Raychaell: HELLO! Thanks for your awesome reviews everyone! As promised, this chapter is hereby dedicated to FullmetalFan 16 and UsuiXMisakilover. Thanks for your reviews! Without further ado, I present to you Chapter 3, The Heart of The Scythe!

Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray Man. Only my OCs.

Italics – Memory

Roxy studied her new room. It was a little dark, but the best thing about it was there was a window, making it easy for Talon to go out and hunt by himself instead of depending on her all the time for food. With a sigh, she unslung her backpack, which she had hid a few nights ago at the hall of the Black Order. After all, she had not known whether Allen's directions were correct, seeing as to how he tended to get himself hopelessly lost almost all the time in large places.

Roxy started unpacking, Talon observing her from his perch on the study desk and chair provided. There was also a mirror and a small bed in the room, and Roxy chose to set her bag on the bed itself. Talon's portable perch and bird dish was the first to be unpacked. It consisted of a long wooden rod with a circular base, one large circular metal tray to act as waste collector, and a short wooden rod as the perch. Two metal cups held water for drinking and strips of beef jerky respectively and a leather ball served as a toy to sharpen his talons with. It was a simple contraption, and easy to assemble and disassemble too.

Roxy set about placing her things into their respective drawers before shoving her backpack under the bed. With that, she observed her reflection in the mirror. It showed her flushed appearance, eyes full of excitement, and her hair in casual disarray. Her silver necklace was, once again, hidden beneath the blue cotton shirt she wore, with her black leather jacket to protect her from the cold.

Then there was a knock at the door, and Roxy opened it to reveal Allen, Lavi, Link and Lenalee. They were also joined by a guy wearing a white lab coat and looked somewhat familiar… "Hey Roxy, meet Komui, brother to Lenalee and also our supervisor. He was among the ghost hunting party yesterday night." Lavi introduced. Komui smiled at her and extended his hand for her to shake. Roxy shook it with a smile too.

"Any reason for all of you to come to my door even though it's not lunch yet?" Roxy asked curiously.

"We're bringing you to Hevlaska to check your synchronization rate with your Innocences." Lavi explained.

"Then what's Two Spots doing here?" She asked in a droll manner. Link flushed in anger at the nickname while Lavi and Allen laughed away. Lenalee looked in annoyance at the laughing boys while Komui shook his head in amusement.

"I'm just here to observe Walker, nothing else." Link snapped angrily. Roxy grinned wide at this, and was quick to reply.

"So you're the stalker that Allen was complaining about in his letters." Roxy said cheerfully, making Lavi and Allen laugh even harder. Komui sighed ruefully before he led the way to the lower levels where Hevlaska was.

"So what has Allen told you about Hevlaska?" Lavi questioned eagerly while they all stood in the lift that would take them to Hevlaska. Roxy pondered the question for a while before she had a reply.

"Not much, except how a certain BaKanda hurt his left arm and nearly killed him before a beautiful girl by the name of Lenalee Lee saved his life, leading him to have to undergo repair conducted by Komui, which was apparently a traumatic experience. Then Allen was given no warning that he'll have to meet Hevlaska, and had a huge shock when he first met her," Roxy said in a teasing manner. Lavi cracked up again, while Lenalee blushed at the comment about her beautiful.

Allen protested with an embarrassed blush. "I never said that much in the first place!" Komui, however, seemed to have acquired several deadly looking weapons out of nowhere, making her blink in surprise and Link sigh in defeat.

"Allen Walker, what are your intentions towards my precious Lenalee?" Komui asked, a deadly aura surrounding him even as his eyes glinted madly. Allen and Lavi started cringing behind Lenalee in their fear, Link staying where he was while Roxy stood her ground.

"Nee – san, stop threatening Allen," Lenalee chided her brother even as she gave him a warning glare and Roxy's hands twitched towards her guns in preparation to shoot Komui if he tried to attack Allen. Komui, seeing the threats directed towards him, was wise enough to stop, and just in time too, since they reached Hevlaska.

