Les Papillons ont Volés

Author-chan: If any of the information I have is incorrect, I apologize. It is not an intention to offend.

I also apologize for taking so long to update. I've been in and out of my Tyki phase and school has been rather stressful, lately. Hopefully this chapter turned out alright. I actually finished this chapter shortly after the second one. I just never had the chance to upload it. The ending parts of it was actually written recently, though.

Thank You so much for the Reviews!

Summary:

Beautiful butterflies' wings bat gently against my skin.

"I love you."

He smiles at me, but do not reply. His arms surround me from behind in a tight embrace.

"I love you," I repeat as his hand slides across my body to my chest where the birth mark lay – to where my heart beats for him. "I love you." He slips in, bringing a chilling cold inside me. It hurt. It hurt to love him.

"Please don't leave me, Tyki," I whisper as I slowly lose consciousness.

"Never."

Les Papillons ont Volés

Je Le Vois

I am officially sixteen today. I do not feel any different and my life certainly had not changed a bit. The only thing I have accomplished is being able to cope with the pain of activating the Innocence. This, however, does not mean it's not there. Of course, I am still working my butt off. I am doing everything I can, short of selling my body, to pay off Cross' endless debts. What does he even buy? The women can't be that expensive. He doesn't buy me anymore new dresses even though they're all above my knees now and God knows if he ever changes his own set of clothes. I do not like to brag, but I think my cheating skills on the poker table can handle a week's worth of women every time. Maybe it is all going towards buying alcohol. Ha! I hope he ends up with alcohol poisoning. He needs to be taught a lesson.

"Would you like anymore tea, Miss Ria?" After spending so much time at the brothels, I have gotten to know quite a few of the ladies in several countries. The one we go to the most often is the one in China. Cross seems to favour Anita more than the other women… or so he says whenever he leaves this place. Maharajo, Anita's female bodyguard, who I thought was a man at first, is the only one I can have an intelligent conversation with that does not revolve around men.

"No, thank you." I watch as Xue Mei bows and retreats out of the room.

For a while now, I have been feeling rather… down – empty. It feels as if I have lost my reason to be. Ma raison d'être. "Ma petite Croix, what do you think is wrong with me? Am I broken?" The golem flutters its wings. "Maybe… Maybe I'm lonely. Maybe Cross' company is not enough. I don't want to be left alone. The only one I have is you and you can't even speak." I hug it close to me, careful not to crush its tiny wings. "Am I being too ungrateful? If I am not with Cross. If Cross didn't come and take me away from the village, who knows where I will be now. Maybe I'll actually be selling my body, then." I suddenly stand up, let go of Croix who flew on to the table, and give my cheeks a sharp slap. "All this perfume and scented candles must be getting to me. I'm going to go out for some air, want to come?"

Croix lands on my shoulder before I slip out of the room.

"Cadet Rousselle a troismaison

Cadet Rousselle a trios maisons

Qui n'ont ni pouters ni chevrons

Qui n'ont ni pouters ni chevrons

C'est pour loger les hirondelles

Que direz-vous d'Cadet Rousselle?"

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui vraiment

Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant.

Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui vraiment

Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant."

"And have you been a good girl?"

A familiar shiver racks my spine. My luck isn't very good, is it? "I'm sorry, I don't understand," I manage in broken Chinese. "Please excuse me." I do not turn back to see if it is him. It's better if he stays a suspicion – my own imagination derived from my fears.

A chuckle reaches my ears. "Your pronunciation and accent is beautiful for someone who does not speak French," he purrs in English. "Do little ladies usually sing songs they do not understand?"

Hoping that he does not follow, I run without looking until I reach the brothel again. I really do not learn, do I? I'm such an idiot.

"Ma petite Croix. Ma petite Croix. This cannot possibly be a coincidence," I whisper. "Not once have I wandered off by myself after seeing him for the first time. God knows how frightened I was. It took me three years to finally get the chills out of me and when I finally decide to get some air, he's there again!" I take a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. "Why does he make me feel such fear? Living with Cross' and fighting Akuma, you'd think I'd be used alright facing a man."

