Title: Stelmaria by Yofune-Nushi

Summary: Circumstances can bring people together or drive them apart, not caring for the feelings of those caught in its grasp. Some people may or may not find the determination to confront what they have in their hearts. Takes place in a semi-alternate DGM universe. Planned Multi-fic
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General/friendship/drama
Pairings: Mm, I don't really have much or any plans to focus on romance.

Disclaimer: Hoshi owns it.

~Prologue~

"What's the hurry girly?"

The Chinese girl blinked once to keep the pouring rain from invading her eyes too much and stares blankly at the three large men who had stood in her way and had moved in a crooked circle around her. She sighs, not really paying attention to what the lead man was saying so much as she is paying attention to their body language. Usually she would have activated her crystal boots by now, for when your enemies are invisible and can be anyone and anywhere there is no such limit to better safe or sorry. But he, the person who she was walking to meet with had assured her that there were no akuma in the area, and she believed him, on that.

She slowly bent her knees as, what looked to be rather intoxicated, man started to reach out to her and having completely left himself unguarded as both liquor in ran in his system and unbelief she was an actual threat to him and his lackeys. She quickly did a c-step and brought her leg up and kicked hard in between his legs and watched without remorse as he nearly spat up what may have been digesting in his stomach and fell hard to the ground. She turned around, moving to an angle where all three mean were in sight and quickly assumed her steady defensive position to the other men who had lost their sleazy grins and now wore shocked expressions as their minds processed what had just happened. They looked to her then to the coughing fallen man then to each other before somehow communicating that it wasn't worth it before hustling away in a stumble.

She did not straighten until she was sure they were gone and raised an eyebrow in surprise at how fast that went. No matter there was a important meeting to go to and she had already made him wait long enough, she continued walking at a easy pace, not wanting to stand out or look like she was in a hurry though there were very few people out and about.

The rain seemed to have become harder as it fell from the sky in a straight direction, it had been raining since she left but she didn't take an umbrella with her.

"Hey Lenalee, it's pretty common to always carry an umbrella when it rains isn't it, I never in my whole life have used an umbrella for myself. Is something that is common natural and does that make it bad when it isn't?"

"I don't know." She mouthed in the rain as it dripped between her parched lips. That was what she had said at the time to him at the time. Truthfully she had an idea of what he meant and she knew what they had been talking about was not umbrellas, really. As much as she wanted to know about others important to her she did not want to open that door. Not with him. Because any answer she could have given him at that time, would not be the one he'd agree with completely. And she had hated not agreeing when it came to things like that, because it was precious to him, but not to her. She hated making others, especially him sad or isolated in anyway.

She shook off the weight of water that was being absorbed in her clothes, even though she knew it was hopeless in this kind of weather.

Finally she found the spot in the abandoned park that was where he was residing in wait for her. He was there, of course without umbrella also, with his ever loyal golden golem as well, Timcampy as the golem flew over to her and fluttered in her face in recognition with a toothy grin, one she retuned with a slight smile, before choosing to quickly fly back to his master and rest on his shoulder.

The boy who was more like a man gave her a tired smile as she approached to stand a few feet away from him.

"You came"

"Of course…you're still going to do it, like this aren't you?"

"….I know, you understand me better enough"

She refused to show him the pained smile she felt like wearing from the confession. He in turn refused to as well.

Dark boots and Crown Clown were activated.

~~~*

"Humans are strange creatures, they always want to protect what's important to them, and sometimes others can even see why. But in the end, do they always have to resort to conflict and choose what is and is not replaceable, even if it means hurting others no matter whom?"

"Sometimes, people are just fragile…I don't think that makes them evil, just…"

~~~`*

She jumped, while he ducked.

It was always the same; Allen had always been the superior fighter. He had a natural ability for battle that could be considered second only to the Generals when it came to the harmonizing with Innocence. He could kill her if he wanted to…

Well, if he could ever catch her first that is.

She swiftly dodged crown belt as it neatly pierced her clothing, tearing a small rip through it. Often, he was too predictable for her… Not that she minded in times like this.

He took the trees in an attempt to both seek higher ground and shelter from her attacks. Twitching her lip at the sudden move, she waited in midair before following her instincts dove in landing on a sturdy branch up high in a tree. Pressing her back against the tree bark, Lenalee closed her eyes in concentration. Quietly controlling her breathing and putting everything else beside her surroundings as she often had done meditating when she was little.

The sound of rain dripping and pouring as it fell from the heavens against the trees was dimmed to the back of her mind.

The feeling and sound of her own breathing and heartbeat resounding within her chest seemed dull now.

Silence…

The sound of bark creaking against the addition of new weight alarmed her from behind.

Quickly in spilt decision, she thrust her hips sharply to right and sent her left leg crashing threw the trunk of her tree as if it were cloud, and caused the boy that had been hiding behind it to fall downwards as splinters and chunks of bark flew everywhere where he had been standing just seconds ago.

Cursing to himself, he activated his claw and caught himself by digging it into the now much shorter tree thanks to his opponent's handiwork.

Knowing the danger of staying in one place for longer then necessary when dealing with her especially, Allen quickly pressed feet forcefully against the bark and pulled his left claw out as he pushed away to fall a safer distance. Just in time as well, when Lenalee untimely (for her) chose at that moment to perform a roundhouse kick of sorts on the spot where he had just been and effectively annihilate the poor oxygen provider.

