History: A Touch of Color in Gray

Book 1 : Shade the black.

Date : January 25, 2020 (Happy New Year! :)

Beta: eeer... nobody ^^'

Fandom : D Gray Man

Warning: No, I do not own D Gray Man and I do not make any profit with this story.

Summary : After landing in the 19th century, Ennaèl discovers that she was hired by the Kamelott family, basically the villains of DGM. Taking the name of Eve, she then became the companion of Tricia Kamelott and helps in her daily tasks. Now that life is a little less chaotic, Eve thinks about her arrival in this world and decides to make her own opinion on the personag ... people of this new world despite her knowledge of the manga. She gradually becomes aware of the social difference of women at that time and begins to be afraid for the future especially when Road and the twins disembark ... Deciding to visit London, Eve falls, as if by chance, on Allen, then on Tyki and they sympathize. A few days later, the three separate. Well, not very long with regard to Eve and Tyki. After meeting the Count in a rather ... awkward situation, shall we say, Eve take upon herself that she had to flee like the plague, bringing her in spite of herself to make a trip to Paris with Tyki where she meets Victor Hugo who passes him a lot of information about the holy war before you die. Following this, Eve is dragged by Tyki in a ball, because he does not want to suffer alone, the bad guy, and Eve faints spectacularly because of her too tight corset. Do not ask how, but then she discovers a strange talent for musical instruments and wonders in horror if she is not the 14th. It does not help that the count discovered his talents and seems to be more and more interested in her. And then of course, jealous of her position, Eve gets nastily harassed for weeks until an employee is more or less killed by Road. Suddenly it calms down just in time for the twins to be sent to boarding school and Road believes that Eve is terrified of thunderstorms.

Knk wasn't able to make this chapter because of too much work, so I tried to do it! But I know there'll be a lot of mistakes, it's been a while since I learned proper English ^^' Hope you'll like this chapter anyway :)

Happy reading: D

Shade the Black 28

Arrived at the 29th, I had seen the boy every day in one way or another. Seems gifting food to wild animal worked as well with wild children because after this first day when I had pulled him to take tea at the inn, he had not stopped coming back see me again. Honestly, I didn't expect to meet him again when, in the evening, after a good stew, I had said goodbye on the doorstep, half a loaf of bread wrapped in his thin arms. He hadn't said a thing all the evening and I hadn't been able to learn anything about him, but I suspected that the bread was not for him. However, the next day, he was back.

At first shyly, I had glimpsed him out of the corner of my eye when I forced myself out of the living room to bring a basket from the owner to one of her friends a few blocks away. I didn't know how long he had been following me, maybe even from the tavern, but in any case, I had noticed it only when I had to hurriedly turn to grab the tissu above the basket that had flee during the walk. He had been there, just after the corner, one foot half engaged, frozen when my eyes fell on him. Both of us motionless, I had barely tried to sketch a "hello" that he had already disappeared. A little perplexed, I had finished my run and had returned to the inn, completely ready to slip by the fire in the living room and not move there for the day. Unfortunately, the boss came up to me again in the middle of the afternoon, looking terribly bored. Accepting a new task with an external smile and an internal groan, I went to the grocer to buy urgently some starchy foods that she needed for the evening meal. It was not her fault that her help was bedridden with a bad fever... and she had been so kind to me... and I didn't do much of my day anyway...

But still, blue lips and teeth chattering against each other, it was difficult to remember all these beautiful thoughts.

It was really, really, way too cold in London from December 1885.

And again, on the way back, I saw my new little stalker again. Not letting him go this time, I hastened to catch him and bribe him again with food. Anyway, if he came to observe me, it's good that he hoped for this result inside... Proof is that he was much more easily convinced this time, I did not even have to run after him more than two roads!

And the same pattern was repeated.

Again.

And again.

For days, at least two if not three times, he would come to spend a few minutes with me, that it was a quarter of an hour to almost two. The duration was variable and he disappeared almost as fast as he appeared. Fortunately, at the end of the second day, I no longer needed to run after him. I had to pass a certain test without knowing it because he came very easily now and even when I did not offer him something, he still remained sitting by the fireplace or even walking with me and for that, I did not see what he would gain of it at all.

He still spoke very little, however.

