FINALLY, THE TESTS ARE DONE.

But Jeezus fucking christ now I got a loop of study for two weeks-tests-repeat for two whole months XP, also have that other story where I've been postponing the update for a month now...

Anyways, this is more or less a filler chapter-ish. :v Please R and R and enjoy anyway! :D

TYPOs and FLUFFs alerts, ladies and gents!

Chapter Four: The Journey

A week later, every exorcist received detailed reports of the new model.

Because of the increased activity, holding such a long meeting with every exorcist became next to impossible. Instead, only Rei, the head of each branch of the Order, and Lvellie attended the meeting while the others went to their missions. It took them ten hours, from what Allen had heard from Cross, and the air was so intense Bak break down and went to vomit for an hour straight.

The New Model, as they've called it, seemed to be Level Four evolving and specializing in one-on-one combat rather than the multiple front fighters like the usual Akumas. She only encountered one, so there's no guarantee, but they had assumed that its inability to fly caused other parts of its body to evolve beyond the usual boundaries, and made it a handful, even for those who's at a General Level – Rei's level.

She had scored herself quite some injuries, and that is saying something.

Right now, Allen was with Daisya and General Cross to scout out an area in Southern Berlin. There was a "Madhouse" (mental hospital, if you will) there that seemed to be infested with strange beings that looked like humans (well, decaying humans) crawling on all four. It seemed like they were dubbed by the locals as ghouls.

"Idiot apprentice."

The voice of his master snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to the red-haired man silently. They were resting inside a rundown inn with Daisya outside, gathering Intel. He stopped pulling at Tim's cheek and put the golem on his head before answering bluntly. "What?"

"Damn, you're all grown up and out of that mask now, are ya?" Cross said as he drew a long puff of cigarette before continuing. "Well, since we had some time, I want to know about certain things."

"Such as?"

"That new girl, Akihiro." Cross crossed his legs and rested his arm on the table, the cigarette in between his fingers. Even if Cross was facing him with his masked side of the face, Allen could still see the frown on it. "I heard she was sent into Sokalo's care, of all things."

"Are you worried?" Allen asked absently. He had heard from Kanda (he's not even sure how that guy, who seemed oblivious to everything that's not related to him, knows this) that Komui decided to make her Sokalo's apprentice. As they spoke, the teacher and the student were sent together on a large-scale extermination mission in Prussia. "Of course you are, you womanizer."

"I don't look at her that way, unlike Lenalee-chan or Anita." Cross grunted under his breath. Allen looked at him skeptically. "I'm telling you the fucking truth, you idiotic piece of shit. Anyway, I'm asking because I'm genuinely and, no ill-will intended, worried about her. She's with the damn maniac!"

"You said as if you aren't one." Allen muttered.

"Stop that, you brat!" He snarled back at his apprentice before settling down, drawing yet another breath of smoke. "I had a healthy conversation with her a few days ago, and she seemed like the type smart enough to follow my game. I like that."

"Like her as a woman?"

"As a fellow scientist." Cross corrected him, his only visible eye averting to the outside street buzzling with people. He relaxed back into his seat as his brow furrowed once more. "…She's gorgeous, yes I know that. But a woman that smart and witty? I ain't ruining my friendly relationship with her by wooing or trying to strike her like Lavi would. Trust me when I say I know my place."

"I don't." Allen stated almost matter-of-factly, his silver-gray eyes locked into his master's hazel one. They stared a moment longer before Allen relented. "I supposed you're not lying. If you did try to woo her, I think your shoulder or your teeth might not be as healthy as it is now."

"Yeah." Cross affirmed. "That's about right. Anyway, have you heard anything about their mission?"

"I talked with Komui-san a few hours ago. It seemed General Sokalo took quite a liking in her no-bullshit personality and her vast knowledge –" at this he paused. He knew it was possible, but saying it was weird "– especially in the field of terrorizing and torturing the enemies."

"It doesn't suit her personality." Cross murmured. Allen silently agreed, but he supposed one of Rei's many specialties is that she knew how to get on people's good side very quickly. "But I supposed it's a given. She seemed more or less as educated as the old Bookman himself."

