WARNING: I pick on Lavi again with the same joke. I know, it's getting stale, but I don't really care. And how does sweet, innocent little Lenalee know about that stuff anyway? As the Tootsie Pop announcer guy says, "The world may never know."

Again, I end the chapter with a single line. It's becoming a habit for me, sadly.

I'm advertising a story shamelessly again. I started a crossover of DGM and The World Ends With You. Why? Because you can substitute Kanda's first name in the title, that's why. So take a look if you get a chance. Pwease? (puppy eyes)

Disclaimer: HK owns DGM.

The 11th Memory: Chains of Sorrow

"Supervisor…" Reever whispered, "Is this really necessary?"

Komui nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid it is. If we didn't do this, she might try to escape, or even worse, try to kill herself again."

"But supervisor-"

"Stop." Komui held up a hand. "I don't like this any more than you do, but we can't risk the loss of an exorcist. For all we know, she might be the key figure in defeating the Earl."

Reever sighed. "The life of an Innocence host really is hard, isn't it?" He turned away.

Komui gave one last glance at the inside of the room. "Life during war is hard, Reever. For both exorcists and humans alike." He shut the door.

Road glanced up at the closed door, a look of hopelessness and despair in her eyes. So, they've left. Of course they did, everybody loves leaving me. She tried to move her arms, but they were bound by thick chains. Her entire body was bound to a small bed, tight restrains only allowing little to no movement. Leather straps kept her from getting up, and chains bound her arms and legs. A silk cloth was wrapped around her mouth, to keep her from committing suicide by biting her tongue off.

Road stared blankly at the ceiling. My old life seems so long ago, Road thought with tears in her eyes. I can barely remember what it's like to have my Noah powers…I barely remember what it was like to ride around on the Earl's back, or how it fun it was to annoy Lero. She blinked her tears away. What am I talking about, it's only been about a week and I think I'm forgetting everything about my old life.

But Miss Kamelot, a voice said, interrupting her thoughts. You forgot about Kryst, didn't you? A silhouette in Allen's shape appeared in the shadows in the corners of the room. "Hello, Road, glad to see me?"

"Mmmph!" Road tried to say from behind her gag.

The shadow cocked his head. "Is that gag troubling you, Miss Kamelot? I can hear your thoughts just fine, you know." He cupped one hand to his ear. "Give it a try, speak to me telepathically.

Go to hell.

"Ooooh, harsh words, Road." The shadow stood next to Road. "You never used that type of language when you were a human."

I swear, if you force me back into that twisted illusion of yours, I'll-

"You'll what? Kill me?" The shadow grinned. "You're welcome to try, though I doubt you'd succeed. After all, I'm not even human. Besides," His form started to take on a more tangible shape. "I only have enough power at the moment to speak with you."

Just tell me what you want to say and get the hell outta my life.

The silhouette frowned. "That hurts, Road. And here I was thinking we were friends." The shadowed form began to look more and more like Allen. "Of course, I don't really know what friendship is, since I don't really have emotions."

Why do you always look like Allen?

"Did I forget to explain to you? Sorry, my bad." Allen smiled. "I'm Allen Walker. Yet," He turned back into shadow. "I'm not."

Just tell me what you wanna say already.

"Fine, I'll tell you." The shadow embraced Road lightly, his form barely touching her. "Remember your human emotions. That is the key to synchronizing with your Innocence."

A bitter laugh escaped Road. Are you serious? Do you really believe that I can feel like a human, that I actually want to synchronize with this damned Innocence?

"Acceptance is the final step in denial." The shadow said cryptically. "And acceptance is your key back home."

What're you…?

The shadow embraced Road tightly, but instead of solid flesh pressing against Road, she felt a cold wave of energy pass over her as the shadow melted into her. Listen, Road. The shadow's voice said. If you never accept that you're human, you can never go back home. And if you never go back home, I can never return to Allen. I don't really give a damn about you, but you're my host now, and I must follow you wherever you go. Even to the depths of Hell.

I don't understand you at all.

Allen didn't either, to him I was just what reminded him to continue walking. But know this, Miss Kamelot. Road's left arm twitched. Innocence is still a weapon. It may be a weapon designed to save, but it's used to destroy.

Road closed her eyes. But that doesn't change the fact that I hate it. Nor the fact that I hate humans.

If you hate yourself, then that means that you don't fully understand. You're too ignorant when it comes to these things, Road.

Shut up.

In Road's head, the faintest trace of a smile could be seen in the darkness. Goodnight, Road Kamelot.

--

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOCKED HER UP IN CHAINS!!"

