Forever Stained Red

Chapter Nine

After a long goodbye and a well packed lunch in her traveling pack Aya set out with Lavi and Allen. They were going to Head Quarters, she couldn’t help but feel the flutters of excitement in her stomach. They walked along a deserted road, heading towards the train station when Aya got annoyed with the silence.

“Is there anything I should know before we get there?” She asked curious as to the life she had forgotten. Lavi thought about it for a few minutes before shrugging his shoulders.

“You want to know about some of the other exorcist?” He asked for the sake of conversation. Aya seemed to like the idea, so he began to tell her of Kanda, Lenalee, and the others.

He had ran out of ones she had already met and began on the ones she didn’t know before. They loaded themselves onto the train and waited. Lavi was resting his eyes slouched in the seat in front of her. Allen was shuffling cards in the seat next to her. She looked over at the white haired boy and frowned.

“Is something wrong Aya-chan?” He felt more comfortable calling her that after she had told them both she didn’t mind. Even going so far as to explain that it felt familiar to her and made her less nervous about the whole ordeal. Aya gazed down at her hands then looked back up at the boy.

“This feels familiar.” She mumbled turning to gaze out of the window. Allen simply let her speak while Lavi listened with his eyes closed. “I…” She bit her lip as she looked back down at her hands. ‘Red…’ was all she could think and she wondered if these two knew of her past. “I killed them.” She whispered and Lavi's eyes shot open. “I wish I didn’t remember that part…” Her voice cracked lightly as the two boys looked on helplessly, neither knew much of her past. Even Lavi was left in the dark as to much of the things that had molded Aya into being Aya. “Brother died…” Her voice came out dull and lifeless, she didn’t even know why she was telling them all of this. Maybe she just needed to tell someone.

“Mama was so upset. She blamed Papa for allowing him to join his army.” She laughed ironically at the idea. “But that night…that night she did something unforgivable.” Her voice was dripping with anger and hate. “Papa told me to stay in the room while he went to check on her after we heard a horrible scream. He didn’t come back like he had promised. Father never broke his promises, ever.” Aya's head fell back onto the seat and her eyes gazed out the window at the blue sky. Dark clouds began to form in the sky as if sensing her stirring emotions.

“She was covered in his blood.” She whispered emotionlessly. “I still remember ever detail of the horrified look on his face. That frozen look of complete horror he had as his head laid motionless in her hands.” Her hands clenched into fist, she didn’t dare look at them again. Knowing she’d see the mixed blood of her mother and father covering the pale flesh. “I didn’t understand what she turned into before my eyes, at that point it didn’t matter that she turned into some horrid monster. All I knew was the woman I thought to be my mother had torn my father apart with her bare hands. And she was coming to do the same to me.” Zetsumei glowed faintly from its spot propped against the seat at its owners uncontrollable grief. “Fathers second in command found me soaked in blood in the corner of my brothers room. I don’t remember much after that…” After a few moments of silence she spoke again. “Brother was dead, father was murdered and my mother killed by my own hands. Within days everything I knew and loved was ripped from me.”

Allen silently took in the new information. Lavi sat up and scooted to the edge of his seat. The red head wanted to reach out and hold the girl until that dead tone left her voice, and color came back to her beautiful face. “She wasn’t your mother anymore, Aya. Your mother was taken away by someone else.” He whispered trying to help her troubled mind.

Aya finally looked at him and the sad smile on her face broke his heart. “It had her face, her body, her voice.” She closed her eyes, her mind flashing the horrible images. Her head fell, long bangs falling over her eyes. “It was her blood that stained my hands…tainted my soul.”

Lavi's mind tried to think of something to ease her, to make her see she was only protecting herself. Yet, everything he thought of to say was either horribly contradicting or a complete lie. In all logical reasoning Aya had killed her mother. In a swift motion he lifted his hand to the back of her head and gently pulled her to him. Her head fell to his shoulder as his hand gently rubbed the back of her neck. As the Bookman’s apprentice Lavi knew that the past was just as important as the present and the future. Things that happened in ones past built the person they became in the future. Past experiences gave one strengths as well as weaknesses. And for the first time in his entire life Lavi wished to erase something from the past, even if it were to change the entire course of history.

They arrived at another town and got of the train. Aya stayed close to Lavi and Allen as the three looked around for a Inn to stay in for the night. They finally found an available room and the two boys were going to give it to the girl to have for the night. Her eyes widened in alarm, she didn’t want to be left alone. They quickly caught on and the three went up to the one bed hotel room. Aya blushed, knowing how inappropriate it looked her going into a room with two boys but she desperately needed someone there with her. She was still lost in her own mind and she didn’t want to be alone while she was in a new place.

Darkness pooled over the sky as she lay in the bed that night. Lavi was on the floor beside the bed and Allen was on a small love seat on the other end of the room. Aya had felt bad that Lavi was on the floor but was too embarrassed to offer to share the bed. She shifted to her side unable to fall asleep.

“Lavi…” She whispered into the dark room. She heard him hmm in reply, then asked a stupid question. “You awake?”

Lavi kept his eyes closed and his arms crossed behind his head. “Yeah…” He whispered back. Aya scooted to the edge of the bed and peeked over at the boy on the floor.

“Whatchu doing?” She asked knowing it was a silly question but she couldn’t sleep and she wanted someone to talk too.

Lavi opened one eye and peered up at her. She looked adorable, her eyes peeking over the bed like that. “Laying on a beach listening to the waves.” He answered sarcastically. He saw her eyes squint indicating she was probably smiling. “You should join me, it’s rather nice.”

Aya giggled into the covers. Sighing she continued to stare down at the boy. “Lavi?”

“Yeah…”

“Do you think I’ll ever remember everything?” She whispered in a hopeless tone.

