Well I think this will be the last chapter for this story in a while. Since DGM is in hiatus for an indefinite amount of time, it looks like this story will be slower than usual :p Sorry about that. But that will give me time to work on other stories and if worse comes I have some ideas too :3

Well let's get going with this one first of all, alright? ;9

Chain Ten: A Touch of Life

"So what now?" Celia asked uncertain of what direction to take.

Now that Allen had awaken, and that those cuffs kept him from escaping, they had acquired the target they had desperately gone through so much trouble for. But now that they had him, there was no other purpose for them to wonder. Except for keeping him out of the Order's and the Noah's sight, they're escape and betrayal to the Order had been all for one boy. Literally.

She sighed and asked again since nobody seemed to be listening to her. This time, Johnny was the one that answered her. "Well, seeing that we have no money to travel. There has to be some way we can earn money to travel."

"Where to, though?" she inquired.

"The town nearest to this one is a couple of hours on train," Johnny said. "That was originally our next stop. If we retrace the General's footsteps we might end up with some clue."

"Alright then, now the money problem," Celia said.

"We have enough for today's food portion," Johnny called taking out the bit of money he had in his pocket. "I actually have an idea as to what we can do to get the money." And in no less than ten minutes, Johnny already had a stand up for quick repairs and people had already left stuff. Things like typewriters, watches, lamps, and the like were littering the mat below them as Allen held the sign for advertisement, and both he and Kanda glaring away, disdainfully, from each other.

"Well, aren't you a cheery bunch," Celia joked around while standing besides Kanda. "Hey, give me the money we have right now. I'll go buy us some groceries for now."

"That's great. Thanks, Celia." Johnny passed Celia the money and she pocketed it while turning to Kanda who glanced at her.

"What? Worried much?" she joked around.

"I can't go with you."

"Pft," she spat. "Who's asking? I'm going by myself. Besides, those things won't attack in broad daylight."

"Akuma will. The Noah will," Kanda interjected and shook his head. "You're not going."

She growled and turned to Navi who was floating a few meters away from her and plucked it to her side. "I'm taking Navi. If anything happens, I'll give a call, alright?"

"Not happening." Well, that was no surprise. She sighed and simply started walking away. "What are you-"

"I'm not listening to you," she said nonchalantly. "The market's a few blocks away anyways. What could possibly happen?" Ignoring his loud shouts, she turned the corner disappearing from her sight.

Walking around, it sure was lively to see all those people going about their lives as if nothing were happening. It amazed Celia. Was she and the others so carefree back then like she saw on those memories she remembered? Well, she scoffed to herself, they weren't all that carefree now, were they? After all, they were constantly fighting the war that few knew about, even fewer fought, but that everybody paid for greatly.

"Reminiscing?"

She propped her head up at hearing Ambrose's clear voice in her head. She sighed, even now, after all this and her talk with Kanda the previous night, did she wonder if Ambrose was a person to whom bestow trust upon. It was clear that the fearsome warrior he once was wasn't anymore. He had lost all his powers after being taken from being an Apocryphos serving the Heart. And now he was but the mere guider of a girl who didn't have a power of her own anymore. Well, in fact, she wasn't even that. She wasn't human. Just another piece of Innocence; a weapon used by her Accomodator.

A twinge of sharp pain came straight from her chest. Placing her hand gently upon the middle of her breasts, she could faintly feel the beating of her soft heart.

Ba-dump...ba-dump...ba-dump...ba-dump.

It was odd to hear it now because, unlike before, it sounded fake and clockwork-like. A machine meant to work until its duty was complete. She cringed at the sound of it and even recalled this morning. When she had woken and taken a shower, she clearly saw them. Cracks coming from the outside of the diamond-shaped 'heart' of hers and a vibrant red glow pulsating in them with every beat. When this thought came to mind she gulped down a lump in her throat and asked Ambrose the question that went down with it.

"Ambrose? What if I don't become human before the war ends? What will happen to me if it ends and there are no more Akuma and no more Noah, or the Millennium Earl? What's my purpose then? Will I have none?"

The man's soul kept quiet for a second making her quite uncomfortable. It reminded her of this morning exactly when she had inquired to him about the fixtures but, to her dismay, he feigned having no answer. How did she know he had lied? Many people had before, apparently, so she knew the mechanisms of the gesture. The lowering of the eyes, the curving of the lips, the glazed over look on the eyes. It was obvious.

"I don't know kid."

And right now, she could clearly see those same attributes to his words. He was lying to her. He knew. But instead of saying something she kept quiet. Why, she had no idea but something told her that the answer wouldn't be pretty anyways.

