Allen and Mana became very close in the following years together. Allen had even learned a few clown-techniques so that he could work along side his adoptive father. It didn't take very long for Allen to dismiss his past at the orphanage and keep moving forward with Mana. That is until one day, Allen's world is taken for a spin yet again…
On this day Mana was prepping the house for a visitor. When Allen asked who was coming over, Mana stated that it was his brother Neah.
"Dad, what's Uncle Neah like?" Allen questioned as he assisted in setting the table for dinner.
"He's very nice Allen, I'm sure the two of you will get along. And he's a pianist, maybe if you ask he'll play something for you." Mana replied.
"Really? Do you think he'd play that song you taught me?" Allen stated excitedly as he turned to face his dad.
"Maybe." Mana smiled to his son, but then his eyes drifted to the clock on the wall.
"Something wrong Dad?" Allen muttered as he noticed the other's gaze.
"Not at all," Mana went back to smiling, "you're uncle is just running a tad late is all." As he went to pat Allen on the head there was a sudden explosion by the front door. Allen couldn't help but scream as Mana wrapped his arms protectively around him. In what seemed like seconds, two big men walked to the dining area. One had a knife in his hand and was smirking wildly to his partner.
"Say, where's the 14th?" The knife-wielder turned to Mana.
"What are you talking about?" Mana was quick to maneuver Allen behind him.
"Don't play stupid. We know that he's supposed to be here." The knife holding guy sighed and shook his head before turning to his partner, "Grab the kid. Maybe then we can get this guy to talk." The partner grinned and nodded. As he took a few steps towards Allen, Mana pushed the boy further back.
"Leave him out of this!" He shouted.
"Then you better tell us what we want to know." The knife guy explained. Mana quickly turned around.
"Allen, run!" Allen grew wide-eyed; frozen in place. But seeing the determined look in Mana's eyes, Allen finally moved. He went to the hallway on his left that was a ways away from the two intruders. Allen only made it a few feet before the sound of a gunshot went off. Stopping in shock, Allen looked back. What he saw was his dear father bleeding out from the shoulder and falling to his knees.
"Dad!" Allen screamed. With Allen in shock the intruders took the chance to rush over and grab him. Allen cried and kicked at the man that grabbed him, but it did nothing. By this time a few more unknown men showed up.
"Sir, there is no sign that the 14th was here or anyone else in the house." One of the newer men explained to the one with the knife.
"Damn, we could have used this man for information." The knife-holder looked over to Mana; who was slowly losing consciousness. "Oh well. If anything we can leave the 14th with a message. Hand me the kid." Allen was then passed between evil-doers. At this point the poor boy was crying his eyes out.
"The 14th will learn to never cross the Noah again." The man brought his knife up to Allen's face. Bringing it up above the boy's left eye he began to carve a mark. He created a pentacle and dragged a line down through the boy's eye to the lower part of his cheek. When the boy ran out of screams he was dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Despite his poor condition, Allen crawled over to Mana's body.
"Why?" Allen's weak voice muttered out. Then, just as his vision was growing blurry, Allen spotted someone new running into the mess.
"Mana! Allen!" The newcomer gasped. Immediately the man ran over and grabbed Allen. The last thing Allen knew was he was being carried out of the house. But the world then grew dark…
Allen awoke in a hospital bed with a stranger at his bedside.
"I'm so sorry that we had to meet this way. Um… in any case I'm your uncle." The man sighed and looked at his lap. Allen frowned, but said nothing.
"The medical team couldn't save Mana, your eye is permanently scarred and blinded, and the stress has caused your hair to turn white." Neah scratched at the back of his head, unsure what to do.
"Am I going back to the orphanage?" Allen muttered as he looked to the window. How would he get adopted now; first his arm, but now his eye and hair?
"Never!" Neah suddenly stood, causing Allen to look over, "Sorry… Look I don't mind taking care of you."
"But those men." Allen shuddered at the thought.
"You don't have to worry about them. You'll be safe with me, okay?" Allen just replied with a small nod. As it turned out, living with his uncle was surprisingly quiet. Not much went on save for Neah's daily practicing on his piano. At one point Neah began to teach Allen how to play. Then Neah brought home a bird, it was small and yellow in color. It came to be known as Timcanpy and he learned to sing along with Allen and Neah when they played. Allen's life was at peace once again. But deep down, he wondered how long that would last…