Ashes And Rain

DGM

Chapter 6

Their Wits, Fine Trick!

When Allen woke up, which he was one of the first this time and he woke up before his Father this time, he did the dishes, made his quick breakfast. He found all the posters for the circus and sorted them out, setting them on the table. He made sure there were no akuma hiding around. If Allen found some he disposed of them fast, also making sure nobody was watching. Allen got his clown outfit and hurried to take a warm bath in silence after gathering all his clown act belongings.

Allen did a few more tedious chores before he filled the metal tub with water, checking it so it would be warm. Double checking for soap, shampoo, and a towel. He gathered a new pair of clothes that were cleaned a few days ago, but forever stained. He mentally took a note to make sure he took money out of his next earnings to buy an extra pair of clothes. Possibly two.

Stripping himself, he climbed in the tub. Since it was so early, he took his sweet time. His skin would turn a light pink from the hot water. He washed his body clean, including the makeup he used to cover his scarred face and the brown hair dye, only that which Mana knew about as far as Allen was concerned. He used a whole lot of shampoo to clean this dye out. In fact, he had his own special shampoo just to do so and the regular shampoo that cleaned his hair off dirt and dandruff if any. Since he wasn't scratching his head, he figured he didn't need to add bugs for lice. Allen had them once in his life. He never wanted them again.

After thoroughly bathing, Allen grabbed his towel and dried himself, putting his clothes on. Allen ruffled his hair with the towel and wrapped it around his neck, slipping his socks and shoes on. After taking care of everything, he dyed his hair as quick as possible, but then he heard someone. It was maybe a few minutes in. The least he's ever done it was ten minutes. Acting fast, checking to make sure his hair was brown, Allen cleaned everything up, hiding his red scar he'd gotten years ago because of that devastating incident. Having no time to think about it, Allen buttoned up his shirt and slipped on his left glove. As he finished these odd-ends, somebody knocked on the door. Yes, the bathroom was specially made for these carnies. hat way they had a single good luxury other tan the joy of performing. That thrill you got after each show knowing you did well. Allen could still remember the first time he got paid on this job.

But that was beside the point.

Allen dashed to the door, opening it. Lavi stood there, brows furrowed and wrinkles on his face. "What's that horrid smell?"

Damn, Allen forgot how bad the dye smelled if you rushed it. It wasn't really his fault he had to cleaned the junk out of his hair so fast. It was Lavi's! Lavi was the really lazy type, he had observed, so he was confused as to why he was up at dawn. "Uh, I don't really know. It was like that when I got here." Allen mumbled, making no eye contact.

Lavi saw right through his bizarro mask. He was being shy for some reason. Allen was definitely hiding something. Observing him, Lavi looked him up and down from head to toe and back. It took a minute before he saw something brown and wet slipping down Allen's wet locks. He was still a little wet from either a shower or bath, but brown coming off him does not happen after a bath. Meaning, there was some sort of gunk in the child's hair.

It was easily distinguishable. It was hair dye. Whatever reason Allen had, he wanted it to stay a secret really bad and it was personal. Lavi let it slid with that. The dye he let go, but there was something else falling down Allen's cheek. It was a tannish-pale white color for skin. There was a fine red mark barely seeable on his left eye and upper cheek. Apparently Allen Walker had more secrets than anyone first believed. He was now conspicuous. "Anyway, shortstack, you almost done? I need to use the bathroom really bad." Lavi remarked.

"Ye-yeah, give me a sec. I'll be right out." Without another word, Allen slammed the door. He stuffed all his dye and makeup crap in his bag of clown toys and such. He took whatever he could and slipped on his other glove, putting the makeup on faster and more decently for his face and getting rid of any unnecessary blemishes. Once he did this, he left the room. "Catch you later, Lavi!" Allen said and ran off.

Lavi eyed Allen. He thought he better keep an eye on him today. He was acting weird. However, it will have to wait because Lavi had to rush in the bathroom or pee his pants there. Hopping like a jittery bunny, Lavi entered the bathroom.

