She’ll be delighted; it’s hardly that you bring a guest over, and she’s always had no problem with the people you bring.” Sheryl’s voice caught, catching the jest on what Tyki was planning. He tilted his head and gave Lavi a good run-over before snorting softly.

“He’ll need a formal jacket and you’ll have to do something with that; I don’t want you to even accidently change in my home for being near Innocence. I would very not rather have to use my ability on my own wife, thank you.”

Tyki nodded once, coming from his thoughts, and smiling, “Of course, brother, but I’ll need you to keep heads turned; he may cause a lot of racket.” He stepped forward making the Bookman tense and step back further. Lavi winced, momentarily forgetting about the swelling ankle when he put his weight on his right foot. He drew back his arms when Tyki outstretched a hand towards him.

“I might let you live for a while longer if you hand over your Innocence, lad,” Tyki said with a wicked smirk and he continued to advance on Lavi until the redhead was up against a brick wall of a building. Lavi visibly shuddered when his wet shirt connected with the cold brick and inwardly groaned when he felt a tickle in the back of his throat.

“No fucking way, bastard; I rather go up against the fucking Crows than hand over my Innocence!” Lavi snarled. He raised Nyoibo above his head and swung it down with a resounding crack against the street. A glowing red fire seal appeared as he cried out, “Gouka Kijin: Hi Ban!” The monstrous fire snake grew out from the seal, and Lavi sighed with the warmth that filled the street and let his Innocence’s power do its job, but from across the fire he saw Tyki’s smirk grow even wider. As soon as the snake reached above the buildings, Sheryl hissed in anger.

“Little brother, you’re taking things too far!” He turned and faced the redhead, a glint passing through his eyes.

All of a sudden everything was in a haze and his body acted on the soft spoken orders in his head. Lavi was being told to stop his attack, so he commanded his Innocence to go no further, but when ordered to diminish the fire monster he questioned the voice in return, confused as to why his mind was giving strange commands. Wasn’t he in danger? There were two Noahs before him so he was definitely in trouble, and one of them was going to destroy his Innocence. He ignored the order and tried to shake out the voice.

Then the still soft voices easily haggled with him to do as told, asking if he would rather be killed than give in to the simple requests. It was promising warmth, food, and rest as long as he did as told. After a moment, Lavi commanded Nyoibo to cancel its attack, his hunger and ever-warming cheeks giving a little emphasis by growling and tingling. But…what of the Noah…? Lavi scrunched his eye together tightly, feeling unsure about this voice in his head.

This next step is very important and you may feel very reluctant to follow through, but you’ve done very well so far.

Lavi nodded hesitantly, but when it said for him to drop his Innocence on the ground, he was more than reluctant; he right out refused! He would not let the Noahs have their way. Whatever this Noah’s ability was, he needed to break free. Godammit, why didn’t he escape when he was able to, when they were talking? Lavi inwardly snorted and knew the answer right away. It was his curious nature: how did Tyki know the Crow were here…why Tyki was able to stop them all when they were able to take a General…where was Bookman’s Innocence now…what do these Noah know that he doesn’t…

He vaguely heard the two of them talking, but it sounded far off, like him being in a dream. He tried to get back into feeling awake and alert again, but it was hard enough to even form thought and a lot easier to follow instructions, yet he knew that he should never give up Nyoibo less he wanted to be a dead man; without it he stood no chance against the two of them. Not that he had better numbers against just one…

As a Bookman you’re not suppose to have allies nor enemies. If you promise to cooperate with us, we can promise you in return that we won’t harm you as a Bookman. You have questions that we can answer; you’re curious, aren’t you, to know the answers? Just surrender your Innocence and you’ll be fine.

The Bookman Exorcist swallowed hard. It was obvious that any other option was to die with the Innocence. Fuck, Lavi could just imagine Gramps turning over in his grave because he had been such an idiot! Bookman had warned him not to come to Portugal still if for a different reason. He took a moment to reply by thought.

I-is there nothing else?

Unless you wish to give us names of your comrades on the field came the quick response.

Lavi didn’t even dare to think of his friends’ faces or location just then, but that wasn’t an option for Lavi: he would not turn out like Suman Dark.

