Chapter 2

Memories of a lonely piano

Road walked in circles on top of a polished chair, her small figure and nimble body didn't so much as cause the chair to shake as she walked, and every now and again she hopped from one table to another, back the top of the chair, doing so with the agility and grace of a cat. She didn't usually spend her free time walking circles on top of a table, or wondering about. She usually spent her free time annoying Tyki, or with Sheril, who would sometimes brush her hair with glee. However, today was quite different. The Earl had just returned after being away for such a long time, and just as he had come back and they had all rejoiced, Millennium went away once more claiming that he had a lot of work to do and refused to take a rest. It wasn't unusual for him to go out on his own, seeing as he needed to create more Akumas, but after not seeing him for such a long time Road couldn't shake of the feeling that something wasn't right. She of course, knew he needed his time to process things and to heal from what happened thirty five years ago, but for all that time he had been away she never once felt uneasy. It felt like and itch she couldn't quite scratch, and it felt odd and worrying that she was feeling this way, which is why she worried. She knew the Earl could take care of himself much better than any other Noah, but as one of the apostles and therefore one of his protector she couldn't shake of the feeling that she needed to make sure he was alright, which is why she proposed accompanying him.

She usually didn't accompany him, but when she did he didn't usually refuse. This time however, when she asked him he had given her his familiar giggle, and pat her head adoringly like one would do their child, and said. "There's no need. I'll be alright, and if not Lero will protect me!" He sang, with a protest from Lero. So with that he left hours ago, and hadn't come back even though he was supposed to come back a long time ago.

Road turned her head and glanced at the clock shaped as a bat. An hour had already passed, and still no signs of the Earl. Road huffed in annoyance and leaped down from one of the chairs and turned to face the large doors. She crossed her arms, and glared at the doors in indignation. She knew that nothing was stopping her from going out and looking for the Earl whether he liked it or not. She was worried for him, and worried of the odd feeling of forewarning she was feeling. In all her years of experience as a Noah she knew it was never good to push aside any odd emotions she felt, because she knew they were a sort of warning hardwired into every Noah telling them something was not quite right, and if she felt that then she was certain every member of her family could.

"Yo, Road." A male voice called out, and Road turned around to come face to face with Tyki.

"Off to cause chaos are we? You know it doesn't bode well for you to go have fun while we're all here worrying." She chastised with a grin, and a voice that sounded more amused than angry. Hence her nature, she was just wanted to tease Tyki. She knew he was off to one of his adventures he liked to partake on his own, and she knew that because he was using his white form. Road never truly understood why Tyki liked to go out and pretend to be a human, even though he hasn't been one for quite some time, and as far as she knew the last incarnation of Joyd was never like that. She often wanted to question it, but it would be too much work so she guessed that it was because for some reason Tyki still held on to his humanity, but in complete contrast, he also enjoyed bringing misery to humans like any other Noah, so it didn't really make any sense to her.

Tyki frowned, and placed his hand on his hip. "Worrying? Is that what I've been feeling all this time?" He asked curiously.

Road placed her hands behind her back, and swayed from side to side. "Aww, our Tyki has been worrying over our dear Earl." She sang, and Tyki huffed and looked away from her in both annoyance and a bit of embarrassment.

"Shut it, you were the one to say we were all worried so tell me. What's going on?" He asked annoyed, and looking back at her.

Road grinned, and gave Tyki a knowing look. She knew that Tyki was aware that the Earl had gone out, and that -like her- he had been worrying over him. And now that she thought about it, could it be he was going out on the pretence to go on one of his adventures, but really he was going to check on the Earl to make sure he was alright? She wouldn't put it past him to do so, seeing as how secretive Tyki thought he was, but really he was more transparent than all other Noahs.

"Nah, I think you're just missing our dear Earl and would like him back to give him a big hug." She teased.

"Road…" he warned while looking at her all serious, but Road didn't heed the warning and simply approached him and began circling him. She knew Tyki wouldn't hurt her, not just because Sheril would lose it, but because -and though he denied it- he actually seemed to like her company.

Road laughed, and kept circling Tyki with a hop to her step. Meanwhile Tyki glared holes at her, but ultimately gave up and sighed in defeat, and that's when Road stopped circling him.

