Here ya' go guys! And happy New Year! (This is my gift to you!)

And just one more thing...
I really hope that if you read this fic, you would review… (So I'm not wasting my time writing this? 8 3)
I'll give you some of Link's delicious pie if you do. 8 D
Next chapter would be out soon. If I keep writing it. But anyway,

Enjoy~

Chapter Six: Kidnapped

Allen Walker rubbed his head a few times before asking the girl, "Umm, excuse me, but who are you?" As he asked, he couldn't miss the girl's eyes widen, fear came into view from them and her brows furrowed at the process. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She was in total shock.

At this, Allen couldn't help but snicker; he crouched slightly and put his right hand over his mouth to prevent himself from laughing out loud. Okay, he thought. Maybe I did take it a little too far. The girl didn't look shocked this time, but now, she looked confused, seeing as her brows furrowed even more and she sent a questioning look at the white-haired boy, who was at the brink of tears for trying not to laugh.

"Why are you—?" she started but was interrupted when the door opened to reveal Tyki Mikk, in his usual tuxedo, dark complexion and golden eyes, getting inside the room. Smoke that emitted from his cigarette went inside the room along with him, as he nonchalantly went to them, not knowing as much as Road. "Oh?" he asked, his eyes slightly widen and his eyebrows rose up when he saw Road hugging Allen, though, even when he was in the room, the little girl did not let go of her hug to the boy. "I can see you're awake, boy," he said as a greeting as he went beside the bed.

Allen nodded in response while smiling, which made Road even more confused. She detangled herself from Allen and shouted, "What is going on? I really don't get what the hell is happening here!"

Tyki shot her a confused look while Allen smiled sheepishly and rubbed his hair, making him look even more sheepish. "Err, that was just a joke, Road…," he explained hesitantly and quickly added, waving both of his arms as if to wave off her half-confused, half-hurt look, "but I didn't really mean to hurt you!"

It took a while for Road to register what Allen said into her mind; and when it did, her hand trembled from rage and she gritted her teeth. "Just…a…joke?" she asked, her head bowed low, obscuring her now-pissed off look. Oh, she wanted to hit something; anything. But she won't hit Allen, she can't hit Allen. Automatically and involuntarily, her hand jabbed at her right side to hit Tyki at the stomach. "You should've told me that sooner, Bean Sprout!"

Tyki gasped, "Oof!" And then, he choked on his smoke—again. He clutched his throbbing stomach and let out painful coughs. Road and Allen however, ignored this.

There it was again, the word 'Bean Sprout'. Allen couldn't help but twitch in annoyance. Why are they calling me that? "I'm not a bean sprout! And my name's Allen!" he whined at the girl. "And I told you I'm sorry!"

From his reaction, Road grinned mischievously. Well, at least that's one way of getting back at him. She liked the word; that's why she wants to keep it. And it suits him very much. She put her hands behind her back and shouted, "I'll tell the Duke that you're awake, Beanie!" After that, she disappeared through the open door, leaving a choking Tyki and an annoyed Allen.

"My name is Allen!" he shouted after her, but he knew well that Road won't ever stop calling him that hideous nickname. He grumbled at this and saw Tyki, who was still coughing and wheezing, on the ground on his fours. He shot the man a questioning look, "What are you doing there, Tyki? Did you choke on your smoke?"

As the man finally stopped coughing, he let out an exasperated groan. "Ya' think?"

Allen sighed exasperatedly as Sheryl Kamelot cried loudly on his bed sheet. The man has been crying loudly every since he went in Allen's room, wrapped up in bandages all around. The Akuma that was with him was all emotional too, saying that this was all heartwarming. Allen was even surprised to hear that from an Akuma.

Nevertheless, the man still kept on weeping, and blaming Tyki for his injuries for not being there for the boy when the boy needed him, much to Tyki's annoyance. Right after that, Tyki left the room all to Sheryl's weeping, much to Allen's annoyance. He was actually happy when the human Earl, Adam, came in to take a good look at him. Allen swears—Adam looks a lot like Mana. But Allen dismisses the similarities with his adoptive father, thinking it was just plain coincidence. And just thinking of Mana makes him feel sad.

