Jaded Iris

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- Chapter 1 -

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- The Accident -

Allen squinted his eyes as he fastened his seat belt. Thunder cackled menacingly and red heat lightning flashed, practically blinding Allen. It was currently 4:27 AM and he was about to drive out of a gas station parking lot and onto a Highway 44 so he could go home. Not many people were around-maybe two or three people other than him were at the gas station. Once the tank was full and he paid for the gas taken, and a few snacks, he prepared to drive home. He blinked back his tiredness and disregarded his exhaustion while rain pounded on the vehicle. He didn't even leave the parking lot before his cell phone rang. He immediately parked and picked it up.

With a weary sigh he studied the ringing phone and the name written across the screen-Lenalee. He knew better than to ignore the call and was just grateful that he hadn't been on the highway yet. Clicking accept he pressed the small black phone to his ear and leaned back.

"Hello, Lenalee." Allen greeted.

"Where are you, Allen?" Lenalee demanded.

Allen smiled at the evident concern Lenalee held in her tone. "I'm almost in Edo. I'll be there in about an hour or so. Hopefully."

This time when Lenalee spoke Allen winced at the sharp, tight tone she held. Even when she wasn't there with him in person she could be significantly frightening. She was a sweet person, really, but she's a Lee and every Lee in Edo had a fascinating reputation for being scary. For example, Komui, Lenalee's older brother, was mighty frightening when it came to her sister. Lenalee is only scary when she is worried or flat-out angry (and on special occasions), but the latter was unusual.

"Hopefully?" Lenalee seethed through the phone.

"It's raining cows and pigs. The thunderstorm is mild now, but if it doesn't let up then I may not get home for a long time." Allen told her, rubbing his tired eyes. "There's no need to worry. I'll be fine."

Lenalee's soft sigh brought the smile back to Allen's face. "Cows and pigs, Allen?"

Allen chuckled, but yelped when another round of crackling thunder screamed. It was almost deafening, but even so he could hear the laughter from the other line. After a few brief moments that laugh became strained and Allen bit the inside of his lip. She was not only worried because he was alone, the time, him already being late, and the sun abandoned the white-haired teen for a few hours, but because he only had his permit and not a license. Safe driver or not, it was against the law for someone his age and with only a permit to be driving alone.

"Everybody missed you for the last few weeks."

"I missed everyone as well. I can't wait to see all of you."

"Allen..?" Lenalee asked softly.

"... Yes, Lenalee?"

"... I want to tell you... I mean... Oh, Allen... I don't know how to..."

Allen furrowed his eyebrows together in confusion. Lenalee was pausing a lot and it wasn't like her. She was normally very confident, but Allen could hear the nervousness leaknig from her as she spoke. He could only imagine how tired and disheveled she looked.

"You should go back to bed, Lenalee." Allen told her.

"I haven't slept at all." Lenalee retorted a little too casually.

"Go to bed."

"But I have to tell you something."

Allen sighed, looking at the time on the stereo. He should be heading out. He'd have to put the phone down very soon.

"What is it?"

"... Just... Be careful."

Allen pressed end when he heard the other line go dead and he put his cell phone in the passenger seat. He quickly left the gas station and slightly leaned forward. Not long after he got on the highway the rain started coming down harder and harder, and oddly enough, there were a lot of people on the highway for late at night (or early in the morning if you want to be specific). To him, th rain that pelted against his car sounded like hail and he wouldn't be all too surprised if it was hail. And despite the rain Allen rolled down his window just a crack so the cold air would keep him awake as he prayed no cops pulled him over.

Fog began to mist Allen's vision and the storm only got worse. Some cars around him were speeding and others were going as slow as sloths and slugs. Allen was steadily decreasing the speed at which he traveled, but he was still going pretty fast. His phone rang again, but Allen never answered it. After the ringing stopped it came back a moment later. Allen already knew it was Lavi, maybe Kanda, because Lenalee knew he was driving and would only attempt to call once. She understood Allen would never talk on the phone or text while driving. But after several minutes of being annoyed by the phone Allen reached over-never taking his eyes off the road-and turned it off before tossing it back to the passenger seat.

