Note: I'm back to business, so rejoice!

Tale Six: A Sinner is Always a Sinner

On that starry night, the melodious sound of piano being played gracefully and a muffled voice singing a sort of lullaby was heard in a house, in a room where the only thing that can be found was a grand white piano, keys were of opposite color of the normal ones. Five people occupied the room. Four were at the back, standing and listening as they watched the white haired one hit the piano keys with his gentle gloved hands. All of them were drawn to the song like they were enchanted by a powerful spell that made them feel light in the inside, though there was this mixed emotions built up in their chests. They couldn't explain it in words, but they knew the song was something enchanted, haunted. It was like; its meaning behind those lyrics varies to each person to synchronize with the rhythm of their hearts.

"And with that the boy slowly falls into a state of sleep.~

Among the ash, gentle flames starting to ignite.~

First comes one, then another.~

What comes out are many faces that were once mine.~

Onto the earth it's so gently slips through.~

Many dreams, many dreams.~

The night that those silver eyes were shaking.~

A being shine so bright; a being that became you.~

No matter how fast the years would go by.~

Our prayers, let them return to the Earth in which they belong.~

My prayers they will never ceased to go on.~

Promise to show our child how to love.~

With the kiss sealed the hand, which you hold.~"

Allen sang, notes fading into the air.

Lenalee was in tears after hearing the song. She never heard that before and never heard a song that was that wonderful. "Allen, that was so...so...great! I didn't know you had this angelic voice. You should join the music club!" she said, whilst wiping her tears with her handkerchief.

"I wish I'm as good as onii-sama..." Timothy frowned, but beamed a second later and said, "But, you really are a prodigy!"

"Well, it's not that I'm praising you, but it sound good." leaning on the wall at the corner was Kanda with arms folded.

"Wahh~ Yuu praised Allen! I'm so happy! Tol'ja he's awesome!" Lavi squealed.

"Tch." a tick mark popped on Kanda's cheek when he heard the bunny mentioned his given name, thus, he stomped his feet forward up to the oblivious idiotic rabbit, who was busy patting Allen's head, and did the head lock.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Stop! It hurts!" he exclaimed, hands flailing.

"I told you NOT to call me that!"

"Yes! Yes! Kanda, stop! Just stop it! Yer killin' meeeeehhh!"

"Tch." satisfied, Kanda let go of him.

"Oh, Allen. Would you like me to inform nii-san about what happened earlier?" Lenalee asked, phone, which was filled with her brother's missed calls, ready to call.

"No thanks, I'll inform him myself tomorrow." said Allen, though he had no intention of reporting the incident to anyone.

"Is that so? Well, make sure you don't forget, okay?"

"Yeah."

"We should get going, Allen. Gramps will give me a grand welcome back if I got home late."

"Okay. I'll see you out." Allen then lead them out to the gate and bid a goodbye with Timothy on his side.

It doesn't matter if they will be punished for what they have done to me. They are the type of people who will never stop doing things in which they like. He thought as he watched the backs of his friends.

+++oOo+++

The following morning, Allen Walker of year one class A found himself walking through hallways of cold eyes staring at him warily, afraid of his existence, as he made his way to the principal's office once again. It felt like they were backing away from him though they were not moving from their spots. Those cold eyes, those stares, the feeling of uneasiness they radiated when he was near them, he knew it. Allen knew that his classmates took a picture of him with his scar wide open for everyone to see while he was unconscious and sent it to his friends who later sent to another group of friends until everyone had it, the picture of Allen Walker with the mark of the devil. Well, what had happened happened and he couldn't care less at all. Those eyes staring at him didn't bother him at all. He knew because of what had happened yesterday he was summoned to the principal's office and maybe this time, Komui Lee, the principal, will expel him if not because of the Higher Ups who wished it to happen after learning about his secret that even he himself didn't know what it was.

Does my scar really that big of a deal? It's just a scar- a peculiar one- I got from somewhere out there.

Allen turned left. It was the same from the gate. The students that loitered, chatted with their friends, suddenly fell in silence as they noticed a mop of white hair and came in the freshman student, Allen Walker, with straight face as if nothing was wrong. Allen continued walking to where he believe he would find the principal's office, not paying heed at his surroundings until he reached the dead end and no door which had the sign of 'Principal's Office'. Oh, dear… he sighed inwardly as he stared at the wall in front of him, mocking. He whipped his head around to ask one of the loitering students the right way, but was welcomed by a deserted hallway. That was pretty fast. Did the bell ring already? I didn't notice there are no more students here. Where was he, he didn't know. But, he knew he was somewhere in the third floor around the corner. Just somewhere where there were no students and only him at that time, standing at the middle of the way. That was when he felt pain in his chest. A pain that felt so familiar like he has been in that kind of state where everyone condemned him for his existence.

