Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray -Man.
Chapter 1: Annual Passing
"Mama!" a young boy called out. "He's waking up!"
"Let me take a look… go wait in the other room Jeffery." The middle-aged woman replied. The boy smiled then quickly jumped off the small box he was using as a chair and ran off.
Allen fluttered his eyes open but his vision was still blurry, so all he could see were dark figures and shapes. The woman placed a wet cloth on his forehead, waiting until he properly regained consciousness and could speak for himself. It didn't take very long, as Allen was a very strong boy, especially considering his age.
"W-Where am I?" he spoke weakly.
"You're safe now. There is nothing to worry about." The woman said as she gently brushed her fingers across his cheek to give him some sort of comfort. "Please wait here; I will go get you some tea. Why don't you try sitting up? It may help…"
Allen smiled, gesturing that he had heard her. He waited until the woman left before slowly sitting up. His head was still pounding and his body felt incredibly stiff. It took him a few goes, but eventually Allen was able to sit up and lean against the wall the bed was pushed against.
He had a quick look around the room he was currently in. It was very small, no bigger than an average sized bathroom. The only things that could fit in there was a single bed, pushed up against the wall on both its side and back with a wooden stool used as a bedside table to the left. The walls were painted maroon and had photographs hanging up on the walls full of colour and life, most being family photos and single portraits. To his right on the wall beside him was a small window a little higher above his head. It was slightly opened, letting in a small breeze keeping the room at a nice temperature.
Allen was lost in thought as he stared out the window at the sunny sky, only to be quickly startled by a dog barking at the door. He shot his head around and saw a black spotted, brown German Shepherd sitting on the floor, waiting patiently for something.
"Hello there…" Allen said kindly, putting his arm out, curious if the dog would approach for a pat.
Turns out, it did. The dog was very calm, obviously well-mannered. Allen smiled as he continued to pat and scratch the dog all around its head. The dog poked its tongue out from enjoyment.
"He loves a good scratch under the chin…" the woman's voice called out from the hall.
Allen looked up, finally getting a proper look at the lady. She was wearing an auburn coloured jacket, buttoned up at the front tucked in at her waist by her grey ankle-length skirt. Her silky black hair was tied up in a high pony-tail using a ribbon the same colour as her shirt. She appeared as though she was around her late thirties, early forties, not wearing any make-up, but her sky blue eyes still shone brightly, making her still appear both young and beautiful.
"I'm sorry miss, I… I don't quite remember your name."
She chuckled softly. "You wouldn't know it either… we've never met before. My name is Annabelle. Annabelle Harsh."
"It's nice meeting you, Miss Annabelle. Thank you for taking care of me." Allen bowed softly.
"You're welcome. May I know your name?"
"Allen Walker"
The dog barked, turning both their attention to the dog as it put its paws up on Allen's bed, tongue hanging out. Allen and Annabelle laughed softly.
"This is Leo… do not worry about him. He is more playful than violent… he wouldn't even harm a fly." Annabelle smiled.
Allen also smiled, but it soon disappeared as he looked down, staring into his left palm. His entire arm was red; almost looking burnt or scarred. It also had a star-shaped mark on the front. He almost shrieked from the sight of it, but tried to stay calm in the presence of Annabelle. It looked familiar, but he had no idea why his arm was like that.
"Do you remember anything… Allen-san?"
Allen quickly turned his head back to Annabelle. "I… I don't. I know my name… but… I can't remember anything else. Can you please tell me… who am I?"
Annabelle's eyes widened. She was definitely shocked by his question and had to take a second to compose herself. "A-Allen-san… I'm afraid. I can't tell you…"
"Why?"
"Because… I do not know either…"
"W-What?"
She sighed and took in a deep breath. Her smile too vanished and she appeared more calm and serious than before. "You have been asleep for almost a year now… my son found you collapsed on the main road that leads to our farm. You were covered in injuries. We weren't sure what happened, but, when we brought you inside, you mumbled something, but…" Annabelle sighed again, looking down from his face. "I'm not quite sure what you said… I'm very sorry."
Allen looked forward for a moment then spoke. "No, it's alright. I'm the one who should be sorry… I must've been a lot of trouble…"
"No, it's quite alright. I'm glad I was able to nurse you back to health… do you feel better?"
"Yes… Arigatou."
Annabelle smiled again, handing over the tea she was still holding in her hand. Allen took it and sipped it, slowly drinking its contents. It was warm. It felt good as he swallowed it. His throat was no longer dry and his headache disappeared. Although it was tea, it felt like some sort of medicine. "Thank you, it was lovely."
"You're welcome."
"Mama! Mama!" the boy ran in.
