-o0o- Chapter Five -o0o-

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-o0o- Grueling Qualms And Tautness -o0o-

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-o0o- The First Mission Begins -o0o-

-o0o- Part II -o0o-

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Casually, Allen walked around the small, nearly empty house of the Akuma and her father, who appeared to be the only person that wasn't an Akuma in Dankern. He learned the Akuma's name was Sophia. He could tel she was a very intelligent Akuma. That was rare, but not unexpected.

"May I ask why no one exits their homes here in Dankern?" Allen asked, staring out a curtain-less window.

"What?" the old man asked.

"No one has come out of their house. Other than the people that love to attack us in the forest, no one comes out. not during the day and not at night. It's as if... they're scared of something." Allen mused.

"Allen's got a point." Lavi agreed.

"Actually, thinking about it, I haven't seen anyone other than you two." Goz included thoughtfully.

Sophia set several glass plates on the table, then two bowls of rolls. The plates already had food on it and only Allen wasn't sitting down, enjoying the food. Goz was loud, but he made it clear he appreciated it. Sophia was a charmer. She must have been a beautiful person before she died. He's noticed over the years, though, that the Akuma always has certain traits that correspond with both the soul's past and the person that brought back the soul's past. He wondered if Sophia or whoever that soul's name is, was as calm and kind as the Akuma pretended to be... It was a question you would never have an answer to unless you knew the two souls before the Akuma was created.

"I guess you could say they are scared." Sophia said, smiling weakly. "The people in Dankern are very superstitious."

"Does it have anything to do with the cabin?" Kanda inquired.

"I'm afraid so."

"But why?" Goz asked, licking his plate clean.

"Will you knock it off?" Kanda grumbled.

"So-sorry! I guess knowing that witches aren't real has made me really hungry."

A plate landed on the floor, shattering instantly and making everyone stare at the old man. He was... acting peculiar. Trembling... Eyes wide with horror... Panic evident... Anyone could see that. Anyone with eyes and common sense. Sophia, worried, began to pick up the glass shards, but Allen hurried over, forcing her to drop every piece and gently pushing her hands aside, earning a strange gaze from her.

But she focused on the old man. "Father, are you alright?"

"Yes, dear. I'm just... My tricked knee is acting up..." he said quietly, grabbing his wooden walking stick and slowly, near limping, walked over to the door that led upstairs. "I think.. I'm going to go lay down."

Allen watched him leave, kneeling down on the floor. For a second time he stopped Sophia from picking up the glass shards. "What's wrong?" she demanded, silent anger rising in her voice.

"Your hands are bare." Allen stared at her calmly. "You're going to hurt yourself if you pick up broken glass with bare hands. Let me take care of it. As for your father... shouldn't you go check on him?" Allen said softly, picking up the broken plate while Sophia stared at his gloved hands. "Sophia?"

"Ah, well, my father is just as superstitious as the rest of this village. At the mention of a witch he probably got scared. You see, that cabin you all saw earlier, it used to belong to an old lady. Everyone called her a witch, but she was really sweet and kind. They ran her out of town, but I think everyone believes she is cursing them and our village. Perhaps that's why they're all frightened."

Allen threw the glass away, still staring at the door suspiciously. He could tell Sophia was still staring at him, but not out of gratefulness. out of curiosity and she was watching his limp. It still hurt. Really bad. He hoped he didn't fracture the bone. If so, he'd hold Lavi at fault.

"But it doesn't seem to bother you." Suman stated.

"That's because I don't believe in witches. Like I said, the old lady was very sweet. If only the rest of the village had taken the time to get to know her, then maybe they wouldn't have called her a witch." Sophia told them, sighing.

"But why would they call her a witch?" Lenalee asked.

"It's just a stupid tradition Dankern has. Any old lady unfortunate enough to live here alone is labeled a witch and is forced to live in the cabin."

"That's terrible!" Goz exclaimed.

"It is." Sophia whispered. She stared at Allen as he limped back to the window, or attempted to. She stopped him. "Pardon me, but I couldn't help but notice that mark on your eye... It's a sign of evil... How did you get it? I mean, did you put that on your face yourself?"

