I'm diseased! I have worst cold ever! And while that sounds remarkably pathetic, it is very true. I rarely get anything other than a mild sniffle, so this full-blown hacking cough, earache and a nose so full of snot my whole face has puffed up has really laid me low. I think at one point I was hallucinating… Went to the doctors yesterday cos my mum wouldn't shut up about it, and apparently I have sinusitis. I swear, the doctors just make these things up. It's just another way of saying that snot has caused my sinuses to block and get infected. Geez… sinusitis… Still, we must endeavour to keep our promises, must we not? So here's the update. Now I'm going back to bed…

Chapter Twenty Two- The Promise

Last time-

Allen dropped his hand, revealing a large red mark that would normally bruise forming on the right side of his face. "You should've hit harder Lavi, if you wanted to really leave a mark" Allen said quietly as the swollen area began to shrink, the Noah's healing ability wiping the blemish away.

Lavi tensed, and for a moment Allen thought he was going to get hit again. It seemed that everyone else thought Lavi was going to swing for Allen again too… Jim and Lenalee were on their feet, Lanel was tensed for action and Kanda had half-drawn Mugen from its sheath, but the blow never came. Instead the redhead made a frustrated sound and grabbed Allen by the shoulders, pulling him into a crushing hug. "You are so stupid!"

Allen tensed for a moment before relaxing. "Yeah, I know."

0o0o0o0o0

"So, what do we do now?" Lenalee was the first to break the heavy silence that had fallen around the table once they had all taken a seat. Nobody seemed to have any idea about what to do next.

Eventually Allen spoke, not raising his eyes from where they were carefully studying his knees. "I guess my only choice is to go back to Head Quarters and hope they don't kill me on sight."

None of the exorcists seated around the table seemed too impressed with that plan. "That's ridiculous!" exclaimed Jim. "They'll lock you away for sure! And that's the best case scenario" he added. "You can't go back! You're on a long-term mission, so just carry on as if nothing's happened."

Lavi shook his head. "No, that won't work."

"Why not?"

"He still has to report in at the Finder bases, doesn't he? He can't turn up looking like that" he pointed at Allen's two-tone hair and grey pallor.

Jim sighed. So much for the 'ignore it and it will all go away' idea. "So, again, what do we do?"

"I have to go back" insisted Allen again.

"Shut up Moyashi, don't try and get yourself killed so soon."

Something about what Kanda had said made Allen flinch slightly, but he did not say anything to dispute the admonishment.

"I believe that Allen Walker is right" said Lanel calmly, "but I don't think just charging back to Head Quarters is the right way to go about it."

"Oh?" Kanda asked harshly, turning his razor gaze on the green haired exorcist occupying the end of the table. "Then what is the right way to go about it?"

"You are forgetting that there is someone else in the Black Order that knows about the Noah of Will's existence" the angel said simply.

"Of course, Bookman knows" said Lenalee. "But how will that help?"

"He has experience when it comes to matter like these, perhaps he can make a suggestion" Lanel explained in his neutral tones. "Either way, having an additional input from someone of his intellect can only aid this situation."

Lavi nodded slowly as he thought through what the Aviran had said. "He's right, having gramps in on this can only help Allen in the long term." He looked at Lenalee. "Having Komui on our side would help too."

Allen looked like he was about to protest, but Lenalee silenced him. "No, Allen. He's right. And it's not like you can hide this" she waved in his general direction "from anyone."

"Can you use your powers to disguise yourself?" Jim asked.

Allen paused slightly, he'd not even thought about that. "I don't know" he said hesitantly. "I could try…" There was silence for a few minutes as Allen's eyes flashed deeper gold for a moment as he concentrated. The black in his hair seemed to fade a little, but that was the only noticeable difference. Eventually he relaxed, looking as if the effort had taken a great deal of his strength. When he spoke his voice was hoarse. "It takes too much concentration, I couldn't do it constantly, and as soon as I was distracted, if only for a moment, I'd lose it."

"Can you do anything?" Kanda asked the angel, who immediately shook his head.

"My powers are not enough to combat the Noah genes" he said simply, though he looked as though he wished it wasn't so.

"What about Danny's water? It helped you when you were about to transform" suggested Lenalee with the desperate air of clutching at straws.

