Tainted Innocence

Chapter #25

Wisely arrived via the Ark, coming up from the ground next to Tyki. He was still dressed in his warm clothes that he took the Earl back in, and didn't really want to change out of them unless forced to.

Tyki glanced to his side, seeing his lazy friend come up from beside him.

Sheril questioned, "How's the Earl?"

"He's sleeping right now," Wisely responded. He glanced at Tyki, then at their prey. "Oh, you guys managed to successfully capture him." It was a lightly shaded remark that he gave with a small smile at the twins.

"HEY! ARE YOU MOCKING US?!" David was the first to exclaim loudly, waving around his gun.

"No, not really. It's good you immobilized him," The Demon Eye nodded with agreement with his own words.

But I doubt that's enough to hold him down. So why's he just sitting there letting us toy with him? were Wisely's true thoughts. There had to be a reason he wasn't putting up a fight.

"So, what do we do with this guy? Kill him?" Sheril questioned, twirling his loose hair between his fingers. His single right brow raised in question, before his lips curled into a satisfyingly sly smile. "Why don't we just cut off each and every finger, maybe—?"

"So, Joyd, what do you plan on doing with him?" Wisely ignored Sheril, looking at the younger brother. He was used to the older brother being like this, a bloodthirsty creature akin to his inner Noah. Although he was interesting in himself, he wasn't the one to currently hold his interest.

Tyki just stared at Apocryphos with half lidded golden eyes, Joyd's memories pounding through his head. The urge to attack the independent Innocence was quite high. However, the more Tyki looked into those thoughts, the more he felt them in his mind and body.

He didn't like those memories. They were all sad, angry, shocking. None of which were happy. Did his inner Noah decide to discard all those happy memories and let those that drove him to despair grow?

Tyki was unsure. Looking at Apocryphos now, he knew that the Millennium Earl would like to get information out of the monster of Innocence. Of course, he would like to too, and find out exactly what happened many years ago as well as what it plans on doing by appearing before them now. And if time allows it, beat him up a little.

"So, Joyd, how was your little reunion with Mei? With Sin?" Apocryphos' words made every Noah look at him with surprised and shocked expressions. The way he said it almost sounded as if he was mocking him.

Tyki's brows pulled together, "...what about it?"

"You wouldn't want her to be anywhere near the Noah. She'll destroy you all. But she is neither acquainted with the Innocence or Noah - she's her own. She's her own, and that's why she'll be the one to kill you all." Apocryphos sounded almost hysterical, holding back cackling laughter as he spoke those words in a pitch higher than normal.

Wisely's attention shifted to Tyki. He saw a vein pop and his hands clench, but he relaxed and took a step forward, leaning towards the Innocence.

"You'll be the one to die."

His own words, tone of voice and depth behind his words shocked the Noah around him and even parts of himself. Most of them have never seen this side of him.

"What good will it do if all you do is ramble on about killing this person and that person, all in vain to protect the one damned to hell by God?" Apocryphos wanted to laugh. "In the end it'll be all for naught!"

"Can I sock him?"

The other Noah showed astonishment from the intermission of the Demon Eye. Normally he would stay out of fights as he wasn't a fighter, and he would just stay back and assist from the shadows.

But, not today.

"Go ahead." Tyki took a step back to allow for his nephew to give a good punch.

Wisely took a couple of steps forward, then threw a knee in the Innocence's face, eyes sharp and deadly. A snap sound resounded from the Innocence, signifying something had 'broken'.

"That felt good." He remarked, rubbing his knee after taking a step back.

"I thought you weren't a fighter." Questioned Joyd.

"This is a one-time thing, ok."

Firstly, I need Allen's cooperation. 'To find Katarina' is my excuse. However, as much as Katarina can help with Timcanpy and his resurrection, which is currently quite uncertain, I don't really need to see her. If anything, I would avoid going there because I don't need to go there.

Second, we're escaping the city. As they've said, Finders would be around the city, and exorcists would be here and there to make sure we're caught. If it's like that, then it's safe to conclude that there are talismans to alert them as well. Tiedoll is also helping out, and though I'm unsure of what he wants from me and the others, I'll have to make sure that I'm careful.

