Hey yo! Look who is finally done with exams? This gal! I'm on my semester break now but it's not a long one and I would have to go back to class again but like they say, enjoy it while you still can, right? Haha, though I did feel a bit mean to leave you all hanging on last chapter.

So this chapter is difficult to write…mostly because of the circumstances I've been going through. There would probably be errors but I don't have the heart to look through the chapter again. So I'm going to leave it as it is.

ALSO IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT IN ENDING A/N BELOW. I would love it if you guys participate.

Please make note of the TW before you proceed to read this chapter.

[xenocanaan] Nope, they just can't. They do try and I do try to give them as much fun as possible but eventually it all boils down that this is DGM universe. Me too (she says even though she's the one writing this). It's really difficult to write them in this situation, especially with the Order being the Order.

[Rina Dragonfly] I know I'm not suppose to laugh but your comment made me laugh. I'm sorry.

[ADDBaby] Breathes…That's ummm great first sentence XD I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Writer jumps into bunker and hides.

[Stopdropanroll] I love that pokemon reference. *WinterYule reaches out and grabs Stopdropanroll before they faints* if gonna faint from sheer unadulterated bliss, do it when there's a soft bed and pillow around. Glad to know you approve. Oh yeah, we do. It's a specific person from her past life. Someone she's worried because she's supposed to be there and take care of them. *rubs hands* as for the electricity mystery…the answer will be revealed…slowly. *grins* Haha, I always try…glad to know its working. Makes me want to draw them as mascots haha. It is an adorable idea. Qin might do that or get Alma to carry her (can he even? with that costume?) Oh yeah, the bunker is filled with stuff from comforts to wade from the screaming and crying until the coast is clear. *flicks on Switch and plays BOTW*

[fantasy.92] Yeah, the time had come. Qin did something really specific to the akumas. What that is, you're gonna have to find out…soon. Will do : )

[Cheshire's Mayhem] No I won't punish them because you're late. And sorry for the title name. I kinda thought of another but that one fist the most. Yep, you got it about the lady. Tiedoll's drawing is the essence of his Innocence and he probably teach them to draw too. Haha, it's been a long time since Yun visited. Yun's the one that inspired Yue to become a physician. Well you and him can get along on not liking kids. He kept the picture because he's still confused on how to feel. He still hates them and can't forgive them. Lol, that bedroom biting statement. The seconds don't mean to offend everyone they meet. It just turns out that way. *whispers* yes, yes, yes *end whisper* That's the point though.

It's okay. I don't expect you to do it back to back. She didn't go out and do that on her choice but moving, yes, she will take it. Haha, mini sailor Alma is cute though. No I don't hate you. Even if peacocks fly, she wouldn't know. That's Kanda's superpower, killer glare. Nah she just think that that's the greatest way. You have an idea, huh? Qin didn't know how to answer him. Yes, that is Alma's deepest secret. Haha, Qin's creative out of control imagination is affecting Alma. Yeah Kanda's instinct is like that. He probably knows but can't quite put his finger on it. Aw, don't be sad and I know what you're implying.

[Savage Kill] Oh yeah, she didn't really expected that. It depends on whether the core can reject the virus now. They're not exactly pleased where they wake up. Will have to see on that last one : )

[Mother of Mayhem] *pats on the back* There, there. (Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it. And thanks, I am doing much better now and thanks for the hugs and love.)

I know that usually you don't really need much warning in this fandom because this is -Man after all and the series does have some stuff and horror elements but I kinda need to give it in case as a heads up. There's definitely going to be some people who wouldn't want to read those part especially if they're experiencing.

So TRIGGER WARNING : Feelings towards death and loss of someone close. Starting from the third scene of line break with sentence beginning with "Alma woke up in a dark place." until the beginning of Yu's part.

I have thought of being light handed on it and tried to write it with distance quite a few times but it only works this way.

25th Night

Wilted Primroses

"The world is very lovely, and it's very horrible—

and it doesn't care about your life or mine or anything else."

-Rudyard Kipling, The Light That Failed

Evening barely came, the sun had only started to fall but the town had been drowned with akumas. Yun wasn't sure what had triggered them nor was he particularly interested to find out. If he would have to guess, it would be due o the presence of the Exorcist General and his CROW cronies.