The icy air blew against his face, pushing his hair away. It was a little comforting even though it was turning his face blue with frost. His head bobbed and he blinked his eyes a few times. He had the radio on, so classical music was drifting in the air, but that was probably making him more sleepy. So Allen turned it off and rolled the window down more. This time he could feel the rain smacking his skin and swimming down his face. The next few minutes went by really slow and he knew he was ready to fall asleep, but there were no more rest areas to stop at before he reaches Edo. He feared he was swerving a little and squinting his eyes again he realized he was. He didn't like that so he turned right to get out of the middle lane and into the far right, but as he did that lightning flashed across the entire sky with a loud rumble in suit. Allen-startled and frightened-jumped and accidentally pressed his foot on the gas petal and he spun the steering wheel, driving the car off the right lane and into the next. With the road as smooth and wet as it was it caused his vehicle to slide.

He swerved from lane to lane uncontrollably, stepping on the brakes as hard as he could. He could hear a few horns honking at him from the side or behind, but disregarded them and carefully pressed the gas petal. He remained in the same lane and gripped the wheel tightly, trembling in fear from the sudden and unexpected event. He took a few deep breaths and for a long time everything seemed perfectly fine, excellent, but another flash of lightning blinded Allen and the other drivers, lighting up the entire sky for two minutes-at least that's how it seemed-and that caused several people to jerk around.

The (seemingly) monster truck in front of Allen halted without warning and Allen slammed his foot on the brakes for a second time that night. The road was slick with water and it forced Allen's car to swerve and glide around like last time, but much worse. It turned sideways, tires screeching, and the few surrounding cars did similar actions. Allen tried to spin the car around or move its direction, but it was impossible and then Allen crashed into the truck. The white-haired boy his head against the window and-he assumed-the truck's rear. There was a lot of shaking and vibrating and moving around violently, but it all went by so fast Allen couldn't keep up. He knew he was the only car that wrecked though, but something happened that caused his gas petal to jam and it kept moving. His head felt heavy and he could feel something hot running down his face, but he forced himself to lift his aching head. His eyes widened and before he could react, he crashed again, but this time his car stopped and something penetrated his chest. His body jolted and another car crashed into the back of his vehicle, pushing whatever it was in his chest further in and making everything around him crush his body.

T Here was nothing but pain coursing through his body and red singing his vision. Time seemed to slow and fear squeezed his heart. I'm going to die, Allen thought repeatedly, I'm going to die... I'm sorry... Lenalee... And Allen's eyes sealed shut.

Lavi hummed cheerfully as he walked down the attic stairs, or what he calls his bedroom. Bookman was already fully awake and sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper while taking a drink of his hot tea. When Lavi entered he glanced at his grandson. Said redhead saluted to Bookman. The elder raised an eyebrow curiously yet suspiciously at the bandana-wearing kid.

"Why are you so perky t his morning?" Bookman inquired.

"Why?" Lavi repeated, his grin widening as he walked over to the oven and began to make some chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, yolk eggs and toast, and heated up some syrup, and still chirping gleefully. Bookman waited patiently for Lavi to answer. If Lavi was this excited, and amazingly energetic and cheerful for being woke up at four AM on a Saturday, then Bookman knew Lavi would spill the beans so long as he doesn't press the question at hand.

"Gramps," Lavi drawled quietly. "School starts in less then a month and its August. The third to be exact."

Bookman folded the newspaper and set it down on the table. "Is something important supposed to happen today?"

"Yes! Allen's coming home from that damn program-conventioin-school-thing he went to this summer! He's going to be back today! I can finally see the shortstack in person!" Lavi exclaimed, spinning on his heels and accidentally tossing his first chocolate chip pancake in the air and it fell on his head. His grin only got bigger and his emerald eye gleamed. "My buddy is coming back! The soft-hearted, gentle, understanding, dense, innocent, short, lovable, fun-to-tease, patient Allen Walker is coming back and I can taunt him all I want!"