He did say that he wanted to know the 3rd side of this war, but I have my doubts about how much he knows and how much he wants to know. If anything, he knows more than I can speculate. Just how did he find out this information? Maybe hearing it from someone else, like Cross or Rouvelier, maybe. Or, if he's a smart cookie, he thought up of the answers himself.

Thirdly, as I'd need Allen's cooperation, I need to make sure that he doesn't suspect a thing. As for a definitive escape and start of the final stage of my plan, I'd need to use him to open the Ark for me. That's my main concern, as we haven't gotten out of the city yet. I need to wait to get out of the city—

Tiedoll closed the curtain after mumbling a, "Yuu, throw a tantrum to make sure that they know you're in here." The carriage slowly came to a stop.

"Hah?" The long haired Mugen user made a face, irritation starting to flood his system as the General has used his first name. It was a sudden request, one that made him all the more want to defy the General. Like his naturally heated instinct, he blurted out words along the lines of, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU OLD GEEZER?! GET ME OUT OF HERE!" With the latter being a quick improvisation. He continued with his sharp words, playing into what the General wanted him to say.

If Tiedoll's doing this, does that mean we've encountered some Finders or officials from the Order?Mei's previous thoughts had cut off due to Tiedoll's words. Before, the carriage was quiet so that Mei would explain herself, but because she never really did, this happened.

"GET ME OUT OF HERE YOU SHITTY GENERAL! I'M GOING TO SLICE YOUR ASS!"

"Better not open it, I'd say. Yuu-kun's throwing a tantrum right now." Tiedoll's words were directed elsewhere. Mei could just hear the other side of the carriage, and the voices she heard made her sure that they were Finders from the Order.

"YESSIR! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK! HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY!"

And thus, the carriage started moving again after Tiedoll laughed wholeheartedly. After a couple more minutes of silence within the horse driven vehicle, Tiedoll opened the curtains a little, the horses slowing down.

"We're out of the city now." He reported back to them with a smile.

Good,Mei thought.

Now that we're out of the city, the first thing we need to do is point them to the way of Katarina. For now, anyway.

"Katarina should be," Mei moved so that she could poke her head out the curtain. She scoured the area, "Hmm, this way." She pointed to the east.

"To Katarina we go!" Tiedoll sounded jolly, and whipped the horses so that they would go faster.

Mei moved back into the carriage, where everyone was silent. She, too, fell to silence with her own thoughts.

We're out of the city now. If anything, I need to wait for us to ride a bit longer, maybe until late afternoon or evening, where I can make off with Allen.

"So, what were the plans?" Kanda asked, leaning his head against the side. "Why do you need the beansprout's cooperation? What the hell are you thinking, you wrench?"

Mei made an expression of annoyance at the male. "That's quite a word you're calling me. Not very nice, Kanda. If you want someone to answer a question it's best that you ask them politely."

Kanda frowned and his brows creased until they touched, before his lips formed words more polite than they would seem, for someone of his personality. "What do you need Allen's cooperation for?"

"That's better, Kanda. You're on your way to becoming a full-fledged human now." Mei smiled, no heart put into it as she was just mocking the guy.

His nose wrinkled at the response.

"Well, since you asked nicely, I'll tell you." The Seraphim user tapped her finger on the wooden carriage a couple of times, letting her plan of diversion unfold, "I need Allen's cooperation because he can recognise the area in which Katarina lives."

"Didn't we establish before that he had no idea?" Kanda questioned.

"I don't think I'll be able to 100% recognise the place." Allen chimed in, coming out of his silent state. He was a little pale, like he had been thinking of something depressing.

"No, it's not that you'll not 100% recognise it, it's that you will 100% recognise it." Mei corrected, "You see, I haven't seen Katarina in many, many years. As much as I'd know the general location, you would know the actual place because you just saw it."

And I'd know it too.

