A.N:
I'm so sorry this chapter took so much longer than I expected! *tears* I was about to abandon this story when I didn't get that much reviews any more. I'm so stupid!!! But then, I looked again and saw that the reviews got higher again and the want for me to continue from the readers made me inspired! *tears again* I'm so very sorry! (And school was very busy. Being an honor student makes it harder because of the demanding teachers and depending classmates) Please enjoy this chapter and review! thank you for all who supported this story! I love you all!!!
D I S C L A I M E R: I do not own D. Gray-man
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Chapter 14: Lonely Christmas
A few months came by and the snow starts to fill up on the Head Quarter's grounds. It was that time of the year where they give presents and enjoy that warm feeling next to the fire place. Everyone was busy as usual, but not because of the missions and Akuma attacks. They've decided to celebrate Christmas in the Order with everyone.
They're all counting the days until Christmas Eve. They haven't celebrated Christmas for a few years since they can't go home to their family. Now was their chance to feel the holiday spirit.
Aria tugged into his coat. She kept moaning that Link was too slow. He dug his heels on the floor as she kept pushing him to the door. "Come on!" She moaned louder. Everyone was starring at them. "Come on, Link. I have to buy his gift!"
"Why me?" He questioned. She pouted and made a puppy dog face at Link. "Cause you're monitoring me. Remember?"
"I'm not keen on shopping for gifts." He reasoned out. Kanda happened to pass by them. Link grabbed the tall exorcist by the arm and pulled him next to Aria. "Here's your shopping buddy." He proclaimed and runs off.
"What the—"Kanda glared at the bean sprout. Aria opened her mouth to plead but the exorcist cuts her off. "NO."
"Come o—"He covered her mouth with his hand and repeats, "NO." She pulled his hand away and pouts. "HOW COULD YOU SAY 'NO' TO THIS FACE?!"
Kanda let out a sigh and leans forward and emphasized "NO," to her face again and left. 'Rejected once again…' she thought. 'I guess I'm going alone.'
"Aria, wait!" Lavi's voice shouted. She looked back and the red head Bookman was there. He was out of breath from all that running. "I'm coming with you." He grinned. "I'm gonna buy the others some gifts."
"I'm glad, you're coming." She smiled back.
---
The two of them reached town faster than expected while it took them an hour to think which one to buy. Their pockets jingle as they kept running back and forth. They start checking off the people in the list one by one. In Lavi's list, he had two left. He was quite unsure what to give to them.
Kanda
Allen
Gramps
Krory
Lenalee
Noise Marie
Gen. Tiedoll
Komui
In Aria's list, she had only one left from her long list.
Allen
Kanda
Gramps
Lavi
Krory
Lenalee
Tiedoll
Komui
Noise Marie
Tyki
Rhode
Earl
Devit & Jasdero
"Wow. That's a long list! You even included the Noahs." Lavi folded his and starts dragging the newly bought gifts. "Now, which one is mine?" He took a little peek at the gifts.
"Secret." She winked and brings hers. "Uhm, Lavi…" She shifted her gaze to the red head. "What do you think Allen would like?"
"One word—FOOD," Lavi laughed.
"Besides that, of course!" She laughed along. As they were window shopping for the next gift, they come pass a accessory store. Her eyes sparkle as she saw a perfect gift for Allen. She pulls Lavi in the store and takes a look at it. It was a long silver key necklace with a matching silver lock necklace. Her eyes travelled along each, looking at every detail.
"You have a good taste, miss." A deep soothing voice complimented her. She looks up and smiled as she glomps at the mysterious stranger in a formal suit. "Tyki!"
"Tyki?" Lavi repeated. He helped the two up since they were drawing attention. "Cut it out, you two!"
