Summary: She once stood with the Noah clan, but the Innocence had intervened during her reincarnation, making her the host and locking up her other self. With this, she forgotten the person she loved most, but as an exorcist, she fell in love. KandaXOCXTyki.
Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray-Man. Anything off from the original story is not by the series' author/artist.
Note: I think I might be too brief on the relationship between Guren, Cross and Allen. But I want to rush to the part where Tyki and Kanda appears ):
Revised 2015, July.
Recap:
'This is my Innocence?'
As Your Lover – Life
"There, perfect." Cross said as a smirk and his cigarette hung at the side of his lips, while Guren looked like she was trying to hold back her tears. She jumped off the seat and went in front of the mirror, sticking out her stinging tongue to have a look. Her demon of an adoptive father decided to forge her Innocence into a silver straight barbell tongue piercing with a button of a cross. He reasoned it being the best way for her to conceal the Innocence, and have it with her at all times. On occasions like this, Guren would doubt whether Cross would really manage as her father.
"Stupid Cross, it hurts." She felt her words being slurred out as she sighed, "Such a bratty father."
"Oi, oi. Don't talk like I don't exist." Cross said as he pulled Guren up by the collar again and placed her on the couch beside him. He took the cigarette into his fingers and leaned back, "You should be worrying now. Although I said there was a possibility, but I have never heard of a Noah being compatible with the Innocence."
"Maybe it is because I'm still human, not Noah yet. Or that this meant something is coming…" She trailed off, leaving her sentence hanging as the mere thought of a Noah using the Innocence, the one single thing that could kill them seemed so unreal. Guren had already accepted her fate that she would awakened as a member of the Noah clan, but at the same time, she wasn't really to abandon the bond she had formed with Cross; they were family.
Cross looked at his girl, calm, from the corner of his eyes as he placed a hand on her head, "Be careful when you use the Innocence. You won't want to be eaten up by it and be turned into a Fallen One." Maybe he was worried for her. Just a little only. He heaved a puff of smoke and watched the girl played with the foreign object in her mouth. There was no telling whether the Innocence would reject her during the course of her awakening, but the fact remained that the Innocence had found her on its own. This situation was just confusing. He hated it when things were unclear. The only information he had known about the Last Noah from Nea was that she held the 'Power of Words' and 'Eyes of Revelation', but he didn't understand why she was the holy trinity of the Noah clan. Wasn't she just a pet raised inside a glass house? And how was she the medicine? He sighed again.
"Come on, let's go AKUMA hunting." Cross said while picking up the Grave of Maria on his suitcase. The only way to know about her Innocence would be trying it out. They walked in the streets, and as usual, the pair attracted a lot of attention with his flashy uniform and her strange appearance. Cross smirked as he walked into a more secluded part of the town; the AKUMAs had caught on. "I won't be calling Maria, you are going to protect yourself."
Following his abrupt announcement, the concealed AKUMAs emerged as Guren hid behind Cross. "But, I don't know how to."
'Help me, Hera!'
'I apologize. I am not compatible with the Innocence.'
'You really are Noah. Can I ask you a few-'
Her communication with her mysterious inner self was cut off by the AKUMA bullet missing her by a few inches. "I know you'll learn fast." He picked her and threw the distracted girl out front as she stared at the AKUMAs, "Use your Innocence." Guren heard his instruction clearly, but she didn't know how to invoke it, or even how her Innocence worked. She barely dodged the bullets as she was practically rolling about on the ground. "Don't lie around on the ground, do something. You saw how people were killed by AKUMAs right? What are you going to do now?"
Guren thought back about their incidents with the AKUMAs, there were times where the locals were caught in the gunfire. Guren was well under the protection of Maria as she watched the powerless humans turned to dust. She didn't like it. She hated fighting. She hated wars.
Death.
The word echoed in her mind as a repulsive feeling lurched in the pits of her stomach. Yes, she loathed fighting, and the thought that people would perish for it. She may be a future member of the Noah Clan, but her wish was all the same, to bring salvation to humanity. She was Hebe, the one whom carried the memories of pain and sufferings of the humankind.
