Then, my dear, I'll tell you everything from the beginning...

Having someone you can call family is a beautiful thing, so they say. After running with that special someone for as long as I can remember, laughing about his permanent failures and getting scolded for doing things that got both of us in trouble…I came to realize that the first statement is true.

Having someone like him and then trying to call him family was different, though. He was different…from everything really! From the boys his age, the world, and especially from me. We were exact opposites, after all we weren't called the Ying-Yang brothers for no reason, and it felt soothing to know you could be there for someone and that someone could be there for you in return. It would constantly irk him, how I could smile and radiate happiness when the world around us was always so sad and gloomy, when all we've ever known was pain.

Truth to be told, I was happy because no one ever dared to separate us, as they were afraid the world's balance itself would've been broken if they even tried. I appreciated that. You see, in life appreciation may be a key to self-acceptance.

Ah…Yes, no one did, and yet…there just hadto be someone to come around the corner and try. And what's worse? They prevailed.

…the day of the incident, Japan…

"…side-stepping to the right, swinging according to the opponent's height and speed, maybe even back flipping out of the way-"

"Yu-chan." A still calm eleven years old version of Kanda tried to get the girl with hair the color of ink to stop rambling and listen.

"-of an incoming attack. Hmm…how about we try the…" she trailed off, placing a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "…how was it called? Ehm…oh! Skull-popping!"

"Yu-chan!" He growled irritatingly and she eyed him with excitement, not noticing how impatient her soul brother became.

"Yes?" Alternatively to the heated emotions of anger he was radiating, she emanated serenity and waited patiently for him to speak with wide, honey dipped eyes. Which, of course, irked him more.

"We sh-"

"Oh! Is it that you're finally giving suggestions? What do you have?" she asked excitedly, the boy who wondered why he tolerated such a creature gripping the handle of his ridiculously sturdy black katana in exasperation.

"I have a seriously big plate with- shut your trap for a second so I can speak!" The young samurai-in-training glared down at the girl, whom in turn blinked back, not affected by his boo-gaze. She remained silent though. Rubbing his forehead, he sighed and turned down his temper. "We have to go. Those mines aren't going to puke out silver by themselves." Yu-chan opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off quickly. "No, no Yu-chan, they won't spit out everything if you tickle or sweet talk to them either." She pouted and clenched a small fist over her chest.

"You don't know that!" he tiredly rolled his sea-deep blue eyes and dragged her by her hand south-east wise to where all the sweat of insanely hard work nourished the earth.

She absolutely despised that place. She absolutely despised the nauseating smell of dust and ashes, the ailing atmosphere, the grunts of effort, the suffocating feeling from inside and the wails. Oh god, the wails. You wouldn't expect that from a simple mine, but that was not just that. It was something more. That was cursed land.

Those two poor children weren't the ones that discovered them, the horrible creatures half merging within the cave's walls. Stories and folklore used to swim around everywhere years ago about tall, long limbed and extremely thin humanoid creatures half emerging from stony walls inside deserted mines or mountain caves, creatures that demonstrated signs of cannibalism, long and sharp teeth, but for some reason they suddenly ceased. Kanda and Yuri knew why they stopped: the people that told those stories were here. In the walls.

Kanda thought it was a stupid idea to even be here, but the pay was good, the best they ever had, and all they had to do was work their backs off for some nasty fat land lord and avoid the monstrosities inside. Simple. Been there, done that. But Yuri said otherwise, at first at least…she actually went ahead and listened to the creatures' stories, that's how they knew they were once human.

"Humph~ghn…" a very tired dark haired boy grunted in effort as his body bent back then onwards, smashing rocks with a heavy pickax. He stopped for a few moments to wipe off sweat and dirt from his forehead. It started invading his eyes, and he hated it to no ends.

"Here." A twinkly voice rang in his ears, and, not able to open his eyes because of the stinging sensation, he fumbled around until a small hand grabbed his and pulled down with a ridiculous strength.

"What the-"

"Shh!" she hissed and forced him to sit on a random rock. It was uncomfortable; the pointy tip of his new seat was daring to scratch his butt, but he complied when he figured who the voice belonged to: small and bright Yuri. "Hold still and let me clean this grime off your face."

