Hullo! I'm Nick Austin. pleased to meet ya! Don't care if yer pleased ta meet me or not but I think I'd run if the no-pleased crowd happens to be those who read my other works. Psst, I've been procrastinating for 6 freaking months! Don't tell nobody, kay. Anyway, this one piece I had had in my mind in my procrastinating period. Also it helped that this piece came from a totally different piece which is my creation too and an original one. I haven't shown that piece to anyone so no one can tell me I stole their work coz I sure freaking didn't! That's the little history for this story and I think I made my point. Kay, I didn't type this up, I had my sister type it for me coz I simply hate typing things I wrote. I read it a bit but there's a big probability you're gonna find typos or miss spelled words. Or words that don't make sense at all. I'm human after all and I might have missed a few of these technicalities. Please help me do better in my writing. *bow*

To the ones who happen to read my other works, please don't flame meh! D: I had a harsh 6 months! Dropping out on top of fighting with my parents. Sowwy!

To the others, enjoy my work.

Disclaimer: Katsura Hoshino. For now I ish not making fun of her characters.

Warning: Hm, nothing much for now. But shounen-ai later and definitely nyummy yaoi. Yum. Hehehehe...

Chapter 1: First Sighting and Keep it a secret.

Am I imagining things? A young man thought as he slapped himself on the cheek and winced from the pain. I'm not dreaming, that's for sure, he thought as he gazed on the spot where he thought he saw… something? Or was it someone? Regardless he moved towards said spot cautiously the peered at the ground and above among the branches and leaves. Nothing was there be it humans, beasts or any other entities. At least there aren't any wild animals, he thought cheerfully as he trotted deeper into the woods.

It wasn't peculiar for young Allen Walker to be seeing things wherever he was. He was human but the special sort. His complexion was special enough but his abilities made him exceptional. He was one both loves and by those living around him. The younger generations finds him amazing what his white locks making him look four times older than his actual age. They tease him for it but love him at the same time. He was such a polite child and a pleasant company.

It was his left eye and left arm that scared the adults. His left eye could see all the truth. In a way you could say that he sees the soul but it's more than just that. His eye allows him to see those which are hidden such as feelings or those which are locked like murderous intent, desire to cheat– or in simpler terms, the truth. His left arm was deformed and dark red and it carries his second ability. He needs only touch to know everything, current thoughts, past deeds, hidden guilt, mistakes, memories– everything.

Thus why people both love and hate him. He understood why though. To let another inside you and be stripped of all secrets and lies till your soul is left bared was like to be stripped of any identity. No one wants to be left completely vulnerable at the mercy of another. That's why he lived in solitude. He wanted not for others to feel vulnerable around him and he was content living that way. But as a precaution he always wore gloves on both hands. As long as nothing comes into contact with any skin on his left arm he would see nothing.

The day was monthly routine for young Allen to go into the forest to collect fruits and wild plants for his self and herbs for the village. Normally he would go with either or both of his two best friends. Unfortunately one was bedridden with a probably contagious and deadly illness while the other had to stay with her brother who was tending to his sick friend. Allen sighed deeply. He had wanted to see his sick friend first but decided that it was better if he went for the herbs first. Who knows? He might actually stumble on a miracle that would actually help his ailing friend. So Allen moved onwards.

"Hihi, good haul today. I have enough food to last me till next month," Allen said gleefully to himself. It hadn't been an hour and his basket was almost full. Usually it would take him at least four to five hours to collect that much food. It bothered him a little. His main contenders for those fruits had always been the animals in the forest and it seemed like they were eating less and less the past few month. Either they were fasting and on a diet or their numbers had been decreasing rapidly. If it's the latter that it meant someone or something has somewhat recently made home in the forest and preyed on all the animals. Allen was dead sure no one from his community would hunt that excitedly. A single doe would be enough to last one family for at least a week.

Could it be the thing I saw earlier? Allen thought with worry. Allen may be special but he was just like any other humans. He lacked what most people have, the sixth sense. People would say that there is no such thing as a sixth sense but the ability to detect someone or something looking at your is actually another sense. In Allen's case, he couldn't sense anyone even if they stood merely two to three feet away from him. Thus making him surprise easily. His two best friends and the children enjoy that disability of his to the fullest. Allen was fully aware of that and he knew it'd be useless for him to try and be aware of other being's presence. He'd just have to stick with being extra careful and to rely on his left eye to spot a being before it attacks him… hopefully from the front because he doesn't have an eye on the back of his head. Nor can his special eye see things that are not within view range. It would be bad indeed if he was attacked suddenly. Very, very bad.

