A Soldier's Heart

DGM

Chapter 6

Smooth Voyage

Lenalee stared out to sea. Currently Cross' new retrieval team was leaving the Bulgarian docks, soaring straight across the Black Sea. The next country they were heading to was Georgia. After that they would follow whatever direction Timcampy guided them. It was nice to travel again. It was hard for Lenalee and the other exorcists to stay put in one place for as long as they did because they are normally sent out on a mission. So the breeze was nice. The next few days were going to be excellent. If akuma do invade the ship, with the people they have on board, there was nothing to worry about. Aside from that, Lenalee wanted to know what Allen's innocence could do. He activated it once in front of her, but he was extremely swift that she couldn't see anything but white. Bookman and Lavi were the only ones who could comprehend what had been going on before the explosions. "The captain says it's going to be clear for the next week. Our trip won't be delayed at all." Lavi said as he approached Lenalee, who was leaning on the railing beamingly. "What's on your mind?"

"I was thinking about the arranged team." Lenalee said simply, focusing on her present friend.

"Is something wrong with the team, Lenalee?" Came Lavi's perplexed question.

"Not at all. It's similiar to our last search squad."

Lavi had to agree. Allen did a noteworthy job at selecting the exorcists to go on the team to gather Cross. There was Lenalee, Lavi, Krory, Miranda, Suman, and Allen. Don't forget the most important member this time. Timcampy. They all knew each other well and their abilities could easily compliment their prime aquisitions. By now everyone here knew Allen was able to get along with everybody. If Lavi's observation is true, Allen won't be too demanding or barking. Provided that Allen does give an order. He may not have said anyhting about it, but Allen was deeply unsettled about being a General and never wanted to push it. Lavi strongly believes Allen could be a compassionate leader, but he doesn't want to order anybody around. Allen can lead, but not bark much. "Lavi, your recollection of when Allen used his innocence is accurate, I'm sure. I wanted to know if you think his innocence compliments the people he has brought with him." Lenalee said.

"I only saw a little bit of what he is capable of, Lenalee. There's nothing holding my thoughts back from believing there's more to it then what I have witnessed."

Lenalee understood, but she was upset about that. Allen should be smart enough to make the team compliment himself as well. "Aren't you surprised he picked Suman to join?" Lavi asked.

"That is a surprise. After Suman told Allen he might be a traitor and shouldn't be trusted and claiming Cross as one, too. Allen was offended. I didn't think he liked Suman." Lenalee agreed composurely. Most individuals took much offense form Suman or were given the wrong impression. He was rough around the edges, but if you got the chance to know him you would understand he wasn't that apprehensive and inconsiderate as you first thought.

"So where is Allen?"

"I don't know."

Allen traced unorderly shapes on the table he had in his suit bedroom. Allen would have preferred bunking in a regular room or with the other guys, but Lenalee had insisted Allen take this opportunity to get whatever work done that he needed to. He had done that a few hours ago, not long after they departed the land. Not only had she insisted this, so did the ship's owner who had been a supporter of the Black Order and since Allen was a General. . .

Assuming he wanted to redo his handwritten report he could do that... again. When he saw the porthole (window) he closed his eyes, sniffing the salty air. The sea gave a pleasant scent. The rocking of the ship put him at ease. Yet the boredom stayed. He could go check on everyone and see if they'redoing well, but this is a cruise ship thye were using for transportation. Surely there are many things to do. Allen would love to go swimming in one of their pools, but he can't do that with the populated ship until night. He could stroll around. There won't be any harm in that. So that's exactly what he did, wearing his uniform of course. Allen would always see Cross wearing his General uniform all day, before and after bedtime. Once Cross said something about it, but Allen hasn't been able to comprehend it.

The ship was dazzling as was the sea. It was got more remarkable every time he saw it. There were a few times when girls greeted him and men addressed him. Others he had a hard time keeping his money away from. Allen was good with avoiding pitpockets, but now that he looks like he has a lot of money he's coming across a lot of them. There weren't many quiet rooms. He had found a built-in casino, but after trying his luck a few times at poker and roulette, Allen took off. Gambling was fun for him, but right now he didn't want to gain any unnecessary attention. Who knows what's lurking around the next corner. Thinking about it-"It's not such a good idea for you to be walking around by yourself."

Suman crept up from behind Allen, soon walking alongside him with his ever firm frown. He was also wearing his uniform. Allen wondered if every single one of the exorcists were. "Hello Suman."

"Why are you strolling the halls by yourself?" Suman demanded to know.

"I didn't know you cared about my well-being." Allen mildly expressed.

