As she walked through the market, she tried to make herself think clearly. Tyki, she knew, could very well be trying to lure her into a trap. She couldn't ignore the fact that he was a Noah any more than she could deny herself being an exorcist. But still, those tears…and that face. That side of him made him appear so much more human than he usually let on. Yet even so, even if they did fall in love, even if he was as nice as he was letting on, it simply would not work between them. If Leverrier found out she was meeting him…well, her body shook just thinking about what would happen. She made up her mind. Tonight would be the last time she would ever see him; it was the only way.

She was so lost in thought, that she ran into someone who she had wished she would never see again. There in front of her was Road Kamelot, the first of the Noah Clan to appear. The two looked at each other for what seemed like forever.

"Road," Lenalee said, breaking the silence, "I don't have time for your games right now." She made a move to walk past the younger girl when she was stopped with just a few words.

"You know, Lenalee, Tyki really loves you," she said, turning her now-gold eyes on the stunned exorcist. "This isn't a game. He will be there tonight at the fountain, waiting for you, and if you hurt him," she took a bite out of her lollipop, not bothering to finish that thought before reverting to her childish self. "Seeya tonight!" She chimed as she disappeared.

Needless to say, the encounter left her startled. But strangely, it also gave her satisfaction. She knew now that Tyki really did have feelings for her. She would see him tonight, but that would be it then, even with the frightening threat she had just received.

He really does love me, she thought, He loves me! He loves me! She sang in her head as she made her way back to the Inn with the newly-purchased goods cradled in her arms like newborn babies. Allen would definitely love all the food she got him, and after eating, he would fall asleep. That meant she could sneak out…

"Evening Lenalee-chan." She stopped, her body freezing. What was he doing here? Her innocence was fine…she was fine…why? She tried to keep herself calm, but was unsuccessful.

"I…inspector Leverrier…" she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "Why are you here?"

"You don't seem at all happy to see me." He shrugged. "One of the finders sent word that you were acting strangely so I came to check up on you, but you seem to be fine." He eyed her suspiciously.

"I was only tired," she avoided eye contact with him. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Of course," he said as he grinned, "Oh, and Lenalee. Don't stay out too late tonight." He smirked, watching her walk away.

She was still shaking when she got back to the room where Allen was waiting for her. The bags would have fallen out of her arms if Allen hadn't taken them from her.

"Lenalee, you look like you've seen a ghost…" he said, the worry showing on his face and in his voice.

She slumped down on her bed. How she missed Kanda right now. When the inspector was around, she always hid in his room. He never really seemed to mind her company, and he always made her feel better, but now they were so far apart. And the last thing the inspector said…did he know something? Shaking sobs escaped from her as she put her hands over her face. Why? Why did he have to show up?

"Lenalee!" Allen said, taking hold of her shoulders. "What's the matter? Should I get Leverrier?"

"No!" She cried, her head snapping up so she could see him. "Don't tell him about this!"

"Okay, I won't…" he looked at her, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine…" she lied, forcing a smile, "just a bad memory." She yawned and laid down. "I'm fine." She offered him no other explanation, and when he saw that she wouldn't be explaining anymore, he headed to his bed. Lenalee, still shaken, laid in her bed, just staring at the ceiling, thinking she might actually burn a hole in it with her gaze.

The seconds and minutes went by, each one feeling longer than the last until finally, the clock struck midnight. Everyone should be asleep. No matter what, she knew she had to meet Tyki tonight. She snuck out the window, realizing it would be too risky to walk out the front door. Her boots activated, she made her way across the rooftops until she jumped down in front of the figure at the fountain.

"You made it," he said smiling until he saw her face. "You've been crying," his eyes narrowed.

She shook her head, afraid that her voice would crack. He took her hand when a familiar voice said from behind Tyki:

"Who hurt my sister?" Road peeked out from behind him.

"Sorry," Tyki said apologetically, "she wouldn't stop whining until I agreed to bring her." Lenalee shook her head.

"I..I don't mind." She was right, her voice did crack.

"Lenalee, don't lie to me. Tell me what's going on." He forced her to sit on the edge of the fountain with him while Road just watched. She knew she should tell them of all people, but she had to tell someone.

Reluctantly, she began explaining to the two who the inspector was and all the experiments that were performed at the Order when she was a child. She told them how they would tie her down, force feed her, how she would see people die painful deaths because of the terrible experiments…Her words started to flow out more easily with every sentence while she explained in detail what the inspector had done to her.

"…And now he's here because they suspect you of something." Road said, her serious self again. "You can't go back there."

"I need to! If I don't…my friends…"

"You'll be killed," Road said. "From what I've heard here tonight, that man wouldn't think twice about having you arrested and tortured."

Tyki sat with his eyes glued to the ground, his fingers digging into the concrete fountain, and his teeth gritting against each other. The rage he felt for what had been done to her, the pure rage. This wasn't good…he had to calm down.

"What can I do?" Lenalee said.

"You, little lady, come back with me," a voice said behind them all from the shadows, "and explain to me why you shouldn't be killed."

Lenalee's eyes widened as her body shook again. "Inspector…" she said, pressing herself into Tyki's side.

"You!" Tyki said, jumping up and baring his teeth at the inspector. "You hurt her! You call us monsters…look what you do to your own kind!" He screamed at him. "I should kill you right here…"

"Tyki!" Lenalee yelled, grabbing his hand. "Please don't!" She cried.

"Give me one good reason!" Tyki said through his teeth. "He hurt you so badly…you can't go back now."

She pursed her lips. Her friends…her brother…everyone…what could she do? Returning was not an option anymore…not after he had caught her there with them…. She fell to her knees as Tyki attacked Leverrier. Her head was spinning and she tried to keep her calm, she tried as hard as she could. Still, as hard as she tried, her world kept spinning and the next thing she knew, her world was black around her.