Stella: Well, chapter 9 was my last revised chapter! Yay!

Lavi: I'm glad you didn't decide to rewrite it.

Stella: Me too...but now this chapter seems kinda random. I really wanted to put Road in though.

Road: Yay~

Lavi: Ahh, get outta here!

Rose: Who's she?

Road: You'll see soon enough~

Lavi: Creepy...

Stella: Yay, I'm so happy I finished revising my chapters! yayayay! It took forever! Oh, and the whole Rose's hometown being supporters thing will play out soon enough. That's why everyone knew she was an Exorcist even though people outside the Order aren't supposed to know. Or something like that~

I was sitting at the edge of my bed. Today was Christmas Eve, but I wasn't at all in the Christmas spirit. I don't even see how that was possible for me at the moment. I thought a lot about what Komui and Bookman told me, but I needed to know more.

It was crazy how much I just realized that I hardly knew anything when it came to Innocence. I knew it was used to fight akuma, but that was about it. I never knew there were so many different types. Dad never told me much about it…

Dad. Speaking of him, just what exactly was his story at the Order? Why did he quit becoming an Exorcist? Did he really quit? Or was it something else?

I grabbed my head and groaned. I needed answers. There was just too much going through my head right now.

I swung my door open and headed down to Komui's office. Most everyone I passed greeted me with a "Good morning!" It was a little strange, but Lenalee did say this was my new family. It gave me a bit of nostalgia to know that I'd be spending Christmas with this new "family" of mine, but at the same time, I didn't mind.

After a few more twists and turns, I made it to the Chief's office. I stepped inside, but nobody seemed to be in there.

"Hello?" I called out a bit hesitantly. No answer.

I walked around and tried to avoid stepping on the papers, but to no avail. They literally covered the whole floor. After calling out a few more times, I gave up. As I started to leave, something in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

It was an old dirty notebook. The leather that enveloped it was cracked and it was extremely dusty. There was a golden lock, however, and it was still shiny as if it was just added on, but broken like someone was trying to open it I took a closer look and I gasped as I read the name.

'Cassian Hinode? This is dad's…!'

I picked it up instantly and ran out of the office. I made my way to a secluded area, but I had no idea where I was. That didn't matter to me right now though, what was the important thing was this diary.

I held it gingerly and inspected the lock. I turned through the first pages. Most of it was summaries about missions he was on. It was incredible how strong my dad was. As I turned through more pages, one particular page caught my eye. It wasn't about missions or Innocence or akuma.

It was about me.

'September X, 18XX.

I'm grateful for these are one of the rare days that I am able to come home and visit my family. Rose started school today, but she didn't seem to enjoy in the least. It seems as if she got bullied by the other kids in her class, but she told me she met one boy today that she became fond of. Rosalie said the boy didn't have a name and that the old man with him was called Bookman. That only means that the young boy with him is his successor. Members of the Bookmen clan are not supposed to feel or become attached, but Rosalie already seems to like this boy very much. I'm afraid I cannot take away Rose's only friend.'

I stared at the page in disbelief. I remembered the first few days of school being a bit…unpleasant, but I don't remember meeting a boy and…Bookman? How was that even possible? I flipped over to the next page.

'November X, 18XX

Rosalie and the boy have become a great deal closer. She tells me and Kaname everyday how much she loves the boy. I've never see a friendship deeper than theirs and at such a young age. She gave him the name "Flame" because of his bright red hair.'

I dropped the diary and gaped at it before picking it back up. Bright red…hair. There was absolutely no way.

'There's no doubt. He is Bookman's apprentice, but why are the two still lingering around in this small town? It is true that most everyone in this town are supporters of the Order, but there is no war going on here…so why? I've decided that I shall approach the Bookman tomorrow. Right now, I'm not sure what I should do about Rosalie and the boy.'

My eyes scanned to the next page.

'December X, 18XX

Bookman and his apprentice are taking their leave tomorrow. I've managed to cover the truth about Rosalie from them for three months now. Rosalie seems to be very happy these days. I've never seen her so happy before. I wonder what will happen when she hears that Flame will be leaving.'

Just as I was about to flip through another page, a hand touched my shoulder.

"Rosalie…what are you doing?" I looked up to see Komui, who had an unusual serious expression on his face.

I gulped, trying to hide the diary. "Umm…nothing K-Komui-san. I guess I should get going." I got up and tried to make my way past him, but he grabbed my shoulder again.

"Well, what's that behind your back?"

I sighed and gave in. He took the notebook from my hands and his eyes narrowed. He pushed his glasses up and began to walk past me.

