A Soldier's Heart

DGM

Chapter 4

The Meeting Without Acceptance


Allen leaned against the wall, trying to stay out of everyone's view, but he often found it impossible. While they were waiting for the meeting to start, the other Generals stared at him and so did the Branch Heads. While he was coming to Komui's office, everyone stared at him. Even with his white hair and scar he never got this much attention, so he believes it has to do with the fact that he's wearing the General uniform. When he walked in, he heard one of the Branch Heads talking to Komui, telling them how ridiculous it was to have an impudent brat as a General. Ever since, Allen stayed on the low, but the stares didn't stop. Will the meeting just start alreday? "Sorry I'm late." A blonde man said as he walked in with a man with white hair. He had a mean expression, but Allen studied him, thinking he wasn't any harm.

"Good, now we can proceed." Komui said, coughing into his hand as if to look sophisticated.

Because Allen was new, everybody introduced themselves. He quickly learned which ones he liked and which ones he didn't. "Before we go too far, don't you think we should ask how inclined the kid is?" Renny inquired.

"Please, at least call me Allen. I understand you don't want to accept me as a General, but you can at least call me by my name." Allen mumbled, trying to be as polite as possible. "And as far as I'm concerned, I was told everything about what's going on when I arrived at Central. The Noah, the increase in akuma, the Heart, how we're losing drastic numbers in our forces." Allen stressed the last part. He had no place to tell them to not send as many people out, and he knew they didn't have much of a choice, but at the moment it was pretty much suicude. Allen didn't even know how to direct. If you really want to know, Allen has to admit he was more scared about losing too many exorcists.

The Heads either gave him a cold, stern gaze, or a sympathetic and sincere look. The Asian Branch Head, Bak, decided to ask a question to ease the fierce atmosphere. "Gene-er-Allen, there are many rumors spreading around about you. One of them really peaked my interest. I'm curious to know, is it true you were trained under General Cross?"

Why was everyone so interested in that? Was Cross that great? He never seemed too great. "For almost four years I trained with him." If that's what you could call training. Allen mostly did labored work, but he could say proudly that he had gained strength through that. He was always shaky about his innocence, until it evolved months ago. "Before you ask, no, I don't know where he's at anymore."

Komui held a small smile on his face as he listened to Allen. He was doing better than most exorcists when they arrive and with this being his first time meeting just about everyone, he was doing excellent. He wasn't too shy either. Good thing Allen wanted to be called Allen, too, because Komui wasn't going to call him General Walker. He's much too young for that. Although Komui respected Allen just for being Cross' student. "Komui, what is this meeting about?" Andrew demanded to know.

"A few things, but why don't we start with Allen's recent assignment?"

"I wasn't aware our friend had been given an assignment. I thought he had just been sent out to find new exorcists and gather innocence." General Tiedoll said explicitly, but offering Allen an encouraging smile.

"Central assigned our new General to investigate the exponential growth with the akuma. Even if he hadn't finished his mission, I'm sure he has some news for us."

Allen held in a sigh, but wore a grim expression. There was only one reason why he was sent on this assignment and that is because he can detect akuma. When Leverrier found out, he had so many questions. It was neverending! For two whole months he felt like he was going through an interrogation for a crime. He answered just about every question, but when he left them, it left him bitter. However, that was over with and now he was here. "Why was he chosen for such a job? He doesn't even know how to do a simple exorcist's job professionally, so how come he got that assignment?" Renny inquired.

Allen stood up straight. He started to walk over to Renny. Her reaction was priceless. She pressed her body against her seat, looking down at her hands, then back up. She probably thought she angered him or something along those lines, but she hadn't. He only gave her a smile and passed by her. "Do you have a map I can use?" Allen asked, walking up to Komui.

