So sorry for the delay, I know this is a week late- but I had college orientation! I scedualed my classes, and today I just! figured out the three other people I am rooming with- so we are all trying to get to know each other before school starts. Just as a note, this chapter does not have as much humor as my previous chapters- after all, D Gray Man is a shonen manga, so there does have to be some action, right?

Let me know what you think~ a review can always help me become a better writer!


I heard someone shout my name, but I was too preoccupied with the pain in my side to identify the voice. I did not fall unconscious, unfortunately for me I can still recall what it feels like to be blown through the wall of a building. My side felt as if it was crushed, which it was to some extent, but no stars appeared on my skin. The cloak had saved me from a death- I would be sure to kiss the entire science team later. The spot where the akuma's bullet hit was thinner now, I would have to be careful.

I hurt all over, and took a moment for me to regain my breath, and then another to open my eyes. I shifted through my Finder packs attached to my uniform to find my morphine. Finders were trained as medics, we had various pharmaceuticals on hand to deal with battle related injuries. I bit the cap off of the needle and quickly jabbed the needle into my leg. I gasped, but appreciated the sharp pain, although my legs weren't working at the moment, I wasn't paralyzed. I unloaded the syringe, and took several more deep breaths before attempting to sit up. I was on top of a pile of bricks, in what used to be a kitchen.

I realized that a battle was going on outside, but until I could carry myself I was useless. I tried to stand, but despite the morphine, my side protested. I crawled towards the opening my body had created and peered out. Kanda was dismembering the akuma who had attacked me with Arduino under his arm, the poor kid looked terrified. Lavi and the Bookman were guarding Eliodoro from a level two and handful of level ones. There wasn't as many as yesterday, their numbers had taken a hit when they tried to ambush us at the music shop. I continued to preoccupy myself with tying my hair back with the blue ribbon Mary had given me, by the time I was done, the morphine had done its job to curb the pain.

I peeked my head out the side again, using the wall for support I stood. I made eye contact with Lavi and gave him a small wave so he knew I was alright. Even from this distance I could see him sigh with relief. I felt something warm on my hand, and looked down to see red. Just because the cloak had protected me from the poison did not mean I was saved from the physical brutality of the blow. I sat back down, putting my head between my knees, and breathed deeply. "Don't pass out, don't pass out." I muttered, hoping the mantra would somehow affect my state of consciousness.

Time passed, but it was difficult for me to tell how long. The blow through the wall had done more damage than I originally anticipated- go figure, right? Sometimes it was easy to forget that I wasn't indestructible- I was actually a Finder. Just breathe. Breathe. Brea.

"Jane! Jane, are you alright?" Just Breathe. Stay awake.

"Jane, come on, be okay." I felt someone shake my shoulder, I groaned in response so that they knew I was conscious. "Alright, where does it hurt?" Everywhere. I groaned again. "You have to give me more to work with."

"Everywhere."

"Well, at least you're talking." I looked up to see an uncharacteristically serious Lavi.

"You finally got my name right." I muttered into my knee.

"What do you mean, Lacey?" He replied, sitting next to me. I groaned again, stupid Lavi.

"Sorella!" I heard a small voice cry. I looked up to see Arduino running up to me. "A-are you alright?" He asked hesitantly, fiddling with his hands.

"As long as you are." I replied, mustering up a smile for him. He tried to hold them back, I could tell, but tears started to fall down his cheeks.

"S-sorella!" He cried, lunging at me. I caught him and held him in my arms. Sometimes, kids just need to cry. He wound his fingers in my hair, pulling it. But that was okay, he was crying, and I was glad he was acting like a kid.

"I'm okay, a little bruised, but I'll live." I murmured into his ear. He tightened his grip around my neck.

"Can you stand?" Lavi asked, I shook me head.

"Tried, I can try again."

"Its okay, don't push yourself." I felt rotten, I hated how Lavi was acting like I was made of glass.

"Don't baby me, I'm fine." I stood up, way too fast. My world spun and the pain in my side increased tenfold. I grimaced. Lavi grabbed my arm to steady me, but I didn't stop him. There was no point in causing a scene, Lavi would treat me delicately, and maybe I did need it. Kanda and the Bookman approached us, after finally finished dispatching the remaining akuma. Kanda's mouth was pressed into a thin line, but his eyes almost appeared feral with anger.

