Chapter Four: Repairs, Reports and Revelations

Back in the dining hall, Komui managed to beg another sandwich, plus a cup of fresh coffee, from Jerry. To the other man's concerned question, he replied that he'd let Allen and the others have all the sandwiches, and so he was still hungry. Jerry accepted the explanation readily enough, but...Komui sighed, and made a mental note to look for an alternative. He knew Jerry had an assistant in the kitchen, and that might make it possible for him to alternate who he begged food from. That would help. He also knew that many of the scientists, especially the ones working triple time, had taken the opportunity to snitch midnight snacks periodically. He had no idea if they'd gotten their food from one of the staff, or taken it out of the pantry directly, but it was certainly worth looking into. He'd long suspected that Jerry left snacks where they could be accessed when he was away or asleep. The man was too proud of his position as the food provider not to do so.

He was finishing the last of his coffee when the door slammed open, and Reever came stalking in. "Komui!"

He just managed to avoid either spilling or choking on the coffee, then mustered up a weak smile as he lifted his hand in greeting. "Reever-san!"

"You jerk!" Reever stormed over, seized his collar, and shook him. Komui yelped as the coffee splashed his hand. "Where have you been? You're the Supervisor! I've got stacks of paperwork and analysis reports five feet high on your desk already, we need you to figure out what to do with the Fifth Lab, and the Science Division is in chaos. Hevlaska's asking for you too. And you're down here drinking coffee! Geez." With a sigh of disgust, the other man let him go. "Honestly, I give you one day..."

"I know. I know. But really, Reever-san...I have been working." Komui winced and put down his cup, nursing his burned hand. The coffee had cooled enough that it wasn't going to blister, but it stung.

"On what? I haven't seen you in the lab or your office all day, Supervisor." Reever sighed.

"Ah, I was down in my lab." Komui grinned, watching Reever's eyes widen. He stuck his hand in his pocket. "I've repaired Kanda and Lavi's Innocence devices, and I've been to see our exorcists this afternoon."

"You repaired the weapons?" Reever raised an eyebrow. "Without the help of the lab?"

"I did." Komui nodded. "It wasn't very difficult, I just had to transfer them to new housing. But they're both rather basic weapon shapes. Plus, I developed this!" He pulled out his glove and flourished it. "It allows me to interact directly with the Innocence, and take readings from it without Hevlaska's help. Unfortunately...it still needs a bit of work. And I've only got the one." He grinned again and threw an arm over Reever's shoulders, pulling him close in a mock conspiratorial manner. "If you're nice, I'll give you the next one, and you can play with those Innocence experiments you're curious about."

Reever snorted. "I've got enough work right now." He paused. "You've gone to see the kids in the infirmary?" His voice dropped a little. "I haven't been by to see them today."

He heard the unspoken question in his second in command's voice. "Lenalee is well, as is Miranda. Lavi and Kanda are recovering well. Johnny...he's a little better I think. Ah, and Allen-kun is doing well." He turned partially, to the dark-haired chef who was standing unobtrusively a few feet away. "Allen-kun said to thank you for the sandwiches, and hopes you'll send more up soon."

Jerry grinned. "Sure thing, Supervisor." He bustled away toward the kitchen and seconds later Komui heard banging pots, no doubt signaling the beginning of a cooking spree.

Reever was still standing, looking away from him. "Crowley?"

"Awake, and recovering. He has been told." Komui swallowed, leaning against a table slightly, at the memory of the wounds that conversation had set to bleeding. "I spoke with him."

Reever looked at him. "I told you, Lenalee and Allen..."

"They did tell him. But..there are some things that must be heard more than once. Besides, he was concerned about being useless. I..." Komui's words faltered. "It's only fair he knows..."

"You aren't useless." Reever grabbed his shoulder, answering the pain he hadn't been able to keep from his voice. "You're our Supervisor. You may not have fought, but you were the one who issued the evacuation. You distracted that thing. You tried to save the Innocence, and Hevlaska. You organized the combat with the Noah, and sent Marie and Miranda and the Marshalls to us. If you hadn't, we'd have died, including Allen and Bookman." The tightness of the firm grip on his shoulder startled him into looking up. "You're a pain in the ass, and a slacker, and sometimes a lunatic, but you aren't useless."

"Thank you, Reever-kun." Komui felt relieved, and grateful for the other man's words. Despite what he'd said to Crowley, he still felt despair and self-disgust at how he had left so many to die for him. Even knowing they had volunteered, and the necessity of it.

He felt his captain's eyes watching him with concern, and forced his mind to something else. "Ah, that reminds me, I've something else for you, Reever-san." He pulled the nearly empty jar of salve from his pocket. "Here. This is something I developed. It will help you heal."

Reever blinked, sudden concern of a different sort in his eyes. "Another of your mystery concoctions? No offense, but I'm sure I'm fine, Supervisor."

Komui grinned. "Ah, ah, come on. You need to take advantage of these things. I promise you'll feel better in no time, Reever-san." He swiped a small glob off the rim, and advanced on the other man, still grinning. "Come on, it won't hurt."

"That's what you said about the last Komurin. The one with the medical unit." Reever backed away. "Komui..."

"Ah, but I know this is safe. I've even tested it on Allen-kun and Crowley-kun." He smirked.

"You what?" Reever froze, and the split second stop was just enough for Komui to dart forward and smear the salve across the cut on his cheekbone.

Reever blinked. "That..." He reached up to touch the bruised, slashed area with a cautious hand. "That...it doesn't hurt." He prodded it a little more forcefully, winced slightly. "A little sore, but it...doesn't hurt as much as it did."

"I told you so." Komui smiled. "Didn't you hear me say I tested it on Allen-kun, and Lenalee?"

"You said Allen and Crowley." Reever glared at him.

"Ah, well it was everyone in their section of the infirmary." He kept the grin on his face, enjoying the exasperation on Reever's. It was, in his mind, far better than the weary despair he'd seen that morning.

"Whatever." Reever huffed. "I hope you made a lot more of it then. If it's this effective, and with minimal side effects...I don't know of a person in the building who couldn't use a little. Nursing staff would be glad to have it."

"True. This is the last of it. But I have records of the formula, and I'm sure we can set someone on it. Maybe one of Bak's men. We have an ARK connection to them that hasn't been released, and Bak is still in our infirmary. I'm sure I can convince them to help out."

Reever snorted. "If you'd been in your office, or the labs, you'd know they've called at least half a dozen times offering assistance. I keep telling them you'll get back to them, but they're worried about their supervisor, and anxious to help."

"That's good. We'll get one of their lab techs on production of this right away." Komui ran his hand through his hair with a sigh. "What else?"

Reever frowned. "Take your pick. We've cleared the main area of rubble, but we're still doing clean-up and trying to figure out how to work repairs in Lab Five, the surrounding area, and the elevator. Plus, everywhere else along the path that damn Akuma took." He shook his head. "Of course, there's also paperwork. Supply requisitions, damage reports, official inquiries...it's a mess." he shook his head again. "There's even a suggestion that we abandon the Tower, move somewhere else." He met Komui's eyes, both men sharing an identical grimace at the thought of moving.

He knew where he should be, logically. The paperwork wasn't going to do itself, and it was his signature they needed. No matter that Reever was a talented man, and a more than competent second. With a disaster of this magnitude, the Grand Marshalls, the church and the supervising council weren't going to accept any explanations but his. Perhaps not even his. He supposed his second could forge his signature, but he had a feeling it wouldn't happen. Reever knew the facts as well as he did. Something like this...it had to be him. He wasn't going to put his second in command on the line.

Still...he shook his head. The paperwork would wait. A late night and a pot of coffee would aid with that, later. Plus, he'd had plenty of sleep the night before. He could handle even an all nighter. Perhaps two, if he pushed it. There was time enough. He smiled. "Well then, let's get down to the labs." He smirked. "I'm sure my building skills can come in handy."

Reever moved to catch up with him. "The paperwork."

Komui shrugged, flicking his fingers in a dismissive gesture. "Later."

Reever scowled. "Supervisor...the higher-ups..."

"Will wait." Komui let his voice drop. "Right now, there are people who need me. Everyone is working very hard with the repairs and the plans for potential moving. I've been away long enough."

