CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I was still surprised at how easily we had found the general. It seemed to me to be a little skewed. I wasn't totally happy with the fact that he had been completely out in the open. Tiedoll normally would have made it more difficult for us to find him, albeit unknowingly. Another thing that confused me was that he had allowed himself to be surrounded by akuma. The whole situation presented itself unsurely in my mind.

We were now back at the hotel, having quickly disposed of the akuma ambush. Tiedoll was sitting in a straight backed chair, which contrasted with his usual informal posture, and sipping tea. I was sitting on the couch, next to Mari while Kanda took his turn to clean up in the bathroom.

"So General," Mari began, "is there any word as to where we are to go from here?"

Tiedoll had a puzzled look on his face. "Do they not want me back at headquarters? Isn't that why you were sent to find me?"

I raised my eyebrows in disbelief and confusion.

"Well of course they want you back at headquarters, but they told us you would have another mission for us to complete before we return."

"Oh. Yes. Of course. I seem to have forgotten. Excuse me," he said, standing up and leaving the room. I gazed after him in confusion. Mari seemed equally as confused.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked. "He's acting strange. Stranger than normal, that is."

"I'm not sure," said Mari. "It's peculiar."

"Hmm."

I wasn't sure what to say, but luckily, Kanda came out of the bathroom with his hair dripping wet. His face was covered in tiny little cuts, but they were already healing. He threw his towel across the back of the chair Tiedoll had been sitting in and leaned against the wall.

"Where's the General?" he asked.

"He stepped out for a moment."

"He's been acting weird. I overheard your conversation with him."

"It is odd, isn't it?" I said in agreement. I was unsure of what to make of this new Tiedoll. He was not at all like the Tiedoll who I had last seen at Headquarters. That Tiedoll had been wild and overprotective of us all. This one was somehow refined and closed off.

Kanda said nothing, merely walking over to look out the window. He pushed the curtains aside and peered out into the streets. I got up from my spot on the couch and walked over to stand next to him. He reached out briefly to touch my arm, then dropped his hand to his side. I looked out the window and saw that Tiedoll was across the street, looking up and down the street. He quickly ducked into an alley.

I looked at Kanda. He had a look of suspicion on his face. He turned to me and nodded toward the window. "Let's go," he said. I nodded. We quickly grabbed our Innocence and left the hotel room.

Kanda and I walked down the alleyway that Tiedoll had disappeared into. It was strange how he was acting. We continued down the alleyway, which twisted and turned, not daring to speak to each other, both of us afraid of what was to come. I glanced at Kanda often, but he was too focused to notice.

Finally the alley opened into a huge courtyard, which was filled with greenery and flowers. The scent of Spanish bluebells assaulted my nose, and I took a deep breath of the fragrant flower. Kanda looked about ready to throw up because of the overpowering scent. I had to fight the laughter crawling it's way up my throat, as I knew that any sound could alert our presence.

We walked slowly through the maze of flowers, being careful not to make any noise. I kept holding my breath, so intent was I to keep quiet. Kanda was a pace ahead of me, leading the way with Mugen ready in his hand. I kept one arm over my shoulder, my hand on the shaft of an arrow.

The sound of running water was helpful in muffling any sounds that we may have made. I assumed that there was a fountain somewhere in the center of this courtyard. At any other time I would have stopped to admire the beauty of the foliage and architecture around me, but under the given circumstances that was impossible.

We were just about to turn the corner when the sound of voices caused us both to stop short. There was a woman's voice, one that I was unfamiliar with. And, with it, was a silky, smooth voice that I recognized all too well. The voice of the man who had been haunting my dreams since I was young. Lord Tyki Mikk.

"...back already. It's only been a few hours."

"I know Tyki, but I couldn't stand to stay for any longer. It's incredibly dull. I'm not having any fun."

"Lulu Bell, you're not going to have fun until you find the perfect opportunity to complete your mission. I'm sure you remember what the Earl told you."

"'Be patient.' Don't worry. I know how to wait. I haven't been assigned something like this in quite a while, so I'm just forgetting how dull all of the waiting can be."

"It will all be worth it in the end, Lulu, when we win this war and when the Millennium Earl finally can have power over all human beings. He's making more akuma everyday. There is no way that the Black Order can win. They don't see that they are just casually stumbling into their destruction."

"Of course Tyki."

" We need to find the General before they do. And don't forget what I told you about the exorcist. She is the weak link."

I stifled a gasp. Surely 'she' meant me. I didn't think it could possibly mean Lenalee or Miranda, as they were safely at the Order. And, the Noah were here in Spain with us. Who else could they mean?

Kanda must have been thinking the same thing as I was, as he turned to look at me in surprise. The surprise in his eyes quickly turned to a protective edge, and that too was soon replaced by anger. I could feel myself shaking in nervousness and uncertainty.

"Indeed. You needn't worry, Tyki. I never fail at any task."

