Disclaimer:I don't own D. Gray-Man.
Warnings: Allen is a girl. I know I've pointed this out in the summary already, but just to be clear: Allen is a girl.
Also, the romance is slow paced. Hopefully, the story will entertain you enough until then.
CHAPTER 1
"Ahoy, matey! There be treasure huntin' tonight! This scoundrel has a big bounty on his head, get 'im, I say! Arrr!"
"Shut up, Lavi."
Krory's tone was full of resignation, as if there was absolutely no hope of being listened to. The redhead laughed and scratched his head. "Sorry, big bro. But ever since I was invited to be a pirate, I dreamed about talking like one-"
"We aren't truly pirates, Lavi. Look at our captain. Does he feel pirateish to you?"
Lavi snorted. "No one here does. Well, no one but me," he said, puffing his chest in pride and pointing to his eye patch. "This is awesome. We are going to steal treasure and everything."
"It's not treasure-" the other man started, but Lavi was gone as quickly as he came. The young man had so much energy it was hard keeping up with him.
Krory sighed and smiled. It wasn't so bad.
Meanwhile, Lavi happily walked down one of the corridors. A strong wave then hit the ship, making it sway. He lifted his right hand to find support in the nearest wall, and heard a sickening retching sound coming from one of the cabins.
The reason I went to the infirmary, he thought, and knocked the door. A pretty young woman opened, instead of the person he came for.
"How is Komui?" Lavi asked stupidly, the loud coughing coming from the bathroom quite obvious. "Wait, forget I asked. Here's the medicine."
"Thank you, Lavi," Lenalee smiled as she accepted the bottle. "I'm sure he will feel better soon. He always does."
"Good, we need the only person who knows how to have the ship running to be fine, you know. See you," Lavi said and she closed the door and went back to attend to her brother.
Komui Lee, their resident insane scientist, was predisposed to intense seasickness. A very interesting trait in a pirate, Lavi thought. Once a day, he would be sick to the point of becoming useless. He wondered how the guy was still alive, and why he hadn't created some treatment to cure himself yet.
Then again, his last attempt at a medicine had reduced half the crew to drooling zombies for days. And Kanda had almost killed them all.
Lavi walked up the stairs to the deck, whistling at the happy thought of zombie pirate exorcists. The weather seemed much less amenable than it was a few minutes before, he thought. And there was the Captain, steering the ship right now. Lavi smiled in anticipation.
"Yuu!", he exclaimed boisterously, jumping by the other's side. The older man didn't startle, but his anger could be felt coming from him in waves.
Then again, when couldn't it?
"Rabbit," snarled Yuu Kanda, who apparently would much rather be named Anythingelse Kanda if he could, "How is Komui?"
"Turning inside out in his cabin, cap'n," Lavi answered truthfully. "He will be fine in an hour or so, he will."
"Inconvenient bastard, with his stupid health problems," Kanda complained for what had to be the millionth time ever since they travelled through the sea with Komui for the first time. "If he weren't up and about when we retrieved that last piece of Innocence, I would have him walk the plank, as you like to say."
Lavi laughed nervously. He did fantasize about shoving some evil enemy to the sharks, but he also had nightmares where Kanda did that to every one in the crew. But a plank would be cool, he always thought, him and his faithful friend Daisya being the only ones in the whole group to vote for it being at least implanted on the ship. Then they would only need a black skull flag to cement their reputation as awesome pirates. It could even be stylized to look like their captain. A skull with the Japanese man's fearsome scowl… yes, that would impose respect alright.
"Komui already finished examining it, didn't he?" Kanda asked, referring to the last Innocence they got from an island they had visited days ago.
"It's safe and sound, cap'n, no damage at all. I wonder how much we can get sellin' it, arrr," he joked, and left once Kanda started growling obscenities.
Jokes aside, he had to prepare. They would be anchoring soon.
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In the middle of a dark forest not many ventured to, there stood an enormous building of concrete and iron. Some wondered whether it was a prison, and others if it was the place of illegal activities. There were numerous rumors about what happened inside the place and to those who loitered around it. People who did travel through these woods and accidentally ended in that location rarely stayed for long, trying to abandon the surrounding area before being noticed by any of the horrible things that must reside there.
