101 Attempts- Cornering

._.

Allen Walker was in trouble.

To backtrack, earlier he had been with Johnny at some shop during a repair. Suddenly his Innocence had activated, signaling the presence of Apocryphos. Allen had run away to confront his pursuer, only to run into the Millenium Earl. On top of that, Timcanpy wasn't responding to his calls. Basically, Allen was screwed. Apocryphos could show up any minute and there would most likely be a three-way battle, but Allen wasn't in the mood to fight. He had to get away somehow, but maybe he could run since the Earl was too fat to chase after him.

Unfortunately he was at a dead end, so unless he became Spiderman or grew wings, there was no getting out of this situation without a battle. Just like how in those Pokemon games you can't pass by someone without fighting. Allen hoped his arm would give him wings or something; they were feathery enough to pass for them. It was a shame he didn't bring his Red Bull. Because Red Bull gives you wings.

"Allen Walker," the fat guy started to say. Then there was a flash, a hole in the wall, and Allen was all alone.

Confused, Allen waited a few seconds in case anything else happened, but there was nothing interesting to see. He turned around to leave and find Johnny to tell him they had to go.

Just as he started to exit the alley, a Komurin- yes, a Komurin- got in front of him to block his way out. Allen went ahead and assumed something had happened to Kanda or Johnny that made them signal the Black Order. With a sigh, Allen went the other way (where the Earl had gone flying) only to be surrounded on all sides by Komurin.

"..."

Allen wasn't sure what to make of this, but moments later someone came along to explain.

"NEAH!"

As Lady Luck had a vendetta against Allen for cheating that one time in strip poker with her, the person that showed up was one of the last people Allen had wanted to see.

A boot crashed into Allen's head violently from the direction the Earl had been sent flying. Needless to say he was knocked over and onto one of the Komurin. Lenalee had jumped onto him and was currently choking him and shaking him while one of the Komurin bots held a crucifix over his head, chanting "the power of christ compels you." Another one started splashing holy water on him for what Allen guessed was to "make the unwanted spirit leave." And by unwanted spirit, he meant Neah. He wondered who he should feel bad for; Neah, or himself.

He chose himself when Lenalee began to scream at him.

"NEAH!" she screamed in Allen's face, "How dare you possess Allen-kun! Give him back you bastard!" And then she took out mini-bible and struck the white-haired boy on the head with it, never giving Allen a chance to focus and push her off of him.

"Lenalee, it's me, Allen," he tried to insist.

Lenalee didn't listen to him.

"GIVE HIM BACK!" she wailed.

Allen sighed again.

Before he could try anything else, several cracks as like thunder exploded in the air, and all of the Komurin dropped to the ground. Lenalee looked up and her eyes widened. She was about to say something, but a hand picked her up and tossed her away, while Allen caught a glimpse of long and red hair. Nervously, he got up to get a proper look at the person who had just thrown Lenalee like a rag doll.

"Oi, idiot apprentice," the figure barked, "what the hell do you think you're doing?" Allen was pulled to stand and pushed along to leave the scene.

"You're alive?" Allen couldn't help but gape at his suddenly living master.

Cross broke the handcuff the Black Order had made but didn't say anything as he lead Allen out of the alley and into the streets.

The man glanced around and took Allen through several shortcuts (and by shortcuts he meant Cross blowing up walls to get through). They eventually made it to a train station, and Cross shoved Allen on and to the nearest available seat. He peered out the window to make sure they weren't being followed. Moments later the train made its departure and Allen was trapped beside his master. Awkwardly, Allen shifted in place while said master stared at him.

"... Yes?" Allen asked meekly when Cross didn't say anything.

"..."

Allen broke eye contact to avert his gaze to his lap. He thought about asking for the window seat when Cross randomly put his arm around him. Allen almost screamed but managed to keep his horror contained inside. He began to tremble when his master put his other hand on his forehead.

"I guess you aren't sick after all," Cross mused and took his hand away. The arm around Allen stayed, however.

"Why would you think I was sick?" Allen asked.

"Because you've been blushing really hard in all of the latest chapters," Cross answered bluntly. "I thought you might have a fever that no one was going to help you get through, so I decided to visit." Cross shrugged and leaned back in their seat. "I guess Hoshino is just turning you into a girl or some shit."

With nothing else to say, Cross fell asleep.

Allen glanced from his sleeping master to the door, and slowly stood. He took a step forward and froze in motion.

TO BE CONTINUED
(Note from Hoshino: D. Gray Man will be on hiatus until January issue and we will only give you twenty pages to look at! After that will be a seven month wait with eleven pages!)

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Attempt: Making a run for it when Cross isn't watching
Foiled by: He's stopped by Katsura Hoshino's habit to end chapters with cliffhangers, so he doesn't even really get a foot away until two or three months later.

Happy absent chapter 217! I know I'm glad about it... *sigh*

(I understand about that, but I really wish we'd been given a notice ahead)