"You think?" He was surprised that her meekly 19-years of experience was being compared to a man neared his 90s.

Cross eyed him with such pity Allen wanted to puke. "Yes. I have had a talk with her, remember? I know when I'm talking with a smart one. It's all the more obvious when I'm talking to a genius. She's at that level."

"Somehow, I'm not surprised." The younger male said quietly.

"Indeed. She gives off a strong vibe of being someone you'd only found once in a century. But enough of all these shits. Had you heard anything else? Anything interesting about her?"

"Aside from Sokalo liking her? No, sir, none at all."

"Shame. Well, I guess I can catch up later." He remarked as he stood up from his seat. "Alright, suit up, Allen. Daisya's returning, and from the look on his face, I don't think this is going to be a pleasant journey."

And so he did.

It took them two whole damn weeks to clear that madhouse, but they did it.

They weren't injured, well… not physically. And as it turned out, Cross hates and fears ghosts, of all things. Allen couldn't laugh at such things, however, since he himself was scared to the point he almost piss his own pants when an eyelid-less ghost popped up and grabbed him from behind. Just thinking about it gave him chills.

He hadn't met Akihiro in the medical ward, however; it's said that she was paired with Kanda to Nepal about a week and a few days before he arrived back at the Order, and was due back in a few days. He glanced at the clock; it's 4am, no wonder why even the most energetic one (like Daisya) was so damned tired he didn't bother walking back to his room and just opted for lying down at the first-aid station and slept there instead. Allen wished he could do that, but he needed back into his room.

Timcanpy fluttered behind him, leaving an ample distance as it sensed its master's weariness. He silently thanked the golem for being smart. His eyes were already half shut when he reached Komui's office. With an equally tired smile on his face, his superior greeted him and pointed at the sofa. At this point, had it not been for Timcanpy nudging his cheek, he might've just fallen asleep right there.

"Thank you for your hard work." Komui said gently and took from his hands the written report he finished while on the carriage. There were bumps once in a while, but it's still legible. "Are you sure you don't want to drop by the Psych ward first? The doctors there can help you if you have Acute Stress Disorder."

"I only got jump-scared. There's no lingering effect." He waved off the concern in Komui's question and rested his head against the seat. "Ah, how long has it been now since Rei-san joins the Order?"

"I'd think it's well over a month now." Komui replied automatically. "Hm, and I think Hevlaska's mentioned that someone had exceed the Critical Point…"

"You mean it's her?"

"It's a possibility." He said. "I planned to call the non-General exorcists to have a test when they're all here. I think it's going to be a bit hard for Akihiro-kun, though, since I've got a report about something appearing not too far from where she and Kanda were working."

He was more interested in that than the mission itself, and he felt like knocking his head upside-down. With an inward groan, he said. "Is Kanda okay with this, though? I've never seen him get along with anyone."

"They seemed a bit jittery around each other, but otherwise they're perfectly fine. This is the second time since Marie that Kanda-kun didn't openly oppose the idea. I thought he liked it, somehow." Komui stated, amused at both the change in the younger male in front of him – who was gawking like an idiot Kanda said he was – and the man who he thought was heartless.

After a few minutes of letting it all sank in, Allen gave up trying to wrap his head around it and asked the next thing in his mind. "And what do you mean something appearing? Is it not an Akuma?"

"No." Komui shook his head and handed him the printed-out record from the Finders' golem. It was hazy at best, but he could make out something blood-red with many limbs, three eyes that seemed to merge together in one side of the head, and split-up lower jaws decorated with teeth. "This is what they mean. I have already informed Akihiro-kun about it. Even though I don't like the idea, she's going to solo this mission."

"Wait, why?" He said, incredulous. "Can't you just get Kanda to go with her?"

"They retrieved an unexpected Innocence, so she's kicking Kanda-kun back here. She promised me she'll be alright," Komui said with a lingering smile on his face. Allen didn't understand, at first, but he did with the next sentence. "She never lies, not once since she got here. Besides, I've already confirmed this with General Sokalo; she's deemed his equal. So I think she'll be fine, for the most part."

