One-Hundred and Forty-Eight.

That's how many people they lost in just the first wave against the Earl and his Akuma.

Six Exorcists perished, while the rest of the bodies were from the Finders who also fought against the Akuma in different areas of the continent. They may have taken out quite a few Akuma, especially in Barcelona where General Tiedoll was near, but its obvious to everyone what happened.

They still lost a lot of their soldiers.

Komui was currently in his office trying to keep his emotions under control. He had to stay focus, now is not the time to give into grief no matter how much he really wants to. What's important right now is victory. The first wave may be over, and they may have taken down quite a lot of Akuma, but the fact still remains that this was only the First Wave. The second hasn't even begun, and they've already lost six Exorcists, with one currently MIA...

Suman Dark.

Sitting in his chair and lacing his fingers together, he thought about what Reever told him about the similarities in the deaths of both General Yeager and Daisya Barry. As well as two others from the Socalo Unit who were found dead.

They were missing an organ.

It was no coincidence that Daisya had run into a member of the Noah Clan, and he was willing to bet that it was the very same Noah's that attacked and killed General Yeager.

So aside from the Akuma attacks, they also had to watch out for the Noah Clan, who are now targeting any Excorcist that come across. That's why he's worried about Suman Dark, who is one listed as MIA for he and his unit were in India looking for any traces of Socalo before they were attacked. Its possible that he may have been taken as a hostage, or still possibly alive out there somewhere at the mercy of the very same Noah who killed Daisya.

There are a lot of 'what if' scenarios going through his head right now, but the fact remains...

Now is not the time to be sentimental.

He just prayed that no more of their own is killed before they can find the rest of the Generals.

While true he may not believe in God, but if his prayers for the safety of the rest of the Exorcists out in the field, his sister included are answered...then he'll believe anything.

Anything.

-DGM-

Lenalee could only look down at her knees in despair at all of the dead bodies of Finders that she, Lavi, and the new recruits came across as they finally arrived in Barcelona. She'd been with the Order since she was just a child, and had seen death before, but this much...

Seeing all those coffins lined up as they walked passed them made her want to break down into tears then and there. She remembered Beatrice let out a small sniffle, but the two boys with her had to tell her not to cry, even though she really wanted to.

She even heard that Daisya was found dead, and killed in the same way as General Yeager, when the man was hanging by a tree, which tells her that someone from the Noah Clan killed him.

"Its ugly that's for sure." Lavi commented as he took a seat next to her.

She lifted up her head, "I didn't realize we had lost so many, until I actually saw them..."

"I know what you mean," Lavi had expected some bodies to fall, but not this much, "This just means the Millennium Earl is serious about finding the Heart of Innocence, and killing many Exorcist who gets in his way of finding it."

The pigtail Exorcist gripped her ankles, "The Noah Clan...Road claimed they were the true apostles, and that we were just fakes pretending to be apostles of God."

"Super humans," Lavi said in a thoughtful tone, "Their existence dates back to over 7,000 years ago when the very first incarnation of the Earl appeared. Makes you wonder who the first Accommodator of the Heart of Innocence was."

Lenalee just thought about it herself, "I wonder why the name of the Accommodator of the heart from over 7,000 years ago wasn't mentioned in the Cube?"

Lavi had the same thoughts as Lenalee, "That is the mystery question, isn't it?"

Whoever was the Hearts Accommodator from that time had to be someone with incredible skill, since they managed to defeat the Earl's first incarnation. But the name of the person was not recorded within the Cube, so they do not know anything about them other than the fact that they defeated the Millennium Earl.

"Hello there, you two." A kind voice greeted them.

Standing before them with Marie and Kanda by his side was none other than General Tiedoll himself. Tiedoll is a scruffy man with fluffy hair of a greying-light brown hue—making him appear older than he actually is— which he keeps tied in the back. He wears glasses and is typically seen with a canvas hanging from his neck by a string. When traveling, he tends to wear tattered cloaks over his uniform, which is often dirty and in poor repair. He also has a mustache and an unkempt beard. Physically, Tiedoll has a rather lean and muscular build for a man of his age.

"General Tiedoll, you're safe!" Lenalee said with a relief smile as she stood up to greet the man.

"Glad to see the Akuma didn't get to ya." Lavi said with a grin.

Tiedoll gave them both a smile, "Don't worry I'm alright. Yû-kun and Marie made sure I was safe."

