Disclaimer in previous chapters. Please see Author's Notes at the end.

NOTE: This is a CIP (Curse is Physical) chapter. CIP supposes a curse can accelerate the normal healing capabilities of the human body, but not surpass them. Please note that CIM and CIP chapters will share some content. They will simply move in different directions.

-x-

The guards came to attention immediately, both looking troubled, and the previous focus of their attentions turned at their approach, eyes moving between the two of them as if he could study their expressions. As if he could return their gaze.

Noise Marie had always been like that. In many respects, he was the same as Allen Walker. The world they saw was indescribable to those with simple, perfect vision.

Komui Lee hoped it was more beautiful than this one.

One of the guards tapped his lance on the floor. "Inspector!"

His companion raised a hand, waving down their weapons with a benevolent flick as though he favored them all the time. "Noise Marie." His voice, too, was kind, in a tone he was certain did not fool Marie. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

The large African man, taller than either of them, took a quick breath from the diaphragm and bobbed his head once in a semblance of a bow. "I wish to beg entrance to master's chambers. He overextended himself, and has not been seen to-"

Komui answered before Leverrier could. "I sent Matron to evaluate him very early this morning." It was another nail in his coffin, a general injuring himself when they all knew an attack could come at any moment. Nor did he want to confirm the young Exorcist's statement in front of the inspector. "She found him in better condition than either of us anticipated. You must have been of great help to him."

Marie cast his eyes downward at the praise. "I fear it was not enough."

"Is that really a fair statement?" Leverrier cocked his head, folding his arms behind him. "To see you standing there uninjured, after facing four level fours, I would assume you to be a very skilled and powerful Exorcist."

Komui gave him a smile he knew the young man heard and adjusted his glasses. The details of the Noah's trap had been given to them by Bookman and Lavi, in part to pay for their freedom from arrest. Not that Leverrier had any hope of continuing the house arrest he had placed all members of the party that had rescued Kanda Yuu, considering their contract with the Bookmen. Allen Walker, Froi Tiedoll, and Kanda himself were still being held under guard; however, and there didn't seem to be much Komui could do about it at present.

As for Kanda, and Leverrier's apprentice Howard Link, neither seemed to mind the guards. One was in a coma, and the other was painfully close. Though Leverrier had shown no outward concern for the young man, whom Bookman had confirmed had received Crow training, his demeanor was changing. He was both more strict and more genial than usual. Offering honey to attract the most flies.

Komui wasn't really sure if that was due to concern or because the lack of Howard Link actually soothed the inspector. He suspected the former, and found it very curious.

"Thank you," Marie responded, bringing Komui's attention to the present once again. "My general, may I see him?"

"When our inquiry is finished," was the vague reply. "I assure you he is being well taken care of."

Marie bowed his head again, clearly disappointed, and the guards looked even more troubled. He was a large but kind man, and denying his pleas to do nothing more than care for his general, who was well loved by the Order, had to be painful for those guards.

Komui made a mental note to suggest a brief delay during the switching of the guard and put a hand on Marie's elbow as the inspector stepped through the door.

Much as they had done for Cross Marian, a large room had been given to Froi Tiedoll, and it contained every luxury reserved for generals. Fruits and spirits, the finest meals Jerry could tempt them with, silken pillows and a feather bed. He had been told that Tiedoll had accepted some food earlier, and asked for nothing more than to see his beloved pupil.

That request had been denied. Which was downright stupid, considering Kanda would be completely oblivious and it wasn't as thought they could work on any stories or lies. Komui had sent hourly updates, but it was apparent by the morning that Kanda had once again survived a lethal injury. His body was continuing to reject pieces of dark matter, requiring constant bandage changes, but his joints were starting to heal. Komui could only assume by their placement that the fragments still in his body were small golems implanted and set to detonate if Kanda escaped the grounds of the mansion Bookman had described.

It was impossible to tell if the one that had been implanted at the base of his skull had been done before or after the Noah or Noahs had discovered Kanda's unique ability to withstand injury.

The room was just as he remembered it, but it was sobering to see the slumped figure of Tiedoll in a chair facing the eastern horizon, back to the door. At their entrance his head of curls turned somewhat, but not enough for them to see even his profile, and he shifted the blanket wrapped around his shoulders. The bed was made but there was an indentation in both the comforter and pillow.