"Oh yeah. Why don't you just use the Ark to get there?" Mei asked. "You can use it, right? Don't you want Timcanpy to be regenerated faster?"

The minute Mei spoke those words, the atmosphere became heavy, especially around Allen. She intended it to be this way, but knowing Allen, he would do something that he wouldn't normally do.

"Timcanpy…" Allen mumbled his dear friend's name once, then stared off to the side of the carriage.

Hm? He's doing nothing? Mei questioned.

"Uhm…" Johnny broke the silence, sweating at the heaviness atmosphere. "Let's talk about something else! Si—Mei, what kind of stuff have you experienced during your many lifetimes alive?"

It was clear Johnny was just trying to steer the conversation away from Allen and Timcanpy and the Ark. It was clear, but Mei followed along.

"I have experienced many things. What did you want to find out?"

Johnny seemed to brighten up, rushing his questions at the woman.

Mei answered each of them carefully and in detail, providing her insight to many things.

"Mei, why don't you hate Innocence, if you've been through so much?" This was a random question Johnny had come up with, in relation to other things that she'd been through.

Mei didn't smile at all during the entirety of this question. "I don't hate Innocence. Innocence is just something that responds to the will of the accommodator. If anything, the accommodator is to hate."

"Those are some heavy words, Mei." Tiedoll spoke. He had been listening this whole time, and it had become night.

"Yeah, they're heavy. But it's true, right? Just see for yourself, that monster of an Innocence, Aelius, I mean, Apocryphos, is just a living embodiment of the former accommodators' will." Mei touched the hairpin that she had close to her. Every stab to her former friend, every attack she ever made to him.

"Well, we just need the battle to end with the Innocence and Noah and it should be fine, right?" Johnny asked, his voice hopeful.

Mei looked at him, contemplating his words.

She shook her head, of course not. It's not as easy as you think, Johnny.

But, she didn't dare say those words out loud.

If anything is going to be fine, I need to make sure that I'm able to get on the Ark when Allen opens it up. That's the only way.

The Millennium Earl writhed in his sleep, dreams plagued by the dark times that he was forced to endure. Back 7000 years ago and every year from then until now, with emphasis on 35 years ago. It made him break out in cold sweat, allowing for his inner Noah to climb out from inside of him, and out into the open.

"Mana...Mana…I'm not...Mana…"

His own voice made him wake, and his eyes opened, staring at the familiar room of the ark that Wisely had left him in.

He clenched the bed sheet in his hands and sat up, careful to make sure he was steady. Staring at his hands, staring at anything associated with his appearance, or anything related to Mana, it caused him a number of flashbacks in his mind, and eventually it made him think of what had happened not too long ago.

"Nea…" The image of Allen, and then Nea, and then Allen, repeatedly, flashed in his mind.

His voice croaked out his name, unsure if he wanted to say the name of his other half.

"Millennium Earl. You've got to realise that there's something wrong with you." Mei's voice pounded in his head. Her words were from a long, long time ago, from when he and Nea were still on 'good' terms.

"There's nothing wrong with me? Mei, are you okay?" He had answered.

"I'm certain. Don't do anything rash. If you do, I'll probably be forced to kill you. I don't want that to happen. You're a dear friend to me."

"And you're a dear friend to me, too, Mei. Is there something that I don't know?"

At this point, Mei was silent. In the end, she spoke only these words; these were the only words spoken to him before she died by the hands of Apocryphos.

"There are many things you don't know. When I reincarnate next, come find me. I'll tell you, tell you what I plan to do. But, I need you to swear to me that you'll help me in whatever way you can. For old times' sake. Millennium Earl."

"...If you say so, Mei. I'll be looking forward to it."

Remembering her words now, Adam wondered what she meant. He questioned it; did she mean the happenings of now, or the happenings of later?

He didn't know. He didn't know what she meant. And right now wasn't the time to think about this. He had other things to worry about.

Nea was the problem right now. Nea and Allen. And if he could help it at all, he wanted to solve that problem first, before anything else.

"You can solve whatever problem you want first, but you can't forget all of them."

