So, this is officially the last chapter before we enter... HALLOW!Yeah!

Answer: ...

Enjoy!

I woke up three hours later under medical care. Of course, I didn't stay there for long, but I took pity on the nurses and let them do the tests without complaining. After that, I went to the chapel where all the dead would be exposed.

When I got there, I easily counted all the corpses.

56.

It could have been worse, Hime.

It could have been better.

You can't blame yourself, Ary. You know you can't.

And I'm not. I'm going to do more next time, though. I will avenged their deaths and will remember their sacrifice. I won't let it happen again.

Atta girl.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to identify those lying before me, but could only make out faces. I never talked to most of them, but Tapp's name on one of the coffins made my heart sting. He was a good man, and he helped me a lot through the paperwork duty when I had too do it.

Biting my lower lip, I then realized with relief that Tewaku wasn't in there. We had been separated when I was sent through the third gate with the others, and didn't see her since. Now worried, I tried to find her, but realized I couldn't expand my aura that much.

You don't have enough energy yet.

Yeah, I kind of realized that.

I couldn't just let it go, though. So, I started searching the old way.

Otherwise said, I ran through each and every hallway and asked everyone if they had seen her.

No answer was positive.

After what seemed like hours, I finally spotted Leverrier and Link talking farther away. At first hesitating, I then hardened my resolve and walked to them.

"Leverrier!" I called.

He turned to me, raising an eyebrow.

"Miss Aryane. What-"

"Tewaku's missing" I cut. "We got separated at the third gate, so I've been looking for her, but I can't find her anywhere!"

He didn't seem worried, though.

"Inspector Tewaku has received a new mission and is going back to Central" he informed. "She is safe, if you really want to know"

My heart missed a beat, and I felt a little dizzy.

"Thank God" I breathed out, passing an hand on my face. "... Wait, I'm not under investigation anymore?"

"We cannot afford loosing anymore effectives for such trivial matters" he replied. "But do not think I take my eyes of of you"

"Of course not" I rolled my own. "I'll go see her off then"

I waved lazily, and made a mad dash for the waterways, hoping I'd get there in time. Running down the stairs and nearly breaking my neck a few times, I finally got to the decks, where the blond girl was about to depart.

"Doll!" I yelled.

She jumped at my voice and turned to me, wide eyes. She instantly jumped back onto the deck as I reached her.

"Ary" she greeted. "I'm glad you're safe"

"I was worried about you" I frowned. "The hell were you thinking, leaving without even saying goodbye?"

"I was ordered to leave immediately" she bit her lower lip.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, curious.

She took a deep breath, before locking our gazes, some sort of hope in her eyes.

"You asked me to find my purpose, my own path, remember? You asked me if I would take the opportunity if it presented itself, right?" she remembered. "I can'T tell you much but... This is it, Ary! This is my chance!"

I eyed her for a few seconds, careful on my next words.

"Is it what you truly want, Doll?"

"Hai" her voice was determined, resolved.

I smiled, and patted her head.

"Then I'm with you on the whole way" I assured.

Her breath hitched and I could see water forming in her eyes. She instantly wiped them away, and stomped back to the boat. I could see she was glad, but unable to express it. The boat started moving again, and I waved, before making my way back to the door.

"W-wait! Ary!"

There was a 'THUD' as I turned around, in time to catch the teenager who hugged me with all the strength she could muster. I instantly hugged back, and I felt my shoulder becoming wet as her tears tainted my clothes.

"Thank you" she whispered.

The girl then pulled away, rubbing her cheeks to make the last traces of cries disappear.

"Come see me again sometimes, alright?" I pushed some strands behind her ears.

"When we see each other again, I'll have found my own path!" she assured.

"I'll be waiting, then"

As the boat disappeared in the darkness, I couldn't help but wonder why there was a debris of Dark Matter onboard.

As I walked back to my room, someone collided into me.

"Itai…" I grunted, rubbing my hell. "Where the hell are you running like that, Kiddo?"

"S-sorry, Ary!" he helped me up.

"Ary, Krory has woken up!" exclaimed Miranda, who appeared just behind him.

My heart missed a beat. Ignoring them, I instantly ran to the medical wing.

"BUFFY!"

Slamming the doors open, I darted in the room, already occupied by Marie, Chaozii, Marie and the Head Nurse –who glared at me.

"Ary" the man smiled as I crouched next to him.

"Crow-chan!"

"Krory!"

Lavi, Allen and Miranda arrived just a moment later.

"Guys…"

"I can't believe you decided to wake up now" I hit my head against his bed. "You missed out onto a lot, Buffy. And we were so worried too! Don't scare us like that again!"

He chuckled, and his hand rested onto my head.

"I won't"

Someone cleared his throat, and we turned to see Kanda leaning in the doorframe.

