Johanne screamed and opened her eyes, breathing heavily. She met the frightened Incubus' and the others' gazes. She was in a daze at first, unable to discern what this place was, but then, all of it started to clear up in her mind. Tears had already swollen her eyes, however - it seemed that retrieving her painful soul memories had a large impact upon her even while still unconscious.

"Ugh, couldn't you have done it a little more softly?" She heard Auntie Lily scold her soul son.

"I've done the best I could, mom! You know I would never mean her harm..."

"You're still too negligent_"

"So I... I'm a woman whom Tsukishiro loved?"

They all started and glanced at Johanne, who watched them with a confused face.

"Loved? Can that guy even love anyone?" Yuehong snorted. "He was just tricking Joan Mardyr the whole time."

"But his eyes back then were sincere..."

"Just a mask."

"So, demons and my fallen angel hate me because Joan Mardyr could purify demons?"

"You could." Incubus frowned. "You are Joan Mardyr. I've told you - all that was your soul memories."

"I still feel like it was some different entity... Me and yet, not me... As if I had not just a different body, but kind of a different mind, too."

"Eh? Isn't that a bit too split of an identity than it should be after recovering soul memories?" Lucy glanced up at her husband.

"It is normal," Samael answered in Yuehong's stead. "Both you and Lily were special cases - a demon and a spirit locked in human bodies, whilst Johanne is a pure human. Even back when I intended to return Lilith's soul to the High Forces I hesitated to give her memories back and just narrated our love story to her. She made a decision on her own later. We are forbidden to give humans their soul memories back whilst their incarnation is still ongoing, but we made an exception for Johanne since she's being targeted by demons and Tsukishiro, thus needs to know her history in order to take countermeasures."

"Ah, so she should feel this way? As if she and Joan were two different people and yet one?"

"Yes."

Johanne watched them with curiosity and surprise. Then, she heaved a sigh:

"I need some alone time..."

The elders flinched in a stupor at first, but then Lily caressed the child and they all left the room. Incubus intended to stay, but Lily took him away too, able to understand that, for Johanne, it was a lot to take in, hence she needed some more time to think everything over. When they left, the girl gazed blankly at the front wall where her paintings were hung - the ones she had done as a child.

Tsukishiro, huh? My past lives... Now I understand...

All of those pictures depicted the same entity - a white shadow with long hair and eyes sparkling with inner ardour. Since childhood, she loved drawing this shadow, without even realising what it meant. Only now, did she grasp onto its true meaning... She looked down at her Bond Items.

My family says he's not to be trusted, my past lives prove he's a malicious entity... Yet, my heart always strove to reach him, even subconsciously... What is wrong with me? Even if I find him, what will happen next? Does he have feelings for me, or was it all just a bluff? Was that passionate kiss, those eyes sparkling with momentary happiness and relief, all a bluff? I doubt it... Even if he's the force of Perfection, he should have some sadness in his heart, for he does not fit into this world, and remains alone... He should feel perfect, but at times, he'd surely want to engage in worldly toils some more, yet he can't because this world rejects him. That is why he was happy when I told him that I wouldn't give up - he was happy because a hope rekindled in his heart, that someday, he might not be alone anymore... that someday, he'd have a chance to share his perfect world with someone, and achieve that perfect feeling that has rejoiced every other guardian's heart - the love.

She scribbled something on a small piece of paper, grabbed her skull bracelet and yin-and-yang necklace, tore them off, threw them on the bed near the letter, and jumped out of the window, running away through the garden. Once Incubus and Mei felt their Bond Items disconnect, all of the family rushed into Johanne's room, but she was gone. Only a small letter was left on the bed. Lily grabbed it and read it aloud to all of the family, including Johanne's parents Linda and Alex:

"I love you all, but I guess, from the very beginning, my heart had already been stolen. Even if it kills me yet once again, I shall put all effort into proving to the world that his whiteness is of purity and not of malice. I believe in him. I know what to do now - I've rediscovered the purpose of my life."

"Ugh, that foolish child!" Linda was dreaded - she'd be killed if demons found her!

"She's putting herself in great danger. We must find her before malignant creatures do!" Michael spread his wings.

"Let's disband!" Samael said.

They all rushed into different directions, looking for their common treasure - the girl who had unified all of their hearts and formed them into a big devoted family instead of just some worldly guardians fighting against each other or striving to work in harmony. Now, that treasure, the seal of their bonds, was being robbed off of them, so they were determined to prevent it by any means.

Alas, their intention was not to be fulfilled, for when they disbanded to search for Johanne, she had already been kidnapped... by the exact malignant force they feared - fallen angel Azazel. Now, the ones who could possibly find them were two entities - a person who had formed a pact with Azazel, and the sacred spirit who could guide others through the infinite darkness of the Black Energy.