~ The Fourteenth's Memories ~

Pairings: Tyki/Allen (one-sided), Kanda/Allen

Warning: violence, gore, slash

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DGM characters!

Legend:

-xxx-xxx-xxx- dream sequence

x-x-x-x-x line break

Chapter Three: The Beginning

Allen walked down a dirt road trailing behind a tall man wearing a shabby suit and top hat. Allen loved him with all his heart but he had yet to show anything in return. He was always teaching him lessons but only his father ever showed him love. Mana was always too busy.

"Mana, when will father return?"

Allen watched as Mana's eyes sadden. He couldn't help but ask. He truly missed his father yet somehow he could tell that his father was no longer here and had departed to the next life. Mana had never told him that yet he could feel it and it made him feel even lonelier. His magic just knew that his father would never return to them.

"Can we return home?" Allen asked.

Mana stopped and turned kneeling down in front of Allen to look him in the eyes. This was some of the first indication that Mana had returned to showing him love. It was probably as close as he was ever going to get.

"You are too young to take the responsibilities of the Fourteenth yet. When you are older we shall return home but not any sooner. Do you understand?"

Allen nodded his head even though a heavy weight was on his heart. Travelling was beginning to tire him a lot more than it should and Mana wasn't exactly the best of company to have. Not that he was complaining that Mana was there. He loved Mana like he did his father yet he felt as if something were missing. He longed to return home where his friends were. Allen wanted to relax and run around the castle exploring every single room he could find. Yet there was no returning now.

Mana had told him that there would be nothing to return to currently as the Empire had destroyed everything he held dear yet he felt as if Mana was wrong in some way . . . his magic knew that there was something to return to.

-xxx-xxx-xxx-

"Mana . . . Mana!" Allen shouted at the lifeless corpse.

Mana lay motionless on the ground in the snow no longer moving. Allen knew that it was far too late to help him and should have left the area immediately in case he was caught however he couldn't leave Mana behind. He couldn't let go of his past and Mana was the only person he had left.

"Mana, please don't die! Don't leave me alone. You promised me that we would return home soon!" Allen pleaded.

Allen cried into the jacket of his beloved Mana in an attempt to wake the man. It was pointless yet he couldn't help it. He had given up on living with nothing waiting for him. Now that Mana was gone he was left alone in the world.

Suddenly he felt strong hands pull him effortlessly from Mana while two men reached for his body.

"Mana don't let them take me please! I don't want to go with them. I want to stay with you Mana!" Allen screams reached deaf ears as he was thrown carelessly into a carriage.

"My dear Allen . . . don't worry, I shall make you forget everything . . ."

x-x-x-x-x

My name isn't Fourteen it's Allen, Allen Walker. That was Fourteen . . . no, Allen's first thought as he woke up. Tears cascaded down his face from the dream. He didn't ever remember crying except for in that dream. That dream was defiantly no dream it was a memory . . . one of his memories.

It had been far too long since he had remembered something. He had remembered small things on occasion like the places he could never remember travelling to though he knew he'd been there once. Tyki had told him that memories were fickle and that he had forgotten because there was nothing important to remember. But that was wrong Mana had cared . . . he was important to Allen.

That meant that this 'Mana' was related to him somehow. Well he defiantly wasn't his father that much was certain but they were close. He had travelled with Mana when he was no longer at home. Allen couldn't help but wonder what or even where his home was. Could it still be standing? Where there people who knew about his past? Knowing answer wouldn't come to him, Allen decided that he should wake up.

Standing, Allen found a plain white shirt and dark grey pants to wear before pulling his boots on and walking out of the room that was given to him. He knew that he should have told someone that he was awake but he didn't care he just wanted to move and if that meant not telling anyone he was awake then so be it.

