Disclaimer - I do not own D Gray Man

A/N - early update because it's my birthday and I'm depressed. I would like to thank the following people for the reviews that they submitted to chapter six: reiniko:D, 14th Noah, Mysticwolf1896, Aerin Renning, xTimcampi, PeanutAngel, rmiller92, Shelly, SSA Nicholas Reid, Icetiger 13, crazy DGM fan, MoonlitMelody, :P, Topsy Turvy, cookiemania789, Vincent Noir, emo girl, and PalkiaX! You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews!

Chapter Seven - Reflection

Aside from himself, only one member of the Clan of Noah remained, as well as the Earl himself, and the Musician was determined to end their miserable existence as well.

For Lyssa and Allen he would destroy the so called family that he had foolishly embraced. The family that had robbed him of the chance at true happiness.

Had robbed him of his true family. His wife and his son.

Standing alone in the middle of a bloody battlefield Nicholas reflected on the events that had led him to this point. Led him to the destruction of so many of his so called siblings. His thoughts flashed back to the reasons for his current position.

FLASHBACK

"I can't believe that the man wants to meet out in the middle of nowhere like this," Nicholas muttered to himself in an irritated tone of voice as he walked across an empty meadow, followed along closely by Timcanpy. This was the last place that he would have chosen but for some reason the Exorcist preferred to meet out in locations like this.

It seemed he held more fear of their alliance being discovered than Nicholas himself. Which was weird since the Musician had the most to lose if anyone discovered them together.

"Deal with it Noah," a harsh voice called out, breaking the silence.

Seemingly startled by the new arrival, or perhaps by his harsh tone, Timcanpy quickly ducked inside Nicholas' top coat.

It came as no surprise to the Musician that the Exorcist was following along behind him but he didn't make a big deal about the fact that he was being followed. Instead he merely turned around to face the one Exorcist on the planet who knew about his existence.

And it was in this instant that he learned that the Exorcist wasn't alone. Standing on either side of the red haired man were two women. One was tall with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes while the other was younger and…

Nicholas' gray eyes widened as his gaze fell upon this young woman. With long, flowing chestnut hair and gentle brown eyes she was the most beautiful woman that the Musician had ever lain eyes on.

But who exactly were these women?

This meeting was supposed to be a secret; it had been their agreement to keep everyone else out of it.

So what had changed?

"What's the big idea Marian? You promised that you would always meet me alone." The Musician glared at the Exorcist, irritated that he hadn't expected this. There was a hard look in his gray eyes as he gazed at the Exorcist whom he had foolishly thought that he could trust. "I should have known that I couldn't trust you."

"Calm down brat," the red haired man named Cross snapped, pulling a cigarette from the inside pocket of his coat and casually lighting the end. He really hated the fact that the brat used that name but decided to let it go for now. There were more important things to discuss at the moment. His gaze was focused on the young Noah, the extra member of the clan that he knew to be siding with the Millennium Earl. "Both of these beautiful ladies can be trusted. Maria is my wife," he gestured toward the blond woman before continuing. "And Lyssa is my apprentice."

"W… wife?" Nicholas sputtered, his eyes widening at this news. He was completely shocked by this little revelation from Cross and made absolutely no attempt to hide this fact. "Who in their right mind would actually want to marry you? Wait a minute… did you force her into it Marian?"

The blond woman named Maria chuckled softly, seemingly amused by the Musician's words, and Nicholas noted that her laughter had a musical quality to it. "He couldn't force me into anything, not even if his life depended upon it. He's nowhere near as tough as he acts." This said, Maria turned and lightly punched Cross in the arm. "You know, if you would just allow people to see the real you then you wouldn't have this problem. You're so dense."

"Shut up," Cross said but his voice wasn't anywhere near as harsh as it would have been had he been talking to anyone else.

"Oh I don't believe this," Nicholas muttered. This was supposed to be a meeting to discuss plans to cease the war between the Exorcists and the Clan of Noah but it was turning out to be anything but. "I should have known that this wouldn't work out."

"The only reason it isn't working out is because you're too hung up on the fact that I happen to be married," Cross said, his tone irritated.

"Well excuse me for being shocked," Nicholas said, shaking his head. "But I was under the impression that you weren't exactly human and I'm still reeling from the knowledge that you're actually more normal than you let on."

