Ugh. Ffnet wouldn't let Saya upload her most recent bwww chapter! She's so pissed now... oh well, this one's up, ne?

Saya owns nothing but your soul.

Now rated M on occasion because Kanda's horneh...this chapter is K to T...

25. Life Stories

I was a little unsure of how I should go about talking to these kids, but I supposed that the best thing to do would just...act like I usually do. I don't usually go around giving out my life story though, so that might be a bit difficult. Oh well, it didn't feel weird to tell these kids everything, because they were like me. I mean, anything I say probably won't be anything new to them. So I took one last deep breath and started.

0 Flashback age five 0

Running, I'm always running. Running away from those mean kids who always beat on me, and call me things like "monster" and "Freak". Running from the adults, who try to keep me trapped in that stupid orphanage. Running from my victims because if they realize I've robbed them and they give chase, I have to be far ahead of them or I'll be caught and sent back. Running from everyone and everything that's going to hurt me. I don't need anyone, just the money in their pockets.

Speaking of money... there's someone coming up, who looks like they're either a traveler or have just come back from a vacation. He's got suit cases with him, he's like a walking target. I hope he's a traveler, they always carry more money than they need. They carry more money than I need.

The streets were bustling, and that worked to my advantage, which is why I "worked" here. The crowd would bump me along, and all I had to do was search their pockets. Which is what I was doing, letting the others carry me towards the man until I was close enough to steal his wallet. Unfortunately, I hit him at an angle that made me fall. Luckily, the wallet was already in my pocket.

"I-I'm sorry sir..."

"It's all right..." he looked at me with something like worry or surprise, and I wondered if that meant he knew I was robbing him and was surprised that I'd try to, or if he was worried about a little kid being alone of the streets. I don't know which I'd rather, adults who pry and get worried are the ones that never leave me alone, and they're always the types to bring me back to that damn place.

"Where are your parents? You lost kid? It's dangerous for you to be out here all alone." Yup, he was a worrying type, just what I didn't want to deal with. I'd only escaped yesterday, it would be a shame if I couldn't stay out of that orphanage for at least three days. Actually, I'm going for a week this time. This guy's such an easy steal though, he's worrying about me, and I'm counting the bills in his wallet.

"I'm fine, I live in this area, know it like the back of my hand." Yup, I know the area all right... "I'm sorry again, bye!" I said hurriedly, because I didn't want to deal with this guy anymore, it wasn't worth the risk, any minute he could realize he was missing his money.

I ran down the street as fast as I could, not bothering to look back. It seemed like I was going to get away too, and I was already mentally celebrating; There was a lot in this wallet, it seemed to me. However, I heard hurried footsteps behind me, and realized I'd been caught. Oh well, I had the head start, I shouldn't just give up because the guy was bigger than me.

However, I couldn't help but scowl when I saw that they person had caught up to me, and now he was just jogging to keep up... jerk. I stopped, realizing that the jig was up.

"What?"

"Wallet."

My scowl deepened, damn adults, they can be all nice and caring one minute, and then they're giving you that "Damn brat" look the next!

"What makes you think I know what you're talkin' about?"

"It's only got ones in it, it's practically worthless."

"Damn..." I started fishing for the appropriate wallet in my collection, though that was a bit difficult...of course, now I couldn't help but think this guy was a bigger jerk, he could've at least let me get away out of pity, a few euros wouldn't break his bank.

"If you live in this area, why do you need to steal?" he asked, I wondered why he'd care.

"Desperate cry for attention." I don't really know what that means, but the head nun always says that's why I run away, so I'm guessing it'll work for this too. However, he was giving me this strange look, like I'd just said something funny. Maybe that didn't fit right here?

The man squatted down to my level, which kinda annoyed me, no need to lower himself to my level... dumb adults.

"Well, kid, would you mind lendin' me some money? See, I'm really scatter-brained, and I seem to have lost my money. But I've got all this luggage with me, and I look like a walking target. Think you could spare enough money for me to get a taxi?" So he realized he was practically wearing "Rob me" on his back too? However, it seemed he was going to let me get away, and I was grateful, but it was embarrassing. I don't want people's charity...

Pouting, I fished through my pockets for what I thought would be enough. If he was planning to walk the rest of the way originally, then he probably wasn't going that far.

"You know, acting like you don't know what happened doesn't work after you've already told me to give you your money back..." I mumbled, putting a few bills in his hand. He looked a little surprised, obviously he knew that he hadn't just gotten his own money back, but someone elses. His eyebrow raised curiously, but he said nothing.

"Thank you ...um..."

"Allen. Just Allen." I realized he was looking for a name, and that's the one the nun's called me by, so I figured that one was mine.

"Thank you Allen." He gave one smile, and then left. I couldn't help but blush from embarrassment, who says thanks to the kid who just picked their pocket?

