Oh my God, is it actually-? Yes, yes it is. An update after who knows how long~! Woo-Hoo! ^_^

I am sorry about the delay, it's just that bits of this chapter decided to be a tad difficult and I had to work my way around them...

Anyways, enough chatting! Let's start the second piece of this shindig, and start the twelfth movement!

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own D,Gray-Man.

Allegro's Crescendo

Allen was never found by Cross after attempting to bring Mana back. Neither did the Millennium Earl or the Noah's take him in. No, a third party found young Allen instead, and from that day on, he wasn't 'Allen' anymore. Instead, the Destroyer of Time gained a new name. That name was…

The Second Piece; The Twelfth Movement: Five Measures Rest

It was a sunny morning. Not a cloud in sight, shadows speckling the ground as the path was littered with a canopy of trees hanging above her. She skipped as she walked, humming a merry tune. A pink umbrella was swung back and forth in one hand, with a cute little toy pumpkin at the top. The other hand held a wicker basket with a red and white checked cloth covering it. She tucked a stray hair back behind her ear, only pausing long enough to stare after a murder that had suddenly taken wing after she stepped out from the cover of the trees into the open field.

But the murder, the grouping of crows, is really inconsequential to the story. What we, you really, want, is the object located after where the murder had been resting. Down the path a ways, resting at a nearby lake.

It was a quaint little house, white with a light red trim, and a little chimney coming off of the one side. A flower garden rested on either side of the front door. A tall maple tree lived in the back yard and had a swing hanging from one of the branches.

She skipped up right to the door, and knocked three times, rocking on her heels as she waited for it to open.

After a moment, it did, revealing a familiar face on the other side…

~~Measure One~~

Smoke drifted lazily through the partitions in the leaves between their brethren, and the branches that kept them rooted to their spots. On a particularly thick branch, rested what seemed to be a golden yellow bird.

That was to say, if birds were circular, had a cross on their front, and wingspans of nearly eight feet. There were two horns, curved atop the 'head' of this creature, (if it could really be called a head at all) and there were four little stubs at the bottom, which one would assume to be feet.

A man, dressed all in black, was leaning up against the trunk of the tree, the wide brim of the hat upon his head hiding his face from view. Red hair was visible however, curling slightly as it trekked down past his shoulders.

This man was visible to any passerby who happened to look off to the side of their path as they made their way by. However, to anyone looking in his vicinity from a distance would not be able to pick him out unless they were looking specifically for anything out of the ordinary.

This was exactly what this man wanted, for it allowed him to be able to keep an eye on his quarry, and they would never know, because in theory, the quarry did not even know he existed. And the only problematic part would have let their guard down enough that they wouldn't bother looking for any abnormalities.

It had been five years. He figured that was a long enough wait.

~~Measure Two~~

Knocks echoed from the front hall out to the kitchen, where she was, preparing lunch. A quick look at the clock and calendar immediately told her who the visitor was. She took her time washing her hands off and drying them, however, just before she went to open the door.

She opened the door, and it was just who she expected standing there.

Long, dark, hair that reached mid-back that currently was tied up into a ponytail, and eyes the color of glowing amber. The visitor was dressed in her customary short skirt and knee high boots.

"Mornin' Miss Knox!" She chirped happily as the door was opened.

"Good afternoon Rhode," The response was returned in kind.

"And haven't I told you before? Just call me Erika." Erika gave the statement with mock anger, a smile given at the end ruining the effect a bit. This was ritual; Rhode always came, politely calling Erika 'Miss Knox', and Erika always told her to just call her Erika. It was a never-ending cycle for the two girls.

"Mornin' Erika," Rhode stretched the emphasis on the elders' name, still rocking a bit, anxious. "Where's Allegro?" Rhode stood on tiptoes, trying to see past Erika, who laughed.

"Is someone planning a picnic?" Erika asked instead of answering, a knowing look being given towards the sixteen year old.

"Maybe," Rhode sidestepped. "Where's Allegro?" Erika laughed.

"Such an eager beaver, aren't we?" Erika relieved Rhode of the basket. "He's in his room. You remember where that is?"

"Mm-hmm!" She answered, already halfway to the staircase. Erika just shook her head, and hefted the basket over into the kitchen.

"Kids these days," She said to herself, leaning against the counter. Erika gave a sigh, and turned back to her kids.

