Hey everyone! I hope that you all liked the last chapter! I now that I promised you guys that I would update sooner ( at least I THINK that I did...) But, my dog got bit by one of our other dogs ( we have 4 dogs and 8 cats) and he had to go to the vet. I have been watching him and sleeping next to him so it has all been a little cayotic over here. The weather is getting colder too... Grr... DARN YOU ALASKA! Anywhos... Here is the next chapter ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING ONLY THE CHARACTERS AND THE PLOT!

Chapter 2

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Iris's POV

I woke in my bed. My body was sore and aching. I would be lucky if I could hold a pencil, much less hold serving trays. I'm going to have to tend to the Bar. Which means that I would have to go shopping. I huffed and threw off my covers.

I searched for some clothes, my room was a mess, what little cloths that I had were strewn every which way, and my bandages were nowhere to be seen. I growled and thrashed the room looking for those god damned things. Finally I look in my bathroom (which only contained a toilet and a sink) and found it on the floor. I sigh, this should have been the first place that I looked but no. I wrapped my breasts and put on a pair of pants, instead of pining it up I put it in the male style ponytail. I walked out while putting on my coat, It was fucking small. Hall, the manager, called my name.

"Ian! Since you are hurt go shopping and then clean the rooms, and pin your hair. I can't have people finding out that you are... You. Now go and fix it before I cut it all off. Now." I droop and quickly do it. I glare at him behind his back. the old bastard. Who does he think that he is? Oh... Right... My boss...

I wrinkle my nose at the thought. It's about 6 AM So I will have to be quick for the things that we need to feed the people in the Inn. I put on my cloak and grab one of the big hand baskets and run out of there. I get to the market and see Gran.

"Morning Gran! How is your back? Doing any better? Have you been using what I gave you?" I ask as I kiss her on the cheek.

"Yes, yes, I have you are a great herbalist. There is no more pain coming from this old woman. Well, old age." She smiles at me, I shake my head.

"You're not getting old Gran. You will live a LONG time. That I promise." I look at her stubbornly. She laughs and touches my shoulder.

"Iris," She says, "I am not getting any younger, the only reason I would want to stay alive is to see you settle down with a nice young man, and give me some Great-great grandchildren!" She looks at me expectantly.

"Gran, you know that I don't want children. The only guy to go after me would have to be GAY. I pose as a guy, there is no way that will happen. Not until the war is over, and that will be a while." I look away and start to fill my basket.

"Iris..." Gran starts to speak, putting her hand on my arm, "You cannot lock your heart up forever. You have to let people in, not hole yourself up in your head." She pokes my forehand. I bat her hand away.

"I do, your here aren't you? I let you in. See? It's a start." I look up and grin. She looks at me sadly. I hold her hands in mine. "I promise, no, swear, that I will find a man and give you many many Great-grand children. Don't worry. I will find someone." I smile reassuringly. Not. Who would want to settle down. I am happy single thank-you-very-much. Sorry Gran but that just won't happen with me. Oh which reminds me... "Hey Gran? If a guy with long blue hair and another guy wearing an eyepatch and has spiky red hair and a scarf tell them everything that they want to know I don't care what it is. Tell them the truth, well, all but the fact I'm a girl ok?"I look at Gran.

"Who are they? What do they want with you dear? And... everything?" She asked looking confused, I finished my shopping and plaied her. I had a grin on my face.

"The Black Order, the place that I was supposed to find two years ago. Allen should be there by now and I would like to see how he and his arm are doing. And... No let me tell them that. But if they ask tell them what happened just don't mention me... Thanks Gran I owe you much!" I kiss her cheek. And head off. "Oh I'll see you tomorrow I have to tell you how I kicked the Akumas asses, I mean, buts!" She glares at me as I run off.

I slow down and look around. It's the place that I had fought the Akuma at last night. Wow... This is bad. Buildings were collapsed, people were hurt but none dead or permanently handi-capped for life so... I guess I was off the hook. I quickly go toward the sheriff.

"What happened here? Did Onikuro do all of this again?" I ask even though I know exactly who did it AND how it happened.

"Ya, the basted, he has no problem trashing other peoples lives, Most people can't find their things. I think that they are going to have a really hard time after this." He says with a sigh. I feel a bit guilty, but if it was their life of their home I personally, would choose my home. Though others don't see it that way. They care about their possessions, not their lives.

"Maybe you're looking at it from the wrong direction. Maybe, in some weird way, he is helping. Maybe he is SAVING your lives. Our homes are better than being dead right?" I ask, hopefully they would see it my way. The sheriff looked at me like I was insane.

"He would be better of dead or gone. Young man, you have no IDEA what the town is going through. You should just keep your thoughts to yourself unless you want to get hurt." He says before stomping off. I sighed, there was no getting to these people. Why wouldn't they listen and not hate my character so much?

