* In front of a manju shop. *

Allen continues to search for Cross and he comes across a man - who sells manju - who says he's seen Cross around. Allen buys a manju and shows the shopkeeper a nicely drawn picture of Cross.

"Ah~~ I know that guy! A red-haired foreigner wearing a strange mask, right?" The manju seller says in Chinese.
"MUHN!?" Allen says in English.
"If you buy another 10 manju I'll tell you everything~~" The manju seller added in Chinese.
Allen quickly finishes his manju.
"Wa... Wait! Chinese makes no sense..." Allen exclaims in English. "Le... LENALEE! SEEMS LIKE THIS GUY KNOWS SOMETHING!"

~ Later ~

Using the manju seller's directions, Lenalee leads the group, after listening to the manju seller's information. On the way to where the directions lead, Lenalee told everyone what she heard from the manju seller.

"The mistress of a brothel?" Lavi says as the group finally arrives at the destination.
"The owner of that manju shop said that General Cross is the new lover of that mistress!" Lenalee said.
"Somehow that's a typical rumor of the Master..." Allen mumbled.
"But this is flashy-" Lavi began.
"They say that this is the number one brothel in the port." Lenalee added.

"Finally, we've found General Cross... It took so long..." Lavi said to Krory.
"And we traveled far..." Krory added.
"I thought we would never find him." Lenalee said.
Damn, we found him... Allen thought gloomily.
"Let's go in." Lacie said and began walking towards the entrance, everyone followed after her.

"Hold it right there!" A woman said (in Chinese) as she appeared at the door. Everyone stopped and their eyes widened at the sight of a burly woman. "We don't let first-timers or brats in here." She added as she cracked her knuckles threateningly.

He's... He's huge...! Allen thought.
Eh!? No way, he has boobs!? Lavi said.

"We... we're sorry. I don't understand what's going on, but... sorry!" Allen quickly spoke (in English) and he held his hands up as a way of saying he's no threat.
"NO WAY! HE'S A SHE!?" Lavi exclaims in English.

The burly woman picks up both Lavi and Allen with her hands.

"WHAAAAA, LENALEE!" Both Allen and Lavi screamed in terror.

"Let go of my friends! We're not customers!" Lenalee said in Chinese.

"Please go around to the back door." The burly woman whispers (in English) to the two Exorcists in her hands.

English...! Allen says in surprise.

"Because you can't get through to the Mistress' room from here." The woman added and stuck her tongue out, showing a tattoo of a cross. "We are supporters of the Church."

Everyone follows what the woman told them to do, going around the back and entered the brothel.

Inside, the burly woman meets them inside and leads them to the Mistress' room.

"Welcome, Exorcists." The Mistress says with a smile. "I am Anita, the owner of this shop. How do you do?"

Everyone blushes at Anita's beauty comments her beauty and Lavi goes into one of his STRIKE phase.

"My apologies for being so blunt, but Master Cross is no longer here." Anita says.

"EH?" Everyone says in disbelief.

"Eight days ago," Anita began, "he left to go on a journey. And..."


~ The Next Day ~

* In Anita's Shop. *

"Uh huh... As soon as the ship is prepared, we'll leave on the morning after." Lenalee said through the phone. "We probably won't be able to get a signal through to Headquarters from here on out. Besides, its an island country out there, so I'll contact you when we return. Thank goodness there was a telephone in Anita's shop."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to the Supervisor?" Reever asked.

"I'm sure. If you hand him the phone, then what was the point of calling you instead?"

"Well, you always do seem to know when the Supervisor is taking a nap, are you psychic?"

"Hehe... I just know." Lenalee said. "... Many died. Is everyone being overworked? Are they getting enough rest?" She asked.

"We're doing fine, just fine. We geeks have more guts than you think. Just make sure that you and your unit come back safe and sound..." Reever said.

On Lenalee's side of the phone, she cried silently.


* On the boat. *

General Cross' apprentices were looking out over the ocean. Allen had gotten up on the yard and placed a hand on the main topmast to keep him steady. Lacie joined him and was sitting on the yard. Timcampy flew near Allen's head.

"Timcampy, the Master is beyond this ocean?" Allen asked and Timcampy nodded.
Allen smiled.
"Allen." Lacie called and he faced her.
"Although, I didn't want to go to that country if I could help it..." Allen said. "Stupid Master... If you've died, I'll hate you for it."
"I fully believe that the General didn't die, but I, too would hate you if you've died." Lacie added as the wind blew.


~ Flashback to Last Night ~

"Just now..." Lenalee spoke. "What...?"

"The ship that left with Master Cross on a journey eight days ago," Anita repeated, "has been sunk at sea."

"Where is the proof?" Bookman asks.

"We sent aid to other ships from which we received S.O.S. signals. But neither ship nor man could be found." Anita explains. "There were eerie remains of the ships, and a sea of poison spread from it."

"Where was the Master headed?" Allen asks.
"Where was the sunken ship headed?" Lacie asks.

Anita and their fellow Exorcists looks at the two in surprise.

"Our Master wouldn't have drowned so easily." Allen says and Lacie nods once.

Tears came to Anita's eyes and they streamed down her beautiful face.

"... You think so?" Anita says with relief as if both Allen's and Lacie's words gave her hope that General Cross is alive. She then delicately wipes her tears away and faces the burly woman, who's been standing at the door. "Mahoja, prepare my ship."

Anita rises from her seat and she brings her hands together, making her sleeves look connected (because her sleeves are longer than her hands). She closes her eyes and lowers her head slightly.

"Since my mother's generation, we have been supporters of the Church, providing aid from the shadows. If you will pursue Master Cross, we are at your service." Anita says and opens her eyes. "Our destination is Japan. Edo."


~ Flashback Ends ~

Allen sits down on the yard. His head leaned against the main topmast and Lacie's head rested on his shoulder. She fell asleep while listening to the ocean's waves.

Suddenly, Lacie wakes up and removes her head from Allen's shoulder. She placed her right hand on her left arm and gripped it. Beside her, Allen's Cursed Eye activates.

"Akuma!?" Lacie points out as Allen gets up and searches the vast ocean for Akuma.
"Still far away... From where though..." Allen says to Lacie and continues searching. His eyes widens when he finally finds it. "EVERYONE! AKUMA ARE COMING!" Allen shouts.

From a far, a swarm of Akuma heads toward them.