Chapter 9: Red

"At the heart of beauty lies something inhuman."―Albert Camus

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The bandages on his body were slowly removed, the wounds completely healed within three days after he woke up. Link was currently examining him, mumbling something under his lips while busily scribbling notes in his notebook. Kanda took no heed of it, shivering slightly under the thin clothing he was wearing as he glared at the other, wondering how much longer he was going to evaluate his condition before he could grab his coat and put it over his shoulders.

"Precision is very important, and definitely necessary in your case, Kanda-dono," Link explained, scribbling notes in his notebook which he always took with him. He then stopped, putting his pen and his notebook back into the front pocket of his shirt. "But you are done for now. It is good news that you are recovering well despite the injuries you had a few weeks ago."

Kanda stood up, taking his white shirt which was lying on the chair as he began wearing it. His hand reached out, pulling strands of his raven hair out of the collar and tying it up loosely. He turned, his gaze falling upon his sword which was on the table. He took it up, slowly pulling the silver blade out as he slowly inspected it. The cracks which tainted its surface was no longer there, and the scabbard was as good as new.

"It seems that your Innocence repaired by itself during this time when you are recuperating," Link commented, glancing at the sword for mere seconds. Kanda remained silent, peering at it.

There were a few knocks before the door opened, revealing General Tiedoll and Chaoji who had just returned from their usual patrols. Tiedoll's eyes lit up upon seeing him, to which he ignored him. Link chose to retreat to a corner, sitting on a small couch.

"The Vatican has come to a final verdict just yesterday."

The room was silent. General Tiedoll looked up, staring at them gravely.

"The existence of Allen is dangerous, and for the safety of everyone and the homeland we are in, he must therefore be eradicated. Well, it is what the council has announced. Teams of Exorcists were already sent out last night, and as far as I heard, they have already received news regarding the current whereabouts of Allen."

"In addition, I've received a call from Sir Leverrier last night. The officials of the Order want Exorcists who had come into contact with Walker to return to the headquarters and report the situation to them in further detail," Link said, flipping through his notebook.

His fingers pushed the last button into the hole swiftly, trailing down the shirt as Kanda took the sword from the table, strapping it behind his back. He laid his gaze onto his Exorcist coat lying neatly on the wooden arm of the couch, and just as he was about to take it, his hand suddenly halted.

"They are taking extra precautions, such that the tragedy which happened thirty five years ago will not occur again. The damage was vast, and the number of casualties was almost endless." General Tiedoll paused for a moment, furrowing his brows tightly as he briefly closed his eyes, inhaling sharply.

"It was extremely bad."

"What happened thirty five years ago?" Chaoji asked.

"That you do not need to know. The Vatican's main concern isn't Allen but the Noah which recedes in him. You just need to report to them what you know," Link said, turning to him.

"I'm not returning to the Order."

The room became silent, all eyes staring at Kanda who stepped out, masking an indifferent expression on his face. His gaze remained unfazed upon their demanding looks as he started walking to the door, only to stop as Chaoji stood before him.

"Why aren't you going back?"

"This is my decision alone," he said nonchalantly as he walked past, but a hand grabbed his shoulder tightly, forcing him to stop.

"Till now, are you still believing in Allen?!"

He chose to remain silent, staring ahead. After all, even he himself did not know why, and for what reason he was doing this. He fought Allen, and he had seen the truth by his own eyes. Allen Walker had betrayed them, and his actions were enough for them to execute death penalty. Yet, something seemed to be off, no matter how hard he questioned himself regarding all of it. For a person to have died two years ago, why would Allen appear, and why now? Just for what reason was he doing this?

What was he trying to prove here?

Kanda narrowed his eyes as he pushed Chaoji aside, walking out of the room. He headed down, deciding to get out for a breather. The main entrance was soon in view, and he stopped at the flight of stairs for a moment, staring at the people who were busily moving in and out of the inn.

He stepped out, facing the town. The glowing lanterns fluttered in the direction of the wind as laughter echoed in the vicinity, the children running all over the place with smiles on their faces. People were living their lives out here as though nothing had ever happened. He stared at them with no sympathy, and viewed at this particular scene in abhorrence at their complete ignorance towards reality.

