Un/chained Melodies

A/N: I'm really so so sorry for this really late update! Been rather busy due to school...but I'm back! :) well...I can't promise a constant update for my fics as I normally write only when inspiration strikes. But, I promise that I will update asap! Many thanks to those who commented and put this story as your story alert/favourite stories. I will try my best to live up to your expectations!

Chapter 4 – Escape

Madrielle…

Allen had not spoken to her in years. After Mana had gone, having been destroyed by Allen's newly awakened innocence, Cross had come around, only to see the remnants of a battle, Allen's left eye a bloody mess, while tears flowed quietly from his right.

And there was also a girl. Too young to fully realize what had actually happened. Still, she was frantic as she tried to stanch the blood with her bare hands.

Allen could remember that scene so clearly, for the memory of it was imbedded deep within his heart. Madrielle had been screaming at him, her mouth forming words that Allen could not hear. From the movement of her lips, Allen had known that she was worried, extremely worried for him. She had been expecting a response, a slight shake of the head, a tiny squeeze of his hand in hers. Just something to tell her that Allen was not lost to whatever out to attack them.

Yet, he had made no move to reassure the younger girl. His limbs had been like lead, his mind, filled with the terrible images of his innocence lunging itself at Mana. Oh, beloved Mana…who had whispered the words "I love you, Allen" even when the uncontrollable monstrous claw that belonged to Allen were just a mere hairs-breadth away from him.

When Cross had approached the two children, Madrielle had sprang up, disregarding his strong built and tall stature, only to attempt to shield the boy behind her. Though visibly trembling, she held her ground, her face carefully arranged into what she believed to be an intimidating frown. Cross had held out a hand to the girl, who shrunk back visibly, still regarding his hand with undisguised suspicion. With a great sigh, he captured her around her waist and carried her aside easily, where she shrieked in protest.

"Stop it, kid! I'm not going to harm you!"

A kick to his shins was the only answer to that.

Cross winced and muttered, "That's why I hate kids."

However, her kicking soon ceased as soon as she realized the truth of his words. Cross knelt down next to Allen, who was still sitting there, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a figure cast in ice. He examined the boy's Innocence, still activated, casting an unearthly green hue onto his sallow and pale face. The claws flexed involuntarily as he touched them, but Allen did not retaliate. This boy's innocence was not a common one – a parasitic type; probably one which would benefit the Order. Cross knew that this power had to be trained, to be tempered and shaped. Cross had to bring him to the Order. However, therein lay the problem – the other sibling. She had not shown any sign of being an Innocence holder at the moment and as a result, the siblings would have to be separated, for both their safety.

One, he would take with him together on his journeys; the other to be left behind.

Allen had not once considered the possibility that Madrielle would be an Innocence holder. Perhaps he never wanted her to get caught up in this war, where the constant sight of the sea of scarlet and carnage would be enough to drive the weak-willed insane. But Madrielle was not one whom people would consider 'weak-willed'. Instead, Allen often recalled her as the stronger one of the two. The one who was more protecting, more giving, and with much more capacity to love as compared to anyone. Not to forget, she was the cleverer of the two. Despite being two years younger, she was already attempting to write full sentences while Allen struggled on his ABCs.

This act by the Millennium Earl was a mere ploy – its main motive to actually draw Allen out, and capture him, as he was under much suspicion of being the embodiment fourteenth himself. Thus, it was with much reluctance that Komui put him onto this team to rescue his sister. Even so, Allen was given express orders not to join in the fray – something that he had zero intention to heed.

Allen fidgeted in his seat, staring at the jet black night sky as the train continued to chug along. Lenalee turned to him. She could see from the boiling emotions reflected in his clear grey eyes that Allen was worried.

"Don't worry, Allen. Your sister will be fine."

When Allen failed to answer, she tried again.

"Besides, why didn't you mention her to anyone before? The order might have brought her here for her safety if you did."

The question caught the attention of Lavi, and even the usually stoic Kanda who turned to look at the white haired boy.

"I guess…I just wanted her to be safe."

Tyki was sure that he could, and never would forget the look that Madrielle shot him before she had been taken away. A wordless plea for help, that fell short of the man who refused to meet her eyes.

"She put up quite a fight, you know," Road commented as she strode toward her fellow Noah, a large striped lollipop in her hand, an innocent sight belying the slight glint of sadism in her golden eyes. "She almost managed to resist capture until one of the level twos thought to knock her out. It's kind of surprising isn't it? That a mere human, even without the power of the Innocence would show such tenacity. Besides, we should think about redesigning the Akuma's intelligence circuitry," Road mused.

Tyki paused. Road did not find out that Madrielle was actually an exorcist? The most probable reasoning was that the power of hers was not properly activated. Not yet, at least. Carefully rearranging his face to his normal façade of calmness and indifference, Tyki said, "I hope we haven't lost much Akuma."

