Reverse 2
I've finished D.Gray-man Reverse 2 a few weeks ago (at last!!) And because a friend asks the summary for the last story, then.. why not?
D.Gray-man Reverse 2 : 「四十九番目の名前」
Story 01 : A Thousand of Tragedies 「１０００の悲劇」.
The Hakushaku is very busy. He travelled here and there to raise his akuma-tachi, for them to become an excellent akuma. In a town, he found a little boy, crying and looking for his mom. For the time being, the Hakushaku took him along. They visited a town, giving hope to a person who has just lost his dearest one. To another town, to nurture a just-born akuma. Maybe he is a little bit tired. He was heading to a house that is somewhere in this world, yet somewhere not in this world. A dark skinned girl was in the house. She asked the Hakushaku whether the boy he brought along is for them to eat. Hakushaku said ‘no’. He, then, left the house after holding a piece of note in his hand. After sometime, again, they arrive at the town where they first met. This time, the boy managed to found his parents. They are very happy to be able to see each other again. The parents expressed their gratitude to the Hakushaku. Before leaving, he patted the boy’s head. ‘You have to grow up soon and love a lot of people’, he said. He turns back and whispered, ‘..then, make yourself an excellent akuma. I’ll be waiting anxiously’.
His name is Sennen Hakushaku. The akuma-maker. A silk hat in his head. His favorite thing is.. tragedy.
Story 02 : The 49th Name 「四十九番目のなまえ」.
A strange strings of event happened in a small town near Paris. Bookman and Rabi were sent to investigate the event. The finders in the town reported that the event might have something to do with akuma. At the town, they meet the finder, Dag(ダグ). In the past, they had a chance of working together. Dag heard a rumour about the Goddess of Dawn’s statue (払暁の女神像), located somewhere in the woods and is said to be able to revive the death. To add things up, lots of people were went missing these past months. No one has been bothering to look for them because it’s a small town, and it’s not peculiar for people to leave to look for job in nearby Paris, or for travellers to continue their journey without saying a thing. Dag suspected that something fishy is happening inside the richest family in the town, the Drussels family. The lady of the family has just passed away, and eversince, the remaining family member, the master, Jerome, and the son, Serge, has been acting strange. At night, Jerome wanders around the town. Serge has kept himself shut in the mansion. And the maid, Colett, would get mad at any passer by she saw.
The group went to the Drussels’ mansion to investigate. Before they could get in, a little maid, not more than 10 years old, called Colett (コレット) drove them away. The young master, Serge, then, let them in and answered their questions. Yes, he had heard the rumours about the Goddes of Dawn’s statue. A weird man that called himself a travelling fortune teller has came to visit the mansion a few months ago. The man talked to Jerome. But not long, Serge, who thought that the man is somewhat suspicious, drove him out the house. Eventhough the mansion is big, the only servant remaining is Colett alone. Since the madame died, the servant has left them one by one. Dag symphatizes the young Colett. At such a young age, she has to leave her family and work alone at a mansion as big as the Drussels’, in order to pay her family’s debt. In the contrary for Rabi, Colett might be the akuma they’re looking for. Ignoring Dag’s disapproval, he runs his way of inspection on Colett, which made the girl hates him. It was then revelaled that the young girl has to work for the family to pay off her family's debt. In the end, Dag and Rabi went to the town to accompany Colett to do her shopping, which left Bookman alone near the mansion to keep watch on it. On the way to the town, Colett seemed to grows her trust on Dag even more than Rabi. Rabi sigh, thought that it couldn’t be helped because Dag had the gift to get along vey well with kids. Colett asked Rabi whether he hurt his right eye. Rabi and Dag stunned. Rabi said that he didn’t hurt his eye and ask Colett if she was worried for him. Colett, as if reading the tense air, quickly ended the subject. It has been quite a long time since someone ever asked what’s behind his right eyepatch. People might imagining lots of things, but Rabi thinks no one would have guessed that his right eyes was the one that made him chosen as Bookman’s successor. Only Bookman knew what’s behind the eyepatch. And no one else had the need to know.
