-o- Turned Tail –o-

It was a busy day. The science department was responsible with unloading and unpacking boxes upon boxes into their new home. It was hard to feel at home for the place, the building was so unfamiliar to them and it didn't have that comforting presence the old headquarters presented. Most of the scientist's had lived in that old castle for most of their lives and they didn't appreciate having to leave it behind. Even those who had not been there for as long as they had, had deeply missed the old castle that they used to be able to call home. Unfortunately, because of the Noah's attack, it had become impossible to live in. Thus they had to move on.

Allen Walker took the move to the heart. The change was going to be a climb to get used to. For the majority of time in this life, he was a wanderer, a walker; never vacationing in one spot for too long. Mana had made his first home, igniting a light in his heart that he never wanted to admit that he had desperately craved to experience. The sensation of warmth, security, belonging, love; happiness. After the loss of Mana, that light painfully flickered out. Years later the Order became his second home, Cross in no way in league with them. And that light slowly gained its life back. He loved the ancient building that ridiculously stretched beyond the clouds and everybody that inhabited it. The new Headquarters would still contain those he care for, the heart of his home, but with many new recruits coming in from the other branches and Central, it would never be the same. Having Leverrier just next door to him also made him uneasy.

Allen walked down the hall that led to Komui's new office, carrying boxes of data from the Ark that needed to be unpacked. Reaching his destination, he opened the door and entered the room, placing the boxes beside the other ones that were already loaded into the room.

He turned heel and prepared to walk back out and grab more boxes when someone called out to him.

"Wait, Allen-kun,"

He stopped his movements and turned around to face the Supervisor, politely waiting for what he had to say.

"Some finders misplaced some boxes I had asked for them to grab earlier by the cafeteria. Can I get you to please bring them here for me?" Koumi asked, "There are quite a few of them, so have Kanda-kun or somebody else help you carry them."

He nodded and smiled. "Of course, Komui-San"

He changed his direction towards to cafeteria. The boy silently twitched. Ask Bakanda for help? Yeah right!

Allen managed to find the Kanda in the new training grounds that was located on the other side of headquarters, which was notably bigger than their old one. The samurai was training with the 80 year old Bookman that was as tall as a child, having lost his height due to his age and carried the appearance similar to that of a panda's. Even though he was old, the old man didn't show any signs of backing down to Kanda or even breaking his back. Sitting on one the benches that occupied the side of room for spectators sat Bookman Jr. absorbed in a book, reading peacefully without the bother of the constant noise and shouting that was going on around him. His single eye glanced back and forth across the book he was reading.

Allen silently walked up to him and feeling his presence, Lavi abandoned his book to give him his attention. A warm sensation started to spread through Allen's body when he caught Lavi's eye with his own two. His cheeks burned a bit.

Lavi gave the boy a lopsided grin.

"What's up Allen? Done helping the Science Department unpack already?"

"No, we're still unpacking, but Komui-san wanted me to fetch some boxes from the cafeteria. There's quite a lot of them and doing it by myself would take some time. So, would you mind helping me?" Allen asked a little sheepishly.

"Count me in. I reread this book three times already anyway." Lavi left out a huff at the last part, carelessly tossing the book over his shoulder without a second thought.

"Great! Kanda's going to help too!" Allen said smiling brightly.

"I'm going to what, Beansprout?" The samurai viciously spat from where he stood.

-o- Turned Tail –o-

"Why the hell am I here?" Kanda growled and glared daggers at the vertically challenged exorcist standing across from him. Allen sank a little to try to get away from those hatred filed eyes. He chuckled nervously.

"Komui-san needed help bringing these boxes back to his office, and with all three of us doing it, we should get the job done rather quickly, okay?" Allen said, trying to be reassuring. "Then you can get back to doing whatever it is you do." He took a step back to increase the distance between him and the samurai, in case he needed to make an emergency getaway. If he did he had a head start.

"Che."

"Don't sweat it, Yuu. You'll be back to being a loner before you know it!" Lavi sang.

Kanda eyes flared brighter than the red heads hair, praying to his samurai God that it would roast the rabbit. He'd give it to jerry to serve for dinner later.

"Don't call me that!" He seethed.

"Now, Now," Allen said hastily, "Let's not fight and just get this over with, okay?"

"Tch"

-o- Turned Tail –o-

"Why thank you so much you three! You have been such a big help to your dear supervisor!" Komui cooed, taking a sip of coffee from his mug with the silly pink rabbit on it.

Kanda grumpily turned his head away and Lavi and Allen chuckled weakly at the supervisor's attitude. Some things never changed.

"It was no problem, Komui-san" Allen sighed.

"Yeah, I suppose not. My dear Lenalee would have done a far better job than all three of you anyway." He said while looking at his nails. Reever face palmed from across the room. Really, some things never changed.

Allen sighed and supported his weight on a stack of boxes. He was tired and was beyond ready to be done with this move. He had been moving, packing and unpacking ever since dawn and more than anything at the moment he just wanted to sleep… And maybe eat. Timcanpy settled into his white hair, the little extra weight added from the golem brang the boxes from under the boy to suddenly collapse. Losing his balance, Allen gave a yelp and tumbled to the floor, the boxes falling with him. A series popping noises started and then came a haze cloud. Allen was filled with surprise, the smoke entered his lungs, causing him to cough. He went to stand up and move himself out of the suffocating cloud but found that he couldn't. There was a sudden and unfamiliar feeling was on his legs, as if they had been tightly tied together with a rope. He coughed again. A sudden strange noise appeared and the cloud of smoke was gone.