Allen exhaled with relief as he slipped his clown suit on. He laid his clown supplies on the ground, taking random things and memorizing what he had. He jumped on a ball not too much bigger than his feet clomped together. He used simple things to juggle. For example, pins and balls. He rolled around the arena. Before he got too much further with practicing, Allen got his favorite top hat Mana bought him last year and placed it on his head. Oddly enough, it fit in with the suit.

As time went by, Allen did all sorts of tricks. He was running low on energy because he was practicing for hours nonstop, but the children started gathering from within the carnival. They really loved it when Allen performed. He believed it was because he was so good to them, their friend, and they were close. If it wasn't him, it was Mana they'd say was their favorite person or clown here if you take their parents and family out of the equation. Most would pick somebody outside relatives anyway. They're too young to really understand the offense in that. He always knew about it, but when he was little, ALlen didn't give a hoot.

That's why Mana was his favorite person in the whole wide world. Mana would, so to speak, Allen's inspirational hero.

Allen would flip on the rubber ball and do a handstand on it with one hand. His body wasn't as steady as usual, but the kids couldn't tell the difference. The only thing though, his hat fell off. Ross, a 13-year-old, picked it up and placed it on his own head until Allen wanted it back. It slid passed Ross' eyes, making him push it up every-so-often.

The tricks-Allen did many common tricks. He mixed his tricks in with 'magic' from a magician or an illusionist. He did the endless rope trick up your sleeve. Allen practiced his quarter behind the ear trick. Mana loved it so much, Allen thought he'd try it. Seeing how Mana learned it when he was younger than Allen. It was tougher than it first seems. Another trick, a simple one for entertaining these kids was easy. He took a deck off cards and shuffled them, making the rubber ball he was standing on be still. By now, Lavi, Bookman, and Mana were in the arena watching like hawks. Other carnies-rude to say to them-took a peek when they passed by. That was all.

Holding the cards in his hand, he gave each of the kids a card, closing his eyes. Then, he took a random card out of the deck, also making sure they saw the deck of cards before he drew his one card, rolled up his sleeves, and made sure they wouldn't believe he cheated. Now he felt like a magician and not a clown. Getting to the point, he held up his drawn card. "Is this your cards?" He asked.

The kids looked at their cards then back at Allen's. They gasped and repeated the process, even taking other's kids' cards to double check. They were all the same! Allen jumped off the ball, bowing and they clapped. He did a lot more than he you know right now, but he didn't want to spoil his tricks. Especially not the good ones. "Allen." Mana said cheerfully.

Allen stood up straight, listening to him. When Mana pulled out the sticks with strong, clear strings and a cup of worms or food left-overs from apples, etc., Allen grinned. It'd been about a week. They casually do this every few days. So you knew he was brimming with excitement. "Coming Father!" Allen claimed, running over to him with his junk. Once outside, Allen got back in his normal clothes just by slipping the suit off.

"There's a big creek just up ahead. I saw many fish there. I think it'll be a good spot to go." Mana claimed.

Allen nodded, taking his pole. Along the way, Allen and Mana chatted away over little things, past performances and experiences. Neither one knew they'd be seeing General Tiedol and Kanda. General Tiedol was drawing once again. Kanda was grumbling about it. "Let's go!"

Allen had a gut feeling that it wasn't about this place, not the creek. It had to be about the General safety issue. . . . "Hello there, you wouldn't mind if we fish here, would you?" Mana said, brining Allen out of his thoughts.

"Not at all, go ahead." Tiedol graciously said.

Allen skipped across the creek with the help of stepping stones. He got on the other side and ran up and down the creek, trying to find the perfect spot to fish. Mana stayed on the other side and watched Allen with a smile. "I think you take fishing too seriously." Mana stated.