Reever studied him a moment, then nodded, a rare smile breaking across his face. "Sure thing, Supervisor. Just don't think you'll get out of those reports forever."

"Of course not. I'm only delaying them a bit." Komui grinned, and the two of them headed toward the lab sections.

The labs were a mess, full of busy workers. All Finders that were still mobile were working, separating debris from what was remotely salvageable. All the scientists were working as well, calling out instructions, running inventory lists and schematics against recovered items or parts. He spotted Chaoji to one side, and moved over to speak to him. "Chaoji-kun."

The newest exorcist jumped, then turned with wide eyes and a smile. "Supervisor. Komui-san!"

"It's good to see you up and around." Komui grinned. "Helping out?"

"Yeah." Chaoji smiled, and held up his arm, with it's glowing green bracelets. "Master Tiedoll said I should practice my activations. And since it increases my strength...I thought I could use it to help, here. Moving the debris, I mean." He flushed, mingled embarrassment and happiness at being able to help.

Komui smiled back reassuringly. "Ah, well that's good." A thought hit him, and he sighed. "Of course...we still haven't done your evaluation yet, have we? You were in the infirmary, and then all this..." His hand gestured. "You'll still need a full work-up, and an examination of your Innocence by Hevlaska." He took the young man's arm, then craned his neck around to his section chief. "Reever-san, I'm taking Chaoji down for his examination. We don't want him to overdo it because he's unaware of his own limits, after all."

"Right." Reever nodded. "Go ahead. But if you're not back in an hour, I'm calling Hevlaska. And if you're not there...I'll tell Lenalee to withhold your coffee." He smirked. "I might even tell Lavi and Kanda and Allen-kun to distract her, so she doesn't visit you as much."

Komui winced. "Reever-san...that's terribly unfair." He was smiling, just a little, though. He knew his section chief wouldn't do anything like that, and that Lenalee wouldn't have gone along with it if he'd tried. But it was the perfect threat to level at him, when everyone in the building knew of the bond between the two siblings. He met his second's gaze, then fished out the almost-empty jar of healing balm and tossed it to him. "While I'm busy, get that to the team in the Asian branch. When I get back, I'll see what we need to do on the structural repairs."

"Understood. Although...you'd probably do better on the elevator repair team. It's more in your field." Reever nodded toward the wall. "Lab three. They've brought all the pieces up from Hevlaska's chamber by now."

Komui studied him a moment, then nodded. Then he turned, tightened his grip on Chaoji's arm, and smiled. "Come on then, Chaoji-kun. Let's see how you're doing."

The examination didn't take very long at all. Chaoji was in excellent condition, bruises and scrapes aside, and his Innocence was undamaged. Hevlaska registered him at a sixty-five percent synchronization. Considering he'd only had his Innocence a little more than a week, and the circumstances under which he'd acquired it, that was almost better than Komui expected. And seeing that Marshall Tiedoll had already taken over the young man's training, he didn't feel the need to add any cautions. Tiedoll was a bit eccentric, but he was a good teacher and mentor for a young exorcist.

After they'd measured synchronization, Komui led the young man back up to the lab. "Just one more thing to take care of, and then you'll be all free to go." He smiled, and gestured Chaoji to his patient's chair.

"Supervisor?" Chaoji blinked. "I thought you said my Innocence was fine."

"It is, it is." Komui gestured, an offhand flick of the wrist as he hunted around his toolbox. "But every Innocence needs a proper housing, you know. It's too dangerous to leave them like that." He pointed to the softly glowing bracelets. "We'll have to do something about that." He pulled out the appropriate tools, leaving the drill, since this was finer work, and turned back. Chaoji was still staring at him. He moved forward, caught the young man's wrist, studying the linked bracelets speculatively. "So then, have you thought at all about what form you'd like to house your Innocence in? Given it's qualities, and it's current form, I suppose wristbands are a good option. I've actually obtained a rather wide selection, somewhere around here..." He started to turn away, to look in another cabinet, when Chaoji spoke softly.

"I want to keep them like this."

"Hmmm?" Komui looked up, startled out of his thoughts.

Chaoji was studying the bracelet on his wrist. The expression in his eyes was one of mingled consideration, reverence, and grief. Then he met Komui's eyes, and hugged his arm to himself. "I want to keep them like this, Supervisor."

Komui raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's certainly portable enough, and quite suitable for the use you have for them. But we still need to encase your Innocence in something, for protection." He moved forward, laid a finger gently on the Innocence, letting his senses align with it. There was a whisper in his mind, a tingle in his blood, that told him the Heart was active, on a very low level. But at the moment, he was more interested in his own instincts. "I'd thought perhaps a pair of wrist guards, for archers or sailors."

"No!" Chaoji jerked back. "I want...I want it like this! It has to stay the way it is..." His voice dropped. "The way...she gave it to me..."

"All right. I won't change it." Komui pulled his hand away, lifting it palm upward in a gesture of surrender. "Just a moment."

He turned back to his workstation, pulling out a measure, and some rubbing paper, and a few other tools, including his metal working equipment. Then he went back. "Here. Let me see." He took Chaoji's hand, pulled it down to the flat arm of the chair, and began working. He needed precise measurements, and he'd noted the designs on the bracelets, lovely but intricate. And given the state of the Innocence, it took a delicate touch to transfer the designs to the rubbing paper.

Chaoji watched. "Supervisor."

Komui smiled. "I'm just taking some measurements. If you want it exactly like the bracelets, then I will do so. I just need to record the exact measurements and designs. And then we'll make a set of these, and transfer your Innocence into them. Shouldn't take long." he smiled again, trying to reassure the young man.

He felt Chaoji relax, though he suspected the other man was still wary of him. He worked for a few more moments, feeling the slight tension in the exorcists arm, then decided to indulge his curiosity and distract his patient at the same time. He spoke softly. "She?"

Chaoji started. "Supervisor?"

Komui shrugged, keeping his eyes on his work. "You said 'she' gave them to you. I know you worked on a boat, run by civilian supporters of our Order. I didn't know anyone working for us had Innocence. I was curious."

"She...she didn't. Miss Anita-san...she wasn't an Exorcist. But she wished us well. And she...she gave her life..." Chaoji's voice was trembling. "I think...her spirit sent me the Innocence, made me compatible, so I could continue to protect her memory, and the things she gave her life for."

Komui winced, and bit his lip. He hadn't meant to bring up painful memories, only to distract the young man from the work he was doing. He swallowed back the lump in his throat. "I'm sorry, Chaoji-kun." His voice was soft, regretful.

There was silence between them. Komui finished his measurements, then studied the young man for a moment. "Hmmm...they seem to tend towards a silver color when they're not activated. But silver isn't quite your color, Chaoji-kun. Perhaps a bronze alloy or something like that?"

"No. I want them to stay the same color." Chaoji met his eyes.

"I see. Well, pure silver won't hold up to your daily activities, not even in training." Komui tapped his lip, then nodded. "Sterling, or a lightweight alloy, I think." He went to a cabinet, pulling down several lengths of a lightweight silvery metal. As scientists, he and his team spent plenty of time working on various metals and alloys they could use for building, and weaponry. He found one that suited him, and withdrew an amount. He tossed it into a melting pot and set it in the furnace, and settled down to keep an eye on it. He wanted the metal soft enough to be easily malleable, but not molten. Flexible was more what he was looking for. After a moment, he went to the storage cabinets and withdrew three leather gloves. He handed one to Chaoji. "Put this on, please. On your Innocence arm."

Chaoji complied, but Komui could see the confusion in his eyes. "Ah...Supervisor..."

Komui smiled at the shyness in the young man's tone. "I'm going to heat some alloy, and then I'm going to shape it around the Innocence on your wrist. But I don't want to burn you, Chaoji-kun."

"Okay. But...didn't Captain Reever say..." Chaoji blushed. "I thought we had to be back in an hour."

Komui considered. "Ah...he'll understand. But I'll call up anyway." He pulled his headset out of his pocket, and clipped it into place. "Reever-san."

"Oi.You about done?" Reever's voice was sharp, but not harsh.

"Ah. Well, it may take longer than expected. I've decided to go ahead and fit Chaoji-kun's weapon. He's very adamant about the form he wants it to take. It's fairly simple, so...I'll take care of that."