He felt like screaming "I know!", but no one would answer him, nor would the voice inside his head stop talking.

"I know where Nea is."

"That's right. That's right…she would know...she would know, since she's an exorcist..." the Earl mumbled, pressing a hand to his eye.

"She would know...she would know where Nea is..."

The Noah had retreated and returned to a part of the ark, secluded to its own area to get information from Apocryphos.

After Wisely had kneed him instead of throwing a punch, they had gone back with Apocryphos as their hostage. They'd gone because a commotion was happening, and the Order's Finders and exorcists were everywhere. They couldn't risk getting caught by them or engage in battle. There just wasn't any point.

Tyki had his arms and legs crossed as he sat in a chair in front of Apocryphos. The monster of Innocence was still held by the Twin's creation ability, securing him from moving.

If I recall, this guy is strong. He's as strong as Mei...they're both monsters.

"Are you here to watch me?" The human shaped Innocence spoke after a long while of silence.

"What do you think? I've been here for the past hour." The vagabond's words were prickly.

Apocryphos chuckled, "Do you think you'll gain anything by holding me hostage? I won't tell you where the Heart is."

Tyki stared at him for a long moment, "Yeah, figures. Then, tell me about Mei, about Sin."

"About Mei?" A low growl resounded in the Innocence's throat, "The scum that sided with the Noah? The one who God favoured? Filthy..."

"Yeah, I don't know why you hate her so much." Tyki's tone was light, but he forced it that way. He didn't want to break his cool.

"Sin and Mei...they're the same, no? They both fell for a Noah, they're both wielders of Innocence, they're both favoured by God..." Apocryphos' sentences became edgy, almost like it was growling each and every word.

"What?"

"They're the same, same family, same look; Sin is her granddaughter of many generations. And now, this is the time, the time to get rid of her bloodline once and for all..."

Tyki raised a brow. He'd never heard any of this information before. His brows knitted together as he pressed a hand over his mouth.

But apart from Sin, there's also Leon, isn't there? His mind recalled the younger brother that was currently taking care of the estate.

"Are you curious?" Apocryphos' lips curled into a sadistic smile, "Why don't you ask that Demon Eye Noah of yours? You'll find out everything from him. What kind of memories have you lost? How did I kill her? What kind of deaths did I put her through—"

A beam of pure power shot into the monster Innocence's shoulder, burning a hole straight through. A scream erupted from the Protector of the Heart's mouth.

"Shut your mouth." The Noah of Pleasure put his hand down, the black tendrils that had wrapped around his arm fading away.

The Innocence's words had made him want to poke holes through every part of his body. He mustn't get that aggravated over words of Sin. Instead, he'd focus that on the information he had gotten, such as information on the Heart.

The whole cart is silent. Allen hasn't spoken a word in a while, and Johnny's gone outside to speak with Tiedoll.

I have to admit, Tiedoll's reasoning to help is quite interesting. I wouldn't have known. Same with Lenalee and Marie. I didn't know they were into this as well.

That just proves how loved Allen is by those at the Order.

Mei poked her head through the open curtain, staring up at the starry sky that Johnny had openly admired just before.

I wonder if Sin is loved by them just as much?

It was a quick thought that had gone through her mind, but it was something she really did genuinely wonder.

Allen;

Mei pulled her head back and glanced around the silent cart. Kanda seemed to be watching her every movement like a hawk, not trusting her one bit. She was sure he didn't sleep a wink at all, and just watched everyone in a cautious state.

Her crimson coloured eyes glazed past him and went to the white haired teen that sat like a lifeless doll. He hadn't spoken a word for a while. He was thinking, she knew, and he was sad.

Timcanpy meant a lot to him, didn't it, Sin?

Now you decide to let me out and start talking to me?

I need someone to fill my head with thoughts right now.

I...get what you mean. Allen is sad. Timcanpy was one of his best friends.

Yeah.

Mei could only sigh lightly. It was a loss. Apocryphos was the one to blame, of course, but—

"That human shaped Innocence…" Kanda's voice didn't waver when he spoke that line. It was almost laced with spite, like it had wronged him. "Just why did it take human form of all things?"