"With what water? There's no way that creep-o would give water to mere children." She frowned and slapped a wet cloth on his face. His head jerked back in surprise, then worry washed over him. "Yu-chan…you didn't-"

"I did. Quiet down. No one will notice."

"He will notice, you know he always does!"

"If you fuss around about 'noticing-not noticing', they all will notice." His body was still tense; he was still worried because he knew, only he knew how painful those men's greed was. Anger flushed over too and began battling with worry inside his strained body. She always started everything. She: reckless, immature, crafty…stupid…ugh. She frustrated him and pulled on his wits to no end. Yet he still cared for her. He still watched her at night to be sure she was warm and didn't have nightmares. He still made her stupid little gifts on her birthday from however small amount of resources he could gather. He still held her hand in the rowdy market. He still looked behind him to make sure she was always there, always safe. And yet with her around, it was hard to ever stay safe.

But then he remembered why he tolerated her: she was always there. There for him, for himand nobody else. Yuri loved him, and he swelled on the thought of being loved. She would always sneak tender actions in whatever they did to show that she cared, like this one moment.

"Fine…" he gave in. He always did. She smiled warmly at the boy in front of her and started wiping off the dirt on his face. She was extra cautious with his eyes, rubbing at the corners how best she could without producing discomfort.

"There, nice and scrubbed." She announced proudly and he blinked a few times, pleased that it didn't sting anymore. He managed one rare smile that Yuri would always search for, and she grinned back, savoring the moment, offering him a wooden cup filled with water. He eyed it strangely, before allowing himself to break a small, unimportant rule and drank its contents in small, thrifty gulps, appreciating every moment of freedom.

It didn't last long.

"There she is!" a man's croaky voice announced angrily, large feet stomping in their direction. "Thought you could steal water from the warden and get away with that? Huh? Do you not know how rare that is around here? That was three people's portion for the day!" Yuri looked at the approaching men with an apologetic gaze, which, of course didn't affect their hearts in any good way. They hardened the looks they wore and towered over her small and sickly form.

"I…I'm…" her teeth clattered in frustration and finally decided to refrain herself from saying anything. It wouldn't matter either way.

"'I...I'm…' You what, selfish little pest?! Oh you will pay for this. And you will pay good." When they took a step closer, Kanda stepped in between and placed a shaky hand on the handle of his katana, which he safely kept on his back.

"It was for me." He began. "It was in no way selfish of her. She just wanted to do a good thing for a fellow child that worked even more than you lazy hypocrites." He spat fiercely. The men growled like hungry wolves, clenched their fists and launched. Kanda jumped back, taking Yuri along with him. Although he had fought people many times before, he was scared now. Not of them, but of what they could do to Yuri and himself if he failed. Simply the idea that he may fail, that she who offered him love would perish because he was not able to protect her, scared him. No, he was absolutely terrified by that thought.

He unsheathed his sword and placed it in front of him shakily. Aah…how many times he had been in this position. The handle fitted perfectly in his hands, and although the blade was a little too long, he knew he'd grow at some point. The feeling he got from it, however…it was warm. It felt natural, like him holding such a sharp and dangerous weapon had been written in stars before he was even born.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he launched at them too, clashing his sword with…metal? He snapped his eyes back open to see the men had disappeared, and instead two monstrosities floated above him and the third was the one he was currently engaged with.

Are those…No! He thought, memories of such creatures resurfacing after years in which he hadn't seen them.

"Yuu-kun, look out!" He was roughly shoved away and was pinned to the ground by none other than the one he tried most desperately to protect. A loud explosion followed just a few meters away from them. "Are you okay?" Her question came in ragged breaths, most probably from the sudden movement.

His eyes widened at her form protecting his much larger body. "What…what are you doing?" He pushed her off and grabbed her shoulders tightly. "Come on, run! Get away from here!" She pursed her lips and gave him a stern look, shaking her head.

"No, Yuu-kun. It was my fault in the first place, we're in this together. You hear me?" She cupped his cheeks tightly. "Together." She repeated slowly and pointedly. His look hardened and shook her roughly.

