~D. GRAY MAN DOES NOT BELONG TO ME! IT BELONGS TO KATSURA HOSHINO!!~
~THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS FANFICTION!! DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS!!!~
~ERIKA WALKER BELONGS TO ME AND ME ALONE. SHE IS NOT AN ACTUALL DGM CHARACTER AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PLOT!!~
A Changed Heart...?
Clouds lined the horizon, dotting the blue sky as the sun peeked through the spots that remained untouched. The air was crisp, and a thin layer of snow covered the ground. A dark haired, Chinese woman strolled through the streets of the town, browsing the shops that she passed. A taller, red-headed man followed behind her with his hands behind his head. The woman carried a little girl in her arms, which happened to be squealing with delight.
"Thanks for helping me with shopping, Lavi." The woman said, turning her violet eyes to rest on the man. He only grinned at her and replied happily, "It's the least I can do. Besides, it's good to get out of Headquarters once in a while." His gaze turned to a shop displaying multiple kinds of pastries and breads. "Ah...do we need anything from here, Lenalee?" he asked, stopping for a brief moment. Lenalee turned and only motioned for him to go into the shop; she was trying to adjust the scarf around the girl's neck. But she only looked around excitedly, a wide smile beaming on her face. "Erika, please! Just hold still!" Lenalee scolded, but Erika couldn't have been happier. She brushed aside a stray hair and tried her best to fix the girl's white hair. Lenalee walked into the shop, making sure her grip on Erika was one that wouldn't be broken.
"Mama! It's so nice out! Can't I go play, can't I? Please?" Erika begged, her large violet eyes drifting to the window. The girl fiddled with Lenalee's long hair and continued to beg. Lenalee shifted Erika into a more comfortable position on her shoulder and replied, "If I let you play, are you going to run off?" Erika frowned and pouted.
"But Mama! I want to play in the snow!"
"Yes, I know you do. You can play with Lavi AFTER we get this done."
"How long's that going to take?"
"It'll be done when it's done."
Erika let out a deep sigh and clung tightly to her mother. Soon enough, Lavi and Lenalee had left the little shop and were once again window shopping. Lenalee blinked as something cold lightly landed on her cheek. Again, a cold drop fell onto the bare skin of her face. She looked up and, sure enough, fluffy flakes of fresh snow were drifting down from the clouds. A loud gasp escaped Erika's lips and before Lenalee could do anything, she had wriggled out of her grasp and was running in wide circles. "It's snowing, it's snowing!" Erika exclaimed, her low pigtails streaming out behind her and she sprinted excitedly, darting between people and laughing loudly.
Lenalee let out a sigh; her daughter was far too energetic. She heard Lavi chuckle behind her, and he came up to her saying, "Don't worry. I'll handle this." He winked at her, though you couldn't tell because of his eye patch, gave her the bags he was holding, and quickly ran after Erika wearing a playful grin. She let out a shriek and bolted away from Lavi, and though all the while she was yelling "no", the streets echoed with her laughter. Lavi stretched out his arms, picked her up by her underarms, and swung her in large circles, being careful not to hit anyone passing by.
Lenalee laughed softly at the scene, and then took cover under the outer roof of a nearby shop. The snow was getting heavier and she wanted to be careful not to get sick. She hadn't exactly worn the warmest clothing today. She raised her gaze back up to the sky; although the clouds were dull and uninviting, everyone carried on with their day wearing bright smiles and letting their own laughter fill the air. Lenalee seemed to lose track of time staring at the clouds and the falling snow; today was a day not much different from that one day, four years ago. To Lenalee, memories as cold as the snow were brought back through this scene...
"P-Please don't go...! Please...!!" Lenalee begged, tears staining her cheeks as she clung the fabric of the boy's shirt. Her head was spinning and she couldn't stop the tears from coming; this couldn't be happening! It wasn't fair!!
"...Lenalee. Lenalee, look at me." the boy spoke, in a soft tone. Lenalee could hear the pain that he was trying to hide in his voice and she gripped the fabric tighter. She lifted her head slowly, choking back another sob, and stared at the boy's handsome face. A smile formed on his lips, and although he smiled, the hurt was obvious in his greyish-blue eyes. "It's only for the best...the best for everyone." He tilted his head slightly sideways, and his white hair shifted with the gentle motion. Still smiling, he continued, "I have no idea when the 14th will awaken. The signs have already been getting worse. Besides, the higher-ups already think I'm a threat—"
"But Allen-kun! You AREN'T dangerous! You'd never hurt anyone!"