"I-I'm sorry! It had to be done!"

"I'll show you what has to be done…"

"No wait, you wouldn't hurt your dear older bro-"

BAM!

"Okay…maybe you would hurt your dear older brother."

Lenalee had just returned from Martel with Kanda. Kanda went straight to his room, as usual, and Lenalee went to check on Road at the infirmary. When Komui told her that he locked her up in chains, she kicked him before he could finish.

"I had no idea you were such a pervert, Komui!" Lenalee shouted. "I can see Lavi being into bondage, but not you!"

"Do I get any respect around here?" Lavi randomly asked.

Johnny shook his head. "You'll get used to it."

"But Lenalee, my great lovely beautiful saintly sister, I had to lock her up!" Komui pleaded.

Lenalee stuck her tongue out at her brother. "You didn't have to do anything, brother. You can't just lock up young girls in rooms with no reason to back it up!"

"Wait, Lenalee-"

"I'm going to set her free, and you can't stop me!" She moved past Komui, when he suddenly stopped her.

"No, Lenalee. You can't allow that girl to roam free."

Lenalee glared fiercely at Komui, then cooled off a little when she saw the seriousness in his eyes. "Tell me then. Tell me why you had to lock her up."

Komui sighed. "That girl, Road Kamelot, she's a danger to herself and others. She's mentally unstable and we had to keep her under lock and key for her own safety."

"How can you prove that she's unstable?" Lenalee asked. "I mean, we say the same thing about you?"

Komui shook his head. "She threatened to kill herself after we told her she couldn't leave." Lenalee stared at Komui. "She wanted to get rid of her Innocence, and go home. And she tried to do it in the worst possible way."

"What do you mean?" Lenalee asked cautiously.

"I mean she took a knife and carved a chunk of her hand off." Komui said bluntly. "She said that she'd kill us if we didn't get out of her way, but we didn't listen because we knew she had no power to back it up." He put his hand on Lenalee's shoulder. "Listen, Lenalee, it's too dangerous to let her out of her bindings until she accepts her destiny as an exorcist, she might harm our Finders or herself. You weren't there when she woke up, so you don't know how unstable she is. It's best if you forget about her for the time being, just leave her alone."

"You mean…" she bit her lip. "You mean how you left me alone, brother?"

Komui flinched at her words. "You know that I had no choice, the Order took you away by force!"

"Yeah, just how you're keeping Road locked up by force too." Lenalee said bitterly. "She just wants to go home, Komui. She didn't have any choice at all! I brought her here, thinking that she needed to be treated, but I didn't think she'd be treated like this!" She looked away from her brother. "Keeping her locked and bound like that…the Order's treating her like they did to me…"

"Lenalee-"

"Don't try to argue your way out of this Komui!" Lenalee shouted fiercely. "You weren't with me during those first few months. You didn't see how unfairly they treated me, how I was only a tool to be used in their eyes." She clenched her fists. "You have no idea how it feels to be forcibly ripped apart from your family, from your home! None!"

"Lenalee…it was just as hard for me too." Komui said sadly. "I know that you how alone you felt during those months. How did you think I felt? It was just as bad for me, since my one and only sister was torn away from me. So you shouldn't think that we were any different during those months."

Lenalee shook her head. "It was different for you, you had a goal to work for. You had your studies to keep you occupied. I…I spent each and every day in absolute misery. I had no light to follow, I actually thought it was better for me to die. You had a reason to continue living, I had a reason to stop. So don't you dare say that it was just as hard for you!"

Komui averted his gaze from Lenalee's. "I…see. I had no idea you felt that way."

Lenalee moved towards him. "Komui…"

"Do what you want, Lenalee. I won't stop you. Just know one thing."

She hesitated. "What?"

"Road Kamelot…she thinks she's a child of the Millennium Earl." Komui glanced at his sister. "It's probably false, but we can't exactly rule out the possibility that it's true. If you go to see her…" Komui walked away from her. "You should be prepared for anything."

"I don't think that'd matter, brother." Komui turned to her, and was surprised to see a single tear fall from her eyes. "I think I might be used to having my heart broken by a child of the Millennium Earl."

"Lenalee…"

"Komui…I'm sorry I said those things. I still love you." She turned away from him. "But the Order doesn't have the right to hold people against their wills." She walked away from Komui.

"What did you mean?" Komui asked quietly. "That your heart was broken by a child of the Earl?"

"I don't know." Lenalee answered, still walking away. "It's just…" She sighed. "I met a boy named Allen Walker, and for some reason…"

"It felt like he broke my heart."