The whole space and dimension started to rumble, meaning that the place is disappearing. As the floor continued to crumble, everyone started to have a long free fall. But in the end, when they opened their eyes again, they're back to Miranda's apartment.

"Allen! Iris!" Lenalee called from the other room. "Miss Miranda's acting strange!"

Rushing to the source of the voice, they see Lenalee with Miranda. The room was covered in clocks and Miranda was really acting weird. Her full body was shaking as he hugs herself.

"De-activate your Innocence, please. You won't last longer at this rate." Allen asks of the woman but she shakes her head swiftly.

"No... If I try to stop it..."

The clocks around them started to move closer, but Miranda stays strong and focused to keep them away. "If I stop it, the time that's been sucked will return to normal. You'll be hurt again."

Miranda refused to deactivate her Innocence no matter what. The Exorcists did so much, they even thanked her, there is no way that she'll let them get injured again.

The clocked chimed, meaning it's already midnight. Still, she refused to de-activate her Innocence, even if her energy is being drained more and more especially since it's in raw form.

"Please de-activate it, miss Miranda." Allen smiles. "You've already done plenty for us."

"And if it wasn't for your Innocence, we would never have gotten out of the dimension." Lenalee adds.

"And as Exorcists, we must bear our own wounds ourselves. It's a normal thing for us... To get wounded that is." Iris laughs, even though she's starting to worry about her injuries.

"As long as we're alive, they'll heal eventually." Allen pointed out.

I think not. Iris sweatdropped. You have a parasitic Innocence, your left arm will be fine. And my arms are pierced, can that even be healed? Wait a minute... Allen's left was pierced, was it not?

Having convinced Miranda, she has de-activated her Innocence. At that moment, the Exorcists fell to the ground and went unconscious. And after a very long time, the city has started to go in in natural time.

As Miranda finds the Finder of the Black Order, the Exorcists stays still in the apartment. They're still breathing, with Iris being more conscious than the two since she her injury is not as worse as theirs. Looking outside the window, snow was falling and her lips formed a smile.

The town's back to normal...

Before closing her eyes, she thought of one last thing. Snow... It reminds me of that time with Kanda... And it reminds me of Allen.

Our wounds will heal in time, but our scars won't, Allen thought.

♱⁜♰ D. Gray-Man ♱⁜♰

Opening her eyes, the redhead sees herself in an unfamiliar room. It was bright outside, meaning it's day. The first thing she looks at are her arms. Rolling up her longs sleeves of the top that she doesn't remember wearing, she was cursing in her head.

Tsk, I already have scars from that time and now I have additional ones.

Looking at both her arms, the injuries from Road are not there. Only the scars from that time is seen. Iris sighs in relief, she was thankful that at the very least there were no additional scars.

Unrolling her sleeves, someone spoke. "E-hem!" Looking behind her, a familiar redhead with an eyepatch was seen leaning against the door. "Hello, Red Riding Hood~"

"You and your creepy way of greeting people. Knock on the door, pirate." Iris says, not minding Lavi's presence. "So, what are you doing here?" Although she doesn't mind his presence, her tone was not a welcoming one but there's no hostility in it.

"Komui had called us, the Bookmen." The boy replies.

"Now, what are you doing in here in my room?" Iris had veins popped on her head.

"Sa~ Is it wrong to check your friends' health? Lenalee and the new guy still hasn't woken up, it seems you're the one who suffered less injuries."

"Getting impaled by candles in the arms? Oh yeah, sure, not painful at all." Iris says with sarcasm.

Standing up, she approaches Lavi and doesn't have a plan to let him go. "Spill it out, Lavi. Who's been healing me all this time?" Her eyes didn't show that she was joking.

"What are you talking about? Komui and the Ancient Panda are the ones who have been healing you whenever you have serious injuries."

"You lie. It's impossible to heal a hole in one's body. I was impaled by large candles! One does not simply heal a hole, leaving no remnants of it!"

It has happened before, a lot of times actually. She had been injured far more worse than this, and she gets healed like the wound never even happened. The reason, she doesn't know. At first, she saw it like it was normal, being healed and all... but it becomes suspicious after it happened a dozen times now.

"I really don't know how do they do it. They kick me out the room whenever you're injured and they need to heal you." Lavi says with a nervous smile.

Wether Lavi is lying or not, Iris couldn't tell.

"That's because you're pervert, that's why they kick you out." The female redhead pushes Lavi's head away as she tries to bring him out of the room. "Now leave."

