I am deeply sorry for updating sooner, but with school and a wedding...you don't really have time like you used to when you only had gym art math and English. *sigh* so sad.

As usual, I do not own -man. Rebecca Nieves and the other characters and plot is all mine. ne?

-bcozy

"So what have you found out?" the blue haired Asian asked, not letting us have the time to actually getting one foot into the room. He looked like the perfect crime boss from the sopranos; his legs and arms crossed in impatience, frustration written all over his face and his deep ocean eyes screaming 'Come at me right now, I dare you.' He sat far away from the entrance of the secret room in a deep velvet red chair that seemed to be something from the Royal Palace.

Next to him was Lenalee. In her hands was even more of those tiny papers that had family letters and bribes on them. Her face was serious and determined-quite unusual from her usual happy-go-lucky face that made everyone in the Science Division so cheerful and alive. Across and away from everything else was Allen. His hands were in his pockets-probably gloved-his expression was of worry and fear, but it had the extra glow of something else. It was of knowledge. He knew something that Ididn't-I can tell by the way that he was alone. He was probably processing his thoughts and planning out actions and events that would happen because of the information. Though the look disappeared from his face; there were still traces of despair in his gray eyes.

Lavi and I walked in-taking a small once around the place, we deemed it was safe to open the room's entrance before we did anything that seemed 'suspicious' in the police's eyes. In my hand was the book we had found at the scene of the crime so to speak. Not caring if I would actually hit the man, I chucked it at Kanda and with no hesitation he caught it with one hand. "Ruined A Novel by Paula Moriss-"

"It's a good book, you should read it sometime." With a sidestep, my hand reached the book that held the key to enter into this place and pulled it. The fake wall slowly and with a hum went back into place- securing LenaLee, Lavi, Kanda, Allen and I into the room so that no one would be able to hear us unless they bugged this whole entire room.

I paused. What if they did bug the entire room? That they could hear every single thing that we did and could say. Then they could do whatever they can because they would know everything that we would do. This is not the time to lose that kind of edge like this.

"I know what you are thinking. There are no bugs. Moyashi told us about the first time that you was ease dropped on and we took precautions." Lavi seen my reaction and probably had thought about everything that could happen. "We all have checked all of the room-boxes and all-so please relax. We can talk here." I gave a stiff nod but kept at my place. I didn't move at all-nor did I want to. Everything was too quiet and after the attack we had just been through, it wasn't enough. Then I felt something on my shoulders-heavier than a hand.

I looked up to see a green eye looking at mine. Like clouds, clear messages swam through everything that was inside. 'Don't worry, I got you' or 'I promise I wouldn't lie to you' flew by but the one that stood out was. 'I love you, why would I try to hurt you?'

I gave in. With a sigh I relax my body and my shoulders slumped. His arms loosed around my neck but kept still. I did trust him-sudden trust I know- but I did. I don't know how or when but it seems now I can rely on him.

A small smile played on my lips now. "Lavi-"

"When did you two become so close?"

The question was rude and sudden. I would have expect Kanda to ask the question. Except when I turned around, I was surprise when Allen moved from his spot and glared at me.

I gave a look of puzzlement. "What do you mean by that?"

It seemed that the question that I just asked didn't faze him one bit. "Did you get close when you decided to leave the dorm? Or was it when you wanted to go 'out on the town'." He put in his own air quotes. His gray eyes stared at me, but gave a death glare on Lavi. "And without any permission no less."

I separated from the red head-the smile was far away by now. "What do you mean by permission? When do I have to havepermission to leave my own dorm and go and investigate things that happen at my school?" I seethed.

Allen was acting like a father. Like a father is talking-or more like scolding-their own child! What the heck? This was not something would like to hear! Besides, I don't even think that he is older than me! I am 15 and he is like what-12?

Allen blew a fuse. "When a freaking' staff member gets killed in front of many other students!" Allen came closer, his gloved hands balled up into fists. His hair became a messy thing of strings that was in front of his face. "Or did you forget?" He walked pass me-bumping his shoulder with mine and opened the entrance once again. He was planning on leaving. I don't think so.

