A/N: Omg, yes! It's another chapter! Short, I'll admit, but I'll do better next time ;) BUT! The plot thickens, dun dun dun! Let's see what you make of this :D R&R appreciated~ *hint*

Chapter 4: Madness

If Road was worried about anything, it was the Earl. With the masks starting to break it was clear chaos was going to ensue in the near future. But something was certain. Neah Campbell, or the 14th, was no longer a true threat to anyone. Even though for now she was the only one to actually realize this.

She bounded from the door she had created for herself to be greeted by a forlorn Tyki, who was sitting on the lounge sofa.

"What's been keeping you?" Tyki asked, his eyes searching for any clues with a desperate expression on his face.

Road ran excitedly to Tyki and weaved her hands around his neck as she jumped to his lap, causing him to give a small 'oomph'.

"That bastard Apobitch was a little too much for even me to handle. I've been taking a break from everything to get back into shape, so to speak." she said, resting her head on Tyki's shoulder.

"Too long for everyone's taste. You should've contacted someone." Tyki said, putting his hands around Road's petite waist in a loose hug. "And somehow I can't help but feel you're hiding something. Wisely's been detecting you for a while, you know? Be glad we didn't tell Sheril about it."

Road nuzzled Tyki's neck and tightened her hold on him, fighting the tears she'd felt tingling in her tear ducts ever since she left that dumbfounded idiot of a scientist behind back in Manchester.

"Shhhh... I've just been snooping around a little while recovering. How's Millennie?" she whispered. Tyki snorted and his expression darkened.

"Mad. This is the worst I've ever seen him and I've seen a lot." Tyki said and groaned. "Moans about wanting to see the 14th and keeps cursing Mana Campbell being the root of everything evil in his sleep. It's been tense all around. I swear, he's fucking in love with Neah. What did happen all those years ago? I'm sure you know more than I do."

Road sighed.

"Even I don't know every detail of it, but it was a matter of possession. Supposedly, Mana had something Millennie decided he wanted desperately for himself. Enough to raise hell for and Neah joined in all the action, mainly to protect his brother. And despite the intervention, Millennie still does love Neah. He's family. I think he was just appalled at the fact that he treasured Mana more over him and hopes things are going to be different this time around now that he's dead. Like, perhaps convince him to join us instead of trying to kill the Earl and become the new head of the family."

Tyki gave a small dry laugh. "The Earl was obsessed in obtaining whatever Mana had? And that eventually ended up the family getting slaughtered? I'd love to know what happened, really."

"Like I said, I don't know the details. I'm pretty sure the only ones that do are the Earl, Neah and Mana. One is in the grave, one is mad and one is determined to kill us." Road said, snuggling against Tyki's chest in slight comfort.

"Guess we'll never know, then." Tyki said, patted Road on the head and retracted his hands to dig out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Road scrunched up her nose.

"Do you have to? With your darling little sister right in front of you?" she whined and pouted, bouncing in his lap impatiently.

"Little is too much of a stretch, sweet tooth princess." Tyki chuckled and Road puffed her cheeks in annoyance and poked Tyki in the stomach, making him cringe. She hopped off and twirled on the floor, now a metre away from him.

"I'm still a sweet young innocent girl, I'll have you known! Why do you think I still need to take those stupid classes at that miserable school?"

"And yet despite your actual age you suck in every single subject. And we all know very well you look like a 10 year old brat only because you want to portray yourself as such. Well, your mentality has always been stuck at that level, so it suits you." Tyki snickered and dodged a poorly-aimed kick.

"I can't help it, I look cute like this! And besides, like Millennie always says: "Some charasteristics from your old self will always carry on pushing through". And I was 12 back when I turned." Road said, ready to burst with annoyance.

"I know, I know," Tyki said, watching in slight amusement as the little girl stomped around the room. "But I suggest you see Sheril. And Tricia for that matter. Sheril's been going mad with worry and that's taken a toll on his human pet. He's been torturing that little Bookman apprentice for weeks now."

"You kidnapped that pretty red-head?" Road looked amazed.

"And the old geezer. Sheril's been adamant on asking questions concerning you and the 14th's relationship. Currently that half-dead red-head is lying in the guest chamber fighting for his life and not a single peep has been heard from the panda."

"Harsh. All of you." Road mulled over the thought.

"Yes, well... this is our way of fighting, is it not?" Tyki said slyly with a smirk. "When we do it, we either play or do it nice and proper."

"Says the one who failed to kill his target." Rode snipped and Tyki growled in response.

"Yes, well that shounen turned out to be a Noah, didn't he? Despite how much he tries to deny it himself."

Road complemented on telling Tyki of what had happened, after all, she sensed he was likely to be on the brink of... changing soon. But... it just wasn't worth it. Things were dangerously on the edge and if anything tilted to the other side even a fraction now...

"Yup, but I can't wait! If Millennie convinces him to stay, I get Allen all for myself!"

"Neah. That shonen's been done for for a long time." Tyki said and finally lit his cigarette.

"Screw Neah. I want Allen. Or maybe I'll just convince him to be my doll! That would be cool!" Road faked excitement and giggled in glee. Tyki groaned.

"Begone with you. Sheril's been looking like he really wants to murder someone, not caring if it's one within the family, if you don't show up soon."

"You're so mean! I wanted to play with you a little more." Road pouted. "But I suppose making an appearance wouldn't hurt. Maybe I'll pay old Millennie a visit while I'm at it."

"Yes, yes. Now leave me be. I have enough troubles without you pestering me."

"Tyki's a poopface!" Road exclaimed and ran out of the room. Tyki merely inhaled deeply some smoke and almost, just almost thanked God she finally let him be.