The boy sat up finally and turned to her, his head being level with hers now. “If you do, I’d be excited to create new memories with you.” He said with a smile. “If you don’t, I’d be just as willing to create the old ones again then the new ones after.” Aya bit her lip. After a few minutes of the two just staring at each other she scooted back in the bed, till her back was against the wall.

“The floor looks uncomfortable.” She mumbled, thankful for the darkness of the room. She wasn’t sure how red she was but she knew it would have been noticeable in the light. Lavi took the hint and didn’t waste a minute, he climbed into the bed and laid on his back beside her.

“Aya…” He whispered as she curled up beside him. She looked up at him waiting for him to continue. He looked down at her and smiled. “I’ll protect the things close to you…” He said and she gave him a slightly confused look. “If it’s in my power I wont allow things you love and care about to be taken from you. And I’ll find a way to make you feel as though your hands are cleaned.” He wrapped his hand around hers. “And if possible I’ll take your ‘tainted’ soul as my own burden.” He smiled and leaned over kissing her forehead. ‘She doesn’t deserve such weight on her shoulders.’ Lowering his head he leaned his forehead on hers, “lets get some sleep, kay?” She nodded and curled up closer to him.

“Night Lavi.” She yawned out lowly.

Lavi gently squeezed her hand and waited until she fell asleep before letting his eyes close. “Sweet dreams, Aya.”

Tyki frowned as he flipped the card in his hand. He had just finished off another person on his list but he was slightly confused. The card wasn’t broken as he thought it might have been. Both the exorcist he had just killed names were eased from the tiny card. Yet, Mikihara Ayaka's name still remained as clear as day. ‘I thought I handled that already.’ He thought as he slipped the card into his pocket and changed from his black side to the white one. He’d have to send some underlings to investigate that. Right now he had plans with his human friends.

The next morning Allen woke up and stretched his arms. He looked over at the bed and smiled at the scene. Lavi was protectively wrapped around Aya, almost hiding her completely from anyone who dared try to look her way. He chuckled softly as he stood.

“What’s so funny?” Lavi asked as he looked back at Allen from over his shoulder.

“Oh nothing.” Allen said with a smirk. Lavi sent him a goofy smile before turning back to his bedmate and nuzzling the top of her head. “I’ll go get some breakfast for us.” Lavi nodded silently as Allen left the room.

“I don’t have to wake up yet right?” Aya mumbled still half asleep. Lavi smiled and shook his head, even though she couldn’t see.

“Nah, you can sleep a little longer if ya want.” He mumbled into the top of her head. Aya didn’t need to be told twice, soon she was back into the world of dreams.

Allen walked out of the Inn smiling and waving to the older woman behind the desk. After a little detour to make a call and report their good news to the supervisor, he decided to go to the bakery he’d seen the night before.

He was getting ready to leave, heading back to the hotel room when a loud boom sounded. He quickly ran out of the small shop and looked for the source. He froze when he saw a cloud of thick black smoke emerge from the general location of the hotel. His feet pounded against the hard ground as he ran towards the Inn.

As he neared the sight and realized that half of the Inn was in shambles his eye sprung to life. He eyed the two Akuma that were floating around the shattered building. His arm grew into its claw like weapon and the battle begun. He would find Aya and Lavi as soon as he finished these two off. He just had to believe that the two were alright.

Komui sat in silence for a while after he had received Allen's report. He was uncharacteristically calm and collected as he stared a the mug on his desk.

“Brother, is everything okay?” Lenalee asked concerned as she entered his office. Her brother looked up at her and nodded.

“Allen just called.” He stated calmly. Lenalee waited for further news. “They found Ayaka.” Lenalee dropped the tray she had been holding staring wide eyed at her brother. She grabbed his shoulders and smiled.

“Really?” She asked happily. “She's alive!” Her smile fell when she noticed her brother wasn’t smiling back at her. “What’s wrong brother?”

Komui sat back in his chair and stared at the piece of paper on his desk. “She has no memory of the Order or of most of her past.” He said into the silent room.

Lenalee frowned and looked towards the floor. ‘Lavi…’ She thought in sorrow, knowing that the boy was probably heartbroken to know his Aya had forgotten him. Her eyes suddenly shot up to her brother. “Have you told Kanda?” Her brother shook his head, and Lenalee nodded in understanding. Soon Komui returned to his silly self, twirling around the room, rambling about how lovely it would be to have Aya-chan back home. Regardless of her memory lapse, he declared that they would all just have to help her remember her love for the Order and the exorcist around her.

Even though it relieved Lenalee to see her brother return to his normal carefree self. She still worried about the effect of Aya’s amnesia would have on her friends.

Aya coughed as the dust settled around her. Lavi gently brushed some of the debris out of her hair. “You okay?” She nodded and glanced around.

“What happened?” She asked still in a slight daze. This was not how she wanted to wake up.

“There was an attack on the Inn I think.” He said from above her. When the explosion went off he had instinctively pulled her to his chest and protected her with his own body. “I think we are under the building…” He said with a quick look around them. “Allen should be able to handle the Akuma. Us on the other hand…”

Aya looked around the tiny dark space the two of them were enclosed in. She gulped and held onto the front of his shirt in a nervous manner. “We’re stuck?” She asked. Lavi shivered as he felt her hot breath along his throat. This was not the time for him to get turned on. The two of them were stuck in a cramped probably unstable pile of rubble. Yet, all he could think about was her curvy body pressed up against his own. In a moment of complete lack of common sense he leaned down and gently placed his lips on hers. “We’ll be alright.” He whispered against her lips. “I’ll get us out of here.”

Aya's face heated up when she felt those soft lips against her own. At his whisper of reassurance she nodded and took a calming breath. “I know." She whispered back, knowing he’d protect her until she could properly protect herself again.