"Innocence, invoke," she said calmly as she placed a hand on the cannon head that was pointing at her. The tongue stud in her mouth glowed and a white feathered mask held the lower portion of her face, extending a pair of miniature wings on her ears. A repetitive alluring hymn escaped from her covered lips and reverberated in the air, the Seraphic Melody, as the AKUMAs within hearing range were purified and turned into dust.
Cross watched her as he fired Judgment onto the few loitering AKUMAs left in the air. 'So it's a defensive equipment type. Not exactly the best weapon out there. It works like Maria's Innocence. I would suppose this is the power she held over speech. In the end, she's still needs my help after all.' Cross sighed again, for the third time in the short period. A daughter that was a living time bomb, just waiting for the Earl to find her and create havoc. Everything just reinforces why he didn't want to settle down and have a family. Children.
"Seraphic Lullaby," Guren said after invoking her Innocence as she sang a gentle lullaby, sending a wave of drowsiness to the AKUMAs as they dropped onto the ground, into a deep slumber. She had to continue singing in order for her ability to stay in effect, as Cross took down the sleeping AKUMAs in one shot. She deactivated her Innocence as the mask dissolved into feathers.
"Why am I helping with the exorcism? Isn't this your work?" Guren complained as she swept the dust off her clothes, she was already eleven, but Pierre was still hanging by her back. She seemed to have grown fond of wearing clothes in a cooling manner, as she wore a pair of black shorts with suspenders and a white fitting spaghetti top with a pair of black sneakers. Like usual, her body was covered with small bruises but her hair was cropped short, curled waves hanging off her shoulders and her fringe swept to her left, tugged behind her ear for convenience.
"A daughter should be happy to help with her father's job."
"Yes, yes, loving Dad." Guren said with fake annoyance as she carried her floral suitcase in her hands again. She was secretly happy that she was of use to Cross, and this gave her a reason to be by his side. Guren strolled beside Cross, and her frame was still as small as ever, standing only at the height of his waist. "Cross, why can't we return to the headquarters together? I'm an exorcist now."
"I thought we talked about this before." He slanted his eyes to look at her scarlet eyes, "You are different. I don't want the Central to get a hold on you."
"But I want to make friends like the other children. We're always moving around. I like Cross. But…" Guren bit her lips to stop herself from talking. She was being selfish, and immature. A large hand weighed on top of her head, messing her hair. Guren felt remorseful of her words, that she was taking Cross for granted. She exhaled dramatically, "I guess having a troublesome Dad is more than enough," she smiled genuinely while looking at Cross' amused face.
[1] Cross looked down at the child, whose hair had turned from brown to white as of the death of his adoptive father. This child, was the one he needed to take with him. The important vessel he had searched for so long. But why was he a child?
Alden Walker was a magnificent scientist, and was a dear friend of Cross and Nea D. Cambell. It was him whom helped created a puppet, in order to ease the aching for Nea's loss. However, the shadow of the past, with a different soul, could never match up with the real Mana. Nea scorned the dummy but he couldn't bring himself to destroy something that looked identical to the brother in his memories as he sent the dysfunctional doll away.
Cross never expected to see Mana and Alden come together once more. And they were both not what they ought to be.
Alden gave up his body to Nea, to aid his plans in the destruction of the Noah clan. They were friends and he sympathized with the man for the pain that he was going through; losing his mother and his brother together, finding out his true heritage and to kill the one woman he fell in love with. Nea have given a lot and Alden felt that his attachment to life didn't serve as much of a purpose than to aid his friend in what he was about to do. But things never went as they wanted. Alden, like the puppet Mana, starting becoming incoherent as Alden just vanished one day, leaving Cross to be only one left with the Will of the Fourteenth.
"Nea, use me. I will protect your memories from the others, no matter how long it takes until you awaken. No matter what." Alden Walker said with determination as he looked at Nea D. Cambell, whom was already worn out from the running.
Nea had betrayed the Noah clan by locking up the ark's movement, and that he had murdered their Holy Trinity, the one Noah with abilities that trespasses God's realms. He was tired. But he couldn't take a break, because they were missing important pieces as the Third side of this war wasn't ready yet. He had to keep running until the Third power awakens.