It was relatively peaceful too and he was having an early dinner too, taking a seat on the second floor or a restaurant with an all smiling waiter jotting down his order.

The smell of wine from the neighbouring tables pervades the air and he wrinkled his nose. He never could understand why people choose to drink those horrid stuff, not when there's perfectly good tea to be had. The raucous laughter of neighbouring tables assaulted his ears but with a little annoyed twitch, he drowned out conversations. Small talk and gossip were for the small town folk and had never appealed to him.

"Here's your order." The owner's daughter served him, setting the dishes down with deft hands. She didn't linger, running off to catch up with the next order. A sliver of memory of the past pops in his mind, the image of a young girl grinning sheepishly at the owner, a stack of shattered dishes on the floor. She had grown and had probably grown out of that habit.

He shook his head of such menial thoughts as he waited for the tea to steep with growing impatience. The back of his neck prickled with the familiar feeling of being watched. He glanced to the side, catching surreptitious eyes flickering towards him as they whispered among themselves.

Did they recognise him? He was certain that it was no. It was a long time since he had returned to this town and he doubts he had left an impact on his last trip. Still, he ignored those gazes, choosing to pour and sip on the tea. The taste was as he had remembered, blossoming and rich. Some things don't change much.

Leaning against the railing of the balcony, he spotted them, black and gold with peppered grey hair and a handful of red robes. It soured his mood immediately. It seems that they had seen through his ruse, how annoying. A silent sigh left his lips, he had known that this would happen.

Ignoring their presence, he dug into his simple meal, taking a reprieve from campfire food that he had to endure for the past few weeks. He can deal with them later, preferably not ever. But the peace was not meant to last as akumas exploded throughout the town. Screams of terror filled the air as people sight fell onto such monsters and he could hear the scrapping of chairs and pounding feet of neighbouring tables as they proceeded to tremble in terror.

"I suggest you stay indoors. That is, if you want to live." He didn't spare them a second glance, uninterested if they've taken his advice.

Level Twos emerged, breaking apart their shells. He wondered how long had those lurked unseen and unchallenged to evolve. The sour energy of Innocence filled the air and he catches brief glimpse of the old man's innocence- a cross and a rod working in tandem, as he lifted them up and bringing them down, "Witness the beauty of this world." White disembodied hands rose from the ground, shooting up, reaching out for the unfortunate akumas. Level Two leapt higher into the sky, cackling and cursing at the old man as Level Ones disintegrates. Building explodes as the fight went on, a girl with twin pleats screamed, running. It was nothing he hadn't seen before.

A sudden gust of wind and he could've sworn that there was a hand and distorted face from the corner of his eye but before he could be sure, it had vanished. Vibrant red spider lilies floated on his tea and littered the table. A scowl grew on his face. What an unpleasant welcome. She had noticed his presence. He supposed that he had half expected it, he hadn't do a good job hiding himself. Although, this would make things all the more difficult.

"Keep the change." He set the money on the table, taking his leave as the last akuma died out. Dust fills the air but the town was mostly untouched save for a few destroyed buildings. The towns folk stood around in shock, some were crying and he caught sight of the exorcist comforting the teary eyed girl, glasses cracked and braids undone. He walk briskly past them, ignoring the destruction and the tears behind him. Let men deal with their own affairs. He had his own to take care of.

A paper crane floated to his open palm. He could feel the hum of his own magic embedded in the paper. He frowns, unfolding it. She wouldn't call if it wasn't serious.

When he had stepped on her land, he wasn't sure how she knew that he was there. But there she was, bursting through the door with frantic eyes wide with fright. Her eyes landed on him, simmering with disappointment but she shook it away. She was trying hard not to cry but he could always tell from the quiver of her lips.

"They should be back. They should be, but I couldn't find them."

It didn't take him long to untangle her words, the story becoming clear as she gripped on his sleeves, silently pleading him to help. The deeper they got into the forest, the more her anxiousness resurfaced. No trace of the children to be seen. The three he didn't care but Xue was never supposed to be involved.

"You should've heed my advice." Perhaps it was the wrong words but it was ones that he meant.

Her eyes flashed and she bit back her words, huffing and turning her back to him. A usual treatment for those that she was upset with. "I don't have time for you or your advice. I need to find them. Either help me or keep quiet."

He grew silent at her words but nodded knowing that she would accept no other answer.

