Hitomi: Well, this sucks! *pouts* Writer's block has officially kicked my ass. Then again, it's not only that, I've been busy with school again and… Urgh, my Internet has been having problems, so I'm still trying to write the other half of Chapter XXIV of Unravel (AKA the Allen/Kanda mission) slowly due to that, especially since I need to get access to the DGM manga by the Internet and I'm deriving the Allen/Kanda mission from there.

However… Looks like my brain has other ideas, there's another writing idea unlocking somewhere. It's still vague, but I still want to go with it. I wouldn't say it's an AU since it still takes place in England where Black Order HQ is, it's more like an AR (Alternate Reality). How to explain the definition… An AR is basically things still kept in canon in some form or another, but it's of a different concept. Ex: Naruto and Naruto Shippuden – aside from the original storyline, they did have the high school idea in there and kept things in canon (ex: Tsunade being the principal (though Hokage in the original), Naruto being a noisy delinquent who stirs up trouble (though being the noisiest ninja there is), Konaha being a high school (while it's a village in the original) etc.)

I want to make this an AR since I still wanted to keep Innocence and Akuma intact. Though, I wonder if this'll make things more complicated, so I'm thinking on whether to put them or not… And duh, The Millennium Earl and the Noah Family will be in here.

Though, the story could apply to both AU and AR. All the easier for me since, this way, I don't have to choose what category to put it under. *SHOT*

My inspiration for this fanfic? There were a lot, but it's notably the light novel/manga/anime series, Full Metal Panic (at least, when it comes to the plot, though loosely based from there). XD Besides, I did say Rue's personality is similar to Sousuke Sagara (the male lead in FMP), so I'm gonna have fun with this. Although… *is laughing* Makes me wonder if Lavi will be Kaname Chidori.

Though, a bit off-topic, but I noticed something similar between FMP and DGM: they are both alternative dimensions of their respective eras (DGM – 19th Century; FMP – 21st Century). Which makes me wonder what era I'll put this fanfic in.

But, considering this'll involve a school kind of thing… Oh dear, what century to put this in. Perhaps, 21st is best.

Now then~ Let's start.

Disclaimer: I do not own D . Gray-Man, Hoshinou Katsura-sensei does. The only thing(s) I do own in here would be my OC(s).

Ice Flare

I

Black and White

[In a story, there's always the protagonist and antagonist.

With those two, a plot is made.

This is why there is always more than one side to a story.

So, let's turn the page to the beginning

And go on a never ending journey.]

Black Order Academy is a prestigious, private school; however, the fame had earned all sorts of rumors. Perhaps, the main reason why gossip has been going around is because the academy looks more like a castle than an ordinary building. Though it has its branches in other continents, the first—and main—school is built in England. People of all ages reside in the humungous campus – word has it that the site has dorms.

As much as it is a learning center, you can't just apply to the school. No, really, people have tried before and the administration hasn't accepted applicants. In order to get into the academy or its branches, you had to be chosen.

Chosen?

You have to harbor a power. Not just any power, but what people always called a universal legend for as long as life existed.

It's the power that has been given the name, Innocence.

And what is Innocence?

Innocence is the power to defeat the Akuma.

Akuma?

Akuma are monsters that have been created to destroy the world. They're born when someone wishes for a deceased loved one to come back to life.

The Akuma are connected to the Black Order Academy's opposite, the White Chaos Institution. The White Chaos Institution is a campus that stands on its own with no branches – however, it cannot be denied that a sinister power can be sensed from there, even from a distance. As chitchat has it, they say that is where the monstrosities—Akuma—have been generated too. However, nobody knows where the White Chaos Institution's exact location is as they say that it moves from place to place; some claim to have seen it in the sky, but it has yet to be confirmed as true or brushed off as a crazy fantasy.

World destruction is only part of what the inhabitants (who are called the Noah Family) in the Institution want. What they are looking for is the Heart, so they can destroy Innocence, which is why they also hunt down people like those who attend Black Order Academy.

There has been little information on the Heart, but many have known the Heart is the only, main source of Innocence's power. If it is destroyed, all Innocence will perish along with it, giving the world no hope of salvation.

Any student in the Black Order Academy can contain the Heart in their Innocence, which is why the faculty is so careful not to risk casualties every time they send the students on missions – be it when to destroy Akuma or to find other fragments of Innocence that are scattered about worldwide.

And the students are never called students, even when they're traveling the outside world.

No, they are called Exorcists.

Lately, there has been frustration and impatience in Black Order Academy and White Chaos Institution to find the Heart. Humanity has been on the line day by day as the two sides race to find it.

Because of the tense situation, it also cropped up another problem.

Now, many have been trying to find accurate information on the Heart, even if it's obscure, so they can take it into their own hands. But, such sources had been scarce, so both sides have to keep guessing and guessing based on happenings in the Black Order Academy and outside where Exorcists and Akuma fight each other to the death.

Somehow, the White Chaos Institution heard an interesting snippet concerning one of the Exorcists attending the academy, thinking they can benefit from it. What they heard was there was a certain person of a certain lineage. Said-ancestry is of a long line of historians. Because this particular family tree thrives on information all around them, it's no wonder the Institution have set their sights: because they believe this family holds the key to the Heart.

And so, with all of the facts they had gathered on this particular Exorcist, they make him their first priority until there are others who are, in some way or another, suspected of having the Heart.

Lavi Bookman Jr.

Hitomi: Done, done~

…And you're wondering what makes this fanfic different from the original DGM canon? XD Well, to be honest with you, I'm not sure myself. *SHOT* Seriously, I'm pretty much kept everything in canon (minus the fact it's the 21st century and there are minor changes) and I don't know what the Hell I'll do now.

But, as pointed out, writer's block officially kicked my ass, so I hope I'll be able to figure this one out.

But, as guessed, it's a Lavi x OC fanfic again~

XD And I've a feeling that I'll be changing some characters' backgrounds just to fit on what I want to happen. *evil grin* Especially when it comes to the General Tiedoll division. Can't say what, though~

And why'd I name this Ice Flare? ^^; I really don't know, it just popped in my head.

Urgh, though the problem I do have is the character ages. In Unravel, I did introduce Rue when Lavi came into the Black Order (and before Allen came in there), so I wonder what I should do about it. But, I'll tell you something, though: Rue will be with the Tiedoll division again.

Wish me luck on this (and Unravel) because this writer's block needs to be whacked away with a sledgehammer.