I think I'm going to work like this: as long as I get a review or more each chapter, I'll update one day/one chapter. How does that sound? Well, I think I've been doing this for a while, but I just want to make this official and all.

Answer: Apparently, it wasn't. Glad I was clear!

Enjoy!

I gritted my teeth as the whispers became louder.

Tewaku shot me a look.

After a few more seconds, I couldn't take it anymore.

"That's enough!" I exclaimed, hitting my hands on the table.

My cry gained the attention of the rest of the Finders, Exorcists and scientists present.

"Allen Walker is not a traitor!" I pursued with the same tone. "He is a fellow Exorcist, a friend! The Noahs tried to kill him more than once, and he would never betray us, so get that into your thick skulls before I bash it in myself: there is no traitor in our ranks!"

I huffed angrily, and gazed around with a cold look that made more than a few shiver.

"You should all be ashamed or yourselves for even doubting" I concluded icily.

They all looked down at that but, unable to take the stares for once, I left without looking back.

After around two minutes, I cringed, and turned to the girl, who had followed without a word.

"Sorry about that" I sighed. "Were you finished? We can go back and-"

"I'm not hungry" she shook her head.

"But you've got questions" I pointed out. "Shoot"

"Why are you so eager to defend Walker?" she instantly asked. "He's the legacy of the Fourteenth, is he not?"

"He is" I confirmed. "But you have to understand him before understanding my reasoning. Right now, he's as confused as everyone, and even more scared, even if he doesn't show it. Things are going too fast for him. I know he won't betray us because Allen Walker and the Fourteenth are two different persons. He's already afraid of himself enough, if the rest of the Order starts to doubt him, then everything will break apart. There is no place for doubts in our family"

"Family, eh?" she allowed a small smile. "Do you really feel like that about this place?"

"I do" I smiled too. "Headquarters is my home, and everyone here is my family!"

"That's nice"

And I could tell she was honest.

Another week had gone by, agonizingly slowly with that. Everyone was still under heavy medical care, so I couldn't see them around that much. As told, I met with Hevlaska to check up on my synch rate –now 90,22%- and Tewaku was, obviously, still around.

She actually listened to me since our heart to heart, and I could clearly see the efforts she made in trying to find her own path, therefore being herself. Of course, she fell back into her professional stance each time someone else was close by, but she started being more at ease with Lavi, seeing as he was always around.

Ne, ne, Trickster. You've been unusually silent for a while.

I'm just worried. Something's going to happen.

Here?

I'm afraid so.

Well, the air does feel heavier today… I'll be on guard, then.

You do that.

I passed my arm around her shoulders. At my greatest joy, she was still a little shorter than me –the same height as Lenalee, I'd say- so I could lean over her without having to get on my toes.

"Want to see Cupcake?" I proposed with a smirk.

She snickered at the name, and my smirk widened at the memory.

"Oi, Kiddo!"

"Stop calling me that" he groaned.

Chuckling, I sat in front of him as he banged his head on the table.

"It's been a while" I remarked. "Feeling alright?"

"I'm still confused" he admitted quietly. "Kind of scared too"

"I'd be worried if you said otherwise" I scoffed. "How's it going with blondie?"

"Blondie?" he blinked. "You mean Link?"

"Yeah"

"He's… alright. Very sticky to rules and protocols, but he doesn't interfere or anything. He's just like some sort of leech-y shadow or something" he scrunched his nose. "What about you?"

"Oh, Doll's a real sweetheart" I grinned. "She's really nice, and she's my friend too!"

There was a huff as the blond girl sat next to me, making my grin wider, and I nudged her in the ribs.

"That's Allen Walker, but I call him Kiddo" I informed her.

"Pleasure" she said in a clipped tone.

"… same?"

Link stopped at the end of the table, wide eyes.

"T-Tewaku?"

"Howard!"

The two Inspectors stared at each other for a moment, surprise. Apparently, none of them was aware that they were both in the vicinity. Then, his eyes landed on me, and his traits turned to something akin to understanding and fear.

Feeling kind of bad, I got up, and bowed.

