Ezekeel: Hope I'm not confusing anyone here. I decided to just place the next part in this story than creating another one since it's more convenient. This part of the story is more or less around 10 chapters? ('The Journey' was supposedly only 25 chapters long at first but details which often enough are important made it longer) For those who like the story until chapter 24, it's done? And then this is something like an arc where we're back to the dgm world in the order and sometimes outside of it including the noah.

The Mask - Yin and Yang

Summary: A young boy enters the order as an apprentice training under Bookman in a hidden war alongside another apprentice. He wears an eye patch and a red scarf that reminds them of the red head who long supposedly passed away. Is there a connection between them? How are they related?

I. Entering the Order

Ian, an orphan who showed exceptional skills was picked up by a Bookman. He is an outsider trained vigorously to meet the demands of a Bookman apprentice. He barely even passed the test given by the elders before becoming a Bookman apprentice. To test his skills further, he is sent to the black order to record in a hidden war dangerous than any normal one.

He is a thirteen year old boy with short and messy black hair. He lost his eye in an accident and wears an eye patch over it. He wears a plain dark blue shirt and black pants with a brown tattered coat over it and a red scarf around his neck. His boots are black and worn out. A bandage is wrapped around his hands that were probably injured due to training. He has two long pieces of rattan wood as his weapon of choice for defense although it will seem pointless in that war. A dagger is hidden at his side. Only a small bag is at his back with a few change of clothes and the rest of the contents are for records.

His persona as Ian is a polite enough boy, patient, a bit shy and nervous at times, and doesn't socialize much but easy to talk to. He has a natural charm to himself that can make people relax around him and tell him things.

It doesn't work though on a particular Japanese man who meet up with him to guide him into the order since he is on the way. A single blue eye observes the Japanese wearing a black uniform with bits of gold.

He is an exorcist.

Age: Twenty-two years old.

Has a short temper.

Will result to violence when needed.

Doesn't like to talk much.

Disciplined but too uptight and serious.

"Oi, brat. We don't have all day. I'll leave you behind," says the Japanese man angrily while his sheathed katana is pointed at the young boy.

"I'm sorry," the boy politely says with hands in surrender so the Japanese won't hit him, hopefully.

"Hurry up," says the Japanese walking ahead not even bothering to introduce himself nor ask for the boy's name.

He is told to pick up the boy with short black hair and a single blue eye due to an injury by the post. He didn't need to confirm it since the boy carries with himself lies that his kind hold that the Japanese can easily see through and despise.

The Japanese and the young boy arrive at the headquarters after a few hours' journey. The young boy manages to get the name of the older man after half an hour of time being ignored.

All it took was talk to the Japanese in his native tongue and the older man gave in and took notice of the lad.

"Where'd you learn that?"

"My mentor taught me. He said it might come in handy," the boy replied politely.

"You're still a bit rough."

"I'll practice."

"Che. Suit yourself."

"Hai," replied the boy with a polite smile.

"Kanda Yuu."

"What?"

"My name."

"Oh. I'm Ian. Nice to meet you, Kanda-san," replied the boy with a bow.

"Che," was all the older said as silence filled the journey an hour more.

They got off the train then walk for half an hour till reaching the waters where a finder is waiting for them with a small boat. After another thirty minutes, they get off at the shore.

Arriving at the gates, they are scanned by the gatekeeper than let in with no complications. They walk in silence despite the rush of murmurs from passers-by until reaching the office.

"You're here," says a Chinese man dressed in white clothes. "Welcome to the black order. I'm Komui Lee, the branch chief."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee. I am Ian," he says with a smile than shakes the Komui's hand.

"Komui will do. Bookman isn't here yet and still out on a mission but it won't be long till they're here. The other apprentice arrived a few months ago and is with him. I'll brief you shortly on what to expect then we can show you to your room. You'll share it with the other apprentice. You're quite younger than expected. Jairo is seventeen and you're?"

"Thirteen, Mr. Komui."

"You're quite young and they're already sending you here?"

