A/N: Here is a short transition chapter of sorts.

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Synthetic Soldiers

9 – Judges dressed as family

1761

"What is your name?" asked Nea but, as the seconds came and went, he realized the boy must have been in shock. "Hey," said he, now pulling on a strand of the dark red hair.

"Huh?" the boy blinked, awakening from his trance. "Sorry. I'm Allen W-Walker."

"Is that so?" Walker? How could that be? Had the infamous Millennium Earl actually adopted this child?

At every minute that passed, the boy's potential usefulness grew before his eyes.

"Is that so? My name is Nea."

"T-thank you for saving me, Mister... Nea." It seemed he had manners, and was recovering from his fear. Not surprising. One would get used to it, working for the Order, he supposed.

"Don't mention it."

"I'm sorry, but..."

"What is it?"

"You don't have the Order's uniform. Are you really an exorcist?"

Nea laughed internally at the ridiculous notion. But yes, why not? "You can say so. I did destroy the Akuma, didn't I?"

Allen's eyes were filled with admiration. "You are so strong," said he, before staring mournfully at the fresh corpses around them. "How come... you don't work for the Order?"

"Thank you. And it is normal. I'm a free exorcist."

The boy's face was now filled with surprise... and hope.

"F-free exorcists..." he whispered, as if afraid an invisible spy could be listening right now. "Is such a thing possible?"

Nea's inner smile only widened.

This would be so easy.

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Present

While she descended the makeshift path towards the lower ground where the others set their tents, her heart still pounded loudly, reverberating against her ribcage. Trepidation filled her senses, and she tried to gather her bearings by thinking about trivial things such as the weather or whether she had set her own shelter in firm ground, but it was useless. She couldn't forget the short but emotionally charged minutes she'd just spent in Allen's presence.

It is my own fault, for forgetting about how it is. And she did forget often, though not as frequently as years ago... when she had spent only a few weeks in Allen's company and did the mistake of thinking of him as nothing more, and nothing less, than a close friend.

And he was a friend. No matter what. He was the dear friend whom her brother trusted; the one who took her away from the dreaded Black Order that had made her contemplate suicide so many times. Allen was her hope, and that of many people. Together with Komui, Allen was one of Lenalee's two most important people.

But she should remember her place.

He enforced that upon her, time and again. Because in the midst of their strong camaraderie and their fights for their lives and those of others, she would now and then get too close, and then he would swiftly push the Chinese woman away. Allen's invisible boundaries shouldn't be crossed, or his usual amiability would quickly sour into cold reprimands, until he was, once again, alone inside of his self built walls.

Today, however... today had to be the worst time it happened. It was all so bizarre. Lenalee had been on watch, and heard screams coming from Allen's tent, where he was alone with that mysterious man who entered with such purposeful strides she had almost intercepted him. Almost. But instincts had told her to stay put. If Allen did need help, he would signal them, she knew it.

But as the tension inside escalated and they seemed to get into an argument, she lost it. Just a quick look, to see if everything was alright. Allen liked his privacy this time of the night, but he was now with a stranger. Surely he wouldn't be meditating, or doing whatever he did every day that required solitude and peace. Her intrusion would do no difference, right?

How wrong she had been.

She had never, in all these years, seen Allen Walker in such a fragile state, and she would bet one leg no one else in their group had, either.

There he was, sobbing in distress and sadness and God knew what other emotions, while enveloped in the Japanese's man embrace. The scene was so bizarre that, had anyone else been witness to it and tried to tell her, she would chastise them for making a bad joke. It was so irrational, so unexpected, so... bizarre. So incompatible with Allen, who was pure kindness to people, and pure coldness in the field, with the occasional bout of fury. But never weakness. And who in the world was this person? Who was this man who, having met Allen only hours ago, opened such a wound in the usually impenetrable man?

I have only met him as a teen, though, thought Lenalee, and he has lived for such an absurdly long time. I don't really know Allen, do I?

Immersed in her thoughts about the enigmatic exorcist, Lenalee only noticed the approaching redhead when he was one meter from colliding with her.

"L-Lavi?"

"Hey, Lena. What's up?" asked the redhead in his usual friendly manner, though he raised an eyebrow at her exclamation.

She tried to submit her voice into a more normal tone. "Lavi, are you looking for Allen?"

"Yup. Just going to see him, right now."

She frowned. "You know you shouldn't. Not at this time."

Lavi let a good natured chuckle. "But haven't you just done the same? Or am I wrong?"

Always perceptive. "That's why I think you really shouldn't go there right now. He is talking to his friend, and it is private."

"Friend?" Lavi tilted his head. "So they already knew each other, huh?"