"I wanted to apologize for our last encounter" I said seriously. "I vented my anger on you without reason, and I am truly sorry for my behavior"

He nodded slowly, apparently still unsure about what to do or say, and the other two simply looked confused at our exchange. Feeling happy again, I started eating. After a few seconds of silence, I glanced at the two Inspectors.

"You know, you don't have to act like complete strangers" I remarked, slurping my noodles. "You're friends, don't you have things to say to each other or something?"

"We can't leave the both of you" pointed out Link.

"Then don't. We won't listen. Hey, Kiddo! I never heard about your first mission as an official Exorcist. Tell me"

Tewaku shot me a grateful look, and engaged in a low toned conversation with the blond as the white-haired teen just decided to roll with it.

After around ten minutes, it was time to go for my meeting with Hevlaska, though.

"Well, we'll see you around" I waved.

"Wait!"

At Link's voice, I turned to him in curiosity, and he held out a box to me with a formal air. I opened it, and my eyes widened at the sight of the pastries.

"Please, accept this as my own apology for interfering" he bowed.

"Aw, thanks!" I grinned. "They look delicious!"

"We have to go" Tewaku cut in.

"Fine, fine. Have a nice day Kiddo, Cupcake!"

The blond took a few seconds to realize it was him I was talking too, and he spluttered out an incoherent answer.

Kiddo simply snickered, and the girl burst in laughter as soon as we were out of hearing range.

"So? Up for a morning visit?" I insisted.

"Sure. You know where they are?" she asked.

"That I do"

"Wait, Ary, I don't think that's-"

"'Morning sunshines!" I exclaimed, slamming the door open.

There were two surprised and very unmanly squeaks as I made my way in the bathroom, Tewaku hesitantly following behind.

"A-Ary!" protested Allen. "W-what are you doing here? You can't just waltz into the guy's bathroom!"

I blinked.

"I just did"

He banged his head on the sink as Link seemed offended and embarrassed by my obvious lack or respect for these sort of unwritten rules.

"Good morning, Allen, Two Spots, Ary, Tewaku…" greeted Lavi, entering without a second glance at us.

Ji-ji came in right after, spared me an exasperated glance. The redhead took out his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth. A few seconds later, his eyes widened and he spat everything in the sink, before turning to us.

"Hey, Bookboy" I made the peace sign.

"T-Tenshi!? Tewaku!? The hell are you doing here!?" he coughed some water.

"We just came by to say hello to Kiddo and Cupcake" I shrugged.

Instantly, he glanced at Link with a smirk.

"Cupcake?"

"H-how rude!" frowned the poor boy.

"Link, let it go" Allen shook his head with a smile. "Ary's still a kid, so she likes to give others stupid nicknames and ignores the meaning of 'social decency'"

"Oi! I'm older than you!" I stomped my foot.

"But I'm taller"

"TAKE THAT BACK!"

"Entrance prohibited to all but the science division" read Allen.

Having nothing better to do, we've decided to go check out the Akuma Egg along with Lavi, Kiddo and his eternal shadow.

I eyed the Egg with disgust, pushing my aura away from it's own as far as I could.

It reeked Dark Matter.

"Good morning, guys" greeted Reever, on the other side of the barrier. "We're going to start unraveling it's secrets now"

"After two weeks?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We needed the go from Central" he shrugged.

"You should forget that and fix my Innocence" whined Lavi.

"Well, we've got others of these requests, you know" the scientist scratched the back of his head. "For now, we need to focus on this, though. This is an incredible chance to find out more about the Akumas. Once we understand this thing, we might uncover a way to end this long war with the Earl. That's the hope I see"

"And that's the stupidest thing I ever heard" I frowned, turning serious. "The hell do you think you're doing? The Millennium Earl ain't crazy. He's more than probably preparing something to get it back. We have to destroy it while we can, not study it for what is more than probably a snooze"

He just shook his head.

"We can't do that right now. Plus, he won't risk attacking Headquarters. He never did before, right?"

