A/N: "And the white knight is talking back words-" And this, my friends, is why i should never listen to catchy music when I'm proof-reading. There's probably a million+ mistakes because of that song... Any who, I LOVE THIS CHAPTER! Truly, I wanted to cry in it as I typed it out. It sets up everything nicely and by far is a good-er. Also, here's a little spoiler, there is a LOT of foreshadowing in this chapter!

Thanks too Junoan, MysticMaiden 18, Hane no Zaia, Jujulapetoch, Moonlit Yumi, AmazinglyUntalented, Forsaken284 and Tsukiko Yamashita for reviewing. Thanks also to those who have alerted and added to their favorites. Special thanks too ElemtenalFoxGoddess and Arid-Existence for reviewing once again. Too everyone a giant cookie for making me feel super and amazing!

Reading Legend

normal

"talking"

thinking-also use as writing in this chap.

SHOUTING

Expressing/Exaggerating

Scaring the Dark

Chapter 3: To Trust a Stranger

Everyone stood silently as they heard Allen's chocked sobs. The boy had suddenly burst into tears, reaching out like a child of only three. His once bright, silver eyes were filled with such sorrow that even the coldest felt unwanted emotions stir. Allen's hands never appeared so small. A white glove and black claw were like a child's hands, reaching out for it's parents. The tears appeared to be larger than ever, staining his beautiful face with themselves.

The boy's hands seemed to grasp something and were pushed back to his body. He know shook with racking sobs as he curled into himself. Crown clown softened against the boys skin and the claw didn't appear dangerous anymore. Lavi, with his keen, bookman eye swore he saw the white mass of hair being moved softly, as if being stroked. (1)

Allen had never felt such relief as his sorrow rolled down his face. As soon as the shadow spoke his name, his personal dam was destroyed, flooding his entire being with the sadness he fought so hard against. Not even caring that the others thought him as mad, he reached out towards the dark figure. He was sure that this was the man who was to take him over, and that he should be fighting against him, but he just couldn't. He felt as if the man was his father, and for the first time since Mana's death, was truly able to let everything go.

He cried for his friends and he cried for the dead. But most of all he cried for himself. He was only fifteen or perhaps sixteen (2) , he didn't know anymore, and yet he was stronger than any other exorcist coming even close to his age group. Allen was pushed and pulled around by all sides of the war that he couldn't even tell if what he was doing was right anymore. A cool sensation came over him, as if he was touching a calm river. Smooth hands pushed his burning ones back to his body, and he felt himself being embraced. His sobs came out louder as the water encircled his body gently. Soothing sounds came from the shadowed man as he stroked Allen's hair in a loving matter.

Allen could feel himself calming down as he sat there. His innocence was warm and soft and the mans flesh was cool and smooth. The man's voice soon entered his head, sounding as beautiful and lovely as any women's. It was laced with concern and filled to the brims with love to the boy. And secretly, Allen took great pride in being the only one able to hear it. The melody was reconcilable and he was certain he had heard it before.

Right... he thought, giving out a small yawn, deactivating his innocence. It's the same as the one I played in the ark. Allen could feel himself beginning to doze as the sounds of a piano washed over him. The cool feeling never left him even as he felt himself being raised by strong arms. The shadowed man was no longer there. All his eye's could see was the uniform of Inspector Howard Link. The soft feeling was still present, though slightly dimmed and the song danced smoothly in his head. Allen felt the lullaby fill him as his eyes slipped close, his face still shinning from the fallen tears.

Link was silent as he looked down at Allen's face. He too, was on the brink of tears. Many of the others had already broken down, feeling guilty and horrible for letting Allen face such horrors alone. The boys sobs and tears had brought back the reality of his crisis and Koumi felt horrible for not realizing it sooner. He was the boys damn supervisor and he didn't even notice a thing about the boys inner pain. Link, his clear-eyed watch dog had even been fooled by the boys smiles.

