Hi! GummyRabbit here~ Okay... Just clarifying in advance... The italic bits is Allen's thoughts and the italic and bold text is Neah. Enjoy!


Exorcists?

During the dawn of a pleasantly warm morning, the boy got out of bed with a messy flop of white hair. Drearily, he dragged himself to the bathroom where he cleaned himself up for the day. While brushing his teeth, Allen narrowed his eyes at his reflection. Is it just him, or did the shadow standing next to him become slightly more distinct than when he last checked yesterday? You know, it's rude to stare. At the unexpected voice in his head, Allen did naught but make a face. If that reflection is one of a human, I wouldn't stare, Neah. See? That just proves my point. You are so completely rude. You just said I wasn't human! Of course you aren't! You are nothing but a figment of my imagination! Therefore I don't need to be polite with you! I am not your freaking imagination! I'm telling you! I am your uncle Neah! What sort of an uncle would live inside their nephew's body? Plus, no one else can see you in the reflection, if that isn't enough proof! There are circumstances! C-I-R-C-U-M-S-T-A-N-C-E-S! Yeah, right. Now if you're done, I need to catch the 8 o'clock train. Oh? Where are we going this time? At the suddenly interested Neah, Allen sighed. "I won't tell you. Figure it out yourself." What?! Why? Neah whined, making him smile. "I felt like torturing you." Come on! Please? Allen laughed, enjoying Neah's torment, "Never!" Pretty please? "No! Is this how an uncle should act?" Allen!

It's been three months since Allen decided not to look for the Black Order, and two months since he got to know Neah. It was only natural, after all, Allen had been travelling for one month with only a golem who can't talk back for company, obviously his brain is going to make up an imaginary being to entertain Allen with. Neah is a weird name. It felt like Allen should have heard the name somewhere before, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember. At first Neah has quite a nasty personality, but after another month of travelling, he seemed to have calmed down a little. Allen went around destroying akuma and earned money by playing(cheating at) poker. Without Master and his debts, Allen found it surprising how much extra money he had left after paying for food, transport and accommodations. It's simply miraculous, how much money Master manages to spend.

In addition to those things, his left eye seems to have evolved. His pentagram and the rest of his scar darkened. Just like an akuma. The thought still slightly disturbed him, and saddened him, for it reminded him of Mana. It probably happened when he fought against a level two akuma, who damaged his cursed eye. When the eye healed again, Allen found that he could detect akuma even through the walls of buildings, which he couldn't do before, and the distance in which he can detect them is now longer too. He can find akuma within a 300 meter radius.

"Thank goodness! I thought I wasn't going to make it." Allen sighed in relief. He and Tim had successfully made it onto the train. Even though you got up at six in the morning. Neah snorted. The boy ignored his self-proclaimed uncle, finding an empty row of seats. Not a minute passed after the train had set off did Allen yawn. See? You woke up way too early. He frowned, I barely even made it when I woke up so early, what would I do if I woke up at seven like I usually do? It's because you got lost on the way to the train station that we barely made it! Enough. It's a train anyways, get some sleep. I'll take it up on your offer, Uncle. Allen muttered drily in his head.

Allen! Wake up, wake up! Neah clamoured without restraint. The boy winced, "Huh?" Don't 'Huh?' me, Nephew! We've stopped at the next station! Do we get off? No we don't! There's still a long way to go, idiot! Allen could see in his mind's eye Neah scowling at him, It's not my fault you didn't tell where we are supposed to go! Who's the idiot here? Allen didn't reply, instead he glared out the window after his sleep was unpleasantly interrupted. Passengers boarded the already packed train. "Excuse me, can we please sit with you? Um..." Allen looked up to find a teenager redhead, a middle aged, depressed-looking guy with elf ears and another person standing behind him. He spotted the familiar rose cross – the one Master always wore – on the redhead's uniform and smiled, "Sure." Fancy meeting them here, don't you think? Yeah...

The redhead sat opposite to Allen, next to the window, with the middle-aged man beside him. The other guy sat down next to him. Neah... Hmm? How weird, you almost never start a conversation with me. Yeah. But I've got a question. See, do you think the exorcist next to me is a man or a woman? He looked at the guy sitting next to him carefully. Long and neat blue-black hair is pulled back into a pony-tail. The exorcist had oriental features. Neah seemed to frown, He's definitely a man. Look at his broad shoulders and how tall he is. Plus, he's got no breasts. Allen contemplated that briefly, But there are tall females too, you know? The same goes for broad shoulders. If the exorcist has a very flat chest there is no way I could tell through the uniform. What I'm interested in is the hair. Why is it so long? It's not like it's hard to cut. Hah! You have no right to judge! Since when did you last cut your hair? Shut up Neah, it's not that long.

