I don't own anything you recognize. If I did then Lavi would've been Allen's big brother. Oh and by the way:

'Allen's thought to Neah'

'Neah's thoughts to Allen'

'Niah's thoughts to Artemis'

'Artemis's thoughts to Niah'

~Artemis POV~

"RIMAMAME!"

Kanda's voice snapped me out of my conversation with Niah. "What!?" I yelled back. "We're here baka." I looked up and sure enough, we had arrived at the small town. "Ok. Lets ask for directions." I could feel Kanda's glare try to bore a hole in my skull. "Why?" I smirked as I turned to face him. "Because Oroka Ichi, we don't know where the Innocence is. So we have to ask the locals about unusual occurrences. Or do you normally run around swinging your sword and hoping you'll find it?"

I could almost hear my best friend laughing at that and saying 'Would you like some ice for that burn?' "No, I don't. I'll ask for directions." He stalked off towards a teenage newsboy with shaggy brown hair and small eyes. And of course Oroka Ichi started out with threats. Stupid males.

I sauntered over and pushed Kanda out of my way. "Hello." I said in a sticky sweet voice. I'd learned from my BFF that talking like that to a guy kind of short circuited their 'no-give-a-straight-answer' part of the brain. He almost dropped his bag. "Uh… Hi. My name's Richie. What's yours?" I smiled not so kindly and answered, "Wolfie. Well Richie, I need directions." His eyes darted to the symbol on my chest. "Sure Wolfie. Where do you need to go?"

"Has there been any crazy things happening around here recently?" He thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, over by the old graveyard square. Creepy things been happening up in there." Richie gave me a once over. "Sure you don't want me to come with you?" I grinned. "No, I think I'll manage." I turned and started off toward the place he had pointed to, leaving Kanda to catch up.

~Kanda POV~

I saw red as the guy gave her a once over. How dare he! Wait, why was I angry over that? It wasn't like I had a thing for Rimamame. But as she walked away I found myself threatening the newsboy. I grabbed a chunk of his ragged brown jacket. "Look at her again for more than fifteen seconds and I'll rip your head off." I hissed at him. The boy got a terrified look on his face. "Got it Mr. Exorcist sir!" he whimpered. I dropped him on the ground and followed her. But when I finally caught up to her, I didn't see an Akuma fighting her. Oh no, I saw two high level Akuma holding her back and a Noah taunting her.

~Artemis POV~

When I got to the 'old graveyard square' I was surprised to see nothing wrong. No Akuma, no creepy things, heck there weren't even any new gravestones to mark anybody who might've been turned into an Akuma! Suddenly I felt two some ones grab my arms and yank them behind me. I was about to activate my Innocence when a sticky voice sounded from the fog. "I wouldn't try that if I were you little Exorcist. You never know if those Akuma might have somebody else hidden. You wouldn't want to destroy somebody's life just because you were scared now do you?"

When the man, I think, stepped out I flinched back. He was a Noah! "Hello Exorcist. My name is Tyki Mikk. The Earl has developed an interest in you." I just glared at him. "What is your name?" I glared some more. "Answer me." Even more glaring. I was NEVER going to answer him. Tyki walked over and pushed my bangs away from my right eye where they'd fallen as I struggled with the Akuma. He gasped. "So THAT'S who you are. Well… isn't the Earl going to reward me for bringing you in?"

"Why would he reward you?" I hissed in anger. I almost felt like asking Niah for help, just so she could beat the crap out of him. "Oh, you're-" he cut off suddenly. "Now, Yuu, don't you know that it's impolite to stick a sword to someone's neck and not announce your intentions?" Yuu? Wait… KANDA! I took Tyki's momentary distraction to kick him where it hurts. Before he could react though, I followed up with a swift kick to the abdomen. He was impaled on Kanda's katana.

I activated my Innocence and ripped the Akumas apart before they could kill me. I then turned to Kanda and smirked. "Yuu? Isn't that a variation of 'King' in Japanese?" I quipped as I turned back around and saw what we came for. I picked the Innocence up and started walking toward the train station. I glanced back and saw Kanda staring at me with his mouth open.

I lifted my right arm up and pointed to the sky. "I win." I called back to him as I felt a grin find its way to my face.

