Short chapter today. Mostly because I wanted to end it at a point that would leave an impact, but also because I'm really tired right now.

Allen gets some new abilities today! They're musically related, and I'll explain fully their effects later. Of course, you're welcome to infer what the effects are via the review system. So review!

Man-Gray.D owns Katsura Hoshino :Disclaimer

The 7th Memory: Etude of the Fallen Sky

Blood, it was everywhere. The blood of the Finders polluted the ground, the all too familiar scent of death hanging in the atmosphere. The few who were alive were seriously injured, and the ones well enough to walk were in shock at the death's of their comrades. In any war, sacrifices are made, are unavoidable. Even though Allen Walker knew this, he chose not to accept the horrible truth, not to accept the bleak promises of death.

Allen chose to hope. Hope that there could be a war with no sacrifices, a war where blood didn't have to be shed. He wanted to save as many as he could, and honor the wishes of the fallen. That is what Allen believed.

That is why the sight of Lala's broken body affected him so harshly.

Allen grabbed the level two in his hand, tears glistening in his eyes. "Keheheh!" the Akuma laughed. "Are you going to kill me, boy? Well ya can't!" the Akuma extended its claw behind Allen. "Edge's End!" Allen let go of the Akuma and backed off. "I knew you'd do that!" the Akuma said, "We have the same body after all!" The level two charged at Allen and raised its claw. "Edge's End!" The Akuma hit Allen. "You're dead, kid! Edge's End! Edge's End! Edge's End!!"

Allen grabbed the Akuma's claw. "Don't even think…" Noah crosses appeared on Allen's forehead. "DON'T EVEN THINK WE'RE THE SAME!!" He drew a sword from his left arm.

"Eh?" The Akuma said, "I don't have that ability." It shrugged. "Ah well, might as well take…" It noticed Allen's forehead. "…it." The Akuma fell on its back. "Y-You, you're a N-"

Allen stuck his sword through the Akuma and ripped off its second skin. "Now how shall I kill you, Mr. Akuma?"

The Akuma bit its lip. "I-I'm sorry Master Noah, if I knew who you we're, I'd-"

Allen smirked. "You'd what?" He sliced his sword through the Akuma. "Would you still kill Miss Lala?"

The level two fell to the ground, it's upper half dangling off of the rest of its body. "It huuurrrrrrrts! It freakin HUUUURRRRRRTTTSSSS!!"

Allen took off his mask. "Look into my eyes, Akuma. What do you see?"

"I-I see…" Blood leaked from its eyes. "My…" It threw its head back. "AaaAaauuUUuUGgGGGgGHhHHhHH!!"

Allen sliced the Akuma into pieces. "Requiem of Darkness: Second Movement." The remains of the Akuma were engulfed in black flames. The soul of the Akuma hovered in the air for all to see.

"P-Please…I'm sorry…"

Allen put his mask back on and tuned away. "Requiem of Darkness: First Movement."

Chains sprung up from the ground and wrapped around the soul. Black blood from the Akuma's soul trickled down the chains, which wove itself tighter and tighter around the soul. "Please…don't…" The chains pulled the soul back down to where the chains emerged from. The otherworldly screams of the Akuma's soul resounded where it once was.

Allen picked up the Innocence that fell from the Akuma's hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you…"

"Second Illusion: Double Illusion Blades!" Kanda dived at Allen, brandishing two swords. "Eight Flowers Praying Mantis!"

"Cross Grave!" Allen raised his sword and a giant cross emitted from it, shielding him. "Hello, Kanda. I'm glad to see you're okay."

"What did you do?" Kanda muttered.

"Eh, what was that, Kanda?" Allen asked.

Kanda swiftly moved behind Allen and struck him in the shoulder. "Don't screw with me, what the hell did you do to that Akuma!?"

Allen felt the spot where Kanda cut him. "What does it matter? Weren't you trying to get rid of him?" He tightened his grip on the wound. "Overture of Sorrow." A light engulfed Allen and his injuries started to heal. "But if you really must know," Allen said as he wiped off the blood on his hand, "I made that Akuma repent for its sins."