"You'd like to know what's going on?" She asked with a chirp.

Tyki glared at her one last time and huffed. "Any time you're ready." He grumbled, tilting his head.

Road smiled, and twirled on her spot. She had no idea what was really going on of course, but teasing Tyki was always fun and stopped her from looking for the Earl herself.

"Hmm, let me see…" She drawled, and tap her index finger against her lips in thought. She stayed like that for at least a minute, until Tyki took in a deep breath and she knew she was testing his patience.

Road sighed, and put her hands on her hips imitating Tyki, and looked up at him. "I don't… I thought you knew Tyki." She sang, while giving him the most adorable look she could possibly pull off.

Of course that didn't work on him, and Tyki's nose flared as he frowned at her. Road continued to smile at him not at all worried, until Tyki quickly snatched her by her shirt collar, lifted her, and brought her to be eye level with him.

"What?" He asked annoyed, while Road struggled comically mid-air, but Tyki didn't so much as flinch or show any signs of exhaustion from holding her midair.

"I said I don't know." She pouted and stopped struggling. She simply hung mid-air limply, as she looked straight at Tyki.

"Road you better tell me, or I'm never ever going to play with you." He drawled with a singsong voice and a smile.

"Ooh Tyki, don't make promises you can't keep. We both know you have a soft spot for me!" She teased, while tapping Tyki's check who pulled her away from him with a huff.

"That's hardly-"

Before Tyki could finish the sentence, the doors banged open, causing both of them to tense and turn to look at the doors with concern. A gust of cold air entered through the room, sweeping back both Tyki's and Road's hair back. The candles by the walls flickered, and some of them went out putting the room in a semi darkness. Tyki and Road kept looking at the door unsure as to how to proceed, while Tyki still held on to Road, and changed to his black form.

Another gust of wind passed through the door, and that was when finally a figure came into view. Neither Road nor Tyki moved as the figure got closer and closer revealing a bright yellow figure, until the Earl was standing outside the door. Millennium took a sure step inside, and the doors shut behind him.

"Millennie" She shouted in excitement, and tore herself out of Tyki's grip and ran towards the Earl.

"Road!" He sang, as Road lunged at him and hugged him. Road smiled as she felt his body hum from amusement, and her grip tightening as her Noah instincts calmed down. The Earl was fine, and safe. Whatever that feeling she got before -though strange- was gone and she now felt silly for worrying over him.

Road closed her eyes and tightened her grip, until she felt something odd. Road's eyes snapped open and she looked down in shock. Sleeping on the Earl's arms laid a boy, a handsome white haired boy around the age of twelve, who had a stark red pentagram above his eye. But what was the most shocking was that the boy was human, and not just any human, but an exorcist as well.

On instinct Road leaped away from the Earl. Her Noah instincts stirred inside of her, telling her to both get away from the exorcist, and to kill him as quickly as possible despite being a mere boy.

Silence dominated the room as Road and the Earl, and Tyki looked at each other in both shook and confusion. Road shifted on her spot and broke the silence at last. "Hmm, Millennie who is that?" She asked curiously and confused.

The Earl's glasses glinted as he looked down at Road. "This boy here? Well his name's Allen!" He beamed.

Road's brows shoot up at the mention of the name. 'Allen.' She repeated to herself, as if tasting the name. She had once known someone name Allen before, and he too had white hair like the boy. The difference however, was that the Allen she knew was much older and his surname was Walker, and had no pentagram on his eye.

Road took an attentive step forward, and peered at the sleeping boy curiously. He did look a lot like the Allen Walker she knew, but as a younger version of course and just as handsome. Road leaned even closer until her nose was practically touching Allen's cheek, as her hands held on the Earl's for support seeing as she was smaller and had to go on her tippy toes.

"Allen?" She asked curiously, while Allen scrunched up his nose, and furrowed his brows in displeasure and turned his head away from Road and into the Earl's chest. "Aww." She cooed at how cute the kid looked, and quickly looked up at the Earl with bright open eyes. "Can we keep him?" She asked excitedly.

Before the Earl could answer, Tyki walked to where they were standing and pushed Road away from the Earl so that he too could look at the boy. Road gave out a huff of annoyance as Tyki leaned down to get a closer look of the boy.

