Well, I got a review that asked if I could keep going with the story to explain Lavi and Road's relationship with more detail, so the story will probably go on for more than one more chapter. That's cool, because it is a fun story to get into, being as how it's fun to make up strange relationships. Who knows, maybe I'll hook up another different couple before this story ends. We'll just have to see where my mind takes me. I live on spur of the moment ideas . . .

Oh, and I'm finally able to be classified as a betareader! This rather excites me, as I think it will be a lot of fun. So if anyone is interested in having their story beta'd, I'd be glad to do it for you! And now on with the chapter . . .

***

A knock on the door alerted Lavi to another guest. By this time Komui and Kanda had left, Komui to go think up some plot for getting Lenalee to forgive him after killing Allen, and Kanda just because the samurai didn't like being alone with any particular person. So Lavi knew that it had to be one of the other Exorcists, and so completely at ease he called out, "Come in!"

The door creaked open slowly. Lavi couldn't see who it was at first; either they were hiding behind the door or he wasn't looking in the right place. But he suddenly realized it was both when he glanced down and caught the sight of a few strands of spiky short hair sticking out. Instantly he froze, wondering what in the world a former Noah wanted with him.

Unless it had something to do with being Noah . . .

Lavi discarded the thought almost instantly. They had been inside of the Order's Headquarters for quite awhile now and obviously weren't about to attempt anything. But then why was Road coming to him? She'd hardly even talked to him, except for when she'd attacked him in the Ark. And oddly enough, that was when he began to question whether Road really wanted to be what she was. And she was right, about the Bookman . . .

"Road?"

The figure fully showed themselves in the door. Small, hesitant, standing there in her Lolita clothes looking too dreadfully innocent, Road glanced up at Lavi with her large violet eyes and smiled weakly. "Um . . . hi, Lavi . . ." She scuffed her feet on the floor. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you so serious before," Lavi muttered. "Or so flustered. Come on in."

The door shut behind her and she stepped inside, over the piles of books that yet graced the floor of Lavi's room. She perched down on the edge of Lavi's bed, staring down unhappily at his lame leg. "I . . . hate that we did that to you."

Lavi shook his head firmly. "No, I don't think that you did. I always knew it was the Earl who had done it. He influenced Lulubell into trying to kill me, and I destroyed her thinking that it was her that had attempted to do it. But she . . . never wanted to hurt any of us, all along."

"She didn't."

"I'm sorry I killed her."

"No. You were just doing what you had been trained to do. And after what happened at your home with your scientists, I would have as well."

"Road, why are you depressed? I've never seen you act this way before." Lavi hesitantly touched her hand with his own.

She jumped and pulled away swiftly, then changed the subject. "I heard you stopped being a Bookman. Why? You were good at it."

At this, Lavi sighed and closed his eyes. "Forty-nine wars," he murmured, so quietly that he could hardly hear himself. "Forty-nine names. That long and somehow I managed to never become attached. But when I came here . . . when I met Kanda, and Lenalee, and especially Allen, all of that flew out the window. Because I realized that they cared about me, whether or not I cared about them. When you made me question myself in the Ark, I realized there that I care for them as well. I can't be heartless, I can't be biased . . . I don't want to be an outsider any more. I wanted my friends to know that I was there for them. It's important to me to not be a Bookman. To end the Bookman line. Sure, history won't be recorded accurately anymore, but I think . . . that's the way it was meant to be. History is meant to have holes in it."

"I tried to kill you in the Ark," Road said suddenly.

"I know that. But the Earl—"

"No. No, Lavi, that was entirely me. I knew what I was doing."

And at that claim, Lavi couldn't help but to jerk away from the small girl. "But why? I didn't do anything to you. At least, nothing you wouldn't have expected me to!"

"Listen for a minute, Lavi. I didn't do it out of spite."

Lavi froze. What was she getting at? If anything, Road was getting even more serious. And it was the strangest thing he had ever seen. That little girl without a smile on her face . . . it actually made him rather sad. Road was the type of person that needed a smile on her face.

Road leaned forward, tentatively taking his hand again, gripping it tightly. She raised her face to his, staring into that one eye with such a longing look that Lavi had to avert his gaze. "I did it," she whispered, in complete seriousness, "because I loved you."

***

Kanda was . . . bored. He tramped through the halls of the Headquarters, his arms crossed over his chest, his ponytailed hair flapping behind him in time with his steps. For the first time, he had no one to complain to, or to yell about.

Kanda was bored.

No Moyashi; he was standing out in the rain making out with the Chief's sister. No stupid Usagi; he was pouting in his room, and there was no way Kanda was going back in there alone. People might get the idea that they were friends. And that stupid Komui was who knows where. Nor did he want to find out.

Kanda let out a quiet growl and thumped down the hall at a faster, more unhappy pace. He wanted to go and fight an akuma. But obviously there were none left. But then . . . there were Noah.

Only problem was that they were on his side now.

Kanda frowned and stomped into his room, locking the door behind him. He would just sleep, then, if that was all there was to do. It was the most intelligent idea he'd had all day, as a matter of fact.

The boredom must have been going to his darn head. Now he was being lazy.

***

"Allen," Lenalee whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think we're going to get sick after this?"

"That's a stupid question," he snorted. "Of course we are. But it's your fault, not mine. Do you want to go in?"

"Not yet." She kissed him on the cheek again and slipped her arms around his waist. "Do you get the feeling that there's more love in the air than just us?"

"Uh . . . isn't that sort of a girly feeling? I don't feel any different."

"Well, I do," she giggled. "What did Lavi say to you when you took him back from dinner?"

Allen frowned, not understanding. "He said he wished he had a girl like I did."

"I think Lavi's going to get a girl."

"How?"

"Um . . ."

"You don't know!" he laughed.

"Somehow," Lenalee said fervently. "You'll see."

"I'll believe you, I have to give you that much." Allen grinned. "Can we not talk about Lavi right now? Or about dating. We're dating, right? So that's it."

"M'kay, Allen." She grinned.

***

"Komui . . ." Reever stated quietly. "You're really okay with it?"

"Why is everyone asking me that?" Komui demanded before sighing. Reever was the only one Komui could ever feel at ease with, or talk serious with. Only Reever knew Komui's real reason behind his sister complex. Because Komui was afraid of being alone again. Of losing her. "Reever . . . honestly, I'm not. But she needs someone, and I could tell. As soon as Allen came, I saw her look at him. They deserve to be together. But!"

"Uh-oh," Reever muttered.

"If they're going to be together, they come with me. I won't let her go off again where I can't see her. I don't want to lose her."

"I understand," Reever agreed. "But where would they go? Where would you go? I know that both you and they would rather stay here than go anywhere. This is where they belong. Where we belong. And think of the happiness they would gain by raising their children here—"

"REEVER!" Komui screeched. "Don't even think about saying that word!"

"Eh . . . you mean children?"

"No! I will not allow Lenalee to have children with that . . . that . . . cursed freak! I must stop them before it's too late!"

"Oh dear," Reever sighed.