Kanda scowled as the man said his first name, but otherwise didn't yell at the man as he normally would have.

"How are the two of you holding up?" Marie asked them.

Lavi shrugged, "Better than expected. We brought the new recruits along with us."

"I see, and where are they now?" Marie questioned.

Lavi looked to his left, "Trying to comprehend what they saw earlier with all of the dead bodies."

Marie said nothing as he understood how they must be feeling right now.

"There was a recording on Daisya's golem that you might want to hear." Kanda spoke.

"Recording?" Lenalee questioned.

Kanda said nothing as the recording played.

There shown before them was Daisya and a Noah, who they didn't recognize. Lavi deduced it might be Tyki, the same Noah that had a hand in General Yeager's death.

[What's your name?]

[Daisya. Daisya Barry.]

[I see, you wouldn't happen to know anyone by the name of Allen D. Campbell Walker, do you?]

Lenalee and Lavi reacted to the name, as did the three recruits, who were standing behind them at some point. When Lenalee told them that the boy they knew as 'Red' was now going by Allen now they were happy to know that he was alive, and that the Black Order was looking for him.

Why does this Noah know about Allen?

Is Allen also a target?

[How...do you know that name?]

[No, never mind. You have nothing to do with it.]

Kanda abruptly turned off the recording as the others came to horrifying realization.

The Millennium Earl was after Allen.

This did not bode well.

In the end Tiedoll was the one to point out the obvious, "Well now...it would appear that this new information has now complicated our search for the young lad."

Lavi gave the man a look, 'Way to state the obvious, General.'

The Black Order already has its hands tied with the many people they lost, and trying to keep the Generals safe, but now they had to worry about finding Allen D. Campbell Walker and making sure the Millennium Earl didn't get his hands on him.

"I think its safe to say we need to not only find the other Generals, but also make sure that this boy Allen is not found by the Millennium Earl." General Tiedoll said, once again stating the obvious.

"But why would the Millennium Earl want Allen-kun in the first place? It makes no sense." Lenalee didn't understand why the Earl was after Allen all of a sudden. Wait! Yes she did!

"Road..." she whispered.

"What?" Lavi looked at her with a question mark

Lenalee's eyes widened as she remembered what Road said back in Rewinding Town, "Back in Rewinding Town...Road said the Millennium Earl was interested in Allen-kun."

Kanda narrowed his eyes at the mention of Road, "That Noah probably suggested to the Millennium Earl to find that Moyashi and bring him to them."

Beatrice had a scared expression on her face, "But...why...?"

Samuel looked serious, "Good question, but right now we should focus on making sure none of the Noah's find Allen, and drag him back to the Earl."

Isaac frowned, "This just got more complicated didn't it?"

"Oh yeah." Lavi agreed with a nod.

Tiedoll decided to make a proposal, "I say we now have a new missions children. Yû-kun and Marie will make sure nothing bad happens to me. Meanwhile you five should focus on finding not only Cross, but this Allen boy as well."

"Right." Lenalee said.

"Sounds like a plan." Lavi said in agreement.

Beatrice, Isaac, and Samuel's expressions were that of determination in finding the lost boy who could have become their friend if they had only made the right choices.

They will make sure the Millennium Earl doesn't get his hands on Allen.

For they will not allow that to happen.

-DGM-

Allen and the others were once again seated at the dinner table. This time Allen was thinking of going to find Cross on his own, but decided to ask the others about it first before coming to a decision on his own.

"So...you're thinking of going after Cross?" Narain said what Allen was about to say.

Timothy gave Allen a questioning look, "Cross? As in the guy who trained you?" The only reason he knows about Cross in the first place is because of him eavesdropping on Nea and Allen's conversation about the man.

A small sigh escaped Allen's lips, "That's right, as much as I'd rather not try to associate with him at all, its best we try to find him before the Black Order does."

Krory shivered at the mention of the man, "I thought I'd never hear that man's name ever again."

Miranda let out a nervous sound while Lala simply sat there with childlike curiosity.

"Its not just the Black Order that are searching for him," Allen continued, "From what I've gathered from my uncle, Cross has gotten on the Millennium Earl's bad side in the past. So much so, that the Earl will probably send twice as many Akuma at him than the other General's."

Narain let out an amused huff, "That doesn't surprise me. The man is known for getting on the ire of those he shouldn't."

"Indeed." Krory agreed.

