An: New Chapter!! Okay, I don't know when I'll be updating this next. I've got a lot going on right now so I might have to put this on hiatus for little bit. Don't worry, it won't be nearly as long as Katsura Hoshino's hiatuses. Anyway, please enjoy

An resounding explosion echoed through the halls of the order, making my room shake. I sat bolt upright and looked at the clock. 4:30 am, a morning attack? Or was Komui screwing around with something? No, if anyone was zonked out at this hour, it would be him.

Quietly, a voice came over the golem resting on my bedside table.

"Exorcists! Noah! Attacking! Help!" Hevlaska was terrified. Obviously she was hiding herself if she was whispering. I sprang out of bed and forced on my boots, not bothering to put on something longer than the shorts I was currently wearing. I slipped off my yukata and just wore the tank underneath, I needed full mobility of my arms for this fight.

I burst into the hall and almost collided with Lenalee.

"Yoru! Noah!"

"Yeah, I heard," I said shortly as we sprinted towards Hevlaska's chamber. Lavi and Kanda got there at the same time.

"Yoru! Lenalee!" Lavi exclaimed, "You guys heard it too?"

We nodded, "The announcement went out to all of us, I think," I said, "But since it's currently just the four of us, we ought to come up with a strategy of some sort."

"I don't think we'll have time for that," Kanda said, "Hevlaska can't be left alone for too long, she holds all the unsynchronized innocence fragments. A prime target for the Noah."

"What do we do?" Lenalee asked, "We can't take the elevator, they'll hear us."

"Well you and Yoru can get us down there without being noticed," Lavi said, "Lenalee can one of us via the Dark Boots and Yoru can take the other via Meibatsu."

I nodded, "Considering innocence types…Lavi should probably go with Lenalee," I said, "Lenalee's Kirkikaze can amplify Lavi's Maruhi to a large extent. Kanda needs mobility of both arms in order to use Nigen in order to defend both of us since I can't attack if both my arms are occupied."

Everyone nodded, "Let's go," Kanda said, "We can't wait for reinforcements."

Lenalee activated her Dark Boots and I activated Meibatsu. Lavi positioned himself so that he'd be able to fight while still being kept aloft by Lenalee and they hovered over the elevator shaft. With one hand, I wrapped the black shadows around Kanda's waist as he readied Mugen for battle. With the other, I attached them to one of the large columns. We then proceed down the shaft.

When we got to the bottom of the shaft, we saw three Noah crowded around Alma's tank. They hadn't noticed us yet so we hid in the shadows. Lavi whispered something to Lenalee before silently making his way over to us.

"I told her to go for help once she got an opening," he said, "We can't do this alone."

Kanda and I nodded, "Should we charge, or strike from the shadows?" Kanda asked.

"Either way, we'll get found out," I said, "Odds are they've anticipated both moves." I paused at stared at the deep pool of water that occupied most of the chamber. Most likely, Hevlaska had hidden herself underneath it's surface. This thought gave me and idea. I motioned the guys in closer and whispered it to them. They nodded, it was something the Noah probably hadn't planned on. I quietly slipped into the water and swam up beside where the Noah were standing. I could only my breath for so long, though. I used Meibatsu to latch onto the first Noah I sensed. I used that to propel myself up and out of the water and smash another Noah in the face. Kanda and Lavi both charged from their hiding places. The Noah I had originally latched onto had been knocked into the water and was now climbing out, sputtering. I spun around to see a sopping wet Tyki Mikk.

"You exorcist bitch," he growled.

"Noah," I said curtly, activating my scythe.

He grinned, "That's new, I don't remember seeing that when I killed you."

My eyes flashed with anger, "Your cowardly tactics didn't give me the chance," I snapped. No, don't let him get to you, stay calm. I regulated my breathing and focused back on Mikk, "The past doesn't matter anyway," I said, "What matters now is that I finally have the chance to kill you."

