AN:This chapter was not made in Microsoft Word. I reread the chapter multiple times to check if anything was missing and it seemed to be ready. If needed, when I get back to my PC, I'll edit the chapter and correct some of the grammar errors. I wanted to get this out around the time when the newest chapter of -Man was released. Thank you for understanding.

After Kuro and Allen exited the inn, what was left was the cold, suffocating atmosphere caused by Kanda and Lavi static relationship. They shared this few seconds of silence with stares of death. Black and vermillion. Emerald and cobalt. Cold hearted and spontaneous, or so it seemed to be. But the samurai knew that Lavi was up to no good. The few rare times that he seen the redhead remove his facade, he was no longer 'Lavi', he was Bookman jr., a cold soulless husk that did what he needed to do to record history. He just couldn't figure out what Lavi or his master Bookman would want with her. What Mr. raven haired sister-complex and the blonde, egotistical section leaders said should've been confidential. Not just that, but the only evidence of the second exorcist plan existing is him and the now destroyed sixth laboratory. They couldn't have known about the incident that happened nine years ago, could they? The samurai was flooded with questions that would most likely never be answered, so he just has to keep a keen eye on his woman.

He would embrace her at night while moon reflects on them. Her breathing was heavy and sometimes she would mumble words that couldn't be comprehended. Toned legs would wrap around hers as he fell asleep to her heartbeat. The smile that would rarely be seen would melt every cell in his body. The way she looked into his eyes, mesmerizing, and gentle. Although aggressive and stubborn, those small things that they would do together made it easier for him to breath in this world. But she wasn't her. She wasn't the woman that he's been looking for within the past nine years. He knew that. Then why was the male exorcist's heart running a marathon during moments like before? If she wasn't her, then why did his body ache when she was untangling the bird from his black locks? Why did he want the murder his ginger exorcist when he heard that Lavi's been stalking her? Was he beginning to love her? Or is she just a temporary plug to reach his true goal of finding her, the blonde short haired beautiful woman in his visions?

"Yu," Kanda broke out of his train of thought and eyed Lavi with a scowl. "We should head out now."

"Call me by my first name again and you'll be needing another eyepatch,"

"Hey Ku! Wake up!"

What...what's that noise? And my head...it feels like a mallet is pounding on my skull.

"Ku! Wake up already! We need to get out of here!"

That voice...it sounds familiar. Lavi? Is…that you?

My eyes struggle to spread open. The scenery looks unfamiliar to me with the oak wood panels on the floor, dim lighting, a crooked spruce door and clay rocks forming the walls. I try to move my left arm but it's tightly restricted to the wooden chair that I'm sitting on by a rope. In front of me was a single small round table holding a strange black mallet and my exorcist outfit, leaving me in my former button up black lounge clothes . My memory of how we got here is almost nonexistent.

I turned next to me to see Lavi in the same situation, except with a slight frown and furrowed eyebrows. It's obvious that he didn't put me through this.

"What happened?"I questioned.

"You were attacked behind by an large man and put to sleep. I was about save you but the same thing happened to me."

"So...we were basically kidnapped?"

"Precisely." I start to recall the events that happened prior to my situation. Lavi's emerald iris peering into mine with an unknown intent. His cravings for information, and how he was willing to do ANYTHING to get it, including putting me into a vulnerable position just to prove it. Kanda told me to stay away from this red headed bastard, but I was just too curious. Now I'm paying the price for being disobedient.

I know that I can easily ignite the ropes and get out of here, but after that, where would I go? The walls show that we are underground, but why were we kidnapped? Where's the exit? My curiosity is getting me into more trouble. Ugh! Haven't I learned from before with Lavi?

The door is slammed open, causing some of the rocks on the adjacent side to tumble down. A familiar bald, bulky man slowly intrudes with three ring on his hand. Following him was the brown capped boy from earlier.

"YOU!" I yelled Lavi's face went between the two of us in complete confusion. "What are you doing here!?"

"Welcome to the Southern wing of the mines." Andrei's said. "I told ya that you would regret destroying my business girlie. I just took your friend over there because we don't need a witness running around."

"What?" I yelled. "I didn't destroy your shop! You were the one that bumped into the shelf!"

"Ku, how do you know this guy?"