"That is a very personal question and you are overstepping a dangerous boundary." Allen said, walking past her to the window. Sophia gave him an apologetic look, but Allen knew better than to fool for such tactics from anyone let alone an Akuma. "However, you are right about it being a mark of evil." And with this, everyone was listening intently. Especially Lavi. "I didn't exactly want the scar, but I suppose it's befitting of me... After the things I've done."

Sophia approached him cautiously, warily, but still curious. She wasn't afraid, Allen told himself. She wasn't afraid, but she didn't know. Sophia had no idea he was an Exorcist because his uniform was different from other Exorcists.

"What particular things do you speak of?" Sophia inquired.

Allen closed his eyes, his left hand covering his left eye. His father's name kept running through his mind. It was that which kept him from thinking of the events in thorough details-the repeating of his dead father's name. But it never gave him comfort. "How else do you receive a mark of evil other than doing an act of evil?" Allen murmured, loud enough for only him to hear. "My eye isn't important... What happened is done and it's in the past, buried and almost forgotten." Allen opened his eyes, Sophia reflecting greeting him. "Besides, why should I tell you the truth of my eye when you won't even tell us the whole truth of the witch? You are a very good actress Sophia, but you still cannot deceive certain things in life. My eye allows me to see through your mask. I am not so easily deceived by your kind, Sophia."

For a brief moment, Sophia's eyes bulged, but then... She changed. She went back to her acting façade, playing dumb. She had more restraint than Allen had anticipated. Bravo for her.

"What do you me "my kind"?" Sophia asked.

"That was a little rude, don't you think?" Lenalee interjected.

"So was her question about my scar." Allen turned around, frowning. "As I said it was personal, yet she persisted in finding answers. What's more is that it is curiosu as to how such a sweet girl would know that this mark here on my face is a sign of evil. How would she have known that without any knowledge? That knowledge that only certain people know. Knowledge only certain people could obtain. This here mark is the mark of an Akuma, a pentagram... Was it in a book? If so I would surely like to see it."

"What is your problem!?" Lenalee stood up, slamming her hands on the table. "She's just a kid! The Akuma are surrounding Dankern. Hoenstly it wouldn't be surprising if she's seen something, but we are subtle and take better approaches than the one you're taking right now, Walker. So whatever your problem is, get over it or get the hell out of here."

Allen tipped his head, stalking over to Lenalee. She faltered a little, taking a single step back and standing tall. Allen gently slid his hand under her chin, bringing her very, very close so there noses were barely touching and by the way she breathed, fast and heavily, but calm enough so that it was obvious she wasn't panting, Allen could tell he was scaring her. He didn't let her go. He didn't hesitate in pressing her up against the wall, ignoring whatever the others were yelling.

"Be careful... with such fierce words, my dear." Allen murmured, expressionless still unlike Lenalee whose eyes glowed with fury and resentment. "Do you really want me to leave? To go on ahead and find the General myself? Because none of you seem to be worth the effort of protecting. You are naïve and foolish and if you still cannot understand meaning of the hints I've dropped, then you're a fool, Miss Lee."

"I am no fool!" Lenalee holler, trying to push him away, but he was like a stonewall! "Get off of me."

"My dear, Miss Lee, you do not comprehend the trap you're walking into." Allen whispered directly in her ear. "Sophia is an Akuma."

"She's a wh-"

Allen put his finger over her lips. "Shhh, don't tell." He removed his finger from her lips, but his gloved thumb ran over the soft skin she called a mouth. Of course, he couldn't tell because of the fabric that hid his hands. "You're ugly, Miss Lee... When you're angry. I did not mean to offend you or make you lose your calm. So take a deep breath and simmer down. Believe me not? Well then, that's just find. All I demand is your cooperation to stay calm and to keep quiet. That isn't much. It's not like I'm demanding an apology for your judgement on me." Allen whispered threateningly. "Perhaps, my dear, you shouldn't make it evident that you're frightened of someone. Because they just might use it to their advantage..." Allen inwardly smirked, pressing his lips on the skin below her ear. "Like I am."