"If you none are willing to try and find Cross that's fine, I won't force you." Allen told them honestly.

Timothy grinned, "We'll go!"

"I-I really want to know just what kind of person Cross is." Miranda voiced her opinion.

Narain and Allen gave her a look, 'Careful what you wish for.'

Krory had a thoughtful look on his face, "Maybe going to find him won't be so bad. The man does owe me money after all."

Allen snorted, 'Yeah, good luck trying to get the man to pay you back.'

Looks everyone's on board for finding Cross. Now all he needed to was talk to his uncle about it. As much as he doesn't like Cross, even he knows its best to have the red head alive than dead. What makes Cross such a damn pain though is his habit of angering people either for fun or simply by talking too damn much.

Cross is the most insufferable human being on the planet.

As soon as he walked in the piano room, there his uncle was sitting before him with an amused smirk on his face. Must've sensed what he was thinking, of course he does. His uncle always knows.

"Gonna try to look for Cross, huh?" Nea teased a little.

Allen just groaned before going to his uncle and sitting on the couch next to him before putting his head on the man's lap, "I really don't want to. I'm almost tempted to just leave him to his fate and be done with it."

Nea chuckled as he moved his fingers through his nephews scalp, "Cross is a pain that's true, and as painful as it is for me to say this the man is useful, and we need to make sure the Millennium Earl doesn't find him."

"What, not kill him?" Allen mumbled into the man's lap, his eyes still closed.

Nea huffed in amusement, "The Millennium Earl being able to kill Cross? Now that would actually be something to see."

Allen shared the same sentiments, but it almost seems like the Millennium Earl actually sees Cross as an actual threat. Sure he considers Exorcists to be a threat to him in general, but its different with Cross. And because the Earl sees him as a legitimate threat he'll send not only Akuma after him, but also a member of the Noah clan to hunt down and kill him. Cross knows something vital about the Millennium Earl that could be crucial in ending the war, and the Black Order will probably realize that and send another search party after the red haired Exorcist.

There was also this feeling he couldn't shake. Nea is the fourteenth Noah that was never recorded in the very beginning, but appeared 35 years ago suddenly.

Then...there's him.

What sort of role does he play in all of this?

"Allen?"

Huffing out a comfortable sigh he buried his face a little more in his uncle's lap, "Whenever this war ends...I want to go there."

Nea still moved his fingers through white locks as Allen said those words, "There?"

"Mm, the place where you and Mana began."

It sounded so innocent to the Noah, but he still wasn't expecting it. Nea would be lying if he said he didn't have dreams of the times where he and Mana would be outside running in those fields of gold with the wind blowing in the distance. Their mother would be right there smiling at them as they played happily, young and naive, ignorant of their roles in the world until they reached adulthood.

How he wished he could go back to that time where it was just him, Mana, and their mother. But those times were long over. Now all they have is the present.

Smiling down at his sleeping nephew he responded, "When this is all over...we'll go there."

When everything ends, and if by some chance he and Allen are still present in the world then they will go.

Together.

-DGM-

Its mine...

It was always mine...

I hear it...calling out to me...telling me to come find it...

Calling...

Calling...me...

At the bottom of the ocean, a glowing light buried deep within the ground there. Letting out a signal for the one that was chosen to come and find it. Waiting...waiting...

A person in white appears...

This person is speaking...

Golden eyes...

Brown eyes snap awake as the images stop. A young girl lays in bed, staring at the ceiling as she tries to understand what it is she just saw. The person in white with the silver mask was saying something...it was something important. Gripping the covers tightly in her grasp she sat up and simply stared into nothing.

"That person in white..."

He was coming...

Coming for her...

She could feel it!

-DGM-

Closing the door to the Ark behind them, the ragtag group of rogue Exorcists stepped out to see where the door led them to. Allen instantly knew where they were, having been to this country before. The others haven't been here before and were therefore confused as to where it is they were.

"China, huh? You and Cross truly have been all over the world, haven't you?" Narain commented.

"Don't remind me." Allen said rolling his eyes.

Timothy's eyes sparkled as he looked around, "Cool! We're really in China?!"

"We are." Allen confirmed.

Miranda was looking around curiously at the greenery and calm air felt around the area, "This atmosphere...it feels much different from my old hometown."

Timothy blanched as he remembered just how dull and boring Rewinding Town was, "No offense Miranda-nee, but any place would be better than that dull and gloomy old town."