He grinned, "Pity, I'm actually not your opponent." A girlish giggled made me spin around. A girl with blue-black hair that stuck up at weird angles was grinning down at me from her seat on some sort of umbrella. She waved.

"Hi there, Yoru-chan!" she said, "Let's play!"

I gripped my scythe, preparing for her first move.

Kanda's POV

Lavi and I had both rushed forward to confront the Noah as soon as Yoru had thrown one of them into the water. We both ended up against the same one, though, a hulking guy who I think was called Mercym. I saw Yoru confront Mikk as he climbed out of the water. Their familiarity was disconcerting, though, had they met before? I saw Yoru switch to using her scythe and watched as Mikk smirked.

"That's new," he said.

They had met before.

"I don't remember seeing that when I killed you."

WHAT?

I was furious. That bastard Tyki Mikk was the one that had ambushed Yoru all those years ago! And now, considering how he was speaking to her, was he flirting?! My jealously was growing, no way was this bastard going to get anywhere with MY Yoru. My Yoru, the girl I had kissed only hours before!

"I finally have the chance to kill you."

I stopped short in my move to go and engage Mikk, myself. Yoru wanted this fight, wanted the chance to destroy the man who had put her out of action for so long.

"Pity, I'm actually not your opponent."

Wait…he was refusing? I saw Yoru turn and face that Road girl.

"Yu! Stop them!" I turned to Lavi, "Road plays a very dangerous mind game with her opponents! She uses their memories against them!"

I looked at him wide-eyed in horror. Yoru had gone through hell in the past. I rushed forward to try and stop the fight before it began, but was blocked by Mikk.

"MOVE IT!" I shouted angrily.

"Too bad you won't be able to save your girlfriend, huh?" his fist connected with my gut before I had a chance to block and I was thrown backwards. We fought back and forth for several minutes when an agonizing scream broke through the commotion. I looked and saw Yoru clutching her head, her face contorted in agony. Tears ran down her face from screwed-shut eyes. She was down on her knees, unable to concentrate enough to keep her innocent activated.

"STOP!" She screamed, "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

Road looked down at her with a sadistic gleam in her eyes, "Tyki!" she said, giggling, "Your turn!"

Mikk sprang away from me and, before I could blink, his hand was around her throat. Yoru's eyes were unfocused as he tightened his grip, clearly still under the influence of Road's technique. I rushed forward, but was blocked by Mercym. I saw Lavi unconscious on the ground behind him. I watched in horror and frustration as Yoru's eyes slipped shut and she slid out of consciousness.

"YORU!" my voice tore at my throat as I screamed. I saw Mikk bend down and I shouted furiously, "GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU BASTARD!"

"Don't worry," the Noah said slyly, picking up Yoru's limp form bridal-style, "We're not going to kill her. We need her to further our plans with Alma. You've already played your part, let your girlfriend have her turn."

"DAMN YOU, TYKI MIKK!" I shouted as Road's door appeared. Mercym tossed me into the water and when I resurfaced, Alma, Yoru, and the Noah were gone. I slammed my fist into the ground in frustration, creating a sizeable crack.

I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Lenalee looking at me in concern, "Kanda! What happened? Where's Yoru?"

"Gone," I said bitterly, "She and Alma, both gone, taken by those bastards."

"Did they say what they needed her for?" I glared as Rouvelier addressed me.

"The same reason they needed me at the North American Branch," I growled, "They plan to use her to wake up Alma."

"Inspector!" Komui was beside me now, "You don't think they've figured it out?"

I looked at the idiot chief questioningly, "Figured WHAT out, Komui?"

"Yoru's blood, along with your memories, is the key to unlock the seal on Alma," Rouvelier explained, "This is very bad."

"No shit, you moron!" I said angrily, "What on earth were you thinking when you planned this out?!"

"Kanda-kun, calm down," I seized Komui by the collar.

"You expect me to calm down?!"