"You are an existence that shouldn't exist."

Allen gasped, horrified at the sudden voice he heard inside his mind. Was he remembering something from his past? Or could it be from a dream he couldn't remember?

"How you exist is a mystery itself."

His eyes widened. He was trembling, feeling cold in the inside.

"You must die."

"No…" he trailed off; he wrapped his arms around his body desperately.

"…must die… you must die…" it repeated, haunting him.

"No…" Allen felt weak suddenly. He dropped on his knees, now hyperventilating. What was happening to him? Who was that person telling him he must die? "No…Allen, get a hold of yourself. It must be my dream- or maybe nightmare- just before I woke up this morning."

"Can you…hear me?"

He gasped again. That voice… that voice sounds so familiar, sounds so painstakingly familiar.

"Can you hear me? Allen…?"

Allen didn't know who those voices are, but the latter sounds so familiar to him. Where did he hear that voice?

Despite not knowing anything from his past in which at first made him afraid of not knowing anything, Allen chose the path he was currently living in. Just the thought about his past which he couldn't remember only made his head ache. And so, Allen fought back against those voices and stood on his feet, recomposing.

"Just forget about it. I still have something which was more important than those voices echoing inside my once messed up head." Allen, now back to his normal self, frowned at the thought of finding his way to the principal's office on his own. "It will take me some time, though." With one last sigh, Allen retraced back to where he had been before turning to that corner. It took him almost half an hour before he found the right place. Without wasting any more time as he was already late for the class, Allen knocked on the wooden door twice and only did he come in when Komui told him to come in.

"Did you get lost again?" was the first thing Allen heard from the principal.

"Yes. Sorry, sir."

"It's okay. I understand." He said, leaning forward on his desk. "I supposed you already know why I called you here?"

"Yes, sir." He replied. He knew it already. This was the end of his normal school days. It was a shame though. He had just started and it hasn't been a week yet, but now it was the end for him.

"But, Allen. If you like, I can offer you a job and I'm sure the Higher Ups would be greatful to have you there." Komui smiled, resting his chin on his palms.

"What?" Allen asked, dumbfounded. "I thought the Higher Ups would like me to vanish from the face of the earth now that they learned I had this demonic symbol on my face. Though demons don't exist." He whispered the last sentence, his eyes landed on the floor.

"Actually… they are already aware of your existence here in academy. They allowed you here as long as the students are still oblivious of your scar. But, please hear me out. This would be beneficial to you. You might gain something you've been longing for. Maybe you will find him."

Allen snapped his head back and stared at Komui, bewildered. How did he know I was looking for someone? Was the question that left his mind.

+++oOo+++

"Hey, Kanda. I've been thinking this for a while since last night." Lavi's voice broke the stillness of air around Kanda. They were writing on their notes what was written on the board about the England's history which was Lavi's favourite subject and it was not like him to talk in this period. So Kanda thought it must be something really important.

"What is it?" he asked the red head bunny behind him without tearing his eyes off the board and the notebook he was writing on.

"There are two things." he answered, tapping his pen on his chin as he gazed outside the window.

"And those are…?"

"One; why the security system did not notice the incident yesterday. And two; didn't Allen looked familiar to you?"

"… one, the culprits must have diverted the golems attention to someone else.-"

"But, there were a lot of students."

"When? We did not know when they did it. Maybe when the classes started, that's likely."

"Oh, right."

"And about the second thing… now that you mentioned it, he really looks familiar…no, he looks like someone we know…" Kanda trailed off as he stopped scribbling on his notes and they both gasped when they realized something. Kanda looked back to see Lavi with the same reaction as his. "Could it be…"

"…that he was the kid from five years ago…" Lavi added Kanda's unfinished sentence with such surprise.

. . . .

Kanda's surprised expression turned into someone that had lose interest in something he once liked and turned back to his notes and resumed on writing.

Alarmed, Lavi stood without their history teacher noticing him and hovered behind the Japanese. "What's up with that reaction?"

"It's ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?"

"Yes. How could someone who died years ago came back into life with different appearance?"

"Maybe he was reincarnated?"

"Idiot." Kanda grunted.

"What? He could be!"

"How could someone be reincarnated now that they look like they were in the same age?"

"…Point taken. But, Kanda. You think that kid did not die at all?"

"Possible. But, they're still different."

"Yeah. The hair and scar. It's possible he dyed his hair white now and has been hiding his scar ever since."

"It is not impossible. And now I suggest you to quit it now before we get caught." Kanda said as he wrote one more sentence on his note, and then he looked back to the board, but instead of board he saw the smiling face of their teacher an inch away from his shock one.