"Why are you talking to yourself, stupid girl?" Cross' voice is strangely comforting. Croix is a nice companion, but a human presence is much better.

"It's nothing," I reply, but Croix flutters over to its maker and showed a holographic version of the scene that occurred only minutes before. It is confirmed that that man is the same man from three years ago.

I watch Cross' face change as he sees the man. The way it darkens tips me off that my suspicions are correct. That man is not one to be trifled with.

"I never want you to see that man, again," Cross states while glaring at me as if it is my fault.

"As if I want to see him!" I protest. "He terrifies me!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

A slender hand trails up the long nightgown I am donning. His firm body fit perfectly with my own, leaving no gaps between us. Soft whispers lull me half way to unconsciousness. His voice is dark and thick like velvet, pulling me into my most sinful fantasies.

"Please," I whimper.

"Please what?"

"Please," I repeat, not sure what it is I am pleading for.

"What do you want?"

"You."

"What do you want me to do?"

I wiggle against him. "I don't know. Anything…"

"Anything?" His hand slides out and his body shifts away, taking all the warmth with it. I feel the strings holding my dress together loosen until the cloth covering my right shoulder hangs loosely against my arm. His hand lingers on my skin until petal-like lips replace it. His warm and wet tongue darts out from between his supple lips and leave a trail of coldness on my skin. "Mmm… Yummy…" he purrs again my ear. "I want more of you."

"Take all of me."

He chuckles and rolls me over to face him. "Don't worry, I will because you're all mine."

I smile and lazily open my eyes. His golden eyes stare back at me with a cruel grin teasing his lips.

"NO!" My eyes snap open and see nothing but gold. In the midst of a panic attack, I whack whatever that is in front of me. Croix summersaults in the air and stops short of hitting the off-white walls.

I groan when I realize that that man is nowhere near me and flip on to my stomach before burying my face into the pillow. "Sorry, Croix," I mumble into the white fluff. "I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but the look on Cross' face that day when you showed him that man… I'm scared. I don't want to be, but I am."

Something suddenly falls on me. I grab for it and see a note written from Cross.

Out,

C

...

The note can't possibly get anymore brief. Where is he this early in the morning? He's never gotten drunk at this time of day, nor has he ever gone to his lady friends. Cross usually sleeps until well into the afternoon. What is he planning?

Suddenly, a loud explosion shakes the entire building. I look frantically around me, wondering what is happening. Looking out the window, I realize that the Akuma are invading the town and what do you know? Cross isn't around.

"Next time they come, I'm going to run for it and let him deal with them," I grumble angrily as pain and wings burst out. "Sommeil sans Rêve!" White feathers fly toward the Akuma like magnets. "Run!" I shout towards the confused townsmen as lumpy ellipsoid bodies fall from the sky, creating craters on the ground.

I poke a body with my sheath. "You know, one day, I'll find a way to get rid of you guys properly," I say to its sleeping form. "It's really inconvenient to rely on someone so unreliable. How did he even get anything done without me?" I sigh. Maybe he had another poor, unfortunate soul working for him. I poke it again. "Is there really a soul in you? If this is just another one of Cross' ploys to make my life harder, I'll seriously kill him."

The view on the Akuma body is actually quite nice and looking around again, I realize that Cross is still not around. "Ma petite Croix, come here," I beckon the communication golem over. "Connect to Cross' golem." I hear white noise coming from Croix. "CROSS! IF YOU HEAR ME, GET YOUR FLAMING HEAD OVER, NOW!" I want and wait and receive no response as expected from experience.

Slowly, a crowd of curious townsmen circles the Akuma and I. "Are you an angel?" a small child asks.

I look down at him with a smile and tilt my head. "Angel? I don't think there are any angels in this world."

"Then what are you?"

"Don't you believe in God?"