When the three of them returned, Colett went inside the mansion. Bookman joined the both of them and said no one entered the mansion, beside a suspicious man. It reminded them of what Serge said about a weird man that has visited the mansion some time ago, but Bookman said that the probability that it was the same man is very low. At night, a shadow slipped out of the house. When the group intends to follow the shadow, that is Jerome, another group of men appeared. They were sent by a certain someone to eliminate Rabi, Bookman, and Dag. Not wanting to lose their target, Rabi and Bookman asked Dag to follow Jerome while they will take care of those men. Dag followed Jerome to the woods, into somekind of area where trees didn’t grow, instead a lot of statues standing here and there. To Dag’s surprise, Serge also went there. He talked to Jerome about Jerome’s habit of killing people. Serge demanded his father to hand over the diamond pendant, the family heirloom that believed to have brought prosperity into the family, if Jerome wants him to keep quiet about his deeds. Another shock to Dag, Colett is also there. The little girl went to follow the master, but she saw Dag behind the bushes, watching the conversation between the son and the father. Dag can’t help not being angry when he saw bruises in Colett’s body. After the madame of the house died, Serge started to abuse her. The master, Jerome, didn’t do anything, for he always staying in his own room, mourning over his wife’s death. Dag promised that from the point on, he will be the one to protect Colett. He will do something about her debt. After his work in the town is done, they will be leaving together. On the other side, much to Serge’s surprise, Jerome said that there is one other way to keep things in secret, that is to kill Serge. At this point, Jerome transforms into an akuma, a level 2 akuma. Serge, sensed that his life in grave danger, trying to escape. Another man came. It was the man that Serge has sent to eliminate Rabi and the others. The newcomer said that Rabi and Bookman are way too strong. His presence distracted the akuma from Serge. The poor man, then, get killed. Dag and Colett tried to keep calm. Dag encouraged Colett. Everything will be okay once Rabi, the exorcist, get there. He will come and save them from the akuma. Serge spotted Colett, and took her as his shield, when the akuma, again, targeted him. Knowing Colett is in danger, Dag went out and make himself as a bait for the akuma. He tries to keep the akuma as far as possible from Colett. When he can no longer escape, Rabi shows up. He took Colett away from Serge and asked Dag to look after the girl, while he himself fighting the akuma. After taking a blow from the akuma, because of his own negligence which cost him a little scratch, Rabi finished off the akuma in a swing of his hammer. Because of this event, Colett grows her trust on Rabi. For the first time, she called Rabi by his name and said ‘thank you’. Rabi, Bookman, and Dag escorted Colett back to the mansion. Before she went to the mansion, Colett said that she is okay because from now on, she has Dag who will protect her.