Miranda had nothing to say to that.

"It is also much better than the castle I was living in, and..." Krory trailed off, remembering the villagers and their obvious hatred towards him, even though he was keeping them safe from Akuma without his or their knowledge.

"Forget about them," Allen's tone was neutral as he thought about the ungrateful fools, "Whatever happens to them now will be their own fault, not yours."

Touched by Allen's words, Krory was brought to tears, "ALLEN-KUN~!"

Narain chuckled, "Such a softie you are, Krory."

Rolling his eyes, Allen was about to take a step forward when he spotted a cat rubbing up against his leg. It was a white and pudgy cat that almost reminded him of the one he met back at that abandoned church, bending down to rub its head he stood up and started walking.

"There should be a village up ahead, Cross and I came here one time to rest up." Allen explained.

Timothy, the ever curious boy decided to ask why, "What were you guys doing here?"

"To see a woman." Allen said bluntly.

Narain snorted.

To see a woman.

Of course Cross would bring them here to see a woman.

"Her name is Anita, the owner of a large brothel in China." Allen said.

"B-B-Brothel...!" Miranda's face was beat red as steam came out of her ears.

"That's right, while on the surface the brothel supports the Black Order, the real person she supports is Cross." Allen revealed.

"But why support only him and not the Black Order?" Krory questioned.

Allen snorted, "Cause she's in love with Cross, that's why. Lord knows why though."

"Yes, why indeed?" Narain teased, only to earn a death glare from Allen.

They finally arrived at a town and saw that there was no one around. The place was looked to be a ghost town from the looks of it. Not a soul around from what they could see.

Timothy was looking around, "This place looks abandoned."

"Where is everyone, I wonder?" Miranda wondered.

"You don't think they were attacked by Akuma, do you?" Krory voiced his thoughts.

Allen doubted it.

"No, there might be some people around here somewhere." Narain felt there was something off about this town.

Allen felt it, too. As they were walking here he noticed the well appeared to be dried up, and little water was running through. Walking through the bridge he also noticed that this village has a waterway, and with the well as dry as it looked, no water was running through like it should.

Yes, something was indeed very wrong here.

But it wasn't caused by an Akuma...most likely the opposite.

This strange put off feeling was coming from Innocence.

"You've noticed already, right?" Narain addressed Allen.

With a nod, Allen explained, "When we passed by the well earlier I noticed there was no water running in it. Another thing I noticed was that this village has a waterway, but with the well in its current state..."

"No water." Timothy hit it right on the money.

"But, why?" Miranda questioned.

Luckily for her someone was about to answer that question for her.

"The water dried up."

They all turned and saw it was a villager that was speaking to them, "Are you people travelers?"

"We are." Allen confirmed.

The man takes them to his home and begins explaining what has happened.

"The town's water source has dried up completely." The villager began to explain to them, "There's a vast lake not far from the town. It supplied an abundance of water to the town. About a month ago, the water level in the lake began to decrease. Because of that, drinking water has been hard to come by."

Timothy made a sound as he put his cup down.

"What caused the lake to dry up?" Allen asked.

The make villager shook his head, "I have no idea at all. According to the townspeople who investigated the lake, even though it rains, the water level continues to decrease."

"Even though it rains, the lake doesn't fill?" Narain couldn't believe such a thing was possible.

"How strange." Krory commented.

"In other words, a strange phenomenon." Allen deduced, likely caused by Innocence.

With all of the information about the strange phenomenon, the group decided to go investigate the lake. Krory, Miranda, and Timothy would go and investigate the lake, while Allen and Narain stayed behind.

Allen and Narain were talking to some of the villagers when one of them gave them some useful information.

"A fortune-teller?" Narain questioned.

An elderly villager nodded, "Yes. Using a crystal ball, the famous fortune-teller can predict all kinds of future events. Though, the predictions stopped about a month ago."

Around the same time as the water in the lake began to dry up.

"Can you tell us where this fortune-teller lives?" Allen asked.

She pointed them in the direction, "Here, just up ahead."

Allen and Narain thank the woman as they head to where the fortune-teller lives.

"A fortune-teller, hmm? Interesting." Narain said.

"Its possible that what's happened to the lake and this fortune-teller is the same kind of phenomenon that happened in Rewinding Town with Miranda." Allen theorized.

"Meaning this fortune-teller is the one responsible for causing the phenomenon in the first place and probably doesn't even realize it." Narain added.