Even if he understood Komui's reason, it didn't mean he agreed with it. He wanted very much to openly oppose his decision, but if she said she'd be fine, Allen had no choice but to take her words for it. Really, between Rei and the Earl, he thought he was afraid of her more.

"Aside from that, good work on clearing the madhouse, again." He laughed heartily and relaxed back on his seat, his eyes concealed by the reflection from his glasses. "You've earned your rest, by the way. But please do check in with the medical ward, as per usual. You wouldn't want to incite her wrath, now."

"Just thinking about that gives me chills." Allen remarked, rubbing at his arms absently as he remembered the time her boot was introduced in such a way he couldn't open his mouth for a whole day. "I'll check in now, I think –"

"Could I have a moment of your time, Master Walker, Supervisor Komui?"

They were interrupted by a finder, whose hair color was sandy-brown and eyes light blue. He bowed politely and waited for their response. Komui nodded and took a sip from his cup of coffee. "You can. What can we help you with…?"

"Aiden, sir. My name is Aiden." He introduced himself and bowed again. Once he rose up, he continued. "I am here on behalf of Mis –" He hesitated there for a bit, and bit back whatever he was going to say and changed it mid-way "– my apologies. I'm on behalf of Miss Akihiro's research team."

Allen hadn't known there's a research team. Did she plan on reforming the whole church? Even for her, that was a tall order. Komui seemed to have known of this and smiled. "Yes, indeed. What can I help you?"

"We'd like to examine Master Walker's Innocence." Aiden explained. "Miss Akihiro had succeeded in mapping the basic functions of Equipment-type Innocence, with the help of Science Department, of course, and now would like to observe the parasitic type and the Crystal type. We need but a tiny sample of your Innocence for the first phase, Master Walker."

Komui looked at him. "What will you do, Allen?"

"Of course I'll cooperate." He said with a smile. It's not like Rei's going to cut him open or tie him up anyway. She's not like those hypocrites in Central. "But what about second phase?"

"We might need you to fight with your Innocence while having a few probes in your body and your Innocence, master Walker. But please don't worry about that. For now, I'd like for a tissue sample."

"But I'm surprised you've progressed this far in but a few weeks." Komui remarked sharply. "She had quite an eye for subordinates, isn't she?"

"Indeed she is." Aiden replied with a smile. "Indeed she is."

"Can I ask you one thing, Aiden-san?" Allen said at last, his eyes glued to the man before him. He ruffled his sandy hair – probably out of habit – as he smiled and nodded.

"Of course."

"How come a research team member becomes a finder?"

"Oh, that." He said knowingly and smiled. It seemed the question took him back to his older memories. "Long story short is that she needed information both in the lab and in the field. She doesn't like it, of course, but she couldn't just ignored her work as an exorcist and observe all of you. So some of us have to do it instead."

"I see." He was satisfied with the answer, and nodded.

"So I'll see you after you're done examining your body?" Aiden suggested.

"Yes, of course."

"I'll pick you up at the ward, then."

"Please do."

He relaxed back into his seat and breathed deeply. He can think of anything else – if there was anything to think about – later. For now, he just need to finish the research and the health care, and then he can just go to sleep.

Ten days ago.

"I'm surprised you're willing to go on a mission with me." Kanda said once they were out of Komui's earshot. Rei jumped slightly at his comment and blushed.

"It's not like I'm that embarrassed. But please," She emphasized on that last word a bit too hard as she lead the way to the Ark room. "Don't let a word about that slip. Besides, the mission with General Sokalo wasn't tiring. It's actually pretty fun."

"It's not just you who's going to get picked against." He said gruffly and stood by her side, waiting for the Ark Gate to open. Strangely enough, he didn't really mind having her for a company. Much like Marie, she knew her ways around his mood. "And what's with the mission with the General?"