"Because he didn't have a reason too" I insisted, growing more worried. "I'm going to talk to Boss. Doll, let's go!"

"H-hai!"

"God fucking damn it all to hell…" I grumbled. "We looked everywhere and not a single fucking clue!"

"Calm down, Ary" Tewaku shook her head. "He might have went to Hevlaska, or might be in a secret meeting with the rest of the Heads"

"There isn't" I assured.

"And how would you know that?" she crossed her arms.

"Because I always know" I replied with a smirk. "Didn't Leverrier told you? I'm always where I'm not supposed to be. Why do you think I agreed to this investigation in the first place? I didn't have much of a choice, and I tried to protect Allen along the way. The truth is, I would more than probably have been forced into it anyway"

"Howard did said something about you crashing into a secret meeting he was attending with Inspector Leverrier" she nodded. "You called him, and I say from memory, an 'ego-complexed-Vatican's-bitch', right?"

"That I did" I confirmed.

You're too proud of this.

Trickster, don't try. You're damn proud too.

Damn straight I am.

"Intruder alert!"

We both snapped our eyes to the little Golem that kept following us around.

"To all Exorcists and members currently within the Order: Akumas have infiltrated the fifth lab. Two Exorcists are currently present at the scene. All Marshalls and the following Exorcists should proceed immediately to the Ark's third gate: Noise Marie, Miranda Lotto, Aryane Darkelston. Please proceed to the third gate"

"Fucking knew it" I grunted. "Come on!"

"Let's hurry!"

We started running.

Told ya.

This isn't going to end well.

When we arrived to the third gate, everyone was already there, except for Komui and the Marshalls. Leverrier signed for Tewaku to join him, and I turned to Marie and Miranda.

"What exactly is happening?" I asked in a tone that accepted no silence.

"The Fifth Lab is currently under the power of several Akumas" informed the same woman that had used the Golems to alert us. "Exorcists Allen Walker and Bookman are currently fighting them off. There are many injured scientists, some already dead"

I clenched my fist. It was no time to complain to Komui for this idiocy right now.

"Be careful!" ordered the Boss's voice. "Do it swiftly, accurately and carefully!"

He arrived next to a scientist.

"Please confirm this" he handed some papers.

"Hai!"

"That's quite the delayed arrival for someone who should be taking command" remarked Leverrier.

"Apologies. I had work to attend to that couldn't be avoided" he said uncaringly.

His aura was uneasy and hazy, though. Leverrier's sharpened as the blonde came back to me, her mood darker and her own aura agitated.

"Regarding Lenalee, correct?"

I stiffened at her name. Why was he bringing her up? Her, Lavi and Kanda weren't in fighting shape anyway.

"Where is she?" added the Inspector.

"She is currently on standby with Lavi in the medical wing" he answered.

But his aura was even worse now.

"Standby, you say?"

"In the midst of this Akuma invasion, there is nothing Exorcists who have lost their Innocence can do" answered smoothly the supervisor.

"I suppose you are correct" nodded Leverrier. "And if things take a turn for the worse?"

"Leverrier, if you have something to say, just say it" I said coldly. "This is no time for stupid hidden remarks"

The doors slammed open at that moment.

"Komui! What's the situation?" Kanda suddenly entered the room.

"What are you doing here?" sighed the Boss. "You should be on standby, shouldn't you?"

"What kind of bullshit is that?" the he-she samurai snapped.

"Yours, mainly" I retorted. "Jerkface, you won't be of any help to us without you Innocence. You'd just be a hindrance!"

"The hell, Akahato?" he snarled my way.

"Without Mugen, you'll be the first to die out there, and we don't need any more corpses than we already have!" I hammered harshly. "So you're going on standby, sit on your fucking ass, and wait for us to handle the situation!"

He glared at me, than scoffed and ran outside.

"Kanda!" called Marie.

"Wait" Komui shook his head. "You three can still do something"

"Of course we can" I rolled my eyes. "What's the plan, Boss?"

"Now!"

Without wasting any more time, we jumped through the gate.

Running down a few streets, we then found the new door, and jumped out as I spread my wings.

