Wow, this chapter took a lot longer than it should have. Oops! Mine and Ink's excuse is that we had too much sugar to write something worthy for you all.

And thank you for the lovely reviews! Really, you're so kind. We don't really make a habit of replying to reviews though, so if you were one of the awesome three people who reviewed at this moment in time, here's a big thanks to you! We really appreciate your thoughts on our story~

Before I forget, this is us saying WE DON'T OWN D. GRAY-MAN. Silly us, the disclaimer is a chapter late. Teehee, don't tell anyone, or I'll have no choice but to eat you~

Anywho, we hope you enjoy the second chapter...what's to become of poor, sweet little Allen? Mwahaha~

Blue~

Allen stretched, uncurling himself as he woke up. His bed seemed harder, colder, but it didn't make the thought of waking up less appealing. He rolled onto his side, letting his hand fall. Needless to say, it didn't hit the soft dry blanket, but rather fell into a puddle of water. "Huh?" The boy shot upright, opening his eyes in surprise. He found himself in a cold alleyway, looking out into the dreary streets of London.

Rhode...she was- His brows furrowed in concentration as he tried to remember what had brought him to this alley. Was this the very alley their last fight had taken place? No, hadn't I fought them in the ark? Why can't I remember? He looked down at his arm, staring at the neat bandages. What happened? Why are these-

A clocked chimed the hour, it was near noon. The street began to fill as civilians left for lunch. Allen felt his stomach grumble in protest, reminding him that there were more important things to worry about that why he was here.

"Guess I'll have to earn some money..." he muttered to himself as he got up and ventured onto the street, scratching his head as he pondered the odd circumstances.

A month later...

Lavi flinched as a carriage flew past, narrowly missing him as he strode through the streets of London. He'd been sent on a solo mission to scout for any remaining akuma the exorcists might have missed in the fight about a month ago. Twenty-nine days and six hours ago, his Bookman half reminded him. His exorcist half didn't seem to care. He was a wreck, and was sure he looked it too. Just this morning he'd been hassled by panda jiji for being so distracted by Allen's death. He remembered muttering some sort of half-hearted excuse, something about not getting enough sleep. The old man had left him alone after that...but he could still see the suspicion in Bookman's eyes.

Damn it.

Lavi rolled a shoulder, hearing a few pops and sighing heavily, scrubbing a hand over his face. His one jade green eye was bloodshot and his skin held a sickly shade of grey to it. Komui had seen it fit to send him on a solo mission, in hopes that it might help him get his mind off of Allen's fate. The man had been hit hard by Rouvelier's actions, but he was still himself: he hadn't dared to pair Lenalee with the Bookman apprentice for fear of her poor, innocent heart being tainted. And Kanda had refused to go, claiming it was a waste of time.

Lavi sighed once more, hanging his head as he walked and kicking at the gravel with his boot, sending it skittering along the sidewalk.

A small crowd assembled on a corner, watching in awe as a young performer easily juggled an assortment of items. With a bow, the juggler caught the items in his left hand, and distributed them to their owners in the crowd. He smiled to each person as he passed, collecting money in a small box. His top hat slid down over his eyes as he walked, covering his face, and all but a lock of his white hair.

"Thank you very much!" Allen called out as the crowd cheered, stepping back to gather his things. Waving politely as the crowd began to disperse. It's been a rather successful day, he thought to himself as he stuffed a yellow ball into his bag.

Lavi glanced up aimlessly as he heard the soft sounds of cheering, fixing his eye on the small crowd of people gathered on the corner ahead. He watched for a short moment before heading around them with a sigh, only to run into the performer. "Oh...sorry," he muttered, arching a brow as he caught the flash of white hair. "Huh...pretty nifty tricks for an old man," he said nonchalantly, eying him as if doubting that someone of that age could juggle so effortlessly. "You must be in good shape for your age."

Almost tripping over at the impact, Allen quickly pushed his hat down over his hair. O-old man? His face turned a deep shade of red as he straightened himself up and glared at the assailant. "I'm not an old man," Allen said softly, a hint of annoyance in his voice. He quickly picked up the money box that Lavi had sent flying, looking for any change that may have escaped. I'm obviously not that old, it's just the white hair. He managed to give the red haired teen a small smile as he collected the coins. "Don't worry, it's a mistake anyone could make."