"What are you staring at?" Allen was jerked back into reality. There's your chance! Why don't you ask the person directly? The boy took a look at the exorcist's surly expression and thought better of it. "Nothing." He said airily. The exorcist looked at him with a sort-of glare, then, "Tch. Moyashi." Moyashi? Neah is laughing his ass off, that bastard. Allen positively burned with indignity, but he put on his poker face, which he honed during his travels, "At least I don't look like someone who can't be discerned between a man or a woman." He scoffed. "Wha-" As the exorcist spluttered, the redhead cracked up laughing. Allen smiled, taking a liking to the redhead exorcist. "Shut up, Lavi! I'll cut you apart!" The middle-aged man remained depressed with all the commotion. Oh, that man isn't an exorcist. See, he's not wearing the uniform like the other two. But he does have an Innocence with him. Innocence? Allen had never heard of the term.

Ignoring the dark-haired exorcist, Allen turned to the redhead, "You are Lavi, right? I'm Allen, nice to meet you." The redhead, with his eyepatch and his green headband, grinned at Allen cheerily, "Nice to meet you too, Allen!" The white haired boy couldn't help but smile back. It's been a while since he met someone who wouldn't stare openly at his white hair and marred left cheek. But then again, exorcists are not superstitious people, "So, where are you guys headed?" Lavi was about to speak but was interrupted by the other exorcist, "Don't give any unnecessary information away, we're on a mission." He hissed menacingly. "What are you doing here anyways, Yu? Aren't you assigned to General Tiedoll's group?" At that the raven haired exorcist flashed Lavi a death glare, "Don't call me by my first name, Baka Usagi." Yu growled venomously, "You have the nerve to ask. Isn't it because you guys are doing such a lousy job at finding General Cross? The freaking sister complex Komui had to assigned me to General Cross' group!" The boy jolted, there are two really familiar names in the conversation just now. What do they want with his Master?

"It's the first time I've been on a train! I'll explore it a little." The elf-eared man – Arystar Crowley muttered like a kid at a candy shop before setting off on his adventure. "What's with him? He was so depressed just a moment ago too." Allen asked, elbow leaning on the windowsill and chin in his hand. Lavi gave him a complicated expression, "Well, he's still getting over his girlfriend's death." That wimpy dude actually had a girlfriend?! Preposterous! Neah, don't be rude. "Did he just say it's the first time he's been on a train?" That shouldn't be possible, should it? Lavi leaned back loosely, "Let's just say he's been shut away for a while. You'll be surprised by how gullible he is... Now I feel guilty about badmouthing Crow-chan."

"Hey, Crowley still isn't back. Does it really take three hours to explore a train?" Maybe he got lost. In a straight corridor? Even someone like me isn't likely to get lost on a straight corridor! Ah, but that is only 'not likely', but not impossible. Don't sweat the details, Neah. Lavi stood up, "I'll go look for him." At that, Allen stood up as well, "Me too." He does NOT want to be left alone with Yu. As they walked slowly along the corridor, looking for signs of Crowley, Lavi started saying, "Since you asked me before, where might you be heading, all by yourself?" Allen wanted to argue that point, but it's not like he can show Lavi Master's golem, or tell him about Neah without sounding like a nutter. "I'm just travelling. You know, sightseeing."

"Crowley! What happened?!" Lavi cried, aghast at the sight. Crowley is sniffling pitifully, stripped to his floral boxers. The reason presented itself as the cards on the floor, and the three men sitting opposite from Crowley. "These men *sniff, invited me to play a game called poker." I understand what Lavi meant when he said 'gullible'. Neah grumbled. He got scammed. Allen sighed inwardly. "No good, children is currently forbidden in here." The guy in the middle grinned, cigarette stuck between his teeth, thick glasses flashing. Lavi's eye flicked to the little boy sitting beside the three men and raised an eyebrow. "Now, chap, would you like another round?" The curly-haired guy with the cigarette said, leaning forward, still grinning, "Um... but..." Crowley stuttered, "C'm'on, you can't back out now." Lavi doesn't look like he can cheat at poker... "This person's coat is trimmed with silver. Would you be willing to wager that for all of Crowley's clothes?" Allen smiled innocently. "Hey! Allen!" Lavi whispered. "Deal." The thick glasses seemed to glint evilly.