Suman snarled a little. His nerves were being yanked when Allen acted as though he had no idea why he was uptight about Allen being by himself. He managed to steady his eager annoyance to lash out at him. "You are to be accompanied by someone at all times due to the proclaimation of all exorcists protecting the Generals. As an exorcist it is my duty to do as I am told, meaning-"

"Pardon my interruption, but I understand you perfectly."

"If you understand hten why are you out here by yourself?"

"Nobody was near my cabin. I couldn't bear being there any longer doing nothing thus I took a walk. Just in case you can't tell I am just swell. There are no akuma on board either."

Suman sighed, his expression shifting from stiff to near settlement. Allen studied the man walking beside him. Pride was evident as he strut with composure. Apart from Suman's pride, that wasn't strong enough to block what Allen also saw, Suman held fear in his eyes. "I heard you came across a Noah. You are the only survivor that we know of when the Noah chose to assassinate our comrades." Allen expressed gently.

Suman didn't respond to what Allen said. After trekking too much further in the hall, Suman stopped walking on the velvet carpet. Standing beside him, Allen observed him sadly. Both of them were thinking different thoughts, Allen trying to being sympathetic, Suman trying to force the memories away. He tried distracting himself away from that day and what had happened there. Nobody would understand. Sometimes Suman didn't understand what he'd done himself.

Silently Allen observed Suman again. There wasn't m uch to say about the uniform, but he saw the edge of a golden pocket watch sticking out of his pocket with the chain latched to his belt. He was a tidy man. There was a hint of depression in the man as well. One Allen could condole with whether or not he knew it yet. "Hey Suman?" Allen questioned, acting like he didn't see Suman grief.

"What now?"

"Would you mind teaching me how to play chess? I want to learn so I can play it with everybody else at the Order when we get back." Allen said with a childish smile as he stretched his arms behind his back.

Suman was unresponsive for a bit longer. Allen didn't mind. He just went on how great it would be to learn how to play chess and that he couldn't wait until he learns and beats somebody in it. "Beating Kanda would be nice. If we make a bet I'll be sure to win no problem. I have yet to lose a bet! So what do you say?"

After Suman took in all Allen said, he (inside himself) happily agreed, taking Allen the cabin he was sharing with Lavi and Krory. It was closely similiar to Allen's own cabin, but Allen was much fancier. Suman set up the board and placed the pieces where they bleonged, Allen watching carefully and intently, opening his ears for anything he may say next. "In all you have 16 pieces, Allen. There is one queen and one king, two rooks and bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. In the row closest to you go all the special pawns where as the regular pawns go in the row after right down the line horizontally. The rooks are placed in the corners." Suman informed, picking up each pawn to show him which was which.

"Alright, um, what's the rook?" Allen asked, trying to place his materials where they belonged. "This one?"

"No, that's your bishop. Your rook is the one that looks like a castle tower."

"Oh!" Allen chimed, acting like a fascinated child once again as he put them where they belonged. "Next is...?"

"The knights go beside the rooks." Suman said, utterly amused that Allen had never played this before or that he has plainly not seen somebody played this game at all. "After them are the bishops. The knights look like the horses."

Allen bobbed his head, placing the next men in their official stations. That left only the king and queen. Allen watched Suman place them and mimicked him. Somehow, though, he still got it wrong. "Allen, you have to switch the king and queen." Suman reached over and did it for Allen. "It will be easier to remember if you put the queen on the square that matches her color. Your pawns are black and so the queen will go on the black square with the king beside her. The rest should be easier to remember after that."

"I see. White goes first, right?"

"Yes, therefore black will go after white. Before we begin I will explain to you how far and which way the six different pieces can move. It's vital to remember this. The knight is the only piece that can jump or go through another piece. The knight can move-" And so Allen's lesson began.

Lenalee gave a quizzical look at her friends when they joined them for dinner. Well, some. Lavi had been talking to her all day, but they hadn't seen anyone else. Miranda nad Krory were the only ones to arrive to dinner. Allen and Suman hadn't been spotted by either one of them today. When a small interrogation began about it, everybody hurried through dinner. When neither Suman or Allen came by to discuss their plans for Cross or to just eat, they started to get worried. "Have you gone to your room today, Krory?" Lenalee asked, inspecting everything and everybody they passed through the rooms and halls.

"Only this morning when we boarded." Krory said quietly.

"Wasn't Allen supposed ot be in his room, Lenalee?" Miranda inquired.

"He was, but when Lavi and I went to go get him earlier he wasn't there. I don't know if he has returned by now. It's just-I'm worried is all." Lenalee sighed to prove her stress.

"I am sure they are alright. Why odn't we check my room for Suman then try Allen's? How's that?" Lavi suggested, reassuring them all they were okay.

"Sounds good."