"Wait! Komui-san!" I called after him. There was no way I was letting him get away without giving me answers.

He turned around slowly. "Yes…Rosalie?"

"Don't you think…I deserve an explanation?" I asked nervously, but I was determined to get what I needed to know.

He stared at me for a few seconds before answering, "There's nothing to say. Please don't take things out of my office without informing me."

My face started to heat up and my voice got louder. "Well, you shouldn't hide things from me!" I paused and looked at Komui's astonished face. "That's my dad's diary, isn't it? Don't you think I deserve to see it? You've been hiding things from me all this time. And Bookman, too. Somehow…somehow me and Lavi are connected to each other and I need to know why!"

Komui turned his back towards me and continued to stroll down the hall. "You'll know when the time's right…"

"But you always say that. Please…I need to know…" My voice was a whisper now and I felt water building up in my eyes.

"You'd be better off not knowing…" He stopped walking and glanced at me. "Right now is not the time. Just trust me, okay?"

I nodded reluctantly. After watching him walk away, I began to make my way towards the cafeteria. There were so many thoughts going through my mind. Was it really Lavi my dad was talking about? But he said Bookman and his apprentice. His apprentice had bright red hair. It was definitely not a coincidence. It was definitely Lavi.

But why didn't I remember any of this? There's no way I could forget hair like that...and I could never forget someone I loved.

Wait…did I…love Lavi back then? But it was surely a platonic kind of love. Little kids don't really fall in love. What did that even feel like?

A familiar voice broke my thoughts. "Hey, there."

I met the young man's gaze. "Lavi…" My eyes darted to the bright red hair. Lavi would've remembered if we've met before, right?

"Hmm, something wrong?" He asked me coolly. I realized I was staring up at his hair way too long.

"No, not…really…" I answered halfheartedly. I gave him a sideways glance and made my way towards Jeryy to get some food.

I grabbed my tray and began heading towards my room. I heard Lavi call my name out and I gave him a little wave before leaving. He gave me a curious look, but I turned back around before I could see anything else.

I shut my door, but not even a few seconds passed before it opened. I half-expected it to be Lavi, but instead…

"Lenalee."

She gave me a gentle smile, "Rosalie-chan. How are you?"

"I'm fine…" I lied.

"Really?" She looked at me questionably.

"Y-yes. Why do you ask?"

She sighed, "It just seems like there's been a lot on your mind.

I didn't answer her. She was Komui's little sister, after all. Maybe she knew everything about me that I didn't even know.

As if she read my mind, she gave me a small smile. "Brother…told me about earlier. I understand if you're angry at him, but he's doing it for you safety."

I furrowed my eyebrows together. "And how in the world is this keeping me safe? If anything, it's just showing me I can't really trust him!" I covered my mouth right after I blurted that out.

Lenalee gasped and I looked at her apologetically. "No, t-that's not what I meant. I just…I just…" I gave up and fell down on my bed.

"I just don't know…" I began. "Lenalee…I don't know anything when it comes to the Order or Innocence or akuma. And I really want to. And then…there's…"

"Hmm? What is it?" She put her hand over mine, "I know my Brother doesn't seem…trustworthy right now. But you can trust him, really. This is all for your sake. I don't really know the details myself, but just know you can trust me, too."

My eyes met hers and I could see the kindness and understanding in her eyes.

I nodded. "Okay. Thank you Lenalee, really."

So I told her everything that Komui and Bookman told me about my Innocence and everything I read in Dad's diary. I told her that the boy that Dad was talking about must've been Lavi and she nodded and seemed to understand.

"What do you think?" I asked her after I finally finished telling her the whole story.

"It seems...crazy." She paused and looked at me seriously. "Are you going to ask Lavi about it?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. I suppose I shouldn't really say anything about it since Komui-san didn't really want me to know anyway…"

Lenalee got up and held her hand out, "Hey, why don't we do some Christmas shopping? It'll help get your mind off these things. Plus, you should be relaxing anyway."

I looked up at her sudden cheerful expression and let her take my good arm. "R-right now?"

She nodded. "Yeah! We can't let Komui know though."

"Why not?"

She turned to me with a serious look in her eyes, "Well...it's not like he's letting you know everything..."

Lenalee began walking towards my door and I stared at her for a few seconds before following her outside my room. Maybe a little bit of the Christmas spirit could start to reach me.

The town we went to was very close to the Order. It seemed like a nice peaceful town, but Allen and Lavi warned me that I should always be alert, no matter where I was.

"Hey, this store looks neat!" Lenalee chirped from beside me. I went inside the store with her and watched as she picked out a new tie for Komui. I tried to look as interested as I could, but it was harder than it seemed.

