Moko-chan: D.Gray-man belongs to Hoshino-Sensei. (Man, is the comic becoming darker or is it just me? Lvl 4 Akuma!) Anyway, I must be desperate or something. I'm listening to the D.Gray-man OSTs in hope that I get inspired.

The missing piece in this Innocence….

Is it important, Hevelaska?

I cannot say for sure now. But it may cause changes in the Innocence.

What sort of changes?

Any sort of change so the Innocence can stabalise itself. Innocence are like you or I, they are alive and constantly trying to adapt. They are always evolving.

Then, would it affect Kanda?

Worried about your disciple?

Of course I am.

We can only wait… and pray that it is not serious.

Marie strode through the long hallways of the Order, passing one person after another. He heard the footsteps and the voices of those he passed, which mingled with the noises from the kitchen, lab and other various unknown locations which he hasn't been to yet.

But his ears only focused on one sound, the sound of the newest member who got taken under his master's wing. He was making sure that Kanda was following him to the dojo. Apparently, it was his duty for today to teach the newbie how to use his Innocence. I really hope this goes well. Marie was not all that fond of Kanda, who, in Marie's opinion, acted like a rude and spoilt brat.

The blind youth held his Kouhai's Innocence in his hand. It was a katana, one of the deadliest weapons which combined swiftness and strength.

Fitting. Marie thought to himself with a chuckle. A Japanese weapon for a Japanese Exorcist.

The pair reached the dojo soon after. The air exhibited stillness like undisturbed water. Hardly anyone goes to the dojo anymore. With the current shortage of exorcists and Akuma's appearing frequently, every individual mission was equivalent to several sessions of intensive training, if one survives, that is.

Marie turned to the direction where Kanda was standing and passed him the Innocence.

"That's going to be your anti-akuma weapon. You seen such a weapon before, haven't you?" Marie asked.

"Of course I have." Came the haughty response. Marie heard Kanda turn the katana a few times over in his small hands, examining the weapon. "It's too large for me."

"You'll grow." If you are fortunate enough to survive that long. Marie couldn't help thinking.

"And it's blunt."

"That's because it hasn't been activated yet. As its accommodator, you have to "invocate" it before it can become a proper weapon." Marie explained.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Kanda asked with a tone of slight disbelief.

Master should really teach Kanda himself. It's really problematic to explain something like this.

"Well, since you're an Exorcist, it shouldn't be a problem. You just focus your energy and thoughts on the Innocence..." Marie tried to explain.

"And?"

"It activates." The older Exorcist ended, with lack of confidence. He could feel that Kanda was not convinced at all. "Fine, I'll demonstrate."

Marie's own Innocence consists of an earpiece which enhances his already acute sense of hearing and wires, very suitable weapons for someone who relies mainly on his ears.

He steadied his breathing, focusing on the available targets within the dojo. Letting the thin wires run underneath his fingers, he readied them to attack the dojo's practice dummies.

Innocence, Invocate!

The lifeless wires sprang to life, each like a waiting python, preparing to strike their prey.

Noel Organon, Hymn of tears!

The wires coiled themselves around the wooden dummy and tightened. Then pieces of the dummy fell onto the floor with clunks. The wires slackened and returned to Marie.

"There, something like that."

There was pin-drop silence for a moment and then Kanda gave a slight mocking laugh.

"Heh, what a lousy demonstration."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Marie demanded angrily.

"Your Innocence and mine are completely different. How is that demonstration supposed to help at all?"

"Why don't you try to invocate your Innocence then?"

Ah, I just irritated him. Kanda thought to himself. Maybe I shouldn't have done that.

The Japanese tried to activate the Innocence. Invocate. He thought as he closed his eyes.

Nothing happened.

"It's not working."

"It's not that easy." Marie said, with a slightly less irritated tone. "You have to focus your thoughts on the weapon."

Kanda looked at the katana shaped weapon. Just focus on it? That's quite similar to what chichioya told me about wielding a blade.

Kanda closed his eyes again and focused his thoughts on the new weapon. I am going to use this blade to kill Akuma, to take revenge for my family…

And find her.

Kanda instinctively placed two fingers on the edge of the dark colored blade. The portion of the blade which he touched glowed with a sound of electricity crackling. He then combed his fingers across the blade from base to point in one stroke, causing the edge of the blade to illuminate. The blade shone radiantly.

Suddenly, Kanda felt a sharp pain shoot up his right arm, the one which was holding the Innocence, and he dropped the sword. The blade landed on the wooden floor with a dull clunk and it reverted back to black again.

The familiar humming of an activated Innocence resonated through the dusty dojo.

Amazing, Kanda's a fast learner. Marie thought in amazement. Even Marie himself took about a week before he could invocate his own Noel Organon.

Then Kanda dropped the katana with an "Ittai!"

"Are you alright?" Marie asked as he approached Kanda, who was rubbing his right arm.

"Yeah. I just felt some pain in my arm."

"That's the effect of rebound. It's not surprising, you're only using your Innocence for the first time, so your body's not used to it for a moment."

Marie picked up the katana. "I think you should try again later. Using an Innocence is not something you can learn in one day. If you're not careful, the Innocence can really hurt you."

"Che. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Are you blind?"

Kanda never noticed that I'm blind?! Marie thought his blindness was as obvious as an albino rabbit in a savannah. "Yes. You couldn't tell?"

"You never walk around with anything to guide you." Kanda said. "But you don't seem to look at anything either, so I thought you might be blind or something."

Do I catch a hint of admiration? Marie thought. Maybe he's not such a stuck-up brat.

"And how come you're the one teaching me?"

"Master is busy and Daisya is on a mission, so I was the only suitable candidate." Marie replied with a faint smile.

"Can I try again now?"

"Later." So many questions. Kanda's still a kid after all.

In the darker basement of the Black Order, Lenalee was trying to activate her Dark Boots while being scrutinized by the cold eyes of Chief Leverrier. The scientists have told her to focus, but it was not working well.

The activation of the Black Boots have succeeded a few times, however they were never consecutive.

"I can't do it." She said meekly.

The icy pair of eyes glared hard at her. You are able to do it. Don't try and use this as a feeble excuse to leave the Order." The eyes seemed to say.

Lenalee stared at her feet. The black shoes remained as they are. She tried to activate them again, praying that this attempt would get her away from the eyes.

Moko-Chan: 0o

Pika: Yay! Moko is done with this chapter. You took long enough.

Moko-Chan: 0o

Pika: I know you have a lot of school work, preparation for a concert, but you should really make some time for your story.

Moko-chan:0o

Pika: You could cut down on the amount of anime and Manga you view.

Moko-Chan: (rewinds video) o0

Pika: What are you doing?

Moko-Chan: D.gray-man 4th opening. Kanda is so cool….(Blissfully gazes at television screen) Wings….. Allen is so cool... the crown clown is so beautiful.

Pika: I give up. Please read and review.