I look thoughtfully at the sky. "Me? I'm just a girl waiting for someone, but I will never wait for God. If he exists then he would never allow such pain and destruction to erupt on this planet."

"How can you possibly lose faith in God?" a man speculates.

"Yes, we are the ones at fault," another adds. "This is our punishment."

"And what have you done?" I remark. "What have you done to deserve such a punishment? Isn't God supposed to be forgiving?"

Silence fills the air. "Don't listen to her!" someone suddenly cries out. "She's a witch! I demon! She only has one wing! Burn her! Rip that wing out and purge her of her deceit!"

My eyes widen. Isn't he exaggerating just a bit too much? I didn't even lie! "Hey! I didn't say I am anything I'm not!" I spread my wing and hover further away from them. "I'm here to save you!"

"Are you playing God now?"

"No!" I cry out in frustration. "I'm just here to slay there… Akuma… monsters… things… That's all!"

"Then are they dead?" A finger pokes the body.

"Well… not yet…"

"I'm waiting for something to do that…"

"Then you are not our saviour!" they roar out together.

"I didn't say I am!" I protest while waving my arms around as pebbles are being thrown my way. "This isn't fair!" I move my wing to shield me from their oppression, but a particularly sharp rock pierces my feathered- appendage. My wing cramps up from the pain and my body falls through the air. I close my eyes, awaiting impending doom. However, I fall into a pair of arms that saves me from becoming a mummy.

"Oi, this isn't any way to treat a lady," an oddly familiar voice brings chills through my body. When I open my eyes, I see a strange man with ridiculously large, swirly glasses. He has a cigarette between his lips as he speaks.

"Th-thanks," I mumble, a soft blush spreads across my cheeks. What an unusual feeling… "Do I… know you from somewhere?"

He looks down at me. "Hmm… Who knows?"

I open my mouth to question him once more, but a sudden scream interrupts me. I turn my neck to look at the source. Smoke is billowing into the air from a nearby building. 'Put me down!" I wiggle out of his arms and run towards the danger.

Maniacal laughter reaches my ears. "Little humans… Little humans… Where are you…?" I turn and see a level two Akuma. "Oooh… little human… I think I like little girls the most. I've had at least fifteen and I still can't get enough of them."

Creepy…

I take flight. "Sommeil sans Rêves!" Feathers make their way toward the Akuma, but it dodges. "Damn it! I hate level twos!" I'm glad I have never met a level three, yet. I unsheathe my sword to block an incoming attack.

"Hee hee hee, I like your wings, I want one, too." Right before my eyes, it begins to change. The odd clownish body of the Akuma morphs into a form with wings – one that looks identical to my own. "This is one of my special abilities – to copy my opponents," it cackles.

"Great…" I groan as I parry its attacks. "If I could kill you without getting my head blown up by Cross, you wouldn't be so happy laughing, now."

This ridiculously long stalemate continues for hours and my wings and arms are starting to slow, but the Level Two seems to be completely fine. The only good thing that has happened so far is that the townsmen are smart enough to evacuate this area.

"Little girl, I can't believe you're still fighting a measly Level Two!" The familiar voice of Cross, no matter how condescending, is still reassuring. "You are not worthy of being my apprentice!"

My eye twitches in annoyance, now. I try to resist the urge to shout at him and concentrate on the fight, but is sadly unsuccessful. I turn around with fire in my eyes. "You're the stupid one! You're never around when I need you! What's the point in giving me a communication golem if you're not even going to answer?! If you ar-" I quickly turn around when I sense how close the Akuma is, but is unable to dodge the entire blow. A claw descends upon me and catches my shoulder. I move back to dodge another attack, but the Akuma unarms me. My sword flies into the air and pierces the ground under us.

Is Cross going to just watch this thing tear me to pieces?!

"Master, shouldn't we help her?" a young voice asks.

"Let her fend for herself. If she can't handle it, then I have no use for her." WHAT?!