Allen looked at her sadly. "I'm already drinking the stuff everyday, Lenalee" he revealed. "Both of us are. They put us on it as soon as they found out it was still potent when carried in a different container." He gave a rough, mirthless laugh. "That's how they justified sending us out. Danny's water is already keeping me alive… if it could do anything else, it would have by now." He looked at Kanda. "We're going to need to get some more, I'm all out, and so are you." He gestured meaningfully at Kanda's hip where the canteen was noticeably absent. Kanda pulled a face but nodded shortly in agreement. "They have a stock at all the finder bases. That was one of the reasons we had to report in" Allen explained.

"Well, looks like it's up to me and Lenalee to go ahead and talk to gramps and Komui, try and get something sorted out." Lavi got to his feet hurriedly. "There's no need to hang around. You all wait here, pretend you're recovering or something" he ignored Kanda's disbelieving snort. "We'll get into contact as soon as we work something out."

Jim nodded agreeably, though he noticed that neither of the generals seemed too happy with the plan. He stood and followed the two older exorcists. "Don't worry" he said when they were outside and thus out of hearing range. "'Nel and I will make sure they don't do anything stupid."

"You'd be the first" muttered Lavi sullenly, apparently still not completely over the feeling of being betrayed, no matter what he had told them earlier. "We'll try and get things sorted our end, but its not going to be easy. Once the Grand Generals catch wind of this… Well, if they kill him outright as soon as he steps into Head Quarters, he'll be getting off lightly."

Lenalee frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The Noah are the Earl's most powerful assets- they aren't going to let an opportunity to study one and find any weaknesses slip by." He ran his hand through his hair, looking uncharacteristically lost. "Why Allen, of all people? It's not like he hasn't been through enough."

Lenalee shrugged dejectedly. "Bad things always happen to good people" she said, with an air of knowing exactly what she was talking about. Lavi patted her on the shoulder. "Yuu should be alright then" he joked, though it seemed a little forced, but it did the job, Jim bursting into laughter and Lenalee giving the red-haired man a reprimanding smack on the back of his head. "Well, see ya later Birdy-chan" he said with a jaunty wave. "It'll take us a little over a week to get back to HQ, so make sure they don't do anything stupid. Or kill Lanel, I think Allen was getting pretty close to doing that earlier."

Jim laughed again and returned the wave. "I'll try my best. Good luck."

0o0o0o0o0

Allen sat alone in the shade of the inn, watching the townsfolk go about their lives as though there was nothing wrong with the world. He sighed. Maybe in their little piece of the world everything was fine and dandy, but in his, well, he doubted it could get worse.

He felt so stupid! How had he just blindly trusted the voice in his head? It was a Noah for Christ's sake, the enemy! And he'd just blithely taken the disembodied voice's word that it was on his side, trusted that there was no ulterior motive behind the reassuring words.

And Lanel… God he was so close to wringing the bloody twig's neck it was unbelievable. Despite what the Aviran had said, he knew that there was a definite evil aura surrounding the dark side of his soul. While the Noah might not be ready to sign a deal with the Earl, he wasn't going to be sitting by idly while the Black Order fought him. There was a distinct disinterest in joining with the Noah family, probably stemming from Allen's own dislike of those particular individuals and the shared experiences they had gone through together at the hands of the Noah Clan, but still, the Noah of Will still held onto the basic urges of the Noah genes- the urge to spread unhappiness and despair wherever he trod, and that deeper, sadistic streak that enjoyed seeing humans suffer.

Well, screw that. If Allen had anything to say in the matter, and he would make sure he did, the Noah was never going to have the chance to fulfil its urges in this body.

He allowed his thoughts to wander, thinking back on everything the Noah had said to him, trying to separate the truth from the lies. He did know one thing for sure, the Noah came forth when he was at his weakest, mentally and physically. And when it did come forth…

XxXxXxXxX

Allen watched her, his previously dead eyes bright and fully aware of everything that was going on. A small, almost sadistic smirk played at his mouth, as though desperate to burst forth onto his pale features but knowing it had no place there.

"Is there something the matter, Francesca?" his voice was hoarse, gravely, a result of dehydration and the recent screaming it had been put through. It made the seemingly innocent sentence appear sinister.

She made a small snarling noise. "How did you do it?"

He cocked his head to one side; in what would have been a sweet, childlike gesture if it hadn't been for the scornful smirk that was still there. "Do what?"

"Break out of Road's dimension? You shouldn't have been able to do that. Nobody should be able to do that."