What exactly was he confused at? He was not one to act out of impulse. He was born out of the existence of someone else, and he had to live with the identity which wasn't his. Everything was already laid out, and he had no choice but to abide, and for people like Allen who just did as they liked and was not restricted by the role they were supposed to act, he detested them with a deadly passion.

"There you are, Yuu-kun."

He heard a slight shift on the ground, feeling a presence beside him.

"Frankly, I was not surprised when you said that."

"Aren't you going to stop me?" he asked, his eyes focusing on a stall selling pancakes, and the number of children crowding around it as they asked for pancakes.

"And why would I stop you?" General Tiedoll questioned, a small smile on his face. "It is your decision. There is no need to account for the action you made."

Kanda stared at the fireworks lighting up the night sky.

"Everyone make their own choices, justified or not. You made yours, and Allen made his. There is no right or wrong answer. Everyone fight for their own reasons," the older general said, looking up as fireworks of different colours started exploding all over the place. His eyes narrowed at the dazzling light which started to dissipate within seconds, pondering on his words. If that was the case, then for what cause was he fighting for? What exactly was his purpose for finding Allen?

"Is this your final decision?"

"I am not going back," Kanda said firmly, staring ahead with a determined gaze. Whatever it takes, he would find out the truth to everything.

"Master!"

They turned, seeing Marie panting heavily as he stopped in front of them.

"What is it, Ma-kun?"

"I couldn't find Lavi anywhere, and when I went to his room, everything was cleared out. His Exorcist uniform, Innocence and golem are left behind. It is as though he has left by his own!"

They exchanged confused glances, following Marie behind as they went back to the inn. Link and Chaoji were already inside Lavi's room, inspecting the place for clues to his sudden disappearance. Link was shaking his head, while Chaoji slammed his fist onto the wall, cursing under his breath.

"What is he doing, leaving in this situation just right after Allen reappeared?"

"It is his decision as well," General Tiedoll murmured solemnly, gazing at the cold and empty room with slight bitterness.

"And what exactly is it?!" Chaoji exclaimed, shooting the older general an incredulous look.

"The situation here is completely different from Allen's. Lavi is a member of the Bookman clan at the beginning. The reason why he and Bookman approached the Black Order was solely for recording history from our side. Even if they decide to leave, we nor the Vatican have the authority to stop them," Link explained. Chaoji snorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he chose not to comment.

Kanda merely stared at the tidy bed for a while, before he slipped out of the door and headed back to his room. The dimmed flame from the oil lamp shook slightly as he opened the windows, peering outside. The translucent curtains gradually concealed his entire being, the soft material gliding past his arm and the tip of his hand and fingers. There were no stars tonight for him to view. Old memories came and went, and he just let it be, too tired to brush them away.

"Who do you want me to be?"

"I will be what you want to be."

It was late night, but he simply stood there and waited. Waiting until the time passed. Waiting until dawn approached.

"I know you are still there, and I'm going to bring you back."

He winced at the glaring sunlight which shone upon him. Kanda looked up, seeing the sun slowly rising from the horizons. He turned around, peering at the Exorcist uniform which was laid on the bed. Putting a brown coat over his shoulders and grabbing Mugen lying on the table, he walked to the door.

"I'm going to bring you home."

Kanda stepped out, not turning back as the door gradually closed with a soundless click.

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"Attention all passengers. We will be reaching Grande station in a few minutes. The train will be stopping for two minutes at this station."

Lenalee shifted her feet, the maroon bangles at her ankles ringing softly as she read through the documents which were sent to them around a week ago. The water in the glass moved slightly as the train took a turn to the right, passing through the fields of crops and the farmers who were currently harvesting them. She paid no heed to the soft snores across her, placing the papers down as she stretched her sore arms and legs and peered at the morning sky, realising that it was already morning.

It was said that almost fifty people were already missing for no apparent reason, yet no one bothered to report it to the authorities. The lives of the townspeople simply went on as though nothing had happened, and it had brought attention to the Vatican that something might be happening over there, and thus sending her group to check it out since they were the nearest to the location.

The train gradually reduced its speed as it arrived at the station. She stood up, walking to the small figure who was still snoozing deeply as she ruffled his blue hair, nudging him to wake up. The child gave a small grunt of displeasure, squirming in the seat and pouting as his small hands reached out, trying to slap her hand away with his eyes still closed. Lenalee giggled in amusement, shooting a glance at General Klaud who simply shook her head. She took her luggage and stepped out of the cabin, smiling as she heard a small cry which rang out and a series of lectures from the general seconds after she left.

They stood in the middle of the platform, waiting for General Klaud as she left to gather information. Timothy groaned out for the tenth time, rubbing his sore eyes as he looked around lethargically.

"Damn. I hardly slept throughout the night," he mumbled, shaking his head and slapping his face to wake himself up.

"It cannot be helped. This mission is considered urgent and we have to come here and investigate as soon as possible. Please understand, Tim," Lenalee replied, patting his back as Timothy let out another yawn. General Klaud soon came back, handing them the pamphlets of the town that they were going to investigate.

"We are early. Let's grab something to eat first," General Klaud said, taking her belongings as they stepped out. They stepped onto the wet trail, and she assumed that it had rained earlier. Lenalee looked around, taking note of the terrain and people who were walking from the opposite direction―probably coming from the town they were heading to. Their face expressions were mainly blank as they passed without a word.

Timothy was apologising to a woman in her late twenties whom he knocked onto earlier, helping her to put the vegetables back to the basket and handing it to her. She simply smiled and went on her way. He raised his eyebrow in slight bewilderment, staring at her bare shoulders flaunting in the open and her thin and tattered clothing which were about to fall off any moment.

"We are here."

They stopped at the front of the entrance. Lenalee stared at the cracked wooden board which creaked loudly as the wind blew past. They then entered, walking along the crowds of people who were patronising the stalls in the early morning. They checked into an inn first before proceeding to a nearby cafe which was just located right beside it, sitting at the table outside.

"It doesn't look like people would go missing. The atmosphere here is just too calm and normal, as though nothing has ever happened," she said, staring at the bustling activities happening in the town.

"A waitress came out of the cafe, serving them two cups of coffee, a mug of hot chocolate and a small plate of cranberry scones.

"You all don't seem to live here. Travellers, perhaps?" She asked with a welcoming smile. Lenalee briefly stared at her with a contemplated look, before turning back to the scone in her hand as she started eating it.

"Yes. I was wondering if anything strange has happened here recently," General Klaud replied politely. The waitress blinked, holding the empty tray at her chest as she pondered for a moment.

"As far as I've heard, there isn't anything peculiar which happened in this town, other than some petty thefts and a few festivals which are held here at times." She gave them another warming smile, bowing slightly as she headed back to the cafe. Lenalee ate the remaining scone, thinking back to the mission on hand. If there were really people missing, why would the town be so quiet?

"We shouldn't make haste. After breakfast, we split up to gather information," General Klaud said. Both of them nodded in acknowledgement, finishing their food as they started searching for information which might be related to the case. Lenalee chose to observe the surroundings from the side road, stepping into small shops occasionally to ask a few questions, but all she got were the same answers.

"Not sure. Not that I've heard of."

"If there are people missing, we would have heard about it. After all, this town is small and almost everyone knows one another."

She stopped at the entrance of an alley, pressing her hand at the edge of the wall as she skimmed through the surroundings for any signs of suspicious people. The details of the report flashed in her mind momentarily, and she began gathering all her thoughts regarding this mission. Was the Order wrong about this? And assuming that the missing cases did happen, who provided the information to the Order?

Lenalee entered, walking along the narrow pavement. People were seen smoking and eating drugs, and men were blatantly fooling around with scandalous women and doing things which weren't supposed to be done at broad daylight. She was already used to the sight through the years, not sparing them a glance as she walked past them swiftly, deciding to leave as soon as possible.

"Hey! Did you hear? They are going to hold another event tonight!"

She paused, glancing at the side as she saw two women chatting with each other.

"Oh my! It is finally our turn to be invited! I can't wait!"

Lenalee frowned, wondering about the event they were talking about. She looked around, and after making sure that there was no one following her, she stepped forward.

"Uh, excuse me."

The women stopped talking instantly, turning to her. She flashed out a pleasant smile as she approached them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I'm new here, and I arrived at this town just yesterday. May I know what exactly this event is?" she asked politely. They blinked, staring at each other hesitantly for a moment. She waited patiently, and after a while, one of them finally turned to her.

"Many events are actually held every night in this town, but not most of us are able to join. You need to be invited and exclusively chosen by Red-sama to be able to attend."

Lenalee frowned, processing the information in her mind.

"Okay, so how do I attend this event?" she asked. The two women simply laughed in response.

"It is simple. Let everything go. Accept what you truly want. Be yourself."

Her heart thudded nervously upon seeing their smiles which were somewhat disturbing.

"Your true self."

Her eyes widened for a moment, and she realised that the two women were back in their own conversation. Lenalee slipped out quickly, walking out of the alley. She then stopped, staring at the flow of the crowd. Afternoon had just arrived, and some of the townspeople were keeping their stalls for the day. She started to head out, pondering on the words she heard from the two women. If events were held every night, there was no way the people here wouldn't know about it.

"And who is this 'Red-sama' that they are talking about?" she murmured softly, shifting her gaze to the left. Almost instantaneously, she saw a cloaked figure walking with the people, and much to her horror, long strands of white hair were seen flying out of the black hood. Lenalee continued to stare, stunned by what she had just seen. She had heard from Komui recently that the notice on the threat of Allen who suddenly reappeared and his official capture for heresy had been out. Allen was confirmed alive, and he was in this town right now? No matter how she thought of it, it was just too much of a coincidence. She was hesitant in believing such a thing. But if she did not give chase, she might never find out the truth.

Lenalee began walking, trailing behind as she made sure that she would not lose him. He then disappeared into a Chinese restaurant, and she followed suit, entering the place. The place was filled with people taking their afternoon meals, and she thought she had lost him. After a few minutes, she saw him again, taking the stairs to the second floor. She excused herself, pushing herself across and apologising on the way as she ran up the flight of stairs, turning to a corridor with a series of rooms located at the side. The shadow disappeared at the last second room, and she rushed in without hesitation.

She slammed the doors open. Lenalee stopped abruptly and looked around, realising that the room was empty. There was no dirt stain on the floor, and the bed was clean and neat, as though no one had ever stepped in here. Lenalee shook her head as she tried to recall the shadow which she saw just a few minutes ago. She was very sure that he came here. He was definitely here.

"Is that what you want?"

Violet eyes snapped up as she turned sharply, seeing someone standing at the opened window. Lenalee stared at his white hair which trailed to the collar of his traditional chinese clothes he was currently wearing. She almost mistook him for Allen; until she was met with that pair of red eyes that was fixated on her. He simply smiled and approached her. She couldn't fathom what he really wanted, and could only step back as she watched him carefully. After taking a few steps, he finally stopped.

"So, is that what you truly desire, Lenalee Lee?"

"What?" she murmured in shock, wondering how he knew her name. She swallowed nervously, averting her gaze from his eyes which seemed to give her the chills. She knew that something was very wrong here, and this foreboding feeling was getting heavier as she stared at this stranger who wore the face of Allen.

"Who are you?"

The stranger raised his eyebrow, clearly amused.

"I am asking you," Lenalee demanded, her tone louder and fiercer. The white-haired stranger simply smiled, stepping closer to her as he tilted her chin to view her more clearly.

"I am Red. Nice to meet you, Lenalee Lee."

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"Neah-nii!"

He found himself standing in the middle of an empty pavement which led back to an isolated house in the woods. His gaze fell to the ground, staring at the small magnolias in between the cracked tiles, fluttering in the direction of the wind. He then looked up, his feet starting to move as he walked towards the house.

"Mother! When is Neah-nii coming back?"

His hands pushed the bushes and the small branches in his way, seeing smoke coming out of the chimney.

"When is Neah-nii coming back?"

The voice became more hesitant and unsettled, as though he or she was uncertain if Neah was truly coming back. He slowly approached the small area, seeing the pots and basins which were stacked up at the front of the shed. Many people were crowding at the open space, and as he looked closer, he noticed two particular people―a small boy and a woman―who were completely surrounded.

"I am looking for him too. Do you know where he is?"

He turned to the man who was dressed in his suit, probably in his late thirties. His eyes narrowed as he scanned through the place, identifying the twelve Noahs who were present at the scene immediately. It didn't took him long to realise who the man really was as he stared at him, horrified.

