Author's Notes: Hey guys, it's me again, back with Chapter Two: Lost In Between for D. Gray-man Hallow: Hollow Within. Now before I say anything else I'd really just like to thank everyone who's been here waiting on me to update this thingamajig. It really means a lot to me, really. So yeah, thank you guys really. Not a alot of readers actually stay and follow stories faithfully anymore...

Anyways, as of now I'd like to ask you guys to please excuse Allen's Reminiscences within the story because to be truthful they're not quite stable. Considering the fact that they're not taken from one solid reference but form three different forms; the dubbed, subbed and the manga versions of this anime series are all applied references to this story. So some sayings might be said differently..depending on translations...That being said, happy reading!

Special thanks to my two lone reviews; Fox Princess and sparklehannah. Thank you guys for taking your time to give me feedback. I love you guys!

Fox Princess:

Yes. Hopefully I do a good job at growing their relationship together as the story progress... Actually, I have Johnny Gill and the Science Dpt. to thank for the idea of having a character come in from the outside world because the fact that they seemed so determined and so close to Allen got me thinking; what if their was a girl version of Johnny? Oh and also, the idea of making a exorcist OC truly seemed like it's so cliché nowadays haha..

sparklehannah:

Yes. Thank you, thank you, thank you Hannah. If you hadn't extended my knowledge about the collection of light novels than I've would've surely have had a run–in with a plot hole. I've looked at those guys too now and yes, now I've collected important information that will be very much needed for future use as well. So thank you again!

Now on to the story! Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Lost In Between..

Allen Walker was speechless as he sat in complete silence in the dimness of the small room in which he'd awaken in.

Apparently, the sizable room consisted of very little lighting, much to Allen's irritation. The few things his curious eyes could barely make out were; a lone wooden chair, a white drawer, one shuttered window, and an oil lamp which currently sat upon the white drawer flickering about in the vast and extremely void eerie silence.

He didn't know if it was the suspense of waking up to unknown surroundings or if it was just Kurami herself, but apparently one of those two had managed to distract him from noticing his astonishingly sore injuries.

Just recently he'd begun feeling the faint pain that kept coming back from the injure on his left lower abdominal.

The injury imposed by Mugen was truly unspeakable. But apparently someone had done a good job at attempting to stop its current effect on him.

The wound had been neatly re-bandaged, but much to his surprise. Nevertheless, blood was already penetrating the bandages, again.

Perhaps Kurami had taken her leave to collect new bandages for it's re-bandaging?

The pretty pinkette had explained to him beforehand that she needed to fitch a few things from downstair's and that when she returned, then afterwards, she would give him answers to all of his questions.

She seemed like a nice person to say the truth, but was she really? Her soft-spoken manner somehow always made Allen feel comfortable and warm inside, but...

If Kurami indeed was the person she seemed to be and meant nothing but good toward him... Was it possible to say that here he was again, going back to square one?

He'd left the Order to keep people with similar feels like her's safe.

To keep those people from getting hurt because of him.

And now?

The bluish-purple eyed teen suddenly itched slightly vexed at the thought of the third member of the Noah Family and the final words he addressed to him before he disappeared and left him stranded with Road and a huge Timcanpy a month or so back then...

"Say, boy... Which side are you on?...You don't even know your place or what you are...You just spread confusion and conflict... Aren't you the one whose worst... Allen Walker?"

Allen's hands fisted at his sides as he remembered the words that were most likely true and reality to him at this point.

"If you really want to stay an Exorcist, don't go back to the Order...Go settle matters with the monster inside you..."

The lone silence always brought along a long moment for Allen's mind to start it's constant wandering of the vague memory that still plagued him with nightmares recently.

"No matter what happens, I'll always be an Exorcists. Our paths may diverge, but that will never change... I love the Order... the place where you and everyone else are... It is my home... And it'll always be my home!"

A monster's home?

No. Allen Walker's home.

And he was going to protect it no matter what. Even if he himself is considered the opposing threat. He may not be fit to directly offer protection to any of his friends or family, but that didn't mean he couldn't fine a way to...

No longer wanting to think of the past, Allen let his eyes roam around the small room as he slowly threw off the covers and sat up on the edge of the bed.

He sighed, shutting his eyes trying to will a sudden new pain in his chest to go away. But in response it painfully surged throughout his entire body instead.

Nonetheless, the teen continued his strive to remain seated and ignore his unwanted thoughts altogether.

Why is Kurami taking so long? he thought, feeling completely off balance.

He needed help, advice-something. Anything.

The room sprung wildly a few times as he attempted to recompose himself. Closing his eyes tighter and forcing body to comply, Allen stilly fought back his uprising light-headedness.