Hearing Alden's suggestion, Nea's will wavered slightly. He didn't have to carry this burden alone. She had displaced the timeline, and it would take a few decades before she reincarnates. Alden could just be the answer for him to set everything back in motion again.
And now, the Innocence had attached onto two of the fifteen Noahs, and both of them would be on the side of the Black Order this time. But could the Innocence really changed the two children's destiny? It's a high risk nevertheless, for him to conceal two big secrets, and it was something that he didn't even share with Guren, because she wasn't yet the Last Noah.
"Will you become an Exorcist?"
Another child to be in his care.
He hated children.
Guren was curled up under the sheets, tired over her studies and combat training in the day. A recognizable large hand shook her dainty body. The girl refused to budge as she hugged Pierre and her blanket tighter. Her entire frame was dangled in the air by her left foot, but the stubborn girl still refused to open her eyes. Peace seemed to return after she flopped back down on the cooling sheets, until she felt her lungs tightening and her eyes snapped open. Cross had clamped his hand on her face, preventing her from breathing. "Were you trying to murder me in my sleep?" Guren said as she glared at his face, puffing her cheeks in resentment. But Guren dropped her act when she saw the seriousness in Cross' face as she straightened herself, becoming more alert. Cross was carrying a child in one arm, hair white like snow, and blood staining his face crimson. She tried to lighten the situation as she took the boy from Cross, "So the reason for your disappearance without any explanation to me was to kidnap this child?"
"What? Did you think a fabulous man such as myself would be reduced to taking ransoms?"
"Yes." Guren wiped away the blood on the unconscious boy's face as her fingers traced the strange cut gingerly. She could feel his deformed arm, noticing the green glow of the Innocence embedded into his hand. She swallowed the bile that threatened to climb up her throat. Her mind was in a mess, at the sight of the new child, and she felt extremely sick in the pits of her stomach, despite the child doing nothing to harm her at all. It was like she was feeling fear. "What is his name?"
"Allen. You know him." Cross replied, lighting up a cigarette with one hand, while the other rested on his daughter's head. "Thread gently on your memories."
Guren was confused about his statement, but that only lasted a moment, when the familiar waves of pain hit her. She pushed the boy away from her as she gripped her head tightly, memories of her past lives fleeted past her eyes as the voices in her ears got louder. Cries. Giggles. Screams. Singing. Fighting. It was all too confusing for her to focus at all, as Cross held his daughter close, trying to soothe her own screaming. Guren's disoriented eyes stared at Allen, lying before her as his shadow brought about dread in her, as she heard the sound of the piano and His voice.
She stood facing him as the man looked to her with a frown. In his hand, was a sharp knife as she felt her fingers closed slowly upon his hand, encouraging him. Golden eyes tilted up to meet hers as he grimaced at her expression, what it was, she couldn't tell, but she knew, she was ready to die.
"Why…" His voice was a soft whisper. She could feel his hand trembling, along with the unwillingness to go through with the act. "Why should I be the one to do all this?"
"I am sorry, Nea." She took a step closer as she held his shaking frame, "They think me a blessing, but I have always been a harbinger of war, I am after all, the personification of chaos."
"But the thought of doing this to the both of you-" He choked up at his words, but she wasn't about to allow anymore delays in her plans. She released him from her embrace and guided his hand to her throat, taking a deep plunge into her flesh with the knife he held, as she stared at his grieving face with determination. "Hecate…"
A small red dot formed on her right wrist, followed by her ankles, as they begun blooming into vivid crosses, drawing blood and excruciation in Guren as she mumbled while in her father's arms. "Sto- Stop it…" Guren fell into a deep sleep once more, enveloped by the ghost of her past.
She sat beside the Musician, as he moved his hands along the keyboard of the white grand piano, the beautiful melody gently playing in the air. Her lips parted as she sang the song played at the cathedral back then, joined in the harmony of the Musician's playing.
The Musician played the melody.
Hebe, whom takes pain away, sung the lyrics.