"Komui...you bastard..." The words were half-hearted, no real heat in them. "How long?"

"Another hour or two. Longer if I need help, but I'll bring him to you if I do. But I think I have the equipment here." Komui settled against the wall, his eyes on the metal in the melting pot. It was visibly hotter, and looked like it might be getting close to the proper temperature for what he wanted.

"Fine.But you're still not getting out of repair duty.Or your paperwork." The connection clicked off.

Komui chuckled, and pulled on his own heat-resistant gloves, then leaned over to check the temperature of the metal. He picked up a piece gingerly. It was nearly red hot, almost burning through his gloves. But it was almost exactly the malleability he wanted. He frowned, then motioned to his patient. "Over here, please."

Chaoji moved over to stand beside him. As he settled the young man, he noted the brooding expression on his countenance. Not concern for the procedure, but something else. Komui frowned for a moment, wondering how to best approach the matter. Then he fished one of the heated metal lengths out of the pot and withdrew a hammer from his belt. Carefully, lightly, he began to hammer the metal into the thickness he desired, repeatedly returning it to the pot while he chose another length and repeated the process.

A quick glance revealed the exorcist was still lost in his thoughts, chewing his lower lip slightly in unhappiness. Komui watched a moment, then turned his eyes back to his work and spoke softly. "Something's on your mind, Chaoji-kun?"

Chaoji started. "Supervisor..."

Komui let a small, slightly smug smile slip onto his face. "It's not hard to tell you're upset, Chaoji-kun. Are you going to tell me why?" He let the smirk widen. "Or should I ask Lavi or Kanda?"

"No." Chaoji blushed. "That's not necessary. It's just..." He swallowed hard.

"Yes?" Komui deliberately dropped his voice, falling into the tones he used when he was trying to comfort or explain something to Lenalee, or the others. Gentle, questioning, persuasive.

"Allen-san..." Chaoji stopped, then spoke again, clearly wrestling with himself, and the words he spoke. "Allen-san is a great exorcist. Miss Anita thought highly of him. And he...he saved everyone on the ARK, and a few days ago. But Allen-san..." He paused again, his free hand clenching into a fist as his shoulders tightened. "On the ARK, Allen-san also saved a Noah. He helped him, even though he'd knocked him unconscious. Even though he was the enemy. And I...I still can't forgive him for that. For him to betray his position as an exorcist...to betray the trust Miss Anita had in him...I don't know what to think."

It took all the self control Komui had not to drop the metal he was working with when he heard Chaoji's report. None of the others had mentioned Allen helping a Noah. He considered what it would have meant for the young man, already in so much trouble, if that news had gotten out. He was suddenly somewhat relieved that Tiedoll had kept rein on the young man, and that Chaoji had spoken to him about it. But...he also understood the young man's confusion. He chewed his lip absently, looking for an appropriate answer to the dilemma.

He realized he'd gotten the metal to the desired thickness. Komui frowned, then took Chaoji's arm and drew it to where he could work comfortably. First, he formed two circles around the wrists, mirroring the Innocence bracelets. They were slightly thinner than the actual bracelets. As he worked, shaping the metal, an answer to Chaoji's confusion came to mind. He focused for a moment on smoothing the metal, then spoke softly. "Chaoji-kun, have you seen Allen-kun's eye?"

He felt the young man stir in his grip, clearly puzzled. "His eye?"

"Yes. The one with the red markings." Komui caught his tongue between his teeth for a moment as he pressured and bent the metal into shape.

"Of course." Chaoji sounded confused, and Komui didn't blame him. Allen's eye had confused him too, at first. Until Allen had told him what it was, how he'd received it, and the peculiar power it held. And that...that had horrified him, almost made him sick to his stomach.

He thought a moment, choosing his words, then spoke softly. "Allen-kun's eye...do you know what it does?" He heard the slightly confused 'no' and spoke again. "With that eye...Allen sees the souls of the akuma. The souls that have been trapped, imprisoned and transformed by the Earl's magic. He can see their suffering, their anger, all their pain. He can hear the cries that no one else can hear."

Chaoji stiffened. "Supervisor..."

"Ahh...I'm not done yet." Komui selected a thinner piece of metal, thin as paper, and began pressing it gently into the engraved surface of the Innocence bracelet, forming the impression in the metal. "As I was saying...Allen-kun's connection to the akuma is different than most. He told me once...he is both savior and destroyer. But...it has always set him apart. Allen-kun is...in some ways, very alone." He paused, then spoke softly. "Allen-kun is the only one who can raise the ARK. But that power acts upon him to bind him to the Noah, just as his eye does to the akuma. Perhaps...he must carry that now as well."

He could feel Chaoji's tension, but the silence at least suggested the young man was considering his words. Then Chaoji spoke. "But...Miss Anita and the others...they were his friends. How could he just ignore that?"

"I don't think he did." Komui spoke softly. He hesitated, knowing that the words on the tip of his tongue weren't really his to disclose. But still, if it would help dispel the discord between his exorcists... "Want me to tell you a secret, about Allen-kun?" He looked up with a small smile on his face.

Chaoji blinked. "Supervisor..."

"Ah-ah." Komui laid a gentle finger across his lips. "This is a special secret. It doesn't leave this room, okay?" He held Chaoji's eyes in a conspiratorial grin.

Chaoji nodded uncertainly. Komui turned back to his work. He had four half-circles of metal. Carefully, he heated them all, along with the impressions he'd made. Then he withdrew them, and began to press the engraved and the solid metal together. As he worked, he spoke softly. "Allen-kun doesn't discount the sacrifice. He holds it very dear. In fact...did you know? The first akuma Allen ever encountered and killed was his own Father? By his own hand?" He felt Chaoji stiffen in shock, and continued softly. "I heard it from Allen's Master, Marshall Cross. I also know that Allen's first fight as an exorcist-in-training was against his best friend. A friend who summoned the Millennium Earl for his sister. I'm sure Allen-kun didn't want to do it. But he told me once..." Komui paused a moment, making sure he had everything aligned properly. "He told me, and he told the Asian Branch head, that he had to love both demon and victim, opponent and friend equally, or it would destroy him." The smile that twisted his lips was more of sadness than anything else.

He heated the metal again, bonding the two sections for each half-circle. Then he turned to Chaoji, and slipped the first half circle into place around his wrist, careful to avoid the skin. The second he pressed against the first, mirroring the Innocence configuration just below it on Chaoji's arm. He held it together as the metal set and cooled, and spoke again. "Do you understand now, Chaoji-kun? I'm certain Allen meant no disrespect to the sacrifice your friends made."

The metal had cooled enough for him to let go with one hand. He did, reaching for the bottle of tempering oil he'd set aside for just that purpose. "Arm over here, please." He poured the cooler liquid gently over Chaoji's arm, smiling reassuringly as Chaoji flinched at the hiss of steam. "There we go. That's the first half." He turned back to get the other two half-circles.

The second part was easier than the first. He didn't have to be as careful about touching Chaoji's arm. As the steam of the second cooling process hissed around them, Chaoji spoke softly. "Supervisor...Allen-san...what you said..."

"Is true. But...do you understand, what it means to Allen-kun?" Komui spoke softly without looking up. He really did need to pay attention to his work. But he knew that Chaoji needed to sort this out. After all, there might be a time when he had to be Allen's partner. It was dangerous to have a partner you didn't trust. Or that you were angry with, or hated.

"I don't know." Chaoji's face was tight in the light of the lab, and he was chewing his lip in agitation. "It's just..."

"It's difficult, I know." Komui nodded. "It's hard, to lose someone you love, or to think that someone you trust has betrayed you. But...it's not always what it looks like."

Silence fell between them, Chaoji thinking on his words, Komui focused on his task, on making sure he'd done it right. The bracelets were rather crude efforts, but they were as close as he could come to what Chaoji wanted, at least on this short notice. And he wasn't a metal-smith by trade, nor a jewelry maker. But even as he worked with the cooling metal, making sure he'd done the best he could, his mind was turning things over. His own words echoing back at him.

