A/N: I hope I get more reviews and questions on this chapter than I did the last one :/

From: SnowFairy86
Q: How the hell did I manage to complete IDIB in a day, and then this in half the time?! Jesus I think I'm obsessed. I don't think it's a bad thing to be obsessed over though haha.

A: That is super impressive. I mean, did you sleep at all?! Yeah, thanks for being obsessed XD

From: Mide
Q: I really commend Bak Chang for his persistence. in help Cas when diving into Cassandra's mind world, there's a reason it's giving him hives, the mind is often a terrible thing to read.

A: It truly is, and yeah, I like Bak a lot.

From: Guest
Q: *sees that SOTFB updated this fic*
Me: Well it's time to reread I Dream in Blood. Glad to see you writing! :) nice chapter!

A: WELCOME BACK! And damn the whole thing over again?! Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed ;D

From: jadasimone16
Q: Yes! Can't wait for the 100% synchronization. BTW, I meant Tyki, Cas, Allen, and Road.

A: Me neither! Oh yeah, I'm dumb, that makes more sense lol

THE ETHICALLY QUESTIONABLE Q&A SECTION

Me: Just two quick questions from SnowFairy86 today: "1 Author: Can I attempt to draw some fan art for this?! Like, I love this book way to much and I really wanna draw Cas's Innocence! (Also, where can I send it to you when it's done?)" Yes! PLEASE! PLEASE DO! Actually mayathetimelady on Instagram has drawn pics of Cas and Allen in the past. If you want to draw a picture, you can me on Instagram. My insta is stardoll_universe. I don't post stuff but I like lots of Naruto and My Hero Academia stuff. Anyways, please do post fanart, I love when people do that!
Now the second question: "Allen: If you had to pick never seeing General Marian Cross again or being able to kill the Millenium Earl, which would you choose?"

Allen: *gulps* Would it be bad if I said the first one?

Cas: Probably. Not that I blame you.

Me: Well, considering Cross is going to show up in a few chapters, that doesn't exactly bode well…

Allen: WHAT?

Me: Moving on…

Chapter 18: Transcendence

The wind is loud in my ears. Not sure where it's coming from; I do not think wind can be generated in a void.

My arms feel heavy, my gloved fingers are gripping the handles of two objects that weren't there a few seconds ago.

I look down, and my eyes grow wide as I see a pair of huge silver guns with a black rose-like pattern painted across them being tightly grasped by my hand as though they were always meant to be there.

In fact, the barrel of each glossy new weapon is currently aimed directly at Tyki Mikk's chest. He's looking at me and his own eyes are fixing me with an intense confusion but also curiosity.

Directly above him, Road is floating on Lero with Lenalee and Chaozii and Lavi hovering around her in their respective transparent cube prisons, suspended like ornaments.

She's looking at Allen, who's standing behind Tyki, and her face is very pale in spite of her umber Noah skin.

My own gaze momentarily leaves Tyki, and I can see why Road is looking at Allen which such intensity. His appearance even makes my own Innocence heart quiver slightly. He stands taller than he's ever looked before, Crown Clown's cloak an elegant wreath around his head like a pure white halo. His left arm is missing; however, it had not been torn off by some attack or injury. Rather, it had been neatly and intentionally pulled from his torso, like how I used to pluck the arms from my dolls as a child. The skin of Allen's shoulder is smooth and colored black with white marks that resembled a cross or an X. In Allen's remaining hand, he is holding a massive sword that looks almost twice as long as the rest of his body. Its blade is broad and flat, black as pitch with a gold cross painted down its middle.

It looks beautiful but haunting and also vaguely familiar.

Allen? Are you okay?

Yeah…I'm good. You?

Fine.

Between us, Tyki laughs. "Well, this is interesting. A demonstration of your will, I suppose. I'll never understand why you fight so hard."

"No, I suppose you wouldn't," I tilt my head to the side almost lazily as I cock my gun and experimentally pull the trigger. "Bang."

The noise of the bullet leaving the barrel sounds like a thunderclap. The kickback flings me off my feet, and I smack into a pillar on the edge of the open room, cracking my head on the white stone.

"Ow! Fuck!"

Tyki takes my momentary daze as an opportunity: he lunges at me, and I'm just barely able block his star-like blade's strike with the gun's massive barrel.