Opening the door he looked around and realized that no one was guarding the door which meant they really did trust him which was strange due to his military status. Allen made his way downstairs and realized that they must have cleaned up his 'mess' after he fell asleep in the room as everything was spotless. Looking to his left into what he believed was a lounge room he found no one, the same was found while looking right into the kitchen. No one was around and there was no mess. Allen guessed they were sleeping like he had after all it was still early in the morning and the sun was only just peaking over the horizon.

Curiously he walked outside. Standing in the middle of the yard was Kanda. He was holding a long sword similar to the one he picked up yesterday. Allen sat down on the bottom step in front of the door watching as Kanda practiced his sword skills. He was remarkably talented, almost as talented as Allen himself. Suddenly Kanda turned around, sword raised ready to attack until he saw it was simply Allen. Allen didn't even flinch.

"Did I wake you Moyashi?" Kanda said lowering his sword.

"I usually wake this early." Allen said emotionlessly.

"Why?"

"I'm instructed to do so by my master if I don't the servants beat me."

At this Kanda scowled. Why was the Moyashi so willing to obey his master whoever it was? He had no memories of another life simply the life of a military slave. That was hardly a life for a small boy yet that was the life he guessed the Moyashi had lead until now meaning his skills were extremely developed.

"Here . . ." Kanda said throwing a sheathed sword at Allen.

"You wish to spar with me?" he asked cautiously in case he mistook Kanda's intentions.

"Yes baka Moyashi now ready yourself."

Allen unsheathed his sword keeping in mind that he didn't desire to kill the man standing before him. They were only sparing which meant that Kanda wanted to test his skills against someone from the military. He desired to see whether he could have a chance at surviving against the military.

Kanda ran forward sword raised. Allen blocked and dodged his attack elegantly. Suddenly he turned and had his sword at Kanda's throat as he turned to face him. Allen could see the frustration in Kanda's eyes as he had underestimated Allen's ability as a soldier. That's when Allen noticed his demeanour turned serious not that his face revealed any of this however his body language said differently. His stance straightened and stiffened prepared almost for a real duel. Kanda was now concentrating with all his effort.

Allen smiled. Kanda was taking him seriously, now he could see how much of a threat Kanda was to the military and from there guess about the remainder of their group. Kanda charged towards Allen again yet this time he was fierce, showing stealth and agility. Allen blocked this attack this time holding the block. Their strength was roughly the same as was their skill. This could be fun, Allen thought. He hadn't spared with an equal in a long time.

They continued like this for most of the morning until the sun was up above the trees. Kanda was slightly panting now. Never had he expected to get such a work out from someone smaller than him. For the first time in his life Kanda felt inferior to the Moyashi who wasn't even breaking a sweat. Allen was now sitting on the front step again the sword resting vertical in the loose soil before him.

It was amazing but Kanda knew that since the brat was high up in the military he would have a good chance at defeating the other soldiers. Standing up straight he walked back towards the house.

"Come on, time for breakfast." Kanda said walking past the Moyashi.

Willingly, Allen stood and followed Kanda into the kitchen. Sitting himself at the table he watched patiently as Kanda made himself soba while he also prepared eggs and toast for Allen. Allen gratefully accepted the food and immediately began to eat. Kanda watched as the Moyashi began to eat not bothering to hide the surprise on his face.

"Why are you eating willingly all of a sudden?"

Allen paused to think over this question before coming to a decision.

"I like the taste of food." Allen said with a small smile.

Allen watched as the shock disappeared behind Kanda's normal mask as Teidoll walked into the room only to take a piece of toast and leave. Together they continued to eat while the others walked into the room grabbed some random food and then walked out again to continue what they were doing before. Allen had a feeling that they simply didn't want to be around him out of fear for their safety.

"Do you remember anything about yourself?" Kanda asked suddenly.

Allen looked up at him surprise written across his face before turning his attention back to his meal in deep thought. He had remembered something, his name and that he had travelled with Mana. Then there was that confusing memory of the Earl. What was he made to forget? Well obviously there was something in his memory that he wasn't meant to remember.