Rabi and Bookman went ahead to the Black Church, while Dag stays behind to settle a few things up. In the Black Church, Komui told Rabi about a new exorcist that just joined in. A boy called Allen Walker. At the moment, the boy was sent on a mission to Germany, to investigate the case of a time rewinding town. Komui also told Rabi that Dag has just returned and has just entered the water entrance in the underground the base. Rabi returned to his room and thinking about things. A week has passed since last he saw Dag. He must asked Dag about the white-laced ribbon that Dag has bought as present to Colett. Then, he thought about the time he has spent in the Black Church. During his journey with Bookman, in order to record the undersurface of history, this is the first time he has spent 2 years in the same place. He never spent that long in one place. A scream echoes. Rabi stepped out of his room and found out a bloody scenery in front of him. Members of the Black Church were down, covered with blood. They have died because of something that, Rabi deduced, is not something a human might be capable of. It must be an akuma. But akuma is not supposed to be able to enter the Black Church homebase.. Following the blood trace, Rabi found a dying member that was uttering Dag’s name. Dag always put other’s life over his. He might be trying to lure the akuma away from the others. Dag’s room is just around the corner. Worried over his safety, Rabi walks faster. Dag is in the balcony of his room. He said that a strange creature has attacked him, but that creature has escaped from the balcony. Rabi stunned. Now, he perfectly understand what Dag has been said about looking through the eyes of the one you’re talking to. He can’t be fooled. By looking into Dag’s eyes, he knew that he is not the Dag he used to know. He is confronting an akuma that wearing Dag’s skin. Rabi can’t understand what had happened. All of sudden, a bat appeared. It’s not an ordinary one, because his head is that of a skull and he could talk. The bat is one of the Hakushaku’s servant. His job is to watch over the akuma Dag and the plan to destroy the Black Church homebase from the inside. The bat, Dobby (remind you of something?), said that Dag became an akuma because he went to the Goddess of Dawn’s statue while holding the little girl’s dead body. Rabi surprised. Colett has died? Dobby told him that Colett died because of Serge had abused her very badly. Apparently, Serge accused Colett of stealing the family heirloom, the diamond pendant. Rabi remembered the pendant he had destroyed together with the akuma Jerome. Rabi could imagine how Dag went to the Drussel’s mansion, with the ribbon in his hand, thinking how happy Colett would be to receive his gift, only to find the girl’s lifeless body. Dag is not someone who could open his heart to just anyone. He was moved by Colett. And her death because of something she didn’t even done, must have been a great shock to him. Dag is a member of the Black Church. He knew how the Hakushaku operates, yet, hoping for a small chance of miracle, he went to the Goddess’ statue, calling Colett’s name over and over, and bind the miserable young girl’s soul from her journey to heaven, into this akuma. The Goddess was nothing more than a rumour spreaded by the Hakushaku, to lure people into becoming akuma. In front of him, Dag transformed into his akuma form. A level 2 akuma. Rabi hadn’t seen him in only one week, and Dag has become a level 2. He must had killed lots pf people. The memories he had with Dag and Colett are fleeting before his eyes. He is the one to continue Bookman’s name. The one to record the undersurface history. He is just an observer. He never get close to anyone, and he doesn’t need to. First, Rabi smashed Dobby. Then, he went against the akuma Dag. Dag has managed to scratch Rabi’s cheek. Something hot runs down. Rabi thought it must be blood. Nothing serious. It’s just a slight scratch. He didn’t know that it wasn’t the sensation of his own blood. It was his tears that running down his cheek. At this point, Bookman just silently watching the fight. In order to fight Dag, Rabi had to release his innocence into level 2. He destroyed akuma Dag with his fire mark.
In the next morning, Komui asked Bookman and Rabi to join him to Germany, to the time rewinding town.
..I’ll go anywhere. Because I’m the one to succeed the name of Bookman.
Do not turn your heart to anyone more than necessary. Do not intervene.
We will remain as the spectator of history.
That is the destiny of someone that will held the name of Bookman. Because that is the law.
****
“What are you?”
…The one to succeed the name of Bookman.
“What is Bookman?”,
…Bookman is the one that went across the world in order to chase history.
“What is a Bookman supposed to be?”
…just like a swift of wind. The wind would never stay in just one place. The wind would never gave his heart to the place where he just passed by. He will just swift away.
“Right now, one more question. What are you?”
…The one to succeed the name of Bookman. The present name is..
…Rabi.
Story 03 : The Social Gathering Party of the Black Church 「黒の教団親睦パーティ」.
As usual, the 29 years old Komui Lee is slacking off his job. While his subordinates worked overnight, he went somewhere else. That morning, Komui walking across his room, carefully enough not to disturb his subordinates whose slept like a log from exhaustion. On his desk, a paper with Lenalee’s name caught his attention. It was a newspaper, the first editon of the ‘Black Church Times’, featuring an interview with his dearest Lenalee. His expression changed after reading the paper, and he left the room.