"If you have a bit of knowledge about torture or history about war in general, it's pretty fun being around him." She remarked lightly with a chuckle. "Despite his look, he's pretty well-versed in history. It's kind of a good thing to find someone with the same taste in books."

"I don't know you were into tortures, Akihiro." He stated. Really, she didn't strike him as the type to like those kinds of things. At all.

"I've got a bit more surprises up my sleeves, don't worry." She wore the faint smile on her lips as she spoke. She then threw her suitcase up in the air and caught it with both hands, tapping at the handle lightly. "But I'm more taken aback by you. I don't think you're the type to start conversations; useless ones, at that."

"Hah." He snorted, but he supposed it was true. This probably was the first time he prolonged a conversation on his own accord. He frowned slightly, but did nothing else and instead continued. "Enough of that. How's your wounds?"

"It's long since healed, don't worry."

It didn't appear she was lying.

"How, though? You aren't a Second, so –"

She silenced him with a finger to his lips. His lips. He froze and his eyes darted around frantically, but thankfully there was not a soul but a few scientists who worked at the gate. He backed away reluctantly in time to see her smile, one with so much denial behind it. She merely looked to the side and said nothing until the Ark gate popped up from the ground.

She drew that same finger up to her lips and winked, the brightness of her grin returned just as quickly as it had faded before. "It's a secret."

So Kanda decided to leave it at that, for now, and went after her into the Ark.

They traveled to the gate in Northern India first. Since there were few Akumas activities in Nepal, setting up the gate was deemed unnecessary. The sun was very scorching, Kanda noted, but Rei didn't seem bothered much by it. He was surprised, but her exorcist uniform was sleeveless, so maybe it was kind of understandable. From there, it seemed they have to travel by old-school carriage to Kathmandu first then took a walk from there to their destination.

They met a finder there, who introduced herself as Maria – he remembered that name when Rei was tending to his wounds back in Chita – and she led then through the streets of India up north until the prepared carriage was in sight. They got into the wooden cart with but thin steel frames and a large white fabric stretched through it to shield them from the sun. It wasn't like he hadn't been to worse, but he preferred the newer version.

And from there it would take them around five or six days (with the horses galloping, not throttling, mind you) to reach Kathmandu, given them little time to rest during the journey. Rei seemed to have prepared well, since she took out a notebook from her backpack (yes, she did use backpack instead of your usual cases, which was new to him) and put on her frameless glasses.

"Are you short-sighted?" He asked and crossed his arms as the carriage started to move. With this obnoxious speed and the fucking hole-ridden roads, he was really surprised how she wasn't having any vehicle sickness. In fact, it looked like she was enjoying it.

"Not quite, it's… well, these glasses serve only for my eyes to not tire out too quickly. I usually spent hours on end reading daily. Can't have my eyes failing me now, can I?" She explained with a smile, her eyes not leaving the book as she continued to write something down at an incredible speed.

"Aren't you bound to vomit doing that on this cart?"

"I've had worse."

He couldn't imagine the worse she mentioned.

"So," He began again, relaxing only to tense up again as the cart flew past a large hole and landed extra hard. He cursed under his breath and resumed his question. "What do you said back then?"

"What then?" She asked back. "There are many "then", mind you."

"Back in Russia. Chita. When you said IXA had a certain gimmick." He replied and glanced at the suit case lying down on its side beside her leg. Her eyes followed his gaze, and a small Ah escaped her.

"The blade… isn't what it seemed." She was reluctant, he could tell that much. He should stop asking right here, but – "It's fine, I'm just trying to find the right word to describe it, is all."

"Don't play bullshit on my ass, woman." He snarled. She was clearly anxious trying to mention her Innocence's power. "It's fine. You don't have to tell me."

"I'm not playing bullshit on you, Kanda." She said coldly. Ah, so fury caused her to drop the suffix. That was good to know. Rei snapped her book shut and took off her glasses a bit too swiftly. But then her face softened as she smiled. "But I appreciate your concern. It truly is fine. It's just hard to find the right word to describe… this… thing my blade turns into."

