Disclaimer: I do not own the Dgrayman characters, they belong to Katsura Hoshino. This is done solely for the sake of fan-girlism.
As always, feedbacks and comments are welcomed and appreciated. :)

Father of the Child

by Sceaduw

{Part XII}

She strolled through the block wearing a lovely smile, greeting and being greeted by people living in the Black Order. She scanned the passers-by, silently detecting their brain waves and pheromones levels. She continued to smile, knowing there was no need to activate any of her assault programs.

"Hello, Lenalee! Back from the mission? Thank God!" said a stranger.
The girl smiled back. From her database, she knew this man was another exorcist.
"Yes. I'm back."
They walked past each other casually. She was about to continue venturing through the place when the man called out to her.
"Hey, Lenalee, are you hurt? There's blood on your skirt!"
The man reached out and grabbed her by the arm.
"Listen, Lenalee, there's something I wanted to-"
"Program activation. Target for extermination!"
"H-huh?"
The man's eyes widened as 'Lenalee' swirled around and headbutted him. Then he felt he was being stung by a million needles. The girl was leaning in close to him and her long dark hair was eerily attaching to his head. He tried to scream but he felt numb. Before the man knew it, he woke up in the Hospital Ward.

The Head Nurse sighed and cocked her head.
"What's going on, how come there's suddenly so many people here?" asked Lavi. He jumped out of bed and went over to help the Head Nurse. He tiptoed past the sleeping Kanda, fearing the slightest noise would wake the swordsman up.
"I have no idea! All these people! Some of them are not injured but found unconscious!" The Head Nurse handed one of her patients a cup of water. "There you go, can you tell me what happened?" she asked. She hoped she could get an answer from this one. The man shook his head after he took a sip of water. The Head Nurse shrugged in defeat and told the man to take a good rest.
"Come on, who attacked you? Can you remember anything?" Lavi asked the man. He knew there was something fishy going on in the Black Order. He felt he was getting close but not close enough to find the truth.
"It's no use! Like all the others, he has lost his recent memories," shouted the Head Nurse from the other side of the room. Kanda stirred in his sleep but he was deep in his dreams.
"I-I'm sorry...," whimpered the man, lowering his head. Lavi saw the man's hands were shaking and he stopped interrogating him. Wait a second, everyone was losing memory... What if that was also what happened to him and Kanda? Lavi rushed over to Kanda's bed and shook the sleeping form.

"Kanda! Wake up! WAKE UP! We're in troubles!" shouted Lavi. The young bookman paused when he felt a slight tremble from underneath the bed cover. Kanda slowly turned in his sleeping position and faced the exorcist. His eyes opened ever so slowly, his lips letting out a low growl. Lavi backed off a step.
"No, WE are not in troubles, Lavi," began Kanda as he sat up, "only YOU are!" The swordsman flashed his Mugen from under the covers and gave Lavi a slice.
"You're sleeping with Mugen?" sniggered Lavi as he dodged another sword swing.
"Prepare to die!" sneered Kanda and he jumped off bed.
"QUIET YOU TWO!" snapped the Head Nurse as she rushed over to the two, stopping them from destroying the ward. "What is wrong with you exorcists today? All coming up here without any injuries but losing their minds!"
"Nurse, losing memories to be exact," said Lavi just before he received a punch from Kanda.
"You mean we also lost our memories? Like the others?" asked Kanda after Lavi recovered from his assault. Lavi rubbed his sore cheek and nodded. His cheek was badly swollen and he couldn't move his jaws. Lavi believed Kanda did that on purpose. Just to shut him up. The Head Nurse gave Lavi a tiny bag of ice to ease the bruised flesh. Seeing Lavi couldn't speak and won't elicit anymore mayhem from Kanda, she then left the two alone.
"So how did it happen? How did we lose our memories?" asked Kanda but Lavi just eyed him innocently. "Oh yes, you don't know because we lost our memories," sighed Kanda, "Then what are we supposed to do?" Lavi shook his head again.
"Then what the hell did you wake me up for! Why can't you just let me sleep! I'm so damn tired after the mission!"
With that, Kanda climbed back into bed. Lavi tried to protest but his swollen cheek reminded him of the danger of awaking the oriental beast. He watched in frustration as Kanda buried himself back into the pile of bedding.

Just when Lavi was going out of the ward, Komui rushed in, carrying Lenalee in his arms. The Head Nurse immediately tend to Lenalee, urging Komui to get out of her way. Lavi was really confused now. Lenalee was well when she came back from the mission, wasn't she? Reever told them she was fine a while ago too. So what was happening now? He looked over to Komui but the man was too occupied to notice him.