"I could have taken down the akuma if you wouldn't have thrown the kid at me!" Kanda was yelling at me. I leaned into Lavi's side, the yelling was making my ears ring.

"Not now, Yuu." Lavi replied, wrapping an arm around my waist to support me. Kanda seemed to not hear him.

"You act as if you know everything, as if you're indestructible- hate to break it to you, but you are a finder! You don't know anything! And you will die!" I know what he said was true, but you can't blame a girl for trying, right?

"I was doin' my job." I replied back, frustrated with his harsh assumptions, "You 'avn't seemed to 'ave an issue wit tat before."

"Your job is to not get in my way!"

"My job is ta support you an' protect civilians." I fought back.

"I could have protected both of you, stop trying to throw your life away!"

"If I correctly recall, I am ta replaceable one in tis situation." I replied darkly. There was no way he was going to criticize me on my potentially reckless behavior after calling my life repaceable.

"Then die for all I care!" I grimaced, holding tighter onto Lavi. I didn't have a comeback for that.

"Yuu, that's enough, she's seriously injured." Lavi interjected. Kanda glared at me for a moment, with a fiersness that I hadn't seen in him, before storming off. "Don't worry, Lace. Yuu was just worried." Lavi said, turning his attention back to me.

"I doubt he was worried, Lavi." I stated, staring at the spot where Kanda once stood.

"Who cares what he thinks?" Arduino spoke up, grabbing onto my pant leg.

"You're right, Arduino. Who cares what the BaKanda thinks?" Worried my ass, he was just pissed that he wasn't the center of attention. Lavi smiled a bit, apparently glad that the mood was lightening.

"Can you make it to the shop, Jane?" The Bookman asks, looking at me skeptically.

"I can make it as long as Lavi doesn't mind helping me get there." I replied, flashing Lavi an appreciative smile. "Let's keep moving, and when you search the shop I'll bandage myself up." the Bookman nodded at my decision and began to follow Kanda, who was making his way towards the music shop.

"You have a cute accent there, Lacey." Lavi hummed as we started after the others.

"Thanks, Lavi. Allen said something similar."

"Allen?"

"Yeah, the new exorcist."

"Oh, so that's who Kanda was talking about. He kept on ranting about a Moyashi, glad to know his name."

"I don't understand why he can't just use a person's name." Lavi gave me a look, something close to realization or surprise. "What's with the look?"

"Nothing really."

"Right- well how did you get your nickname?"

"Usagi?" I nodded."That's a secret." He said with a wink. I scowled, not the answer I was looking for.

"How long have you known him anyways?'

"Yuu? I think a few years maybe."

"Has he always been bitchy?"

"Ahahaha! Definatly! Though I feel like he's been getting soft lately, maybe he'll change." Lavi was looking off towards Kanda's direction. "Hopefully not though, his temper is what makes him so much fun." Oh, Lavi, course he was impervious to Kanda's killer glare.

"Haha...right...fun." I responded with a nervous laugh- I didn't quiet understand how bitchy equated to fun, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion, right? We were approaching the group who was crowded around what was left of the music shop. The bottom floor was actually mostly intact- it was the top floor that the akuma and Lavi had destroyed the day before.

"Arduino, where is your violin?" I asked the small boy when we finally caught up to the group. Arduino just looked at his ruined house.

"I'll go help him find it, you bandage yourself." Lavi said, helping me sit on the curb. He went inside the building with Arduino and Eliodoro. I slowly took off my jacket to see that blood had soaked through my white tunic. The back of my shoulder was bleeding from where it collided with the wall. Fortunatly even though my ribs were broken on the other side from the canon blast, there was no broken skin. I did have some nasty bruises though. I looked around to see that though the Bookman was gone, Kanda stood outside of the house still. I was NOT going to take off my shirt with Kanda standing there, even though it seemed as if he was ignoring me.

"Aren't you going to go inside?" I asked, hoping to cue his exit.

"No." He still wasn't looking at me, and that sort of irked me. He told me to die, and now he's ignoring me.