Allen watched as he pulled at his mother's shirt, trying to get her attention. He was very small, probably only six or seven years old. He had silky black hair like his mothers, short in length, coming down just past his ears. He had soft brown eyes and his skin was a little more pale than Annabelle's. Allen guessed he took after his father in that aspect.
"What is it son?" she said, looking down at him.
"The chickens escaped again…"
"Ughh… not again. Jeffery, keep Allen company whilst I'm gone." She quickly turned and began running. "Come on Leo!" she called out. Leo got off and ran after her. Allen heard as the back door swung open then slammed shut as she ran outside.
"Hello Mister. My name is Jeffery." The boy said, sitting on the box once again, smiling up at Allen.
"Hello Jeffery. You can call me Allen."
"My daddies name was Allen." He smiled.
"Really?"
"Yup! He was a farmer and met my mummy when he got sick with the flu! She was a nurse back then…"
Allen chuckled as he watched the boy talk about his family. He seemed so energetic. He took another look at the photos on the walls, realising that the portraits were of him and his family. They looked so happy together.
"Where is your daddy now?" Allen asked curious.
"Mummy said that daddy went to a special place…"
"…a special place?"
"Yup! It's called heaven… if you're a good person, you get to go there. Mummy says it's the happiest place in the world!"
Allen slightly froze, realising what the boy was talking about. Annabelle must of told him that story so he was less hurt by the truth of it all. Without changing his face, Allen put on a smile and laughed with the boy. The last thing he wanted to do was to get both of them upset…
A sudden loud noise was heard outside. It sounded like a pile of boxes falling over.
"GET BACK HERE!" the screams of Annabelle called out.
Jeffery began laughing hysterically, falling off the box and landing on the floor, not that he seemed to care. Allen moved, ignoring the pain and peaked out the window. He saw Annabelle holding a large cage, chasing three chickens that were currently running away from her. Leo jumped out from behind the wall, cornering them, but the chickens ignored the dog and just ran underneath his feet. Leo looked a little stunned.
"Quickly! Chase them Leo!" she exclaimed.
Leo jumped and started chasing them once again. Annabelle was slowing down, running out of breath. Without realising it, the chickens and Leo ran in a large circle, coming up behind her. The three chickens ran underneath her skirt, lifting it up with the wind…
"Whoa!"
Leo then came charging underneath her, tripping her over, continuing to chase the chickens. Annabelle fell backwards, landing in a puddle of mud. Allen quickly ducked his head; covering his mouth as he tried to hide is laughter.
"Does this happen often?" he snickered.
Jeffery nodded. "Since daddy left, no one has been able to fix the door on the chicken hut, so they usually escape from time to time and mummy has to go chasing them…"
"Oh?"
"Yup." He smiled.
The two boys heard the door swing open and saw Annabelle drag herself in with her clothes covered in mud, and white chicken feathers covering her garments.
"Did you catch them mama?" Jeffery asked, snickering.
"…Leo chased them back in the hut and is guarding the door." She hissed.
Allen couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her. "Excuse me… Miss Annabelle." He said softly, trying to hide his laughter.
"Yes?"
"If I fix the door to the chicken hut… do you think I could stay here? At least until I get a little bit of my memory back?"
Annabelle leaned against the wall, putting her hand to her chin, thinking. She looked down at her son and smirked. "Only if Jeffery says yes. He's the man of the house now…"
Jeffery's eyes widened before he turned back to face Allen. "Yes, yes, yes!" he said, jumping up and giving him a hug. "I've never had a big brother before…"
Allen smiled, tilting his head and wrapping one arm around him to return the hug. "Then I will be the best big brother you've ever had…"
"Ah-Ah—ACHOO!" Komui sneezed.
"You alright Nii-san? You're not getting sick are you?"
"No no, I'm alright Lenalee-chan. I think someone is talking about me…"
"Tch. Who the hell would talk about you? You're nothing but an annoying older brother…" Kanda butt in.
"Kanda!" Lenalee pouted, hitting him over the head with the tray she once carried the coffee mugs on.
He growled under his breath before turning away quickly to avoid her face. "Aren't you sending us on a mission already?" he snapped, growing impatient.
Komui sat back in his chair of his office and fixed his glasses, pushing them up so he could see better.
A year had passed since that fateful day, and no one really understood what happened. After seeing the white light in the sky, Lenalee passed out, eventually waking up in the infirmary of Black Order along with Lavi and Kanda. Unfortunately, the only remains they found of Allen was his silver decorated mask that appeared whenever he activated Crown Clown.
Komui explained to them that they were lucky to be alive. After a visit to Hevlaska, she revealed that Allen's innocence had disappeared, thus they presumed that he was dead.