Good. So he had gotten some rest, then

"How are you feeling, general?"

Komui paused at the entrance of the room, giving the sometimes emotional general time to gather himself, but Leverrier paid no mind, moving to sit on the couch directly in front of Tiedoll. The general didn't respond, other than to sniffle, and Komui frowned little and decided to take a seat far enough away to give the man some semblance of privacy and still observe everything.

At least that's what he told himself.

The general looked pale and haggard, and his cheeks were wet with tears. He wasn't sobbing, though, and seemed to be watching twilight approaching, the end of a terrible day of waiting. Nor did he seem ashamed in the slightest to be seen, wrapped in a blanket like the smallest child or oldest man, his feet gathered up on the large cushion of the chair.

He had a tendency to be cold when he had over-extended himself, something Marie knew well. Those that could synchronize one hundred percent or higher, the Criticals, ended up using their Innocence in the same manner Parasitics did. The Innocence relied on the strength of the wielder and drained them accordingly.

And as Leverrier had noted earlier, Tiedoll was no longer a young man. He was the oldest of the surviving generals, beating Cross Marian by just about two months.

"You look tired, general," Leverrier noted. "Have you not had a sufficient chance to rest?"

The general didn't take his gaze off the window. "What can I do for you, inspector?"

Komui tried very hard not to move. For Frio Tiedoll, ignoring a direct question like that was incredibly rude.

Leverrier didn't seem put off in the slightest. "When did the Noah contact you?"

"Four days ago."

"Which Noah?"

Tiedoll gave a passable shrug. "It was an Akuma, a level three. Very polite fellow, all things considered."

The inspector tilted his head. "Why did you not simply destroy him on sight?"

"It asked me not to, and said it had a message for me."

Leverrier raised an eyebrow. "And you believed it?"

"Well, it's never happened before . . ." Tiedoll's tone turned droll. "The addition of a token that belongs to one of my pupils was its proof."

"What token was this?"

"Does it really matter?" The general finally took his gaze off the window, looking directly at the inspector. "The point is that the Noah was aware you were not communicating the previous messages to me and responded accordingly." He turned further, and met Komui's eyes for the first time. "What tokens were sent to you, supervisor?"

Komui thinned his lips and clutched his mug a little tighter. He knew this would happen, it was inevitable and he deserved it. Following the inspector's orders was something he had to do. Central had given the order and to move around it would be to take himself out of his current position temporarily, possibly permanently. A disobedient supervisor would not be tolerated. He could protect more of the Exorcists where he was, even if it had cost Kanda time.

Strong, stubborn Kanda had looked so helpless and small, lying on the infirmary bed. Komui was more terrified of what he would see when Kanda woke than he was of Tiedoll. Who, even through the exhaustion, looked ready to summon Art to do away with him altogether.

"Various pieces of his uniform," Leverrier lied silkily. "So you did not know previous to that messenger that your pupil was in the hands of the enemy?"

"Nor did I know the Order was content to leave him there," the general replied blandly, though that burning gaze never left Komui's. "Those tasked with keeping the secret did so."

"And you do not know the identity of the Noah that sent the messenger?"

Tiedoll released Komui and mutely shook his head. It felt like he hadn't breathed the entire time the general had held him in that glare.

"What of the Noah you fought?"

That was simply a guess on their part; neither Lavi nor Bookman had engaged the level fours or entered the mansion, choosing to record the event from a safe distance and protect Link while he wove the incantations to spirit them away. Marie had said it was a voice he did not recognize, but Tiedoll was more likely to have seen a face, and it was probable met more of the Noah than any non-Critical Exorcist.

"He remained in shadow and left fairly early into the fighting. He did not wish to be seen."

So it was an unknown Noah . . . not Skinn Boric, Tyki Mikk, Debito, or Jasdero. That was enlightening. And troubling.

"Did the Noah say anything of note?"

"He is familiar with the hierarchy of the Order, and identified Komui by name." Again the smoldering eyes, and this time Komui chose to look away.

"How flattering."

"What else?" Leverrier crossed his legs, getting comfortable. "Did he recognize anyone else by name?"