Bookman shook his head, but his eyes shined with humor as he watched Lavi throw his hairy pancake in the garbage. As he put more batter in the pan his callular started vibrating in his pocket and he hoped it would be Allen calling him back, but when the admirable ringtone sang to him he knew it wasn't, but his mood only got better.

"Ai ee yai yai, ai ee yai yai, ai ee yai yai. Where's my samurai? Ai ee yai yai, ai ee yai yai, ai ee yai yai. I've been searching for a man all across Japan just to find my samurai. Someone who is strong, but still a little shy. Yes, I need-I need my samurai . Ai ee ya-"

Lavi cut off the song as he accepted the phone call, chirping even more, "Hellooooo, Yuuuuuuuu!"

"Turn the TV on to Channel 4 News." Kanda's gruff voice said calmly and flatly.

Lavi scratched his cheek, his smile faltering slightly. Was Kanda feeling alright? He didn't threaten to kill Lavi. He didn't yell at Lavi. He didn't call Lavi a Baka Usagi. Kanda was calm and... disturbingly serious. Lavi knew this wasn't the time to fool around with him. So he walked to the living room and turned on the small TV, but he had no idea where the remote was. While he was searching for it under the couch he tried to start a conversation.

"Kanda, is something wrong? What's going on?" Lavi asked.

"Just do as I say for once!" Kanda ordered.

"I'm trying to! Chill Hothead." Lavi grumbled, his hands rummaging through the couch cushions. After three seconds he found the remote and instantly pressed four. "Okay, I got it on, but what's the damn problem? Huh? Yuu Ka-"

"Listen!"

Lavi sighed, setting the remote down and placing his free hand on his hip. A lady with luscious blonde hair and red lipstick frowned and sorrow filled her blue eyes. Lavi felt his heart skip a beat when she walked across a wet road with three lanes. Lavi had been there enough time to know it was the highway that allowed people to access Edo from the east. He bit his lip and prayed his notion was wrong, but his stomach churned and he could feel his eye water already.

"Right now I'm on Highway 44 where a massive collision occurred only minutes ago. It's an estimate of 13 to 20 cars that have been wrecked in this crash and so far six people have been claimed dead. Police are blocking traffic from coming in and out of Edo from this route. According to Detective Galmar this crash is far too gruesome for us to televise, but as you can see, you are allowed to see the cars." the newslady said, eyeing the cars behind her and Lavi clenched his jaw. "Firefighters are trying to free any trapped people in this large crash because al the vehicles are packed together, and they are also putting out fires. No identities have been given as of yet, but-"

Lavi zoned out when he saw a familiar vehicle in the background. It was hard to get a view of since it had been hidden behind many cars and beatened and battered, apparently rammed by several other vehicles. His eye widened even more as his jaw hung open. There was no doubt in his mind. And he could even see a hint of white and red in that car. Any other words that came out rushed and skittishly from the lady who seemed disgusted from the revolting scene she's seeing in person.

"Kanda, Allen... is there..."

"You sure?" Kanda questioned.

"Of course. That's Allen in t-" Lavi said, but stopped when he saw a horde of firefighters go over to the spot he had fixated his eye on. A few moments later and right before the newslady ran off to probably puke, two guys pulled a white-haired boy with a red scar on his face out of a silver vehicle that Allen had used for his trip. The boy was, without a doubt, Allen. "-the background." Lavi finished, then dropped his cell phone. His fingers could no longer have a strong grip on any item.

Without a moment's hesitation or second thought Lavi took off running. He dashed out of the house and ignored Bookman's yells and the smoke detector that went off. The rain chilled Lavi to the bone, but the what he saw and what he was thinking froze his delightful core as panic washed over him. His legs moved faster and he never stopped until he literally ran into a wall. He bounced backwards, but then walked it off. For a long time he couldn't bring himself to run and then a car-the last thing Lavi wanted to see right now-stopped in front of him, somewhat on the sidewalk. However, the window was rolled down so he could see it was Kanda, Daisya, and Marie all crowded in the front.