The smirk vanished, replaced by an expression of complete confusion. "I…I don't remember… I don't know…what happened…to me." His hands gripped his head. Or tried to. He nearly decapitated himself with his left hand. He blinked at the hand in bewilderment. "Wuh...when did I invocate? Why can't I remember? ARGH!" He dropped to his knees, his right fist pounding the floor. "What did you do to me?" The voice was barely a whisper.

XxXxXxXxX

She had nearly backed out of the door when his head snapped up, and the look was back in his eyes. "What did you do to me?" he asked again, beginning to stand. His voice was still just above a whisper, but it was hard, cold, vicious.

Fran decided to take her chance. The blade was free from her wrist and speeding across the cell faster than the eye could follow.

Well, apparently only most eyes. Allen watched the large dagger approach. He made no attempt to catch the knife, or to swat it away. Instead he just leant to one side, not moving his feet, but bending his upper torso to the left so the blade sailed past him and buried itself in the stone behind him. If it had hit him it would have buried itself to the hilt in his upper body.

The smirk was back, stronger, with more malice hidden in its depths. "I said, what did you do to me?"

Fran gulped, her grey skin paling perceptibly.

The action was not missed. The sneer widened. The grey-blue eyes burned with some deep emotion, and he stepped closer. "I'm sure you'll tell me. Eventually."

XxXxXxXxX

"Is that all you've got?" Fran panted, her hands on her knees, a trickle of blood running down the side of her face and down her neck. "You still don't have it in you to kill me, Walker. I'm still human and you're still pathetic."

Allen laughed. "I wouldn't keep talking if I were you; you're going to need all the energy you've got." He wiped his bleeding forehead with his right hand. He too was panting hard, a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Are you actually having fun?" The Noah gasped incredulously. "You're mad to be enjoying your own death!"

"Sure I'm having fun, but I'm not planning on dying yet. And you still haven't told me what you did to me."

Fran laughed, still managing to sound like her usual self despite the pain. "And I'm not going to. Come on, stop talking, start dying!"

Allen growled and charged her, arms pumping as he gathered speed and threw himself at the Noah with a feral roar.

Fran grinned and made no effort to dodge, instead bringing her arm to meet the charge, an arm with a lethal short sword-like blade growing from it, lengthening as she brought the limb forward.

Allen realised his mistake just in time and threw himself backwards, sliding on his back in front of the surprised Noah. Allen's left hand split her growing blade like paper.

"You're better than I thought" she scoffed as he slid between her legs and jumped into a standing position behind her. She turned almost lazily, disguising her shock at being out manoeuvred.

Allen was bent double trying to catch his breath, a reflection of her stance not two minutes earlier.

"And you're dragging the Noah family's name through the dirt. I honestly expected more. Pitiful." He didn't look up, and a small string of bloody saliva dripped from his mouth.

Fran watched, feeling more confident by the second as she watched his shaking limbs and unstable stance. It looked like whatever had enabled him to invocate and break free earlier was deserting him. After all, there was only so much a parasitic-type could do on a very empty stomach. They had been at this for half an hour now and it wouldn't be much longer before he completely collapsed from exhaustion.

"You don't look so good Walker. Why don't you give up?"

"Not until you tell me what you did to me! Where am I? How long have I been here? WHY?"

Fran chuckled, straightening a little more. "I'll tell you what Walker. I'm a nice girl, I'll make a deal with you. I'll tell you as you die. How does that sound?"

"Bitch!" Allen spat vehemently. "I'll pound it out of you!" He charged at her again, but his movements were slow and easy to predict, far too clumsy from blood loss and exhaustion because his body just wouldn't respond to the commands he was giving it. Or trying to give it- his brain didn't seem to be working too well either.

Well, damn, that's not good.

Fran smiled as she brought the blade down, she didn't need to rush, she could pick out the target area and still have time to paint her nails and brush her hair. Choices, choices… Slow death? Something that would take a long time to bleed out or something quick? A slit to the throat, perhaps?

She settled for a long, deep slash across the body. She was a Noah after all; quick and painless were not in her vocabulary. The cut was deep and on target, and the resulting spray of bright crimson blood made painting her nails unnecessary.

The exorcist crumpled, a look of resignation crossing his face as he fell gracefully at her feet.

