Akirina: Well, enjoy chapter 8... really sorry I couldn't post this sooner! :)

Chapter 8

Komui leaned back in his chair with a tired groan. Things weren't going well, he thought. How was it that he had been worrying about Allen a few moments earlier and now he was concerned about this?

A revolution. By God, that was the most absurd thing he had ever heard, had it not come from the mouth of a General.

He had no idea when Cross Marian had had the opportunity to talk with the other Generals, but the man had his colleagues' support. Cross had managed to persuade Komui to be on his side, but Komui had other reasons for helping Cross out. He too, was also tired of having the Vatican around. Sure, they had the money and the knowledge, but that was all. The Science Division were the ones who produced the inventions, and they could always continue to produce more items.

No, Komui did not object to the idea of revolution.

But how were they supposed to continue supporting themselves? They needed money to oppose the Vatican and everyone knew that they were having problems in making money.

"Komui?" the familiar voice broke into Komui's troubled thoughts. Komui looked up and frowned.

"Bookman?" Komui responded, "Did you find anything about the Noahs?"

Bookman blinked at Komui in surprise, before remembering his reason for being in the library.

"No." Bookman shook his head. "We only have the basic information on them in the records."

"That's not good." Komui fixed his gaze on Bookman. "Can you find any other way-"

"Actually, Branch Head Komui," Bookman interrupted, staring intensely at Komui. "I think it would be better to listen to Cross if you want to find out more about the Noahs. After all, he is the one who…" Bookman trailed off. "In any case, I reckon that it would be advisable to follow Cross's current plan of action."

Komui stared at Bookman in shock. In the few years that he had come to know the elderly man, Bookman had never interrupted anyone when they were talking. Never. Well, except maybe for Lavi, of course.

"Is… is this about Allen?" Komui asked, as his mind worked to understand Bookman's behavior.

Bookman studied Komui solemnly before slowly nodding his head. "Yes."

AIAIAIAIAIAIAIAI

"Lavi?" Allen's slurred voice startled Lavi for a moment. The red-head jumped up, guiltily hiding his occupied hands behind his back.

"Allen?" Lavi breathed, trying to calm his thumping heart. He had not expected Allen to wake up this soon.

"What happened?" Allen asked, sitting up. "All I remember is… walking here… then… nothing."

Lavi pursed his lips, "Well, I can't say for sure, but Gramps-" he was cut off when the door suddenly slammed open. The two jumped at the sound and Allen's face had an annoyed expression when he recognized the newcomer.

"Hey, idiot apprentice."

AIAIAIAIAIAIAIAI

"… Are you sure about this, General?" Lavi, Bookman Junior stared at Cross with solemn eyes.

"Of course I am!" Cross scoffed. "Anyway…" he cast a glance at the unconscious Allen—whom they had to knock out due to his over-dramatic response to Cross's appearance.

Lavi studied Cross for a moment longer before he heaved a frustrated sigh. "I wish you and Bookman would stop hiding secrets from me. I'm a Bookman too, you know."

Cross looked slightly taken aback before he shook his head. "Maybe you're right." He muttered."

"What?" Lavi stared at Cross, not believing his ears. He had not expected Cross Marian to agree with him readily on any topic ranging from his brand of cigarettes to his views on life.

"Shut up and listen up. I'm not repeating this a second time." Cross glanced around before he lowered his voice. "Allen Walker is a Noah."

ANANANANANANAN

"Branch Head Komui?" Reever Wenham poked his head into the room. "I've already notified some of the trusted personnel of this rebellion. They have all agreed to aid you."

Komui nodded. "You know what to do, Reever."

"Yes, sir." Reever nodded and exited the room. "By the way, Lenalee's brewing a fresh pot of coffee for us."

Komui's eyes gleamed at the prospect of fresh coffee. He grabbed his coffee cup immediately. Maybe visiting Lenalee would be a good idea… he could get coffee and chase off potential suitors…

"Make sure you deal with those piles of papers on your desk first!" Reever called over his shoulder. Komui looked at the piles of work and groaned. He hated paper work. He sighed and settled himself at his desk again. It looked as if the coffee break was going to be postponed. Komui 'grieved' silently.

It also seemed as if Fate was trying to interfere with his plans, for he had barely started on his second sheet of paper work when Lavi burst into the room.

"Komui," Lavi's usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by a frantic, yet serious Bookman Junior. "Allen's in trouble."

"What happened?" Komui pushed back his chair immediately, starting to stride towards Lavi. Lavi hesitated. Something was wrong, Komui knew. Something bad had happened.

"Where is he?" Komui called to Lavi as he broke into a run, clattering down the stairs towards the corridors of the Black Order.

"In the library." Lavi replied and Komui heard the younger man following him. "I think…" Lavi stopped again.

"What is it, Lavi? What happened to him?" Komui asked, unable to stop himself. He was extremely worried and concerned about Allen. The teen always managed to get himself into trouble no matter where he was.

Lavi did not reply and Komui could feel that the red-head was struggling with himself, whether or not to tell Komui the truth.

"Lavi, I need to know the truth!" Komui stopped outside the library door and stared the Bookman Junior in frustration. "You and I both know that it would be easier that you told me what was going on!"

Lavi bit his lip, the conflict between his Bookman side and his 49th personality shown plainly on his face. Komui sighed and turned away, reaching out for the door knob…

"Allen's turning into a Noah." Lavi blurted finally. Komui stopped and faced Lavi with a raised brow. Lavi shifted under his gaze before he continued.