"Time Record: activate!" chanted Miranda, sitting onto Marie's shoulder. "Target's encircled: reversing time!"

As the Egg started going back up again, I plunged and grabbed Allen's shoulders, before pulling him out of the portal and posing us on the normal floor.

"A-Ary!" his eyes widened in relief.

"Yo" I grinned. "Still up for a fight?"

"O-of course!"

"The Ark's a pretty sweet ride, boy"

The Marshalls were all standing on top of the Egg, now. Cross had spoken.

"Now, what do we have here? I hope you weren't planning on fleeing, my demonic friends" remarked Sokaro.

At the same time, though, one of those gigantic Akumas that I remembered from Lavi's stories about Edo appeared out of fricking nowhere.

"You just had to fucking jinx us, didn't you, Zombie-dude?" I yelled, annoyed.

"What, scared, Little Girl?" he taunted.

"Not even close! But annoyed? That's for sure" I replied, spreading my wings once again.

He started laughing, earning the interest of the demonic beast.

"Looks like I've hit the jackpot today, eh?" he remarked. "Any objections to me taking the first shot?"

"I don't mind" shrugged Klaud.

"Go at it" nodded Tiedoll.

"I'm only interested in women" Cross took a smoke.

"Not a single taker? What a boring group we have here" he sighed.

"Ne ne, Zombie-dude!" I called once again. "If I leave the big guy to you, can I have the first blow?"

"Deal!"

"Sweet" I grinned.

Trickster, let's go and be amazing!

Ready when you are, Hime.

"Feathered Blades!"

The steeled feathers flew all around, piercing through the Akumas surrounding us. Around twenty of them exploded.

"Not bad, Little Girl" nodded Sokaro. "But let me show you how it's really done"

He then jumped from the Egg to face the Giant, weird metal bracelets with spikes moving onto his arms.

His Innocence is downright chaotic.

I like him, though. He's funny.

Of course you'd like him, he's as reckless as you.

"Torture, torture, torture!" he suddenly yelled. "Madness!"

A sort of sword formed into his hands and he passed straight through the head, which exploded as he landed on the ground in a fit of maniacal laughter. I landed next to him, eying his masterpiece.

"It's… alright" I admitted. "Could have been flashier, though"

"What, like that?" he asked.

Then, he took of his mask, revealing two completely white eyes, a very dark skin, elves ears –and I'm not kidding- and many scars on his face.

I blinked at the sudden sight as he grinned at me, showing off his shark-like teeth, and I then beamed at him.

"You're pretty!"

You're really, really, freaking me out.

But he's pretty! Not in a Kanda-way, but in Sith-Lord-who's-about-to-turn-batshit-crazy-way!

…

I feel so alone right now.

I'm telling Lavi.

Shut up!

A very unique silence ensued as all eyes turned to me in confusion and stun. He blinked at me, before barking a laugh.

"Wow, that's a first one" he wiped out a nonexistent tear.

"Ary, so not the time!" exclaimed Allen from somewhere behind.

I then remarked other Giants getting out of what seemed to be another gate.

"Fine, fine" I rolled my eyes. "Geez, I'm so underappreciated"

"Oi, don't die here, Little Girl" grinned Sokaro, patting my head.

"Same to you, Zombie-dude, same to you. And with that… Spin Rocket!"

I pierced through the heads of two of the Giants, and I grinned when I landed back on a platform as they exploded behind me.

This is awesome. We really are getting stronger!

Stay alert, Hime.

Why? What else is there?

The scientists…

Tiedoll-sensei got them. He's got a better defense than I do. For now, I can only help out as much as I can.

But there's something else… I can't tell what…

We'll find out, don't worry too much.

… right.

I destroyed a few more of the Akumas, before going under Tiedoll's defense to get Cross to do some work too.

Yes, I'm still mad at him. Sue me.

"Hm, not bad" shot Cross to Klaud.

"You should do a little work too" she remarked.

"Work, uh?" he sighed. "My least favorite word"

"You want to be whipped?" she threatened, cracking her whip.