They settled on a bench nearby as Tyki explains the reason of suddenly by 'coincidence' in town. He told them he was on a shopping spree for gifts. The little bookman obviously doubted it. A Noah would never appear coincidently for any reason. "You want proof? Here" He press a gift wrapped in red on Lavi's hands. He just blinked at it, opened his mouth but no words came out. A sort of light blush appeared on Lavi's cheeks. "You can thank me later." He shifted his attention to the white haired girl next to him. "Here," he then passed her a gift wrapped in blue. He passed another one in green.
"That's too much." She mumbled as Tyki continued to pile her with gifts. He stopped and smiled. "The red one is from me. The blue one is from Rhode, green from Jasdevi twins and the white ones' from Earl. Lulubell sent you a pink one. The others said they'll send their gifts later on." He pointed on each gift.
"All of these are from the Noahs?" Lavi surprisingly said. He puts the gift with the others and stares at the gifts the Noah piled on to the girl. "What?" Tyki raised an eyebrow at Lavi. "Haven't you seen this much?" Lavi twitched, fuming with complete annoyance.
"Thanks, Tyki." She smiled and searched for the gift she bought in the pile. "Here," she returned the favor and passed Tyki a couple of gifts. "It's the least I can do."
Tyki's smiled faded into a concerned look. "You don't have to—"He stopped at once when he saw the look on Aria's face. She had the 'don't-even-think-about-it' look. He was forced then to take the gifts.
"Come on, don't be modest. Just take it."
Tyki cleared his throat and gets serious. He wasn't there to be a Santa and give gifts. He was there to give Aria some bad news. "Bookman, listen carefully. It's a good thing that you're here. You're going to play a part here."
"Me? What do I have to do with Noah business?" Lavi stretched his arms and paid attention.
"Aria… the three years extension is going to end." From the look on Tyki's face, it was definitely a bad news.
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Back at the Head Quarters, Walker busily did some decorations in the Cafeteria. It was the first time he'd celebrate his birthday with Aria and everyone else. He was looking forward for it since last month. Jeryy helped with the food and snacks. Komui's Komurins helped with arranging the room and setting up the Christmas tree. Even the sour Kanda helped out.
"That's it…" Allen lied back on one of the chairs. "We're done." He smiled. "Thanks, guys!"
"No problem." They said altogether. Komui jumped off Komurin X and drank hot chocolate that Jeryy made next to Allen. "So what's your plan, birthday boy?"
"I was planning on taking Aria on the amusement park and have dinner then take her here and surprise her."
"Sounds cool." He pats the white haired boy on the back. "Great job on being a brother." Allen smiled and replied, "thanks."
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Junior Bookman scratched his head as he thinks things through. After Tyki's bad news, it complicated most things. Aria just looked down, trying to stop her tears. Her extension is about to expire which means she will have to leave; permanently.
"This is where you enter, Bookman." He said to the red head. "You know that Bookmen has a unique ability to remove history."
"I can't do that."
"Why not? You are a Bookman, right?" Tyki raised his eyebrow once he saw the doubt on Lavi's face. "This isn't one of the Noah's plans. This is for Aria's sake."
"Even that's the case, I still can't. Gramps hasn't passed it on to me yet."
"Lavi… I know you." He smiled. "You would do the right thing."
Lavi kept quiet, thinking if that was a compliment or a dare.
"Don't do it, Lavi. I can manage." Aria wiped her tears off and showed them a huge smile.
---
After a few more moments, the hallway's filled with voices complaining they're tired and hungry. Everyone went to the door side to see what it was. Allen welcomed the two but then He turned to Lavi with suspicious eyes.
"I didn't do anything!" Lavi put down the newly bought gifts and muttered. "Sister Complex…"
Allen took her shopping to Jhonny and Tapp to organize. He took her by the hand, grabs for a coat and steps outside. It was very chilly that morning but the two didn't care. They opened up the ark together, hand in hand, and stepped in to the new dimension. They appeared out near the amusement park and their adrenaline is getting active. As Allen promised, they went in and found lots of games and rides to thrill themselves.
