A/N: I present for your viewing pleasure, ANLANW chapter one! Edited and re-written to it's fullest extent. This chapter was beta'd by the very talented saxon-jesus and I hope you all have the urge to check out her stories because they are amazing. Hope you all enjoy it! Happy reading!

Disclaimer - check out the prologue

The gate in the Before Valley is a small wooden door that varies in size. Behind the door waits the Gatekeeper. The carriage releases its sleep spell on you a hundred feet from the door and drops you off. When there, you enter the door and walk down Wood-stone's hallway, the one that connects the three worlds. You will eventually come to a set of stairs that leads to a small room where the Gatekeeper waits. He will ask for your name and the identity of your guide. After he has checked the book for your name, he will let you into another room where all the other first-years will be waiting. What nobody takes notice of, is how long all this takes, they could be in there anywhere from a week to a month.

September 18, Friday

Student's milled about the campus of All-Elemental Academy; some were discussing their future classes and others catching up on their friends' lives. It was early in the morning and the night before more than half the school's population had arrived. All that were left to arrive were the first years.

Guides stood in a semi-circle around the lone gate of the two kilometer high wall that went on for miles around the entire school facility. People watched them curiously, watching the three hundred plus guides squirm and fidget nervously.

There was one calm one among them though; she wore a baggy brown short sleeved shirt that could be mistaken for a dress. A leather cord secured around her waist kept the shirt in place against any gusts of wind that may happen. Her feet were bare and looked comfortable upon the rock walkway. Her red hair was pulled back from her face with a black bandana her girlfriend had given her the night before.

Rosary Miller was a rock among skittering bugs.

When a fellow guide groaned out of annoyance after looking at his watch—thereby confirming that the new students were late—Rose wasn't bothered a bit. It was only two minutes. Then five minutes passed and a fourth-year white-belt began to chew her nails. All the years she had been here, the first-years had never been late.

Rose stayed exactly where she was, not a muscle tensed.

Eight minutes passed and a few began to consider fetching a teacher to check out the gate. It seemed fine, but the fact stood out to them all; this had never happened before.

Rose's arm twitched the slightest bit.

Twelve minutes and a third-year came back with a weapon's instructor behind him, both of them jogging. He was a very old man, but he had a strong body and heart that kept him going. He walked up to the heavy metal gate, taking only a moment to examine it. No magic emanated from the foot thick bars that made up the gate doors and the light that was supposed to be shining through didn't look to be anywhere in sight. The burly man considered it for a second and then spoke quickly to the third year that had fetched him.

The crowd that had assembled had begun to worry as soon as the instructor had been sent for. Now they mumbled to each other as they looked on and the third-year went back into the crowd to watch everything as it panned out. One lone figure in the crowd, a brown-haired, brown-eyed, five foot six inch girl, looked at Rose curiously—who still had yet to seem bothered at all by the events unfolding right in front of her.

When the third year came back, there were three other teachers with him and the head nurse of the infirmary.

The five belts conversed and while they did so a large number of students relaxed. They separated and stood in front of the gate; they focused for a minute, gathering their power. A hush fell over the assembled crowd, the guides backed up. Slowly a chanting could be heard growing in volume. The words were to gibberish to them. Five hands rose and five fingers drew symbols in the air as they thrust their arms forward. The five symbols shot forward and sank into the metal. Their light spread until it encompassed the whole gate. The chanting quickened and someone looked away for fear of being blinded by the heightening light. Suddenly, it stopped, the light dissipated and they all waited.

The gate remained closed, a guide moaned in despair, but refrained from breaking down into tears, if only because the teachers remained calm. Light burst into life and caused some shrieks, but those were drowned out in comparison to the clanging of the gate doors opening and the cheering that burst forth.

Rose jolted awake.

KxL

Lavi, when asked about his journey from the Before Valley, to the gate and all the details in between, would say he hardly remembered. Because as soon as the redhead took his first step on All-Elemental Academy soil, his journey and the worry he felt when the room had begun to shrink were banished to the back of his mind. The people who were also in there came out behind him, pushing him forward onto the walkway. Lavi surveyed his surroundings, after shaking off his feeling of disorientation. People were everywhere; all of them looked stressed and/or relieved. The ones who had been waiting on the walkway rushed forward to embrace the ones exiting the doorway.

