HEY GUYS!

SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT! I STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME PLOT DETAILS, I AM A PERFECTIONIST.

WHILE IM WORKING OUT MY WRITER'S BLOCK, I THINK THAT I WILL WRITE MORE SHORTS IN THE OFF SERIES (REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ARIANNA'S TIME WITH THE NOAH. IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO BE BEFORE SHE MET ALLEN. IT CAN BE THE PRESENT.) OR WRITE SOME READER INSERTS FOR YOU GUYS (JUST PM ME). I FEEL LIKE THESES EXERCISES WILL REFRESH ME.

I HOPE I HAVEN'T PISSED YOU GUYS OFF TOO MUCH.

JUST WARNING YOU, THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL CHAPTER, I LISTENED TO A LOT OF SAD PIANO MUSIC WHEN I TYPED THIS.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY (I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS KIND OF CHAPTER.)

WHAT EVS.

~OmGiStHaTaDuMpLiNg~


~A Week Later~

Arianna was still trying to comprehend Tyki's plan.

Despite that she was able to stay composed, her mind ran a million miles per hour. Guilt, sorrow, happiness, disbelief, and a variety of other emotions swirled within her. It was a miracle that nobody seemed to notice her agitation. Or maybe they did, but associated it with her "paranoid multiple personality disorder".

Speaking of her mental health, she couldn't shake the feeling that the Earl's "tracking system" had something to do with it. Arianna made a mental note to add this subject to the nearly endless supply of questions she was planning on interrogating her family with when she got home.

Whatever was the case, she channeled the rest of her energy towards training the last troop of recruits with Alice. She was more ruthless and adamant than ever, so much so that Alice even was careful not to cross her while they were on the job. Arianna felt like it was the least she could do, to prepare as many finders as she could before her family went on offense.

Maybe if they were lucky, some of them would survive.

Now this might have seemed pointless given that she was going to forget them soon, but Arianna couldn't help herself.

She felt guilty...

painfully so.

In a way she was grateful that most of her loved ones were away on missions, especially Allen.

He could always read her like a book, and there was no doubt in her mind that he would realize there was something terribly wrong. Plus she didn't think she would be able to face him knowing what she was going to do.

The wait was agonizing.

Her senses were so acute that she could make out every conversation, every whisper, that echoed through the halls of the Order. On multiple occasions, she had to restrain herself from flinching every time an exorcist was mentioned. The rumors, debates, and lies whirled around in her in a terrible cacophony.

It felt like she was suffocating...

Tyki better carry out the plan soon, or she really was going to go insane.

"Grey...", Darrius asked in concern, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Her hand tightened around her knife as she flinched against his touch.

Without thinking, she swiped at him.

Darrius's violet eyes widened in shock as he bent backwards to avoid her impromptu assault. Arianna panted as she glared at him, her eyes filled with crazed fear. They were stormy grey and were glazed over as if she had a fever.

Mathias slowly approached her and tentatively pried the knife out of her grasp. As soon as it fell to the ground, she was brought back to her senses. Seemingly disgusted at what she had done, she backed away from them as if she was afraid she was going to hurt them.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she started to laugh uncomfortably and her lips twitched into a painful smile. The two boys stared at her in concern, not knowing what had just happened. Mathias frowned as he watched Arianna continue to back away from them.

"Heheehe, sorry about that guys.", she said quietly, "I haven't taken my medicine today.".

Darrius frowned and grabbed her by the shoulders, she avoided his penetrating glare. Mathias stepped forward to pry Darrius off of her, but thought better of it when he glared at him. It was a hard, mature gaze, telling him that Arianna needed to be taught a lesson. Sometimes, it was easy to forget how much older Darrius was.

"God damn it, Arianna.", he hissed as he shook her slightly, "You can't do this to yourself!".

Mathias nodded in agreement, a combination of worry and disappointment in his icy blue eyes. Arianna wouldn't meet his eyes, but did not shake him off. Instead, she focused her gaze on the ceiling.

"You've been fidgety lately...", Mathias asked in concern, ", is this why?".

Arianna rolled her eyes, regaining her typical cold demeanor.

"No, this was just a one time thing.", she replied a little more rationally, "I'll go to my room to get it."

It was too late, they didn't trust her.

"We're going with you.", they said almost at the same time, "No exceptions."

Her heart sank as she realized they were going to find out that she didn't keep any of her medicine. They were all at the bottom of her trashcan. She mentally chastised herself for being so stupid. Darrius noticed her momentary expression of guilt, his eyes narrowed as his lips pressed into a tight line.

Mathias groaned when he realized it himself.

"You threw it away, didn't you?", he asked quietly, "Why would you do that Arianna? I thought you were getting better."

Darrius grabbed her by the arm, ignoring her protests as he flung her over his shoulder. For the first time, Arianna feared him, he exuded power and authority. It was as if he was her father, and she, his troublesome daughter.

"LET ME GO!", she shrieked as she pounded on his back, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!".

Darrius ignored her protests, even though he could feel nasty bruises starting to form on his back.

"Taking you to Komui.", he replied stolidly, his eyes shining with frustration. "You need an intervention."

