I beg your forgiveness for the lateness of this chapter. Please understand that I have a life and was therefore unable to write at all these past weeks. With my job, school, family problems, and more, I've barely had enough time to think and sleep, let alone write fanfiction.

So I've finally sat down with some extra time and written this; the last chapter of Bound by Bonds.

Yes, you heard me right. This is the last chapter. After this, the series will continue in the second instalment, which will be titled Trapped by Bonds. I'll be taking a break from writing to sort out life issues and to plan out this next part, and then I'll begin writing it. So wait patiently, people.

I am also sorry that this chapter is so short. Think of it more as a closing chapter, just to wrap some things up.

So, without further ado, the last chapter. (Followed by the disclaimer.)

Disclaimer: It's no different from the rest. I do not and never will own D.gray-man.

The carriage jolted with every bump in the road, sending its two occupants jumbling around into each other inside. The female had insisted on sitting across from the male, refusing his attempts to try and comfort her, and every time a bump brought her near him, she would quickly regain herself and move away from him.

He knew this was all his fault, for being careless, for letting his Noah get out of control. She was still sulking. Or maybe frightened. It was hard to tell, since she was ignoring him. And she hadn't been too happy about the kiss either.

Of course, now he realized that she had allowed him to be close to her earlier only because of her shock. She had not thought to protest at the time. But by now that shock had worn off, and she was back to being her usually, pissy self, much to his annoyance and disappointment.

She had pushed away immediately after their lips had met, pointing out that there were more important things to attend to, and he had grudgingly agreed. To his surprise, she already had a plan to get everyone out.

Tyki was to escort Cassie and her father out in one carriage, while he and Toko, with the help of the small akuma girl who he had earned the loyalty of, took another. They were to take different routes, as two carriages traveling on the same road at the same time would be more likely to draw akuma attention.

He had almost wanted to laugh when he realized that Cassie's gaze, though still showing concern for her father, seemed to be lingering on Tyki a bit more than it should have been.

They had agreed to meet up in the next town, a little more than three hours away by carriage. Cassie had family there where they could stay, and would hopefully be safe. The mission here had been completed and the akuma had no more reason to stay.

He turned his attention back to the girl. She had drawn her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, as she stared at the shaking floor. A long, bleeding cut scarred her leg where she had tripped and collided with sharp, broken metal as they had left Cassie's broken home. She ignored it like she ignored everything else, enduring whatever physical, mental, and emotional pain that might be plaguing her.

Enough.

He mentally called for the akuma child to stop the carriage, and as it slowed, Toko's attention was finally caught.

"Why are we stopping?" she asked, her voice sounding dead. She must be exhausted, but she wasn't giving in to sleep yet.

"Need to do something quick." Jasdebi replied, shrugging off her question as if it were nothing. If this bothered her, she didn't show it, as he exited the battered carriage.

He might as well rid her of one of her worries.

He had said he would be quick, but he had lied.

Toko sat there, shivering from both the cold night and her apprehension, waiting for him to return. Perhaps her sense of time had been messed with, but as time grew on and he did not return, she grew anxious.

He wouldn't abandon her, would he?

She closed her eyes, trying to rid herself of her panic. No, she knew he wouldn't leave her. Right? Right…

A sudden explosion from somewhere outside shook the carriage, sending Toko toppling to the floor. She pulled herself up, looking alarmed. Were they under attack? Had the akuma chased them? She was just about to throw herself out of the door when it was opened, and she nearly collided with the person entering.

She had been hoping, expecting to see Jasdebi.

Instead, the akuma girl, looking just as alarmed as Toko was, entered.

Toko backed away as the girl in the human disguise sat across from her. Jasdebi had quickly explained what akuma were, machines made of human souls, and what they did; senselessly kill. So of course she was cautious of this seemingly innocent girl, even though she had assured to them that if Jasdebi wanted Toko kept alive, she would not harm her.

"More akuma have come." the girl explained, confirming Toko's fear. "Noah-sama told me to keep you inside here."

"What are they doing here?" Toko asked, moving aside the curtains to try and see what was going on outside. She saw nothing.

"Probably to speak to him about the mission." The girl said slowly, wondering how much she could reveal. "It's my two partners, and one is a level three, so I hope things don't go badly…"

Toko turned her attention to her, eyes wide with alarm. "Level three? That does that mean? Is he in danger or something?"

"Level three is… Well, stronger. I'm level two, but the difference between level two and three is huge." she explained. "But there's no way one could take out a Noah…"

Toko shuddered. "Noah? You keep saying that. I don't understand. What is a Noah?"

The akuma was silent for a moment. "I don't know if he will want me telling you…" she said uncertainly.

Toko snorted, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. "I don't give a damn if he wants me to know or not. I want to know. And if he keeps keeping secrets from me, I swear I'll… I'll…" she couldn't think of a good enough threat, "I'll so something very nasty and he won't like it one bit."

The girl looked surprised, and then a hint of a smile crossed her lips. "You're a strange human."

Toko was about to respond when the girl's eyes went blank, and she turned her sightless gaze at the door, cocking her head to the side as if listening to something. Before Toko could asked what was going on, she stood up and opened the door.

"Time to move again." she said quickly, her eyes returning to normal. "Noah-sama will be back soon."

She shut the door behind her, leaving Toko alone again.

She looked surprised when they entered again.

Jasdero threw the door open first, and practically flung himself at the girl, which earned a snicker from Debitto, who entered after. No sooner had they both gotten in and closed the door, the carriage had begun its journey again, now with three occupants instead of two, though there had not really been any addition to it.

They were both silent as they waited for her to recover and say something, but she was stubborn and was as quiet as they were, until Debitto had had enough of it.

"What, you're not gonna say hello?" he asked, trying to start the mood out light. It might have worked to a certain degree, as Toko, who had been rather stiff as Jasdero hugged her, seemed to soften a bit.

"You're that picky?" she asked, giving him a roll of her eyes, "Hello then. Welcome back."

"We weren't gone long." Debitto said with a shrug, leaning back and stretching.

This seemed to be the wrong thing to say. Her gaze turned into a glare. "Yes, you were. I was worried! And then that akuma said that there were more out there… stronger ones…"

The mood darkened. Jasdero let go of her, looking at the floor, while Debitto rubbed his arms uncomfortably.

"It said that much?" Debitto asked, looking across at her.

"Yeah. And I'd like for you to explain to me what the hell a Noah is."

They both froze.

"You don't need to know-"

"Yes, I damn well need to know, and you will tell me." she all but snarled, startling them both.

"You sure… you want to know?" Debitto asked after a moment, while Jasdero looked up uncertainly.

She stopped, her temper quickly dying down. "Yeah. I really want to know. About all of this." she sighed. "Could you maybe… start at the beginning?"

So they did.

Debitto took a deep breath, readying himself for the plunge, while Jasdero leaned against the girl, getting comfortable.

"It all began with this guy named Noah…"

Some thank-yous are in order.

To every person who ever reviewed: You people are amazing! Half the time I was pushing myself to write the chapter just so I could read your responses on it. I'm so happy that people actually like this story, and want it to continue. Again, thanks a ton!

To everyone on dA! I seriously love all of you to death. (But please don't die on me.) I love talking to you guys and probably wouldn't have been so motivated if you hadn't talked about liking this story so much! And to anyone who ever did art of Toko, you deserve a nice, huge metal or something!

And basically, to everyone who has ever read the story. Thank you!

- Hana