Road had already dragged him in fifteen shops; fourteen of them being ones of food. While the other...Allen shivered when he recalled the memory of Road literally dragging him into the women's underwear store and asking him if he thought pairs of lingerie would look good on her. The people working there even asked if he was her boyfriend! Road was enjoying it the whole time, he'd caught a glimpse of her holding back her laughter.

They now were walking down the street. In his arms were boxes stacked upon boxes, it's a wonder they hadn't fell yet. Allen grimaced and gently shifted the weight of the heavy load to his other arm so the corner's weren't digging in as much.

"Why can't you just transport these boxes into the Ark?" Allen asked. Road glanced back at him and gave him a look that seemed to say, 'isn't it obvious?'

"We're in public, can't risk anyone seeing it."

An irk mark appeared on Allen's head and he chuckled darkly feeling "Dark Allen" coming out.

In public she says? When has that ever stopped her before?! This is probably my punishment…carrying boxes for the rest of my life…

Something occurred to him just then. He's had his suspicions about it but Road never actually told him where they were. "Say Road, where is this town?"

Road twisted her head around to face him and answered, "Italy. Tyki wanted to stop here. He likes the wine. The Ark will be moving soon although."

"The Ark is here? The Earl didn't just open a portal and-"

Road cut him off by holding a finger up to her mouth. She then raised it towards the sky and said, "Look closely." He did as he was told. Allen squinted, trying hard to look past the Akuma, and then he saw it. It was a faint glimmer but he knew it wasn't an Akuma nor part of the sky. It was the Black Ark, but it was invisible at the moment.

"It is here." Allen whispered.

"Yup! Now let's get moving. If your friends show up before we're done that counts as game over just the same."

"Friends?" Allen questioned.

Road narrowed her eyes and gave him a smile, "That's right. You see Tyki was spotted by one of your troublesome Finders a few days ago. Now some Exorcists are coming after you, most likely to capture you. Now come on you heard what I said before right~?!"

People were coming for him. Upon hearing that he didn't want to follow Road. The fact that help was on it's way renewed his hope enough to think of ways to stall for time. But it couldn't be obvious, if he was found out then this town would perish and all these innocent people would die.

"Sure, let's go. But first can I tie my shoe?"

"Wha-Allen!"

As he roughly placed the boxes on the sidewalk to 'tie his shoe', the stack gave one tremendous wobble. Road rushed forward and hugged it, after a while it steadied and he stood back up brushing off his pants. The female Noah back away and bit the inside of her cheek her face going into pout.

"You're mean." Road insulted him. "Come on. We don't have much longer."

He'd just wasted five minutes. If he could keep creating incidents like this the Exorcists might just make-

It won't work Allen.

The sudden voice of Nea almost caused him to drop the boxes all over again.

Nea?! Where have you been?! And what do you mean it won't work?

The Akuma already sense you're up to something. If you continue they'll alert Road who no doubt is on to you. Without meaning to you'll bring about the destruction of this whole town. Don't go with the Exorcists, this isn't a good time, innocent lives are at risk. Wait for another opportune moment.

Allen gritted his teeth but he could see the truth in Nea's words. He was about to answer when he suddenly became more alert, for some reason a small feeling of panic began to unfold within him. He realized that this wasn't his feelings, but Nea's.

Nea what's wrong?

It's too late you must get back to the Ark right-

In front of him Road suddenly stopped walking. The girl let out a sigh, "Surprisingly I didn't want to do this. I wish we could have had more fun but the game's over. Your friends have arrived."

Allen's eyes widened and he dropped the boxes to the ground not caring if they got damaged or not. His panic was now beginning to become one with Nea's. "Road...I'm coming back to the Ark with you, you don't have to destroy this town."

Road tilted her head up to the sky, "It was part of the deal. Now Akuma, do what you were ordered to do."

No!

Allen turned towards the sky, his hood falling off of him from the sudden movement. Dozens of Akuma were now revealing themselves, they were coming out of the clouds not even waiting until they were in range to begin shooting with their deadly bullets. There were mostly Level 3's, a few 2's and 4's in the mix.

"Dammit!" Allen cursed. An arm slunk around his, it hooked theirs together and started to lead him away from the chaos that was about to rain down. "Road!" He snapped slipping out of her hold. "Stop this now! Or I will!"

Road blinked blankly at him before nodding in the direction of his currently useless arm. "How? Your Innocence isn't working is it?"

His anger was about to boil over. "Road." He began in a dangerously calm tone. "These people have nothing to do with this, with us. Call off the Akuma."

"...Let's go. The Earl wants us back for tea time."

"Road!"

She isn't going to listen Allen. I can help although. Each Noah has the ability to control Akuma...if you let me take over, I'll stop this.

Allen froze, his silver eyes had lost their anger so quickly Road took a step back for she didn't know what was going on.

"Allen? We have to go, now. Come on." The girl tugged on Allen's hand but he was unresponsive. What had happened to him? He was furious seconds before, now he was brain dead.

Another thought occurred to her and she thought darkly, He better not be ignoring me. I'll make his next punishment ten times worse.

She was about to slap him to see if he reacted to pain when something happened that caused her to freeze. This was rare for she as a Noah rarely froze, and especially in fear.

Allen's pallid skin began to turn ashy colored, it started at his fingertips and spread like a disease all around. The familiar stigmatas engraved themselves into Allen's forehead. And the boy's silver eyes faded to a deep golden. Minutes passed and the pair just stood there, the only sounds being of the Akuma attacking the town in the distance.

Road finally getting over her shock managed to ask, "N-Nea? Is that...you?"

Nea ignored the girl and instead spoke two words that seemingly chilled the air, "A-ku-ma, stop."