Inside the building, laughter and happy noise could be heard in the kitchen early in the morning, the kind that would baffle those who fed the frightening tales about it.
"And then Allen told the men that she wanted to play, too. She offered to bet all of her travelling money in order to get my stuff back," the bespectacled Johnny said in amazement, "and I was desperate because if she lost then we would have a difficult time getting back here."
There were other people seated by the table having breakfast, and even some who stood around just to listen to the tale. They seemed torn between worry for Johnny's and Allen's imprudence, and finding humor in their account.
"Allen said it was quite fine, though, and she seemed confident. So I stayed silent, because I had done enough damage by myself… and then she started winning every round and the strangers started offering their own things in order to have another chance at the game. In the end, Allen won with a… a… Regal Flush-"
"Royal Straight Flush," Allen corrected as she finished her large breakfast.
"Yes, that. I shouldn't have tried to play without understanding the rules. Anyway, every one of them but the little boy were left without anything but their boxers, in the cold winter. Allen was nice though, and gave them their clothes back."
"Shouldn't have done so. She won fair and square, and they wouldn't give your things back."
Many people around snickered, and the blond man who spoke raised an inquiring eyebrow.
Johnny laughed. "What made us laugh was the fair and square part. There isn't a single honest bone in Allen Walker!"
Allen coughed with her fourth bread piece still in her mouth and gaped incredulously at her friend. "Johnny! They were cheating, too! I'm not dishonest!"
Johnny raised his hands in apology. "Sorry, I meant you cheat in poker, only! Of course you are a good person," some rolled their eyes doubtfully at that, "but you guys had to see the aura of pure evil when Allen plays. It's like you should abandon all hope and valuable items the moment you pick your cards. She said she learned from General Cross Marian."
"Of course," said one of the few Exorcists around, the tall and usually somber Klaud Nyne. "That man can be a waste of recourses and space on occasion, but you do learn some things when trying to survive with him. I can only imagine your learning experience was painful, girl," she said to Allen, who nodded her head somberly, with the air of those who finally found someone who could understand their pain.
Other stories were shared as everyone finished their breakfasts and started walking towards their usual posts. Allen got up from her chair and left the kitchen to the corridor, where Link was waiting for her.
"Did Ms. Nyne give you the agenda?" she asked as they walked together.
"Yes. I am supposed to greet our visitors from France. The fight in La Rochelle, remember? It seems some lone Exorcist got hurt and no one there knows how to treat their Innocence. The Exorcist is coming with some French scouts.
Allen nodded. "What about me?"
"Surprisingly enough, you have nothing scheduled for today." Allen seemed confused. "Well, Exorcists do have some free time allowed when they come back here. You should enjoy this day, after your long travel."
Allen nodded. "I guess. Have a good day, Link," she smiled to her friend, "I hope you manage more than merely offering this Exorcist a medical treatment."
"Yes. Good day to you." Link said, leaving her. He knew what she meant. Their group, very much like any Exorcist organization in the world, would always be trying to recruit new members from the rare people who hosted Innocence.
Allen went to her room, that stayed in a complex with intricate security and comfort for the residents. There weren't many rooms here, this place being reserved to Exorcists, who should be watched over as they rested. Allen never liked the way she and the others who also had Innocence would be more secure in case of an attack. It was her belief that everyone deserved the same protection. But in a world such as the one they lived in, any human who hosted Innocence was always seen as irreplaceable and, at the same time, the target of great danger.
Her room had a somber but comfortable look, decorated little by little ever since she joined the Rose Cross years ago. The prospect of going back to bed didn't seem very attractive. She wished she could talk to Link, the talented man who became one of her assigned guards and a close friend. But today he had the equivalent of a diplomatic mission, and a very important one.
More than a month ago, La Rochelle was attacked by the Earl's many Akuma. The local Exorcists and two Rose Cross members who had coincidentally been close to the site fought against the monsters. The place was left a mess and, apparently, no one present was able to understand why the Earl would chose to destroy La Rochelle… until now.