"Damn it! I hate you! Go kill yourself, you stupid thing!" I scream in frustration with my eyes close and throw my sheath at the Akuma. An explosion blows me away. The Akuma is no longer there. Uh-oh…

"Cross…?" I look at him with a meek expression. He doesn't look happy. "I… I didn't mean to kill it. Don't shoot my head off?" Still he does not speak. "I don't hate you? You're not a stupid, lecherous, slave-driving man-whore?" He is beginning to frighten me with his silence. Who knew Cross can have such a serious expression? "Heeeey…" I poke his forehead a few times until he sudden grabs my wrist and pulls me against his body.

My eyes grow wide in shock. "Hey! I'm only sixteen! Stop being such a pervert! Let me go, you old lech-" One of his hands push my forehead back and lift up my bangs. "What are you doing? I only poked you in the forehead a couple of times! Is this revenge?!" He lets go of my waist with his other hand, holds my chin, and turns my head left and right.

Cross seems to be scrutinizing my forehead. "Your skin is so soft," he finally mumbles, stroking my face with his thumb. The serious expression he had completely disappears, replace by his silly perverted look. "No blemishes. No scars. Markings…"

Finally, I push him away, "Stop being such a pervert!"

He merely walks away from me.

"U-um…" A quiet voice interrupts my angry thoughts. I look at the little boy with extremely pale hair, perhaps white with a tint of blue, and grey eyes.

I crouch down to his height. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, kid," I say with a smile. "What's your name?"

He looks rather doubtful, now. "Allen… Allen Walker."

"I'm Ria Tallentyre."

We smile at each other and run to catch up to Cross.

"So how did you end up with him?" I inquire.

He looks towards the ground with sadness in his eyes. "Mana… Mana died. He said that he can bring Mana back to life. He told me to call for Mana, so I did, but… when Mana came back…" Allen brings one hand to his left eye. I notice an innocence shard embedded into the back of his hand. "He cursed me. Then he couldn't control himself when that man told him to take over my body." That man must be the Millennium Earl – the bane of the Black Order.

"Take over… your body?" I tilt my head in confusion. Cross has never took the time to tell me anything in detail.

"I think the Akuma takes over the body of the caller."

An odd feeling of relief suddenly passes through me. Does that mean that I didn't condemn Jonathon? But who called him back?

"Is Mana your father?"

He looks up at me and shakes his head. "He's my father's brother. He took me in after my father died."

"Ah…"

"Hurry up, idiot pupils," Cross shouts without turning. I open my mouth to retort, but a sudden thought crosses my mind. My sword!

I run to retrieve it. The sheath, however, eludes my sight. I guess I'll need to get a new one. That'll teach me to throw it at an Akuma. It probably got obliterated during the explosion.

XxXxXxXxXx

"C-Cross…" I gasp. "Stop it! It's not supposed to go in this way!"

"It'll fit, little girl."

"It's too big!"

"Cross!" I shouted.

"Damn it. Why is it so tight?"

"I've never done this before and stop that! You're pushing too hard!"

Allen suddenly bursts it, his face redder than a rotten tomato. "Master! What are you doing?!"

Cross and I look at him as if he's stupid.

"Want to help me with the new sheath?" I held out the new metal sheath at him. "The shopkeeper said it would fit, but he lied to me! I paid so much for it, too." A big drop of tear fell from my eyes. "Now I owe Master one hundred and fifty pounds for this stupid junk!"

XxXxXxXxXx

A year has passed since Allen joined us. I think Cross knew that I was lonely with him gone all the time. Allen is a good companion to have around, but he is still inexperienced and unable to activate his innocence. I am thrown into the battles alone, once more, but at least I can get Allen to drag Cross from whatever hole he happens to be in at that time. Of course, this is only successful twenty percent of the time…

Allen is also a very good poker player. I think he cheats better than I do! Unfortunately, Cross exploits this and lavishly throws money away to every woman that is willing to hang on to his arms. And there is a surprisingly large amount of them… woman I mean.