Allen removed his hand and weight from her, and Lenalee tried keeping her hands still by gripping the wrists of both hands with difficulty. Allen... What the hell... Did he do to me? What... did he... do? He... Allen reminded me of... of Leverrier.

"The lady gets the bed. The rest of us can sleep on the floor." Allen mumbled, sitting down in the darkest corner of the room.

Lenalee felt chills run down her spine as she sat on the bed. Allen was watching her. She could feel it. She could still feel his hand under her chin, an act that was supposed to have been affectionate, but it wasn't at all loving. It was cold and bitter. She was feared he was going to choke her at any given time. Something told her that he would never do that, that Allen didn't ahve a heart to do such a thing, but at the moment she couldn't believe it. It was like he had been Leverrier. How did he do that? How could he manipulate her fears like that? Ho-how was-as it possible? It-it didn't make sense... And that made Lenalee feel like she was living a nightmare.

"Hey, Lenalee, are you alright?" Lavi asked, sitting beside her, blocking Allen's view of Lenalee and Lenalee's view of him. "Lenalee?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just... Allen did something. I don't know what, but I feel frozen." Lenalee uttered, making sure Allen couldn't hear her. "He's freaking me out."

Lavi nodded. "It was a psychological trick. I didn't quite catch what he did, but I know it had something to do with psychology." Lavi explained, rubbing her shoulder. "Don't worry. He's not dangerous, but I think Allen it trying to intimidate you."

"But why?" Lenalee asked, hugging herself.

"Maybe he is trying to teach you a lesson... Perhaps he wants us to be afraid of him... Maybe he had been angry by Sophia's question and took it out on you... Maybe he wants you to be afraid of him so you'll listen to what he says. I don't know. I don't understand him." Said Lavi, admitting his defeat.

"So... what should I do?" Lenalee questioned, closing her eyes.

Lavi glanced at Allen with a scowl. Lenalee was more sensitive than anyone else in the group and Allen knew that. He manipulating Lenalee for some reason. It was wrong and it pissed him off! Kanda wasn't taking it silently either. He made it very clear before Allen came up here that if he tries to lay another finger on Lenalee or do something like that again he would personally kill Allen, dice him up, and ship him to his precious leader at Central. Allen appeared unfazed by this. Still, glares were continuously sent in his direction.

"Try not to thin k about it. Don't let him take control. That's all I can say." Lavi whispered, gently laying her down. "Now get some rest. We're all here if you need anything."

"Right." Lenalee felt selfish, laying on the bed and letting everyone else sleep on the floor. Arguing with them would have been pointless, so she saved her breath. She crawled close to the wall, feeling that would be a shield of protection for her, and she did feel a little better. She buried her face in a pillow, closing her eyes and listening to everything around her. There wasn't much noise. Just breathing, the rush of water, and crickets. Tranquil breathing. Soothing sounds. And... and a... harp?

The sound was beautiful and she couldn't see the harp. She couldn't tell where it was coming from, but she heard it. And the scene morphed into something wonderful. There were trees all around and a beautiful wooden and plaster house. Birds were chirping all around, the sun shined in through the window as she suddenly arrived inside a room, no longer outside staring at the large and vast trees. Now she was laying in a bed, blinking herself awake as she sat up.

"Lenalee! Are you up yet?" Komui's voice yelled.

Lenalee didn't know why, but she felt ecstatic to hear his voice. She giggled, crawling out of bed and not bothering thinking about her puny fingers and why everything seemed so much taller than her now. She just ran out of the room, passing bamboo and Chinese vases. The wood underneath her feet creak as she lifted her foot, but when it hit the floorboards she only heard a light thud sound. She ran and ran, the smell of something burning entering her nose and gray smoke entered her line of vision. SLightly panicked, her smile fell and she ran faster.

"Komui! Is there a fire? Komu-" Lenalee stopped, reaching the kitchen. Pots and pans scattered the table and counters. Eggs, cracked, broken, and perfect, lay across the floor and counters. A glass bowl was sitting in the sink on top of a bunch of other dishes, threatening to fall. But what caught her Allen was her elder brother's goofy smile as he stared at her, apron on and sheepishness etched into his features. His glasses were about to fall off, but he used his arm to push them up the bridge of his nose, a pan in one hand and a mit on the other. He was covered in batter and flour. "Komui?"