Having been warned by Allen in advance, Roxy didn't resist when Hevlaska's arms reached towards Roxy, and handed over her guns to be checked. "So you are the daughter of General Cross himself, and possess two types of Innocence too, just like your father." Hevlaska mused aloud. Roxy merely blinked, showing no signs of being affected by her father's name.

"For equipment type, your synchronization rate is 3… 8… 15… 25… 36… 50… 67… 88. The highest you and your weapon synchronization rate is 88%. Impressive indeed," Hevlaska said. "Now may you summon your scythe?"

Roxy nodded, and after a quick warning to the other to get back, she took a deep breath and seemed to grab something invisible in front of her with her left hand. Her right hand hovered palm down over her left fist and swept right even as Roxy spoke out loud. "My Nightmare, to me." There was a bright green flash as she spoke these words and everyone watched in awe as the same giant scythe from last night appeared in her hand, her right hand grabbing the long silver staff. When the scythe was fully formed, Roxy gave way to a few experimental swings, showing no strain in her movements as she swung it around, and her crescent blade singing as it swung through the air. When she was done, Roxy, with one hand, tossed it up to Hevlaska, who grabbed it with her arms.

Allen spoke as Hevlaska checked Roxy's synch rate. "Still a show off aren't you, Roxy?" Roxy stuck out her tongue at her friend in response, making Lavi laugh again. Hevlaska was quick to bring everyone's attention back to her with her words.

"Your synchronization rate with your scythe is 90%. (A/N: An apology to UsuiXMisakilover. I know Roxy's supposed to be normal, not a Mary sue, but her synch rate with her scythe is high for a good reason. Read on to find out why.) Interesting… It seems your scythe contains the Heart we've been searching for." Hevlaska said calmly while the rest all shared a jaw dropping moment.

"Nightmare contains the HEART?" Everyone, including Allen and Roxy yelled simultaneously.

"Let me get this straight. You're saying my Nightmare, my scythe and favorite weapon of choice in battling akuma, contains the HEART OF INNOCENCE?" Roxy asked in shock, while the rest shared similar shocked looks. Hevlaska nodded, making Roxy mutter angrily under her breath and pace around.

Lavi then questioned Allen. "Not even you and General Cross knew about Roxy's scythe?" Allen shook his head and opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Roxy.

"No one knew! I mean, yes, my scythe is rather unusual, but I never thought much about it at all! I just thought that my Nightmare was special like Allen's Crown Clown!" Roxy said in a heated manner.

"Well, since your scythe contains the Heart, I would advise you to be careful with it, young Exorcist. After all, if the Noahs learn about it, they'll hunt you down and kill you to get the Heart that's inside your scythe. If they destroy the Heart, then we will lose this battle against the Earl and the Noahs." Hevlaska said. This made Roxy give way to a long line of colorful curses, words so foul that they made Komui cover Lenalee's ears in an attempt to preserve her innocent ears, Lavi look awed, Allen laugh again, and Link looked scandalized.

"Great," she muttered when she was done cursing, "It's bad enough that I'm an Exorcist with two Innocences to deal with. Now I have to contend with that effing Noah family as well? Why is the whole world against me?" This last sentence was uttered with a small wail from her.

The return trip up was spent with a moody Roxy being comforted by Allen and Lavi. "Hey cheer up Roxy. Why don't we talk about other things like, how on Earth did you learn that many words? I mean, I'm a Bookman and frequent traveller myself, so I've picked up some language myself. But none of them equal yours so can you tell me how you learned them?" Lavi asked in an attempt to cheer Roxy up.

Roxy managed a small chuckle at this. "It comes from growing up with a dad and Master who has a tendency to cuss rather fluently when he is upset, and also sleeping in bars and inns that are filled with men who curse a lot." Allen and Roxy gave way to similar shudders upon remembering Cross, while Lavi and Lenalee looked at them with similar expressions of sympathy.

When they reached the top, Komui led the way to the Science Department, explaining, "You need a uniform now that you're an Exorcist, so why not get yourself measured first before you go for your lunch?" Roxy understood, and when introduced to the Science Department, Roxy was quick to cheer up when she met the scientists, talking and laughing with them.