"What are you, moyashi?" Kanda asked cautiously.

Allen smiled solemnly. "I'm Allen Walker, nothing more, nothing less. However…" He returned the sword to his arm. "I'm also a Noah, one of your God's enemies."

Kanda attacked Allen again, only to be blocked by Allen's cloak. "Che, as long as you're an enemy…" His pupil morphed into three dots. "I can go all out on you! Taboo Three Illus-"

Allen gripped Kanda's throat. "Requiem of Darkness: Fourth Movement." Allen started to sing.

"Che…what…is this…" Kanda muttered. "M-My head…" Allen dropped Kanda to the ground, where he dropped his Mugen and put both his hands on his head. "What…what the hell are you doing, moyashi?"

Allen stared blankly into Kanda's eyes, the crosses on his forehead pulsing. "Relieve your worst memories." Kanda fell to the floor, unconscious. Allen picked up his Mugen and broke it in half. "Sleep well, exorcist." Allen blankly stared at Lala's Innocence shard in his left palm. "D…destroy the Innocence…" He tightened his grip on the Innocence. "De…stroy…"

"Lala?" A voice called out weakly. "Lala…what happened to you?"

Allen put his other hand to his head. The crosses faded away, and light returned to his eyes. "What…what was I doing?" He saw Kanda on the ground. "Kanda? What are you doing?" The memories came flooding back into his head. "Oh right…him again…"

"Lala?" Guzoru held the broken doll in his hands. "What happened to you Lala?"

Allen walked over to the pair and offered the Innocence in his hand. "Here, put this back inside of her," He said as he gave the Innocence to Guzoru.

Guzoru placed the Innocence into Lala's chest carefully. "Please Lala, sing once more…"

Lala twitched once. "A…song?" She got up slowly and stared blankly into Guzoru's eyes. "Would you like a song, Mr. Human?"

"Lala…" Tears fell from Guzoru's eyes.

Lala extended her hand towards Guzoru. "Mr. Human, I am a doll. Let me sing to you."

Guzoru coughed violently, large amounts of blood coming out of his mouth. "You'll sing for me?" Guzoru used the remainder of his strength to put his hand on her shoulder. "Lala…"

"I love you."

"Mr. Human?" Lala shook Guzoru gently. "Mr. Human, are you sleeping?" Guzoru made no movements. "Then I'll sing a lullaby."

Allen clenched his fists. "Why…why does it have to be like this again…" He let Lala's lullaby wash over him. "I had the power to stop it, but it happened anyway…"

A shadow appeared in the back of his mind. That's because you're too soft, Allen Walker.

--

"Gah, what's taking Allen so long, Lero!?" Lero was levitating through the corridors towards the direction where Allen went. "He leaves me behind and takes forever to get back, Lero! When I get my hands on him…oh wait, I don't have hands, Lero."

A lullaby echoed through the corridor.

"That lullaby, Lero." Lero tilted his head. "Isn't that the song Allen heard before, Lero?"

Lero floated into the moonlit room Allen and Lala were in. "Ah, there you are, Lero! What's taking you so long, Lero!" He saw Lala singing. "Isn't that the Innocence, Lero? What are you doing just sitting there, Lero?" He levitated next to Allen. "If you're just going to sit here, Lero, then I'll destroy the doll myself!" Allen grabbed Lero. "W-w-w-w-w-w-what are you doing, Lero!? That hurts!"

Allen glared at Lero. "If you even touch Lala," He said menacingly, "I'll kill you."

Lero stared at Allen. "W-w-what's wrong, Lero?"

"I failed…" Allen said sadly. "I failed in my mission…"

"What are you talking about, Lero. We've got the Innocence, Lero, and an exorcist too!"

"I know but…"

"Kanda?" a light female voice said. "Kanda! What happened to you!?"

Allen turned around.

"L-Lenalee…"