"Wha-no! I just want to make sure we get some fish. Saves us some spare change for later." Allen said, finding a good spot with a giant stone to sit on or to stand on. He threw the reel in and the hook made a little blurp sound. Allen had put a piece of an apple and a dead worm on the hook while he came here. Mana soon tossed his hook in the water about five feet away from Allen's.

"Hey, Kanda! General Tiedol!" Lenalee shouted cheerfully as she, Miranda, and Krory approached the two. She paused when she saw Allen. He always ended up with them at some point. "Allen?" She followed the strong she could hardly see, but thankfully the sun was shining directly on it.

Allen wondered why they were always so close together, then he had a good idea. He thought they were trying to keep the General safe. Meaning, Daisya, Lavi, and Bookman were most likely on watch. Marie, too. Mana saw a glint in Allen's curious eyes as he rammed the stick in the sand to stand tall. Maybe Allen was talking to them too much.

"Hello Allen!" Krory greeted, sitting on the grass behind him. Allen was sitting in the steep area along the creek where the ground looked eroded from a past flooding or something. Simply, Allen was about five feet down or so. Sitting on the rock, his head popped over the edge of the ground. "What are you doing?"

Krory looked uncanny because of how interested he was about this. Did he really not know what fishing was? "Fishing." Allen answer blandly, tipping his head. The motion made Kanda think he acted like a stupid child while Miranda found it cute. "I'm trying to catch fish with this pole. Not a fancy one, but it's sturdy." Allen described.

"Heh, amazing!"

Allen childishly smiled, chuckling a little. He took the time to remember how he reacted when he first learned about fishing. Mana thought it'd be punishment because he always said he hated fish when he was younger. So Allen had to catch his own fish and eat it for dinner. It turned out to be the perfect challenge for him. It did prove to be a hassle until he got the hang of it. And though he never told Mana how much he loved fishing, Mana could see the light in his eyes when he was fishing. "Do you not know how to fish Krory?" Allen posed a question.

"Uh, not really. Well, sort of." Krory sheepishly responded.

Lenalee mused at the two boys. She stood nearby, making a list of Allen's great qualities. He's lovable, an adorable boy-she blushed while thinking about that, he's exceedingly kind and generous. Allen was so sweet. Just like candy! A strange comparison for a human.

Lenalee's eyes wandered, falling on Mana who watched Allen with amusement. Lenalee recognized the warmth in Mana's eyes. They were the same warmth Komui had for Lenalee, the exact warmth Allen welcomed them with, the very warmth General Tiedol had towards his pupils. This warmth was stunning. She realized just how much Allen was like Mana, but all the while, so different!

"Can you show me how to fish?" Krory wondered.

"I could, but I can't do much until a fish snags the hook. So you'll have to wait. Okay?" Allen said, sitting on the stone in a comfortable way, hands in front of him, laying flat against the stone, ready to catch the fishing pole whenever a fish takes the bait. "I don't think it'll take long today."

"If it's that fun why don't you just jump in and catch them with your damn hands?" Kanda snorted.

Allen ignored him. He blocked Kanda out completely. "Father, did you let anyone know where we went?" Allen questioned.

"I did this time." Mana paused, staring at his wonderful son, then sighed. "However, I need to talk to you later."

Allen acted like a child, being all jumpy and excited. He could see a dark gray spot speeding towards his hook. It looked pretty big for a creek fish. "About what?"

Mana's smile turned crooked. Allen would be mad. "The circus." He curtly said.

Allen still didn't get it. He couldn't even tell Mana was trying to be faint so an argument or a flash of anger dispute get put on in front of the exorcists, the strangers. "Why? Are we running low on money or something?" Allen asked.

"No, definitely not that." Mana laughed, seeing the concern for food in Allen's rare eyes. "We'll talk later, Allen."

"Why not now?" Allen muttered, though half interested.

