Disclaimer: I don't own D. Gray Man. Obviously. Enjoy the read though. It's my first so here goes nothing. Hope you like it.
There was a village somewhere that was connected by roads to others. Humanity was becoming more and more interconnected. This was a time where trades were blossoming and technological innovations were forming as roots to a more developed society. Here reside mothers hanging up washed clothes to dry, scolding their carefree children who were causing a ruckus across town, greeting their neighbors, and preparing to serve dinner to their husbands who have been hard at work all day. Everything was peaceful. Yet, it wasn't. These people, like most of the world, were oblivious to what was really going on. They did not see the ongoing war which many innocent lives were lost to. They were not aware of the countless brave people that put their lives on the line to protect them. They did not acknowledge the evil that is the Millennium Earl. They live their daily lives normally while, blind to the naked eye, the Invisible War ensues. If they are lucky, they'll never have to know. That is, if they don't fall prey to the demons, much more themselves. The Earl thrives on the weakness of humanity's inability to let go. When will mankind learn? When will they give these poor, unfortunate souls their lives back. They just keep making the same mistakes, and it's up to those chosen by God, to clean up after their mess. What a cruel world. What a cruel God.
Somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, there stood a tower as dark as the skies around it. It was a place the soldiers of the Invisible War called 'home'. Within these fortified walls, three exorcists were returning from a mission that didn't leave any of them seriously injured. The first one was a young olive-haired beauty with kind eyes, who wore a black uniform that reached her knees and her hair in two pigtails. She was trying hard to suppress her laughter, while watching her friend's antics. Said friend, had hair as fiery as his personality, held up by a bandana. He was being as loud, and fearless, as usual. He wore an eye patch that covered one of his emerald eyes and the world's largest grin. The third on of the trio wore a frown that seemed to be etching further and further into his face as another word flew out of the flamboyant redhead's mouth. He had sharp eyes that at first glance seemed to be black, but upon closer inspection, and on the off chance you met him on a good day, were are actually a deep, dark blue. Then again, if you met him, his day would no longer be good. His eyes matched his dark midnight tresses that held a shine and were too long for a boy to have, yet they suited him perfectly.
"Aw, Yuu-chan, you didn't have to make the poor girl cry. She just wanted to be friends with you. Ya' can't blame a person for trying," Lavi said, already knowing what his comrade's response would be, word-for-word. He was a bookman after all. It was his job to be observant and know things.
"Shut up, baka usagi. What person walks up to a stranger and asks if they can touch their hair? And if you ever call me that again, I swear I will rip out your intestines and shove em' down your throat." He said this all the while pointing his beloved katana, Mugen, against the rabbit's throat. Kanda was in a particularly bad mood after wasting his time on a mission that had no Innocence to begin with. It was just a town with filled with crazy people. Should've left the usagi there. Che.
"A-Alright Yuu-chan. I get it, now please put that thing away. You might hurt somebody," he managed to get out while sweating bullets. Apparently, being pointed at by sharp sword at your neck and Kanda's menacing glare was very intimidating. Yet he still goes and provokes him further.
"What did I say about calling me that?! You stupid rabbit!"
"Now, now, calm down Kanda. You know Lavi's just being... Lavi. And you, stop giving Kanda reasons for thinking you have a death wish. There will come a time when I won't be here to save you, or rather I won't want to save you." Lenalee, who seemed to be the only sane one at the moment, stopped them before there was any blood spilled. The poor Finders would have to clean up after Lavi's stupidity.
"You're so mean, Lenalee. You would really let that monster eat me. Don't you love me anymore? Why-!" He was cut off by some scientists that were rushing by in a hurry. They shouted their apologies for knocking into them and continued running down the corridors.
"What was that all about?" Lenalee asked.
"I don't know. But let's go find out! Come on Yuu-chan!" he said happily.
"Usagi..." he growled warningly.
"Sorry. Sorry. But we still have to hand in our reports to the chief. Then we can find out what all the fuss is about."
"Che. Fine."
They reached Komui's office and were surprised by the amount of chaos taking place. Sure, the piles of scattered paper were of no surprise, but it was onslaught of incoming data, people running around like they've lost their heads, and the shouting back and forth that was unusual.
"Brother, what's going on? Is everything okay?" Lenalee questioned tentatively.
"Oh, if it isn't my sweet little Lenalee. There is nothing to worry about. Everything's fine. Just leave it up to your big bro- Ow!" Komui shouted as his ear was being pulled by Reever, his secretary.
"Sorry guys but I'm afraid he has work to attend to, and we can't risk to lose focus." Reever replied.
"Why? What's so important? I've never seen you guys this busy before." Lavi questioned.
"It seems that we are on the brink of locating General Cross." Komui said, suddenly serious.