"Could you go inside?" I tried again. Maybe Lavi shouldn't have left me in the middle of the street when I needed to dress my wounds.

"No." Really Kanda? He was so much more of an ass than I gave him credit for.

"Okay, well just don't look over here." I said, hoping that once I started stripping, he would get the idea and scadadal.

"I will look wherever I please." I smirked at his comment.

"Pervert." I muttered, before pulling my tunic off. I had on a wrap to cover my chest, so I technically wasn't completely stripping.

"Who would enjoy looking at your ugly body?" He growled, glaring at me. I glared back; I wasn't comfortable with my naked body- I had too many scars to be considered pretty. His comment was not needed, like usual. I pulled out the alcohol wipes, deciding to get the worst over with quickly. I sucked in a sharp breath as I attempted to shakily wipe up my shoulder.

"You'll never disinfect it like that." I heard Kanda say, before hearing his footsteps approach me. My back exploded in pain as he slapped the entire alcohol wipe over my open wound. I yelped and cursed.

"Fuck you, Kanda! What ta hell was tat for!" I exclaimed, tying to remove the cloth from the back of my shoulder. He held onto my arm to keep me from squirming before pressing the cloth onto the wound again.

"Shut up." He growled. I bit my knuckle and let him finish. I let out a sigh of relief when he removed the stinging cloth.

"Do you enjoy causing me pain?" I asked.

"Hn.." He pressed the cloth down once more, making me shout in both pain and surprise. "Maybe."

"Stupid, BaKanda.' I muttered, chewing on my lip.

"Don't be a wimp, now you can bandage it." He said before leaving.

"Wait, if I couldn't reach it with the disinfectant, how am I suppose the bandage it?" I asked.

"Not my problem." That ass, he just wanted to put alcohol on my injury. He walked back to his post in front of the store. Act professional. Must act professional. I gritted my teeth to prevent any profanity from escaping my mouth. I bandaged my shoulder as best I could before tightly wrapping my stomach to hold my ribs in place. They wouldn't grow back into their normal position, but I wasn't in a position to be rearranging my bones. I pulled my tunic on and put on my Finder jacket. I tested my feet and slowly stood up. The bandages around my stomach helped to support my side and take the pressure away from it.

"Sorella! I found it!" I looked towards the shop to see Arduino clutching something wrapped in cloth, I assumed it must have been a violin. Kanda momentarily glared at the boy before he began conversing with Lavi.

"You have your violin? It wasn't damaged?" I asked, slightly surprised.

"Yeah! It's just like before." Arduino smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

"You'll have to play it for me someday, kay?"

"Of course, sorella."Arduino replied, taking my hand and leading me up to the shop. I enjoyed his small gestures of affection. As we approached, both Lavi and Kanda stared at Arduino- I gave them questioning looks.

"Everyone! come quickly!" the Bookman called, running towards us, breaking our staring match concentration.

"What's up, Jiji?" Lavi asked, when the Bookman didn't hit Lavi, you knew things were getting serious.

"Akuma, they are on their way here." the bookman was breathing heavily. "Jane, take them and hide somewhere safe- there are many more than yesterday." I nodded, taking in the severity of the situation. I could not understand why all of these akuma were being drawn here now, nor why they were specifically targeting us. Sure, exorcists were hated by akuma, but civilians were easier targets. It was strange for them to be targeting us so adamantly, there must be an ulterior motive.

"How much time do we have until they get here?" I asked. There were civilians in these homes that were unprepared for an attack- they needed to be warned.

"A few minutes at best."

"Eliodoro, take Arduino to the wine cellar you were in yesterday, I need to evacuate these homes." I instructed the older man.

"Lace, go with them, you are in no condition to be running around." Lavi ordered firmly- just because I support exorcists does not mean I take direct orders from them.

"Despite popular belief," I sent Kanda a quick glare, "I can keep myself perfectly safe and do my job. When the akuma come, I will take cover. I realize that I cannot help you all in battle today."

"Fine, but be careful." Lavi sighed in defeat.

"And may luck be on our side." I replied before dashing off. I heard Kanda grumble something along the lines of 'luck is for wimps.' But I chose to ignore it. I'm Irish; luck is always on my side.