Lenalee shook her head in frustration. Trust Lavi to meddle. She really shouldn't be giving him clues like this.

She liked the redhead – truly and undoubtedly. Together with her, he had been one of the first exorcists to join Allen. They actually did it at the same time. She could still remember that day, when her brother, who managed to secure a post in the Black Order for her sake, thwarted her mission and instructed her to descend the stairs down that building in Central Park, where she would find the person he had trusted her to. And though it pained her horribly to separate herself from Komui, she had never regretted it. There had been no other way.

Lavi had been there, too. And ever since, he had been a spot of light in the middle of darkness. He was that good natured, fun person that would somehow keep everyone in good spirits. A source of happiness, and also a very strong exorcist. Allen was one of these sources of light; each of them was, in their own way.

But he did have this bad habit of being too interested in Allen. Allen's past, Allen's intentions, Allen's plans. She didn't like it. Allen had always been a very private person, no matter how cordial. Lenalee thought it unfair of Lavi to pester him so. She could sometimes see weariness in Allen's eyes because of it.

Now decided, she grabbed his arm and started dragging him back to the encampment.

"Huh? Lena?" asked the young man in surprise, unused to this rough handling.

"It's time to make dinner, Lavi."

"Ah, but Al-"

"Dinner!" she ground out, and his shoulders sagged, with the redhead letting her lead the pace back towards the others.

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Tea was served but quickly became cold, as the two exorcists in the tent were too occupied with their talk to take more than a sip.

"So it was like that, huh," said Kanda, whose eyes never left Allen's.

"It was not my intention to leave you behind. For all I knew, you were dead for sure. In your state..." Allen quickly raised eyes that had been resting on the floor. They now were set upon the dark tattoo over Kanda's chest. "And how come you are alive? I'm... immensely grateful for that," he asserted, and for a moment, Kanda feared the white haired boy would succumb to his emotions once more, "but how can you be here, like this, in front of me? Weren't your seal gone? And your body... you were on the brink of death! How come..."

Allen's anxious doubts drifted between them, as he stared at Kanda expectantly. The taller man sighed, before frowning.

"It's a crazy story. Now that you say that, though, I also wonder..." said Kanda, reaching for Allen and lifting his shirt. He didn't expect anything out of the ordinary. Just Allen's own tattoo, darker than his, since the shorter exorcist's seal had been at its prime when they left.

Instead, to his shock, he found the drawing a blurry, light grey.

"You..."

Allen grimaced, knowing what was coming.

"What the hell happened? You bastard!" raged Kanda, now forcing the shirt out of Allen in order to take a better look. The now shirtless boy tumbled, almost falling, as the cloth was harshly pulled from his torso. "Your seal... your seal..."

Allen smiled sadly. "It's been a tough journey out there, Yuu."

Kanda's breaths were ragged. He couldn't believe it. This seal was so weak... how much healing power did it have? It actually looked like his own did, when Allen was born. It looked...

Spent. Dying out.

His heart clenched.

"How. Did. You. Do. This?!" Kanda demanded to know, shaking the boy by his shoulders. Allen winced, but the Japanese's angry glare didn't recede. "How did you manage to ruin the only useful thing those damned scientists gave us? The thing that kept us alive?"

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Allen felt pressured under Yuu's glare. It was strange, to be intimidated by the one who he had grown to see as a little brother. Though as Yuu's tall, dark figure loomed over him, he looked anything but little.

Allen cursed his carelessness. He shouldn't have broached the topic of the seals. The truth had been something he had wanted to keep to himself for a while.

Better to tell him everything. I've promised not to lie again.

He heaved a sigh, before forcing the words out. "I'm... not as strong as you believe me to be," murmured Allen with difficulty. It was a shameful truth he hid every day.

"So what? I can't believe you. I had to have my body destroyed and rebuilt almost every day for years before my seal came to look like that. Did you spend your whole time out getting smashed by Akuma?"

Allen looked up with an unpleasant smile.

Silence.

"You... can't mean that," said Yuu, still looking angry, but deflated somehow.

"On my first day outside... I had just awakened my Innocence, that had remained untouched and immaterial for years. Defeating the Crow and leaving was a miracle. I... killed some Akuma, initially. It seemed easy enough, and I thought I was strong and could make my own way through Japan." Allen laughed quietly, unpleased at his own childish ignorance. "I was so wrong."

"They had been low leveled, Yuu, recently created and thus quite weak. But Japan is filled with Akuma that had the time to grow for years. I eventually found one of those, and it wasn't pretty."

He could remember it like yesterday, because it had been his very first battle with a opponent so strong – that is, if it could actually be called a battle. His seal had been the only thing that saved him; without it, even with his Innocence, he could still be considered a civilian, so weak it was.

