Author's notes at the end. Please enjoy this chapter!

A friend who dies, it's something of you who dies. - Gustave Flaubert

Days flickered by. The countries began to plan what they would do against the Vatican to prevent any other measure against their kind and Kiku slowly began to recover.

The first day the nations went to see Kiku was no less then loud, much to the normally quiet nation's chagrin.

"Kiku!" Alfred yelled, waving his hands wildly to catch the nation's attention as the nation sighed softly, then politely inclined his head slightly towards the younger nation. "You doin' alright? Those demon skin eaters didn't mess ya up too badly right?" Kiku just nodded as Matthew sighed and reached out, pulling his brother's jacket and tugging him back as he did so.

Arthur nodded to Matthew in thanks for shutting the nation up neatly then turned his head towards Kiku and smiled slightly at his friend. "It's good to see you in good spirits," he said with another nod of his head, his bushy eyebrows relaxing slightly.

Kiku looked up at Arthur and smiled slightly as well. "I thank you for coming out for someone such as myself," he spoke as Yao scoffed at that, shaking his head.

"Do not humble yourself Kiku," he spoke, shaking his head as Kiku glanced a little warily up at his older brother figure. "You are one of our kind, and my little brother. I at the very least will not let you fall so easily."

"Yeah Hyung!" Yong-soo yelled from where he stood before his older sister could get him to shut up. "You're our older brother even if you're a complete asshole!" [1]

Needless to say, Min-ji banned Yong-soo from Kiku's room unless with Yao.

A few weeks later, when Kiku said that he was feeling much better and could afford to walk around, the exorcists and the countries gathered in one of the Korean siblings' many rooms and lounged around. Yao had received a letter from Mei, otherwise known as Taiwan, asking if Kiku was alright and he was currently reading through it again with Kiku sitting near him and Yong-soo.

Alfred was sitting next to Matthew and Arthur who both were staying away from Ivan, still leaning against the wall.

Allen, Lavi, Lenalee, and Kanda, who had been sleeping on and off since his meeting with Kiku, were sitting on the floor or couch, the silence rather awkward before Arthur spoke up.

"Our original plan was to save Kiku from harm and keep him alive since there are citizens that are alive," Arthur spoke, eyes narrowed as he watched the small crowd. "Now, we have to change that plan."

The Brit's eyes narrowed, remembering what Alfred had said about Renee.

"She's…she's the one who started the Third exorcist project with Alma…whoever that was with the head of Central. I think, Artie, we might need to go to Italy…to talk with…um, Feliciano and Romano. They're Italy right? They should know more what the Vatican is planning."

And for once, Alfred was right. They had to go the heart of the problem in order to keep Kiku safe and…he sighed. He didn't know what they were planning but his mind was turning to one thought in his mind. One that he frankly, did not like, but this was the Black Order after all…

All in the meanwhile, Arthur noticed that Alfred was wincing, holding his chest, something noticed by all as worries began to flicker through the group. Even Ivan paused in the planning, glancing at the younger nation in somewhat of concern. "Is there something wrong America?" he asked as Alfred gave him a blank stare.

"Nothing. Just…just keep talking, I'll get over this…" the young nation bit out, glaring at the wall as Ivan blinked then shook his head.

"…We will commence to Italy with Japan and collaborate with the other nations around the area to help," Ivan spoke, still looking at Alfred with a remote sense of worry written in his normally smiling features. "From there, the exorcists and we will take action against Central as needed to keep from them destroying ourselves."

"It sounds good," Lavi spoke from where he sat. "But against Central? Wouldn't that be asking for a coup of sorts? They do still control the Black Order after all."

Glancing at the red headed boy, Ivan allowed a slight smirk, shaking his head. "Would it be a coup if it were simply questions? Would it be a coup unless you were to kill the Inspector, or whoever he might be? I do not think so, da?" The smirk grew slowly. "Unless of course, what he does decide is detrimental towards our kind, then I at the very least will take action against Central."