I ran along the line of houses that surrounded the street we were one and informed the tired looking residence that they needed to take cover. Most looked at me skeptically, but when they spied the exorcists readying themselves for battle they retreated into their safe spots. If they didn't have a basement I directed them to the cellar Eliodoro and Arduino were staying in.

"Lace! I see them, get to the cellar!" I heard Lavi yell at me. I had one more house to visit on the street though, I had time for one more house. I ran up the steps and pounded on the door.

"This is an emergency! Please come to the door!" I called, desperate to get the residence to open the door.

"Lace! I said to take cover!" Lavi was getting angry. But the door opened to reveal a ten year old girl, so I could really careless if Lavi was angry with me. His job was to take care of the akuma, mine was to make sure this little girl was alive by the end of the day.

"Is there anyone else in your house? This is an emergency; a battle will take place soon. Do you have a basement to hide in?" I know I was rushing the whole evacuation speech, but we didn't have time to lollygag.

"Mom! Some weird lady is at the door!" The girl called back into the house. I think I felt my eyebrow twitch. Some weird lady? I was trying to save their lives…che, whatever… great, now I sound like the BaKanda.

"Madam! You need to locate to a safer area! Do you have a basement?" I called into the house. A middle age woman hurried down the stairs, with a Kindergarten age boy not far behind

"Who do you think you are to barge into a woman's house like this?" Great, a whiner…

"I apologize for the sudden intrusion. I am with the church and this area needs to be evacuated. You and your family are in danger." I rushed.

"How do I know you aren't scamming us?" The woman looked at me skeptically.

"I am a finder of the black order church, I would not lie to you." There are certainly times when I wish I had a cross over my heart- it's like a pass for instant trust. People see the badge and they do whatever the people with the badge say. I could tell them each to buy me a bottle of Guinness, and they would- betcha that's how Cross get by.

"I'm afraid I am finding this hard to believe." The woman narrowed her eyes before attempting to close the door.

"Please! You have to believe me!" I cried, catching the door and pulling it open.

"I said-!" Her potentially angry tirade was cut off when her eyes widened and she began to lift her hand to point at something behind me. I reacted.

I picked up the flowerpot by the door and threw it at whatever was behind me. It smashed into the akuma, throwing it off balance, giving me enough time to push the woman inside her house and close the door.

"Is there anyone else in the house?"

"T-the baby.." The woman stuttered.

"Take the two others to the basement and bolt the door. I'll get your baby." I instructed before pulling the women up off the floor and pushing her towards her two other children. "Where is your baby?"

"He's upstairs." The woman replied, finally catching up the situation. She grabbed the hands of her other two children and began leading them off to presumably the basement. She turned back, "Please make sure he's okay."

"Of course, Madam." I replied with a slight nod before rushing up the stairs. I took the stairs two at a time, but when I was a step away from the top, an explosion echoed from the level below. The akuma had broken in. I ran faster, glad I had a healthy dose of morphine in my system to work with my adrenaline. The first two rooms I looked into were empty, but the third held a cradle. I ran up and gently picked up the dazed child.

I thought of the half built cradle in my own room.

The baby yawned and half opened his eyes. They were blue. Blue eyes and black hair- like Liam. He opened his eyes wider in realization that I was not his Mother, and began to tear up.

"Hush now, don't cry." I cooed, looking around the room for an exit. There was a window, and from the looks of it there was also a trellis running by it.

The floorboards exploded beneath my feet as a clawed, slimy arm for a level two akuma latched itself around the ankle of my boot. I let out a shriek as it lifted me off the ground, holding me upside down- baby still in my arms.

"After waiting for so long in the sewers we are rewarded. You exorcists have finally come. And now we will have the innocence!" A gurgled voice came from the akuma, he looked like he belonged in the sewer. All sludge and claws- how does the Earl think up something this gross?

"Too bad I'm not an exorcist." I grunted, quickly crunching up to undo the top latch of my boot, allowing me to slide my foot out. As soon as I hit the floor I made a mad dash for the window. I ran into it with my shoulder, causing it to shatter- but quickly grabbed the trellis with my hand not holding onto the baby. With only one arm and two legs I began to scurry up the trellis. The sludge akuma swung his arm out the window in attempts to squash me, but only managed to get my foot without the boot. I realized what this akuma's special ability was- that sludge was incredibly acidic. I couldn't feel it when it grabbed my boot, but now that it made direct contact with my skin I was well informed.