"Get in now!" Daisya hollered.

Lavi scrambled in the vehicle and an image of the wreck flashed into his mind. He should have buckled up after what he's saw, but he didn't. As he let himself calm down just a little bit and take a few deep breaths, he realized he had seen a metal rod sticking out of the absolutely undeniably Allen. It was in his chest. God, Allen's lungs and heart was near there.

"You are absolutely sure that was the Moyashi you saw on TV?" Kanda inquired as he whizzed by street after street.

"... Yes." Lavi said shakily, closing his eye to force back a tear. "I saw his scar. I saw it."

"... That's what I thought."

Lenalee ran into the ER and she followed a man and woman who carried somebody who was slightly burnt and bleeding on a stretcher. They noticed her, but said nothing. The place was crowded with nurses, doctors, people who had come to the ER this early, and the ambulance with the new patients. Lenalee stopped running when she found a hall with faces she knew. They were arguing with someone at a desk and she looked sympathetic and slightly irritated.

"-end was definitely in that wreck! We need to know how he is! We have to-" Lavi screamed.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but no one has been identified yet. You will just have to wait. I'm sorry. I know how you must feel." she said softly.

Lenalee pushed Lavi out of the way, hearing a small grunt from him and Kanda whom she bumped into. "Have you seen everyone they've brought here?" Lenalee asked through pants.

"... So far... Y-yes, I think so." the woman told her.

Lenalee nervously gulped, a few tears streaming down her cheeks along with rain that soaked her clothes and hair. She curled her fingers, gripping Kanda's arm since he was closest. The nurse looked at her with deep concern. Lenalee was hysterical and the most distraught out of the gang.

"Have you seen a boy... with white hair... white hair, pale skin... and a mark... over his left eye... looks like a weird tattoo. Pentacle at the top, red, and it... it... he...?" Lenalee questioned.

The nurse's mouth hung open a little and a grim look crossed her face. Hesitantly, she nodded. "I'm afraid so. He was brought in about five minutes before these men got here. He in OR right now, but that's all I know. Are any of you... relatives?"

"No, we're his friends, but he's an orphan. We're practically family." Marie remarked.

The nurse told them to sit down and wait. It felt like forever and it probably had been a few hours. Lavi and Kanda sat beside Lenalee. Lavi hugged her until Komui came. Her brother knelt in front of her, embracing the upset 16-year-old girl while Lavi stroked his own leg for comfort. Kanda held an unreadable expression, but he held Lenalee's hand. The loud noise in the hospital died down a little and all around them people were crying and leaving. No one from the wreck has survived yet. It was excruciating for them to sit there and wait for the news. Lenalee managed to hold back most of her tears. They all did.

"Excuse me, are you all waiting for Allen Walker?" the nurse from earlier asked.

"Yes." Lavi mumbled.

"I'm Lisa... As for Allen... The good news is he's alive." Lisa said, squeezing a folder tightly. You could see her reluctance. "Uh, is his guardian... Marian Cross here?"

"I am now." a coarse, raspy voice answered, foot steps following the words. A tall, lean, long red-haired man stopped beside Lisa with a stoic expression. "How's the brat's condition?"

Lisa sighed wearily. "Fatal. He has many injuries. The most critical is a small hole in his heart... He's lost a lot of blood and he needs a transfusion which he's having done right now. His left arm... was severed and his right hand is broken. He... His injuries are severe and the doctors don't think he'll live much longer. He's currently on life support. His body isn't functioning properly and he can't breathe on his own. His lungs seem to be fine, so we believe his body is shutting down."