Komui pulled down the world map down from its scroll. Allen didn't want to wright on it, so he was going to have to deal with pointing at the places. He thought this might help illustrate their problem much clearer. "Before I begin, Ms. Renny, I shall answer your question. I was chosen to go on the assignment because of my knowledge about akuma and because I can find them easily. My left eye has the ability to show me who is human and who is not. Therefore I can react faster then the akuma."

Everyone was listening intently now, all shocked at what he said. Some of them were unsure if they should believe him though. "That's what he meant when Leverrier said we have a new way to seek akuma?" Komui noted, intrigued, and though it sounded like a question, he was stating, not asking. "So Allen, does this mean you can tell if you're about to be ambushed?"

"Most of the time. Sometimes my eye doesn't react until they come forward. My ability to detect akuma has a limited range, too." Allen elucidated, studying the map. "Timcampy."

His golden golem flew out of his arm sleeve and floated in the air beside Allen's head. Allen thought he might need Timcampy in case he forgot something, but for now he was using him as a projecter to say the least. Timcampy went back a little further and opened his mouth, making a light appear in front of the map. "For about four months I've been traveling with a team of finders. We've been through most of Europe and started to go to Asia, but didn't go through all of it. While we were traveling I took note of how many akuma I would see in that sector of the country we were in and also asked about any mysterious deaths that may be the cause of akuma. I found many towns empty and dead. All that was left were the people's clothing and a half destroyed town."

Allen closed his eyes for a moment. It was hard for him to talk about death so casually. "In Bulgaria, the center of the country had many akuma, although they mostly hid in the forests and mountains, trails and pathways for travelers, and sometimes were train tracks leading to other villages. France's border was surrounded by akuma. So was the northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest of the country. They resided closely to the border and tried staying away from the middle of France. Italy was the same." As Allen listed countries and regions that were covered with akuma or where the attacks have been, Timcampy's projecter blinked red in those exact places. By time he got done explaining where they were hiding and gathered, a fourth of the map was blinking red in Europe. "You also got to consider the places I haven't been able to go to, but I should mention that I've been to a lot of these places with Master Cross. So I've been to Asia as well. I would often check the area there. I found the eastern countries had more akuma than the western part of the continent. Lately, though, there hasn't been one place I've gone that hasn't had at least one akuma." Allen sighed.

"You have Africa and Australia marked, too." General Klaud spoke up.

"Because I went there during the year. Those continents have plenty of akuma, but not many to worry about. Only the northern countries had more akuma than what we would expect." Allen answered.

"They've been preparing. To gather this many akuma would take years." General Klaud remarked.

"That's right. The Earl has had help over the years without the Noah Clan though. The Brokers. During the four months I ran across three of them. I don't think they'll be a problem anymore, but there are many more throughout the world. You can usually find them in a city that has more akuma in the region than most other places. I've learned you don't rely on the akuma to help you with finding them either. The akuma should know who the brokers are, but they'll kill them just as easily as they would us."

Allen went silent as everyone studied the map. There was definitely an increase in the akuma. Well, that's what they were thinking. "You said you had knowledge on the akuma. Were you trying to say you knew more about the akuma than the Black Order does?" General Tiedol articulated, brushing his chin, focused on the map.

Allen nodded. "The evolution of the akuma."

"We already know about their evolution. To get to the next level they kill as many people as they can."

"I wasn't talking about how they evolve, I'm talking about how far they can evolve. We've been struggling with akuma because not only their numbers, but because of how strong they are. I'm expecting to see a level three." Allen told them.

The room got deathly quiet. There have been rumors of level three's. Although no one has ever seen one before. So they thought it was only a rumor. "Have you ever ran across a level three?" General Sokolo asked.

Allen looked away from the map with a serious and grim expression on his face. "Several of them. I'm sure they were after my Master... The first time I met one, I was no match. The difference between a level three and a two is incredible. At that time my innocence was not as it was now, though. That was before my own innocence evolved. For a General the three's shouldn't be a problem. I'd be more worried about the rest of the exorcists. I don't know what they are capable of yet, but I'm sure some of them will have difficulty, or all."

