Sorry for not updating for a while. (major understatement there) Okay, it's been AGES since I last updated and I'm truly sorry. College applications are over, and the reviews and faves I've been getting despite my inactivity got me writing again. Thank you for all those people who have written reviews, and my sincere apologies. Here is the 6th chapter atlast.

Just a bit of explanation on the nervous system thing. The nervous system is made up of the brain, the spinal chord, the nerves, and all the receptors; so when I said the akuma can get to anywhere in the body, I was thinking of the nerves and etc. Sorry for the lack of explanation; when I think of these things, it's all so clear cause it's in here (knocks on head to make a hollow sound) and I forget to explain... - -;;

Disclaimer: I'm thinking the D.g-m characters are lucky not to be owned by me. The things I would make them do if I did... (evil chuckle) Well, I don't own D.g-m, and the only thing I probably own in this fic is the akuma currently in Allen's body. :D

Chapter 6

The night was quiet as Allen sat at the foot of his bed. His mind wasn't particularly occupied; this thought floated through Allen's head as he realized his wording needed to be changed. It sort of was, by the akuma waiting for him to fall asleep.

---

Their original plan was to start investigating the situation of the town first thing in the morning, but after finding the girl and contacting headquarters, they decided it was best that they waited until the Finders came to take her away.

Besides, Ravi needed a new boot and coat.

"Stupid acid-spitting mother-"

Thwack.

"Little girl. Language," Linaly reminded him with a smile promising pain, and a lot of it, if he didn't obey.

"...Yes ma'am."

Ravi had spent the rest of the evening mumbling curses inaudibly to the corrosive-saliva-wielding akuma.

---

It was then when Allen heard soft knocking on his door, and from the 'are you awake' found it was the grudge-holding exorcist himself that was paying him a visit.

"Linaly just switched with me for the watch."

"Anything?"

"Nope, all's good." he commented, and gave Allen a firm pat on the back. When Allen gave him a puzzled look he returned a grim smile.

"I really think you should go to sleep, man."

Allen fought the strong urge to yawn, and disguised it as a sigh as he replied, "I don't know enough about the akuma to trust it in my sleep."

Ravi gave him a look. "Man, of course you don't know shit about the akuma, you haven't given it the chance to do anything yet. It attacks during snooze time, yea?"

"Well, isn't that the best way to deal with it?"

"Yea, if it didn't make Mr. Exorcist here sleep-deprived. At dinner tonight, man, you could've made sleeping beauty look caffeine-pumped," said Ravi as he pulled the darkening skin under Allen's eyes and laughed. He then took on a more serious expression. "I have a bad feeling about this mission. We need you to be in good condition, alert, y'know?"

Allen looked down at his hands, not knowing what to say because what Ravi said made sense, and he knew his drowsy state didn't improve anything. He felt guilty, for he knew that he only kept awake out of cowardice; he was afraid of what might happen.

"Ravi-"

"Man, trust us."

"Huh?"

He looked up to find Ravi with an apologetic expression on his face. "I know I don't look reliable, but hey, me, Linaly, we're exorcists too."

The words struck Allen with a pang of realization. His speculations, his fears about what could happen if the akuma got control of him during his sleep had been missing one vital factor-...

"If something goes whacko, Linaly and I are here to help. You aren't alone anymore man, we've got your back."

He had backup. He had people he could trust.

"I-I forgot."

Ravi burst out with a laugh. "Gee thanks, good to know you love us so."

"No, no," Allen protested, and then laughed. How could have he been so stupid? He looked up and said, "I trust you two," and felt the weight lift off his shoulders.

Ravi nodded.

"I don't know what it'll do," Allen said, not out of hesitation but more to make sure Ravi knew what he anticipated.

"Then we'll find out."

That was his way of saying 'Go ahead, we've got your back'.

---

A blur of black crashed through the window, tumbling away from the cottage accompanied by a shower of glass shards. Allen stood, swaying unsteadily, and Linaly quickly followed him out of the same window.

"Oh god, how are we going to get him to-!"

Linaly dashed forward and kicked Allen to the ground, pinning his activated claw to the ground and wrestling the rest of his body as he clawed to get her off.

"Ravi!"

"Coming," he answered. His hammer found its way out of the cottage before he did, pinning Allen down to the ground as the shrinking hilt pulled Ravi out through the window that Linaly had just kicked Allen through. "I took the girl to my room, furthest from here. You alright," He asked as he enlarged his hammer further to make sure Allen stayed on the ground.

"Yes." She wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth and mentally scowled at the taste of it in her mouth. "It'll turn a nice blue by tomorrow though," she added; Allen's hand had given her a nice blow to the right side of her face as it struggled free of her grasp.

"We need him to disarm," Linaly said with a pleading tone in her voice. "The innocence keeps on trying to get at the akuma inside him, and the akuma is trying to use Allen's body to prevent us from stopping his innocence."

"I don't get it," Ravi said, getting a firm grip on the hilt of his hammer as he felt Allen struggling under it. "Why would the akuma make him activate? Does it want to be destroyed?"

"I think it's more that the akuma wants Allen dead. It might be destroyed but..."

"...Allen will be killed in the process. Right."

At that moment Allen's claw gave a mighty tug, breaking free of Linaly's grip. The two, taken by surprise, hastily jumped back. Before he could do anymore damage, Ravi pinned him to a tree using his hammer.

"Ahh, great," Ravi said, wiping at a stream of blood making its way down his face.

"Is it bad?"

Feeling the cut with his fingers, Ravi shook his head. "Just the scalp, bleeds like a bitch over nothing."

Linaly sighed heavily with her shoulders. "I'd rather face a few Lv.2's than deal with this. This is just mentally frustrating."

"Hah, you think this is frustrating."

Linaly raised her eyebrow at him. "What's more frustrating than seeing a friend, admittedly involuntarily, trying to kill himself?"

"Dealing with a real suicidal, of course; you get this, AND all the emotional crap."

Shaking her head, she asked, "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"Lack of sleep, man, let it go... hey, he's stopped struggling."

The two stood in silence as they directed their attention to their sleepwalking friend. Allen stood there, held up against the tree by Ravi's hammer, and did not move a finger. The two eyed each other, communicating through nods of heads and shrugs of shoulders, silently asking the other 'what's going on' and 'is it over'.

After a few minutes of silent confusion, Linaly finally nodded and Ravi began easing up his hold on Allen.

"His innocence, don't loosen up on that," Linaly warned, starting to walk towards Allen. Ravi nodded, and began moving forward as well, slowly shrinking the hilt on his hammer.

When they got close enough, Linaly leaned forward. "Allen, Allen are you alright?"

Lavi placed his hand on her shoulder, mouthing 'careful' to her. Then, he felt the air move behind him. He turned to find Allen standing behind Linaly, and felt the innocence budge under his hammer.

"What the-," he began, but before he could finish Allen's clawed hand was rushing towards Allen's direction, but with Linaly standing between them...

Linaly turned a moment too late as the claw came soaring in her direction.

"NO!"

To Be Continued...

I haven't written in a while so sorry for the crap writing. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask.

You'll make my day if you R&R. :D