When they got to Lavi's and Krory's room, Lenalee reached for the doorknob, but before she turned it she heard something from inside. A voice. It was hard to hell who it was from behind the door. Quietly-extremely quietly-Lenalee cracked open the door and poked her head in to see both Allen adn Suman. Lvi followed her action and soon Krory and Miranda were watching them. "No, you can't move that there!" Suman bellowed, moving a chess piece back as Allen blinked.

"Why not? The bishop can move as far as it wants as long as it's going diagonally." Allen said.

"They're playing chess." Lavi mused under his breath.

"A bishop can move as far as it wants in one direction, but must stay on the color it began with. I've told you that a dozen times. This bishop was on white, so you have to go back one more or keep it where it was because you are not allow to go off the board." Suman instructed, taking a deep and long breath. "You are a slow learner, Allen."

Allen laughed as he rubbed the back of his head meekly. "Oh, sorry." The exorcists stifle their giggles and tyr to silently watch, but Allen kept making mistakes. It was hard for him to remember all the rules for the game because there were so many. After playing the game all day you would think he would have it down by now. "Suman, you seem to love chess a lot. Why is that?" Allen asked, moving his pawn to his desired area. They had just began a new game.

Suman moved his rook and took out on of Allen's bishops, taking it off the board as he defeated the piece. Allen picked up a his knight and began to move it in midair. "My father taught me how to chess a long time ago." Suman answered, causing Allen's hand to freeze and he looked straight at Suman. Allen tightened his jaw as he set down his knight, taking Suman's rook. "What about you? Is there something you like that your father taught you?"

Allen smiled a funny grin, chuckling softly. "The man I considered father taught me many things. It's a little silly, but I say what I cherish most out of all things he taught me," Allen paused, watching Suman steal another pawn and Allen shifted his endangered rook to a new square. "Was how to smile."

At this Suman suspended his hand over the chess board like Allen had moments ago. "Would you clarify?"

"I was adopted by a man named Mana. Oddly enough, he was a clown. At the time I never wanted to be near him-I despised clowns, but he warmed my solid heart when he accepted me for who I was unlike the rest of the people I had met beforehand. Before I met Mana, I never smiled, not once. I didn't know how, I didn't know the meaning of it, most of all, I had no reason to. So I thought."

Suman put his attention back on the game, putting his last bishop near one of Allen's pawn. The next few turns were played in quietness. "That's hard to believe since you smile all the time, Allen."

"I got that from Mana." Allen took another one of Suman's pieces. "How about your family?"

". . . . I have a daughter. As a matter of fact, I taught her how to play chess, that's why I can keep my patience with you in this game." Suman answered grimly, taking out his pocket watch and opening it up to reveal a picture of a young girl. Allen leaned forward and took a peek. "I haven't seen her in many years and she's very sick. The only reason why I came to the Black Order was because they agreed to pay for her medicine that I couldn't afford."

Allen went back to his seat, eyes fixed on the game again. "She's beautiful."

"She looks like her mother."

"I hope one day I can meet your family Suman." The man set his watch down on the table and closed it, taking his turn once again. "So you're fighting for your daughter?"

Suman hesitated about answering Allen's question. It wasn't right of him to speak about this, but Allen gave the elder man a sense of comfort, telling him he could trust Allen with this. "Yes, but I want to go home and stay there. I don't like the Order and I sure as hell don't want to be an exorcist. I just want to be with my family. I want to raise my daughter for the last of her childhood, but I can do that as long as I have innocence."

The young General tilted his head, trying to think of a move and how to respond to Suman. "I understand, not everyone wants to fight. I know there are a few exorcists here that have been forced into fighting this war. It's not right."

"You don't understand! You are just a 15-year-old kid! How could you understand?" Suman snapped, standing up and slamming his hands on the table. As the pieces fell, Allen put them back up, remembering where each was placed. If he messed up Suman helped him. "None of you understand."

"You don't have to believe me, but I do understand. I am confident you aren't the only person who has been taken away from their family." Allen told him calmly as he continued playing.

Lenalee bit her bottom lip. She shouldn't be listening to this. None of them should. As she was about to sneak away unnoticed, willing to pull her friends away, Suman answered. "Were you taken away from Mana?"

"I was not."

"Then you woudn't understand."

"Suman, your daughter is alive. Her mother is as well. If you continue fighting, using them as a reason to go on, one day soon you shall see them again. You weren't taken away from your family. You chose to come here to help your daughter live if only it's one more day longer. If you hated it so much you wouldn't fight and you would just stand there waiting for the enemy to kill you but you don't. You take your job seriously even if you dislike it. Your family is out there and you're still alive. You can go back to them. They aren't gone, and neither are you." Allen told him, leaning back in his seat, folding his arms on the table.