Look at where I am now, Mana, Allen thought, as if his thinking would reach Mana himself, wherever his late adoptive father is. Even though Sheryl's the complete opposite of you, I've got someone who loves me like you love me. I wonder if it's okay with you if I consider him as my father…

"Allen," says Adam, looking sincere but ever-so-slightly showing a hint that he's happy. He patted my head softly. "You are one brave boy, I have to say. Fighting off general Cross Marian like that."

Allen swelled with honor and pride. The boy smiled happily at this, knowing that he now somehow have a place at the Noah family. Even if it's just a little, but being able to help the Duke makes him happy enough. "Thank you, Duke," the boy humbly said despite what he was feeling.

Adam let out a sigh and sat by Allen's bedside and beside the still-sobbing Sheryl. Allen gazed up at the tall man, looking innocent. Adam smiled gently and patted Sheryl's back. "But Allen…" Adam said, to this, Allen immediately gave his full attention to the Noah. "When you think a situation is too hard for you to handle, it's not bad to run away, you know."

What is he saying? "Why, Duke?" Allen asked simply, looking up at Adam.

Adam smiled ruefully. "That's because it would have taken your life, you know. It would have made up sad—especially Sheryl…" Then the Duke hugged him gently. "You are our family."

Allen:

Fourteen years old

Chicago, USA

"Urghh!—Road—we are not going in that place just to buy candy!" muttered Allen, who was being dragged by Road towards a candy shop. The whole place was full of these colorful lollipops and candies, and Allen felt—you better believe it—almost queasy just going in there. Why? Because ever since Allen recovered from Cross's attack a couple of years ago, Road started to bring him some candy. At first, it was okay. Considering candy was sweet and it somehow made his day in the bed, but then, she began to shove it down his throat—even if he doesn't want to.

"But, Allen!" Road whined, but still tried to pull him through the door. "Candy makes you stronger! Even Skin likes it now! Candy is good for your health! And I didn't bring you to the candy capital of the world for nothing!"

"Oh, for the love of—" Allen exasperatedly half-shouted, but he cut his own sentence. Then he tried to make his voice low and as clam as possible. "Road, candy is good, I know. But some people just don't like being overdosed by it, you get me?"

Road pouted and furrowed her eyebrows. "But you eat everything else as much as thirty people could! But why not candy? I think candy is the best food anyone could have eaten!"

"Okay, okay, Road," said Allen, waving his arms up and down. There's no stopping Road whenever she likes something. You just have to give in to her, and you'll be alright. So Allen went inside the local candy shop with Road. Though, he didn't buy anything for him; Road did.

Just when they were about to go back to the entrance of the ark, something, or rather, someone caught his eye. There were two people; each wearing a black cape that run down to their elbows. They were a red-haired boy and a dark-haired girl, both were on the street, walking. As Allen observed them more, he found out that the cape had a Rose Cross embedded into it.

He motioned to Road, who looked at where he was looking with mild curiosity. She let out a gasp of delight as she saw the two Exorcists walk past past them, unknowing of the danger they were both in.

Lenalee Lee walked with the obnoxious redhead throughout the streets of Chicago. Even though it was very far away from her home, the Black Order, she was dispatched here to meet with the Finders, who think they've found out there's Innocence nearby; only they couldn't really find it somehow.

"Hey, Lenalee," said the redhead, putting both of his hands behind his back while he walked with her. "Do you really think it's Innocence? I mean, even though the Finders said that some of the townspeople did become missing, what's the point? Maybe it's just an Akuma."

Lenalee sighed. Even though her brother told her about it, he never told Lavi. Lavi was on a mission that day, and he came back the next day only to have another mission upon him. Might as well tell him. "I guess brother never told you the details."

"What details?" asked Lavi interestedly.