Kneeling down, he surveyed the broken stalks. It wasn't natural. Something had run through here. There were traces of footprints, small ones stalked by large ones, their soles nearly washed away by the rain but the distinct difference was there. His eyes narrowed…the large footprints were not of commoners. No common folk needed combat boots.

Xiao Xue burst through the bushes, tripping over twisting branches and collapsing in his arms. Scratches marred her skin and she was a mess, breathing heavily, tears rising and tangled words between crying breaths. Yue reached out towards her, the girl crying into her arms, her words muffled as they spilled out but he could pick up on it. It was as he had predicted; where those children go, the CROWs would soon follow.

The Order would never let anything that belonged to them wander carelessly in the open world. The magic wrapping around them were old and sacred- clan secrets. He doubt that the Changs would allow their prized creations roam free, easy pickings for those interested to lay claim on them.

"Those children." The distress clear on her face.

"Go." Despite his words, there were still resistance and reluctance in her eyes. He sighed, "I'll look for them but I can't promise anything."

She hesitated but the sobbing girl clinging to her rob her of her choice. The day was ending and skies dark and dreary, it was no place for a child, especially not one that may have faced something traumatising. Finally, she nodded, coaxing the girl to dry her tears and follow her, telling her that everything was going to be alright - comfort words that do little for the truth. It wasn't alright and the girl knew it.

He watched as their figures disappear into the distance. Looking back down, he tracked down the path, following the tracks of littered trees and torn out branches and trampled primroses signalling that something had went on here. Most likely a fight. Pushing past the trees, he found himself at the edge of the cliff. Silver glint caught his eye. He picked it up, brushing the dirt away recognising the sleek design of a CROW needle- unmistakable but there was only one. The metal seemed to hum between his fingers. It's been recently activated. He slips it under his sleeve, surveying the cliffside.

He peers over the edge, the scent of sulphur still in the air, overpowering even after the scent of freshly fallen rain. Looking over, he sighs. He had his work cut out for him.

In the Asian Branch where the darkness lurks, restlessness have taken over its inhabitants. No one had any inkling of the truth but rumours flew. The events of the incidents still fresh on their mind. No one knew exactly what had happened but disjointed pieces were put together.

Children were responsible for the incident, some says. Some daren't believe it but other pointed out the possibility. Why would they send CROWS? And on that day after winter had long gave way to spring, two children were brought back, bringing about a meeting among the members to decide their fate.

The meeting quickly descending into chaos, debate from murmurs turned into disagreement on what they wanted to do with the remaining Seconds that they had apprehended and retrieved. Lvellie drummed his hands silently on the table, the conclusion already clear in his mind but it continued to drag on. It was like watching a bunch of children squabble.

"They're dangerous!" Von Karma slammed his fists against the table, frustrations bubbling over as he regarded the rest of participants as if they've lost their minds, "Have you forgotten that they're responsible for the massacre?"

"Hush, mind your tone," Lady Frieda snapped her fan shut, the scowl on her face shown that she had enough of the rowdy man. She regarded him with a cold gaze, "Might I remind you that only one of them is responsible for the incident?"

"In any case, we've already determined that they've both successfully synchronised with Innocence," She continued, sparing him not a second glance, "Isn't it clear what must be done? The ranks of the exorcists are the lowest it's ever been and dropping, we need all the accommodators we can get."

Arguments broke out over the table once more. It seems like they never agree on anything. If this goes on, nothing would get done. She held out her hand, snapping the fan shut against the table, the resounding sound silenced the room, all eyes set on her. She turned her eyes to the corner of the room where the elderly man sat, silent and looking straight with quiet melancholy eyes. "What are your thoughts on this, Zu?"

They looked intently at him. His back straightened, snapping back with rapt attention. Surprise came to his wizened old face and faded quickly as it came. Hs mind had been elsewhere, the incident and its heavy consequences weighed constantly on his mind and he felt weary, now more than ever. He gaze across the room, meeting Lvellie's level headed gaze. The memory of their conversation fresh in his mind.

He knocks, a soft voice in reply permitting his entrance. He opened the door t the sight of his former student sitting at the desk with a finder by his side, parchments and dossiers scattered in organised chaos across the table, a few loose paper fluttering to the floor and opened envelopes. . Malcolm didn't look up, eyes scanning the parchment in his hand before setting it down.