It seemed like the Earl heard about a lone Exorcist living there and decided to find and destroy him. It was fortunate that he didn't die, and Allen hoped their Innocence wouldn't be beyond repair. Rose Cross was one of the few places that had the capacity to deal with almost destroyed Innocence.
Not only would they try to heal this person, but they would also try to recruit him. Allen wondered how it was possible for lone Exorcists to still exist in the world. Most were associated to some kind of group such as Rose Cross. Living by yourself was almost impossible when the powerful Earl and his minions tried to find and destroy every piece of Innocence they could put their vile hands on.
Her door suddenly opened with a bang and she jumped with her heart beating fast, Innocence arm twitching, until she found who it was.
"No need to be alarmed, kid," the tall, intimidating and most of all, annoying Cross Marian said, stepping inside without permission, as per usual. "Hope you enjoyed your night of rest, because we are leaving."
Allen was up and getting her bag ready as soon as he finished speaking. You didn't dawdle when Cross gave orders, ever. "Where to, Master?"
"A city near the coast. We're going to do some scouting and stuff."
"Scouting?" Allen exclaimed as she quickly changed her clothes, uncaring about having Cross in the same room. Long ago she had learned, to her relief, that the womanizer saw her as nothing more than a piece of talking flesh with Innocence attached. "How wonderful! Will we have a new Exorcist?"
"Don't know. And don't get too excited about the boy coming here today. You won't see him for some time, and I heard he's a disagreeable little shit. Could very well have us repair his Innocence and leave without a thanks, the annoying brat."
"Is he young?" Allen asked curiously, already fully dressed and picking up her large bag. Cross, seeing that she was ready, left the room and so did she, locking the door and putting the key inside a pocket.
"Yes, quite. You can play dolls together. Now hurry up. The train leaves from the city at nine."
Allen startled. "Then we have to hurry! Why didn't you warn me earlier? Why…" then she took a long at his tired, worn face. "You were drinking last night, weren't you? Probably woke up just now, and only because Ms. Nyne forced you to. I can't believe you, Master-"
The white haired girl expertly dodged the fist that came towards her head and kept a safe distance from the man who was clearly suffering from a painful hangover headache, if his expression was anything to go by. "Shut up and walk, idiot," he said. "It's only a few kilometers of dense forest until the station in half an hour. You'll manage."
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After a few days, their ship reached land. Lavi had to admit he felt good every time they left the sea. No matter his many pirate jokes, he wasn't made to live on water only. After weeks or months on the ship, almost any land could be quite loveable. But Komui took that love to a completely new level.
"Ah! Earth! My beautiful earth," the scientist exclaimed, throwing himself from the ship and landing gracelessly on the beach, laughing on a maniac fashion. "I feel I can live again!"
Some rolled their eyes, but most Exorcists felt bad for the poor man and were happy he could find some comfort, even if only for a few days.
"Maybe we can settle on this beautiful town! Doesn't this city look nice, My dear Lenalee? It's actually the most beautiful city I've ever seen. Let's buy a house and live here as pharmacists!"
Lenalee looked doubtfully at her brother, who was now scooping sand on his hands and throwing it in the air like one would with piles of money. Some locals were staring at the Chinese man as if he was completely insane, which wasn't very far from the truth.
Kanda tsked at the little show and called his companions for the day, Daisya and Lavi, to follow him. Some groups of exorcists were free to wander the place, while the others kept the ship safe.
"Hey, hey, you guys! You can't just leave your ship here!"
Lavi sighed. Kanda never bothered to send a message to the locals before they arrived. Well, it wasn't like the Japanese man couldn't deal with this situation.
Kanda shoved his hand inside his jacket and quickly took out his Exorcist documents, almost rubbing them in the angry local's face. "Exorcist ship, idiot. So shut your trap or you'll have to answer to your government."
Most of the men around, who also wanted the ship gone, seemed to deflate. The one who confronted them was still angry, but quite subdued. "This is the place where our suppliers will anchor soon. Can't you find somewhere else?"
"They can find somewhere else, dumbass. You are talking to the people who risk their lives everyday to save your worthless carcasses," Kanda snarled, "Try anything funny and you are screwed. Daisya, Lavi! Come!"