You might not be able to live as an Exorcist, but you’ll forever remain a Bookman. Why are you holding on to something that is only a second title to you, and something that you had no choice to live as?

Shut up! You wouldn’t understand! My Innocence…Nyoibo…it’s something no one else can have. It’s the only thing apart of me that’s real and certain, and I would rather you kill me before you lay your hands on it!

There was more murmuring as the Noahs conversed with themselves but he still couldn’t grasp on to what was being said. It was quiet for a long while before the newer Noah spoke to him again.

Would you rather die before we destroy your Innocence?

So it’s not possible that you let me go now and kill me another day entirely?

And where would you go, Bookman? You wouldn’t be able to make it out of Portugal if you used your Innocence to escape. If you rested in the country with your Innocence, it would be our job as Noahs, enemy to Exorcists, to kill you and destroy your Innocence. You both will be nonexistent before the end of this night if you choose to remain an Exorcist.

Lavi sighed; he tried looking and thinking through possible outcomes, but there seriously wasn’t any loopholes where he could save his Innocence, Nyoibo. He couldn’t believe he was about to give into the likes of fucking Noahs. He swallowed again, heart thudding angrily with his decision. He pleaded silently for his Innocence to forgive him.

Hey. Are you listening?

Of course; have you made up your mind?

Can’t you tell for yourself what I’ve decided? But…I don’t want to see it… Is there someway-

Consider it done, Bookman. A very wise choice.

And then there was nothing else.

: / / / / :

“Little brother, you’re taking things too far!” Tyki glanced at Sheryl with a look. So what if he liked to toy with the Exorcists before they died? It was quite a sport for him and amusing to watch them struggle when he could simply snap them without a sweat. If he liked to toy, then his older brother was the opposite and got straight to the point when serious. The glint that was apart of Sheryl’s Noah ability flashed through his brother’s eyes as soon as he made eye contact with the Bookman, then he watched the Bookman slump against the wall, blackening eye half open and glassy. On his forehead, underneath his red hair, there glowed a purple pentacle.

There was at most two minutes of silence before Sheryl asked softly, “Can you hear me?” The Bookman nodded in return and Sheryl smiled arrogantly. “Good. Now, if you would please, stop your attack. Innocent civilians might see and get harmed. This is reasonable, yes?” Bookman nodded again, but all his responses were slow as Sheryl’s commands were soft. They didn’t break eye contact, or Sheryl’s connection might sever along with it. Tyki watched the boy slide into a more comfortable position on the ground, despite sitting in the slushy snow, and muttered something under his breath.

Tyki glanced at the Innocence-created power that was dancing in the sky, waiting for Bookman’s orders to attack, but instead it withdrew and circled around the Bookman almost protectively. The fire set Bookman’s skin aglow, and the fire shimmered in his lone, complete black eye. Tyki vaguely wondered for what reason the other eye was covered.

“Great, thank you.” Sheryl said, rocking on his heels, arms behind his back. “Because we’re surrounded by many buildings that are still made of wood and the fire of your Innocence might cause severe damage, may you kindly deactivate your Innocence?” Tyki had been expecting a slow compliance, like all of the other victims that had fallen to his brother’s power, but the Bookman tilted his head to the side in a confused manner. His lips had thinned into a frown, and his brow knitted at the center in thought.

“I…can’t. My Inno..cence is…the only th..ing keeping me…safe from you…Noahs… Why cancel…if I..m in danger…? Why can..cel if…Nyoibo is…going to be des..troyed?” Bookman shook his head dazedly, trying to break the connection; the star dimmed some, but held true its hold. Sheryl hummed beside him, also perplexed by the late teen’s behavior; the last victim had been so easy: before the meeting, he’d told the other Minister to shoot at him during the signing, and he’d done just that with no questions asked. Why was this one refusing?

“Is it so hard to deactivate your Innocence when the other option is to be killed?” Tyki raised a brow at his brother, seeing that he was loosing his patients with the Exorcist Bookman. Well, he had told Tricia that he would be in early tonight and Sheryl wasn’t one to back down from his word; they were already fifteen minutes late. Sheryl sighed and began over, “If you cancel out your attack and do as told, I swear to reward you with warm housing, food, and long rest for the night. You have been so compliant, why stop now?”