"You may leave," He dismisses the Finder who bowed and at slow brisk pace, head towards the door. The door closed behind them and they were alone save for the Black Wing standing behind Malcolm, face pulled into a fox like grin but alert for any small indication of a threat.

He knows what goes in his student's heart. The never ending hunger for ambition that would be the end of him one day. Even so, Zu hadn't given up. He had hoped that a sliver of humanity and kindness still exists in the man. He stood at the door but drew closer, the look in his former student's eyes tells him that he knew what he had come here for. It makes things easier. He didn't have the energy for small talk, the past few weeks had drained him.

"Do not use them to reopen the Second's Project." They have suffered enough. "The project was a mistake." A mistake that he would carry to the grave and hopes that no one was foolish enough to repeat it.

Despite his words and the glint in Malcom's eye, he knew the next thought that would come to mind. If not use them then what use of them? It echoed the sentiment that he used to believe all too long ago. They wouldn't put them down. He knew, despite where they stand on the matter, the order could not afford to lose any more exorcists, favourable or not. Even back then, when they were forced to make a choice of inducting a criminal that had gained Innocence, despite the backlash, they had accepted him. And now that criminal had bloomed into a fine General and a valuable pawn in the Great War.

"They have become accommodators, isn't it enough?"

He knew because he had been a part of it, that the Order wouldn't let them go. But at least as exorcists…they would get a modicum amount of freedom. A chance to choose how they would live albeit within such confines of their duty and fate.

At least this time…let them have a moment of peace. She would've wanted that.

She was gone. His heart seemed to squeeze at that. He could still picture her, running through the halls creating a little chaos wherever she went, always a little curious and a dash of mischief. She would want it for them. And so would Twi. Zu was sure that was her intention from the start, allowing them to leave. He had hoped that they would be able to escape this life, start a new one away from what the Order…what he had set for them.

But now he could only focus on those that remained. He couldn't save their minds nor their body from the pain and the suffering but only to allow them a choice.

"Of course," Malcolm had answered almost too easily with a smile.

Zu closed his eyes for a moment, aware of the eyes on him as they waited for bated breath for his decision. He has misgivings but he could only hope that he would keep his word. He had long taken his leave of such meetings. It was his cross to bear and his cross to carry to the very end. He had only hope that he would keep his word. "I believe that it will be the best course of action."

Lady Frieda fixed him with an earnest, icy glare demanding the truth and only the truth from him, "Can you keep him under control? Can you ensure that what had taken place will not happen again?"

With blatant confidence, Lvellie declared, "Yes."

Alma woke up in a dark place.

It was bare, damp and unbearably cold unlike the warm wooden floors and ochre walls of the little space by the fireplace that he had grown used to over winter into spring. His eyelids twitched as he curled in on himself, frowning, "Yu…the fireplace…fire…wood…" He waited for a disgruntled grunt and the almost silent padding of footsteps but there was only echoing silence. His mind drifted off but the cold continued to bite at him, slithering into his toes and numbing his fingers. A drop dripping from the ceiling splashed against his cheek, eyes fluttering open.

"Yu?" The place was dark, nearly devoid of light and empty. His voice echoed back at him. Where am I? His body felt heavy, almost sore and his mind felt numb with veils of sleep clinging to him. He pressed himself up, hissing as the ache in his arms strained against his movements. He didn't give in, struggling against it. It was only a little pain, he had felt much worse than this. He pushed too hard and fast against the ground as he fell back on his butt, hissing. He had definitely torn something there. Wincing, he pressed against the tender spots knowing that soon it would be gone. It never last long. It never did. Now to figure out where he was.

He looked around, surveying the dark room as his eyes grew adjusted to the lack of light. There were walls in the far distance, dull lighting blocked by a door with only a small window hindered by bars. The distinct scent of metal and the overwhelming scent of antiseptic assaulted his senses, eyes growing wide as he knew where he was, the dots connecting in an instant.

He was back, and they had dragged him back. And he was alone.

"Yu! Qin!" A frantic cry strangled in his throat as he leapt to his feet, eyes frantically searching for their silhouettes as his hands brushed against the bricked walls. They're not here. Not by his side. Where are they?

