the last request

chapter 1

"W-what did you say!" Lavi asked angrily, as Road stared at them, her grin widening even further, until she looked like the Cheshire Cat.

"You heard me, Bookman. Allen comes alone, or I summon all the Noah here, and you all die." Road said with icy cold certainty, and an insane grin that screamed of evil. Lenalee gritted her teeth, and Krory looked around, as if to see by what routes they could escape. Allen was the only one who was still calm, because Lenalee was glaring furiously at Road, certain that she was up to something. And, in a sense, she was. But not what Lenalee was thinking.

"I-I'll do it." Allen said nervously, putting a hand on his stomach to stop himself from throwing up. The last time he had fought Road had been terrifying, and he still couldn't forget that feeling of utter, ice cold dread that filled his entire body when he fought Tyki for the first time, and realized just how horribly outclassed he was. It was like death incarnate bearing down on him, and it made him sick.

"Allen-kun! N..." Lenalee began, but Road suddenly surrounded them with candle spikes.

"Shut the fuck up, pigtails! Allen's made his decision! And besides..." She said, her voice returning to its sugary sweet tone. "If you cooperate, I promise you won't regret it. I'll reward you all beyond anything you could possibly hope for."

"What proof can you offer that you won't turn on your deal?" Allen asked. At this, Road snickered, then nodded briefly.

"Absolutely none. You have no reason to trust me. You'll just have to take me at my word this time."

"Unfortunately, Road, your word means nothing to us." Lenalee said icily. Road giggled. "I know, sweetheart. But it's your only chance of survival. You remember the last time you fought me, right, Bookman? Remember how I ripped your mind to shreds? I was going easy on you. I was having too much fun to kill you right away. It won't be nearly so easy this time."

"Relax, Lenalee, Lavi, Krory... I'll go. I suspect she just wants a little play date. Isn't that right, Road?" Allen asked politely, but she could tell that he hated her as much as the rest of them.

"That's right, Allen. So hurry up, or we'll be late for the party. Take my hand... What! I promise my hand doesn't bite." She said, implying that other parts of her did. Allen grudgingly took her hand, and followed her into the dream world.

"I see. So this is what Lavi saw that time, eh?"

"Yes. Now, in here, we have all the time in the world, but I would like to take care of business slowly, so we can reach the finale quickly." Road said in a contradictory statement, causing Allen to raise an eyebrow.

"Don't worry. You'll understand. First of all, I guess it should go without saying, but I really do love you, Allen. I know that you love Lenalee deeply, and even though I feel deeply jealous of her, I don't begrudge her, or you." Road said quietly, a blush appearing on her porcelain cheeks. Allen stepped back for a moment, shocked at this revelation. Was she being serious? Did she really love him? He knew that she had a silly, girlish crush on him... And even that was a bit over the top. But love? That was extremely serious.

"That being said, I know that the end is approaching rapidly. The final struggle will soon be upon us, and if the Dark Order remains as woefully ignorant as it is now, you will be slaughtered like pigs on sacrifice day. That doesn't have to happen, though. There is a chance to remedy your ignorance and stupidity. However, to do it, you need access to secret files whose location is known to only three people. The Fourteenth, now gone, The Millennium Earl, and I. That means that you haven't got a chance to find them... Not on your own. You need my help, but you know me too well for that. My assistance doesn't come for free."