And the Millennium Earl gave meaning to this simple song.
"Dear Hebe," the sickening sweet voice of the Duke called her name, "Why don't you give us a blessing before your siblings leave for the battle."
She nodded her head and held her fiancé's gloved hands, while looking at the other twelve members. "The Noah clan will stand victorious, over the Innocence." Her voice was firm, with weight, and her crimson eyes shone with confidence.
"Of course, of course. Khaos is the chosen one blessed with the 'Gospel', and the outcome of the war will be as she says." The Duke said with a sinister laughter as worried sunk in her, not for her family, but for the people that were different from them. It would be their deaths, just as she said, the power of her words stays strong, as long as she believes.
"Come here, I'll play a song for you." Her favorite clingy twins settled down on the cushions beside her quietly. They were covered in small cuts and bruises, from their fight with the people who wielded the Innocence. She moved her hands smoothly across the strings of the harp, singing a gentle lullaby, as the stigmas were evident on both her wrist.
Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby
Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby
The twins closed their eyes, giving in to slumber as the pain from their injuries eased and the marks faded into nothingness. The Noah of Void was borne from a wish made by humans, someone to bring salvation to humankind, and to love them unconditionally like how Hebe whom is filled only with pardons and life. She was the one, who was blessed with what humans wished they could do, to see 'Revelation', to verbalize the 'Gospel', and to write the 'Genesis'. But sometimes, they have to be careful of what they wish for…
Her eyelashes fluttered as she finally opened her eyes, after such a long dream. She lifted up her hand, looking at her bandaged wrist. ''Life'. So the countdown had started. I am becoming stronger and closer to the complete transformation.' Guren stretched her tired body, as she whined slightly from the dulling pain. Guren looked around to find herself in an unfamiliar environment. Had they moved while she was asleep? How long was she out for anyway? Guren set her naked feet on the cold floor as she walked towards the wooden door. This was a place she had never seen before, and she was sure that it wasn't a hotel. Why did Cross had to shift anyway, was it because of the Musician?
She was greeted by a strange bald man when the door opened, as he giggled and carried her to his arms, causing a blush to form on her cheeks at being treated like a child. "Hello, little Guren! I am Barba! You are so tiny!" He greeted and continued swinging her around in his arms, as Guren was helpless against the big man with her fun-sized packaging. In the midst of twirling, she caught a glimpse of Cross, sitting at the dining table with a cigar between his fingers, and an elder woman sat smoking as well.
"Put her down, Barba." The elderly woman said simply, her voice was stern as Guren straightened up almost immediately, feeling like she was being reprimanded along side. "Let me see you clearly," as Guren walked towards the elder. Her eyes were clouded, as though her vision almost gone, but Guren felt that it wasn't the case, when the elder woman stared into her own red eyes with such intensity. "Are you going to be with the humankind this time, little Miss?"
Guren was taken aback by her question as she looked at Cross, but his attention was elsewhere. She had never really thought about that question before. All she knew was that she was Cross' child, and she found out that she was a Noah, and shortly after, an Exorcist. But she had never placed the pieces together before. It never occurred to her that she had to choose the path she wished to follow. "I don't know, Madam."
"Why is that so?"
"Because I don't know how I will take humanity when I awaken fully." She said, trailing off gently, not wanting to continue on the conversation any further. Her memories and dreams were often painful, filled with the sins of humans and the negative emotions. She didn't know how long she could stay innocent as she was, to not judge the humankind. Truthfully, she was fearful of her awakening.
"Fine," the elder woman said with a puff of her cigarette, "I seemed to have forgotten to introduce myself. You can call me Mother."
"I am Guren Kreszenz, dear Madam."
"It seems Cross Marian had taught you well." The confused look on Guren's face made the elder woman continue talking, ever so softly and calm. "He arrived two nights ago, carrying you on his back, and the other child in his arm. I have never seen Marian so flustered before." Cross snorted and mumbled something under his breath but Guren couldn't hear it from where she was standing. "I never thought he could have a child of his own."
"Cross had shown great mercy to a homeless like me."