"Ha ha ha ha. I'm sorry, Lenalee. I didn't mean to scare you." Komui laughed, setting the pan down on the table and pushing burnt pancakes on to a plate on the messy table, motioning for Lenalee to sit in the cleanest and almost spotless area. "Come eat. Breakfast is done."

"You burnt the food again!" Lenalee yelled.

Wait, again? Komui's never made me pancakes before... Where am I? Is this... a dream?

"I'm sorry! It's better than nothing though. So go on, eat. You have to get your nutrients." Komui said, sitting down on yolk-covered chair, cringing. "Aw, ewwwww."

Lenalee laughed. "You're silly."

"And your hair is gnarled." Komui said.

Lenalee touched the top of her head, laughing. She could feel the many knots and snarls. She must've fallen asleep with her pigtails in because they were up and she doesn't usually put them up. Komui always did that for her.

Since when does Komui put my hair up for me?

"Okay, eat up now. We have to clean up our mess. We've having guests today!" Komui clapped his hands, forcing Lenalee to take a bite of his nasty, burnt, devilish pancakes.

"You mean your mess! I was sleeping!"

"Yes, but you stayed up late and you slept in very late. It's past noon!"

"Then why are we eating pancakes?"

"Because I forgot to go shopping for groceries."

"You mean you avoided going shopping for food again."

Again? Again?

... Again?

"Lenalee?"

"Yes, brother?"

"Lenalee I have-wake up Lenalee!"

"But I am awake." Lenalee whispered.

"I know that. Now I will be go-Lenalee!"

"What?"

"So you'll be here a-wake up! Lenalee!"

Lenalee blinked. The scene changing from Komui's kitchen to a dark place. Something was in front of her there. Before she knew it, the sun was gone and a redhead was standing in front of her. Perplexed, she tilted her head to the side. "Lavi?"

""Finally! Damn, Lenalee." Lavi removed his hands from Lenalee's arms-when did they get there?-and he sighed. "Do you know where we're at?"

"We're in Sophia's..." Lenalee trailed off, surveying the area. There were trees. Many, many trees. "Why are we in the forest? When did we get there? Was I that tired I didn't remember? I mean, I didn't get any sleep, but still-"

"Leanlee, you were sleep walking." Lavi interrupted.

"What do you mean?"

Lavi scratched his head, leaning against a tree. She noticed he was barefooted and he didn't have his uniform coat on. He was in his regular white pants and long-sleeved dark bluish-green shirt. His hair was messy, slightly snarly, and his bandana was missing. He did have his hammer in its special holster though. But... her feet were extremely cold. Looking down, she realized she was barefoot too. When did she take off her shoes.

"What's going on?" Lenalee asked.

"I don't know. You were sleeping and I heard this harp in the background while I was dozing off, but you woke me up. You stepped on my... testicles. Thanks by the way, that was a seriously unwanted wake-up call." Lavi said, cringing at the memory. "But I saw you walking off and I've been trying to wake you up. It didn't work until now. Oh, shit! I forgot your Dark Boots! They must be back at Sophia's house."

Leanlee blinked again, letting her mind process everything. "Oh, God, Lavi! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to... step on... your... Sorry." Lenalee blushed, digging her toes into the dig nervously. She was sort of glad she wasn't awake when that happened. She itched her arm. She was very itchy suddenly. She did get bit by a bug or something. "Uh, Lavi, my arms are very... itchy... and my legs... and feet... are prickling." Lenalee began to itched her appendages. She wasn't the only one though. "Lavi, you're scratching your face and hands a lot."

Lavi nodded, clasping his hands together and scanning the area they were in. When he spotted a familiar plant he cursed. "We walked into some poisonous plants! Shit. We need to go find something to clean the substance off and I'll see about making an ointment... But that's normally Bookman's specialty."

"Poisonous plants?" Lenalee asked, trying to resist the urge to itch her skin.