I screamed. I wanted to vomit it hurt so bad. I continued to climb. The child was now crying in my arms. When I reached the roof and pulled myself up I saw the skies. They were grey with akuma.

"Where are you going!" I heard the sludge akuma shriek, before shooting a clawed arm through the roof. I narrowly dodged it, and slowly began backing my way to the other end of the roof top. The akuma clawed himself a larger hole and climbed through it. "I don't care if you're an exorcist or not, I'm still going to kill you." It made its way toward me, and all I could think about was the amount of pain my foot was in, and the child in my arms. His arm lashed out at me, I jumped back, and the edge of the roof was on my heel- there was nowhere else to go. His arm lashed out again, and I was forced to jump back again. I wrapped myself around the baby, the akuma's arm was whipping out again- I could only hope I would be able to shield the baby from the attack.

I closed my eyes. "Return of the apocalypse!" I felt an arm scoop me out of my descent and carry me.

"K-Kanda!" I stuttered in my surprise, definatly not the person I was expecting to see. He didn't look at me, instead he watched as his underworld insects devoured the level two that had been chasing me. I took in the situation, he may have told me to die in the heat of the argument- but he had saved me. Actions speak louder than words.

We landed on the ground a moment later, the baby was still safely tucked in my arms. "Thank you, Kanda." I meant it, he might be an ass, but he's an ass that just saved my life. He nodded at me. I liked him better when he didn't talk- I think we would get along much better if he was a mute.

"How's the kid?" He grumbled, surveying the area for more akuma. Most were just level ones in the sky now, and Lavi's fire seal was taking them down like flies.

"Seems to be alright." I responded, shifting the child in my arms. He was still crying a bit, but at least he wasn't wailing. The sound of human cries filled the air, accompanied by the sound of akuma bullets being fired.

"Stay." Was all Kanda ordered before taking off in the direction of the hellish noise. I listened to Kanda, with a baby in my arms and the pain that was beginning to seep into my system, I knew I was useless in battle right now. I sat by a brick wall, and cooed at the baby, hoping that he would fall asleep. Being chased by a level two sludge akuma would make anyone tired. And for the second time in the town that couldn't sleep, I slept.


"Jane, Jane, wake up."

"Lavi?" I grumbled, wiping my eyes. I wanted to sleep- I was in so much pain and I just wanted to sleep.

"Give me the baby, its okay, you can let go." He gently pried the child out of my arms. He was crouching in front of me, holding the child. "You okay?" I leaned to the side and threw up. Good thing I tied my hair back earlier, huh? "I'll take that as a no. Let me go and give the kid to someone, and then I'll be right back, don't worry." He ran off, I was barely conscious of his departure. I had already used a morphine injection today, but I was debating using another one.

"Jane, I found the kid's mom. She was very appreciative that you saved her baby."

"Baby?" I muttered. I was thinking about a child I didn't save.

"Hey, stay with me." Lavi ordered, patting my cheek. He swung my arm around his shoulder, and his other arm supported my waist. It's a good thing he didn't carry me, I threw up two more times before we reached the other exorcists.

"Jane, thank you for your efforts today." The Bookman was talking to me, but all I could do was look at my shoes. "Your leadership skills helped direct many of the residing families to safety." I felt like I was going to throw up again.

"I saved a baby." I murmered, Half delusional, but also half trying to prove a point.

"You did save a baby, his family was very happy to see that he was okay." Lavi reassured me.

"Did the mother cry?" I asked.

"She did."

"Kanda." I looked up, the Asian was watching me out of the corner of his eye. "I saved a baby."

"You did your job, Finder." I passed out.


I was in bed, at the inn. I could hear a baby crying. Lavi was slouched in a chair next to my bed. The battle was over. "Lavi?" my dry voice cracked. Lavi snapped back to reality.

"Jane, you're awake? I was expecting you to sleep for days."

"Something's wrong." I commented, trying to sit up. Lavi helped me by putting pillows behind my back.

"Why do you say that?" He asked, he sounded fake-happy.