"Care to explain further?" Komui asked.

"About the three's?"

"And the exorcists."

Allen didn't want to voice his thought, but it was too late. Cross taught him a lot of things about the akuma. He told him more about them than the innocence. He knew more than most people do. Allen even heard Cross was the best exorcist who could exteriminate them. Perhaps that's why they think he's so great... And why they believe Allen will be the same. "When I first fought a level three I was going to die, but Master intervened. What happened with me may be the same with the others. Their fight could be fatal."

Komui did well to hold back his shock, but the others, not so well. It actually sent panic through the room. Komui had to have faith in their soldiers, but it was getting harder and harder. "Would you say they are as dangerous as the Noah?"

"I don't know. I've never faced a Noah." Allen admitted.

Komui clenched his jaw, but went back to examining the map. It was ather unusual. It was like they had all of the world's akuma in just these few continents, but he knew that wasn't true. "It's looks like they are trying to make the akuma evolve."

Allen listened to some of the others agree, but Allen only half agreed. He knew better than to jump to conclusions like that. Sure the Earl wants his akuma to evolve, but there was more to it. "Or they're protecting something." Allen inclined.

"That may be true, Allen." General Tiedoll said.

"And what do you suppose they are protecting?" Klaud questioned.

"The Noahs?" Someone suggested.

"They don't need protection."

"But the Noah are always with akuma when they attack."

"To help themselves."

"What about their hideout?"

"Then they'd be making it obvious where to look."

Allen wished they would be quiet. They were going to start bickering about it, but it was nonsense. Even though he hasn't fought a Noah, he knows better than to jump to such an assumption. It would be far too easy. Maybe they were marking territories, but he himself suggested protecting something. He had a reason for that. Allen heard Cross mention it once. Something about protecting an important object to the Earl. Something they need. Allen remembered he said something about an egg. "Do you know anything about an egg?" Allen asked.

"An egg?" Bak repeated.

"What are you talking about?"

"Master mentioned an egg once. He said it was an object the Earl needed. It's supposed to hold some sort of significance." Allen told them.

Komui held his head in his hand. This meeting just began it was already a ruckus. He was going to be thinking about this for awhile, but he had a strong feeling telling him Allen was almost to the answer. Cross really did teach him something. It's a surprise he never told Allen about innocence, though. "That subject will need to be investigated more."


Allen felt dizzy once everyone left Komui's office. He woke up early for the meeting and had to wait for it to actually begin. Then the meeting went all the way to noon. He skipped breakfast, but it looks like he wasn't the only one. That or they were all hungry for lunch. He's glad he had Timcampy in there because if he didn't, he would be in trouble. He wasn't sure if he could remember everything they discussed. Truthfully, Allen felt pretty dumb near them unless it came to exorcism. Allen knew so little compared to them. After discussing the akuma matter, he didn't speak all too much. The new General only went back to his wall.

When Allen got to the dining hall, he got his meal, which by the way, was more of a meal for an entire army. He didn't just have a large appetite, he had a bottomless pit of a stomach. Everybody stared at him in horror at first, but soon they just lost their appetites. That's why Allen decided to go to a table that was almost empty. However, the chef really likes him. You should have seen the look on his face when Allen ordered all that food. Allen could proudly say he added some healthy snacks. "Did you eat all of this?"

Allen looked around to see if he could find the person who asked that question. Perhaps they weren't talking to him, but he found out, she was. It was Lenalee. Allen blushed, thinking about how embarrassing his hunger was. "Y-yeah."

Lenalee giggled. Allen stood up, taking care of his dishes that were now cleaned spotless of food. "So how did your first meeting go?" Lenalee asked, leaving him alone about his massive appetite.

Allen wondered if she was just being nice or if she just didn't want to talk about it because she was disgusted. He got that last reaction a lot. "It was... abnormal."

"Really? My Brother told me it was just fine. He said you had an excellent speech. You left quite the impression on everyone." Lenalee responded.

