Woot! A non-weekend chapter update! Yes…I managed to hijack the computer long enough to write a chapter, so…here you go!

Really people, I need suggestions for Road's weapon, NOW. The next chapter will have Road's weapon in it, so I need a design! I don't really need a function, but just the form Road's arm manifests in. Though it can't be like Allen's arm because then I'd be unoriginal…I'm still also accepting new story titles.

Ugh, I feel sick…seriously, my throat feels weird and my head hurts slightly…oh what do you care? As long as I continue to update, I can stay sick for all you care, right!? Jerks…I'm just kidding by the way. The jerks part, not the sickness part.

High school sucks…

Disclaimer: I bought Vol. 10 of DGM the other day, and it came with a freaking NARUTO sticker. I thought it'd be DGM related…oh well, Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, and DGM belongs to Katsura Hoshino…who I believe is a girl.

The 15th Memory: Pause

Road was crying. Tears streamed down her eyes, her sobs echoing against the walls. She felt so empty, like she would never be cheerful again. A warm hand grasped her shoulder. "Don't cry, Road, he wouldn't want you to feel like this."

Road bit her lip, her salty tears dripping down to the floor. "B-but…he's dead. He's dead. That means he's not coming back, right? Right!?"

The owner of the hand shook her head. "Just because he's dead, doesn't mean that you should spend your entire life grieving for him. He would've wanted you to move on, to get past your sorrows.

Road hit her hand away. "No! I can't just forget about him! I can't…" She clenched her fists. "It's my fault."

"What do you mean, Road?" the woman asked.

"It's my fault he's dead!" Road cried out, tears in her eyes. "I killed him…it's my fault he's dead…"

The woman embraced Road. "Don't say that, you had nothing to do with his death."

"You weren't there." Road said quietly. "You didn't see…you didn't see what I did…"

"Then tell me." The woman looked Road in the eye. "Tell your mother what happened."

"But mother…" Road whispered. "If I told you, I might end up killing you too."

--

"What was that!?" A shrill female voice called out. "The humans turned into…into monsters! They even attacked yesterday!"

"Eh…what's going on?" Road arose from Miranda's bed, wiping her eyes. "How'd I get here? I thought I was fighting those Akuma…"

Lavi walked up behind her. "Oh, you're awake. I thought you might've been out of it longer."

"Oy, perv, what happened?"

"P-perv!?" Lavi sighed. "Geez, I am so tired of getting called that. Ah well." Lavi pulled up a chair. "After I dropped Miranda off here, I went back to help you. And when I got there, you were almost dead."

"Almost dead? What do you mean almost dead!?" Road shouted.

"I meant that you were unconscious and those Akuma were about to kill you. If they weren't playing rock-paper-scissors at the time," he smiled. "You'd be nothing but dust by now."

Road kicked him. "How could you say that with a smile?"

"I just can." Lavi gave Road a serious look. "But really, what happened back there, Road? You told me you would be able to fight, that you'd be able to activate your Innocence."

"I thought I could, but I didn't." Road stretched out her arms. "Does it really matter? You destroyed them already, right?"

"It matters a lot, Road." Lavi said darkly. "You're nothing but a liability on this mission if you can't activate your Innocence. After all, Innocence is an Exorcist's greatest weapon."

"I never said I was an Exorcist." Road muttered. "I said I'd fight alongside you guys, but that's it. I will never call myself an Exorcist."

"I don't really care what you call yourself, just figure out how to use your Innocence." Lavi stood up. "Before those Akuma attack again."

"Again?" Road questioned, "Didn't you take care of them?"

Lavi shook his head. "Before I was able to fight, this weird voice came out of nowhere and told the Akuma to retreat. If it wasn't weird enough that a voice can come from thin air, those Akuma actually listened to the voice."

"Wait…whose voice was it?"

Lavi shrugged. "How should I know, some guy's?"

"Guy…" Road pondered, "Maybe…no, but in place of me…Allen? Hmm…"

"Uh, Road, what're you muttering about?" Lavi asked.