"He's human, and an exorcist." Was all he said a bit shocked and disgusted, then proceeded to move away and look at the Earl.

"You can't possibly mean to give him to Road. She'll forget to feed him, and train him and then it'll be me who'll be stuck with him." He declared, and Road smacked his arm.

"Would not! Right Millennie?"

The Earl looked from one to the other and cackled, causing Allen to stir on his arm but still not waking up.

"I like the idea of a pet in the family, maybe we should really think about that someday."

Tyki's brows twitched. "I thought Jasdevi had already taken that role." he grumbled, and Road giggled.

"Now, now Tyki, don't make fun of your family, especially not in front of a potential family member." He chastised, his amusement dying down as he spoke and looked at both of them.

In an instant all amusement left the room, and was replaced by tension. The room itself, fell silent as Tyki and Road looked at the Earl in shook. The gust of wind could be heard from outside the room, as both of them processed the implication. On one side Tyki wondered if he heard the Earl right, while on the other Road was already putting things together in her mid. Her thoughts went back to her memories -a dangerous place to be, seeing as how painful it was to remember- and as she rummaged through her memories, things finally clicked. If this boy was indeed a Noah host, and his name was Allen then this could only mean…

"Allen, as in Allen Walker." She mumbled to herself, while Tyki looked at her confused.

"What?"

Road shook her head dismissing him, all amusement gone as she looked at from the boy to the Earl. Seeing the boy holding on to the Earl, and seeing them both together in general brought a feeling of nostalgia, and a pang of sorrow as she recalled those old days.

Road hummed. Things were definitely going to become complicated fast, and she hoped that they were all ready for it, especially the ones currently present in the room.

"You said Allen Walker. How can you know his name if this is the first time you've met him?" Tyki asked sounding both concerned, and curious.

Road shrugged, and glanced at Tyki. "Suppose I just read his mind." she lied, something she knew Tyki would be able to catch on quite easily.

As expected, Tyki's brows furrowed and he opened his mouth but before he could say anything Millennium interrupted.

"Well if were quite done with the hundred questions, I would like to put the boy somewhere he can sleep in peace. He just had a long night after all." he laughed, as he walked towards them and passed by them but not even looking at either of them.

Both Tyki and Road stood frozen on their spot, both looking at one another until something snapped in them and they both followed the Earl down the corridor. Their quick pace slowed down as they caught up to him, and the both of them fell in formation. Tyki by the Earl's right and Road on the left, who was holding on to his yellow coat with a tight grip, and looking at the sleeping form of Allen who still had half of his face buried in Millennium's chest. Road smiled fondly at the white haired boy. He was cute, just as the older Allen Walker had been, But now she wondered how he might look as a Noah.

"Millennie, how will you turn him into one of our family members?" She asked innocently, even though she already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from the Earl himself.

"That's simple enough, I'll simply awaken and expand the Noah genes inside him." He answered, as he looked at Road.

"You can do that?" Asked Tyki curiously, without missing a step as they proceeded to walk up a set of stairs.

"Not really." The Earl sang, and Tyki resisted the urge to deadpan.

"You see before a human awakens as a Noah, their latent cells are dormant, and as the years go by they slowly awake and take over the body. This process could take years depending on the host, and its compatibility. Now, imagine what would happen if I were to awaken those cells ahead of time?"

Tyki frowned, and adopted a thoughtful look. "The host would die?" He asked unsure.

"Bingo!" The earl laughed, causing Allen to groan in his sleep. "The host would die, and then we'd have to wait who knows how long for a new host to emerge. However, Allen is different" he declared with a serious tone.

"Because Allen has already awoken his Noah cells." Road answered with a singsong voice instead of the Earl this time, and looked at Tyki who was now looking at her curiously.

"Exactly Road! Allen has already awoken his Noah genes at an unprecedented age, but even stranger is that the genes are not attacking his human ones. In fact, the genes seem to be in harmony with his human ones, and even stranger the innocence in him."

Just as it did when the Earl arrived, everyone fell silent, and Tyki's mouth fell open ever so slightly. Silence passed through them, as they continued to walk. Tyki was trying to process everything while Road who was probably the only one that knew what all of this meant, and was already thinking on the future. She of course knew who Allen was, and which Noah he was the host of. It was rather obvious.