Before Mana could speak another word, Allen's pole trembled, It was starting to be pulled out of the sand. Instantly Allen's hands reached for it. Allen mistakenly fell forward and almost lost the pole. He tightened his grip and sat up, yanking on the pole as the string got tight and straighter. Allen pulled and pulled, reeling back the thin, clear line and the fish started jumping in and out of the water. It was so easy to do this now. Mainly because he was strong. . . He supposed that was one thing he could actually thank Cross for.

Water got all over Allen and Krory as the fish flopped around on the surface then in Allen's hands. Krory was naturally amazed. "That was quick." Miranda muttered.

"He actually accomplished something." Kanda growled.

Allen slanted his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Allen, just ignore him. Kanda is never nice." Lenalee said, offering a smile.

Allen thought about what she said, noting his Dad was here, and dropped it. Kanda didn't it. "Pathetic beansprout."

Allen twitched, cutting the line and setting the fish on the ground. He pulled some of the string out of the reel and then tied a new hook on it, placing a small piece of an apple on the hook. Kanda was being smug and kept sneering beansprout at him, trying to trigger Allen. The ebony-eyed teen was just so angry right now. Alternatively, he released it on Allen rather than the vampire or useless woman who cried and repeated her apologizes, or on General Tiedol who knew just how to illy humor him! Allen was an easy target. Just a single word set him off. "Stop calling me that, please." Allen said at first as he tossed the hook back in the creek. After a few more times, his hands trembled out of his disagreeable will. "Knock it off!" he demanded next.

"The day you actually grow up from being such a short loser I'll stop calling you beansprout, idiot, but then, that's never going to happen." Kanda said.

Allen angrily jabbed the fishing pole deep in the sand. He stomped over to Kanda and glared at him. Kanda stood up just to anger him with that smirk he held because of how much taller he was compared to Allen. "Like I said, you're a beansprout." Kanda said cooly.

Allen's face turned red with anger. "Stop calling me that! I'm not short!"

Kanda snorted, "Not short my ass!"

"You know you got one hell of a temper and a pretty damn colorful language! If you're so unhappy here then take your sorry rear-end someplace else where they welcome assholes like you!" Allen screamed, surprising himself with his own language. He never swore that much. Perhaps being called beansprout constantly by Kanda and Cross aggravating him these past few days-even when not present-was getting to him. "I don't care why you're here, I don't care what you do. Just keep your mouth shut if you-"

Before Allen could go much further, Mana appeared beside him with disappointment in his eyes. His nose scrunched up and ion distaste and long before Allen could express how sorry he was, Mana stuck a yellow-tan rectangular object in Allen's mouth. It didn't take long for everyone to grasped that it was a bar of soap.

General Tiedol looked intrigued at the odd punishment for speaking so foully a moment ago. Although, Allen picked at the soap, bending over and about to choke because the soap was pushed deep into his mouth. It was wet and slippery, so it took a minute before he could get it out. Kanda's eyes showed rising amusement. Krory, Miranda, and Lenalee were kind enough to feel bad for Allen as he coughed and scurried over to the water, pouring it in his mouth and gurgling, trying to get the soap out of his mouth.

Lenalee knelt down beside him and Allen peered at her from the corner of his eyes. His emotions were utterly hard to define. All of them were mixed. By time he got most of the bitterness out of his mouth, he laid on his back and panting. "Al-Allen, are you okay?" Lenalee questioned in doubt.

"That's. . . . is nas-nasty!" Allen's chest heaved, puffing up and down. He was out of breath. You couldn't blame him. He almost drowned himself to get the soap out of his mouth.

Allen turned his head a little to stare at Lenalee who placed her hand on his, a small, sympathetic smile on her face. Allen admired the softness and tranquility she possessed. He knew well enough that could be deadly or very good. Still, with the sun brightly lit behind her, Allen was able to see all her traits and her expression. This was the first time he took the time to get a good look at her.