"You are wrong. You have shown great mercy to a selfish man like him." She continued, but a look of sternness replaced her previous gentler one, "You picked this path, to walk along with a human, and to become an Exorcist. Nothing in this world is a coincidence. Be prepared for your future, it will be harsh." Guren stood there, thinking about Mother's words, not moving at all even though the conversation had already ended. Mother seemed bothered with it, as she turned the whitehead around by her shoulders, "Run along, child. I'm sure you have much to say to Allen."
Allen?
Right, the child Cross brought back. The vessel. She walked past Cross, looking at him with an assuring smile. The door opened soundlessly as she saw the younger child's comatose figure on the bed. She sat by his bed and stared at his profile curiously. The side of his face was bandaged up, as his pure white hair framed his pale face gently.
Her fingers tugged at the strands of white, as she found herself wondering. They were so alike. Hair, white as snow. Eyes cursed to see reality. Their bodies waiting to be consumed by the Noah. And yet. The Innocence that had latched on to them despite knowing what they were.
There was a strange sense of nostalgia, as she could feel an unsettling feeling in her. There was longing, despair and also remorse, something she shouldn't be feeling towards this vessel. The musician was the one whom killed her lover and her, why would she feel any of this?
How strange.
Curious.
Allen shifted under her soft touches as the boy's lone visible eye jerked opened, soulless grey orb taking in the sight of his intruder. Guren could feel the muscles in his body tensing, a feeling of apprehension and perhaps, retaliation. She placed her palm on his bandaged cheek, thumb gently caressing over his wound.
Lay down your head
And I'll sing you a lullaby
Back to the years of innocence
"Hello Allen, we will always be together from now on. You can call me Ren. Will you trust me?"
Weeks had passed, and Guren had never heard the boy said a word. All he did was screamed. Guren had heard about Allen's story, about how he made his loved one into an AKUMA. She couldn't comprehend the pain Allen felt, but the least she could do was to be there for him. She had never lost a loved one before, but the attachments and feelings of loss she felt during the first awakening churned in the pits of her stomach. Cross was the only family she had now. Would she be the same if Cross had left her, a lifeless shell, just waiting to fall into hell?
He had never cried before. Even after losing his voice, he never moved nor tried to. Guren would often just sit beside him, reading a book, giving him the comfort he needed in silence. It seemed that after their second meeting, Allen was only calm in her presence. Was it because of her Noah? Or was it because he trusted her? Guren didn't know the answer as well. When she first met him, she smiled, because he was the vessel for the Musician, her family. But now, she didn't know how to feel.
Once the Musician awakens, the boy, Allen, would disappear for eternity. Should she be happy that she gained a brother? Or should she be upset that a child's life has been set for destruction? It was like she was repenting. Just sitting in silence with young Allen. Her mind often wondered back to her memories, thinking about her attachments and her past lives, her rights and wrong, and above all, the only person she yearned for and yet, not being able to recall anything about that person.
Cross had taken up the duty of nursing Allen through this sensitive period, only after Mother refused to let Guren do the job. But she just felt it wasn't enough for her to just sit around and do nothing. After weeks of silence with Allen, she finally spoke. "What is Mana like? I heard that he was a gentleman, unlike Cross," she chuckled at the comparison. Cross Marian was never a gentleman, he was a narcissistic vagrant. "Mana always said, 'Never stand still, always keep walking,' what does it mean to you, Allen?"
You were my conscience
So solid, now you're like water
And we started drowning
She turned to look at the child, curled up in the corner as tears began spilling from his tired eye. "Don't give up," she heard him mumbling as she started crying as well. This boy was just so strange. Why was he affecting her so much? His sadness, made her so guilty, taking a piece of her heart with him. She hugged him gently, and sobbed without a care to the world with Allen, crying out all her pent-up emotions.
Allen cried for his loss.
She cried for her gains. Too much memories, too much pain, too much suffering. She just wanted to be Cross' child and nothing more.
