Author's Notes: Yes, I know what I said about probably not being able to update. Well, I actually still am busy writing my proseminar paper, but I needed a break. X3 And I wanted to give you people some time to review innocenct giggle

This chapter's not very eventful. You know how it happens in the Manga and it's not that different in here, though I try not to make it boring. Uh, I hope.

Disclaimer: D.Gray-Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino

Kapitel 3: First impressions of the Dark Order

"This… is a joke…" Ellen stood at the mountains foot and stared up. There was no road upwards and Timcampy already was floating higher and higher. "You cannot expect me to climb!", she whined and looked down, "And I wanted to put on the nice dress! Sir Tim! Do not ignore a lady's cry for mercy!". The golden golem came back, but Ellen didn't even have the time to be relieved, as Timcampy bit her ear. "Why, you!!", she shrieked and held her bleeding ear, "you will make me forget my manners!", she yelled, then she looked back up. "It will be night when I get up!". Fortunately Mana had taught her how to climb and she was quite good at it, but that didn't mean she was able to climb this mountain! But she was going to give it a try. "I will sleep when I get there!", she shouted as if it was the battle cry she needed to start climbing.

Ellen didn't have a watch but she knew that hours must have passed as the sky has already turned a dark and chilly blue and her hands were sore and bleeding. She had forced herself to never look down and just go on climbing. Tim was floating next to her, chewing on her ear when she didn't go on. "Do not worry, Sir Tim. I do not want to give up here. I cannot! I would die if I let go and I am not that stupid". Her stomach growled and she wailed. "I am hungry!!!". She looked up and saw that the she was almost at the top. She grit her teeth and put a lot of effort into the last remaining meters and finally, after what seemed an eternity, she pulled herself up on even ground. "I got up! I got up!!". She lay down flat on the floor, panting, feeling like she could faint anytime. "I hope they have a bed ready for me…", Ellen whispered, then she stood up and dusted the dirt off her clothes. She looked up and saw a large, black tower rising far up into the clouds. "You… Not really…". She hadn't expected something that looked as if it might by the headquarters of a dark and evil organisation, but a church or cathedral. This was getting ridiculous! Maybe Cross was just pulling her leg with all of this talk about exorcists! But then she thought of Mana and calmed down. "Maybe they just want to scare those of a faint-hearted nature away", she tried to convince herself and marched towards the door, "not that I actually think anyone with a faint heart would make it up here. Thank God I made it. And thank Mana for all his teaching me useful things", she mumbled and reached the huge gates which she took for the main entrance. The young girl examined the strange door which had a relief of an incredibly huge gargoyle-like face as decoration. "I may become an exorcist and Cross might have sent me here but…", she whispered to herself and looked at Timcampy, "this is NOT a Church!". The golden golem just ignored her and Ellen sighed. "Is there no handle to knock?", she wondered, then she breathed in and chose to disgrace herself just a little bit, so as to get herself noticed.

"Excuse me? This is the Black Order, right? I was sent here by General Marian Cross to become an exorcist", she shouted, her cheeks blushing a bit at her loud voice. For two silent minutes nothing happened, then a voice out of nowhere thundered:

"We have to get you checked, please let the Gatekeeper examine you".

"Thank you very much", she answered and went nearer to the door which she expected to open. But when the stone relief suddenly burst to life and started to talk she couldn't help but shriek in terror.

"Beginning x-Ray Examination", the 'gatekeeper', or so Ellen thought, still trying to calm down, said and his eyes stared at her. Ellen just stared back, then she put on a more polite face.

"My name is Ellen Walker. I am very pleased to meet you", she introduced herself to the stone, which did nothing but stare at her for a long moment, but Ellen could swear she saw sweat forming on his stony surface as his face showed confusion. She did not expect him to start yelling.

"He's cursed! Cursed! Out with him! He's an ally of the Earl! Cursed!!". Ellen was very startled and couldn't even reply but she heard the voices of the people yelling at each other over the gatekeeper's wailing.