Lavi blinked at his mistake, hesitating before leaning down to help him with the collection of the coins. He offered him one with an apologetic expression. "Sorry, kiddo, I just-" he trailed off with his mouth hanging open as he stared into Allen's eyes. "I...I-I..." he gaped at the white-haired teen, speechless with disbelief. "Wait. W-wait, wait, wait. No. It can't be. Allen...?" he choked out in a flustered stammer, his eye wide with shock as he knelt there, his hand still extended with the glimmering silver coin between his fingers.

Allen stared back at Lavi, a confused look on his face. He took the coin tentatively, placing it into the box. Putting on a smile, Allen hauled the boy up. "Have we met?" he asked as he returned to collecting his props. "I'm Allen Walker," he said with a small flourish of his hand, "although you seem to know that."

Lavi tripped and stumbled over his words as Allen helped him to his feet. "W-well...Allen, I-" He stopped mid-sentence once again, gawking at Allen as if he were insane. A foreboding sense of dread gathered in the heart he wasn't supposed to have. "A-Allen...we're friends...remember?" he ventured tentatively, staring down at Allen's extended hand and slowly lifting his gaze back up to the teen's face. "I'm Lavi...you must know this..." He let out an uneasy chuckle.

Allen looked at Lavi questioningly, taking a small step backwards. He tried to remember, but there wasn't a sign of this teen anywhere, although the name sounded familiar. He searched through the gaps and broken memories, but the pieces didn't seem to fit. He placed his hand on his head, taking a deep breath. "No... No, I don't..."

Lavi could only stare in complete and utter confusion, feeling a sharp pain in his chest as Allen spoke. "O-oh...I see," he murmured, clearing his throat and biting back the piercing sorrow in his heart. What better way to remind himself of his Bookman status anyway? "S-so, ummm...I...I see you're faring well," he said hesitantly, giving a vague motion toward Allen's performance props. "Still just as skillful as ever..."

Allen chuckled softly, still slightly uneasy. "Yeah, I guess so," he said sheepishly. "It was hard to get anything at first, but some people come to watch regularly now... and I get a decent amount of money..." He began to absentmindedly juggle a couple of props, unsure what else to say. "So, what are you doing around town... Lavi." He said the name awkwardly, the name felt weird on his tongue.

Lavi nodded, looking rather discouraged by Allen's show of memory loss. "I'm glad..." he murmured quietly, looking over Allen's face and noticing how carefree he seemed to be. Maybe it was the right thing to just leave him be... There was certainly no stress or drama involved with being a street performer. "Oh...I was just...wasting time," he lied. This was Allen's chance to have a normal life, and he didn't want to dredge up bad memories. "I should be going now...things to do..." he mumbled, his heart heavy in his chest as he gave up on the ex-exorcist."I...hope you manage all right on your own," he offered weakly.

Allen nodded, giving him another smile "Good Luck! I'll do fine, I've been doing this as long as I can remember!" A devilish grin appeared on his face "and if I don't earn money I'll just challenge someone at poker..."

Lavi couldn't help but crack a weak smile at Allen's words. "True...you always were a master at cheating," he chuckled with a distant look in his eye, remembering the first mission he'd ever went on with Allen. "Well...I'll let you get back to stealing the clothes off peoples' backs, moyashi," he murmured, jerking a hand in a wave and stepping past him before he could change his mind, heading off down the streets of London in the general direction of headquarters.

Allen laughed, but he couldn't help wondering how much this 'Lavi' knew about him. The shady memories that his appearance brought up only confused him more. I know he was someone important. How could I forget? What happened to me? Allen thought back to that day about a month ago, when he had woken up on the street with nothing but his clothes. Why can't I remember? He looked back at the exorcist, watching him turn away. He gave a little wave back, although the teen wasn't watching. "Moyashi?" He grumbled unhappily.

He watched as Lavi walked off, gathering up the props and putting them in his bag. He slung it over his shoulder, walking in the opposite direction of the exorcist, he would earn more money elsewhere. Turning down the lane, he paused, feeling his eye beginning to activate. He looked around as the world turned to black and white, finding the akuma in the crowd.