"Yeah... Poison ivy and oak are native to North and South America... So that leaves stinging nettle. We need to hurry back into the village, before it gets worse."

"How could it get worse?" Lenalee asked, letting Lavi lead the way out of the forest, wincing as she stepped on rocks and thorns and twigs. Her feet itched sooo badly.

"Did I mention Allen and Goz were gone when I started chasing you? I woke Kanda up, or tried, and I'm not sure if he went looking for them. Suman went searching for Allen though."

"What? Where did they go?"

"If I knew then we wouldn't be searching for them... After we get your Boots."

Lenalee hummed in agreement. Objects prickled her the soles of her feet and branches scratched her skin. She couldn't stop itching and felt her skin's irritation worsen with each second. She really wanted to relieve the itch or find a distraction. By the looks of it and the sounds of Lavi's grunts, her friend agreed. He was trying so hard not to scratch the sensitive skin. It was futile. The sensation was taking over and the scratching became irresistable for even a second!

When they finally got out of the forest they came to an area unknown to them. It was part of Dankern, but they weren't there before. Lavi let his feet instinctively guide him while Lenalee followed without question, wary of her surroundings. She was worried someone or something would pop out of nowhere and attack them. Allen's words echoed in her mind.

"My dear, Miss Lee, you cannot comprehend the trap you're walking into... Sophia is an Aluma."

How did Allen know that? she pondered. "Hey, Lavi... Is there a possible way to see through the Akuma?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is is possible for someone to detect an Akuma without them telling you or letting you know?"

Lavi hummed pensively. Lenalee quickened her pace. She needed to stay close to Lavi. She was defenseless right now. She needed her boots and if they ran into an Akuma before that happens... What would happen?

"I don't think so, Lenalee." Lavi answered. "Why do you want to know?"

"Allen told me Sophia was an Akuma. He said we were naïve and fools if we couldn't understand the many hints he's dropped about it. Do you remember what he said about his eye earlier?" Lenalee asked.

"Yeah... It was something like: Besides, why should I tell you the truth of my eye when you won't even tell us the whole truth of the witch? You are a very good actress Sophia, but you still cannot deceive certain things in life. My eye allows me to see through your mask. I am not so easily deceived by your kind, Sophia." Lavi paused, both in movement and in speech as he stared up at the sky, eyebrows furrowed. "My eye allows me to see through your mask. I am not so easily deceived by your kind... Sophia? That doesn't make sense... Unless, Allen... Sophia is an Akuma! If Allen's right then... Lenalee, what's wrong?"

Lenalee covered her mouth, shakily pointing at the figure in front of them. She wanted to scream, but her voice wouldn't allow it. Lavi turned around, finding exactly what Lenalee was pointing at and so worked up about. Allen's arms and legs were tied up, but that wasn't the problem. It was far from it. What the problem was...

Was that Allen was hanging with a noose around his neck, blood drizzling down his chin. It was hard to tell from their spot if Allen was alive... or dead.

On instinct, Lavi ran toward Allen's hanging body, Lenalee behind him after she regained some of her composure. When they got ot him, Lavi instruct Lenalee to grab Allen's body and push it up a little, so the rope wouldn't tighten around his neck. He quickly climbed the tree he was hanging from. When he was by the rope, he took out his Innocence, thinking. How was he supposed to do this? He didn't have a knife, he couldn't cut the rope. His hammer did have a sharp point on the top, but was it good enough?

"Guess we're going to find out."

Lavi dug his hammer's tip through the rope, tearing at the strong, rough, scratchy tweed that barely shifted. He repeated jutted the rope. It wasn't working though! No matter how many times he tried cutting the rope there was barely a shift in the thick thread. He went to gnashing his teeth on it. The nasty taste of bark settling on his tongue. He looked at Allen's pale face, gulping nervously. Unsurely, Lavi reached for Allen's neck, trying to find a pulse. He was so relieved when he felt a faint pumping or beating underneath his fingers, but he could see Allen's face turning blue.