"Please, Kanda, you need to. Being rash isn't going to solve anything. I promise, we'll get Yoru back, but we need a plan first!"

I let go, my shoulders slumping and my head falling forward. Of course, plans, we had no idea where she was, nor did we have enough man power to take down our enemies. Waiting was going to be hell and I knew we wouldn't get to Yoru in time. She'd probably be dead by the time we got there.

Komui put a comforting hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off. I didn't need sympathy at this point, I needed fucking results. I went back to my room and collapsed onto my bed. I'd think of something after I'd rested.

Yoru's POV

I was first aware of the horrible pounding in my head. I tried to lift it, then realized that that was a really bad idea. I was next aware of the darkness. I knew my eyes were open, but I couldn't see anything, no matter how wide I did open them. They must've been covered. I tried to move my hands in order to remove it, then realized they were bound behind my back and my arms were pinned to my sides, my legs were in a similar state. My throat was throbbing painfully from the wad of cloth that had been forced into my mouth, held in place by a second strip tied around the outside of my mouth. My bonds must have been imbued with dark matter, for, even though I could feel Meibatsu on my wrists, I could neither activate nor communicate with him.

The sound of footsteps caught my attention. I heard the person kneel down and felt them slip a finger under my jaw, checking my pulse. The blindfold was then removed from my eyes and I glared up at Tyki Mikk.

"So you're awake," he said, smirking, "The Earl will be pleased."

My eyes widened at his last statement. Mikk laughed, pulling me up by one of my arms, someone else grabbed the other and I saw a man who looked very similar to Mikk.

"This is my brother, Sheryl," Tyki said, nodding at the grinning man, "The Noah of Desire."

"The Earl can't wait to meet you!" Sheryl said, still grinning as he and Mikk dragged me out of the cell I was in and down a long corridor. We entered a large chamber and I saw Alma positioned in the center, along with the Noah girl who had tortured me with my own memories and the white-haired guy who had attacked me and Lenalee in Scotland. The ridiculously fat man in front of Alma I recognized as the Millennium Earl, himself. I was thrown at his feet and winced as my already pounding head hit the floor.

"Welcome, Kuroumi Yoru!" the Earl said in a jovial voice, "To the awakening of Alma Karma!"

I looked at him in shock. Alma? Awake? How on earth would he accomplish that? The fat Earl chuckled at my surprise and confusion as he bent down and removed the gag. I coughed out the cloth fibers that had stuck in my throat.

"What the fuck are you going to do?" I asked, glaring at the earl.

"My, temper, temper," the earl said, grinning at me, "And quite the sailor's mouth, too! Well, I'd replace the gag, but we can't have you drowning in your own blood!"

"What-!" I was cut short as the Noah girl slipped a knife into my gut. Blood pooled at the back of my throat and Mikk hoisted me into a sitting position so I could cough it up. I felt my vision shake as blood poured out of the wound. The girl had left the knife in its place so I couldn't heal. I watched as the dark red liquid was absorbed by Alma's tank. The symbols around it glowed and Mikk tugged the blade out of my stomach.

"You've given us enough," he said grinning. My vision, still slightly blurred at the edges, steadied itself as the wound closed completely.

The symbols continued to glow and suddenly Alma's tank shattered. Alma, himself was engulfed in a bright light that momentarily blinded me. When I was able to see again, I saw Alma, but not the alma from the tank. No, it was the grown version of the Alma I had known as a child. There were no symbols or scars on his body and his hair was no longer white, but the black it had been before Kanda was forced to fight him. Sheryl handed him something and sent him behind a screen I hadn't noticed before. He came back in a pair of black slacks and a white collared shirt that he left unbuttoned. He was still barefoot and his wet hair was not secured in a low ponytail. I stared at the image of what Kanda and I had predicted Alma would have looked like if he was our age.

"Ah! Good Morning Alma-kun!" the Earl said happily, "How are you?"

Alma looked at the earl, "A little disoriented…?"