Not everyone was in the crowd though observing them though. Many more were meandering on the lawn that seemed to stretch on for miles. Straight ahead was a three story building that was attached to two identical structures on either side of it and all were connected by walkways on the second level. There was a round building close to it and several more were spread out across the yard.

It was all very university-like. Lavi raised his eyebrow in interest and then looked back into the room he had previously occupied.

I wonder where the library is, he thought, Bookman would-

The smile that had begun to form slipped away and reality hit home hard. His muscles were sore and he was more tired than he could remember being, but that didn't bother him. Lavi was used to this; it was something that had happened to him before, many times. But suddenly, it was so much worse.

Then Rose was in front of him and he was relaxing and Bookman was momentarily forgotten. She let go of his hand and smiled; it wasn't an annoyingly happy one either, like the one he wore for his persona. "Glad you could make it Lavi." She said.

She wasn't panicked, he noticed, she was the only one that wasn't in some sort of distressed state. What the hell happened?

The male red-head—who suddenly noticed his hair was inexplicable longer than when he had last spoken to Rose—watched a six-foot tall man with green streaks question another, much shorter and less dangerous looking man, worriedly.

He was about to ask about that, but his guide looped her arm through his and began to lead him away gently. They bumped into a few people on the way but were paid no mind; then Rose started talking, "You don't have to pay them any mind, they're crazy." She sounded so serious about the last part he had to chuckle.

"I doubt they're as crazy as…"

Komui.

Lavi stopped and grabbed the material of his shirt above his heart, something was pressing down on it. Before he could analyze it further, a now familiar cold washed over him and the beating of his heart slowed until he could breathe properly again.

Had he been panicking?

Lavi was confused, he couldn't remember what he had been thinking and it was kind of pissing him off, "What?"

Rose still had that smile, "I was just explaining about tomorrow. I'm going to pick you up early for a tour of the campus they're giving tomorrow for newcomers like yourself."

Unexpectedly, Rose led them off the walkway they had been following dutifully and across the grass filled with curious onlookers, who were still observing the lessening crowd near the gate. Lavi looked ahead in the direction they were walking; there was a large ten story building. Then he, weirdly enough, paid close attention to the grass.

Green, green grass that almost seemed to grow and oh-so-soft. Soft enough to sleep on. Maybe he would. Right now.

Lavi went to do just that, but when he started to go down he was jerked back up and kept in a walking motion by his guide, who had surprising strength.

"I know you must be tired, but you can fall asleep on your own mattress, in your own room; not on the grass. Even if it is an excellent place to catch a few Z's". The last part was said wistfully.

Soon they were walking up the six steps it took to get to the front door and inside. He was hardly noticing anything anymore, his eyes were drooping and the heaviness in his limbs was becoming more noticeable.

They walked up enough flights of stairs that Lavi knew they were on the fifth floor, he was aware enough to notice that much.

He read the numbers on the door to a room, which he presumed to be his, while his guide fumbled with the lock.

157

"I'll leave your key in your room for you."

I was right, Lavi thought.

When the lock clicked she went in ahead of him, assuming correctly that he'd follow. Lavi only bothered to notice the room was small, a twin bed was pushed up against the right wall and the dresser was across from it. It smelled musty and a sheet was ever the window. Obviously, it had been a long time since it had been used.

"Ignore the smell; this room… hasn't been used in… I have no idea how long. It'll be cleaned soon, tomorrow at the latest." Rose stood beside a desk that was dusty and old-looking, "Well, I'll leave you to catch up on your sleep then." She came over and gave him a one armed hug, "Sleep well, kid."

He smiled, "See you tomorrow, Rose-chan." He was so tired.

Rose nodded, squeezed his shoulder one last time and left. The click of the door echoed.