Tiedoll took a deep breath, then sighed heavily. "No, I do not know if Kanda-kun gave him information on Exorcists or the Order. Seeing as the Noah sent tokens here I think it's safe to say the Earl is well aware of when and where we moved headquarters, just as he has always been, and possibly our comings and goings. There is little information Yuu could have shared that would cause any more alarm than we should already feel."

Leverrier gave the general an odd smile. "There's no need to defend him." The unspoken yet was louder than the words themselves. "He will be given that chance himself, after he heals and is tested, of course."

Komui narrowed his eyes, unsurprised when Tiedoll also tensed. The general's voice was surprisingly mild when he spoke, however. "You intend to try him for heresy, as you attempted to do with Allen Walker?"

"Allen Walker is in violation of his contract with the Order and the Vatican." It was sharp. "Kanda Yuu may merely be a traitor. The quickest way to find out if he revealed information or even changed sides is to present him with his Innocence and study the reaction. Your presence will of course be required, general, as we will need every available Critical present on the chance that he Falls."

Komui fought to keep his voice level. "I believe we should wait until Kanda has sufficiently recovered. Activation after such a time is bound to-"

"Oh, I have no doubt his synch rate will drop." Leverrier waved it off like it was nothing. "But he may be the only one who can tell us about the Noah he was willing to kill Finders for." His tone was oiled again, as if the anger over Walker had never happened. "Should that Noah become aware that Kanda Yuu survived, he may attack simply to keep his identity a secret. Therefore there is need to hurry."

"If he Falls the Noah's identify goes with him," Tiedoll observed quietly. "Why test him in that manner before you've even spoken with him?" If the news of Kanda killing Finders shocked him, it didn't show.

"And allow Kanda to waste time by lying to us? I'd prefer the brief delay if it means we can trust his words, and if he Falls, he would have lied anyway." Leverrier uncrossed his legs and stood. "I appreciate your cooperation, general. Please make yourself available to my inspectors until such time as the trial begins."

So he did intend to try Kanda for heresy, if not treason.

"How is the young inspector?"

Leverrier looked ever so slightly surprised. "If you are referring to Howard Link, he has yet to regain consciousness from the exertion of trying to prevent Allen Walker from violating his oath."

The general ignored the second half of the reply entirely. "When he does awaken, please give him my thanks. Were it not for his efforts, I do not know how that night would have ended."

The inspector gave a short nod. "Your thanks will in no way affect the information he reports."

Oddly, the general smiled sadly. "You say that as if I have done something for which I should be ashamed, inspector, when I am the only one in this room who has not."

-x-

The morning of the second day of his return, Kanda opened his eyes.

Matron tried not to fuss; the guards were bothersome enough, but as soon as they noticed they would summon Leverrier and only God knew then what would happen to the boy. She so rarely got a chance to treat him, to force him into the rest he needed.

He was so thin. Almost gaunt, and the expressionless eyes that were only half-open did nothing to make him appear anything other than what he was. An injured Exorcist.

But he sabotaged her subtle gathering of her clipboard by whimpering, low in his throat, and before she could stop him, he moved his arm.

The whimper became a scream, confused and unarticulated, and then she was by his side, struggling to pin his wrists, the only joints in his arms that were not damaged. "Kanda!"

His eyes were open but it was clear he was not alert; they were bright with pain, and didn't focus on her very well at all. As soon as his arms were pinned he thrashed violently and uncoordinatedly, and his screams rose in pitch and volume.

A waking nightmare, perhaps? "Nurse! Sedative!" Despite the fact it would slow his healing, it would be easier on his battered body than a physical restraint. The guards had jumped at his sudden outburst and now were milling on the edge of her vision, and Allen Walker, who had been dozing, had sat bolt upright in bed. Howard Link was mercifully still asleep.

"Kanda, calm down!" she tried again, loudly but soothingly. "Can you hear me?"

He shook his head awkwardly from side to side, which elicited a new scream, but she couldn't tell if it was in reaction to her voice or not.

"Kanda, if you stop moving it will stop hurting."