"I'll be training under Bookman. Please don't look at my age too much. My previous mentor has trained me well," the boy says with a reassuring smile.

"Okay. Let's talk about things around here than. You won't be dragged onto the battlefield yet. It depends on how you'll fair. We don't have enough people as it is but you're an apprentice of Bookman before part of the order. We'll still see for in what division you'll be. There's a floor that is off limits to people..."

Komui welcomes him with a smile but the boy can tell that the older man is a bit uneasy at first. For one thing, the eye patch he wears probably reminds them of the red head thought dead and possibly alive. There is no bandanna but the young boy wears a scarf with a blood red color. The Chinese man only relaxes later on as they talk. He doesn't think too much of the similarities and goes back to his work after showing the young boy to his room.

Looking around, the boy sees that the top bed of the double deck has been occupied. The bottom one is his but there are a few scrolls scattered about besides the pile of books on the room's floor.

The door suddenly opens.

"Oh you're here," says a young man with dark brown hair that hasn't been cut in a long time which is why it is tied up in a ponytail.

Bookman's second apprentice in the hidden war.

Age: Seventeen years old.

Partly of Spanish descent.

Seems to take things seriously.

Need more time to correctly assess but partly pointless as it is only a persona.

"Hello. My name is Ian. You must be Jairo. Nice to meet you," the young boy says politely while offering a hand to shake but is ignored as the older boy merely climbs up to his bed and slept.

Shrugging his shoulders, the boy clears his own bed before leaving the room. An old man a bit taller than he almost bumps into him. The old man has grey hair and wrinkles all over along with the constant frown on his face. He gives the boy a look from head to toe then shakes his head which the young boy returns excluding the shake of the head.

Bookman.

Age: Late sixties

Strict...

"I'm so-," the boy tries apologizing but is ignored.

"I am Bookman. You will listen to me while you are here on this assignment. Come back here after eating."

"Yes, Bookman."

Reaching the cafeteria, the boy places his order then looks around for a vacant seat. Scanning the room, he sees an unusual and eye-catching sight. Large piles of plates were on a table as a white haired teen eats his food. The young boy walks towards the other and asks if he can join him.

"Sure," the white haired Brit replies with a smile as he continues munching the food in his mouth.

"I'm Ian," the boy introduces himself with his usual smile.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Allen Walker," he says offering a hand to shake.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Walker," replies the boy politely while accepting the handshake.

The white haired brit is suddenly flustered.

"You don't need to call me that. Allen will do just fine."

"Oh, okay," replied the boy with a smile before his bandaged hands reached for the spoon and fork.

Another exorcist.

Age: Nineteen years old.

Polite and kind.

Wears a similar uniform to the other exorcist called Kanda Yuu.

Obviously has an overwhelming appetite.

"Oh, that's where you are, Allen. I've been looking for you. You and Kanda- " says a Chinese lady with long dark green hair but stops and stares at the young boy next to the white haired Brit.

"Hello, you must be, Miss Lenalee Lee. I am Ian, Bookman's apprentice," says the boy politely.

Another exorcist.

Age: Twenty years old.

Sister of the supervisor.

Friends with the white-haired Brit.

Instead of gold, her uniform is lined with red.

The Chinese lady remains silent for awhile before replying.

"Yes, nice to meet you," she replies with a smile but suddenly shows an expression of serious thought.

"You're Bookman's apprentice? But isn't Jairo his apprentice?" she asks.

"I'm training alongside Jairo. I'm not a successor to that Bookman," replies the boy.

"So you're part of their clan."

"Yes, but it isn't really something we can talk about freely."

"Oh. But have you met a red haired man with an eye patch similar to yours?" Lenalee asks suddenly with not much thought which causes the white haired Brit to stop chewing his food and almost choke.

"No. I'm sorry but I haven't met anyone with that description," the boy replies quite naturally with no hesitation. "Is he a friend?"

"It's fine. It's nothing. Allen and I better get going. It's nice meeting you, Ian."

In a corner of the hallways, two exorcists talk in whispers.