"Uh? Yuu?" blinked Lavi. "What is it?"

"Komui's calling for us" he simply answered.

"This is an evolved equip type" presented Komui. "The Innocence takes the user's blood and forms a weapon from it. We've decided to call it a crystal-type"

"Is Lenalee the only one who can attain this crystal-type?" asked Tiedoll.

"No, there's a very high chance it's possible for all equip-types" refuted the Boss.

Everyone looked at each other, unsure about what to make of this new possibility.

"So God wants to make us stronger, uh?" Tiedoll concluded.

"I wonder about that"

Surprised, I turned to Allen, who wasn't even looking at us.

"With this recent attack, it seems to me that the Earl is trying to say that he could kill us at any time" he pursued. "And that's why we must become stronger. We must take that strength and continue this fight, until the day we defeat all of the Akumas. Until the day we defeat the Millennium Earl"

There was a moment of silence.

"Talking about the Millennium Earl…"

I stiffened at Klaud's voice, clearly remembering her last words to me.

"Exorcist Aryane"

And there we go.

Fuck my life.

"Hai?"

"Sooner in the battle, you were taken captive by the Noah and admitted to have been sent to the Millennium Earl when you managed to get back" she recalled. "From what I've gathered, he has also tried to kill you once when you first came out of the Ark, and you were also separated from your group when you faced the Noah Twins Jasdevi"

I could feel everyone's eyes burning holes through me as Allen, Lavi and Bookman's worry grew somewhat.

Then, I sighed.

"You're right, something happened" I admitted.

"Ary-" Allen tried to stop me.

"I couldn't tell anyone here because of the presence of Leverrier" I cut sharply. "Seeing as he isn't there, I am ready to clarify this situation. However, I must insist that any information given here is to be kept secret, no matter what happens. If Central was to know about my situation, everyone here would be in grave danger"

After a few unsure glances, Komui finally nodded his consent. Klaud, Sokaro and Tiedoll did the same, before being joined by the rest of the Exorcists.

This is going to be long.

No shit.

"This new threat is quite troubling" Klaud narrowed her eyes.

"As I said, none of you has to take care of it" I shook my head. "It is my role, and Gabriel's, to eliminate Apocryphos"

"And you say he has infiltrated the Vatican?" frowned Komui.

"Exactly, which is why I couldn't let Leverrier know. If he did, then the information would have reached Michael's ears and he would have come here to kill me and all the Exorcists present at the same time" I resumed.

"And you also said you could find the Heart" pointed out Reever.

At that, I turned to the mirror that had been brought at my demand, where Gabriel was sitting.

"You see, that's actually a story I have yet to hear too" I remarked, more coldly. "How about you tell us more, Trickster?"

My tone was casual, but he knew I was serious.

He sighed.

"When the Innocence was dispersed around the globe in different fragments, I was given the Heart. I hid it the best I could, before erasing my own memories to make sure the Earl would never know its location. However, Aryane is my Host. That means she can see my memories, and thus finding out about the Heart's hideout. Of course, she'd have to expand her aura first, and we have to merge even more, but one of the Noahs who has yet to be reincarnated would be able to break through our defenses to get the information anyway, which is why the Earl tried to kidnap her. He tried to kill her when he realized she would more than probably lead us to it first if she didn't die, but then learn somehow that she wasn't even close to unlock the memories, and thus still had a chance. Now it's too late, so he won't try anything for a while. His Egg has been destroyed, his Noahs are out of shape and his Akumas are running low. We should be safe for now, long enough for Ary and I to develop our bond more"

"And you didn't deem necessary to warn me first?" I raised an eyebrow. "You just told me that one day, I would be able to find the Heart. If you told me that I unconsciously already knew, I would have been hell of a lot more careful as to not get caught, you know? And I would have told everyone then, too"

"I was afraid that if I told you, you would unlock the memories without being ready"

And he was honest too. Grunting in defeat, I slumped on the couch.

"Damn, I can't stay mad at you" I sighed.

There were a few chuckles, and Lenalee placed an hand on my shoulder.

"Allen, Lavi and Bookman knew, though" she remarked.

"Allen because he was already suspicious of me, seeing as I kept talking to myself back at the Asian Branch, and the other two because… well, they're Bookmen. They don't have to answer Central like we do. That's really it" I shrugged.

Allen shot me a grateful look, apparently glad I hadn't snitched on him and his situation, but I waved it off. Chaozii shot me a curious look.

"You said you could feel the Innocence and the aura" he remarked. "And that you can identify everyone. How do you do it?"

"Well, Exorcists, civilians, Akumas and Noahs are clear, separated groups" I informed. "The civilians are some blue, kind of hazy. The Exorcists are red, heavier. The Akumas are purple and cold. The Noahs are black and white at the same time, and make me feel sick. After that, it depends on each person. For example, the stupid womanizer is a mix between the taste of alcohol and the smell of cigarettes"

"Why aren't I surprise" grunted Allen.