Pushing Lavi out of the room, Iris finds her uniform placed on top of the bedside table. It looks brand new, being polished up and having no holes in it. Picking it up, she stared at it for a while. Putting it back down, she walks to the door and opened it abruptly, exposing the eyepatched man who was leaning on the door.

"Want a death wish or something?" Iris had an irritated smile, having many veins popped out around her head. Her lips were twitching to her annoyance as she looks at the Exorcist.

♱⁜♰ D. Gray-Man ♱⁜♰

"It's nice to see that you're doing well, Iris." Komui smiles as Iris put on her boots. The Head Chief decided to see her when Lavi reported that she's already awake.

"You know something about my healing rate, don't you?" The redhead ignored his concern.

"Healing rate?"

"Gah, nevermind." The Exorcist stands up, giving up on knowing the truth. She'll find the right time to catch them redhanded sooner or later.

"How's Lenalee and Allen?" She moves on to the next topic.

"Bookman is treating Lenalee right now, while Allen seems to be doing just fine. Although, I'm worried about his left eye."

That's right, I forgot. Allen's eye was pierced. How is he supposed to see then? But losing one's eyesight didn't stop Marie from becoming an Exorcist.

"Head Chief, can I see Allen and Lenalee?"

"Of course."

Having his permission, Iris decided to visit Allen first. Upon entering his room, he was wearing a blue patient's uniform and was covered in bandages in some parts of the body. And his left eye was covered. Sitting on the side of the bed, she looks at him, in deep thought.

If only I didn't hesitated to kill those Akuma, this wouldn't have happened. But this is the purpose... To let Allen have experience. But I didn't expect a Noah to show up.

"Sa~ What's this? You care for the new guy this much?" Iris failed to notice Lavi's presence once again.

"He's a friend of mine who I haven't seen for years."

"I see, I see... What's his name again? Oh, Allen Walker. He's the boy who would destroy time."

"You and Bookman are here to record and observe him, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

And I know that they've been observing me too. I've been prophesied to be humanity's last resort or destruction. 

Looking back at Allen's face, Iris confirmed that he's going to be okay. "Mind bringing me to Lenalee's room?" She asked Lavi.

"Why not~?"

With that, Lavi brings Iris to Lenalee's room. There, she sees that Lenalee was in a deep sleep with her hair let down.

"Having her hair let down suits her better." Iris pointed out as she checks Lenalee's pulse on her wrist. "Where's Bookman?"

"Gramps is with Komui. They're talking about some important stuff. Well, having her hair down makes her look more mature and older. It would definitely suit her personality."

"Hm? Bookman didn't bring you with him? Poor Junior~ But yeah, Lenalee does look more older with her hair untied. I'm guessing that Komui made Lenalee wear twintails so she'll look younger and childish... And probably prevent boys from going near her..."

"I don't need to join Panda to know their conversation." Lavi looks at Lenalee. "I don't think her twintails made a difference though." He sweatdropped.

Holding Lenalee's hands tightly for one last time, Iris lets go and looks at Lavi. "Follow me."

The male stayed silent, following her as they went outside of the hospital and into the small playground that was behind it. Iris sits on one swing and Lavi stands on the swing next to her.

The male redhead had questions in his mind. Why is he here? Why did Iris told him to follow? Does she want something from me? But still, he didn't question any of those and just waited.

"By now you should know that the people that are dangerous to me, are you, Lenalee, and everyone who are in my precious memories." Iris started to swing back and forth gently.

"Of course I know. I've known it for two years."

"Lavi, Allen Walker is one of them. You see, he's my childhood friend and we've been together ever since I was eleven... Until I joined the Order."

"No wonder you act so casually around him. So, why call me here? It's got to be something really important."

Iris halts her swing, and looked straight towards the hospital. She wasn't really showing any emotion, she's just staring.

"Promise me that you'll be there to stop me no matter what whenever it happens again. And when things come down to it... if nothing else can be done... Kill me."

It made Lavi furious, he wanted to give her a piece of his mind and scold her nonstop. But he held it in and tried not to lose it.

"Why in hell would I promise to kill you? Do you want me to hate myself? Do you want me to have a heavy burden?"

"Yes, because you're my rival when it comes to the mind. And because... I don't like it if I were to be killed by the Vatican, Akuma, or Noah."

"But why me?!"

"I thought you would say that. Fine then, I'll give the task to Kanda or Marshall Socallo."

"Just...! Ugh, why?!"

"I only said that if things go down and nothing else can stop me, kill me. I didn't say kill me on the spot at first glance."

Lavi was silent for a moment and Iris didn't want to look at him in the eyes. Her request is just too much.