As if sensing the trickery, the fire snake turned towards them and hissed, flames spiting from its open mouth. Tyki felt little twinges in his gut, urging him to take action and kill the other that held the Innocence firmly in his hands, but just as his eyes began to flicker, so did the flames and at once the snake was distinguished into smoke followed by a small grumble from the Bookman’s stomach. Tyki’s eyes lied back on dark brown and he smiled lightly at the sound.

The Noah of Pleasure’s smile disappeared as quickly as it came when Bookman scrunched his eye tightly together, still confused by why he was following Sheryl’s instructions. This time, instead of dimming, the pentacle flickered, threatening to release the Bookman. He glanced again at his brother, but Sheryl was more alarmed by the teen’s action than he. When the Bookman reopened the eye, it was still glazed over, but less than before, and there was an outline of the iris in the blackness. There was a sense of alertness behind them. Sheryl gushed out a relieved breath when the pentacle flickered back on and held. Tyki’s breath soon came as well after Sheryl made sure he had the Bookman’s attention on him again.

“This next step is very important and you may feel very reluctant to follow through, but you’ve done very well so far.” The teen nodded hesitantly, but when Sheryl told him to drop his Innocence on the ground, he was more than reluctant; he right out refused, becoming more difficult to persuade.

“Wha…? No…!” Bookman was noticeably trying to break through, his brow furrowing upwards and a tight frown over his lips. He would not let them have their way, would he? Bookman sighed heavily, frustrated before saying to no one under his breath, “…dammit…why didn..t I go when…I cou..ld?” As if to answer his own question, he snorted softly and continued to mumble to himself. Tyki raised a brow and looked to Sheryl to see if this was normal behavior, but his look said it wasn’t.

“How…did you…know the Cr..ow were here…why…you…able to stop them…all wh..en they…killed a Gen..eral…where’s…Bookman’s Inn..ocence…what do you know…that I don’t…?”

Tyki wasn’t able to stop the question from leaving his mouth, “They killed one of their own Generals? Are they really that cautious of information leaking to the Exorcists? I wonder which General they killed for us…”

Sheryl raised a hand above his mouth that made his words muffled, eyes never leaving the black one yet, “They probably are; they want to be the victors, correct? It’d be easier to leave out parts of the story than giving the full truth, who knows if most of their organization might be uncertain about fighting for their cause if they were told.”

The Noah of Pleasure hummed and wondered aloud, “I doubt he’s even heard of ‘the other side of the war’ if they’re so tight lipped.”

His brother shrugged and lowered his hand. “As a Bookman you’re not suppose to have allies nor enemies. If you promise to cooperate with us, we can promise you in return that we won’t harm you as a Bookman. You have questions that we can answer; you’re curious, aren’t you, to know the answers? Just surrender your Innocence and you’ll be fine.”

Tyki watched as the Bookman Exorcist swallowed hard. Even Tyki saw there was no other option was to live with the Innocence. He took a moment to reply, the barely noticeable green in the black eye saddened.

“I-is th..ere nothing else…?”

“Unless you wish to give us names of your comrades on the field,” the quick, loud response came from Tyki. The Bookman jerked his head to the side, where Tyki was, but continued to stare unblinkingly at Sheryl, a small look of fear overcoming his features. Tyki suddenly became curious as to why he was so desperate for his Innocence when it wasn’t even his first priority.

So he asked loudly, “You might not be able to live as an Exorcist, but you’ll forever remain a Bookman. Why are you holding on to something that is only a second title to you, and something that you had no choice to live as?”

When Bookman whipped his head fully around to glare at Tyki, he had thought that the connection might have been wrecked especially when he was able to clearly see that the black was fading from his eye, but the star glowed without wavering, and yet he answered without any slowness or hesitation.

“Shut up!” Bookman shouted, “You wouldn’t understand! My Innocence…Ozuchi Kozuchi…it’s something no one else can have. It’s the only thing apart of me that’s real and certain, and I would rather you kill me before you lay your hands on it!”

Sheryl came up beside him, but Tyki spoke to his brother before he opened his mouth, “Has this kind of link happened before? I wouldn’t think so, seeing the looks you’re making.”