000

A week later, I was back at the orphanage. At least I made it to a week though, next time I'll try for a week and a half! But that's got nothing to do with what's going on now. Today's one of those days when adults come and ogle everyone here. I hate this day, because the nun's make us dress up, and they always make me wear this tight ribbon that's really annoying! Of course, the fact that we're all put on display is a bit grating too. I hate it... these stupid grown-ups come in, act all nice and say we're cute, but then the nuns have to warn them about my arm. It's just like shopping really, the workers have to mark their merchandise if it's got a problem, and nuns have to label kids if they've got red arms.

I was bored with the whole deal, so I just sat on the top of the stairs, along with the rest of the kids who had lost hope for getting adopted. They were mostly older kids, so I stayed a good distance away from them. They're always talking about how parents don't want to adopt older kids, how they always go for "puppies" or something. I don't know what dogs have to do with kids.

It really annoyed me though, how these people would come in, act like they have some interest in me and then leave the moment they found out I was different. After the first few times, I realized there was no point in bothering. Still, I could never quite get myself to stop that false hope from rising every time...

"Oh Allen! Please come down here, I think someone's looking for you!" Ugh. I knew that face, that nun was wearing the "maybe this time, for sure!" Look, the one that said I was to be inspected and such, then rejected. Like a circle, it never ends.

I got up to head down the stairs, being careful of the older kids, they especially like to pick on me. I don't get how someone can feel so great when they're pickin' on a five-year old (well...we think I'm five...)

I looked around for the person who was going to be let down, I'd know them when I saw them, because they'd be waiting expectantly for the nun to come back. I nearly tripped when I saw whom it was.

"You?" I pointed at the guy, not believing that he was here looking for me. This was the guy I robbed just a few days back! What, did he want his money back now all of a sudden, or was he a stalker?

"Allen! Be more polite." The nun chided, the man just chuckled.

"That's alright, the response was expected." The nun stepped back, giving us time to talk, like they always did.

"What are you doing here?" I got straight to the point, I didn't feel like beating around the bush.

"Well...ya see..." He seemed a little awkward, and now that I bothered to look, he seemed a bit young, late twenties, maybe? He didn't really know why he was here either, I could tell.

"I don't really know why I came here, actually..." I was right on the mark. "I guess it's 'cause you said you were "just" Allen...made me wonder why. Guess I know now."

"That's good for you." I was ready to leave, this was pointless.

"You look ready to bolt. Talk a while, I'm not that weird, am I?" I gave him a funny look, what was this guy's deal? I mean really...

Still, for some reason, I felt the need to stay. "You are, but what the heck? So what's your name?"

"Mana, Mana Walker."

0 end 0

"After that day, he kept coming back. At first, I thought it was a little cruel, I guess, 'cause he was starting to make me hopeful, and I kept reminding myself that he would never come back if he knew about my arm. But I wanted to believe ... that things wouldn't always be that way. And they weren't, 'cause guess who decided to adopt me on Christmas?"

The kids' eyes were wide, I guess they'd gotten a little more into the story than I thought they would.

"So... the guy you pick-pocketed... became your father?" Ranmaru asked, tilting his head, I could see where it'd seem a bit confusing.

"You keep talking about your arm, I think you should show us what the heck you're talking about. I mean, you said you're like us, so prove it." Ayumu said. Kinda strange really, considering he was the one who pointed out that we can all "Feel" each other's innocences resonating. I nodded in agreement, and started undoing the buttons on my uniform, the sleeves end in gloves so there's no way to just pull them up. However, once that was off, there was just a plain white shirt, and it was easy enough from there to just pull up my sleeve.

"This thing in my hand, it's called innocence. I was born with it. It has the power to destroy Akuma, weapons that take on human appearances. There are 109 pieces of it floating around the world right now, some of it's been converted into weapons, and some, like mine, change parts of the human body into weapons." I showed them as much of my reddened, leathery skin as I could, I would've liked to show them where it connects to my arm too, but Yui was hiding her face in the back of Ayumu's shirt, and I could see her ears had gone red. It seemed that she didn't realize I intended to stop after taking off my coat.

Ranmaru looked at the cross in my hand in awe, and there was something else, too. It was hard to explain, maybe it was some kind of desperate hope? I could understand that, that feeling of wanting all the false hopes to end, of wanting something to finally be real.

"Destroying akuma is a good thing...right?" He asked, he sounded almost afraid.

"Yes. Akuma are made from dark matter, which is infused with the soul of a dead person, who'd been brought back by a loved one. The akuma then kills the one who brought it back. People with innocence become exorcists, and they help destroy these things, so that the person who controls them can't destroy humanity." The three seemed to agree that killing akuma was a good thing.

"So... if I was like you...that'd mean I haven't done anything wrong, right? I'm like you, right?" Ranmaru seemed to be almost panicked, as he started undoing bandages that covered his fingers, I wondered how I didn't notice those before, it was so much like the way I always wear gloves. It was like he didn't want to wait for an answer, like he didn't think I'd wait for him to undo the wrappings.

