This is the last entry in the Ghost of Martel arc. Most of it is dialogue, so expect to hear a lot of voices in your head. There's some AllenxLenalee in this chapter (if you could call it that). But it's not really a lot. Just…enough to keep the story moving.

I have important news! There's a poll on my profile that determines the very fate of this fic! So you must vote if you want to see more chapters!

Disclaimer: Short author's note today…anyways, I do not own D. Gray-Man. That privilege belongs to Hoshino Katsura sensei, who I don't know if Katsura's a guy or a girl! Seriously, what is Katsura!?

The 8th Memory: Reunion

That's because you're too soft, Allen Walker…

Allen looked up at the shadow hovering over him. "You…why are you in my head again?"

The shadow titled its head. I exist inside of you, and yet you still ask who I am. It should be obvious by now. The shadow touched Allen's face. I'm the fourteenth Noah, the Musician. I am you, and you are me.

Allen swatted the shadow's hand. "No, I'm myself. You're just inside of me."

The shadow shrugged. Believe what you wish to believe, I'm going to turn you into a servant of the Earl eventually. It's only a matter of time.

"What do you mean?" Allen asked. "I thought you opposed the Earl."

Really? What made you think that?

"The original fourteenth…he opposed the Earl, didn't he? Why would you want me to follow along with the Earl's plan of destruction if the old you wished to stop him?"

Henh henh henh… The fourteenth laughed. You haven't heard the whole story yet, have you?

"The whole story?"

Listen to my song, and you'll understand… The fourteenth opened his mouth and a melody spilled out. The melody surrounded Allen, clouding his mind. Then, as suddenly as it came, it vanished. Do you see now, Allen Walker?

Allen shivered. "M-Mana…"

The fourteenth smiled. So you do understand after all. He started to fade away. Listen, Allen Walker, you may be able to control me now and use my power for that twisted scheme of yours, but one day I'll become too much for you to handle. And unlike last time, there won't be any pathetic little brother to hold me back. The Noah raised his arms as the rest of him faded away. I am the Musician, and my song will engulf the world…

Allen opened his eyes to Lala and Guzoru's bodies. "…Lero, then I'll just destroy the doll myself!" Allen grabbed Lero. "W-w-what are you doing, Lero!? That hurts!"

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

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

Allen's eyes fell to the ground. "I failed…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?" Allen's eyes widened at the voice. "Kanda, what happened to you!?"

Allen turned around. "L-Lenalee…"

"Kanda!" Lenalee ran over to the unconscious swordsman. "Who did this to you, was it an Akuma?" Kanda stared at Lenalee with blank eyes. "Kanda, answer me!"

One word escaped from Kanda's lips. "Mo…ya…shi…"

"Moyashi?" Lenalee asked, "Why would you be talking about bean sprouts at a time like this!?"

"Lenalee I…" Allen raised his hand towards her.

Lenalee finally noticed Allen. "Hey you, do you know what happened here?" Allen bit his lip. "Ah, are you okay? You have blood on your forehead."

"Lenalee…" A tear fell from his eyes. "Lenalee, I'm sorry!" He bowed his head.

"Sorry?" Lenalee tilted her head. "What are you talking about? And how do you know my name?"

"Oh yeah…this you has no memory of me." He looked at Lenalee and smiled. "My name is Allen Walker." He extended his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Lenalee."

"Um right…" She took Allen's hand and shook it. "So, do you know what's going on here? And what's with that umbrella golem behind you?"

"You don't know who I am, Lero!" Lero said angrily. "I'm the umbrella of the Millen-"

Allen put his hand over Lero's mouth. "Ah ha ha, don't mind Lero. He's kinda crazy."

"Crazy, Lero!?" Lero tried to shout, "You're the one who's crazy Master Walk-augghhhh!" Allen's grip tightened.

"A talking golem?" Lenalee commented. "That's unusual." She tried to pick up Kanda. "Well anyway, we need to get Kanda to a hospital, fast." She struggled under the weight.