"His throat is constricted! Damn, where's Kanda when you need him?" Lavi growled, hastily jabbing his hammer at the rope again. "What if I activate my hammer? Burn the rope off or... or... snap the branch... No, that's too risky." Lavi banged his head against the branch.

"Lavi, we got to do something! There has to be something we can do." Lenalee screamed.

"I don't have anything sharp enough to... That's it! CROW's have weapons. Allen must have something on him." Lavi exclaimed, stretching his arm down so he could grab Allen's coat. He felt around Allen's back and chest, shoulder and arm, then tried the other side. he cursed when he couldn't find anything. They have to be below his elbow. I can't reach down that far... Lavi gritted his teeth.

"Allen! Hey Allen! Can you hear me? Allen?" Lavi screamed, biting the rope and using his Innocence to try to cut the rope again. "Allen, wake up! Allen!"

"Lavi if he could wake up he would have done that when whoever is behind this hanged him." Lenalee uttered.

"... Maybe." Lavi sighed, taking a deep breath. "Lenalee, I'm going to pull him up! If I can at least get him to sit on the branch rather than hang from it, then that should give us more time."

"Okay."

Lavi put his hammer in his mouth, stretching his arms down, tightly gripping Allen's underarms and pulling him up while Lenalee helped by pushing him up. It took a minute or so, but they managed to get Allen up and Lavi groaned. Now he had to get the noose off Allen. But first, he studied Allen's neck, making sure it was somewhat okay. There were a few burns, but he was lucky his neck didn't snap in half. "So lucky."

"I wouldn't say that."

Lavi frantically looked around, raising his hammer. "Where are you?"

"Right... here!"

Lavi tried to activate his Innocence, but before he could, something knocked him off the tree branch, pushing Allen off as well. Lavi sat upright hastily, jaw hanging as Allen's body swung back and forth and he made choking sounds. Lavi didn't focus on the Akuma that had attacked them, but rather, he got to his feet, trying to figure out what to do. THoughts and ideas whirred by in his mind, but none seemed good enough to actually work. Allen was getting closer to death with every second! If they didn't hurry he just might die.

"You shouldn't turn your back on an enemy!"

Lavi was knocked off his feet and he rammed into Lenalee, forcing her to fall down. Lavi's Innocence slid out of his hand and across the sleek, wet ground. Cracking open his eye, he realized the ground was only wet because of blood. Looking up, he saw Allen was bleeding. "Da-"

"What did I say abou-arghhhhh!"

The sky lit up for a moment as the Akuma blew up, the explosion loud and causing ringing noises in Lavi's ears. He jumped off Lenalee, not bothering with helping her up as he rushed to Allen's still swing and choking body. He didn't know who it was that destroyed the Akuma, but right now he could care less. However, that changed when something flew across his line of vision, all a blur, and then Allen disappeared!

"Wha..?"

Lavi blinked. Then he blinked again. What was going on? Where'd Allen go? What happened to the Akuma? Where is everyone? Where's Allen!? Lavi's head began to hurt and he gripped his hair, tugging at it. "Ahhh, what the hell!?"

"Calm down, Lavi."

"Eh? I know that voice." Lavi turned around to see an awfully familiar face that shouldn't have been there. Very tall, his skin was paler than Allen's, even with the blood loss and lack of oxygen, and he had jet black hair, except for one long strand of white hair that was sticking up. "Krory?"

"Hey, Lavi." Krory whispered, biting the noose off Allen's neck and throwing it across the field. "He's cold... Is this the new Exorcist that's supposed to join us?"

"Ye-yeah. Krory, what are you doing here?" Lenalee asked, crawling over to them.

"Komui told us to come to Dankern. You're four days late and you haven't contacted Headquarters. Komui was worried something happened." Krory explained, studying the area. "I've got this bad feeling since we arrived to Dankern. I was starting to worry about you guys myself. I'm glad I got here in time," Krory looked at Allen. "His neck almost snapped."

Allen coughed, wiggling about and his eyes fluttering open. Lenalee released a breath of relief and helped Allen sit up while Krory took the ropes off his legs and arms. "Are you alright kid?" he asked.