She crouched beside him. There was very little blood staining the area. A small amount escaped the injury and ran down his bare chest, but otherwise all bleeding was internal. Already she could see some of the bruising forming on his lower abdomen. She leant forward, her mouth by his ear. He flinched away from her warm breath. "I always keep my promises, Walker. You are about to die, so I'll tell you what happened…"

Allen couldn't feel the pain. Couldn't feel much at all, actually, but he could hear the Noah's voice, the warm exhalations on the side of his face. And he could hear her words. He could feel the rage building inside him as she told him of the Earl's plan, why they had sent an impostor back. Why they had chosen that particular Noah. Why Gregory had allowed himself to change into a certain white haired exorcist instead of another General. How the Noah's tastes ran to tall, dark haired Asian men.

Allen began to shake, and it had nothing to do with the blood pooling around his internal organs. His eyes flashed suddenly, and his innocence flared into life again.

Fran didn't have time to pull back before a white gloved hand closed around her neck.

XxXxXxXxX

Allen's eyes turned regretful for an instant before return to the now-usual flinty greyness. Smooth, calm and blank. "You Noah keep insisting your humanity. Humans can't live without their hearts. Face it Perdita, you can't have it both ways. You can't be human and immortal." And with this he ripped his steely talons through the Noah's heart, destroying it beyond all healing abilities. The Noah slumped against him, the blood trailing from her mouth soaking his collar and sticking messily to his neck and clinging to his long hair.

XxXxXxXxX

He didn't remember a lot about the times he had defeated the two Noah, but he had been fully aware of the devastation whatever he had done left behind. He could perfectly recall coming round to find himself bathed head to toe in Francesca's blood, still warm and red as it soaked into his hair and coated his skin. The feel of the gristle between his fingers. There had been no time between the desperate scream for mercy from the Noah of Faith and waking up to see her body ripped apart and spread across the room like chunks of meat.

He still had nightmares about that sight.

He was more aware of the death of Perdita, the Noah he had chased across three continents to kill in revenge for the plan she had been part of. He had not been in a good place then, mentally, but he could still recall the unnatural coldness that dominated his emotions at the time. Before he had assumed it was his own decision to cut himself off from his friends, becoming colder and harder than Kanda had ever been, but now he wasn't so sure. He might not have been in a good mental state back then, but his physical condition had been far worse… had Jim not dragged him back the order he knew he would have died out there. But would he have really died? Would the actual phenomenon actually have been the dark side of his soul sliding in to take control of what it had coveted for so long? Had the other side of him been the one pushing him to his limits in order to take over his body?

It was a chilling thought, and he distantly felt the other side of him settle back smugly, as though it had been waiting for him to reach this conclusion for a long time. As his thoughts turned towards the evil lurking in his mind, his left arm gave a particularly painful throb as though sensing the dark within him, and longing to purge it from his body. He sighed again, clutching the limb to his chest despondently.

The Noah obviously hadn't come to the forefront of his mind- he certainly couldn't remember an outside changes… but didn't that make it worse? If the Noah had been in control of Allen's body while still remaining hidden by all appearances… If it happened again, no one would be safe.

Allen remained outside for some time, thinking things over and amusing himself by using a small portion of his now easy to call upon abilities and idly changing the colours of the leaves on the shrub that he was seated next to. He knew how much of a liability he had become, and knew, no matter what anyone else had to say about the matter, there was only one way out of this whole mess.

0o0o0o0o0

Kanda was sitting alone at the table when Allen came back in, looking slightly less troubled than he had earlier, but with his face set into a grimly determined expression. Jim and Lanel were nowhere to be seen, but Allen wasn't going to chance being overheard, and beckoned Kanda to follow him to their room on the third floor, away from prying ears.

For a while they just sat in silence, Allen leaning his head against Kanda's shoulders and looking relatively at peace for once. Kanda let his hand brush lightly up and down Allen's arm, knowing he needed reassurance but also knowing he would never ask for it. Eventually Allen drew away reluctantly, turning to face Kanda and preparing himself for what he was about to say, but as soon as he looked at his lover's face, all prepared speeches died away and he found himself whining like a child. "It's not fair! It's not like our lives weren't hard enough as it was!" he grumbled.

"Life isn't fair" Kanda commented, with an almost patient air, waiting for whatever Allen truly wanted to say.

Allen said nothing, knowing Kanda was right about that. Instead he crossed his arms and fixed the opposite wall with a hard glare. Eventually the glare softened into something more uncertain, tinged with an edge of fear, though whether it was for himself or his comrades it wasn't certain.