Pressure pressed against his forehead through gritted teeth as his heart went into overdrive. He felt like he was forgetting something but he don't know what. "No, stop! Don't do it Yu!" He froze, peeling his hand away from the wall as he finally remembered. Yesterday's memories played in his mind; the heavy scent of sulphur, the burnt flesh mixed with fresh pouring rain. It had only took an instant for everything to change. He had been happy, everything had been better and he had secretly hoped that it would stay that way. But all it had took was a few seconds and a moment frozen in time for everything to change. No, it wasn't real. he refused to believe that she was gone.

"AH!" He punched the wall, dust rattled from its gaps, fluttering down on him. If only the day before had just been a dream. A nightmare that he could just wake up screaming from and brush aside as the day went on.

He drop to his knees, feeling the energy slid out of him as he tucked his knees to his chest and buried his face in his arms. Maybe it was all just a dream. A mere fantasy that he had escaped into just to get away from this reality. He sat in the inky darkness, as the cage that he found himself in felt more real that his memories. Was that warm place filled with smiles and happiness just a dream concocted by his mind? Had he been trapped in this darkness the whole time? Dreaming of a place and a time that could never be?

He closed his eyes, sweet memories of a world outside in his mind seems to fade away, fraying at the edges. It had almost felt too good to be real. He pictured Yu's almost invisible smile and Qin's laughters, it all felt distant as his lids grew heavier. Was it all just a dream? If it was, he would just want to slip back to it.

A shiny object dropped from the fold of his clothes clinking onto the ground. The cool metal against his palm but amidst the fading light, he could make out the lotus caging in a glinting sea glass gem. "This is…"

He pressed it against his palm. It was real. It had been real. His chest seemed to burn, almost as if he was drowning in the depths of the ocean, stones attaches to his ankles dragging him deeper. The oppressive waters washes away his burning tears and silencing his cries that he could only hear. His heart rose to his throat, prominent against his ears. He was chocking, about to burst. He wanted to let it out as the thought wrecked havoc in him but he didn't want to believe it. If this was real…she's gone. It was as if the world's axis had gone out of alignment and nothing seemed make sense anymore.

"She's gone. She's gone." How can she be gone? He pressed his palms to his face, head throbbing. It doesn't make sense. She had been there to greet him when he wakes up and there to bid him goodnight before he fall asleep. And when he does something ridiculous, she had been there, dropping onto the ground in fits of laughter. Even now, he can still hear it…a distance away but bright and clear like ringing bells. And when she was done, she would wipe that stray tear off her face and refuse to let him live it down. But she's not going to do that now. Is this even real? He found himself staring at empty space where she should be.

He would never get to hear her laugh again or see her smile or crack one of her nonsensical jokes. Never to poke at her or give her a ride on his back or feel the warmth of arms encircling around him.

It was a joke, right? He bit his trembling lip. That any time, she would pop up with that ridiculous smile of her and get him to do something remotely ludicrous. Then say that he been pranked and that she had been working on it for months. That it was all just an elaborate cruel joke that he could whack and scold her for.

But some part of him knew…even though he couldn't accept it. She was just gone…and emptiness remains.

How can she be gone? She had been there! Right there! She was beside him, he had even talk to her and with that strange smile of hers, she said that she would be alright on her own! And she just left!

He pressed his lips in a thin line, slamming balled fists against the concrete floor. He should've followed her. Told her that she was being ridiculous and looked out for her. If he knew that this would happen…how could he know that this would happen? His mind raced with the thousands of ways of the things that he could've done…anything that would've changed what happened…what he saw…

But it was all pointless now. She was gone…and for the first time in a long time, he was alone again.

Shadows moved in the darkness, bringing light further in. Thin line gave way to gritted teeth. "Who's there?" He growled, guttural sounds exploded to a full on cry, "Show yourselves, you cowards!"

Cold dark feeling filled his senses as red hooded figures appears, standing in a line, holding lantern lighting paths. It sizzles within as they faced him with uncaring faceless masks. He reached forward, hand gripping bars.

They were the cause of this. They were the cause of everything. If they hadn't got in the way, he could've done something…anything! But now she's…He clenched his hands forming shaking fists…Because of them!

They stood a distance away, paying him no mind as he shattered furniture against the door. Shattered wood splintered off flying for them, littering the red of their cloak. They merely brushed it off, turning their back to him like he was a weak insolent kid throwing a figures appear, descending down the stairs, imposing figures standing over him. They were dressed differently from the scientists and the CROWS. Even so, a CROW without a cloak was still a CROW, they were all the same.

