Return: a D. Gray-man fanfic

Return: Part 8

The room went dead silent. Not even their shallow breaths could be heard. Iris hung her head, her face wasn't visible. Neah glanced around. His facial reaction looked unsure, as if he regretted saying the truth. Kanda whirled around. And the window behind him shattered.

Instinctively, each exorcist activated their innocence, except for Iris. A man stepped through the broken window, crushing the glass beneath him. Tykki straightened his top hat. His eyes fixated on Iris and he smiled mischievously. "Why, Iris long time no see! It's been quite a few years since I've seen you. I'm sure you missed me so terribly much." he said mockingly.

Iris sneered at Tykki. Tykki shrugged and looked at Allen. His face turned sour. "The 14th" he spat. Neah returned the nasty look. "What are you doing here?" Neah asked with an undertone of threat. Tykki composed himself. "I've come for her," he explained, pointing at Iris," the Earl has... asked for her presence." he answered.

Iris tensed. Neah stood in front of her. "No one is taking her anywhere." he growled. Tykki only smiled. "I'm terribly sorry but I'm afraid the Earl hasn't given you much of a choice, but for her to be handed over." the Noah of Pleasure declared mockingly. Neah smiled. "Is that so?" he asked. Tykki's look of confidence wavered. "Look into your Noah's memories. Remember how I slaughter your family? That is going to happen to you again if you touch Iris." Neah said.

Tykki's eye twitched. "Next time" he said before disappearing. Iris made a small sigh in relief. For a moment they forgot what they were talking about. "What do you mean she's a Noah?" Kanda asked. Neah looked at him in disdain. "It's a long story"

Iris nodded. "Tykki might send a fleet of Akuma. We should get out of here while we can." she agreed. Before she could walk away, Kanda grabbed her wrist and jerked her back. He reached for her white-streaked bangs and brushed them aside. Underneath was a startling golden eye. His eyes widened. "How?" he asked. Iris yanked her hand away.

"It's complicated and too long of a story. We have to go now!" she snapped. With those words, she rushed up the stairs. Neah cocked his head slightly. "She has changed a lot in the last few years, although I don't blame her. What she went through was traumatizing." he mused sadly. Then his face went slack.

Silver orbs blinked at the group. "Allen?" Lavi asked. Allen nodded. "Oh thank goodness! The Noah was starting to freak me out!" Lavi said. Allen was only half listening. "Iris is a Noah." he said. Lavi blinked. "Wha? I swear I wasn't talking about Iris! I was talking about Neah!" he cried.

"Uh Lavi, I think Allen was just trying to let the idea of Iris being a Noah settle in." Lenalee said. "Oh"

Kanda gasped. "I think I remember seeing her eye before. And her Innocence... somehow." Lavi leaned toward him. "You know!?" he asked. Kanda scowled. "Barely." he snapped.

After going to another city and settling down for the night, yet another dream bothered Lenalee.

Dream

Neah was staring in horror at the broken, bleeding Iris on the ground. "What did you do?!" he screamed at the Millennium Earl. The Earl looked at him. His smile was unnerving. "I did what I had to do. You slaughtered our family and ran away with your brother and friends. One of them had to die."

Neah held Iris, who was on the brink of death. "There is, however, a way to bring her back!" the Earl added. Neah glared at him. "No worries! It has nothing to do with Akuma! All she needs are a few drops of blood from you. Will you save or kill her? It's your choice Neah." the Earl said.

Neah looked down at Iris. He grabbed a knife from his pocket and pricked his finger. He dribbled a few drops in her mouth. Then the screaming started. Iris laid on her side writhing in pain. Her eye turned gold. She was crying. "Neah?" Iris asked. Neah smiled sadly down at her. He pressed his forehead against hers. "It's alright. I'm still here."

And Lenalee woke up