"You bitch, don't act like it wasn't your fault!" A small tear appeared in the corner of his eye. "Not only didn't you kill my precious collection of booze, after you and the white headed brat left, the next thing I knew was that a weird creature smashed into my bar and completely demolished it!"

"That's not my problem." I scoffed. "If you didn't attempt to touch me, maybe you would've still had you collection right now. Stop crying like an infant." The buff man's face grew with red, pure anger as he clenched his fists. The boy ran by the door to prepare his escape from pissed father.

"What did you say you little-"

"Hold on a minute!" Lavi shouted, making Andrei's stern eyes peer down on him intimidatingly. "What did the creature look like?" His question reminded me of why we even came here. We are exorcists. Not policemen. "We might know why your shop was destroyed."

Andrei scratched his skull as his eyes rolled up to the ceiling, looking for answers. "It looked like a mechanical insect with a black pentacle on its head, but that thing was the size of a house! It slammed onto my shop and looked around, blabbering something about a lost item. Then it flew away as if nothing happened."

Us two exorcists look at each other and nodded. We both knew what the other was thinking. A mechanical insect with a black pentagram looking for something? That must be the work of the Earl.

The boy wandered around and skipped up to the table, seeing that his dad's tone eyes shined once he spotted the small black mallet, picked it up with his tiny hands and held it up for his dad to see. "Hey dad! Can I have this?"

"Sure kiddo. It's garbage to me."

"Hey!" Lavi struggled to get out of his chair and failed miserably. The kid twirled it around his hand. His emerald eyes sharpened. "You can't have that! And big guy. Listen to me." Andrei scoffed and stood directly in front of him with with a murderous intent, but Lavi didn't flinch or show any signs of fear. "Ku and I only came to this town to help. The 'insect' that crashed into your shop was most likely an akuma. And it will come back. Have you heard of the Golden Gem of Pleasure? We heard that it's somewhere in the northern mines and-" before Lavi could finish, Andrei kicked the redhead in the stomach with full force, sending him flying with the chair and collided with the wall in the back of the room. Landing on his side, he started going into a coughing fit until Andrei slammed his massive boot on top of his head multiple times, each stomp being harder than the last one.

"Lavi!" I shouted.

"Shut your fucking mouth boy. You're on our territory. Act like a big shot again and I'll crush your skull on this ground right now." He growled at the end of his words as Lavi turned his head to the side and looked at me while gritting his teeth to show me something I would've never expected from Bookman jr. His one emerald eyed eye glistened.

Fear.

Pain.

Panic.

I need to help him

"Andrei!" I roared. He slowly turned around with his dead eyes digging into mine. "If you touch him one more time I will kick your ass!" A large deviant smirk spread around his face as he takes a step to get to me. Lavi caught on and raised his head up.

"No! Don't touch her!" He screamed, trying to worm towards me.

"So it's ok for me to touch you, little bitch?" His lips curved into a smile. But I returned his offer with a smirk and a plan that might work.

"Why don't you touch me again and see where that lands you, bastard."

He tilted my chin up, espousing my neck. His cold finger started trickle up to my neck causing me to shiver. Slowly, he started to unbutton my top from the top. Of course that's the first place he goes. Because nothing else mattered to him.

Lavi was still wiggling around, but to no avail, he couldn't free himself. His movements became more harsh and spastic every passing second. "Damn it." He cursed underneath his breath.

Andrei finally unbuttoned the middle button, spreading the top of my shirt. He then yanked my bandages down, revealing my tattoo. I took a deep breath in.

WOOSH

A quick burst of red and orange flames surround me, creating a forcefield that slammed the buff bald man to the wall, leaving behind a crater as his body went limp. The flame burst also destroyed the rope and wooden chair that once held me captive as I fall on the floor. Small ignited licks of fire was scattered across the room, lighting up the dim room we were stuck in.

I've completely forgot about his son in the corner covered with tears dropping from his watering eyes. He released the toy hammer from his hands, letting it clank onto the floor.

His eyes…

They look just like Jett's

Why...why is it that every time, every damn time I try to forget about you, you keep coming back to haunt me?

I said that I'm sorry.

Please just leave me alone.

"You…" He slurred, bouncing his eyes between me and his collapsed father. Once he collected the scene that happened in front of him, his eyes dart into mine with pure hatred. "You bitch! How could you...you fucking monster!"

