In the countryside of Gui-Yang, in China, Froi Tiedoll walked with Yuu Kanda next to him. He looked at the scenery and smiled, enjoying it. Kanda frowned, seeing some rocks with markings scattered across the hills. The first few had just been barely visible but these now protruded from the ground in heaps, some created archways of sorts.

Kanda remained quiet but when Tiedoll finally stopped under the shade of a tree growing on the side of a hill, covering long grass that looked unkept and unruly, Kanda looked up at him. The sun bore down on them heavily but Tiedoll only sighed. He surveyed the shaded area and then froze, the grass shaking without a breeze to move it. Noting this, Kanda jumped in front of his Master and his hand flew to the hilt of his blade that he wore on his back, under his traveling pack.

Master Tiedoll narrowed his eyes and then placed a hand on Kanda's. "Come out, we won't hurt you. Please, do not be afraid," he added, his voice filled with his earnest gentleness. When nothing happened, Tiedoll took a step towards the long grass that had quivered and brushed it aside to see a small cave. Just inside, two big eyes stared up at him, both belonging to a young feverish boy.

Tiedoll made gentle sounds as he reached in and pulled the little boy out, onto his lap. The boy had soiled himself time and time again, so it seemed, thus smelled terrible. His body shook, his teeth chattered, and he was very rigid, and thin. Tiedoll shifted his bag and pulled some bread out. He offered it to the boy but he boy only panted in his arms. It was too late to save him, Tiedoll knew this well, but he frowned to see that the space in the cave fit a few more small bodies but no one was with him.

Uninterested and bored, Kanda climbed a nearby tree to stand watch. In the distance, he didn't see any akuma or human. He relaxed his demeanor and rested his body from their long walk. His hand, however, remained free, just in case.

Tiedoll had shifted the boy into a cradling position and leaned back against the mouth of the cave, noting the carvings on the rocks to his left. He traced them with a finger and the boy murmured, "Mama."

Tiedoll swallowed and peered closer, recognizing the script as a very ancient form of Chinese characters. They were well kept, as if someone wiped them daily, and picked dirt from them. He sighed and asked, "How long have you suffered alone, little one?"

The question went unanswered, for the young boy's eyes closed and his breathing became ever so shallow. Dangerously shallow. Tiedoll shifted him in his arms, opening the airway and pushing on the boy's chest, hoping to help him breathe as best as he could.

Kanda flinched and looked up, his eyes noting the change in the air. Like leaves, the clouds gathered from the city and a great presence drew near. Kanda pulled out his sword and stood where he was, in the tree. He could smell the slight scent of jasmine before he saw the hurling figure, aiming straight at his Master. Leaping from his spot, he intercepted the creature and pushed it aside, landing directly in front of Tiedoll, still working at the little boy.

Kanda remained ready to strike as the dirt settled and revealed a young Chinese orphan in dirty green robes, holding no weapon, but what looked like a towel with supplies. Her eyes wide and only on the boy in Tiedoll's arms, she cried out a sound and the boy stirred. He turned a bit, his head moved when he heard the familiar voice.

The girl ran, at human speed this time, and Kanda stopped her, his blade out at her. Tiedoll placed a hand on Kanda shoulder and so Kanda relaxed, allowing the girl to step around him and kneel at Tiedoll's feet. She made soft sounds and Tiedoll released the boy, who rolled into the arms of the girl. She sat back, as if she had done it hundreds of times before. She pulled a small bottle from the towel, and then pulled the towel around the boy, all the while the boy made strange sounds back to her.

Tiedoll watched for a moment and then frowned, "Will your Innocence allow us to communicate?" Kanda was surprised by his question, but her appearance had been so strange, nothing aside from Innocence could explain it. She didn't look or act like an akuma and she was obviously a solid creature. Kanda almost dropped his sword when she did, finally, reply.

It was in a gentle and calm voice that was filled with pain when she said, "My mother passed a year ago. The village buried her here," she paused, carefully considering what to share.

Tiedoll noticed her hesitancy and asked, "Is your village close?"

