Ashes And Rain

DGM

Chapter 16

Poker Face

The Millennium Earl had his hands folded on the table in front of him. He had called back all of his precious Noah members and eyed them all one by one. Road, the blue haired girl that sat next to him, doing her most undesired school work. Tyki Mikk, the casually calm Noah with his hair pulled back. Jasdero-the blond scarecrow boy-and Debitto-the slick black haired Noah's mainly known as Jasdevi held their golden guns pointed at the other's head. Skin Bolic had the sweet tooth most of all in the Noah despite his bulky and frightening appearance. And, ah, his most faithful Noah, Lulubell. The beautiful black haired Noah lady with the lust to kill and obey her Earl. Then there's Sheryl Camelot, Road's overprotective loving father.

But who could forget Lero who roamed around the room.

"Lord Millennium, is there a reason why you've called all of us here?" Sheryl asked hazily, putting his chin in his palm, smiling sweetly.

Sometimes it was scary to think how well Sheryl and Tyki looked so much alike. Just one has longer hair and the other shorter. "There is." Earl said.

"Well, Millenie, will you explain?" Road said excitedly. "Is this about the exorcists."

"Sort of."

What was with him? For once the Earl was being far too vague. Something must be upsetting him, Tyki mused. "This is about General Cross Marian and. . . his pupil, Allen Walker." The Earl said.

Road sat on her knees, inclining forward. "Allen Walker! Are we going to kill him? Can I do the honor? I'd really loved to get inside his head." Road raised her hand gleefully.

"Hmmm, I'm glad to see you have your favorites, however, I must admit, I'm concerned about Cross' movements and his student. They seem to prove as an. . .irritation. You all know by now why Cross is a thorn is my back, and why we'd have to kill him even if he wasn't an exorcist. . . Unless you two haven't yet understood, Jasdevi?"

"We got it, we got it!" Debitto grumbled.

"We got it, hii!" Jasdero repeated.

"Good." The Earl had a pleased tone. "Because we are going to have a little issue with the pesky General. You see, he's coming here to Edo. I don't quite understand his intentions yet, but that's what aggravates me the most, you see."

"Why on earth would he come here?" Tyki asked.

"I don't know, but I am aware that Cross intends to intervene somehow because he's not alone. He's brought Allen Walker with him and six other exorcists. It's this student of his I am. . . fascinated by." The Earl didn't seem as grim as he spoke.

"He is a bit mysterious. So far, he's the only exorcist I've met that could actually keep up in battle." Tyki remarked.

"I expected nothing less from Cross' student. You all seem to be underestimating that man. That is one exorcist you can't underestimate." The Earl's grin widened. There was something in his voice that caught everyone's attention. "It's just I never thought Cross would train, Allen. That child, I've met him before. He hindered me from making a new akuma with a sweet little girl who missed her father dearly. The irony in this is, her father saved Mana from being killed in the wreckage himself. It would have been Allen I'd been brought to if her father never got in the way. Something tells me he would have said yes."

"You've met this kid before, Master?" Lulubell asked.

"I have. As I had already explained, he got in my way as a younger child. Using my akuma's eyes and what you've told me Tyki, Road, I also know his innocence has progressed well."

"What do you mean, dear Lord?" Sheryl asked, tapping his foot.

"His innocence activated on it's own accord about five years ago and it was not at all what Tyki had described. Sometimes I wonder why I let those two go. . . What it twisted fate or. . . more than a coincidence?" Earl wondered.

Road stared at him. It was uncommon for him to leave anyone alive if they survived or said no. Allen had innocence then, too. So why didn't Allen die? "Allen has gotten strong and is becoming more of a nuisance. On multiple occasions he's destroyed many of my akuma. More akuma have fallen to him than most other exorcists from time to time again. I'm trying to figure out how this is possible. . . That's why all of you are here. We're going to begin another game."

Lenalee picked at her food that Anita had offered them for breakfast. It all looked good, but for the past few hours Lenalee wasn't in the mood. She had that dream again. The boy that she couldn't see well and his offered hand, the ground crumbling beneath her, him distancing from her. There was no doubt that white haired boy was Allen. The more she tried to pondered over it the more she believed it to be true.

The dream scared her.

What if it meant Allen was in danger? What's going to happen? Is Allen gonna leave? Or is it something else? Lenalee shook her head free of these thoughts and put her chop sticks down. She could see Allen from the corner of her eyes. From then on she knew she had to be close to Allen to make sure everything was going to be okay. Allen had just arrived and was special. Allen was strong. Still, if that was Allen, wouldn't he have ran closer to me, too? I was crying, trying to reach him? He had been there waiting for me unwavering and he was smiling with his hand held out for me to grab. "Lenalee, Lenalee?" Lavi waved his hand in front of her face. "You in there?"