The woman chose not to respond, her arms hugging the small boy tightly. The small boy only blinked his eyes in confusion, clearly not understanding the situation he was currently in.

"Do you know Neah-nii, mister?"

"Yeah. And apparently, very well," he replied with a sickeningly sweet smile.

"Why are you finding him?" the small boy asked.

"Well, let's say he has found out something which he shouldn't even be digging into."

"Ah! You mean the 'treasure hunting' game? To find the final prize and be the ultimate winner?"

The Millennium Earl's face expression turned rigid, as though something in that boy's words had hit the main point in his purpose for coming here. The small boy did not notice, smiling brightly as he continued chatting away.

"Neah-nii has promised me! He will win this game and get the prize back for me!"

He stared at the small boy silently for a moment, before he broke out into fits of chuckles.

"Mister, why are you laughing?"

The man stopped laughing.

"It is all thanks to you, boy. We now know what he is aiming after. And..."

He stepped forward, giving them one of the most pleasant smiles.

"Thanks to you, he will never get back here alive."

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Silver eyes snapped open as Allen drew a deep breath, staring at the stacks of wooden boxes and other cargo in this place. He then shifted slightly in his position, his hands brushing across the dusty floor as he slowly got up on his feet. His body swayed slightly upon the sudden jerk, and while he steadied himself, he stared at the view outside which was constantly moving, realising that he was in a train carriage.

"You are finally awake."

He stared at the window pane, seeing a faint reflection of Neah on it. Allen frowned, looking around as he began inspecting the environment he was currently in.

"Where are we going?"

"Nowhere. I haven't thought of a place yet. You slept too long, my nephew. Hitting your head too hard by a mere Exorcist?" Neah sneered with a mocking grin. Allen ignored him, looking down to examine his body. The wounds had healed, leaving a few scars behind. He buttoned up his shirt, staring at the piles of baggage and other stuff near the door entrance. He assessed the window shutters, making sure that they were working properly in case of emergencies. He then peered at the view once again as the train passed a field of white dandelions swaying in the direction of the autumn wind.

"How long was I unconscious?" he asked.

"Weeks. I supposed your mental condition could not take a large amount of damage at the same time," Neah said, twirling his hair as he gazed outside. "While you are asleep, the Vatican has ordered your arrest. Should I say that I'm envious of you, gaining attention within a few weeks?"

He tidied his dishevelled hair, leaning his shoulder against the wooden boxes.

"Tyki Mikk helped me to escape, but I still cannot trust him. You know he bought those people who once worked for the Order?"

The battle scene with the Third Exorcists and the Order flashed momentarily in his mind. They were forced to fight, and the Millennium Earl only sat at a corner and fanned the flames harder to satisfy his amusement. Allen almost snorted, staring at a red baggage in front of him as his mind wandered back to the previous battle with the Exorcist. At that time, he could have ended his life for good―that stab which was easily unleashed. He did not even attempt to retaliate. Yet at that moment, he could not deny his words which sounded genuine and sincere.

His gaze was fixated at his own reflection on the glass window. He knew he was distracted, to the point of being ridiculous. Why was he still thinking of this―thinking of him? Words shouldn't even be enough. There was one thing which he knew of. The two of them were enemies. There was no way a compromise could be made between them, even if feelings were involved.

Allen peered at Neah who was staring elsewhere. He remembered that dream; that particular past which he wasn't supposed to step in. He remembered the toothless grin from the little boy who was talking about his brother with a swell of pride within him. Till now, he did not have, and would never have such experience himself. He rubbed his arms absentmindedly, wondering if he was actually envious of the other towards a memory which was considered so insignificant, yet so…important.

"How...was Mana like? When you two still had each other," he murmured softly. He recalled the dream he had in the morning, smiling slightly at the childlike expressions he made which was completely different from the Mana whom he knew. The smiles were not the same as what he remembered. It was not as comforting as what he saw in the dream. He peered at Neah who remained silent, wondering if he had even noticed.

And the face of the Millennium Earl...

"Attention to all passengers. We will be arriving at Grande Station in a few minutes..."