Yao turned this plan over in his head before nodding slightly. "Then we should prepare to leave aru," he spoke after some time as he stood up. "Kiku is well on his way to recovery and with Kanda near him, he should be able to survive well enough aru."

Days passed, traveling, defeating Akuma, worries growing as Alfred started to grow worse, irritable, shooting off his rifle one too many times. Matthew grew concerned, worried as the frown creases grew more pronounced, opting to stay with his brother then with the others. Arthur also took to hovering over Alfred, almost to the point where Alfred, in a moment where he was in a good mood, joked that Arthur's bushy eyebrows would jump off and become his own eyebrows at how close he was hovering.

It was a lame attempt to actually lighten the mood as the group traveled to Italy slowly, passing by Yao's home, Ivan's and after a fervent protest by Ivan to skip Belarus, through Toris's home with Feliks, who was at first, reluctant to let them through. Something about "Like, I'm totally not going to let that Russian pass through, got it?", but they managed in the end.

They stopped in Germany, near the capital, as the nation personifications came out to meet the group himself. As they weaved their ways through the crowds, Arthur started to rely information to the others. After all, he was in a rivalry with the German siblings, and Prussia, Gilbert, was currently leading the country since their boss was the Prussian monarch. "When you see that bugger," Arthur growled softly as they moved swiftly through the crowd. "Ignore his gratuitous claims that he is awesome. He is not."

"What, Gilbert?" Alfred asked, eyes wide, leaning against Matthew and somewhat of Ivan since the Russian nation had pointed out that if Alfred were to snap, then he would have to be the one to hold him down. Lavi offered to try smashing him down with his hammer, as a joke, but both Allen and Lenalee gave him a lecture that Lavi's innocence might hurt Alfred and that he shouldn't joke about things like that.

Lavi looked like a rabbit that had lost his hop.

The exorcists, during the entire trip, were rather quiet, looking at Alfred with caution. Glancing at Alfred again, Allen pressed his hand against his chest, where his scar was from when he, Kanda, and Marie went to claim the Phantom Thief G and narrowed his eyes. The fourteenth was unsettled, watching Alfred closely, he could feel it. Was it because…? The British boy watched Alfred as he leaned against Matthew as his eyes widened.

"…Lenalee," he murmured softly, turning his head towards the Chinese girl. She blinked then tilted her head.

"What's wrong Allen?"

Allen looked uncomfortable, shaking his head. "It can't be but…" The boy paused, shaking his head as he did so. "It can't be." Shifting a little more, Allen took a small breath, shaking his head. "Lenalee, you know…the Noah inside of me…He's reacting towards Mr. Jones…"

"…" Lenalee's eyes widened as Allen looked at Alfred then shook his head. The Chinese girl shook her head slowly. "…Mr. Jones wouldn't…he wouldn't be a Noah…"

Allen paused then shook his head more. "Skin Bolic…he perished in the ark right?" he spoke softly as Kanda caught wind of this conversation and shifted towards Allen and Lenalee.

"What the hell are you talking about?" the Japanese boy snapped as heads started to turn. "Of course the Noah died." Kanda sent a glance at his blade then at the others as Allen shook his head, glaring at him.

"If he really died then why is…he reacting towards Mr. Jones?" he retorted as Kanda blinked for a moment then eyes slowly widened, his hand creeping towards his blade. "Then what would that make him…? A Noah who can use innocence…?"

"HEY! You came all this way Alfred?" came a loud voice, interrupting the otherwise intense conversation as Alfred looked up with a grin.

"Gilbert!" he called as a white haired and red eyed man bounded down the street they were on. They were relatively close enough, since the Prussian had come during Alfred's revolution to help him out and training his men. Alfred had an admiration towards the nation and his face lit up, ignoring the pain in his chest.

