You change for two reasons...

Either you learn enough that you want to

Or you've been hurt enough

that you have to.

Chapter 7

Have you ever heard someone underwater scream? Have you ever felt lost when light is all around you? It's just that.

I could hear a loud scream come from the distance. It didn't occur to me of where I was, but the air felt dense and my eyes hurt for some reason. Was I dead?

I paused as I heard the scream again. It was louder this time. Was someone in pain? I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Suddenly, everything around me turned dark and eerie. I could hear my breath, feel my heart race; it was so quiet. Then I saw something, in the distance, a small figure lay on the ground. As I approached, I began to see more to the figure; chains held down its legs and arms and a dark liquid stained the floor. Something didn't feel right.

I stopped, my eyes widening, as a bright green light appeared above the figure. It was the gear from my dream! Does...does that mean that this is also a dream?

The bright light showed the figure to be a girl with long black hair, but her face was hidden in her sleeve. She swayed slightly showing that she wasn't dead and her deep cold breath could be heard, sending chills down my back.

Before I could get anymore near her, the green gear flashed brightly and broke into ten separate pieces, starting to circle the girl. It rotated around her slowly and then quickly began to accelerate, showing a green streak of light. The girl looked up suddenly and stared right at me, "Alya!" She yelled.

The gears swiftly jolted down and dug themselves into the girl, causing her to scream. Then her body began to grow dark and her hands began to morph into long black claws. Marks began to appear on her forehead and her eyes flashed gold. The chains instantly broke into tiny shards as she stood up, her expression showing a wide smirk.

I stood there, confused and in shock, what was happening? I did not know.

The girl immediately ran at me in intense speed and leaped on top of me, causing me to fall backwards. Her claws dug into my shoulders and I winced as I tried to break free ,"Alya, I will not lose...I will not allow myself to lose to the Innocence." she paused, "Give into the Madness...Never Forget!"

I shut my eyes quickly, "Never...never forget...the orphanage, the day, what they did, everything..." I began to say, "I-I give into the Madness..." I said.

The girl's grip loosened slightly as she smirked, "Excellent, Alya...Welcome to the Clan of Noah."

-Kyoki-

My eyes opened and I sat up in bed, "My, it's over already..."

"What? Where you hoping for it to last longer, Alya?" said a voice from the shadows.

I looked up to see a small girl emerge from the shadows. She had spiked purple hair and seemed to reflect off of the other Noah's appearances. In her mouth stuck out a large lollipop,"Road?" I asked.

She seemed somewhat surprised, "You know my name?" she asked as she jumped onto the bed.

"Yes, I know you" I said, "Though it seems you don't remember me as much as I remember you."

She tilted her head slightly, "So Lord Millennium was right, the Noah has a mind of its own. I forget your name though."

There was a pause, "I'm Kyoki, Road...Noah of Madness."

"Oh." she grew serious, "I do remember you, Kyoki. I can't believe Lord Millennium hasn't killed you for all that you've done."

I glared at her, "He was going to kill him, Road. I had to..."

She got off the bed and stood up, "Come now, the Noah are waiting." she said now turning to her childish self.

She grabbed my sleeve and yanked me off the bed, the covers falling off to the side. My eyes dropped down to my outfit, it was changed. I now wore a short black dress with marked rose leggings, a bow that tightly wrapped around my waist, long black detachable sleeves that covered my hands, and a decorated tie collar that was wrapped around my neck, "When did-"

"I changed you." Road said with a smile, "Your old clothes were covered in blood so I-"

"That means" I said cutting her off as I walked over to a mirror, "Yes, perfect!"

My skin was now a dark umber color, my eyes a bright gold, my hair black, and the stigmatas aligned my forehead, "I'm back to my old self."

"Not exactly." Road said, "Remember Innocence is in your blood."

"Ah, yes..." I paused looking down at my hands.

"When Lord Millennium said you had Innocence, I just laughed and laughed; until recently, you almost stabbed me last night. You ripped the first outfit I tried on you, so I had to get a new one..." she pouted.

Her gaze wandered toward the door and she pulled me forward again, "Come on, breakfast is ready and the Earl is waiting."

-Noah Family-

The Earl sat at the head of the table, wearing a tall decorated hat and a dark grey suit. Tyki sat next, only wearing a loose dress shirt and pants with his hair tied back, then the order continued with Road (who was not there), an empty seat for the new disciple, the twins in their dark makeup, Maitora in his striped body suit, Fiidora and then at the end of the table sat Sheril. The others who sat on the opposite side were Toraido, Wisely, Maashiima, and Lulu.

A conversation was recently going on between some of the Noah...

