And so Kanda’s backstory begins thanks to Wisely. He was the only one out of our young exorcists to not have a past explained so I guess it’s time for that to happen already. Not sure why the Noah are actually taking their time to show Allen this, but I suppose we’ll find out after. In any case, Kanda was quite the brat back his day. His young self is a bit more outspoken, but that vicious personality still remains. The Apostle scheme that the Order had going is quite interesting and rather unethical to say the least. Forcing an innocence onto somebody? And a child no less. As portrayed, that can lead to some gruesome results but that doesn’t stop the Order. Well at least Apostles have a regenerative ability so they won’t die too easily.

“Before the petals fall.” I almost forgot about that Beauty and Beast-like encased flower Kanda keeps. Glad this arc might finally explain it. Anyway, at first I thought these “illusions” he keeps seeing were resurfacing suppressed memories before he became an apostle, but then I remembered that supposedly Kanda was born from a hole in the womb so they can’t possibly be his memories. I can only speculate that maybe they belong to a former exorcist. Perhaps the exorcist who’s Innocence the Order is forcing onto him. I’d place a bet on that theory. It’s either that or the apostles had a former life before the womb. Though right now I’m under the assumption that they’re artificial humans.

Alma’s break in and bust ended in success for some part. Kanda escaped into the hands of a younger Bak and Marie who are more or less the same from their future selves. The last scene has Kanda waking up in a room somewhere, but from just that I can’t say whether or not Bak and Marie gave him to the Crows. I’d like to think they were reluctant at least if they did. And the last dream sequence at the end of ch. 191 reinforces a bit the theory that I just explained

D.Gray-man is building up very nicely now with this little flashback arc. And I noticed that the longer in between for releases is having a good effect on Hoshino’s art. It looks much more vibrant now which I’m assuming is due to more time and concentration being put into it. Anyway, as always I’m looking forward to the next chapter.