Allen has just returned to the Black Church when Rabi approaches. Rabi told him about the social gathering party that will be held that night. Komui, who passed by with fliers of the party in both of his hands, reminded both of them not to missed the party. There will be a gourgeous prize for the winner of the game in the party. At the word ‘prize’, Allen made up his mind to win it over. He had to do something to reduce the amount of debt that has been left into his shoulder by his master, Cross Marian. He hoped that the prize would be in cash. But, if it were to be an object, he might be able to turn them into cash.
The party is very lively. A lot of people shows up. Miranda and Allistair are among the crowds. Unexpectedly, Kanda is also there, wearing a casual attire with Mugen in his waist. He bumped into Allistair and snorted at the man. As usual, he is lack of courtesy. He was the one who bumped in, instead of apologizing, he blames the poor Allistair. Rabi and Allen watch as Kanda walking across the room with, somewhat, unsteady steps. From a few finders who stood not far from both of them, they learn out the reason of Kanda’s appearance. No way in hell that Kanda would gladly attends such a party. Apparently, he was called in into Komui’s office and was forced to drink something, most likely, alcohol, thus the present state he was in. Beside the Black Church member, the Asia Branch office members are present at the party, including the leader, 29 years old Baku Chan, the Asia Branch Science Division apprentice, Rou Fa, and Won. The party began. The hosts were the Lee’s siblings, Komui and Lenalee. The first game in the party is an eating contest. Within 30 minutes, all contestants have to clean up the dishes prepared in the table in front of them. No one is allowed to decline. The loser will got to do a batsu game. The dish were a mountain of cream puff. A member tries to decline, saying he got a weak stomach. Upon this request, Komui pushed a button. A hole open up under his chair, mercilessly, the member falling down together with his chair. The rest of the people in the hall heard a distant falling sound, bashing water, and something -inhumanly- shriek. Everyone, then, knew. There is no way they could back up. And knowing Komui, no one intends to take a part in the batsu game he has prepared. Komui called this game as ‘russian cream puff eating contest’. Inside the mountain of cream puff in front of them, there are some cream puff that is filled with things other than custard. Rabi and Allen took this very easy. They have no doubt that they could eat lots of them. Until Rabi set his eyes on Bookman. The old man lay stiff, a half eaten cream puff falls from his hand. The hall is in uproar. Komui put poison in the cream puff? Of course, Komui denies. It turns out that some of the cream puff served to Bookman had bananas as fillings, things that he dislike the most, thus his present unconscious condition. Again, Komui pushed a button. A hole opens up, swallowing both of Bookman and his chair. Komui didn’t even go easy on elderly.
Rabi just sit and watch what had happened to his master. He commented that as a Bookman, they shouldn’t fall down in the first place. As his successor, he had no other choice but to do his best and sees the end of it. Just after Rabi finishes his sentence, he went down, with tears and dripping nose. His cream puff contains wasabi, something he hates. Allen tries to prevent the young man from wiping his dripping nose with Allen’s sleeve, when Allen himself noticed something wrong in his own cream puff. The fillings is alcohol. Allen couldn’t bring himself to eat it, as his trauma strikes again. Once, he got so hungry and ate the dishes made for Cross Marian to eat when he drinks his alcohol. The punishment he got from Cross right after, had him terribly traumatized. Rabi suggested for them to switch plates. He didn’t mind alcohol, and Allen is okay with wasabi. He tries to divert everyone’s attention by raising an uproar. His target is Kanda, but unexpectedly, the later man didn’t budge at all. A pot of tea is served. Allen pours it for everyone, but when it came to Kanda’s, it spilled. Kanda got mad, and both of them went bickering. Mugen almost brought into the bickering, if not for Lenalee asked both of them to stop. Grinning widely, Rabi told Allen that he had switched their plates. The next time they need to make Yuu angry, he said, he will leave it all into Allen’s hand. Allen grumbled, told him not to do