The girl shook her head, "The famine killed many and the survivors fled to the city. My brother was sick and the city was too far." She swallowed as the boy in her arms murmured something to her. Tears fell from the girls' eyes and Kanda looked away. Tiedoll understood and was silent out of respect.

They buried him in the cave that she had hid and cared for him in since the passing of their mother. She had intended to allow herself to wither away next to the bones of her brother and mother until death claimed her, but Tiedoll did not agree with it. More importantly, she already possessed Innocence and should the Millenium Earl approach her, she didn't seem keen on refusing his offer, seeing how dearly she tried to keep her brother alive against all odds.

"You have done all that was expected of you. Your mother would be proud," Tiedoll reasoned. "Travel with us until you find someone to call home."

The girl frowned, wrapping what she had into the towel and securing it on back. "I am curious as to what Innocence is and, if you can teach me, I will follow you." Her answer was simple and straightforward, so Tiedoll did not press for more.

Instead, he motioned to himself, "I am General Tiedoll. This is my current student, Kanda." Kanda only glared at her. Tiedoll chuckled nervously and asked, "What is your name?"

The girl took a break and replied, "I only have the name my mother gave me but all who know me as that name lies buried here. Give me a new one," she suggested.

Tiedoll had never been in such a situation and scratched his head, sheepishly. "Surely, your mother wouldn't approve of my naming you something else. I don't know many girl names," the last part he added rather bluntly. The girl looked up and Kanda noticed, also, how the air seemed to be manipulated towards her. Tiedoll smiled, noticing and replied, "What about Sky? Your Innocence seems to be able to manipulate it quite a bit," he added, giving more thought to the strange swirl in the sky that had only formed when she returned.

The girl tested out the name once in English, "Sky," and then once in her native tongue. She nodded and touched the name of her mother engraved on the rock. She whispered her parting words and turned away, tears in her eyes. Tiedoll felt it necessary to move on before they stayed too long. Death surrounded the countryside, and where death was, akuma soon followed.

The small party of three walked along the road, picking up a ride from locals, and making their way into the heart of the mountains, where the red crystals painted the mountainsides. There, Tiedoll stopped and breathed deeply the fresh air. He consulted with Sky on where they might sleep and take shelter, and Sky was always helpful, finding pockets of shelter where Tiedoll nor Kanda would ever have thought of looking.

She fished with her hands, stripping down to do so, and Kanda always stood guard or unscaling fish, never looking in her direction. Tiedoll noticed the unease shift around them, but Kanda was old enough to understand the need for her, and she understood enough to know better than to cross him. The respected the distance between each other and never attempted anything more, not even a friendship.

When Sky was clothed again and cooking the fish, Kanda closed his eyes against the rocks and let his appearance be one of the napping nature. It was during that time that Tiedoll talked to Sky about Innocence. After understanding the gist of things and the Black Order, Tiedoll eventually got around to wanting to test out her abilities. This complicated things, for he watched to observe at a distance but he also wanted to test her out himself. Knowing full well his Master's intentions, Kanda suggested taking turns and so, and Tiedoll quickly agreed.

They faced each other and Kanda felt the air thicken. She had a strange way of revealing her emotions and he understood it to be connected with her Innocence. He found it strange when she focused on catching fish or whatever task was at hand. The weather would shift to her advantage. Try as he may, he couldn't figure out what it was her Innocence was manipulating, to be precise. Fighting her with his half-baked abilities would be difficult, but because she didn't fully comprehend her own abilities, it felt somewhat fair.

At a fair distance, Tiedoll waved his arms and Kanda pulled out his sword. "Have you done this before?" Sky asked him rather tentatively.

Kanda thought for a moment and then replied, "Yes. Have you ever used your Innocence to fight someone?" he asked, inching forward, his blade extended.

Kanda stopped, seeing a darkness in her eyes that he hadn't noticed before. It reminded him of her brother's when he was still in the cave looking out. Kanda had turned away, not liking how those eyes made him feel. Cold and stoic, without hope and sad. He was ready to strike but she hadn't answered, and this was her first time. So he waited.