It's not always what it looks like. He knew that truth better than anyone. How many times had he driven his team to annoyance, shouting, cursing and even blows, with his seemingly thoughtless actions? He knew well enough, the art of deception and masking one thing behind another. Allen was far more blunt, far more straightforward. He didn't like either lies or deceptions, and was notoriously bad at them, in most instances. But...that was what made the misdirection he chose to engage in that much more subtle. And if there was something going on that he didn't know about the young exorcist, he'd best ask about it, see if he could get a heads-up. Not that he suspected Allen of betrayal. But the youth bore far too many burdens already, and was all too willing to carry them alone. That he would prevent if he could.

Then, of course, there was the role he was already beginning to settle into. He'd had cause to hide things before, but never a secret so great as this. The building of a Komurin, or the plans he set in motion whenever the strain of battle became too much for his people. Little things to irritate them into forgetting their grief, for a few moments. Foolish masks, or stern ones, that hid his own anguish. That allowed him to be their Supervisor, whether they followed his leadership, or cursed him for being a jerk and an idiot. But...the mask he wore to hide his Innocence would have to be the best he had ever formed, and it would have to stay in place, constantly. He couldn't afford for Lenalee or Reever to see through him this time, as they saw through his other masks. He would have to fool them, fool Allen, fool the Marshalls and even Hevlaska. A part of him went cold at the thought of such massive deception, even colder at the thought of what would happen if this mask were ever broken.

"Supervisor?" Chaoji's hesitant question roused him from his thoughts.

"Ahh...sorry. Just thinking about things while we wait for the metal to finish setting." He offered the young exorcist a half-smile, and a look of kindness. He glanced at the ring around Chaoji's arm, then pulled off a glove and tapped it with the knuckles of his hand. Warm, but not hot enough to burn him. "It's cool enough. Wait a moment, and we'll bond your Innocence to it." He rose, moving over to another of his large cabinets.

They had devices, of course, that they used to bond Innocence to it's housing. And he did have a few of the smaller, less sophisticated ones in his working lab. But...he also had an easier way to do it now. He frowned at his hand, wondering if he was up to another fusion. But he didn't feel particularly exhausted, and it was good training. He settled for pulling out a large square, awkward box. It was actually a diagnostic machine, but it was one he used, or the medical team used, for emergency surgery and repair. It would hide his hands while he used his Innocence, and it was so ordinary, that even if Chaoji happened to mention it, no one would think too much about it. He grunted, then heaved it up onto the table. "Here." He gestured. "Place your hand inside please."

Chaoji complied hesitantly. Komui watched him, wondering idly who exactly had spread the rumors of his 'terrifying' experiments. Or the difficulty of Innocence analysis and bonding. Granted, he had given Allen and Crowley a bit of a rough time, but then, they both had parasitic Innocence. And Allen had, by sheer bad luck, managed to damage his on the Order's front doorstep. Granted, Kanda had helped, but still...

He turned his attention back to his work. The trick was to not be too obvious. A part of him winced at the idea if injuring both hands today, but it was natural he'd not use his injured one to work, not without something to protect the wound. So...he slipped his uninjured hand into the machine, letting one finger brush roughly against the metal, so that it cut his skin. With his other hand, he turned the machine on, watching the ghostly image of his hand and Chaoji's, and the glowing light that was the Innocence, and the dullness that was the metal. "All right then. This should just take a moment."

He'd already adapted enough that it was the work of moments to activate the Heart. He had, however, forgotten the corresponding glow. He just managed to keep his face schooled into an intent expression, with no surprise, as though it was all part of the procedure. But Chaoji didn't seem to notice anything odd. Working quickly, Komui brought his other hand to Chaoji's arm, to steady it, then used his fingers to pinch the Innocence and it's metal counterpart together. He could feel the tingling of the Innocence, the still-warm metal. And in the silence of his mind, he summoned one word, backed with all the discipline he could muster. Fusion.

Light flared, bright even within the display monitor, and Komui felt the Innocence merge seamlessly with the metal of the bracelets he'd fashioned. Seconds later, the light had faded, the Innocence within him dormant again.

He winced at the ache that bloomed in his chest, wondering if it was a warning he'd overdone himself. Not that that would be a surprise, with three fusions and two minor repairs. He swallowed, remembering that this was only the first day he'd had the Heart.

He realized that Chaoji was staring at him in consternation, and quickly shoved his thoughts to the back of his mind, pulling up a calm, professional smile for the younger man. "Ah, well...that went very well, Chaoji-kun." He withdrew his own hands, and gestured for the other man to do the same.

Chaoji blinked as his wrist emerged, sporting one set of gleaming silver bracelets. "Supervisor?"

Komui smiled, and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Ah, it's all right. The fusion of Innocence and housing was completely successful. The metal should transform whenever you need it to, okay?" He waited until the young man nodded, then smiled again. "Well, we're done for today. You should go back to Marshall Tiedoll for now, since you're under his care. Be careful about using it for the next few days, and call me, or the Marshall, if you have any problems. Okay, Chaoji-kun?" He added a bit of a smirk to the end of the statement.

"Yes, Supervisor." Chaoji nodded, slipped out of the chair, and made his way to the door. He blinked when Komui didn't accompany him. "Supervisor, don't you need to get back to the labs?"

"Yes, yes." Komui gave him an off-hand wave. "I just have to clean up here first." He made another nonchalant gesture, then gave the younger man another of his mischievous grins. "I like to tease Reever-san by leaving a mess in my office, but the lab's a different thing." He let his grin widen as he raised a finger to tap his nose. "Don't tell him though. It'll ruin all my fun."

Chaoji returned his grin with a brief one of his own. "All right, Supervisor. I'll tell him you'll be up in a while." The grin disappeared. "What you said about Allen-san..." He turned his face away. "I don't know yet, if I can accept the way he does things. What he did...still feels like a betrayal. But I'll...I'll keep what you said in mind." And without further words, the man vanished out the door.

Komui made sure the young man was really gone, then let the mask slip from his face. His chest hurt. Worse than when he'd had respiratory illnesses, once or twice. Those had really hurt, especially when Lenalee had come home, and he'd been trying to stifle his coughing around her. But now...he pressed one hand over his chest, swallowing hard. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought he was having a heart attack. But he could feel, through the Innocence bond, that it was nothing of the sort.

Muscle strain then, or the closest thing to it. Which made sense, given what he'd done. He found a small smirk rising to his lips, wondering what he'd been thinking to use his power so much on his first day as a Host. On the other hand, his stomach was growling, and the pain provided him with a perfect excuse to go to the kitchens. The Head Nurse had supplied him with a bottle of pain medication, but if he took it without food, he'd most likely pass out within the next hour and be insensible for a while. He sighed, moved stiffly to put away his tools and materials, then left, heading once more for the kitchens.

Thirty minutes later, Komui found himself standing outside the entrance to the third lab. He frowned at the door, then absentmindedly stuck the last of his sandwich in his mouth, washing it down with the coffee in his other hand. He'd gotten both by telling Jerry that it was time for his pain medication, which served to put the man off track. It was, he reflected, a useful excuse for the next few days. Until his shoulder and leg healed from the akuma blast and the elevator's fall, he could be expected to be taking medication for his injuries. He wondered idly if he could claim a blow to the head or some such, or perhaps overstress, as a reason for frequent headaches. Those could also be a viable excuse. But he didn't want to create the impression that he was frail or vulnerable. He sighed, shelved the thought for more consideration later, and pushed the door open.

The main bulk of the elevator was hanging, suspended by pulleys and such, in the middle of the lab. Around it were piles of materials, everything from major components the size of a train engine, to a table set up with small piles of screws, bolts, and gears.

A group of scientists were standing over another table draped with schematics. One of them looked up when he entered and grinned, waving his hand with excitement. "Oi, Supervisor Komui!"

He blinked, not recognizing the man. Then he saw the design on the shoulder of the jacket. The design for the Asian Branch. He allowed himself to relax, and return the friendly smile. This was one of Bak Chan's men.

He crossed over to the table, and looked over the schematics. "So then, where are we in the repairs?"

The man shrugged. "We've got all the pieces out from the rubble, and probably spare parts for other projects too. But we could really use an expert's hand in putting it back together." The man grinned, his finger tracing over the schematics. "This is a real piece of craftsmanship, Supervisor. Design like this...Supervisor Bak was pretty upset he couldn't get out of the infirmary wing to come tinker himself." The man smirked. "It's only fair. He got to study with the ARK."

