Ashes And Rain

DGM

Chapter 20

Waging Onwards Against Odds

The green-haired girl panted and her arms shook. Right now she was on the outskirts of town, far away from the others. Had it been up to her she'd be fighting alongside her friends, but the akuma dragged her away from them. She had to get this fight over with, though. She needs to help her friends.

Lenalee charged forward, kicking the purple akuma under his chin. His head went up and he stumbled backwards. Seeing this as the perfect chance, Lenalee spun in the air and kicked him a few more times as hard as she could. He didn't go far and not so much as a scratch was left on the akuma. "Ha! You won't hurt me. You might as well give up little lady." He says, sticking his fingers up in a box-like frame. "Title! The Lone Girl Suffers."

Lenalee gritted her teeth. She will get back to her friends. She will get past this level three. "I will destroy you."

The akuma cackled, throwing his head back. Lenalee frowned deeply and felt offended. "I'll tell you a little something, miss. . . My name's Eshi. In my past life I was an artist. That's why I love labeling you and other exorcists bad attempts in trying to kill me. . . It's useless. Since I'm good at close combat. All your attacks will. . . ineffective."

"We'll see about that." Lenalee leaned forward, breathing in and out calmly because going in for another attack.

OxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxO

Lavi leaped on the roof beside Miranda. He watched Krory run up the leg of this giant beast, but before he got too far, it smack him away lightly. Krory harshly landed in the roof beside them. "Krory!"

Krory climbed out of the hole he just created and wiped his lip with the back of his hand. "I'm fine." Krory sighed in exasperation, watching the giant akuma stomp on houses and crush them. "Do any of you have a suggestion?"

Lavi and Bookman stared at each other, then at the akuma. Both of them thought the face would be the weakness. It was the only part of his body that wasn't covered in the sleek black armor. "We need to reach his face, Krory!" Lavi told him.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Miranda asked.

Lavi looked at his hammer. Maybe, he could get up them. Slamming it on the ground, Lavi hopped on it, gripping it tightly. "Grow."

"Lavi-"

"Grow."

"It's not-"

"GROW!" Lavi shouted, ignoring Bookman's protests.

Lavi got halfway up there when out of the blue, the akuma looked at him then used one finger and pushed him down. This time, Lavi slammed into the building, shrunken hammer in hand. "Ouch." Lavi rubbed his head as he sat up, staggering over to his friends. "That hur-" Lavi was interrupted by a thwack on the head. "OW! What the hell was that for ye old geezer?"

"For not listening! I was trying to tell you that you can't defend yourself while in the air, but apparently you forgot your greatest weakness." Bookman lectured.

Lavi didn't respond to that. Yeah, he'd forgotten. Maybe it was an act of desperation to hurry over to Lenalee? Her facing a level three on her own. . It scared him. She was strong, but what if. . Just what if. . . Lavi shook his head free of those thoughts.

"So, what do we do now?" Lavi asked.

Bookman brought his middle finger and index finger up to his chin. "Needles of Divine Protection: East Crime!" Two large clusters of needles appeared in front of Bookman and Lavi looked at him. "Get on. I should be able to you two halfway up there at least. Getting down will be the problem."

Lavi and Krory agreed, jumping on the clusters. Bookman focussed immensely on them, making sure neither one would fall at his fast yet steady speed. The akuma had not noticed yet, but would soon. He had a good idea what they would do because he could already see Lavi's hammer light up with the the combo seal on both ends already. He could see Lavi's jaw moving and knew they were whispering about a plan. Krory was nodding in agreement.

By time the akuma found them, Lavi had swung his hammer back. It was tilted upwards. "Combo Stamp: Terrible Lightning of Heaven!" Lavi's hammer glowed and then a snake made of fire and iron came from his hammer and headed directly towards the akuma's face. Krory jumped in the the fiery snake and the speed doubled. The light got brighter and then it made direct contact with the akuma's overgrown face, sending Krory straight through and out the back as the snake disappeared. "Hell yeah! Take that!"