"Earl, why would you let the child stay bonded with the Innocence?" asked Sheril, "The more she uses the Innocence the more powerful it will get. Who says it wont corrupt her Noah?"

The Earl paused, "It would be too great of an opportunity to get rid of...this has never happened before and I don't intend on waiting for it to happen again."

"Lord millennium, what are you planning to do with the girl?" Tyki asked, "Something big is bound to happen."

Fiidora laughed, "We should test her powers on the Exorcist and see how many she can kill under a minute!"

Jasdevi joined into the newly started conversation, "Or we could use her as target practice!"

Before anyone continued the door opened and a set of curtains were pulled back to reveal two figures. Everyone stopped and looked up, seeing Road and Alya step in. Sheril was the first to speak, "Ah, dear, how are you feeling?" he asked standing from his seat and walking over to her, "It wasn't too painful now was it?" he asked in his signature tone as he hugged Alya, "I'm Sheril Kamelot."

-0-

I stood still, looking at him uncomfortably, "Nice to meet you, Sheril."

He let go and smiled as he led me to my seat, Road taking a seat next to me.

Lord Millennium then spoke, seeming to be patient, "So the Noah of Madness is reborn." he said, "Tell me, who am I speaking to? Kyoki or Alya?"

"The betrayer." I said with a wide smirk.

Lord Millennium didn't seem pleased with my behavior, "Hmm...well maybe you've lost your appetite to eat then?"

An Akuma quickly stepped forward and snatched my plate coated with food before I could make a move to get it back. My eyes narrowed on the Earl, "No, I'm fine, I ate Innocence last week..." I said in a deep tone.

'I can't believe I have to deal with this...' I smiled, 'He thinks he can break me..."

The Earl chuckled softly, "Since you haven't been with us in awhile I suppose I'll introduce you to everyone. Second disciple, Toraido, Noah of Judgement, Third disciple Tyki Mikk Noah of Pleasure..."

I listened until he finished through everyone. Then I paused at Maitora's name, 'The Thirteenth...now wheres-'

A wide smirk grew across my face as I looked at the Earl, "Hmm...Lord Millennium, wheres the fourteenth at? I was sure he would be reborn by now..."

Everyone stared as Lord Millennium sat quietly before speaking, "Yes..." he paused, "Nea hasn't been reborn yet, Kyoki." again he paused as he stood from his seat, "I must go, please excuse me everyone." he said as he turned and left without another word.

There was a long silence after that before Sheril cleared his throat and spoke softly, "Well, Kyoki, we've heard much about you, is it true that you are an Exorcist?"

I nodded slowly as I stood from my seat, "Yeah, I guess you could say that...though I don't control the Innocence, Alya does." I said as I leaned over Wisely's chair and took his soft boiled egg.

Sheril looked at Wisely who layed back lazily in his chair, "Wisely, why-"

"Father, she is hungry, leave her be." Wisely said before his father could continued.

'Thank you Noah of Wisdom.' I thought happily as I continued to walk around, "You were saying, Sheril?" I asked.

"Ah, yes! This Alya, how does your connection work?" he asked smiling.

I paused at his question, "Hmm...looking back, I take control over her body when she is vulnerable, mostly when she is sleeping or very tired and she dose the same with me."

The Noah of Lust spoke up from her seat, "Then your just fighting over who takes control? That will end up being a major weakness toward the Exorcist."

I nodded as I scooped a layer off the egg and plopped it into my mouth, "Well I'm done with this family breakfast, I think I'll explore a bit..."

Without even excusing myself I turned and left the room quickly.

-0-

"Well that went well..." sighed Tyki from his seat.

"It would have gone better if all of you weren't so into her." stated Road, "That's the same Kyoki back when Nea was around. She hates it when people say she has a weakness, Lulu."

Lulu looked up when her name was called, "I was just informing her, Road..."

"Yeah!" said the twins, "what does she expect having Innocence and all?"

We don't know her like you do, Road. Only you and Lord Millennium..."

Soon mostly everyone began to talk over one another before Sheril scolded all of them, "Enough, all of you!"

-Kyoki-

I walked down the dark empty streets of the arc slowly, my gaze wandering, searching for something. I closed my eyes and replayed what the Earl had said, "Nea hasn't been reborn yet, Kyoki."

The way he said it...was he trying to tell me something?

I sighed and leaned against a nearby building, "Lord Millennium...I'm-I'm sorry I betrayed you."

I held onto myself as I slowly slid onto the ground, "I promise..." My eyes narrowed slightly, " There will be no more weaknesses."

Promises mean everything,

but after they are broken,

sorry means nothing.