"So how do we get the genes to take over his human ones?" Asked Tyki, as he took out a cigarette and placed it gently on his lips.

"This is a rather unique case but I believe that I can give poor Allen's Noah genes a push, and cause them to react and overtake his human genes." Millennium theorized, as Tyki lit his cigarette and took a long puff.

Tyki reached for his cigarette, kept his fingers on the cigarette for a little while then let out a long puff. "Do you know which Noah he's the host off?" He asked, going straight to the point.

As if one cue and just as Tyki asked that question, a surge of scrambled and powerful emotions emanated from the Earl that were so strong that even Road and Tyki felt it. Both Noah's practically froze on the spot as they stared at their Earl, even Road -who knew him better than anyone else- looked at Millennium with concern.

Neither of them said anything more, as the continued to walk in silence, until the Earl suddenly stopped out of nowhere and turned to face Tyki and Road. The strange emotions dissipating as he looked at both of them. "That is to be seen, but for now I need you Tyki to find the rest of our family and tell them to come back. Until Allen awakens as a Noah all missions are hereby suspended until further notice." He sang with his usual amusement, but for some reason it sounded forced. Something was affecting the Millennium greatly, and Road knew exactly what that was.

Road looked from the Earl to Tyki, and caught the brief expression of annoyance on his face. Road couldn't really tell what Tyki was feeling, or what he was thinking but she knew Tyki was put off by the idea that the Earl wasn't being forthcoming with him, because Tyki knew both she and and the Earl we're hiding things from him. For a moment Road felt bad that she couldn't tell him, but as always she knew it was for his own good. He, nor most of her family members including the Earl were ready to know the whole truth. The truth that would change their lives, just as it did thirty five years ago. Road now knew, that all she could do was enjoy the numbered days of peace they had left, until his return.

Tyki simply nodded, and took of his top hat and bowed with a flourish. "Of course, my lord Millennium." He said without a hint of anger and annoyance that his face had shown before. And with that Tyki gave Road one last curious glance, put his top hat back on and left without saying anything else.

"Goodbye, Tyki!" She called out, and Tyki simply waved at her as his form slowly disappeared down the hall.

"Let's go then." The Earl called back, not wasting any time as the door to the room they stood before swung open without anyone touching it. Road looked back, and quickly followed Millennium inside the room, not questioning where they were going.

As she and the Earl stepped into the dark room, the candles lit on by themselves revealing a dusty bedroom that no one had clearly stepped inside for quite some time. Road took a tentative step inside and looked around. The room was identical to every Noah's room, however this one was slightly larger and looked almost identical to the Earl's with its choice of colour schemes and the large four poster bed in the middle.

As Road looked around some more, and she suddenly realized where she was. A pang of nostalgia and sorrow pieced her heart. She knew this room. She had been inside this room in the past, and the memories that the walls held made her heart squeeze. When they had walked to the room she hadn't paid attention to where they were going, but now that she was inside she wished she had noticed earlier, that way she could have volunteered to go with Tyki even though she knew the Earl would have insisted she'd stayed. Road closed her eyes, hoping that when she reopened them they would be in another room, but when she briefly reopened them her gaze fell on the courner of the room, and that is when she saw it. A grand white piano, that was aesthetically simple but elegant, and imposing. Upon the music rack laid various old and tinted sheets laid scattered, and as her eyes looked down she noticed some of them laid on the ground crumpled, as if the owner of the piano had been working hard on a composition and had crumpled up the pieces he did not agree with.

Road pulled back her gaze, and looked at the entire piano. She felt her eyes water. The piano was dusty, showing that clearly no one had sat on its bench or even touched it since the last time its original owner was here. In fact it looked almost as if the piano was frozen in time, holding on to the last moment HE played its keys, with its scribbled papers that laid on top of it. And as she looked at it she could practically see him seating there practicing and composing. 'Will you play for me?' She had often asked him, to which he would give her his brightest smile and gestured for her to seat on the bench while he played. Sometimes he would play something that went with what he was feeling at the moment, and other times he would grab her hands and teach her how to play, and some rare times he would play a song he had written specifically for her… songs she still could still hear to this day.

