Chapter Thirty-Eight:

~Allen~

I raised my hand up and blocked the sweeping kick sent towards my head. Fou was unusually relentless in this session, never had I seen her so serious before. But I had little to complain about as I ducked and swerved out of the way of one of her bladed arms.

We had begun the next session three hours after I had rested from my sudden collapse and to be honest… I was still a little unnerved by it. But I wasn't going to let it stop me. I was close, so close to restoring my innocence and once I figure out what I was missing, it'll be complete once more.

Quickly, I dodged a whirling attack from Fou and tried to summon my innocence but the guardian was making it a little harder this time. She came at me before I had the chance to focus enough to do so and it somewhat frustrated me.

Then I chided myself; there was no point in being impatient. Instead I focused on those whom were most important to me and my mind was unintentionally distracted that I almost didn't see Fou swipe at me. I instinctively ducked and attacked using a sweeping kick that sends her back a few metres.

'I see you're starting to gain confidence in attacking now,' Fou noted aloud but I wasn't going to let that hinder me. I may have started to go on the offense but I still needed to reawaken my innocence to level the playing field. Lunging towards her, we began our fight again and this time I was beginning to push the guardian back.

Lenalee, Lavi, Krory, Miranda… and… Tyki. My thoughts shifted through all the good memories like a slide show. Even the kiss I had shared with the handsome vagabond no longer brought me embarrassment. Instead I was filled with a strange warm feeling that subconsciously brought a smile to my lips.

Then suddenly it stopped as pain erupted from my left eye again… no not now, not when I was feeling so close.

'Are you okay Walker?' I grimaced at the anxious tone of Bak's voice as it crackled through a nearby golem. I placed my hand over my left eye as it began whirring about frantically, as if it was searching.

'T-trai-tor… w-why…' No shut up, I won't let you stop me! I'll continue walking for Mana's sake, for everyone's.

'Walker!' I glanced up and noticed that Fou was in my face, worry etched into her face as I took a shaky breath and jumped back.

'I-I'm fine… let's continue…' I panted heavily. I wasn't going to let those voices win this time. They were nothing but bad dreams, a figment of my imagination. I needed to focus and I prepared myself for Fou's next attack. Blades were formed from her hands and held at the ready.

'… H-elp…'

Wait… that voice was unlike those twisted hurtful words… it caused me to blink as it resounded in my head again and I glanced at Fou. To my surprise, the guardian had also stopped. Her expression was one of shock and disbelief as her body began to convulse violently… what was going on?

'W-Walker...'

'Fou what's wrong?' I asked as I rushed over to her but she violently pushed me back and I fell onto the ground. 'Hey what's gotten into you, I was only….'

I went cold when Fou released a pain-filled shriek and something shot out of her. It looked like a jagged collection of dark purple shapes that possessed an eerie glow. A very bad feeling washed over me when my cursed eye settled down and focused on the thing that emerged from the column of purple light.

It was an akuma and it was unlike anything I had ever seen before! It was tall and covered in thick knight-like armor of dark blue shade. But what sickened me the most was its soul. The soul had become almost unrecognizable; it twisted and squirmed in a cloud of crimson smog. The rate of deterioration was stomach churning to say the least.

'P-Please… help… m-me…' I stared up at the soul as it spoke to me. At the same time, a loud alarm rung out in the background probably alerting the entire Branch that an akuma had managed to get inside.

'You must be Allen Walker?' I blinked and stared at the akuma's helmet did little to cover its exposed jaw and sharp teeth. It was then that I noticed the small purple butterfly perched on its shoulder and my body went rigid. That was the same butterfly… no, what did he call it… tease? It just had to be him, that Noah who had left me for dead!

'What if I am?' I asked as I stood up and took a cautious step back. The akuma chuckled darkly; several eyes appeared on its helmet-like head and looked at me tauntingly. This certainly wasn't good, I knew it was probably here to finish what the Noah had started and I was completely helpless. My innocence was still nothing but dust floating above its head.

'Walker… you have to… run!' Fou stammered, as she struggled to stand. She was swaying on her feet and looking as if she would take on the akuma.

