Why am I doing this? This is dumb. I am sat here unable to do anything as he stands up there accepting his fate. I cannot take this. We'd only just made amends. We'd only just called each other friend. I let him use my first name. I can't let him die. But I can't move. What is this? Am I so controlled by this power we call Innocence? We call God? I don't want this. I want to go to him. I want to save him.

The charms holding me in place shattered as my Innocence went crazy, disintegrating from its sword form and flicking around my body.

"Mugen?" The figure that once haunted my dreams, comforted me as it assumed its original angelic form. Reaching out, I gagged as it turned to liquid and shot down my throat. Why was it doing this? I already had 'crystal' innocence. What else would it evolve into? The liquid hit my stomach and began to burn. The pain was searing, doubling me over, my healing mark kicking into overdrive. Was my Innocence trying to kill me? Was it because I wanted to save him? I collapsed on the floor as the Crows who had been keeping an eye on me rushed over. I remembered nothing after that.

When I woke up, I was in a room in the Ark. I shot up from where I lay on a sofa - white like everything else in this place. Link leaned in the doorway, watching me as I gained my bearings.

"Yo"

"What happened?"

"Ah you don't remember?"

"Obviously"

"Your innocence went crazy and basically blinded most of the guards, giving them a chance to escape. It hasn't re-appeared though so we're not sure what happened"

I frowned. Mugen was gone? But I still had my innocence. I could feel it in my bloodstream.

"Will this make me a parasite-type?" I asked tentatively. Link shrugged.

"I'm probably not the right person to ask" Oh yeah, Crow = no innocence.

I heard footsteps down the corridor and tensed. Had he survived? Or was the 'them' Link mentioned someone else?

"Ah Walker. He's awake" I sat up straighter as a white blur entered the room and I froze as it collided with my chest and wept.

"I'm so glad. You scared me so much"

"Moyashi?" I looked down at the young man looked back at me, his grey eyes puffy from crying. We both survived. The sheer force of the relief I felt at this revelation made my chest lighten and I pulled him into a proper hug.

"I'm here. We're safe" I mumbled into his jacket. I felt him nod in reply. Suddenly he tensed and his entire aura shifted. Nea.

"Your Innocence evolved again. It's tied to you even tighter than before"

"What does that mean for me"

"It approves"

I looked into his gold eyes, confused. Then I remembered the night before and my face flushed bright red. His last request. My innocence had been acting weird since that 'act'. He cocked an eyebrow in amusement, and I thanked everything that Allen never made that face. Nea clambered off me and strolled over where Link stood. He whispered something to the blonde who nodded in goodbye and left the room, closing the door behind him and Nea morphed back into Allen. I'd never been so happy to see his soft expression.

"Are you okay? The innocence isn't hurting you is it?" He asked, feeling my forehead for signs of illness. I shook my head,

"It seems to be fine for now. I think it's parasite type though" Allen paled slightly at this. I patted his shoulder,

"I'll manage" I replied to his silent question. He nodded. I'd accepted my future; one tied tighter to him and the innocence than before.

"Allen! Is Kanda awake? I want to check him over!" A familiar voice came from outside the room.

"Sure. Come in Jonny. He's awake" The ball of nervous frizz burst into the room and stood in front of me, shuffling awkwardly. I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly what he was asking, and opened my arms. He sighed in relief and gave me a, thankfully loose, hug.

"I'm glad you're safe Kanda. You feeling okay? It hurt anywhere?" I shook my head.

"My stomach hurt like a bitch at first, but I've felt no pain since I woke up" I told the scientist. He blinked,

"Your stomach? I guess you did technically eat the innocence so that makes sense." I shrugged. He began pulling things out of the bag that he had brought with him. I recognised most of them as medical tools and shifted to a better spot on the sofa, deciding to be a good patient for possibly the first time in my life. The head nurse was scary and annoying, but I'd grown fond of Jonny. He was a bit like Alma. This thought comforted me, and I presented my arm to the scientist.

The stethoscope was cold after the warmth of the pressure wrap and it made me flinch.

"You said your stomach hurt before, right?" Jonny looked up from checking my heart. I nodded and he moved the stethoscope down. He listened for a moment then frowned. Then paled. He called over to Allen to check something and he hurried over. The silence was infuriating but I kept it to myself - they would tell me eventually.

"So, your stomach has a heartbeat" I just stared down at Jonny.

"A what?"

"A heartbeat. Just like..." he trailed off.

"Like what Jonny?" I said, trying to sound vaguely calm.

"Like a pregnant woman" I froze and so did Allen. I didn't read any science books from the lab but I'm pretty sure that only women were capable of children.

I relayed this to the pair.

"Yeah that's true. But Innocence is weird. It may have facilitated something."

"Facilitated what?"

"I don't know. It could have created a full-on womb or simply a makeshift growth chamber"

"Growth chamber?" Allen looked perplexed at the term,

"Like the one I was created in" I reiterated, and he nodded. He got it.

"But why me? I'm not the most paternal or maternal of innocence users. Miranda, Lenalee and Klaud are actual women - and even Marie or Tiedoll would have been better options."

Jonny shrugged.

"You may have the strongest innocence? Or encountered stronger innocence?" At that theory, Allen tensed slightly. Oh hell no. That cannot be the reason.

"That's too cliché" I accidentally said out loud and Allen started laughing.

"It really is though" he whispered out through his giggles. I snorted slightly,

"Knowing our luck, that'll be the reason though" I admitted, thinking more seriously about it. Allen grew serious, Jonny looked confused and I was suddenly incredibly tired.

"Kanda? What do you mean? What's the reason?" Jonny was too innocent sometimes, but I was falling asleep on the sofa. Allen thankfully saw this and led the man away, talking softly as we left the room. I let out a pfft at the "WHAT?" that drifted down the corridor before completely dropping unconscious.