"Ah, I see... wait, what?! You guys found the General? But he's been missing for so many years now. How the hell did you guys manage to find someone that's succeeded in avoiding you for so long?" Lavi asked, very intrigued. Cross wasn't an easy person to track down. Heck, you'd be lucky if you found out where he stayed several months ago. This was just inexplicable, and let's face it, with a team led by Komui, you can't expect much. The man avoided work almost as much as Cross avoided the Order.
"Oh, my naive little friend. Where there's a will, there's a way. We deployed an elite squad which consists of forces specialized to lure in that filthy octopus!" Komui said with an evil grin.
"And those forces would be...?" Lavi said, a little wary of the answer.
"Women, of course!" Komui exclaimed. Everyone sweat-dropped. The General was notorious for his womanizing reputation, but this was a bit too much.
"Oh, brother," Lenalee said shaking her head.
"Your brother's methods may be unconventional, but they do provide results. We're on his tail right now. We've narrowed down the search to somewhere northwest of Greece. And just to make sure we don't lose him this time, The Order has sent out a team of Crows. We can't risk the chance of him getting away. Our number of exorcists could use a little boost." Reever explained.
Everyone contemplated the situation for a moment. None of them liked it when the higher ups got involved. Then again, none of them liked Cross, so they got over it.
"I've got him! He's been spotted at a town called Veria. It's actually just a night's trip from here." Johnny shouted excitedly.
"Good work people. I'll inform the agents nearest to that location to get a move on. In the meantime, keep going the updates. I need a report by the half hour to check on the status of our mission. Are we clear?" Komui was answered with a, "Yes, sir!"
"Do you kids mind giving me your reports tomorrow morning after breakfast?" The Head Chief requested.
"Che. Whatever." Kanda strode out of that mess.
"Good luck, Brother! I'll leave you to it then." She smiled and exited.
"Wait for me, Yuu-chan!" Lavi shouted and waved stupidly. He never learns.
Elsewhere in Veria, Greece
"Is something wrong, Master?" A young boy with with snow-white hair and liquid pools of mercury for eyes asked concerned. He wore what most would call an Englishman's outfit. It consisted of a long sleeves, white buttoned up collared shit, dress pants, a matching vest, and a red-stringed necktie. There was something off about his master today. Something was definitely bothering him.
"Stupid Apprentice, it's nothing. Just a bad feeling. Those bastards at Central better not be thinking about me. Such a nuisance. I can only take on so many lovers." A handsome man with scarlet hair, rectangular glasses, and a golden and black body length coat spoke, as he let out puff of smoke from his cigar.
"Not everyone feels that way about you, Master." The kid muttered.
He was answered with silence. They continued walking through town. They had stayed there for too long now and had to move out immediately. It's all Master's fault. He just had to get drunk and stay with Elizabeth, or Rosy, or whatever her name was, another night.
The teen noted that his Master's shoulders were stiff and he kept glancing to the side, suspiciously. What was going on? He never behaves like this. It was odd. It was... unsettling. He was about to voice his opinion when-
"M-Master, what's going on?" the teen was panicking. They were suddenly surrounded by, from his count, eight tall men shrouded in long black cloaks. Something about their air around them screamed power.
"It's been a while hasn't it? I was wondering when you would decided to finally show yourselves. I admit, before the sun falls was a good idea. By the way, have you met my new apprentice. He's quite the looker isn't he?" Cross said in a conversational tone. His apprentice, on the other hand, looked at him incredulously. What with the bloody hell is wrong with him? Here, they're jumping us and he's talking to them as if they're discussing the weather like old pals over beer!
The mysterious men did not utter a word. They simply changed into a fighting stance. "Mah, you guys are no fun." Cross spoke as he let out another puff in order to disguise the glint in his eyes; one his young protege didn't miss. Innocence, Activate!
In the blink of an eye, dirt lifted up in the air and obscured their vision. Next thing they knew- "The hell, where did they go?!" "Up there! They're running across the rooftops." "Go get them!"
The ones on the run leaped from one building to another. "Master! Who the hell are those guys?" The white-haired boy asked, after deactivating, while trying his hardest not to fall.
"Shit. This is all your fault, Stupid Apprentice!" "My fault! You're the one to blame here. I'm not the one who needed overtime with what's-her-face! I told you we should have left last night but no!" "Shut up! Her name was Caroline!" "I'm pretty sure it was Rosy!" "Whatever! Shit!" "Stop swearing!" After much bickering, they realized that the Crow-freaks, as Cross had called them before, were gaining on them.
"What do we do?" The poor kid was getting extremely nervous and apprehensive.
"There's only one thing to do. I'll leave Timcampy in your care." He made an abrupt halt.
"Huh? What do you m-" suddenly his vision swimmed and he felt the distinct sensation of falling. Before blacking out, he had a few coherent thoughts. He saw his master grinning with, was that a hammer?, in his hand. Where in God's name did he get that? The next thing he saw wasn't his master, but the heads of the many men in black cloaks dominating his line of sight, as well as a golden ball fluttering it's wings, hovering over it's master. His last words before his world turned dark:
"Master... y-you bastard..."