"Oh, please, this is a misunderstanding!", Ellen tried to calm everyone quite frantically, but she didn't have much success. "I am not an ally of this earl. I am an exorcist!". Right after she had yelled this she was yanked backwards by her hair. She just could make out Sir Tim with a silky strand in his mouth before she heard a loud bang and the dust whirled up just where she had been standing merely a second before. Through the dust she saw the figure of a human and as the person stepped nearer she could see a young man with a sword, pointing in her direction.

"What an impertinent fool you are, scum! Coming here alone!", he shouted and took a swing with his sword. Ellen, having no other means of protection, raised her suitcase to block the attack. Surprisingly it didn't cut in two and Ellen took this moment of the other's surprise to make explanations.

"Please here me out! I am an exorcist! I do not want to fight any of you!", she clumsily let the suitcase drop to the floor, where it opened up. Ellen looked down and saw a letter lying on a few clothes. Before she could take it up the young man in front of her took it. While he wasn't busy with pointing the sword in her face, Ellen could get a better look at his face. He was a foreigner, most probably Asian. He had long, black hair tied up in a pony tail and he wore an exorcist's uniform, like her master. He was good looking, but had a scary face.

"This is addressed to Komui", the man said.

"Well Kanda, then open it", a voice said, from an – to Ellen – unknown source, and this Kanda did as he was told, "and read it out loud"

"To Komui. I'm sending you my idiot student Walker to train. Signed, Cross", he read.

"Then what are we waiting for, let him in! Timcampy should be enough proof". Ellen sighed in relief and picked up her suitcase.

"I don't believe him", Kanda said and again pointed his sword at Ellen's surprised face. "he's cursed".

"I am, yes… But", Ellen started, but didn't get far as right at this moment a young woman smashed her clipboard on Kanda's head. Kanda stared at her, but she ignored the evil glare she received.

"Stop fighting you two. Come in please", she said and Ellen realized that she must be Asian too. But her skirt was awfully short, which caused the young girl to blush.

"Oh my!!", she thought to herself, "does she have no shame?". Kanda was growling, mostly at Ellen, but he obeyed and went in with the other two girls.

The entrance hall was huge and all made of polished stone. It didn't seem very inviting to Ellen, but the girl was smiling at her, which put her mind at ease.

"I am Linali Li, nice to meet you", she greeted and Ellen smiled at her and made a ladylike bow, which seemed to surprise Linali.

"The pleasure is all mine Miss Li. I am Ellen Walker". Linali just laughed awkwardly, but Ellen paid no attention to this, as she saw the Asian man take his leave.

"Excuse me for the trouble", she told him, her hand on his elbow, but he just shot her a glare. Not put off by this very much, Ellen showed him a sincere smile and dusted off her clothes. "Well, Mister Kanda, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance", she said and made another bow, lower this time, which seemed to surprise Kanda as much as it did Linali, but he just growled and walked away.

"Don't mind him, he's always grumpy when he gets back from missions". Ellen still followed the retreating form of the man with her gaze.

"Is that so… My, I do not intend to talk about people behind their backs, but he seems like a curious fellow", she admitted fingers on her cheek, then turned to the other young woman. She took it as her cue to continue talking.

"Well. I will now lead you to the supervisor. Shall we?". Ellen nodded politely and followed the taller woman with timid steps. Linali lead her to the most important parts of the Dark Order on their way to the supervisor. "The Dark Order is a home for most of the Exorcists, so I hope you too will feel at home here. We'll get you a room of your own".

"So it is like a monastery…", Ellen wondered, upon which Linali turned around with a questioning look on her face.

"It isn't exactly. Exorcists from all over the world get dispatched from here. They are not required to live here, but most do…", Linali explained. Ellen looked quite puzzled, but tried her best to hide it.

"I see. That is why you are here too, right Miss Li? You are not of European descent, am I right?"

