A/N: Hey guys! This is my first D. Gray-Man story, so please bear with me! XD Oh, and for the Naruto fans, please read my Naruto fanfic! XD My cousin, DarkFlame Alchemist helped me with this chapter, so please read her stories tooooo! XD

Disclaimer: I do not own -Man or anything mentioned here that is owned by someone else.

ENJOY!

CHAPTER 1: The Ancient Book

'"But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry."

I was silent: I thought he mocked me.

"Come Jane-come hither."

"Your bride stands between us."'

I smiled, giddy and excited as my favorite scene unfolded.

'"My bride is here," he said, again drawing me to him, "because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?"'

Immediately after reading this scene, I giggled to myself and noticed a few inquiring looks from others coming my way. I just smiled sheepishly at them and stood up after placing my book on my desk. I straightened my long-sleeved white blouse and dark blue short skirt that reached until above my knees, deciding to stretch my muscles that fell asleep from too much sitting.

I began to walk around, watching the people sitting on the couches, waving slightly at the familiar people, and stacking the books in their proper places. I didn't walk that far, though, just in case somebody could come and inquire me about the books.

In my family bookstore, we only lent our books, and sold them rarely. All the books in here were our very own collection. You can find books in this three-story building piled on the floor, on the window sills, on couches, on small coffee tables and, of course, the shelves. They were my family's and I hated to see them getting manhandled, dog-eared, dirtied, or anything of the like that would do damage.

Cling! Cling! Cling!

I heard the front door open and rushed to my desk, seeing a middle-aged man carrying a small, old hardcover book that he had borrowed a few days ago. He walked towards me and stopped in front of my desk, placing the book on it. He then smiled at me. "Good afternoon, Uncle Jean. What can I do for you today?"

"Good afternoon, Jei. I'm just returning the book that I had borrowed." Jean was a neighbor of mine as well as a friend of my parents. Along with him, his wife and two other neighbors would visit me from time to time ever since my parents left three years ago, just to make sure I was alright.

I shyly nodded and used the tip of my left index finger to push my oval, rimless glasses up the bridge of my nose before taking the book carefully into my hands. People said that I was too careful with books, since not once in my life have I ever damaged a book.

"The Wizard of Oz." I mused to myself after picking up the book with my hands, taking a good look at it. I stroked the front cover gently with the tips of my fingers, a habit that I had developed over time. "Written by L. Frank Baum, published on 1900..." I caught myself before I could make an in-depth, detailed explanation of the book, like I always did, subconsciously, of course.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I guess I had rambled on. Again." I smiled sheepishly at the man who just chuckled. "Um… Did your daughter like the story, uncle?" I asked him while stamping the paper inside the book, marking it as returned. In all these years that my neighbors took care of me, I've gotten used to calling them uncle or auntie.

"Ah, yes. She did." he smiled warmly. "Well, of course, since the recommendation came from you."

I just gave him a small laugh and slightly ran my hand through my long, licorice black hair that reached until the middle of my back, like I always did whenever my shyness tended to rise.

"Do you have anything else to recommend to me?" Jean smiled. "Alice really enjoyed reading your books."

At the mention of recommending books, I felt my eyes light up as I beamed at him, my shyness temporarily forgotten, as I got lost in my enthusiasm.

"Well, there's Alice in Wonderland, Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, A Little Princess, Heidi…"

Jean chuckled and shook his head at my excitement. "Alright, alright. Just show them to me."

"Okie dokie!" I grinned and got all of the books I mentioned. When I came back, he was looking at the book I was reading a few minutes ago.

"How many times have you read this book already, Jei?" he said before looking at me with a smile on his face. "Hmm… let me guess. I'll bet you've read it more than a dozen times." At his statement, I felt my shyness creeping back in, ever so slowly.

"Uhh… not really… I think." I gave him a small smile and showed him the books, to which he picked two of them: Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio. After checking them out, we had a small conversation before he left, with him asking if I was alright by myself and if I needed some supplies. To that, I just shook my head and smiled. In a matter of seconds, he cleared his throat and slightly tipped his hat in my direction as he walked towards the door.