"It was only one Akuma, but it was so fast, so strong... so intelligent. Filled with a homicidal intent, and I couldn't lay a scratch on it. It would destroy me again and again, and I could do nothing."

Yuu's mouth was pressed into a thin line. "Then... who helped you?"

"Huh?" Allen tilted his head. He hadn't implied such a thing. "No one."

Dark eyes widened. "Then, how did you escape?"

"Escape? Hah." Allen covered his face with his gloved hand and shook his head, "I didn't. The Akuma eventually grew tired. It wanted to feed from my death, but no matter how many times it dismembered me and ripped me apart, I would start recovering after a few seconds. Brand new seal, and all that. It eventually decided I was a strange anomaly and left. How ridiculous is that?"

Allen smiled now, with more sincerity. Yes, it had been horrible. Being ruined by every strong monster he found was hardly a better predicament than hurting in the synchronization chamber, and he had been alone. But he had eventually grown strong enough to fight his way somehow and, once he reached Europe, he got even better. Experience allowed him to become a warrior above many others. His Innocence had always been an exception, but it had taken years to readapt.

Unfortunately, his body had needed to 'die' many times before he achieved such a state.

Yuu seemed crestfallen.

"Hey. Don't be like that," said Allen softly, putting a hand over the Japanese man's shoulder, but it had no effect. The boy frowned in worry. "Yuu. Hey," said he once more, now lightly slapping the man's cheek with his right palm. That seemed to do it; Yuu blinked before his eyes focused on Allen once more. "It's over now, you hear? I've grown strong. I promise you won't have to watch me being smacked around by Akuma, alright?"

That didn't seem to lighten the taller man's spirits. "I have had it easy," concluded Yuu, humiliated by the fact.

"None of us ever have it easy, Yuu," reprimanded Allen, bothered by the current mood. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He hadn't told that story so the other exorcist would pity him.

"Che. Baka moyashi. You seem quite optimistic for someone who is reaching his expire date," said Yuu somewhat scornfully, still staring at the spent seal.

"I'm not going to di-" Allen blinked. "Baka moy... how dare you?" he exclaimed indignantly, quickly understanding the mockery towards his white hair and shorter height. "I'll have you know I'm quite capable of defending myself!"

"Yes, you've just shown me," growled Yuu, gesturing to the seal with a flourish, before snorting. "Now I know why these vagrants are needed around. They must have a hard job protecting you."

Allen was fuming. "Now you did it! Let's go outside! I'll make you apologize on a bent knee!"

"I'd rather not end your last life, you ridiculous beansprout."

"Listen here-"

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"DIIIIINNEEER!" a male voice screamed so loudly they heard it all the way up there. Kanda would bet it was that obnoxious redhead. Still, the shout made them snap out of their fake argument.

Because that's what it was. Kanda had been having such a difficult time in realizing not only Allen's seal had much less to give than his own, but also the horrible life the boy had been going through, even when he was smaller and looking like a kid young enough a woman would carry him on her hip. His snarky comments were a way to change subjects. He had much to reflect upon.

It had been foolish of him to imagine Allen would be almighty just because of his past.

Said boy's stomach let out a loud rumble. If they needed anything else to break the tension, that was it. Kanda raised an eyebrow, and Allen blushed.

"I'm a healthy young man, you know," said he defensively.

"Man? Are you sure? I was hoping you'd grow some more."

"My height is perfectly average!" protested the boy with a red face, before his shoulders sagged and he chuckled.

"What is it?"

"This is... sort of fun," said Allen, looking genuinely happy. His pale skin was flushed, as the happiness, temporarily free of any other emotion, dissolved away the tightness in the boy's face and made him look much younger.

Another loud growl.

"Let's go before you eat me instead," grumbled Kanda, uncomfortable, before Allen put his shirt back and they left the tent.

They both ran down the rocky descent, easily jumping and making their way over the tricky stone constructs, instead of choosing the path in the soil. Allen was leading, and Kanda carefully watched his every movement. To his relief, nothing showed weakness. Allen had the same dexterity and ease with acrobatics as any Apostle should.

Kanda had the impression that he would have to watch Allen very closely from now on.

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Kanda watched warily as Allen inhaled the enormous amount of food put before him like a sacrifice to some tribal god.

"Do stop to breathe, will you? How long has it been ever since you last ate?"

"Twelve hours," said Allen in between bites, with a despondent tone. Kanda was incredulous. That was hardly so long!

"He's always like this, Mr. Kanda," said a brown haired man with a large sword. He had a much smaller, normal sized portion. Actually, everyone had, even the strange one with Innocence teeth. Kanda would have expected him, of all people, to devour food like Allen did. Instead, however, the older looking man ate with surprising finesse.