I shut every single thought about him. The kid's words don't leave a scratch on me? A monster you say? I've been called worse."Calm down," I rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders "I didn't kill him. Worst case scenario he just hit his head a little too hard." My voice sounds monotone and uncaring. This situation was already getting out of hand. I just want to leave this horrid place.

"I'll…" the kid pointed his finger directly to me with tears running down his face. "I'll get everyone here to come and kill you! Both of you!" And so, the kid ran out of the room.

I rose up from my position and stretched my arms out to release every cramped muscle in my body. A second later, my face turned red as I could see Lavi's eyes staring right at my still visible chest in the corner of my eye, speechless and taken aback with a tint of pink around his cheeks. I swiftly pulled my wrappings back into position buttoned my shirt all the way up. I walk over to the table, grabbed my jacket and buttoned it up to my neck without a single word of exchange between me and the redhead behind.

"...Ku?" Lavi said in a whispered jittery tone."What do you plan on doing now?"

I sighed. "Going to find the innocence. Goodbye."

"Wait! Aren't you going to untie me first?"

"I don't know 'Lavi Bookman'." I put emphasis on his name. "I'm pretty sure you're strong enough to free yourself out. Or are you afraid of losing track of another piece of information? Is that what I am to you?" His expression soften with guilt. I can't comprehend whether this is an act or not.

"Kuro," He… he said my full name. I don't know how or why, but I felt relieved, almost satisfied Lavi lowered his head, covering his one eye with his bangs. "I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just...I've been wanting to talk to you normally but you seemed so...unapproachable. I do want to be friends with you, I really do. Can you give me one more chance?"

He looks up to me, with innocence in his orbs.I want to leave him behind. To hurt him. But, that would prove the fast that I'm more of a terrible person. And at the same time, I want to believe that he, like everyone else has good in him. Even if it's just a speck of good, it's worth saving. My brother would've done so.

I walked to him raised my hand as high as it could go and slapped him, leaving a pulsating read handprint on his already bruised face. I then went behind him and attempt to released him from the chair by undoing the knot. The rope was clearly made of fibers, sticking out of the uniformed ribbons like thorns. I waste a few minutes struggling, turning my fingers red.

Lavi gave me an inpatient confusing look. "Is everything alright back there?"

"Oh just shut up. The rope is tighter than I thought."

"Can't you just light it on fire so I can break free?"

"And leave you burning into ash, defeating the purpose of saving you? I'm immune to my innocence, you're not. Just let me concentrate." Another minute passed with no luck. My fingers start to shake as my patience runs dry.

"Kuro, there might be a pocket knife in my back pants pocket."

I paused for a moment to glare at him. "You didn't think of telling me this earlier?!"

"I forgot!"

"You're a Bookman! You can't forget thinks like this!"

"Ok! I was lying. I didn't want to say anything because you were so angry at me."

"I'm still angry at you."

"But you look cute when you're annoyed." He teased. My face, as expected grew a little in hue. Damn it. He always knows where to push just to make me blush.

"Che. You're annoying" I retort as I quickly dug deep into his back pocket. He made a high pitched squeak and straightened his back, giving me more room. I pulled out a small stubby dagger with a triangle point. The blade is dull and needs to be sharpened, but it will suffice. In one swipe I sliced the ropes off behind him and tottered towards the door, refusing to look at him.

"Thanks, Kuro."

"Whatever. Let's go." A few steps after, my legs gave up on me. My vision began to blur as I fall down, sitting with my legs bent to the side. Everything is duplicating and reforming around me. I place a hand on my now throbbing head, feeling lightheaded. Was this because I used too much energy at once for one move?

"Kuro!" Lavi shouts, running up behind me to crouch down and hold my back up. "Are you ok?"

"Yea. Just...tired." I tried to explain. I use my knee as leverage to stand up, still holding my head with my hand. "I kinda suck at using my innocence."

"You'll get used to it in due time." Lavi supported. "Let's sit here for awhile, you need to rest."

"No. The kid went to go look for backup. We need to go now."

Lavi took in a deep gulp of air and exhaled Unexpectedly, He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, putting his hand on my arm. "Ok, just hold onto me for awhile. iI you feel faint again, tell me so I can carry you ok?" I looked up to him. He kept his sight looking forward, almost distant. I don't have the energy to argue with his decision. After all, he's helping me walk. It's best just to follow what he says in this situation, even if Kanda told me to stay away from him.