He didn't. If anything, pinning him had increased his struggles, and as clumsy as his movements were, they did not lack strength. It was far too long before Lydia had managed to get a needle into his IV line. When he felt the drugs his eyes widened and he let loose with a wail of fear, renewing his struggles momentarily before it took hold. Because of his abnormal resistance to chemicals, both healing and otherwise, Lydia had given him quite a bit of it, and she looked almost as startled as he did when it did not have an immediate effect. But then he choked a little on saliva as he sucked in a deep breath, and then his eyelids drooped, and his body relaxed beneath her. In another moment his head rolled into a deep indention of his pillow, and she felt it was safe to let him go.

Lydia took a breath, and the first syllable of her sentence squeaked. "Matron . . . what should we do?"

There wasn't much to do besides let him heal and wake again. "We shall better manage his pain." The narcotics would take him a while to sleep off. "I am sure that is what woke him." She took a deep breath, giving Walker a strong glare as his hand toyed with the edge of his blanket. "And you will stay right where you are!"

When he woke again, four hours later, Matron herself administered the chemical restraint, her mouth pressed in a tight line. Her patient was panting with exertion, not focused on anything, and his movements were no more coordinated than before.

"Summon Komui."

-x-

Leverrier set down his teacup, watching the smallest particles of tea leaves, escapees of the strainer. They swirled into almost a question mark one moment, and a sand bar the next, then back again.

It was easy to see why the Asians, locked in their huts with nothing better to do than drink tea, had divined that tea leaves could tell the future. In a way, they were. Showing him questions and the walls that were preventing their answers.

"There was no improvement?"

Matron shook her head, her hands twisting in her uniform. "His pain seemed to be under better control, but he would not focus on my pen, nor would he respond to verbal commands."

"What is your diagnosis at this point?" Going over the exorcist's many symptoms was all well and good, but at some point they needed to reach a consensus on his ability to testify in his own defense. And also a way to determine if any useful information could be mined from him, if he truly was permanently damaged. "Is he or is he not healed?"

The woman glared at him disapprovingly, which he ignored, sipping his tea. "The fact that he can move and has regained consciousness, coupled with the condition of his joints . . ." She seemed at a loss for words, and turned to Komui as if looking for help. "He has had head injuries before, but none to this extent."

The supervisor was staring at the lump sugar in the center of the table, five of which had been deposited into that ridiculous mug of coffee. "It's possible . . ." Leverrier gave him time to work it out. "Kanda . . . he heals abnormally quickly. But the human body is only capable of so much."

"Are you saying the damage done to him was too great to heal?"

The supervisor winced, again trying to find a way to hide information from him without blatantly lying, and Leverrier let him work it out. Direct questions would be answered, no matter the verbal dance. He was either permanently crippled or he would recover. Neither was acceptable in the short term.

"The human body can create new cells, but not repair those that have been too badly damaged. Memories . . . they are simply electrical impulses stored inside of nerve cells. Each one is unique. It's not that he hasn't healed, but it may be that his body replaced those nerve cells with new cells. Those cells won't have the imprint of his memories."

How unfortunate. "So you claim his memory is gone."

Komui lifted his shoulders. "I couldn't begin to say that, inspector. But perhaps certain memories . . . it may be that he can see but he doesn't remember who he's looking at. Or that he has forgotten English, and could not understand Matron when she was speaking to him. He may have lost years, he may recognize none of us. Or he may know exactly who we are and where he is, but forgotten how to speak."

"Or it could all be an act." It seemed like such an obvious answer that he couldn't really understand their dumbfounded looks. "The Noah's intent was to cripple him to prevent his escape, wasn't it? He cannot escape here either, not with such chains around him. Convincing us there is nothing to learn from him is his only option for keeping secrets."

Not that it would help. Pain was pain, and he could only suffer so much of it before the act was broken. If he did not speak again despite thorough questioning, then no harm done.

"Inspector-" It was just a breath, as though he had blasphemed, and Komui looked just as taken aback.

"I have known Kanda Yuu for years, inspector. He is not capable of that level of dramatics."

Leverrier raised an eyebrow at the tone. So certain. "How can you be sure?"

The supervisor straightened his glasses, clearly trying for his composure. "Because Allen Walker was in the room."

Leverrier blinked. "Are you saying he was responding to the Noah in the room?"