"Ah, let me help you with him!" Allen moved to support Kanda.

Lenalee shook her head. "No, I'm okay. Besides, I couldn't ask a complete stranger to help me out, that would be rude." She tripped on Kanda's robe. "Ahhh!"

Allen caught her. "You know, Miss Lenalee. You should accept the help others offer you. You never know when you might need it." He smiled.

"Um…okay." She blushed as she realized she was in Allen's arms. "We should go now!" She quickly left Allen's arms and went to Kanda. "I can handle Kanda, but you should get that old man and that singing girl."

Allen smiled sadly. "No, I think it's best if we leave the two of them here." Lenalee looked at Allen curiously as he picked up Kanda's Mugen pieces. "I'll tell you on the way to the hospital."

--

"Oh, so that's what happened." Allen and Lenalee were sitting in front of a hospital bed, where Kanda was lying unconscious. Allen told Lenalee everything that went on in Martel, excluding the parts where he fought against the Akuma and Kanda. "So Guzoru died, huh? I think it was really sweet of Kanda to let Lala sing to him until she dies with him…"

"Yeah, right…" Allen scratched his head knowing that Kanda would never actually do that kind of thing. "But Miss Lenalee, what are you doing here?"

"Oh yeah, I never told you that, did I?" She bit her fingernail in thought. "Well, I was assigned with Kanda to do this mission, but I was a couple hours late in leaving from the Order. I hopped on a passing train to get here, and well…" She shrugged. "You know the rest."

"I do…" He stared at Lenalee. "Hey, if I told you I love you, what would you do?"

Lenalee started blushing. "What are you talking about!? We've just met!"

Allen snickered. "I know, I just wanted to scare you a little!"

Lenalee lightly bopped Allen on the head. "You idiot. You flirt with me and then you say you didn't." A small smile escaped her lips. "Geez…"

"I made you smile, Lenalee."

"What?" She stared at Allen. "What are you talking about?"

Allen looked up at the ceiling. "Well, it was just that I haven't seen you smile once since I met you, so I just thought it would be nice to see you smile." He grinned at Lenalee. "Is that a problem?"

Lenalee smiled softly. "No, not really. I'm just glad to know that Kanda's okay. The doctors said he'll be up in about a week, probably less with his condition…" She bit her lip. "I probably shouldn't have mentioned that. Top secret business at the Black Order and all."

"That's okay, I know."

"Eh, you do?" Lenalee looked into Allen's eyes. "Exactly how much about the Order did Kanda tell you about?"

Allen shrugged. "Nothing much. I…I just noticed that Kanda healed pretty quickly in battle."

"Okay…" Lenalee stretched her arms. "If Kanda really told you about his condition, I might've started suspecting you of something." Allen stared at Lenalee. "What? It was a joke, you know?"

"You…you really are beautiful, Lenalee…" Allen said softly.

Lenalee blushed. "Are you just trying to scare me again, Allen? It's not as funny the second time, you know that?"

Allen bit his lip. "Yeah…" He smiled sadly at Lenalee. "Can I ask you something?"

"I guess…as long as you're not going to ask me to go out with you or anything like that."

"Why did it take you a few hours to go after Kanda?"

Lenalee cocked her head. "Well, nothing really. It's just that I found an injured Innocence host in a graveyard and took her to the Order. She was unconscious for about a week already, so I was worried about her…" She bit her lip.

"Lenalee…" Allen asked quietly. "This girl…did she have dark blue hair and was wearing a short skirt and long striped socks?"

"How'd you know?" Lenalee asked suspiciously. "That's the girl I found. I'm not sure about her name, but I think…I think her name was Road something."

Allen's eyes widened. He stood up. "I have to go check up on Lala and Guzoru now." He said emotionlessly.

"Why?" Lenalee asked. "You've only been gone a couple hours."

