Kio didn't show it this time, but the way Allen quickly wrapped his hand back up made him feel like he had done more than be blunt. He'd hurt the boy's feelings. And this wasn't like hurting Sou-chan, who although seemed like he had two tons of thick skin on still hurt now and again, because his friend was used to Kio and his bluntness. But Allen he had just met and right now... right now he would do nothing but push the boy away with his stupid forward way. In a sense, though, he was glad when Allen asked him a question, because it meant he could just... brush over the incident.

"It looks painful to me, so I thought some doctors in your world would help you." Kio chuckled. "Judging by this place all they want to do is help us, but I don't think they mean it the way I think they should. Still, if you say it isn't..."

Paths? No choice? The more Allen explained the more Kio felt sorry. This boy, born with Innocence, was made to fight by some higher power. He could die. He could be wounded. He had no word in what was told him. The explanation on Akuma was both baffling and somehow real. They didn't sound like the youmas in Kio's stories, but they did come close. The way this boy's life seemed to be tied to fighting made the blond's heart ache.

"Allen-kun... you are much more than your Innocence. You have likes and dislikes, you mentioned friends. If that Innocence were taken away from you, you'd still be Allen, right?" Kio looked straight at the boy. "What's your favourite thing to do? Best in the world, in fact."