Well I'm back, it's a new chapter, but sadly, June's coming to an end…damn.

Don't own D. Gray-Man.

Chapter 13: Return

"Family is essential because we all yearn to feel like we belong to something greater than ourselves."
-Laura Ramirez

Drake opened his eyes slowly and sat up, he surveyed his surroundings and found himself back inside the room, except this time it was completely whole, with no cracks or blemishes anywhere, just a grey ceiling and walls with grey square tiles on the floor.

'…I guess not.' He thought to himself, but then he noticed something else.

Hawke's body wasn't there.

Nor was the tremendous blood splatter Drake had created when he killed Hawke, instead, the room really was neat and tidy, with not a speck of blood or any sign of Hawke's presence.

This annoyed Drake greatly, 'I guess there'll one more time…eventually.'

Despite this though, he got up and noticing his sword planted firmly in the ground as if waiting for him, picked it up and sheathed it on his back and took one last look around the room.

'I suppose that womanizing alcoholic got Walker to the piano room in time to restore the ark…' He thought.

'The Earl won't be happy about that.' He smirked as he shook his head and left the room.

He found himself in the same hallway that the group had found themselves in previously, without a thought, he began walking, on and on and on until he reached the door at the end, he opened that to, entering the circular library where the exorcists had fought the Noah twins and Arystar Krory had stayed back to fight, he entered the door in the center of the room, walked on some more, until he came to a flight of stairs, he walked up and up until he saw a door and heard voices…they sounded angry, like friendly insults hurled from one person to his rival.

Lavi was demanding that "bean sprout" show himself, Allen viciously demanded that he stop calling him bean sprout, Kanda remarked that "bean sprouts" voice came from the sky, Allen again angrily demanded him to stop calling him bean sprout.

Drake allowed himself a small smile, 'How childish…ignorance is indeed bliss…if only they knew…not for long now though…soon…very soon…'

Drake pulled open the door and stepped into a blinding light, he lifted his arm to shield his eyes until they adjusted to the light.

'Oh! Drakes here as well!' Lavi shouted loudly as he ran and tried to give Drake a running hug.

He failed, Drake sidestepped him and dodged it, and Lavi crashed to the ground painfully.

'Ow…why'd you do that?' Lavi asked.

Drake grunted a non-response before turning to the sky where Allen's voice had come from.

'Allen! Is the womanizing alcoholic known only as Cross Marian with you?' He shouted.

'Eh-?' Allen responded in surprise but was quickly cut off by the person in question.

'I am here master.' Cross said in a much different tone then before, this shocked Allen because the tone of his voice almost seemed to convey respect and admiration for Drake, furthermore…

'Master?' Everyone shouted in surprise.

'Then get your damn ass down here, we need to talk.' Drake said with an air of authority.

'Right away master.' Cross said before turning to Allen, 'Hurry up and open the door stupid apprentice.'

Allen was so shocked by what he heard that he complied without much thought, and opened the door out of the piano room into the rest of the ark.

Cross was quick, stepping out of the door quickly and was met by Drake just as quickly, the rest of the exorcists gathered around to hear them, it was then that they noticed that Cross and Drake stood almost eye to eye, Drake being the slightly taller of the two.

Drake grinned at them, 'Sorry people, it's a private conversation, between adults only.' He said, emphasizing the last two words. With that, he and Cross retreated from the rest of the group into a corner nearby where they looked to be having a serious conversation.

'What do you think they're talking about?' Chaoji asked.

'Dunno…' Lavi replied.

Meanwhile, Allen was getting reacquainted with Timcanpy.

'Timcanpy…I haven't seen you since that time in China…' Allen almost sobbed as he held the golem and recounted his memories in China.

'That fateful night…things got so crazy, I'd almost forgotten…' Allen choked.

'I wanted to see you so much!' He started crying wildly as he held the golem to his face.

After that, the four of them put Krory on the couch in the piano room with Lenalee to watch him before taking a walk around the Ark; Allen explained how he had controlled the Ark even though he had no idea how he had done it, then he almost started another argument with Kanda when he noticed Kanda's tattoo that apparently wasn't there before, when Kanda asked "bean sprout" if there was a way out, Allen shouted at him again before he opened a random door to see if they could get out of the Ark that way.

And promptly fell through the open space on the other side.

Taking Kanda by his boot with him.