Road quickly stood up. "Oh, was I muttering? You were just hearing…the clock lady! Yeah…" Road furrowed her brow. "Exactly what is she doing anyway?"

"What, Mira-chan?" He glanced at Miranda. "Well ever since I dropped her off here she's been having a nervous breakdown…" He put his hand on Miranda's shoulder. "Hey, Mira-chan, I think that maybe you should calm down a little."

"CALM DOWN!?" Miranda shouted. "How could I calm down when-" Snap. A small key broke off from Miranda's necklace and skittered across the floor. "Oh no!" Miranda dived furiously down to the floor and grabbed the key.

"Hey," Lavi said, after he calmed down from Miranda's outburst. "Isn't that a mainspring?" He glanced at the grandfather clock in the side of the room. "Is it for that clock over there?"

Miranda picked herself up off the ground, clutching the key to her chest. "Y-you probably think that I look stupid, holding on to this key so preciously…"

"That's not true." Lavi said, "You have important memories with it, right?"

"Memories…ha, as if any of my memories are good…" Miranda sighed. "No matter what they do, there are some people who just aren't good enough. I'm that sort of person…ever since I was a child, I always saw the backs of my classmates. Everyone else could do anything better than me, and they moved along smoothly forward. Even when I became an adult, I, as usual, always had to change jobs…" She shook her head. "No matter what kind of job I had, I always messed up and ended up getting fired…"

"Miranda…"

"You know, I've never been given a 'thank you,' since I've never been useful to anyone. I wanted someone to say 'thank you' and recognize me…It was at that time, when I came across an old clock that was discarded at an old secondhand store.

"The previous shopkeeper picked it up from somewhere." The store owner said, "It's a pretty clock, but the screw won't turn, so it won't work. If you really think I'm lying, give it a try." He handed Miranda the key.

"A clock that was being thrown away for being useless. Somehow…somehow I saw myself in it."

Miranda inserted the clock key into the slot, and turned it. The clock started ringing.

"It worked!" The store owner exclaimed, "The clock worked! No one else could make it move!" He turned to Miranda. "Buy it!"

"An old clock that no one else could get to work, the sound of its bells echoed in my heart. I felt as if I, who was never good enough, had finally been recognized." She started sobbing. "Just look how pathetic I am, having to buy a clock just to feel appreciated, to feel needed." She started polishing the clock. "And now there's these monsters…what did I do to deserve this?"

"Um, Mira-chan?" Lavi said, "Are you okay?"

"I…I can't do anything!" Miranda shouted. "You people hold amazing powers, don't you!? Then hurry up and save this town!"

"Shut up." Road knelt down in front of Miranda. "Look at you, a grown woman asking a couple of kids to help you."

"Road-"

Road held her hand up, signifying Lavi to be quiet. "Listen here, you, this is your town, not ours. So whatever the hell is wrong with it is something you have to help fix. After all, the town's strangeness is connected to you."

"M-me?" Miranda stuttered. "B-but why me?"

"Because, you're the host for the clock's In-"

Dong. Miranda stiffened.

"Mira-chan?" Miranda walked silently to her bed, and started sleeping. "You're going to bed!?" Lavi exclaimed.

"Hey…Lavi…"

Lavi turned around. "What-" He widened his eyes. "What the…" Clocks of many shapes covered the room's walls. The ominous chimes of the grandfather clock resonated throughout the town as Lavi and Road stared at their surroundings. "What's going on!?"

"Lavi, it's that clock!" Road went over to the window. "Those clock things are all over town!"

Tick...tick…tick…tick-tick-tick-

"Road, the hands!" Lavi exclaimed, "The hands of the clock are turning backwards!" The clock needles were spinning relentlessly, as if there was a tornado inside of it. The clocks that spread across the town conjugated around the grandfather clock, and were sucked in. The wind threatened to suck Road and Lavi in, if Lavi wasn't holding onto the window. Lavi extended his hand. "Road, grab on to me!"

"Do I have to?" Road whined. "I don't really have to touch-"

"JUST GRAB MY DAMN HAND, ROAD!!" Lavi shouted. Road grudgingly obeyed him, and not a second too late. The force of the wind escalated to a fierce gust that nearly lifted Road off of her feet.