"Kanda Yuu and Allen Walker have not gotten along since they met." Komui apparently thought this was obvious. "To pretend to lose his memory would be to admit a weakness. It is not in his character."

"His character could have changed quite a bit in the last six weeks, supervisor." He set down the teacup. "However, act or truth, the issue does not change our timetable."

Matron gaped at him. "But the boy cannot be questioned in this condition, inspector-"

He gave them both a smile. "Then we will alter his condition. It only needs to be temporary."

The supervisor sorted out his meaning in only a moment. "Miranda's Innocence is miraculous, it's true, but there's no guarantee it will restore his memories."

"Oh? Does it not return any object to its best possible condition? Or are you suggesting that Kanda Yuu, in the seconds before suffering his grievous injuries, was not in his best possible state?"

The supervisor fought to find another avenue of protest. "Having Kanda activate while under the influence of Miranda's Innocence could be extremely dangerous for them both."

If he Fell, that was likely true. "I don't see any need for that to concern us. We must merely hand him the Innocence, Hevlaska can determine his synch rate without activation if necessary." No, that wasn't the problem. "Summon her at once, and bind her to secrecy." Then another thought occurred to him. "She doesn't have to be in contact with what she's holding in Time Record, does she?" They could always make her sit outside in the hall.

Komui looked outraged. "That Exorcist is in no condition to be tested in this manner, inspector."

"How certain are you that Kanda's condition will be conveyed properly to the Noah that tried to kill him?" Was all urgency lost to this man? "Do you suppose that Noah will stop and wonder if Kanda remembers enough to reveal him to us before this headquarters is attacked? No, the need for alacrity in this matter has not diminished in the least. If he is truly physically healed, have him taken to Hevlaska's chambers at once."

"I did not say he was healed-"

He cut her off with a wave, like an orchestra's conductor. "He is healed enough. Bring Allen Walker as well. As he and Froi Tiedoll are the only two Criticals currently accessible, we will need them there should Kanda have betrayed us."

Komui knew better than to challenge him outright, but his voice was hard. "You would have him undergo this test without understanding the consequences?"

"It is not my will that would find him guilty, supervisor." He drained the tea and set the cup down delicately. "I leave this in the hands of God."

Komui got up without another word and left the room. After a moment and some muttering under her breath, the Matron did the same, and he sighed lightly into the empty room.

-x-

Allen had learned a long time ago that he hated to be stared at. With Mana at the circus, he had seen all manner of freaks, been treated like one, and sworn that he would never do the same to another creature, human or animal.

Still, it was hard not to study his fellow Exorcist as they were wheeled into the elevator, and Allen took the time to be grateful that this was not like the Tower, and they could not be seen from twelve different floors at once.

The wheelchair jumped and shuddered as it was pushed over the lip of the elevator and Kanda moaned, pulling at the restrains that held his arms to the armrests, hidden by the lap blanket that had been thrown over him. He was heavily drugged, his head lolling and his eyes slow and heavy, and Allen bit his lip before he reached over with his human hand to take Kanda's.

"I know it hurts. I'm sorry," he said softly, and the Japanese man glanced down at his hand, momentarily distracted as the doors clattered shut behind them, and the rectangular cab descended in a fully enclosed shaft. It made the ride much less chilly, and more private. Quieter.

The sudden drop didn't seem to alarm Kanda overly, which made Allen wonder just how dizzy he was. How much he was aware of. If he ever remembered this he would probably come for Allen with Mugen and he would welcome that attack with a smile and a laugh.

The first time Kanda had woken Allen figured it was a night terror. The second, that he was too drugged to know what was going on. But it was becoming clearer with each passing hour that Kanda had not bounced back from this intact. Through careful peeks between the curtains when he'd gotten his bandages changed, Allen had seen that Kanda's chest was covered in black, and he was afraid he knew why. Kanda's tattoo had grown bigger on the Ark, when he'd fought a Noah. It didn't take a scientist to tell him what it might mean to see the tattoo had grown again.

Much larger than before.

Perhaps the boy's miraculous healing could only go so far.

In a way, though, it was a relief. The inspector hadn't said it outright, but if they were going down, it was either to speak with Central or to see Hevlaska. Since Leverrier had promised them both back to Matron, Allen sort of doubted he was about to be dragged before Central. If they really meant to try him for heresy, no one would ever see him again. Nor was his arm bound as it had been the first time. So the other option was going to see Hevlaska. And the only reason they could want him along when Kanda was reunited with Mugen, especially in this condition, was Suman.