"Yu-chan you don't understand! Don't be an idiot, look at them-" he was interrupted by her grabbing his arm and dragging him out of another shot missile's way.

"I did, no time to argue, move!" they landed hard on the uneven ground, but got up and started running into the forest, her hand still tightly laced on his upper arm and dragging him after her.

"These things are-"

"Dangerous. I know." She nodded at him, breathing hard. He shook his head, slowing his pace. "Don't stop! They're closing in fast-"

"That's exactly why I have to engage them!" she stopped and suddenly turned to him, her nose just inches away from his.

"No! Didn't you see what they did? There's no way you could survive fighting with them!"

"If I don't, there's not just one of us who will die, Yu-chan!" she stared up at him with sorrowful eyes, then pulled him down for a tight embrace.

"I've seen before what those things can do…I've- I've seen…everything! And I'll be damned if I'll let you die like that!" she held him tight, so tight, he could feel every little amount of determination in every little inch of her body. If it was for them to go, they'd go together. "I won't let you turn to dust…" she said in a whisper, tears beginning to stain his shirt.

"So you will let yourself be killed like that-"

"I won't. Die!" she yelled and pushed him away gently, grabbing his shoulders tightly just like he did moments ago. "I won't die, you won't die! We will survive this day, and the next, and the day after that, because that's what we do! We survive! And there's no way in hell I'd forgive myself for choosing myself over you! We don't do that…" she trailed off, wiping her eyes quickly. "Come." She held out a hand for him, and after staring into her eyes for a while he…pushed her away. Her eyes widened as she fell, the words that came out of his mouth were muted as time seemed to stop in its tracks.

"Yuu!" she shouted, but her voice wouldn't reach. He was too far, and further away he ran.

The monsters came, and the boy that was far away roared and slashed at them with his sword. Their movements were slow and ragged, everything was a blur. He tripped. He fell. They towered over his shaking figure. He wouldn't give up. He got up and shouted. He launched again but was propelled in a tree. They were toying with him, with her Yuu, with the now bloody eleven year old Yuu, the Yuu she knew ever since she could remember, the Yuu that was slowly dying. For the love of god, stop it! He's dying!

A bright pink light emerged from the monster's stomach area and surrounded the boy. No…A shaky Yuri got up on her feet, but stared mortified at the scene that was before her. She was shaking. She couldn't move.

Fight…If you can't fight, you can't live. If you don't fight, you die…

At that point she remembered that she had seen this scene before. So, so many times she's seen it in nature but she considered it unimportant. It never crossed her mind until now but she could finally see it clearly. It was an endless cycle of the strong bringing down the weak and the weak being eaten. The world had always been…so cruel.

It was finally the time that the weak stepped up and reclaimed what was theirs. Life.

From that point on she could control herself perfectly. Every thought, every muscle, every single particle of her being was suddenly under her control. As a result of her awakening, a ripple of power surged throughout her whole body and she rushed forward, the earth crushing under the pressure of her new strength. She was closer now, so close. The light hadn't reached Yuu yet. Faster, stronger, further. She was right behind him.

Innocence…activate.

The sound that followed seemed much like the whole forest broke in half, much like a multitude of bones just cracked. The light reached the kids just as she reached for his body; it surrounded everything and blinded everything. Most tragically, it destroyed everything.

When he opened his eyes, the sun was beginning to rise. Confused, he tried getting up on his elbows so he could se where he was, but noticed, quite painfully, that he couldn't move. He settled to just trying to move his head, and tried stealing a look to the right. And he saw it, the destruction. That beautiful forest that was next to the mines was completely ruined. Wait…the mines! Yuri!

He desperately tried to wake up his arms and legs so he could search for her. He didn't die, which means he did something or Yuri did something. But if he didn't die…there was a great possibility that she did.

His heart ached and his head throbbed mercilessly. He had to know if she was okay. He had to know if she lived. Just as he was about to strain his body even more than it was, a small voice spoke from further away. It was so quiet that he could barely hear it, but he did, and he couldn't recognize it.

"If you move around too much you'll start bleeding again." The person that spoke seemed to be an old man with a pleasant smile plastered all over his face. His hair was funny, and gray, and he wore glasses. The man's concern dissipated as he saw the boy awake. Kanda, however, just eyed him with hatred. At that point, the boy couldn't know if that old dude was an enemy or not, but he wasn't willing to risk it.