"We were just talking about his plans when the Head Nurse should dismiss him from the infirmary… then, he suddenly collapsed and his forehead started bleeding and his skin turned slightly grey. Gramps had returned by then and he called me to call you and tell you what had happened." Lavi confessed.

"Is that so." Lavi was surprised to see that Komui was not at all shocked by the news he had received about his youngest Exorcist.

"You…You're not surprised?" Lavi stammered slightly, staring at Komui with a baffled expression.

Komui smiled grimly, "Bookman warned me of this before you came to find me. So, no, I am not in the least bit surprised."

Lavi gaped at him slightly. Komui's smile slid off his face and he pushed the door open. He was greeted with a not-so-pleasant scene. Blood splattered the floor, some of them staining the papers scattered on the floor. Allen Walker and Bookman lay in the corner by the couch in the room. Allen was grabbing his head while Bookman was crouching by the youth.

Bookman looked up when Komui opened the door. His face was strained. "It's happening." He whispered. "He is becoming a Noah."

ANANANANANAN

With the help of Komui and Lavi, they had managed to get Allen to one of the rooms in the more desolate part of the Headquarters. They were lucky that there were not many inhabitants in the Orders, or else there would have been a full-blown panic about Allen.

"He needs to be kept in isolation for at least one week for the Noah to fully awaken and for his body to become accustomed to it." Bookman instructed the two as he bought water and clothes into the room. "However, the period of time it takes for the Noah to settle itself is largely unknown, as it varies from Noah to Noah. Since I am not sure what Noah is residing within Allen, I am estimating one week."

Komui nodded as he noted that down mentally. "How do you know this, Bookman?"

The two other conscious occupants froze. Lavi cast a half-curious and half-confused look at his mentor. It was strange that Komui would ask this, but…

"What do you mean?" Bookman asked, seemingly confused.

"I meant you don't just know that because the records spoke of it. You have had experience. You've met with a Noah before, haven't you?" Komui accused softly, his eyes gazing intensely at Bookman.

Bookman stared back and nodded slowly after some time. He could hear the sharp intake of breath from Lavi.

"Gramps-" Lavi protested immediately and Bookman snapped at the Junior harshly, "Shut up, idiot apprentice! Cross has already told him."

Lavi spun around to stare at Komui. The man held his gaze for a moment before he nodded his head. Lavi frowned as he mind raced to understand the current situation they were in.

"What are we going to do with him now?" Komui asked quietly as he approached the bed Allen was lying on. The youth was currently unconscious, although it was not difficult to see that he was not having sweet dreams. The grayish tinge of the trademark Noah skin was slowly creeping over his skin.

Bookman glanced at Allen as well. He had a rare concerned expression on his face. "This is my first time seeing a Noah surfacing." The older man confessed, "But I think if we leave him alone during this period of time and tend to his needs is the only way we can help him out. "

"What about the higher-ups? I know for one that Howard Link was assigned to look after Allen 24/7." Komui murmured as softly as he could, studying Allen's state. So far, there were only the grayish tinge spreading across his skin and the signs of bleeding from his forehead. Sweat beaded the youth's forehead and trickled down his face. Bookman had placed a cold cloth on his forehead and Allen looked slightly more comfortable with the cool cloth that was helping him to deal with his fever.

"We will have to lie." Bookman replied in a whisper. "If we manage to carry out Cross's rebellion in ten days, Allen will not have to face the Vatican and they will not have a chance to execute him. But as long as they are controlling us, Allen will have to remain hidden."

Komui slowly nodded in agreement to Bookman's suggestion. "Well, then we will have to deal with the Vatican first."

ANANANANANANAN

Six days later…

"I'm going to kill Komui when this is over." Kanda grouched as he stomped down one of the numerous corridors of the Black Order. "Or better yet, destroy whatever blueprints he has made of that idiotic Komurin robot of his."

It was the fourth time in six days that he had come across a malfunctioning Komurin XXII (well, XXIII XXIV and XXV had followed soon after XXII) and he had had to destroy it before it grabbed him and smeared his face with the weird lipstick it had in its claws. (XXIII was obsessed with sweeping him into a dustbin, XXIV with some kind of weird stigma on it and XXV with clothes covering it)

Komui had been very disturbed when Kanda told him about the robots 'deaths' and he seemed quite upset with his destroyed robots. Lenalee, on the other hand, had reprimanded her brother sternly for continuing to make such dangerous things that romped the Order, destroying its peace and Komui had pleaded mercy.

" Damn Komui." Kanda muttered viciously, "Didn't I tell him not to make anymore of those idiotic robots?" He was about to turn around a corner when he realized something strange.

One of the doors to one of the numerous rooms in the Black Order was slightly ajar.

It could have been that someone was staying there, but Kanda knew that no one lived in this area of the Black Order-they were all down below. And Daisya had been the previous occupant of the room. No one had moved into his room after he died.

"What the hell?" Kanda muttered as he moved towards the door and gently pushed it open. A soft sound of sobbing reached his ears and he frowned slightly. There was someone in the room.

It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room, but when he did, he was pleasantly surprised.

"Moyashi?" his tone was shocked and a little confused.

Sitting on the once-vacated bed was Allen Walker. At first, Kanda could not tell what was so different about him. But when he did, he gasped with shock and disbelief.

"Noah."