All Allen saw before he closed his eyes were two of the most important people in this world to him. Slowly allowing the darkness to engulf him Allen was caught in a dream.

Allen awoke from his nap lying out under a tree in his family's estate. Mana had finally allowed him to go outside to enjoy himself. He had had a fever of nearly a hundred and five degree for the last several days. Allen knew that his health since he was born had never been good.

He'd been born sickly and the doctors had said he'd never make it past the end of the week. Now at the tender age of seven Allen never left his families estate. The only people he was allowed to be around were his father, a special selection of maids and butlers, his tutor, and his tutor's son.

The closest thing Allen had to a friend was his tutor's son who was named Kanda Yuu. Tidell his father had adopted him on his last trip around the world. Tidell had been a doctor in the army and when he came upon a town on the outer rim of Inaba, Japan he'd heard the crying of some child of maybe two years. With everyone else in the village killed Tidell couldn't leave the child.

Soon after he was transferred back to his home country of England where he brought Kanda and adopted him. That had been nearly ten years ago.

Closing his eyes again to laze around in the cool air as the sun warmed his skin Allen felt a shadow hovering over him. Without looking he asked, "Kanda could you move out of my light?"

The shadow hovered a moment more than Allen felt the sun warm his skin once again. "Che, you know you should be heading in by now?" Kanda stated. Though Kanda had only known Allen since Tidell had taken Mana's job offer to teach his son as a private tutor two years ago he'd become fast friend with the boy.

Sighing Allen finally sat up pulling his feet in. He'd taken his shoes off though his father had forbid him from doing such thing. "Is that all you came out here to do? Tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing, Kanda," Allen looked at his only friend as he silently begged him to allow him to enjoy the setting sun for once. Kanda didn't reply but instead leaned on the tree staring at Allen.

Searching his face Allen could tell that he thought he was doing this for the good of Allen's health. Allen silently cursed his weak body for never allowing him to be outside. To never be able to do anything a 'normal' boy his age could do.

Allen began to pull on his shoes when he knew that he would not be able to stay out to enjoy the sunset this day. When he was finished Kanda held out his hand to help him stand up. Taking the hand offered Allen followed Kanda back down the hill until they came upon the entrance of the mansion.

The place was an old Gothic style building that if sliced down the middle one would see they were mirror images. On the outer edges were two towers that rose up. Between them was the main mansion with its square like façade with arching widows running the full height of the four floors. To some this place was a home that they could rely on but to Allen at this moment it was a prison without bars.

The oppression Allen felt having to be trapped inside this place for the rest of his short life was leeching it away.

Feeling a push from behind Allen knew Kanda was growing impatient with him. Continuing forward he opened the door to be greeted by his tutor Tidell. "Ah, Allen, I was beginning to wonder whether you'd gotten lost out in the world."

Tidell tried to be good natured about Allen being as sickly as he was. He was the only person who Allen knew who, besides Kanda, thought he shouldn't be kept inside like a porcelain doll. They both tried their hardest to treat Allen like any other person they'd run into on the street.

Tidell good naturedly taught Allen all that he wished to learn but was stern when it came to Allen finishing his school work and pushed him to take risks. This cheered Allen up because he was shown on more than one occasion that he was 'normal'. That he could do the things that others his age could do and not have to stay in bed like his father wanted.

Kanda on the other hand took a different approach to showing Allen that he could be like others if he tried hard enough. Kanda always fought with him daring him to prove Kanda wrong. Allen on more than once thought that he would have a heart attack or stroke because of how angry he could get him at times. But Allen was thankful for that as well because it showed him he could express himself in many different ways.

Allen gave Tidell a somber smile knowing the older gentleman would understand. Then they all began the usual trek up to the library to finish Allen's evening lessons.

At this point things began to get a little foggy as Allen's mind began waking from the dream state he'd been in.

Slowly, very slowly Allen began to open his eyes only to close them again as sunlight blinded him with its evening light. With his eyes watering he opened them again this time moving his hand to block out some of the light.

First all he was able to see were blurs then slight shapes. Finally adjusting to the light Allen saw that he was laying on his back looking up at the sky. Sitting up Allen noticed that his breath was visibly misting in the air.

Rapping his arms around himself he began to shiver as his sense of feeling that had been numb was growing numb again but instead of from whatever Komui had done this was from the frigid air. Only now did Allen notice that it was snowing and the hills and trees around him were covered with it.

Picking himself up Allen started rubbing his hands over his arms to warm them. Looking both ways he decided that he'd best find some shelter before he froze to death.