A whirl of light, colour, dancing, and laughter filled the room. Maki passed friends and acquaintances alike, each warmly greeting her. A green-haired girl vigorously hugged Maki, as much as her brother had. But, across from her, a vaguely familiar boy was watching her. He waved Maki over, and she followed him, as if in a trance. A dark, black streak of hair covered an equally dark, diamond shape in the middle of his forehead. Maki knew at once who he was. "Viver? Is that you?" The boy winked, took her hand, and they began to slowly dance. "Are you happy?" he asked, his eyes firmly on hers. "Yes… I-I-I mean, I don't know." she stammered, frantically looking around. She quickly glanced at Road, Tyki, Sheryl and the other Noahs, quietly conversing with her fellow exorcists. What? This would never happen! This can't be real! she thought. Viver stopped her thoughts abruptly. "It isn't real, my dear. So wake up!"
There was an encasing darkness and silence, broken by a bone-chilling scream Maki later realised was her own. She found herself wet and extremely hot. "Mistress Maki!" A voice quivered in the darkness. Nana was sitting in a large armchair, and in her arms was Viver, his fur bristling. "What the hell was that about? First, you start shouting 'This isn't real', then you screamed.' His voice, although filled with anger, sounded worried. Nana ran out of the room, and returned with a dry towel, which she dabbed at Maki's forehead. Maki pushed her away, and took the towel. "I'm a big girl now, Nana. I can do it myself." She left the room, Nana and Viver following her closely. Viver landed on her shoulder, and folded up his wings. A new pair of footsteps touched the ground leaving a distinctive sound. Maki stopped in silence, cautiously looking around herself. She was in the mansion's garden, filled with beautiful flowers. Sitting on a nearby bench was someone she knew. "Kerkira, it's a pleasure to see you again."
"Hee, hee. You too." Kerkira replied to the saturated girl in front of her. Her hands were shaking as she dabbed the towel across her forehead and then down her cheek. In one quick move, Kerkira was on her feet and holding Maki's hands up. Their faces were less than 10 cm away from each other's. With worry in her eyes and her voice, Kerkira asked "What's wrong? What happened?" Maki's eyes lit up in surprise and then embarrassment. "N-nothing" she said, her head and her eyes lowering to the floor. Kerkira placed a careful hand on the now crying girl's chin, and forced her to look up. "Maki," she said in a stern voice, the voice that made even the akuma stop in their paths. "What is wrong?" For a second, Kerkira thought that Maki would tell her, but obviously, the girl wasn't going to talk. "I said nothing!" Maki pushed Kerkira away and left. Kerkira didn't bother to try and call her back; she knew Maki too well. "Mistress Kerkira!" an akuma maid ran towards her. "Mistress Kerkira, the order wants you back by tomorrow."
"Did they say why?"
"No ma'am. They just said that you have to be back by tomorrow."
Kerkira let out a sigh and shooed the maid away. She was worried about Maki, but duty called. Without another second's thought, she left the mansion and found the Inn in which Allen had made her and Maki a door to the Black Order's Main headquarters. It could only used by him, Maki and Kerkira (and it looked like a broom closet). Oh well, she thought, Time for work.