Allen rubbed his throat, coughing violently. He desperately needed water, but he would have to survive without it. He had a nasty taste of iron in his mouth and he ultimately knew his gloves with now red. He closed his eyes, hoping it would make the stinging in his eyes fade away. To his dismay, it only made it worse when he opened them away and he had to wipe the corner of his eyes free of some unfallen tears. "La-lavi, you're loud." Allen uttered, groaning.

"You heard me?" Lavi asked incredulously. "I thought you were out cold."

Allen wearily stood up with Krory's help. When he tried walking he went in the opposite direction than intended, but Krory grabbed him and steadied him. "N-no! I was... awake... I just couldn't respond for some reason... I was... I was... half asleep. yeah, that." Allen held his head, leaning against Krory. "Whe-where are we?"

"We're outside." Lenalee muttered.

"No, not that. Where exactly are we?" Allen tried again, sighing. "I was by the lake and the cabin. I was talking to the old man about his daughter. He was going ballistic and then an Akuma appeared and killed him. I destroyed it, but... I don't remember what happened after that... Sophia... It was Sophia! Where's the girl?" Allen glanced around, pushing away from Krory and hurrying toward the town. "God dammit!"

"Allen, take it slow. You nearly broke your neck." Lenalee said.

Allen spun around, eyes slanted. "Take it slow? That Akuma is going to kill all of us if we don't get a grip now. I underestimated her capabilities and because of that-" Allen stopped speaking, rubbing his eyes. "Look... This entire village, well, they're all Akuma. Now we need to find Sophia and kill her. She's in charge of the level one's."

"So, wait, you left the room on your own will?" Lenalee asked.

"I did. I had to speak with the old man." Allen said, standing up straight as if he had some authority or as if it weren't any of her business. "Do you have a problem with that? Or must I consult with you before I take a breath of my rightful air?"

Lenalee narrowed her eyes. "Now listen here you insufferable asshole! We just saved your life and you wouldn't have been int hat predicament if you hadn't wander off on your ow-hey! Get back her! Don't walk away from me!"

Allen dismissed her, running into the village. Krory sighed, rubbing his ear with a frown. "Well, he's not what I expected."

"I swear that guy... He's... Urgh!" Lenalee kicked the ground. "What is with him?"

"He might've been ticked off." Lavi muttered, picking up his hammer. "Come on, we have to go get your Dark Boots and go find Sophia. Later we can question Allen about all this. 'Cause if this keeps up, then I know I'll never trust him."

Kanda rushed down a small hill, Goz right behind him and Suman was waiting for him at the bottom of the hill, unpleasant and irritated. He wasn't the only one though. Kanda unsheathed Mugen, glaring at everything.

"Where's everyone else?" Suman asked.

"I don't know. I just ran into this idiot by mistake." Kanda grumbled.

"Hey! What'd I ever do to you?"

"Oh, shu-"

"Why are you all up?" a smooth voice asked.

The three men turned around, finding Sophia standing in the middle of the deserted road.

"Sophia..." Goz whispered.

Allen ran out of an alleyway, coming to a screeching halt directly behind Sophia. Her reaction was simple. She merely turned around and smiled. Allen, however, grabbed her throat and shoved her up against the wall. "I've let you live for too long." he murmured, squeezing her throat.

"Allen, what do you think you're doing! Let Sophia go!" Goz yelled, preparing to run over, but Kanda stopped her.

"Explain yourself, kid." Kanda ordered.

"Sophia's an Akuma, just like the rest of the village. It's as simple as that."

Kanda slanted his eyes. He activated Mugen, eyeing the houses.

"On the contrary, Allen, I've let you all live for far too long." Sophia grinned. "You'll die here tonight. All of you."

"We'll see about that." Allen replied.

Okay... So... It's a little sloppy near the end... I think... But is it alright? I hope so. I mean, I felt content with the thought of writing it like this because I'm assuming just about everyone has seen the episodes about The Witch That Lives In The Village. I just added a few twists and you can just infer everything that's happened without it really being explained... So... I hope I didn't confuse anyone and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading!

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-o0o- D. Gray-Man -o0o-

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