Chapter One: It Always Ends in a Draw.
A.N~ I got the idea for this from watching all the opening to D.Gray-Man and how the Earl and Allen always clash at the end.
Warnings: Angsty thoughts.
Disclaimer: I dont own D.Gray-Man. All rights to Katsura Hoshino
~Line Break~
Staring down at your opponent is not how you would picture it to be. The weight of what losing could mean to you is still there, but that hatred for your enemy begins to disperse when you lock eyes with them on the battlefield. Who would you be without this person here? Without your goal to destroy them? Who would you be without them constantly forcing you to become stronger? To gain more power just to end their life. "What if… When you become the fourteenth… You'll have to kill someone you love?" Of all times for those words to ring through his mind, it'd be now. Now, when he was facing the person he loved most in a battle to the death. Of course he would have to kill Mana again. Fate wasn't so kind as to allow him to save him from that heartache once again. He was a destroyer. Hevlaska had said so in that meeting all those months ago, that now felt like years. He was a fool to think he could be a destroyer that saves. He almost laughed at his once childish thoughts. Sometimes Allen feels that maybe giving into Nea wouldn't be such a bad idea. To fade away alongside happy memories with his master by his side. It would've been a peaceful death, but now he's chosen a painful life. He knew he wasn't giving the battle his all. He couldn't bear hurting Mana again, despite the man not being himself. Despite all the battles the two have fought against each other, this one had a feeling of finality to it. This battle would be their last. Lucky… or maybe not so lucky was the fact that Mana wasn't fully sane, and therefore not giving the battle his full attention either. The older male was pleading with Allen… with Nea to come back by his side. To be brothers again. Allen was tempted to say yes. It's all that he ever wanted; To be by Mana's side; To be the full focus of the older male's attention and love. He wanted so badly to be a part of Mana's world again. He choked on a sob as he clashed swords with Mana- His Mana that he loved so much, That he missed so much. How he wanted to abandon this war. To take off with Mana and run away from it all. They could perform as clowns again, and live the life they were supposed to have lived before he became an exorcist. Mana was the Earl, back when life was simpler, and he hadn't been forced to wear a mask just to keep his sanity. But life wasn't just black and white. No, there were many varying grays mixed in. He looked back up at his father, the tears streaming down his face showed that the other was just as emotionally invested into the fight as he was. Mana, just like Allen, was nothing more than a puppet being manipulated by this war. No, not just that, but by God himself. God, who wanted nothing more than to have his favorite clowns put on one last performance to entertain himself. Their lives may have once held meaning, but were now nothing more than tools and acts to manipulate. A detestable god he was indeed. Allen jumped back from Mana, a desperate look shined in the other male's eyes, "My dearest 14th...Please come back with me. I promise you anything just for you to come back with me."
Allen hesitated at this. He wasn't Nea...He wasn't the 14th. The person Mana wanted wasn't him. Knowing this broke Allen even more. Allen raised his sword fully prepared to cut down the man. Mana saw this, and did the same. They charged at each other once again. Mana looked into Allen's silver eyes, " I...I know I hurt you Allen...I'll do anything for the two of you...Please just… just stay by my side." His eyes were bloodshot as the tears continued to fall shamelessly down his face. Allen stilled.
Mana said his name, Not Nea's. Allen knew his face matched Mana's, but he didn't care. He looked at the other, "M...Mana?" There was hope in his voice. That his name coming from the other wasn't a mistake. That Allen did mean that much to the man that meant everything to Allen.
Mana's eyes softened as he dropped his sword, and held his arms out towards the exorcist, "Allen...I won't fight you anymore. If you must kill me then go ahead, but I will not lose you or Nea again."
Allen's will to fight began to dwindle as Mana continued on. His sword began to disperse into golden particles as he tried to wipe away the tears, " Mana… is it really you?" The older merely nodded his head confirming that he was. That was all Allen needed before he ran into Mana's arms. His nails dug into the other's skin as he held the one person he truly loved. "Don't leave me again Mana."
Mana held his son and brother close to him. After years of loneliness he finally felt complete. He put his hand on white locks and pulled the person that meant the world to him. " I wouldn't dream of leaving you again, my most beloved Allen and Nea." The two held each other close for a long time. The fight did not continue as Allen left with his father. Though that was the outcome that was most expected wasn't it? A fight between God's favorites always did end in a draw.