Lavi winced and sent an apologetic glance to the guy. Kanda would only talk like equals to other Exorcists and, even then, he could be a scumbag. Anyone who didn't possess Innocence was below his notice, unless they were Akuma, in which case they would fall under his tender mercies.
They were here for two reasons: first, to buy supplies for the ship. And second but no less important, to recruit two possible Exorcists who would be meeting them today.
It was a hard task to find new Exorcists, and two at the same time? None of them could believe it initially, but when they received the message from a respectable English Exorcist organization, they knew it was a great opportunity. Kanda had made sure to have many of their comrades nearby and ready for battle as soon as he sent a message from his Golem, though. From the ship to the meeting place it was a matter of minutes, even less if they truly ran.
"I do wonder why Rose Cross just doesn't try and take the Exorcists for themselves," Lavi said to Kanda and Daisya as soon as they reached the spot in the supermarket where they were supposed to meet these two people. "Now let us wait."
::::::::::::::::::::
Allen happily displayed her hand of cards, having her opponents, who were previously so sure that they would rip her of all her money, jumping from their seats.
"This can't be…"
"You cheated!"
So did you all, she thought, but said instead, "No, I did not. Now, be gentlemen and honor your debts."
One of the bulkier man sat down again noisily, taking all the cards in the table and shuffling them. "Another round, boy! Double or nothing."
"I'm afraid not," she answered, the same smile from hours ago still intact, "I have a place to be at now, you see. Please excuse me."
After taking all of the money from the table, she swiftly left. While she learned to drop her discomfort in such places, she frequently had problems to retrieve her winnings, and didn't have enough fingers in both hands to count how many times she almost got killed. People didn't like losing to a young boy, specially when her constant luck was an indicator of cheating, even if they couldn't prove it no matter how hard they tried.
She was a professional, after all, she thought, the happy smile of before finally turning into a smug smirk, even if just for a while.
The white haired girl entered the hotel she was staying at, walking up the stairs after greeting the receptionist. She knocked at door twelve before opening it and entering.
Knocking was a mere formality, of course, because she didn't expect her Master to be in the room. That's why she was so surprised to see him sitting on the sofa, elegantly drinking a single cup of wine and reading a tome with enough interest that it proved he wasn't drunk, yet.
"Master," she greeted, still checking around for empty bottles. Rolling her eyes at her paranoia – she should happily accept the miracle of a sober Cross Marian – she opened her bag in front of him, pulling out some of the cash.
"See? I said I would get enough money to pay for this place."
Cross took a quick look at the money and then went back to the enormous book. "Good. Leave it here," and she dropped the bag by his feet, before going to her room, but he stopped her.
"Wait. You know what, pick some of this money and go run some errands."
Used to sudden commands, she turned to him. "Yes?"
"Here are some things I need you to get," he said, passing a list to her. She started reading through a number of random items which didn't seem very valuable, but looked like they would be a little hard to find. Cross looked at the clock in the wall, "Start by the central market. Look through the stands, no need to hurry. These first herbs aren't too hard to find. For the books, you go south towards the place that specializes in selling the illegal stuff. They'll look like they're just selling boring shit like fruits or whatever, but you know what to look for and how to ask, right? Take your time."
Allen wondered about Master's emphasis about how she should not hurry at all, and then she realized what he meant, and narrowed her eyes. Of course.
"Why are you sending me this nasty look, retard?" Cross seemed irritated, but no more than Allen.
"Just give me some signal when your friends are gone, Master," Allen spat acidly, utterly disgusted, but resigned like one who was used to suffer for a long time. "Hang a towel in the window or something, and I'll know I can enter. Wouldn't want to walk into an embarrassing scene again."
"What are you yapping about… oh wait. Stupid idiot. I am not calling anyone-"
"Of course you aren't. Goodbye." Allen closed the door, resisting the urge to bang it, and went down the stairs with a sour mood. Take her time, indeed. Good strategy, Master. Send me to buy random hard to find and cheap stuff to get rid of me. The last days had been taxing, they fought in their way here and she had done many jobs without even a sign of the Exorcist Cross said they were supposed to find. She was looking forward to resting in a comfortable bed, but it wasn't to be. Worse yet, she couldn't just toss the assignment aside, because there was a remote chance Cross actually wanted her to buy some of these goods and would punish her if she came back with nothing.
