D. Gray-man © Katsura Hoshino

Master died that day. So did yet another piece of me.

We were sent to the Black Order: Master was to be cremated. The hospital room I awoke in was full of people – Lavi, Lenalee, Allen, Komui, Bookman, and the three Finders. I was at least glad to see they'd made it out alive.

"How did you find me?" I asked Komui when they were carefully taking Master's dead body out of the room. I dare not look.

"Are you kidding?" Lavi said before Komui could. "We wouldn't stop until we found you." His tone went soft and somber. "And then there you were – laying on the forest floor beside…barf and a bleeding white horse…"

Moon. Agh, Tyki Mikk. He killed her. Tore her heart right out of her chest. I won't ever be able to get that image out of my head. Lavi was to accompany me in a different carriage back to the Order while Bookman, Komui, Lenalee, and Allen were in another. Master was in a different one than all of us. On the way, Lavi explained to me what was called the Heart of Innocence.

I had no idea why they didn't tell me this stuff earlier, but it was extremely important now that the Noah had arisen. Lavi explained everything to me: The Noah were just as Road Kamelot had said. They were super humans with the genes of the apostle Noah from the Bible. Not much was known about them, but I told Lavi that the three I met had different powers, so that was extra information for his records.

As for The Heart of Innocence? It is an Innocence fragment that has no special characteristics that we're aware of. Hell, we don't even know if someone has already become its Accommodator! There's just no way to tell. The Earl is trying to search for it to destroy it. If it's destroyed, all other Innocence in the world would be, too. And that's why we're trying to keep it from the Earl's clutches. Now he'd recruited the Noah to help him to his dirty work.

How many Noah there were, no one quite knew. I'd already met Tyki Mikk, Sheryl Kamelot, and Road Kamelot (no relation intended?). However many Noah there were, it didn't matter. The only one that mattered was Tyki. Because I was in debt to him, apparently I belonged to him. Agh! What a stupid debt! He takes me to the hospital so I don't toast in the sun and dehydrate, and suddenly I belong to him? Shit!

Well, no, he also spared me more than once. Does that make it right for me to owe my life to him? Hell no! I wouldn't stand for this. No. I would find Tyki. Kill him. I would! I would get my revenge for Master, return my freedom.

| – – – – |

I watched Master be cremated at the Order. Allen stayed by my side. He didn't mind that I cried. When the flames died down, he touched my back, frowning. Nodding over to the doorway, the young boy led me to the cafeteria, where Lenalee was waiting for me with a whole table-full of food.

I sat and shared with Allen. I hadn't had so much food in so long, I actually asked Lenalee for more. When she returned, I asked, "Where's Lavi?"

She carefully took a piece of shrimp and ate it. "He's with Bookman – said they have work to do."

"And Daisya?"

"He left on a mission to find General Tiedoll a bit ago."

"Yu?"

"Me? Umm…I've been here?"

"No, I mean Kanda."

"Oh!" She smiled sheepishly. "In his room, I think."

I sighed deeply and finished off the last of the food. Standing, I said, "I think…Imma take a walk, okay?"

There was nothing Lenalee could do to stop me, so she and Allen nodded, and I walked off. A trip to the training room was what I seriously needed. If I was ever to kill Tyki, I would need to get a lot stronger than I was. I chose a shaft from the large vase and swung it around, testing it. Then, I began training, using the stick as if it was a sword and Akuma were surrounding me in the room. I swiped and swung, and smacked the log in the center of the room until I'd broken the staff in half. Gritting my teeth, I threw what was left across the room. It made a clack! and fell to the floor.

Growling, I strode over to the vase and pushed it to the ground. The vase shattered, scattering glass and sticks across the floor. Was it getting hot in here? I unbuttoned my coat and chucked it behind me. Suddenly, as I touched a staff, there was a sound behind me. As swiftly as I could, I spun around, staff in hand – and connected with the one and only Yu Kanda. Thankfully, I connected with the staff he held in his hand.

Over the years, the boy had grown more muscular. His raven hair was longer, in a ponytail now. Still, no matter how old Kanda got, his expression was a stoic one. His sharp onyx eyes narrowed a bit. I knew what that meant: It was about time for us to spar after two years.

And so we did. We sparred long and hard. Before long, we were both breaking a sweat. Kanda had definitely gotten stronger – no doubt about that. Fighting him, I slowly felt the stress on my shoulders unknot. And unlike when I faced Tyki Mikk days ago, I felt powerful. Kanda was definitely stronger than I was, but I didn't feel as weak as I did with the attractive Noah.

I ran away from Tyki like a coward. I've never felt so stupid!

Kanda slapped the staff from my hand and was about to strike my side when I grabbed the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. He stared at me and I stared at him. And then…I collapsed to the floor. On my knees, I hung my head low and sobbed. Of course, Kanda just stepped to the side, crossed his arms, and let me cry. Let me cry as I repeated to myself, "I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry…"

If I hadn't run away, maybe Master would still be alive. If I wasn't so weak, maybe I could have faced the Noah like an Exorcist should.