"Ok."

Kanda tossed and turned in the middle of the night. Although the samurai was a light sleeper and could act accordingly when ambushed at any time, he knew that in a few hours, their mission to find the innocence will begin, so sleeping was mandatory. But something seemed off and misplaced in the atmosphere. The room was slightly quieter than usual. Usually when the three went on missions, Allen would sometimes snore while Lavi would talk incoherent phrases about beautiful women in his sleep. His eyes open and stray to Allen.

Allen snored obnoxiously on the couch and on the brink of falling on his head in his peculiar sleeping pose. Drool streamed from his mouth, mumbling some traumatic experience with his master's debt. "100 guinea...no...it was 162 guinea...Master...no...he's going to come back and take my money away! Leave me alone!" Oh how he hated his two teammates even more when they had to share a room.

At this point, Kanda was threw with it. He angrily jolted up, put on a button up white shirt and stomped out of the room, hoping to see if his special friend was awake as well.

He knocked on the door a few times. No answers. "Oi, Woman." He called in a low tone. No reply. Kanda found her privacy to be trivial and decided to let himself in, questioning why the door wasn't locked. 'Stupid woman. Is she that careless?' He thought. The raven haired exorcist scanned the room with his cold dark eyes. It was nothing like the room he had to share with Allen and Lavi. Everything was neatly placed, with her suitcase and folded towels placed on the dresser. His shared room was as expected of teenage boys, cluttered with bundles of clothes and used towels. But her bed was vacant. Kanda strolled and peaked into the open bathroom. Nothing. Where could she have gone? He pulled back the covers on her bed, looking for any trace of her even sleeping in there. Her exorcist uniform isn't his visible sight. Maybe she went for a walk? That had to be it. Kanda 'che'd and went back to his shared room with nothing to do but struggle and sleep. As he walked in, he noticed that Lavi's bed was vacant as well. He glanced in the bathroom. Nothing. 'Where are they?' He thought. Then, his brain decided to jump to conclusions 'Don't tell me...that he's with her?!' With worry in his mind, the samurai went to the only person that would have information

Kanda kicked the snoozing Moyashi off the couch and onto the floor. Allen rubbed his white locks with his left hand in confusion and with a scowl. "Moyashi. Get up."

"What was that for? And my name is Allen!"

"Where the hell is Lavi?"

"How should I know?" Allen said, still angry with Kanda. "Did you check the bathroom?"

"Do you think I'm that stupid not to check there? Of course I did!" The two of them bickered like an old married couple.

Allen paused and pondered for a bit, taking the situation in. "He probably went for a walk."

"Che. How annoying." Kanda snarled.

"Why do you care if he went for a walk or not? That's...strange of you."

"Because Kuro's missing too." Allen silver eyes widened. "And her jacket is missing as well." Kanda then snatched his uniform, swiftly put it on in a matter of seconds and made his way to the exit. "I'm going to look for her."

"Kanda!" Allen flustered as his grabbed the uniform that was scattered all over the room and slipped it on. "Wait for me!"

Lavi and I wander around the mine shafts in silence for what it felt like hours. Once in awhile we would spot a family of bats flying around, staring at us intruders. The kid's 'back up' men were nowhere to be seen. Was Andrei's son just bluffing? My golem was useless underground and could not connect to Kanda or Allen's golem. At least there were firefly lamps every couple of yards, otherwise we would have no chance of getting out. Midway, I was able to convince Lavi that I was fine and it was ok for him to let go of my shoulder. For once, he followed through and didn't challenge me whatsoever. I like this Lavi a lot more. This Lavi is manageable.

But what wasn't manageable was the amount of circles we've been going through. Our plan was to reach the surface and regroup with Allen and Kanda, however, every single cave looked the same as the last one, giving me terrible flashbacks of the endless halls in the Black Order. Lavi said that he knew where we were going, but when a cave we turn into splits off into multiple paths, my trust in his sense of directions fades slightly.

"Are you sure that you know where we are supposed to go to get back up?" I placed a hand on my hip, starting to get more irritated by the second.

He could only give back confident smile and a thumbs up. "Of course. I'm trained to remember details that are insignificant in my surroundings. Every single shaft that we entered was new." His eyes met the ground as he placed his thumb on top of his lips. "Although some of paths that we have been through did split, leading us through a loop."