"Pig," grumbled Kanda towards the white haired boy, reaching for his own portion before nothing was left. He had, in his hurry, left his bag in Altinopolis. He only hoped it was still there.

People around them all stared with startled eyes, first at him and then at Allen, as if expecting a dangerous reaction. Kanda frowned. Was Allen a severe leader? The idea just didn't seem right.

It seemed the boy had finally finished his food. He sighed in contentment, while Kanda wondered when the boy would explode from the inside out. Perhaps the seal has been spent trying to constantly repair his stomach, he groused sourly, before Allen clapped his hands.

"It's introduction time. Everyone, this is Yuu Kanda," said he, though a glance told the taller man he would eventually have to explain how his last name came to be. "He is a friend of mine, from before I first met any of you. You may trust him as much as you trust me," he continued, and the other exorcists seemed to now evaluate Kanda with new eyes. "Now, it's your turn. Name, Innocence and your favorite hobby!"

Kanda was surprised at Allen's bubbly personality. He had expected the boy to tone it down in front of the others.

"Me first!" said the redhead, who Kanda just knew he would eventually learn to hate. "Name's Lavi. My Innocence is that huge hammer you saw. It can call the elements of nature forth, but I'm fine with just bashing Akuma with it in the good old way. I like charming ladies. I dislike-"

"Thank you, Lavi," said Allen with a smile that said shut up so perfectly Kanda had do admire it. "Next."

"Aleister Crowley. My Innocence is my teeth, with which I drain Akuma's blood. I used to enjoy gardening."

"Kazaana Reed. My Innocence is this crossbow, so if you are a close range fighter, I can help reaching what you cannot. As of now, I don't have a hobby."

"I'm Lenalee, and these Dark Boots are my Innocence. They allow me the same mobility you and Allen seem to have. As for hobbies... I just like helping around," she said, grinning in embarrassment.

"It's a little difficult to have hobbies when on the run... um... I'm Miranda Lotto. My Innocence is called time record and can temporarily freeze time or make it go back, up to a certain range. A-and my hobbies haven't ended really well so I've decided to give it a break."

Kanda was surprised. That seemed to be quite an impressive Innocence. The ones he knew were usually weapons or an enhancement on the Accommodators body but, besides Tiedoll's Maker of Eden, he had yet to see any Innocence capable of manipulating something so different.

"I'm Chalker Laboun. My Innocence is this sword, and I like collecting pogs."

A couple of exorcists chuckled, but everyone seemed to already know that. Kanda honestly didn't give a damn, since he would have to know what a pog was.

"Thank you, Laboun. I knew I could count on someone to have a hobby," said Allen good naturedly.

"Then what is yours, beansprout?" asked Kanda, and Allen's eye twitched.

"It's a secret. What about yours?"

"Hunting your bothersome self down across the continent, I guess."

"Then I think you have to start a new one, now. How about tea making?"

"What's it with you and the goddamned drink? Fuck you and your tea! Is it an obsession of yours or what?"

Everyone seemed entranced by their interaction. Frankly, Kanda found them creepy. What's with them watching him so closely? Was it so extraordinary to have a new person in their midst?

Conversation eventually died down, as Kanda hadn't been forthcoming. People eventually said their goodbyes and entered their tents, with Reed maintaining watch.

Allen and Kanda sat side by side, watching as a very turbulent day finally came to an end.

"So, what do you think? Will you fit in?" asked Allen, nibbling on some fruit.

"Tch. They are annoying."

"Haha, Lavi is a bit... outspoken."

"That bastard is a piece of shit. What the hell is his problem? He spent a whole hour trying to talk to me!"

"Don't worry, it will get worse," laughed Allen, and Kanda only grumbled in response. Silence ensued for a minute or so, before Allen spoke again. "Thank you for finding me, Yuu."

"Che. I had nothing better to do."

Allen tilted his head. "Now that I think of it, what happened to you? You are so irritable!" said he, seeming quite amused by the notion. It only made Kanda more irritated, so he said nothing.

Allen closed his eyes, and Kanda wondered whether they would be retiring for the night soon.

"Allen?" he finally said. Allen opened his eyes, returning his stare. "I know it's been difficult, but... I'm glad you've got them."

Grey eyes seemed curious, as if not knowing what he was talking about.

"Your friends, idiot. It's good that they have been with you. You are the kind of person who needs a family... so I'm glad you have one."

He expected one of those soft smiles and a happy agreement. To his surprise, however, Allen was expressionless. The boy eventually got up, brushing crumbles from his trousers.

"A family, huh?" said Allen, before turning towards the cliff's direction. Oddly, his voice seemed tainted by disbelief.

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