Her eyes were a rare color like Allen's. A deep violet that radiated. Her softness was engraved on her face and it gave Allen this undistinguishable feeling that was tremendously good. Her gentle features adorned her well. Allen had to admit, Lenalee was beautiful! Lenalee was alluring, appealing, you name it. He'd never seen a girl like her before in his life. Not even those women Cross had flirted with, brought back with him, or walked around town with. Speaking of which, he felt bad she had to retrieve General Cross Marian.

So bad he was about to tell her how to find him and how to they could trick him into going back to the Order. Allen was about to drag Cross there himself for making Lenalee go through this much trouble. Because not only was she pretty, her soul was beautiful. Just the way she acted these few days were proof enough.

The exorcist was concerned. Allen wasn't speaking and he just stared at her. He had to understand what she felt because he sat up and tried saying something, but it wasn't directed towards her. "Tha. . .That was mean!" Allen coarsely bawled.

Mana held an innocent smile. It was no wonder these two were clowns. "Don't say such wretched words in front of me again, Allen. I disapprove strongly. You're not a little child anymore so the consequences will get worse." Mana calmly said.

Allen groaned and closed his eyes. Just how many people ever had soap thrown in their mouth? "That's one way to shut somebody up, isn't it?" Lavi chimed, appearing out of the trees and bending over to get a look at Allen, eyes squinting. He could see that red mark a little. If his eye had not been trained to see the smallest details, he would be blind to it. "It explains why you act the way you do all the same. Out of respect and these odd punishments."

Allen wanted to slap that grin off Lavi's face he could see through his closed eyes. He just knew it was there. His eye sparkling with prideful knowledge and delight. Allen disregarded the exorcists. "I'm sorry, Father." Allen whispered.

Allen missed the days Mana whacked Allen with a newspaper. He scarcely did so anymore.

A panicked noise from Krory and Miranda gained everybody's attention and Allen cracked open a single eye. His fishing pole was caught again by a fish. Seeing how Allen felt out-of-mood, Lenalee galloped over to them and grabbed the pole that was slipping out of their hands. Lenalee had never done this before in her life either, but she was able to keep a firm grip. However, that grip was loosening. She didn't want to lose his fishing pole.

Just as she was about to let go, Allen turned up behind her, his arms passing her sides and grabbing the fishing pole. Lenalee's back pressed up against Allen's chest. His head was beside hers, his cheek virtually touching Lenalee's. Regardless of Allen moving around and helping Lenalee pulled the pole back and forth, his hand edgily moving around as he pulled and reeled the line, Lenalee felt comfortable there. Lenalee sensed a protected sense of safety. His body heat emanated off of him and embraced her. Lenalee didn't want to move away.

This feeling she had was bliss. The feeling Allen gave her right there. When the fish was flopping around at their feet and he snickered, Lenalee giggled as a sense of pride washed over her. Allen helped her, she helped him. They caught the fish together. "That was fun." Lenalee absently declared.

Allen smiled again. It was boring to wait for the fish, but when you had it, it got so much fun. A dull start can turn into so much more. It reminded him of life. Rugged, jagged, and bumpy, that was his life before, even now it continues like that, but happiness spreads and joy, and laughter, and promising potential. Life was greater than Allen would have expected when he was a child. Now he expect so much more.

Standing there with Lenalee, helping her, it gave Allen this tangible feeling he couldn't hate. Lenalee was special, different from the girls he met before. He was yearning to find out why. "You did awesome!" Allen specified. "All of you!"

Lenalee unconsciously scooted closer to Allen and General Tiedol held back a laugh. What a wild even! They met wonderful people, that's what he thought at first, now he was wondering how important they would become. What would be their significance? Not to mention the friendship growing here with everybody.

What sort of bonds will form from here on? Froi asked himself.

I love this chapter. Suspicions grow, bonds are shared, joy is spread, funny doings, and more. Just wait, more's to come! Please review!

Thanks for reading! ~ ~ ~ Anon Novelist ~ ~ ~