'I can't leave you behind!' I argued back but she fixed me with an infuriated glare that stopped me in my tracks.

'Without your innocence you are in no condition to fight, you have to run!' She was right; my innocence was not properly restored to fight yet no matter how much I tried to deny it.

'Trying to leave huh? Well I have strict orders from Noah-sama to bring you back though he failed to mention whether it be alive or dead,' I glared at the akuma though I dully reminded myself that akuma always did have a twisted sense of humor. Regardless, I still needed to make an escape but the fiend standing in my way was going to make this increasingly difficult.

Without warning, the akuma lunged towards me. It was so fast that I had barely enough time to duck and roll out of the way. Unfortunately, that hadn't been enough since it kicked me in the stomach and sent me skidding across the ground.

'Walker!' Fou came to my aid, swinging a bladed arm at the akuma. It didn't have much affect though since it laughed while blocking each blow with ease. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself onto my feet. I gravely knew that if it continued like this, Fou might be able to survive this… maybe… but for me; it was an instant death sentence!

But that was still no reason to abandon her to face an akuma she couldn't defeat!

Innocence please… was my silent plea as I dove out of the way when the akuma managed to throw Fou off and charged towards me. I tumbled under its glowing purple blades, desperately trying to gain a safe distance from it until Fou once again intervened.

'Trai-aitor… w-why?'

My head throbbed painfully, blurring my vision slightly. As much as I wanted to focus on the battle that could possibly claim my life, those haunting echoes of voices reignited their qualm against me. If the pained voice of the akuma's soul just wasn't enough!

What could I have possibly done to deserve such hatred towards me? Sure, I had failed to protect numerous lives and I have lived with that regret ever since so what else more could it want.

Then I remembered that horrible dream. Where, in that dream, I was standing in amongst the ruins of a building. The ground was soaked in blood, and that same blood drenched my own hands and refused to come off no matter how much I wiped them. Then there was the oddity before the blood and Mana's twisted apparition.

I had believed it to be like a pleasant fantasy, a world where I felt tranquil and happy. However, at the same time it had seemed all too real, all too familiar. Those people there, I found myself believing that I knew each and every one of them by name. But how could that have been possible?

I had grown up on the streets, was raised in a circus that despised my very existence until Mana took me in. Then I had lost him and after being consumed with grief, had accepted the Earl's promise of reviving him. My innocence then woke, destroying the man whom had been the closest thing to a father for me.

After that, I was taken in as Master's apprentice and was able to see the suffering of akuma souls…

From then on I had lived for the sake of them as repentance for bring back Mana's soul until I later joined the Order. I made so many new friends and made so many memories, both bad and good.

Then I met Tyki… the one person who had begun to shake up my defenses I had placed around my heart and had made me feel emotions I thought I would never get to experience in my life!

'WALKER!' A hoarse shout screeched out my name as I barely noticed a looming shadow tower over me. I could only gaze up; my body remaining rigid while the level three brought down that wicked blade of purple light.

It pierced through my stomach as I let out an agonizing scream. The akuma's laugh sounded so faint for that mere moment. Was I dying? What a stupid question, of course I was going to die if I didn't do something!

I… I wanted to see everyone's faces, to laugh and cherish all those happy moments together. I especially wanted to see Tyki again, to finally find the courage to tell him the one thing I was refusing to accept….

That I loved him!

Frantically grabbing the blade that had been driven into my torso, I ignored the sight of my slowly translucent hand and pulled it out with much difficulty. Then with a fierce yell, I kicked off the ground and slammed into the akuma's body.

'Stop it Walker, if you continue as you are you'll break!' An apprehensible shout came from somewhere in the room but I barely registered it. I was too focused on the akuma in front of me. Its human soul was wailing, crying out to be saved and to be loved.

It was like looking at a reflection in the mirror… I was, deep down, crying out for someone to love me and to love them in return, just like that trapped soul!

Whatever or whoever those voices were, I was not going to let them get in the way of my going forward no longer.

