Chapter 3

"Hello Lavi! Just get back from your mission."

"Yes sir." Lavi said as Komui wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "We have some bad news." Komui said growing serious.

###

"What do you mean, you lost him?" Reever demanded.

"I lost him?" Johnny shrugged not knowing what to do or say.

"He's not even 3 feet tall! The only thing shorter around here in Kanda's temper."

"What happened?" Komui asked. "Where's Allen?"

Reever and Johnny looked at each other. "At the moment, we have no idea." Reever answered.

"Komui!" A voice yelled which was accompanied with grumbling and complaints. Kanda stormed down the hall. In his hand was a 6 year old looking kid. He had white hair and Kanda was holding him up by his green jacket. "What was This doing in the training hall?" Kanda held up the boy, who was on the verge of tears.

"Kanda! You're scaring him!" Johnny scolded.

The boy stretched his arms toward Johnny as if saying that he didn't want to be in the mean man's hands. Johnny snatched him out of Kanda's hands.

"Just don't let me catch him in the training room again. Or I'll use him as a practice dummy."

As Kanda walked away, both Johnny and Allen stuck their tongues out at him.

"Lavi… This is Allen." Komui sighed.

The white haired boy looked at Komui when his name was mentioned.

"I was only gone for a month."

"The aging process has increased greatly. He's lost most of his memory. I don't even know if he still remembers you. Allen," Komui said to the boy. "This is Lavi."

The boy looked at Lavi with his gray eyes. Johnny gave Allen to Lavi. The young Allen squirmed in Lavi's arms. Lavi set him down and Allen ran down the hall.

###

"How can we lose him again?" Johnny complained.

"Split up!" Reever ordered. "I'll take the training room."

Lavi laughed as the group split up. One old kid out smarted three scientists, he thought. Lavi walked into the library.

"Nnnnngh," a small voice strained.

Lavi looked at the check-out counter. The white haired boy tried and attempted to get a deck of card that were perched on the counter's ledge. He jumped, stood on his tip-toes, and stretched for the cards.

Poor thing, he just wants to play cards.

The boy took a breather and coughed a bit after all his failed attempts for the cards. After he retained his breathe, he resumed to jumping for the cards.

Lavi sighed and shook his head. He walked over and picked up the card deck. He then kneeled in front of the kid, offering the deck.

Allen looked at his hand, unsure. He then plucked the cards from his hand and ran to a nearby table. He climbed into the chair and started shuffling the cards.

Lavi sat opposite Allen. "Do you know how to play?"

The white haired boy shook his head yes and began to deal the cards

"What we playin'?" Lavi asked.

"Poker!"

"What! You know how to play poker?"

"Yeah, I played…" Allen stopped and counted on his fingers. He grinned and held up three fingers. "I played three days ago, against the science department and won."

"What did you win?"

"Lots and lots of candy!"

Lavi laughed.

"Do you want some?" Allen reached into the pocket of his green hoodie and pulled out a piece of gum and a red lollipop.

"Are you sure?" Lavi asked accepting the red lollipop.

"Yeah! I have tons more in my room."

"Good, you found him!" Reever gasped and wheezed as he stumbled into the library. "Allen, you can't run off like that. You'll agitate your cold." Reever reached into his pocket and produced an orange bottle. "Take this Allen." He handed Allen one pill.

"I thought he had to take two of those." Lavi said confused.

"He used to… that is, since two weeks ago. If we give him any more than that, we fear overdosing him. But he isn't getting any better."

Allen unconsciously coughed as if confirming it as he looked at his hand of cards.

"Allen you need to take it." Reever scolded after noticing the pill was on the table, untouched.

"It tastes nasty." Allen whined.

"How about I go get you some grape juice for you to take it with?" Reever asked.

Allen nodded. "Yes, please."

"Okay, Lavi can you watch him."

"Okey-Dokey!" Lavi picked up his hand of cards. "You ready to lose kid?"

###

After losing terribly to Allen at least 239 times in a row, Johnny and another science department member came to commandeer the care of Allen.

Lavi was concerned when he left. Even after taking his medication, Allen still went into a coughing fit and had spat up blood.