"Oi Moyashi, answer me!" Kanda demanded.

However now he had his concentration on something else, a person who was moving swiftly in their direction from outside.

"Moyas-"

"Quiet, someone is approaching."

Kanda immediately froze. Obviously this was someone that Allen didn't know since he wasn't bothered by the others when they came in for breakfast. For a minute they remained silent though Kanda heard nothing. Then he heard the undeniable sounds of footsteps moving quickly towards the front door.

Allen watched cautiously as a tall man with long red hair and a face mask walked into the room. He smelt strongly of cigarettes and alcohol something all too familiar to Allen. Tyki loved to spend his time with Allen getting drunk. Allen almost shuddered. The man glanced around carelessly as he entered without invitation and turned towards the kitchen where Allen and Kanda had just finished eating.

"Cross." Kanda acknowledged as the man walked into the room staring directly at Allen.

"Who's the brat?" The man named Cross said with a drunken slur.

"No one you need to know!" Kanda shouted protectively though he wouldn't admit that later.

"Now Yuu-chan don't be like that!" Teidoll said walking calmly into the room.

"Don't call me that!" Kanda growled back with his hand threateningly on Mugen. He would protect the Moyashi even if he was annoying. It was like an instinct.

"This is our military boy, Fourteen. Lavi and Kanda found him drifting in the river nearby." Teidoll explained ignoring Kanda's threat.

Cross who was still watching Allen appeared to frown at him. Allen watched Cross's reaction and knew immediately just by his facial expression. He knows who I am. This guy knows about Tyki Mikk, my master. Fear shot through his body. Will he return me to my master? Wait . . . why am I scared of returning to my master? Shouldn't I be relieved that I could return to my rightful place? Before Allen could get his head around anything Teidoll spoke.

"So Marian why did you travel here?" Cross turned away from Allen.

"The military are moving around the area. They believe that some of the villagers in this area may know the location to the Fourteenth's castle and that one of them can utilize the Fourteenth's ability. They are also looking for your brat there."

"That is impossible! Only the Fourteenth's bloodline can control that much power and they are no longer around to do so. If anyone else were to try they would be killed instantly." Teidoll argued ignoring the fact that the military were searching for Allen.

"That doesn't matter at the moment. You should pack the bare minimum and leave for another safe house. Oh and take the brat with you, he shouldn't be found by the military again. He's far too precious for that." Cross said turning to leave.

"You're not coming with us?" Teidoll asked.

Cross however simply turned and stared at Allen with his piercing . . . eyes.

"Do you remember me?"

-xxx-xxx-xxx-

"Allen will be able to do anything he wants Marian, you should know that by now." Mana said laughing as Allen attempted to climb a tree in the castle garden.

"The brat will never be able to do anything the useless whelp that he is." Cross answered taking another swig of his drink while Allen pulled himself up onto one of the lower branches. It was a start but he wanted to correct that drunken idiot first.

"I will be great one day you'll see! Father will be proud of me and I'll lead my people to peace and salvation!"

-xxx-xxx-xxx-

When Allen opened his eyes they all noticed his eyes seemed to sparkle with life before fading slightly back to their original gray colour.

"I remember you with Mana standing in front of a castle in the garden otherwise no, I have no recollection of you."

Cross nodded his head before taking releasing a breath and leaving through the front door without a goodbye a stunned silence was all that remained. Teidoll was the first to regain his composure and turned towards the group.

"Well you heard him. Be ready to depart tonight."

Everyone nodded and left the kitchen leaving Kanda with Allen.

"Come on Moyashi." Kanda said without the harsh voice.

"That isn't my name." Allen said with a slightly annoyed tone, one of the few emotions he had revealed to the man that morning.

"As I said before it is until-"

"Master called me Fourteen but . . . my name . . . is Allen Walker."

Rewritten: 23/05/2010

~MidnightEmber