Lenalee was rubbing her puffy eyes, trying to appear strong in front of the others. However, only Kanda and Link were left with stern faces. Even Bookman had shed a few tears, smearing his make-up. And, though Lavi would never say it, he could have sworn that both Kanda and Link were fighting back their own tears. He understood, as he felt his own tears run down his cheek withhis hand, that even the coldest would cry after such a scene. Allen was the boy who filled the order with hope, always smiling and pulling through whatever was thrown at him. He was calm, though brash when facing problems and his undying love for everything made him seem like god itself. (3)Like Koumi, the junior bookman cursed himself too for not noticing the boys pain. He was a bookman! He should have realized it without it needing to be thrown into his face. He clenched his eyes shut, feeling unworthy of even looking at such a beautiful creature. (4)

Link brought the now sleeping Allen back to the room the two shared. No one had said a word when he left and he had a feeling that some still loitered in now empty infirmary. He shifted Allen as he opened the bedrooms door. The man entered a plain-looking room. He placed Allen on one of the two beds that was closest to the small window. Tucking the boy in like he had done on so many other night, Link glanced around the room. (5)

It was dull and clean, with only the two beds, a small rectangular window and a desk for when Link or Allen needed to do paper work. It held only three personal objects. Their clothes, suitcases, and one picture that Allen insisted on taking from his cramped, torture-like room. It was that of a clown carrying a coffin. A shackle decorated his right wrist. He was walking down a seemingly endless path but he appeared uncaring, as if he never knew that truth. His smile was large but the mood of the painting was sad. It was as if the artist was dooming the clown to walk on, carrying a burden that was not his own, for the rest of his life.

The reasoning why Walker seemed so attached to the picture escaped Link. It was depressing and dull, with dark colours that only seemed to etch in into ones darker memories. But the boy had persisted, insisting that he loved the picture, and how it was the only thing he wished to bring. True to his word, it was the only thing he brought with him besides his clothes and suitcase. Link had asked Allen why he wanted the picture so badly, but the boy only shrugged it off. Whenever Link caught him looking at it, he saw something spark into the boys eyes that only that picture was able to create. It felt as if he was being kept from a great secret that the boy didn't even realize he was hiding.

Link turned away from the picture that hung beside Allen's bed to his own. It was late and Link could feel a yawn coming up. He changed into his pajama's and sat on his bed, pulling out a small black book from under his pillow. He opened it and scribbled gently onto the paper.

November 19th

I had to once again tuck the stupid boy in. He had a break-down in the infirmary. I don't know how it came about, but it has affected me greatly. To see such a strong child cry such tears stirred my heart. I felt sadness as I picked him up, an emotion I haven't felt for so long. Something, I predict it to be 'him' comforted the boy into a cold slumber, and it was easy for me to bring him back to our room. However, I am filled with worry. I feel as though I missing something significant. I tend to question him about today tomorrow, but I feel that it will be pointless. Link glanced at the clown picture. It feels as if that stupid picture is hiding something from me. Every time I look at it feels like it's mocking me. It's eyes are always on me, as if it was watching me. Perhaps I'm paranoid but it feels as if that picture is trying to distance myself from the boy. I can't help but feel great worry.

Flipping the book closed, he turned off the lights as he placed it back under his pillow. Tucking himself in he watched Allen silently. The moon shone brightly through the window and seemed to decorate the boy in soft hues of the shades. He was turned away from Link, facing the wall as if trying to shut him, and the rest of the world out. Link's eyes darted to the cruel picture. He felt as if the clown was laughing at him, him and his fable actions of trying to grab Allen's attention. As if it knew something that he did not.

Rolling himself to face his own blank wall, Link closed his eyes and soon his breathing became slow and even.

Allen awoke at the sound of the bed creaking. The shadow sat at the edge of the bed, watching Link. Stretching silently, Allen sat up and faced the man. The shadow appeared even darker with the moon's light outlining it's (6) body. Covering his mouth as he yawned, the boy rubbed his still red eyes.

"You don't have to worry, he won't hurt me." The shadow turned to face him, surprise obvious amongst his strange face. It's mouth opened to speak but Allen shook his head. "No, it's okay. I was bound to wake up anyways." The teen swung his legs out of his bed, got up, and pulled the curtains over the window. "The moon's light would have kept me up all night. Link always forgets to close the curtains." The room was encased in blackness as Allen let go of the cloth. His feet made soft patter noises as he made his way back to his bed. Setting down silently, he watched Link closely, listening to his breaths to make sure he was asleep. "So," he started "Just what are you?"

The shadow looked down at the floor silently. It felt slightly uncomfortable as it sat next to Allen. It wanted to reach out and hug him tight to itself like it had done earlier, but it knew it was not the time. It fought for the correct words.

"We can talk about something else if you want." The shadow gazed into the strong silver eyes. Even in the darkness, they seemed to glow with hope and strength that no human could posses. The shadow sat there, entranced by the boys eyes.

Allen looked away, snapping the man out of it's trance. "Sorry..."came a rough voice. It hadn't spoken to anyone in so long that it's voice had become rusty.

