Allen woke again in an unfamiliar room. The pain in his arm was now only a dull ache. But when he tried to get up he had to lie back down. The room had spun too much. Where was he? Then he remembered. Kanda had kidnapped him and brought him to the Black Order. But why had Master Mana allowed him to be kidnapped? He looked at his disfigured arm, which was now properly bandaged and in a sling, and cursed it. This was all of its fault. What was to be expected from him now? He really didn't know. He only hoped he could do what they wanted.

"Oh, are you awake now? That's a relief. You've been asleep for awhile now." A young woman older than him walked into the room and sat at the foot of his bed. Long black hair in pigtails framed a heart shaped face. "I'm Lenalee by the way. I'm sorry about how you were treated by Kanda. He's always been like that. I mean you can't be more than ten. What's your name?" He was silent for a moment.

"I'm Allen Walker. I'm eight years old. What's going on here?" Lenalee scooted closer. Allen put his hand behind his back. He was very conscious about his arm. Everyone who was not used to it, like those who lived in his old town. He didn't want to scare away the first stranger who was ever so nice to him.

"Don't worry. You're at the Black Order. The government doesn't say anything but we're at war. People like you are needed. Kanda knew this but we aren't so desperate we need to kidnap kids from their families." Lenalee scowled as she thought about Kanda's treatment of Allen. He could be such a jerk sometimes.

"I don't have a family. Ever since I was little I worked for Master Mana. My family may be out there somewhere. They either don't know or don't care." Silence followed this statement. Smiling Lenalee ruffled his white hair fondly. He needed a haircut.

"Stay here. I'll go get you some food. My brother says bed rest for a few days." She left leaving Allen alone for awhile. During this time he thought some things through. Going back to Master Mana's house was most likely impossible. He preferred there to here. But why had he been crying as he was taken away? Master Mana had never cared about anyone except Milady like that. It just didn't make sense. But neither did his life make sense anymore.

He wasn't anyone important there. Earlier Lenalee had said people like him are needed. What did that mean? Here he was apparantly needed. But for what? What did he have that everyone else didn't? He was only eight years old.

Lenalee walked in with a big tray of food. Many types of food were on it, most of which he did not know. Servants on in the Hirenak household never got this much food at once or this much a variety of it. Lenalee watched him eat it all with satisfaction. He was small even for an eight year old. "Allen, have you ever wanted a family?" The question came out of nowhere. Allen looked up in shock. No one had ever asked what he wanted.

"I really don't know. I've always been alone so I don't know what it feels like. But it would probably feel nice to have one." Lenalee had to leave after that. She promised she or her brother would come by and answer all of his questions. Allen went back to sleep after that. Never had he felt this full.

That afternoon while Allen slept Lenalee was busy. She was trying to convince her brother to adopt Allen as their brother. At first he had been adamant about not doing it. But Komoi loved Lenalee too much. By that evening he had said he would only if Allen agreed to it. Even he to admit another younger sibling would be nice. It would also give the emotionally insecure boy a sense of security and protection. The feelings of shock would lessen somewhat and would give a reason to the boy to be here.

Komoi himself went to Allen's room. By the time he got there the boy was awake. He could see why Lenalee liked the boy. It reinforced his feelings of wanting to protect the boy. When he entered the room Allen was standing at the window looking outside. Not in bed like he was supposed to be. "You're supposed to be in bed." Allen looked around guiltily.

"Sorry. I've never had a window to look through before. And the sky was so beautiful." He got back into bed. Komoi wondered what kind of life Allen had before he came here.

"I'm sure you have questions. Let's hear them." Allen composed himself and asked what was on his mind. Which turned to be a lot.

"What exactly are akuma? They can't be natural creatures." Silently Komoi prayed to God that the knowledge he was about to reveal woudn't be too much. He told Allen the truth. How Akuma were souls called back to life by loved ones to be killing machines. How they had no free will and were forced to kill the one who had called them back and take on their shape and live out their life. Allen was not scared of this. His only comment was that why they must have looked so sad. "Why do you say that? Most of them grin."

The white haired boy shook his head. "I see two creatures when I look at Akuma. One is their physical body which is grinning. The other is like a ghost, all shriveled up. They always look sad and are almost always crying." He shuddered as he recalled every Akuma he had ever fought. They were desperate creatures in need of help.

"You can see the souls of the Akuma. How unusual." Komoi commented. Allen then asked if everyone could. "I've never met anyone before you who could. Allen, how would you like to have a family. Lenalee and I have discussed it. We both want to adopt you as a brother. What do you say?"