Um...hi? *almost gets shot* I'm sorry! It's so late I know...but remember the plot driving chapter I promised you? Well...here you go?

~insertlinbreak~

Allen's first mission was the London.

He stood outside the white ark, the situation a reminder of her departure to the European branch when he first synchronized. Now nearly four months later he stood outside of it again, nervously wringing his hands as Cross got briefed by Komui.

Lenalee stood beside him, leaving for her mission at the same time. While he was going to London Lenalee was leaving for Italy with Lavi. For once, Lavi was going to be without Bookman as his master was leaving with Chaoji.

"Are you excited Allen?" Lenalee asked, smiling softly as Lavi came to stand beside her. Allen looked up at her, his hand nervously going to his shoulder where Thomas was sitting. He expected the mouse to stay home, but he was surprisingly insistent on going along.

Allen laughed softly, "I don't think excited is the word for it, Lenalee." He admitted, "Nervous I think is the word. I've never been outside of here." He had never even really been outside. Once, maybe a few times to help the scientists bring in supplies or see exorcists off. All he really knew was the blue sky, and the green grass he could see in the distance because grass didn't really grow unless he was in the gardens.

He heard there was a separate place in the Order that grew flowers, but Lenalee was adamant on keeping him away from that place. Most of the exorcists were, and Allen grew to naturally stay away from that place as well.

"It won't be too bad kid, as long as you keep this in mind." Lavi bent down at the knee, "I tell you this seriously, so take this as advice: assume everybody is Akuma. Anytime somebody sees that symbol on your coat it makes you a target. Don't forget that." Lavi ruffled his head, "Come back to us in one piece, the head nurse is a demon."

Allen nodded, "Don't worry, I don't think I could come back hurt even if I tried." He laughed, his healing abilities always a factor. Even if an Akuma managed to get him, he was sure he'd just heal.

Lenalee nodded, "Yes, but be careful anyway. I'll try to bring you something from Italy, okay?" She clasped his hands in hers tightly, "So please be careful, promise?" Allen knew she was worried for him, Lenalee always did worry. He didn't want to worry her more than he already did.

He hooked his pinky with hers, nodding with a small smile, "Yes, I promise." Allen didn't think his mission would be that hard anyway. His master would be with him, and it was supposed to be an 'in-and-out' mission.

"Brat, let's go. Stop coddling him." Cross suddenly appeared beside him, making Allen jump. Lenalee straightened to glare at Cross; she really knew Cross would not really let Allen get hurt but...she couldn't ever be too sure with Cross.

She placed her hands on Allen's shoulders, "Please...take care of him."

Cross smirked, "Just like your brother, sentimental." He grasped Allen's hand and dragged him through the ark. Lenalee and Lavi watched, until Lenalee shakily reached for Lavi's arm.

"Hey Lavi…?" She trailed off, "Allen...he was from London, wasn't he?" She didn't know why that thought made her so nervous.

Lavi nodded, "Yeah," He sighed, "That's what worries me."

~insertlinebreak~

London was bigger than he ever imagined. Swarms of people hurried it what seemed like endless patterns. There were people shouting in front of stores, coaxing people to buy their products. He saw children that looked to be about his age playing, running around. More importantly, this was his first time really being outdoors.

It was much brighter than the Order could ever be, a lot lighter. The air felt cleaner though he was sure it wasn't and everything felt so much newer.

He huddled closer to Cross, nervously grasping his hand.

"Where are those damn finders?" Cross grumbled, looking around, "Komui said they'd greet us in front of the gate. Useless." He tugged Allen forward, "Let's go brat."

Allen stammered, "B-but master the finders-" he tried to reason. The Finders had information of the mysterious phenomenon going about, and also knew the location of their informants. Without them it was pretty much like restarting the mission from scratch. He didn't want to trouble the Finders by making them look for them.

"Shut up. The Finders will find us if they really have anything useful to tell us."

Allen nodded doubtfully, keeping up with Cross's long strides. Apparently the phenomenon had something to do with fireflies and one that glowed green. It would grant one wish to anyone who caught it-which no one ever did.

He wasn't sure how they were supposed to catch the firefly. He was afraid Cross would make him chase it all night just like Thomas. Remembering the mouse, Allen absentmindedly pat him on his head before holding up his hood to let Thomas hide beneath it.

"Wait here." They suddenly stopped in front of a large building, and looking up Allen could see it was a hotel. Cross stepped inside as Allen waited outside. The loudness of the area was almost startling, and he was surprised to see so many people just ignoring each other.

In the Order, everybody said hello to everyone. Everyone knew everyone and it wasn't common to be a stranger. Seeing so many new faces, it almost reminded Allen of his awakening, and seeing so many new faces at one time. The reminder alone made anxiety creep up Allen's throat, but he squashed it in favor of his wonder.

Everything was so new.

Everything-

Ba-Thump

His eye suddenly hurt.

Ba-Thump

He couldn't breathe, his lungs wouldn't take in any air. Allen could feel Timcanpy worriedly flying around him. Yet he couldn't move-or he could, it just couldn't bring himself to move.

There was a man across the street from him, hunched over. He looked like he was in pain, and many had stopped to help him. Yet the man would not say anything, he wouldn't even move.

-Ba-Thump

Suddenly there was what looked like a ghost floating above it. A chained woman, crying. She looked like she was in pain-Allen almost wanted to help her. No...he did want to. She looked so sad...he wanted to...

