Disclaimer - I do not own D Gray Man
Chapter Ten - The Heir of the Musician
Now that Mana knew that young Allen was the person in whom Nicholas had sealed his memories he decided that he should teach the child the notes of the Score. After all, since the child already subconsciously knew the melody of the song, it only seemed natural for Mana to teach him the notes. But since Allen didn't seem to know anything about what had been done to him Mana decided to disguise this lesson.
But disguise it as what?
That was the question.
The clown and his young charge had been walking for most of the day and Mana decided that they could both use a bit of a break. After all the poor boy had been working hard to keep up to Mana's steps, which were much wider than his own, and although Allen didn't once complain the clown could tell that he was tired. The town that they were currently passing through was virtually abandoned on this sunny and yet cold day and Mana soon found himself sitting on some stone steps, with little Allen sitting beside him.
There was a small tree branch lying in the snow beside the steps where Mana was sitting and the clown gazed down at it for a few seconds, an idea beginning to form in his mind. Reaching out with one gloved hand he picked up the stick and twirled it between his fingers a couple of times before breaking it into two equal sized pieces.
"Hey Allen..."
The little boy glanced up at the sound of the clown calling his name and there was a curious expression in Allen's gray eyes. The eyes that so reminded Mana of the brother that he had lost. "What is it Mana?"
"How would you like to learn a secret code?" Mana asked, finally coming up with a way to teach the child the notes of the Musician's Score without revealing the knowledge of what it was to Allen. He would disguise it as a secret code, which should serve to make it entertaining enough for the child to memorize.
Allen tilted his head slightly to the side, lost in thought for a moment, and then nodded. "That sounds like fun."
Mana was happy that Allen was willing to learn what he had to teach and he offered one of the sticks to the child. Once Allen held the stick in his own gloved hand the clown set about drawing an assortment of little symbols into the snow at his feet. Then, once he had completed this task he began to teach Allen what each of the symbols stood for. As always the child was a quick study. After going over the symbols a few times Mana began to quiz the child by drawing various letters and having Allen draw the corresponding symbols.
Holding the stick in his gloved hand Mana traced out the letter m in the snow and then gazed expectantly at the little boy who was kneeling in front of him.
Allen held a thoughtful expression on his face for a few seconds, a rather comical sight considering how young the boy was. Then he traced out the corresponding symbol and gazed up at Mana to see if he had gotten it right. Nodding his head in approval Mana offered Allen a smile and then traced out another letter.
Mana wasn't sure how long the two of them sat there, drawing the little symbols in the snow, but he paused as he felt more snow beginning to fall. Gazing up from his work Mana noticed that the snow was falling fairly heavily and the clown got to his feet. "Come Allen, we should find shelter before the blizzard hits."
Looking up a wide grin spread across Allen's face as he watched the snowflakes fall. The child leapt to his feet and spun around in a circle, his mouth held wide as he sought to catch the little flakes of snow on his tongue. Mana watched the child for a few moments, marveling at how childish his actions were. Allen had the tendency to act much older than he actually was but he was slowly learning to be a child.
Mana laughed as Allen grew dizzy and fell back, landing on his behind with an audible thud. A scowl appeared on the child's face and Mana took this as the cue to get the two of them inside. "Come on Allen. A warm room sounds nice right now doesn't it?"
"Mmm," Allen replied as he got back to his feet.
Mana grabbed the suitcase that had been sitting beside him and together he and Allen made their way down the street. The two clowns walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Allen was still going over the secret code that Mana had taught him, a smile on his face. He was pleased that Mana had shared something so special with him and determined not to forget. Mana, on the other hand, was thinking about Nicholas once more. Wondering as he often did why his brother had chosen this child as his host.
It wasn't long before they came to a small inn and Mana reached for the door and motioned for Allen to enter. The child obeyed and then Mana walked in behind him, closing the door to keep out the cold. A teenage girl was standing at the front desk and she offered the two weary travelers a broad and friendly smile.
"Good evening," she said as Mana walked across the room, with Allen tagging along behind him.
"Good evening," Mana said, bowing politely. "We would like a room for the night if you have any available."
"Of course," the girl said.
Ten minutes later Mana and Allen made their way down the hall to the room that they had been directed to by the girl. Placing the key in the door Mana quickly unlocked it and he and Allen stepped inside. The room was nice, with two twin beds and a fireplace.
"Ah," Mana sighed as he placed his suitcase down on the floor and gazed around the room. "This is nice, isn't it Allen?"
"Mmm," the child replied, having already settled himself on one of the beds.
Mana smiled at the child as he opened his suitcase and pulled out a couple of books. One was a thick novel while the other was a child's chapter book. The former he placed on the single nightstand that stood between the two beds and the other he offered to the small boy who was seated on the bed. "Here Allen, I bought you something."
The child took the book in his hands, gazing at it with wide gray eyes. He was unfamiliar with the concept of a gift and he looked up at Mana curiously.
"I thought that you might enjoy it," Mana said as he sat down on his own bed and pulled off his shoes. "You know how to read right?"
Allen nodded. "Thank you Mana."
"You're welcome," Mana said as he picked up his own book. It hadn't been that expensive after all and every child should have at least one book to read. Perhaps when he had a little more extra cash he would buy Allen some more. If he enjoyed reading.
Leaning back against the headboard of the bed that he had claimed as his own Allen opened the book that Mana had given to him and was soon absorbed in the story. Reading his own book Mana cast covert glances over to the boy ever so often and a soft smile spread across his face as he saw the look of concentration in the little boy's gray eyes.
The book had been a good idea, he decided.
Mana and Allen spent almost an hour reading in silence and then the child put down his book and pulled three brightly colored little balls from the pocket of his coat. Walking across the room, so that he wouldn't disturb Mana, the little boy began to juggle.
"Did you get bored with the book?" Mana asked, looking up from his own.
"No," Allen replied as he juggled the little balls. "I finished it."
"Good job Allen," Mana said, marking his page and putting down his own book. "Did you like it?"
"Uh huh."
"I'll definitely have to buy him some more books," Mana decided as he watched the little boy practicing his juggling skills. The child was getting good at the trick and could now do it with seven balls instead of three. Mana had the feeling that Allen would be better at it than he himself before too long.
"Catch," Allen called out as he tossed the little balls toward Mana.
The older clown hadn't been paying attention and each of the little balls bounced off his forehead. Of course Allen found this absolutely hilarious and Mana shook his head as the little boy rolled around on the floor, howling with laughter.
"Come on Allen," he said after a few minutes. "It wasn't that funny."
"Yes it was," Allen said between giggles.
A/N - end of another chapter, hope that you enjoyed. Please leave a review and share your thoughts. I would very much like to know. Til the next time.