A/N: Heh, sorry I was gone for a week. As usual, it was mostly do to being unmotivated. But I sucked it up and finally sat down to write a chapter. But thank you to all my dedicated reviewers: jy24, Manu259, Takei Daloui, Alice2795, Lena-luvs-cats, Amelia Loves Anime, and Alaia Skyhawk! Love you guys!^.^ Short as usual, but I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Pause and take a long minute to contemplate whether this disclaimer is truly necessary. I mean, really? I'm a teenage fangirl. Chill and just enjoy my fanfiction. (And just in case you didn't catch that, I don't own anything.)

Chapter 30

Time Frame — Afternoon of March 28th, 1896

—3rd Person POV—

~Allen~

Eventually, Allen found the use of his feet once more, and though it was likely Cross had gone off to loiter some other bar, Allen didn't bother looking for him. Instead, he headed for the nearest inn and checked into a room. Of course, coincidence, coincidence, it was the same inn Cross was staying at, because soon after—

"Allen? What are you…?"

"Ah, hey Lavi. How's Chomesuke?" Allen asked, turning to him with an exhausted smile. The redhead appeared haggard, hair flopping messily about and bandana nowhere to be seen. Dark shadows dug deeply into his one, visible eye.

Lavi didn't reply immediately, and instead eyed him critically. It made Allen uncomfortable, but before he could snap at him, Lavi's eye narrowed and as he stated bluntly, "You knew."

It wasn't difficult to guess that he was referring to Chomesuke's 'condition'. "Of course," Allen shrugged, unwilling to back down from whatever sort of guilt trip Lavi was aiming to send him on. "Chomesuke traveled with us for a couple years when I was a kid. And my eye is cursed. It'd be harder not to know." Allen paused, and then his expression softened. "How is she?"

"Resting," Lavi finally replied with a heavy sigh, slumping against the wall of the narrow hallway. "She was unable to handle the Innocence Cross modified her with for much longer. We had to… we had to strap her down to keep her under control while she heals up…" His expression became pained, causing Allen's worldview to tilt. A Bookman with a heart. (After all, he never truly expected for Lavi to go to such lengths, even after he'd run off. It would only take one look at Chomesuke's gruesome condition to work out all her dirty lies, and then where would they stand?)

"I see," Allen murmured, lips presses into a thin line. "I'm assuming Cross will embed another piece of Innocence in her body once she heals up from this one…" In response to Lavi's sharp glance, Allen elaborated, "This is the fifth piece of Innocence she's used. Once her body deteriorates and is unable to handle it, she can't use the same piece again. Her body has an instinct aversion to it—more so than any other piece of Innocence, and it'll only keep her modified a fraction of the time than a fresh crystal would. They normally last around a year, but Cross is insistent on keeping a modified Akuma around, 'just in case'." Allen offered a helpless shrug. "It's not like he has a great deal of options, considering they're practically extinct."

Lavi nodded, expression calculating. "Thanks. General Cross is as slippery as they say, and getting a word out of him is a pain in the ass…"

"No wonder you were so clueless," Allen scoffed. "But… has he really told you nothing?"

Despite his blank expression, the way he became rigid, hands fisting inside the pockets of his pants was enough to gain Allen's attention. "He did tell me one thing… Cross isn't just planning on embedding another piece of Innocence into Chomesuke. He's thought up of something else, to stabilize her…"

"Stabilize her?" Allen's face scrunched up, wondering what on earth the General could possibly be thinking now. "But if you're willing to go along with it…"

Lavi nodded reluctantly. "I was, uh, a bit apprehensive, but General Cross seems sure that it won't be drastic enough to kill her. Not without an Accommodator to directly control the power of the Innocence."

Allen narrowed his eyes. "What is he planning?"

Lavi didn't answer right away, instead thinking his words over carefully. "Some of what he explained is even beyond my own understanding, but basically he wants to replace one of her limbs with one grafted of Innocence. He predicts that her Akuma nature will be better held back if part of her is made out of the Innocence, though I have yet to understand why."

"Be grateful he told you as much," Allen muttered, lips pursed. "But, despite Cross' numerous faults and annoying habits, you can trust him when it comes to this. Back before the Innocence claimed him, Cross was a key member of the Science Division. And I think he cares for Chomesuke as well. Despite her nature, the man has a weakness for woman."

"Tch. No kidding," Lavi mumbled. "But it sure as hell is taking a long time…"

A silence descended upon them. Hand still in his pocket, Allen couldn't help but fiddle with the softened, crinkled edges of the envelope. The letter was practically burning a hole in his pocket, but despite Allen's desperation to pursue the answers within, fear held him back. Fear of the truth. Would it all be worth it?

"Can I see her?" Allen ruptured the silence with a clear of his throat.

"Hm?" Lavi appeared startled. "Oh. Yes, right. She's in here." Lavi gestured towards the door beside him, cautiously glancing around before pushing the door open with a creak. He momentarily peeked in before gesturing for Allen to follow him in. The sight that greeted them was not completely unknown to Allen.

If he hadn't already expected the sight of a bloodthirsty Chomesuke thrashing against her binds, he would've gasped and chocked on his own breath, shaken with the sight her inhuman eyes shrouded in black. A pentacle protruded from her forehead and she shook and trembled, face crumpled in agony, sweat dripping along her brow. And for a moment, it brought Allen back to the days when it was just Cross, Sachiko and him. Almost absentmindedly, Allen carefully repressed his cursed eye, preventing it from activating, and stepped forward to sit by her side, expertly maneuvering around her struggling limbs.

"Hey there, Sachi—err, I mean, Chomesuke. That's what you liked to be called now, right?" Allen asked, expression softening. Almost cautiously, he moved his hands up to smooth out her pained wrinkles. Without turning to Lavi, he told him, "You have to treat her almost like a child. She's so consumed in her own agony that she reverts into a childlike state, struggling and fighting in a single minded attempt to do the Earl's bidding. But the first Earl is dead and she's lost with no purpose other than to kill." Allen paused, eyes trained on Chomesuke as he soothed her rage. "Is this something you're ready to contend with, Bookman?"

When Allen didn't receive an immediate response, he finally turned his gaze away from Chomesuke. Lavi was leaning against the back wall, hands fiddling with scrap piece of paper, eye downcast. His jaw tightened, hands crushing the paper as they fisted. "Here," Lavi abruptly straightened up, fingers deftly folding up what was clearly a note. He handed it to Allen. "Give it to the old panda when you return. That should keep him satisfied until further notice."

"Alright," Allen nodded, pocketing the note beside his letter. He got up and Lavi took up his position beside Chomesuke.

A/N: So, Allen should be returning to the others in the next chapter! And as a heads up, I have another seven chapters planned, so this'll be your last chance to give me any more last minute ideas.

Also, I took the idea of grafting an Innocence limb onto Chomesuke to stabilize her from Zone, just in case anyone was curious. Anyway, please don't forget to review! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!(: