Yet another project to worry about. Sometimes I wonder if I can actually help myself working with so many stories at once and I think my muse would agree that my means of using up good time is insane. But I don't think I care that much anymore. I'm bored and dammit I'm doin' somethin' about it. Even if I am takin' on five other stories at one time which is crazy and possibly stressful but… aw fuck it. Not sure on pairings yet but I'm thinkin' of gettin' Allen and Kanda together. I don't own D. Gray-Man or any characters and/or content and what have you. Enjoy please!

"iii" speech

iii thought

"iii" radio transmission

Chapter 1: Allen's Bad Day Gets Worse

He thought it'd just be a regular day of dealin' with Komui's strange ways, Kanda's pissy attitude and Miranda's constant attempts at taking her life especially since she always thought everyone hated her was stressing but Linali's presence and positive outlook seemed to fix what ailed him. But today her being there for him wasn't going to be enough since he didn't know just how bad his day was goin' to get. His day started like this: he'd gotten up like he always did, getting breakfast and sitting in his usual spot with Aleister and Rabi but was short since Rabi had already eaten and Aleister didn't really have a need to eat anyway. Timcampi had been swirling around all day and had been reported to be acting strangely for the past few days. But Allen was too down in the dumps to notice his master's golden creation swirling over his head on its little wings, the white haired boy oddly tired even if it was only nine in the morning. "Good morning boys! Ready for our now mission?" Linali asked happily as she seemed to pop out of nowhere, Rabi smiling in response and Aleister's complexion brightening. "Ready when you are Linali." Rabi said as he sat up in his seat to face the girl better even as she turned to the oldest of the group.

"Aleister?"

"I concur. As soon as everything's set I'll be ready." The Romanian said kindly with a smile, something that happened more often now that he wasn't so depressed anymore. His positive response got an even bigger smile out of Linali.

"That's good! Allen?" the boy didn't respond, staring at his food as he quietly ate away, seeming unaware of his surroundings. "Allen-kun?"

"Huh?" he blinked and looked at the Chinese girl in question only to find that all three of his friends were staring at him strangely. "Did you say something Linali? I'm sorry I was thinking about something."

I wonder what's wrong with him. "Are you all right Allen? You don't look so good man. Maybe you should stay here and rest up. We'll tell Komui that you're not feelin' well and that you need some time off to get up to speed."

"No, no I'm fine really! I just feel… unusually tired for some reason. I don't know what it is but I'm sure it's nothing really." Sadly this wasn't all that convincing to his friends, their expressions becoming even more thoughtful as Linali left to speak with her brother on the matter, leaving Rabi and Aleister in charge just in case Allen decided to beat feet in the hopes of getting away clean. She soon returned with the black haired, coffee addicted man that was her brother, adjusting his glasses as he gave the teen a good look over before straightening to say. "I don't see anything wrong with him other than just plain fatigue or nausea from something he ate. But just to be sure I'll have Kanda go with you on today's mission in Allen's stead. Allen, the meantime, why don't you back to your room and rest up for a bit while I brief everyone else of the mission. I'll see if I can't call on you later to see just what might be wrong with you. Kanda! Get over here!"

Allen, seeing that he wasn't needed, got up slowly and walked out of the room as if he were a dead man walking. While passing a miffed Kanda on his way out, he barely noticed the older teen mutter something in his direction, the rest of the world nothing more than a misty blur muffled by unseen barriers. Kanda, confused on why the boy hadn't shot back at him, stopped to turn and watch the boy leave with a sleepy shuffle in his step. Though he hated to admit it he felt a pang of concern for the other exorcist as he vanished around a corner, giving his 'team' an inquiring look when he finally reached the table. Hesitant but feeling the need to move on, Komui began his briefing. "You'll be headed to Exeter in Devon so be prepared for really big crowds and shipping details. It's been reported some kind of activity has been going on over there that's alleged to being Akuma. Whether or not the Earl or the Noahs are involved in this but we can't take our chances with them or anyone. That's all for now. God's speed and good luck."

"Thanks brother we will." Linali said with a reassuring smile as Rabi and Aleister moved to follow her out of the room, both of which had to drag Kanda with them when he tried to go in a different direction. A good half hour later they were all on a boat under the church, ready to set off on their new mission as they made last minute supply checks. Kanda didn't bother assisting since he knew full well they were ready to set off and the fact that the other three were taking their time was trying on his patience. "Can we go now? You guys are so slow you know that?"