Lenalee never gave up hope, believing that Allen was still alive, but after six months, she began to let her hopes fade. She questioned herself whether or not she was just putting too much faith in someone that was gone. It took her a while to grasp hold of reality again, but she eventually found the strength to continue. She decided she would never give up hope, and to cherish the memories she once had. It may not have looked like it, but both Kanda and Lavi were doing the same in their own ways.
A lot has changed since then. Bookman has been frequently disappearing for long periods of time; even Lavi didn't know where he disappeared to. The Special Inspector, Malcolm C. Lvellie has issued for Link and several other assistant members of Central to be posted in Black Order, bringing updates to Central whenever a new Exorcist arrives or a strange occurrence happens.
Of course, this disturbed the natural flow of things. Everything became more strict and there appeared to be no time to relax. Black Order, what the Exorcists, Finders and even Scientists once called their home… was now becoming a prison.
"You are bound to the Order. Once you make this pledge, you are forbidden to leave. If you attempt to escape, you will be deemed a traitor and hunted down and killed."
That was the pledge Inspector Lvellie ordered everyone of the Order to take. In one sense, it was lucky Allen was gone. He didn't have to see his home become riddled with darkness. Komui did his best to stop the changes, but even he couldn't go against Central's words. He too was bound to them, and as long as Lenalee was there, he swore never to do anything that would bring her grief, even if it meant doing things he himself regretted.
There was still the case of the Level 5 Akuma. No one knows what happened that day Allen, Lenalee, Kanda and Lavi fought it. They presumed it was killed along with Allen, but no one was certain.
"The Earl continues to toy with us… doesn't he?" Lenalee questioned softly.
Kanda and Komui looked towards her, though they said nothing. The room was silent until Reever opened the door to Komui's office, breaking the silence as he had an urgent notice for them…
"Komui-san… something's happened… a finder has returned, but he looks as though he has been poisoned by an Akuma." Reever called out.
"What?" Komui stood up and quickly followed Reever down the stairs to the front entrance. Curious, Kanda and Lenalee followed.
Making their way through a crowd, they saw a few guards pinning the Finder against a pillar, pointing their weapons at his neck. Link was standing by, writing notes in his book, preparing a report for Lvellie. Komui stopped a few feet away, shocked at the sight of him.
The Finder had one stigmata mark on his forehead, his skin as pale as the moon. His eyes were black and on his entire right side of his body, Akuma star marks were spreading.
"How did he get past the gatekeeper?" Komui asked.
"Apparently he was fine until he stepped inside the Order…" Reever answered.
"Exor…cists…" the Finder spoke. His voice was sketchy, sounding almost as if he had two voices. It was much deeper than usual, giving an ominous feeling to everyone. Something wasn't right… why was he not dead from the poison yet?
"What happened?" Komui asked the Finder, sounding more serious and up front.
"A terrible darkness… is about to give birth to evil… unless you give us… Allen Walker… you will all die…"
"Allen Walker?" Reever questioned softly to himself.
"Allen Walker is dead. We cannot help you with that request. The Earl should know that…" Komui replied.
"You are wrong…"
"Wrong?"
"…Allen Walker… lives… he will—"The Finder suddenly exploded, turning to dust as his body hit the floor.
Everyone had to take a step back, most covering their faces, coughing from the dust that spread around them. Komui, Reever, Lenalee and Kanda heard everyone whisper around them. The Earl was trying to get under their skins again. One wrong move and it could mean the end for the Exorcists. Without saying anything, Link took off. Komui suspected he was going to send in a report to Lvellie.
"Reever-san, bring Kanda and Lenalee to my lab. Make sure no one follows…" Komui whispered before stepping out in front of everyone. "This is no time to question yourselves. Allen Walker is dead. Do not let the Earl play us for fools… if we let him get to us, we will lose this war."
Reever turned around and tapped Kanda and Lenalee on the shoulders before heading off in a different direction. They looked at each other before following discretely behind.
Lenalee knew her brother was planning something, something which would probably go against the rules, but if it meant something to him, she knew it would be important…
However, before they were able to find out what he was planning, an unsuspected friend showed up.
"Kanda! Lenalee!" Lavi called out, running up behind them. Reever too turned around, although he was a fair distance ahead, he could somewhat hear what they were saying.
"Lavi… what's wrong?" Lenalee asked concerned.
Lavi looked distraught. He was puffing a lot, obviously meaning he had to run a fair bit to find them. "Bookman…"
"Bookman?" Kanda and Lenalee said in unison.
"…Central. They're saying he's dead…"
"…what!"
"They say he was killed… by his own innocence."
Preview:
"The Lion and the Mouse!"