Allen turned, staring at the green plains. Something jolted his senses all of a sudden, his body stiffened in position as he looked around suspiciously. An ominous feeling was clawing at his chest as he stared at the province which was getting nearer. An announcement was soon made, and the train began to reduce its speed gradually.

"We are getting off. I sense something strange here. It isn't Akuma, yet it isn't human either," Neah spoke lowly. The train came to a halt, opening its doors as passengers started streaming out. Allen pulled the hood over his head and leaped out of the window. His feet landed on the tracks soundlessly, and he checked both sides before leaving quickly, taking up the small trail as he began walking towards the nearby town. He soon reached, stopping in front of the entrance as he stared at the wooden board stating the town's name.

He hissed, touching his left eye which seemed to be twitching more than usual. The sudden gust of wind which came out of nowhere almost swept him off the ground. The foreboding feeling intensified, and he raised his alertness immediately, observing the surroundings carefully as he walked.

"Any Innocence here?" Allen whispered, looking around as he watched the activities happening around him.

"Not at the moment. But this particular feeling…is somewhat disturbing."

He stopped momentarily, apologising to someone whom he had bumped into. Laughter and cries echoed in this bustling street as everyone was eagerly promoting their products displayed on their stalls. A ball rolled to him, and he peered at a boy who was running in his direction, his eyes searching for something. Allen bent down, picking the ball as the boy stopped in front of him.

"Thank you!"

The child looked up with a bright smile. Although he said it with a cheery tone, his eyes were exceptionally dull. He observed their face expressions―the wide smiles, the lively chitter-chatters, and the merry laughter echoing throughout the town which almost convinced him that everything was alright. But something important was definitely missing.

"I am so glad that Red-sama invites us! I feel so much happier here!"

"Yes, I agree with you! This place just makes me so relaxed."

Silver eyes widened slightly as Allen stopped, glancing at the group hidden in the dark alley. They seemed to be in a delirious state, swaying and groping among themselves with moans and groans filling the entire place. He looked up, staring at the moon in the night sky which was getting fainter, and it was few seconds later when he noticed the fog entering the street, blocking out the lights and blurring the path ahead.

He began picking up the pace. Suddenly, his left eye activated. Allen stopped, and at the same time, he felt a sudden malice approaching him. The smell of blood reeked the air, and he jumped back instantly, dropping himself to the ground. A metal sound rang sharply by his ear simultaneously as he saw a blade embedded on the floor just centimetres from his face. It was pulled out within seconds, and he rolled sideways, avoiding the consecutive hard stabs aiming for him at pinpoint accuracy. Allen shot his foot out, tripping his assailant off guard as he made use of this chance to get up swiftly, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him forward. Their gazes clashed with each other, that pair of red eyes glinting brightly in the dark as the fog gradually cleared, revealing his appearance.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"You aren't supposed to be here."

"What?" Allen frowned slightly at his words. His left eye focused on the raging spirit which was surprisingly small and taking a weird form which he could not identify. He felt strangely restless, as though he was uncertain that this person was really the monster that the Millennium Earl specially created.

"You are not invited by Red-sama. Leave," he warned, brandishing his blade as he made his stance. His red eyes flashed as he swung his hand with the blade at him. The movement was too fast for him to keep up, and Allen hissed, releasing him and stepping back as he touched the bleeding cut inflicted on his face. He hurled the blade at him the second time, and Allen raised his bare arms to shield himself, overlooking the splattering of more blood decorating the dirty wall behind them.

"Who is this 'Red-sama'?"

The wound closed up within seconds, a patch of grey concealing it. The man seemed to quiver at the sight as Allen stepped forward. His black coat rustled as a gust of wind entered the area, blowing the hood off and revealing his bright white hair.

"What is this place? What are you? Why are you here?" Allen questioned, his golden eyes scrutinizing his entire being severely as he trapped him to a corner. His nails sharpened, his heart pounding madly against his ribcage at each breath as he hissed, the distorted chuckles of Neah's echoing faintly in the far depths of his mind as he desperately tried to control himself from ripping this little prey into pieces. Pain hammered his head like heavy lead, and he hissed with gritted teeth, forcing back those overwhelming emotions which weren't supposed to be there. What exactly was it? The name Red continued reverberating loudly in his mind, and Allen growled lowly, clenching his hand and tightening his hold.