Guren lay in bed, her stomach making noise from the lack of food. It had been two days since they left Mother's cottage, continuing on their own journey. Cross had been gone for the whole day, leaving no money or food, even her secret stash of money in her briefcase was gone. She sighed, "I'm hungry…" She rolled around, eyes finally settled on her new roommate, Allen Walker. He had gained Mana's last name, just like how she had Cross' without having any blood relation to him. "Are you hungry too?" The answer was clear when a growl was heard from his stomach. She felt bad for letting the boy starve with her as she got off the bed and changed out of her lounge clothes quickly, not caring if he was in the room. She took his hand as they left the hotel after saying 'goodbye' to the sleeping Maria.
They stopped walking as Guren made Allen sit on at the fountain. "You got to learn how to earn money to survive from now on," she said to Allen with a pat on his white head after removing the cap she placed on him earlier on. She stood in front of the fountain, as the moving crowd heed no attention to her. Placing the cap on the ground, she slapped her hands twice, attracting attention as she smiled at the onlookers.
Kanske vil der gå både Vinter og Vår
og næste Sommer med, og det hele År
men engang vil du komme, det ved jeg vist
og jeg skal nok vente, for det lovte jeg sidst
Gud styrke dig, hvor du i Verden går
Gud glæde dig, hvis du for hans Fodskammel star
Her skal jeg vente til du kommer igjen
og venter du hist oppe, vi træffes der, min Ven
Her voice sounded in the air, like hitting against glass, sending an unclouded and honest message to her audience. Guren felt something different from before, it wasn't her first time busking, but the atmosphere seemed somewhat intense. People stopped in their tracks and listened to her, forming a small group around the fountain. It was the Gospel, and the people heard her voice and sincerity. But it wasn't supposed to happen. It's like her new found ability was being used unconsciously, differing greatly from Revelation which she could hardly use it effectively. Shaking her doubts out of her head, she picked up the cap and turned to Allen. "There, money for the next step." She returned the cap to his head as they continued along the streets. They walked into a tavern as Guren easily multiplied their money to a good sum using some abilities and tricks.
"How did you do that, Miss Guren?" Allen asked, while eating on his third bowl of rice as Guren sat opposite him in the restaurant, having finished her food.
"Just call me Ren, Allen. What did I do?" His politeness was strange… It was like he wasn't a child anymore.
"You always guessed the cards or dices exactly."
"That's my skill." She explained with a smile, seeing him move on to the fifth bowl of rice. "You have… A unique hand, Allen." She said, looking at the deformed red hand under his layer of clothes. 'I didn't know the Innocence would cause deformity on the host's body…'
"Master says that it's because of the Innocence, and he will teach me how to become an exorcist."
"I'm sure you will be a fine exorcist." She said with a forced smile, thinking back of her harsh trainings and the irresponsible ways of Cross, "but it's going to be a long road ahead."
There was shouting outside the restaurant. Such a terribly familiar scene this was.
"Allen, are you a good runner?" She asked suddenly as the boy looked confused at his question. She just smiled and pulled him along, heading out of the restaurant, "Being good at escaping is important for survival under General Cross Marian!"
"Didn't I say not to come into the bathroom when I'm using it?" Allen yelled and jumped into the bathtub, trying to hide as much of his body as possible. Guren had a towel wrapped around her pale body as she used the shower. "Master will be angry if he knows of this, Ren." He submerged himself all the way to his chin, and kept his eyes away from her figure. A painful memory from two years ago surfaced as he sighed, if Cross was a demon, then Guren would be the naïve girl who pushed him into hell unknowingly.
The two of them were deep in sleep in the middle of the night as Guren had used the younger Allen as a body warmer. Allen was awoken by the creak of the opening door; rubbing his sleepy eyes, he opened them to see the shadow of his fear, Cross Marian. He stood there, scrutinizing the two, and then proceeding to pull Allen out of the bed and onto the floor.
"Don't let me see you having skin contact with my Guren, stupid apprentice!" Cross shot him a death glare and squatted down, with a menacing face, "And, you better make sure that if she is injured, you are to be even more injured than her. If not…" Cross' evil laughter filled the air, with Guren still sleeping and Allen trembling in fear of what his master would actually do.