She could still remember the day that Allegro had met Rhode. Well, okay, maybe the second time the two had met. It hadn't been too long after they had settled down in their new home at the lakeside.

Erika and Allegro had been walking through the town, getting the groceries done (seeing Erika had still been on edge during that time, and hadn't wanted to let Allegro home alone. Well, that, and it was bad parenting to leave a ten year old home by himself), when they had spotted her in the middle of town square. Well, Allegro had spotted her. It was only by his insistence that they actually had gone over to see if the little girl was, as Allegro had put it, his girl or not.

(Allegro never understood why Erika laughed as much as she did after he said that. What was so funny?)

And, surprise, surprise, it was the same little girl.

Little Rhode Kamelot, the then eleven year old girl wonder (nowadays, she was still Rhode Kamelot girl wonder, just sixteen years old, not eleven). Who, apparently, had gotten separated from her Aunt and Uncle, her new guardians, in the midday surge of people when they had been bringing her up from the dock. Her parents, from what the little chatterbox had said, disappeared during the Campania sinking weeks prior, so she had been sentenced to stay in America to live with her only living relatives.

(Erika hadn't been too sure at the time what Allegro had meant by his words of 'Beware of the Earl', but Rhode had looked equally perplexed as well, so it had been alright. Rhode recovered quickly though, nodding in agreement with Allegro. Erika, on the other hand, wouldn't get the real story until weeks later, after Allegro had finally opened up completely with her.)

Rhode had chattered on and on to Allegro and Erika until it seemed like she had talked both their ears off and then some. At one point, Erika finally managed to find a break and politely cut in, asking if she knew where her Aunt and Uncle were, and if not, did she need help finding them?

Rhode had just politely declined, informed them that her Aunt and Uncle told her where to go if they got separated, and had pointed it out during their trip through the town, but it was very nice for 'Allegro's mommy' (which had resulted in a tomato blush from Allegro, and a small one for Erika) to offer, and maybe she and Allegro could hang out some time, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty please, with sugar on top? Erika had just responded with a laugh, saying that Rhode was welcome over anytime, as long as it was alright with her Aunt and Uncle.

The meeting had concluded with Rhode skipping off, her Mary-Jane's clacking against the street as she disappeared into the throngs of people that were still crowding the square.

Erika shook her head, a fond smile popping one her face against her will. It seemed like after that day Allegro and Rhode had been inseparable. Rhode was constantly coming over and playing with Allegro, either in the house, or in the nearby woods, or along the lakeside.

There had been times where Erika had wondered why Rhode had never invited Allegro over to her own house, or why her Aunt and Uncle never thought it pertinent to come over and meet the family that their niece was spending so much time with, but no answers ever came out of it. The questions were always evaded, or Erika herself never got around to asking. But Erika didn't really mind, as long as Allegro came home safe and sound. She couldn't really say unhurt with that, as Allegro was a boy, and they always seemed to have some sort of a bruise or another, but it seemed that with every bruise Allegro had, Rhode had one to match it. So, it was alright.

Erika dumped her dishes in the sink, and as she did such, her eyes happened to pass a certain affixture resting atop the cupboards, then the cloth napkins that were tucked up away by that affixture. Her gaze then met the basket she had left on the table.

It wouldn't do too much harm…

Would it?

~~Measure Three~~

"Allegro~!" A heavy weight attached itself to his neck as that oh so familiar voice announced itself in his ear.

"Hello Rhode," Allegro chuckled, craning his neck back to look up at the older girl. His fingers stilled themselves as Rhode loosened her grip and allowed Allegro to turn around and face her. "I wasn't expecting you until later."

"Later?" Rhode gave a mock pout. "Silly! I told you I was coming at twelve!" Allegro nodded in agreement.

"Yes," He agreed whole heartedly. "And it's only…" His words died as storm grey eyes stopped on the clock hanging on the opposite side of the room, right above the door.

"It's only what time?" Rhode parroted back, eyes flashing with something that was quite familiar to Allegro by now. Allegro flushed still, pink dusting his cheeks as he mumbled the answer under his breath.

"Sorry, what was that?" Rhode leaned closer, one of her hands cupping around her ear. "I didn't quite hear that. Could you repeat it?" Allegro repeated what he had said prior, eyes bowed to the floor, a little louder than the time before, but still not much louder. Again, Rhode egged him on to be louder. Again, again, again, until Allegro finally shouted it.