Komui decided not to point out that the ARK had been off-limits, and that Bak wasn't supposed to have been on it. He just shook his head, and spoke softly to the other man. "How is he?" The young man had been terribly injured in the attack, though not as critically as Johnny or Allen. He'd helped escort his wounded colleague to the infirmary, and seen to the setting up of his hospital room himself, but he couldn't find words to express the gratitude he felt, that the other Supervisor had managed to save his people. If it hadn't been for Bak...he shuddered.

The scientist standing next to him grinned. "Still too weak to fight the nurses, and too drugged to sneak past them. But he's awake enough to fret." The man grinned again and shrugged. "He asked me to slip a message to someone named 'Lenalee'. But I don't know everyone here yet."

Komui felt an evil smirk threatening to rise. Bak had been fascinated with Lenalee since the first time he'd set eyes on her. Komui liked Bak well enough, but his protective streak regarding his sister wouldn't allow the young man near her.

He thought of how Bak had saved Allen, and cared for all his exorcists after their adventures in Edo. He had heard Allen's report of how Bak had been willing to sacrifice himself against an Akuma Three. And he had seen the scar on Bak's hand, the mark of his use of his guardian bond. A bond activated in blood, for an extreme emergency. For Allen's sake. He thought about the fact that Bak had saved Reever, and Johnny, and at least half a dozen others with his quick thinking and his courage. Had it not been for him, Komui knew he'd have buried his second in command, and even more of his science department than he'd already done.

Perhaps the man did deserve some reward. At the very least, Komui owed him a thank you, and life debt several times over. Despite the instincts in his head, screaming that no man with even a possibility of romantic attentions could be near his sister, he shrugged. "Lenalee? She's my sister." he smiled at the man. "I'll pass the word to her, that Bak-chan wants to see her." He just stopped himself from calling the younger man 'Little Bak Chan.' He felt a smirk twitch one side of his mouth up. He didn't promise to say anything favorable, or to not call the man 'Little Bak Chan' around his sister. His eyes went back to the heaps of parts, and the schematics scattered over the surface in front of him. "So then, let's get to work, shall we?."

The next few hours passed in a flurry of repair work. The scientists were more than happy to show him what they'd seen, and figuring out what parts had been damaged, and what had been outright destroyed, took nowhere near as long as it could have. He made a list, then set a team to remove the damaged parts still attached to the elevator. Then he and the remaining scientists set to work, repairing components of the elevator, salvaging what could be salvaged, and repairing or remaking everything else. It was soothing work, much like the time he spent making Komurins. The mechanisms, repair programming and tuning were complicated enough to keep his mind occupied and focused, but not taxing enough to strain his wounds or raise unwanted thoughts or anxiety.

Komui smiled to himself as he worked on one of the stabilizers, putting it back together. Reever had known, of course, how he'd feel about the repair work. He suspected his second in command knew the real reason he built Komurins, just as he knew how he'd felt during their work the days before. Before yesterday, he'd been involved in general clean-up, and the sight of the damage done to his home brought an ache to his heart. This was far easier.

He wasn't sure how long he worked, though he gave the team with him permission to come and go as needed, and knew most of them had gone to rest, when a sound made him look up from the part he was assessing. Not a normal come-and-go sound, but a whistle of pleased surprise.

Bak stood or, more accurately, leaned in the doorway, his eyes on the elevator. As Komui watched, the young man moved forward, walking with the slow steps of the still-injured, his eyes fixed on the elevator. He let out a soft whistle. "Impressive. I always thought it was amazing...but this..." He stepped forward, sticking his head into the jagged hole. "Brilliant."

"Thank you." Komui felt a small smirk crease his face. He studied the young man. "I thought you were still in the infirmary..." He couldn't resist. "Little Bak Chan?"

The young man flushed scarlet and hunched his shoulders. "Yes, well...I feel better." He smiled, straightening, and dug a small bottle out of his pants pocket. "One of my subordinates delivered this, from you, about an hour ago." A smirk edged one corner of his mouth up. "Not bad stuff, Komui Supervisor."

Coming from a man whose parents had specialized in bio technology and medicine, that was praise. Komui decided to ignore the challenging smirk. "Thank you." He looked down at the parts littering his table. He'd lost his concentration with Bak's arrival, and he wasn't sure he'd get it back. Besides, a look at the clock told him hours had passed, and his stomach was growling at him again.

Bak watched him a moment, then strolled over to look at the parts littering his table. His eyes drifted to the schematics that littered the table, then to the piece Komui was analyzing, and his expression sharpened with interest. He looked back at the diagrams, selected one, and studied it. "Looks like the left side and mid connectors are snapped, at least. What about the internal structure?"

"Intact, as near as I can tell." Komui leaned over. "I've been testing it for stress fractures and it seems to be fine. It was designed to handle crash damage. But with the akuma blast and everything..."

"You've got to retest." Bak gave him a quick grin. "I did too, after the Level Three tangled with my guardian. He had a matter disintegration technique."

Komui winced. "Unfortunate. And is your guardian..."

"Perfectly fine." Bak's smile was a little rough around the edges, and there was darkness in his eyes. "But if Allen-kun hadn't gone back..." He let the thought die away, shrugging slightly. Komui didn't press him. Bak tended to go silent in the face of such things.

Komui let a small, grim smile twist his mouth. Fortunately, he knew a way to lighten Bak's mood. He'd seen the way the younger man had been studying the elevator. Like any true scientist, new things were a powerful draw. He shifted the few steps around the table, and threw a conspiratorial arm around the young man's shoulders, flashing his trademark wicked grin. "Be that as it may, Little Bak Chan, aren't you supposed to be resting?"

Bak twitched. "Komui, you..."

Komui smirked. "I should take you back to the Head Nurse." He saw Bak twitch, and turn pale, and didn't blame him. The head nurse was a wonderful, dedicated woman, but she had a temper that could kill with a look. "Ah. I have a better idea...Little Bak Chan." He pushed his glasses up his nose with a smirk. "Since you're here..." He turned, and picked up the part he'd been studying. "I have fifteen more just like it. And they all need to be tested."

Bak blinked at him. "Komui...you..."

Komui grinned. "No arguing. Unless you want me to get the head nurse now?"

Bak shook his head. "Komui, you...let's get to it." The tone was resigned, but the sparkle in his eyes was anything but. He looked much as he had when studying the ARK. The intense curiosity that was the mark of any serious scientist.

They worked for about an hour. It was a comfortable partnership. Komui found himself remembering the first time they'd worked together. When Lenalee had first been taken, he'd gone to the Asian branch of the Dark Order, to get acclimated and make the necessary contacts. Bak's parents had come to support him. During that time, he'd become acquainted with their son. Bak had been a child, but already inquisitive, and highly intelligent. Komui's transfer to the Headquarters had put distance between them, but he'd still sometimes called the young man. He'd even visited when Bak had taken over the Asian Branch. He'd been impressed with how well the young man had grown into his talents and responsibilities, though he'd teased him anyway. Despite the distance and their individual pressing assignments, the two of them had managed to maintain the friendship that had begun between them.

Komui felt a small smirk on his lips. Of course, that didn't mean he was going to to let Bak court Lenalee. Though they were close to the same age, he was still far too attached to his sister.

Komui noticed the young man's pale face, and the slight trembling in his hands and decided to call a halt for the evening. Besides, his stomach was growling, reminding him of the hours that had passed since he had eaten. He sighed, then laid his tools down and stretched. "Come on, Bak Chan."

Bak blinked. "Komui..."

Komui grinned at him. "I need a cup of coffee." He let the grin slip wider. "And some dinner. Our chef, Jerry, is excellent." He threw his uninjured arm around the young man's shoulders and whispered softly. "And he'll help with dodging subordinates and the nurses. You know Head Nurse is probably looking for you."

His stomach chose that moment to rumble. Bak smirked knowingly. "I suppose we could take a break." His gaze flickered back to the parts littering the table. "Although, this work..." The younger man's stomach gave off it's own muted rumble, and he flushed. Komui smirked.