~Kanda POV~

"I win." She called back to me. I lost? I closed my mouth and shook my head. Only once in my life as an Exorcist has anyone figured that out. No wonder it was a surprise when she mentioned it so offhandedly. I can't believe I fell for it. Well, she did win, and me dropping my emotionless mask was part of the accord… For the first time in years I felt a smile grace my lips.

~Artemis POV~

I walked past Richie and he gave me a big grin. But then he looked at something behind me and immediately looked away. I checked behind me and the only person there was Kanda. Now I'm confused….

~Back at the Black Order (MUCH later) ~

~Koumi POV~

It may have taken me almost a week, but I finally finished Cross's little 'project'. This machine would scan everyone's blood and create a family tree to the best of its ability. I can't wait to see if little Artemis is related to anybody in the Order! I let a small laugh loose. Allen knocked on my door. How do I know it was Allen? Well, Lavi had told me that Allen had had a severe pain in his head and was supposed to come and see me. I didn't tell Lavi that Allen never even mentioned anything of the sort to me. So when Allen walked in I knew I had been right. As always!

"So Allen… Lavi tells me you had a severe headache earlier. Why didn't you come see me?" I asked him. The boy's eyes widened as he realized that his friend might have reported to me. "Uh, I forgot. I collapsed a few hallways down and when I woke up my headache was gone. I didn't think it was important to interrupt you if I wasn't in pain anymore." He stammered out. Poor kid, he's been through so much in his short life… "Oh by the way Allen, I might have found a way to find your biological family. But I'll need a blood sample."

His was the only one I hadn't gotten. I had already tricked everybody else. But I wanted to be up front with Allen. Finding his birth parents would be a big deal for him. Allen's eyes widened in shock, well widened even more than they already were. "Can you really do that?!" he exclaimed. I grinned with glee. "Now I can. I just need to get a blood sample from you and ask you about what you remember about your early childhood."

Allen looked down. "The blood I can help you with. But the childhood memories… I don't think I could remember any of them. I was around four when Mana found me. All I could remember was that I was missing someone, that my birthday was December 25th, that I was four, and my name. I don't remember anything else." I think I see tears forming in Allen's eyes… "Ok, scratch memories," I said kindly, all of my glee gone, "What did you used to look like?"

He thought for a few minutes. "Well… I know I had red hair. I think my eyes were brown, or maybe they were green… That's as much as I can remember. Sorry Koumi." I shook my head and smiled. "That's all I need. Now hold out your right arm."

After I had taken a blood sample I put my machine on the table it was so heavy that it thumped on the table and sent a stack of papers cascading to the floor. Oh well!

~Allen POV~

Could he really find my family?

'Don't get your hopes up Allen.'

I tried not to wince as Neah butted his head into my thoughts.

'And why is that Neah?' I snapped at him.

'Because when you do know, you'll never forgive yourself for forgetting them in the first place.'

'How do you know that?'

'Because I know who they are. I've got full reign of your mind remember?'

'And you're not going to tell me!?'

'You really don't want to know Allen. I'm serious here.'

'Too bad Neah, I want to know anyway.'

"Allen? Allen are you listening to me?" Koumi's voice snapped me out of the conversation- more like shouting match- in my head. "Oh, no sorry. I wasn't paying attention." I answered sheepishly. He smiled. "I was saying that I'll have some answers for you in a few hours. Now go have fun and play a prank or something."

As I walked out of his office I grinned. Go play a prank or something huh? I think I'll go play some poker with Artemis…

~Artemis POV~

Lavi was grilling me on how I managed to make Kanda start smiling. It had been around a week since that mission and Kanda had actually smiled when I trolled Lavi- but then again everybody at least did that now. I had become the comic relief of the Black Order since then.

"I told you Lavi, I'm not going to tell you!"

"Come on! Please?"

"Puppy dog eyes don't work on me Lavi. My brother used to do that, I got over the cuteness years ago."

"Just a hint?"

I sighed as Kanda sent me a glare that said 'don't you dare'. Anything to piss him off then! "He lost a bet. You're not getting anymore information then that."

"You're dead Lima Bean."

"Get over it Oroka Ichi."

"Hey Moony!"

