Thank you so much to all who reviewed. Believe or not you guys/girls brighten my day. thx ;)

And thanks to Jess and Peculiar top hat for the tips. They help a lot. ^ ^

Sorry if this chapter is a bit lagged, boring or contrary, too fast paced, but there were some things I had to show before continuing with the plot. Oh and I forgot to mention on the last chapter, there will be some frequent cursing here and there commonly on Heart of Darkness.

Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray Man, Hoshino does *bo-hoo* but I love D. Gray Man and Allen Walker way too much to care. wiiii~ :D

Chapter 2: Memories

A deep gray cloud covered a tiny white room with a furniture, a piano and a giant mirror on the wall. The cloud came from a room right beside it. One which was locked poorly. A young pale boy hummed a tune softly as some warm water splashed on his revealed muscles from the shower drain. It was morning and the big day.

Due to Allen's pain and confusion yesterday, even his bit of insanity, he agreed to the Earls offer of going onto a mission. Something he regretted dearly as soon as he woke up since really...this would be his very FIRST mission and seeing as the Earl offered himself and the other Noah if necessary did not cheer him up. That meant it would be something big. Something hard. Something that might -no- would harm and most probably even kill many people. But even tough he was ashamedly scared...there was another reason why he almost lost himself the other day and practically begged the Earl for a mission. Thing was...

Allen came out of the shower with a towel hiding his private parts and drops of water dripping from head to toe. Some more tick clouds came out evaporating on the 20 feet long corridor as he entered the room with the piano and shut the open door tight. He looked down to the gray floor.

" I'm tired of being here...I'm tired of this ark...of this training...of this same life..." Allen looked up like looking at an invincible light " The outside world...I just want to be free..even if its just for a moment...even if its just for a day"

Allen smirked glumly " A little fresh air won't do me harm right? "

"hahaha how lame of me" He started laughing. "Well...I just want to take a break from this room is all" He cheerfully declared

Allen carefully picked up his clothes from the closet, black pants with a long sleeved white shirt and sat on the sofa to put his clothes on. It was his favorite style so he had lots of clothing similar to this one. Quickly after dressing up Allen tilted his head toward the giant mirror on the wall which covered half of the top of the wall. There instead of seeing his reflection he saw a dark fat shadow with a huge demonic grin eternally stuck on to it. Something that didn't scared him in the least. After all he had seen this figure on the mirror since he first set foot in the ark 3 years ago. Allen didn't even know how he looked now. The shadow had never let him.

" Good morning Neah! " Allen bowed down politely as he usually did.

The shadow didn't respond as it never had. The only time Allen had heard him talk was the first time they had met 3 years ago. Allen closed his eyes. That was back when he had just arrived at the Ark...

FLASHBACK

Allen tripped to the ground trembling. Him and Road had just arrived to play dress up. Road's own way to cheer him up after Mana's brutal death. Allen still shocked at what had occurred no more than 3 days ago nervously accepted, not caring the embarrassment he would go trough. Anything was fine. As long as it cleared his mind, even if momentarily of his unexplainable sadness and fear.

But now his fear was more than before. Allen stared at the mirror shocked and emotionless. Not even tears rolled down. He could not explain the sudden fear that had overcome him but he was scared. Who was this staring down on him from the mirror? This young adult looking figure? Allen was no more than 12 years old, a child and short to top it off. So why was his reflection the shadow of an elderly man who looked in his 30's his reflection instead? Why was he grinning such a terrifying smile with those sharp teeth?

" W-who are you? " The boy struggled his best to ask. A small soft almost unheard of voice came from Allen's mouth instead

" Allen Walker, I am Neah, the 14th Noah..and you." The boy remained speechless under his very breath " Are mine to kill... " The figure laughed evilly, more terrifying than anything the boy had ever heard. Similar to that of a clowns.

Allen cried and shouted in fear. He had no idea what was going on. Only that this huge shadow was his reflection, Mana had died, he himself had turned him into an Akuma, killed him, his ugly arm had evolved, he had a curse and the man who took him in, The Millennium Earl, was at fault for ruining his life as it was now. He hated this so called Noahs and feared them oh so dearly.