If he had acted faster, and sooner, he might have been able to save Suman. Perhaps they hoped that if Kanda had betrayed his Innocence, that he could react in time to prevent the horrible monster that Suman and his Innocence had become.

Or it was because the only other general around was Froi Tiedoll, and it would take the two of them to destroy a Fallen if he could not save the Exorcist inside. Even a Fallen who didn't seem to know what was going on around him.

Allen squeezed Kanda's hand lightly, looking for a reaction. The other man stared as if fascinated, but when the elevator slowed he picked up his head, and then the doors were pulled open with a clatter and they were being backed out. Again, as the wheelchair rumbled over the joint of cab and floor Kanda cried out in alarm, low and guttural in his throat.

Allen was turned around and pushed forward, losing sight of Kanda and looking at the basement for the first time. Gone was the expansive ceiling, the room for Hevlaska to move around. Now there were narrow, dark catacombs. His mind automatically catalogued the cool temperatures as perfect for wine storage. The ceilings were not particularly high, and once again Allen wondered if perhaps they were making a stop at a dungeon after all.

Maybe the inspector had lied to Matron. Maybe they were going to just disappear.

He was wheeled through the chilly darkness for about a hundred yards, then took a sharp right turn into what had once been a cheese-aging cave. The smell of the mold was sharp as they trundled over a smooth-worn trail into a huge expanse of natural rock. Hevlaska was visible, glowing gently as usual, and the Cube was visible within her. She was curled around a huge rock outcropping like a dragon of lore, and there was a small group of people in front of her.

Komui. Leverrier. Tiedoll. And about a dozen guards, all armed.

So his guess was correct. They were afraid Kanda was going to Fall.

He was taken off the side, and Tiedoll gave him a quick, reassuring smile as the guard pushing him locked the brake. Most of the general's attention was on his pupil, however, and Komui came to stand beside him.

"How is it, Allen?"

"I'm fine." He stretched, then carefully got to his feet.

"Ne, Allen, don't overdo it -!"

"It's fine," he repeated with a forced smile. "Matron won't let me get up at all, and I want to stretch my legs."

"She'll have my head if you come back with so much as a scratch."

He wanted to respond with a smart remark, but none came to mind. "Is this . . . all right?" He said it in a low voice, so it would not carry to the inspector, who was staring at Kanda as if he could see through him. "Kanda, he-"

"He'll be fine, Allen-kun." Komui's voice was equally soft. "I know this is frightening, but please bear with it."

Frightening? "It's disgusting," he said, loudly enough to carry to the inspector. It wasn't as if he could get into any more trouble. "None of this is Kanda's fault-"

"No one said it was." Komui cut off further protest with a look, as serious as he'd ever seen. "Hevlaska won't hurt him. The sooner this is done the sooner Kanda can be returned to Matron."

The sooner Kanda could be returned to somewhere he felt safe. And their yelling about it would certainly not put him anymore at ease. Despite Kanda's obvious trepidation, even as he was pushed closer and closer to Hevlaska, Tiedoll didn't move a muscle. He stood there, eyes fully hidden by Hevlaska's glow, as the guards hastily unwound the canvas holding his arms to the wheelchair.

As soon as he was released Kanda of course tried to get up, but he was far too uncoordinated, and his legs were still secured to the chair. Hevlaska moved closer to him, tilting her head, and he abruptly stilled, staring at her with wide eyes. Like a sleepy child, he blinked slowly, but didn't move again. Beside Allen, Tiedoll took a quick breath.

"Kanda Yuu." Even Leverrier's sharp voice didn't bother him. It was as if he didn't recognize his own name. "Allen Walker returned your Innocence to Hevlaska just over six weeks ago. It has not reverted to its original shape, meaning it has not chosen a new wielder nor rejected you as its accommodator. However, if you have betrayed the Order or God, that Innocence will mete out your punishment. You will die."

The Exorcist reached upward awkwardly, and Allen was shocked to see that he was reaching for Mugen, which was being cradled reverently in Hevlaska's many appendages.