Lavi pumped his fist in the air, but then Bookman's needles also went poof. Lavi yelled, eyes bulging out of their sockets. If he fell from this height he'd die!

Out of his hopelessness, Lavi made motions with his arms in legs in hopes he could grow a new power and fly. And guess what? He didn't. Lavi shrilled as he started falling to the ground with the incinerating akuma. Krory jumped around in the air, using the akuma for support, and jumped, grabbing Lavi. "KRORY! WE'RE GONNA DIE, WE'RE GONNA DIE!"

Krory was tempted to drop Lavi for yelling so loudly in his ears, not to mention his squirming, but he resisted. Abruptly and not pleasantly, they landed on a barn. Krory's legs were tingling from the impact, though. He set Lavi down as he heaved a sigh of relief and Bookman was helping Miranda over. Then, they heard a crack. Looking down, Lavi bit his fingers as cracks appeared in the roof. Without a moment's notice, the weak and old wood shattered or tumbled in on itself. Both men crashed on the cold ground. Lavi rolled in the hay with his head sticking in the pile of hay, legs up in the air. Krory strolled over to him, pulling him out just to laugh at the sack of hay in his mouth. Lavi spite the hay out of his mouth and made a nasty look. "Ewwww!"

"Ar-are you two alright?" Miranda asked, she and Bookman appearing in the door.

"We're fine." Krory said, offering a smile.

Lavi nodded in agreement, but held his head on both sides. He felt dizzy from hitting his head so hard even if it was in a bunch of hay. "We need to. . . We need to find, Lenalee."

"What about Kanda? Or Allen?" Miranda asked.

Bookman studied everyone. Maybe they should stay out of the present fight. Who knows, everything might turn out fine if they fight individually. Bookman especially thinks none of them would be able to match the Earl. Then again. . . They always seem to pull through the most critical times. But not always. Just look at the people who've lost their lives in the past months. Anyone of these exorcists could be next. However, all of them were brought out of their thoughts when they saw the night sky light up in an orangish color and a loud explosion was heard.

Minutes Ago. . . . .

Kanda glared at Tyki. He thrusts his mighty Mugen at Tyki who could no longer hide around this area. Kanda made sure of it. To guaranteed that, he demolished every house in the area mercilessly and without hesitation. Just the way he planned on killing this Noah. He had seen what he was capable of when he fought Allen back in Liverpool and saw bits of Lavi's fight. He wasn't going to let his be the same. "Aren't you quite the defiant one?" Tyki mused with a cocky smirk.

Kanda lunged forward, finding no use for small talk in a fight with Tyki. Hell, he didn't even know Tyki's name. He just knew he was a threat and the enemy. One he wanted to kill for ruining Kanda's Mugen a few weeks ago. Because of him they found out Allen was an exorcist. Now they're stuck with the moyashi! Kanda blamed Tyki!

The Noah casually blocked Kanda's attack with his tease. He had to dig his feet in the ground to keep himself from lagging during this duel of strength. If Kanda put too much more force in his arms, Tyki would lose balance and get slashed across his chest. He doubt that would be all that would happen. This adversary of his was defiant and was merciless. He held nothing back. Not that Tyki minded.

Getting the push-over war over with, Tyki used his other hand to attack Kanda. Kanda was about to withdrawal and Tyki would land a cuff on him, but then Kanda did something unexpected. "Double Illusion Sword." Kanda's blades glowed and then turned blue. It was bright and nearly blinded Tyki. A line of light went around Kanda's back and his other hand held another sword. Also blue and sharp as ever.

"Close. It could have been the finishing move." Tyki noted, admiring Kanda's illusion swords.

Kanda gave a smug look. Nothing new, but it was for Tyki at this time. "Not close enough."

Tyki jumped back, but Kanda launched himself forward. Both swords would professionally take a go at Tyki, but the purple, giant, bright tease always managed to block if only by a millimeter. Those attacks are getting a little too close, Tyki told himself.