"Lenalee, I know you're still worried about Lavi but you can't recklessly ask questions like that," says Allen with concern.

"I know but the eye patch looks like the one Lavi has."

"Well, they're from the same clan, he probably got it there."

"I guess so but he's so young to be an apprentice, isn't he?"

"Yeah, and I feel like I've seen him somewhere but it's unlikely."

The young boy returns to the room after eating to see Jairo on the desk already doing paperwork while the old man holds a frown as usual. It seems the old man is the type who has that expression plastered on his face.

"Study all these books," says the old man pointing to the pile of books at the corner.

"Yes, Bookman," he replies as he heads towards the corner and picks up a book.

The old man leaves the two in silence.

"Niño."

"Huh?" the younger boy looks at the older confused.

"Don't create trouble for me or else," he threatens then leaves the room.

Record of a Bookman, (Month/Day/Year)

Title : Secrets

Number: 12

I acted sternly and yet I became myself as I try to make most of what we had left in those two months. Worried and concerned, I trained her well, strictly just as my old panda did. There are times I see myself in her. It's like a repeat of the past that is a bit different...

She became less tense and more confident. She still tried to act maturely at times but her natural side came over. Two months were all that we had left and it what has made...

The smell of smoke fills the room as the red head burns the piece of parchment. This 'ritual' of his is almost like smoking a cigarette as his nostrils breathe in the contaminated air. The smoke certainly reminds him of an old panda who liked to use a pipe quite often irritating his nose but now he sort of misses it since the old panda is no longer there.

He has to be careful as usual, the little girl might wake up. Looking over to the bed, he laughs.

It was empty.

The little girl is no longer there too.

She has already left.

And he's all alone again.

"I'm such a lonely and sad old man."

He laughs again but there remains no other voice but his own.

None join his laughter but an echo.

He is all alone.

Ezekeel: Niño means kid, child or lad in Spanish as far as I know. Jairo called him that instead of a name for reasons you can guess why. I realize that the description of the persona Ian is similar to Allen in a way but they are different somehow.

To make things less confusing, Lia will probably refer to Lavi as Lavi instead of Bookman as she previously did. The real old man and current Bookman in the order will be Bookman. And yes, Ian is Lia's persona.

To: ThorongilAnime - Don't really read role plays much but I tried reading some and I agree, they're quite interesting and good. I think I'm sticking with the writing style that I've got for now (if i got what introspect means right, there are still parts in the story like that? but it won't focus there entirely). It's fine to think of Tyki as a main character (i do sometimes) but he is only secondary to Lia and Lavi but it seems that the three can also be equal. Thanks so much :D

To: Beautymoon - Hi! Thank you so much for the review. I'm glad that you love the little girl although there's something really sad about her despite trying as you've said. Maybe it wouldn't be if she hadn't become bookman's apprentice but that wouldn't have made her the little girl either. Lavi was in character? Yay, I tried really hard to at least keep a semblance of his character cause I know I wouldn't be able to keep it entirely. Lavi's indeed soft. He can try to be stern as the old panda but it won't last long. Perm-head! He's still here but not this chapter sadly. I agree that there should be more "eyepatch-kun/perm-head" interactions. I'll see with how the story progresses as I add in the details.

'Road marked him with the horrible experience and Lavi marked her by winning her twisted little game.' - I loved the way you phrased this. Thanks again. :D

To: Reiko-desu - Thank you so much for reviewing :D Glad you like the previous chapter. Hope this is to your liking but I think the next ones will be better somehow?

Good day to you all! :) This chapter was sort of like an intro to the next arc. Hope it didn't come of as boring as most/some intros are. The next chapter will come within the month of May. Still a bit busy as I decided taking up summer classes (it is so hot here in our country, maybe I shouldn't have taken up summer but I'm here. What's done is done). I miss summer where I just have free time reading and doing as a please... sorry for the rant.

Thanks for reading :D Hope you guys like this one and look forward to the next one.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Edited: Sunday, June 1, 2014