"Do you recognize Mugen, Kanda?" she asked kindly, and the Exorcist made an odd grunting noise, his reaching becoming more emphatic. Hevlaska hesitated, then offered Mugen in a manner Allen recognized as highly ceremonial, holding it only just by the saya and hilt. She bowed her head low, and Kanda reached out with both hands in the first smooth gesture Allen had seen from him.

He was suddenly Kanda Yuu. Unhesitatingly he grasped the saya and hilt, without a trace of his former clumsiness, and it was unsheathed in an instant.

Tiedoll moved forward immediately. "Kanda, be careful-"

"Moogen." It was drawn out and distorted but still recognizable, and the katana responded at once, glowing blue and brilliant.

Nothing else seemed to happen, and Allen forced himself to keep breathing steadily. Nothing was going to happen. He was not going to Fall. Maybe Mugen would restore his memories just as Crown Clown had replaced that hole in his heart.

Then Kanda laughed in delight and executed a perfect cut, directly at Hevlaska's face.

Crown Clown sprang up around him at his sudden alarm, but it wasn't necessary; Hevlaska had anticipated the attack, holding Kanda away from her as he continued to swing the sword in random but deadly patterns, clearly very happy. Komui put a restraining arm on Allen's human arm.

"Keep in mind some accommodators who come to us are quite young. Hev's used to this sort of thing."

Allen continued to watch him, trying very hard not to cry.

Oh, Kanda.

At some point Hevlaska managed to get his attention, and caught his arm gently with a glowing appendage. He made a noise of protest at the restraint but she soothed him with an odd windy sigh, and as soon as her forehead touched his all movement froze. Allen well remembered when she had done the same to him, with the same effect. He had suddenly become aware of her thoughts, and Crown Clown, but had known neither at the time.

He had suddenly felt safe and calm, warm and not alone. Whatever she was able to communicate to Kanda, he was very still.

If Mugen hadn't given him back his memories, then what was it .. .? How was it he was not able to stand, speak, or understand, yet had executed moves that took swordsmen a lifetime to master?

"Four percent," Hevlaska intoned softly. "Nine percent. Sixteen percent. Twenty-three percent. Twenty-nine percent. Thirty-five percent. Forty-two percent. Forty-seven percent." She stopped there, regretfully setting Kanda back in the wheelchair, and when she was no longer touching him he reached up with a curled hand and made a soft noise.

"Forty-seven percent," Leverrier repeated. "What was it when you last saw him, Hevlaska?"

Her voice was troubled. "Eighty-nine percent."

The inspector turned to them, and Allen tried very hard to ignore him. "How is that, I wonder."

Allen clenched his hands at his side, and was startled when Tiedoll leaned just a little closer to him, brushing his Innocence arm. The elder general said nothing, eyes locked on his pupil, and Allen kept his mouth shut.

That bastard. Of course Kanda's synch rate would drop.

. . . but was it that simple? The more Allen thought about it, the more he wondered. Clearly Kanda remembered something. Even if grasping the blade was all muscle memory, he had said the name. The first word Allen had heard him say.

Komui cleared his throat as Hevlaska gently wrestled Mugen away from the protesting Kanda. "I don't know, inspector. I've never seen an Innocence behave as Mugen has." Then he seemed to sense Allen's confusion. "On the very rare occasion that an Exorcist is permanently crippled, generally the Innocence will choose a new accommodator, one more suited for fighting the Earl. The synch rate dropping is common when Exorcists are absent from their Innocence for an extended period of time, but this . . ." Komui's voice was thoughtful. "It would appear Mugen has recognized the change in Kanda but still chooses to keep him."

Did Mugen choosing to keep Kanda as its accommodator mean his wounds were not permanent? That he was just slow to heal from this particular injury?

Leverrier made a gesture to the guard. "Bring her forward." At first Allen was confused, but then a voice with a heavy German accent echoed to them from the catacombs.

"-must be some mistake, we should really ask for the supervisor-"

Leverrier waited until she was fully in the room before addressing her. "Miranda Lotto."