He was already thirteenth this year, and Guren, two years her senior, always treated him like a child. He's a growing teenager, while she was a maiden, and she always dressed so sparely, it was not hard for him to not grow up. The older girl merely laughed it off as she joined him in the tub, sitting at the far end. Allen's eyes trailed to her naked shoulders and neck as there were a few injuries. Sometimes, he felt that his master was being biased, treating her better than him, leaving him with debts and labour. But seeing Guren, she was also suffering, in her own way that he didn't understand. Her smile seemed permanently plaster onto her face, no matter how much trouble they were in, because of Cross, it never faded, at least not for long. And she never abandoned him, at the beginning, she helped him pay the debts when he was caught, and then she thought him how to play poker. Why was someone so sweet like her, so vulnerable and yet wants to be with the demonic Cross?
"Ren, why do you stay with Cross?"
"Hmm…" Guren tilted her head, thinking hard, her curled silvery hair in a messy bun on the top of her head, "Because I love him."
She smiled. Allen didn't understand. In his eyes, they were like a demon and an angel, which ones' which was obvious. He knew Cross was a womanizer, but would he actually prey on an innocent girl like Guren? Now he was worried. She was supposed to be the big sister he could depend on, but it seemed to have changed over time, the petite Guren always needed someone to look after her. Like this instance. Allen watched as Guren nodded off, her long eyelashes fluttering, head leaning on the side of the wall, that girl sure could sleep anywhere.
Allen watched Guren, all dressed up with makeup on. She was stunning, at least to him. "Allen, can you help me lace up the back of the dress?" He walked to her and gently tugged on the ribbons to tighten the back of her dress. She was wearing figure hugging black strapless dress that reached her ankles, with a long slit up her left thigh revealing her legs and a pair of stilettos.
The floral scent from her body dropped him into a dreamy state, as he arranged the loose updo of her hair. He met her eyes from the mirror's reflection as she smiled, causing the younger boy to blush as he looked away quickly. "It's pretty right? Cross bought the dress for me."
Right.
He forgot.
"Yes, it's beautiful."
She was in love with Cross.
"We won't be back anytime soon, be careful of creditors, okay?"
Her smile was beautiful. But it looked like she was smiling for someone else, not just him. He was just another person in her life. He was just Allen to her, the little boy they picked up. He didn't understand the jealousy in himself; he just hated the thought of her looking at someone else. But that wasn't Allen. Ever since meeting the pair, there was a change in him. When he looked into the mirror, it wasn't himself; when he felt an emotion, it wasn't him too. It was confusing, like he was lost between reality and hallucinations. He often dreamt of an older Guren whom never looked at him, and forlornness would fill him up completely. But it was him, it wasn't Allen Walker feeling these emotions; he couldn't understand.
"You too."
He was with Cross for almost three years, as his apprentice, but the General had never thought him how to use his Anti-AKUMA weapon. All Cross did was leave debts for him, made him work for him, and always disappear with Guren.
"Who are you really? I mean… You are always out with Master."
"Nhmm~" The senior apprentice looked at him with amused eyes, her chin propped on her elbow, lying down lazily on the table top. Allen was suddenly self-conscious with her stare as he gripped his cup of tea tighter, eyes avoiding her. "I am Hebe."
He looked up after hearing the unfamiliar name that she said. The look in her eyes; she was testing him, looking for some sort of reaction from him. "Who would that be?"
"Personification.." She looked up at the swirling fan, as though thinking of a right answer for him. "Of humankind's pain and suffering."
Those words brought back forbidden memories as he tried to focus on the topic at hand, not to wallow in self-pity any longer. "That's a heavy burden."
"Not as much as yours."
"What did you-"
Her soft chuckle stopped his words as she raised from her seat and lean forward, looking down onto his confused face. Her slender fingers brushed those messy silver bangs slightly, before proceeding to pull at his cheek, "That's for next time, Allen."
He rubbed his flushed cheek with a small pout, "You are being mean, Ren." She smiled gently at the mentioned of her name, something Allen didn't understand. Once more, he found out nothing substantial about her.
He looked at his slightly numbed crimson left hand, 'Will I have the power to protect anyone, Mana?'
