'It's been seven years now' Allen thought to herself. 'That time is almost here again.' It was December but it wasn't cold where she was, Cross had taken her to India for the year as he had business to attend to.

It hadn't been so bad for the most part, mostly because she hadn't seen her uncle most of it. She managed to make friends; Narain and his sister Mina were practically her babysitters for a while. The two of them and Timcampy were her companions for the duration of her stay. Mina wanted to become a dancer and Narain wanted to be a doctor. Both excelled in their chosen areas.

However mina had gotten sick and unfortunately passed away. It was so sudden and it tore at Allen's heart knowing that they were only a few years apart. Narain took it the hardest though, he fell into a depression and had stopped talking to Allen. Eventually they stopped hanging out altogether.

"I hope he's still going to try and be a doctor." Allen said aloud as Tim sat on her head. "Apprentice." She made a sour face at the voice. Allen faced the door and ground out "I'm not your apprentice." Cross smirked slightly and lit a cigarette; he knew how much she hated being called that.

"Is that any way to speak to someone who's bringing good news to you?" he questioned. Allen gave him a distrusting look, "What news?" Cross sat down on the couch, "I've just gotten confirmation from an old friend of mine that said you'll be going to the Black Order after winter break is over." She gave him a questioning look.

"When did you send in an application?" "Four months ago." He deadpanned; he took a long drag from his cigarette as Allen processed the information. "You waited until after the school year started to send it?" she grit her teeth as her uncle nodded and put out his cigarette. When he looked back up all he saw was pillow, since Allen threw one and it collided with his face. "You idiot." Allen mumbled and stood up to leave the room with Timcampy flying after her. She paused before closing the door "When do I leave then?" she asked not facing him. "A week from today." She closed the door and went to her room.

In Allen's room

"I guess after all this traveling; we're going back home to England, huh Tim?" Allen said petting Tim's head with her finger. "It was inevitable, I suppose." She sighed heavily as Timcampy tried to comfort her by nuzzling her neck.

A pale hand ran itself through white shoulder length hair. For a 14 year old, she was smarter than many of her teachers and tutors. If she had to guess, Allen would be headed for the junior classes when she got to the Black Order. "I wonder what the people there are like." She looked down at herself. Contrary to her male name and boyish haircut she was quite female. Allen was small enough in stature for people to assume she was an effeminate male but with a better look one could tell that she was indeed female.

She huffed not knowing what to do. She wasn't sure what gender her uncle had put for her. And unless he sent in a picture they would automatically assume she was a boy based on her name. The entire time she had been traveling with Cross, she'd done so as a male, and the only people aware of her true gender was her 'family' and close friends like Narain and his sister.

Timcampy stared at his master and caretaker. Even though he couldn't show it well on his face or talk, he knew that Allen was distressed. He nuzzled her cheek to get her attention. "What's wrong Tim?" she asked as he flew to her bedside dresser. He then opened his mouth and showed strange symbols that resembled music notes.

"I guess you read my mood again, huh Tim?" she said giving a small smile. He closed his mouth and flapped his wings. He knew her better than any human that they encountered. He would protect her just as she did him, of his own free will not some program.

Soon enough Cross came in to tell Allen he would be going out again and good night. He ruffled her hair as she said her good bye to him knowing she'd be asleep by the time he got back. But when she did go to sleep she was humming the 14th lullaby. 'Won't you please kiss the hand your holding?'

Allen and Cross flew back to England two days before she had to attend the Black Order. Their house, more like a mansion, was three stories tall, not including the attic or the basement. The outside had stonewalls and a dark roof. The walls on the inside were all white including most of the bedrooms.

Almost all of the furniture throughout the house was red or blue; Allen personally preferred the blue. Red reminded her of fire and blood. She didn't hate everything red or else she'd hate her uncle's hair. Allen could never hate his hair; he always let her play with it, though she hasn't done so since she was seven years old.

She walked into her dark blue and white room and put her bags down. She began unpacking her bags and almost 10 minutes later she was falling onto her bed. Timcampy flew over next to her and landed next to her face and nuzzled her slightly.

Allen opened her eyes and turned to face Tim. She gave him a very small tired smile, he returned by snuggling into her neck. "It's almost here again Tim." She murmured softly and slowly sat up and took Tim in her hands and pets his head. "I hope the students don't ask too many questions." She said unconsciously rubbing her left arm.

Sighing once again she stood up and stretched her back until it pooped. "You hungry Tim?" he flapped his wings yes and they headed downstairs to the kitchen. When Allen opened the door to the refrigerator she wasn't surprised to find it empty. Sighing once again she closed the door, only to find Cross there next to her.