"Ah, you can call be Linali, Allen", Linali said pleasantly, "But you're right. There aren't that many exorcists. But what did General Cross teach you?", she wondered. Ellen put her gloved hand to her mouth.

"I must admit, that there was not much time for teaching. I was faced with… an Akuma and Cross was informed of this it seems. He ordered me to follow him, but he actually put it that I would be joining an order, so that I could get over my curse", she admitted, "I am not sure my mother would have let me go had she known that I would be required to go to war". Ellen sighed and looked forward, where a stairway lead up to an upper floor. "But to war I go… I would never have imagined that I would have to fight…". Linali patted her back and smiled at her.

"No need to worry so much. You are an exorcist, you will pull through. And we surely won't send you unprepared. Don't worry", she assured and Ellen nodded. "Now come, my brother is waiting".

This brother of Linali seemed to be an overly-cheerful man, who adored his little sister to an extent Ellen would have considered ridiculous if not for the rudeness of such a thought.

"Now, we don't get many pupils of Cross!", Komui Li said, and finally turned his attention from Linali to the newly arrived exorcist. "Welcome to the Black Order, Allen Walker!". He shook Ellen's hand. "Now. Could I please see your Innocence?". The request made Ellen blush in shame, because it made her feel uneasy to show anyone her ugly hand. But she convinced herself that this man could help her and wouldn't be put off. So she took of her jacked, rolled up her sleeve and pulled off the glove. Her arm seemed to catch Komui's interest immediately and he even put down his coffee mug for once. "A parasitic type I see".

"I beg you pardon?", asked Ellen with a confused frown as he didn't explain what he meant by it.

"Oh, I reckon you don't know about Innocence types yet. A parasitic Innocence is quite rare you must know. The Innocence takes hold of some body part, it resides inside the body of its conformer host, so to speak. It lies off the host's life powers but in turn can grant him or her its destructive power". Ellen listened to this description with slight disgust. "Ah, don't pull such a face, boy! Every Innocence is unique, but among them, the parasitic ones are even more valuable!".

"Very well, Mister Li… But…"

"Could you activate the Innocence for me?", Komui cut her short before she could correct his assumption about her sex. As he only received a blank stare from Ellen he frowned, "you don't know how to activate it?"

"You mean, make it change form?", Ellen wanted to know and Komui nodded, "No I do not. I made it change two times in my life. Both times I encountered those Akuma. But I cannot control the Innocence. It controls me", she said with a queer face, visibly put off by it. Komui laughed and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. I must say that it is unusual that exorcists are being sent here without any knowledge. They actually should get trained by their masters. But rest assured, we will teach you everything you need to know instead".

"That is very kind of you…", she said with a small smile, then she pulled down her sleeve again, "if you do not mind me asking… If you say we should get instructed by our masters…"

"Cross didn't do his job. Yes", Komui confirmed with a huge grin plastered on his face. It quite got on Ellen's nerves, because this was not the time to be cheerful, but she only showed a polite smile in return, "and as you are officially his student we can't assign you to another tutor"

"That is a shame, Mister Li. But putting this matter aside, how do you intent to teach me? And what actually?", Ellen wondered. Komui played around with his mug, but smiled at her in a kind way, which calmed Ellen very much.

"I told you not to worry, Allen. You will learn everything in time. We are wiser than to just throw you out onto the battlefield. Which Cross would probably do…", he told her with a thoughtful expression. Ellen thought it best to stay silent. Komui laughed again as he saw the girl's face. "But we won't. No, no. We might be short on exorcist, but we are not short on common sense. So, now… I guess it would be best to assign you to a senior exorcist, who will then guide and teach you as much as possible".

"Oh. I could do that, brother", Linali said cheerfully and smiled at Ellen, which the girl returned.

"Oh noooo! Not my cute Linali! I can't do that! I need you here, my darling sister!", Komui began to wail and Linali rolled her eyes.