"I'm nowhere near normal," Cross said, glaring at the younger man. Honestly he'd thought the Noah to be more mature than this. "There, now I've admitted to this fact so you can stop having a meltdown and we can get on with business."

END FLASHBACK

That had been the beginning of the end for everything that they had worked so hard for, as well as for the lives of the two women. Cross had told Nicholas later that, after this meeting, he had been the only thing that Lyssa could talk about.

It had been love at first sight for both of them.

And for this fact Nicholas felt the most guilt. After all, if she had never met him, then Lyssa would more than likely still be alive. Sure she was an Exorcist, a dangerous line of work in these troubled times, but it was her relationship with him that had ended her life.

It was all his fault.

And the loss was doubled due to the fact that he had been forced to give up their child, whom Lyssa had died to protect. Of course it was better this way; with Mana the little boy would have the chance to have a normal upbringing. That was something that he would never have been able to provide to Allen but the loss of the child was still raw and painful for Nicholas.

"All of this is my fault," Nicholas thought to himself, shivering slightly as he felt a familiar presence arrive at the battlefield. Everyone had suffered because of him but the Musician was fully prepared to atone for the mistakes that he had made.

This would be the final showdown.

Of that he had no doubt.

"Good evening dear boy," a familiar voice called out in a calm tone.

Nicholas gazed up and wasn't surprised to see the Millennium Earl standing a few yards away from him. The Earl's gaze briefly surveyed the bloodied ground and then he turned his cold eyes to the Musician.

"Lord Millennium," Nicholas said, nodding his head ever so slightly to the man who had promised him happiness and then ruined any chance he actually had of obtaining it. Both their tones were light, as though this were a casual meeting, but Nicholas knew that it was anything but.

This would be a battle to the death and the young Noah was fully expecting to lose. But it didn't matter so long as Allen was kept safe and allowed to grow into the man that he was destined to become.

The one who belonged to both worlds.

His child was the one who would end the war, of that Nicholas was certain.

"So I've noticed that the Ark is no longer responding," the Millennium Earl said, his tone still calm although the perpetual grin that he always wore on his face had turned somewhat sinister.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to notice," Nicholas said, a roguish grin appearing on his face. He wanted to make sure that he maintained his customary arrogant attitude throughout this encounter. The Musician knew that it would throw off the Earl, anger him, and the young man knew that he would need every advantage that he could get. "I must admit that it took you longer than I expected."

"Remove the curse," the Earl said in a commanding tone, as though he fully expected for the traitor Noah to follow his orders.

"I'm afraid that I simply cannot do that," Nicholas said, his tone cool and collected even though his heart was absolutely racing. "The Ark will remained tied to Edo forever. No one save for me can control it now."

"You refuse huh?" the Earl said, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the Noah of Praise. He had favored this child, which made his betrayal all the worse. A sinister aura seemed to grow around the Earl; power seemed to radiate off of him in waves that were clearly visible to the Noah that he was facing off against. "That is regrettable my boy. I'm afraid that it means your death shall be slow and painful."

This knowledge came as no surprise to the Musician. Nicholas had already known that the Earl would want to make him suffer, both for the curse that he had placed on Noah's Ark and for the deaths of the other members of the Clan of Noah. He was resigned to his fate but there was something that he needed to know.

"Tell me why," he demanded, his tone low and deadly.

"She was in the way," the Earl said without hesitation. He didn't need any clarification as to what the Noah of Praise was referring to; he knew exactly what had turned this child away from him.

It had been that woman.

"Just know," Nicholas said, his golden eyes narrowed. "That everything that happened after that was your fault. You caused it all."

This said the Musician prepared for a fight. He was fairly certain that he wouldn't survive the encounter with the head of his former surrogate 'family' but despite this knowledge Nicholas was determined to fight. It would be wonderful if he somehow miraculously managed to win but even if that wasn't the case hope would not be lost.

Because of Allen.

"Prepare yourself," the Earl said, breaking into the Musician's thoughts.

Nicholas nodded. He was prepared, for whatever happened. Had been ever since the day that he had left Allen in the care of his brother.

Allen and Mana were safe and this knowledge allowed Nicholas to fight with a light heart.

Nicholas closed his eyes for the briefest of moments and called forth a vision of his family as he remembered them; Lyssa smiling with Allen held in her arms. That was the thought that he wanted in his mind at this moment, a thought that brought him a great deal of comfort.