Tyki responds by punching me in the side of the head with his free hand.

"Fuck…" I murmur, my vision going blurry.

Faintly, I catch a glimpse of something glinting around Tyki's neck. As I blink my eyes back into clarity, I make out that it's one of the silver buttons that had been on the old Exorcist cloaks.

Why do you always take their buttons, Tyki?

None of your business, Road?

I blink again, shaking my head as my vision swims in and out. What am I hearing?

I'll be back soon, Eez. I'll bring you a present.

Oh wow! Another pure silver button! So pretty!

A child's voice…What?

Her name is starting to fade on it, brother. I think your lips have touched it one time too many.

That doesn't concern you, Sheryl.

Perhaps, but you do. She's an Exorcist first and foremost, and you are a Noah…No matter how often you like to pretend otherwise.

"Cas!" Allen's voice calls me back to the present as he swings at Tyki with his sword, removing him from my immediate vicinity. I then have time to leap to my feet and readjust my weapons. I plant myself against the wall and watch as Allen dodges another one of Tyki's attacks. He can do little more than block with his massive sword, lacking any of the skill that someone like Kanda possessed, not to mention the thing was probably pretty heavy.

Regardless, I once again take aim with my gun. "Hey dickwad!" I shout, alerting Tyki as I fire the weapon again. His head flicks to the side, and the bullet grazes his shoulder, tearing his shirt. My aim is a little truer now that the pillar is supporting me. Regardless, it allows Allen an opening to slice Tyki with his weapon. It catches him in the middle, and the Noah staggers back, gripping his stomach which is starting to bruise.

"Oh no you don't…" I hiss as he tries to claim a bit of distance. Several thorny tentacles spill out from my back and snag at Tyki's legs and wrists, pinning him in place.

"I've got you!" I shout, tossing one of my guns aside as I run at him, the Bloody tendrils still holding him in place. "You're not going anywhere."

Tyki struggles against my Blood, starting to phase through as a triumphant smirk slithers onto his face.

However, before he can free himself completely, I slam my free arm into his chest, and we both fly back into the opposite pillar, crunching into the marble as I sandwich Tyki between my body and my Blood.

"Got you." I whisper. The barrel of my remaining gun is pressed against the side of his head.

Tyki looks at me, his face is flushed, and he's panting heavily. "Not for long."

Allen…Do it.

But Cas-

You won't hurt me, Allen. You know that you won't.

"You can't stop me!" Tyki yells as he phases through my Blood after some difficulty. In spite of this, I retract my gun, and he slashes his own weapon through the air, prepared to cut me in half.

"You want a bet?!"

There's a sound like breaking glass as one of Tyki's star-shaped blades is shattered by Crown Clown mere seconds before Allen's sword abruptly passes through my back and plunges into Tyki's chest.

The pain is instantaneous yet strange. I've felt the pain of my flesh being pierced before, and I feel the burning in my gut as my Blood surges to defend me. However, no flesh has been cut, there isn't the raw, acidic feeling of my Blood spilling out of my stomach. Rather, there is merely a dull ache, yet otherwise I feel nothing.

After the initial shock fades, I find that my vision is blurry again. In the distance, I hear Road screaming Tyki's name.

I'm vaguely aware of Allen standing behind me, still holding the hilt of the sword he passed through my body. "Cas, are you alright?"

Blinking rapidly, it eventually clears enough for me to be able to see that Tyki is staring at me in utter shock.

"W-What have you done…?" he hisses, his voice barely above a whisper. "You let him s-stab you."

"My body hasn't been pierced and neither has yours," I reply simply as I reach behind and grip the hilt of the massive sword just above Allen's hand. I then slowly start to pull it out of Tyki's body and then my own.

Allen realizes what I'm doing about halfway and seems to regain control of his body well enough to pull the sword back out of my back entirely. Its blade hit the polished floor with a dull thud.

I'm sorry to force you to do that, Allen. Are you ok?

Yeah. I'm fine. He sounds a little shaken.

Tyki, meanwhile, is still backed against the stone pillar, seemingly in shock. He's staring down at his chest, feeling it over his clothes. His umber skin is ashen.

"What is this…? I felt the pain, but I'm not cut." He then looks up at Allen and me, his golden eyes are smoldering with rage. "What did you do, boy? Is this another magic trick?"

