Suishou Yume: You muussssttt hate me so much because I haven't updated for a while! Please forgive me... Also I need some encouragement of this chappie! Please I really need it...



Komui paced left and right impatiently as he read the report given to him by one of the finders.

"What does it say, Nii-san?", her sister asked. Komui sighed and faced the said report again. He had Lavi, Kanda and her dearest sister, Lenalee at his office. He sighed again and just shook his head.

"Quit wasting my time!", Kanda snapped.

"There had been various sightings of the Ark's gate these past days..", the supervisor began.

"Which Ark?", Lenalee asked as she remembered the black one that appeared the last day.

"The white one which Allen retrieved", Komui answered then contiued,"Most of the sightings happened at some towns in England, so I assume that is Allen's current location. One of the finders witnessed two persons that stepped inside the gate before it disappeared..."

"What's going on with Allen...", Lavi said thoughtfully.

"I... I'm sending you on a mission to retrieve Allen Walker and Noah's Ark", Komui said then paused briefly then sighed."The Vatican has given permission to use any necessary actions for this mission's success..."

Lenalee's eyes widen. Did the Vatican only cared at winning this war that they don't care if someone is beaten half to death as long as they have their way? How could they be so selfish?... Meanwhile, something else was bothering Lavi."Wait, Komui... Did you say that the finder reported two persons?", he asked then continued,"We can safely assume one of them is Allen but who is the other one?

~Flickering Shadows ~Flickering Shadows

"... This seems like a converted akuma to me, Mana", Tyki said as he carelessly held up Star. They were currently at the fifteenth's room." Is this that general's?"

"N-no", Mana answered, he averted his gaze from the Noah of Pleasure's."I was the one who converted it..."

"How?", Road asked.

"I... I've discovered it as one of my abilities. I just tested it on one...", Mana said. It was true, so far, the only akuma that he converted was Star."I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this."

"One of Grief's?", Tyki said.

Mana nodded. Road swayed her legs and took all of this thoughtfully. She sensed that the younger noah was hiding some of the facts but she kind of understand him, considering the mixed feelings Mana was experiencing."I'm not mad that you kept this a secret, Mana", she said evenly," I'm just annoyed because you didn't trust us with this... We're you're family, Mana. You should trust us.."

"I'm sorry", Mana repeated then let out a sigh. He shook his head and stood up."Can I go outside for some fresh air?"

Road and Tyki nodded and silently watched as Mana Walker left. Star struggled out of Tyki's grasp and followed the Noah of Grief. Tyki sighed heavily."I can't believe he still doesn't trust us that much...", he groaned.

"He got every reason to...", Road said silently.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tyki spotted a folded piece of paper on the bed. He picked it up and read it."So this is what he's planning", he mused.

"What?", Road asked curiously and peered over Tyki.

"He's seeking for forgiveness...", he said,"for our sins..."

~Flickering Shadows ~Flickering Shadows

Howard Link continued writing some notes on his notebook. He was taking notes of what happened the past days... Which were almost virtually nothing special to take note of. Even if he was far away from the Order, he took his responsibility with him. Watch Allen. He recorded every actions he did, comb that silver hair of his, strolling at the Ark, eating, etc. It might seem worthless now but who knows? It might be useful someday.

Speaking of which, where is that silver haired teen? He placed down his notebook on the white coffee table and strolled off. As soon as he stepped out, he smelled burning. Well, that was something not common inside the Ark. He ran to where the burning smell lead him.

"Walker!", Link exclaimed,"What are you doing?"

Allen blinked twice and coughed due to the smoke.""L-...John!". he yelped.

"What are you doing?", he asked again, now that the smoke was gone.

"Err... I was cooking?" Allen said. It was more of question than a statement. Link or John frowned and entered the kitched. He was sure there were no kitchen in the particular building they were at. He examined the burned egg.

"You can't cook."

"Hehe... Just found that out", Allen said then turned to Link/ John."But it's better than doing nothing I suppose..."

Allen broke his gaze from Link's and stared back at the egg. Poor egg, he mourned. Link sighed. Allen had been in constant motion the past days. He knew it wasn't because he was bored, the boy was avoiding something.

"Why did you left the Order?"

The question took Allen by surprise. He never thought that Link would ask that. Allen smiled glumly and faced Link again."It... It was to protect my friends.. Lenalee and the others...", he said. It was a simple answer yet full of meaning. Allen suppressed the tears that were threatening to fall. Timcanpy landed and nuzzled Allen."And to wait..."

"Wait for what?"

"I'm not sure... I just sensed that something is going to happen."

Selfine: Please motivate my Mistress and leave a review!