Warning!! Some spoilers in here if you haven't read up to chapter 131. There's also slight language.

"Time to wake up," a grating voice said. In an instant Allen snapped his eyes open and looked about frantically. His heart was racing, and he had broken out in a cold sweat, and he was only able to calm down slightly once he had verified that he was indeed alone. Once he knew that no one was around he sighed. He had been hearing that voice ever since he had fallen ill, but he always awoke to find himself alone. The rational part of his mind wondered if he was merely hallucinating as a result of the fevers, but another side of his mind was telling him this voice was something else.

"You look awful," someone remarked suddenly. At this sudden interruption, Allen nearly fell out of bed, the cold sweat and racing heart returning. This time, however, he was relieved to see that someone was actually there. Lavi looked at his fellow exorcist with a rather worried expression. "Are the medications starting to wear off? Can I get you anything? Should I write a will?"

Allen couldn't help but laugh weakly at that. Only Lavi could turn this situation a few shades lighter. "No to all of those," Allen said between strained laughs. "I just had a weird dream." Lavi cocked his head in curiosity.

"Hmm, what were you dreaming about?" he asked as he pulled a chair over to the bed.

"Noodles," Allen replied with a grin. Now it was Lavi's turn to laugh. At least Allen could still be humorous.

"Really now. And what was weird about these noodles?" Lavi asked.

"Well," Allen started, "They were doing synchronized swimming in a bowl of ramen broth." Lavi nodded with a philosophical look.

"Interesting. Well, I believe that means that you're sick of hospital food," the future bookman concluded.

"That must be it," Allen agreed. Lavi grinned.

"So, what's really bothering you?" he asked. At the question Allen's expression became blank once more.

"I've been hearing…a voice," Allen ventured. He didn't really want Lavi to think he was crazy or that it was just because he was sick. Right now, he really needed someone to believe him.

"A voice, huh? Does this voice ever ask you to do anything, or does it just talk to you?" Lavi questioned.

"It just says things, usually just a word or a phrase at a time, no full out conversations or anything." As Allen finished his statement he turned carefully to gauge Lavi's expression. He seemed to be thinking the subject over, but Allen wasn't sure if this was only for show. He knew Lavi probably wouldn't tell him out right that he was going crazy.

"But," Allen continued suddenly, "This voice, I know it's in my head, but it's like I've heard it somewhere before…"

"Shut it. You don't need to tell everyone about me. Let them enjoy what little of you they have left," the voice suddenly snapped in Allen's head. Allen's eyes widened.

"What's wrong, Allen?" Lavi asked, looking up from his thinking.

"Once you weaken a little more, your body will be mine entirely, and I can finally get down to business," the voice continued nonchalantly. "Won't the Earl be surprised to see me?" it mused.

Allen felt his head swim as the voice continued. Somewhere in the noise he could hear Lavi, but he seemed to be unreal, like a voice in Allen's head.

"Just die already," the voice finally growled. Allen never heard Lavi call for help.

Everyone in the room jumped at the slam of a large book on a desk, causing all eyes to turn toward the source of the noise. At the large desk in the corner, the Millennium Earl sat with head hung and fist shaking in anger.

"What's the matter, Earl?" Road asked, concern lacing her voice. The Earl raised his head, his expression enough to make everyone shrink back.

"That little bastard… he's coming."

Komui waited anxiously, ankle deep in the snow and shivering profusely as he looked to the sky.

"Jeez, it's just like him. Even in times like this he can't seem to be on time," Komui grumbled with a sneeze. Waiting around like this was taking up valuable time he could be using to do more research.

"I'm not that late, am I?" a voice suddenly asked from behind Komui, causing him to jump and whirl around, pointing an accusatory finger at the person behind him.

"Yes, you are that late! Why don't you learn to be on time, or answer a letter more often, or…"

"Aw! Did you miss me that much?" the red haired general asked with a wide, sarcastic grin. Komui grumbled again. Cross laughed. "Don't be so up tight, Komui. It's not good for your health. Now, I hear there's a problem with my disciple," Cross continued without waiting for Komui's answers to his more snide remarks.

Komui sighed. "I guess one of those letters finally got through," he replied.

"No, I actually heard it from a Noah," Cross said matter of factly.

"Wah?!" Komui was nearly knocked backwards by that statement. How did the Noah know about this?

"But how," he began.

"The how's not important right now, Komui. What is important right now is Allen," Cross said as he walked past the scientist toward the entrance to the Black Order. Komui couldn't argue with that statement. "So please, tell me what's been happening."

"We're not entirely sure how it has happened but Allen's body has begun to reject his innocence." Komui stated. "We were able to regulate the progress for awhile, but our drugs are losing effectiveness quicker than we would have liked. To make matters worse, the pentacle has also begun reacting, so we have to assume that the akuma virus is also being affected by the process." Komui was talking so quickly that he ran right into Cross, who had stopped dead in the corridor. He looked at the general, gauging his expression. Cross appeared pensive, a wide frown spreading over his face.

"I guess I should have known this would happen sooner or later," he said to himself, but Komui picked up on the statement.

"Cross, what do you mean? What's going on he…" Cross quickly silence Komui.

"We don't have a lot of time. If we don't react quickly Allen isn't going to make it," Cross said as he quickly took off down the corridor. Komui had not been expecting this outcome, but at least it appeared that they were finally getting somewhere.

"You know how to cure Allen?" Komui asked desperately as he quickly followed after Cross.

"Not entirely, but I know someone who might," the general replied.

"Who?" the scientist asked.

"The Millennium Earl…"

AN: Oh ho! The 14th has some nasty plans for Allen, but what's he got to do with any of this? And the Earl may know how to cure Allen?! Hmm, things are getting interesting... Hope y'all enjoyed!