"Uh, Lenalee I'm going to go look somewhere else, okay?" I told her unsurely and left the store. She gave me a worried glance, but then told me to meet up with her in twenty minutes.

I decided to do some shopping on my own and managed to get a few things for the others back at the Order. It definitely felt strange shopping for them, but they were my new family, right? That same feeling of nostalgia washed over me again.

"Hey there, miss." I turned around and saw a man in about his early twenties smile at me.

I gave him a nervous smile and began walking away.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Umm…I have to meet up with someone soon."

"Who? Your boyfriend?" He grinned.

I shook my head, "N-no, just my friend. Now if you'll excuse me."

But he grabbed my arm before I could leave. I winced at the sudden pain and tried to pry his hand off with my good arm. However, it didn't seem like he was going to let up anytime soon.

I sighed wearily, "Is something wrong…sir?" I gritted my teeth.

"Yeah, there is." He pulled me closer to him. Too close, in fact. "Let's have fun. Just you and me, savvy?"

As if on instinct, the black rings around my wrists turned white and the familiar metal braces starting forming around my arms. The man finally let go of my arm and backed away, but I saw a smirk on his face.

"Exorcist." I saw a strange evil glint shine in his eyes and in that instant he transformed.

"Akuma…"

"That coat is what attracts us, miss. You should be more careful next time." His voice sounded higher this time and his body was now a big grey blob that had guns sticking out in every direction.

'Even on Christmas Eve. I guess Allen was right when he told me akuma could be anywhere. But right now, I need to protect these people.'

Just before I could attack, a pair of pigtails flew by my way and kicked the akuma up into the sky where it exploded. I covered my eyes and waited for the debris to settle. After opening them, I turned to meet a familiar gaze.

"Thanks…Lenalee." I mumbled.

She gave me a small smile and placed her hand on my shoulder, "It was nothing, really. We should be more careful or – "

"Lenalee! Rose!" Two voices cried out in unison. I turned and saw a head of white hair and a head of red hair running towards us.

"A-Allen-kun? And Lavi? What're you doing here?"

Allen rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Umm…nothing really. Just uh…"

Lenalee let out a sigh. "Let me guess. My brother told you to look after us, huh? Geez…"

"Well can you blame him?" Lavi said, a little too cheerfully. "After all, this town is no exception for the akuma that could be lurking around. And he said something about how he doesn't want his 'precious Lenalee' to be stolen away on Christmas Eve." He snickered and Lenalee glared at him. " But I see you've got it under control." He put his miniature hammer back on his holster.

"Are you okay, Rose?" Allen asked me, his silver eyes showing worry. I nodded and deactivated my Innocence.

I turned to Lavi. Other than the red hair, nothing about him seemed to strike up anything from my past. But it was definitely him dad was talking about in his diary. Who else would it be?

He ruffled my hair. "Let's go back, kay?"

My cheeks turned slightly pink. "Yeah."

We started heading back to the Order and right as we got to the outside of town, I noticed this strange umbrella on the ground.

"Lero…Road-tama, that hurt lero." I jumped back. Did that umbrella just...talk?

A girl, around twelve or thirteen, giggled and picked up the umbrella. It had a small pumpkin head and it looked like it was frowning. The girl was wearing some sort of gothic lolita-looking outfit and her hair was styled a short, spiky dark blue. Her skin was quite pale and she was pretty short. Shorter than me, even.

She smiled a sort of sickly sweet smile at me. "Hi there~"

I returned her smile with a small one. "Umm…hello…"

In just one second, her smile turned into a scowl. "You know…you were never supposed to be one of them."

I flinched back. "W-what?"

Her scowl left as fast as it came and she replaced it with that smile again, "An Exorcist, dummy~" She started to spin the umbrella in fast circles. "I'll be seeing you soon~"

"Rose! C'mon, hurry up!" I turned around and saw Lavi waving his arms around.

I turned back around, but the mysterious girl was gone. I blinked. Just what was that about anyway?

I groaned and headed towards the group. "None of this makes sense!"

Stella: At first, I really didn't like this chapter. But the ending was fun to write.

Road: Duh! Cause you get to write about me.

Stella: You know...I honestly don't like the Noah family...but they're cool to write about.

Road: I'm going to kill you...

Stella: *gulps* I mean, as in, I'd rather be an Exorcist...but your powers are cool and...and...and...*dodges flying candle*

Lavi: Big hammer, little hammer! Grow grow grow!

Rose: Hands of the Earth, give me strength!

Stella: No, stop fighting! Please! Let's just all get along here and-

Rose/Lavi/Road: Shut up!