"That's possible." Allen agreed.

Arriving at the residence Narain knocked on the door, "Hello, is anyone home?"

"They might not be home." Allen said as he pressed on the door, only for it to move open.

"And yet, the door is opened." Narain commented.

Opening the door all the way they were confronted by an elderly man, "Who's there? Why did you come here?"

Allen bowed to the old man, "Pardon us for trespassing, but we were investigating the phenomenon that's affected the lake, and the people of the town also mentioned that the fortune-teller that lives here hasn't made a prediction in a month. Around the same time the lake began to dry up."

"Mind your own business! Scram!" The old man lifted up his cane and brought down on them, only for Allen to grab it, but he didn't try to hurt the old man.

"While I understand that this is not any of our business," Allen began to say, "There's a possibility that the fortune-teller that lives here will have their life target once another unsavory group catches wind of this."

He was referring to the Akuma.

"We at least want to warn you about that happening, and in case it does we will be here to lend out assistance." Narain said with a bow as they left the residence. The old man watched them leave and turned around to head back in the house when he was confronted by a little girl who was standing there. She has chestnut brown hair, tied into two tails to the front, the rest of her hair is untied. She also wears a traditional Chinese hair accessory goes around her entire head. She also wears a traditional Chinese. The dress consisted of a red skirt, held up with a blue rope tied around her waist with a white belt, a red vest with a button at the middle of it, and a pink top having white at the ends of the sleeve.

"Grandfather, who were those people?" She asked with an almost silent plea.

"Don't worry, Mei-Ling," the old man assured her, "They won't be coming back here."

Mei-Ling saw their faces clearly, her eyes were focused on the white haired boy and couldn't look away, "But...that person with the white hair..."

He put both hands on her shoulders, "Forget about them, Mei-Ling." As he walked away from her, she looked back towards the door. That boy with the white hair...

It had to be...

-DGM-

Timothy sighed as he placed his head down on the table, "I can't believe we didn't find anything."

Miranda gave him a sympathetic smile, "We did find the lake, but when we were about to investigate what the cause might be we felt eyes all over us."

"The villagers looked very hostile, so we believed it would be wise to try and investigate again at night." Krory explained what happened while they were investing the lake.

Narain looked outside then at Timothy and the others, "I'll investigate the lake with you guys. The sun is setting, so now would be the perfect time to go and check out the lake."

Timothy shot his head up from the table, "Really, cool!"

"Thank you, Narain!" Miranda thanked.

"You'll come with us won't you, Allen?" Krory asked hopefully.

Allen had been quiet since he and Narain left the fortune-teller's house, "No...you guys can handle it without me. I'll be staying here."

Narain shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself." He led the rest out the door to the very same villager that fed them and headed off to where the others had found the lake. With them gone, Allen was then left alone in the house, with is own private thoughts.

'Fortune-teller, huh?' The very thought sounded obscured to him, but it was probably possible with Innocence to predict the future. Why does this even bother him to begin with?

Knock! Knock!

Who?

He went over by the door about to open it up when he heard a small voice from the other side.

"Open up, please!" It sounded like a young voice.

'A child?'

Opening the door he saw a girl pop her head right in, "You..." he didn't recognize her from anywhere.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Mei-Ling." Mei-Ling introduced herself to him.

Allen eyed the girl as she looked to be around the same age as Timothy, if not a little older.

"Come in." He allowed her inside.

Mei-Ling bowed as she took a seat and looked at him, almost as if she were waiting for him to sit down. Who is this child? Obliging to the girl's silent request he took a seat in front of her.

"Why are you here so late at night?" He questioned.

Mei-Ling was nervous as she fiddled with her fingers, "I...actually, I'm the fortune-teller."

His eyes narrowed, this girl was the fortune-teller and that old man was probably her grandfather.

"My grandfather really worries about me...and so, he sends everyone away like he did you earlier." Mei-Ling explains as her eyes move down to the floor.

"You don't need to apologize, I'm not offended. I can understand why your grandfather acted that way, so its fine." Allen assured her, "What I really want to know is why are you here?"

"W—Well...I..." Mei-Ling started to say before hesitating a little, "Well I'm worried about the town, and...without the water..."

Allen waited patiently for her to explain.

"I enjoy it when the townspeople ask me to tell their fortunes...and yet, right now the whole town is in serious trouble." She said.

Is it possible...