"Well, I should get going now. Thank you, Jei. Take care." and as a response, I smiled at the man and wished him the same as he left. With that done, I picked up the book I was reading earlier, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and sighed dreamily as I remembered what scene I was reading. This book was one of my favorites. I most likely read it half a dozen times. Maybe even more.

'Ooooh, Rochester. It would be very interesting to meet a guy that is as romantic, gentleman-like, mysterious and handsome as you are…' I slightly giggled to myself again, like the hopeless romantic sixteen-year-old I was, as that thought crossed my mind.

Nothing that eventful happened after that. The routine was the same way as any other London afternoons were like. People came in and out of my bookstore, some leaving with books and some not. Oftentimes, I noticed people just lounging about, not really reading books. Seeing those kinds of people just made me shake my head and sigh. What was the point of going to a bookstore if one wasn't going to read a book?

"Thank you for coming! Please come again tomorrow!"

When closing time arrived, and the last person left the bookstore, I stood up and stretched slightly with a sigh. 'Another day gone, another arises tomorrow...' I thought to myself while stacking all the retuned books into a cart and beginning to place them to their respective places, but not before stroking and inspecting them for any blemishes, tears or scratches of the sort. Along with that, I also checked the list of books, just to make sure that they were all complete.

I had gotten this bookstore from my parents when they went away on some 'business trip' a few years back. They told me to take very good care of it while they were gone, and I did just that. Apparently, they were still on that business trip. Who had business trips that took three whole years anyway?

I sighed as this thought entered my mind. Well, I wasn't one to complain. I did love the company of the books. Books were my comfort zone. They always have and always will be, and the fact that I was often silent and shy made managing the bookstore compatible for me.

"There. All finished." I smiled to myself after returning the last book in its place while closing my eyes and breathing in the smell of books. I just loved the smell of books. It made me feel calm and secure. Without books, I don't think I could live. I let out a breath and stretched once again. I guessed going through three stories of books that needed arranging did that to people.

Lastly, like I always did before fully closing down the bookstore, I made my way through the door behind my desk, which led to a hallway that went straight to my room. As I continued on, I was trailing my fingers across the spines of my book when something caught my eye.

There was a book on the shelf that I had never seen before. Not until now, at the very least, which was rather weird for a bookworm like me. From where I saw it, which wasn't that far, I saw that it was a very old book, as in decades old. Maybe even more. It was big and thick, and most definitely hard.

'There's something in this book… I can feel it.' My brows furrowed as I reached for it. I could imagine feeling the material with its creases, tears and folds. When my fingers were only a few inches away from it—

Gong... Gong... Gong...

My clock gonged several more times, signaling to me that it was already late. I sighed and glanced back at the book one more time before making my way to the door, promising myself to check it out tomorrow. Without turning my back, I switched off the light in the shop and entered my room.

"Jei!" a small six-year-old boy with red hair smiled at a six-year-old me, holding out a necklace. It was a jade stone that was tied with a string and attached to a chain. "Here! I made it myself, but I asked some people to help, though!"

The younger me grinned widely at the redhead as he helped me put it on. "There, see? It looks really pretty on you, Jei!"

I nodded and gave him an affectionate hug. "Awww! You didn't have to, you know! Thank you, though!"

A huge smile beamed on his face as hugged me back.

Gong… Gong… Gong…

My eyes opened after hearing the sound of my loud, buzzing clock. I gave myself an irritated sigh while sitting up on my bed, recalling the dream that was more like a flashback. That boy… the one in the dream who gave me the necklace was my childhood best friend, who I haven't seen for years. Back then, we still lived in Asia. I always remembered him being irked that I was a month older than him, since for him, boys should be older. And apparently, superiority also came with age. Throughout my childhood with him, we were inseparable and practically lived like siblings. One day I would sleep over at his place, and on the next, he would sleep at mine. I spent all my days playing with him and, together, we made pranks on everybody. We were such mischievous children. Now that I think about it, I wasn't sure where my shyness came from. I guessed it happened when we left for London…

I turned to look at my bedside table, where I usually left the necklace. I took the stone gently into my hand and caressed it. I had kept it with me throughout these years, and I treasured it so much because it was the last thing I received from him before I left. Also, during the years as I was growing up, the chain didn't fit my neck anymore, so lately, I had to wear it as a bracelet.

