Chapter 197

Crossing Paths, Without Meeting (擦れ、違いて Sure, Chigaite) is the hundred ninety-seventh Chapter of the D.Gray-man manga series written and illustrated by Katsura Hoshino.

Synopsis
As Kanda attacks Allen Defends Alma, telling him to move out the way much to Alma's shock. Yu demands to know what the meaning is behind Allens actions, but Allen makes light of the situation asking him why he is pulling such a silly face. This merely serves to anger Kanda more and he uses his fifth illusion technique "ripping slash claw" bending energy beams around Allen and attacking Alma further. As Bak notes Kanda's change in hair colour Zuu explains that the fifth illusion is using up too much of his lifeforce and that Kanda will die if he carries on. Kanda ingores this warning again stabbing Alma through the chest. As Allen rushes over to Alma he is slashed on the shoulder by Kanda, shocking the Order members and delighting the Earl and present Noah.

Just then an electric shock attack hits the gathered Order members as Bak's spirit stone begins to shatter. Bak pleads for it to hold out a little longer and he restrains the monsterous Tokusa. Fo shouts to him to hold on as she dodges attacks from Tyki, who muses that it will be the death of him.

Allen struggles to regain his composure as he witnesses Alma unleash another devastaing blow against Kanda, blowing a huge hole in his back, he uses a hugely powerful blast which almost disintergrates Kanda's skin from his bones whilst pleading for Yu to die but the blast is stopped by Allen who asks him why he is trying to kill him, he says that through Wisely he should understand why Kanda wanted to live and that he should forgive him. Kanda falls down charred and broken and in his distraction Allen is grabbed by Alma's Prehensile tail and strangled. Alma asks if Allen is Yu's friend and says he can never forgive him. As he crushes Allen however he falls and begins to writhe in pain, his curse seal in distress.

The Earl explains that Alma's regenerative abilties have worn out, and that even with the dark matter infused into him since he was almost dead already when the procedure happened that his power can't hold out. Alma said to the Earl that he doesn't care and that as long as he can kill Yu he will be satisfied. As he says this Yu Attacks, and Allen picks up Alma and dodges the blow. Allen asks what Kanda is doing and and Kanda only responds that he must destroy "it". Allen realises that Kanda isn't using his brain at all. He asks why Kanda is running away from Alma by shutting off his brain when he was an important person in his life.

In Yu's rage Mugen regresses into it's original state and a huge amount of energy is released by Kanda. Kanda blames Allen for Alma being infused with Dark Matter and becoming an Akuma. He also blames Allen for turning the Third Exorcists into monsters all because of the Noah within him. Infuriated, Allen activates Crown Clown. The two charge and both deal heavy blows to the other. They attack again, Allen using Edge End and Kanda using fith illusion technique "explosive spirit slash", Kanda's attack proves the more powerful as Allen takes a hit. Alma then gets back to his feet and blasts Allen through the back surprising Allen. Even after being attacked by Alma Allen defends him from Kanda and launches himself dispite his grave injuries. The result of which is that Kanda is able to impale Allen on Mugen.

Yu deactivates his illusion and returns to normal as he realises what has just happened. Allen asks him to look at Alma's face, saying he doesn't understand why he is making that kind of face. He pushes himself off Mugen and falls to the ground, his skin turning gray. Johnny said that Allen's body looks like a Noah as Kanda stares on in disbelief of the situation. Alma stands over Allens body, preparing an attack on Kanda.