A wave of hate washed over her, rendering her motionless as she struggled to restrain herself from tearing him apart. She saw crimson in her fury, barely registering Mathias horrified expression or that they had burst into Komui's office.

Although Mathias noticed right away that there was something off about the chief, Darrius did not. He was too focused on Arianna to notice the deathly aura spreading in the room.

"We have a problem Komui.", Darrius started in agitation, "Arianna..."

Komui interrupted him.

"General Yeager has been attacked by the Noah..."

Darrius dropped Arianna in shock.

Mathias hurried to Arianna's side, intending to help her up, but she slapped his hand away. Her expression transforming into cold preparedness as she looked in between Komui and Darrius. Komui placed a hand on Darrius's shoulder, his lips set in a grim line.

"He's dead, Darrius.", he said seriously.

Darrius's face was cast in shadows.

Although he trembled, he managed to stay professional.

"We have to go to him.", Darrius replied softly.

Komui nodded tersely, "Yes, we must take action.". He began stuffing papers hastily into a bag, "We are going now, Allen and Lenalee are already there."

Mathias couldn't believe what he had just heard.

A general dead?

A person who was supposed to be basically invincible had been squashed like an ant by the Noah. Fear trickled into his system, paralyzing him. He couldn't believe that Darrius be so calm. The three were so preoccupied that they didn't notice that Arianna had gotten up. She held her head high, her face blank and unfeeling.

"I quit."

They all stared at her in shock.

"What did you just say, Arianna?", Komui asked incredulously.

Mathias dumfounded, stared at her, unable to comprehend what she had just said. Darrius however, glared at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. She just shot all of them an icy glare as she took off her finder's coat and threw it onto Komui's desk.

"I said I quit, Komui.", she replied coldly, "I want to leave the Order, I've had enough."

"WHAT THE HELL, ARIANNA?!"

"Ari..."

"Why do you want to leave the Order, Arianna?"

Arianna ignored their protests. Her eyes flashed maliciously as she almost snarled at them. For a split second, her eyes turned crimson. But the situation was so comfusing and sudden that the others didn't notice it.

"Do you really want to know the truth?...", she hissed, "I am tired of being treated like a pawn. I'm tired of being constrained to this fucking tower and being told what to do like an insignificant pawn. I'm tired of being told that I am a "crazy bitch" that ought to be medicated into submission. I am not a doll, Komui. I am not your plaything. I am not crazy.".

Komui looked greatly taken aback, so did the Darrius and Mathias.

She spoke with such hatred, that they could feel her fury radiate off her in waves.

"Arianna..."

"No, shut up and listen to me.", she interrupted, completely focused on Komui. "I will not sit here and watch you manipulate, torture, and send my friends to their deaths. Innocence is a filthy, despicable thing. It is not a gift from God, it is a curse, a fucking curse! It is his way of twisting your feeble minds into thinking that you are loved, that you are blessed. Well, guess what, you're not! You're fighting a hopeless war. Even if you survive, you won't be truly alive. You can't run away from your sins for the sake of victory."

"Is that what you believe?", Darrius whispered, his eye's flashing dangerously.

Mathias shifted uncomfortably, conflicted about what he should do.

He didn't want Arianna to leave. But if she really hated the Order that much, she should go. Of course he felt betrayed, but he knew deep down that Arianna would be happier away from all of this. For the first time, Mathias fully comprehended the prospect of war. He decided he didn't want Arianna to have anything to do with it.

He wanted her to be safe.

"I want to be able to travel without the Order breathing down my neck. I want to be free, Komui...", Arianna continued a little more softly, "I want to see my family.".

"WHAT ABOUT ALLEN, ARIANNA?!", Darrius shouted, a vein pulsing in his forehead, "WHAT ABOUT US?!".

Mathias stepped in between them, feeling like if he didn't, something bad would happen. He reached out for her hand, and to his surprise, she took it. His heart jolted at her touch, and it was like he could tell what she was really thinking.

She was sorry.

She was saying goodbye.

She had to leave.

"I have already accepted the fact that I can not save him. He is a parasitic type, Darrius, I'm not stupid. I know that he won't make it into his 40's. Yes, I love him. But that is all the more reason why I can't stay here. I can't sit by knowing that he will die some gruesome death.", she continued, her voice cracking.

"So you're abandoning us?", Darrius replied more calmly, but there was still a dangerous edge in his tone.

"No.", Arianna said tiredly, "I'm giving up. I'm going to be the selfish and actually put my needs before everyone else's. Isn't that what you wanted? For me to take care of myself."

"Not this way, Arianna.", Darrius said in frustration, he looked a lot older than he was, like the last few minutes had aged him.

Komui just looked on from the sidelines, a grim expression on his face.

"Nothing in my contract says that I can not resign.", she continued, "Keeping me here will violate my rights. My real name is Arianna Lucia Broker and I am the heir to the Broker estate and the fiance of the minister of Portugal's nephew. You will not prevent me from fulfilling my filial duty.".