"You hungry again, apprentice?" he smirked slightly then took a drag from his cigarette. She stared distantly at him before sighing again. "You've been doing that a lot haven't you?" he snickered slightly. "Don't worry I've got lots of food on the way, so you can eat all you want." He turned and grabbed his coat on the stairs, then headed for the door. "Are you going out soon?" Allen asked still unmoving. "Yeah but I'll be back soon."

A half hour later two teen boys were dropping off a carload of food. It made Allen wonder if Cross did this because he actually cared or if he was making fun of her high metabolism. "Thanks for the food." She said while signing the clipboard, noticing that the food was already paid for. 'Maybe he does care'.

As Allen began unpacking the food and putting it away she noted that some of it was already premade. Silently thanking the universe she opened a 12 pack of roasted chicken and potatoes, and made a pot of tea before devouring seven pieces. She shared some of it with Timcampy and eating a large bowl of vanilla and 25 sticks of mitarashii dango.

After her dinner she began walking back up the stairs while finishing her last stick of dango. As she walked she started scratching her left arm slightly, Tim noticed and pulled at her sleeve to stop her. "Sorry Tim, it just started to itch a little." She apologized to her mechanical companion.

Allen headed for the bathroom and turned on the showerhead to warm. She made Timcampy stay outside the door when she began changing. "Don't worry Tim, I'll make this quick." She told him through the door. After about five minutes she walked out with a blue towel wrapped around her body and a white towel around her head.

Timcampy flew to her bedroom and Allen followed, though debated getting milk on the way but decided against it. She changed into her purple pajamas and climbed into her bed. "Good night Tim, we've got a big day coming soon." Timcampy flew next to her head, snuggled into the bed and 'slept'.

Allen woke up to the sound of the door being knocked on and Timcampy pulling at her hair. "Alright, alright Tim. I'm getting up." She sat up with a yawn and checked the time, 9:15 am… really? Whoever was at the door knocked again, making Allen finally get up and go downstairs.

She looked through the peephole and saw four males at the door. The one in the front pressing on the doorbell, which she guessed was the oldest, had a large smile on his face. Another had strange makeup under his eyes and a large smirk on his face. The third male had long dark blue hair and a permanent scowl on his face and the tall male behind him wasn't making a face at all. Judging by the headphones he had, she could guess that he was blind.

"Just a minute." She said through the door before running upstairs to get keys and get dressed. Later she came back in a black shirt and black pants with a tan sweater along with the keys to the front door.

When she finally unlocked the door, the smiling man waved at her and she waved back, not knowing what else to do. "Hello my dear is Cross Marian home?" he asked politely. "I'm afraid not, does he owe you money?" she asked immediately. "No he doesn't, I'm an old friend of his, and my name is Froi Tiedoll." "Ah well it's nice to meet you Mr. Tiedoll, would you all like to come in and sit?" "That's very sweet of you, thank you." She led them to the large living room where they took their seats.

"Would any of you like something to drink?" Allen asked. "Nothing for me, dear." Tiedoll said the blind man and the scowling man agreed. "You got any coffee?" the male with the makeup asked. Allen nodded and went to make some, she came back a minute later "It'll be ready soon." She sat on a spare armchair. "May I ask what your names are?"

"Why should we tell a moyashi like you?" the blue haired male retorted. "Yuu that's not very nice." Tiedoll scolded "I'm sorry about him, he's always such a grouch." Tiedoll explained, Allen just nodded in understanding. "His name is Yuu but everyone calls him Kanda." "My name is Daisya and the big guy over there is Noise Marie."

"It's nice to meet you all, I'm Allen Walker and this is Timcampy." She gestured to the bird on her head. Tiedoll perked up at her name. "So you're Allen?" he asked in a happier tone. "I had no idea Cross had such an adorable niece. And you'll be going to the same school as my sons too, this is wonderful." Confused they all stared at him, Kanda glared and spoke angrily "What do you mean the moyashi's going to our school, she's like 12 years old?"

"I'm 15 and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop calling me short." Allen shot back. Then she got up to check on the coffee and turned to ask Daisya a question. "Daisya do you want anything in your coffee?" "Two creams and three sugars will do." He said watching her every move. Then an angry Timcampy obscured his view.