Never more than a few words, two whole sentences on a notable occasion. But the silence having become something more comfortable than awkward so I assumed that he was naturally not very talkative.

There were things, however, that you could learn by being around someone. That, for example, he was totally illiterate. Unlike Allen, who wrote, read, and even did basic math at a level at least as good as the twins now (which is saying something since they were successful in their first year of college study with a bunch of young nobles much longer educated than them.) The child could write his name and that was it. Or at least, that's what he told me. Knowing that he still didn't want to tell me what his name was, I began to doubt the thing…

Despite the lack of education, he was very polite and knew the basic rules of social behavior. Maybe not those of the nobility, but at least those of the middle class if not the petty bourgeoisie. Reason had become known, in small pieces, during a conversation or another and I had to put the pieces together to get the full story. If I understood correctly, it was something like this: His father owned a small clothing store in the middle aisles and his older brother even started going to school before a bunch of problem begin to fall on the little family. The boy was not five years old when his mother died in childbirth with his unborn little sister. Half saddened by grief, his father had held out for two years before his new alcoholism caught up with him and he committed suicide after losing the store at game. From there, his big brother took over, leaving school and finding them a job with a local railway worker. A little over a year later, he too would die in an accident, leaving only the boy who has since lived on the streets.

"I can sleep in the Church, Father Eude is nice, he knew my mother and always leaves me a small place in the Nave." He had whispered to me once when I worried about where he was staying. He worked so "little" compared to the other street children that I wondered how he survived. But even if he had poor health, he was not lacking in resources. Terribly intelligent and resourceful, he always managed to find the best plans but never in contempt of his morals.

I had been completely turned upside down the first time he stopped to drop off one of the brioches I had bought him from a group of children his age. He said that one of them was injured in a chimney and that food was needed while waiting for her to recover. "It's natural, it will be my turn soon and I hope she will remember it at that time." He had whispered.

He was a railroad worker, too. Or at least an apprentice. And he was already very sick. It didn't take long before his weak constitution bothered him and he started spitting out his lungs from the soot. This is why he worked half as much as the other children but always kept his job thanks to his manners which appealed to the bourgeois who employed them. With free church accommodation, he was still able to cope by buying only food on his meager salary.

He was nice, so nice, but maybe I was just being fooled? I was not very good at evaluating the character of people… and I had relied too much on the manga this last year to navigate my stormy relations with the Noahs. He could not know that I worked in a noble house, I doubted that he wanted a job, but maybe... Well even if he stayed with me only to earn something, I could hardly blame him, I took advantage good company too. In any case, I didn't want to leave it there. Clearly, he expected to die soon. I had tried to talk to him about taking an apprenticeship, but without being literate or recommended, it was practically impossible. And even if I came back to London regularly to teach him, it would take a long time, a long time that I wasn't sure he had.

So, thinking about the options, I asked him if he would accompany me to a nearby bar to meet a friend and we went there together. Fortunately for me, Tyki was there, playing a few last innings with the night workers. We were in this perfect time slot where the night workers went to take their shift and the day workers barely left the factories. So I didn't wait long after Tyki spotted me. Two more innings and his opponents groaned, allowing me to slip into the seat next to the Noah while he picked up his winnings.

"Ready to go home? I hope so because my sister-in-law is furious and my niece is very bored." He said to me with a smile as I let out a sigh to break my soul.

"I thought family celebrations would change their minds..." I whispered, beginning to fear my return. But maybe Tyki was inflating things? Yes, that must be it.

"Ho, it worked, until my birthday, but they quickly got back to worry. Sheryl was not proud, it was glorious. You really joined the mansion this year, you know. "

"One year already..." I murmured, my eyes vague. Yes, a year and about four days now. My chest was a little tight at the thought and I had to squint so that tears would not force the passage, but it was nothing like the visceral pain I felt before. I would always miss my family and there were days when I wanted to curl up with someone for a big comforting hug and others where I suddenly started to depress in a corner for no visible reason, but in all in all, you could say that time had done its thing.

Soon, surely, there would only be a bitter nostalgia.

"Anyway ..." I suddenly say before hesitating for a second, bringing Tyki's curious look to me. "Do you remember this favor you owed me? I need help ..." I asked him in a flash of good idea.

