Forever Holding On

Chapter 18

I back up and almost fall on the floor, Lavi almost lunged at Cross, but he turned and held me steadily. "Ivory, calm down..." He takes me by my shoulders and stands behind me. Allen blinks and cocks his head to the side. "Uh uhm..." He backs away. Cross flicks the cigarette away and crossed his arms. "Hello idiot pupil, female idiot pupil." He narrows his eyes especially at me.

"Leave her alone." Lavi grits through his teeth. My heart almost stopped beating when I saw Cross, I instantly remember when I ran away from him in the forest. The sight of him sickened me, I keep trying to back away. I end up running behind Lavi. Lenalee and Komui walk toward us, Komui nearly dropped his mug when he saw Cross. "G-General Cross!" He stammered.

"Hey Komui." Cross sighed. "What's up?" He takes his hat off. Lenalee walked over to Allen and started questioning him. "W-Where were you this whole time?! You went missing!" Komui flails not knowing what to do. I still held onto Lavi for dear life, Lavi clenches his fists on a ball, and Allen just stands there shocked, answering Lenalee's questions.

"Well after training another pupil I decided to take a vacation, so I did." Cross shrugs. "In fact, I ran into Ivory while getting lost in a forest." He glances at me. I feel my stomach drop, Lavi turns around. "That's where you were this whole time? Stuck in a forest with him?" He whispers. "N-Not with him no..." I shake my head. "I ran away from him." I say. Lavi turns around, he swallows hard and heaves a sigh. "And what are you doing back?" He asks harshly.

Cross shakes his head and sighs. "I had to come back. I have to take someone with me for a second training session, they won't leave for a couple days, but tue training will take a good three years." He looked at Lavi. Allen had sweat forming at his forehead, Lenalee stood off to the side with her brother. I came over to Allen and held his arm, a little too tightly, he cringed, but stayed where he was.

"And, one more question." Lavi crossed his arms, I prayed to myself that he wasn't going to hit him, or bring up my past with him. Cross tips his head. "And that is...?" He asks, Lavi looked up. "Who is it that your taking from the order?" He asked in a calm voice. My hands start to quiver and shake, butterflies were fluttering around so much I wanted to throw up, I chewed on my lower lip and looked around at the order. He could be taking anyone, the order is filled with exorcists once accompanied by him.

Cross smirks a bit and lowered his head for a few seconds, then lifted his head and looked at Lavi, then to Allen, then to me.

"Ivory."

I released Allen's arm and let out a stifled cry. Allen gasped loudly and looked at me, Komui and Lenalee covered their mouths, and Lavi's eyes widened. "Y-Your taking my sister away, again?" He stammers out backing up to a wall. "No! No!" I fall to my knees and start to sob. "Why Cross?! She just got here!" Allen snaps kneeling beside me and putting his hand on my back. Cross blinks. "I didn't think it would hit you so hard, she just needs more-" Cross was interrupted when Lavi took his fist and slammed it against the wall, he could care less about the pain. "I just got her back! I never saw her again since she was ten when you first took her away! Why did you let her go of you were just going to take her away from me again!"

"Lavi that's enough." Komui ordered,but Lavi kept going. "How could you, I oughta..." Lavi goes to lunge at Cross, but Allen, Lenalee and Komui held him back. "Stop Lavi!" Allen yelled. "Your going insane!!" He yells again. I grab my head and almost slam it on the ground, my sobs were silent enough for no one to hear.

"Does she really have to go Cross? Foes she?" Komui grits through his teeth while holding Lavi back. Lavi gave up slowly and stared at the ground, but no one let go of him. Cross lets out a sigh and looks off to the side at me. "She may not want to, nor may any of you want her to, but unfortunately, she has to." He confirms.

Allen hissed and glared away from Cross, Lavi growled and fell on his knees. "Bastard..." He put his hand over his eyes. I finally snapped and stood up. "Why couldn't I just stay here and learn! Just why! I don't want to leave!" I snap. "I don't want to go! I DON'T!" I slam my hammer on the ground, sending a crack through it. I stifle another sob before I turned around and bolted off to my room.

"Ivory! Come back!" Allen went to chase after me, but I slammed the door and locked it. I throw my self down on my bed and bury my face in a pillow, I start to cry hysterically. Like I never cried before, the tears stung my bruised eye, but I didn't care. My life is over, it was all over. I had to go back there, with that sick son of a bitch for another three years. I had to leave everyone! My brother, Allen.

I sniff and look at the ring on my finger, the sight of it made me choke up again and I spent almost two hours doing nothing but crying.

***

"Ivory. Please let us in."

I snapped my eyes open when I heard Allen's voice. I had cried myself to sleep, I didn't know how long or how many times Allen or Lavi knocked on my door. I had to let them in, I really needed them. I shakily rose out of bed and trudged to the door, I silently opened it, but instead of Lavi and Allen, it was Lavina and Allen.

"Can we come in? Please?" Allen asked, his voice sounded strained. Lavina pursed her lips together and sniffed. I nod slightly and move away for them to come in, I was about to close the door. "Wait for me." Lavi put his hand on the door, stopping me. He pushed himself in the room and sat down on the floor. I blinked and quietly closed the door, locking it again.

It turned to all of them, sliding down the door and onto the floor. We sat in silence for about a minute or two. "You don't know how hard this is." I say, my voice raspy from crying so much. They all looked at me. "I can't imagine." Lavina says. I chew on my lower lip. "No one can imagine coming to the order after a harsh training with a good for nothing master." I say. Allen raised his hand to say something. "I know Allen, you used to work with Cross, but you don't have to go back with him." I say to Allen.

Lavi was taking the news the hardest, considering I told him about my past with Cross. He just sat there with his knees pulled to his chest. I hear Lavina sniff again. "But you just got back, safe, from going missing..." She says. "What if you don't get to come back? What if you have to get sent to the Asia branch, or the American branch or-" I shuffle closer to them and put my hand on Lavina's shoulder. "I'll make damn sure I'll come back to this place." I promise her, even though at first, I never wanted to go here, this place grew on me, only because I have the greatest friends here. Plus the only family member I have left goes here, I couldn't bear to handle another branch on my own.

I lean back against the door again. "All of you, I want you to make me an individual promise." I start, I keep my eyes on the ground but I could sense them looking at me. "Lavi, I want you to promise me that you will keep working hard, complete missions, and write to me. Everyday, write to me." I say. "Lavina, I want you to promise me that you will keep my brother intact, make sure he doesn't get angry at anybody. Keep him sane for me." I tell her. "And Allen." I start. "I want you, to keep your head held high. Don't worry about me, just keep doing what you are doing."

Allen blinks. "But Ivory what about-" I stop him when I hold up my hand showing off the promise ring. "Remember, this will never come off." I look at him and give a pained smile. Allen stays silent and sighs a little. I look at all of them. "Promise me." I put my hand out. "Because I promise you guys, I will come back to you, and we will all be happy again." I nod. Lavina, Allen and Lavi all exchange looks. They all looked at my hand, Lavina put her hand in, next Lavi's, finally Allen's. They all looked at me.

"We Promise."