"We're lost. Don't deny it." My words seemed to have punctured a hole in his confidence, because the next thing I knew he was on his hands and legs with his head slumped down. The tunnel split into three separate tunnels, which as expected, are copies of the other tunnels we've been through. Except for one of the tunnels. The one furthest to the left seemed to have a disgusting odor with a peculiar light shining at the end. I pointed to the tunnel. "Lavi, do you see that?

Lavi finished sulking, pulled his head up and nodded. "Yea. Could that be the exit?"

Exit? It's is the exit! My spirit lighten up with a smile across my face. "Let's go!"

The deeper we plunged into the tunnel, the colder and danker it got. The lamps hoisted by the clay walls popped up less frequently, leaving us in a ominous black atmosphere. I activated my innocence to the palm of my hand, creating a hand held light source for the two of us. Lavi scooted next to me with his arm rubbing against mine and grinned, knowing that in this situation, it's best if were as close as possible just to see. His emerald irises reflected from the fire, giving him a childish dazzle.

"Your innocence is pretty convenient, huh?" He smiled.

"I suppose so." Now that I think about it, what did Lavi's innocence look like? Isn't he an exorcist? Allen's was a clown cape and a claw and Kanda's was a sword. He did happen to freak out when the kid back there wanted the toy mallet on the table, was that it?

I had to cover my nose with my sleeve. The stench became pungent, and reeked of something familiar, but what was it? The light at the end began to get brighter, lighting up my hope of seeing the surface. The fire in my palm fanned out as I started to run towards our freedom.

"Kuro!" I hear Lavi call after me. "Wait for me!"

My eyes finally reached the source, having a slight weight lifted off of my chest, but not satisfied enough to show any traces of happiness. It wasn't the exit, sadly, but what we were looking for this whole time. The Golden Gem of Pleasure. The small coin sized mineral shinned into my eyes, almost blinding my vision. The jewel sat on a throne of smaller surrounding rocks that displayed freckles of its power, covering each one with spots of gold. A few feet next to it was a strange, small crevasse that dug deep below us. The odor is almost unbearable. I carefully step around it as Lavi catches up to me.

"Here it is." Lavi says with his eyes gazing on the rock. "Amazing isn't it? But it looks like it's stuck to the rocks around it." He then moves his hand, grips the gem and attempts to pry it off with no success. "Damn it"

"According to what I've heard, no one has been able to mine around it with normal pickaxes." I commented.

Lavi smirked and dug into his pocket, pulling out the black toy hammer from earlier. "I guess it's my turn to shine."

I managed to snatch it out of his hand with a quick gesture and moved it up to my face to scan the black tool. The head was made out of an unrecognizable metal material, leaving a slick shine. The handle, strangely enough was made out of the same metal material, restricting any shock absorption. Overall, it was a poorly designed toy. Not to mention, the size was pathetic. "What do you plan on doing with this."

"Give that back." He said, snatching it away with a frown. "I'm going to break the surrounding rock."

"Pfft- you plan on breaking something with that small toy?!" Lavi pouted while he watched me mock him. He then took a few steps back away from the rock and smiled

"Get back and watch." I followed his instructions. Lavi then raised both of his arms and eyed down the jewel. "Big hammer little hammer grow, grow, grow!" And to my amazement, the once tiny hammer grew ten times its size, slightly towering him and almost hitting the ceiling of the cave. Lavi placed his hand on his hip and hoisted the hammer over one shoulder. And with two swings on each side of the Golden Jewel, he was able to destroy the rocks surrounding the innocence, allowing him to pry it off. He turned around and gave me a goofy smile. "Impressed?"

I shrugged my shoulders."I guess."

"Oh come on," his hammer retracted it it's normal size as he dropped it into his pants pocket and placed both of his hands behind his neck. "At least give me a little bit of credit!"

"I'll give you credit when you get out out of here!"

A sharp ear breeding shriek came from the end of the tunnel, making us both turn around. Lavi eyes narrowed the black abyss, still holding the glowing in his hand. Another high pitched scream followed. "Someone's down there!" The redhead dropped the innocence into his pocket and dashed into the abyss.