When Regory Peck (A/N: He's a funny guy so I couldn't resist writing about him! If you don't know who he is, read the wiki on him or else re - read volume 17, chapter 171 of the manga. You'll understand why I wrote about him when you read the wiki.) attempted to ogle Roxy and Lenalee, everyone witnessed the true rage of Roxanne Wilder Cross.

Roxy had been eagerly chatting with Johnny, she had spied him staring at her chest and legs for too long to be normal. Not to mention, she also saw him ogling the oblivious Lenalee who was talking with the rest of the scientists. Her temper grew at this, and Roxy was quick over to leap over a desk that was in between her and the scientist, shocking everyone when she drew both her guns in an eye blink and jabbed their muzzles straight into the scientist's forehead.

"What, do you think you're doing?" Roxy asked in a sickly sweet voice. The unfortunate scientist sweat dropped at the threat in front of him as Roxy's trigger finger twitched, ready to shoot. Allen was quick to intervene then.

"ROXY! You can't threaten the scientist!" Allen chided sharply, putting himself between Roxy and Regory.

"Oh come on, why can't I threaten to kill a good for nothing pervert?!" Roxy protested in annoyance. Allen rolled his eyes and hissed.

"Normally I wouldn't mind, but we are in public for god's sake! Watch your manners! Come on, let's get out of here." Allen said firmly, grabbing a reluctant Roxy by the arm. Everyone watched in amusement as Roxy was dragged out, but were surprised when she took advantage of a single free arm to shoot.

"Innocence activate, Hellbiters, Level one!" Roxy hollered and fired at Regory who had his back turned to her. A strange creature that looked like the cross of a shark and an eel and was the size of a small dog wriggled out of the gun barrel and headed straight for him, biting straight into the butt of the unfortunate scientist. Regory howled in agony and tried to escape, only to continue to get nipped by the Hellbiter. Roxy gave way to a dark grin of triumph at this, only to yelp in pain when a gloved hand whacked the back of her head.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR YOU EFFING BASTARD?!" Roxy howled, glaring at Allen who had a look of disapproval and annoyance.

"How many times must I tell you NOT to unleash Hellbiters on others?" Allen questioned with a long suffering manner.

"But that was a perv for God's sake! I had to defend my dignity!" Roxy protested.

"Master's a pervert as well but I don't see you regularly unleashing Hellbiters on him." Allen answered deadpanned. Roxy opened her mouth, ready to argue, only to shut up and flush in embarrassment.

"He's my old man and Master too. If I unleash Hellbiters too many times, he'll just cuss and refuse to teach me how he manages to be a dead shot!" Roxy protested weakly. Allen wasn't convinced; he just stared at his older god sibling until she groaned in exasperation and turned back to the still running Regory who was having an unsuccessful time escaping the Hellbiter.

With a reluctant sigh, Roxy called out, "Hellbiter, cease attack and self-destruct." The Hellbiter immediately stopped biting Regory and promptly exploded, leaving no trace of its presence. Relieved, the battered scientist crawled to his feet, only to be stopped by a demonic smile from Roxy that guaranteed nightmares for the lecherous scientist.

"If you promise not to ogle anymore women, I will spare you. But if you ignore my warning, I'll ensure that you be my target practice when I'm using Hellbiter rounds. Understand?" Roxy said sharply. Regory nodded eagerly at this. Roxy smiled as she sheathed her guns and pulled over a chair to sit in while Allen gave her an approving pat on the head, earning him a glare as the curious crowd of scientists dispersed.

When it was lunchtime, Roxy was given her uniform. It consisted of a jacket that was mostly black with red highlights. There were also a pair of pants among the pile of clothes and it was all black, same as the boots provided which reached up to her mid calves. Someone had included a pair of gloves for her, and to Roxy's delight, new leather hostlers for her guns which she was quick to change and strap to her thighs.