She pulled her hood over her head, as she always did in new places so people wouldn't stare at her peculiar appearance, and started her way to the Market.
::::::::::::::::::::
"They're late."
Daisya winced and wished Lavi wouldn't have said that. Yes, the two people they were supposed to meet were late, but there was no need to emphasize that to Kanda, who was already irritated.
"Bloody idiots think they're dealing with just about anyone," the man growled, "One day we're fighting for our lives, the other we are waiting at a damned market because some people won't carry a watch…"
Kanda seemed terribly peeved, but it was obvious he was also worried. Two amateur Exorcists lost in the world would be easy prey to Akuma if they didn't know how to fight. It would be unforgivable if they lost two precious soldiers in such a way.
"Don't kill the guys when they get here, Kanda, if you do so we might as well leave now…" Daisya murmured from where he sat with his legs crossed.
"Guys? Why not girls?" Lavi smirked hopefully, "Two cute Exorcists our age, both lovely, scared and in need of guidance in the new life they're going to live from now on, and without paranoid older brothers to keep us away!" by now his lone visible eye was sparkling in optimism, and Daisya laughed. Knowing their luck, they would be two middle aged men who would complain with the others about how annoying teenagers are or something.
Half an hour later, they were starting to be truly worried that they wouldn't show up.
"We should be patient," said Lavi, "We also are late sometimes, when we find enemies in our way, or when the weather is terrible…"
"If two unexperienced Exorcists found Akuma, I think it's safe to say they aren't going to be here anytime soon, or ever," Kanda snorted, but looked troubled and if things stayed like this, Lavi knew he would order them to do an active search through the city.
Their anxious thoughts got interrupted by a commotion nearby. Many tall and hostile looking men were forming a circle around a smaller figure, right in the middle or the market. Some vendors looked worried for their stands.
"I pity that lad in the middle," Daisya said, shaking his head. "Only one of these guys would be enough to break him in half, but seven? Let's hope they find an agreement before violence starts."
"Doubt it," Lavi said, unsurprised by the fight. "The shortie with the hood has been buying stuff, and these gangsters or whatever they are were already coming from every corner and planning an ambush for the past minutes."
"Should we help?"
"Nah, you know we don't meddle with people's affairs unless there's Akuma involved," Lavi said nonchalantly, but seemed a little worried for whoever the hooded boy was.
"Did you spend all of our money already, you cheating bastard?!" one of the assailants screamed, shoving the guy to the floor.
"My apologies, but it's my money," the boy said in a painfully polite voice. Daisya winced. The guy was that non fighting kind.
The commotion only grew, and some vendors hastily packed their things up and fled. Eventually, the boy, who started getting beaten, found an opening and ran from his enemies at an impressive speed.
He was coming in their direction, and the men were running after him. Unable to do anything but help, Lavi grabbed the boy and ran with him into a nearby corner. It was easy to lose their pursuers, and Kanda and Daisya disappeared as swiftly. A few minutes afterwards and they were behind an empty and shadowed building, and Lavi released the lad.
The hood had fallen off, to reveal a shock of uneven, shoulder length white hair.
"Now, don't make a mistake," the redhead said happily, "I usually rescue only the girls, but I couldn't help but feel bad for you. What did you do to piss these guys off, anyway?"
The boy smiled and said, "They're just sore losers. Thank you so much for your help," he bowed, and then raised his head.
And stared at them with a cursed eye, crossed through by a red scar that started with an inverted pentagram – the symbol of their enemy – and extended into an angry line that ended in the cheek.
Akuma.
Lavi glanced frantically at Daisya and Kanda – and where in the world was Kanda? But there was no time to check. It seemed like they were lucky enough to accidentally bring an Akuma to a secluded place without causing much of a uproar.
Time to dispose of it.
Lavi invoked his Innocence, watching as the demon's eyes widened in surprised at the enormous weapon that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"That's right, monster," snarled Lavi, "Couldn't disguise yourself very well, huh? It all ends here."
