Ashes And Rain
DGM
Chapter 17
Bitterness On My Tongue
Cross' fingers gently tapped the bed. It was morning now and Lenalee had been so upset that she wound up staying in his room. She was now laying on his bed as he sat beside the bed. He hadn't been in his bed last night with her knowing it might freak her out. The only thing he cared about is if Allen finds out. It's not like he'll do anything, but he's so annoying.
This was the least of his concern. Lenalee was really uptight about this, about Allen. She thinks Allen is in danger, but Cross never thought he was. To be exact, the only hazardous thing for Allen was Cross. He didn't think the Noah would endanger his life. Allen had absolutely nothing to worry about with akuma for the most part. The only bad thing for him is that in order to fight he has to go up close to the enemy to fight. His cloak can only go so far.
Though all his thoughts seemed realistic enough, Cross was not disturbed. Lenalee had a dream before she met Allen yet the person in it is Allen and herself. His innocence supposedly was activated, but not attached to his body. He wasn't sure, but he thought she mentioned him wearing the exorcist uniform for the last fews dreams she had of this. He just couldn't find the connection at all.
Why would Allen be in her dreams?
Was it possible that Dreams had to do with this? Cross needed to find out. Was Allen's life truly in danger?
Allen switched his weight from one side to another as he stood in front of Cross' room. It's been almost five minutes and he was not answering. Cross was the one that said to wake everyone up this early to get ready to go, but no he wasn't ready. He was ignoring Allen. "That's it. I've had enough." Allen carped as he turned the knob, opening the door so fast it almost flew off its hinges. "Master, we need. . . ." Allen was at a loss for words upon seeing Lenalee in Cross'room and on his bed.
Cross resisted his urge to either yell at him or slap his face for letting him in. He should have locked the door. "What is Lenalee doing in here?" Allen mumbled, talking calmly and on the inside, wheels turned and twisted, trying to figure out what was going on. "Master, she's too young!"
Cross snorted. "What are you talking about? Sixteen is the proper age for a young woman." He stood up, pushing his chair back and it screeched. The sudden argument, though, had woken Lenalee. Now she was sitting up, rubbing her violet eyes and looked around. "Now look what you did idiot. You woke her up."
"It's not like I want her to sleep in here with you!"
Lenalee blinked, slanting her head a little in a really, really-no, Allen mustn't think that now, now was the time-But Lenalee caught on to what was going on and jumped out of bed, waving her hands around frantically. "Allen this is not at all what it looks like. Nothing happened, nothing. I swear! I was just talking to him last night and I must have fallen asleep."
"See?" Cross grumbled, walking past Allen. "Get ready. We're leaving in an hour. When the sun comes up, we're out of here."
The room was silent once Cross left. Allen wasn't sure to be angry or take their words. He knows Lenalee wouldn't do anything and Cross wouldn't do anything to her without her wanting him to. That's just how Lenalee was. That's how Cross showed him minimal amount of respect Allen never sees much. "What were you talking about?" Allen asked.
A look of panic washed over Lenalee's face and she continued waving her hands around, rubbed the back of her head. "No-nothing that important. Don't worry, Allen, it was nothing bad. I swear." Lenalee shamefully lied as she snuck out of the room.
He was alone now. Silence piercing his ears and a twisting feeling in his chest made him depressed. What had they been talking about? If she had to go to Cross then I'm sure it had to do with something important. He didn't like this feeling, he didn't like it at all.
Men set crates on the sturdy ship. The young male exorcists had to help, but it was funny how Cross even got out of this exertion. Krory, Lavi, and Allen were stuck doing all the work again, but Allen didn't mind. He'd done more work in the circus with putting the tents up and the stadium more than picking up crates and setting them someplace fitting for them. Allen did try pushing this morning's inconvenience out of his head, though. He didn't want to think about it and he would not talk about it.
Just as the sun was coming up from over the sea, the ship took off. It was safe to say the sailors had been up hours before the exorcists and got everything ready to set sail at this time. "Lenalee, how did the talk go with Cross last night?" Anita asked, surprising her.
Lenalee turned her head a little, fumbling with her fingers. Anita had to have a sixth sense to tell when someone was uncomfortable and just how to make them comfortable because soft smile loosened Lenalee's nerves. Gosh, Anita was a fair woman. Extremely. Lenalee supposed all definitions of fair would work for this lady. "It's none of my business. I shouldn't of asked. I was just wondering if you are feeling better now." Anita told her, looking out at the sea.
"Cross helped a lot, but I wouldn't say I'm completely content." Lenalee leaned on the ship railing, thinking about last night.
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The room was basically normal looking from a first glance and his bed was rather soft. She could fall asleep right now, but didn't want to. "What's this about that idiot?" Cross brought Lenalee out of her musings.