I have done nothing wrong accept what I was born to do. Kill the Akuma, and at least TRY to get to the Noah. I looked up at the sky. It was a clear day, no clouds, just blue. The brids sang and weaved in and out of trees, the leaves rustled making music that only the most observant person could hear and see.

I shook my head out of my thoughts. I had to get back to the Inn before breakfast time or the guests would be VERY mad and VERY cranky. I sighed and headed back home.

Kanda's POV

In the morning Lavi had told me that they boy who served us yesterday was 'Onikuro'. It was a bit of a shock at first but then again I guess it could have been anyone. I contacted Komui. "So let me get this strait, The boy that fed us and led us to the room is the one who fought the Akuma." Lavi nodded vigorously, I guess I have heard stranger things. "What is he? Twelve? I don't think that we could take him in, Komui. As strong as he is, we can use him. He is too young." I said to both of them. Komui disagreed.

"It doesn't matter how old he is," He stated," He can use the innocence and is obviously compatible with it. We need all of the help we can get. I do regret that he is young, but if what you say is true then we HAVE to get him. He knows how to use it by what you said and he is obviously injured so you need to get him here as soon as you can. Agreed?" I growled. I wasn't going to like this.

"What if he doesn't want to come? What if he is fine where he is? Ever think of that Komui?" I snapped at him.

He heaved a sigh. "I know how you don't like younger people in this line of work but we have no choice. We cannot let him go uncharted. You know that Kanda. So you are just going to have to accept it. The council has spoken and they want him here. I have no say in this anymore. I'm sorry Kanda but you have no choice." I closed my eyes.

"Whatever." I say as i pull on my shirt.

"Do you know what his innocence is?" Komui asked. Lavi and i looked at eachother.

"We don't know what it is yet. He seemed to have allot of weapons on him so we have no idea. He even used a bomb." Lavi said, he gave a confused look at the phone. "Or, at least, I think that he did. There was a vibration that lead us to where the fight was. Though the place was a mess." I nodded, remembering what it had looked like. "Two houses where nothing but rubble and the street had chunks missing. Other than thaaaaaaat..." He stretched out the word. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"I see, then we defiantly need to see him. Call me when you have him." Komui said and then he hung up.

"I don't see any harm in it Kanda, why are you so agenst this anyway? You finally get some emotion in the cold black heart of yours?" He grinned at me. I threw another nightstand at him. "What was that for? I was only messing with you Yu..." He whined, I was going to tell him what he could do with the night stand when there was a knock at the door. Lavi opened it a crack and grinned. When I looked I saw that it was the boy. "Well, just the person that we where looking for and talking about come in come in!" He pulled him inside and closed the door. The boy looked confused, I would be to if some random guy pulls you into his room and closed the door. I would be the shit out of him on to of it.

Iris's POV

I was pulled in by the red head into his room. The other man was there but that didn't make me feel any better. I chewed my lip, what could they possibly want? I thought that I got rid of them last night... Maybe I wasn't through enough with shaking them off...

"We would like to ask you some questions." The blue haired man said. I paled, Oh shit, I DID do something wrong. "As you know by our uniform we are exorcists am I right?" He asks, I nod but don't say anything. "Then you know why we are here and you know that we are the ones who help you out last night." I nodded again. This was not good. "So," He started, "What is your name and what is your innocence? and are you compatible with your innocence?" He asked in a bored tone. The red head didn't understand and started asking things in english.

"Why do I have to tell you?" I say in english. I wasn't going to speak in Japanese when I know that the other could understand. My guess is that he needed to know too.

"So you know english?" The red head asks me. He looked relieved.

"Ya, I traveled allot when I was younger. I only came to this place two tears ago." I explained, I fidgeted with my hat. I was nervous, sue me. "Who are you? You are from the Black Order right? What are you doing all the way out here? Shouldn't you be at HQ?" I ask. Red looked shocked, but blue just nodded.

"We found an increase of Akuma or our scans coming from this place. Also a rapid decrease, so we were sent to check it out. I assume since you know about us that you had a General. Where is he?" Blue asked. I sighed, not much for small talk this one.

"That was me, the Akuma have taken a liking to me, so has the Earl, and he keeps sending more and more after me. I have to get moving soon or eventually the people will find out that it is me ruining all of their houses. And then I'm fucked." I shrug, "As for the General... General Cross is wherever the hell he wants to be, General Tydol... I don't know where he is ether. I left two years ago. I was supposed to go to the HQ but... I got side tracked." I looked at the wall. There were dents in it. "What did you do to the wall?" I ask, and then I looked at the rest of the room. "Oh... You have to pay for that. It's not going to come out of my check this time." I warn then.