Road noticed one of the clocks, which had an image engraved in it. An image of the past. "Lavi…this clock is sucking back today's time…"

Kochi. The last of the clocks was sucked into the grandfather clock. Rays of sunlight swept over the town. "Whaaaat!?" Lavi said, surprised, "It's morning already!?"

Miranda got up from the bed behind them. "Huh…since when did I get to bed?"

"M-Miranda…" Lavi and Road's eyes twitched "You're saying you didn't notice any of that?"

Miranda shook her head. "I didn't notice anything? Why, is the town fixed!?"

Road sighed. "You wish it was." She walked over to the clock. "Here, take a look…"

"Um…what are you-OHMYGOD!!"

Road was inside of the clock, her arms were sticking out of the sides, and her head at the top. "Look, I'm a human clock!"

Miranda fell to the floor. "M-my clock…"

"Settle down, geez…" Road stepped out of the clock. "You see, we're unable to touch this clock, just now I tried to touch it but look." Road put her hand into the clock, only to have it come out above her arm in reverse. "Apparently the only one who can touch this clock is its owner, Miranda."

"Just what are you saying, Road?" Lavi asked.

"Do I really have to explain everything to you? It should be obvious." Road sighed. "This clock has the power to rewind time, and Clock Lady can touch it, while we can't. Figure it out."

"Are you saying that this thing's the Innocence, and Miranda is the host!?" Lavi turned to Miranda. "Hey, Mira-chan, if you really are the host, is there anything that happened on the real October 9th?"

"Nothing much…" Miranda said quietly. "Just that I've been fired from my 100th job. As expected, when my unemployment rate had reached triple digits, my sentiments were one. I kinda drank all my wine…so it's a little hazy so…" Miranda scratched her head thoughtfully "I think I wished that tomorrow would never come."

"Isn't that…" Lavi slammed his hands on a table. "That's it! The Innocence granted Mira-chan's desire!"

"B-but I was just complaining…" Miranda stuttered, "Besides, why would my clock do that…?"

"You're the Innocence's host, duh." Road said flatly. "The clock synchronized with you and granted your wish." Road grinned. "Why don't you try stopping this weirdness?"

Miranda put her hands on the clock. "Clock, oh clock. Turn time back to its original place now…"

Lavi ran to the door and grabbed the newspaper. He looked at the date. "October…9th…"

"I…see…"

"Why don't we try thinking this over one more time, huh Mira-chan?"

Three days later, the 34th October 9th.

"Yes, welcome, welcome!" Miranda was dressed up as a witch and was handing out flyers to everyone. Lavi was wearing a pumpkin head behind her and was trying to juggle. Trying, but not really succeeding. "Pieter Theater's horror play, "The Pumpkin and the Witch," is today's public performance! How about a ticket?"

"Good job, good job!" A fat mustachioed man stepped next to the two. "Good you two, ticket sales are looking promising! If you keep this up, I'll hire you full time!"

"Really?" Miranda asked.

"Yeah, so why don't you two take a break for now?"

"Thanks." Lavi put down the balls he was jugging and sat down behind an alleyway. "Phew, who knew juggling balls could be so hard?"

"Certainly not you." Road stepped out of the shadows. "So, how're things going, pervy?"

Lavi opened his mouth to protest, but then decided it wasn't worth it. "So, Road, you said you wanted to talk, right?"

Road nodded. "Damn straight I do. It's about my story."

Lavi groaned. "Not that again, I told you before, show me some proof and then I'll believe you."

Road gestured to the town. "Isn't this place proof enough, redhead?" Road asked. "Look around, this town is solid proof that time and space can be manipulated and bended to a persons will. If Innocence can bend time, so can Dark Matter."

"I still don't believe you." Lavi said quietly.

"Why not!?"