With Lenalee seriously ill, Kanda deep in a slumber, Komui too unhinged in tears, Lavi had to do the investigation by himself. If he could find out anything, maybe he could put a stop to it. He put down the bag of ice and went out of the ward. When they came back from the mission, the front gate was the last thing Lavi could remember before a blank interrupted his memory. That would be the first stop where he would start his investigation. With a bit of luck, maybe he would come across Reever again. He could ask Reever in details if the man knew anything. Lavi picked up his pace but he bumped into someone when he turned round a sharp corner.

Allen!

"Lavi? Are you alright? I'm sorry, didn't see-"

What's a Noah doing here?

Lavi pointed a trembling finger at Road. He tried to speak but a dull pain swell up in his face. He tried harder to hold back a tear of pain as he rubbed on his cheek. The girl snuggled up to Allen and pulled a face at Lavi. Allen pushed Road off him and hoped Lavi won't sprout any strange ideas.
"She's taking me to Lenalee. Road has taken her back here already. Hey, are you alright, Lavi?" Allen cocked his head at the silent Lavi. It was very odd for Lavi to be able to keep his mouth shut. Then he noticed Lavi's swollen cheek.
"Oh dear, I see... Lavi, you should brush your teeth, twice daily at least!" said Allen.

No! Allen! This is not a toothache! And what's that about Road taking Lenalee?

"But I don't see your toothache earlier today. Did it deteriorate this badly in such a short time?" asked Allen, "Then it must be really bad!"

You saw me earlier today? After I came back from the mission? Wasn't I in the Hospital Ward? Then you've still got your memory! You know what happened, Allen!

Lavi's eyes glittered with hope.
"Anyway, take care Lavi, I hope you'll feel better soon! I'm off to see Lenalee now!" smiled Allen as he waved Lavi goodbye.
"W-wai-t-!"
"What is it Lavi?"
Allen frowned at Lavi. He tried to shake off Lavi's grasp. He saw Lavi was trying to say something but he was also anxious to see his beloved girl.
"Lenalee... is... ill... seriously." Lavi felt his jaws crackled as he blurted out the words.
"What do you mean? Is she in the ward?" Allen snapped and glared at Road. "Did you-"
"I didn't hurt her, Allen, I swear! Not when she had a baby then..."

What baby?
Lavi's eyes were about to pop out of his head. He felt even more confused.

"Then why-"
Allen thought he heard her using past-tense there. A fearful thought crept up his mind. No, Road didn't. Road wouldn't have even though she could be a sadist like the other Noahs. The Noahs wouldn't hurt their blood family. They wouldn't hurt the baby, whether it be Tyki's child or... Allen refused to think further. With the Noahs trying to take Lenalee and the child, it must be child of a Noah. He paused and took a deep breath. Well, he was very sure it wasn't his. Anyway, he would know the truth once he got into contact with Lenalee. He must have faith in Lenalee...

"She was fine when I dropped her off here through the portal!" Road was on the verge of tears. She might do bad things, but she hated to be wronged for things she didn't do.

The Noahs were here? Someone tell me what happened!
Lavi gritted his teeth and reached out to Road. Road jerked back and slapped his hand away. She gave the red-haired exorcist a sneer and made a threatening gesture with her right hand. To Allen's horror, a few small candles materialized from thin air. He immediately stepped in-between Road and Lavi. He could tell Road was not in her usual mood since she agreed to take him to Lenalee. Was Road jealous?
"Stop it, Road! If you start a fight here, I'll...I'll... I'll hate you!" warned Allen, a faint pink flushed across his face. Road blinked and after a second or so bursted out in tears, laughing. Allen felt embarrassed, he didn't want the Noahs as his enemies. He didn't wish the war to go on. He wanted everyone to live, or coexist, peacefully together.
"I mean, I'll hate it if you start a bloodshed here!" said Allen, trying to calm Road down. Lavi stood still, watching the two as if a drama was being played in a theatre. "Stop laughing! What's so funny about that!" cried Allen.
Road wiped away her tears as she stopped her hysteric laughs. She looked up at Allen and gave him a grave smile.
"You can't hate me, Allen!" said Road and she hugged onto him tightly. "Neah doesn't hate me," she whispered.
Allen felt guilty for using Road's affection to him. He had always known Road liked him. His charms always worked well with Road. Now that he was married to Lenalee, he felt even worse. He kept telling himself this was not cheating. No it wasn't. He was just... using Road. Still, he felt an unpleasant sensation in his heart.
Road refused to let go and she buried her face into his chest. Was this Allen's or Neah's heart beating so fiercely? Her own heart was pounding for a reason she denied. With failing attempts, she tried to convince herself he was Neah over and over again.