Who dragged Lavi down by the collar.

And then were stopped by Chaoji.

Chaoji strained desperately to try and pull all three exorcists up, he eyes met Allen's for a moment, and he remembered what Allen had said about saving Tyki, and remembered that he couldn't forgive Allen just yet for saying such a thing.

All of a sudden though, a green light appeared from out of the sky and attached itself to Chaoji's wrist in the form of two linked bracelets.

Chaoji felt an incredible strength within him, and with one pull, he yanked all three exorcists up and out of the emptiness.

'Oh that's right? You were compatible with an innocence…Hercules!' Lavi praised.

'It's stuck on my wrist…' Chaoji remarked, fingering the bracelet.

'Maybe it managed to materialize properly once the Ark calmed down?' Allen offered.

Elsewhere within the Ark…

'You're sure about this?' Drake asked as he eyed the exorcist general, looking for his reaction.

'Yes…well…there isn't much room for alternatives are there…with the war and all…' Cross replied.

'Allen is the key, but it's going to be dangerous…I'm more concerned about whether you will turn tail first.' Drake said as he folded his arms and squinted at Cross while leaning on the wall.

'Haha…you know me to well master…but you should know that I know that this is a serious matter, and I know what I must do' Cross trailed off.

'Yes…I know you will, it's a risk we have to take I suppose, for the imbeciles and idiots we call humanity…' Drake said silently.

'And yet you still fight for them master, after all these centuries, it's always for the humans isn't it? No matter how much you hate them.' Cross smiled, Drake didn't reply and merely looked away.

'Well, everything must come to an end…eventually…' Drake trailed off.

'Ah…Cheer up master, you're always so doom and gloom about everything, at least Hans knew how to crack a joke and smile.' Cross laughed.

'Yes, I do believe it's from Hans that you learned everything that you are today hmm?' Drake said as he straightened himself and prepared to walk off.

'Say master did you-' Cross started but was cut off.

'I felt your presence to some extent; I didn't see you until just now though.'

'Ah I see…where're you going?' Cross asked.

'For a walk until your snow-head comes back.' Came the reply.

'Ah…guess I'd better go back to the room, nothing else to do here.' Cross remarked and walked back to the room where he noticed Lenalee.

He sat down at the side while Lenalee looked over the unconscious form of Krory, Cross sighed.

'Looks like he really pushed his body to the limits in that last battle. That'll take time to recover from.' He told her.

'He's hurt worse than any of us…' Lenalee said tearfully.

'His innocence transforms his body to grant him power, and that's what saved him.' Cross continued.

'If you want him to wake up any time soon. He's going to need some proper medical treatment to fix that body of his.'

'Krory…I'm so sorry.' Lenalee wept.

'You've gotten better at letting your emotions out than you used to be Lenalee…and damn attractive to boot.' He remarked.

'You're almost like a phantom aren't you general…how long have you been here?' Lenalee asked.

'Back when you guys were fighting down there below, I was around too, using Maria's ability to conceal myself. Back when you all got swallowed up by the Ark.' He replied, and then he stepped forward to caress Lenalee's cheek.

'But man, if you were going to turn out this lovely, you should've done it sooner…that hair of yours was beautiful.' He said, this caused Lenalee to remember when Anita had told her that her hair was beautiful.

'Anita…told me the exact same thing.' She said softly.

This caught Cross's attention and he stiffened slightly before softening his gaze.

'Is that so? I told her not to follow me no matter what happened…that idiot. The good women are always a little too feisty for their own good…' He said and trailed off.

'General…' Lenalee started.

They were interrupted by heavy breathing and when the turned to the source, found the three-plus-one group of exorcists staring at them with horror evident on their faces.

'That's a crime master!' Allen hollered at the top of his voice.

'No Allen, you've got it all wrong…' Lenalee attempted to say.

'What's that idiot apprentice? She's sixteen; she's a fine young woman now!' Cross said vehemently.

'I see snow-head has returned, so can we go yet?' An annoyed voice chirped up over the commotion.

Everyone turned to look at Drake, who was leaning in the doorway to the room with his arms folded.

'Well…?' He continued.

'Well…as soon as my idiot apprentice can get his stuff straight.' Cross replied in a laidback manner.

'What?' Allen asked confused.

'The Ark…you can control it…so take control and get us out of here.' Drake said.

