{A/N; I'm so sorry for not posting in so long. I had gotten distracted with other things but don't worry. I'm back and will be giving an extra long chapter.
Answering reviews!
MillenniaPhoenix: More than you realize.
Mep101: pokerpair all the way, my friend. I decided that the fans of my original have been waiting since hell knows how long so... yeah. I decided now was a perfect time since I had improved.}
Faery66 & greatpanda17: I'm sorry for the wait and I hope that this is worth the too long wait.
Neah speaks in-Bold
Crown Clown is- Bold and Italic
thoughts are-Italic
Attacks are announced with-Underlined Italics
Songs are sung in-Underlined bold Italics
The Earl walks to the dining room with Allen in his arms. The Earl deemed that the little girl was lighter than she should be. He chalked it up to her Innocence.
"This place is big... there's no way you can live here all by yourself!" Allen announced.
"Indeedie, my dear~! I have quite a large family~. Of course, I won't let them overwhelm you, especially since you are still hurt~." The Earl assured.
The Earl stepped into the large dining room and sat at the table with Allen in his lap. The strange maids brought out large platters of food and set them in front of the pair before leaving, being they were not needed. Allen stared at the food before looking at the Earl. The large man gave a hearty chuckle and waved a hand for her to eat. Allen instantly grabbed the closest plate and devoured its contents. The large mountain of food dwindled to towers of empty plates and bowls quickly.
"Was that enough, or would you like more~?" The Earl asked.
"No thank you. I'm full." Allen said with a smile.
"Good~. Anytime you are hungry just call and the maids will get you anything you ask for~." The Earl instructed.
"Could I still make food by myself if I wanted to?" Allen asked.
"Of course." The earl answers. The earl couldn't help but love the look of pure joy and how it made her mercury eyes look like silver instead. "But, if you need me, please call one of the maids. I don't want you getting lost." The Earl playfully poked the small girl's nose. Allen gave a tiny sneeze.
"That tickled," Allen muttered. The Earl gave the girl a moment before tickling her. Allen gave a burst of loud, joyful laughter.
The Earl smiles. He decided at that moment that the musical laughter was something he loved and would defend. The Earl stopped as the small child yawned tiredly.
"It seems someone is still tired~." The Earl observed. Allen curled up, leaning on the Earl. The Earl smiled as the child fell asleep within minutes.
A few months had passed, leaving Allen as recovered as she could be. All that still plagued her were nightmares. By this time She'd met Road, Tyki, Skinn, and Jasdevi.
Allen woke up with a start, rushing to get up and out of her room. The deep voice of Skinn broke through her fear.
"Allen?" Skinn called, looking up from his sweets. Allen looked at the bigger man and promptly ran into him, hugging him the best she could. It had been a particularly bad nightmare, about Mana and The Earl. Skinn sat the girl in his lap and offered her a large lollipop. Allen took it and enjoyed it, still clinging to the other for dear life.
The Earl had expected the child to go into an unmoving stuper. Thankfully, it was avoided. She instead grew to rely on the Noah to keep her grounded, remind her that the nightmares were just nightmares.
And he was glad. Perhaps She'll flawlessly be integrated as a family member even with the innocence and lack of being a Noah.
By morning, Skinn had carried Allen while she ate her sweets, moving towards the dining table where Road is already waiting. Skinn sits, careful not to jostle the tired, frightened child.
Allen curls up against Skinn and promptly falls asleep, finally feeling well enough to.
"Another nightmare," Road says softly.
Skinn nods, "Middle of the night this time."
"I hate that she's having so many nightmares." The Noah of Dreams sighs.
Skinn makes a sound of agreement. He'd grown close to the girl, introducing her to sweets for the first time in her short life.
"I remember the first time you two met. She was so scared of you."
Skinn smoothed the snow-white hair of the little girl in his lap.
"She Never had anything sweet. And she was so small." Skinn replied after a time. His voice is oddly gentle for him.
"She got attached pretty quick after. Maybe because when she knew you wouldn't hurt her, she must have felt safe. Like nothing would get close." Road says with a smile.
Over time, the nightmares slowed, nearly stopping.