Probably both thought Kanda as he waited for the younger man to speak.

Allen's left arm gave a small, almost unnoticeable twitch, and he flinched, taking a deep breath before confessing something he knew he would only have ever admitted to the man sitting beside him, knowing that Kanda would understand. "I'm scared Yuu, I don't know what to do."

Kanda glanced at him, taking in his worried expression- clouded grey eyes, teeth biting his lower lip, smooth forehead creased in a frown, twisting the faint cross marks.

He sighed heavily. "What to do about what?"

In answer Allen grasped his left arm against his chest. "It hurts almost constantly" he admitted. "I'm not going to be able to" he paused and took a breath. "I'm not going to be me much longer."

While Kanda digested this and groped for something to say in reply, Allen sighed and turned to face the other man, grasping his hands in his own mismatched ones. "If we win, if we defeat the Earl, I won't be needed anymore," he began.

"What are you talking abo-" Kanda was cut off by a finger placing itself over his lips.

"It's true, and they aren't going to keep me around if I'm not needed, are they? I'm too much of a threat." Allen sighed again. "But that's not what I'm worried about."

Kanda just raised an eyebrow in question and waited for Allen to continue.

Allen looked down at his left arm sadly. "Do you really think that my innocence is going to survive a battle with the Earl?"

Now Kanda understood. For Allen the battle being planned right now, far away in Komui's office would end in defeat whatever happened. Either they lost, and died, won and Allen somehow managed to stop the Noah from taking over his body, only to spend the rest of his life waiting for it to happen, or, almost certainly, the Noah took advantage of his weakened state and took over, and Allen was as good as dead anyway. And Kanda couldn't think of a single thing to say. Allen noticed his expression and smiled wryly. "Yeah, sucks to be me, doesn't it?" He rested his forehead on Kanda's shoulder, taking a deep breath. "If…if that…the worst should happen, I don't want to… him…the Noah to hurt anyone. Will you stop him for me?"

Kanda scowled. Not because he didn't understand Allen's question, but because he did. "I will" I'll kill the Noah if it comes to that, because if that ever happens, I'll have already lost you. "I promise."

Mad-micky- Thanks for the encouragement, it always helps! At least you won't have to wait long, I'm completely up to date with my uni work, so I have nothing else to do but write Fanfiction. YAY!

- Well this way I can gauge how much longer I'm going to be at this- I need to get onto doing something else before I go insane. Unfortunately I am a terrible excuse for a woman and the thought of two fics at once sends me into convulsions. As far as I can tell, there'll be maybe 35 chapters in all, so I reckon another 6 or 7 weeks, but don't tell anyone I said that!

Signrain- I couldn't agree more- I'll see what I can do!

Knux33- I thought it might ease the pressure I put on myself to update (cos I never do it when I want to, and everyone's been so patient with me!) One chapter a week shouldn't be too hard? Right? *looks worried* I'm glad you liked the chapter anyway.

Windy Rein- No, I think its definitely his idiocy! An as to reviews- well, better late than never! Lol, I joke, of course. Sorta *grins*. Ah well, I never claimed to be unpredictable, though I am sorry if things do get too blatantly obvious. And I too am wondering what will happen next.

Blood-stained-rag-doll- Yes, actions do speak louder than words. That and sometimes Allen just needs to be decked!

Fallendemise21- I'm glad you liked it, it was rather fun to do! And never fear- the next chapter will be on time (for once)

Vampirelove00- And you have made this author very happy! Seriously, squealing like a crazy woman happy! I'm glad you are enjoying the story- it makes me more inclined to keep going reading reviews like yours!

Sweet Snow2- Yes, the damn fugly button of DOOM! Well, I guess it is harder to miss now, and that's not such a bad thing… and yeah, we all know how stupid Allen is… its part of his charm I guess. It also means I get to smack him around a bit and not feel guilty…

Nuriko Kurosaki- Yes, poor logic= Allen bashing. I have to appease my inner sadist somehow! Thanks for reviewing!

Babo123- The world would not be complete without punches and hugs! Its how I live my life anyway!

Wow, begging for reviews actually worked! I'm so happy! I don't think I've ever had so much feedback! So I'll do it again! Please make my day by proving that someone out there really does love me! PUSH THE BUTTON! Please? *Puppy-dog eyes*