I turned around in my seat at the table (we were in the mess hall) and saw Allen running towards me. "Yeah Allen?" I asked him as he skidded to a stop next to me. "Wanna play a game of poker?" he asked, his face impassive. I put my own poker face on and said, "Sure Allen, the loser has to deal with Lavi's crazy behind for three hours in a locked room." Lavi choked on his steak. Once he stopped coughing he looked at me with disbelief. "Did you REALLY just accept a challenge to play poker with ALLEN WALKER?!" he almost yelled. Half the Finders in the mess hall turned and looked at me with the same disbelief that Lavi was showing. All Kanda did was smirk.

"And what's the problem with that?" I asked innocently. "I always win." Allen answered for him.

"Maybe its time for that to change."

"I highly doubt it."

"Then back up your claims with action Walker."

"Watch me Cain."

Ten minutes later Allen sat across from me. We both pulled out a deck of cards. "We'll use your cards Artemis." Allen stated as he put his away. Oh…. He's gonna lose! Badly, very, very, VERY, badly. Cross is a notorious gambler- and I had always been the best cheat around at poker. My brother and my friends never could figure out how I did it. As a matter of fact, I don't know how I managed it myself. I'd never even tried to play poker, or even cheat at poker, until when I was in fifth grade, a senior at the time decided to cheat underclassmen out of their money and belongings by cheating at poker. One of the losers just happened to be one of my friends. I just happened to be sitting next to him when he lost.

Nobody else seemed to see it, but I saw the senior cheating- sloppily too. But he was good at it. I then got a crazy thought/feeling; I just KNEW that I could play him and win. But I didn't know how, then I saw it, clear as day in my head.

I would have to out cheat the cheater.

And so I did. I won and ever since then the more picked on people would send me their bullies and I would wager my wellbeing against them stopping. They always took the bait- and I always won. But now I wasn't going up against a sloppy amateur. If Allen's training with Cross was just as bad as mine, then he DEFFINETLY knew how to cheat.

'Are you sure you can win this Artemis?'

'Duh Niah, if I can troll Kanda, I can out cheat Allen.'

There was quite a crowd surrounding us now as I shuffled my deck. Leenalee stood behind Allen, Kanda- for some odd reason- stood behind me, Lavi sat on the table to one side of the two of us, and a crowd that consisted of multiple Finders, scientists, and even Jerry. As I dealt the cards I looked Allen in the eye. He met my gaze- didn't even look down. Sucker. The two of played for around twenty minutes before we both announced at the same time,

"I win."

"Oh really? On three we both show our cards." I said. "Fine by me." Allen replied.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

We flipped our hands around and started laughing. Allen had a royal flush from the spades- I had the same with the hearts. "So I guess we both win then Allen." I stated as I shook his hand. "So we do. By the way, your strategy is rather well thought out. Do you practice much?" he said to me, his poker face still on. I shook my head as I replied, "Not really, your strategy is well thought out yourself. How long have you used it?"

"Six years. And you?"

"Same here. Good game."

Everybody else just stared at us, not understanding a single word we said. Of course we were referring to the other's cheating abilities. At Lavi's confused face, the two of us burst into laughter. "So… nobody has to sit in a locked room with me for three hours?" he asked dejectedly. Allen and I shared at look.

"NOPE!"

~Koumi POV~

Finally! Most of Allen's family tree was done! I looked at the readout and froze. No way. Impossible. How does that work out? I looked at it again. I slapped myself a few times and looked at it again. Oh, I hope he doesn't feel bad when he realizes what this means. I hope his family doesn't either… I should've guess when he said he had red hair!

A/N: and here ya go! Hopes you like it! I would like to thank all of my followers, most of my reviewers (not going there), and my BFF AxD. YOU ALL GET CUPPIECAKES! Hope you like them! Now to reply to my reviewers!

Halley Vanaria: here you go! Again!

Shiro: I know you didn't review the last chapter but you got me thinking… so here's a poker scene between Allen and Artemis.

MysticalNyla: here you go. Next update. Hope you like it!

WithoutWingsX: its close enough huh? Why thank you! Glad you like it. Oh and I told AxD about your comment and she wouldn't stop giggling for the rest of the morning.

And so here we go, the end of another chapter. Give me two more reviews and I'll update. And the first person who can guess who Allen is related to in this fic gets a date with the character of his/her choice!