He blinked his now cleared vision. From his spot on the floor he could see Komui, Reever, Kanda, Lavi, and a few of the other present scientists gapping at him like fish out of water. A vacuum was in Reever's hands, explaining the strange noise from before.

"W-what?" Allen started, "What's wrong?" He did not like the look on their faces.

"Allen," Reever began and coughed into his fist, as if getting ready for a big speech. "You might want to look at your feet." He suggested, eyes still wide.

Taking the suggestion, Allen looked down at his feet, expecting to see his average limbs, but was surprised to be met by not his actual feet, but by two silver coloured, thin, waving fins, and bright coloured blue-green scales that ran up from the fins to his waste, completing the tail.

"EHHHHHHH?!" Allen cried, eyes wide. He started breathing hard and put a hand on his now frantic heart.

"O-oh my god!" Lavi shouted, "You're a mermaid beansprout!" He was a little too happy with the situation.

"Supervisor!" Reever rounded on Komui, pointing a finger accusingly. "What the hell did you do to Allen, you crazy, robot maniac making freak!" He yelled.

"Don't look at me! He did it himself!" Komui pouted while crossing his arms and turning away, wondering how they could ever dare blame him.

"Because instead of doing your work you-" Reever immediately stopped his rant at the sudden hacking sound at his feet and his and the other's fear rose at the horrible sound.

On the ground, Allen was clutching his neck, coughing violently. The boy's skin was turning pale, his lips were losing their colour, and his mouth was gapped open trying desperately to receive the air he thought he needed.

"He can't breathe!" Lavi said. He quickly ran over and sat at Allen's side, ready to do anything to help. "I'm going to try CPR on him."

"No, Lavi! What he needs is water, he can't breathe in the air anymore. He has to breathe in water now that his respiratory system is that of a marine animals. We need to get him in some water now!" Komui said hastily.

"How? There's nothing big enough for him nearby!" He said in frustration, carefully grabbing Allen's hand in his. Lavi squeezed his hand lightly.

"The River! There's a cannel that flows under the order! "The Australian suggested.

Lavi nodded and hoisted Allen into his arms, bridal style. He mentally noted how smooth his scales were on his fingers. Lavi took a glance down at the merboy in his arms. The white haired boy was no longer coughing and was now barely moving, but his sharp emerald eye took note of his slowly moving chest. Silver eyes were glazed over and unfocused as they just stared at Lavi. His cheeks were also flushed with heat. Lavi needed to get the river, fast. He grabbed the coat handed to him by Reever and covered Allen's tail the best he could.

Lavi didn't waste a second later and darted off into the halls of the Order and ran as fast as he could towards the stairs. He kept a secure hold on the boy as he ran.

Just as he passed the cafeteria, he saw oncoming obstacles up ahead. A few finders were walking down the hall and heading his way.

"Move!" He demanded of them.

The finders with enough common sense moved out of the way of the rampaging red head, but some had paused in curiosity, puzzled at his sudden shout and looked up at him in surprise, as well as surprised at what Lavi was carrying.

"I Said move it!"

Lavi forcefully pushed them against the wall, clearing them out of the way.

"What's your problem?" A finder angrily shouted after him.

"Allen, stay awake okay?" He took a hasty glance down at the figure in his arms. The boy's eyes that were once closed opened back up at the sound of his name being called.

"L-L-Lavi…" He whispered back weakly, his voice was cracked and his eyelids were getting too heavy as they threatened to stay closed.

"Shhh, just stay awake okay?" He faintly heard the bookman reply back.

Lavi was starting to tire and his chest was starting to burn. He forced and pushed his legs to move faster to the point where his muscles screamed in pain. He needed to get to the river now and he wasn't going to allow the pain to delay him from getting there.

Lavi sprinted down the stairs leading towards the docks, keeping a firm grip on the boy to keep him steady in his arms as he juggled each stair. Upon sight of the water at the last step, Lavi charged for it. Taking a deep breath, he threw himself off the dock and through the surface of the water, hugging the boy in his arms close to his chest.

His clothes were invaded immediately with water and the biting coldness flashed his skin. The grip he had on Allen slipped and he didn't notice the boy sink away from him.

Coming to his senses, not sure for how long he was under water, Lavi made a swim towards the surface of the water, breaking it and inhaling the much needed air into his lungs.

Noticing Allen wasn't with him, Lavi began to panic and dived back under the water to search for the missing Exorcist. Staying under for more than enough to make his chest burn, he had no choice but to break the surface again before quickly going back under to continue his search.

"Allen! Allen!" Lavi called out before dived back under.

A splash and a heave for breath. "Dammit, Moyashi! Where are you?"

A few more minutes went by and Lavi started to lose hope. Allen had been down there too long. There's no way he could have been alive or he would have surfaced 10minutes ago or responded to his name being called. Lavi swam to the ladder attached to the dock and sat on the end of the wood, his feet dangling in the water. A loud smack sounded as he punched the surface of the dock. His knuckles turning red from the heavily enforced impact. He then pushed his face into the palm of his hand, the other gripping the strands of hair on his head and angrily pulled until they screamed.

A small, silent sob escaped past his lips.

"The name's Allen, you idiot."

-o- Turned Tail –o- Chapter End –o-

Hi guys! Do you know how to make a girl happy? Here's one way - clicking the review button below and reviewing her story =)