"Well you could at least help Kanda-kun. Then we just might get going faster." Linali pointed out as the older teen just stayed put and rolled his eyes. Luckily he didn't have to wait any longer for them to set off, the white clothed helper (whose real station I can't recall. Sorry) began to steer them into the river's natural pull and off ward to their unknown fates.

Allen didn't know if he was dizzy or just plain tired. But either one was making him disoriented to the point where he almost got lost three to four times in the past twenty minutes, Timcampi fluttering over his head like a bird of prey getting ready to swoop down if he fell. He sighed in relief when he finally found his room, falling onto his bed even though he'd been there some half hour beforehand getting ready for the new day and a new mission. Thoughts of how they'd unsuccessfully tried to find his master, General Cross made him groan and roll over to face the wall, shutting his eyes and letting his mind wander, Timcampi landing on his pillow and folding its golden wings and watched with invisible eyes. Little did either know just how exciting but truly worse things were going to get. As his breathing evened out to that of sleep, something under his bed shifted, detaching itself from the underside of the frame to the floor with a noiseless shuffle of cloth and limbs. The figure, cloaked in rags and a horrible, overpowering stench, slowly made its way out into the open, its face hidden by a hood as its clawed hands stretched to grab its sleeping target. Its smile, if seen, was the most sinister anyone could ever think to be.

Komui had been walking the halls of the Dark Religious headquarters with Allen's medical records in hand; flipping through the pages inside the manila folder he'd put together himself with some assistance from the Asian branch and Allen's own personal knowledge of what made him tick. His left hand was an interesting thing to behold considering its ability to become not only a claw but also a gun and a sword of some kind that he'd yet to identify. A true medical marvel if I say so myself. It's amazing what the Innocence is capable of becoming when it finds the right owner. He thought as he finally reached the top of the stairs to Allen's floor, heading straight for the boy's door. Just as he was about to turn the handle, the door exploded in a flurry of splintered wood, pieces of metal and stone turned to dust or flying rocks.

--Exeter, Devon Province, England—

The trip hadn't taken long but to Kanda it was the most boring thing on earth. The train ride had been typical and mundane, Rabi having to keep Aleister in the cart with them to make sure he wouldn't wander around and get himself into a bad position with card dealing stowaways like last time. Linali took the time to enjoy the scenery, her eyes darting to see all of the trees and fields of green grass passing them by. Getting out of the station was surprisingly easy since the place was practically empty, not even a conductor to regulate things from departing trains to incoming ones. The entire platform was devoid of life in every direction, the air dead still while the train was the only thing they knew to be making any kind of noise. "Spread out. We could be dealing with a lockdown of some kind. Linali, go with Rabi to check out front. Crowley you're with me." Kanda growled, fingering his Mugen as he scanned the visible area.

"Right. Linali-chan?" Rabi inquired, pulling out his hammer as he waited for the girl to follow him. She nodded; suddenly uneasy as her shoes clicked on the marble flooring as she stayed as close as possible to the one eyed red head. They got as far as the lobby before a figure came out from behind a line of chairs, sharp teeth bared and claws extended to grab anything within reach. "GROW!" Rabi yelled as soon as he saw the thing, activating his fire seal to send it back, scorched and screeching. Much to his surprise, it got back up glaring and hissing like the snake it seemed to be, rising to its feet and pouncing at them again. This time Linali decided to give it what for as she met it halfway, her Dark Boots activated and ready for action. Its eyes widened when it saw that its fate was now sealed as the Chinese girl sent it flying back again, crushing bone and smashing flesh. If fell with a thud, nothing more than a pile of useless limbs, its empty eyes staring at the ceiling in shock of what'd just occurred. Just when they thought it was all over, a series of screeches and screams nearly deafened them as almost ten more jumped from all sorts of hiding spots, their mismatched eyes filled with insanity and rage. Their faces were stitched together and misshapen, their clothes nothing more than a bunch of rags sewn together and their hair a bit long, unkempt and greasy. Rabi managed to take a few of them down before saying. "There's too many! We need to head back!"

"Can't argue there!" Linali said as she took down two more, only for them to get back up with screeches of anger, scrambling to keep up with the two teens as they ran in the same direction they'd come.

Kanda and Aleister weren't exactly having the best of luck either, the Romanian frustrated to find his opponents kept getting back up while Kanda, though straight faced, was starting to extremely annoyed at how his kept multiplying whenever he cut them again and again. Needless to say there was no end to them at all. The signal that things weren't going to get any better was when Linali came into view at a desperate sprint with Rabi not far behind, unleashing his fire seal as many times as possible. "There's no end to them! We need to pull back and regroup!" the red head shouted over the din of hisses, growls and screeches, setting off another fire seal spell. This statement only made Kanda glare at him in rage and indignation.

"And be unsuccessful in our mission? I think not! We stand our ground!"

"We don't even know what they are Kanda! Or where they're coming from for that matter. What we need to do is get out of here and come up with a plan!"

Deep in Kanda's mind, he knew Rabi had a point in what he said and the thought of unrelenting opponents didn't sound too pleasing in his mind. Growling in frustration he sliced two more of the creatures before heading back toward the train with his teammates not far behind.

--Back at Headquarters—

Komui managed to pick himself up off the floor, papers still floating to the ground amidst dust fogging his vision. He coughed and spat, ridding the stuff of his mouth and throat as he wiped his glasses, thankful he'd closed his eyes in time to avoid getting the stuff in his eyes. Glasses back on his face, the man turned to find a horrifying surprise, his jaw dropped at what he was seeing: a tall figure, dressed in dirty rags and an even dirtier cloak, its mismatched eyes surveying all within its range. When they fell on Komui, it grinned a sinister smile full of yellowed teeth that looked sharper than spearheads as it stepped out of what remained of Allen's doorway. Much to the man's horror, Allen hung limp as a doll under one of the creature's arms, completely dead to the world as the thing walked closer. "Allen! Allen wake up! Allen!"

"He can't hear you. Thanks to me he'll serve a better purpose for my master and me. I'll be greatly rewarded for my latest catch."

"Who and what are you? And what do you want with Allen?" the Chinese man demanded, getting to his feet while hundreds of exorcists gathered with their weapons in hand and prepared for a fight. "Oh this little one? He'll be the newest addition to my master's collection. This boy's skills and abilities will make a marvelous impression on his Lordship as well as a useful foot soldier. If you want him back, fighting me is your only option now isn't it?"

The man gritted his teeth, weighing his choices on killing this creature and getting General Cross's apprentice back only to find that there wasn't much variety to choose from and knew there was only one thing he could actually do. Stabbing a finger in the creature's direction with a look of rage on his face, Komui yelled loud enough for all to hear him. "ATTACK!"

As the crowd surged forward in an onslaught of weaponry and battle cries, the creature only grinned as it raised a hand of its own.

--Exeter, England—

Getting back on the train was easy. Getting it started soon enough to leave the oncoming army of living corpses behind was another issue entirely as Linali, using her Dark Boots, leaped ahead to the engine all the while trying to avoid getting jumped by some more of the creatures who were taking inhuman leaps in her direction, more than half falling back to the ground or onto the roof of the cars with screeches of frustration or dismay, some of them getting back up to try again. Luckily she dodged them all as a few started to fight each other while other kept coming despite various disagreements. Finally reaching the engines, Linali was horrified to find the crew under attack, fending the creatures off with shovels and large pieces of lumber used to heat the train's main oven with amazing accuracy. Not wanting to have more people get hurt by the creatures, Linali chose then to take some action of her own by kicking the things away, successfully getting the men's attention. "We need to get out of here! Now!"

"But what about the passengers?" one of them asked, being the goodhearted man that he was, he hated to endanger people in this unusual manner.

"Let my friends and I worry about them! Just get this thing started before any more of those things get here!" Linali shouted as she sent a few more away with some powerful kicks, her fallen targets hissing and coughing up blood, holding themselves as other took over for them.

"Right you are Miss! C'mon boys!" the head engineer called as he started to pile wood into the fires and pulled various levers into different positions. The others didn't hesitate to help get things going as Linali kept the stinking things at bay, all of who were furious that their prey was being defiant.

--With Kanda—

He couldn't help but feel that something was very wrong with their situation. No matter how much he cut them down, they either multiplied or got back up for more even if he did use some of his best moves. Sure they bled and screeched when in pain but that still didn't stop them from getting back up. Hell he'd even cut a few of them in half! But somehow the top half just howled at him while the bottom half stumbled around as if dizzy from being spun around too many times. And to make things even worse, the top half either reconnected with its missing half or simply grew back a new one, rags and all even if the old one was still walking around. The bottom halves, though defiant in themselves, even grew back their top halves or just continued on their rampage as kicking nuisances that didn't know when to quit. Blood stained the marble floors, countless boots creating tracks of red spreading in all directions, more and more being added to the dark colored puddle, constantly smudged and stepped in. slicing up a few more of the things Kanda made a shot for one of the cars, jumping up the steps and slamming the door behind him while Rabi and Aleister managed to get in at the other end. "This is insane! They just keep coming! What are they anyway?"

