Chapter 2:

TRAIPSING DOWN A BLOODY PATH

Tyki's POV

"So, boy, do you intend to join this time or hide in the shadows until things get rough? You know, I'm still a bit weak from the last encounter we had with the exorcists." He held his chest, giving Allen that dramatic look of his that he always gave when he was pretending to be more hurt than he actually was. The boy was unfazed, though, and continued to drink his tea with his eyes closed, though he'd open them long enough to stare at the liquid once the cup was at a far enough distance from his mouth for him to see it clearly.

Tyki sighed heavily in defeat before standing up, grabbing the attention of the ex-exorcist. "Alright, I guess I'll handle this by myself." As he walked by, he brushed his hand through the boy's hair, receiving a swat and an aggravated growl in response. By the time he reached the exorcists, they had already drawn their weapons and activated them, but they stood and watched him, probably waiting to see what he would do; waiting for him to make the first move.

The noah took off his gloves and put them in his pocket, sighing as though this were the most tiresome of work. Of course, it was when he had to go to great lengths for the Earl. And this time, the Earl definitely wanted him to go to great lengths to... well... that one's a secret.

"I remember you", Tyki exclaimed dramatically. That's the newer exorcist... the one who was a normal human the last time I'd encountered him. Chaozii, right? "What's your name, exorcist?"

"Like I'd tell you", Chaozii barked, launching himself at his enemy with furious eyes. He attempted to punch the noah with his arm of innocence but Tyki, swift as always, moved his head slightly to the side just in time to avoid the blow. He then allowed the exorcist's innocenceless body to phase through him and go rolling behind him. Oh, right, I'm supposed to hold back, aren't I?

"Alright", the noah groaned, noting that the boy had been watching them carefully from the cafe. He opened his arms and hid his black matter, making himself vulnerable to even a human's touch. "Have at me."

From behind, he felt Chaozii's fist in his back just as the female exorcist before him hit him in his chest with her innocence hammer. This exorcist was also new. The combined forces crushed his insides until he cried out in pain and spit blood from his mouth. It covered the girl in front of him and poured over his chin and chest. Once they backed away, he collapsed to the ground.

He moved no bone as he looked at the boy and was slightly ticked when he realized that he hadn't moved. He's just not going to help me?! "Shounen", he began to shout, but stopped when he caught sight of the hammer in front of him, heading straight for his face. The Earl's demands are so unreasonable...

Tyki's POV (Flashback)

Tyki lay on his bed with an unnecessary amount of pillows due to Sheryl's overbearing - and slightly disturbing - brotherly love and worry. Allen sat at the bottom of the bed, eating crackers in silence, when the Earl and Road came bursting through the door, causing the white-haired one to choke. Tyki calmly lowered his soup-filled spoon to the bowl and sighed heavily. This could only mean trouble... "Earl?"

"Tyki-pet~! I want to speak to you alone. Road, please take the fourteenth to another room - this is private~!"

"Aww, okay", she groaned. She immediately lifted her face and ran to the boy, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him toward the door, giggling flirtatiously, much to Tyki's dismay. "Come on, Allen~! Let's go play in my room!"

As the ex-exorcist shouted his protests, she dragged him out and slammed the door behind him. The two left in the room could hear the others for several seconds, even though it was clear that they were far away from the room, by then. I don't envy you, boy... After the sweat on his brow cleared, Tyki turned to the Earl and asked with a more serious tone, "What is it that you wanted to say, Lord Millennium?" He drooped slightly and whined childishly in the hopes that the clown would lighten up, some. "Don't tell me that I'm in trouble - it wasn't my fault!"

That got him. The Earl laughed heartily and patted Tyki on the head. "No, no, my boy. I actually have a task for you."

"So soon? But I'm so injured", he pouted, cradling his chest.

"Nice try, Tyki Mikk, but I know you aren't hurt." Although the Earl was speaking seriously, he sounded almost joyful and playful. I'm glad he's feeling better. "Don't forget, I have eyes everywhere and I know that it'll take more than that samurai's sword to seriously damage you."

"Yeah, yeah", Tyki groaned. "So what do you want?"

"Which do you think Allen Walker is? A human, an exorcist, or a noah?"

The younger one put his hand on his chin as he thought carefully. He hadn't really considered it, before. Aren't humans and exorcists the same thing? Though, I guess they aren't... But he has that innocence, which makes him an exorcist... yet he also has black matter...? He looked up from his cloud of thought to spot the first apostle turning his head comically in a questioning gesture. "He's all of the above, isn't he?"

"In his mind, he is a human. And humans need to be casually led, like sheep by a shepherd. They can be easily manipulated, but only by using their instincts to your advantage."

Anger filled the noah at the possible implication and he frowned, clenching his hands into fists. "You want me to manipulate him? To do what? You know, he isn't like most humans, he may catch on-"

"I want you to be injured, Tyki Mikk."