"My lovely, lovely akuma, go wreak some havoc," Rhode cooed, kicking her a feet a bit as she sat on the edge of a rooftop. She smiled like the innocent young girl she seemed to be, though the ashen shade of her skin and the stigmata on her forehead said otherwise. "Bring Allen Walker to meee," she giggled. She tilted her head back to look at Tyki behind her. "Oi, I heard Allen-chan was kicked out of the Order..." she said innocently. "Maybe...can I keep him?"

Tyki chuckled softly at his niece. "You can play with him all you like, just let me kill him afterwards."

Down in the street, the three akuma straightened up in the crowd, murmuring a robotic "Yes, Master Noah," and suddenly shed their human disguises with a horrid, metallic screeching. They turned instantly on whomever was unluckiest to be nearby, slicing them to bits with sharp claws and teeth before zeroing in on Allen. The level twos came together and lunged at him simultaneously, shrieking like the maddened creatures of hell they were.

Allen's arm reacted to the akuma, turning into a large claw. He quickly attacked one of the demons as he dodged another, pushing an innocent bystander out of the way. "Everyone get out of here!" he shouted, shielding a young girl from a blow.

Further down the street, Lavi was wincing and covering his ears at the sound of the akuma's screams, but he forced himself to block out the sound. "Allen!" he called, weaving in-between the fleeing hoards of people running away from the attacking akuma. He growled in frustration, unable to activate his innocence without harming the people who were jostling him about. "Allen!" he cried again, finally pulling his innocence out and activating it. "Extend!" he yelled, the hammer obeying without question and propelling him skyward. He looked about frantically, trying to spot Allen's white hair in the pulsing crowd.

On the rooftop above, Tyki finally stepped away from the shingles into the air, using his powers to float down towards the white-haired teen and smiling as he struggled against the team of akuma. "Having trouble fighting alone, boy?" he teased, standing in the air above Allen.

Allen looked up for a brief moment, scowling at the Noah's presence. "What's that supposed to mean?" He had a brief idea that Tyki was referring to a fight in the past, maybe he hadn't always fought the Noah alone, the gaps in his memories seemed to be haunting him today. At least he remembered the Noah, although bits of information on them was shady. An akuma cut into his right arm as he contemplated Tyki's words. He gasped in pain, readying himself for another blow.

"ALLEN!" The akuma that had sliced Allen exploded with a screech as Lavi brought his hammer down on its head. He caught his breath with a huff, straightening up and brandishing his hammer threateningly at one of the two remaining akuma, pressing his back against Allen's so they couldn't be caught off-guard. "You okay, moyashi? Not too deep, I hope," he murmured, glancing down at Allen's arm and catching a glimpse of red through the teen's sleeve, but he had to look away to fend off a sudden attack from the level two. He shouted in frustration and swung his hammer at the demon, making it back off to avoid the blow.

Lavi looked back at Allen to check on his condition, only to frown in confusion as he noticed the claws of his blackened left arm. "Wait... Your innocence! I didn't think you would be able to-" He was cut off by a screech from the akuma, wincing from the high-pitched sound in his sensitive ears.

Allen clutched his arm, wincing as he staggered backwards. "I'll deal with it," Allen replied with a small smile. "You take that one, and I'll get this?" He gestured to the akuma, brandishing his claw with another grin. He attacked his akuma, looking at it in sympathy as its soul pleaded to be free. The boy glanced over at Lavi as he brought his hammer down onto the other akuma. That's an interesting weapon...and the akuma are affected by it.

"Innocence?" he wondered aloud as he attacked the akuma again, turning his attention the other Noah.

"Well, well, well, look who it is! My little Bookman friend," Rhode purred, floating down leisurely atop Lero, who was spouting an endless amount of complaints-all of which went ignored. "Come to help my Allen-kun?" she giggled, blowing Allen a kiss and ignoring Lavi's growl of hatred toward her. "It's been so long, Allen-kun! I was beginning to think you might...forget about me," she murmured with a sad frown on her face, descending closer and reaching out tentatively to touch his cheek. "Oh...you must be so confused," she murmured with a false sympathy, having heard Allen's and Lavi's earlier conversation. "You don't have any idea who this man is, do you? You don't know the truth about the Bookman apprentice..." she whispered to the white-haired teen, her eyes laden with what seemed to be pity for Allen. "You don't remember what he did to you...?"