"I. . I think something is wrong. A day before I met him, I had this dream. I could see little details, but he's just as. . I don't want to say short. . . tall. . . Same white hair and that mark of his. In the dream, I knew him, I screamed out his name, but couldn't hear it. Until now. When I figured out it was Allen after having the dream again. It comes and it goes. . .And it's scaring me, Cross. Because he smiles, but it's broken. He offers his hand and I try to reach it and I run and run and it's no use. I can't reach him. Then the floor breaks and I sink, Allen stays for only a second them crumbles. . . . Last night he turned into a pool of . . . of. . . ." Lenalee tried her best to hold back a sob. It just hurt so much. "Blood."
Slowly, Cross' one evident eye broadened only a smidgin. He tapped his cigarette against an ashtray then crushes the end, getting rid of the smoke and death stick. Lenalee was a bit surprised. She could tell he wasn't even drunk right now. He didn't smell like he had alcohol. In fact, he had this fabulous scent. Allen also had his. . . . .
Lenalee pushed this thought away and wanted to crawl into a ball. Cross just stared at her, saying nothing. "Lenalee, I'm sure it's just a dream. There's nothing to be concerned about. Many people have repeated nightmares." Cross said soothingly.
His oddly soft voice gained her attention, making her revive a little. "But I dreamed about him before I even met him. There has to be a meaning! A warning!"
Cross reached out his hand and patted her head. Lenalee should be mad, but it calmed her. "Look, Lenalee, everything is going to be fine. I promise you that. If Allen can put up with my shit, then he's not going to let the enemy's shit get to him." Cross reassurance was only working to an extent, but Lenalee didn't verbally argue. "Allen can stand up to them. If that dream really is true, it's not going to happen for a long time."
"But. . ."
"Allen is strong. He somehow beats the odd everytime they're stacked against him. Don't worry. If anything kills him, it'll be me." Cross coarsely, but Lenalee saw right through him. There was concern. There was fear for his pupil. Cross did care and he was going to take it to his own accord to make sure nothing happens to him. General Tiedol was right. Both Allen and Cross were like family to each other in a weird way. He's just strict because he cares after all.
"General. . . ?"
Cross narrowed his eyes and smiled. "If it comes down to it, I will protect Allen with my own life, Lenalee. Not just because I'm his teacher, but it''s because I made a promise to Mana to keep Allen safe a long time ago. Just don't tell him that. He'll get all moody and defensive. If there's ever anything good about me towards him, Allen just flats out distrusts it."
Lenalee smiled back. "Cross, I think you'd be a wonderful father. Who knows, you may even have a child of your own out there somewhere by now."
"So long it's a beautiful woman. If it's a boy, and I find out, we're going to have to put him through the same thing as Allen." Lenalee thought his words were a bunch of half-hearted lies. It made her wonder, was there a possibility that Allen was Cross' son and no one knew about it? He did say Mana adopted him. . .
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"Lenalee, I'm not exactly sure what's bothering you and I may not understand, but I'm positive everything will turn out fine." Anita brought Lenalee out of her recollection as she placed a hand on Lenalee's shoulder like a mother would. It was so comforting. "It's during the toughest times in life where everyone units and understand each other more. During war and hardship everyone is brought together with the same goal; good or bad goals doesn't matter. It's the simplicity of life, but don't let life take you for granted."
Lenalee understood. After what Cross said and what Anita said. They sounded alike in a unique way. Anita sounded so much wiser, though! "Thanks."
Allen leaned against the main mast, eyeing his uniform. He had gotten just before he left the Order not so long ago. With the further they went the more he was worried. He was also enthralled. Courage and fear, angst and horror, anticipation, he just wanted to see the outcome, but no matter what, he was protect everyone with all his might. That was his ambition. He will prevail in his mission.
Totally unplanned, and most definitely unwanted, a hand slapped the back of Allen's head. Hard! Allen's first reaction, typically, was to yelp and baby the pain until it seeped away. "Master!" he complained, knowing all too well who it was.
"You better not die, Allen. Don't be rash." Cross muttered so only Allen could hear.
The gray orbs greeted the floor. Cross was serous, but so apathetic. He was hiding some kind of emotion he didn't want Allen to know about. "I won't." This was a promise Allen knew he would keep. He was sure of it. Absolutely. He was only fifteen and he had so much left to do. "I'm following your lead all the way, Master. I'll follow you through the fire and I will be there to help those who need it. That means I can't die here. Not yet." Allen's trademark grin poured on his face. "But don't be such an asshole."
Cross snorted. He wouldn't be him if he wasn't acting like an asshole near Allen or any other man or an other ugly creature. "Keep your eye open. We're going to be depending on it to get us in and out without any unnecessary greetings. Got it brat?"
Master was being calm today. Perhaps he was his meanest when he was drunk because Allen knew he had been sober for a few days. He made sure of it. "Yeah, I got it."
"Good. . ." Cross began walking away. Allen didn't miss his last comment nevertheless. "Lenalee had been talking to me about you, Allen. DOn't jump to your conclusions so fast."
That's it for this chapter. SOrry it's so short. I've been reading a really cool fanfic called AntiNotice by Shadow Storyteller. It's awesome.
Anyways, please review. Thanks for reading.
And most importantly,
I'M STILL LOOKING FOR A BETA READER IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.
Thanks.
~ ~ ~ Anon Novelist ~ ~ ~