In that time, her curse had begun developing and getting stronger, allowing her to see the souls. She hadn't seen them closely so it hadn't bothered her.
Allen looks up as the door opens, only to scream and fall out of her chair. The young girl gets up and runs to her bed, hiding under the covers.
"Oh no! I didn't mean to scare her, Mistress!"
"It's fine, Mimi. I'll calm her." A mellow voice reaches Allen's ears before a small head bumps her moments later. A head of silver hair, ruffled by the blankets, pokes out. A black cat meows, gaining a small giggle from the young girl.
"Hi, kitty... You're really cute..."
The cat meows and bumps against her again. Allen picks up the cat and holds it to her chest.
"I really am sorry that I scared you," A young-looking girl with pale blue hair spoke.
Allen looks at her before quickly looking away with a quiet dismissal.
"We were coming to get you for dinner." She added.
"is... Dad going to be there?" Allen asks.
"Yep!"The other replies cheerfully.
Allen hops in place with a big smile and excited giggles. She follows the Akuma, holding the black cat in her arms. As soon as Allen saw the Earl, she runs to him and climbs onto his lap. The Earl's heart nearly stopped when he saw her eye.
"What is wrong with your eye, my little Allen?" He asks softly.
"My... Eye?" Allen asks, her smile fading. "I don't know... I know I've been seeing weird things next to or above the staff..."
"Oh? That must be scary for such a little thing." The large man says, petting Allen in an attempt to soothe her worries. "They won't hurt you, dear Allen~. I won't allow it~."
He pokes the tip of her nose, earning another giggle.
"Oh! I found a kitty!" Allen announced, holding the cat up.
"Oh, Lulu Bell~! That's where you were~!" The Earl exclaims.
"Madam Lulu Bell was trying to calm her down after I accidentally scared her!" The Akuma explains.
"I see~. Well, now that everyone is here, let's get started~."
"The Generals... Sepecifically one looking for little Shojo." Tyki states.
"That's right~. We won't be able to let her go outside until she can fully use that wonderful arm of hers~."
the others look at him, unsure. Allen, being completely oblivious, was singing a simple tune as she played with Lulu Bell.
"That's..."
"But it's the thing they use!"
Allen's happy tune stops as she heard the tone of the conversation.
"Exactly what I meant to say~." The Earl states with a glare.
"Right. No matter what it is, It's part of someone precious."
"I don't care if she has Innocence! She's still adorable!" Road announces.
"Exactly~." The Earl agrees. "Let's not bring up bad memories, Hmm?" The Earl hums.
Allen let go of Lulu Bell and ran off.
"Now look at what you did!" Road yelled.
Tyki stands up, "Skinn and I can go get her back."
"I think it would be better if just one of us went. I vote Skinn."
"Well... She does seem to feel more comforted by the big guy so it's all up to him." Tyki sighs, sitting back down. "Not that you'll find me complaining."
Skinn walks in the same direction Allen had gone. It didn't take long for him to find a sobbing Allen. He kneels down and pulls her close.
"I knew it! You all think my arm is bad too! You're going-"
"No. You're family. Your arm may look different, but it's a part of you. We love you the way you are." Skinn mutters.
"You... you're not lying... cause you never say 'love' about anything that's not-"
"You're sweet, but in a different way then candy or deserts. You're the only one here I feel close to enough to say that to." Skinn confesses. "You're like a sister that I want to protect, and spoil. Even if you're the Earl's kid now."
Allen buries her face in his coat, sobs shaking her small frame, "You're the best big brother, Skinn. I love you, brother."
Skinn smiles, "Let's go back. There's a pair that need to apologize to you."
"Okay." Allen agrees, giving Skinn a smile. "Can I have a loli-pop?"
"As much as I would love to say yes, it'd ruin your dinner," Skinn says.
Allen looks up and pouts. Skinn sighs and pats her head. Allen giggles involuntarily. Skinn walks back to the dining room, glaring at the twins as he set Allen down in her seat. Allen had subconsciously grabbed her left arm.
"Welcome back, My adorable little Allen~." The Earl greats. "It's best to ignore those twins~."