“He’s a…extraordinary lad, I’ll give him that,” Sheryl answered and he paused, thinking. “Would you rather kill him now to take his Innocence? Tricia is probably worried by now.”

Tyki didn’t answer at first, studying the Bookman. Indeed the Bookman was extraordinary, and he’d surprised him first by walking towards him that evening to keep ‘safe.’ Could he really be that much afraid of his own organization? He hadn’t felt obligated to kill him at the beginning because he hadn't felt like it - a whim, plus he was honestly busy with family affairs that for once didn’t just include his Noah family. Yet, then his Noah reacted to the Innocence being so close, walking with him, talking with him… It was almost too much to bear.

Half lidded, glassy green eye watched him unseeingly, and a far fetched thought came to mind: what if the Bookman not only knew of the other side, but also knew who had the Heart? Would he be able to draw the Exorcist if he used the Bookman to his will? Tyki narrowed his eyes in contemplation; these were not thoughts of the Noah within him, but Tyki was allowed to be interested in his prey once and a while, correct? Like Allen Walker, the first enemy to draw out his true Noah, this Bookman brought forth his craving for information. Perhaps he could lead Tyki to the Heart and they could put an end to this foolish war.

Then the Noah of Pleasure asked gently, “Would you rather die before we destroy your Innocence?” Surely he wasn't prepared to die for something that was merely a object underneath it all, was he? Tyki would hate to think that the Bookmen was so thick-headed.

The Bookman made a distraught, half-hearted smirk. “So it’s not possible that you let me go now and kill me another day entirely?”

Tyki almost smiled back, glad that he was right. “And where would you go, Bookman?” He asked. “You wouldn’t be able to make it out of Portugal if you used your Innocence to escape. If you rested in the country with your Innocence, it would be our job as Noahs, enemy to Exorcists, to kill you and destroy your Innocence. You both will be nonexistent before the end of this night if you choose to remain an Exorcist.”

Bookman sighed, and stayed silent for a good long while, fingers unconsciously curling tighter around the handle of the hammer-shaped Innocence. He looked desperate, but Tyki knew they had not given any chances for the Bookman to keep his Innocence. He gave one last shuddering sigh.

“Hey... Are you listening?” The Noahs noted that the redhead’s voice was cracking around the edges and his eye seemed glossier than before.

Tyki answered back softly, “Of course; have you made up your mind?” He asked even though it was obvious on what he was going to do, and the Bookman seemed to think so, too as he lightly snorted without any spunk behind it.

“Can’t you tell for yourself what I’ve decided?” He hesitated, lowering his Innocence-filled hand to the ground slowly, “But…I don’t want to see it… Is there someway…”

Tyki understood and nodded to the unseeing teen. “Consider it done, Bookman; A very wise choice.” He turned to his brother who’d been following their conversation and took this as his cue to put the Bookman to sleep, and he commanded it in that word. The green eye closed, the neon purple pentacle disappeared, and his head fell to his chest with unconsciousness. A silver line of wet traveled from under his eye patch to his chin and dropped onto his uniform.

“Will he remember this so we won’t have to explain what happened to his Innocence later, Sheryl?” Tyki asked as he stepped forward to uncurl Bookman’s fingers from the hammer. There was an electrical shock as his fingers brushed against the Innocence and he felt a twist in his gut, but he gritted his teeth and grabbed a hold of the Innocence by the base of the head. A purple charged light cut through the air and sounded like muffled thunder as his began to destroy the Innocence, outside in.

“He will,” Sheryl said loudly over the noise, then made a reconsidering noise. “Well, he should, but I don’t know what to expect from him. He’s certainly different; I don’t know if it was because that was the first Bookman I’ve put under the act, or because he’s unusually strong...”

Tyki gave a sharp laugh. “Strong? Not really. For a Bookman, the lad was quite strong…” There was a small explosion between his fingers as the Innocence turned into dust, and fell onto the ground at the Bookman’s hand, the cross that had been perched from the top of the hammer clenched in his fist. Just one more squeeze shall do it.

He shook his hand over the Bookman’s head and the sparkling particles from the Innocence’s core dusted over him, a frown etched at his lips at the glitter, but he replaced it with a wicked smirk.

“Though not any longer.”

: / / / / :

MC: Edited~ Expect chapter two within...three months minimum~ x]