"Tyki!" Out of the corner of my eye, I see Road drop down from where she was perched on Lero; the golem umbrella is still hovering around Lenalee, Chaozii and Lavi in their respective prisons. The younger-looking Noah tries to run over to Tyki, but his voice stops her dead.

"Stay where you are, Road."

"It's not a trick or an illusion," Allen replies. "I can assure you of that."

Suddenly, Tyki's whole body goes rigid; his skin rips and tears in the places where he was slashed. It splits and cracks like dry leather, twisting into the shapes of large white crosses that form a curious half circle across his torso. They're glowing with a blinding, almost ominous white light.

Tyki looks down at his body in utter shock, trembling terribly like a dead leaf on a branch as he starts to hyperventilate. I can see panic start to build in his eyes as they flick to me. The confusion is clear in them.

"What Allen's sword cut wasn't your body," I gently explain.

Realization then settles in Tyki's gaze, and I can see the terror suddenly grip him all over.
"The Noah inside of me is-" he whispers. He suddenly convulses, falling forward onto his knees as his hands claw at his chest and face. Tyki lets out a howl of pure agonizing misery that makes my heart tremble slightly at the sound.

Everyone is looking on with varying levels of surprise and fear. Road looks close to petrified, but her gaze is also pensive as her eyes flick over to Allen. I can't pay attention to her right now; my chest feels tight. I grit my teeth. It's harder to breathe.

"You've actually found a way to do it…" Road whispers, the fear in her voice doesn't seem to be stopping her from sounding almost in awe of Allen. "A weapon that destroys the Noah within a person while leaving the human alive. Is that truly your wish…?"

Tyki falls forward on his hands and knees and screams at the top of his lungs, his voice ripped and raw as blood drips from between his lips.
"CAS!" his name slices through the air, and I feel the force of it almost physically strike me. "Cas! Please! Make it stop!"

My hand goes to my chest, the ache is throbbing under my ribs as my sense of balance is ripped out from under me. My legs buckle and give way, and I drop to the floor a mere few feet from Tyki.

"Cas!" Allen cries out in alarm, gripping my shoulder.

"I'm fine," I murmur, knocking his hand aside. My eyes can't seem to remove themselves from Tyki.
He reaches out to me; his skin looks black as pitch and his eyes are blown wide and white with pain and fear.

He's afraid. He's reaching out to me with trembling hands as blood-stained screams beg me to make the pain stop.

My resolve quakes within me, but I grit my teeth as my hands curl into fists. I can't back down from this. This process was going to be painful and difficult to watch, that was something both Allen and I had assumed.

And I can't check out yet, there's no telling what Road will do.

Beside me, I hear the other Noah laugh, but there is bitterness in her tone. "Your desire was to save the souls of Noah? To do no harm to your enemies?"

"That is the power of Crown of Thorns," Allen replies simply.

Road just looks at us, her smile is pale but dangerous.

I, meanwhile, just can't bring myself to look away from Tyki as he screams and claws at his chest, yelling his voice raw and hyperventilating to the point I fear his lungs might collapse. He's gasping and heaving up spit and bile. His body is burning up, I can see black vapor rippling up from his clothing like his skin is scorching. It's a terrible, twisted sight, and it rocks me to my core.

However, I know that this has to be done. When one becomes a Noah, the process is painful so obviously the reverse would be the same. There's no going back until now. Naturally, this process isn't going to be an easy one.

And if it works…Noah that will be free from the influence of the Earl, who can go back to living the human lives they were robbed of.

They didn't ask to be Noah, just like I didn't ask to be an Exorcist or for the will of the Innocence to inhabit my mind.

It's a struggle for me, it always has been between the intense terrible light of the Innocence inside of me and the sinful, flawed aspect of my human consciousness that pales in comparison.

For Tyki, it is the opposite. I know that he has friends and loved ones, relationships with humans he should despise and yet he keeps at arm's length, tucked away safely for him to indulge in on one of his more human whims. I know that he feels the intensity of the struggle within him all too well. The softer, quieter parts of his still human soul will rage against the encroaching darkness of his Noah consciousness even if it is ultimately as futile a battle as declaring war on the night itself.

Regardless, perhaps it is not so hopeless now.