"We're caught already, Kanda." Lavi smiled wryly.

And so, the two found their way to their detention with Kanda muttering something like 'I shouldn't have talked to him.' and 'I'm craving for an idiot rabbit stew.'

Little did they know, there was more than the detention.

+++oOo+++

By the time Allen was done with the things Komui had told him, it was already lunch so he went upstairs to the rooftop instead of cafeteria. The cafeteria was wide enough to accommodate all hungry students and served systematically to avoid too much crowd in a line. There were also enough tables for everyone and the atmosphere was good enough to have a decent lunch. Despite the conveniences Allen chose the rooftop to have lunch because he felt free and unrestricted when he was alone in a place where you can see the sky and feel the gust of wind. In this place he can relax much better than anywhere else.

In this place no one will look at him like an outcast.

"An outcast, huh." He said as he stuffed his mouth with rice dumplings.

Since morning Allen was disturbed after what had happen to him before talking to Komui. Those two different voices, one wanted him off dead while the other one wanted him…

What was it?

He asked, not knowing what the latter wanted him to.

He sounds so gentle and caring… so familiar…

"Can you hear me?"

He remembered the voice asked him.

Yes. I can hear you, but… who are you?

He remembered the feeling of being an outcast with those eyes staring at him.

I've never felt this way before even though I am used to the stares and attention I get because of my odd hair, but their stares were on a different level. It feels like they wanted me to…

"You must die… DIE!"

Allen gasped, his spoon dropped on the floor, spilling its contents. What was that just now, he didn't know. He just suddenly felt the chill run down his spine and trembled for some reason.

Allen knew nothing about his past even though Cross had told him everything he had to know, and that was what made him scared. He was afraid to know who he used to be. He was afraid to know why his hair is white and why the scar. He was afraid to learn what really caused his coma.

He was afraid to learn the whole truth.

What if I murdered someone before? He thought.

Ten minutes before lunch break was over, Allen got up from his spot and climbed down the stairs. Just when he was about to turn in a corner someone grabbed him by shoulders and before he knew it, he was back at the rooftop.

Allen sat on the very same spot he was when he had lunch not long ago, his back resting on the wall behind him. He looked up to see those same four guys who made fun of him one Monday morning. He looked up at them, void of emotions. He didn't know what was running in their minds, but he knew so well that, as usual, they were up to no good again. They were the type of people who will do everything to satisfy their selves after all.

The four looked down at Allen and their leader smirked at him, arms folded.

"I never thought you are hiding a big secret, Walker." he said.

"So I was right." Said Allen as he stood and dusted himself.

"Huh? What're you talking about?"

"I said I was right about thinking that you four were the ones who locked me up yesterday."

"Yeah, yeah. So? What about it? Are ya goin' tah report us? I heard you were called to the principal's office this morning that's why you weren't around since first period until lunch break."

"Yep, and that's thanks to you. Whether they found out my secret or not, I'm not planning to report you. I never planned to ever since."

"Ohhh… how kind of you!"

"I'm not. It's just that… hmmm… how do I put this?" Allen said, pondering, and added, "It's a waste of time-?" he was cut just before he could finished his sentence as he was punched by the leader of the four on his right cheek. Allen landed on his left.

"Hah! You deserve it!" said one of the three goons.

"Don't talk to our boss like yer mighty!" the other one snickered.

"You're nothing but a piece of shit!" the last one remarked the last word.

"Haah…" Allen sighed. He felt something hot trickled down his chin. He reached out and rubbed it with the back of his hand and saw crimson red stained his white gloves. "Blood…" he whispered in a low, almost inaudible, voice laced with menace and rage. His voice sounded like not his own as his personality change into one who would commit crime more willingly than anyone else in a blink of an eye.

Never in his life did he felt so enraged before as far as he could remember. He couldn't tell which made him so mad. Was it because he got another punch on the other side of his face to make it even or was it because he was called 'a piece of shit'? Either way, it doesn't matter anymore. All he wanted to do was to kill.

Kill?

Allen blinked. When did he ever think of killing anyone?

Fighting back the urge to kill, Allen stood calmly, face hidden behind those shadows.

This is not right. I need to calm down before I lose control of myself. He thought. He then inhaled deeply and exhaled.

"Now it's even." He said. He straightened up his posture and looked at them as calm and collected as he used to be which surprised the four. They knew not long ago Allen was so enraged just by looking at him even though they did not hear his voice at that moment and couldn't see his face. They just knew. They could feel it as clear as the bright blue sky.

"W-what're you talking about 'it's even'?" the guy who gave him a punch stuttered.