that, seriously. Rabi wondering will the girls be okay, since the amount of the food would be way too much for them. Nearby, Miranda had finished almost a half of her part. On the Asian branch side, Rou Fa couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted Baku to take her leftover. Baku curtly refused. Except for Lenalee, he didn’t bother himself to be nice to girls. Rou Fa schemed to move all of the remainings in her plate into Baku’s. As she got into quarelling with the annoyed Baku (whose allergic reaction already shown up), he realized that the cream puff in his plate has, again, increased. In his side, Won wiped his mouth with paper tissue in front of a clean plate. Now, Baku venting his anger towards Won. Won said that he had the responsibility to raise Baku into a fine man. Baku snorted that he didn’t need to be raised anymore since he’s already 29 years old. Other members of the Asian branch went around him, bringing their plates with their leftovers in it, looking so miserably at Baku. Their face have already change into those of over-eating zombies. The bickering would went far, if not for Lenalee, who, again, put the end of it. On the other part of the hall, the science division are throwing nasty words with the finders group. They have no intention to lose, at least not to each other. The finders had an advantage for their tough endurance. As the science division’s last resort, River took off Johnny’s coiling glassess, clearing the bushy hair that hides his face, and confronted the clueless Johnny with the finders group. The finders went silent, before they were thrown into a roar of laughter. Johnny murmured, is his face really that funny? He then, went face to face with River. River tries to make him look into another direction, with no avail. Following the finders group, the science division, minus Johnny, went into a deafening laughing state. Time is up. Both the finders group and science division were failed. Except Johnny, they went down, swallowed by holes ignited by the button in Komui’s hand. The participants that had the right to continue to the second stage were about 20 persons, including Baku, Won, Miranda, Allistair, Kanda, Rabi, and Allen. The rest are from the finders group.
The next stage is performed in a transparent room, with transparent chairs. The room is unbelievably cold. Kanda sit in one of the chair, without a change in his expression. This time, it is an endurance contest. The participants have to sit in the chair and eating giant serving of kakigori (shaved ice) in 10 minutes. They could choose between the strawberry or melon flavour. The one who went out of the room will be the loser. Right after sitting in the freezing chair, 3 finders fled out, and failed the game. Allistair is fine with cold, because he used to live in a place where snow falls often. Baku grumbled. He is freezing and could feel nothing. He didn’t get which part of the party is the social gathering, Won slapped Baku’s cheek with all his might. Baku couldn’t afford to fall asleep, he said. If something were to happen with Baku, he’d forced to commit harakiri. Baku snorted Won is a Chinese, so it won’t make any sense if he were to commit harakiri. If Won really worried over him, he should eat his share of kakigori. Won replied that he couldn’t hear a thing. It seemed an insect has been blocking his ears. Baku snapped. In this damned freezing room, there is no way an insect could survive. Rabi also wondering, which part of this party is to be called a social gathering, since it has obviously turns into a survival game. While trying to eat his share of kakigori, Allen gazed outside the room. He saw Lenalee and Komui, wrapped in a fury coat and drinking hot coffee. Allen couldn’t understand a scientist’s way of thinking. In his mind, Cross Marian is categorized into ‘weirdos that are impossible to comprehend’. Today, Komui is also included into that category. At the other side, Kanda, who still, as expressionless as ever, kept eating his kakigori. What is he, Allen wonders. A cyborg? Thus, Kanda’s entrance into Allen’s ‘weirdos that are impossible to comprehend’ category. At the end of 10 minutes, 2 more finders being brought out from the room. They couldn’t finished their kakigori and were frozen in the room. Rabi was about to rise from his seat, but his trousers has been attached to the frozen chair. He fell down together with his chair. Under this harsh situation, nobody had the time to help him to get up. A pitcher filled with ice is brought