"Your Brother?"

"Oh, I forgot you didn't know. Komui is my brother."

Allen could see the the similarities, if he thought about them. "The only problem about the meeting is that nobody really liked the idea of having me as a General." Allen told her absentmindedly.

Lenalee showed she understood. Allen just didn't know if she agreed with them. He did hear her say the other day that Lenalee doesn't think they should have made him a General in the first place. Allen wasn't sure if he wanted to be a General or not, but he figured he should go along with it. There wasn't a way out of it. If you were there when Leverrier claimed him a General you would understand. After a while he thought this may be an opportunity. Allen can play his part much better now. He can get all of the information he may need. He saves more akuma souls now than he has before. That's probably one of the reasons why he didn't mind fighting akuma. "Are you busy today, Allen?" Lenalee asked.

Allen looked at her, shaking his head no. "I was planning on taking a break today. Besides, Devon warned me if he saw me doing anything strenuous or stressful he would personally take care of me for the next week."

Lenalee's eyes lit up. She was amused. "Devon seems to care about you a lot, Allen." But she grabbed Allen's wrist and started to drag him until he willingly came along. Allen thought about the recent times he's had with Devon and what he's done for him since he arrived.

"You might be right. He's been taking care of me like I was his own son since I first met him." He tells her sincerely. "I'm glad I got to work with him."

Lenalee was really starting to like Allen. He was definitely not what she first thought he was. Right now Lenalee could say she was greatly happy to have him as a comrade. "Allen, there's a few people I think you should meet. Will you come with me?" Lenalee all but pleaded.

Allen was tired still, but he couldn't find a way to say no to her. Besides, what could be the harm in meeting a few people? As long as they're not like Kanda he thinks they'll be just fine. Lenalee might not give him much of a choice. This little walk they were having right now started out with her dragging him after all. "Of course."

The excitement grew in her as she showed him to the lounge. Allen was doing his best to memorize the way so he wouldn't get lost next time, but he knew he would. Allen couldn't even convince himself he wouldn't. Way to have confidence, right? When they got to where Lenalee was taking him-the lounge-Allen saw a few people in the room talking. Lenalee waved and greeted them, gathering their attention and grins. When they saw Allen, most of their eyes landed on the gold trimmings of his uniform. He noticed only a few of them were wearing uniforms. They didn't look like finders and definitely not scientists. They were all working right now or taking a lunchbreak anyhow. "Hello everybody, I would like you all to meet someone." Lenalee told them all.

Allen offered a smile, one of his special smiles. "Hello."

"Allen, these people are all exorcists. Just like us." Lenalee said.

A few of them returned the smiles, but not all of them. He did recognize two of them, though. Lavi and Marie. The newer ones were viewing him, but not like other people have so far. He could tell they were nicer than the people who he has met so far. Lenalee gently pushed him forward to go greet them himself. Some of them were standing and that's where she was encouraging him to go. "Hello, I'm Arystar Krory the third." A tall man, much taller than he, who had a vampire looking appearance and one white strand of hair sticking out said. He seemed nice.

"I-I-I'm Mir-Miranda Lott-Lotto." A brown haired woman stuttered. She had the same kind features as everyone else, but she was very nervous and angsty.

Allen was a little nervous, too. He wasn't sure why. He has met hundreds of people, but he was, somehow, scared. Still he shook both of their hands, telling them, "Hello, I'm Allen Walker. It's a pleasure to meet both of you." Allen was extremely sincere when he said this and he did mean it. There was already a trust bond between them. He could feel it, but then Miranda shrieked as Timcampy fell out of Allen's coat.

"WHAT IS THAT?"

Allen winced as she yelled that and hid behind the couch. He held Timcampy in his hands. "Miranda, this little fella is one of my dearest friends. This is Timcampy, a special golem created by my Master. You don't need to be afraid of him. He isn't going to harm you. I think he likes you anyways." Allen held Timcampy out for her to look at him. He even knelt down beside her, his smile still apparent, showing them his patience. "Go on, Tim, apologize for scaring her."