Yet…

"Ah…" The world was spinning.

Cross was suddenly behind him, "What's wrong with you?" He demanded but Allen only pointed forward, and fell into Cross's arms, unconscious.

Gritting his teeth Cross set Allen down, "Akuma. Innocence, activate." He pointed his gun forward, "What a waste of bullets." Just as the Akuma ripped forward from the man's skin, a bullet lodged itself in it's metal.

The Akuma turned around, just as Cross released another bullet-this time into it's face. The Akuma blew up, it's dust carried by the wind.

"How troublesome," Cross carried Allen inside.

~insertlinebreak~

"Road, Wisely." The Earl suddenly looked up, turning to the two who sat with him in his office. They looked up as well, standing up. It was already clear what their orders would be.

He pointed towards the door, "It seems he's in London. Go greet him." The Earl ordered. His Akuma saw a little boy with a hood over his head in an exorcist coat-Cross's apprentice no doubt. Any other information was cut off as Cross destroyed it.

Still, what the Akuma saw was useful. They now knew Cross was investigating in London and he couldn't leave without the innocence. They were free to quietly observe him as long as he stayed there.

Road nodded, "Yes Millennie." Her door opened, and she clasped hands with Wisely as they walked through.

~insertlinebreak~

Cross quietly sat beside Allen, watching him sleep. It hadn't been long since Allen fainted-maybe an hour. It didn't stop Timcanpy or Thomas from worrying, both hovering over him like worried mothers. Their worry was misplaced: Allen was fine. It was the shock that caused him to collapse.

"So it seems that the curse still rests within him." Mana's curse was strong enough to last through rebirth. Allen had definitely saw the soul of the Akuma-and that meant he would once again have to explain. He hadn't done that since Allen was ten-and that was at least seven years ago.

Six years after Allen turned ten, he was executed. One year after that, he was reborn. Seven years in total.

He looked away, "Troublesome." He nudged Allen with his hand, "Hey, brat. Wake up." Allen shifted, groaning softly under his breath, " ."

Allen opened his eyes. He stayed silent for a moment, thinking before opening his mouth, "My head hurts…" he turned to Cross, "master?"

"What you saw was an Akuma's soul." Cross knew what an Akuma was already, but he had never seen one.

Allen blinked, completely lost, "W-what?" Until seconds later, when the memories came rushing back, "Wait...that thing...that crying women...it was a soul?" His head hurt more now, and the sorrow he felt for the woman came rushing back.

She looked so sad...

"When a person calls a loved one back, that loved one's soul is trapped within the Akuma and made to do it's bidding. When innocence kills an Akuma the soul is set free."

Allen blinked, "I...don't understand. Why can I see them?" As far as he knew, Lenalee or somebody would have warned him about how horrible the souls were if they could see them. It wasn't something someone could brush off, they would tell him. Something as horrible as that...it wasn't something easily forgotten. Even now, Allen still felt sick.

"That eye of yours, it's cursed. It allows you to see the souls of the Akuma." Cross sat back, drinking out of a cup that Allen was sure was filled with wine, "Don't go fainting again-I'll leave you next time."

Allen held his head, "Master...it was horrible."

"Akuma souls aren't supposed to look nice-they're enslaved," Cross bluntly told him, and then after a moment, "Innocence sets them free, keep that in mind."

He stood up, "Let's go. The hotel doesn't have food, so we'll have to go to a restaurant."

~insertlinebreak~

They sat down, Allen having remained silent the entire walk there. He had kept his eyes down, avoiding looking at anyone in fear of spotting another Akuma. He knew he should consider it luck that he could see Akuma-it meant that no Akuma could sneak up on him and yet he couldn't. It was too horrible.

"What do you want to eat?"

Allen shrugged, and looked out the window. He wasn't all that hungry anyway. Cross stared at him before saying something to the waitress. The waitress nodded and left, leaving Allen and Cross in silence.

"Master?" Allen suddenly spoke up, "How long have you been an exorcist?"

"Too long." Cross bluntly replied, and that was it for making conversation. Silence went on until the waitress returned, setting down a plate in front of Allen. He didn't recognize the food-despite eating a lot he was quite picky eater-as all children were bound to be. It was something stuck through a skewer.

Allen poked it, "What is this?" He looked up at Cross.

"Mitarashi dango. Eat it."

Allen uncertainly picked up one of the skewers before taking a bite-and immediately smiling, "It's really good!" It could be in the running of being one of his favorite foods-although Lenalee was trying to force chocolate cake on him as his favorite.

Outside of the restaurant, Cross and Allen didn't notice the little girl standing across the street. Her head bowed she abruptly turned away.

No…"

He's dead...right?

"Those pitiful exorcists…" Road hung her head, "Ha...what a sad thing, poor boy...poor Allen…" She sniffles, "Wisely…?" She called.

Her brother was suddenly beside her, looking at her confused. He awkwardly hugged her to his chest, watching as he girl years older than childishly burrowed her head into his chest.

"Oh...my dear sister." He comforted.

She looked up, "I wanna go home." Wisely nodded, figuring that the Earl would want to hear the news anyway. It made sense now, it made so much sense why they felt that feeling.

He entered Road's door with her, holding her hand.

Welcome back, fourteenth.

IIIII DOOOONNNN'T LIIIKEEEE THHIIISSS CHAAAAPPPTER. But like I rewrote it so many times and I figured that it was time to star t doubting myself.