"A favor? Wasn't it already used to repay all the help I gave you." He scoffed and I threw him the scorching darkest glance I could do causing him to raise his hands in front of him laughing softly. "Okay, okay, I admit it was a bad move on my part, I didn't think they would make you do this. But don't need that, if I can help I would. Even more like that seems to be something Sheryl wouldn't like at all. " He teased making me blush. He was absolutely right. "So what do you need?"

"I have a... friend. He is a railway worker but is sick, he cannot continue this work. I do not know what to do to help him... I said to myself that with all the people you know, you would have maybe an idea? " I asked softly, trying not to squirm in my chair.

Tyki hummed in response, seeming to take a second to think about it before grabbing his bag and getting up. "Okay, let's see what I can do, can you introduce me?"

Nodding, I got up quickly to head to the bar where I had abandoned the boy a few minutes earlier. When Tyki understood who we were going to see, he gave me an indistinguishable look before sighing and putting a calm smile on his face.

Presenting them, I quickly stepped back to see them interacting together. Tyki seemed to naturally know what to say to get the boy to relax and talk to him and I was a little jealous that he could do in three minutes what had taken me three days. I did not know how he did his business, but while the conversation seemed terribly basic, the Noah managed to get some capital information about him and even some that I did not know yet.

Slightly disturbed, I allowed myself to be led by the Noah when he ended the conversation with the boy with a smile and asked me to chat alone for a second.

When the distance was large enough, I let my questions come out in droves as Tyki wrinkled his lips in a strict pout. "So what do you think? He's nice, isn't he? He just needs a little help, we can't leave him like that." I let out, feeling that Noah was not convinced by the idea.

"Yes, he seems to be a nice kid, but Eve, he has no chance. Without his brother, he would have died with his father. This only delays the deadline, he is too weak." He said definitively as a hand landed on my shoulder.

"He can learn! Railway is not for him, but he is very agile with his hands, I am sure that precision work would suit him well, I was thinking of an apprenticeship, please Tyki, I know he can do it, he doesn't... "

"Eve!" Tyki exclaimed cutting me in full panic tirade. "You can't help everyone!"

"I know!" I almost cried, barely restraining myself from spitting the words. "But if I was so lucky, why not him?" I implored receiving only a look of pity in return which I did not like at all.

"It was not the same, you would not have died if you had not had a job at the manor. You are resourceful, I am sure you would have found something quite suitable" said he but I did nothing but make a laughable noise in response.

"As if, who else would have hired an undocumented, underage girl with completely upside down memories? It is far more likely that I would end up prostitute or see dead in the gutter because I doubt I would have had the courage to do it. " I emptied my bag, admitting for the first time out loud the fear that had held my stomach since I realized the extent of my situation.

"Don't say that..." he whispered with a pained look. "You are literate, I know it is more difficult for women but you could have found an apprenticeship or something like that." he said but I felt his own doubt. It was not "more difficult" for women, it was practically impossible to get out of the gutter without papers. The boys, again, could serve as a worker, but the girls? No, of course not, it would distract valiant men at work. If I had still had papers, I could have tried the church which hires trackers and scrapers anywhere, but without? No, it was even more suspicious that I could write and read in this account there... Only then remained the shadow trades or shady plans like for example what had happened to Link and the old (future?) Exorcists third generation.

And even, all this, I had learned during my year here and maybe yes, now, I could manage, but at the time? Fresh out of the 21st century and half panicked? Impossible.

"I doubt it." I finally whispered and Tyki said nothing to contradict me this time. "I was very lucky, but even privileged, I have done nothing so far to help others. It may be only misplaced guilt, but he... I can not... if I can, no, if you can help him, please, Tyki, do it. " I whispered trembling fists.

He seemed undecided but finally sighed and dropped his hand from my shoulder with a quick comforting pressure. "Look, I promise you nothing, but I have minor friends, a sister of one of them runs a bakery, maybe..."

"Oh thank you, thank you!" I exclaimed with a suddenly radiant smile, embracing him quite naturally. It was only a second later that my brain caught my arms and I took a quick step back, terribly sorry. "I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose..."

"It's fine," he said quickly, sweeping everything with one hand, he seemed just as lost as I was.