Roxy was quick to change and reveal her new look to the boys who waited in the cafeteria. "What do you think?" Roxy asked, twirling around, showing off her new outfit. Needless to say, Lavi, once again, tried to hug her, only to get a punch to the jaw for his efforts. Allen and Lenalee praised her, while Link remained as impassive as ever. With that, they got their lunch and ate, chatting as they did.

That night, Roxy tossed and turned restlessly in her new bed while Talon slept on, oblivious to her restlessness. Giving up on sleep, Roxy slipped out of bed partly dressed in a white shirt and her new pants, before putting on her shoes and jacket. She rummaged in her backpack till she found a small black case. Satisfied, she left her room quietly, heading for the courtyard, which Allen had shown her during the day. Once out, Roxy breathed in the cool night air with a smile and headed for a bench. She sat upon it and opened the black case to reveal a silver harmonica.

With a sigh, Roxy fingered the silver instrument, tracing the name engraved upon it. 'Roxanne' was the name engraved, and inside the case was a slip of folded paper nestled in the red silk lining. Roxy took out the letter, and read it silently. It read:

'To my daughter Roxy,

Happy 16th birthday. I know it's totally unlike me to write you a letter OR give you a present in the first place, but seeing as to how you're quickly growing up into a headstrong woman who is ready to take on the world, I decided that a present was needed. Before you ask why I bought you this harmonica when you obviously can't play, the reason is because I saw you eyeing it the other day and also overheard you asking about the price. Since you liked it so much but can't afford it, I decided to get it for you using the money you and Allen had managed to earn.

You see, when I first met you one year ago and found out you were my daughter, I felt very guilty that I left your mother and you. I swear I had no idea that your mother was pregnant when I left her. So when I found out about you and also how she abused you as a kid, I felt guilty.

Damn it, I don't know how to write this at all without being too soppy. Sigh… Anyway, I decided to get you this harmonica seeing as to how I never showed you much care in the first place. Happy 16th birthday. Hope I didn't go wrong with the letter and harmonica. I decide to get it engraved to prove to you that this was not a random gift. Hope you like it. If you hate it, sell it, and then give me back my money. I still need the money to buy more wine. I'll leave this letter inside the case. Before you ask about the messy wrapping, I wanted to try it out, but failed. Hope you like the harmonica.

Cross Marian.'

Roxy wept silently, the tears flowing down her cheeks as she held the letter and instrument case tightly to her chest. She had found the case beneath her pillow on her 16th birthday. It was a messy and unknown bundle of wrapping paper at first sight, and Roxy had no idea what it was until she found the instrument case and the small letter concealed inside. Ever since then, she had treasured it and kept it close to her. She had tried to thank him during one of those rare moments when he was clear headed, only for him to brush him off. Still, she knew that her dad had been pleased through his actions when he had lessened the pile of debts a little, easing her burden.

"Dad", she whispered, "I miss you so much, so much it hurts." You promised. You promised you would always be by my side no matter what, be it by mind or by physical presence. " 'I can never die from a lowly akuma attack like that.' That was what you told me, remember? I still remember that day, when you got hurt trying to save my life. I was mad at you for risking your life, but you told me that I was important since I was an Exorcist. You were in so much pain that you had to go to the hospital but when I called you a fool for hiding your pain, you just looked at me, called me an idiot for calling you a fool. You said you were strong. But I saw into your eye. I saw that small sadness you tried to hide when you saw me mad at you. So I never said anything. You are a fool for breaking your promise, a stupid fool who abandoned his own daughter."

She didn't know how long she stayed there, the tears flowing freely now that there was no one to see her grieve. With trembling hands, she scrubbed her face clean of tears and picked the harmonica up. After a slight hesitation, she began to play.

Granted, she didn't know how to play the harmonica, seeing as to how she never got formal lessons. Then again, learning from scratch was something Roxy was used to. Heck, she had no time or money for lessons anyway, seeing as to how they always travelled and had little money to spend thanks to her idiot old man. Still, Roxy felt pleased that she still could play rather well, albeit out of tune in a few places and also some glaring mistakes that made her wince. She was halfway through her first attempt when she sensed the presence. She ignored it.