"Because," Lavi started, "The Innocence isn't turning back the clock, only trapping a period of time. Think of it this way, the Innocence is keeping this town inside a bubble, and the bubble can't be popped. Inside of the bubble is a tape recorder, recording every moment that has passed and replaying it over and over again. It can't capture time that has already passed, And-" He held up his hand to stop Road from interrupting. "Even if time that has already passed could be captured, it can only be around a small area, not to mention that it's also temporary. You say that Allen was able to reverse time to around this period, but that's impossible. If he did that, he'd have to capture the entire planet's, no, the entire universe's time and keep it in place without interrupting. That would put an immense strain on Allen, so much strain that he'd die in seconds." He sighed. "And that's the obvious reason why your story is false."

"Hmph," Road said "The only thing false around here is your smile."

"How'd you-"

"WHAT'D YOU SAY!!"

"Mira-chan!" Lavi ran over to the theater area and saw Miranda sprawled out on the ground, the theater owner hovering over her.

"The money we've raised has been stolen!? You stupid idiot!!"

Lavi ran over to Miranda. "Mira-chan, what happened?"

"L-Lavi, I'm sorry…" Miranda sobbed, "While I was selling ticket to another customer…he just…he…"

"Miranda, did you see what the pickpocket looked like?" Lavi asked.

Miranda nodded. "It was a man…a man with a light brown coat and long hair…he ran that way…"

"Don't worry, I'll find him." Lavi took off in the direction Miranda was pointing at.

"L-Lavi…" She looked up at the theater owner, tears streaming down her face.

"Useless."

I knew it… Miranda grasped at the hem of her dress. In the end, no matter what I do, I'm always no good. In spite of that…I keep trying…like a fool…

No more…

"Why is it always me that's like this…?" Miranda cried. "Why does my clock have to be the Innocence!?" A shadow fell over her. "Why me…?"

"So your clock is the Innocence." A man's voice said.

Miranda looked up, and felt a black butterfly land on her hand. "W-who are you?"

The man smiled. "I'm Tyki Mikk, and I'm here to play a little game with your Exorcist friends."

"What're you…aah!" A sharp stab of pain stung her hands. The butterflies were eating holes through her hand, blood splattering across the pavement. "Wh-what are these things!?"

Tyki patted Miranda's head. "They're called Tease, and they're here to kill silly humans like you." He flicked his fingers up, and several more Tease came from his hands and bit Miranda's. They carried her up, forcing Miranda to gasp out in pain. "Although I'm gonna let you live for a bit, since I need you for my special little game."

"W-what game?"

Tyki grinned evilly. "The game of death."

"T-Tyki…"

"Eh? Who's that?" Tyki turned around.

Road was standing behind him, her arms reaching out to him. "Tyki…is that you?"

Tyki cocked his head. "And who might you be, girl?"

"I-I'm Road…Road Kamelot…your…sister…"

"Sister?" Tyki scratched his head. "I don't get it, you're an Exorcist, aren't you? I'm pretty sure I don't have any Exorcist sisters…" He grinned. "But if you wanna play, then, hey, let's play!" Tyki raised his hand and a large Tease came out in the form of a shining gauntlet. He charged at Road.

"Hey, hey," A voice said from thin air. "Isn't this a bit unfair?"

Tyki stopped. "Who's there? Are you that other Exorcist?"

"Heh…you wish…" A large dimensional rift opened up in front of Road. A deformed hand came out of it, beckoning Tyki to come in. "Why don't we play your game in here, Tyki? I've already collected your Akuma and the other Exorcist."

"What are you doing!?" Road shouted. "I thought you said you were out of power!"

"Oh…heh heh, I lied." A small beam of energy went though Road, knocking her unconscious.

"Who are you?" Tyki asked. "You don't look like an agent of God."

"I'm not." The voice said. "Just call me 'divine intervention,' I can't let my host be killed by you, after all." The hand motioned Tyki to come inside the rift. "Come in, I promise you'll have a good time!"

Tyki pondered over it for a second. "Can I bring this skinny lady and her Innocence too?"

"Ha ha…sure, why not? The clock's here anyway. And don't worry, once you're in here, I won't mess up your little game."

"Fine, it's a deal." Tyki stepped into the rift, Miranda trailing behind him.

"Heh heh…this should be fun…" The rift closed itself up, leaving nothing but a single Tease in the Rewinding Town.