"I see," she said softly. Faking a smile she trotted up to the sells man and got as much food for them as she could. For now all she had to go on was the small hope that she could turn human again. With no threat of the virus then, she could go back to being an Exorcist and fight with no complications. This time she would be of help. Walking back with the back of groceries in her hands, she pondered on this until it escaped her. "Ambrose, when are you gonna tell me how to become human?"

This time he answered quickly and with no hesitation.

"When the time is right. What's needed is absolute precision. And utter compliance."

"But I'm ready. I want to be human already. Isn't that compliance enough?" she called.

"It isn't yours I need."

A sudden tinkle from Navi made her half hear what Ambrose had said. By now, the white golem was banging hard against her shoulder making her stop and look at her. "What's wrong, Navi?" With it's tail, it hovered while pointing forward. In front of her, not that many streets away, was the little shop they had opened. However, instead of three there was only Kanda and before him a man bending over to see one of the products.

"Have I...seen him before?" she muttered.

"Shit... Hide!"

Ambrose sudden hysteric cry made her jump and quickly sneak behind a building's wall. Looking over it, she had perfect view of the shop. "Why am I hiding, Ambrose? Who is that guy?"

"The Cardinal... One of the Heart's men."

At that, Celia saw as Timcanpy's size became tenfold as he lunged at the man that was kneeling before the shop.

"Ah!" she gasped dropping the bag and running towards Kanda and Tim.

"No! Celia, you can't!"

"I'm not just going to stand around and do nothing!" she shouted as people began to scatter. "Something's wrong!"

"You don't understand! If the Cardinal sees you-!"

"Kanda!" she yelled above the noise.

"Celia." He glanced her way as she stopped across from Tim.

"What happened?" she called confused. "Tim's-Ah!" The sudden burst of wings coming from beneath Tim and the force they conjured made Celia cover her face with her arms. Yet the explosion that followed it from Tim being launched upward sent her flying across towards a brick wall. As Kanda tore away the wings that pierced Timcanpy with Mugen's First Illusion, his eyes searched through the flying debris for the figure of the girl.

"Celia!"

"I-I'm here!" She yelled but coughed immediately after. That hit had taken the air from her lungs. Coughing more she lifted herself up to see the monstrosity that was standing not far from her now.

"What are you!?" Kanda bellowed to it, summoning his Double Illusion Swords. Standing up, it was hard for her to regain balance. So much so, that she had to hold onto the wall. Why was she feeling this way? So drained and so powerless.

"It's Kanda. He's using Mugen full power which is draining your life source significantly. You'll be at a loss if he can't balance his energy outlet. You can't fight!"

His last statement coming out as a yell seeing as Celia started moving towards Timcanpy who laid still at the opening of an alleyway. Seeing that Kanda was keeping the thing occupied, she sought the opportunity to go get the injured golem.

Giving it a glance, the Cardinal noticed the girl running to its aide, "Is that...?"

Running towards it, she took a knee before and reached out for him. Yet before she even touched it, Tim had healed himself and went back to his tiny shape. Too tired to move himself, Celia took Tim in her hands while having Navi floating beside her.

"Navi, go tell Allen about this. Run!" she yelled at her as her white golem shimmered in the sun as it shot out towards their direction. Hearing a groan from behind her, she saw just as the Cardinal slammed Kanda onto the concrete floor, denting it and injuring him greatly. As he grabbed him by the skull and pronounced some words she couldn't hear, feathers sprouted from his eyes as he let out an agonizing scream. "Kanda!"

"Hmm, seems Allen didn't tell him much information about me," he said as he began approaching Tim and Celia while dragging Kanda with him. "How was your reunion with your master after 35 years, worthless puppet?" Then he eyed Celia above his glasses and a nasty look took over them. "And you filth." Celia cringed at the way he growled the words at her. And she knew those were for her since his glare was right at her. Although she coward greatly in the inside, she stood firm on the outside. Holding Tim close, she was at least glad she had him conscious. "How dare you show yourself before me?"

"Shut your fucking mouth," Celia spat out and although it wasn't her words, she agreed with each and every one just as Ambrose told them to her. "I am no filth. I am Ambrose, the Immortal One."

"Wrong." Backhanding Celia hard enough to send her back into the alley and making her drop Tim not far from where Kanda's golem had landed. Lifting her heavy body up, she could feel just how weak Kanda was getting. Her body felt like wet wool, so heavy and so clumsy. "Let the child speak, Ambrosius. It is not your body to control any longer!" Reaching his hand, a stem of feathers shot out aiming for her. Rolling over she managed to avoid it but it also managed to make her even more weak. Every movement was a hassle and it deplored whatever minuscule amount of power she had left to use.