For goodness' sake! Come on you two! I'm still here! Helloooo?
Lavi gave out a series of coughs and caught Allen's attention. He quickly pushed Road off him and gave out a cough himself. Road eyed him one last time before walking off on her own. Allen followed her quietly and neither one spoke anymore. Lavi said nothing since the two were heading towards the Hospital Ward anyway. He wondered if all hell would break lose if the two girls meet each other. Oh, Allen would be so dead then. Lavi tried to hide a snicker. He walked beside Allen and tried to start a conversation. Unfortunately, Allen was now in a terrible mood and refused to discuss anything regarding memory loss. Then Lavi changed the subject.
"I just came out from the ward when Komui rushed in with Lenalee. She was really ill and was unconscious," Lavi said slowly. He seemed to get the hang of speaking without hurting his jaws too much. As expected, he got Allen's attention.
"I swear, in the name of the Earl, that Lenalee was in good shape when I brought her back!" shouted Road from ahead. She quickened her pace, not wanting to wait for the ungrateful teen. Road regretted taking Allen back to Lenalee. If only she could stand up to his pleas...
Lavi patted Allen on the shoulder. Seeing Allen so sad, he felt he was lucky to forget something. Especially anything to do with 'baby'. When did Allen get Lenalee pregnant anyway? Wasn't Lenalee on mission with himself and Kanda for sometime? Hey, was Allen really the fa-
Lavi froze on spot.
"What's up with you Lavi? You've been acting really strange. The toothache hurts that much? Maybe you should let the Head Nurse take a look at it too," said Allen.
Lavi gave out a nervous laugh but the pain in his jaws shut him up mercilessly. It couldn't be! It would either be Kanda or himself! No way! But he couldn't remember anything about it! Did Allen know? Lavi stole a glance at Allen. Allen smiled back and gave Lavi a pat on the back instead.
"Cheer up! I'm sure the Head Nurse has medication for that!" said Allen. Lavi swallowed hard and was silently saying his grace. Either it wasn't himself, or Allen didn't know about it. He refused to believe Kanda was the father either, but... he didn't remember anything happening between anyone with Lenalee during the mission. No, he REMEMBERED that NOTHING happened between anyone with Lenalee during the mission. They met Tyki, but it was brief, no more than one minute. That Noah was on the run and he didn't even touch Lenalee.

"Hey!" Road shouted, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be sick?"
The Noah's cries caught both Allen and Lavi's attention. The two ran up to her and saw a girl blocking Road's way.
"Lenalee!" Allen cried as he rushed up to her, pushing past Road. Road watched with distaste as the two embraced each other. Lavi, on the other hand, stared at 'Lenalee' with disbelieve. How could the girl recover so soon? The girl standing there looked perfectly fit and healthy. Then he saw a familiar gleam in that girl's eyes. A sharp pain struck Lavi in the head. And he remembered... that was no Lenalee! That was... that THING!
"ALLEN! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Lavi shouted as he took out his hammer, activating his Innocence. Road jumped out of the way just in time to dodge the menacing hammer.
"What are you doing?" asked Road although she didn't mind if Lavi killed Lenalee. If that was what Lavi had in mind, he had her full support!
The hammer shot right through in-between the girl and Allen, forcing them apart. Allen was shocked but 'Lenalee' remained calm.
"LAVI! What the HELL are you doing?" screamed Allen and he tried to reach for the girl. Just when he was about to take 'Lenalee's' hand, Road darted in and pulled him away.
Road noticed there was something odd about this girl. This girl wasn't Lenalee but looked like Lenalee.
Seeing her prey being taken away, 'Lenalee' locked her eyes on Road and began to chase after them. Allen tried to shake off Road's hold but he was worried when he saw Lavi tried to attack his girl again.
"Stop it Lavi! What's wrong with you!" Allen shouted as he dashed towards Lavi, dragging Road with him.
"This is LENALIN, Allen! Not LENALEE!" cried Lavi as he tried to hit the robot girl with his hammer. Unfortunately, the girl moved too fast for him. The robot also had a pair of black boots simulating Lenalee's Innocence.
"WHAT?" shouted Allen, eyebrows knitting into a sign of total confusion.

Lavi demolished several brick walls before he managed to hit the moving target. When the dust settled, he realised Allen had blocked his attack with his Crown Clown and Lenalin was safely protected behind him. Sitting on the ground between Allen and Lenalin was Road. She had landed hard on the ground and was whining from the pain. She inwardly cursed Allen for being so inconsiderate to her.
"Allen, move!" shouted Lavi but the teen won't budge. Allen was glaring at him coldly.
"Lavi, don't make me fight you!" he sneered.
Road was watching from behind and she found the whole thing amusing.
"Come on Lavi! Hit her!" she cheered. Pulling Lenalin out from behind Allen, she pushed the girl towards Lavi.
"Road!" cried Allen. He was too late, the Noah had pushed her out into the open. Seizing the opportunity, Lavi hoisted his hammer up high and struck it at Lenalin. The ground cracked open and Lavi smirked.

-to be continued-