"Nah…they were just level ones. Merely useless pricks that can be replaced anytime…Hey! Where are you going?" Road hollered at Tyki's retreating figure.

"None of your business. Go do your homework, if not you would grow up stupid!" Tyki threw over his shoulder, not bothering to look at the girl.

A couple of moments later, Tyki found himself prowling the corners of the Ark, watchful for any sign of the Earl or the other Noah. His heart was thumping frantically within his chest. In an answer to it, Tyki picked up his pace, eager to see the girl he sought. The intel that he had gathered from his more 'trusted' Akuma seemed to be correct, for after climbing down an infinitely long flight of stairs that Tyki did not know existed, he arrived at a dungeon, a drafty place with rusty irons and scant few torches that threw unnaturally high shadows onto the grey stone walls. A cold draught whispered through the rotted planks and despite his thick clothing, Tyki shivered.

"Madrielle…?" he called cautiously.

Slipping one of the torches from the brackets from the wall, Tyki used it to light his way through the damp darkness. A dull headache slowly built up at the back of his head was a clear indicator of the presence of the Innocence as he continued to suppress his Noah instincts. Why he was able to feel it when Road could not, he did not know. But that question did not matter now. He continued on, until finally seeing the silhouette of a chair. Chained to it, was Madrielle, her eyes staring blankly forward. Tyki's steps faltered. In the low visibility, the girl chained there did not seem real.

Was it a trick? Did someone put a mere statue of the girl here as a bait? To lure him out and expose his disloyalty to the clan?

He darted behind a wall and scrutinized the girl with his eyes. The bruises upon her face and the brown smudge of dried blood upon her split lip could be easily attained by clever usage of some makeup. And from where he stood, Tyki could not see the movement of her chest, the presence of it usually being the telltale sign of life. For a brief but horrible moment, Tyki was struck by a thought that chilled him to the bone.

Was she dead?

Then as a thought came, a tear welled up Madrielle's red-rimmed eyes and flowed down her cheeks, dispelling that notion immediately. Tyki let out the breath that he was holding in a huff and moved swiftly to her, kneeling at the foot of the chair.

"Madrielle?" Tyki said gently, cupping her face in his hands lightly.

That slight movement seemed to herald more tears from the girl, but besides that, Madrielle remained unresponsive.

"Madrielle!" Tyki said again, anxiety making his voice sound harshier than intented.

What have they done to her?

A random creak caused the already jumpy Tyki to jerk violently in alarm. Mentally, he berated himself. It was unlike him to be so flustered. Deciding to take things into his own hands, he summoned the Tease to gnaw through the metal bindings. Not a great idea, apparently.

The Tease, attracted to the scent of the Innocence swarmed around the girl. Baring their little pointed teeth, they dove for Madrielle's heart. At this agonizing moment, Tyki panicked, and his hold over the Noah slipped. It was like the unleashing of a terrible beast over a lush and peaceful land.

"Destroy the Innocence!"

"No!"

"Kill the girl!"

For a painful moment, Tyki's resolve slipped. For a fleeting second, he very much wanted to embrace the Noah. To quench his thirst on the life-blood of the exorcist in front of him. He sank to his knees, grimacing.

"What does she mean to you?" the Noah sneered. "Come, embrace my powers. I will grant you whatever you need! The power that you always lust for! The –"

Tyki gritted his teeth and gripped the arms of the chair tightly for dear life, as if it was the 'safe' place in tag, protected against IT.

Soft fingers brushed against his wrist.

"Tyki…?" Madrielle croaked, finally coming to.

The voice was like a rope thrown into the rapids, and Tyki grabbed it like how a drowning man would. However, he did not answer Madrielle, not trusting his voice to remain steady immediately after the mental onslaught he had suffered.

Anxious by his silence, Madrielle asked, with more urgency in her voice, "Tyki!"

With his head bowed, Madrielle failed to see the smile that had spread across his face. It was the first time she had called him by name. Looking up, he squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I'm alright. Let's get you out of here."

Deciding not to use the Tease this time, Tyki slipped his hands into the metal. Madrielle gasped in surprise, but Tyki did not seem to notice, being deep in concentration. By "rejecting" the metal away from his hand, Tyki moved the atoms, nudging it until the metal gave way.

"Come on, girl!" he said, grabbing Madrielle's hand, leading her out.

Madrielle was silent throughout the journey, but Tyki did not think anything was amiss for he was more concerned in seeing her get away safely.

"There!" he said triumphantly, as the door loomed nearer.

Nondescript and simple, the door stood at the end of a long corridor; but nevertheless, it would lead them outside.

A/N: Comments please! :)