Surely a short walk to the nearest window wasn't something worth tampering with, right?

Once he finally caught his breath, Allen was actually glad when he finally got to his feet and felt what it was like to stand fully upright again.

But just as he was about to make toward the window, the door to the room creaked open and Kurami appeared at the doorway with Timcanpy fluttering right behind her.

Startled by their sudden intrusion, the white-haired boy immediately jumped back and in the process accidentally tripped on the blanket he'd let slip to the ground earlier.

Allen toppled over onto the floor with a loud thump.

"Allen!" Kurami cried and immediately setting the things she'd been carrying with her aside, the pinkette raced to the boy's side without any further ado, "Allen, are you alright?!"

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" Allen blurted, not taking the time to apprehended his own words as they came.

The trip had awkwardly left him sprawling on the floor, fiercely rubbing the back of his head as he tried helplessly to stop the pain the fall had just kindly rewarded him with.

"Are you sure?" Kurami asked, looking extremely worried as she leaned over him to examined the bandaged wound on his right bicep, his head and then his abdominal.

"Yes, really. Ha ha, I am okay," Allen reassured, blushing sheepishly.

Kurami smiled and absently covered her mouth to stop herself from giggling.

"Here silly, let's give this a try." she proposed and then reaching inside a small pack holstered around her waist, she drew a red ribbon and waved it before him in amusement.

The tips of Kurami's long pink bangs lightly tickled Allen's neck and clavicle as she worked to draw and tie back his snowy-white hair into a low ponytail at the back of his head.

"That's oughta do it!" she chirped, once she was done and pulling away, she tilted her head to the side studying her work absently.

The pinkette tried not to giggle at Allen's perplexed face as she leaned in once more to adjusted his ponytail's red bowknot one more final time.

"..Thanks for that..." he said politely, once he finally found his voice.

"Yeah—"

"No, really." he paused, smiling reassuringly, "I've often thought of trimming it a few times... Seeing it'd gotten pretty long and all."

Kurami nodded in understanding.

Allen wasn't reluctant to growing out his hair—no, that wasn't the problem.

What did bother him though was; not knowing whether it was his own desire or Nea's desire to keep it long.

What would he prefer? He thought inwardly, staring into her eyes in the silence.

"Your really shouldn't think that way.." she murmured then, after a long awkward pause.

"Wha-why is that?" Allen asked nervously, completely taken aback by her sudden statement. Her facial expressions just then had almost made her look like she was actually answering his thoughts aloud.

"Never mind." Kurami blurted, impulsively looking away from him and turning her brilliant blue gaze to the floor in an attempt to hide the pink hues the warmth of her pale cheeks was suddenly causing.

Thereafter she instantly decided it was time to get going. So, hooking her arm beneath his left, Kurami slowly helped Allen to his feet and then carefully lead him back to the bed.

"I'm sure eating something will help you regain your strength." she assured, handing him a white bundle of what he assumed were his clothes. She and Timcanpy then exited the room once again to collect what she'd called equipment before.

"Oh, don't put that on yet. I'm going to change your bandages first." The pinkette called from over her shoulder as she slowly backed into the room pulling with her a small cart with—food?

Food!

The smell of miso soap and simmered beef in stew instantly filled the starving Allen's nostrils in one swiftly whiff.

Kurami giggled, watching him as he stared at the cart mouthwatering and starry-eyed.

"I figured you'd react that way after not eating for so long." she smiled, "Here, I'll do your wounds first...They look like a bloody mess already, anyway."

Allen didn't like the idea at first, but the teen gradually compiled.

Pulling the cart inside the small room and closing the door behind it, Kurami made her way over to Allen's bedside. Grabbing the silver tray she'd brought in before from off her chair, she collected a pair of scissors and then a pair of clean bandages.

Twenty minutes later...

Timcanpy hovered over them as they sat in silence while Kurami snapped the neatly wrapped bandages with sharp scissors and skillfully wiped blood from along the edges of every wound.

She wiped and then secured, wrapped and then tied.

By the time she was almost finished, Allen had finally have had enough of Timcanpy's ridiculous little routine. He wasn't quite sure what exactly had brought upon the little creature's strange uneasiness, but for some reason Timcanpy seemed... worried?

"Tim?" Allen called, looking up toward the golden golem still circulating the air a foot above them, "Is something the matter?"

In response, the small ball finally settled on his free shoulder, nestling his cheek in the process.

Allen quirked a brow.

"Tim? Is there something your trying to tell me?"

Timcanpy only snuggled closer, swishing his tail around like a happy dog would.