When they were all finally undone, I saw what he'd been hiding. His fingers, starting at the first joint, looked just like how my arm did, except the colors were different. They were black, and the nails glowed a greenish-white color, like innocence. "I'm...we're like you, aren't we?"

The three of them were looking at me with a fragile hope. Acceptance, I could see, was all that these kids wanted. It was all any parasitic-type would want, especially with the way we always seem to get thrown out.

I gave them the most reassuring smile I could, and took one of his hands in my own innocence-laden one. "Yes, we're just the same, you and I." He looked so happy to hear that, and his smile, mixed with this happy flush that was coloring his face, were so adorable it made me wish I could pull off Mpreg.

"Huh? Yui?" Ayumu stepped aside, looking a little confused as Yui came out from behind him and stood in front of me. Her hands went to her collar, she was wearing a turtle neck despite how warm it was. She pulled it down, and I could see why. There was this thing, that looked almost like a bruise, going all around her throat were deep purple-blue lines, they looked like a chain. Actually, if I didn't know any better, I'd say there was a lock pattern in the front.

"Ranmaru was born with his hands like that, but Yui wasn't. Her parents used to really care about her, but then one day she put a necklace on and it fused with her neck like that. It worried her parents, but then something happened, and they were so afraid they left her here." Ayumu stated, as though it were a story he'd recited a thousand times. "She can't speak anymore, so I speak for her."

"If she... can't speak, how do you know all of that?" I asked, 'cause unless he was speaking with her telepathically (which now that I think about it, seemed likely), he shouldn't know.

"She wrote it down for me once. She can write, she just can't speak."

"I see. So...what about you?" He was the only one who didn't seem somewhat happy about the whole deal. He seemed a bit on the apathetic side really.

"You're looking at my innocence, as you so called it."

"Huh?" I was looking at his face, but nothing seemed to scream "parasitic-type!" to me... then I realized it. "Oh...your eye." One was the bright green of invocated innocence, and the other was nearly black, it was such a dark shade of brown. How did I not notice that? I guess I'm just used to strange sights...

"I see visions, all the time, of people dying, those akuma you were talking about, I'm guessing, and their victims. It frightened my parents, who were extremely superstitious, until they just got fed up with dealing with it and dumped me here." He didn't really sound like he cared, but I realized now that was just how he coped with it. I mean, its bad enough to actually be in the fight, at least I understand what I'm seeing and doing, but to have to see all these monsters, and people you don't know dying for reasons you don't understand, all the time? That had to be horrible. It made sense that he'd end up numb to things like death, and fighting, and that he wouldn't think anything was really so bad that he had to get emotional over.

I had to wonder about something else too... "Can you see their souls?"

"Yes." I felt so bad for him, I would know better than anyone that those souls are horrible to see. Sometimes the innocence can be so cruel.

"I see... Well, now that we all know about each other, I've got a deal for you guys."

They all looked eager to hear what I had to say (except for Ayumu, of course).

"Like I said, people with innocence become exorcists, so, my question is, would you three like to join the Black Order with me? I don't know the exact details of what would happen, but I have been told that if you want to come with me, you'd end up being my disciples. Now, if you don't mind having an air head like me for a master-and I promise I'm not like my Master- would you mind coming with?" I don't know why I thought they would know who Master Cross is, but he just seemed like someone who'd be that infamous.

"Yeah! Yeah! I wanna save the world! And of course, I'll be the leader!" I couldn't help but laugh at Ranmaru's enthusiasm, he seems to be the most energetic of the group. I mean really...first he's glaring and mistrusting, then he's panicking, and now he's hopping around like he just won a million dollars. Looking around , I could see Yui nodding, though she'd somehow made her way back to Ayumu's back without me realizing it. Ayumu just sighed and shook his head, in a resigned way, not as a negative answer.

"You two should really think about this more... but since they both wanna go...I'll go too. Someone needs to make sure they don't get themselves into trouble..." Ayumu seemed a little disgruntled by Yui and Ranmaru's quick responses, I could tell that even if Ranmaru was obviously their "leader", Ayumu was the big brother than kept everyone in line.

"Well, if it's all decided on, I'll tell the General, and we can be off, after he goes through whatever formalities." I smiled again when I realized that I wasn't being listened to, that Ranmaru was saying something about him being like the red power ranger, that Yui was silently laughing at Ran's babbling, and that Ayumu was just tuning everything out.

ah kids...

Hehe...next Chapter Kanda gets to meet the kids...hehe...dear God, Saya's not sure what she's gonna do yet, but judging by the fact that she cant think of that meeting without laughing...it's gonna be good!

Oh, and Saya started thinking, because of how she always looks up o.c. names, what do the actual DGM charas names mean? So Saya looked it up, and found that Alle n means little rock, and Lavi means lion. Saya wasn't even sure if Lavi was an actual name, or if it had just been kinda made up...but apparently it is, and of Hebrew origin. Oh, Allen's name, which is a variant of Alan, could possibly also mean handsome, which sounds about right to Saya :3