"Wait...," Allen started as the Crows began to lead him out of the room. "Wait a minute..." He began to struggle as he was lead further and further away from the answers he so desperately wanted. "What the bleeding hell do you mean I have to freakin' kill someone I love!" He stopped struggling and snarled, "MASTER!"

Cross paused in his steps and replied in a soft tone he didn't often use, "Listen to the '14th'. There's another side to this war. Don't die before it's over this time."

Allen gritted his teeth, his lips curling up in a feral snarl that caught Lavi by surprise. Allen's mind raced heavily, thoughts whirling dangerously. One of the Crow members opened the door for Cross, intoning, "Your time is up, please leave the room."

Cross snorted, snapping, "Shut up, I know!"

Allen's eyes widened a little in rage as he screamed, "Wait, Master!"

Another Crow member that was holding Allen back, said, "Your audience is over."

Allen's lip curled further, and he nearly slammed his forehead into the Crow's head but refrained and settled for yelling, "You can't just say something like that and leave!" As his master continued to ignore him the former street rat twitched, face darkening as his Harry influenced personality began to break through.

"Damn it," he cursed, towering over a suddenly very afraid golem. "I said..." Allen slammed his forehead into Timcampy suddenly, shocking the Crow members restraining him. "...Wait, you shitty bastard!" Lavi's eyes widened and he nearly gaped. Allen cursing? What the hell was going on exactly?

Timcampy hit Cross in the back of his head harshly before bouncing off and floating in circles, dizzy. Everyone froze, not knowing what to do or what was going to happen. The Crow next to Cross suddenly had to hold the general back as a dark aura exploded around the redhead and he tried to make his way towards his apprentice, growling, "Huh? What? I couldn't hear you?"

Allen panted glaring at his master, "Wh-When I joined the Order..." He took a deep breath staring at his master with swirling depths of gray, as he continued, "...I swore to Mana that I would never stop, no matter what. That I would keep walking until I died." His eyes pierced deeply into the general's and the redhead was stricken at how much they reminded him of Harry, the only person he ever allowed even minutely close to him. Cross flinched when Allen continued, "I'm the one who swore!"

"I don't know how much I've been influenced by the '14th's' memories, and, honestly, I don't really know how to take that damn news about Mana. But...but I still love him. These feelings...come from my heart, which for the longest time I thought I never had, that it never existed, from the real me that he helped me find!"Flashes of all the memories of the times spent traveling with Mana and Harry passed through his mind.

"So I'm going to keep my damn promise to Mana! That's what I, Allen Walker-Prince, not the shitty '14th' decided." The white haired teen stuck his tongue out at Cross, glaring, "I don't give a damn about the '14th'! I won't let him have this! Shitty, bastard of a Master!"

X-X

"So...there you have it, Supervisor," Leverrier smirked. Malicious thoughts swirled in the man's head as he waited for the supervisor's reply to his next question, "Are you disappointed?"

Komui didn't answer immediately, holding his chin and biting the inside of his cheek. The new revelations were shocking and he didn't know exactly how he felt, but he did know that no matter what Allen Walker-Prince decided he would no doubt follow. Finally, he answered slowly, choosing his words carefully, "The '14th' is after the Earl as well..." He paused before continuing, "He is not our enemy."

Leverrier stood from his previous seated position, back straight and arms behind his back. "But we do not know why he wants to kill the Earl. Even if our goals are the same, we have no proof he is not evil." He frowned tightly for a second before smoothing his face over and finishing, "We have no guarantee he won't turn on us."

Komui grit his teeth, hands clenched tightly behind his back, as sweat dripped down from his forehead. Lavi narrowed his eyes, 'Komui...' Lavi bit the inside of his cheek, clenching his teeth afterwards as his thoughts swirled. 'There's no way he can protect him...Central sees Allen as a threat.'

Not looking at his master Lavi questioned silently, "Hey, gramps, what do you think the general meant when he said this war has 'another side'...?" When he got no reply Lavi turned to his Master, "Gramps?"

Bookman was sweating and his face was pinched tightly, face pale. Lavi's eyes widened minutely never seeing the elder bookman like this before. Bookman spun on his heel and began to leave, "Let's go, Lavi." Lavi frowned but followed, nearly missing the next part Bookman said silently, "Put it out of your mind until I say otherwise, and never mention it again."

When the Bookman left Leverrier declared stonily, "I plan to make an announcement about this before the staff and exorcists."

Komui spun around, sweat dripping as he exclaimed in shock, "Tomorrow...!"

Leverrier turned slightly as he was nearly out the door, "I'll announce Allen Walker-Prince's, fate then, too."

Komui nearly gaped in shock. He twitched and firmed his face as he asked dangerously, "...Is that the Pope's decision?"

Leverrier smirked and replied as the door shut behind him, "Good Night..." Komui growled in the back of his throat as he ground his teeth, his fist tightening.

Leverrier walked past the Crows, "Thank you for guarding the meeting."

As one they answered, "Yes, sir."

The one closest to Leverrier spoke up, "I believe Cross Marian put something in the golem. What do you suggest?"

Leverrier hummed before glancing over his shoulder, "I'll leave the rest of their investigation to you, 'Inspector Howard Link.'"

The Crow member bowed slightly, "Yes, sir."

X-X

Cross took a sip of his wine as he gazed out the window and thus the falling rain. His eyes seemed to glaze over slightly and a frown tugged on his lips. He placed an arm on top of his knee and smirked softly, closing his eyes. "He's gotten cheekier." He turned away from the window, his smirk fading into a smile, "I guess it hasn't been all that bad for him here."