"Mei-Ling, do you know the reason why the water is drying up?" He had a hunch, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"That's..." Mei-Ling started to say then back down, "No."

Maybe he shouldn't pressure her into telling him what she doesn't want to reveal.

"I see, oh, by the way my name is Allen D. Campbell Walker." Allen introduced.

Mei-Ling looked up at him, "Allen D. Campbell Walker..."

"Earlier you said you were a fortune-teller, yes?" He asked her gently.

"Yes, A-Allen-san."

"Just call me Allen."

Mei-Ling gave a smile, "Okay, Allen."

"You can make predictions, correct? Did you see a prediction about the reason the water is drying up?" It was asked as an innocent question, but in truth he was trying to see if she would feel more comfortable telling him what was going on when asked as a prediction question.

Water gathered in the corners of the girl's eyes, "I...I can't make predictions anymore."

"Why?"

Mei-Ling looked down in shame, "I don't have to crystal ball I need to make predictions. You see...my grandfather and I threw it away."

Then...

"I take it you tossed it about a month ago into the lake, correct?"

Mei-Ling's head shot up, "How did you—?!"

"Mei-Ling, that crystal ball you threw away into the lake was no ordinary crystal ball. It was Innocence."

"Innocence?" Mei-Ling questioned.

"Yes, when its not bonded to anything, say an object or a person its harmless unless activated. However, when its not bonded to anyone its known to cause strange phenomenon if left by itself...like now." He explained.

Mei-Ling was starting to get it, "The lake! Then...then...I..." a hand landed on her head, stopping her from finishing what she was planning on saying.

"Don't blame yourself, you didn't know." He promised her, "Besides, you must've thrown it away for a reason. No one will fault you for your decision."

The young girl bowed her head as he wiped the tears from her eyes, "Thank you...Allen..."

"You're welcome."

The sweet moment didn't last long however because Allen soon wrapped his arms around Mei-Ling and pulled her back as the front door exploded. Mei-Ling screamed in Allen's hold as he shielded them with Crown Clown. Once the the smoke cleared, white threads pierced through the Akuma, causing it to explode.

"Honestly...what a troublesome pattern this is." Allen commented.

Mei-Ling meanwhile stared at him as he was enveloped in Crown Clown. What she saw before about someone clad in white with a silver mask was true! And it was him! He was here! Without even thinking she grabbed his wrist, getting his attention.

"Its you...its really you..." Mei-Ling mumbled as he gaze was focused solely on him and nothing else.

Allen said nothing at her words, but picked her up and got out of the house as another Akuma appeared. Staying here was no longer an option, worse case scenario he would have to bring her to the lake to end get rid of these Akuma infested rats.

"Mei-Ling, I'm going to lead us to the lake where the others are. You don't have to touch the crystal ball if you don't want to." Allen said to her as he took off with her in his arms. Mei-Ling didn't say a word as they headed for the lake. When they arrived they saw the others fighting off a swarm of Akuma.

Narain spotted them, "Nice of you to join us." He said killing three Akuma at once.

Timothy swayed a little as he had been taking over some Akuma since before Allen arrived, "They keep coming."

Krory was biting some left and right, while Miranda ushered Timothy to come over to her so she could heal him temporarily.

Allen placed Mei-Ling down, which got their attention, "Allen...this girl..." Narain started to say.

"Is the fortune-teller and an Accommodator just like us." He revealed.

Narain didn't even look surprised, "Of course she is..."

Mei-Ling was confused about what they meant.

"I'll explain it to you later, but right now we need to deal with these...unsavory Akuma." Allen said.

All of a sudden something from within the water bursts out, revealing what appeared to be a crystal ball. The same one Mei-Ling had tossed into the lake one month ago. The Innocence crystal ball was surrounded in a protective barrier, but that still didn't stop one of the Akuma form trying to get at it and destroy it.

"Mei-Ling, that's your crystal ball, isn't it?" Allen asked.

She didn't say anything, all she did was look down, "I don't want it anywhere near me! I...I'm scared..." her shoulders were shaking as she almost broke down crying.

Allen knelt down before her, grabbing both her shoulders, "I don't know what you saw, but whatever it was you saw one month ago will not happen as it may have predicted."

Mei-Ling said nothing as she listened to him.

"While the Innocence gave you the power to see the future, that doesn't mean you should let it make you feel afraid. Don't worry about the Innocence, or the future. Mei-Ling...Innocence does not decide your future...you do yourself." Allen said with conviction.

