And before I run out of whatever is driving me to write right now, I'm going to be cranking out this new chapter. Especially because the last one was so short. Blueballad – thank you so much for your support and quick reviews : ) they make my day and keep me going. This chapter is all in thanks of you.

Enjoy.

Chapter 8

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Because he had technically been asleep while the akuma utilized his body to wreak havoc, Allen felt moderately rested for the first time in days.

The periodically repeating sound that resembled what a dying dinosaur must have sounded like coming from the next room, however, clearly showed that Ravi had a lot of shut-eye to catch up on. Allen scratched his head in bewilderment.

"Are you sure that's snoring?" Linaly could only giggle in response. "It could beat that sonic-wave using akuma we fought back when we met Miranda at its game," he added, making Linaly laugh out loud, only to join her moments later. The laugh lasted a good while, and it ended abruptly when Linaly's laugh melted in to a yawn.

Allen shook his head. "I'm sorry for being so inconsiderate. You need to rest, you're beat up from all that fighting," he said apologetically.

Rubbing her eyes, she gave Allen a tired but content smile, and said, "It's alright Allen-kun." She tucked her knees in close to her and hugged them, resting her chin on top. "You know, a lot of people take things for granted, and sleep is one of them," she said, staring straight ahead at the wall in front of her, as if remembering something. Allen nodded, encouraging her to go on. "When I was little, there was a period when my brother's chief concern at night was the fact that I wouldn't go to sleep. He tried everything in the book. Chamomile tea, warm sweetened milk, classical music, counting sheep, you name it." A loving smile played on her lips in memory of the moments that played back in her mind. "He realized one day though, that it wasn't that complicated. All he needed to do was find out what I was worried about, and talk it out." She laughed, explaining that it had taken a while for the genius(?) science department head to figure it out. "Like one time, it was something as silly as what to make the teddy bear I always slept with wear. You see, I didn't know what to do because I couldn't figure out if the teddy was a boy or girl. I didn't want to make the teddy wear a night gown and embarrass it if it was a boy." Allen couldn't resist, and sneaked a look at Linaly's face. He fought back the laugh creeping up his throat. Her expression was so serious and determined to explain how important the issue of the teddy bear's night wear was. What he was seeing, he understood, was a fragment of Linaly's childhood.

Linaly turned to find Allen on the verge of tears from holding back the laughter. Linaly pouted, saying, "Allen-kun, you're laughing at me," but soon burst out in laughter herself when she reflected on the story in hindsight. After the moment settled, she turned to Allen with kind eyes and said, "so what I needed to sort out before I went to sleep today, was you. I needed to know you were okay, and not plaguing yourself with guilt."

Allen tried hard not to look away; she had hit home with the last comment.

"Because, Allen, that would be ridiculous. Ravi and I both are happy and honored that you trusted us enough to guard your back against something you feared so much."

Allen looked at her. He slowly nodded. Then, he smiled.

Returning the smile, Linaly got up and patted him lightly on the back, said goodnight, and walked out of the room.

Allen dragged a chair over to the wall and plopped himself down on it. He leaned back, letting the back of his head bump lightly against the wall. He smiled, and knocked lightly on the wall he leaned on, which on the other side was where Ravi was. The snoring had stopped a good while ago.

"Eavesdropping," he muttered, just enough for his voice to carry past the thin walls. An uncomfortable rustle of sheets came back in return. "Do you feel the same, Ravi? Happy and honored?"

A mutter of "duh, baaaka" was enough to make Allen want to squirm from the warm feeling that spread throughout every inch of his body. Friends? No, this is what it must feel like to have…

Family.

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Allen sat in the darkness, on watch duty for what was left of the night. It was awfully hard to see, but even a dim light would be like a beacon, screaming out to the akuma that they were here. So he sat, and after a while he began to let go of his dependence on vision, and closed his eyes.

It was like a new world had opened up to him. The woods surrounding the cabin filled his lungs with the fresh scent of green leaves on the maple trees, along with an undertone of the damp and soft smell of soil. He felt the wind tug tenderly on his untied strands of hair. He heard the whisper of the leaves and grass brushing against each other every time a breeze passed. And with it, the subtle sound of small feet approaching.

To this, he jumped, and turning around he saw that it was merely the girl that they had rescued. Startled herself by Allen's surprised reaction, she withdrew back in on herself and began to retreat back in to the house. Allen noticed this, and quickly put on the most welcoming smile he could muster, and held out his hand in invitation. Though hesitant, the girl carefully stepped forward and held his hand. Fragile, vulnerable but precious, were the words that came to mind through the tender grip she had.

"You're up already? It's still very early," he said, trying to remember how Linaly dealt with the child and finally settling for patting her on the head.

"You need to help him," the girl said abruptly.

Allen realized the girl was talking about the city within those walls, and fought to keep his calm and casual composure despite the excitement he felt for the possibility of informational leads on the mission. He cocked his head to the side and asked, "him? Who do we need to help?" He softly cupped her delicate hands in his for reassurance.

"I don't know," she said, and when she looked up and met eyes with him, suddenly as if some restraint had been torn away, she began to talk. "I don't know who he is, but, but you need to help him! He's been there for a long long time, and has something he wants to keep, keep away from the scary things."

With nothing specific described Allen could only catch the drift of what the girl was trying to explain, but he had a feeling. "'He' is a good guy, isn't he?"

"He's scary," she admitted, but quickly added, "because he wears all black stuff, but I know he's a good guy!"

He needed to know more. Allen purposely made a quizzical and doubtful look, and the girl jumped up, desperate to make him believe. "He helped me get out through the doors, and, and…" She seemed to be looking Allen up and down, and with a sudden look of realization, she pointed at his chest. "He had this thing on him too!"

She was pointing at the Rose Cross.

Allen nodded absentmindedly and patted her on the head, telling her something along the lines of "yes we'll help him" while his head was racing to make connections and speculations. In the end however, all that was left was his gut feeling that was barely supported by the information they had so far; there was an innocence in that city, and maybe even… an exorcist.

To Be Continued…

Sorry for another short chapter, but hey, its longer than the last one! nervous laughter

Just felt like I should post before I decide to let it rot in my hard drive.

Reviews will make me sing with joy :D