With that in mind Allen trotted taking the familiar path back home. His progress was slow since he was being more careful than usual. His second theory about the increase amount of fruits was unfounded by anything but it doesn't hurt to be extra vigilant. It doesn't bother him the slightest. After all the sun hasn't rose about his head yet. He had a lot of time in his hands. He was also keeping an eye out for herbs. Funny enough, there seemed to be less and less of them. His rucksack was barely half full. Silently he wished that lady luck would be on his side for that too.

He was climbing a rotting tree that fell on the path about half a year ago when he saw something that made his eyes widen to the size of tea saucers. About ten feet away from where he stood on the trunk he saw a patch of ground highlighted by sunlight and on it was a bed of plants so rare that only handful of people had manage to get their hands on. And most of them only towed it like once in a lifetime.

"Dragon's Breath," he breathed out slowly out of surprise and stared. He couldn't believe his luck! Usually people find a single stem of the plant in their lifetime and there he was staring at a whole patch of them! He must be truly had been blessed! Without a second thought Allen jumped off the trunk of the decaying tree and ran towards the sunlit patch.

Lavi would get cured with these! Heck, all those sick children and elderly will be healthy again! Allen thought ecstatically. Dragon's Breath was a plant that people label as a miracle plant. It heals all physical injuries as well as illness that cannot be seen by the naked eyes. A single leaf could cure ten people!

But, it's so odd, Allen thought as he paused in his action to picking the herbs. Legends say that Dragon's Breath grows around dragons. Dragons have been eradicated over a decade ago, Allen frowned at the thought as he willed himself to continue plucking. "Guess a legend is just a legend," Allen mused out loud, shrugging as he continued to harvest his good fortune.

CRACK!

SWOOSH!

Allen turned his head in alarm towards the source of the sounds and saw a man jumping from branch to branch, with his right eye. With his left he saw a majestic black dragon slithering quickly among the branches, twinkling as the sunlight hits its scale making Allen think of clear night skies and stars. To his surprise it was going away from him. It, or him turned his head towards him and they locked eyes. His normal eye saw black eyes yet his other eye saw fire and hatred… and also loneliness. The dragon bared his teeth and growled at him, too far away for Allen to hear, and was out of his sight.

It took Allen a minute to realize that he was on the ground, panting and sweating. His mind wouldn't process what had just happen to his body. His body had felt fear yet his mind was still in awe. His mind and body felt very much disconnected at that very moment. He tried to stand up but failed each time. He looked down and saw how badly they were shaking. Still he felt no fear. 'How is that possible? To feel fear yet not feeling it at the same time!'

"A dragon," Allen said shaking, "I just saw a dragon," he repeated and his shaking stopped. He finally felt the fear, and with it some king of excitement. "I saw a dragon!"

"I swear! He was black and his eyes were so red and bright that they look like glowing coal! He growled at me! He actually turned to look at me to growl! At me!" Allen said flailing his arms to get peoples attention on him. The people in his presence were the village's elders, Komui Lee, the village's Head Healer, his sister and one of Allen's best friend, Linalee Lee and Komui's helpers. They were all at Lavi's house and those who aren't flailing were at awe at something else. Namely the magical herb Allen had bought back in a large quantity.

"Forget the herbs! A DRAGON is more important!" Allen when attention failed to greet him.

"Oh Allen! Do you know what this means to the village?" Komui said tearfully to the boy.

"That he might attack and kill us all tonight?" Allen frowned and pouted slightly.

"Huh? Who? No! I was talking about the Dragon's Breath you brought back! There are so many! Enough to ensure everyone's health for the next five decades!" Komui exclaimed in joy with imaginary flowers and rainbows around him. Linalee smiled beside her brother, though Allen would see the embarrassment her brother was putting her through with his left eye. But she was also overjoyed and Allen knew exactly why for he was feeling the same happiness too.

"I can't believe Allen-kun was able to find this much Dragon's Breath. No one had ever able to gather more than a single stem. Those who manage to get two leaves on the same stem are considered blessed by the gods! And here Allen was able to gather a rucksack full. Bless his soul," one of the elders, Froi Tiedoll, dabbed at the single that manage to escape his eyes.

"Lucky you, brat. No one would have been able to do this. Was it your eye that helped you?" Even Cross Marian, the youngest of the four elders (don't ask how he got the position), also caretaker of Allen once upon a time, was feeling elated. Evidence was formed the lack of insults towards the white haired youth.

"Enough fawning over the boy. Have these herbs secured and hidden somewhere. If word leaks out, we might get raided by bandits," Lvellie, also an elder, said stiffly. His eyes had a mean gleam in them and he had been glancing at Allen when the boy mentioned the dragon. Allen would see the hidden attention and intention but he couldn't figure out what it was about. After all he needed to touch to know what kind of thoughts the being he touched was having.