Tyki's foot got a good spot on the ground and he ducked Kanda's next swing. Left wide open, Tyki hurried onwards, twisting his arm and hitting Kanda's shoulder, cutting him. The Noah was satisfied with that only and didn't mind having to back away when Kanda forced his swords back and towards Tyki's back. It was a good thing Tyki could jump high and walk on air. "Get back down here!"

Kanda jumped at Tyki, but missed. This time Kanda was thrown to he ground. Kanda being Kanda didn't let this hinder him and he got back up, charing a few more times. It was like Lavi's fight all over. Kanda managed to cut Tyki five times. Small cuts because he instantly moved away when Mugen greeted his skin. Except for the wound to Kanda's shoulder, Kanda only got scratches. It's like this in fighting terms.

Kanda lunges froward and misses or gets blocked by Tyki's tease. Next Tyki counters with his other hand, sometimes using tease, sometimes not. He might be lucky to force Kanda back, but most of his attempts remain attempts. Tyki tries to head for the buildings to either confuse Kanda or use it to his advantage seeing how he sees how strong Kanda is. Do you really think Kanda would let him do that?

NO!

Tyki would be kicked back or stopped him. Mugen was helpful when it had Double Illusion blade present. This let Kanda block Tyki's attack then counter. Every so often the Japanese man was thrown back and landed hard on the ground. While he was down Tyki made his way over and crouched beside him, trying to send a hand through Kanda's body to grab whatever organ he can an crush it, have the tease eat it, which is what he mostly does, or pull the organ out. After a few tries, Tyki was able to place a tease inside Kanda's body before being thrusted back.

The samurai hissed and clutched his stomach. He could feel something biting his innards. There was a feeling that proved there was a tease moving around in his body. Heh, good thing he wasn't like other people. Kanda didn't have much of a choice, this could really kill him.

Holding his sword up in front of him, he let Mugen plunge through his body all the way through, but he slowly felt the butterfly stopping eating and moving, so he winced as he pulled it out of him with his sword. Tyki, however, stood not far away bewildered at his actions.

I can't believe he did that. This guy is crazy. . . No, if you look in his eyes, you see a strong emotion. Is it for survival, his instincts guiding him? He seems like the guy to fight when he's in a tight spot. This guy won't flee for nothing. . . Huh, he took that problem head on and fixed it, but now he's injured... So why is he not bleeding anymore a minute later? Tyki thought, simplifying everything down as he sunk in the ground with a smirk.

Not willing to let Tyki escape, Kanda ran over and then let his mighty Mugen slit the ground. He wasn't entirely sure if he got Tyki or not because he never came back up or out of the ground in view. "Yuu!" Perfect, Lavi was here to top it off. "Yuu! Hey-"

Mugen greets Lavi's face and Kanda slanted his eyes, daring Lavi to ask the question. Ultimately, he saw Krory, Miranda, and Bookman. That meant they finished off that akuma. "He ran away, rabbit!" Kanda yelled at him.

"Anybody would run from you."

Kanda slashed Mugen in the present bubble Lavi was in, but he limply ran behind Krory. Kanda growled and left him alone. Now wasn't the time. He would have to control himself until after the mission. *Cough, cough* Hint the after. "Where's the girl?" Kanda asked.

"We were hoping you saw Miss. Lee here during your fight." Bookman answered.

"And that's exactly why she isn't here with me." Kanda said humorlessly sarcastic.

"So you haven't seen her?" Lavi yanked on his hair, chewing his nails. "We need to find her. Didn't you see the light in the sky? That orange flame? The catastrophic fight between Lenalee and the akuma is not going to be a good one."

Kanda examined his surroundings. He saw the light a few minutes ago, but he was too busy paying attention to Curly Noah. He got Kanda a few good times, but his body has already regenerated.

The light looked to be flames so Kanda believed it had been Lavi. Lenalee couldn't use fire. SOmething was going to happen. Whether or not it was good he couldn't tell. Considering their stance, it's might be bad knowing their luck. It's weird, worrying about Lenalee fighting a level three, but Allen is fighting the Millennium Earl. Then there's the other Noah that are watching at the center of Edo.