"O-okay, dad..." Allen mutters.
"They're the real idiots for sitting there and talking poorly about your arm."
"We're sorry!" The twins shout before running off.
Allen watches them go, Before looking back to the others.
"You do not need to hide any part of yourself from us. We are your family, after all." The voice from earlier reaches Allen's ears.
"Indeede~!" The Earl agrees. "I couldn't have put it better myself~!"
Allen looks at her hand before removing the gloves she always wore. She stares down at the green mark on the back of her left hand only for Skinn's large hand to rest over it.
She smiles up at him, "Thank you."
Skinn returns the smile without hesitation. The innocence, he would tolerate, just for the bright little girl it belonged to.
Allen looks at her arm.
"It's Innocence. Normally, none of us like it because it caused us pain. But, because this one is your's, we will care for it as we care for you."
"Innocence...?" Allen repeats, looking at her arm.
"Yes. It's normally used to hurt Lord Millennium's Akuma and in turn, Us." Tyki explains.
"Hurt... you... But I don't want to..." The young girl stutters.
"You won't. We all have complete faith in you. And that's also why we'll all be helping you with it. Learning how to use it, that is." Tyki assures.
"Oh! Okay!" Allen agrees. "Then I'll use it to protect you guys instead!"
"That's one step closer." A voice pipes up in Allen's head.
"Closer? Closer to what?" Allen asks.
"Closer to your Innocence. It's waiting for you, my adorable Neice."
"Waiting? Neice? What?"
"Ah... Right. I'm Neah! I'm your uncle or Mana's brother. As for the other... He's waiting for you to meet him. But to do that, you might have to find a way to refine it. Go from Uncut and rough to Smooth."
"Allen? Are you okay?" Tyki asks, noting her silence.
"Huh...?" Allen looks up, dazed. Tyki looks at her in worry.
"Smooth? How do I...?" Allen asks.
"You... might not like it. It'll hurt. And it won't be easy."
"Him?"
"That's right. But wait for you to get older. When you recover." Nea speaks softly. "I'm so proud to have such a wonderful, brave girl for a niece. Mana was probably proud. And resting easy knowing that you're safe and happy."
"proud... Happy..." Allen thought. "How could anyone be proud of me? When I can't even go a night without waking up from a nightmare?"
"Proud because you didn't just freeze up and dwell on what happened, you pushed through and kept walking. Just like my brother told you too." Neah clarifies.
Allen blinks and looks up at Tyki, he had a worried expression plastered on his face. Allen smiles.
"I'm okay! I was just lost in thought."
"Whatever you say, shojo. let's get working on that innocence of your's "
Allen had slowly matured both mentally and physically. She just turned fifteen and never stopped smiling. Looking back as the door opens, she smiles as a black cat strides in, followed by a young-looking girl with pale blue hair.
"Good morning, Lulu, Mimi!" Allen greets.
"You're cheerful as ever!" Mimi observes, earning a soft giggle from Allen. "You know I always try to smile. You know that."
"Of course. I have a good reason to smile now." Allen responds.
"Oh, right! You were going out, right? With lord Millenium and Madam Lulu Bell." Mimi asks.
"Yeah, but I don't know what to wear... There are too many dresses and-"
"Oh! Madam wants to give this to you! She figured that with both Lord Millenium and Road, they would go overboard with the dresses."
"As you guessed... There's nothing else but Dresses and some gloves for outside use..." Allen confirms. Mimi hands over two bags containing several new outfits, all being made up of button-up shirts, vests, and pants, along with a new pair of knee-high boots. Allen's eyes widen, "Thank you! I love them!"
The white-haired teen runs into her bathroom to change. She had cared less and less about the family seeing her disfigured arm.
Allen can out after a few long moments, wearing one of the new outfits and boots.
"How... How does it look?" Allen asks nervously.
"It suits you." The Noah of lust states with a soft smile. Allen yelps in surprise.
"You scared me!" Allen shouts.
"Apologies." Lulu Bell chuckles. Allen hides behind Mimi, glaring playfully at the Noah.
Trio walk out of the room, going their own separate ways.