The casino was a grand place, with magnificent lighting and furniture as men waltz through the halls with beautiful women in their arms. Cross and Guren fitted into the setup completely, acting like a couple with Cross' arm around her shoulders loosely. Women cooed at Cross, and men whistled at Guren when they passed by. The two settled down at the Roulette table, with Cross leaning against the armrest of the grand chair and Guren hanging her arms around his neck while standing behind him. Cross held a single yellow chip in his fingers as eyes were on their table, seeing that the man was going to bet with a thousand credit chip.
"Thirteen, black." Guren announced just loud enough for the surrounding people to listen into, as Cross placed the chip on the number she specified. Guren looked at the croupier, studying his name tag and locked her crimson eyes onto the croupier's, "It will land on Thirteen, don't you think so,Mister Luc Tailleur?"
With her question, the croupier dropped the ball into the spinning wheel, as they watched the momentum on the wheel decreased slowly. All eyes were on the ball, as it spun and finally stopped at one of the pockets. In the black pocket, number thirteen. "Sweet," Guren said as they collected their multiplied chips and continued playing the game.
Guren was in Cross' arms, barely awake, the drowsiness from drinking all the alcohol at the casino was muddling her mind. She tried to make out where they were heading for, then she heard the loud whistle from the train conductor. "Cross, Allen's not here yet. Where are we going?" She mumbled as Timcampy drop her floral suitcase and toy beside her.
"Go to Black Order's European branch." Cross said as he pulled a cardigan over her small frame, "I have the map in your suitcase and there is a letter that you need to pass to Branch Chief Komui when you reached the headquarters."
"Am I going alone?" She asked, finally noticing the seriousness of the situation.
"Just take your time to get there, that place simply gives me a headache."
"I don't want to be alone! Cross!"
"You can't follow me to Edo. The fat man is stationed right there."
"Are you throwing me away? D-Dad?" Guren was on the verge of tears as her voice came out cracked and soft, while she gripped onto his coat.
"You will be safer with Komui. Try to stay alive and out of trouble, Guren Kreszenz Marian." He hugged her lightly before pushing her onto the leaving train, "Don't forget about the countdown, and stay away from the Noahs."
"Dad!" She called him from the departing train as she cried for the first time since Cross found her. Cross watched the train leave the station as he lit a cigarette, she was his daughter after all. He did make sure to prepare her for this day, that his girl must be able to protect herself.
Damn.
He hated children.
They always made an impact on him.
And how was he going to explain to the other brat?
Author's Rant:
[1]This was my take on the storyline before the manga resumed, which is why I'm starting to update again.
When Allen said she was smiling at someone else, he felt that Guren was smiling at his shadow and not him, it's like an intuitive feeling for him. And Cross and Guren kept her status as an Exorcist, Noah and their father-daughter relationship a secret to Allen. Allen was also lost about why Guren was always missing with Cross, so the truth is that they are either gambling or doing exorcism. And I'm sorry if this chapter felt a little like AllenXGuren, it's not going to be like this in the future chapters.
And I seriously hope you don't feel that Guren is a Mary sue, and she will have a bad past and stuff, and she has unique appearance and powers, but this was because of her heritage as a Noah ): I hope I can justify this properly in the future chapters. I know it's bad for them to be cheating but oh well~ So now, Guren have better control of her ability to use 'Gospel', which is the power of words, therefore she could affect the results of the roulette game.
This is the end of her past with Allen and Cross, I hope it's not too brief… You can leave a comment if there's any questions, and I can put them into the future chapters (:
Just some extras. The songs are really nice.
- Seraphic Melody (Lies - Evanescence)
- Seraphic Lullaby (Goodnight my Angel - Celtic Woman)
- Divine Canary (Listen to The Rain - Evanescence) -To be covered later-
- Love Song (Goodnight - Evanescence) -To be covered later-
- Holy Cradle (Last Rose of Summer – Celtic Woman) -To be covered later-
The song she sung in her dream is Golden Slumbers by the Beatles. The second song she sung while busking is Solveig's Song in Norwegian.