"Nothing I've ever seen but my guess is that they be zombies, ghouls or just some creatures that were created by some magician by using some tropic voodoo ritual I read about in my grandfather's library. That is before I burnt it down anyway."

"Well whatever they are they're relentless and annoying. Whoever or whatever they are, they don't know when to give up. We'll have to check the rest of the train to make sure there aren't any on board." Kanda growled as he watched one of the creatures smearing its own bloody hands on a nearby window, making him stare at the thing, making a face at its actions.

"Roger that."

"Understood."

They separated, Rabi and Aleister heading toward the back while Kanda went to the front, hoping to meet Linali half way there, killing two birds with one stone. Much to his satisfaction he did meet her, coming up behind one of the things hell-bent on causing the girl damage. He tossed his opponent out of a window as Linali disemboweled her own out another as well, its screech cut short when she kicked it in the chin. Looking out the window to make sure the thing stayed down, yet another shock was brought to light: it'd tumbled on the ground, left in the dust of the moving train, only it jumped to its feet, bleeding from the mouth and started to run. Not away from the train and certainly not in the opposite direction but after it. Another interesting development was that it didn't come after the thing on two legs either. No sir this creature was on all fours and catching up with each step taken. Linali's jaw dropped, her eyes wide as the creature's form began to shift from humanoid to animalistic, its rags replaced with fur and its face, though distorted enough, stretched to give way to a snout. "Kanda. I think our problem just got worse."

Looking out the window himself, his own expression changed a bit to rightfully accommodate the appropriate emotion before it shifted to all out annoyance. "Don't these things ever quit? What the hell is that? And when did it get there?"

"It's the one I threw out! One second it was a human then next it was that thing! I don't even know how it did that and without batting an eye." Linali explained almost desperately, hoping that the older teen wasn't too mad with her on the subject.

"This is getting ridiculous! I don't care how you do it but just kill it and fast. I'll be heading back toward the front to see if there are more of these things." he growled as he waved her explanation away, pulling himself into the aisle and down to the end of the train car.

"Be careful Kanda-kun!" she called as he opened the car door.

"Whatever."

Traveling the precarious but short distance between cars, he opened the door to find he didn't have to do much searching since there were a good eight of the things turning to stare at him as he entered. A few of them hissed as they all just gave the teen razor sharp grins, flexing clawed hands in anticipation. Readying his blade and taking on an offensive stance, Kanda didn't blink as they leaped from their positions, cackling as they traveled through the air at him.

--Back at HQ—

The battle for Allen's latent form had turned bloody as one after another, exorcist after exorcist, they fell to the creature's mighty abilities and seemed to be slapping them away like flies. Komui, who was hiding behind what remained of a wall, didn't know what to do anymore, all of his comrades had been taken down and calling for back up sounded almost impossible. But since Kanda, his sister and the other two were closest; his best bet would be recalling them from the field and come help out. I need to get to the communication center! But getting past that thing will be a hell of a feat. Need to distract it somehow… but how?

Looking around, he saw a good sized piece of stone that looked firm enough to give a good throw, maybe even his something with. Willing to take the chance he picked it up and tested its weight, hoping it was strong enough and hard enough to most likely do some damage when thrown well enough. Deciding it was the only thing he could do at the moment, Komui picked himself up off the floor, ran around the remainder of the wall and headed straight for the creature that had his back to the approaching man. It'd just started turning to see who was behind him when he took a well thrown stone in the face, making it lose its grip on Allen in the attempt to shield its face from more damage. He didn't need a better opportunity. On his way past the creature, Komui quickly grabbed the teen, swiftly got a good grip on his limp form and bolted down the stairs and toward the radio room some floors down. The remaining exorcists, taking the man's cue, pulled back as well in order to distance themselves from the thing all the while getting their fallen to the infirmary for medical assistance.

Timcampi flew over Komui's head as he ran through the halls, stopping in horror when he heard the creature's angered howls resounding like thunder off the walls but found it all the more reason to move faster. Its loud sounds of rage filled the corridors as Komui finally reached the radio room, putting the sleeping teen on a nearby couch before reaching for the receiver. "Operator! Get me Kanda and his team. Stat!"