Acrid tears clouded his vision. He forced his face up to glared up darkly at the man. "I'll destroy the Akumas, I will destroy the Order and I will destroy you."

"Your general will come for you," The man said, staring unflinchingly into his eyes, "You will serve the Order. Any resistance will me met with severe consequences. Give up your rebellion."

Yet the man's expression laid unwavering to the bite in his threat. He could already imagined his hands around that man's throat, clawing into his skin. He was going to destroy every last one of them, for what they've done and what they continue to do.

And this ugly world, he would destroy it too.

From the moment he had opened his eyes, Yu never believed that things would turn out alright. Miracles and happiness were lies and facades that only fools believe in. It was the one truth that he had clung to. It guarded him from hope and it was the one thing that he knew as the truth.

In the end, he was right. In the end, it had boiled down to this.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"You will die if you touch the akuma virus."

"Get out of the way."

His mind was filled with thoughts that he wished would be emptied. He looked down, a frown creasing between his brows. In his tight grip, a fist of damp soil mingled with crumpled wilting primroses. He let it fall from his palm, dark soil hitting the ground as the whistling wind spirited away the petals. She really was a fool, trying to save others when she could barely save herself.

Despite his efforts - don't think about it. It's over now- his mind wandered back to to place at the edge of the cliff with the burning sun setting rushed away by gathering clouds, the overpowering scent of sulphur and the smell of rain hitting the ground. Dark stars spreading across her skin. Everything felt almost strange, he was calm, his breathing un-erratic and his body reacted, moving before his mind had caught up to him. Alma's drowned shouts somewhere in the background. But all he could feel was the heavy sensation of the hilt in his hands before the blade bore down on the akuma and she vanished with it, like shattered dust in the wind.

He stares at his hand. Twice, he had held his blade and twice, he had cut down his friends. He had been willing to destroy Alma. If the building hadn't collapsed at that moment, he knew he would've gone through with it. A deep ringing determination to live.

If he had a second chance to chose, would he do it again?

A pink glow from the corner of his eyes, like a dream creeping into waking life and she was there again. What do you want? Go away. His head seemed to hurt and chest filled with an overwhelming sense of longing. He wanted to know why…but her ephemeral image was silent, not giving him answers.

A whistling breeze gushed through the gaps of the cavern, running its hands through his hair and sending red robes fluttering and he was reminded of where he was. He pressed his back against the gnarled roots of a twisted tree, reaching up for strays rays of sun rare in the cavern. In the distance he could hear the rush of waterfalls. They were far, far away from the ground. He glared up at the figures of robes of red that surrounded him, standing still as if they were pillars or statues of the garden themselves (if this desolate place of rock and moss and only a single tree could even be called a garden). Statue with eyes, watching him from behind their masks.

He held his newly forged innocence in his hands. It weighed heavily, the material cool yet humming as if it was pleased with its new form. He hated that thing but having it in his grasp made him feel more assured. He could cut them down anytime they make a move on him. Even if he cut them down, only more would come. He had been right on that count.

They were a menace, like roaches…with each one that fell more replaced. They were disposable like he had been but he held no pity for them. He wouldn't hesitate to tear into them if they forced him to set foot in that place. It had imposing walls and all too similar to that god forsaken place. He wouldn't be their rat, not again.

He couldn't wait to leave this place, where was his stupid general already?

And so as he thought it and so it shall appear. Footsteps in the distance and a man appeared with ash brown hair with kind features and kind eyes. His hand tighten around the scabbard of his Innocence. Yu had long stopped trusting kind faces. Even then with the farmer and his wife, he wasn't sure, never straying from his Innocence. He doesn't trust it but he trusted the hearts of men even less.

"Apologies. I'm late."

The CROWs turned their heads to him in acknowledgement. Yu surveyed the the man with his eyes. This was his General? He looked weak and he wondered if he had tap him with the hilt of his sword, he would fall over…and he seemed to be carrying a lot of nonsense, he glanced at the rolled up paper hanging off the bag at his back…and his fingers were stained with charcoal. What was this man? And he noticed the man watching him. He didn't like that piteous look. And the man looked like he was about to cry at any moment.