Kanda took off and went to the area in which the fire had erupted minutes ago. Again the group moved from their spots, but were surprised at what they found once they got there.

))))))ALLEN((((((

Allen was gasping for air after being hit by another ball of dark matter. He was running low on fuel. He should of picked a weaker for to face, but he let his anger and sorrow get to him. "Did you see that pretty light, Allen?" Earl asked.

Allen jumps forward, his claw making contact with the sword yet again. He only landed a few hits on the Earl and if he used his Crown Edge, Edge End, or something else, it blew down in smokes. He'd been focusing on the Earl so he didn't may too much attention to his surroundings, but that light, the fire and the ash rising in the sky from there, he knew something was wrong. He say it with his own two eyes and a feeling was telling him to getaway. Allen also noticed the Noah had disappeared from around the building he and the Earl were fighting around.

If Allen could land one strong hit on him that did more than burn his coat. His heart was screaming at him, ordering him to hurry over to where the light began and ended. "Pay attention, Allen." The Earl slashed Allen's side and blood poured out.

Holding his side, Allen gazed at the Earl's eyes. They were filled with malice and menace. There was evil intention, lust for someone's death. There lies anger and curiousness. This guy was filled with more unknowns than Allen himself.

"That was a close one." Allen muttered, creating distance between himself.

What else could he do? Fight him until one of them loses their stamina? If he did then Allen would lose. The Earl doesn't look o of even broke a sweat whereas Allen is struggling. He had bruises all over his body and now a deep cut on his side, and it feels like knives had been jutting Allen's skin.

For a change, Earl started towards him. Allen took small steps back, unsure of what to do and how to continue on. He couldn't win against the Millennium Earl like this. It was suicidal. Was he. . . . afraid? "I would love to stay and chat, but things have run their course and something interesting has been brought up. I'll finish this quickly." Earl said.

Failing miserably, Allen tried to get away, but he was caught by his throat and was starting to be choked. HIs lungs were already burning and now he knew what it was like to drown. He wanted to cry, but he wouldn't. Not now. He needed to get away somehow, but with the lack of oxygen Allen couldn't breathe. His face might turn blue. "Good-bye, Allen Walker."

Allen's eyes widened as Earl's sword was about to be driven through his chest, but with a few loud bangs, Allen fell hard on the ground instead, red covering his vision. Blood? HIs own, or someone else's? He sat up to find out, but he found no Earl. He had run away. How right was that? "Get your ass off the ground."

He did that so obediently and winced with the pain, but clasped his bleeding side. "Master!"

General Cross gave Allen a serious look after scoping the perimeter. When he stared at Allen you see he was choking on words he meant to say, but wasn't going to speak. Odd. "Hurry, Allen. We need to get to Lenalee right now?" Cross barked and ran in the opposite direction.

For a moment Allen stood there with uncertainty. When he realized the direction Cross was heading in, his eyes got big. Lenalee. . . And where he was heading was where that fiery illumination came from. Without another word, Allen began running as fast as he could and he shut his eyes tightly. "Please be okay, please, Lenalee."

The Earl called back all his goons and they stood back on the crispy building Lavi had burned earlier. A dark ball was forming in his hand as his grin got bigger staring at the crystalized girl in the distance. When he was satisfied with the amount of dark matter he had because it was now larger than his hand and still growing o the size of the Japanese house he was on. Earl knew its destructiveness, he released it full force.

Blackness overwhelmed the exorcists along with strong gusts of wind as the ball of dark matter starting moving outwards in their direction. Kanda knew he couldn't out run it, so he'd take it on head first. He stabbed the ground with Mugen and held it tightly. Miranda put up her Time Out! to protect everyone else. Allen and Cross got caught in the blast.

XxLxExNxAxX

Before Earl's Attack. . . . .

About Five Minutes Earlier. . . .

Lenalee hovered in the sky, looking at the ground which Eshi had just be thrown. Dust blocked her vision of him and she was on her guard. The dust cleared soon and no Eshi was present. Panicking, Lenalee scouted the area. Where was he? Where could he have gone?