"Yes sir." The voice confirmed as he waited impatiently for any of the voices he knew all too well to answer. He sighed in relief when Linali's voice came a bit scratchy but clearly over the line. "Nii-san? Nii-san is everything all right?"

"NO! You need to get back here pronto! Something's wrong with Allen and some strange thing is attacking the castle from the inside out! I need you to collect your team and get back here stat! Do you understand me?"

"Yes but-."

"No buts! Just get here! It wants Allen! I don't know why but he needs our help. Hurry! You-." He never got to say more as the phone was blown to a million pieces, the receiver still in hand and quite literally useless on almost every count. Turning to the doorway he saw the reason for the interruption: the creature was back, and this time, it was really pissed. Its face was streaming with its own blood; its torso and limbs poked full of bloody bullet holes, cuts, and burns of all degrees. Needless to say the creature had been through hell and now it wanted payback. "I shall kill you slowly for what you've done to me." It hissed in its fury as it slowly but surely stepped forward on what remained of its legs. Suddenly it surged forward and knocked Komui across the room and into the large bookcase beyond, books and papers falling to the floor as the Chinese man stared dizzily at his attacker. "But I don't have that kind of time today. I'll be sure to put you and your group on my master's 'to kill' list when I get back with my new prize."

Komui tried to protest but found that he was too disoriented and the creature had probably broken something of his, and it felt like something important. He didn't notice the creature leaving with the teen under his arm as a strange item fell out from under the thing's cloak, rolling across the room, almost by accident to be stopped by one of Komui's boots, lying on its side and a bit invisible at first but it was there. Waiting.

--Exeter, England—

"Nii-san? Nii-san answer me! NII-SAN!" she got nothing but static, no matter what channel she used. The other three found her sitting in one of the chairs where Kanda had left her, her eyes red from crying, and her throat sore from calling. They'd heard the transmission and had blocked out her cries while trying not to cry from the pain themselves. Kanda, on the other hand, managed to keep a straight face through it all and wisely kept his mouth shut to avoid upsetting the girl more. He knew what it was like to lose family. All too well. So instead he wordlessly got her to get up and lead her to their original seats, before they got off and entered the war zone that'd been their mission that day. A mission without Allen. And a day that turned out all to wrong. In a cool voice he was the first who spoke. "When we get to the next station, we'll do whatever we can to get home and figure out what the hell's goin' on. Got it?"

The other two males nodded but Linali didn't respond, simply being in her own mind, and her own world. And they all respected that.

Linali couldn't help but almost faint at the static that came through her flapping bat-like communication golem, the thought of her brother, her only sibling, gone without her being there to help him in any way crushed all that she knew of things. Her sight became unfocused and her mind completely blank even when Rabi tried to shake her out of it. They'd managed to rid the train of all the creatures and the conductor said that they'd be able to get back to their starting point in about an hour depending on the tracks and routes they took and whether they stopped for actual passengers or not. He also said he'd pick them up some food from one of the luxury cars on his way back from the front as the four settled once again into their compartment. Rabi kept giving Linali worried glances; Aleister sat quietly, trying not to say anything while Kanda just stayed where he was in his usual cold hearted attitude. But deep inside, the thought of somehow losing his annoying boss Komui and the new exorcist Allen (or Bean Sprout in his mind) was actually very disturbing. Things like this shouldn't bother me so why now? What were those things and how'd they get into HQ? And what do they want with Bean Sprout anyway? Well whatever it is it'd better be worth my time or I'm gonna be pissed. He thought to himself as he let his thoughts wander, allowing himself to doze off as the hills, trees and fields of grass started to become familiar in all too many ways.

Jiminy Christmas that took me a while! And it's actually a little longer than most first chapters are. And that I'm proud of! And no notes either! That's a shocker. But in the mean time I really hope you guys like this while I make moves to get chapter 2 up for ya. Speaking of which, here's what's happening next:

Next chapter:

Chapter 2: Extra Help Arrives: Finding Allen

Kanda, Linali, Rabi and Aleister finally get back to HQ to find the place in shambles, Allen gone and Komui in bad shape. Like everyone else caught in the crossfire, he's not doing too well and it's up to the last four to go and get help. But from who? Certainly not the Millennium Earl, let alone the Noahs! Can they find the kind of assistance they need from the most unlikely source, the only source they may have that can help find Allen and make things right? Or will they make attempts on contacting the Asian branch for help? Find out in:

Chapter 2: Extra Help Arrives: Finding Allen!!