"Come on, Bak Chan. I'll even put in a good word for you if Head Nurse catches up." he smiled wider, then pulled the young man away and whispered. "You know, Lenalee might be at dinner. I might even let you say hello to her."

Bak's eyes widened. "Lenalee-chan..." He straightened, running his hands down his uniform, trying to smooth the mended fabric. Then he looked at Komui. "Of course, we should hurry up to dinner at once." With that he was out the door, going at the fastest walk his injuries would permit.

Komui's smirk widened. I only said might. Besides...it's still true if I let him shout from across the room. Although...didn't Allen-kun say he gets hives whenever he gets within ten feet of her? That might be...interesting to see. And I never said I wouldn't say or do anything afterward. He bit back a snicker and followed the younger man.

They arrived to find the dining hall busy. It wasn't crowded, not nearly as busy as it could have been, but there was a fairly large crowd. Scientists and Finders were intermingling, talking in low tones. Bak looked eagerly from side to side, scanning for Lenalee's form, but Komui didn't see her. Then again, all the exorcists except Chaoji and the Marshalls had been confined to the hospital wing. Of course, Lenalee and Miranda had some flexibility, given the relative lightness of their wounds, but the Head Nurse had insisted on keeping an eye on them. The Marshalls had all come through virtually unscathed. As far as Komui knew, all of them were relaxing in their own private suites. Cross, he knew, was preparing to return to the Church to face questions about Allen. He'd talked to the man two nights ago about it. Of the others, Tiedoll was waiting for Kanda and Marie to finish recovering, and the others were simply taking a break, relaxing in a rare moment of time off.

Bak sighed. "Lenalee-chan... she isn't here."

Komui stifled a wicked grin. "Well, I suppose not. Still...come have dinner with me." He threw his arm around the younger man's shoulders, and dragged him forward. "Do you still like curry, Bak-chan? Our chef is excellent..."

Bak made a soft, non-committal noise in his throat, but he allowed himself to be dragged forward. Men around the room noticed them, and shouted greetings, to which Komui responded with a wave and a smile. He was relieved to note the atmosphere was slightly less grim than it had been. Some of the less injured were coming out of the infirmary wing, and he spotted at least two tables holding impromptu celebrations.

Jerry was waiting at the counter when they arrived, a smile on his face. "Supervisors!"

"Jerry." Komui smiled. "This is Bak Chan, from the Asian Branch. I don't know if you've had an opportunity to meet..."

"Welcome to Headquarters." Jerry smiled. Then his voice dropped. "Thank you. Both of you."

Komui blinked, and he could see the surprise on Bak's face as well. "Hmmm?"

Jerry's smile warmed even further, if it was possible. "I hadn't gotten to thank Bak Supervisor for saving little Johnny yet. But I've got a couple dozen more mouths to feed tonight, and the word is it's due to you." His eyes lit on Komui, sparkling behind his glasses. "That salve of yours works well, Komui. And your men did us a big favor, getting more of it made for our wounded." His gaze turned to Bak.

Bak smiled. "They're our wounded too." He bowed politely. "It was...a pleasure to assist."

Jerry smiled and flourished a frying pan. "Well, now it's my pleasure to serve. So then, what'll it be? You name it, I'll make it for you. Anything you like."

Komui let Bak order his first, curried rice and pork and sauce and greens, with green tea. Then he placed his own request, watching Bak's expression with amusement when Jerry whipped out the food in record time, even the dessert they'd both chosen and a fresh mug of coffee for Komui.

"Oi, Supervisor!" Reever and a member of the Asian Science Department waved as Komui and Bak turned. The two men shared a glance, then Komui shrugged and moved over to sit with his second in command. Reever grinned. "How's the elevator coming?"

Komui smiled and sipped his coffee. "Well. With current progress it'll only take about a week to repair fully, as long as none of the specialty parts have to be rebuilt." He paused for another sip of coffee and a bite of his food. "The labs and hallways?"

"We've got a lot cleared out. A lot of stone was pulverized, we'll have to wait till the elevator is up to get more from the town. But a lot's been salvaged, enough to shore up the weak points. We've got teams on it." A rare smile creased Reever's face. "That new guy, Chaoji, he's a big help."

"I'm glad." Komui smiled. "So then...let's talk about something else, yes?" His eyes drifted over the hall. "It looks as if our people are in good spirits."

They spent the rest of dinner discussing their men, and random small talk. It helped ease the tension they all felt. Komui, for his part, remained mostly focused on his dinner, letting the conversation flow around him. He was hungrier than he'd thought, and the combination with Jerry's legendary cooking was nearly enough to make him cry with delight. He just barely managed to stop himself from making unseemly noises, or bolting his food as if he hadn't already eaten three or more times his normal amount for a day.

The scientist from Asian asked Reever a question and Komui blinked, only then realizing he'd lost the thread of the conversation. But none of the others seemed to notice that he was sitting in a daze, so he relaxed, looking around at the hall, half full of people.

People were eating in groups, pairs and trios and larger groups crowding together. The celebrations were still going, people joining in and breaking away. There was sorrow in the air, but also a feeling of camaraderie, companionship, and the frail beginnings of hope. Trust in each other. Finders and scientists sat side by side, eating, talking, even laughing quietly together. Komui smiled. It felt as if the people, and their spirits, were beginning to mend. The knowledge sent a wave of relief through him. People were always the hardest to heal, and he worried more for them than the stone of the Tower. He knew that the signs he saw were only the fragile beginnings of a long period of recovery, but still, it was a start.

"Oi, Komui." He jumped slightly, startled out of his thoughts. He blinked and returned his gaze to the table, to find Reever staring at him. There was concern in the man's eyes, and Bak was watching him with a similar expression. "You okay?" A slight frown marred the worried expression. "You're not planning something, are you?"

Komui smiled. "Just watching." He let a bit of a smirk twitch his lips. "Although, now that you mention it...Jerry did ask if I've got a cleaning Komurin around here somewhere..."

Reever's expression twitched into a scowl, edged with a hint of alarm. "No." He leaned forward and grabbed Komui's collar. "If you've got time for that, then you can do that bloody pile of paperwork I had to leave in your office."

The familiar look of exasperation in his section chief's eyes was more heartening than anything else he'd seen all day. Komui's smile widened. "Yes, yes. I'll get to it at some point." He studied his empty plate, then rose from his seat, intending to get a fresh cup of coffee, and maybe seconds on dessert.

"Komui Lee!" The voice made him stiffen, sent a shiver down his spine and made his stomach clench. Leverrier. He knew the man hadn't left yet, but he'd hoped not to speak with him any time soon. They hadn't exchanged words since the fight, and Komui would have preferred to keep it that way until the man chose to return to his own place. The memory of how he'd endangered Lenalee and Lavi still made cold anger burn in his stomach. Never mind his accusations against Allen.

Komui swallowed, his fist clenching as several thoughts assailed him at once. He couldn't let Leverrier even suspect that he now bore an Innocence fragment, particularly not that it was the Heart. He didn't want Leverrier to reach Lenalee or Allen, nor did he want his sister to know that he was talking to the man. She might feel it necessary to intervene, and he knew she was terrified of Leverrier. He'd known that even before Kanda mentioned Lenalee had started hiding with him. And, of course, there was Leverrier's attendant, Howard Link, who had developed such an interest in Allen. He wasn't sure how far to trust the young man yet, but there was no harm in being cautious.

Komui swallowed, knowing he didn't dare ignore the other man for too long. But...he forced a small smile to his face. "Sorry, Reever-san, but it looks as if the paperwork will be delayed some more." He turned, watching as Leverrier made his way through the crowd toward him, then spoke softly. "Bak-chan."

"Komui...that man..." Bak disliked Leverrier almost as much as Komui did. They'd both fought with him several days ago, over Allen, and been angered by his heavy-handed approach and his arrogance.

"Yes, yes. I'll have to go speak with him again. But I believe you mentioned wanting to speak to Allen-kun and the others?" Allen and the others had been taken away from the general infirmary, partially to shield them from Leverrier and his questions, and his attitude. "If you want to visit them, it's the eighth floor, in the Infirmary wing. First room is the girls room. Second is Kanda and Lavi's and the third room is where Allen-kun and Johnny are staying." He offered the man a smile, then leaned down and whispered softly. "Lenalee has a room-mate, Little Bak Chan, so if you do anything inappropriate, I'll know."