She kept dragging him anywhere she sees as fun. Allen had no complains. He himself is enjoying this very moment. They continue until the Perris Wheel.
"The view's great, Allen!" She exclaimed, her smile not wearing off. She chews a bit of the cotton candy they bought from a stall. "Here." She feeds Allen with some.
"Thanks." He automatically replied, eating it all. "I know it's a great view."
Aria fell silent, thinking deep. Should she tell him? Would it hurt his feelings?
"What should you tell me?" Allen read her mind. Aria slapped her forehead. She forgot about their mind link.
"Nothing. I'm just wondering… Do you have a girlfriend?" She made an alibi. Allen laughed.
"Actually, I don't have one yet. You're poor brother isn't thinking about it."
"Oh, that's good! I can have you for myself, right?" She teased. "You're my one and only twin brother!"
"Yeah. You're the only one I love right now… right, sis?" He played along… or is he serious about it?
Aria's bag moved and a yellow winged golem came out to chomp on her cotton candy. "TIMCAMPY! What are you doing in my bag?"
Their car was on top of the wheel when it stopped. It was already dark but she has a lot to say and too many to explain.
"Allen, I love you. You know that very well right?" She looked at his eyes matching her serious pair. "If I were to disappear, don't look for me."
"What are you—"
"PROMISE ME, ALLEN. DON'T LOOK FOR ME."
Allen opened his mouth but no sound came out. He tried to compose his words but he can't say it. He sighed. "Okay, I promise I won't look for you… but tell me, why?"
"What time is it first?" She inquired. Allen looks at his pocket watch and read, "11:55"
"Five minutes…" She mumbled. "Just remember, the 14th will be back."
"What? Why?"
"Merry Christmas, Allen." She pressed her lips against his just before the moment she turns into crystal fragments.
To Allen, everything went black as if he was sucked in a vortex just like the ark as if every memory was played backwards. He closed his eyes and opened them once again, waking up on his bed, in his old room and no Link or Aria to find. He puts his hand on his forehead and sighs.
"What just happened?" He stood up and went out to look for Aria.
He asked everyone who he passed to if they have seen her but their answers were all the same.
"Aria who?"
"Aria, my twin sister." He said as if it was the most obvious thing.
"You have a twin sister? Since when, Allen-kun?" Reever was surprised making Allen more confused that ever. "What are you talking about, Reever-san? You know Aria! She talks to you a lot since she came here."
"I'm sorry, Allen. I think you're confused. I don't know anyone from that name."
Disappointed, Allen went to the others to confirm. He can't compose his mind properly. "Why is this happening? Where is she? What just happened?" At the Cafeteria, he asked the same question and they had the very same answer.
"Aria who? You're twin? You must be kidding me!"
"No! Please believe in me! She was here for the past months!" It was completely in vain.
"What an amusing story." Kanda smirked and continued eating. "You don't have any family at all, especially a twin called 'Aria'."
"Don't tease me like that Kanda! She often teases you too and you often mistake us as the other!" Allen felt as if crying but he kept it in.
"Allen-kun, I think you're really confused. There's no Aria in the Order. Please believe me, Lenalee..."
"I wish I can, Allen, but I don't honestly know who this girl is. I'm sorry."
Lenalee puts a comforting arm on Allen as she sits next to him. Allen rests his head on his knees incapable of holding his tears back. He remembers what she said before she disappeared. "PROMISE ME, ALLEN. DON'T LOOK FOR ME."
Is this what she meant? To not look for her? Why now, Aria? It's like she doesn't exist in everyone's memories any more.
A.N:
So... Aria disappeared completely including from her friend's memories. What did the "extension" mean? And is the 14th coming back??? (Keep on watch!)
[There! I'm sorry it's a little short. , I think I'll be on a little more hiatus again. School doesn't want me to be free TT~TT Anyway, please review this Chapter! Questions will be entertained too ^^ ask anything! *bows* thank you for the viewers and readers again.]