"I know it. Well, good luck either way. I'll be around. If you need me, you know where I am," Tyki said. The sound of his footsteps made Kanda and I realize that we could soon be discovered, and we quickly turned around. Once we were safely out of the courtyard, we sprinted back up the alleyway and into the crowded streets.

I turned to Kanda. "This doesn't look good," I said.

"No. It doesn't," he said grimly. We hurried back to the hotel.

When we arrived at the hotel, we were surprised to find the General was already there, somehow. Something was wrong with his disappearing down that alleyway and somehow avoiding crossing paths with the Noah. It made me nervous also that the Noah were looking for the General.

Kanda and I decided that we needed to tell Mari and Tiedoll what had happened, though we wouldn't say that we were following the General. We all sat down and I relayed what happened.

"What does that mean, 'she's the weak link'? Is that referring to you, Val?" Mari asked. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Who else could it be?" I said.

"You're not weak," Kanda said. "You aren't the weak link."

A small smile played at the corners of my mouth. I reached over and slipped my hand into his.

"Thanks. But I think that they think I'm the weak link in our group. Who else could they be talking about if we are the only ones here in Spain at the same time the Noah are?"

"Well, we'll just have to keep you extra safe then," Tiedoll quipped. He was sitting erect in a chair, his hands folded in his lap. He smiled. "You are very valuable to us."

I nodded, but I didn't feel the least bit reassured about the situation. Kanda was watching Tiedoll through narrowed eyes. I sighed and leaned my head against the back of the couch.

KANDA P.O.V.

I didn't know what was going on, but all I knew was that I didn't trust Tiedoll. He was acting far to formal, and he had yet to call me by that horrid name, Yuu-kun. I was uneasy. The entire time that we were talking, I kept one hand casually placed on Mugen, ready to attack if need be. I didn't trust him one bit. He was not the general I knew.

Val had decided to take a nap, after complaining of having a headache. Mari had also decided to leave, stating that he was going to go and scope the city. I volunteered to go with him, but Tiedoll had insisted that I stay behind. Mari had left without complaint.

Tiedoll was sitting in the same chair, in the same stiff way. I had moved to stand by the window, peering out every so often, but not for so long as to allow Tiedoll out of my view for more than two seconds.

Tiedoll was smiling, though at what I couldn't say. He had a smirk on his face, which had been there ever since Val had left to rest. I hated the sight of it. It made my skin tingle, and not in a good way. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Kanda?"

"Che. What?"

"What are you doing? Come sit."

I turned then, to fully face him, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "No."

"I insist."

"I don't care."

"Really. Sit. Now."

"What the hell? No. What in the hell is wrong with you? You're being more of an annoying ass than usual."

"Is that really any way to talk to your superior, Kanda? Honestly, I thought you'd been taught better."

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. What the hell was he talking about? I mouthed off to him and called him horrible things all the time, and he never even acknowledged that I had said those things. He would continue to treat me like I was a child. What was going on?

I studied Tiedoll for a moment. Then, I realized something. I withdrew Mugen.

"Mugen, activate!" I pointed my katana right at Tiedoll's throat.

"Kanda! What is the meaning of this?" he cried. He acted shocked, but I saw the fear behind his eyes. It was proof enough for me, and I knew that Innocence would not hurt another accomodator.

"Who the hell are you?" I snarled.

"I'm the General! Put that weapon down!"

I didn't put my katana down, but I lowered it. I continued to study "Tiedoll's" worried face. As I studied, I pieced more and more of the story together. I was about to act, when Val came out from the bedroom.

"Kanda!"

I took my eyes off him for one second and glanced at her. Then, I felt myself get stabbed in the stomach.

VAL'S P.O.V.

I was woken from my nap by the sound of Tiedoll yelling. I got up quickly, grabbing my Innocence, and ran from the room. In the living area I saw Kanda holding Tiedoll at sword point. I was shocked that he would threaten the General.

"Kanda!" I cried in admonishment. What happened next could not have been more of a surprise.

Tiedoll's hand turned into a gray appendage with a sharp point on the end. He took advantage of Kanda's momentary distraction and stabbed him in the stomach. I cried out, and Kanda looked down at the wound. It was bleeding profusely. He fell to the ground.

"Kanda!" I cried again, this time with worry and fear. Tiedoll turned and smiled at me.

"Stupid exorcist," he said in a voice that was no longer his own. "You've led right to his death."

Then, the veneer faded, and Tiedoll disappeared. In his place was a woman. She withdrew her arm from Kanda, and it turned back into a hand.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Lulu Bell, the Noah of Lust." She smiled without emotion and I watched in horror as her alabaster complexion changed to gray and stigmata appeared on her forehead.

Sorry it's taken me so long to post. And I'm also sorry that this chapter is horrible. I'm having a little trouble with this part of my story. Anyways, as always reviews are much appreciated. :)