Bak flushed bright red. "Komui...you..." He fell silent as Komui turned to face Leverrier, just as the man crossed the last few feet to their table.

Leverrier stopped a foot or so away. "Komui Lee."

"Leverrier-san." Komui nodded. "You'll excuse me, I hope. I was just finishing my dinner and answering some questions for Supervisor Chan."

"Indeed." Leverrier studied him. "Why have I not received your reports, Supervisor?" There was an edge to his tone, of arrogance and impatience and anger.

"Ah, yes." Komui let a small smile touch his face. "I've been busy. But the reports should be in my office. If you would care to come with me." He'd learned to read Leverrier a long time ago, and knew enough to recognize the restless, irritated brooding in the man's eyes, deepening his almost permanent scowl. "Perhaps we could...discuss the situation?" He didn't want to discuss anything with the man, but he did want to get him out of the dining hall, away from Bak and Reever. And he certainly wanted to keep him away from the exorcists. He offered a polite gesture. "Shall we?"

"Indeed." Leverrier gave a short, irritated nod, then stepped aside, so Komui could step forward. "I assume you're finished here?" The words dripped sarcasm, and annoyance.

"Of course." Komui waved politely to Back and Reever. "I'll come by later, Reever-san."

Reever nodded, as did Bak, and Komui took the opportunity to leave, Leverrier following behind him.

They were both silent on the trip to the office. Once inside, Komui shut the door, then locked it as an added precaution against Lenalee disturbing him. He hoped Bak and Reever would take the hint and distract her, as well as Allen, but it didn't hurt to be careful. That done, he turned shoved a few wayward papers off his sofa, and gestured. "Leverrier-san."

Leverrier settled in, claiming the space with that easy, unconscious arrogance he had. "Komui."

He smiled. "I'm afraid the reports you requested aren't finished yet." He gestured to the desk stacked high with paperwork. "I have been busy."

"And what could you be busy with?" Leverrier scowled. "Your duty to inform your superiors..."

"Comes second to my duty to tend to my people, particularly my exorcists." Komui shrugged. "At least, that is how I understand it. But you aren't leaving for another few days, am I right?" He met Leverrier's eyes, then shrugged. "I had intended to work on my official reports tonight, and tomorrow, and turn them in before your departure. If you would be so kind as to present them to the Vatican for me."

Leverrier didn't bother to respond to that. Instead, he glared. "You say you have been busy, these past few days. What, exactly, were you working on, if not the the reports you are supposed to be filing?"

Komui forced himself to meet the man's eyes. "Repairs to the Dark Tower. Damage assessment. Casualty assessment. We lost over two hundred people here. And the damage..."

Leverrier snorted. "Damage? You shouldn't waste your time. After all...there have been considerations of moving you, given the way this Tower was breached."

"I am aware of that." Komui settled back, swallowing back his anger, that Leverrier could speak so casually of the place that had been his home for over a decade. "However, whether we move or not, it will take some time before preparations can be made, and a new location found. And until then, the Tower must be habitable. Not to mention, I do need my labs back in repair to do my job. You did want to know how the ARK works, yes?" He eyed the older man. "I'll have to have that section of the Tower repaired."

Leverrier frowned, but didn't push. "You still have a duty to report to me."

"Yes, yes, of course." Komui sighed. "You'll have my written reports before you go, of course. However, if you have any questions, I will answer them for you now, if I can." He felt his stomach tighten up in knots. He had a feeling he knew the things Leverrier wanted to discuss, and it almost made him regret eating dinner.

Leverrier regarded him coldly. "Allen Walker..."

"Is currently resting in the high risk wing of the Infirmary. His body has sustained severe damage, muscles, joints, bones, even nerves. I'm quite certain Head Nurse shall not release Allen-kun for another week at least." He saw the impatience in Leverrier's eyes, and knew, with a sour taste in his mouth, that Allen's physical condition wasn't what the other man really cared about. He looked away, so the other man wouldn't see the anger shimmering in his eyes. "His Innocence has sustained no damage, and his synchronization is excellent, far beyond any other exorcist. His evolution seems to have reached a plateau, but his power is easily par to a Marshall. Of course, you already knew he was a Point Breaker." He sighed.

"Allen is also the one who powers the ARK. Connected to the Noah." Leverrier spoke softly, but there was a cold, almost cruel, gleam in his eyes.

"True. But Marshall Cross has already agreed to return with you, to submit his understanding of Allen-kun, the ARK, the Noah and the Fourteenth." Komui sighed again, feeling his stomach roil. "And I have already sworn I will keep an eye on Allen-kun, and call the Church should anything unusual happen."

"Of course. And Lenalee Lee?" Leverrier's voice was sharp.

Komui fought to avoid a flinch. "Her Innocence has evolved, rather like Allen-kun's. We're still inputting data. From the limited tests I've done, it seems to have attached to her, similar to a parasitic type, though not quite the same." He swallowed, remembering two days ago, when he'd taken Lenalee to Hevlaska. He'd wanted to know what he was dealing with, in regards to his sister's condition. "We've designated a new classification for this type of Innocence. The crystal type." His hand shifted over his desk, sorting through folders with practiced ease. "I have a copy of our written findings here, which I'll include in my submission of information. However, there are still tests and refinements to be run."

"You've had Hevlaska do an assessment." It wasn't spoken as a question. "Why then, have you not done more? This is a powerful weapon."

"Lenalee is currently in care of the Head Nurse, and assisting Captain Reever." Komui folded his hands together, to prevent any nervous gestures. Or any stupid ones, such as striking the man across from him. "I will, of course, take care of it when I have opportunity. At the moment, we've both been very busy. I've only seen her long enough to do a basic assessment for damages."

"But you took Marshall Tiedoll's newest to Hevlaska." There was still a note of sharpness in the tone, a low note of accusation.

Komui swallowed. "Exorcist Chaoji had not had an assessment done, in any sense, prior to the attack. He's only had his Innocence for less than two weeks. I needed a baseline reading for him, and to equip his Innocence in a physical housing."

"Hmm. Perhaps you should have focused your efforts on trying to bring him to Lenalee's level. Another such evolution would prove highly useful."

Komui bit his lip fighting the impulse to curse the man for his callousness. Lenalee was all right now, but he remembered, all too well, the blood and the pain on her face. To inflict that on a new, untrained exorcist who'd barely even begun to identify his power...it made him sick, as the Innocence Implantation experiments had once done. He forced himself to shrug. "It isn't possible. Chaoji's synchronization is too low for that to happen. But I'll pass word to Tiedoll, and make sure he encourages Chaoji's talents. We'll see how fast he comes along." He would pass word to Tiedoll, to tell him to take his new apprentice out of the way. Marshalls were frequently out on missions for the Order, searching for Innocence, or for exorcists to wield it. Tiedoll liked wandering about, particularly since he was an artist. A long rambling trip would keep Chaoji safe, and give him time to learn and grow into his new abilities.

"What of the other exorcists? Perhaps some of them..." Leverrier looked cold, calculating.

"All my exorcists, with the exception of Chaoji, the Marshalls, and Noise Marie, are currently on medical orders. I can't do anything with them." Harshness grated in his voice, in spite of his attempts to keep his control, and he saw Leverrier frown at him. "Besides, neither Allen-kun nor Lenalee can explain exactly how the evolution came about." He knew it involved a near-death experience, and some sort of spoken contract between Innocence and Exorcist, but the details were unknown and inexplicable, like much that happened with the Innocence.

"Surely you've monitored for potential candidates." Leverrier's voice was sharp. "The potential of such weapons is extremely valuable to the Order."

Weapons. Tools. Komui swallowed back the bitter disgust that made him want to scream, made him want to throw up. Hadn't he just told the man his exorcists were all injured? But then, Leverrier didn't care. Any more than he'd cared standing on the bridge, watching two teenagers fight an Akuma Four. He hadn't cared enough to realize that Allen-kun was at his limit, and well past it, fighting on will and adrenalin. Hadn't bothered to think about the fact that Lenalee was involved in battle with a completely new activation, with no time to train, or to learn what she was capable of. It would have been so easy for her to burn out, to overload her system, to drain herself past her strength. The thought of how close it had been, of what might have happened if Cross hadn't intervened made him feel slightly nauseous.