Allen suddenly felt a hit on his stomach. As everything got blurry he could only see the figure of Road who quickly placed him on top of a bed. She desperately looked at all directions and ran away from the room leaving him alone.

" Earl! Help somethings wrong with Allen! " She shouted in despair. Soon everything went black along with the scary man who still laughed at the boy.

The young boy opened his eyes slowly. Everything looked blurry as 8 gray figures stared down at him. The Millennium Earl, Road Kamelot, Tyki Mikk, a blond haired teen, a black haired teen beside the blond, a blond haired woman with sunglasses, a big man with candy in his mouth and an adult man with long hair who hugged Road tightly. At the time he did not know who all this Noah were. Heck he didn't even know there were more Noah besides him, The Millennium, Tyki Mikk and Road Kamelot but what he did know was that they had all ruined his life. And Allen being the child he was at the time and still shocked at all the sudden changes cried the most harsh words that had ever spat out from his mouth

" I hate you all... You ruined my life...I SWEAR to god I will kill you all! " He cried out with his eyes closed to then open his eyes and come across not mad but ashamed offended faces, as if he had killed somebody. Which only made Allen cry and fall to the ground asking for forgiveness.

" I- I'm sorry...I didn't really meant those words. I'm so sorry. I'll never say them again.I'll continue to be polite forever " He cried out on the cold floor where nobody comforted him.

END OF FLASHBACK

A small tear fell from his cheek down the cursed scar. He cleaned it quickly with his index finger. He hated those memories. They always reminded him of what he wanted to avoid the most. Hate...Fear...Pain...and Sadness...

Allen frowned a bit. How ironic. The one who he was afraid of the most at the time was now even more important than any other Noah had ever been to him. Even if after that he had never heard Neah talk again, something inside him wanted it to stay like that, but he had always been there for him. Allen had spent most of this 3 years alone on his room playing his piano while Neah just stared. Something that at first was scary but now was kinda nice. And those words Allen had said back then...they weren't exactly lies either...He still wanted to be an exorcist...and that red haired man...Allen knew clearly he still wished that instead of the Earl it would have been that man who...

" BOO! "

" F****! " Allen shouted out jumping on top of the sofa. His face was red. He was startled with both of his arms raised in defense.

" brouhaha! " Road waved her hands at Allen. She had just touched him on his back suddenly.

" What do you want? You know I don't like it when you spy on me Road, how did you even get here and what's up with that strange laugh! " Allen furiously punched Road on the face which made her fall to the ground.

Road puffed a bit and stomped her way to the sofa where Allen was sheltering behind of. She didn't seem too happy. Something Allen noticed but was too worried she had seen his crazy mirror stare to ask.

" Haaa... " she started. Allen just staring at her grumpily but a bit concerned.

" Well the Earl's worried sick bout you, you hadn't come up for breakfast" Road rubbed her head with one of her eyes closed and a faint smile.

Allen blinked " Oh sorry bout that, was kinda busy " was the most he could think of.

" And you let your door open while you were bathing and I hid behind the piano to surprise you after seeing you naked~ " She grinned hugely at him as she met eyes with him.

" WHAT!" Allen shouted really red.

" ahahaha! You are really cute! Even while you stare at the mirror like that! "

" Y-y-y-y-y YOU SAW ME NAKED? " Allen shouted in despair as he pointed his finger toward her

" It wasn't the first time"

" W-w-w-w-w " Before Allen could protest any further Road stood up from the sofa. She walked past the embarrassed Allen giggling and made her way trough the door. She looked back.

" Don't get to entertained with Neah now. " She driedly pointed out to him so only her and him could hear. Kinda soft which made it kinda charming. She turned her head facing the door.

" Oh... and breakfast is over already. Earl wants to see you right now. You can always eat at dinner. " She continued even more driedly than before. Allen dropped his jaw a bit.

" Well then see ya later hunger boy! " She punched the door.