Oh well, Allen thought. Better it then him.

Reaching out, he timely dug his claw into another tree before he fell to close to the ground and slowed his fall enough to not land too painfully on the ground. There, he shot crown belt again as she shot down to him at high speeds.

He couldn't ever hope to beat her agility. So he had to work with what he had (which day by day was becoming harder, as, she had a rather particular talent with being able to react in her favor with reading his moves, in battle at least) to throw her off guard enough.

Dodging crown belt with a twirl of her body, she was about halfway to righting her body in a full out attack to finish him off… until she saw his arm turn into a huge sword that is.

Lenalee had seen some pretty strange things happen to people's bodies before. But never had she seen one that turned into a metal like object out of the blue. Her surprise over this caused a slight delay of action in her descent of attack, which was enough for Allen to take this precious only second long opportunity in his favor before her wits were quickly collected again.

Shooting crown clown again, it struck just as she shook off the shock and dove again. Taking the piercing of his attack as it struck deeply into her stomach, she brought down her boot to smack smartly the near side of his shoulder blade as he fell to the ground and twisted his body to avoid her attack as much as he could in time.

Allen breathed a silent sigh of relief to himself. Just one second too late and he would have no doubt lost his whole shoulder, if he was lucky that was.

Bringing his sword up as best as his tired limbs could, he sliced it in the area where Lenalee had been only moments before she had ducked from having seen his attack coming so suddenly.

He shot up, both heaved from the activity and wounds each inflicted on each other. Lenalee had blood oozing from where crown belt was still dug inside her. His side from where she had struck earlier was now very sore and he thought he could feel blood trickling down his head. He hoped she hadn't given him another concussion, though he wasn't sure when she could have during this fight.

He mentally commanded crown belt to tighten inside her as she pulled on it to come out of her. He watched her stand there; her presence could be gentle as it could be frightening.

Master was right about woman in this way, Allen thought, you never want to deny them, particularly the truly fine ones.

It was almost time to go. He knew he shouldn't have seen her at this time, but, as he watched her eyes so focused on him with all that fire and spirit. He wasn't regretful; it was people like her that helped remind him what it was he strived for in the present.

Even though, she is one of the enemies.

He smiled.

Lenalee watched him. The smile was completely fake and devoid of any real happiness that should live and breathe in all smiles given to someone close. She knew never to take this young man at face value.

He was her job. Her personal mission… Her motivation for one of the things she wanted most right now.

"Lenalee…" He said. She knew what was coming. She felt suddenly drained of her earlier adrenaline, but also calm.

Don't do this Allen, let's stop this and end it now. She silently pleaded. But it wouldn't end, not tonight. This was just a test to see how far they both have come in the time of separation. He had goals, dreams, and things he lived and breathed for that he had yet to accomplish; just like her. Neither could and would not die tonight, not by each other, or anything else for that matter.

His smile and eyes turned softer and the blood darkening around his face along with the coming of late light made the whiteness of his hair and glow of his Innocence stand out and cast a more brilliant shine that seemed almost heavenly divine in a place of hell.

"Good night" and he departed away as if through thin air as a door was materialized as he stepped back into it followed closely by Timcampy.

He was gone.

She watched the spot he disappeared from with an unreadable expression that no one who saw would be able to decipher.

The sun of a new day cast a light onto her as the rain began to finally pull back its descent upon her.

No, Allen. It's good morning

But that particular saying was too bitter for her own mouth to say out loud and she bit her lower lip to keep it from coming out.

She limped out without a sound of a whimper escaping from her throat. The pain was heavy, but she had dealt with worse. As long as she had her legs in good enough use she could keep walking no matter where or when.

She slowed almost abruptly when she saw who was waiting for her near the train station. Holding back a grimace, though not from pain, Lenalee kept walking casually towards her destination with determination to not miss the earliest ride back home, she couldn't afford any more to let any who personally knew her to see her like this. Not right now before her next assigned mission.

The feminine figure stared, unflinching at her state. She did not inquire about Lenalee's state. All she did was hand her a long black cloak which Lenalee silently took and placed over herself without verbal thanks.

"Was your desire stolen?" The figure asked, with a hint a dull curiosity.

Lenalee did not really want to answer or even have the temper to civilly deal with the this person right now. She had no business with snooping around her desires more then she already did.

Instead she finally politely thanked her for the cloak, that most likely more an excuse to see dig into her privacy rather than out of worry for her wellbeing. Before walking off by alone to board the train station just in time to make the earliest leave and be home in time before any large crowds of members could notice her.

As she felt herself tiredly lean against the window watching the buildings and landscape pass her by over the hour and she couldn't help but recall the woman's words earlier.

Was your desire stolen?

Sighing, she straightened herself as she felt the train lull into stop, signifying it was her time to exit.

No… just walked away.

Notes*

No, that female who gave Lenalee the cloak at the end is not an OC character. You'll find out who she is later.

The history between Allen and Lenalee will get shown later. How later I haven't decided. Depends on how much I write at once. Also other characters like Kanda and Lavi will show up, when? Again I can't say.