I followed Lavi through the damp caves for who knows how long we were running for. He unsuspectingly stopped, causing me to collide with his back and fall down. "Lavi you can't just stop..." at that second, I understood why Lavi paused, trembling with fear. Massive pools of blood, ash and limbs were scattered around an akuma with three horns coming out of its back and knight armor. That's why backup didn't come when the kid called for it. One of the men had his torso completely sliced through and died with his eyes wide open. In the corner, some of the bodies had flies feeding off of the flesh as they rotted away. This is Hell. I held back the urge to vomit. I want to run. No...I NEED to run. But my legs. They won't move. They're stuck to the ground, trembling with fear.

The akuma slowly turned around showing its knight helmet. "Exorcists!" It screamed. "Give me the innocence!" The akuma then charged towards us at full speed

Before my body could react, Lavi, instinctively, grabbed my arm and started running. "Come on! I can't use my hammer in here! There's not enough room! I snapped out of it and started to use my feet. We passed the location of where we found the innocence, returning to that horrid odor we had to deal with. Lavi held his hand to his mouth. "Ugh. It smells like rotting eggs."

Rotting eggs…why does that sound familiar…wasn't that smell in the chemistry book Komui gave me? It had something to do with a chemical...but what chemical? Alcohol? Carbon monoxide? Methane?...Then everything connected.

"Methane. Color: none. Odor: Reminiscent of spoiled eggs. Flammability: 4/4 Explosive."

Spoiled eggs odor...fire….explosion...that's it.!

When we were about to reach a split end, I snatched Lavi's hand at the last second and went down the path on the right and hid behind a massive boulder. Before the redhead could speak, I clap my hand over his mouth and peeked to the akuma luckily went the other way, leaving us safe for now.

I removed my hand slowly. "Lavi. I have an idea to get out of here and kill the akuma. But first, I need you to tell me what your innocence can do."

Lavi gave me a smug smile. "So now you're interested with me?" In return of that flirty, snarky response, I hit his shoulder, giving him a chance to redeem himself. "Sorry, sorry. I can make it grow, extend, control the weather, crea-"

"Can you make us a way out?"

"Kuro where are you going with this?" He raised an eyebrow. I can hear the akuma's footsteps growing. There's no time for questions.

"Listen. The smell that was back there is a gas called methane. It's VERY explosive. I'm going to use my fire, ignite the area, making the mines explode and making the area cave in. If you can move the falling rocks and get us out, we can make it to the surface."

Lavi snapped his fingers. "That makes sense. And the akuma will be killed as well from your innocence explosions. But it sounds really risky."

"It's the only option we got right now. I can make the explosions, but can you do it?" I asked. He gave me a cocky smile which immediately transformed into a frown when we both heard the mechanical stomps of the akuma coming back for its prey.

"You can count on me!"

The two of us used our stealth abilities to move swiftly through the cavern, having our noses lead the way back. Once in awhile, we would hear more mechanical whirling, meaning that the cave could be full of them now. We were able to reach the area where the gas was the strongest. I sniffed to where the smell was coming from, the crevice. This was the place. To test how deep it was, I grabbed a tiny pebble and dropped it into the hole. No noises. Not even the sound of it dropping into water. I have to get my flames to go all the way down there. This just got a little more complicated.

I turned around to Lavi, who was waiting patiently and sheepishly scratched the back of my neck while averting my eyes. "This...may not work. I don't know if I can control my flames to move in certain directions that far, let alone move it off my hands from a distance."

The redhead gawked at me and slapped his face with his palm. "You mean you didn't think this through?!"

"Well What's your plan? Keep running until we die?!"

"You were the one that was frozen in front of the akuma! I had to ran you just for us to get here! Why don't you depend on little ol' me to help! I won't bite, unlike Yu." He gave me a sly smile.

My blood started to boil once again from his somewhat promiscuous remark and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling his head down couple of inches and meeting eye to eye. "What did you just say, eyepatch?!"

"Now I have another nickname." Lavi pointed his finger at me and teased. "You're just like Yu!"

"Shut your mouth or I'll mmnnph!" He clapped his hand over my mouth, pulled me around the corner and held me around my waist with his free hand. He peeked around the clay corner as a collection of mechanical whirls passed us. These tunnels are infested with these bastards and we need to leave now.