'You know, you won't be able to meet him anytime soon anymore… it's been so long since you've seen him… and this is a big world…' I thought to myself, remembering the day we tried contacting his family, but haven't heard a word from them, not even once. Nobody ever answered our calls. It was like they just disappeared. I didn't know why, but I decided to wear it today. Immediately after putting it on, I finally got out of bed and did my usual routine: take a shower, eat, and do some cleaning before opening the shop for another day. Once all that was done, I entered the bookstore and headed the main door when a thought struck my mind:

The book.

Now, as I stood in front of the shelf where the book was, I suddenly felt myself have a yearning to hold it, just like the past night. Just standing there, I already started to feel it… 'I think… it's alive.'

"Snap out of it." I chided myself. "It's just a book… right?"

Shaking my head, I took a deep breath and reached for the book. And when I touched it, I felt… something within it. I felt it humming with energy, as weird and impossible as it sounded. But, it was true. I felt its energy go through me as well. I also sensed something mysterious about it, so I decided to look it over in my room.

Before I did, though, I opened my bookstore for the day, and placed a note on my desk that said that I was occupied at the moment. When I entered my room, I sat on the bed and placed the big book on my lap. Now that I was up close, I clearly saw how big it was. It was around fourteen inches in length, fifteen inches in height, and four inches in width.

"What the heck is this?" When I directed my eyes to the title of the book, I saw a bunch of letters from different languages jumbled up and apparently, that was the title of the book. From this 'title' I was able to recognize letters from the English, Japanese, French languages as well two other ones, but I couldn't understand what they meant.

"How does the author expect people to read something that's more or less gibberish?" I shook my head and decided to check out the book anyways. As my usual habit went, before I attempted to open or read a book, I would run my fingers through it. I did so, going through its spine, cover and back, feeling it completely. I didn't know why, but I liked feeling its texture. Some might even say that I was in a trance when I did that. But, now that I was so close to it, I noticed something different now.

I thought that just opening the book would change my life. Drastically. And when I did, chaos erupted.

In actuality, it wasn't that chaotic. When I opened it, green light engulfed my room, wind blasted from my forcefully opened window. Surprised by the sudden event, I was definitely terrified now. What if magic really was real? What if it was the Wicked Witch of the West? What if I was going to enter my own Wonderland? What if—

What if… I was just simply going crazy?

'Have you ever thought, that too much information in your brain could make you go mad?'

My neighbor had told me that once before, jokingly, of course. But, now that I think of it, what if she was serious? What if—

"Kyaaaaaaaaa!"

"Aaaaah!"

I gasped and my heart was thundering now in my chest. Apparently, it was chaotic outside too. Something wrong was going to happen today, I just knew it.

"I… I have to get away from here…" I clutched the glowing book in my hands. I didn't know why, but my instincts told me to escape. To run. To hide. I decided to listen to them and quickly I made my way outside the back door, but when I opened it—

"So that's where you were hiding, Innocence!"

THUD! THUD! THUD!

My heart hammered harder in my chest that it became too painful as I saw a human heart-shaped figure headed towards me.

'I-innocence?!' Instinctively, I clutched the book to my chest, determined to protect it, for reasons beyond me.

As I kept on looking at it, something at the back of my mind told me that I knew what this was in front of me. I just couldn't pull the idea out of my mind, but I knew, somehow.

In front of me, the creature chuckled. "First time seeing an akuma, eh?"

'A-akuma!' My eyes widened, since I remembered what akuma were. I knew what their objectives were. My parents told me the stories and I've read the books – based on the knowledge that I know, I knew that I should have been running. But… I couldn't move. I was too scared. Too frozen to do anything, but stand there.

"Well, enough chit-chat." It cackled while advancing towards me. "It's time to destroy that Innocence now!"

Run.

Even though my mind told me to, I couldn't. Still paralyzed, I stayed where I was and just stared as the akuma lunged.

Run!

It was so near… it was so near. A few more seconds and it would—

RUN!