in. Miranda, who happens to be the closest from the entrance door, took the pitcher and intended to put it in the table in the center of the room. Before she could do so, she tripped over nothing, and the ice landed into the head of a nearby finder. The guy, of course, screamed. He fleed out of the room, trying to brush off the ice. Miranda wailed, said that she is terribly sorry. She poured the remaining ice into herself, and went after the finder. Allen was about to tell Miranda to calm down, but he was too late. Both Miranda and the finder has been disqualified. This time, Rabi mimicking Allistair’s funny way of speech. The man get annoyed, and before Rabi could stop his act, Allistair has become enraged, even the way he speaks has changed. Rabi trying to cool him down, in vain. He seeks help from Baku. Allistair heading over Baku, with Rabi sheltering behind the man. Seeing his master in danger, Won yelled. Baku thought that despite whatever Won might had said, he never abandoned him when danger approaches. Much to his dismay, instead of saving him, Won has sheltered himself in a corner quite far from Baku. For Baku’s growth, Won will turn his heart into that of a devil. Again, Baku snorted. He had grown enough. He is now, 29 years old, for God’s sake. Baku lured Allistair into Won. The old man yelled that it is very mean of Baku to do that to such an old man. Won performed a tomoe-nage (an overhead throw in judo) which directly hits Allistair. On the side, Baku commented that Won is a Chinese, so he is not supposed to do something like a tomoe-nage. On the other hand, Allistair managed to catch Won, and they went flying through the translucent wall. Komui announces that both of them had failed. A hole opens up, and the two man falling down, together. The room has been damaged, because of the hole in the wall that Allistair and Won has just made. In regards of this, the game has been decided to be over with. The remaining participants are Rabi, Allen, Baku, and Kanda.
The last game is a poker contest. Knowing that it will be the last, Allen has ensured himself that he will be able to win. Baku might not be able to perform well because of his nervousness, not to mention that he had to deal with his allergic reaction. Even if Kanda is here, he is stupid, so it’s out of question. The one that had to be carefully dealt with is Rabi, with his mysterious background. They played a draw poker game. The wild card is the joker. Allen’s expression lit up. Rabi can clearly see that the boy is prepared to crush anyone who get in his way to win the game. The black Allen, once again. Baku asked Allen to let him win. Afterall, he is the guest, so it is natural if he were given the chance to win the game. Allen curtly refuses. Baku only wants to win because he wants to show Lenalee his good point. As his last resort, Baku pull out a spray that will let anyone who inhaled it to forget their latest memory in a split of second. During the process, he hopes to be able to switch his decks with Allen’s. Komui saw this and seized the dangerous item from Baku’s possession. Then, Komui revealed Baku’s card in the table. It’s a 3-1 pair. Kanda yelled that it is his victory, for he had a double three card. At this new poker vocabulary, everyone’s eyes went to Kanda. He got six cards. Rabi sighed, and asking for someone to explain the rule of the game to Kanda. Komui announced Kanda’s lost. The young man is about to object, but he falls down. The liquor he has been forced to take has shown its effect. The game has been left to Rabi and Allen. Both of them had no intention to lose. Rabi’s deck is a spade royal straight flush. A definite victory, if Allen didn’t realize that among the spade cards, a 10 clover has been mixed into it. Allen revealed his deck, a diamond royal straight flush, with a joker replacing the king diamond. Allen Walker, the winner, is now very excited to find out what is the georgeous prize that has been prepared for the winner..
That day, the only benefit of the social gathering party is that, everyone in the Black Church has been united in order to hunt a certain someone.. The fact that came right after the event is that the ‘Black Church Times’ never made into its second edition..
****
Did anyone share the same opinion with me about the strange time line of the last story..?
On the side note, my favorite quote from the 2nd story is「、、バカな奴だ。オレはおまえに心を許してなんかいないのに。あんなにオレを信頼していた」. “..what a stupid guy. I never let you into my heart. Yet, you trusted me that much..”