Mathias's eyes widened at this, he had no idea that Arianna was a blue blood. He himself was one too, before this whole fiasco. It made sense, seeing that there were times where her behavior coensided with noble blood.

Mathia's mind whirled as he tried to comprehend this new information.

Her last name also sounded so familiar...

Darrius wasn't impressed.

"So you're going to be some rich bastard's wife.", he said coldly, "That isn't you, Arianna."

"You don't know me at all.", she replied icily, her head held high.

Electricity seemed to erupt between them.

"Then why did you join the Order in the first place?"

"Because I was a child. Your General Cross manipulated me when I had lost my memories. He told me that he knew where they were, and that he would tell me if I accompanied Allen to the Order. Well, guess what. I remember now. I don't have any reason to stay here any longer.".

The tone in her voice was final.

She was serious.

"You bi..."

Komui cut in, his face impassive as he grabbed Darrius by the arm, "Enough, Darrius. We don't have time for this.".

He sent Arianna a look of serious understanding. Although she knew that he disapproved of her decision, he still smiled at her.

"Arianna, pack your things. There will be two men to accompany you to where ever you need to go.".

Darrius was about to protest when Komui interrupted him.

"There is no point in arguing with her. This is what she wants. That much is obvious.", he said professionally, "Come Darrius. That is an order. Mathias, you are to stay here."

Mathias nodded weakly as he tried to ignore Darrius's glare, his hand tightening around Arianna's.

The moment Komui and Darrius left, Arianna started to cry.

Mathias staggered as she grabbed on to him, her legs giving out. She sobbed quietly into his chest, staining his shirt in the process. He wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into her hair, recognizing her floral shampoo.

He didn't know how long they laid there.

He didn't know why Arianna waited so long to tell them.

But what he did know, was that she was going to leave them.

He wasn't going to see her again.

She wasn't a Finder anymore.


~With Mathias~

Mathias couldn't believe she was gone.

He walked down the halls in a daze, his arms limp by his side. He knew that Arianna was unhappy, that this what was best for her. But that didn't mean that it didn't hurt. Mathias continued to walk aimlessly through the Order, not caring that he had passed his room multiple times.

Other finders had stopped him on occasion and asked him what was wrong, but he just waved them off and continued on.

It was hours before he returned to his room, the moon shone brightly through his small window. He flopped onto his bed, not caring that he still had his uniform on, or that he was laying on his sketch book. It poked into his side painfully, he groaned as he reached underneath himself and threw it into the corner of his room.

It hit his desk with a loud bang, causing one of his pictures crash onto the floor. It shattered on impact, its glass littering the stone like small crystals. Cursing himself, Mathias pushed himself off the bed and started to clean up the mess.

It was the picture he had managed to get with Arianna (Lavi had taken it), she was actually hugging him because he had given her tiramisu. He laughed weakly at his dumfounded expression as he picked it up out of the frame.

Then he saw that there was a folded papers hidden beneath it. Confused, he pulled them out and unfolded them. Arianna's small, elegant scrawl jumped out from the pages. It was a letter. He read it hungrily, but quickly realized its dark significance.

Folding it hastily, he quickly stuffed it in the bottom of his drawers, making sure that it was safely hidden.

His heart pounded as he recalled what she had written.

She said she was sorry and that she would miss him.

But there was one thing that she wrote in particular that frightened him the most...

It was the real reason why she left.


~Meanwhile~

To say that Darrius was emotionally distraught would be an understatement.

Arianna had abandoned them. Completely, and utterly abandoned them. What was worse, was that his mentor was dead. His father figure was gone. He would never be able to see his wise smile, or seek his scholarly advice.

Darrius felt like his heart was going to burst.

Tears ran down his face as his hands clenched into fists, memory upon memory flashed in front of his eyes...

Some of his deceased master.

Others of Arianna.

It was all so painful, he didn't care that he was openly showing weakness in front of Komui and other finders. They looked at him in pity, but remained silent, not knowing how to comfort him...

Why did everything have to go to shit?


I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ARE SATISFIED WITH THIS CHAPTER.

I AM GOING TO TAKE A BREAK WRITING THIS SO I CAN WORK OUT THE KINKS. PLEASE HELP ME BY SENDING ME PROMPTS OR REQUESTING PERSONAL PEICES. I JUST FEEL THAT I AM IN A RUT. THESE EXERCISES WILL MOTIVATE ME / REFRESH ME.

THANKS FOR BEING SUCH LOYAL FANS.

PS. bamafelix, I HOPE THAT I DIDN'T MAKE DARRIUS TOO OUT OF CHARACTER. I JUST FEEL THAT HE WOULD BE SORT OF EMOTIONALLY IRRATIONAL. I'M PLANING ON MAKING THE NEXT CHAPTER DEVOTED TO HIM (HIS BACKSTORY) AND THE OTHERS REACTION. SO DON'T WORRY. IM GOING TO WORK VERY HARD ON IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY MOST RESPONSIVE FAN. I HOPE THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP DARRIUS TO YOUR LIKING. :)

PLEASE REVIEW!

WRITE TO YOU GUYS SOON.

~OmGiStHaTaDuMpLiNg~