Gilbert, or otherwise known as Prussia, grinned, waving off the other people. "And hello to you all unawesome people, welcome to West's and my home!" Ushering them forward quickly, Gilbert grinned, holding up a thumbs up. "You're going to stay with me and West, till ya go to Italy's place." Glancing at Kiku, he grinned and waved. "Glad to see ya doing well!" he called as Kiku bowed politely and Arthur snorted.

Gilbert merely grinned, waving to the others. "Come on, there's a shitload of stuff to talk about! You're going soon right? We'll support as much as we can, no worries about that!"

Even with the joy, pain ripped through, ruining any plans on moving forward quickly.

The pain grew, Alfred forced to stay inside and cling to dear life to his brother as the other countries grew more and more concerned, watching the boy as he struggled to recover. Allen and the exorcists grew more wary as the weeks grew, Kiku now fully recovered.

In all of this, surprisingly it was Ivan who stood near the boy and supported him along with the small group of countries gathered there. Arthur protested that the nearer they grew towards the Vatican, the more the inherent Noah inside of Alfred would react. There were questions, why Arthur wasn't falling prey to the fourteenth, in which Arthur simply replied that he was much older then they all thought.

Alfred was young, susceptible because of his civil war and if he lost the battle to his Noah inside of him, then God knows what might happen.

One night, Matthew was awaken from his doze in the armchair when his brother cried out, clawing at his neck. The Canadian ran to his brother, dropping to his brother's side as he held his hand. "Al!" he yelled as Alfred's bright sky blue eyes were dimmed and filled with pain.

"There…it's like the Civil war…" he whispered through his clenched teeth. "I…I…There's my mind…and the Noah…he's so angry Mattie…He wants to destroy everything…He wants to hurt everyone…Mattie…"

Matthew shifted then sat next to his brother, placing his head in his lap, running his fingers through his hair gently. "You can beat him Al…you of all people…you can win. Just remember the skies from your home…Alfred, remember your home…please fight eh?" he pleaded, holding his hand as Alfred looked at his brother then nodded slowly.

"Mattie…don't let me hurt anyone…" he pleaded softly, holding onto his brother tightly. "Don't…let me…"

Matthew smiled a little pained as he ran his fingers through his brother's hair. "I won't let you…don't worry, I won't let you hurt anyone as long as you continue to fight…"

Alfred's eyes watered for the first time that trip as he pressed his face into Matthew's chest. "I'm so sorry Mattie…"

A figure moved through the dark as Matthew looked up, grabbing his rifle, holding Alfred's hand tightly at the same time. "Who's there?" he called out, eyes narrowed as the figure approached, hands held up.

"Canada, it is just me," Ivan spoke as Matthew stared at Ivan then sighed, shaking his head.

"Don't scare me like that," he murmured softly as Ivan and Arthur who had been lurking from the back approached Alfred, looking at him.

"My apologies," Ivan spoke, although it was rather half hearted, looking at Alfred. "…How is Amerika?" he asked, and Matthew heard Ivan's accent slip through, since it was late at night.

"Alfred…is alright," he spoke softly as another boy, Allen, walked in, a little surprised at the crowd. "…He's just scared…" Sending a look at Allen who stared at Matthew then at Alfred, Matthew smiled a little. "…is there something you need Allen?" he asked as Allen looked at Alfred.

Watching him for a long moment, the British boy spoke softly as Matthew's eyes widened slightly. "I don't think he'll submit so easily. It's…like the Fourteenth in me." Arthur glanced at the boy then smiled slightly.

"And you have been fighting him for a long time, right?" he said as Allen laughed sheepishly, shaking his head.

"Well, no, I just…relate to Mr. Jones so I wanted to see if I could help him in some way," he admitted as Alfred stirred slowly, slowly. Allen's words died on his lips, his optimism taking a spill. Matthew shook his brother, whispering softly to him but there was a light grey tinge to Alfred's skin…No…

In reality, Allen wanted to see Alfred to see if he could get rid of the Noah himself, so that Alfred didn't have to suffer. What he said was just the truth. He wanted to help Alfred, something inside him, the side that related so well with Alfred's situation, wanted to do what was possible to help him. But now…the Noah…the Noah that was supposed to have died with Skin Bolic lived.