I almost want to apologize to this man that I'm hurting. I can hear and feel his pain all around me. He has collapsed onto his stomach, moaning pitifully as the black ichor of the Noah body leaks from his mouth and eyes. This man that has tortured and tormented me in some kind of sick game, some kind of fascination with breaking my spirit.

And now I'm breaking his.

I just hope it's worth it.

"Y-You're not going to kill me…?" Tyki's voice is hoarse and almost inaudible. "Cas…? Even you c-can't see it through?" In spite of everything, he lifts his head and still manages to look at me with a mocking smile. "Y-You think this will change anything?! Even if you t-take the Noah from me…I will still try k-kill you! Even humans feel hatred, you foolish children!"

He falls silent as Allen steps closer, pointing the blunt tip of his massive sword directly at his throat. "For what you did to Cas, you made me sit and watch you do those things to her, I have every right to rip you apart piece by piece. This is an act of mercy."

"Mercy." Tyki spat out the word like it was poison. "Don't make me laugh. That sword is just a tool to ease your own conscious. You're too weak to finish me off properly."

Allen doesn't respond to this. He just looks at me. "Cas, you have to finish it."

"Right." I try not to sound reluctant, because I'm not, as I get back to my feet and slowly make my way over to stand beside Allen, over Tyki.

He looks up at me. The cross-like marks are still burning on his torn skin under his tattered dinner suit. His glossy hair is disheveled; there is blood drying on his lips and in twin tracks down his cheeks like tears. His eyes look grey and tired as he stares up at me.

I clear my throat and hold up one of my massive new guns, pointing it directly at Tyki's heart.

"Tyki, no!" Road sounds genuinely panicked.

"Don't Road…" the Noah of Pleasure whispers as she looks like she's about to make a move towards him again. "It's ok…." He murmurs, holding out his hand to stop her.

She freezes, staring at him with wide eyes. Tyki just gives her a tired smile. He tilts his head to me but keeps his eyes downcast.
"There have always been two sides of me: the black Tyki and the white Tyki. I always thought duality had its perks, but I suppose, if one side was removed, it would be easier." He chuckles lightly, still averting his gaze. "Or, I suppose it will just be more boring." He shrugs before starting to get to his feet, which didn't seem possible given his weakened state.

Regardless, he staggers back up until we're eye level again, and Tyki is looking at me with eyes that suddenly no longer look as tired: they look bright and almost human as he smiles up at me again, making me pause on pulling the trigger. "I love you, Cas. I want you to know that."

"I do know that." I reply simply. Perhaps I would have had more of a reaction if I wasn't already so shaken up. But I guess I already knew too. I always knew that he had some kind of love for me, in whatever way a Noah can love. Even if it means only to hurt the person you supposedly care for. Whatever it is, maybe this will free him of that as well.

I unclick the safety on my gun. "Exit from this war, Tyki Mikk."
I pull the trigger and there's a loud bang as the bullet strike's Tyki's chest. I hear the sick rip of it burying into his heart, and he falls backwards, a few drops of ebony blood dripping from the tear in his shirt.

His body twitches once on the floor, his eyes rolling up in his head. His skin is still smoking slightly, and suddenly all the color is drained from it. The bastardized umber skin of a Noah is replaced with Tyki's human olive tone; the stigmata disappear from his brow. Weakly, his hand tilts towards Road once more. "I-I'm sorry…" he murmurs as his eyes fall closed and he's still.

Road wilts where she stands. "Tyki…"

"His stigmata vanished!" Lero cries shrilly.

Road's hands are trembling. "Tyki's Noah…I can't feel it anymore. It's been completely erased."

"She shot him right in the heart," Chaozii observes loudly, "Is he even still alive?"

Mutely, I slip my gun into the folds of my cloak with its twin before kneeling beside Tyki's motionless body. I place two fingers to his throat and pause for a moment before nodding. "He's still alive, but his pulse is weak."

"I guess it's up to him now," Allen remarks.

Suddenly, Chaozii lets out a scream. I turn my head just in time to see three pink candles zip through the air holes in the cube prison and pierce him in the back. He falls forward as Lenalee screams.

"Don't move." Road's voice makes me stop dead. It is flat and dark and sends a tremor through my entire body.