"Then who do you have in mind?", she asked. Komui regained his composure and looked through the papers littering his desk.

"Well… I would have liked Rabi to do the job, he's very good at teaching stuff and good natured too. But he left for a longer mission with Bookman just yesterday". Ellen wondered if either Rabi or Bookman (which was a highly strange name, she mused) could be the handsome pirate-exorcist she saw the previous day. She certainly would enjoy looking at him a little longer. But this was not a proper thought to dwell on for any longer, so she just listened to Komui thinking aloud. "Well… Kanda just returned from his mission…"

"Oh, brother…", Linali sighed and shook her head.

"I know that he's not very sociable, but he is more than able to do the job…"

"Brother… This is not a 'job', this is a very important responsibility for anyone to do. There is a reason why generals instruct the new members…"

"Of course, my sharp little Linali, but in the end the new exorcists do not necessarily train with them. And Kanda's the best exorcist we've got right now. Next to you of course, my darling sister!!"

"Excuse my intrusion, but are you speaking of the gentleman we met at the door?", Ellen inquired and the siblings looked at her with surprised faces. It was probably the first time anyone gave the title 'gentleman' to Kanda. But Ellen was very generous when it came to see people in the best light, at least most of the time.

"Ah… Yes, we are", Linali answered once she got over the shock. "But you got to know him right? He would only be annoyed"

"Indeed. If my instructor were to be annoyed it certainly would have an effect on the quality of his teachings… But then again… If he is able I might just like to claim his service". Komui snorted a good natured laugh.

"You see, my dear Linali? He knows what's best for him!"

"Brother. You still ignore the fact that Kanda won't do this willingly. And Allen is new to all of this. Kanda might just be too violent… And short-tempered above all!", Linali tried to reason, but Komui would have nothing of it.

"I've decided on it! It is the perfect match! We saw that Allen can stand his ground when faced with Kanda's Mugen!", he shouted. Linali only brought her hand to her face and muttered:

"Yes, when armoured with a suitcase…", then she looked at Ellen, who was politely waiting for them to take action. "Allen. We will leave this matter to my brother. You must be tired. I'll show you to your room"

"This would be very kind indeed, Linali", Ellen said and bid the strange scientist good-bye. The two girls left the science lab and Linali guided her to her room.

"So. How old are you? And where are you from?", Linali wanted to know just after they stopped in front of a door.

"I will turn 15 and I am from the city of London", Ellen answered.

"And you lived with your mother before?", Linali wondered when she opened the door to Ellen's new room. The white haired girl glanced into it; it was not very big, the floor was made of cold stone, just like the walls. There was a single small bed, a drawer and a small writing table, just next to an equally small window.

"I did", Ellen answered and turned back to Linali, "my father died when I was two. My uncle and mother have taken care of me since then". Linali nodded with a small smile. "Thank you very much for taking care of me. I really appreciate it", Ellen said and bowed to Linali.

"Ah. No. Don't worry. This is home after all! We all take care of each other! You'll feel safe here in no time!", the Chinese girl assured her. Ellen smiled and nodded. "I have to go now or my brother will worry. I will see you tomorrow then!".

"Very well. Good Night, Linali".

"Good Night!". Ellen shut the door after Linali, turned around and then put her damaged suitcase down. She slipped out of her shoes and kneeled down, next to her bed.

"Dear Mother… I finally arrived at the Black Order… Mana, thank you so much for all your teaching, or I would not have made it so far…", her hand glided over the thin blanket, head resting against the cold bed frame. "But I am still only at the beginning… Have faith in me… Both of you…".

To be continued...

Notes:

Now you know why I didn't want Cross to train Ellen. lol. You'll see how Komui's genius plan will work out, but you can guess if you want to. lol

Poor Ellen, things will change for her from here on. X3

Reviews are always nice, because they feed my ego. :3

Next chapter will be out around Saturday (I guess)