"Lavi, what are you doing?" Lenalee asked, sort of offended by how he was trying to get her attention.

"Just making sure you're still there. You've been out of it for some time, y'know?" Lavi answered.

Lenalee sighed. This dream was really bothering her. Maybe she should talk to someone about? As she went to open her mouth to ask Lavi if he would listen, Allen walked in the room. "Have you guys seen Krory?" Allen asked.

"No."

"He went out to get something with Miranda." Lavi told him.

"It's been three hours, Lavi. I know Master has decided to stop for a few days-mainly because of Anita-but we still should stick together." Allen said, frowning. "Did you ever think Krory might get lost or something? I doubt he has ever been to China. He is at the European Branch. Right-"

"I know, Allen. Jeez."

Allen pressed his lips together. "I'm going to look for him."

Allen headed towards the door, but Lenalee jumped to her feet, gripping Allen's arm. "Hang on, I'll come with you." Lenalee all but shouted.

Allen pushed away any questions or worries if he had any. "Sure, Lenalee."

For about two hours Lenalee and Allen searched for the missing exorcists. They were starting to get worried. That's when they heard a rather cry they were accustomed to. "Miranda?" The two said in unison.

"Aww, come on!"

"Was that. . . Lavi?" Lenalee inquired.

Allen turned his head, nodding. Lavi must have gone out looking for the pair right after Lenalee and Allen left. "That came from that restaurant." Allen said, staring at an almost rundown building.

Lenalee grabbed Allen's hand at his hesitance. "Hold on, Lenalee, it might be a pub. For you I don't think it's appropriate. I. . .Well, you don't evne know what a brothel is-thank-"

"Allen." Lenalee turned around with a stern face. "It's not like I haven't been in a pub before."

Allen's eyes widened. The only reason he had gone in a bar was because of Cross, but Lenalee. . . Lenalee. . . her eye purity-what was he thinking-was ruined by a pub. It stung. "Y-y-y-you were in a p-p-p-p-p-"

"Well, yeah. It's not like I drank anything. I was just trying to help find Cross, Allen." Lenalee told him.

Damn Cross to Hell! Lenalee, a young girl, innocent and sweet, didn't deserve to go in a pub because of a crooked bub. "Lenalee. . ."

Rolling her eyes, Lenalee walked on in without him. Allen wound up trailing her. However, when they entered the stinkhole, a bad, terrible, rotten smell filled their noses and it wasn't just cigarettes and liquor. It was. . . fish? Did sailors come here or something? "Hey, what are children doing in here?" Came a gruff voice.

Lavi and Krory, both undressed to their boxers, turned their heads around to stare at the newly entered folks. A hysterical Miranda was bawling in her hands at a dimly lit area of the room, but seeing Lenalee and Allen, she darted over and started explaining something at a pace neither one could understand.

Allen's fingers twitched. He wanted to cover Lenalee's eyes because it was wrong of her to see these men in their undergarments that hid their. . . . . pelvis, and we'll leave at that. "Can someone explain what's going on?" Lenalee demanded, blushing nonetheless.

"Strip. . .poker." Allen mumbled, eyeing the cards on the small table. At least Miranda hadn't played. If there was a girl half naked or something, he may not be able to save their sorry asses. He just couldn't believe Lavi of all people fell for this. Krory? Sure.

"What were you wagering on?" Allen asked.

The curly and wavy haired man in a loose and stained long sleeve shirt with holes in his jeans stared at Allen. The pants had suspenders to keep the baggy jeans from falling down and he had huge glasses. They reminded him of Johnny Gill's glasses, but this guy's glasses, simply, they were much thicker and larger. He look filthy and he seemed to of been working in a mining area or something. Allen had to work at a place like that once.

One thing Allen was sure of, this man was not Chinese. Nor were his two friends. A trio of scammers scammed the most professional Lavi Bookman Jr. and Krory. Yeesh, Allen could scam them if he wanted to. "What's it matter to you?" The man sitting in the middle asked.

Allen would have to call him Thick-Glasses if he didn't get his name. There was one thing Allen found odd. A boy with a mask over his mouth around the age of 8 or 9 was sitting behind them on a table watching. Yet they had the gall to ask why Allen was there? "It just so happens you've robbed my friends of the necessary clothing. I must attain them. I was just wandering if there was a specific wager aside from their clothes." Allen responded as politely as he could, which made him seem the the nicest person in the world.