"TWELVE THIRTY-FIVE!" It was loud enough that Allegro was almost positive that the sound of his voice was most likely resonating off of the strings of the piano downstairs, despite the peddle not being down.

"Exactly!" Rhode crowed, finger jabbing Allegro in the chest, completely unfazed by his bellow. "You, sir, are fifteen minutes late!" Never mind the fact that Rhode herself had gotten a late start that morning, and was late herself, and had stood in the doorway of his room for a good ten of those minutes, staring at Allegro, and the last five had been spent playing this little 'game'.

"Alright, alright, I get it, I get it," Allegro sighed, though it was partly a laugh as well. He stood up, raising his hands in surrender. "Just let me get my shoes on, and we can go, okay Miss Kamelot?"

He was just teasing, calling her Miss Kamelot like that, but it was alright with all that teasing she had done to him just prior. If anything, it was like a game between Allegro and Rhode. Tease each other and get on each other's nerves on and on and on. The first one to snap lost. There was no clear winner yet, and while both fancied themselves in the lead, it was more of a tie than anything.

"Alright, Mister Knox," She retorted easily, tongue poking out as her eyes squished shut and she made a face at his turned back. "Whatever you say."

"And I do say," Allegro answered absentmindedly, sitting on the edge of his bed as he pulled his shoes on, tying and knotting the laces.

He stood up in one fluent motion, rocking on his heels as he took a moment to stretch his arms before taking point and leading the way out of the room and down the hall to the staircase.

"Rhode," Allegro said over his shoulder, frowning when he got no response. Looking behind to make sure he hadn't lost her [however that would happen, Allegro was uncertain seeing as his (okay, it was Erika's, but, whatever) house was by no means a huge home] but she was still behind him. He stopped, and his frown deepened when Rhode just continued to walk past, as if he hadn't stopped moving at all.

"Oi. Rhode." He called again, and when Allegro didn't receive a response, his hand snaked out and yanked the bobbing ponytail as it whipped past.

"Hey!" Rhode yelped, fingers immediately scrabbling for her scalp, clutching at the back where the base of the ponytail was secured. "What was that for?" She looked around for a moment, trying to figure out where Allegro was, before realizing that he was behind her, and turning accordingly.

"What was that about?" Allegro asked instead, storm clouds meeting resin.

"I asked first!" A whine climbed out of Rhode's throat before she could stop it, and much to her displeasure the whine had absolutely no effect on Allegro. At least not in the way she wanted it to, as she wanted him to show at least some sort of feeling of remorse. Which, of course, didn't happen.

"I wanted your attention," Allegro shrugged, straightening his gloves. "And you were out of it. Hence the hair pulling."

"Well, you have it now," Rhode huffed, turning back around, crossing her arms across her chest. "What do you want?"

"I was going to ask what you had planned for today," He answered, striding up to come up next to Rhode as well as overtake her as he continued the way downstairs. "But seeing as someone's all huffy now, I think I'll just wait and find out, lest I get bitten." Allegro gave a light laugh, and Rhode echoed with a twinkling laugh of her own.

"Who said I was ever gonna tell?" Her bad mood flittered away quicker than it had come and she was as lighthearted as she had been prior to the hair pulling. She skipped ahead of Allegro, flashing a smile towards him.

"Who indeed?" Allegro smiled back, following her down the stairs.

~~Measure Four~~

"Now remember," Erika said, standing in the doorway of the house while Rhode and Allegro stood outside side by side right in front of it. "You need to be home no later than six tonight, okay? I don't mind if you want to stay over for supper Rhode, but no later than six."

"We know Erika," Rhode couldn't help but let the half whine burn out of her throat this time. "You tell us this every time, almost." Erika nodded.

"And I'll keep telling you every time," Erika agreed. "I just want to make sure you two are safe, that's all. Now, you're just going to be by the lakeside, right?"

"Right Mom," Allegro shuffled the picnic basket that he had been given to carry a bit, trying to rest it comfortably in the crook of his arm. "We'll be just fine. Nothing bad is going to happen." A silent look was given over to Rhode who nodded her assent.

"Yup!" She agreed, hooking her arm around Allegro's free one. "Don't worry about a thing! Your little guy is going to be just fine with me! I'll protect him with my life!" Her right hand came up to rest stiffly by her brow in a mock form of some sort of military salute.

Erika laughed and mirrored Rhode's salute with her left in a salute of her own.