Mei just looked at him, pondering on his words, but then realised, that she had no answer.

Wait...why did Apocryphos decide to take human form? Was it to protect the Heart? Was it to easily blend into the crowd? Maybe it's closer to the look that its host had back many years ago?

Why?

The Seraphim user placed a hand on the ground, facing Kanda. "Aelius, or Apocryphos, took human form to blend in with the crowd, I believe. It'd make it easier for him to find the Heart among other things. Just look at how he infiltrated the Order."

"Not just that, he's here to also take Allen. But because I'm here, he'll have some trouble, I believe."

Kanda's dark eyes narrowed at the dual Innocence user. No words were spoken between them, and to break the tense atmosphere, Mei just smiled.

She turned to look at Allen, "Hey, we should fight Apocryphos." She spoke her words softly, like she was speaking to a baby, and watched as Allen's eyes flickered to her, slightly widening.

Ah, a reaction.

"Oi, Mei, what the hell are you doing?" Kanda spat.

"I'm just giving him a suggestion. You know, if we capture Apocryphos wouldn't that mean that we'll have all the information we need? You guys can go find Katarina and do whatever you need to do, but we can get Apocryphos, and get him to tell us what it needs to tell us." She added, "And what happened to Bookman as well."

Except, I'm not sure if the Noah had released them at all.

"Lavi…" Allen's lips almost looked like it murmured the name of his friend, but no sound came out.

"Mei, you're contradicting yourself." Tiedoll interrupted. He was eavesdropping on their conversation before, as it was interesting. There were dynamics there that he didn't expect. Moreover, he had a hunch that Mei wasn't being 100% truthful to them. After all, she had thousands of years under her belt of lying and forging stories that could be passed as truth, to deceive and get whatever information she needed to get.

According to Rouvelier and Komui, there were lots of things she knew that they didn't, and it would be a disaster if they didn't have her under their belt, or working for their side.

Well, she is a free agent, Tiedoll mused.

"What do you mean, General?" Mei gave him the side eye.

"Before, you said that you needed Allen to get to Katarina, but now you don't want to go to Katarina, and you want to go capture Apocryphos." Tiedoll summarised.

"Yeah, and what's so bad and contradictory about that?" Mei questioned.

"Did you not want to go and revive Timcanpy? Were there not memories stored in it that you could see?" Tiedoll turned to question her.

That's true. He's right. There is. However, I don't need Timcanpy right now. I need the knowledge of Allen and his ability to use the Ark.

"No, I want to—" Mei started, but she stopped mid-sentence, seeing a bright glow to her side where Allen was seated. She immediately knew this sensation, and she couldn't stop her lips from curling up into a cold, calculating smile.

"Sorry. I guess I really can't tell you anything." Allen's words slipped from a smile on his face, "Please, just forget about it all. I'll retrieve the human type Innocence myself."

Gotcha.

Mei grabbed a hold of his wrist as the Ark took him inside. The light bathed around them as she smiled at the others.

"It'll all be over soon."

Komui, whenever he was on break, would take out the book that he had gotten about Mei. It was an interesting book, full of opinions and things that had happened. It was one step closer to the mystery that was Mei.

I wonder how Sin and Mei are doing now. They're on the capture alive or kill list right now…

The worry for the woman made him hope that his hair didn't grow any more gray hairs than it already did.

If it's London, then the Finders and stuff will all be able to capture them. If Mei's there, then she'll be easy to find. The primary mission is to find Allen Walker, though.

Komui intertwined his fingers and stared at the book in front of him, and decided to flip through it once again. It was old but still in good condition. His fingers traced over the picture of Mei, holding up the sword that was her hairpin.

She seemed so heroic, so strong, but now what was she reduced to? A villain that needed to be killed. A monster with too much power.

Just like great power comes great responsibility.