"Wait!" the thing screamed, but Lavi paid no attention and attacked, wondering why it hadn't transformed to its true appearance yet.
His attack was blocked though, by the Akuma's left arm, that had grown substantially and effectively held back his hammer.
The two Exorcists gaped. Since when could the Earl's servants not only block Innocence attacks but also hold them back? They always expected their enemies to dodge and attack from far away, at least the intelligent ones, because some would always attack in a close range and make it easier for the Exorcists to destroy them.
Refusing to waste any time, Lavi went on attacking from many angles, but the white haired machine would block him in every turn, trying to say something he paid no attention to. This one must be a high level, one that stayed in human form, for some curious reason. "Daisya! Some help, here!" he screamed, wishing to end this without actually having to activate a seal.
Daisya still wavered and then said hesitantly, "Innocence… this person has Innocence. His arm."
"What in the world are you talking about?" Lavi asked indignantly, jumping at a far distance from his enemy, but still keeping a close eye on him. "Don't tell me he's an Exorcist who conveniently decided to tattoo our nemesis's symbol on his freaking face!"
"How else do you explain him being able to block you? His hand also carries the symbol of a cross-"
The Akuma clearly was a smart one, because as soon as Lavi was out of close range, it jumped to the rooftops and disappeared.
"After him!" Lavi shouted, and Daisya followed through. Whatever that thing was, they couldn't leave it roaming around freely.
::::::::::::::::::::
Allen cursed her bad luck as she jumped over the rooftops, trying to put as much distance between herself and the other Exorcists as possible.
Yes, her appearance had caused problems before, but this was the first time she was actively pursued by Innocence wielders with intent to kill. She thought they were just civilians trying to help her – and maybe they were trying to help. Why did she let her hood fall from her head? She would glue the damned thing on, next time. Meanwhile, she ripped off her tattered cloak and let it fall away, as it was now nothing more than a hindrance.
Her pursuers were as fast as her, and the girl tried to at least reach the hotel she was staying at with her Master before they caught her. She didn't know if she would survive a full battle against two Exorcists – the one who attacked her was clearly holding back. Plus, injuring other Innocence accommodators was considered a high offence, even if those two were doing exactly that to Allen.
Master would probably be there with friends from a nearby brothel. He would not be drunk, she hoped, and no matter how much trouble he could be to her, he was a powerful man with good connections. He would either end things peacefully or help her subdue the enemies.
She also had left her documents in the room. In the worst case scenario, she could show her organization's official papers and hope for the best.
Soon, she was breaking in the room through the window. A quick look in the only two rooms showed Cross was nowhere in sight.
Worse yet; there was not a single item left in the room. Even her things were taken away. Cross had checked out without her. Why?
"Damn it!" she swore uncharacteristically, just before her pursuers broke into the room too, cornering her.
"You weren't actually trying to hide here, were you?" the one with the strange hat and the Bell Innocence asked, and the redhead also had his weapon on his hand.
"Listen, just come with us, we don't want to ruin this place," he started, but Allen ignored his blabbering.
She usually liked to avoid conflict, but after these two's reaction to her curse, she didn't know what the others would do. Activating her Innocence once more, she felt her arm transform. Miserably, she wondered how many games of poker she'd have to win in order to pay the landlady the damage that would be done to her hotel.
But before the fight could even start, she felt a terrible and piercing pain coming from her back and hurting her insides horribly, and looked down in time to see a thin blade coming out from just under her chest.
"Ugh," she coughed and felt her Innocence flickering due to her discomfort and pain. Looking at her two pursuers, they seemed as surprised as her. Actually, their eyes were as wide as saucers, as they stared at the red blood gushing out of her torso.
"N-no Akuma oil, huh?" she gasped and spat some blood, feeling warm tears escaping from her eyes when the person who attacked her from behind twisted the blade inside of her.
"Fuck. Fuck!" the redhead sounded truly desperate, deactivating his Innocence. "Kanda, stop! It's just a person!"
"I figured," said the voice of her mysterious assailant, just as he quickly slid his sword out of her body. An uncharacteristically strong pain reverberated inside of her at that, and her vision darkened as she passed out.
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A/N: Feel free to point mistakes. English isn't my main language.