"Two generals? How did that happen?" Red asks. Good question, how DID that happen...

"Um... Let me think... Oh ya, I was found by General Tydol and was with him for three years, and then he gave me to General Cross and then HE had me for three years, and then I was gone before Allen left, or is he still with Cross? I'm going to have to send a message to him... I hope that he has gotten better at gambling..." I trail off on thought. They both looked at me, "What? We had to pay the debts somehow." I shrug.

"You know Allen?" Red asked, looking amazed. So he has seen him. That must be a good sign.

"Ya, been friends for three years why? Something bad happen with his arm?" I ask, I hope that that mouth of his didn't get him killed...

"He's fine, I think, Does he always eat that much?" He asks, I laugh.

"Yes. Our motto, 'Eat what you can before we have to go months without.' Though he always has eaten like that. Though I think that it is Cross's fault. He is always racking up the bills." I say smiling. "Besides, at least he has SOME incentive to get a job when this is all over." My face darkened, "If this war will ever end." I say, my voice darkening.

The room was silent for a minute before Red started taking. "Oh, we forgot to introduce ourselves, I'm Lavi and the guy brooding on the wall is Kanda." He says, earning a glare from Kanda, I nod.

"My name is Ian, Ian Kuroshiro. it's nice to meet you both," I say as I bow. "I know this is sudden but when do we leave? I don't want to stay here too long." I say as I come back up. "Two years is enough for me. I hate staying in one place for too long." I say and start to walk out of the door. Kandas voice stopped me.

"You didn't tell us what your innocence is." He says. I shrug and walk out of there to get my things, I had a feeling that this would be a LONG trip. I finished cleaning the rooms by mid-day, it wasn't that hard of a job, and went back to my room, I didn't have much, only a couple of clothes and my weapons. I put all of my clothes in my backpack and strap some of my weapons on me, who knows when the Akuma could attack. I put the rest in my pack as well, it might look like a small backpack but it could hold allot.

I looked around for Riku and found him under the bed, I sighed and dragged him out from under there, he hissed at me. I hissed back and he calmed down for a bit. Then started back up again. I set him on my shoulders and walked out of my room. The workers quarters where mostly empty. Those who DID work here didn't live here unlike me, who had no home.

I walked out into the dinner of the Inn to find some of our regulars already drunk, I sighed as I walked over, put my stuff and cat down, and got to work. "Hey Kain, bad day? You're early today. Did something go wrong at home?" I ask him. He looked at me and sighed.

"Ya, that damned Onikuro wreaked our house so we have to get a new one." He told me, I flinched, I forgot that it was HIS house, I really should have been careful last night... "Now we have a shit-load of money and nothing to spend it on, the wife wants a new and bigger house, but I just want my life back." He says before downing another drink. I look at him.

"Well, look at the bright side, I'm quitting today." I tell him grinning from ear to ear. He looks at me shocked.

"You can't do that," He says protesting. "We need you, you're the beat bartender and waiter that we have." The others at the bar nod in agreement, I chuckle.

"I've got a new job now, not much for the pay but at least I will be doing something, I also get to travel. You guys know how much I hate to stay in one place. It's like putting a tiger in a cage." They nod in agreement also.

"Well Ian, Where ever you are going, I hope that you do great. And don't forget about us small town people 'k?" He holds out his hand, I smile and shake it, What eals could I do? I probably would never see these people again.

Lavi and Kanda walked out and motioned for me to follow. I grab my bags and put my cat back on my shoulders. "I'll see you all later someday ok? And if I come back, Free drinks on me. Oh, and if you see my boss, tell him I quit." I say over my shoulder as I walk over to the two men waiting for me.

"You ready to go?" Lavi said as I approached them, eyeing the cat wearily.

"Not yet, I have one last person to say good-bye to then we can go. Don't worry, he doesn't bite. Much." I say as I walk out of the door. Lavi pales and walks a way long ways behind me and I chuckle.

We go back down the way I cane this morning. I saw the market and Gram was watering the flowers near her stand. She looks at me and smiles. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow. Are you leaving so soon?" She asks, a soft smile on her face.

"Yes Gran, I have to. You knew that I couldn't stay here forever. I'll miss you allot though, and Ill write, and I'll draw you pictures of everyone that I meet." I say with a sad smile. She was the only family that I had left.

"That's too bad... Too bad indeed..." Her voice goes an octaves lower as her body starts to shift. My eyes widen, No, not her too... Please NO! She laughs and turns into a level five Akuma. The worst was just beginning.

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Wow! Another ending to another glorious chapter! It's about 12:45 AM over here and bit am I tiered... Now, for all of you who did like this chapter (or didn't) let me know! And you now what that means... -DRUM ROOOOOOLL- REVIEW!

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