He knew that Mei understood that. And, he knew that Mei knew that her powers were being sought after. Whether it was the power of the Innocence that she wields as parasitic and equip, or just the years of experience she has—she knew that she was in a position to be able to do something to change whatever she wanted to change.

Hold on a minute.

Komui flipped through the book yet again, and his eyes widened at the possibility of his theories coming true.

But just how long…

"Chief? You have a meeting now." His secretary knocked on his door.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

He felt a bead of sweat roll down the side of his face, realising how big her possible plan was.

…how long has she been planning this for?

"I didn't expect you to come here, too." Mei made an expression of irritation when she saw that Kanda had somehow made his way into the Ark as well.

Must've jumped in at the last minute. This guy's reflexes are insane.

"Do you want me to kill you?!" Kanda snapped.

Mei uncrossed her arms and clapped a couple of times, laughing almost robotically. "I sharp sword can't possibly not kill me!"

"Why...why did you follow me here, Mei, Kanda?!" Allen's voice seemed to shake whenever he talked.

The two in front of him stopped bickering and exchanged annoyed glances at each other before looking to Allen.

"I didn't follow you. I baited you." Mei spoke truthfully. Currently, she didn't feel like lying. Right now, the situation called for it.

She could see Allen's expression twist with confusion, not knowing how to respond. Finally, his lips moved to form a couple of words, "But, why?"

It was bright where they were; the Ark wasn't a dark place. It was reminiscent of the Mediterranean houses that were beautifully made with white stone.

I've made it here. I can't go back now.

"Allen. I need your help in using this Ark. There's something here that I need to do no matter what." She kneeled down to where Allen was, leaning towards him just slightly. She placed her index finger on his forehead, "I need that knowledge you have here about this Ark, and how you can instruct it to do things."

Allen was reminded of the time when they had fought Tyki on this Ark, and instantly reminded of the weird moments between Tyki's Noah form and Mei.

"The score…?" He almost whispered, feeling that he knew exactly what she was talking about. After all, she knew what was going on, and she knew what the 14th was capable of doing.

Kanda, who sat on the side, used his Innocence to threaten the woman. He held it up to her chin, "What are you planning?"

Mei looked down at the knife near her face, then to Kanda, looking him dead set in the eyes. "Me? I'm just planning to do whatever it takes to get rid of what I hate."

"That human shaped Innocence?" Kanda questioned suspiciously.

Mei didn't reply at all and focused her attention back to Allen. "Allen. Will you help me? This will benefit you as well."

"Huh? I was going to capture—"

"I know, but I need you to wish for the Room of Seraphs. This will help in doing what I need to do to get rid of Apocryphos."

Kanda took away the blade that was held near Mei. "Just what is this Room of Seraphs?"

Mei glanced at the stoic man and then the white haired one, contemplating to how much shit she can make up on the spot.

"It's a room where I can control some strings from within the Noah family. It's a secret room that the 14th gave to me." Mei smiled. It was a smile of face value only.

"I don't trust you." Kanda said after a moment.

"You don't trust anyone, Kanda. Anything new?" Mei shrugged and rolled her eyes. She grabbed Allen by his shoulders. "Don't mind Kanda."

"What are you—?" Kanda's irritation showed on his face. He was ready to take action and kill her right then and there if she did anything to Allen.

"Mei?!" Allen questioned with a slight gasp.

Mei's hands went to Allen's cheeks, holding them so that his face was facing her dead on. It was close, the proximity between them. However, it wasn't romantic nor held any intentions of such.

"Allen." The strength that Mei put into her hands didn't budge, and it was squishing the boy's cheeks quite a bit. He didn't say a word, almost compelled to listen to the strong woman.

"Help me, before you do anything. Trust me, please." Her tone of voice was as clear as a whistle.

Allen, I'm sorry that I have to lie to you.

Allen's thoughts were a jumbled mess at this point. He made a resolve when he opened the Ark, and now, since Mei had gone into the place with him and spoken some interesting things, he wasn't sure whether he could do them the way he wanted anymore.

He wanted to find out more about what Mei was talking about.

"What do you mean, you can get rid of Apocryphos?" Allen asked, grabbing her hands and pulling them away from his face.