"I wouldn't, but I don't know if I'd be able to restrain the 14th."
Lenalee stopped for only a moment, letting the comment take hold of her heart for only a brief second. Her grip tightened even more on Allen's shirt and she leaned her head against his chest. His heart beat thumped softly beneath the layers of clothing, quickly and evenly; it seemed unnatural that his heart was thrumming so fast. Was he nervous...? Lenalee couldn't find the word to explain it.
Allen reached up with his hands and gently took a hold of her shoulders. He carefully pressed the girl's body against his own and wrapped his arms firmly around her. Lenalee blinked at the comforting gesture, but didn't move. Then, after a short silence, he whispered, "...Before my master disappeared, he told me something. He told me that...when I became the 14th...I would have to kill someone I loved."
Lenalee stopped a gasp from escaping, but her eyes widened with shock. General Cross had said that...? Allen's hold on her had tightened and his head rested on her shoulder. His hot breath on the skin of her neck sent a chill up her back. Lenalee slowly moved her hands from his chest, around his back and squeezed her eyes shut. She hugged him back tightly, not ever wanting to let go...
Hot tears stung Lenalee's eyes once more and she clung to Allen, inwardly begging the horror and pain to disappear. Why was this happening...? Why did Allen have to go through so much pain...?! Why did EVERYONE have to suffer so much?! He let out a shaky sigh, and the two held each other for what must have seemed like forever to them. The snow fell silently outside, and a small breeze of winter air blew in through the partially open window. Allen then pulled away slowly, while Lenalee felt desperation rising in her heart once again. He raised his cursed hand to stroke her cheek and smiled again; Lenalee thought that his eyes may have been glistening with tears. His voice seemed strained as he spoke quietly, "Lenalee...can you make me a promise?" The rough skin of his gnarled hand felt odd against her soft skin, but she held it there with one shaking hand. He continued, "Can you promise me...that you'll keep smiling? That you'll keep on smiling, no matter what happens? No matter how much pain there is...?"
Lenalee blinked. All at once, a flood of memories came rushing back. Back in the Ark, Allen had told Lenalee that he would go back to look for his master and everyone else. He'd been smiling that same smile...smiling, even though he knew exactly how she felt.
"Lenalee-chan? Where are you?"
The soft voice called out from the coming darkness, echoing throughout the halls of the old castle which was now the new home of the exorcists. Lenalee turned her head slightly towards where the voice came from; she recognized it. It was Miranda.
It was then Lenalee noticed that Allen had moved farther away from her. She snapped her head back to look at Allen, her eyes wide. He stepped back, again and again... He was almost out of reach now. Lenalee wanted to stop him, HAD to stop him...but she couldn't move. Her legs felt like stone but the tears, which were now streaming down her cheeks again, felt as real as the air she breathed.
"Allen-kun...! Wait—"
"Keep smiling, Lenalee!"
He stepped back quicker now, his steps wider and more rushed. Miranda's footsteps were echoing down the hall; she was getting closer.
"Allen-kun! Allen-kun!!"
Lenalee's voice broke and she held back the sobs that were forming in her throat and kept her chest tight.
"You'll keep smiling! Promise?"
He took a large leap backwards, pushing the window completely open, and he disappeared into the growing shadows of the snow-filled forest outside. Lenalee felt like her heart was going to shatter. Her knees gave out on her and she fell to the ground, staring ahead of her where Allen was once standing. It was then that Miranda came around the corner.
"Ah, Lenalee-chan, I found—Lenalee-chan? Lenalee-chan?! Are you alright?! What's wrong?"
Lenalee finally let the sobs free and she hunched over, covering her face with her hands. A sudden gust of wind blew roughly through the now open window, which rustled the two women's clothes and played with their hair. She barely noticed Miranda fretting over her. The only thing that she saw was Allen's face; the image of his smile burned in her mind, and his voice echoed in her head.
'Don't go...Allen-kun...!'