"Umm, did something happened downstairs... Kurami?" Allen questioned as he moved a hand to the golem and pulled him closer to his neck.

Kurami didn't answer his question right away, instead her eyes seemed strangely settled upon the small white three-drawer dresser and the oil lamp that sat eerily flickering upon it.

"Four nights ago, you couldn't stop repeating the name 'Mana' in your sleep...," she began, taking notice of the way Allen set his jaw and clenched his fists as she mentioned the name, Mana.

Kurami wondered distantly if the wounded boy understood exactly what she was going to say. "Sometimes you'd wake up and be shivering in sweat... You'd sit up for hours and stare off into space until I'd come in here and lay you back to sleep..." she paused, her teeth pulling and tugging at rose-colored lips as she silently chose her words carefully. "To say the very least, I'm not allowed to enter someone's dreams without their permission. So entering your's was completely out of the question... But once I noticed a dark aura around you an—and your moments of pain as well... I grew more and more curious to know who exactly had I brought into my home..and more importantly; what was hurting him... When I first asked you for permission, you only ignored me... You'd wake up and lay still with your eyes open and you wouldn't speak a word-"

An expression of bewilderment crossed Allen's face. He was certain he had no memory of it all.

"Wait a sec-" Allen stammered, opening his mouth to continue but unsure as to how he should continue he fell silent.

After a full minute of silence, Kurami started up again.

Apparently, the silence was too much for her, so she began explaining everything again as it'd happened.

"You were trapped in your own mind, Allen. You kept threatening no one in particular and saying you weren't going to 'give up'.. 'That this wasn't going to end like this' and sometimes you'd murmur something about avenging someone's death," Kurami continued, smiling at Tim whom was still snuggling Allen.

She stood next; calmly collecting the bloody bandages and used equipment, she made toward the cart, disposed of them, and then washed her hands in a basin.

Turning her gaze toward Allen again, she strolled the cart closer.

"I found this little bugger in the kitchen one night when I got back from work," she explained, gesturing toward Timcanpy with her chin as she finished up tying the bandages wrapped around his left bicep. "At first I thought he'd flown in through an open window or something, but when I tried to make him leave he'd race to your bedside and flutter over you in circles..."

Allen smiled at this, he knew all too well how far Timcanpy's loyalty had taken them multiple times before.

"He was very protective over you...staying up all night watching me to make sure I wouldn't go anywhere near you... But one night I came back earlier than usual... I found him sitting on your pillow with his mouth open...and I could hear something playing out loud... a projection of someone's voice, I figured..."

"So Allen, I've already told Tim to do as he pleases while in your care...I'm sure your reluctant to listen to me now that you know I've be following the wishes of the Fourteenth all this time...but if you think you're being forced to walk a certain path by either of us...well you're needing to know that your mistaken..The path forms behind you as you soil you step on is compressed leaving an imprint of a course you've chosen. You are the only one who can create your own path, Allen. So trust me here... you need to stop wearing Mana's mask. You must chose your own path... If you haven't given up that is..."

...

Stepping back, Kurami examined Allen; something dark and yet wounded flickered in his innocent-looking eyes at that moment.

He'd been silently listening to her explain everything, when suddenly they heard something completely unexpected.

The golden golem wasn't at Allen's side anymore... the small critter was sitting on his bed, his mouth wide open... Allen had instantly recognized the familiar voice playing aloud as Tim's projection of his master's last recording dreamily played throughout the room.

A message that truly meant something to him.

Only to Allen. Not Nea, only Allen.

Had Timcanpy really been replaying that thing to him while he slept and fought back Nea's uprising?

Allen suddenly felt guilty for having put his little companion through that extremely painful situation. He knew how much Timcanpy missed General Cross. His master... Their master...

"T-Tim?"

Allen stood then and closing the small space between him and the small creature, he crouched down next to him.

"I'm sorry I'm putting you through this... I know it's hard and it's going to getting even harder in the future Tim..." The small golem scarcely gave the boy any time at all to pull away. Reclaiming him last position, Timcanpy nestled Allen's neck affectionately.

"Guys?" Kurami called. Her back facing them, "Come on, dinners ready!"

Allen frown then, he never noticed she had left. And turning toward her he raised his hand in acknowledgment. "We'll finish this talk later, alright?" he whispered.

Allen smiled brilliantly, when the golden golem only zoomed past him in response, heading toward Kurami.

"Hey-wait for me to serve your plate first Tim!"

Tim!

Timcanpy!

Allen watched in amusement at the blue-eyed girl scold and scorned the fluttering creature as he tried endlessly to take a bite out of almost anything and everything, that the astonished girl evidently struggled to serve.