"Then, what exactly are you seeking for?"

His eyes widened slightly. Suddenly, the assailant froze. There was a flash of spark, before lightning fell from the sky and struck the man's entire body and sent him into flames. Allen stepped back immediately as he fell to the ground, continuing to convulse violently for a few seconds before it finally stopped. He narrowed his eyes at the charred body burnt beyond recognition, kneeling down as he placed his fingers at his neck, detecting no pulse beneath the skin.

"It looks like they will resort to anything to prevent you from finding out," Neah chuckled in deep pleasure. Allen straightened his clothes, pulling the hood over his head once again.

"But who has the ability to kill an Akuma so easily?" he muttered, walking out of the alley. His grey skin texture gradually faded away, while the gold orbs dulled, returning to the original silver. Allen walked for a while more, before he saw red lights from the lanterns hanging by the front of the prostitution district. Women could be seen floundering with men, barely wearing clothes as they continued making advances to them with several flirtatious flutters of their eyes. He ignored one who approached him, staring at the illuminating moonlight reflected in the lake beside him.

"You are not invited by Red-sama."

The night breeze passed by, and he slowly came to a stop, staring at the ground.

"Then, what exactly are you seeking for?"

"What exactly am I seeking for..." he mouthed out softly, peering at the darkness ahead. His body turned rigid all of a sudden, shivers travelling along his arms and spine at this sinister feeling which approached him out of nowhere. Allen turned around sharply, his eyes darting at all corners on the street available. He was feeling tense and edgy for no reason, as though someone was reading him directly from behind. He began to pick up his pace, pushing himself through the thick crowd of people surrounding him which was hindering his line of sight.

Allen reached to the end of the street, stopping himself as he stared at the plain field in front of him. The silver orbs soon darted to the left, shooting a brief glance at his shoulder before he jumped aside. Something bright flashed before his eyes, before he heard hissing sounds on the ground, incinerating the cement ground within seconds.

"As expected of the host of Neah Walker, Allen Walker. Such keen hearing and good reflexes."

He turned around, seeing three unfamiliar beings – a woman dressed as a soldier, a boy in his late teens and a small girl with bright blue hair who somehow resembled Road – standing across him. His demon eye activated, and he scanned through them, seeing that each of them all had a spirit attached to their body. Yet...something seemed to be amiss.

"Our master wants to see whether you are ready or not," the blonde standing in the middle said as she pulled out a metal sword which was far larger and sharper than Kanda's, supporting it by her shoulder. Allen observed them closely, taking a step back as black lightning crackled along his left arm, instantaneously forming a coated black armour around it and transforming into his Innocence weapon. Her lips then curved into a maniacal smile as she leaped forward, making her way to him in just three steps. He moved back just as quickly, widening his eyes slightly as her sword made in contact with the ground with a thunderous crash, creating a crater on the stone ground.

A sudden ear-splitting sound screeched out as the hard blade resonated powerfully, causing him to stumble as Allen covered his ears which began to bleed, bearing with the splitting pain. His vision dimmed for a short moment, and he shook his head vigorously, trying to get his senses back. As he looked up again, his eyes widened in shock at her who was already standing in front of him, her sword positioning at his head.

"It is a good try, but unfortunately, you lose."

Her violet eyes narrowed, and he only watched as the sword descended onto him.

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The fire at the fireplace hissed, the dim light brightening up the living room of a mansion as he sat at the verenda, swirling the wine in the glass as he enjoyed the night breeze and the atmosphere outside. Faint footsteps were heard from a distance, before the slide door was opened as someone stood beside him.

"Obito isn't coming back?"

"He is unlucky to have met him. I wouldn't be surprised if he is able to enter without much effort taken," he said as he brushed away his white locks of hair, cleaning his lips with a piece of clean tissue. The woman with her orange hair tied into a bun remained silent as he slowly stood up, walking to the edge and gazing down at his people who were currently enjoying the night festival.

"Is this just a coincidence?" she asked monotonely, her clear, emotionless blue eyes reflecting the faint moonlight above as she walked to his side, fingering the black bangle on her left wrist and looking down at the crowd with little interest.