Bookman...that title sounds so familiar, Allen thought as he wracked his brain for more clues about this red-headed teen. "Hello, Rhode..." Allen muttered, turning a deep shade of red as she blew him a kiss. He finished off the akuma with another swipe of his clawed hand. Taking another deep breath, he stood up straight and looked at the Noah questioningly, glancing towards Lavi with a confused look on his face. "What he...did to me?" He cast a suspicious look at the Noah.

Lavi frowned as he heard Rhode speak, turning to glance back over his shoulder at her before turning to face her completely, seeing as the akuma were destroyed. He bit his lip with a visible wince as he realized what Rhode spoke of. "Don't listen to her, Allen, she's a Noah," he murmured to the teen, gripping his hammer firmly and staring at Rhode with a mixture of hate and desperation, pleading to whatever god would listen that she wouldn't mess with Allen's mind when it was so vulnerable to change.

Rhode merely smiled sadly at Allen, pulling her hand back and crossing her arms over her skinny chest. "Oh, Allen...you really don't remember, do you?" she murmured with a frown. "Then...let me show you," she whispered menacingly, reaching out once more to touch Allen's cheek before he could stop her, almost instantly enveloping him in the darkness of her separate dimension. Everything was black for a long moment before it cleared away like fog, revealing the scene of Allen and Lavi in the ark, though Lenalee and Chaoji weren't shown. It wasn't necessary to risk reminding Allen of his friends at the Order, no, this was just for him and Bookman Junior.

Lavi's eye snapped open as his heart was dampened by his 48th alias, the strange black marking clawing its way across his face. His face was soulless as he stood and faced Allen, suddenly lunging forward to punch him mercilessly in the gut, sending him sprawling across the icy cold floor. "Allen...Walker..." he whispered eerily, Rhode's version of the memory becoming distorted and making things seem even darker than they had been. "Allen..." he whispered once more, stepping closer and kicking him in the ribs with a booted foot.

"La-Lavi?" the Allen in his memory questioned, looking at the Bookman with an expression of shock and fear. His arm turned into a broad sword as he placed it between himself and Lavi, blocking another attack.

"Lavi?" he asked again, his voice weak as he fended off another attack. The Bookman just looked at Allen, devoid of emotion, and he picked up Allen by his collar.

"I am not your comrade," Lavi spoke, throwing Allen against the wall, the memory beginning to dissolve into blackness.

Coming to, Allen faced his enemy in confusion, casting a nervous glance towards Lavi. "You... attacked me?" He looked at the bookman suspiciously, having just seen a completely different side of this teen.

Rhode smiled eerily in triumph, seeing the look of distrust in Allen's eyes and easing back to watch the drama play out. Perfect. She cast Tyki a cheery glance, knowing they could take advantage of Allen's vulnerable and empty mind, and fill it with new things, tossing out the old.

Lavi's mouth dropped open as he tried to think of a logical way to explain everything. "I...I-I was...I mean, I...Allen, I didn't..." He trailed off in a defeated silence, dropping his eyes to the ground as a heavy guilt lay upon his shoulders, weighing him down and thrusting shame straight into his face. It really had been his fault anyway. Who was he to deny it? "I...I'm sorry, Allen, I...I-I didn't mean to hurt you, really..." he protested weakly, raising his eye to Allen's face in desperation. "I would never hurt you, you're my best friend..." he tried, feeling a stab of shame in his heart from the word "friend." Bookman would have his other eye if he knew what Lavi was saying.

Tyki gave Rhode a small nod, reclining next to her as the Bookman's apprentice spoke. He watched as the boy tried eyed him distrustfully, but he knew the battle wasn't won yet. Allen still remembered Rhode's power, surely he couldn't be fooled as easily as this.

Allen took a step back, watching as Lavi desperately tried to convince him. "All I know is what Rhode showed me, I can-I can't trust any of my memories!" He fell to his knees clutching his head as he went through this new memory he had attained. Bits of it were shady, but most was crystal clear, most of it seemed un-tampered with. He knew what he should believe, but parts of him wanted to trust this red-head. He might not remember this 'Bookman' but he knew enough about people to see that this guy was sincerely sorry. It might be a trick, but then, why would the Noah be helping him? Allen looked at Rhode and Lavi, bracing himself, his claw ready, but without any will to attack either.

