Goodbye 2013! Hello 2014!

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I thank these following people above for reading, following, reviewing, and for adding this to your favourites and also to the guests out there, thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful 2014.

Enjoy!

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Night Five

"How is he?" sipping her tea though it was late at night to drink, mother asked the man who entered the dining room.

"He talked." he said and mother tilted her head up to face Cross, eyes widening each moment with happiness. She was happy to hear that Allen talked and was about to say something when Cross beat her. "He talks like Mana." he said, frowning, and added. "I knew him long before. He used to be rude and withdrawn, but now... But now he talks just like Mana. He is as if wearing Mana's mask." at this new information, mother felt her heart clenched. Why? Now that Allen had started talking. Must this poor child suffer so much to change him within the very short period of time?

Two minutes ago, Cross was talking to him; trying with his might to bring the child back to his feet. He noticed Allen flinched at the mention of his father's name, then, slowly, Allen's eyes softened, the tensed shoulders relaxed, and a smile slowly made its way. Cross noted the smile identical to Mana's.

"Thank you..." he heard Allen said softly. Cross, eyes wide in shock, suddenly dropped his cancer stick from his hand and Timcanpy who sat at the foot of the comfy chair caught and chewed it. Allen even sounded like Mana himself. "Thank you...for reminding me, Mister." eyes glistened with life, Allen said in such a way that almost scared the wit out of Cross. God, this child, if not by appearance, really was identical to Mana in manners. The child then known as rude, had a foul mouth, and always had that scowl plastered on his face, now was like a gentle little man. Cross felt like the time stopped and the scene in front of him paused until he was brought back to life when Allen stood in front of him, inclined his head, and said formally. "Thank you for taking good care of me, Mister. I'm Allen. What's yours?" he asked politely smiling.

"Mana..." Cross breathed and Allen stared back at him, confused and scared. Was this man seeing things? He wasn't Mana; he is Allen. "Mister?" waking up, Cross blinked.

"I'm Cross Marian. I will be your teacher so call me Master." he stated as if nothing.

"Yes, Master." he replied. He wondered why this man was his teacher. What was he teaching anyway? Oh well, might as well tag along the flow for the time being.

Now back to the present.

Mother looked at Cross, bewildered. Was what Cross saying true? Then, Allen...

"Are you sure? Wasn't he like that before the brother of the 14th died?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure about it."

Silence engulfed the two as they were deep in thoughts; thinking how Allen's personality turned a 180. Mother guessed maybe because of the shock and trauma while Cross theorized, aside from shock and trauma, that that cursed Mana gave to Allen may have also affected his way of thinking.

oOo

It was already quarter to twelve and Allen was still awake. Lying on his back and staring at the ceiling, he couldn't help but think of what the man, Cross Marian, had told him. How could he forget Mana's last words? At first he didn't understand what his father meant by it. What does he mean when he said it? Maybe because he was baffled, confused, and afraid at that time that he didn't have the proper state of mind to register what was happening then. But now it dawned to him. All thanks to that man who reminded him.

What Mana wished for Allen is for him to continue walking until the day he died. Continue living. Look ahead. Embrace the life you were entrusted. Live your life to the fullest.

Mana wanted him to continue his life and find new friends to laugh and cry with.

But...

"Mana..." Allen whispered. "Please guide me." he said before closing his eyes with a new hope.

oOo

Morning came and it was quite warm outside. The sun proudly showed its warm light rays touching the colourful petals of newly bloomed flowers. Cool wind passed by making the twigs and leaves dance. Finally, it was spring. Spring represents a new beginning, a perfect time to start anew. It was a good day to start a smile. A good day for the boy indeed who found himself sat on a couch with Baba fawning over him.

It all started when Cross was cooking for breakfast, mother reading some newspaper while sipping her coffee on the living room, and Baba trimming the flowers outside when Allen suddenly and silently made his appearance. Cross wasn't surprised to see him at all, but mother and Baba did. And now Baba pestered him about going outside to play with him. It was like Baba was the kid and not Allen.

Allen was glad to meet these kinds of people.

He wanted to play yet he couldn't because of his immobilized arm.

Allen apologized to Baba like a meek.

"Aww~ no need to say sorry little Allen~! I understand." Baba fawned and patted Allen on his head before leaving him when mother came in.

"Here." Mother placed a deck of cards on the coffee table. Allen looked at it, confused. "I see that you cannot move your left arm well. This will help you with that." Allen looked up from the deck of cards to mother, searching for any signs that she wasn't disgusted with his cursed arm and thankfully the old woman wasn't.

"Uhmm… how am I going to do it?" Allen asked.

Mother smiled at him and asked, "Do you know how to play poker?"

"…Yes, uhmm…"

"Call me mother."

"Yes. Mother."

"Well, you aren't going to play poker, really. All you have to do is pick up a card using your left hand so you can practice your motor skills with it. Just simply pick up. I know it's hard at first but this is the only option I think will suit you best regarding to your half paralyzed arm. So do your best."

"Thank you."

And with that, mother left him to do the thing he had to in order to bring his dreaded arm, which he came to love after what he had learned from Cross, that brought him misfortune in life to work as normally as a normal arm should be.

For little Allen, it was his first step to cope up with life.

All he had to do is remember all Mana had taught him.

Cross had told him the basics about his left arm, the things called akuma, and about the man he met known as the Millennium Earl. After learning those, Allen vowed to Mana that he will live so that he can destroy those akumas and save their mourning and weeping souls so that he can atone for his sin.

Allen finally found his way. He finally chose his own path to walk on.

He will live, destroy, save, and atone.

He will continue walking and will never stop until his last breath.

==,!) I'm looooowbaaaat~ I woke up late, slept the whole afternoon, then took a nap before uploading and updating this story, yet I still feel tired and I don't know why. Maybe I haven't had any chocolates lately. XD

I'm kind of...not satisfied of this chapter, by the way, and I wonder why. I know I did my best and I needed this for the next one, so...

Review?

Thank you for reading~! Hope you like it.

See you!

#CBA