He fought back his anger, shoving it behind the layers of mental and emotional control he'd developed as a Supervisor. "Miranda, Lavi and Bookman show no signs of the highly increased synchronization required for evolution or Point Breaking. As for Marie...I've left him to Tiedoll. I'm sure you know how difficult Kanda's case is to judge." He offered the other man a tight, cold smile. "I'll have to observe him in combat conditions after his recovery to be certain."

"You have one other exorcist, I believe."

"Crowley. However, I've been unable to run any tests on him, aside from basic damage assessment. He's still incapacitated."

"Oh? I heard he was awake." There was a faint gleam of cold avarice and malice in Leverrier's eyes. Komui cursed talkative scientists, and Leverrier's assistant, who was his most likely information source.

He forced himself to stay calm. "Crowley is awake, yes. However, he's still bed-ridden, due to the injuries sustained in combat with the Noah. I'll have to wait until he recovers enough to be released before I can ask Hevlaska to examine him. Or indeed, before I can bring him to a lab to test him."

Leverrier frowned, his expression tightening in annoyance. "Surely you spoke to him? An exorcist who can defeat a Noah by himself, and with only a year of experience..." The acquisitive gleam was back in his eyes, sending a shudder down Komui's spine.

"I did." Komui heaved an internal sigh of relief, remembering that brief discussion. "His memories are unclear. And I believe he was delirious."

"Indeed?" Leverrier gave him a knowing look, as if suspected Komui of withholding information.

"He reported an out-of-body experience, and told me he thought he'd spoken to his friend from home. A friend who has been deceased since before he became an exorcist." Komui studied his hand, trying to look nonchalant. He'd been Supervisor too long to doubt much of anything his exorcists told him, but to Leverrier, it would sound improbable. At least, he hoped it would. It made him uncomfortable, reporting something so personal, but better that than having the man badgering Crowley. In his inactive state, Leverrier would probably drive him into fits of hysteria, if not a nervous breakdown. And if he activated his Innocence, Crowley would likely punch the other man through the nearest window. "I will, of course, follow up when I have the time."

"I expect you to." Leverrier nodded. "Very well." He rose from his seat, straightening his suit jacket. "I expect your formal reports before I leave with Marshall Cross. All of them, including all the information you and Bak Chan have on Allen Walker."

Komui nodded. "Of course." Privately, he had every intention of withholding as much as possible, and he suspected Bak felt the same way. He made a note to get together with the Asian Branch Head so they could discuss what should be in the reports.

"Very well. I'll leave you to your work." Leverrier gave him a cold smile and gestured to the desk, stacked with paperwork. Komui bit back a curse. The unspoken meaning was clear. He'd better be working on the reports, or Leverrier would be making his life...difficult. He doubted the man would threaten to have him removed for dereliction of duty, but there was no guarantee. And it wouldn't stop the man from popping up to question him if he left his office.

Leverrier turned toward the door, then paused. "One more thing. Hevlaska reported to me that she thought she had sensed a new Innocence in activation. A strong one, and one she does not recognize. You're sure you have control over all your Exorcists? That you aren't hiding a new one within your ranks?"

Komui froze, his stomach clenching. Damn. He should have guessed that Hevlaska had noticed his use of his Innocence. She was aware of certain levels of Innocence usage, even if she wasn't directly attuned to them. And given the proximity...He tried to avoid cursing again, and forced himself to lean calmly back against the desk. "Oh? I hadn't heard." Of course, he'd only been down there for a few minutes with Chaoji. And he'd made a point of how busy he was, and how important it was for Chaoji to have his Innocence sealed into a weapon.

He tried to remember if Hevlaska had touched him. He didn't think so. Hevlaska generally avoided touching anyone save the exorcists, except for solicited contact. Her nature, and her ability to probe into one's heart and soul made it uncomfortable for most, and she tried to be considerate. He thought back. No, she hadn't touched him. He'd stayed well back when she was communing with Chaoji.

Leverrier raised an eyebrow at him, looking skeptical. "You hadn't heard? But as a Supervisor, surely this is part of your responsibility?" The words were spoken in tones that weren't quite a sneer. The same tones he'd used when Komui had side-tracked to try and prevent Lenalee from entering the battle.

Komui clenched a hand, crumpling a random sheet of paper on his desk, then forced himself to shrug. "Yes, well, I've only been down to speak with her over Chaoji. I'll be sure to ask about it. In the meantime..." He shrugged again. "I'll have the Finders and scientists run a personnel test again. Every so often stress will awaken a dormant compatibility. Or, there may be someone in the town below. Hopefully it won't be some vagrant wanderer passing by." He had to admit, a vagrant with Innocence was about as likely as a Finder or scientist suddenly developing compatibility, but both cases had been known to happen. Marshall Cross was a prime example for the vagrant theory. "I'll put my second to work on it tomorrow." He swallowed, knowing that last revelation of how close he'd come to getting caught had shaken him. He forced himself to face Leverrier, and present him with a cool, professional smile. "In the meantime, as you've pointed out, Leverrier-san, I do have work to take care of. The reports will not, unfortunately, write themselves." He offered the man a brief nod, the best he could summon up. "I wish you a good evening, and trust you will leave me to work in peace."

"Of course." The tone was smooth enough to make is skin crawl. "And I trust you'll work at locating this new exorcist? We need all the weapons we can get."

"Yes." Komui bowed his head, and didn't raise it until Leverrier was safely out the door. Then he sank into his desk chair, feeling alternating waves of cold fear and red-hot fury swamping through him.

It had been too close. He hadn't thought of being detected in his lab, nor of the fact that Hevlaska would register the unknown signature. He was lucky she hadn't known who it was. That settles it. I shall have to work in Allen's ARK, if I wish to train my Innocence and synchronization. Either that, or convince Bak Chan to let me visit him more often. Perhaps his guardian could help, if I swore her to secrecy? In the meantime...I'll have to be careful. I have to run the personnel test, it's standard procedure, and send Finder's out to the town. I'll have to remind Reever to make sure no one tells Reed's family of the circumstances. And I have to avoid getting tested myself. That last part was at least marginally easier. He did, after all, have much to do, and could claim that he'd seen Hevlaska and she hadn't identified him.

He sighed. He hated sending people out, knowing they'd come up empty handed, but it had to be done. He sighed again, then looked at the stacks of paperwork on his desk. His fingers itched for more constructive work, especially as unsettled as he was. He wanted desperately to go down to the lab, put more pieces on the elevator, or start building a Komurin. Any Komurin. A medical Komurin, a cleaning Komurin, a battle Komurin...anything. Whatever he had spare parts for. A small smile curled his lips as he pictured building a Komurin designed specifically to follow Leverrier around and annoy him.

The thought set him smiling, and he felt some of the tension leave his hands and shoulders. It was an amusing idea. The elevator would be more constructive, though, and he'd enjoyed working with Bak on it. However, Leverrier's veiled threat had been quite clear.

Komui sighed again, then reached around the edge of one stack to grab the cup that held his pens. He selected one, drew a few random lines to test the ink content, then pulled the first sheet off the nearest stack. He studied it, noting it was a requisitions form. Not a report, but then, he'd have to file requests as well, so it was close enough. Besides, it gave him a sort of sideways satisfaction, to be able to say he'd been doing his job and his paperwork, while still frustrating Leverrier.

He took a deep breath, then rolled his shoulders to loosen them further and bent over his desk. The sooner he was done, the sooner he could get back to the tasks that actually had any meaning, at least to him. He just hoped someone would remember to bring him some coffee. Preferably before he passed out from boredom.

Author's Note: Well, this has taken me far too long. Unfortunately, a lot has happened. Thank you everyone who's been waiting, for being so patient. And a special thanks to ThorongilAnime (hope I spelled that correctly) for both prodding me back into action, and for being so patient with me while I worked. Another thanks to Amethyst Lily, for the same. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and find it worth the wait.

Additional Note: Yes, the section where Komui is making Chaoji's bracelets may not be quite accurate in terms of how metal-working is supposed to go. However, as noted...Komui is not a jeweler or a metal-smith by trade, and is making it up as he goes. Please indulge any inaccuracies.