Lenalee felt a pounding on her back. Eshi got her from behind and it sent her flailing through the air until she was able to regain her stability. She went to attack, but then a weird, wooden chain surrounded her body. It was glowing purple on the edges signaling it was definitely dark matter. At first it did nothing, or at least it seemed to do nothing, but Lenalee soon discovered how major its affect would be in this battle.

When she tried to fly over to Eshi, pulling her leg back just when she was in hitting range, she felt her body get heavy. Gravity worked against her. It didn't take long for her body to start falling out of the sky. Lenalee fought and struggled with the gravity to keep her in the air, but the chains around her lit up, sparking. It was the problem-the chain. Knowing this, she tries to take it off, but electric shocks are sent through her in turn. "Try with all your might pretty lady, but you'll never get free." Eshi said, making a box frame and peeking through it. "Title! Woman Fights Despairing Fate." He began cackling, mocking Lenalee. "Such a lovely sight."

Lenalee coughed as her body burned from the electrocutions. The chains were choking her. What's worse, there was a pond beneath her. If she fell she'd drown. Unfortunately, she couldn't keep herself in the air. The harder she tried, the more she was being crushed by gravity. Once in the water Lenalee screamed, inhaling undesired water that would access her lungs, and the shocks were getting worse because she continued to struggle. Her body was weakening as she went further down in the water that seemed to never end. For a pond it was rather deep. It was probably a lake.

Eshi landed on the surface of the water, still cackling as he watched Lenalee drown under the water. He felt a little disappointed at how quickly this went. She had been struggling to fight him for some time, but he's had longer fights with other akuma or exorcists. What a pity. Despite this she had incredible strength. He knew it wouldn't be strong enough to ever break his shielding armor from the start, but there were a few times he thought she would.

Lenalee was getting tired, weakly holding on to consciousness. She knew she had to continue fighting, but the water that was around her, inside her, made it so hard. She pumped her legs as hard as she could to get to the surface, but she wasn't going anyway. She wasn't even sure if she was moving anymore, or breathing. Lenalee didn't like the thuds she heard in her ears. It sounded too much like a dying heartbeat with that long pause.

In less than a minute she could feel her arms and legs drift subtly in the water, her eyes closing. It didn't help her when she start coughing and no doubt there was blood. 'It hurts. . . I'm suffocating. . .' Lenalee tried pushing these thoughts out of her head. She knew coming to Edo could lead her to her death, Komui even confessed this yet she accepted. To this moment she doesn't regret her decision. She just wished to of been more help. They hadn't done much in Edo!

"I wouldn't be ready to take on a level three had it not been for Master. I knew I had to protect him and I was too weak to do so, but I realized I needed to pass my limits, go to the extremes even if it meant I would die. It's my duty to protect Master Cross, so that's when Crown Clown evolved into what it is now. . . After almost dying. . I was lucky to live my first battle with a level three. So I ask you to be very careful, all of you."

Lenalee's eyes shot open. Allen warned them before they would have to fight extra cautiously and harder than before with the Noah and the higher levels of akuma. That's how he got to where he was now. He didn't give up. 'So I won't either. I have my family. . . To protect!'

Lenalee coughed once more, ignoring the blood mixing with water as she used her innocence to boost her speed. When she exit the water, she rammed into Eshi, sending him higher in the air with her, but she never let him go. She used this chance to not only breathe, gasping for air, but to land several elegant kicks on Eshi, twirling in the air, feeling her power increasing.

Lenalee knew, she knew how bad this was, that she was surpassing her limits. She was forcing synchronization to be higher and that would cost her dearly. Her legs glowed momentarily as the purple chains were dragged away from her, still stuck around her, but now it was like an orb that no longer held her back. "How did you. . . ?" Eshi was shocked as he separated him from her. A smile was evident. "A nice twist, but you're still going to die."