Sky noticed his teetering thoughts and smirked suddenly, catching him off guard. She lunged forward from where she stood, landed inches in front of him and shot up into the sky above him, "No, but I think I get it." Her words fell with the wind, drifted into his ear, despite his quick reactions and slashing the air. She moved around him, shifting her weight so as to cause him to turn in circles, and when she was close enough, she flipped his sword out of his hands and into hers.

Kanda jumped back, avoiding his own sword, and stopped when a safe distance away. He watched her recoil and stand, preparing for her next move, all the while, clouds gathered in a swirl high above her for no natural reason. It was still hot and dry.

General Tiedoll placed a hand on Sky's shoulder and smiled, "You have done well." Kanda made a face but Tiedoll winced in return. As Kanda snatched his sword back, Tiedoll asked, "Tell me, how did you learn to move like that?"

For the first time since their meeting, Sky looked embarrassed. Kanda also waited and when Sky spoke, it was softer, and filled with shame. "I've never had money, Sir. So what I needed, I stole." She swallowed and, after working through her words, she explained, "I learned early on that the faster you were, the more you can get away with. That morning you found my brother, I was only gone a couple hours."

Tiedoll nodded and turned her to face him. "You are an Excorcist in training now, Sky. You must promise never to steal again. Your Innocence is meant for protecting and good. Understood?" he asked.

Sky nodded, "I understand," she had replied, but Kanda sensed the air shift again, not too sure why he was so sensitive when Tiedoll seemed to ignore it.

When Sky had run off to bathe later that evening, Kanda asked his Master, who replied, "It is unlikely that she understands how to control this. We must treat her as we do the others and bring her back to the main Asian branch after we meet with the Finder."

Kanda shook his head, "What if she doesn't go?"

"Then I will have to bring her back, personally," Tiedoll replied, none too happily.

Kanda understood his Master's wishes. He didn't, particularly, like Finders, but they were necessary to ensure safety and security at times. But when the Finder finally met up with them on the other side of the mountains with the new Gollum, Sky was not too friendly. The Finder looked her over and offered her fresh bread but Sky didn't take it.

Instead, she turned to Tiedoll and asked, "Why must I leave with him?"

Tiedoll took a knee and looked into Sky's eyes. "He'll take you to our Headquarters so you can meet everyone there and receive proper training," he added calmly.

But Sky was not happy. Kanda watched her sulk all day, despite Tiedoll bragging about Sky's abilities, and she remained quiet. He didn't like it, especially with the air always shifting, and then more tense than usual because of her foul mood. When evening sank in, Kanda was awaken by the shift in the air. The thickness had disappeared completely. He turned to see Sky staring up at the sky.

In the sounds of the night, she asked, "Does Innocence bring you happiness?"

Kanda thought for a moment and then sat up. "Innocence is necessary to protect humans and kill akuma. What you make of it is up to you." Kanda didn't feel the air shift and frowned, "You can control your Innocence better now."

Sky looked to him, "What do you mean?"

Kanda nodded, "Before, every time your mood changed, I could feel it in the air. But as you spent more time with Master until now, you seem to hide it better so i don't really feel it anymore." He then asked, and regretted it immediately after, "Can you sense other people with your Innocence?"

Sky smiled at this, liking the change in the cold Kanda she had first met days ago. Although he had grown accustomed to her being around, his behavior was almost friendly towards her. And when he realized it, he turned around and laid down, pretending to care less. Sky sighed and nodded, answering anyway, "If I focus, then yes, I can."

Kanda wasn't sure if he truly heard it or dreamt it, but she asked, "You will take care of Master, won't you?"

And Kanda had scoffed arrogantly, "Of course I will."

In the morning, Sky was gone. Kanda repeated the evening's conversation to General Tiedoll and the Finder, who notified all other Finders and the Black Order. Kanda watched the frenzy and felt a twinge of guilt for not realizing her intentions sooner. Of course she hadn't wanted to leave them, but running away was perfect, especially now that she knew of what others could sense of the abilities of her Innocence.

Finding that they could do nothing, Tiedoll set off with both the Finder and Kanda with him. And though the trip was uneventful and hot, Kanda couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Sky and if he would meet with her again. More importantly, no one knew which piece of the Innocence she carried. But, as Tiedoll would remember later, it was quite a special piece.