"I'll never be done like this!"

...

They eat dinner in complete silence.

Well, almost complete silence.

Tim apparently couldn't stop wrecking havoc every once in awhile, but they managed in the end. Admittedly, Allen actually learned a few new things about his surprisingly new friend Kurami.

"–Well, when I finally awoke next, I knew I was fully determined to enter your dreams at that moment...So I asked you once more. But this time I tried this,"

The white-haired teen watch with wide eyes as Kurami suddenly fixed her eyes on his and strangely he could feel her inside of himself.

Allen?

The teenaged boy literally jumped at the call and almost fell off his bed, again.

Allen..

He could hear her voice so clearly. He almost thought she'd said his name aloud. But no—her lips hadn't moved.

Allen? You can hear me, right?

Allen hesitated at first. Swallowing audibly, he answered back.Yes?

Aye!

Telepathy?

Kurami nodded, smiling at him reassuringly.

Relax. Let your mind work on it's own. She advised. I can't speak to you for long periods of time like this...mainly this trick works more efficiently while we're in your dreams. She sent and smiling toward him she went on, Bookman always scolded me for doing it too often...

Allen flinched involuntarily when the old man's name was unexpectedly spoken of. He'd almost forgotten his list of questions for her.

"My family members were not exorcists... They didn't execute Akuma... They manipulated dreams and worked with minds... The Black Order... Or the Church...eliminated them..."

Allen suddenly had an urge to ask her about her past—and about her knowledge regarding the Noah Clan and Nea himself but... Upon remembering her sad look and tone from before—when she had been forced to speak about her past. Allen just knew that asking questions about it would probably change the atmosphere.

So seeking to gain at least a few answers, Allen settled upon asking about Bookman and his current pupil, Lavi.

"Umm...Kurami?" The usually polite teen began, "If you don't mind me asking...How did you come to know Bookman? I—I mean, did he-

"Bookman usually came to our house every so often to have tea with my grandfather actually... Although he never truly spent full nights at our compound. It was usually because Grandpa always wanted the old panda to tell him about his world travels and all–"

Oi, i almost forgot! Grandpa told me to bring you to him as soon as we were done eating! The panicked girl spontaneously sent the abrupt message to him nearly doubling the unexpected Allen over.

"Err...he's probably going to get mad again!"

Boy did he really have to get used to that. The teen frown at the goosebumps crawling about on his arms.

"We have to go...come on!" The pinkette urged as she instantly sprung to her feet.

Frankly, he wasn't always as slow as he was apparently appearing to be today, but he knew answers were much needed at the moment. So asking Kurami a thing or two—or just asking her to slow down a bit, probably wasn't going to be too much of a hassle for her coming from his part if he asked.

"Woah! Aren't you getting a bit bigger."

Allen quirked a brow. Shaking himself off his short trance, he turned his attention to the teenaged girl currently bear-hugging Timcanpy.

"Look at you...," she trailed off, playfully squeezing Timcanpy whom evidently seemed to have grown to about the size of a soccer ball.

"It was probably because you ate too much, wasn't it?" she concluded, tugging the stubby golem's face."What did the teddy bear say after dinner?" she teased. "I'm stuffed. I'm stuffed."

All-out amused, Allen took a moment and only watched the funny interaction between the golden critter and his new found friend.

Apparently, it hadn't taken that long for the two to get along rather well.

"You can get dressed in here." Kurami rushed. "Meanwhile, Tim and I will wait for you outside."

She then laughed aloud as Timcanpy sluggishly began fluttering around-and-about the angel-haired teen as if in agreement with her.

Allen only grinned and slowly shook his unbelievingly.

...

Once alone again, it really didn't take Allen that long to find the bundle of clothing Kurami had handed to him earlier that hour.

So slipping off his current clothes in exchange for his previous white dress shirt, white pants, brown gloves, black boots and black halter vest, Allen silently re-adjusted his red tie and leather holster around his neck and lower thigh in slight haste. He knew Kurami had advised him to hurry, but somehow he just knew he needed the lone time. So by the time he was finally through with changing, Allen just sat back down for a second.

Everything appeared to be at peace—but something inside him was just yelling at him for not shaking himself awake.

Where was his monster Noah now? Or what about Apocryphos and his memory invading ability? Would this dream of peace and quiet really last long? Everything just seemed so reposed. He just didn't know what to accept as reality.

A firm knock on the door had him jumping off of bed and scurrying off past the door's threshold.

...

"The gardens are my favorite part of the manor." Kurami explained as she calmly lead the way. "Most of the flowers and plants were actually planted by me. Grandpa's usually always busy, so he leaves the pruning and tending to me."