Lenalee ignored him and dashed forward. She was proud to direct, because she was able to sent Eshi crawling back as he tried to evade her. THere weren't any cracks on his armor, but that was not important. "I will. . . . Go back to my friends alive! And we'll go home together!" Lenalee shouted, spinning and her foot hit Eshi's head, making it tilt.

"In the afterlife." Eshi uttered, holding her foot and pulling her closer, punching her in the stomach.

Her eyes shrunk narrowly and she had to bit her tongue to keep from yelling in pain. She used the force of her innocence to send her back a small distance. She didn't know what to do. All she did was kick him around, but that didn't work. She knew her Waltz: Misty Winds wouldn't work. She was already moving at the speed of sound. What other attacks did she have? Passing limits, Lenalee, pass your limits.

Taking in a deep breath, Lenalee soared upwards, the wind blowing on her face and pushing her hair down. Eshi watched lazily and underestimating Lenalee abilities at the moment. She was too weak to pull off anything.

Lenalee grimaced as pain went up and down body. She felt stiff, but continued until she believed she was high enough. She was desperate right now, she had to do something. This was her last hope. Whether or not she'd be able to walk away from this fight was unsure, but she knew. . . she knew she had to do this. Laughing bitterly and spreading her arms on her side, pulling her legs close together. "In war sacrifices must be made. As an exorcist, I'm sacrificial any day, right?" Lenalee closed her eyes, knowing tears would run down her face. She had no fear of dying, but she had fear of leaving her family. That's all. Then perhaps Lenalee was being delusional and mixed them up? No, she would still fear losing family. "Thank you, Allen, for giving me courage and faith."

Opening her tear-filled eyes, Lenalee glared at the akuma beneath her. Her innocence changed and it was like a wooden block cell surrounded her, iron shackles forming around her legs. "Falling Technique: Iron Shackles!" Lenalee screamed, disregarding the pain and she went down.

Fire was close to her and she could feel it burn her skin, but she continued the attacked even when Eshi stopped her movement, but he wasn't sturdy. It didn't take long for the fire to spite higher and brighter flames and down they went. Lenalee knew with great satisfactory that she had won, but she didn't know just what this outcome would lead to.

))))))Allen((((((

Present Time. . . . . .

Allen moaned, opening his eyes and using his arms to help him off the oddly smooth ground. At first he didn't know where he was or why. When everything came back he jumped to his feet and looked around, wide-eyed. Every building. . . Everything was gone! Nothing was there! How could. . . How could Earl's powers be so destructive? How? Dammit Allen, he was the Earl! "Master? Where are you? Master?" Allen called out.

Cross stood up behind Allen, holding his head, surprise in his eyes. Allen didn't know he was finding it a miracle any of them survived the blast. "Thank goodness, Master, you're okay." Allen put a hand on his chest, relieved, but then he spun around. "What about the others?"

Cross saw a bright light from two directions and if Allen stayed quiet he would be sure to hear a few footsteps. "They can handle themselves. We need to find the girl." Cross said in an undefinable way.

Allen thought he heard concern in his voice, but he was concern himself. He had a strong feeling everyone was alright. Everyone but Lenalee. So he and Cross followed the light they saw in the distance. Not the yellow light, but the green light. Timcampy appeared beside Allen, biting his hair as if to drag him. "What's wrong Tim?" Allen asked.

The golden golem fluttered around in a panicky manner. Both Cross and Allen understood him somehow and both seemed grim. Lenalee was in trouble. The NOah were heading in her direction!

XxOxOxOxOxOxX

Sorry for the long wait. I was struggling with the words for the fight so there was some action and it was understandable. Forgive me?

Well, thanks for reading and please continue to do so. Also, please review. I just love these words, don't I? But the reviews are pleasant.

Drum roll please! My age is 13, going on 14 soon. I guess it seems to young for how I portray everything, but that's just the way I was raised. A lot of colorful words, all that. Besides, I'm in Middle School. Doesn't everyone know how bad that is there? Just listen to the people around you. Sheesh, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this. Also, please check out my other story if you haven't already. I'd like to know what y'all think about it.

~ ~ ~ Anon Novelist ~ ~ ~