General Cross Marian had been following the fallen Noah around ever since he had openly betrayed the Millennium Earl but somehow the kid had managed to give him the slip. "Argh," he growled low in his throat as he searched for the young man. "I can't believe he gave me the slip and I guarantee that the stupid brat is planning to fight the Earl on his own. Idiot!"

As he searched for the Noah who had been working alongside himself and a few others Cross thought back to the only apprentice that he had ever trained.

Lyssa Wolfe

An image of the naïve young girl appeared in his mind's eye and Cross felt a momentary stab of guilt. It was his fault that she was dead since it was through him that she had met the instrument of her demise.

The Noah that she had fallen head over heels in love with.

And now that useless brat was missing and suicidal, which did not make for a good combination. "I'm going to kill him when I find him," Cross vowed, clenching his hands into fists.

A sudden blur of gold captured Cross' attention. He had forgotten about the little creature that the Musician had blackmailed him into taking with him but now he focused his full attention on the creature for the first time.

It was hard to tell, since the thing didn't have a face and therefore couldn't display emotions, but Timcanpy seemed overly agitated. He was flitting around in the air as though in great pain and then suddenly, without warning, he took off.

Now beyond irritated Cross had no choice except to follow the little creature. After all he needed Timcanpy if he were to ever find the person to whom Nicholas had given the License of the Player so he couldn't afford to lose the creature now.

"Damn it all to hell!"

Cross followed Timcanpy out to a secluded meadow, surrounded by a dense grove of trees, and it was there that he discovered the cause for the creature's unrest. In the center of the clearing stood the Millennium Earl and on the ground at his feet was a bloody form that Cross couldn't see clearly but had no trouble identifying.

It was the Musician.

"Oh look," the Earl said, his gaze focusing on the new arrival. The perpetual grin never left his face as he faced the glaring gaze of the new arrival. "An Exorcist. I think I'll take my leave now."

And with those parting words the Earl pulled out an umbrella, which he used to launch himself into the air.

Cross' first instinct was to attack the retreating Earl but a groan from the bloody form on the ground was enough to change his mind. Shaking his head the red haired Exorcist ran over to the spot where the Earl had been standing and, once there, he dropped to the ground at the Musician's side.

The fallen Noah was covered in blood but it was the look in the youth's eyes that drew Cross' attention.

Even severely injured and no doubt in incredible pain the Musician had a peaceful look in his eyes, which had reverted to their natural stormy gray.

On the verge of death the young man had reverted back to his 'white' persona.

"What have you done you stupid brat?" Cross demanded as he pulled the young man's upper body into his lap. His words were harsh and he glared at the young man. The brat was dying and it was all because of a stupid decision to seek revenge.

"They're vulnerable now," Nicholas whispered, his voice weak and somewhat shaky as he fought to remain conscious long enough to deliver this important bit of news to the Exorcist General. He was well aware of the fact that he was dying but he refused to give in until he had imparted this bit of information to his former partner. "I killed eleven of them… don't stop the fight… it is possible… you can… win."

The Musician's eyes turned glassy at this point and he tensed briefly before all of his muscles relaxed.

As his vision began to blur Nicholas noticed that the excruciating pain was beginning to dull and he was being bathed in a bright light.

And there, standing in the middle of the light with a bright smile on her face, was his Lyssa.

"You've done well," she whispered as she stepped forward to wrap her arms around him. "Now rest my love."

"It's all up to you now Allen," the Musician thought as he placed his head on Lyssa's shoulders and allowed her to embrace him. "I'm sorry to leave you such a burden my son but I'm more sure than ever that you're the one who is destined to end this."

"Stupid brat," Cross whispered as the Musician drew his last breath and then fell still. His blank gray eyes were still open, staring even though they could no longer see, and Cross reached out and closed them with the tips of his fingers.

A/N - it's the end of another chapter and Allen wasn't even in this one. And I killed the Fourteenth yet again. I swear, one of these days I'm going to write a story where he doesn't die. Please leave a review and tell me what you thought. And sorry if Cross seemed OOC but he's a little different in this story. He and Nicholas, along with Maria and Lyssa, were working together but I'll disclose more about that later on in the story. Thanks for reading.