Lenalee couldn't force the tears back anymore. They all began to fall rapidly and she hugged Komui again, crying on his shoulder. She didn't even want to imagine a crippled Allen. It was so unfair. Completely unfair. Allen didn't deserve this. What hurt the most, though, was that she never told Allen how she felt. She never told Allen how much he meant to her. What also hurt was that not long ago Allen and she were casually talking like nothing could ever go wrong.

"Ho-how long?" Lenalee whispered.

"The doctors give him less than two hours." Lisa mumbled.

"Can we see him?" Lavi asked.

"We recommend you don't."

"Why not?" Kanda growled.

"It's pretty bad. It would be hard for friends and family to take in and in case he does die, that last image of him would..." Lisa trailed off, looking sadly at her feet. "We aren't going to stop you from seeing him, but he's in a coma so he won't talk."

"What if he lives past two hours?" Daisya asked.

"If he lives past two hours, then his chance of living will be a little higher, but not much. I would give him a few days. I assure you we're doing everything we can. Someone will be with him at all times just in case something happens."

"Thank you, Miss. Lisa." Komui uttered.

Lisa nodded and left. Cross eyed the group before sitting down in a chair. He studied Lenalee and she stared at him, unsure of what to say to Cross. She had to admit she was surprised Allen's crazy guardian was actually here. She wondered how he found out. Someone? A call? The news? It didn't really mattered. What truly mattered was Allen's survival.

Six hours have passed. Six hours and Allen was still alive. Lenalee had more faith and more hope for Allen. She even prayed. She prayed every second. She refused to eat and no one blamed her. ANyone who did eat forced their food down or used it as a mere distraction that failed miserably. No one called any of Allen's other friends yet. They wanted to make sure Allen would be fine. That Allen would have a higher chance of living.

"He'll be fine." Komui uttered.

"What?" Lenalee whispered.

"Allen will live. For as long as we've known him he's been a fighter. Right, Lenalee?"

Lenalee nodded. Komui was right. Allen would never die easily. Even in situations like this. This wasn't the first time he's come to a situation where he might not live. Allen had to live. He was going to live. And Lenalee began to believe that. It didn't matter to her if it was feeble hope or a string of thoughts she wanted to trust. In the end it was her heart that wished it to be true and that was why she let her brother convince her so fast. There was a small part of her that understood he may die though. However, her mindset changed when she heard a loud beeping noise. Actually, she's heard it since she's gotten there, but now it was beeping much slower. Then... it stopped beeping and a long siren-like noise echoed through the halls.

"Doctor! We need a doctor! A patient's heart stopped beating!"

"Where?"

"What patient? What room?"

"Walker, Allen Walker!"

Lenalee felt her own heart freeze and she clutched her chest, eyes wide. Nurses and doctors alike ran into a room nearby. The siren noise echoed in Lenalee's ears and everything went by so fast. The movement, the seconds, the sounds, everything. It was all a blur. She heard orders being shouted. She heard a zapping sound. She felt cold and lost. Before she knew it, some stranger was standing in front of her with a solemn expression. The hundredth one she's seen and she knew what he was going to say. She covered her ears and shook her head, whispering no over and over again. Lenalee couldn't accept it. She wouldn't.

"I'm sorry, but Allen Walker is dead."

"No." Lenalee muttered. "Allen can't be dead. No. No. No. NO!"

"Lenalee..." Lavi mumbled, rubbing her shoulder. "You-"

"NO!"

Lenalee wouldn't listen to what anyone would say. Life was still a blur. Physically, mentally, emotionally, everything felt empty, everything went by and she felt lifeless. Just like the Allen was supposed to be. She cried and she protested. SHe couldn't accept it. Her heart couldn't take it. It was unbearable. For minutes Komui and her friends argued with her. Then, to her absolute thrill, that beeping noise started up again.

One beep... Two beeps... Three... Four... Five... More and more. Faster and faster. She removed her hands from her ears and gazed at the room Allen was supposed to be in.

"Doctor! Doctor, he's alive!"

Please review. I hope the first chapter was good. I think, personally, it will get better, but that could be just me. So... yeah. I hope you keep reading.