"Call." Allen was all smiles as he revealed his cards. The three man, now stripped to their boxers, stared at those cards. "Royal... Straight... Flush..." They said in unison, "Damn it! One more time!" His poker face still intact, Allen started shuffling, cards flying flawlessly with well practiced ease. Inside, he felt a devilish glee at winning. Hey, Allen... Calm down... He ignored Neah. "Sure, just make sure to wash those boxers before you hand them over, all right?" He said sweetly. Crowley looked at Allen and what is in his eyes could only be described as hero-worship, "You are amazing Allen!" Sitting beside him, Lavi looked at the scene with shock, "Hey, no offence, but aren't you getting a bit too lucky?" He muttered. Allen, still smiling, answered, "Well, that's because I'm cheating." The red-head jolted, "Eh? I didn't take you for a person like that..." Allen shrugged slightly, "They played Crowley first, so I'm just returning the favor. Since it's one on three, I think it's only fair." He laughed evilly, scaring Lavi. Smirking, he revealed his new set of cards, "Four of a kind." This is too easy.

"Here." Allen held out the three suitcases out to the men and the boy who just stepped out of the train, "I don't care as long as I got my friend's clothes back. It'll be tough to be wearing only your underwear in this weather." He smiled kindly at them, "Shounen, we have not sunk so low as to accept your pity." Allen's eyes widened a fraction, then he smirked, "Is that why you're grabbing for them?" The three men didn't even have the shame to look sheepish. "Oh look at that." The Thick Glasses exclaimed. They dressed rather quickly. The boy walked up to Allen, short curly hair and large eyes, half his face covered with a mask. Allen looked at the boy curiously, who held out his little hand, a string which Allen guessed was from a necklace sticking out the side of his fist. Thick Glasses saw that and said, "Eaze! That's your treasure, hang on, I'll find something else to give him!" He searched frantically in his pockets while Allen just smiled, "It's okay, don't worry about it." The train started to move when Thick Glasses threw something Allen's way, "Here!" He caught it. It's a deck of cards. The one he played with. "Let us off with that, kay?" Thick Glasses called, his arm around Eaze's shoulder, and Allen smiled.

Soon it was Allen's turn to leave the train, with Lavi, Crowley and Yu(albeit reluctantly) seeing him off. "Bye Allen! I hope we get to meet again!" He smiled at Lavi, "I hope so too." His words were genuine. "Tch." Yu looked at Allen like he wanted to slice the white-haired boy in half. "By the way, if I don't call you by your first name, what do I call you?" Yu looked at him as if checking if he's serious, "Kanda." Allen resisted the urge to repeat the name, "Well, lets not we see each other again, BaKanda." The train left before the older male could think of a reply. Lavi, of course, told Allen that Kanda is male. What happens if I never meet them again? His thoughts were worried and lonely. Don't worry, as long you keep killing akuma, you're bound to meet them again. ...Thanks, Neah. A startled silence ensued. Then, You're welcome...

Once Kanda finished reporting to Komui about what occurred in Crowley's mansion, the male at the other end of the line started talking, "What do you think of Crowley?" He frowned, "He can take on a level two, so he should be fine for the time being. Why?" Meanwhile, Komui sat in his office, drowning in paper, holding the letter from General Cross, "Ah, nothing, really. I received a letter from General Cross. It's sent half a year ago, so don't get excited." On the other side, Kanda's brow furrowed even further, "A letter from the General? What is it about?" Komui chuckled, "I said don't get excited. Apparently, General Cross has an apprentice, he's supposed to have gotten here three months ago... but there's no one yet. The boy is missing. If you see him, just give me a call." Kanda shrugged, though Komui couldn't see it. The boy is probably dead by now. It happens. "His name is Allen Walker." Wait... the moyashi was called Allen... "Fortunately, General Cross had sent us a picture. He looks quite unique, so you can't miss him. He's got white hair and a cursed eye. His innocence is of parasitic type in the form of his left arm-" Before Komui could finish his description, Kanda snarled, "Why didn't you say so earlier!" And slammed the phone back with enough force to cracked the wall behind the booth. On the other side, Komui held the phone away from his ear and winced. What made him so angry?