I stomped after him, leaving the others behind. I gave a careful look to Lavi as I ran after the younger-I believe. "Hey! Hey you!" I called after him, completely ignoring the quiet rule in a library. "Allen Walker I demand that you will stop right this instant!" I growled and came up behind him. I put a hand on his shoulder and turned him around roughly for him to face me.

"What the heck is your problem?" I asked roughly, trying to figure out his expression but he had a great poker face on now.

"What is my problem?" He growled through his teeth, his face coming closer to mine. "My problem is that you left into a dangerous world where you don't know how to fully control your innocence, you were alone with a pervert and you could have been attacked at any time by either the red headed rabbit or the Akuma!" He yelled, his finger were pointing to the place that we both had just left.

"It's not like I don't know how to take care of myself you know!" I snapped back. "I am older than you! I can beat a freaking Akumaif I was alone and take care of Lavi if he tried to make any moves on me!"

Yes, yes the move already taken place and he kissed me. What am I supposed to say to Allen? That I didn't mind have my lips have contact with the pirate impersonator?

"You're lying." Allen's accusation pulled me away from my thoughts. I gaped at him.

"Lying? I don't lie-"

"Then tell me," He interrupted and put a hand under my chin and put my lips even closer to him. "Why are your lips red and swollen?"

My brown eyes went wide. Swollen? My lips can get swollen? Even with a small little kiss like that? "S-swollen?" I started to stutter. "My lips are just cold. It does that during the winter time." Now I was lying.

My attempt of moving my head away from his was fruitless. He had a pretty good grip on my chin and I could tell he would have a pretty hard time letting go of this chance.

"You're lying, Rebecca." His orbs entranced mine. "Just tell me the truth! Aren't we friends? Don't I mean anything to you?"

"Yes! You are my friend!" I yelled. "And you do mean something to me and I am telling the truth! You don't tell the truth! I can tell! You never told me about the 'Noah Clan' that we were supposed to talk about a couple days ago!"

He gave a tired sigh. "I never told you anything wrong-"

"Then are you trying to hide away from the question? Are you avoiding telling more about you and the order?" I pushed on. Now that we were on the case of this, I had to get some ledge on it.

"No, I am not avoiding it."

"Then tell me something! Anything!" I begged. I was become desperate with this. I wanted to know something about anything. "Tell me about what you think or how you feel everything is now! Just tell me something." I added quietly. "So we can become close."

Allen gave a sigh. "I may know who the broker is."

I looked straight into his eyes with joyful or surprised brown eyes. "You do?" I want to know. I want to know so bad so I can tell them to leave or kick their butts. They cannot come here and reek havoc here at my school. This is my home and they will receive their punishment for messing with it.

"Who Allen?" My voice rose. I quickly put a hand over my mouth before I got too excited and loud. I came up to him and asked in a whisper. "Who Allen? Who?"

He looked away from my gaze and returned to it again with a sincere look.

It was so cold that March. It was coming into pre-Spring but leaving late winter. My hand was held firm by professor's, his glasses fogged up by his warm breath as he exhaled.

We both-meaning only him-that we would go play on the hills that surrounded the school. There was nothing there but grass and dirt. So what would we do there.

Simple enough, he bought a red wagon for me for Christmas, even though I said it was too expensive.

I was about 5-6 years old then. Still to myself and I never opened up to him.

Yet he didn't stop trying. not once did he say 'I give up on this girl' or 'this girl is not even my child, why am I even working on her?'. No he didn't stop trying for me to open up to him.

Do every single day he didn't have to teach or I didn't have school, he would lead me on the hill and push me down on the red wagon.

It was so nice of him.

When I held onto the wagon, watching as the trees went by me, I promise I wouldn't give up like he did on me.

So when I heard his name, it was hard not to break down.

"I think it's Robert Nieves." He admitted.

My eyes went wide, my arms turned into rubber and fell to my sides. My face gave a look of disbelief while my mouth be came dry. That is when I gained all of the energy that I never had before. Rage filled into my veins.

"I'm so sorry Rebecca." Allen tried to apologize and reached for my hands, repeating my name in a low whisper." Try to understand-" I couldn't stand him touching me when made that horrible actuation. I slapped his hands away from me and I backed up. My gaze went straight to the floor and glared at my converses-the same one that the Professor had gave me for my birthday last year.

"Try to understand what?" I growled, my brown eyes shooting laser into the floor and met his. He gave a look of sorrow and pain.