"Well, who knows?" he said, leaning against the wall as he continued to watch. "But coincidence or not, if he is able to enter here, it means that he also has something he seeks for. Even if it is out of his sub-consciousness."

He smiled, gaining the attention of the people who were cheering for him.

"This is the place which one's desire brings us to; where we can get whatever we want. But in order to obtain that, it comes with a price."

He brought the glass of wine to his lips, glancing at the dark alley. That pair of red eyes glinted as his lips curved into a sinister smile.

Isn't it, my dear Allen?

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He sat by the fireplace, doing his usual knitting. The mansion was quiet, with everyone out doing their own tasks. His fingers continued moving nimbly, moving through thick woollen threads as he was making the third sweater. The fire crackled, and he stopped for a moment, staring at the bright golden flames burning the remains of the wooden logs which were put a few hours ago. Then, small amounts of laughter could be heard faintly across the living room, and he turned to peer at the piano from the corner, with boxes of games, books and toys left untouched for the longest time. And as he stared, he could somehow see figures of his family playing at that corner, smiles lit on their faces. And at the seat of the piano sat Neah who was playing and singing along with them.

His hands holding the warm cloth gradually fell onto his lap. How long had it been since they were together, singing folk songs from the human world and experiencing cultures which were initially out of mere boredom, but gradually became fun and intriguing as they did it over and over? It baffled him on how he could miss those moments and the warm feeling he got at certain times, though he always brushed it off, insisting that he might be mistaken, or it might just be a coincidence.

The soft jingles of the bell rang faintly in the silence. He turned, smiling at the black cat which had returned from its mission. He placed the knitting materials on the coffee table beside him as it gradually transformed into a tall and slender woman wearing full black suit. She adjusted the glasses at her nose, delivering a small curtsey upon seeing her master.

"I have returned, Earl."

"Good," he responded. "How is the situation outside?"

"The Black Organisation is still finding Allen Walker. Unfortunately, he disappeared without a trace."

"I see," he muttered softly, his mind unconsciously wandered back to the early days when Neah was still around. At that time, the Noah looked upon him with a smile on his face, pledging allegiance to the family. They had quite a lot in common, and besides Road, he likes him more than the rest of the members.

Yet…

"It sickens me greatly. That particular warm yet distasteful feeling which I experienced from this world, and the closeness from this family which is all nothing but a lie."

"What are you thinking, Earl?" Lulubell asked with a questioning gaze. He did not reply, staring at the forlorn scene of the dying flames which was getting smaller and smaller. His hands clenched tightly at the memories of his betrayal, his emotions raging fiercely within him as he questioned himself again and again. He had once believed. Foolishly. What exactly had he done? He did it for the sake of the family, and he could just abandon everything in an instant?

There was a small knock on the door, before a butler came in.

"Sir, someone is seeking your presence. He is currently at the chamber at the fourth floor."

Lulubell stepped aside as the Millennium Earl stood up, taking Relo which was lying against the fireplace. He walked out of the living room, ascending the spiral of stairs surrounded by stone bricks. The daylight gradually dimmed as he reached the fourth floor, his feet walking along the golden velvet carpet as he reached the small room right at the end. He opened the door, seeing a man in black facing the portrait on the wall. He gradually turned by his presence, and he gave him a pleasant smile.

"Welcome, dear child. I'm sorry for the late arrival."

He pulled out a chair, sitting down as he adjusted his hat. The man did not respond, instead approaching him and bringing out his hand. Something shone faintly as his arm transformed into a weapon, and the Earl could only grin widely at the swift progression that was taking place.

"Good job. Good job," he murmured, staring at the golden emblem of the Black Organisation on his uniform. The man only chuckled lowly as he bowed, putting his hand on his left side of the chest.

"The Master requests your presence next week. Would you be able to make it?"

He just smiled in response.

"It's time."

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Author's Note: I apologise for the late update. I am in semi hiatus, and as of lately I do not have the muse to write due to other stuff. But no worries, I have picked up writing quite a while back. The story 'Seasons' is still in progress, and I am trying my best to finish the chapters. As for those who are curious in whether this story will be my own alternate ending to the manga series, it would be a yes. The update will be slow, so please bear with me. I will update whenever I can. ^^

-SingingBlues