People frequently claim to be going insane.

But I've never heard somebody say

they were going sane.

Perhaps it's because sanity

Isn't a desirable destination.

Kyoki's mind was spinning. What had just happened? Why did her head hurt so badly?

She slowly placed one of her claws to her head and felt a thick liquid slide down. In an instant, her bright golden eyes flashed open in anger as her eyes met Tyki's. His dark hair was let loose from his ponytail and his tie was off. Instead of his black suit on, he wore his white undershirt which was slightly dirty. She saw multiple long vines emerging from his back as well; she knew who had attacked her now.

Kyoki sat up, feeling her wounds start to heal instantly, "You shouldn't have done that..." she said as she climbed out of the pile of rummage beneath her.

Tyki only grinned in response which annoyed her greatly. He slowly took a few steps forward, the sound of his dress shoes echoing in the dark room. Kyoki's eyes flashed red and her claw was up against her head again, covering her face. She was loosing it again. Her sanity slowly draining from her body. Her eyes looked up at Tyki as she smirked wildly, "Want to dance?" she sang, her voice turning more dark as she did.

Tyki smirked back at her just before he swung his long vine at her. Kyoki stood absolutely still until the vine was just about to make contact with her; her claw reached forward and caught it swiftly. There was a long pause as her grip held on tightly, "You forget. I cant be beaten."

As if ignoring her, Tyki slashed another vine directly at her, but was caught before striking. Her smirk only grew wider as her claws dug deep into its surface. She let go and pointed a claw at him as a large rock ripped out of the ground and flew at him. Tyki shot two vines at the large boulder, breaking it into pieces.

"I think, I'll lead, Dear." He said in a mocking tone.

Kyoki responded with a "Hmph..." and watched for his next move.

Tyki's liquid golden eyes looked deeply into hers as if he was trying to figure something out. After a long silence he looked past her and his smirk disappeared. Before Kyoki could figure out what he was looking at, a large hand was placed over her forehead and she felt weak in her knees as she collapsed and shut her eyes.

-0-

"And thus the dance ends."

"Where you spying on us." Tyki asked as he walked forward.

Lord Millennium chuckled deeply as he looked at the Noah, "No. I simply came for the excitement."

"You knew this would happen." Tyki said as he looked down at Kyoki's body in the earl's arms, "What did you do to her?"

"Just a pressure point. She should wake in the next hour or so."

"Hmm..." Tyki's eyes narrowed on her as his many vines returned to his body, "She did something to the boy."

"Allen Walker?"

He nodded, "She was talking to him about having no friends and about the Akuma egg."

They both turned to look at the boy sitting against the wall, his eyes closed.

"Ahh...she was just altering his memories. His friends made him strong. Full of power. But now he believes that he has none."

"Smart tactic."

"Very." Lord Millennium said, "Though too much will make her strive for blood."

Tyki's eyes narrowed as he looked at Allen, "What do we do with the boy?"

"Nothing. He's our messenger to the Exorcist, we cant kill him."

"Very well, but maybe I should get him out of here. I don't know how much longer this place can hold."

-0-

Tyki set Allen against the tree, watching him carefully before he turned to face the Earl who had summoned several Akuma in the area, "Now. Fire." he said.

In an instant, the Akuma launched their missiles and bullets at the orphanage. In an instant the whole structure collapsed, burying the Innocence deep in it's core.

"Lord Millennium?"

"Yes?"

"What happened to the people in the orphanage?"

Lord Millenium chuckled and looked down at Kyoki, "Something happened to a woman taking care of them all. The children where sent to other orphanages across the globe."

Tyki followed his gaze to Kyoki and smiled slightly, "How dreadful..."

-Allen Walker-

Allen felt a small breeze flow through his hair as his mind began to wake up. He couldn't remember much...

He opened his tired eyes and found himself against the bark of an old willow tree. To his right he saw a building, completely collapsed and in ruins. There was a long pause as he stood up slowly. He felt dizzy.

"Agh...my head." he moaned as he placed a hand to his temples.

He thought back to what had happened.

'Kamui sent me...to the orphanage.' he looked back at the rummage, "I failed to retrieve the Innocence, but..." he paused, "but why is something missing?" He thought back, 'Someone...told me about the Earl and how he was creating Akuma again.' "Why cant I remember anything else? Did I pass out?"

Allen shook his head as he sighed, "I need to go back and tell Kamui."

-0-

Tyki entered the arc with Lord Millennium, Kyoki in his arms. The dark buildings, tall; and neatly aligned, same as the last arc, "Damn, Exorcist." he mumbled as they both came to a large door.

The color was a pitch black, but a strange engraving of roses, made it stand out as something unique. Tyki eyed the red door knob suspiciously, but opened it due to Lord Millennium's asking. In an instance, cold air erupted from the room, sending small chills down his spine. He glanced down at Kyoki before entering, total darkness engulfing him.

He could hear the door creak close just as the room turned a bright white, revealing a large room decorated with many fine furniture. Tyki walked forward and lay Kyoki on the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. He looked up to see Lord Millennium, "Do we wait for her to wake up?" he asked.

"No. We can't have that." The Earl walked over to the bed, pulling out a thin silver ring from his pocket, "Alya will awaken shortly, but I don't know how the madness Kyoki has made will affect her." He lifted Kyoki's pale hand in his and slid the ring on her pointer finger, "This will keep Kyoki's madness locked up with her." he stated.

Tyki listened quietly, comprehending what the Earl had shared with him, "What if she removes it?"

Lord Millennium chuckled slightly and without another word he vanished; leaving a confused Tyki behind.

-0-

Allen arrived at the Black Order at about nine in the morning, though he didn't seem the least bit tired or in a good mood. He came up to the gate and was let in with no trouble, and as soon as he walked in, he was greeted.

"Hey, Allen, glad to see you back!" said Lavi who rapped an arm around his shoulders, "Gosh, have you shrunk?" he laughed.

"Lavi, give Allen his space." Lenalee said as she smiled kindly.

Allen moved away from the red headed Exorcist and glanced at Lenalee, his eyes narrowing, 'Why are they acting this way around me..?' he paused and shook his head as he walked away from them, not saying anything. He soon came to Komui's office, wanting to tell him the news right away. Kamui was at his desk, but surprisingly not sleeping. Instead, he was sipping his coffee and sat up straight. As Allen walked in, Komui seemed to know he had arrived before.

"Ahh...Allen, did you recover the Innocence?"

"No. I failed." he responded in a normal voice.

"Wha- What happened?" Komui asked in concern.

Allen paused, trying to think back, "It's...not important. Though, I found out the Earl has recovered the Akuma egg and is creating Akuma again."

Komui looked awe struck, trying to understand everything, "Allen, how did you collect this information?"

He didn't say anything.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Of course not, Komui." he said.

Though he thought. Trying to think back to what happened, but everything was blank.

Before Komui could respond though and ask countless more questions, Lenalee and Lavi came in, "Allen? Are you alright?" she asked.

"What? Why wouldn't I be?"

"You-your arm...it's bleeding." she said.

Allen paused and slowly looked down at his claw-free arm. How had he not noticed it before!? Four deep cuts showed across his forearm and drops of blood spilled to the floor, "How-"

"Quick, Lavi get some bandages!" called Komui.

Lavi rushed out of the room with an "Aye" and Lenalee ran to Allen's side looking at his wound, "How did this happen?"

"I...I don't know." he said, "I can't remember."

Never forget

who was there for you

when no one

else was.