Suman frowned, eyes saddening as he did his next play, seeing Allen's point. Suman feels he was taken away and that's what he will believe-half-heartedly. Allen did his play and Suman follow suit until everything calmed down. Allen was giving peaceful aura for him to concentrate and be honest about this. "Why are you here, Allen? You are only 15 and still have a life to live. You have so much to do. So why didn't you run when you had the chance?" Suman questioned.

Allen licked his lips, not playing his turn this time. He just sat there quietly, gazing around the cabin. Suman had to remain patient, but Allen was starting to get on his nerves about this. "I didn't have anything to run from. I chose to be with Cross like Lenalee said. I chose to train under him. It was my decision and my decision alone to become an exorcist." Allen said, moving his last piece. "Checkmate."

Suman looked at the board and frowned. He was right. Suman lost for the first time today. Was Allen messing with his head? "Suman, I wanted to be an exorcist and I have my own reasons behind this... Can I ask you a question?"

The older man gave Allen his attention. The white-haired boy stood up, mood unwavering in spite of Suman's egotism falling because of him. HIs pride had been damaged by the new General. "What do you think when you fight an akuma?"

"It's a monster that has to be destroyed or the humans will be killed. Follow my orders and kill them. There's nothing more to it than that."

"Akuma are tools to the Millennium Earl. Though they are created with dark matter, they are also created with a human soul that cannot disobey the Earl even if it wanted to. The human soul is used to finalize the akuma process. People get so angry at the akuma that they forget that they are human souls trapped in a machine." Allen told him leisurely.

"What's your point?"

"Just forget I ever mentioned it."

Suman stood up, taking down all the chess pieces. Allen tried helping, but Suman made him stop. "I have only one question for you."

"Hhmm?"

"Why did you let me join this team after what I said to you?"

"That I'm a traitor? About Master being a traitor?" Allen wanted to confirm. The only noise be created now were the chess pieces being hit by another and the creaking of the chair when he pushed it in. "We are comrades now. I have to trust you, and I do. I just hope everyone will feel the same about me soon." Allen stretched his arms over his head. "Thanks for teaching me how to play, but I am going to go get something to eat. Are you going to join me?" Allen asked, trying to ease the mood.

"I'll stay here."

"Very well. I wish you sweet dreams." Allen waved as he stalked over to the door. Panicking the other exorcists dashed away from the door. As Allen exited the room and closed the door all the way he stared at them. "Hello."

"Hey, beansprout." Lavi greeted, joyfully.

Allen's eyebrows twitched. He said nothing about Lavi calling him a beansprout this time. Not this time. He was going to ask them how their first day was on the ship, but now he didn't want to. So he wordlessly passed them as they anxiously stepped out of his way. Miranda was the only one who acted the least bit suspicioius as she held her hands to her mouth and she shook out of worry. Allen only laughed at their tense reaction, but decided to lighten the mood for them as well. "Did you have fun eavesdropping?"

"We didn't mena to! I'm sorry! We're sorry! Please forgive us! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Miranda shouted.

"I'm not mad, but I don't tihnk Suman would like it. Try not to say anything about what we talked about to him. It'll be our little secret." Allen held his finger up to his mouth, his smile widening as Miranda stopped bowing up and down on her knees to apologize settled down.. His restful voice seemed to be helping her. "Promise me you won't mention his family?"

"P-p-promise."

Allen looked at the other three expectantly. "We promise."

"Good. Anyone want to join me for dinner?" Allen questioned as he started walking off again.

"We already ate, sorry."

"That's alright. Have fun."

Lenalee blinked. How did Allen calm Miranda down? Was it his voice? The way he spoke? How about the way he reacted? He didn't even care they eavesdropped on him. Allen was too kind. Lenalee just knew he wasn't going to tlel Suman about this. It was nice how he comforted Suman. Lenalee always thought he had a child of his own because when she had to help some villagers fend off wolf akuma, he was oddly nice to a little girl that joined them. Suman did have a fatherly-like figure. Then there's Allen who said he trusts all of them completely. All he wants was their trust. Is that why he was demanding? "Lenalee, should we let him go alone?" Lavi whispered.

"What do you mean, Lavi?"

"He's wearing his General uniform. If there is a Noah on board they might attack him and we were ordered to protect Allen by Komui. One of us should go with him." Lavi replied.

Lenalee agreed. Lenalee wanted to find out more about Allen. The only way to do that was to go with him. "I'll go with him. See you later."

Please review, and if you have any adivce or criticism, I would like to hear. I want to make this story better for the audience. *~* I know I have a few things to work on.

~ ~ ~ Anon Novelist ~ ~ ~