Mei let go and took a step back. "First of all, let me ask you this: If I'm the only one that can hurt Apocryphos, don't you think I'd know how to get rid of it once and for all?"

"But how? With the Purification of Fire or whatever it's called?"

"Yes, but there are a few things I need to do that involve you using that score. I can't tell you right now, though."

"Then I can't trust you." Allen spoke regretfully. "As much as I'd like to, if I don't know what you're going to be doing, you'll just go anywhere. You're related to the 14th, you're related to the Noah; I don't know whose side you're on, and what you're trying to do. No one does. How can I trust you?"

He could feel his eyes watering. He wanted to so very badly trust Mei, not only because she seemed like she knew what she was doing, but she knew many things that they didn't. It's just that, she was incredibly secretive.

"I see." Mei crossed her arms. "Alright, then. How about I tell you this: if I do whatever I need to do, then Sin will be able to come back."

"What do you mean?"

"You know how whenever I use these wings of Innocence, it corrodes and helps me take over the hosts' mind? Well, there's more to that. If I can do the thing that I left unfinished, I'll be able to help Sin so that she doesn't disappear from this world."

"What?" Kanda and Allen both had a sharp intake of breath.

"You're lying." Allen immediately spoke.

"No, I'm not. With Sin's situation, it's incredibly delicate. I don't want her to die, nor do I want to take over this body that does not belong to me."

"What?" Kanda almost spat. "You took over her each and every moment that you got!"

"Has it ever occurred to you that each time I did, it was to protect her from the danger that could have been prevented?" Mei turned her head to face the dark haired male, her voice becoming sharp and accusative. "Listen, Kanda. I don't have the time to dawdle and wait for someone to die because of this stupid war between you and your super annoying organisation."

"I have a family to save, and lives to preserve." Mei grabbed Allen, "Whether you like it or not, I'm sick of this. Hurry up and wish for the Room of Seraph."

Allen opened his quivering lips, unsure. But, he ultimately decided to go through with it, allowing a door to appear to the side. It was a door that had Mei's name on it.

"Beansprout?!" Kanda exclaimed. He didn't expect the boy to go through with it.

"Alright, thanks, Allen." Mei let go of Allen and stepped towards the door, then abruptly stopped. "What, Kanda?"

"You take a step through that door and I'll kill you." Kanda's eyes flared.

"You? Think you can kill me?" Mei's voice of disbelief made her crack up in laughter. She lifted a hand to her mouth to cover her laugh as per habit. "You're a silly one. I'll still be in the Ark, you know. I'm the only one who can enter this door, by the way. And, if you want to kill me, you'll have all the time in the world afterwards. However, just be sure to wait a little bit, okay? Your resolve for killing me is unstable, Kanda. Even I can feel it." Mei smiled at him before putting her hand on the door handle and going in.

Allen and Kanda squinted when the door opened. The light was so bright it was blinding, but when it closed, they were able to open their eyes again.

"Oi, beansprout, why did you help her?" Kanda's voice had an edge to it, but it wasn't hateful.

And what the hell? She saw through me just as easily as she did every other time.

Allen pressed his lips together, then shook his head. "I don't know. What she said before was...real. She wasn't lying. She may be secretive, but…"

"But what? What are you trying to say?"

"She has a reason to do everything that she does. I don't think she's trying to betray anybody, or the Order or whatnot." Allen carefully chose his words. "I don't know how I know, but she's not a threat."

"She's the biggest threat that the Order has right now, apart from the Noah and that independent Innocence!" Kanda snapped.

"But she said she'll save Sin!" Allen whipped around to face the man.

Kanda flinched for a moment but regained his composure, "So what? She says that, but she's probably lying—"

"She has a point, though. If she really wanted to get rid of Sin, she would have already gotten rid of her by speeding up the corrosion process! But from what she's been saying, it hasn't 100% happened yet!"

"Urgh…"

"I want to believe her...I want to. She may be involved with the 14th, but...that's all there is to it, right? Right?"