"Listen," Lavi whispered into my ear, making me shiver. "Move close enough and blast fire into the hole. Right when you begin to hear a chain reaction of explosion, I'll pull you to me and then I'll get us out of here." I glanced up. His eyes were sharp and serious enough to cut steel. I nodded and slowly went up to the crevasse on my hands and knees and placed my hand over the hole. I could feel Lavi's large hand gripping onto my arm as he stood with his hammer extended.

Is this even possible? I was able to let it leave my body earlier, but to direct it towards a location? Well there's no point in worrying now. I took a deep breath as I feel the energy moving towards my hand and pushed a jet of fire out into the hole...I think. 20 seconds have passed with no solid responses coming from under us. My vision begins to fog as my body feels heavy. I struggle to hold the position I'm in and lean to the side.

Lavi wrapped his arms around me, trying to keep my body up. "Come on you can do it." His words of encouragement means well, but doesn't stop my body from slowly giving up.

"I'm...trying" I grit my teeth and keep at it. I can see Lavi turning his head in the corner of my eye.

"The exorcists are over here!" My eyes began to give up on my and close.I hear one of them call with a gurgling voice. A stampede of akuma trampled into the tunnel towards us. And at the same time...

'Bang'

It was small, but growing in size every millisecond that was passing. "I did it" I whispered. Lavi pulled me up and wrapped one of his arms around me. My head goes limp and my eyes could barely stay open. The explosions, stomping and the falling of rocks combined into one muffled sound.

"Big hammer, little hammer, grow, grow, grow!"

My feet are lifted into the air as my stomach disagrees with the change of movement. The screams of the akuma began to fadeas we rise up. A gust of fresh air brushes up against my face as my body finally falls on the ground. I gasp for the clean air that I will never take for granted. The sky was just about to turn over with strikes of orange and yellow coming out from the horizon. Each part of my body was covered in dirt and dust. I turned my head to see Lavi in the same position that I'm in except with more bruises on his face. But even in his condition, that idiot still gave me a thumbs up and a smile. "Nice save, Ku."

With all the hell we've been through, I take another deep breath in and gave him a smirk. "My...name's not Ku."

Unfortunately, we weren't saved just yet. Surprisingly, a small trio of akuma cracked and broke through the surface with only cuts and scratches. Lavi quickly scrambled to his feet and wielded his hammer. I struggle to move my body, but it refuses.

"Ku! Get up!" I turn my head towards Lavi. He was using his hammer as a shield against one of the akuma's claw. I try once more to move my legs. Nothing One of them crawl up to me and smirks, pulling its hands back about to attack. I close my eyes and prepare for whatever next.

Arms are wrapped underneath my legs and back as I'm quickly moved away. I pry open my eyes. A handsome man with long, black hair in a pointy tail and bags underneath his sharp dark eyes glares at me with a vein pulling out of his forehead.

"...Kan...da."

"You stupid woman! Do you know how long the Moyashi and I were looking for you?! FOUR HOURS! Four hours of endless walking through this town! And right after I tell you to stay away from Baka Usagi over there! You just do the opposite and look at where it got you! And...oi...open your eyes. Stay with me!" I struggle to keep my eyes open with every drop of energy I had left, Kanda cupped my cheeks with his hands and starts to become frantic. The only thing I can do is smile at his reaction

"You...care.." I mumble as everything went black.

I woke up a few hours later inside the hotel room with a massive headache and a lot of explaining to do. Not just to Kanda and Allen, but to Komui, who seemed somewhat annoyed that Lavi and I destroyed the underground mining system in a town that strives from its silver and steel trades. Luckily, the explanation of 'the entire tunnel system was infested with akuma looking for the innocence we retrieved underground' was good enough.

"Kuro, how was your first mission?" I could hear komui sipping on the coffee that Lenalee most likely made for him through my golem. I decided to give him a real answer. Through the miserable train ride, the brothel, the harassment, being in a cave for three hours and collapsing during the middle of a battle while being scowled at by my roommate...

"It was ok."

"Well that's good." He said cheerfully. Kanda and Allen are arguing in the background as they pack their bag. "When you get here, I need you to come straight to me to return the innocence and take your vitals."

"Vitals? Why?"

"Because," Komui's voice jumps down a few notches. "What you did down there was way too risky for your body. I know that you're new to using your innocence, and as you use it more you'll become more comfortable with it, but we can't have you fainting after every use." He's right. If Kanda didn't save me back there, I wouldn't be standing here. "You need to learn how to control it. By the way, have you thought of a name for your innocence?"