Lavi winced as he watched Allen fall to his knees, slowly kneeling next to him and extending a hand to touch his shoulder, only to flinch and pull back as he noticed Allen readying his innocence. "Allen..." he murmured quietly, glancing at the ground and seeming to crumble into himself, looking pale and discouraged.

Rhode smiled, hopping down off of Lero and skipping over Allen, crouching in front of him and reaching out to touch his hand gently. "Allen-kun...you can't trust him," she whispered with a sad frown. "Bookmen don't have hearts...everything they say and do is a lie," she breathed, sympathy written plain on her face as she slowly opened her arms and leaned forward to draw him into a soothing hug. "But Allen, don't worry...you don't need that liar," she murmured, glaring at Lavi over Allen's shoulder. "I love you, Allen-kun," she whispered with a gentle smile, pulling back to look into Allen's eyes expectantly, looking hopeful that he would see the light.

Allen turned away from Rhode, the distrust plain to see in his eyes. She had killed too many people for him to trust her, made to many akuma, heartlessly ripped apart lives. Yet, she didn't have a reason to lie. Allen stared at Lavi for a brief moment before doubling over in pain. He fell to the ground, clutching his head and letting out a small scream.

Rhode frowned as if hurt by Allen's distrust, reaching out to touch him again but pulling back in surprise as the teen started to scream. "Allen-kun...?" she murmured, touching his back worriedly and casting a glance over at Tyki, wondering if he had any guesses as to what was happening to her dear Allen.

Lavi flinched as he heard Allen scream, inching closer and setting a hand on his shoulder with a deep frown. "Allen! Allen, are you okay?" he asked, his single green eye wide with anxiety as he watched his friend double over in pain.

Allen writhed in pain for a few minutes before it subsided, feeling a trickle of blood running down his cheek. "L-Lavi?" He looked at the exorcist pleadingly as he took his hand off his forehead, revealing a cross that looked as if it had been cut into his forehead. He collapsed in pain again, as another cross appeared.

Tyki looked down at the white haired boy with a mix of shock and sympathy, "He's... The stigmata...The boy is turning into a Noah." He stared at Rhode in amazement as he watched their troublesome enemy turn into a family member.

Lavi's breath caught in his throat as Allen revealed the bloody cross, his eye going wide with horror. "A-Allen..." he whispered brokenly, his voice cracking as he spoke the name. "No...no, no, you promised me you wouldn't lose to him!" he shouted, gripping his friend's shoulder tightly though he tried to ease his grip, realizing the agony the teen was suffering. "Allen!" he repeated, crouching at his friend's side and tasting blood as he bit into his lip. "Come on, Allen...you can't lose to the Noah, not after everything we've been through together," he whispered, his heart thudding heavily in his chest as he stared helplessly down at the white-haired teen. "Fight him! You're too strong to give up like this!" he tried desperately.

Allen clutched his forehead again, going limp as Lavi gripped his shoulder. He breathed heavily, every breath was difficult. He looked back at Lavi, a confused look on his face "I-I remember... Rhode... that wasn't you..." He choked out as the rest of the memory slowly came back, wincing as a final scar appeared on his face. Then everything went black, and he found himself suspended in darkness.

"Hello Nephew, how nice to meet you, although I'm sorry that it is under these circumstances." The voice seemed to come from inside his head rather than his surroundings.

"Who are you?" Allen questioned.

"I'm Neah Walker, the fourteenth disciple, the Noah Of Destruction," the voice replied with a hint of sympathy. "Your body is turning into a Noah, I regret to tell you that I shall be taking over."

So this is it, this is when I disappear completely, Allen thought bitterly, as he listened to this all powerful voice. "You can't just- I need-" he said defiantly, trying to eradicate himself of this presence, only to feel the Noah's hold of his body growing stronger.

"Don't worry, Nephew, I can only take hold of your body for a few moments, and right now a few moments is all I need." Neah answered, almost sounding concerned, as he took full control.

Allen's eyes snapped open, but they shone gold in the light. His skin had turned an ashen color, and a grin spread across his face. "Hello, Bookman, how nice to meet you in person." Neah spoke with Allen's voice in an almost mocking tone.

Lavi froze as he saw the distinctive flash of gold in Allen's eyes, dropping his hand from his friend's shoulder and gaping at the sight of ashen skin crawling over the teen's body. "A...A-Allen...?" he whispered, staring at the Noah who had taken over his friend, permanently, he guessed. "No...no! Give him back, you monster!" he demanded in a sharp growl, jerking back from Neah in horror and gripping his hammer defensively, hesitating for fear of hurting Allen.