"What the-!" Daisya exclaimed. Then he got a better look at Tim. "What is this thing?" he asked swatting it away from his face. "Tim stop bothering the guests." Allen commanded, making Tim stop immediately and fly onto the counter. Allen walked back with the coffee cup in hand and passed it to Daisya. "Careful it's hot." She warned and Daisya nodded his thanks.

"When is your friend going to get here?" Kanda asked impatiently. "Kanda calm down." Marie said softly "I hear someone." "Could it be Cross?" Tiedoll asked hopefully. 'It better be, these people are strange.' Allen thought. They heard the front door unlock and heavy footsteps being made towards them.

"Apprentice, are you up yet?" Cross shouted. 'That's him alright.' Allen thought irritated, "I'm not your apprentice!" Allen shouted back "And we guests." He walked into the living room, stared at the males in his house, and then looked at Allen.

"Coffee." He said plopping down next to Tiedoll. "Black". Allen stated going to pour him a cup. "What are you doing here Tiedoll?" Cross asked as Allen handed him the cup. "Can't I come visit my friend after you've been gone for so long?" Tiedoll answered.

The next day

Allen woke up to the sound of an alarm clock going off. Looking at the time it said 6 a.m. she yawned and stretched her body making her back pop. Since it was the beginning of December right after the Thanksgiving break things shouldn't have been too hectic for Allen. But it was however very cold and it was said to snow quite a bit this year.

Dressing in black jeans with her brown boots, she decided on her dark blue sweater and put on her white gloves. Before going to the bathroom she knocked on her uncle's door. "Cross get up you have to take me to school!" she yelled through the door.

Looking in her bathroom mirror she washed her face and brushed her teeth like any other teenager. Allen began to think about what had happened the day before.

"So I see you've met my friend Tiedoll, Allen." Cross said lazily. He drank his bitter coffee before continuing. "His brats are here too, I see." Kanda glared at the red haired man, while everyone else but Tiedoll sweat dropped.

"Yes I have but-" "He teaches art at the Black Order." He cut her off, making her annoyed. "His brats go to the Black Order as well, you'll be in some of their classes too." Cross explained.

"Does that mean you're that gifted student we heard about?" Daisya asked surprised. Allen nodded "Yes that would be me." "That's quite an amazing feat," Marie said "I heard you play instruments as well." Allen nodded slower than before "I haven't played in a long time though."

Cross jumped into the conversation before Allen could start to breakdown. "Well Tiedoll, I appreciate the visit but I'm afraid we'll have to talk some more later." He said standing up, Tiedoll stood as well. "Of course, I'm glad you made it back safely. And we'll see you tomorrow Allen."

Once they left Cross finished off his coffee and turned to Allen "Just so you know, you'll be seeing them a lot lately, not just at school." he began drinking another cup as Allen looked at him not understanding what he was talking about. "Tiedoll and his brats are also our neighbors." he said and walked upstairs while Allen wallowed in her hatred for, what he assumed was him

Allen sighed as she brushed her hair. She was going to the Black Order today and already the students knew her. "People just love to gossip don't they Timcampy?" the bird nodded his head in agreement.

Allen walked downstairs and once again made coffee for Cross-, and half the carton of eggs, 5 pieces of sausages and 3 slices of toast with strawberry jam for herself. 'Sometimes I really hate my metabolism and sometimes I love it." she thought as she ate.

by the time the coffee was done and she had 2 slices of toast left from her breakfast it was 7:15 am and Cross was coming down the stairs.

"You're wearing that on your first day?" he asked jokingly, as he poured himself some coffee and put a piece of bread in the toaster. She scoffed at him "Shut up." she said then finished her last piece of toast. She could see his smirk from behind the cup.

As the toast popped up Cross grabbed it and bit into it. "Anita will be bringing you lunch for the year. He said to her. Allen turned around surprised "You know how much she loves you and loves to cook for you, so don't complain." Allen huffed and pouted, as she couldn't complain, as she's loved Anita's cooking ever since she was little.

"Alright apprentice, let's get you to school and get this over with." he said boredly as Allen muttered, "I'm not your apprentice." They walked to Cross's red Lamborghini Veneno Roadster and he began speeding off. To Cross's surprise, Allen didn't say anything as he sped towards the school. She was worried, and felt as though something bad was going to happen.

"Don't forget you're meeting a guy named Komui to get your schedule, and if your arm starts bothering you need to go to the nurse. They both are aware of your condition and Tiedoll knows as well, he's trustworthy enough for that." Allen nodded. "One more thing Allen," Cross began "You need to smile, put your mask on and you should be fine this year." Allen turned towards him as they pulled into the school and smiled.

"Is this okay Uncle?"