"You're entrusting your life to me?"

The female redhead didn't answer.

"I hate you."

Although those words aren't positive, Lavi said it in a sad tone. Iris was glad... that he accepted such a request. She would be happy to die by his hands.

Iris and Lavi don't hate each other, they're just friendly rivals. But the two can understand each other best, that is why they argue a lot whenever one makes a mistake.

♱⁜♰ D. Gray-Man ♱⁜♰

Bookman was checking on Iris' condition and injuries in her room when a visitor had entered. The redhead's face brightened at the person.

"Miss Miranda!" She said in joy as Miranda halts at her side.

She was wearing a pretty purple dress with a matching purple hat. Miranda looked so beautiful. The worn-out and depressed woman before is now full of beauty and smiles.

"Oh, Miranda Lotto." Bookman acknowledged her presence.

"Miss Miranda, what are you doing here? And all dressed up like that as well." Iris asked with a smile.

"I just wanted to see you before I leave." Miranda smiles back.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to train to become an Exorcist."

"Really?!"

"Yes. And I wouldn't be here because of you, Allen, and Lenalee."

"But wait... If you're going now... You wouldn't be able to say goodbye to Allen and Lenalee. They're still unconscious."

Miranda reaches for her bag and started to panic when she couldn't find what she was looking for. This caused her to trip and Iris sweatdropped.

She's still clumsy as always... but I guess that's all right.

"Are you alright?" Bookman asks.

The woman stood up and laughed nervously. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Ah, something dropped from your bag." Iris bended over to grab a letter that fell from Miranda's bag.

"That's the one I've been looking for." The redhead gave the letter and Miranda smiles. "This is for all of you, because I thought I wouldn't be able to reach you all awake."

She hands back the letter and Iris accepts it. Looking at the letter, she kept it. "I'll give it to Allen and Lenalee once they're awake so we can all read it."

"Thank you, Iris."

"No. Thank you, Miranda. You have such a wonderful Innocence that will help everyone, but what is more wonderful is your will to keep trying. Ever since you were little, you were bad at everything right? But you just kept on trying no matter what."

Miranda's eyes started to go teary and she cried, making Iris startle. "I never received such kind words! Do I deserve to be treated this way?"

Sighing tiredly, Bookman quietly dismisses himself and left the room. Iris on the otherhand was trying to make Miranda stop crying, saying that it'll ruin her beautiful face.

The two talked for a while and told their plans and futures that they wished. Miranda would try to become an Exorcist as fast as possible so she can help Iris and the others. Deep down, Iris didn't want Miranda to join the Order. If she did, then the fate of Exorcists will fall upon her.

"That's nice, but don't rush things and just take your time. Train and train until you'll get the hang of everything like using your Innocence to the maximum, and killing Akumas." Iris says.

"I will. So, what is your plan for the future?"

"Oh, me? Well... I really don't have an exact plan but... As long as I'm still in the Order and I work as an Exorcist... I'll kill Akumas, defeat the Earl, and as much as possible I'll protect my friends."

"That's a nice plan but... How come you don't have an exact plan?" Miranda asked, sweatdropping.

Iris turned her head to look at Miranda in the eyes.

"It's because I didn't really want a life like this. And because things ended up with me unable to erase the connections with the world of Innocence, I'll just take whatever the world throws at me."

Her eyes were sad and full if disinterest that it shocked Miranda. It was her first time seeing Iris like this.

"But of course, I want things to go my way. And because I'm already an Exorcist... I want to stay an Exorcist with all my friends."

Her eyes softened and gleamed with happiness as she thinks of all the fun memories she had.

"Miranda, have as much fun as you can. And I hope your love life will bloom along the way~" Iris giggles.

"Where did that come from?!" Miranda shrieked, not wanting to imagine having a love life because she knows it'll only end horribly.

After a few more minutes, Miranda left to start her training. Iris prayed, hoping that she would be alright and that she  won't have a dark future ahead.

When the Exorcist stops waving at the carriage that just had left, someone halts at her side. It was Lavi.

"You've come to scold me?" Iris scratched her head, remembering Lavi's lecture yesterday and a while ago. He was saying how I should avoid another incident so things won't end up  badly.

"I was about to, but it seems your eyes changed. So... that Miranda person managed to make you more determined huh?" Lavi turns to the hospital.

"I learned a little bit of something from her." Iris smiles. "I will keep on trying." And she hums as she skips happily back into the hospital.

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Lavi followed her, curious.

"Nothing~"

"Reeeed!"