Laughing softly, the new Noah swiftly got up, not moving to attack the exorcist. "Don't worry, I don't have long... I'm still very weak." He tilted his head at Lavi, as if to invite an attack. "You'll get him back soon, but you wouldn't dare to hurt me in the meantime... would you. You see, any attack to this unstable Noah will hurt Allen when he comes to."

Lavi growled and brandished his hammer as he heard Neah's mocking words, only to freeze at the concealed threat and lowering his weapon. "You sicken me..." he spat, reluctantly deactivating his innocence and shoving it back into its holster, glaring at the Noah in his friend's body and cursing at him colorfully, his hatred for the Noah burning brightly in his single jade eye.

"Just clearing some things up, I don't want you to hurt my precious nephew, and I'm sure you don't want to either" He frowned, looking truly sorry. "Although, I regret to tell you that I don't feel the same way about hurting you." He brandished Allen's arm, pointing it towards Lavi. "I'm sorry, Bookman, but I can't allow you to live, you will only complicate things in the future."

Lavi tensed with a growing sense of dread as Neah spoke, his eye widening as he watched the Noah manipulate Allen's body and use his innocence in such a way. "You...monster," he hissed, looking between the three Noah with growing fear on his face, knowing he couldn't possibly fight all of them alone. He backed away slowly, whipping his burning gaze back onto Neah in hatred. "Damn Noah," he growled, kicking dirt in his face and bolting down the street, trying to remember the quickest route back to headquarters in his frenzied sprint.

Brushing the dirt off of his cheek, Neah chuckled softly. He followed Lavi with ease, the transformation into a Noah had increased his speed, if only a little. He clawed at Lavi's legs, causing the exorcist to fall to the ground.

Lavi cried out as he tumbled, wincing in pain as his ankle was twisted at a strange angle when he fell. He ignored it, it was merely a sprain, and rolled over onto his back. He stared up at Neah, wide-eyed in horror, and closed his eye tightly as Neah stepped closer, preparing himself for the final blow.

Grinning in triumph, Neah approached the Bookman, placing his right hand on Lavi's neck and gripping tightly, forcing the excorcist to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry to do-" but he froze, his brows furrowed in concentration. "Looks like-LAVI, RUN!" The coldness in Allen's voice left, and his skin returned to it's normal color as Allen collapsed to the ground.

Lavi's eye snapped open again as he heard Allen's cry. He gasped for a full breath as Neah's hand fell away from his neck, and he staggered upright, trying not to put pressure on his injured ankle.

"Allen...?" he murmured, limping over and reaching out to touch his friend's shoulder, only to jerk back as he saw Rhode and Tyki rounding the corner and coming after them. He stared down at Allen with desperation in his eye, torn between staying and leaving his friend for the Noah. "I...Allen, I can't..." he whispered, shifting his weight onto his right leg to ease the pain in his left. "I can't just leave you with them..."

"I'm already one of them," Allen replied with tears in his eyes, "Lavi, I still don't remember you, all I know is that you've been by my side, and you almost died for-because of me. I don't know when Neah will take over me again, and when he does I'll kill you. Just go." Allen staggered to his feet and pushed the exorcist away as he turned to face the Noah. He took a shaky step towards his enemy, distancing himself from Lavi.

Tyki stared at the boy in wonder, extending an arm to him. "Leave now, while we are tending the boy," he called out to Lavi, "We won't be so merciful next time."

Lavi could only stare helplessly as his friend pushed him away. He reached out desperately towards his friend, his arm trembling with shock. He'd come across Allen, alive, after nearly a month, only to find him lost, without any memory of him or the Order. And now he was turning into a Noah before his eyes and he couldn't do anything to help him.

"A-Allen..." he whispered desperately, trailing off into silence as the teen moved toward Tyki. "I...I'll come get you, I promise," he said shakily, swallowing hard past his emotions and trying to plant seeds of hope in Allen's heart. "I'll come with everyone else...and we'll take you back home, Allen," he promised firmly, narrowing his eye at Tyki and leaving the threat to dangle in the air, reluctantly beginning to limp off in the general direction of headquarters.