The idea for D.Gray-Man: Innocent Revival has been in my head since late December 2007, and I've put much planning into the entire storyline. I don't normally make layouts for chapters, but I have for this story. ;) Then it's gotta be good, right? I mean, damn, I'm already on the layout for Volume 6. That's about halfway through the series, I suppose, and there are about nine nights (chapters) per volume, so... This is gonna be long term. I'll update every week with a new chapter, so this is gonna go on well into summer. :3 Exciting, ne?

So here is the long-awaited first night of DGM:IR!! Enjoy!!

I disclaim Hoshino-sensei's fabulous characters and settings such as the Order, but the original characters belong to me.

I dedicate this first night to my beloved twin and uke, Foxxi-chan. Forever will you hold a special place in my heart, for you are my life and my love.

Night 1

Prologue: Premonitious Wind

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There is no greater fear than the fear of losing it all.

If one found themself to be cornered, no possible means of escape even on the brink of being possible, they'd naturally be afraid. If one saw people disappear, if one saw love vanish before their very eyes, they'd naturally be afraid. If one was under immense pressure, so much so that not only their frame, but their mentality began to slowly creak and crumble, they'd naturally be afraid.

Losing everything means losing who you are. It is important to hold onto those objects and comrades who you hold dearly with the greatest of strength. When you start to lose those around you, you unknowingly begin to lose sight of yourself. Slowly, as you come to realize this, the harsh truth will settle in, a massive weight on both your conscious and your unconscious mind. This weight is nothing but fear in its purest of forms.

Only the strong last for so long.

How long will you last... Ekikei...?

Jolting straight up, eyes widened in utter panic, he panted. He reached a trembling hand up and placed it just under where the base of his low ponytail connected to the rest of his dark hair. Damp. Another nightmare had plagued him.

The fire which had been dancing only moments before he'd fallen asleep on watch was nothing but smoldering remains. The entire sky was a curtain of inspirational ink, dotted with pinpricks of gold and yellow, heaven's fireflies. His eyes, no longer as wide as before, drifted to the horizon. A good thirty or so yards off, his acute hearing gave him wind of some sort of stream, perhaps a lone brook.

The young man took to one knee, shifted his eyes to his left, where a slumbering girl lay on the opposite side of the glowing embers. He breathed a relieved sigh, possibly the first real breath he'd managed to get out since his newest dream, and prodded the scorched firewood with a cleaner stick. Managing to find a tiny flame underneath the wood, he aggravated it until it began to spread to the rest of the surviving pieces of tree and brush that made up their heat for the night. It steadily ate away at the matter, so he broke off part of his poker and tossed it into the light as a catalyst.

The youth rose from the green below him and smiled gently at the young lady, though his expression couldn't hide his troubled mind very well at all. The ressurected fire gave golden hues to her fair brown hair, long locks cast behind her and a few strands of chestnut coating her slim shoulders. The sleek look of her hair caught the light well. He never failed to be amazed at how she could have such a warm shade of hair when his own color was quite cold. As it caught the light, a faint translucent glaze came over his long bangs.

As he made his way to the water source, she didn't stir in the least. His steps weren't exactly light, as he was tired and battle-weary. He desperately wished they'd find a town somewhere soon so they could finally get a good bed for one single night. They were also running a bit low on funds, so he'd have to work some more of his infamous odd jobs to get some decent money.

He kneeled by the brook, lively with aquatic chitter-chatter, and leaned over to peer into the water. Through the light ripples, he could see the bags forming under his large blue-gray eyes. His right eye, normally concealed by a curtain of navy blue hair, could be clearly seen as he leaned forward ever so slightly, the tip of his bangs lightly touching the surface of the water. Only seventeen, yet he appeared to be eroded by his thirteen year struggle to protect his beloved sister. Though he appeared younger than his true age, his eyes were beginning to show signs of horrors that the young should never see.

After drinking some of the water he'd gathered with his left hand, he yawned, tired eyes closing for a minute as he sat down in a cross-legged fashion, and groaned lightly in mild annoyance. His entire body ached from the constant fighting. His shoulders had adorned a naturally rigid pose from his excessive stress.

Apathetic eyes aimed at nothing in particular, the teenager drew his twin swords from the holsters on his back. His void eyes looked over the blade in his right hand. Through he'd been wielding them for years, there was not a dent or knick to be found on the cloud gray steel. He thanked both God and his departed parents for this blessed gift each day he used these weapons, which was pretty much every single day. It was truly a miracle that the swords were in exquisite condition.

He sat on his knees as he bathed the cool metal, ridding it of the vile blood belonging to the threatening man he'd killed today. Despite his hatred for fighting in general, it was almost enough to break him when he had to take the life of another human. Animals were fine, but people were different.

Over time, he began convincing himself that he only killed to protect. Thinking of the words in his previous dream, he began to think that maybe that vision spawned from his recent casualties.

He couldn't lose Neva. Not now, not ever. She was all he had left. Mother, Father, and even his best friend had all vanished, either in one way or another. There was no way he'd back down, and judging from the raw determination that suddenly struck his eyes, he'd fight to the death if need be. No matter what sort of pain wrecked his body, he'd press onward.

He stood, a sword in both hands, and lifted them in synchronization. With the same united movement, he swung them down hard, the water flying off the cold steel and splatting onto the grass. He partially cringed. He hated that sound.

His vision was drawn to the horizon again as he turned around. The sun had just begun to color the sky, and Neva had awoken. She stood tall with her arms wide open, a symbol of all that was right and pure in this world, and smiled as a playful breeze toyed with her chestnut hair. As the wind stopped its joyful dance, her brunette blanket returned to her backside, ending just below the middle of her back. Fifteen years old and poor in health, but she was always a light in the shadows of this post-war world, and he loved her for that.

A tender smile graced his features, and he seemed to relax a bit. The plain sight of her was enough to make him calmer. She turned on her heel, waved grandly to him with an innocent smile on her perfect face. Eyes of identical color met, and Ekikei's heart gave a strong few thuds against his chest.

She was the reason why he was weak, the reason why he was strong. She was the reason for everything and anything concerning him. Without Neva, there was no Ekikei.

The truth sank in, but the pressure never came.

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Please review!! It really helps me keep the updates regulated!! Constructive criticism accepted, flames will be used to set sick puppies on fire. You honestly wanna flame now? :P