"Ah, not a bad idea! I'd much rather spend my time with a fine woman than fight a bloody battle"

"Otherwise said, he's too weak and lazy to do his damn job for once so he let the others do it, as usual" I resumed, waltzing in. "I like your monkey, by the way. Really cute"

The woman blinked at me –they seemed to do that quite a lot- and I turned at Cross with an heavy glare.

"Out" I ordered. "Now. Or I'm kneeing you again, and I'll take your stupid pride along with your fucking balls"

"Fine, fine" he rolled his eyes, walking out.

But neither Klaud nor I missed the little gulp of fright. Now happy, I started checking up on the different scientists lying on the ground.

"Are you not going to battle again?" asked Klaud, more curious than offended.

"That would be overkill" I shrugged. "And these men needs more attention right now"

More like you want to keep your energy for whatever's coming. Have I worried you that much, Hime?

You weren't exactly reassuring either, Trickster. Plus, my guts are twisting really badly. There's a Noah here, and something else. I can feel it.

Which Noah?

I concentrated on the different auras around, keeping clear from the Akuma's –those were disgusting, really- and I finally found what I was looking for.

I've never felt that one before, but the only known N-Noah that I haven't m-met while being able to sense a-aur-a-a-a-

"'Tchi!"

Fuck my life.

As everyone gathered around the Egg, the Akumas all destroyed, I went to the blond woman.

"Klaud-san!" I called, worried. "There's a –'tchi!- a Noah here! H-her –'tchi!- her name's Lu –'tchi!- Lulubell, and she c-can s-s-s- 'tchi!- shapeshift or something l-like t-t- 'tchi!- that!"

"How do you know that?" she frowned.

"I j- 'tchi!- I just d-d- 'tchi!- do!" I snapped, rubbing my nose. "Damn allergies… she c- 'tchi!- can turn into a-a-a- 'tchi!- a cat, and I'm -'tchi!- allergic to c-cats! Fuck!"

"I don't know whether to laugh or pity you" remarked flatly Sokaro.

"S- 'tchi!- shut up, Z-Z-Zombie-dude –'tchi!"

"We have to act fast then" remarked Cross. "The only way to destroy it is for all of us to attack it simultaneously. However, this thing's made of Dark Matter. I can't guarantee our success"

He waited for Komui's order, before nodding to Miranda.

"We're good to go, Miranda" he assured.

"H-hai"

She turned to face the Egg and, at the same time, Lulubell's aura became more active. My eyes widened.

"Get away!"

I tried to move, but was sent crashing into the nearest wall. There were a few gasps of surprise, but they reacted too late, and Miranda was caught in Lulubell's new form.

"The hell is that? Is it alive?" asked Sokaro.

"That's –'tchi!'- that's the Noah" I informed, getting out of the rubbles.

The floating liquid embraced the Egg, Miranda still trapped inside, and took the form of a woman.

"I will be taking my Master's Egg" she informed in a faraway voice.

"A –'tchi!- as if!" I spat.

"As for you…"

I barely avoided a few of her watery tentacles as the Egg started sinking back into the portal, Miranda unconscious and thus unable to keep her Innocence activated.

"My Master desires to speak with you" she informed plainly, attacking again.

"He made h-h- 'tchi!- his mind before or a-after piercing m- 'tchi!- me like a f-fucking brochette –'tchi!-?" I exclaimed, jumping in time to avoid it.

"Any resistance is futile"

"Yet you –'tchi!- still ha- 'tchi!- haven't catch m-me!" I replied.

At the same time, though, one of the tentacles grabbed me by the ankle and dragged me back, head downside, to everyone.

"Fucking –'tchi!- jinxed it" I grunted. "A l- 'tchi!- a little help here?"

"You're doing just fine, Ary" informed Cross witha lazy smirk.

"Go t- 'tchi!- to hell ya s-s-s- 'tchi!- stupid womanizer!" I cursed.

And then, I was falling.

Everything turned black…

…For about three seconds.

I landed on the other side of the gate and instantly got back on my feet, ready to jump back inside.

Bad call.