"Depends." Thick-Glasses (ahem: undercover Tyki) said, eyeing Allen's coat. For some reason Krory, Miranda, and Lavi had kept theirs off today. They were probably trying to evade any confrontation for now. Allen had been the only one still wearing his coat. He was bold. "What you got?"

Allen slipped off his coat to reveal his normal attire, white button up shirt, black pants, boots, and a lovely red ribbon. How sweet. Allen's point, though, in taking off his coat was for a specific reason. "The buttons on this coat is made of real silver. I use these as my wager. If you win you get one button a piece. If I win I get three pieces of clothing that I choose. Agreed?" Allen gambled.

"Hold on, Allen, are you sure about this?" Lenalee raised her pitchy voice, getting redder. "What if. . what if they win your coat?"

"Well, if they win the coat, I'll start giving them my clothes." Allen said, smiling innocently.

Lenalee put her hand up against her face. Yup, her face was literally heating up. If Allen winds up like Lavi and Krory. . . The thought alone was making her so red. She would be ashamed to watch, but Allen's. . . So. . . She didn't know what to do! It was hard to tell right from wrong and her head was spinning. Her thoughts clouded her mind and. . . . And. . Why was she acting like this? "Deal." Thick-Glasses agreed.

Not Too Far In The Future. . . . .

Lavi gawked at Allen. Lenalee was amazed and it was only apparent Miranda and Krory were to. As the three men laid down their hands, Allen put his down, sitting criss-cross and smiling like an innocent child. "Royal flush." Allen chirped.

After playing game after game with Allen, the men were getting irritated and nearly flipped the table over as they threw their cards on the table. "Dammit!" They shouted and Allen snickered. "Again!"

"If you say so. . ." Allen said, sort of abashed as he took the cards and shuffled them.

Lavi, now dressed his clothing, crawled over to Allen and put his hand up to his mouth and Allen's ear. "Allen, don't you think you're a little too good at this?" He whispered.

Allen had a slim chance of winning when the trio worked together and if one won, they all won. If Allen lost he could lose everything fast, but he could't because he was so damn good at this game.

Lavi didn't get much of a physical response and instead, Allen closed his eyes, setting the deck of cards down. "You're right. I have a high chance of losing my next game. Perhaps I shouldn't play anymore, eh?" Allen said.

Lenalee was sooooo embarrassed and she wasn't the one in her underwear. The trio was now and she didn't think Allen would be so cruel to do that, but in a way, they deserved it. "Allen, h-how are you doing this?" Lenalee asked conspicuously.

"No way! You're playing one more time!" Thick-Glasses' friends shouted.

Allen's ears perked up listening to their mini conversation. "I can't believe this!"

"The kid is playing us like fools."

"I even made sure to deal him all the shitty cards."

"Should we quit? He might rob us what we have left."

"No, we keep going. We have to. We're not cowards and we do have dignity."

Lenalee didn't get it. What's with men and their dignity? If they sty like that at least they had the courage to back away when they had to, but if they go through with this, they won't have any dignity left. Is everyone like Kanda? Lenalee sighed.

"We can't lose again to this shrimp!"

Allen's back tensed as he picked the deck back up and began shuffling. His smile was faltering and it was getting hard to keep his poker face on. "How, you ask?" Allen started answering Lenalee and Lavi. "It's because I'm cheating." Allen made sure to whisper really quietly.

The air got dense and Allen's grin turned to that of a monster, or a crazy sinister grin the Noah carry. "No way. You Allen?" Lavi mumbled, stepping back out of fear as the flames erupted. "Who'd a thought he'd be so scary? And the gambler."

Lenalee inched back, having a bad feeling about Allen's mood. SHe was sure she wasn't the only one to hear them call him shrimp. That was never good. She's seen how hard and long Kanda's and his disputes were about calling him beansprout and all that. It was a bit creepy. "Al-Allen?"

After that game, and another win for Allen the gambling cheat, Allen gave them back their clothes with a smile. At first the men argued, saying they didn't need his charity, but clung onto him and eventually took their clothes back. The men turned out to be really nice guys and thanked Allen for the 'fun' and giving back the clothes. Before taking of, Lavi even heard them mention how a nice kid such as Allen could turn out to be such a brute and cheat when it came to poker. Lavi still didn't believe it.

Lenalee stayed by Allen's side, staring at Allen. He acted as though nothing happened at all. Everything was normal to him. He was happy and smiling-when wasn't he? Krory and Miranda went on about his skills and how amazing that was. Only Lenalee and Lavi sighed, thinking about how wrong they were. One question stuck to their minds. How did Allen learn how to cheat in poker?