It was at the end of her second attempt on the harmonica that Roxy decided that the idiot who was bothering her wasn't leaving, so she sighed, putting down the harmonica even as she called out, not bothering to look. "Whoever you are, you're annoying me, and I hate people who annoy me. Do you know that I used to carve up people with my scythe or riddle them with holes just for annoying me? If you do not want that fate, please, show yourself before I get mad."

A chuckle answered her bored litany and the person who had chuckled stepped into a vision, revealing a very familiar face. He had short brown hair that was slicked back neatly, and sharp eyes stared at her as gloved hands came together to make a muffled clapping sound. "Excellent observation there, Miss Roxanne Wilder Cross, daughter to the deceased General Cross Marian himself, my name is Special Inspector Malcolm C. Lveille. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

Roxy stared at the Inspector with undisguised hostility in her gaze. Putting away her harmonica in the case, she closed it with a snap before she spoke. "I know who you are, Inspector. It was you who accused Allen of being the Fourteenth Noah, and also future traitor to the Black Order. And you should know very well that I hate the name Roxanne, since Link is your spy." Each word she said dripped with undisguised hatred as she slowly got up, stuffing the harmonica case into her jacket before she summoned her scythe once more and stalked forward to the Inspector.

"Now tell me, what do you really want from me?" Roxy hissed, swinging her scythe so that the long blade was inches away from his neck. The Inspector did not move, and when he tried to intimidate her by staring her down, Roxy was prepared and showed her ghost eyes to him.

As a child, Roxy had been born with pale eyes, paler than her mother's, so pale that her mother once called her a freak with ghost eyes during her drug hazes. This had led Roxy to hate her own eyes, but it proved useful sometimes when she had to intimidate others. And it seemed effective, since she saw the Inspector blink in shock, before recovering his composure. He spoke then. "Are you threatening me?"

Roxy gave way to a small bark of laughter. "Me, threaten an Inspector like you? No thanks. You're not worth my time." With that, Roxy removed the scythe from its position and waved her hand over it, this time inwards along the staff itself. The scythe disappeared in the same bright green smoke as before when she first summoned it for Hevlaska. The Inspector spoke again. "That scythe contains the Heart, correct?" His sharp gaze was now filled with fascination as he looked at her.

Ignoring him, Roxy made sure to bump him as she moved past him, heading for her room. But the Inspector's next words stopped her. "Walker will become the Fourteenth Noah one day, and if he shows any signs of becoming a Noah, all Exorcists have been ordered to report it at once. If he does turn into a Noah, they have also been instructed to kill him immediately. Can you do that to someone who is the last link to your father and also the one whom you call 'brother'?" Roxy sighed at this, before calling back a reply.

"Firstly, Allen will never become a Noah willingly. His faith is too strong for him to submit to that fact. Secondly, Noah or not, I will do anything to protect him because, he is my friend and my brother, Allen Walker, not the Noah, the Exorcist, the Musician or the Fourteenth. He is, to me, Allen Walker, my annoying little god brother whom I love to tease so much. Nothing will ever change that fact, so good night, Special Inspector Malcolm C. Lveille." With that small declaration done, Roxy headed for her room, leaving the Inspector in the courtyard.

That night, in her room, Roxy gazed out of the window, her jacket on the back of the chair. "I will protect him for you, Father. That's a promise!" With that, she turned in for the night, her mind eased of its burden.

Raychaell: All right! Love it? Review then! And before I forget, the next chapter will be an Omake! I will be taking in requests for funny pairings or hilarious situations. Simply review and tell me what you want and I'll dedicate that idea to you! A sneak peek of the next chapter:

"Eliade! I've missed you so much!" Krory cried out happily, clinging on to the confused Roxy.

"Eh? But my name's Roxy, NOT Eliade!" Roxy replied, trying unsuccessfully to push the lovesick Exorcist away while Allen, Lavi, Lenalee, and Timothy laughed away in the background.

Love it? Want more? Then review with more ideas and those that I like will get written out!