Allen was surprised when he found out that the gardens were actually indeed rather vast. The white-haired teen silently followed closely behind as Kurami briskly lead them across a beautiful wooden bridge; which arched just above a shallow pond and it's large range of aquatic plants and astonishingly no visible wildlife below.

"My grandfather's quarters are just up ahead. Here, come this way." said Kurami as she continued to lead.

They walked a few yards closer to a rather large and eerie building in which Kurami claimed her grandfather usually always stayed at when unexpectedly the small girl suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

Then, as if summoned forth, immediately the humming wind began playing idly with the soft-pink strands of her hair; tossing them to and forth around her face.

A blithe smile graced her lips as if the girl inwardly already knew what was coming. The pinkette then only raised a finger in the direction she knew the summoning was going to take place...

The scenery was breath taking, Allen could only stand and remain as instantly a colony of colourful butterflies and other insects magically began fluttering about them.

He saw the surface of the water disrupt into ripples as instantly birds and insects alike flew out at random from within the trees about as well.

Nature was suddenly awaking..

...

"We should go now." Kurami announced, after a short while. They'd agreed upon sitting for a while and apparently it hadn't truly done the former exorcist any good.

Allen had been absently lost in his own thoughts about whether or not he should loosen up a little, when Kurami's voice suddenly brought him back to the present. "Grandpa's still waiting." she prompted, and giving his shoulder a light squeeze she stood from her spot, scooped up a sleeping Timcanpy and began to walk ahead again.

Allen watched her for a moment, pondering whether or not he should take this time to ask her more about Nea or not.

But before he even realized what he was meaning to do, without warning, Allen broke into a run and took off past Kurami at top speed.

He had no idea where he was going, but Allen just didn't care at that moment. He just wanted to feel the wind on his face again.

Kurami's jaw dropped as she watched him take off past her—but not too soon after she too sprinted off after him.

...

Gasping, completely out of breath, both Allen and Kurami, slid to a stop just about a few yards away from the building.

Flushing bright red, Kurami took a few deep breaths to try and steady her erratic breathing. Meanwhile, Allen on the other hand took hold of her left shoulder for support as he too struggled against taming his own labored breathing. After taking the minute it took to finally catch their breaths, both of the teens suddenly met each other's gazes right before they lost themselves to fits of laughter.

"That was amazing!" Kurami beamed, grinning at the memory of the adrenaline the run had rewarded her with.

"I'm glad you're not angry at me," Allen responded, a dashing lopsided smirk playing beautifully upon his lips. "You said we needed to reach the building right?" Clearing his throat, he continued, "Running seemed like a good option."

Good great grief, he looked adorable.

Composing her features, Kurami only nodded in affirmation.

"Allen?" her voice sounded faint due to their running. Nonetheless, Allen looked toward her and watched as her teeth tugged and pulled at her bottom one. "Yes?" he asked, a bit mesmerized. "Is that my grandfather?" she blurted, suddenly asking herself aloud.

"What? Who?"

"Over there, up ahead." she continued, slowly beginning her walk again. "Come on, let's go."

"Are you sure that's him?" The angel-haired boy suddenly asked, squinting his eyes as he stared off at the form ahead.

"Mm-hmm." Her blue eyes were endless. "Come on." She urged again.

Allen frowned then and once the figure ahead of them finally came into focus, the boy suddenly felt ill.

Curly, flax brown hair... crimson rimmed glasses...

Innocence cannot harm me.

Crown Clown also wishes for the two of us to become one for your sake, Allen...

Apocryphos.

"He's really nice once you get to know him." Kurami assured, smiling warmly as she clasped her hands behind her and continued to lead the way in a much more hurried pace. "He's actually the one that erected the barrier around the house the night I brought you here. He said someone or something was out looking for you—you would say the same thing in your sleep actually.

"Uhh, Kurami?" Allen began, squinting his eyes at the barely visible profile of the man standing a few feet ahead now. "Kurami isn't that–

Unable to finish his question, let alone begin it, Allen was cut short when Kurami suddenly stopped skipping about and nearly caused him to stumble into her.

"Wha–

"Allen?" she voiced, her tone slightly different.

Her smile instantly disappearing.

A-Allen, something's wrong... Reaching out to tug his arm, the short girl immediately turned her back to him.

Then just like he'd done before, she took off in the direction of the Cardinal standing in the path directly up ahead now.

"No, wait! Kurami!"

To be continued...

Author's Notes: Thanks guys for reading! I'll try and update sooner next time. Please feel free to leave a review/comment if you guys liked this. Sorry but hope the sudden cliffhanger doesn't bug you guys! Till next time, bye!