I look around to see that the pink candle spears are hovering all around us, suddenly and without warning. They move as silent as ghosts. The flames are burning brightly, as if reflecting the Noah of Dreams' rage. "If you move, I will kill all of your friends."

There are dozens of them pointing directly at Lenalee while she cradles an injured Choazii as well as Lavi, still unresponsive in his own prison. There are still more pointed at me and Allen, yet I don't see these as much a threat.

"Your Crown of Thorns might be able to stop my candles from killing you," Road remarks on my silent observation, "However, it will most certainly kill your friends."

As she spoke, Road slowly strolls past me and Allen and over to Tyki's motionless body. "I wasn't playing around before, you know. I really do like you, Allen." I watch her closely as she kneels down and gathers Tyki up in her arms, resting his head against her small chest.
"However, my family will always come first," she whispers, stroking Tyki's hair almost lovingly. "I'm sure you of all people would understand that, Allen."

A sudden flash of movement out of the corner of my eye rips my attention from them and my head snaps to the left in time to see one of the candles stop just short of piercing my neck. I wouldn't have even had time to shield myself with Puppet of Thorns.

"Cas…" Allen looks back at Road, his gaze is intense as if daring her to try and hurt me. He tries to take a step closer to Road.

"I said don't move." Her voice is merely a whisper, but it sounds like a scream in this large, tense room full of deadly candles. "I'm angry with you, right now. If you take one more step, I'll perforate your friends and stick your precious Cas full of so many birthday candles her Innocence won't have a chance to stop them all. She'll look like a voodoo doll."

Allen grits his teeth, his fists trembling.

"Allen, do what she says," I warn him, knowing that Road appears calm, but underneath this exterior, her emotions are smoldering.

Road's gaze flicks over to me. "However, I want to make you pay for what you did to my family. Maybe I'll still run her through regardless of whether or not you listen to me. You pierced Tyki's heart after all, if I rip you apart right here, I would be causing you both pain, wouldn't I? It seems like the perfect punishment."

"Not Cas!" Allen blurts out, immediately desperate, "Please, not her!"

Road snorts. "Oh? So, you don't care if I hurt someone else? What about that red-haired Bookman? His name is Lavi, right?" She tilts her head in the direction of Lavi idly suspended in his own cube prison, motionless and unresponsive. "His mind is within my Dream right now, after all. I could crush his spirit with ease. Would you prefer I do that, instead?"

Allen's foot shifts.

"Take one step and everyone dies."

Allen don't move.

Cas, what do we do?

I can't respond because I feel the candle's needle-sharp tip press against the skin of my neck. Damnit! I was careless.

"You remember what my candles did to your left eye, right Allen? That was only a sample of the pain they can inflict."

I feel the prick of the sharp point piercing my skin every so slightly, enough to allow a drop of dark blood to drip down my neck.

Allen is shaking, a mixture of rage and fear. "Cas…"

Puppet of Thorns shakes, a ripple passing through the cloak-like nest of thorns and roses. However, it stops cold when the knife-like candle presses deeper.

"If any of your tentacles so much as twitch, I will stick this candle through your throat and watch you choke on the wax," Road spats, her voice venomous. "You wench. I don't know why Tyki liked you so much. Then again," she looks back at him, motionless in her arms and trails her fingers through his hair again. "He always liked dangerous things…breakable things too."

"Cas…" Allen whimpers.

"Oh, she's just the start," Road giggles. "Maybe after I do that, I'll turn sweet adorable Lenalee into a human pin-cushion. How does that sound?"

The candles shift around the prison where Lenalee is crouched over a motionless Choazii, her voice is faintly heard trying to rouse him, to keep him conscious and alive.

"Regardless, I think I will break the Bookman first," Road finally decides. I inhale sharply, feeling the cold point of candle against my contracting throat.

"It would be easiest, after all," Road continues, she flicks her wrist in Lavi's direction.

Faintly, I see a single drop of sweat drip down the side of his face.

Lavi…

A/N: *writhes around* Nuuuuuuuh fight scenes are hard, and it's been all I've been doing lately. Grrr can't I just write Cas and Allen having sex?! Yes? No? Also, I didn't know how to end this one! Whatever! So Tyki confessed! Some of you will be mad and some of you will be furious but Cas shot him so that's a good response to that I suppose. Anyways, leave reviews and comments pretty please! Let me know what you thought of this chapter! :D