'Ah…how?' Allen asked in an embarrassed voice.

'Tell it to cancel its "Edo connection"' Cross said.

'Edo connection? What's that?' Allen asked.

'Don't worry, just say it, then we'll be able to get out of here.' Cross assured him.

'You'd better explain this all properly later Master!' Allen said angrily as he moved to sit in front of the piano.

'Actually he will,' Cross said and jerked his thumb at Drake, who stared at him silently, 'won't you master? Someday…' Cross teased.

Drake rolled his eyes, 'Whatever…just hurry up please?'

'I've gotta hear this too!' Lavi said excitedly and threw himself around Allen; much to the latter's chagrin.

'Just hurry it up bean sprout!' Kanda said irritably.

'Didn't you say so yourself?' Allen returned with indignation

'Stop fighting you two!' Lenalee ordered.

'Ark…open the gate.' Allen ordered shakily.

'C-cancel the ship's Edo connection.' He finished.

At this command the Ark burst into life, it encased itself in a white cube and disappeared from its original location.

'And where is the gate opening to…?'

At the same time, Miranda was crying over her perceived inability to stop the Ark form disappearing. When suddenly, several rectangular white blocks appeared in a circle and began to crackle with energy, Miranda noticed through her tears that everyone's "time" was coming back into her innocence; a bright light filled the sky and with no warning the whole Ark came down upon them.

Then, a door opened out in front of the Ark and Lavi stepped out and waved at them.

'Hey, everybody ok?' He shouted.

'Lavi?' Everyone shouted in surprise.

'You came back!' Marie exclaimed happily.

'You're alive! The vanished time came back!' Miranda cried tearfully in joy.

'Is Kanda alright as well?' Marie asked loudly.

'Shut up Marie!' Came the reply from said person.

'Master! Did you hear that?' Marie said, ignoring Kanda's comments.

'A-ask if that new child who is to become my apprentice is safe as well.' Tiedoll choked out.

Drake rolled his eyes at the tearful and happy reunion between the exorcists; he turned his body away from them and began walking away from them, hoping that none of them would notice the one missing person, unfortunately for him…

'Wait! Where are you going?' Allen asked as Drake was walking off, he stopped.

'…Somewhere else other than this place, probably just go wherever my senses tell me…' He said without turning around.

'Why not come back with us?' Allen asked with a smile.

'Excuse me?' Drake said with surprise as he turned to look at the smiling exorcist and gave him an incredulous look.

'You fight the Earl don't you? If you come back with us you can find a home to stay in, and family too.' Allen offered.

'Har har, thanks but no thanks, see ya!' Drake said as he turned back and waved at them.

'Oh come on! Stop being like Kanda will ya?' Lavi said.

'Yeah, everyone needs family and a place to stay right? Besides, how are you gonna get out of here? I can give you a lift.' Allen said while thinking something else, 'And I'll drop you off in the order and prevent you from going anywhere else!'

'That idiot must think I'm a dumbass, probably just drop me off…at the order's headquarters or something.' Drake mused to himself.

'...Do you honestly think I have nowhere to go?' Drake asked.

'Huh?' Allen said.

'I do have somewhere to go, I do have family, and in answer to your last question, I have my ways of getting around…you didn't seriously think I swam here did you?' Drake said, turning around to face the two fully, Lavi and Allen shifted a little uneasily.

Drake stared at them, 'did you?'

'Well…' Allen started.

'Oh come on! Can you stop making such a fuss? Just come with us, in the very least allow us to thank you for your help!' Lenalee said angrily, she had been eager to get to know to new arrival at first but was starting to think he could be really irritating at times.

'Why do you all...? Look…make no mistake, I do fight against the Earl, but I do so with very different reasons and motivations, different weapons too, and I won't be welcome at the order even if I wanted to go with you, and not for the reasons you think.' Drake explained brusquely.

Before Allen or Lavi could reply, Drake spoke again, 'So really, I don't want to go with you, I'm the lone wolf sort of person ok? I'm way better off on my own ok? So…Goodbye!' He said and walked off.

'But…' Allen attempted.

'I said goodbye!' Drake shouted.

And he walked off into the distance.

Well that's it, pretty much, one of the shorter chapters I've written-excuse me-typed. Updates are going to get more and more sporadic, sorry but I've no choice.

Nothing much to say really, just read and…do whatever it is you do after reading…