"Master, help me!" Allen cries out with tears in his eyes. A group of Akuma is chasing him. "Miss Ria, help meeeeeee!"

I wiggle around from my confines. A large hand is covering my mouth, muffling my hostile words.

Cross holds a wine glass in his other hand and calmly sips from it with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, Allen falls to the ground. I struggle more violently against Cross. Is he going to let Allen die?! Of course he isn't, not even Cross is that heartless, because the next thing I know, Cross dumps me from his lap (that really sounds dirty…).

Judgment releases multiple bullets and every Akuma explodes into a puff of toxic miasma. He towers over Allen, glaring at him with the only eye visible. "Idiot pupil, after a year and you are still useless. If you are still unable to activate that innocence of yours I will sell you to the slave market."

XxXxXxXxXx

After being threatened day in and day out by Cross, Allen is finally able to activate his innocence. However, the curse in his eye is preventing him from reaching his full potential. He sees the souls entrapped within the Akuma bodies and wimps out every time. I have a feeling he will see that there is no choice but to destroy the Akuma and set the souls free.

"Nalei!" I watch as Allen runs towards his Indian friend who is bathing in the shade of an Indian Mohogany, reading a book on different types of medical treatments. "What are you reading?"

"Hello, Allen. How doctors cure tuberculosis," he replies before turning to me. "Hello, Miss Ria." He gives me a soft smile and nod.

"Hello, Nalei," I, then, turn to my exorcist companion. "Allen, I'm going to go find Cross before he gets into trouble, again. I really can't believe he tried to bargain me for that man's wife…"

Allen and I sweatdrop at the memory.

I wave to the two boys before walking off. The Mahārāja's palace is usually off limits to ordinary travelers, but since we are from the Black Order, the guards have been told that we have free access.

"Sundara, I have never seen a more fair lady than yourself," I hear a familiar lecher say from one of the many rooms. "No skin looks as healthy and exotic as yours. No eyes are as entrancing as your own." Giggles follow. Can that possibly be the Mahārāja's widow? Even he can't be crazy enough to flirt with a woman like her… right?

I peek in. Of course, he's that stupid. The lady-in-waiting is also there. She spots me and smiles before giving a small wave. The two of us have become quick friends. Mina is also Nalei's older sister. She is a beauty with dark hair and eyes. Her tanned skin glows under the midday sun. She will become a wonderful dancer, one day.

Cross also seems to notice me, but as usually, he promptly chooses to ignore me.

I grin at Mina before slinking back out the door. What to do, now? The day is beautiful, but Allen is busy with Nalei and Mina is busy attending to the Mahārājñī. I wander through the garden, gliding my fingers across waxy green leaves of enormous elephant topiaries. Two beautiful butterflies flutter by me. One is black with white designs and one is white with black designs – Mimathyma ambica and Idea malabarica. They fly in a weaving pattern.

A small smile spread across my lips as I follow them. Where are they doing? Why are they together? As I skip along the pavement, I trip over something semi-soft and fell on my face.

DEFINITION:

Ma raison d'être: My reason to life is generally what it means or in some literally term, "My reason to be."

Xue Mei: Snow Beauty (hopefully) in Chinese pingyin

Sundara: Beautiful in Hindi (pronunciation)? I hope I do not get this wrong.

Mahārājñī: Maharaja's wife or the woman ruler (found on wiki).

Rajmata: Maharaja's widow/ Queen mother (found on wiki).

NOTE:

"Cadet Rousselle" is a French folksong (perhaps not? A satirical song?). According to wiki it is written by Gaspard de Chenu in 1792.

Indian Mohogany: if you haven't figured out is a tree species found in India. (was going to write willow, but had to check if it grows in India)

Mimathyma ambica: A species of butterfly that is found in India (wiki). Its common name is The Purple Emperor.

Idea malabarica: A species of butterfly that is found in India (wiki). Its common name is The Malabar Tree Nymph.

Both of these butterflies are from the Nymphalidae family. It took me quite a while to find two butterflies that satisfied my criteria.