Road closed her eyes once more, as she felt her old wounds reopened. Her Memories were scrambled, ranging from happiness, to sorrow to even fear as she opened her eyes and looked at the bed that was identical to Millennium's. She remembered it clearly as if she was actually there again, as she held on fiercely to the unconscious Mana, and HE looked down at her with a level of anger, and betrayal she had never seen on anyone before, or since.

Road felt a lonely tear fall down her cheeks, which she quickly wiped away before Millennium could see it and ask what was wrong because she couldn't really tell him. Couldn't really reopen an old wound he had done everything in his power to forget, only to realize that it would never leave him. Road looked away from the piano, and at the Earl who was putting Allen down on the bed gently, like a father would a son.

Of course, she knew the Earl had no idea as to why he was feeling such strong emotions, or why he had brought Allen to this specific room, though he probably already deduced by now which Noah Allen was the host of, and like any other Noah he would know that he was the one who betrayed them thirty five years ago, but he wouldn't know exactly why or what their relationship was.

She took a deep breath, and composed herself and got her memories under control. "So… are you gonna do it now?" She asked as she hopped over to the bed to stand beside him. She looked down at Allen who had his brows furrowed, and clenching on to a pillow fiercely for dear life.

"He's having a nightmare." The Earl commented, disregarding the questions entirely, and Road didn't even bring it up or ask him again, she simply stared down at the white haired boy.

"When I was bringing him here, he wouldn't stop shaking, and struggling so I put him to sleep to help him. It seems I was wrong to do that."

Allen's nose flared and he turned from side to side, and moaned, and the Earl huffed. "It simply won't do for him to live in terror. Won't do at all!" The Earl sang, rising his finger to empathize. "So I think I'll erase his memories of this night." He declared simply, and Road tore her eyes away from Allen to look at the Earl once more.

"Oh? What happened?" She asked curiously as she held on to the Earl's coat.

Millennium looked at her briefly, his glasses glinting from the lights emanating from the candles. "I turned his father into an Akuma, which he killed with his innocence." He stated, without an ounce of amusement in his voice. "And I simply can't have him hating me for it." That just won't do." He declared.

Without thinking it further, Millennium grasped Allen's sweat covered head and held it in place, and closed his eyes. Allen continued to squirm on the spot, but he didn't open his eyes. Whatever the Earl did to put him to sleep must have been quite strong to keep someone from waking from such a nightmare.

Allen continued to struggle, and Road out of impulse grasped his clenched hand which he tried to get out with a strength a boy his age shouldn't have. Road kept holding on until seemingly out of nowhere Allen just stopped. The white haired boy gave out an almost peaceful sigh, and slumped down on the mattress, sweat dripped down his forehead. Road sighed as well, and made to look at the Earl but just as her head turned she noticed one lonely tear falling down Allen's cheek, which she was tempted to wipe, feeling sorry for him.

It was wrong to erase someone's memories, especially if they were precious ones. Memories is what made up a person, what determined who a person was, and she supposed that in that sense both humans and Noahs were alike. To her, her memories are precious, even the painful ones she often wished she could rid of. They made her into what she is, and the Noah she will come to be in the future, so to see that Allen's memories were being erased –even though she knew very little about this Allen- it didn't sit well with her. But it wasn't like she could complain either. Every decision made by the Earl was absolute, and all she could do was stand and watch and help if he needed it.

"That's it, now he won't have any recollections of this night or his father." The Earl giggled, and Road felt her stomach drop, but she didn't say anything, she simply stood and watched while humming a tune faking indifference of the situation.

"And, now I think we should go straight to the main event!" The Earl exclaimed, and slowly placed a hand on top of Allen's heart, and Road took in a sharp breath.

The room fell silent, even the sound of Road breathing was gone as she held her breath in anticipation. She didn't know what would happen if Allen awoke as a Noah, or if HE would return and destroy everything they worked hard on once more. She found that in the heat of anticipation and excitement of having another family member, she was completely disregarding the warning signs… that is until a voice of reason whispered to her and Road snapped her head up to look at the Earl.