"You punched me on my left cheek the other day, and now on my right. So it's even now. Thanks a lot." He smiled. "I don't know how tough your life was until now to make one submit into your desires. I thought you are only just doing this to get the attention of your parents who does not have much time to look after you or even bother to ask how your school was. But, you can't have me to report you just to get your parents attention."

There was silence between Allen and the four who were bullying him.

Allen knew it. He hit the right nail.

The three who were standing behind their leader looked down, sadness painted their faces, knowing that Allen was right. While the remaining of the four hated to admit it. Allen was right that his parents had no time for him, but he wasn't doing this to Allen just to draw the attention of his parents. He was just doing it to satisfy himself.

But that guy was not aware that he wanted his parents to notice him at least once.

"You…" he growled, clenching his fists. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!? DON'T TALK LIKE YOU KNEW EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T KNOW A THING!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Yeah. I'm afraid I know nothing. Sorry."

The four stared at him in disbelief.

"What…?" they asked in unison in which Allen almost giggled.

"I know nothing despite knowing all the principles here on Earth. I don't know what it feels like to have someone to call 'mom' and 'dad' because I have none. I don't even know myself because I have long lost my identity. I don't know when I spent my time with my parents was, but I'm sure you all have the memories to recall those times while I have none. I just woke up one day without knowing anything despite knowing everything in this world." Allen answered, thinking back to those days when he was still mentally unstable, had nothing to start, and alone while staring up at the sky right above him with a sad smile gracing his pale face. He closed his eyes just when the wind blew; caressing his skin soothingly as if the nature was comforting him. Allen was about to tell more when he heard sobs, and so he looked back at the four who were crying like an elephant. "EH!? What happen to you?"

"Your words *sniff* doesn't make se-sense, but *sniff*… but…" the leader said between sobs and trailed off.

"WE'RE SO SORRY!" was the next words Allen heard from them as they bowed their heads

"Anyway…Walker…" he looked at Allen, still crying. "I dunno what th' hell you were talkin' 'bout… *sniiiiiiif* but, I- I can feel it… yer not talking to us by words, but by HEARTS! *sniff* so… so… tell 'em what we did to you… *sniff* it is the right thing to do. *sniff* we've done horrible things to you after all. *sniff* so it's better if you just go and report us…"

"That's right! We're sorry! *sob*" the three behind the guys chorused.

"I know informing them is the right thing to do, but like what I had said earlier, I have no plans of doing so."

"… Why…?" their voice quivered.

"Because… no matter how much punishment you give to the sinner, no matter how much a sinner repent, the sinner will always repeat his mistakes since it is the only way a human can feel satisfaction. No matter how heavy the punishment is, once a human commits a sin, it will never change the fact that he had sinned. No matter what kind the punishment is, a sinner will never change unless he is willing to. You know, I don't believe in God. But, if there is I know he won't hurt his children to punish them. It was the children's wrong doings that made them think they were being punished"

"*sniff* SO MEAN!" they wailed.

"Ahaha. Sorry, but that's what I believe. So, that is why I do not report you to be punished. But you know what, if you take the other way round, a sinner can repent where he could never repeat the mistake. Take what happened to us as an example." He smiled.

"Walker…*sniff* You're so kind…"

"Thanks, uhmm…"

"The name's Capernaum Cameron."

"Hm. Thanks Cameron. How about those three, what're your names?"

"Calvin White."

"Job Kingston."

"And I'm Tristram Marvolé"

"…My, you have such unlucky names…" said Allen.

"What do you mean?" Capernaum asked.

"I read a site before where I was looking for a good name for my friend. Apparently, even in websites I got lost because I went into a wrong site and found out that there are names with bad meanings like yours. Calvin means baldy, Job means persecuted, Tristram means sad, and Cameron means crooked nose while your given name means city of repentance. Well, isn't that bad at all? You're still lucky you got your first name with good meaning unlike your goons."

"WALKER! YOU'RE SO MEAN!" yelled Calvin who had it worst.

"Then, what's the meaning of yours?" Tristram asked.

"My name…?" this time, Allen smirked triumphantly like a demon in closet. It has been a long time since he felt this way. No thanks to Cross Marian. "Walker means fuller while my given name means stone, noble, or harmony. Also, fair and handsome. It was originally a saint's name."

His name really fits him.

Allen is a stone because no matter how much he was hurt he still did not wither.

Allen is a noble because he acts like one.

Allen is harmony because he wanted everyone to live their lives in peace and united as one.

Allen is fair and handsome because he simply is fair and handsome.

Allen is saint because he is special and exceptional.

His name really fits him.

His name had a very beautiful meaning despite leaving one fact.

And that was…

Walker means fuller or the one who walks on damp clothes to thicken.