The woman looked a bit disheveled, as if she had been taken from her sleeping quarters in a rush with her Innocence thrown on as an afterthought, and she glanced around at them with wide eyes. "Komui – Allen-kun!" She glanced around the cave a moment, greeting Hevlaska with a hurried bow, but then she saw the figure in the wheelchair, still reaching for Mugen though he was now silent, and she faltered. "Supervisor . . what-"

"Please place Kanda Yuu under Time Recovery."

She gave a little gasp and looked to Komui, and Allen followed her gaze to see the Chinaman give her a nod. She glanced back at Kanda uncertainly.

"Whenever you're ready, Miss Lotto."

Allen briefly wondered how much more trouble he'd be in if he punched Leverrier. Still, Kanda was first and foremost Tiedoll's pupil, and he seemed so calm about all this . . . didn't he care?

Or did he maybe know something the rest of them didn't know about Kanda?

Hesitantly, Miranda touched her right arm. "Innocence, activate!" she called into the cavern, and it slid down her arm, spinning into a disk that showed information only she could read. "Time Recovery!"

A yellow ring shot out to surround Kanda, and Allen was struck with how different it looked now. So organized, Miranda and the clock working as a team. The samurai's time vanished visibly; his arm dropped, his posture straightened, and there was an obvious moment when he was looking out of his own eyes again, alert and aware.

He blinked up at Hevlaska, then turned to look at their group though no one had spoken. The moment he saw the general he averted his eyes, studying the floor of the cave, and he opened his mouth as if to say something before closing it again.

If he was surprised at his location, he didn't show it.

"Kanda Yuu." Leverrier's voice was rather mild. "Do you know where you are?"

The Japanese man gave a short nod. Gone was his stiffness, the joints temporarily healed by Miranda's Innocence. She, too, was looking at the floor shyly, clearly uncomfortable.

"Yet you have never been here. Do you remember coming down here?"

Kanda hesitated. "Yes."

"Do you remember the last six weeks?"

"Yes." It was emotionless. No smart remarks, no irritation.

"Splendid," Leverrier murmured. "You have not been rejected by your Innocence. Therefore I must assume you are still a loyal Exorcist, devoted to the Order and to God." He turned on his heels. "Miranda Lotto."

She squeaked. "Y-yes, inspector?"

"Kanda Yuu was badly injured during his last mission. We will require the use of your Innocence to allow him to report. I will send for you in the morning. Please rest until then, and speak of this to no one."

She stared at him as if the words hadn't made sense, then turned, again questioningly, to Komui. "I-"

"Supervisor Komui has no authority in this regard," Leverrier cut her off. "You may release Kanda from Time Recovery."

"Oh, but it's no trouble! You see, I don't sleep often, I slept just two nights ago, so there's no need-"

"Release him from Time Recovery, if you please."

Kanda made no protest whatsoever, still staring at the ground, and it was Tiedoll who spoke into the silence.

"It's quite all right, dear. While you may not need sleep, Kanda-kun does. It will be easier for him if he is not overly burdened by your efforts. Please," he added kindly, and Miranda blinked rapidly at him before nodding. Then she turned again to Kanda, shyly.

"Are you . . . ready . . .?"

He gave her the same short nod he'd given Leverrier, and Allen bit his lip when Miranda eventually released him, and his head drooped forward, once more under the effect of the drugs Matron had given him to calm him. He whined as if he knew he had just been cheated of something, but Hevlaska soothed him with a tentacle, and he was distracted by her touch.

"Return them both to the infirmary. Miss Lotto, you are dismissed."

Allen glanced over at him. "But-"

The guards were not interested in his protests, and Leverrier's bright eyes were on them both as he was all but pushed back into what amounted to an adult stroller. The other Exorcist whimpered when Hevlaska was taken out of his direct line of sight, and Allen craned his neck around, watching Tiedoll, Komui, and Leverrier start speaking in hushed voices.

-x-

Author's Notes: Not a whole lot to say here . . . Kanda's condition will be explained in further chapters, but for now, it looks as though poor Miranda's going to become his shadow. And we did get to see a little of how Allen is feeling, but that too will be explained, as well as Komui's behavior. The idea of Kanda waving a sword around like a four year old is the intellectual property of silverfox2702, who made the image far too cute for me to leave out.

I hope the formatting is not too confusing, but if you have any questions, or hate it, please let me know!