Disclaimer - I do not own DGM

Chapter Two - Dusk

"Walker!"

Jarred from the thoughts that have been plaguing me, I allow my gaze to shift to the door. I don't recognize the voice that's calling out to me and I feel a hint of curiosity pulling me forward. I don't want to speak to anyone right now but the commanding tone of this strange voice leaves no room for argument.

Getting to my feet I make my way toward the door, feeling as though I am walking toward my own execution. My chest is tight and I almost feel as though that would be better than this. Of course this chain of thought summons forth the parting words that Mana left me with on that fateful day. Never stop… keep walking… until the day you die.

The face of the man who taught me that there were indeed good people in the world appears in my mind's eye. And this is the moment when I know, for sure, that he did indeed care about the real me. I wasn't just the vessel necessary for the revival of the Fourteenth. And this conclusion makes me feel slightly better about the situation. I will continue on with the mission that I assumed that horrible day when I committed an unforgivable sin.

"Thank you Mana…"

"Allen Walker!" The strange voice again, sounding slightly irritated at this point. I know that tone, having heard it more times than I care to remember. There's a warning in the tone and, although a small part of me wants to be rebellious and refuse to answer the door, I know that doing so won't make the situation any better for me. "Open the door immediately."

Reaching out with slightly shaking fingers I pull the door open to reveal… a man that I've never seen before. He's slightly taller than me and has brown hair and a scowl on his face.

"Can I help you?"

Even I hear the slight tremor in my voice and I really hope that this stranger doesn't pick up on it. I have to do a better job of shielding my emotions from them.

"Inspector Leverrier wishes to have a word with you."

I can't help but think that this isn't a meeting that I'm going to enjoy. Of course I really should be used to such meetings, having endured more than my fair share of them since the incident with Noah's Ark. Nodding my head I step out into the hallway, closing the door of my room behind me.

I'm immediately flanked on both sides by the two guards that I knew would be there. I'm not surprised by their presence so much as annoyed by it. Never once have I even hinted that I intend to flee or anything else and yet these men have been assigned to guard me. It's completely ludicrous.

"I can get rid of them…"

This whisper in the back of my mind is the last thing that I want to hear right now and I shake my head in an effort to rid myself of it. Not that I honestly think this motion will work. But it's better than doing nothing, at least in my eyes.

"Come with me Walker."

Nodding once more I follow along behind the man, not sure where it is that he's taking me. Having always been possessed of a lousy sense of direction I don't actually know that much about headquarters. I can find my way to the important places, like Komui's office and the dining hall, but I make it a habit not to go exploring.

Because I really don't like being lost.

I try my best to ignore the presence of the guards who are walking along on either side of me. With this thought in mind I glance toward the window, only to see the grinning shadow of the Fourteenth gazing back at me.

"Just give in…"

The voice is slightly louder this time, a notch above the whisper that I have grown accustomed to.

Averting my gaze I barely register the fact that the leader of our rather odd procession has came to a stop. Luckily for me I notice just in time to avoid colliding with his back. Taking a quick step back I gaze at the large door that looms before me.

This particular part of headquarters doesn't look familiar to me and I'm fairly certain that I've never been here before. Or, on the off chance that I stumbled past here while lost, I didn't register this very intimidating looking door.

Without so much as a word to me the leader of our group knocks on the door once, to announce our arrival, before pushing it open. At this point the man turns a glaring gaze in my direction and I get the impression that I'm supposed to enter the room.

"Beware boy… step into that room and there's a chance that you'll never come back out."

The words of the Fourteenth catch me slightly off guard; which makes me hesitate to enter. I don't know why but I get the impression that the Noah is speaking the truth in this matter.

But despite that fact I step forward, my head held high. I cannot deny the fact that I am scared, not to myself at any rate. My heart is racing as I step through the door but I resolve to hide this fact from the occupants of the room.

I will not show fear.

With a new determination I enter the room, still flanked by the two men who had been standing guard at my room. Gazing around my searching gaze takes in a group of people sitting around a large table. Some of them I know, while others I do not.

Komui is among the group and he offers me a smile. But it's shaky and I can tell, by the expression on his face, that he's concerned about something. This doesn't make me feel better about the situation but there's nothing that I can do about it.

"Allen Walker…"

At the sound of this rather harsh voice I shift my gaze to the man sitting at the head of the table. He's a harsh looking man with a strand of hair hanging in his face and… Okay, this guy is scary. That's the best way to describe him. The man is glaring at me as though he would personally like to put an end to my very existence.

As a matter of fact the look is not unlike the look on the face of the Millennium Earl's face the last time that the two of us faced off.

The difference being I have no idea what I've done to earn such a look of loathing from a man that I've never met. Resolved to find out exactly what's going on I step toward the table. My head still held high, my gaze focused on the man who's glaring at me.

"Walker… you have been called here to learn of the Vatican's decision."

I honestly should have saw that coming but I must admit that I'm slightly shocked. They reached a decision far quicker than I expected. I feel my stomach begin to churn, my gaze still focused on the man.

"I warned you against entering this room…"

I resist the urge to tell my inner demon to shut up because I don't imagine that would improve the image that these people no doubt have of me. Instead I gaze at the harsh looking man, determined to stand and hear the Vatican's pronouncement.

Whatever that may be.

"My personal opinion is that you are a threat." He pauses at this point, the harsh note still evident in his voice. "But it has been decided that you may continue to perform your duties as an Exorcist until a conclusion has been reached."

I don't particularly like the sound of that but the fact that I can resume my duties as an Exorcist serve to pick my spirits up somewhat.

"They're not going to just let it go back to the way things were. You're a threat and they'll always see you as such."

It's a struggle to ignore his words because I know that they have at least a measure of truth to them. Things will never be the way that they were but hopefully they won't be unbearable. And it will all be worthwhile if I can go back to the job that I swore to do.

Freeing the souls of the Akuma.

"But… Should you show any signs of giving way to the Fourteenth you will be executed."

"I understand."

One of my escorts steps forward at this point and removes the talismans that are sealing my Innocence. Absently I rub at my left arm, trying to restore the feeling that I lost while it was immobilized. This feeling brought back memories of my childhood but I force them to the back of my mind.

I have enough to worry about without dragging those particular memories to the forefront.

"You're dismissed Walker."

Nodding my head ever so slightly in the man's direction I turn around and leave the room. I breath a sigh of relief as I exit the room but, for reasons unknown, I feel as though the relief will be short lived.

A/N - Second chapter. Hope that you enjoyed! Please be kind enough to leave a review. And some events will differ from the manga, just go with it.