"You used my name." I responded. He only used my name when something bad was going on.

"I did, didn't I?" He laughed hesitantly, scratching the back of his head.

"What's wrong, Lavi?"

"Jane, you need to understand that this wasn't your fault." I felt my stomach drop. "The cellar that you directed some of the people to take cover in, it was connected to the sewer system. The akuma got in. only three people are alive that took cover there. Arduino's violin turned out to be the innocence that was drawing in all of the akuma, he was able to use its ability and saved two other people. We have ourselves another exorcist." Lavi smiled a bit. I was trembling, the reality of what he said, that I had lead people to their deaths, I don't think I could handle it. I gripped fistfuls of my sheets, and I cried. Tears slid down my face that I had no control over. I screamed and buried my head into my hands. I just wanted to protect those people. "Jane, its not your fault." Lavi reached his arm out to comfort me.

"Don't touch me!" I cried, lunging away from him. "Don't touch me." I whimpered. I killed them. They trusted me, and I killed them.

I cried and sobbed, but I would not let Lavi touch me. I didn't deserve comfort. I wasn't a quiet crier, I felt so much anguish and pain at what Lavi told me- and I let it out.

After a few minutes Lavi left the room, he knew I wanted to be alone. Unfortunately someone couldn't take a hint. Moments after Lavi left, Kanda walked in.

"Get over yourself." He growled. Get over myself? I wasn't crying for myself.

"Go away." I moaned, covering my face with my hands. I continued to hiccup and cry, but my sobs had subsided.

"No." He replied and sat on the chair Lavi had been in. "If you want to call yourself the best finder, then pull yourself together." He didn't understand. I had killed all of those people

"Kanda, I just killed all of those people."

"You saved a baby." I looked at him. He held my gaze. One baby can't make up for so many people, can it? "Stop crying."

"I-I can't just stop crying." I stuttered, looking at my balled up hands. Something hard hit my head.

"I command you to stop crying." Kanda replied in a monotone, he had hit me in the head with a fully sheathed Mugen.

"Why did you just hit me?" I exclaimed.

"Stop crying." Kanda repeated.

"How is hitting me supposed to make me stop crying?" I replied, still pretty ticked that he hit me. His violent behavior did succeed in momentarily distracting me; the tears were drying on my face.

"Actually, stop talking too." I was about to tell him off, but his eyes were serious, so I stopped talking. I heard a child crying.

"Someone's crying."

"It's the innocence." I looked at him again.

"The innocence?"

"The kid's violin."

"Violin?"

"Stop repeating everything I say." Kanda growled. "The old man died. He's alone." Eliodoro was dead? Arduino was the accommodator? Kanda stared at me, as if expecting me to do something with the barrage of new information. Was he expecting something from me?

"What do you want me to do?" I asked helplessly.

"Che, useless, don't make me regret my words." Was his only response before leaving, his eyes didn't seem angry. Fuck 'che', whatever 'che' was. Didn't he tell me that I did my job? How come I was suddenly useless? That man was so bipolar, he probably is more girl that guy. With that thought comforting my wounded pride, I got out of bed and exited my room. I followed the crying noise to see if I couldn't find Arduino.


I opened the door that the noise was coming form and saw Arduino playing his violin. The violin's body appeared normal, but instead of a scroll, there was a carved baby's head. The head cried with the violin. I couldn't hear a violin, only the cry of a baby.

"Is that your innocence?" I asked, Arduino stopped playing and looked at his violin. Several minutes passed, "Arduino?" I asked, taking a step closer to him.

"I couldn't protect him. I saved two strangers, but I couldn't protect him."

"Arduino, that wasn't your fault, you aren't trained to battle akuma." Maybe I should listen to my own words.

"I could- I could have-" He dropped his violin, he was sobbing.

"Arduino, shush, everything will be alright." I scooped him up and let him tangle his fingers in my hair. He cried for the second time that day. This time it was out of grief. At some point I felt tears slide down my own face. We cried together and held each other- it felt better than crying alone.


That night, I traced circles on Arduino's back and whispered Gaelic into his ear about the adventures we would have the next day. He fell asleep, and I promised to be his new family.


A message from my bird (Kiwi):

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