The loneliness came, something that had never used to be a problem before, and was ignored to the best of his ability. It was time to sleep. He could deal with everything tomorrow when his brain was functional.

Ignoring the smell, Lavi dropped onto the bed and let sleep pull him deep down until not even the whole building falling down would have been able to wake him up.

KxL

It was beautiful outside, sun shining, birds singing. A perfect day, a day to be happy. At least, in theory. Kanda sat on a window seat looking out at all the splendor of it, wishing he could just cut it all away. His hand went to his side, where something very familiar should've been but wasn't. Maybe he could start a fire and simply forget to take the proper precautions…

"You look murderous. Why?"

The familiar voice came from behind him; he turned and looked at Alma.

"It's too cheery out there." He said bluntly.

Alma laughed, something Kanda used to miss so much, and came over to hug him. The swordsman let him, it was Alma, it was okay. His friends head rested on his shoulder, "You're so depressing Yuu."

Kanda grunted.

A few more minutes passed in silence. Kanda wasn't a talker and he silently thanked Alma for being quiet too.

When Kanda had first come to this second world, where he now resided, his guide had been Alma. His Alma. He couldn't believe his good fortune, he's lost him, now he had him back, but the cost still tore at him. He had gained his powers two months in and soon after they had met Rose and her group of friends.

Her best friend Jenna was someone Kanda really didn't like, she was loud and brash and someone that liked, very much, to get in trouble. There was Vinny, who was a fourth year like Alma, and Kanda could tolerate the man, but there was one flaw. He had a crush on Jenna. Mana was someone Kanda could spend a reasonable amount of time with. She was quiet, calm, thoughtful, almost another Lenalee. Out of the whole group, she must've been the only sane one; the only questionable thing about her was why she chose to date Rose.

Alma had taken to them right away, but Kanda had held back, he didn't see a need to get to know them.

The fact that he was currently in Mana's home was completely void, Alma had dragged him here.

Alma had also dragged him outside to socialize with 'their' friends. Kanda loved Alma and everything but the long-haired man wanted to be alone.

There was a scream and water crashed onto him. Kanda stood in shock, wet clothes clinging to him, hair over half his face. Then an annoying, familiar laugh rang out and he began to reconsider his long ago promise to Alma not to kill any of his friends.

"Jenna." He growled through gritted teeth.

Kanda turned and looked at the brown-haired girl. She was wading in the water. They were all at a lake behind Mana's house, swimming, except for Kanda himself. Alma could get him out here, but here was no way Alma was getting Kanda in the water.

Jenna laughed and swam further out, "Sorry Kanda, but you shouldn't be sitting there if you don't want to get wet." Finished with that, she dove under and resurfaced a few meters out beside Mana. The two girls tackled each other.

Mana will win, Kanda thought and removed his sopping shirt. He looked down and found Alma staring at him.

"What?" He asked annoyed.

Alma shrugged and pushed his short hair out of his eyes, then reached up, "Help?"

Kanda rolled his eyes but reached down anyway and-

-was pulled harshly down, he fell head first into the lake.

The swordsman came up sputtering and angry, he turned, but Alma was gone. Something tugged him by his legs back under. Kanda opened his eyes and saw his friend's amused face.

Okay, it was on.

Much later, they both lay flat on the dock beside each other, Alma laughing and Kanda trying to catch his breath. A hand linked through Kanda's and held on, "Do you think anybody from the Order will-"

"No." Kanda interrupted sharply.

"Even him?" Alma asked softly.

Kanda stared up at the sky, thinking, there had been anger in Alma's first question. After a second Kanda answered, "No."

"Do you want him to be there?"

Kanda took a peek at the most important person in his life and found the man staring at him hard. Kanda squeezed their linked hands, "You're all I want Alma. Truthfully, I'd be all the happier if none of the Order ever came here."

The smile Alma gave him was worth the lie.

Hope you all enjoyed it and chapter two is getting uploaded right now. Now if you all would please just write your thoughts on this chapter in the pretty little white box down below it would greatly appreciated! :) Plus it's the right thing to do. It builds character!

Yours truly,

~Klaanvdia