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Chapter Eleven -Misunderstandings
"M... mother..." Allen repeated as the large man placed him once more on his own two feet. His gray eyes were large and he couldn't believe what he had just heard. It simply wasn't possible... there was no way that Cross had a mother like normal people. He hadn't been born, he'd been spawned by pure evil. The white haired youth spent the next couple of minutes gazing back and forth between Master Cross and the woman that he had called mother, searching for some kind of family resemblance.
There wasn't one.
"She's not really my mother you idiot," Cross snapped, practically seeing the wheels inside the brat's mind turning. And he didn't like the direction that the boy's train of thought was traveling in. How the hell the kid could be so unbelievably stupid was beyond him. "Mother is just what everyone calls her."
"Now is that anyway to speak to your own son?" the woman called Mother said, her gaze shifting back and forth between General Cross and Allen. She seemed to be searching for the same family resemblance between the two of them that Allen had been looking for between her and Cross.
Once again, there wasn't one.
And once again the expression on Master Cross' face was priceless and this time Allen was unable to contain the laughter that wanted to spill forth. He decided that it would be worth any repercussions and just allowed the laughter to spill forth.
Which of course only increased Cross' irritation over the entire situation.
Walking over to the boy he made a fist and struck the child on the top of the head. "Idiot!"
"Ow!" Allen screeched, both hands going to the top of his head. He had no doubt that there would be a lump there before long and once again he longed to get revenge against his master. Timcanpy was flying around the boy's head but there really wasn't anything that he could do.
"Such a cruel father," the large man said, wrapping a comforting arm around Allen's little shoulders.
"He's not my son!" Cross growled in irritation, fire snapping in the one eye that was visible. This had already gone on for far too long and he refused to allow that idiot apprentice of his to further tarnish his good name. He didn't want anyone to think that he and the brat were connected by blood.
The only thing they were connected by was bad luck.
"Baba," Mother said, focusing her gaze on the large man who had his arms wrapped protectively around Allen. "Why don't you take the little boy and show him the gardens? General Cross and I need to have a word in private."
"Okay," the man said, smiling down at the child. "Come on."
Allen was reluctant to go anywhere with this strange guy that he'd literally just met but one look at Master Cross was enough to rid him of any hesitancy. It was better to travel with a possible lunatic than stay around and face the wrath of his master.
The man named Baba led the way out to the flower gardens that were located along the side of the house, followed closely by a somewhat wary Allen. He still wasn't certain that this was safe but he knew that it was safer than being in the same room as Master Cross.
"So," the man said once he and the child had made their way out to the flower garden. "What's your name?"
"Allen," the white haired youth replied, gazing up at the man in an appraising sort of manner. It was true that he was one of the largest people that Allen had ever seen in his life but he had a gentle nature about him. It made it easy for Allen to trust him and the boy relaxed.
"It's really nice to meet you Allen," the large man said, smiling down at the child who was standing in front of him. "My name's Baba."
"A pleasure," Allen said, holding out his hand.
Baba gazed at the child's extended hand for a few moments before he grasped it and they shook hands. His smile widened. "So would you like to help me tend to the flowers?"
"Sure," Allen said, thinking that compared to some of the jobs that he'd done during his time with General Cross tending to a flower garden might be nice.
"Great!"
"So you've taken on an apprentice have you?" Mother said as she placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of the red haired Exorcist general.
"Uh huh," Cross said, gazing at the coffee with a scrutinizing gaze. He had never really cared much for the stuff as it tended to kill the buzz that he worked so hard to obtain but he didn't say this to Mother. He knew better.
"I must admit that I'm somewhat shocked by this," Mother said as she poured herself a cup of coffee and then sat down across the table from Cross. "You're the last one that I expected to see taking on a student, never mind one so young."
"Believe me, I didn't want to," Cross snapped, thinking back on the set of circumstances that had led him to become saddled with the annoying brat. "But he has too much potential to be left in the care of those idiots at the Order."
"I'm sure that's the only reason," Mother said, a knowing expression in her eyes. She could tell, by the tone of the man's voice, that there was more to the story than he was willing to tell. But she could also tell that the true reasons behind why Cross had chosen to take on the boy as his apprentice would remain a secret kept by only he himself.
But that was okay.
"That is the only reason," Cross maintained, his one visible eye narrowed.
Once Allen and Baba had weeded the small garden the large man picked a bouquet of flowers and handed them to Allen. "Come on. It's almost time for supper. I'm sure that Mother and General Cross are finished talking by now."
His eyes lighting up at the mention of food Allen nodded and followed the large man toward the door that led into the house. Baba led the way to the dining room, where they found Cross and Mother seated at a large table.
Allen paused at the door but was forced to move forward when Baba gave him a little push from behind. Glancing up Allen caught the look in the man's eyes and his gaze went back to the flowers that he still held in his hand.
A blush colored his face as he caught the meaning of the gesture. Taking a deep breath he walked forward and handed the flowers to the elderly woman who was sitting across from Cross.
"Thank you," Mother said, taking the flowers from the child. "You're nice for a bean sprout."
"B… bean sprout," Allen repeated, his eyes widening.
Catching sight of the indignant look on the boy's face Cross couldn't help but laugh at the boy. It seemed that he was offended by Mother's comment and the general made a mental note to remember that particular nickname. It got more of a response than idiot apprentice and may be worth using.
Allen was a little bit irritated by the fact that his master was laughing at him but he realized that there wasn't really anything that he could do about the situation so he held his tongue. After all, he'd already managed to get himself hit in the head once today and that was more than enough as far as he was concerned.
"Sit down brat," Cross ordered, pointing toward one of the empty chairs. "And try not to make a nuisance out of yourself."
Allen clenched his right hand into a fist, longing to strike out at his master just once, but he obeyed the command and sat down in the chair. One day he would be a full fledged Exorcist and then he would be able to go out on his own. And at that point Allen vowed that he would get as far away from Cross as was humanly possible.
"That'll be the day," the boy thought to himself.
"Supper!"
Allen's head whirled around at the sound of the man's voice. He hadn't even realized that Baba had left the dining room but now the man was returning, carrying a large pot of something that smelled absolutely fantastic.
The young boy's eyes lit up.
Baba placed the pot in the center of the table and quickly dished out four servings, handing a bowl to each of the people assembled around the table in turn.
"Wow, thank you," Allen said as he accepted the bowl that was being offered to him by the man. The contents appeared to be a thick stew and Allen's eyes lit up at the first bite.
"You're an amazing cook!" Allen exclaimed, attacked the food with vigor.
"He has quite the appetite," Mother commented as she watched Allen shovel food into his mouth. "It's really amazing that he's such a bean sprout. Cross, are you starving him?"
"No," Cross snapped.
Allen just smiled.
A/N - and there's the end of another chapter. Hope that you enjoyed, please leave a review and tell me what you thought.