"It needs a name?"

"Yes. Usually identified innocence already has a name. For instance, Allen's innocence is called Crown Clown, or Kanda's Mugen. But because yours is a new type, it doesn't have a recorded name."

I thought about it for a few seconds and gave up. "I really don't care about something that's as trivial as a name."

"Ah. Well maybe I can give you some time to think about it." Before hanging up, one more question popped into my head.

"Komui, did you give me the chemistry book, knowing that I could use science to amplify my innocence?"

"No. I just want you to help me with my experiments." He says cheerfully. "So when you come back, I want to come to the lab and help me-" I canceled the call. That idiotic scientist…

"Kuro!" I hear Allen calling for me outside of the hallway. "We're ready to go."

"Coming." As soon as I walked out of my room, I bump into Lavi's chest, who was standing right in front of my door. Allen and Kanda were already at the check out desk, leaving the two of us alone.

"Sorry." I apologize awkwardly, still uncomfortable around him.

During the past two days, Lavi has flip back and forth from enemy, to comrade. He saved me, and tried to protect me all this time. Even though Kanda doesn't approve of me being in the same room with this complete flirt, I at least need to thank him.

"Look…" I started, looking at the ground in embarrassment. Lavi raises his eyebrow. "Thank you...for saving me back there. And… sorry for all of the things...I said." I clench my fists as I struggle to get each word out. Lavi gives me the biggest grin I've witnessed in my entire life as he grabs my waist and pulls me close to him.

"Aww! You finally like me!" He teased, making my cheeks hot. "I knew you would loosen up around me.

I struggle to pry out of his embrace. "Ok! Let go of me! I get it! Hey!" Allen and Kanda hear my cry for help as they rush to the scene with Kanda about to kill the idiot and Allen pulling me off.

Time crawled forward on the train ride back to headquarters. Kanda and I were sitting next to each other comfortably. Thank god because I don't feel the need to scoot away from him every five seconds like the trip from the Black Order. Everyone, including me was silent including the obnoxious redhead with bags under his eyes. I close my eyes for a minute and when I opened them, My head was resting on Kanda's shoulders. Everyone was sound asleep, including Kanda, who surprisingly had both of his feet on the ground and his muscles relaxed. His face still looks better without his signature scowl smacked on.

Allen and Lavi were not different, for the white haired teen leaned his against the metal train's window while Timcanpy laid on his shoulder ..sleeping? And somehow appeared to slightly grow in size enough to cover Allen's shoulder completely. Lavi, on the other hand, planned on his sleep position. His jacket was unzipped and used as a blanket while he rested his head on Allen's lap. The redhead's scarf wrapped was wrapped loosely around his neck with his bandana covering both of his eyes, snoring lightly. I could sense their friendship and trust through this one moment. The train going over each bump periodically every millisecond, the light snoring from Allen and Lavi, and Kanda's shoulder moving slightly with each deep breath as we get closer to the church that some of us called 'home'.

Peaceful.

Six hours later, back at headquarters

"Lavi."

"Hm? What is it Gramps."

"How was the mission?"

"It was ok. Just the usual retrieve the innocence and kill akuma schtick."

"I don't care about that, fool! I'm talking about your mission as 'Lavi'. What did you learn?"

"Oh, haha. That's easy. She was a tough nut to crack, but I got a little bit of info from her."

"Tell me."

"Alrighty. Kuro. Age:18. Race: Asian, most likely East Asian. Approximately 5'7, 170 cm. Innocence ability: is able to create fire in the palm of her hand while using up physical energy. Her skills with it are lacking tremendously and she doesn't even know what she's capable of. Hobbies? I can assume that she's interested in weapon craftsmanship based on observing her. She might like science, but that's unclear. Her relationship with Allen Walker is questionable, but as for now, I would consider them as buddies. Yu on the other hand has an emotional connection with her that is surprisingly close to a significant other for some re-"

"Just get to what I want to hear. Or did you not get enough information about her?"

"Fine, fine. She has a large black 'Om' tattoo encased with a triangle on the left side of her chest. Fire was able to come out of it as well."

"That's what I wanted to hear."

"So what now? The tattoo is good enough proof. Can't we talk to komui about this?"

"Not yet. In this case, patience is key."