Timcampy flew onto Miranda's shoulder and nudged her neck. At first she trembled, still frightened, but decided he was cute. Miranda cupped Timcampy in her hands, smiling at him. "He's adorable."

"You're the General?" A man dressed in an exorcist uniform snorted, glaring down at Allen. "You're just a-"

"Suman!" Lenalee yelled.

"I'm a kid? So?" Allen stood up. "Sorry to be so rude, but I've heard that so many times these past few months. It's getting rather annoying. I don't think it matters how old you are so long as you get the job done."

"Normally they just start training kids around your age to become an exorcist." Suman said.

Allen bit down his anger and calmly replied. "General Cross found me right before I turned 10. Up til a few months ago I've been training with him. Out of the five years I've been with him, everyday for four years I was either working or fighting akuma. It's even safe to say I may have destroyed more akuma than you have. Don't take me too lightly."

Suman steadied his gaze, crossing his arms. It was like they were afraid to have a kid as a General. "You know they are rumors saying that your Master is a traitor to the Black Order. Who's to say you're our comrade? If Central was thinking that you were they might have given you the position of a General just to keep an eye on you."

Allen gritted his teeth, gripping the couch tightly with both hands. Suman was going too far. Allen would never think about betraying the Order. Even though he hasn't been here as long as everyone else, he always worked for them. He thought of them fondly and keenly. "I assure you my Master is not a traitor and neither am I." Allen seethed, trying to be calm.

"Why should I believe you?"

Allen took a deep breath. Once, twice, three times, four times-four times he took a deep breath. He let go of the couch, smiling. "It's up to you to believe me, Suman." The man stared at him strangely. "But for me to be a traitor I would have to be working with the Millennium Earl and the Noah. I could never do that. I don't agree with them and I could never take another person's life, directly or indirectly."

From the side he could hear Lenalee say his name softly. Allen just wished Suman didn't bring this up because he has heard this rumor once, but no one had ever linked him in with it. He hopes he can stop the rumor. "I believe you." Suman suddenly said.

Allen lifted his head to look at Suman. He hadn't realized he had been looking at the ground. "What?"

Suman turned away. Whatever Allen said, it had convinced him. Or did he ever doubt Allen? . . . Allen didn't think Suman ever did. "You appear to have a grudge against them." Suman clarified.

Allen's eyes widened. The night he first met the Earl replayed in his head. It took a few seconds before he could shake away the memory. His eyes found the floor again and he wanted to take his leave now. "I wouldn't say it's a grudge, Suman."

"Then what is it?"

"Like I said, I don't agree with the Earl. . . ."

Suman leaned back in his seat, deep in thought. Everyone in the room was listening, but silence was all they heard for some time. "How old are you, Allen?" Suman questioned.

There's a new question. Nobody asked him that. They were all too scared to or thought it would be rude. "I'm 15."

"Wow, Allen! You're only 15 and you're a General? That's amazing!" Krory exclaimed.

Allen rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, reddening. He never thought it was somehting to brag about. Then again, he never thinks about bragging about anything. That might change now that he has met Kanda, though. "You think?"

"That is quite the acheivement." Lavi remarked.

"I wish I was as strong as you." Krory stated.

"Krory, you haven't even seen him fight." Lenalee replied.

"I know, but he must be really strong for the Black Order to make him a General at 15!"

"It's remarkable, I know, but still. You're strong yourself Krory."

"But still, Allen's a General!"

"We know that, Krory."

Allen grinned, he was definitely going to like it here.


I hoped you all enjoyed. Thanks for reading. If you would so kind as to review, I would appreciate it. So, what do you think of Allen being a General?
I'm hoping to get some action in soon, hehehe.

~ ~ ~ Anon Novelist ~ ~ ~