This man slays akumas?

A large shadow fell over him. Looking up, he saw a familiar face, "You."

"Hello again." Marie…if he had remembered the man's name properly. The man seemed to smile, looking much better than the last he saw him. The tears and scars that had once marred his skin had closed leaving only traces of bandages. Yu took in his appearance. He looked different, he noted, decked in the black and silver robes of an exorcist.

"You're following?"

"Yes."

He relaxes his grip on his newly forged innocence, feeling less guarded for the first time. They didn't waste time speaking and he wasn't interested to hear what they were saying. He couldn't get out of this place fast enough. He followed them down the path, further into that place, his hand gripping the Innocence tighter the deeper they went…but they didn't have to go long.

A door appears before his eyes and he spots a ghostly figure in the corner. It wasn't pink, it wasn't glowing, his head and his chest didn't hurt. It wasn't his vision…or memories, it was something else. But he didn't bother to think too deeply into it, stepping out into the cold dark night.

Behemoth doors closed behind him with almost a sense of finality. Yu stepped forward, trailing after the old man and Marie. He keeps his eyes forward, not looking. He wouldn't look back. He had made up his mind. Even after weeks when they were far away from that place, it weighed in his mind.

Reaching into the bag, fingers brushed across crinkly paper. He paused and breathed, the memory tickling at the edge of his mind. Pulling out the letters, he stared down at the messy handwriting scrawled across the surface dotted with blotted ink stains. He had forgotten that he still had them. Shuffling the letters, he spied their names. She had left one for each of them…He noted, pausing for a lingering second at Alma's before stopping at his. He held it in his hands, frown growing more severe.

What a sore sight. He wasn't sure what she was thinking leaving these behind. He didn't feel warmth from the letters, only cold remembrance. Like the thundering clouds and sensation of rain pelting on him and the smell of desperation and danger in the air. His hands felt heavy with the blade of unforged Innocence as it drove through mechanical monstrosity. Peeling into it and tearing it apart without moments of hesitance.

She was a fool. They all were. There was no escaping fate.

He stared at the flickering flames, devouring and licking the life of the branches that will never be whole again. He glanced down. The letters, parchment bent and heavy in his hands. He frowns at them and threw them in the fire.

White parchment flickers black as flames catches it, burning its contents and wiping its existence like he had wiped hers. He glanced up, feeling their gaze on him. Meeting the old man's eyes, he silently challenge him to change his mind but he merely sat here, silent and observing. Good. Without a word, he turned and walked away, turning away from the tethers of his past, going up in flames.

In the end, there was nothing to do but move forward.

Tiedoll sighed. A silvery glimmer caught his sight and he drew closer. Leaves and branched crunches under his feet as he knelt down, observant eyes catching silver. With careful precision, he reaches down, pulling two silvery objects from dying flames; a lotus flower caging in a sea gem and remnants of a pin with dangling flower lading to a teardrop, emanating sadness. Quietly, he slid the two trinkets in the pocket of his coat.

.

.

.

As the strings of fate binds tightened, setting the wheels into motion leaving only time to be the determinant.

This was a tough and not a really cheery chapter to write, especially right after my finals.

I'm definitely excited for the next chapter. It's gonna be a Komuii centric one and it's something that had been I've been thinking about for quite a bit and had been sitting in my WIP for a while. Sorry if my switching and focusing on different characters is a bit annoying. I know that it's an OC-insert story but my mind couldn't help but to wonder what goes on in other characters head.

*COUNTDOWN TO CANON: 1 *IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT* Okay, you guys have noticed by now that I have this at the end of the last few chapters. I actually been planning to jump right into canon with a time skip after the Komuii chapter but I had been flip flopping on my decisions so I decide that I should get you guys input. I'm gonna put up a poll in my profile to keep tally but I need to know if you guys prefer that :

(OPTION 1) skip straight into canon and then fill in the gaps with flashbacks or

(OPTION 2) write two chapters to fill in the space of the time gap (ie. Kanda and Alma time with their generals and a couple of their scenes as they got into the Black Order as official exorcists). It's been driving me nuts and I keep changing my mind so I'm going to see what are your opinions. So please, leave your thoughts and vote on it.

I'm always happy to hear your thoughts.

Take care of yourselves and treat yo self once a while.

Yule.