Who's there?" Link said, opening the door. "Oh...it's you."

I entered the room he shared with Allen. Wait. Was this me? I was...Miko.

I stood in the doorway, holding a pentacle talisman and shutting and locking the door with a strange key.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. That was Miko.

I had long straight hair with bits of hair framed inward towards my face. There was a split in the middle of my widow's peak and I let a streak of hair on both sides frame her face in front of her shoulders. My eyes were blue and my skin was pale.

I wore the traditional dress of a Shinto priestess. I wore a white jacket with cords through the sleeves and open shoulders. Strings were attached to each lapel and tied in front to keep the garment closed. My top had the sleeve fitting somewhat closely like a modern loose shirt and extending slightly past the wrist. I wore bright red puffed shorts, which included the small board on the lower back. I wore common socks and rice straw sandals. I sported a red belt, over all her other garments.

This was who I was when I died. I stared at Link.

"You remember, don't you, Howard Link." I said. "Our promise."

"Of course I remember, Miko. Are you wearing that disguise to fool Allen Walker? Or is it yourself you are trying to fool, Kurisuta Hikawa?" Link said.

"You know I must be Miko a little while longer. Until the Dreaming is over, Link. And then you can stop hiding as well. I will help you protect Allen Walker. Your friend." I said.

"He's coming back." Link said. "Can you really afford for him to see you like this?"

"Shut up." I said.

Xxx

"Link! Link! Cmon you dummy!" I shouted.

My dog, a terrier/chihuahua mix, yapped and ran happily into the house.

Allen stared at me. "Y-Your dog's name is Link? Why?"

I reached out and caught the mutt, indicating his tiny tail. "He was in a car crash when he was a puppy. It cut off his tail into a little sausage 'link,' see?" I said.

"Riiiight..." Allen said. "And that's what passes for a car these days?" Allen gestured to the window, which displayed my parents cars outside.

Allen reached out and pet Link. Link licked his hand. Allen made a face. Link tilted his head.

Allen suddenly flinched. His eye activated. It was a black and red ringed eye. "Akuma."

"I'm coming with you." I said.

"No you're not. Even if you have innocence you don't know how to use it." Allen said.

"Shut up. I remember how to do what I did when I was Miko. I can do this." I said.

"No." Something in his voice stopped me. I sat down, fully planning on sneaking out mid-battle.

He activated his innocence. I studied it—Cross Alpha. The first and most basic form of Allen's Innocence augmented his left arm into a monstrous adamantine claw with a supernatural glow at Allen's scapula-joint. At this phase, his Innocence was capable of manipulating its size and shape even to extreme ends.

"Stay here." Allen said, putting Link in my lap.

I exchanged glances with the dog as Allen headed for the battlefield. I listened to the sounds of attack from outside, then slowly got to my feet and walked outside.

Link followed me and ran circles around my feet. I watched Allen leap in the sky and attack the akuma. I flinched, sensing too late—I was being fired on. I fell to the ground.

"Kuri!" Allen yelled, watching my crumpled form as the virus took over my body. He ran to me, touched my cold skin, then turned to the akuma, furious.

I had never felt such fury.

His weapon was reforming around his arm. Cross Beta. This evolution took a more offensive approach, in the form of a massive arm-cannon with his fingers becoming energy form was capable of both ranged and melee combat, but tended to use up more energy initially.

"Allen..." I stammered weakly.

Link was still wandering around my feet. He was right in the line of fire! I had to protect him...had to...no...they were firing...a flash, then all was nothing.

"Seisei..." The word was nonsense in my mouth. But as I said it the akuma virus receded.

Brilliant light cut through the darkness. I was surrounded by ofuda. Howard Link stood between me and the Akuma.

"We had a promise."