"It's alright" Allen said softly. "Mana always said that my eyes were as bright as the stars." The shadow perked at the mention of it's brothers name. Allen smiled softly. "He would always smile when he said that." The boy felt strong arms wrap around him. The shadow had shifted and was now pulling Allen onto his lap. Resting it's chin on his head, it spoke softly.

"I know. Hush, it's alright." The boy clutched the shadow's cloak as he cried silently. The hug was warm and strong and Allen shook as he forced himself to stay quite to avoid waking Link. The shadow began rubbing Allen's back soothingly and hummed the lullaby softly.

Allen listened to the soft melody and felt his body relaxing. "What is that song called?" he asked softly, sleeping reaching out to claim him.

"Anything you wish it to be. It is now your song." Allen shook his head against the man's chest.

"No, I'm not allowed to own that song." The shadow stopped stroking him and gazed down at Allen. "It would be of no use to me." Sadness suddenly engulfed the shadow as it hugged the boy who clung to it so strongly.

"That's not true..." Allen wanted to shout, to throw a fit and tell him that he wasn't worthy to have such a song be his, that it should remain his. That he could never use that song to do anything! How could he, when it was dedicated to that of a mother? Every time the song was sang, the impression of a mother was given to him. He understood that it was created to resemble the singers bond with that person. So, how could he, who possessed no such thing, sing that song? It would hold no worth and would be nothing more than hollow words sung to a broken tune.

"Not true Allen..." The words snapped Allen out of his depressed trance and his star-like eyes gazed up at the smiling face. "You hold the love within yourself to use this song. It will be different, but that is only because you are. The words and melody will remain the same, but the powers and meaning will change." Allen's gaze drifted to the stone floor.

"You don't mind that I take that song?"

"Allen, all my songs are your songs, they weir created for you." His gaze fell once more on the mans face. "You, who were born without knowledge of love or feelings must be taught them. The child that I met reacted so strongly when I sang to him, that I knew that that must be the way to teach him. Allen, that child was you." A rush of memories entered Allen as he remembered a smiling man taking care of him. Abandoned at birth, this man came and saved him from his mothers corpse. He sung emotions and tales to him through hymns and lullabies. Then, when he was old enough to walk and take care of himself, the man vanished. Memories soon disappeared, replaced with colder, more violent ones. Allen's hands gripped the fabric even tighter.

"Then you, you were the man that..." He felt the shadow nod. "And when you disappeared, you..."

"That was when I entered you as the 14th Noah." Allen's body shook once again.

"Why?" he asked, his voice muffled as he buried his face into the shadow's chest.

"Because I love you." That one sentence seemed to enter Allen, filling his body with warmth. He had never heard those words so full of love! Even Mana's words paled in comparison.

He felt himself being placed down onto his back. The shadow shifted so that the two were under the blankets, itself facing the wall. The boy, rolled onto his side and crawled closer to the man, seeking warmth. He snuggled close to it's chest, like he used to do with Mana. The shadow's grip tightened. Allen fell asleep instantly in the embrace, no nightmares plaguing his exhausted mind. The shadow smiled brightly as he kissed Allen on the forehead. It felt a strong attachment to the boy, having raised him for his first five years. Though the feeling of regret from giving the child such a burden still coursed through the shadow, it was weakened each time it saw the boy. For ten (or maybe eleven) years it slept inside the boy, seeing the world through his memories entranced through dreams.

Each dream was filled with the boy's loneliness and despair. It lessened in some parts and grew in other'sbut it was always present with him. The boy, to the shadow, radiated these emotions and drew akuma to himself without the aid of his innocence. Everything in this war surrounded the poor child. Giving one last kiss on Allen's forehead, the shadow disappeared, the blanket floating softly down from were it once laid.

Story Notes

(1) A reminder paragraph that onlyAllen can see/hear/any sense the shadow

(2) I myself don't know if he is now 16, we haven't had a birthday thing pop-up yet so I'm going with undetermined. This will work better with the story anyway!

(3) God holds no actual gender. It is seen as a male sense Mary gave birth to it's son Jesus and, following Adam and Eve, gave it the term of male. Thus, males grew dominate over females in the sense that god choose to appear to the world as such. That's right, I did my homework!

(4) I just wanted to say that I love this line!

(5) Don't forget that he's still in the hospital gown and has no shoes...

(6) Since even though we know the 14th is a male, shadow's hold no gender. So when I speak of the shadow in narrator themes, it's an it, when through a character it isa he.

A/N: I apologize if there is any confusion.