"Kiddo's here tastes lemon" I informed, smirking. "As for Jumper's, it feels like a cold breeze against my skin. You see, it really depends on the person"

"What's Kanda's?" asked curiously Marie.

"Lotus flower"

There were a few snorts –I'd say from Lavi and Allen, but I won't point fingers- as Kanda glared my way, and I placed my attention back on Komui, who rubbed his temples.

"Anything else we should know?" he finally asked.

I exchanged a glance with Lavi, who simply shrugged.

"Bookboy and I are together" I informed.

There was only silence, and Kanda scoffed.

"As if that wasn't a given" he pointed out.

"I-I thought you were a-already together…" muttered Miranda.

"No surprise" shrugged Marie.

"You kissed on the Ark" recalled Chaozii.

"Kind of obvious" Allen scratched his head.

"Saw it coming too" nodded Lenalee.

"Already knew" said Bookman.

"My little girl's all grown up" cried Komui, banging his head on the table.

"G-guys! We weren't that obvious!" I protested with flaming red cheeks.

"Sweetheart, you kept making googly eyes at each other" Sokaro rolled his eyes.

"We didn't-"

"She's too innocent for her own good" Klaud shook her head.

"You tell me" snorted Gabriel.

"Young love is such a beautiful sight!" exclaimed Tiedoll, clearly loosing a screw.

"I fucking hate you all" I hide my face in my hands.

"Not Lavi, though" replied Reever with a smirk.

"That's it, I'm out of here"

I made my way outside as the others just laugh at my embarrassment.

I like them.

Shut the fuck up.

Turns out my room was one of the few that were destroyed during the attack.

It kind of irked me, because that meant I had to sleep in the medical wing until we got the new Headquarters, but I wasn't that upset either, seeing as all my precious belongings were on my person anyway.

It'd be a drag to go shopping, though.

As I fumbled trough the rubbles to find what I could still use, I felt Lavi's aura approaching my position. He wasn't that far, which made me frown. I should have felt him coming sooner than that.

As I said, take it easy. It'll be back in a day or two.

I feel naked without it, though.

Then you'll learn not to depend too much on your powers.

The redhead knocked on the doorframe, seeing as the door that was supposed to stand in the way kind of exploded, and entered.

"What's my aura?" he asked with the curiosity akin to a child's.

"Old books and ink" I smiled. "My favorite"

"Of course it is" he grinned, and leaned to get a kiss.

We relaxed for a few minutes, letting all the stress of the last morning disappear, and he handed me something when we pulled away. I eyed the flute in my hands with a smile.

The first pipe was half-broken.

"That's a really weird coincidence" I pointed out.

"Yeah, it is" he chuckled.

We stayed silent for a moment, just hugging, and I sighed when I felt his aura spike in wonder and hesitation.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

He tense, before relaxing and hugging me tighter.

"Yeah. We're still going to record, but Ji-ji asked for a few months off so that we didn't miss on any other events in the world" he explained.

"When are you leaving?"

"Now, I guess"

At his reluctance, I smiled before kissing him again.

"Then go" I ordered. "But come back in one piece, would ya? It'd be a drag to bury you. You know how I hate cemeteries"

He let out a sharp laugh, and placed his forehead against mine.

"I won't ask you not to do anything stupid, 'cause that'd be asking for a miracle-"

"Hey!"

"But stay safe" he pursued, still smiling but serious. "You can stay alive for a few more months, can't you?"

"Bookboy, I find your lack of faith disturbing" I teased. "But if it can reassure you, then I promise to stay safe and do my best not to die while you're away"

"I'll take your word for it then"

His lips were on mine again, moving slowly, longingly, and my heart fluttered a little.

"Lavi, Bookman asked for- holy shit! Sorry, sorry!"

I snorted as Allen walked straight out and pulled away.

"Come on, you've got to go now" I pushed him out.

"See you in a few months!" he waved.

I shook my head as he walked away with Allen, the younger boy still red but now teasing his elder with a Cheshire grin while my boyfriend whined about his intervention.

A few months, eh? Guess it gives us time to train, then, Hime.

When he's back, we'll be even stronger, believe it!

Let go of Naruto, would you? We're not in a stupid anime.

We might be.

…

…

I think you broke the fourth wall.

Shut up.

I had –what, three months? Four months?.

No matter.

When everyone got back together, we would all be even stronger.

And this time, the Earl won't have the upper hand.

WAAAAA! The end of the "first" season! I really like this chapter too...

Question: If Lavi wasn't there, with who would you ship Ary dear? *wink, wink*

Reviews are love!