"Alright then Captain Rhode." Erika smiled. "I'm trusting my little cadet with you, so you better not lose him, got it?"

"Ma'am, yes Ma'am!" Rhode responded with the straightest face she could manage before dissolving into laughter.

"Then get out of here you two," Erika was stifling giggles of her own. "I've kept you two long enough."

"See you later then!" Rhode called cheerfully, immediately dragging Allegro off by his arm.

Erika just chuckled to herself at Rhode's eagerness before disappearing back into the house. Rhode and Allegro continued down the path, disappearing themselves down one of the side paths through the forest that led down to the usual part of the lakeside that they spent their time at.

"So it's a picnic today," Allegro hummed, finally walking under his own power once Rhode finally released his arm from his grip. He reached back with his free hand, tousling his hair. "Do you have anything else planned afterwards?"

"Maybe~!" Rhode trilled, spinning her way down the path, dancing from shadow to shadow as if touching the light would burn her. Allegro just laughed, and kept going down the path, taking no care to avoid shadow or light, unlike his partner's twirling moves.

"C'mon Allegro!" Rhode laughed. "You do it too!"

"Oh? Do what?" Allegro poked. "I am walking, if that is what you want."

"No silly!" Rhode pouted. "Don't just take the straight and narrow path! Make up some path for you to follow! Jump from shadow to shadow with me!"

Allegro hesitated for a moment, thinking it over. He looked down, studying his spot on the ground for barely even a moment before he made his decision. With a very deliberate jump up and to the side, he moved across to the patch of sunlight that rested directly across from Rhode's current position.

"Boo!" Rhode stuck her tongue out at Allegro. "That's no fun!"

"What are you talking about?" Allegro mirrored her face right back to her. "I think your face is pretty funny right now."

"Hey!" Rhode lunged for Allegro playfully, and he ducked out of her way.

"Ah-ah-ah," He clucked, grinning, pointing down to her feet. "Stand in the sunlight and you lose." And before Rhode could complain, he took a leap, landing in another patch of sunlight in front of Rhode.

"First one out of the forest wins!" He goaded with a smirk over his shoulder before taking another jump.

"No fair!" Rhode stomped her foot, before taking chase, calling after Allegro,

"If I'm not allowed in the sunlight, then you aren't allowed in the shadows, jerk!"

Her only answer was laugh.

~~Measure Five~~

The last drag was taken off of the cigarette, before it was dropped to the ground. The flame from the ash smoldered for a moment as if it were attempting to burn the scarce grass underneath it, but that plan was thwarted with the boot that came crunching down on it. The cigarette was ground into the dirt below, one last cloud of smoke puffing into the air, before floating away.

He pushed himself into a fully standing position, stretching a moment after leaning against the tree for so long. The sound of children's laughter was still echoing in his ears even though the two had come and gone. He hadn't gotten a good look at the children from where he was standing, but it didn't matter because they couldn't see him, which was a good thing. That, and he could tell just by the voices.

The light tenor that had passed by was definitely who he was waiting for. The alto that had danced by was troublesome and a slight kink in his plans, but he could manage. He always pulled off the impossible and made it possible.

After all, his name wasn't Cross Marian for nothing.

And today was the day that he would definitely collect what he had long waited for.

Today was the day he'd finally get Allen Walker.

~~Allegro's Crescendo~~

And that ends the twelfth movement. If you remember back to how the first part seemed slow with the action and even then, didn't have much of it, don't worry. This piece of the 'song' should have a lot more action, and be much quicker paced.

I also have decided that this is going to be a 'three piece' story. The first piece was the first eleven chapters, and was pretty much background stuff (not that there isn't going to be more background information to be had, of course), this second piece is probably going to be around ten or so as well, depending on how things move along, and this is going to be the 'crescendo' part of the story. Not much else I can say about it that won't ruin my plans. And then the third part is, obviously, the end, and I can't say much about that either, seeing as it is the end of the story.

But anyways, enough with boring explanations!

Here's next week's preview~!

Allegro's Crescendo: Pizzicato

He had made that promise all those years ago, but there was a darker side of him nagging at him. Asking how he could ruin a kids' happiness out of selfishness. Saying yes, he made a promise- he made plenty of promises back then. But he already broke some of those promises. What would it matter if he broke one more?

Until next time, my lovely readers~! ^_^

Read and Review, and if there is any confusion, don't hesitate to ask any questions~!

~~Paw-Chan Signing Out~~