"It's not like there's a timer over your head or anything." Kanda snorted and leant back, this time hyperaware of the road. If he got caught off-guard like that again, he's going to vomit. "Take your time."

"Right," She mumbled and reopened her notebook. "It's actually easier to show you, but I can't go and give the Earl and his minions an idea about it. After all, it's called a Trump Card for something."

"Just take your fucking time, woman." He gnarled. "Really, you're just like Lenalee. Babbling nonsense when you're nervous."

"I'm not nervous!" She denied. "I'm just thinking out loud!"

"Yeah, like I'm going to believe you."

She pouted.

It was kinda cute.

And Kanda slapped his face for that.

She looked at him oddly and shrugged to herself. After a while of silence and a bump later, she finally figured out a way to explain and said. "The blade of IXA is like a coiled steel whip, of sort. Four, actually, since the elongated form of IXA itself can split into four parts and attack four targets simultaneously. That said, its power is at its peak at first strike, since the coil released so much tension that the blade's velocity went as fast as a bullet."

"So it's a kind of a flexible sword. Get it." He nodded. It sounded like a useful gimmick. "And I supposed the speed avoided any notice, right? I'd say you've used it many times, but no one has figured it out yet."

"Indeed." She winked. "You're quite fast catching on. I had originally mistaken you for an airhead, Kanda-san."

Damn it with the suffix. And what the fuck's with the airhead comment? "And what the fuck's with the airhead comment?"

She laughed airily and gave him a rare genuine smile. If he didn't have any better control of himself, he might've just blushed right there. Her smile was there but for a moment before it turned into that mask of hers. "Well, I don't know. You don't look like the type to use your head that much. More like a go with the instinct kind of person, you are."

"Why am I feeling like you're sneak-assaulting my intelligence?"

"Why would you ever think of it that way?" She retorted back with a question – a method he's weak against, really – and gave him a mischievous smile. With that huge grin still on her face, she teased. "Oh, I know it, you're admitting that you're mentally retarded, aren't you, Kanda-san?"

"I said nothing of sort!" He denied. "Stop twisting my words, woman!"

She laughed. "Ahaha! I know teasing you was fun! Lavi-san was right!"

So she was associating with that idiot – that explained why she's picking a fight with him. Damn Lavi and his contagious idiocy. He's going to kill that bastard. Kanda crossed his arms and stopped his argument. If it was Lavi, he would just use Mugen to threaten him, but he couldn't do that to Rei. Not because she was stronger than him, but…

…but why? He didn't even understand that himself.

Just like that, most of the first day was spent bantering with her, with the last few hours before they make a stop being Rei focusing on writing in her notebooks. Once they reached a small village by the border at the dawn of the second day, they stopped to let the horse rested. Kanda and Rei went into the village to get some non-paste food, since this will probably be their only stop before they traveled to Kathmandu.

The market was brimming with people, half of them shouting into the crowds and advertising their goods while the other half looked at the presenting items and other supplies. He hated people, but for once he'd like something not tasteless, and since he had close to zero knowledge on food, he let Rei took the reign and led him.

She was surprisingly non-woman like. Most ladies would slowly looked at the stores by the roads, one by one, and be picky as fuck. She seemed to have already decided what she wanted, and was making a bee-line for it. He silently followed her as she parted the crowds too gently for his taste (he'd just shove each and every last one of these slow walkers into the gutter) with her hands.

"Chiya tea of Nepal is pretty distinct, but it might be too sweet for your taste since it contained sugar." She said, walking past the beverage counter and into the restaurant. It was, as expected from a border settlement, quite run-down, but it was decent enough for his taste. "Hmm… maybe some alcohol. Raksi or Jard?"

"I don't even know what the fuck those were." He grimaced. "Just order what you think I'm going to eat."

"Well, all you eat are Soba and Tea." She said and turned to the waiter. And at this, he didn't expect her to speak Sanskrit, of all things. "[May I get a cup of Chiya, and a tankard of Jard?]"

The waiter nodded at her. He didn't understand what they were talking about, naturally. "[Certainly. What would you like for your meals?]"