Road ran across the hallway and almost bumped into an akuma guard on the way. The dining room was right ahead, but she reckoned she'd go get a look at the Earl first. With her popping into the picture, it was questionable if the Earl would stay the same now that... and well, whatever was to happen now hadn't happened before in all of human history. Road just hoped it was going to be for the best.

She turned left at the staircase and opened the master bedroom door.

The huge canopy bed was still occupied by the human version of the always manically smiling Earl. Road could see he was sweating and mumbling nonsense, fleeting words like "Mana", "14th" and "revenge" coming out stronger. She edged to the side of the bed, hopped on it and stretched her hand to stroke his hair with a sad expression on her face.

"I hope you'll come to make the right choices and this'll all come to an end soon. I think you can no longer last like this, Millennie." she whispered and placed a small kiss on his forehead.

"And whether or not you can remember her even the slightest anymore... neither can her. Neither can her." She then moved the cover on him slightly upwards and quickly set out to find Desires, making sure she didn't slam the door behind her.

.

.

Allen shivered slightly at the feel of the new brown coat they'd gotten from the local tailor. It was warm, hugged her slim figure nicely, went all the way up to her knees and it had a very useful hood to cover her hair.

They were all huddled in the back of a caravan with the travelling circus, heading towards the general direction of Stockport. Johnny was tinkering with some of the broken things the circus folk had wanted him to fix in exchange for letting them ride with them.

Allen was terrified. The two men she was now travelling with wanted the Noah and the Earl as dead as possible. Techically, that was what she was planning on as well, however... it wouldn't do any good to just jump in on the action when she didn't know where she stood in the world. If she acted rashly, she knew she'd just end up dead once more.

That's why she needed to find Road. Her Road, who she had been able to find trustworthy for some periods of time admist the depressing darkness. She knew Road was hopefully able to answer at least a few of her questions.

She gave a shuddering sigh. Now, to shake the two men off of her or not? Running off without a trace during the night would free her of the shackles of having to lie and try her best not to slip anything informative to her companions. She was used to lying, deceiving, manipulating and seducing her way out of things, sure, but if this continued...

She gave a quick glance at the blonde, who was quietly keeping an eye on her. The level of trust between them was now as high as the water level in Sahara, but at least they were not aggressive towards her and opted merely to send occasional dubious glances at her. And because of those glances and what had been able to be read between the lines, Allen felt reassured to know that at least they most likely weren't aware of the back story to this petty 'war'.

Be as it may, she once more mulled over the thought of running, but came to the sad conclusion that she just couldn't do it. At least for now. For she could feel it.

Allen sneaked one more quick glance at the blonde sitting across from her. She could feel the irrational weak pulsing of her Innocence hidden within Link's pocket. While she knowledged it was there, for the life of her, she could not understand why it didn't seek out to connect with her. It was as if it was content staying in Link's possession, saying "I'm fine staying here, it's not the time yet".

For a moment she felt stupid for having thought that, but who knew what exactly had been happening lately. Maybe she'd let loose a little and relax a bit around these people. She knew her Innocence remembered fleeting memories and felt things for her, mostly when it was attached to her, and if it was showing signs of trust towards these two...

After all, if she couldn't trust her Innocence no more, it was a sign either that she had gone mad or the world was ending. But perhaps she had and it was.

Hell, the paper she'd had a quick once over, while the other two were packing their belongings at the inn, stated that the date was almost forty years into the future since the day she turned 20. Just what in the name of God was happening?

Allen bit back a sob trying to force its way out of her. 'Focus', she told herself. She needed to assess what she truly remembered, chronically. Her past she could make out for the most parts, yes. The fact that she remembered exactly who she and the Earl was, was a good indication of that.

But then the problems started. She could barely remember some fleeting conversations with Road, blurry faces, voiced out ideals, madness... Neah declaring to her he wanted to kill the Earl and the other members of the family as soon as possible... and him succeeding to do so for the first five of his siblings... unfortunately she was unable to recall further from that- no wait, as confused as she was as to where in her timeline she'd met him, some girly ass bastard she seemed to recall.

She felt a twinge on her temples and raised her hands from her lap to massage them. It... wasn't as clear to her as she liked, but she suddenly was hit with sudden guilt aimed towards the small scientist. And pain, so much pain back when... back when exactly?

'Back when you fucked things up, I'd imagine sweetheart.'

She gave a small gasp and her eyes flew right open. The voice was coming from inside her head! She heard a haunty laugh.

'Don't be so alarmed, darling. But really, that little white-haired brat turned out to be you! I can barely contain my excitement here, even though I'm pretty offended that I'm pretty much dying here.'

"Ne-ah?" she gave a quiet soft whisper, pulling up her knees and placing her head face-down on them.

'I'm so close to just giving into my desire to do everything in my abilities to take over your mind and body to stop myself from withering away, but... I'll do my best not to. The need to destroy everything and anyone is strong, though, I'll have you known. And with you... oh, with you everything would be possible, if you would just let me~' Neah drawled his speech inside her head in a way that it made him sound like a murderous psycopath.

'But as delightful talking to you is, there is little I can do for you like this. My and your memories are so broken into pieces now that you've woken, it's best I keep the connection as quiet as possible to avoid unnecessary confusion. So bye-'

'WAIT!' she thought.

'Really, there's nothing to be done now. Oh and, I'm sorry I fell. I truly am.'

Only silence greeted her no matter how many times she tried seeking out the voice in her head. That's it! She had definitely gone mad. She gave a dry laugh, tears streaming down her face with her breaths slowly turning into a state of hyperventilation.

"Evelyn!"

She could barely register the alarmed shout from the blonde as he shot towards her to calm her down. After all, registering anything while you're about to fall unconcious wasn't that easy to do.