Something grabbed me by behind and I was lifted in the air, wings, arms and legs retrained by five Level Three Akumas.

I then realized I wasn't sneezing anymore.

Hime, not the time.

Sorry.

The Earl appeared before me.

"Good morning, Aryane" he greeted.

"I'd say I'm glad to see you and all, but I'm really not in the mood for fake pleasantries right now" I struggled, in vain. "The hell do you want? I don't know where the Heart is, alright?"

"Oh, you do" he refuted. "You're just not conscious of it"

"… what do you mean?"

"You know where the Heart is, unconsciously" he repeated. "The information is there, just in a hidden corner of your mind. And do you know why? Because your dear Angel is the one who hid it in the first place"

"W-what?"

Hime, I'll explain later. Just try to get out for now.

I hope you have a really good explanation.

I do.

I tried to free myself again, but the Akumas' grips only tightened.

"Road can't get in, though, and your other mind-rapist isn't there yet. You won't get the information one way or another, sure you don't want to kill me?" I drawled. "Where's the next spear, hm?"

"I didn't want to risk you falling back into their hands and give them this important information, but it would seem you aren't close enough to get back the memories as of yet" he remarked. "How's Gabriel going?"

Tell him he's an asshole.

"He's calling you an asshole" I repeated.

That only earned a small chuckled.

"Ah, still the same as ever, eh, little Gaby?"

I want to punch him.

"He wants to punch you" I informed casually. "So… what's going to happen now?"

"Well, glad that you asked" his eternal grin only seemed to widen. "You see, we're about too-"

He was cut by a gigantic explosion. Using the momentum, I managed to free myself and decapitate three of the Akumas holding me, and used Shield to project the other two farther away. Then, I darted at the gate and, not even having the time to hesitate, jumped back inside just before it closed. I kept going straight ahead as fast as I could, my movement slowed down by the sort of liquid all around me.

There was a flash of light as a debris hit my right wing. I cringed at the sudden pain, understanding it was pure Dark Matter that had caused the wound and broke through my defense so easily.

Ary, use Spin Rocket now or you won't make it!

Got it!

Taking all I had left of air, I managed to articulate the words and propelled myself at the faint light I could see diminishing just a few meters ahead of me.

In one last burst, I passed through just before it completely closed, and landed harshly on the floor, coughing my lungs out.

"Ary!" exclaimed Allen.

"Still alive, still alive" I croaked out, wheezing. "Damn it…"

"The hell happened to you, Little Girl? Chickened out?" taunted Sokaro from somewhere around.

"The fucking Earl happened" I deadpanned, getting into a sitting position. "Is Mira-chan alright?"

"She'll be fine" affirmed Marie, placing an hand on my shoulder. "Your wing is injured"

"No shit"

Bringing it to my eye level, I saw a fucking hole through it, shredded all around and a few of my feathers falling on the ground. The outline of the hole seemed to rot, much like when I was still with Angel.

Can you heal it?

Give me a moment, I'll work as fast as I can.

I'll hold you to that. There's still something else, though.

I know.

"We have to stay alert" I warned, getting up. "There's something else coming"

"This is getting ridiculous" frowned Klaud. "You better have a good explanation for all of this, Exorcist. Knowing things you shouldn't and being specifically targeted by the Millennium Earl isn't something to take lightly"

"Cross knows, if it can help" I shrugged.

He actually glared at me at that, not liking the renewed attention, and I glared back.

That's for not saving me, bastard.

You are quite vindictive.

I'm in a bad mood.

And then, the air became ice and I nearly threw up right there and then.

This aura…

It was dark, malicious, craved for the blood and the screams. Sweat broke over my whole body and my instincts screamed for me to run and hide.

I started shaking.

Waaa! Officially entering the Level Four Arc -still don't know the official names, but whatever. Also, the synch rate for Ary's Innocence evolves very specifically. I don't remember the calculations I did, but there's a mathematical reason behind it, not just some crap I spat out.

Question: Can any of you guess at what rate her synchronisation is, like percentage/month?

Reviews are so much love!