"[What do you serve? I'm not acquainted to southern Nepal. Apology.]" She said with a sheepish smile and bowed her head. He's going to assume she was apologizing for something.

"[No need to apologize. We have almost every cuisine in Nepal at your service here.]" The waiter said with a smile. Her mouth morphed into an 'O', and then she smiled brightly like a child. Kanda settled for resting his face on his palm and watching her silently as she bartered with the waiter.

"[That's incredible! Well, let's see… a simple Newali Choila for me, makes the spice double. For the pretty boy over here… Dhindo Thali, if you will.]"

"[It will be done.]" The waiter bowed after he wrote something down. And with a smile, he spoke in thickly-accented English. "Thank you."

She nodded at him with a smile as he walked off to the counter, probably to tell the cooks their orders. Once he was out of the earshot, Kanda asked. "How many languages can you actually speak?"

"Six?" She replied almost too instantaneously. "I had too much free time on my hands, so… English, Japanese, Sanskrit, Russian, German… and I think a bit of Chinese? I don't know about the rest but… I can make do with Arabian and some Spanish."

"Just what the fuck happened to your childhood?" He asked. "Your mom and pops dropped you into pits of books as punishments or something?"

"No, I did that on my own violation." She said, waving her fork.

"Is there anything you can't do?"

At this comment, her face slightly fell, and her reply was reluctant.

"Controlling myself, most likely."

He frowned at that comment, but the arrival of the meal broke the talk into a thousand pieces. He never got the chance to ask her about it after.

They arrived in Kathmandu by nightfall of the sixth day.

During that time, the banters happened as it should. He didn't pursue that comment back in the border restaurant, because Kanda feared that it might triggered something.

When they arrived, they worked their way to their inn, at the northernmost area of the city. It was luxurious and filled with the scent of Nepal; spices, dried trees, flowers and holy water. They were to take a night's rest there first, and a few days to find out about the Akuma hideouts. Incidentally enough, there was only one room available since it was high-season of the year.

So, unluckily for him, he's going to share a room with her.

Not that he mind it.

And with that dirty thought, Kanda gave himself a slap. He saw Rei peaked from the bathroom, a toothbrush stuck out of her mouth, and like all the other times he had gave himself a punishment, she raised an eyebrow questioningly before being satisfied by her own conclusions and went back to what she was doing. He silently thanked her non-of-my-business personality and took of his coat, draping it over the coat rack, shook off his boots, and literally leapt into the luxurious bed.

The five-day-straight ride with little time for proper sleep had made him dead-tired, and he wanted very much to just fall asleep right there. But then again, he wasn't that kind of man who would allow a woman to sleep on a chair or on the floor. Sighing, he rolled off the bed and headed for the nearby beach chair-like sofa. It worked pretty well as a bed, so he might settle for this.

His muscles were sore all over from the rides, because he wasn't used to that much speed (especially since it was coupled with the hazardous roads), and because he had been doing quite a lot of mission lately and hadn't given his body enough time to rest. He attempted to stretch his back only for a certain spot to taut and gave him a jolt of pain up his spine. He hissed and just fell back onto the chair. Well, he just had to make do with this until he healed.

Before he could do anything else, the bathroom door creaked open again, and Rei stepped out of it with steams following her. She changed into an atypical night gown for a woman; instead of light silk clothing like Lenalee, she wore simple button-upped white shirt and dark gray pants. He just realized she does love dressing like a man, for some reason.

She walked out bare-foot, a towel draped over her shoulder as she absently scrubbed her soaked hair while fetching something from her backpack. Kanda admit that he was watching but oh fuck it, it wasn't like anyone was going to be here and tease him for it.

What she fished out was a small steel box. She snapped it open and took out a single, spherical black pill. After giving it a painful look, she snapped it into her mouth and swallowed it before turning to look at him. Realizing that he must have been staring pretty obviously, he looked to the side.

All she did was giving him a dead-beat smile, and nothing more.