There was silence and he let the hand holding his wine glass dangling over the edge of his seat. He tilted his head back, letting it hit the wall with a soft 'thunk'. He hummed and whispered to himself, "Did I do the right thing, Harry?"

His gaze returned to the storm raging outside and he mumbled to near inaudible levels, "Are you proud of me at all, Har?" A small tear escaped his eye and slid down his cheek before dripping from his chin and onto his golden necklace.

Two knocks rapped against the door.

His face smoothed and he turned to the door with hard eyes. Three more knocks sounded and the redhead reached for his gun on the floor next to him. He pulled it out and a 'click' answered the movement.

X-X

Emerald colored eyes glowed from the darkness of the damp hallway. The smell of faded mold tainted the air and lit torches ran along the wall. Footsteps echoed down the hall, revealing a slim figure of male gender. The torches cast shadows over the face, hiding its owner. The emerald colored eyes vanished and a pale hand reached out instead from behind the figure. The dark shadows of the steadily growing dark hall licked the arm that was following.

The hand landed on the shoulder without touching and applied pressure without feeling. Pale lips caressed the lone figure's ear and they formed the words:

You're not alone anymore.

The scream that was about to issue from the figure was muffled by the pale hand and the voice ordered in lilted tone, "Tell me where General Cross Marian's rooms are." The figure refused to answer. A blade glinted in the flickering torchlight that was slowly fading and pressed against the figure's throat. The pale lips brushed against the lone person's ear as they ordered, their voice morphing into something darker, "Now."

X-X

Allen slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head from where it was resting on Lenalee's head. He looked around the room slowly, trying to find what had woke him up. The curtains were closed, but a lone stream of sunlight broke through the slit in the middle. That was not what had woken the teen, though.

It had been something deeper. Something important.

Blood splattered the window and a slumped figure was leaned against the wall, the red liquid dripping on the floor.

Allen stared at the sliver of sky he could see. Then, ever so slowly, a small smile wormed its way onto his pale face, eyes brightening.

"He's awakened."

X-X

A slim figure glided towards the two sleeping guards and the person's lip curled at the sight of them. A gloved had reached forward and opened the door with a soft click. It closed behind him and glowing emerald colored eyes surveyed the room. The figure's feet made no noise as they made their way towards the bloody body slumped against the wall.

A pale hand cupped Cross's face and cold lips pressed two kisses on either corner of the redhead's lips and they murmured, revealing the gender. A smooth baritone purred softly, "Greetings again, love." Slim arms slithered around the unresponsive body, blood seeping into his clothes.

He ignored the knocking and calling, making himself invisible when the guard opened the door. There was shouting and then the sound of running feet. Then...

With a crash he pushed the two of them out the window, glass shattered and all that remained behind was a gun and a cracked mask.

That was the last anyone saw of Cross Marian.

X-X

10 days later

X-X

Wind blew gently through the window, caressing Leverrier's face lovingly. The smell of blood was heavy in the air. His face tightened and he furrowed his brow worriedly. "Who...on earth...?" He paused when he noticed Timcampy peeking over the cracked glass in the corner of the window.

Timcampy saw him and lowered himself. Leverrier looked away, shifting uncomfortably. Timcampy peeked over again and he sweatdropped, "What is it?" Leverrier leaned forward a bit awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

A ghostlike touch ran down his cheek and he jerked. The door started to open and voices were saying, "Again?"

"He's probably in here again. Tim?"

The touch was gone and Allen and Leverrier met each other's surprised stares. There was silence. Leverrier picked up the plate of cake on the table and held it out. Looking Allen in the eye he asked, "It's a new recipe of mine...would you like to try?"

Allen's eyes flashed dangerously, and Leverrier shivered mentally. The teen's lip curled slightly, eyes wide with rage, "What are you doing...in a place like this...?"

Leverrier shoved the fear down and quirked an eyebrow, "I could ask the same...I was under the impression that this room was off-limits...?"

Allen's expression darkened and his cheek spasmed slightly. He jerked his head in the direction of Timcampy, who was nuzzling the dried blood sadly, wings drooped. Voice laced with barely restrained rage, Allen explained coldly, "Tim has been missing Master deeply...ever since that day. If I take my eyes off him for a second, he ends up in here..."

Allen's tone of voice changed when he uttered the words 'that day', and Link noted it carefully, filing it away to analyze later. Silence befell the group again and Allen's aura darkened dangerously, saturating the air with something threatening. Bangs shadowing his eyes, Allen uttered, voice colored with some unknown emotion, "...Let's go, Tim."

"...Don't you want any cake?" Leverrier asked as Timcampy flew over to Allen.

Allen turned on his heel and answered in a clipped tone, aura disappearing, "I'm fine, thank you." The white haired teen rested a hand on Timcampy's head as he began to exit the room.

He stopped however when Leverrier called, "Allen Walker..." Allen did not look at him. "Was it perhaps you who killed Cross Marian, Mr. 'Fourteenth'?"

The sudden threatening aura returned and pressed down on the room heavily as Allen looked over his shoulder, eyes wide with something darker and more deadly than rage, "Or perhaps it was you, Mr. Secretary?" Without waiting for a reply, Allen slammed the door shut with his left hand behind him.

X-X

FIN

X-X

ParaNoiablooD: I am unsure if I will ever complete this one, but it is sort of tied into my other HPxDGM story I posted.