"You told Tyki you didn't know who he was, but you know exactly who he is right Millennie?" she asked, and Millennium turned away from Allen and looked down at her, his hand still on Allen's heart.

Both of them stared at each other in silence, and Road didn't even need the Earl to tell her what he was thinking. She already knew.

"Allen is Nea's host, and if you awaken Allen's Noah genes then it's possible that he'll return. Are you willing to take that chance?" She asked breaking the silence. All amusement gone from her voice, and a sterner one took its place.

Another moment of silence. Millennium lowered his head slightly and his glasses glinted, and moved his head so she could see straight into his eyes as he spoke. "I have to bring him home again Road, and besides. If he is indeed the same Nea who betrayed us all, then I will personally dispose of him" He declared with a hint of menace in his voice

Road opened her mouth to say something, but he suddenly chuckled and ruffled her hair with his other hand and with that turned to look at Allen.

Road sighed, and crossed her arms as she too glanced at the sleeping form of Allen. There were hundreds of thoughts crossing her mind as she waited. Hundreds of things she wanted to say to the Earl and thousands of things she wanted to say to Nea if he did indeed return. But above all, she wanted to ask Nea why…

Her thoughts were cut short as Millennium pressed his hand closer to Allen's heart, and darkness began to seep out of the Earl's hand. Instantly Allen -who had been laying peacefully on the bed- began to stir once more, and furrowed his brows in pain but never made a sound. A bead of sweat fell down his brows, and Allen's cheek began to get redder and redder. Road grimaced as she looked at him struggle. She knew he was in excruciating pain, every Noah knew how painful the change from human to Noah was, and she could only imagine how much more painful it would be for the host of a Noah as powerful as Nea. In fact it was a miracle Allen was still asleep so soundly, and that he hadn't even said a word. However, just as she thought that, she wanted to take it back.

Suddenly Allen opened his mouth and let out a gut wrenching scream that resonated through the room. Allen rolled from side to side, and flung his arms around, trying to struggle out of the Earl's grip who only leaned down further down on the mattress, putting more pressure. Allen's eyes fluttered, almost as if they would open but they remained tightly shut as he scrunched up his face in pain, and tears fell down his cheek.

"No need to cry. It'll all be over soon." Millennium sang, as Allen continued to struggle. The Earl huffed and more dark tendrils emanated from his palm and seeped into Allen, causing him to convulse on the spot and let out another gut wrenching scream. Suddenly the candles on the walls went out one by one, until one remained casting the room in darkness. Road's eye widened and looked at Allen terrified, as she began to feel the familiar and terrifying killing intent that seemed to choke the very air in the room, and she couldn't help but shake on the spot.

The last candle flickered, attempting to stay alive until suddenly a draft caused it to go out, and that is when Allen stopped screaming and struggling. The killing intent flowed from Allen with a vengeance, causing Road to take a step back in fear, until suddenly it disappeared.

Road took a deep breath, as she expected the worse, and yet she leaned forward, struggling to see Allen behind the Earl's huge figure. Road peeked from under the Earl's arms, and she could finally see him. Allen looked so serene, an exact contract to a few seconds ago, but there were more changes to him than that. His skin slowly went from a pinkish hue, to the ever familiar gray, and stigmata slowly revealed themselves on his forehead. His hair remained the same white hue, and the mark on his eye remained also, remained.

Road leaned forward even more until she was practically laying on top of Allen, and looked down at his face, until suddenly Allen's eyes flew open revealing bright, and piercing amber eyes that had slit pupils just like the Earl's were. For a few moments he simply stared at the ceiling emptily, until Road moved ever so slightly and his eyes quickly went to hers, finally meeting.

Time seemed to slow down, as Road tried to figure out if she was looking at Allen's or Nea's eyes. She just couldn't tell.

Author's note: Cliff hangers, yayyy! Anyways, I hope you guys like the way I'm writing Road, Tyki and the Earl cause let me tell you, they aren't easy characters to write! So I hope I'm on the right track with them, and if not just let me know.

Anyways, there were quite a few Nea references in this chapter, and I just want to make sure everyone understands that this will be a Nea heavy fic. Now he might or might not have a big centre role in the story –yet- but he'll be there often.

So anyways, I hope you liked this chapter, and pleaser review.