"Well, even though the missing villagers went missing, after a week or so, they always came back," said Lenalee, narrating what her brother said. She had a pretty good memory. "But," she said. "there's a catch." As Lavi raised an eyebrow, she continued. "Even though the people do come back, they always come back ain a murderous rage. They would kill whoever they encounter, and the police has to tighten the security." Lenalee then shivered.

"Oh," Lavi said, understanding what was at stake now. But this was too unusual. If this was Innocence, then why would it be abducting or mind-controlling people into murder? Maybe this was the work of a level two.

Even though Lavi had only become an Exorcist, he knows that the level two's all have unique special abilities. Though, he's never encountered one before. All of the time, he only saw level ones. So to him, it's most likely an Akuma. And when he explained his doubt to the pig-tailed girl, she just tells him off that the Finders know what they see and that she trusts them. She has a lot of trust for them, huh…

They passed by some toy shops, a few candy shops and, finally, they stopped by a pub of some sorts. The whole place looked deserted except for a few drunken people and, of course, three Finders on the far side of the place. They were waiting for the two Exorcists expectantly, and greeted the two. Then, they explained that most of the missing-and-returning people always came from the nearby canal. They also told Lenalee and Lavi that one of the Finders that were with them disappeared a few months ago when he was examining the canal all by himself—but he never came back. This was the time they contacted headquarters for backup. "Though, we didn't really expect not one, but two Exorcists to come… We will forever be in your debt!" they said.

Lenalee smiled. "Don't worry, we're here to help you." Lavi nodded his head at this to show that he's ready to help too.

"Lenalee, we should check that canal first. This is getting interesting!" said Lavi, clapping both his hands once and he put up a grin. "Let's go!"

As Lavi began to run down to the entrance to the bar, Lenalee looked at the other three Finders, waiting for them to come with her as they began to put on their Finder's equipment. Lenalee didn't really like the look of the equipment that the Order gives them because it looks so heavy! But if it helps them survive, then Lenalee couldn't be happier for them.

When they went out side of the bar, Lavi was already waiting for them impatiently and they went off to the canal. At the first impression of it, it looks quite normal. The water was murky green, there was green vegetation all over it and the air was cold because of both the night and the plants. Overall: Nothing bad has happened—yet. The Finders said that all of the missing people went missing only at night.

They split up into two, with Lenalee along with two Finders and Lavi with a single Finder, both of which will meet up after an hour. They could communicate with their golems. They can't afford to split up into ones—or else. And even though the whole place was normal, it was eerie. Lavi could have swore that he heard some snapping twigs behind the two of them. It made the hairs at the back of his neck stand up.

The two of them brought torches with them, but it was dark—very dark. After a few minutes, he heard anther twig snap again, but when he turned his head away, the Finder with him said, "Sorry… That was me…"

He let out a sigh of relief.

Just when he looks forward, he yelled and stumbled backwards to the soft dirt. It was a horrifying face, the strong shadows of it's face made it look more horrifying, it's white hair was dropping down to his face, and it's adding to it's look. But at closer inspection, it was just a face. A boy's face.

The boy smiled ruefully and rubbed his white hair—wait. White hair? How come this boy has white hair? Could it be that he's cursed? Lavi has read about cursed people's hair becoming white regardless of their age. So this boy is cursed huh… Wonder how that happened. Then the boy spoke up, "Ah! I didn't mean to startle you!"

Lavi lets out a heart laugh. "That's okay! And you know… you should be here. It's dangerous here; you should go home," he told the boy with a grin. The Finder with him nodded.

But the boy had the strangest smile when Lavi looked at him. It was the smile Lavi couldn't quite figure out… It was quite… sadistic? Lavi couldn't quite figure out. But he's gotta take note of the boy. White hair and—oh!—a long scar by his face. Poor kid. And he was wearing a gentleman's dress. He must be quite rich. And the boy didn't follow what he said to him.

Lavi sighed and said again, "Go home kid, ya' don't want to go missing don't ya'?"

The boy smiled. "Don't worry, Exorcist. Because you're the one who's going to get missing."