That Jerk.

"Understand that you are making a horrible actuation of my Professor being a murder and a worker for the Earl? That you have no proof what's so ever that this is an actual fact?" I hissed, going closer to him, staring him down. My hands had became fists-clenched with betrayal. "You are liar."

"Actually," Allen said in a matter-of-fact tone, his eyes flared when I called him a liar. "I do have proof. He was not with us when the Akuma attacked your dorm-"

"That's because he had a late meeting!" I retorted in a loud voice. "High school Professes have that once in awhile-"

"But when we the principal and everyone was in their own dorms and houses?" Allen questioned. "I checked the reports that were in the room, there was no late night meeting then. Nor there was some kind of faculty party before you even soundest it."

I held my breath. His voice was firm while mine-I could tell- was quivering. I could tell by his eyes that he was serious-not joking. Could he be telling the truth?

No, this my professor. Someone who was close to me. He would never ever do something like this.

"You're lying! There is no way that my professor would lie to me!" I pointed to myself. I could tell that I was becoming hysterical-tears came into my eyes, my veins popped from neck. "No way that a father would lie to his daughter!"

"Get a hold on yourself." He yelled as he pulled my wrist. I tried to resist his capture-I flailed my arms, punching and kicking away from him. My eyes closed, trying to capture tears that threatened to come out. "Rebecca!" I gave a yell and snapped my hand.

It gave a sore feeling like I just hit something. I slowly peeled my eyes back open as I seen the picture in front of me. Allen's cheek was pure red, his face turned away from me.

Oh God I hit him...

I felt frozen. Something in me just snapped at that time. I-I would have never thought that I would hit him...ever...

He slowly moved his gloved hand over his cheek and slowly looked at me. His eyes were unreadable and so...so...hurt?

Well he should be. He accused my father of trying to kill me.

He should be hurt.

His hand fell from my wrist and I backed up.

"Allen...you have no right..." I started, swallowing the lump in my throat as his eyes burned into mine.

"No Rebecca, you are right. I have no right." He stood up straight, his shoulders squared, his face straight at me. Before he could finish, the door of the library opened up, spilling the hallway light into the darkness. All around the light was a dark shadow figure.

We both turned to the figure. My eyes went wide as the body of a man came into focus. It was Professor Nieves. He slowly walked his way to us. I stood still, frozen.

Why? Was I scared for getting caught?

I peeked at Allen, he was frozen like me, but his face showed anger.

My guess, it was towards the Professor and I.

"Rebecca, what are you doing here this late at night?" He asked, the light crawling onto his skin, even revealing the small dark rings under his eyes created from sleepless nights.

I had the right to ask the same thing. Sadly, I didn't.

"Uh...Just looking for a bedtime story for the crew." I lied, smiling at him while back in my mind I wonder if the light of the secret room will be exposed.

Shit! The secret room! Kanda! Lenalee!

Lavi...

I kept my cool and came in front of the professor. "Did the questioning of the police went well?" I improvised, I had to make sure that they were out of there. I couldn't look back to see if the door was closed because that would give it away. Even though I did not look back, I could see the light that the room gave off on Professor's face. The whole left side of his smooth face was lit up, seeing more of the dark circles under his brown eyes.

The older man narrowed his eyes at the source of the light.

"Yes. Everything went well."

He stepped forward and put his arm before me. His stare was looking at the light.

"Stay behind me, I will see what is there." he whispered. Of course, I grabbed his arm.

"But...but why? There is nothing back there." I started off, my eyes shifting to the source of the light, Professor Nieves and then at Allen, who was not looking at me, only at Professor with a glare.

"There is a light back there, can't you see?"

Quickly, I improvised.

"Uh...yea that is Lenalee, Lavi and the only Asian with extensions."

"Shut up." Kanda replied curtly, in his hands was a small lantern. Thank goodness they covered their tracks. I quietly let out a sigh of relief but Allen's voice stopped me.

Allen's words were soft, but stings like a cobra's deadly bite.

"If I have no right, neither does he."

I am sooooo sorry for all the people who waited for a whole year for this. I am trying to remember The Book but school is like...ugh. I am beginning to hate Allen now...lol please tell me your thoughts and feelings. thank you~

-bcozy