"L-Let him go!" she yelled barely holding herself up.

"That won't be possible child," he said deplorably. Facing Tim he spoke to him once again of how much of thorn on his side he had been, helping Allen keep conscious even if some days more. "Oh, if you fly to where Allen is, I will take this Mugen owner and the half-Apocryphos as hostages. Sooner or later I will assimilate Allen. Being a gentle person, Allen will definitely not abandon his comrades. What will you do? If you stay here, I will spare Allen today."

At hearing this, Tim didn't think twice and stopped flying, staying still in one spot. "No. T-Tim," Celia groaned feeling her insides hurting. Looking at the Cardinal as he spoke and took something from his mouth, Celia shivered and tried her best to move forth even if that meant dragging herself towards them. She needed to protect Tim. He was- is- Cross's. He's Allen's. She wouldn't let anything happen to him if she could avoid it. "T-Tim, run! Go!" But Tim, at seeing what the Cardinal held in his fingers, slapped Kanda's golem until it activated. Suddenly voices from whom she assumed where Finders came through. The Order was searching for them. "They're coming?"

"Ah, I see. You thought I'd retreat is I knew the people from the Order where coming," he said holding still the piece that he had taken from his mouth. But out of nowhere, Kanda had taken his head by his legs and snapping his neck. Celia sighed as she saw Kanda coughing while trying to catch him breath.

"K-Kanda," she whispered as she leaned on the wall to get up but ending just sliding back down to a sit. Meanwhile Kanda, mumbling something about his head, stood up taking a deep breath as the feathers in his eyes went into his sockets. But just as soon as he had gotten up did he fall back down again, this time unconscious. "No. Kanda!" Leaning on her arms to face them, Celia was yelling with all she had and even then it came out weak and shaky. Floating over him were both Tim and his golem. "Kanda! Wake up, Yu! For the love of-! Timcanpy!" But at her last shout, the Cardinal had sprung back to life and stabbed Tim straight through. As he fell to the ground, the object dug deeper into his littler body. "No, Tim!"

Turning towards her, the Cardinal lifted his glasses to the bridged of his nose. "You don't have to worry about him any longer. He is already gone."

"You bastard!" she yelled trying to get up but only resulting in her falling face down on the ground.

"You know, it hasn't been only him that has been an issue." Walking close to Celia, who was distracted trying to lift her self to a sit again, he grabbed a hold of her neck and lifted her up in the air.

"Ah!" she yelled holding to his hand trying to get rid of the hold he had. "Don't!"

"Because of Ambrosius' unexpected return, it was harder for me to locate Allen. You see, two powers like yours and Crown Clown's clashing in a same place can be misleading. Not to mention that you have led this, once loyal soldier, to the edge. Child, know that this wasn't your life to live to begin with. Not only that but you have fallen from grace. Although you are considered a powerful piece, you can't be left to your own accord. No King should." Getting his free hand and making the feathers appear and form a strong, thin blade, "But what is a King to God?"

Celia managed to slightly chuckled at his remark. Grinning and opening her eyes she murmured, "What's God to a nonbeliever?"

He pierced right through the side of her skull. Her hands instantly went limp as she dangled lifelessly. "But that's not the reason, in actuality. It was your foolishness, child, that has led me to this decision. Absorbing the excess energy of Crown Clown from Allen was a bad idea." Raising her up, he let the blood stain his hand and her face completely before throwing her away as she hit a mount of debris that fell on her, hiding her body from view. "Now let that body rot from the inside out because of it."

"As I promised, I will leave Allen alone for today."

At rounding a corner, the Finders finally managed to see Kanda's golem which led them to the alley on which he barely began to wake up. Messaging General Tiedoll just as they got there, Kanda was hazy on details. He had fainted on his way to the Order, right? Yeah, he had said what he had to to Allen and had led him and Johnny away before heading his way back.

"...Y-"

"You dropped Mugen on the side of the road, Kanda," Tiedoll said as he pierced the ground before Kanda with Mugen. He didn't know what, but Tiedoll had just interrupted something. Suddenly, bombarding him with questions, made Kanda realize what or more like who's voice he was slightly hearing on the back of his head.

"...Yu..."

Celia...?

A sudden pain on his chest where his mark stood began to pierce him. As if trying to heal something. Doubling over in pain, Kanda failed to hear the General's cries of concern. He remembered nothing had happened like he thought. 'He' had blocked them out and tried to replace them. Then, like he knew already, the memories flooded in of what just the Cardinal's attacks felt. They were the same as the ones he was forced to back when he was small. "He is Innocence!"