'Wai-" *PA!* The door was closed and Road had disappeared from Allen's sight just as he had raised one of his arms to stop her.

" Haaa " Smoke came from Allen's head. " My breakfast! " he cried out pulling his hair.

Furious he had missed breakfast the boy quickly made his way trough the corridor to the Earls room. Its walls were white with some particles of black dust stuck on them and the floor wore a design of black and white checkers. There were no lights making it really dark and no other doors in the whole corridor except his room and the bathroom which were at the end of it. From afar at the opposite end of his room there were stairways. His room was basically the basement of the Ark. The most hidden room on the entire Ark.

He stood in front of The Millennium Earl's door feeling his nerves telling him to back off and hide already. Allen truly did not want to do this. This most probably wasn't what Mana would had wanted...Allen closed his eyes and put one of his hands on top of his heart and just sighed under his very own breath. He would just have to get this over with already.

Taking a deep breath Allen pushed the heavy door open. There he met the lone Earl rocking his chair while sewing something that seemed like a blanket.

" Good Morning Allen-chan! " The Earl gave a familiar wave with his hand

" Good Morning Earl " Allen replied gently bowing down politely.

" Ohohoho! Your manners are appreciated Allen. " The Earl joked

" He-he..Mana teached them to me... " Allen gently joked back looking at the wall trying not to meet the Earl's face

" Oh... " The Earl expressed kinda glumly.

" I-It's alright Earl! I already told you back then I forgive you for what happened! It was your job after all. " Allen raised both of his hands trying to comfort the Earl with his fake smile.

The Earl stared at the boy a bit surprised. Allen still faked not being bothered by his dear foster parent being turned into an Akuma by one of his siblings. Allen held his arms behind his back chuckling a bit with a sweat on his chick.

" What about breakfast? "

" I'm not very hungry today -"

" Liar "

" H-h-he he " He laughed nervously with more drops falling from the back of his head.

" No matter. Alright then Allen enough chit chat. This is what your first mission will be about. " The Earl suddenly broke the small controversial moment not really caring what they had just conversed about.

Allen's tiny fake smile falling into a fake serious determined face, doing his best to hide his fear. He nodded.

" Firstly, what do you expect out of this mission? " The Earl chuckled

" To finally understand the Noah way and overcome my annoying innocence. " Allen said pressing both of his hands into punches " Plus get out of the Ark for once. Being here 3 years sure has tired me! "

" Good...good " The Earl muttered to himself. " The kid's got confidence for once "

" Did you say something Earl? " Allen asked innocently from the other side of the room.

" No! Nothing! " Earl shouted playfully.

Damn no wonder they called him the musician. His ears always heard any small talk as long as it was on the same room. He looked back at the innocently smiling child.

" Alright then Allen I know this is your first mission and all but I have to be a little hard on you. " Allen just nodded tough deep down he was about to faint. The rest was silence as he heard his terrifying first mission.

" Allen Walker*ahem* Neah you are to be sent onto your first mission today, after dinner ,along with Road Kamelot and Tyki Mikk. Your goal is to successfully murder General Cross Marian by sinking his ship that leaves from China to Edo tonight ,as he is a threat to my plans and "

" A General? You want me to kill a freaking General on my first mission? Are you crazy! "

" Calm down Allen that's why Tyki and Road will be accompanying you " Earl stopped sewing and pressed both of his hands together.

" And who exactly is this Cross guy? " Allen asked a bit hesitant crossing both of his arms. The Earl widened his smile with pure evil itself not even caring if Allen noticed, which he did, and was freaking him out. But that question was the one the Earl was waiting for all this time.

-Well Allen..remember the red haired man I fought with shortly after Mana's death? - The Earl got up from his seat excitedly as he saw Allen's eyes widen.

Few oh my...this chapter was a pain in the ass to write! :O I had to show what Allen thought of the Noah's and his life in the ark a bit before he talked with the Earl since I wouldn't get any other chance to so...^ ^' it was necessary. But still it was a pain to fit it all in one chapter. XP

More tips please! I didn't feel as if this chapter were good enough.

I love it when you guys/girls review! thx