I apologize greatly for this chapter. It's super long, and it feels like it's a filler. I suppose that's what it is, but it does have some important things in it.

Chapter 14

A Journey To Haven

Allen was surprised to meet the very same Finder he had run into before. After a heartfelt introduction, they were quickly getting to know one another while Kanda was speaking to Komui over phone.

"So you not only found Allen Walker alive and well, but still in possession of his Innocence?" asked the branch chief.

"Yes sir. It would seem as if it were by arrangement, almost, that we found him just as he was regaining use of his Innocence," Kanda replied. "Even stranger was the number of Akuma in that single town."

"I heard about that. Two dozen Akuma, and only a small group of orphans as the survivors," recalled Komui. "You suspect that this is a part of the Earl's plan?"

"Why go to so much trouble of kidnapping and hiding him, only to give Walker back without a fight?" Kanda's reasoning was sound and Komui himself had already wondered this himself.

"There is something wrong here," the Chinese man agreed. "That's why you are to take him to the Asian Branch and get Walker checked out."

"Obviously," snapped the Japanese youth. There was a small chuckle over the other end before the conversation became serious again.

"One last request Kanda: keep a vigilant watch over Walker. We don't know what the Noahs have done to him."

Kanda's face became expressionless. "You think he may be traumatized."

"It's highly possible. He is only a child, after all. Be careful with him."

The Japanese Exorcist rolled his eyes. That was a given. "Anything else?"

"Buy me some souvenirs~"

Kanda slammed the phone back into its holder vehemently, growling and swearing at it. He turned around to find his two companions watching him solemnly.

"What do you want?" Kanda snarled. Allen tilted his head to the side as if he had to think about it.

"Only a moron would slam a phone hard enough to shatter it," he observed. "BaKanda is the perfect name for you."

The Japanese youth drew in a deep, calming breath as if he were meditating. He reminded himself that he had to look after the damn Moyashi, not beat him within an inch of his life.

Kanda grabbed Allen's arm roughly, ignoring the protests, and dragged the boy towards the train station without another word. He was not looking forward to this train ride. The longer he was around the Moyashi, the more easily he was annoyed.

::+::+::+: ϒ :+::+::+::

Kanda thought that Allen would doze, at the very least, on the train. The boy was obviously tired; he had dark circles under his eyes and he moved sluggishly. Not to mention the fact that Kanda was tired from fighting, and that was saying something. Allen remained stubbornly wide awake, trying to find various ways to entertain himself. Kanda watched him carefully, knowing it was unwise to even rest his eyes lest something happen in that short amount of time.

But even he became sick of watching Allen struggle to stay awake.

"Just go to sleep," he growled. Allen's silver eyes brightened mischievously. Kanda immediately regretted his outburst.

"I'm not tired at all!" Allen declared brightly. "I want to be awake to see where we are going."

The Japanese youth didn't miss the subtle question in his companion's tone.

"We are going to the Asian Branch of the Black Order. We aren't even halfway there yet, and still have seven hours to go."

Allen's face fell slightly. He was silent for a moment and then decided he would entertain himself by bugging the teenager.

"Are you Asian?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Chinese?"

"No."

"Have you ever visited China before?"

"Yes."

Allen tried to think of the most irritating subject that would make Kanda angry. Right now the youth was only mildly irritated.

"You have very long hair," he observed.

"Yes."

"Do you ever get mistaken for a girl?"

Kanda stiffened, turning cold eyes onto the boy. The temperature in the compartment dropped several degrees.

"Do not. Go there," he ordered harshly. Allen looked away obediently for all of ten minutes. He was grinning when he came up with his next goad.

"Have you ever dressed up as a girl?"

The tic in Kanda's jaw jumped out.

"That is it!" He snapped. He lunged forward, planting a firm fist into Allen's cheek. Allen reacted automatically, kicking Kanda back and launching himself onto his opponent.

They both fell onto the floor and began to thrash around. Kanda forced himself up and started to punch Allen. The boy used his arms to block the brunt of the assault, and kicked Kanda in the back of the head. As the youth fell forwards Allen jammed his elbow into his eye.

Kanda jerked away with a curse. Allen took the opportunity to hook his leg around the Exorcist's neck and used his weight to force the teenager down. He grinned triumphantly when Kanda struggled to get away without success.

Kanda forced himself onto his elbows and slammed Allen into the seats. The boy came off with a sharp yelp. The teenager yanked his opponent into a chokehold and wrapped his legs around Allen's. the boy managed to free one.

Toma wondered what was going on in the Exorcists' compartment. He thought that it sounded like a sparring match, but there was no way that they would be doing that when Walker had only just been retrieved.

Toma heard a yelp and sighed. He would just have to see for himself.

The Finder opened the door and was about to ask what was going on. His jaw snapped shut as he stared at the two...children. He didn't even know how to describe the position they had manger to get into. The only things he could say about their position would be "tangled" and "stuck".

Kanda and Allen gave him a pathetic look that screamed for help.

Toma face palmed. This was the oh-so-serious Kanda? No way.

"May I ask you two what you were doing to get into such...a predicament?" the Finder asked wearily.

"Help us first," growled Kanda. "This skinny pile of bones is digging into me."

(About ten minutes later)

Toma gave Allen a disappointed look.

"What? It isn't my fault!" He protested.

"Kanda had a point that you were trying to avoid, didn't he?" Toma asked gently. "You need to get some sleep."

The boy withered slightly, his adrenaline from earlier draining away.

"I'm afraid to go to sleep," he whispered."I'm afraid that if I go to sleep, I will wake up back on the Ark with the Noahs and the Earl."

Kanda glanced at the boy. He could understand that. Going to sleep, thinking everything was as it should be. And then waking up to find out none of it had been real.

"Tch. You could just take a nap," Kanda told him. Allen looked up at his comrade. Toma put a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.

"He's right. You don't have to go to sleep, just a doze will be better for you," he assured him. Allen mulled over the idea.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try," he admitted.

::+::+::+: ϒ :+::+::+::

The Millennium Earl surveyed all of the Noahs at the table, naming each one in his mind. Road Camelot, Noah of Dreams. Sheryl Camelot, Noah of Desire. Skin Bolic, Noah of Wrath. Tyki Mikk, Noah of Pleasure. And Lulubell, Noah of Lust.

Still so many had yet to be reborn.

"I have a pleasant and exciting announcement to make," the Earl told them. "We have our very own Exorcist to use as our pawn."

Road's eyes widened as Tyki inhaled sharply. They shared a glance.

"You mean Allen Walker?" the girl asked slowly. When the bulbous man nodded she seemed confused. "But how? He wasn't even hypnotized by me."

"No, he wasn't," the Earl agreed. "I did it myself while he was on the Ark. Allen Walker believes he has been on the Ark for two days. Not six."

Tyki felt a chill run down his spine.

"All of those times he has fought with us...he doesn't remember any of it?" he asked quietly. Tyki found that unsettling. It made him sad.

"He only remembers Road's attack, and his arrival. Nothing else." The Earl's grin widened. "Now we have our very own little puppet in the ranks of the Order, to use at our own discretion.

"If any of you want him to do something, you only need to order him to do it."