Mei-Ling stood there and thought about Allen's words...and decided that...he was right! While she was afraid about what she saw, she seemed to forget that she also saw him. His silhouette standing before her, making her feel safe and protected. Something in her eyes changed as she gave him a determined look.

Allen smiled, "What do you want to do?"

"I...I want to get it back!" She declared.

Those were the magic words.

"Narain!"

Narain smirked, "I already know!" He made sure to get rid of some more pesky Akuma so that Allen and Mei-Ling could get to the Innocence crystal ball, "Krory!"

Krory's fangs sunk their teeth into a few more Akuma that ultimately help lead a pathway that would take them straight to where the Innocence was hovering in the air, almost as if it was waiting for them.

Allen was holding onto the girl protectively, "Are you scared?"

"No." She wasn't scared, but he was here.

"Then, hold on tight, okay?" He tells her.

"Okay." She holds onto him more firmly.

Allen had Crown Clown take them straight towards the Innocence, coming in quite fast. Mei-Ling was holding onto him for dear life.

"You okay?" He asks her.

"I'm fine."

"Almost there, just keep holding onto me."

"Okay!"

Allen was completely focused on getting to their target, "Go, Crown Clown." He mumbled as the white cloak brought them in faster, and it wasn't long before they slammed into the barrier that the Innocence covered itself in. There they were in front of the crystal ball, surrounded by a yellow light.

Mei-Ling stared at the bright white light that held her Innocence, "I wonder...if I become like you."

Allen almost snorted at the thought of her ever turning out like him, "Just be yourself, Mei-Ling. You're strong."

Mei-Ling smiled, "I'm still scared, but...I haven't seen everything I saw a month ago. Maybe because of that, it's possible that the future is something I can choose for myself. And if that's the case then I want to be with you."

Allen wasn't expecting to hear that, but couldn't stop the smile that appeared on his face, "Thank you, Mei-Ling."

Mei-Ling let out a little blush as she smile before reaching out to touch her crystal ball. As she did, a glowing yellow light surrounded them. Soon enough, the two of them found themselves out of that yellow space they were in and were surrounded by yellow fireflies. After that, the water soon filled the lake back up.

When the morning sun began to rise, all of the Akuma were gone, and the others were still standing albeit a bit tired after everything.

Narain let out a sigh as he looked over by the lake to see Allen holding Mei-Ling in his arms, "She's made her choice all on her own...a strong will that one has for sure."

The water incident was over with.

Finally.

-DGM-

Mei-Ling hugged her grandfather as it was time for her to go.

A few days have passed since the water well phenomenon that was caused by Mei-Ling's Innocence. That morning when they brought the girl home to her grandfather and explained what happened, he also had a story to tell. About hoe Mei-Ling used to love to tell the villagers her predictions until up about a month ago. Allen assured the old man that they don't plan on saying anything to villagers about how Mei-Ling's crystal ball was the cause of the water problem, something he was very grateful for. Allen then went on to explain about Innocence and the Black Order, since their is an Asian Branch around here somewhere he said that had they not come when they did then someone from either there or the European Branch would have come to investigate the strange phenomenon that occurred here.

He also began to explain about the holy war, the Millennium Earl, the Noah Clan, and the Exorcists. Needless to say, Mei-Ling's grandfather did not like the idea do his granddaughter being dragged into a war she never asked to be dragged into, and begged Allen to take her with them to keep her safe. Like what he did with Timothy had to come with him, he promised the old man she would be safe.

So here they are now, all packed and ready to go.

"You've already made up your mind, yes?" The old man said to his granddaughter gently.

Mei-Ling nodded, "Yes! I want to go with Allen-nii-sama! Before I was afraid of whatever I might see, but now...now, I'm not afraid anymore!"

A smile graced the old man's lips as he gave the girl one last hug, "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will, I promise!"

Allen stood there along with the others as Mei-Ling ran over to them. He nodded to the old man who returned the nod. Allen promised to keep Mei-Ling safe, just like he promised the Sister and Emilia he would keep Timothy safe.

"Ready?" He reached his hand out to her.

"I am!" She took it eagerly as the gate to the Ark opened and they walked right through it. Mei-Ling was another addition to their little group. Nea's going to have a fit with all of the strays he keeps bringing.

Oh, well.

Its not Allen's fault he attracts them.

{A Dangerous Game}