The akuma was crouched on the ground, holding its armored stomach with what seemed to be an infuriated expression. I could not help but return the almost murderous glare.

Innocence… I silently called out again during the heated exchange, for the sake of all those I hold dear, I will no longer hesitate anymore.

The air around me seemed to respond as the glittering particles of innocence created a static charged atmosphere around me. The akuma looked suspicious now with the way all its red eyes focused on me, its toothy grin pulled into a sneer.

'What are you planning, exorcist? Hmph, whatever, I'll stop you before it happens!'

Out of nowhere, a warm white light descended in front of me. Though I could not see it, I could hear the akuma screaming out in pain. That was all I need to know that this was my innocence. It was finally responding to me!

'I'm sick of running away and pretending that everything's fine. That I don't need anything more than those I treasure but I can be selfish sometimes too, right?' I said to it softly, I could see the innocence taking on a human-like shape with a silver and black mask and a billow white cape. It was working! My innocence and I were mending the gap that had been ripped between us.

I could hear it, almost like it was singing softly an incomprehensible melody that sounded sweet and loving but at the same time, the ferocity and determination we both shared.

'Together…'

A tingling sensation overtook my body as my innocence wrapped its welcoming presence around me and for the first time in since that Noah had separated us, I could feel my left hand again. Lifting it up, I idolized its black yet sleeker appearance with silver embellishments and smaller more fluent moving claws.

I could already feel the difference from my innocence's previous form and I couldn't help but smile. I was… no, we were both happy.

'Curse you!' I blinked at the pained voice as I glanced up from my newly evolved innocence and to the akuma that had been sent to kill me. It was in pain and missing a chunk of its torso, legs and its right arm. I could hear its wounds fizzle where my innocence was reacting to its dark matter formed body. Faintly, the akuma's soul was whimpering, pleading to be free.

'I suppose I have you to thank somewhat,' I murmured softly while ultimately taking pity upon it. The akuma paused before a harsh laughter escaped its toothy grin.

'Thank me? I'll destroy you,' it opened its mouth and several glowing purple hands emerged, shooting towards me. I nimbly jumped out of the way and decided to try out the power of my innocence's new cowl.

I sent several white ribbons towards it, ensnaring it in a web like prison as it screamed.

'You are no longer in a position to do so,' I commented as I landed in front of it. The akuma's multiple eyes were fixed on me. 'Could you tell me where it is you were suppose to take me?"

The akuma threw back its head and laughed.

'Oh this is funny, an exorcist asking an akuma? Hah!" I continued to gaze at the akuma patiently as it cackled in amusement. "Why the hell should I tell you?"

'I can only guess as to whom sent you but I am curious as to where you would take me?' The akuma tilted its head almost as if it was pondering my words.

'Not telling~ but I do wonder how those exorcists in Edo, Japan are doing? Not only is Earl-sama there but four members of the Noah Family,' it laughed again as I grimaced. Despite saying it wasn't going to tell me, it told me anyway. Well what should I expect, this is an akuma I'm trying to talk to!

'Thank you,' I murmured touching its forehead with the tip of my claw and then splicing the akuma in half.

'Hah, this isn't such a bad feeling… you know, Noah's Ark will take you there. Don't know what good it will do but… whatever," the akuma whispered softly and I remembered those strange dark purple shards that had come out of Fou. Was that what it was called, Noah's Ark?

'Why are you telling me this?' I asked with a slight tilt of my head. The akuma laughed.

"Orders or maybe not? I honestly couldn't care now…' if it was going to say anything more, I would never know as it's body finally disintegrated and I closed my eyes as if in thought. However, I knew what I was doing next and that was to go to Edo through Noah's Ark.

First off, I'M SORRY FOR THE LONG DELAY!

Secondly, this chapter had been incomplete for a very long time and I just couldn't find the right way to finish this chapter, that and… well, I'm not going to make excuses, I was being very lazy so shoot me.

So I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully within the next few weeks I will begin writing the next chapter! So slight spoiler, it might be a Tyki chapter… CX

Thank you for both waiting patiently and reading this and please leave a review!