Then remembering Timcanpy, he called out for him and saw his body blackened and shattered. Taking out the wooden chip, he couldn't lay a finger on how it had happened. That was when the Finders began to call out to the General that Allen Walker and Johnny Gill had been spotted near and heading towards the train station and they headed ahead.

Kanda grabbed Tiedoll fiercely but the man only ended up laughing. He wiped away tears as he greeted Kanda back since they last saw each other. Tiedoll knew the ordeal that they were all facing, him and Lenalee and Marie, and on top of that the great suspicion and loss of trust from Central. He, however, offered the answer.

"That's why my condition is..." he said trailing for a bit. "For you to show your power and loyalty to the Central. Only if you promise me that, will I cooperate with you." He looked a Kanda with a serious face while his was baffled, "Become a General."

Tiedoll explained how, after all, there was a space open since Cross had gone missing. Plus it wasn't any surprise that Kanda would have already surpassed his critical point. Then he asked, "Or are you just not determined enough...to enter the core of the Black Order that you hate so much?" Briefly thinking it over he knew what to do, "Very wel-"

Tinkle. Tinkle. Hearing a noise behind him, he turned without finishing to see a shimmering white sphere hovering over a mount of debris. Both turning to it, it was hard to distinguish its figure but after a few seconds saw what it was.

"Navi!" his called made the golem turn towards the pile and start pounding on it with itself. Running towards it, Kanda saw the golem injuring itself in order to unsuccessfully unburden whatever was under from the debris. Kanda immediately gave it a hand pushing and pulling boulders away until he managed to open a small ridge to see underneath.

His eyes instantly widened in fear as he began to hurriedly and desperately dig while muttering words under his breath. Finally reaching, he pulled a limp figure from it all dirtied in dirt and dried blood.

In his arms, Celia seemed lifeless. It was like holding a broken porcelain doll, she felt cold.

"My goodness," Tiedoll murmured as he came up to them and knelt before them. Checking her vitals was futile for there weren't any left. He gasped not wanting to say the dreadful words in front of Kanda but his apprentice's own expression said it all.

His eyes were wide in fear and bafflement as he brushed away the hair from her face with, shockingly, shaking hands. Looking at her face only made his every emotion intensify tenfold. Her eyes were wide open and glazed over, her lips slightly parted, and her skin pale as snow and just as cold.

Snow white except for the crimson that tainted it greatly from the piercing wound across her head. From side to side a thin hole pierced through, clean cut. Placing his hand on her cheek, he tried cleaning it away but found he couldn't. He chuckled despised himself, of course he couldn't. It was obvious, she must have been dead awhile for the blood to have dried up.

A firm hand held his shoulder which, he hadn't noticed in the slightest, was trembling. "I'm so sorry, Yu-kun."

Kanda bit his bottom lip and cradled her to himself. Soft words from that conversation came to his mind and kept getting louder, hurting his head.

"What? Do you not care what happens to me?!"

Of course I do. I always have. "It won't happen."

"What?" I won't let it.

"I won't let you die...Not again."

"I'm sorry," he whispered to her, brushing her lips, even though he knew she couldn't hear and softly placed his lips on her own. And for the first time ever, he felt the coldness of death shatter what was left of his heart.

"Don't be."

The unfamiliar voice came from before them making Tiedoll turn. Kanda, however, ignored it not wanting to look away. if he did, he felt like it -this- would become just too real.

"Kanda Yu," the voice directed his attention towards him.

"What the fuck do you want." The words were snarled at the person. He was a ferocious animal and a hurt animal was the worst kind to deal with.

"You wouldn't say that if I told you that the worthless piece of trash your hold-"

"Shut your fucking mouth before I rip you in half?!" Kanda snapped finally turned up facing the man that spoke to them. Ambrose, with a somber look, stared directly into his eyes, making contact with the hurt beast.

"At least that caught your attention." Ambrose knelt down before the two without breaking eye contact. "What if I told you-" Reaching slowly with his hand, Ambrose noticed immediately how Kanda held tighter at seeing him do so. Slightly flinching, he continued and slightly tapped Celia's 'heart' making it burst with crimson light once. At this, Celia took one fast and short breath that ended just as fast as the light had come and gone. "-that she's not gone just yet."

Dun-dun-dun! xD

I'm so evil! :D I left such a cliffhanger! And guess what, I don't think I'm updating the next chapter until the next DGM chapter comes out. And goodness knows when that's gonna happen x) Sorry guys, but I had to end it interestingly.

You guys think she's dead or what the fuck happened to her? Leave your thoughts on the review cuz I'm really curious just how mad I made you bros :D

Till next time ;)