…That meant something. Something. Allen wracked his brain that was running on full speed as he shook his head. Skin Bolic…he lived. And that meant his Noah was alive and well in Alfred, its influence seeping into Alfred and his thoughts because of his role as a country, as America.

Then…how could he…Crown Clown! Crown Clown purified evil, purified Noah which was the polar opposite of the innocence. Even if Tyki had reacted badly, it shouldn't apply to everyone…right? It had worked on himself…

Allen didn't know the consequences that would arise from hitting a country with innocence, especially one that used innocence like Alfred, but he had to try. He had to try something! He wouldn't let someone who people, although they wouldn't blatantly state it, treasured fall to the Noah influence so easily.

Now…Allen was realizing that more and more, he was standing on his own side. He didn't stand with the church or the Earl, all he stood for was the Akuma and their souls, his friends who stood by him…and now his new friends in these people, these personifications of countries.

He had to try after all…they came so far! They saved Kiku, they were going to confront the Vatican to see why they were letting countries die and they were so close! Allen tightened his fists, activated his innocence then leveled Crown Clown at Alfred who had sat up slowly, staring at the blade.

"Walker! What the hell are you doing?" Arthur shouted, his hand scrabbling for his gun as Allen narrowed his eyes. Arthur, England's mind was racing. What was Allen doing…? Thoughts of taking the burden from America, to save him from the Noah that consumed him before he hurt the people he treasured just like Allen was fighting so hard to do against the Noah ran through the country's mind as Arthur gritted his teeth.

"Slashing Alfred with a sword won't solve anything!" he shouted as Matthew curled around his brother whose eyes were dimming from their normal blue. "It won't take his burden away, Allen! Put the sword down!"

"My Crown Clown..." Allen smiled a little then shook his head. "It purifies evil. Maybe I can take the Noah out of Mr. Jones…or at least give him a fighting chance…" Lifting the blade more, he angled it towards Alfred as Ivan stared at the blade then growled a little, shaking his head. But before he could speak, Alfred had acted.

Matthew fell to the floor, thrown by Alfred who then moved to Arthur, punching his old caretaker out of the way.

Allen shouted, Ivan cursed, before the part of the home they were in broke down into pieces and smoke filled the air.

Heads turned, minds spun as Lavi and Lenalee with Kanda ran to the room, Kanda throwing aside rubble. His senses tingled, this enemy he remembered.

The Noah of Rage…

Why was he here? More importantly, why was he alive?

So. Guys. Sorry for taking forever on the chapter! OTL Really, my bad. Just…life. Sprained my ankle, potentially broke it, college apps and finals…

BUT. BUT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE REVIEWS. They really, really make my day. I hope that this chapter makes sense! I have no idea how much more I want to write of this fic…maybe six more chapters? That might not be enough so…pfft. I don't know. I hope you enjoy and leave me your thoughts! I feel like this chapter was rushed, even with the amount of time…but I think this was to be expected. xD Anyway, yeah, leave me your thoughts guys. *nod*

[1]: Historical note: Korea and Japan, during the 19th century had sort of a bad relationship with each other, which trails back to the ancient Korean times, back when Korea was three kingdoms. Japan tried to invade Korea, Korea chased them off and this went back and forth with China also invading Korea and winning at one time. Towards the end of the 19th century, Japan took over Korea as a colony as a stepping stone into Manchuria to invade more easily. Because of the events that happened during D. Gray-man, I forgo the invasion of Korea and took a different route but Korea does have animosity towards Japan regardless because of their history. Just…eh, in case you were wondering why my Korea was a little different from the Hetalia version.