That was actually the first time since their mission that he'd seen her showing any sigh of being dead-tired. So he asked. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'm fine, Kanda-san." She said, exhaustion hanging at the edge of her voice. She walked (wobbly) and sat at the table, facing the mirror and quietly dried her hair by rubbing at them with the now half-soaked towel. After a while like that, she continued. "I'll probably sleep early tonight."

"Suit yourself." He said dismissively. Seemed like she needed it.

And before he knew it, she had already drifted into a long, comfortable slumber.

Someone screamed.

It was dead in the night, and he was jolted awake by a scream; desperate and scared. His hand instinctively found Mugen resting beside him and, with one fluid motion, unsheathed the blade. His eyes frantically searched the room and soon found the source of the cry of despair.

Rei was sitting up on the bed, drenched in sweat. She was heaving heavily with one hand clutched at the front of her shirt. He slowly sheathed his sword and put it away, quietly watching Rei calmed down and returned her fervent breathing to a more natural pace. Her face was pale, and her eyes were dark – darker than even his, he thought. It took her a few more minutes to calm her nerves completely, and that's when she registered him standing.

She stared at him for a second before quickly bowing her head. "I – I'm sorry, Kanda-san! I woke you up –"

He put up a hand to silence her, and she did, her gaze avert from his. Kanda sat down without uttering a word and waited until she did something; talking or going back to sleep, whichever would work just fine. Instead, she remained upright, brows furrowed and fist clenched.

After a while, he said; "What happened?"

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but closed it and inclined her head further. It was when Kanda was almost annoyed to the point of yelling at her did she reply. "It's… nothing. I'm sorry I've bothered you. It's just a bad dream."

He knew she wasn't like Lenalee, who think of things too seriously. That girl had a nightmare of her own, but not enough to really bring her to scream her lungs out like Rei did. It must be something more. He shifted in his seat slightly and adjusting his legs so that he was a bit more comfortable facing her. "That can't just be nothing, is it? Spit it out."

She gave him that damn smile again, so forced and painful and tired. She shook her head once and pulled the cover up to her chest. "It's alright, Kanda-san. I believe I won't do that again… at least until morning."

"Spit it out." He spat, half-expecting her to punch him or something. Instead she put her hands down and stared at them. Only then did he notice her hands were shaking and paled from all the clenching. Her breathing was ragged, Kanda noted dully. Just what in the world was she dreaming about?

"Just a terrible, terrible past of mine." She murmured through clattering teeth and fear-ridden voice. "I've done terrible things, things that I can't correct no matter how much I tried. And then… the red-eyed …"

"What red-eyed?"

It seemed that name was something she let slipped, and when he repeated it, she instantly clapped a hand over her mouth with her eyes wide open. And then, after a while, she relaxed and put her hand away. "…It's just a name. Please forget I ever said anything about it."

"You can talk, you know." He urged. Why the fuck was he doing this, again? Curiosity? Or something more? "I won't tell a soul."

"I know you won't." She said confidently. It seemed she wasn't lying about it either. "But more importantly –" before she finished that, she cut herself off and shook her head. He knew this wasn't something he should pursue any further "– I'm sorry. I'll go take a walk now. You can sleep in the bed, if you'd like. I don't think I'll return until morning."

"Hey, hey, it's just two in the morning!" He argued. "What the fuck –"

"Please?"

Her gaze was intense, and her voice firm.

Because Kanda knew that Rei can take care of herself, he was going to let her go, but he couldn't shake this feeling he was having.

Was it guilt?

But being under her glare like that, all he could've hoped to do was relent and walked to the bed, helping her up. "Fine. But take the damn Innocence with you. I won't go look for you if you get killed."

"Acknowledged." She said with a slight inclination of her head. "Thank you for understanding, Kanda-san."

"Whatever."

He really couldn't just ignore this feeling, indescribable as it was, no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise.

And before she even finished changing her dress, he again fell into a deep slumber with that lingering sense within him.

Just for the records, speaking multiple languages is very possible when you have good teachers and a lot of spare time. :v her ridiculousness will be explained properly WAY later, I promised ye!

Please do drop a review, comments, whatever! And see you again later! :D