"Perfectly normal! Well, everything will be explained!" The Earl glanced at me, "Actually, what has happened up until this point can be explained by an old friend of yours."

Alma stared at me, "Yoru?"

I nodded. A giant smile broke out across his face and he rushed over to me. He pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, ignoring the fact that I was currently unable to move.

"I missed you!!!" he said, "How are y-!" he stopped short, finally taking note of my blood soaked shirt and my bonds, "What's going on? Why are you…?"

"We knew Yoru wasn't going to come willingly to our little party for you," Tyki said, stepping behind me. I heard a series of various clicks and clatters as I was released, "So we had to go and get her, ourselves. Consider it like a present."

"Um…I don't really understand…"Alma looked at me with a hurt expression, "Why wouldn't you come to wake me up?"

I looked at him sadly, "I only found out you were alive very recently," I said, "And I wasn't even sure if waking you up was a good idea. We didn't know how you would act…"

Alma glared at me, "So you thought it'd be better to coop me up like that?"

I shook my head, "That's not it!" I said desperately, "Kanda and I spent the last nine years thinking you were dead! We didn't know central had chosen to keep you alive!" I was close to tears, I didn't want to lose him again, "Please, Alma, don't be angry, we didn't want this for you!"

Alma's expression softened, then suddenly contorted in pain. He doubled over and clutched his head.

"Alma!" I said, holding him close, "Are you alright?!"

"It…hurts…!" I watched in horror as his skin began to darken. He was turning into a Noah?!

I felt something wet splatter onto my leg as it hit the floor. I looked down and saw black blood. Horrified, I stared as the ring of crosses extended over Alma's forehead.

He seemed to be alright after a few minutes. I rubbed his back gently, "Are…are you okay?"

A sharp jab in my side made me cry out. I looked and saw blades protruding from Alma's knuckles. Lightening was running through them, making the pain in my side grow worse. Suddenly, the blades disappeared and Alma's skin reverted back to normal as he looked up at me, shaking. He saw the blood coming from my side.

"Yoru! I'm sorry!" he said, "I didn't mean to-!"

"Shut up."

He looked at me, confused, reaching out to me, "What?"

"Don't touch me!" I said, smacking his hand away, "You shouldn't show sympathy to an enemy!"

"I thought we were friends…"

I was shaking with frustration and anger. My best friend, whom I had just gotten back, was now a Noah, my sworn enemy.

"Why did it have to be this way?" I said sadly.

"Yoru I don't understa-!"

"I'M AN EXORCIST, ALMA!" I shouted, "I'm an enemy of the Noah Clan, okay?! I'm not like Kanda, either, I'm a natural accommodator, not a second exorcist! I've been chosen by God to destroy you and the other Noah Clansmen."

I barely registered the Earl motioning for everyone else to leave in order to 'give us a moment'. I was crying now, frustrated beyond belief. I jumped as Alma suddenly took hold of my hand. He examined the bracelets on my wrists.

"This is innocence, right?" I nodded, wondering what he was planning.

"This is what makes you and Yu exorcists, right?" (An: Lol, play on words there, much?).

Again, I nodded.

"So if I destroy these and Yu's innocence weapon," he said slowly, "You two won't be exorcists and we can still be friends."

I stared at him in shock, tugging my hand out of his grip, "Alma! You wouldn't! Not to me and Kanda!"

"If it keeps us from having to kill each other, I will do whatever it takes," Alma said, firmly. He gripped my wrists tightly.

"ALMA DON'T!" It was too late, the red crystal shattered and dissolved. I sat there, shocked into silence, unable to believe I had lost my innocence a second time. Suddenly and slight prickling sensation ran through the cross-shaped marks on my hands. I looked down and saw blood trickling out of them. The blood hardened and encased my hands. It flashed for a second and then I saw the bracelets back on my wrists. I stared at them for a moment, then I was overcome by a wave of dizziness and passed out.