"Oh, poor boy…don't look at this old man like that. I patched your wounds after all, you can trust me." Kanda examined himself as he could, before gathering all the strength he had and sat up on his rear.

"Yuri…" he muttered under his breath before attempting to sit up and failing miserably. The man caught him before he fell. "Let me go!" the dark haired boy shouted angrily and pushed him away, falling back on the ground. "Y-Yuri, I have to find…" at his third attempt to get up, his hands gave out and so did his knees. He laid there in the dirt, with his face covered once more in grime and blood, his eyes spilling tears he had never cried. Tears he never knew he had.

The old man watched him with sorrow. He grabbed the boy gently and brought him in a tight embrace, letting him cry out his pain. His fears. Everything. In the gentlest tone he had, the man sputtered out the words that began a new project- and that is Kanda's walls. The building of his walls, the walls that separated him from the rest of the word, had begun in that very moment.

"The little girl passed away, lad. I'm so sorry…"

You know it's weird, how one second she says she wouldn't die, and the next she just…slips away. Right through his fingers. If only he knew how, if only he knew why.

He found out how. The man had told him everything. Well, partially…

Turns out an innocence fragment was nestled in the heart of the mines. It was the source of those strange creatures half-merged within the walls and the reason for so many villagers' disappearance. It was also the reason those demons showed up, and the reason Yuri lost her life.

Innocence…he mused darkly and clenched a trembling hand. Innocence be damned. Demons be damned, God be damned! This weakness of mine be damned!

The old man offered him an escape, and, amidst his sorrow, he accepted it. He wanted revenge, at least for her. He wanted them to feel his rage, to feel his desperation, to feel the excruciating pain he felt when the one that loved him, the only one that would compromise for him and accept him just as he was, flaws and everything, passed away.

He wanted to at least try and atone for his mistake, and give meaning to his dear's untimely demise.

He became an exorcist, just like he was meant to, and used Mugen –the black katana- as his vessel for the innocence, just like he was meant to. He wore his name with pride, and carried the sword with pride, as in pride she died and died for him. Sword in hand and carrying a heavy heart, he marched into a war against the Millennium Earl.

He was weak, but the tides turned. He had a life and he would live it to do what his dear Yuri started but couldn't finish.

Fight.

Piercing yellow eyes watched over the scene from his shadows. A creepy smile made its appearance on his face, revealing razor sharp teeth. The obnoxious appearance placed a hand over his face, covering his distinctive mole, the crazed look he had never wavering.

"Yeees, pitiful mutts! Crawl and search for revenge and turn the tides. A little fun we sure wouldn't mind. Kill, spill the blood of our demons, but you will never fill that hole you have. Poor little boy…that hatred you bear will eat you alive." The creature chuckled darkly. "Don't you agree…Yuri-chan?" he laughed lowly, but his question went unanswered. There was no way the pallid girl that was laying limp in his arms could even speak, when her whole body was simply….shut down.

A/N: I am happy to introduce to you the beginning, although maybe confusing and a little bit slow, to a story I hold very dear. ^-^ It's the product of a summer without internet in which I had had time to think clearly, and was gifted with a dream which I have later decided to turn into a little adventure.

Shall we analyse a little? (I should bake a name for this part of the chapter)

So Kanda has in his company this particularly perky individual that seems, perhaps, much too bright for his grouchy mood. (Also I know that the way I portrayed Kanda could be a little bit OOC. I am aware of his monster strength and extraordinary regenerating abilities, but I decided to show the part of him that wouldn't know how to use them when made to protect someone, and not kill. Also I'm pretty sure he could have handled those akumas by himself, but oopsie-daisy he didn't. Sorry ;P )

I changed the year he left the lab too. Instead of breaking out at 11, I made him escape at seven.

This Yuri is pretty mysterious though, isn't she? Where did she come from? How did she end up with our dear Yuu-kun here? Holly shit, holly shit we shall learn in future chappies :D

Thank you for reading, I hope to see y'all further down the road with me and this story!~

-Virtual hugs and sloppy smooches~