None of them wanted to bring it up. A dark Allen existed and Lavi feared it. Lenalee got goosebumps. It was kinda creepy, but it. . it sent chills down her back. It made her hair stand up with. . . with. . excitement.

Allen Walker, the gentleman.

Allen Walker, the very bad boy.

Those titles suited him. Lenalee actually liked it. She didn't understand it. Really, but she loved it. This feeling he gave her. What is it called? Surely he wasn't another brother. . . . "We should head back to Anita's home." Lavi said, stretching his arms over his head. "What do you all say?"

"Sounds good to me. I want to go rest in a warm bed." Lavi said, copying Allen's movements.

"Don't you think we should, uh, plan something?" Krory suggested questionably.

"I think that's a great idea, Krory. We should do that, but it's never going to work." Allen told him.

The noise from the streets weren't so loud, they noticed once they were quiet. Allen's words seeped in their brain as they thought why it wouldn't work. No one had to ask the question. "Master won't follow through with our plans. He'll go by his own book. Bluntly, Master's rules are these. You get in, do what you have to when the situation demands it, fight enemies, and get out. . . Sounds about right if I have to truly explain it. All I know for him is he fights to win and failure is not an option on serious matters."

"Let's just get this straight. Cross isn't physically abusive, right?" Lavi tried to confirm.

"Uhh. . . If I think about it, no. Last time we got in a fight-a real fight-was during training or that last time in Liverpool. That's the only time I can remember where he decided to fight me, but then I said I was going to drag him there no matter what so it was a form of defense. . ."

"Keep it short. Yes or no?"

"No."

Lavi was relieved. That was good. Real good.

Lenalee walked back and forth, left to right, and in circles. She was afraid to go to sleep that night. She had even been afraid to leave Allen by himself. That dream was freaking her out and giving her a bad, bad feeling. It felt as if a ton of bricks had been placed on her chest. Pressure, heavy pressure, was all she felt outside of her concern. She needed to speak to someone about this. Someone!

Lenalee didn't want to worry Miranda, so she was out. Krory might not be much help at the moment. Bookman, well, she didn't think so. He was kind of uncaring at certain times and don't get her wrong, he was family, but still a Bookman. Lavi would be easier to talk to, but he was asleep already. Kanda always listens,but why would he care for Allen? He just might storm off or something and to be honest, she hasn't seen him at all today. She bet he was on a hunt.

That left no one. No one except. . .The General. He did know a lot about Allen. There was a hint of love in Cross' tone when he spoke to Allen. Maybe Lenalee was the only one who had noticed this at all. "Excuse me, Miss. Exorcist, but is something bothering you?"

Lenalee turned around to see Mahoja, Cross, and the most beautiful woman Lenalee herself has ever met, Anita. They were all coming from somewhere. Lenalee just didn't know where. She hadn't been paying attention, but instead of trying to figure it out, she sat down at the table beside her. Everyone else was asleep. Allen was asleep. "Uh, I, I'm not sure."

Cross cocked his eyebrow, slightly tipping his head. This girl hadn't changed at all over these years, has she? Then, he might have to include her smooth curves and her maturity. "Lenalee?" He asked softly, in a tone Lenalee never thought he would have.

"It's not really anything at all. Just a whim! But. . . I'm worried about Allen." Lenalee confessed easily, gripping her hand.

Cross pulled up a chair and sat in front of her, giving Lenalee his full attention. Something sparkled in his eyes that showed a hint of concern. Yes, of course there would be. He was Allen's sensei. Like General Tiedol said, they shared a bond no one could comprehend but them. "You wouldn't mind telling me about this, Lenalee?" Cross inquired.

". . . I was planning on coming to you to begin with General."

Anita and Mahoja took this as their cue to leave. Lenalee didn't want them to go for some reason. She felt terrible being here alone with Cross. But before she realized it, Cross had guided her to his room to speak with her. Still, she sat down and stared at him as he prepared a glass of wine for himself and a glass of water for Lenalee, sitting comfortably on the bed beside her. "Let's start from the beginning. I've noticed you've been acting strange lately, Lenalee."

I don't have much to say except, thanks for all those reviewing and reading. Please continue to read. Please review. Umm, sorry for late update, I'm trying to find a beta reader. I asked someone, but I don't know if she/he will accept. If not, I could resort to anyone else. Then, I'd be most likely to take the first offer probably. So if any of you want to offer. . . .

~ ~ ~ Anon Novelist ~ ~ ~