We stood there for a second in uncomfortable silence before remembering what we were talking about and joining the boy again. With the story removed from my hands, I left it to Tyki to propose his business. The boy nodded timidly and Tyki set out to go and organize everything immediately. "I join you tomorrow on the market place, you had to go back with Jean, right? I will also take advantage of it, in addition for once, my return should go unnoticed by the side of yours. You shouldn't have left without saying anything to Tricia "

"Don't say that..." I almost groan. "I forgot but Sheryl knew it! Oh, Tricia is going to be horrible..." I whispered the last part as Tyki let out a laugh.

The next day, the boy came to thank me. Tyki had been able to get him a trial period and he seemed determined to prove himself. I was hoping everything would be fine. Nevertheless, the good news made me happy and after taking my things, kissing the matron goodbye and joining the market place, I could not prevent a big happy smile from taking place on my lips and thanking Tyki profusely. It was funny how he seemed embarrassed. It was a pleasure to reverse the roles for once.

Unfortunately, the good humor did not last long and I quickly started to be anxious the more we approached the manor. It must be said, Tyki's words were spinning in my head and I soon learned that they were not as exaggerated as I had hoped. In fact, as soon as he set foot in the manor, Tricia hurtled down the central staircase like an avenging angel before taking me in her arms with a force of which I had no idea.

"What made you leave like that, without a word !?" She asked me, holding me at arm's length to be able to look me in the eyes before examining my body as if to check that I was fine. I found the thing a bit exaggerated, I left for a week on vacation, it's not like I was sent to a commando island in the Caribbean…

"I left a letter...?" I started to say before I shut up when a dark look pierced my blue orbs.

"A letter? I don't call it a letter! I had plans for this Christmas, I was so sad to know you were so far from us!" She said before pulling me into his arms and then away again. "You had fun at least, didn't you? Where did you go?" She asked with a worried look before suddenly letting go of me to stick her finger on the back of Tyki who had tried to escape while I was chewing. "Ho no sir! Don't think I forgot you!" She said and Tyki turned sheepishly.

"Eve! Uncle Tyki!" Suddenly shouted a high voice from the top of the stairs and a well-known little girl descended as fast as her mother, her dress floating behind her in a strange feeling of deja vu. Her scream must have stirred up people, because soon the hall filled with the other inhabitants of the manor and the whole thing soon became a shambles. It took Sheryl's arrival for it to calm down a bit and, quickly, we migrated to the living room where I could observe at my leisure the rest of the Christmas tree. He looked like he had gone through hell. I didn't want to know what had happened.

The rest of the afternoon passed more calmly after that. Tricia was deeply disappointed that I hadn't stayed for Christmas, but she was too nice to hold it against me. She was glad that I took a vacation in a way, even if she seemed a little shocked that I just stayed in London. "The next time." Had she said. "We will be visiting another country, why not Belgium? I have heard good things."

"I want to go to Germany!" Road exclaimed, practically bouncing from his seat.

"Or in Portugal?" Tyki offered but the twins groaned in protest.

"Maybe next summer if all goes well for Sheryl." Smile Tricia before turning to me again. "But it will be Christmas again, I would love to see the differences between our cultures."

"Oh yes! How are you celebrating Christmas, Eve?" Asked Road and her smile seemed, at least in my eyes, clearly sly. She knew that I was not a believer, this little odious girl.

"Oh, well, classic things..." I mumbled, racking my brain to guess what traditions might seem normal a hundred and fifty years earlier. "We decorate the tree, we go to mass, we attach socks to the fireplace ..."

"Socks?" Blinked Tricia, surprised.

"Big decorative woolen socks? I don't really know where the tradition comes from, but they are nominative and we put candy or small gifts inside. And the big gifts under the tree then we eat a good meal prepared all together and we play games too... "I say trying to sound a little vague.

"It sounds funny, we should celebrate it your way next year." Smile Road as I looked at her blankly, imagining for a second the Noahs playing mimes or making dry cakes.

nop

Nop, nop, nop.

"Oh yes, what a wonderful idea!" Enthused Tricia and I whiten a little more. I could only hope that they would have forgotten this disastrous idea next year...

Meh. I just wrote Christmas 1886 ad I can say you Road didn't forget :p

I hope you all had a fabulous year 2019: D Lots of good things for you this year, love, health, personal achievement and everything :) Happy New Year! And think about the reviews: 3