In a split second, I forced myself to move as the akuma crashed through my back door. I felt myself shaking as I bolted along alleyways and across buildings. And, without looking back, I ran and ran and ran some more. Only one word retained in my head: run.

'What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do!?' I frantically thought to myself while being chased by six of them now. 'They're gaining…' I knew self-defense, and was pretty good at it too, but still, how was I supposed to use that against akuma?

Every second that I ran, I felt as if the book was getting heavier. And the more I thought about it, the harder it got to carry around. I had to keep going though. I was reaching my limit since I was already panting, and my sight was blurring a bit in the edges. Soon, my vision and strength would get worse and I will get killed.

'Is that… the end of the alleyway?' I thought to myself as I saw a spot of light in the near distance. But in my haste, I tripped on a loose cobblestone, lost my balance and accidently let go of the book. And when I looked up, it was a dead end. In short, I was trapped.

"Are you tired now, human?" One of them asked as he got ready to lunge. "Oh well, time to finish this."

As the akuma lunged towards me and the book, I felt as if time had stopped. The book, which was a meter away from me, snapped open, and glowed in its green hue. Strangely, the confusing letters that I saw just minutes ago flew out of the book and rearranged themselves in a way that I could read them. I reached out for the book, and as I touched it, it flipped to a certain page where a line was glowing green. I didn't know why, but I knew that I had to read it, and exactly at that point did I feel like time had resumed. My heart thundered once more as the akuma drew nearer and nearer. Amidst my fear, I found myself reading the lines as the first akuma swung its weapon to attack:

"Ancient Book, thine vast, absolute power hath been called for't. Hear my call, as thou shalt o'er wrought my enemies. Cometh now! As thy master, protect me!"

I thrust my hand out at the same time as the akuma brought down its weapon. Instead of hitting me, the bullet hit a barrier that surrounded me. At this, I was shocked that something like this could happen, and that I was the one who did it. But I knew it wouldn't last forever. Little by little, as the attacks increased, I felt the defensive barrier around me weaken, and the akuma felt it too, for it began to smirk.

"Hahaha! Now, die!" As the akuma's weapon came down on my barrier, it shattered upon impact, leaving me defenseless. Just by my fatigue, I knew that I couldn't do another spell like the one I made before as I saw its weapon come down towards me.

'Is… is this it…?' I closed my eyes and expected pain, but nothing came. Instead, I heard the akuma wailing and cursing at someone in front of me. I opened my eyes to see a long, blue haired boy, who was probably a few months older than me, brandishing his sword. Well, I assumed he was a boy unless he was a manly girl. He wore a black coat and his back was facing me, and when he sheathed his sword, the akumas all disappeared.

"Hey, are you trying to get yourself killed?" My heart skipped a beat when his voice called out to me as he turned around. Seeing his scowling, yet handsome face, I blushed and looked down on the floor. It took me a few seconds to collect myself and reply with a small '…Uh… sorry…'.

"Here. Let me help you up." Suddenly, a girl who looked younger than me held out her hand. She had long green hair and kind looking amethyst eyes. She also had a long cape which had the same design as the boy's. I gladly took her hand after I picked up my book from the floor.

"My name is Lenalee." She smiled at me and gestured towards the boy. "He's Kanda." He nodded his head a bit and I smiled shyly at both of them. "What's your name?"

"Um…" I ran my hand through my hair, feeling my shyness creep up to the maximum. "My name's Jei."

"Miss!" hearing the voice, our heads swiveled in its direction. A man wearing a beige hooded cloak ran towards us. "Have you found the Innocence?"

"Yeah. We nearly lost it to those akuma too." Kanda scowled and folded his arms.

"Please contact the Order and tell my brother that we found it and its accommodator." Lenalee added.

'Innocence… Order… Akuma… Accommodator…?' throughout their small talk, I pieced these four information together, and it only led to one thing…

"Wait, are you guys…" I started to say when they looked at me. Lenalee smiled and turned to me.

"Yes. We are exorcists...And you are one too."

A/N: Heeey guys! I hope you guys liked it! Please go easy on me, and please review!

Till the next chappie!

~JayTheCow~