"I'm…I'm just worried." Allen started walking out. "I'll be going now."

"Wait." Lenalee grabbed Allen's hand. "Will I see you again?"

"I don't know…" Allen told her, "Why would you want to see me again, Miss Lenalee?"

Lenalee shrugged. "Mostly because I've enjoyed talking with you. But also because…" She bit her lip. "I'm sorry, this'll probably sound stupid."

"No, that's okay, go ahead."

"Well…" She looked at Allen. "A part of me feels like it's screaming for you. Like you were some old friend I've lost long ago."

"Oh, really?" Allen slipped his hand out of hers. "That's how I feel too." He walked out of the room. "Goodbye, Miss Lenalee…"

Lenalee watched Allen walk away. "Goodbye, Allen Walker…"

--

Allen walked into the sandy room where Lala was singing. "There you are, Lero!" Lero crashed into Allen. "I can't believe you made me stay behind again, Lero! Do you have any idea how boring it is to hover and wait for you while listening to that stupid doll sing!? Lero."

Allen glanced at Lero. "Come on, Lero, we're going home."

"What!?" Lero cried, obviously shocked. "What are you talking about, Lero? Aren't you at least gonna take the Innocence away from that girl, Lero? You can't be saying we came all the way down here for nothing, Lero!" Allen grabbed Lero tightly. "Not again, Lero!"

"I said we're going home, Lero." Allen said to the golem. "We can leave the Innocence for the exorcists, we have no use for it."

"But what if it's the Heart, Lero?"

"It's not." Allen said simply.

"How can you know for sure, Lero?"

"Because…" He smiled at Lero. "I do."

"Gyaahhh! I hate it when you do that, Lero!" Lero frowned. "Fine, we'll go home. But the Earl's gonna be pissed at you for not taking the Innocence!" Lero started to fly away, carrying Allen underneath him.

"Oh well." Allen said simply. "I'm pretty sure I'll only get a short lecture. Besides…" He took one final look at the singing doll. "He'll be happy that I'm back in time for dinner." The pair faded into the darkness.

--

Three days have past since Allen left. By that time, Lenalee went to Martel and found Lala on top of Guzoru. She had finally stopped singing. Lenalee solemnly removed the Innocence from Lala's chest.

"Al…len…" Lala whispered as Lenalee removed the Innocence. "Thank…you…"

Lenalee briefly thought about Lala's last words, then buried the doll and the human in the same grave. "Rest in peace…Lala and Guzoru…" Lenalee stood up, a single tear falling from her eyes.

"Che, what are you crying for?" Kanda walked over next to her.

"Kanda…" Lenalee threw her arms around him. "Kanda, you're awake!"

"Of course I am, now get off of me!"

Lenalee quickly released him. She bowed her head. "Sorry, Kanda."

"Whatever…" Kanda looked around. "Where's that moyashi?"

"Moyashi?" Lenalee repeated. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about…what's his name again? Al…Al-something."

"Allen Walker?" Lenalee offered.

"Yeah, that moyashi." Kanda clenched his fist. "When I find him I'm going to pay him back for what he did to my Mugen…"

"What he did?" Lenalee asked, confused. "I thought you just overdid it with your Mugen, Kanda."

"Who the hell told you that?" Kanda said, grabbing her arm.

"A-Allen Walker did…"

"Che…" He let go of Lenalee. "That moyashi, he's an agent of the Millennium Earl."

Something inside Lenalee broke. "What…what do you mean an agent of the Millennium Earl?"

"I mean what I said." Kanda said harshly. "I don't know what kind of lies that moyashi told you, but he's the one who broke my Innocence, and he's the one who put me into that coma!" He turned away from Lenalee. "If I didn't have to deal with those memories every day, I might've been out for a longer time…" He glanced at Lenalee. "Hey, are you okay? We need to get back to headquarters."

"I-I'm sorry." She said shakily. She wiped a few tears from her eyes.

"Let's get back to headquarters."