The fourth and eldest elder didn't say a word. He was Lavi's master and everyone knew him as Book Man. He never told anyone his real name and no one bothered to ask. He was the only one Allen cannot get an accurate reading off. His emotions Allen can read fine but whether his intentions were bad or good, he'd never know. Yet Allen trusted Book Man more than the other three. He's not as aggressive as he looks, frown, wrinkles and bangs under the eyes and all, and more often than enough Lavi would somehow manage to make him wear a panda outfit. Panda– I mean, Book Man's reaction to that never cease to amuse the village people. Also, he was one of the few people who'd visit Allen in his small cottage/hut on the outskirt of the village.

At that very moment Allen would tell Book Man was extremely relieved. He was the one who told Allen about Lavi's weird illness and Allen had seen how worried the ancient man was for his student. Even though Allen didn't saw it he knows that Book Man has been listening intently to what he said, well bursted, about the black dragon. Actually Book Man could listen to everything and remember the conversation even if the whole place was filled with people. He is the most intellectual person within a hundred mile radius of their village.

"Yes, yes, we don't want to lose these precious herbs. I'll take a few leaves to brew for the sock and injured ones," Komui said nodding vigorously then turned to the one of his assistants. "Brew these leaves and distribute the medicine to every sick person in the village. I'll go hide the rest," Komui handed the five leaves to the shabby man, Reever Wenham, and was gone in the blink of an eye. Rest assure no one will know where he had gone too. Tiedoll followed Reever and the rest of the assistants to forsee the brewing while the rest of the three elders stayed. Linalee was feeling happy and so was Allen.

"Come with me Walker-kun," Book Man motioned him to follow. Linalee shot him a worried glanced which he returned but didn't say a word. Allen followed Book Man and Cross Marian and Lvellie followed behind him. If Allen had turned around to see Linalee, he'd see how dreadfully worried she was for him.

"Sit down please," Book Man motioned to the soft cushion in the middle of the room. They move to the Elder's Hall, specifically in the meeting room. Four raised platforms made into seats made half a circle around the middle seat. The seat left of Book Man was empty as it was Tiedoll's and the man was absent. Allen sat and the three elders stared at him with cold hard eyes. With his left eye he could see that Lvellie was planning something malicious, Cross was calculating and was extremely horny (…) and Book Man was as mysterious as ever.

"Tell us everything about the dragon you saw," Book Man commanded gently. Allen hesitated for a moment but the light mood was radiating from Book Man assured him and he launched into his story. He began with the 'something' he saw as soon as he entered the forest that morning and how he thought it was odd for there to be so many fruits and his speculations about the decreased of animal population. Then to how he found the patch of Dragon's Breath and the twig snapping and to what he saw. He stopped his story when the he– dragon vanished. Allen realized that he was shaking slightly and didn't realize the questioning gaze the three elders were giving him. His body was remembering the fear again.

"Brat," Cross called him to get his attention and Allen's head snapped towards him in a second. It was really out of habit that Allen's so sensitive to the word 'brat' since Cross used it a lot while they still lived together. "What happened after that?" He asked. Allen's face went blank again. "Brat!"

"I was shaking," Allen finally spoke. "I was shaking, panting and sweating but I didn't feel afraid at all. After that I realized what he was and I ran straight back to the village."

"Was it alone?" Lvellie asked. Allen shrugged.

"I don't know, but he was alone when he flew, er, jumped away," Allen answered.

"Are you sure IT was a black dragon? Not midnight blue or dark purple?" Lvellie inquired. His gaze getting sharper and the malicious mood surrounding him got even thicker. Allen felt a tinge of fear and the need to keep his mouth shut.

"Yes. Midnight black with scale shining so brightly when the sun hits them. He looked like a starry night. He was beautiful," Allen's voice had a dreamy tinge in it as he spoke. "And he was so angry when he looked at me. Angry but so lonely…" Allen trailed off for good. Lvellie and Cross sighed for two completely different reasons.

"Very well Walker-kun. You are excused," Book Man said calmly. Allen nodded and got up to leave while Lvellie had a very nasty look on his face, as if he wanted to shout at Allen. "But tell no one about what you saw. Tell your friend Linale not to disclose this information to anyone as well. Though I think it is alright for you to tell Lavi. After all he is my apprentice," Book Man added before Lvellie could say a word and Allen nodded at the wizened man in understandably. He bowed respectfully to the three and took his leave. As soon as he was gone Lvellie turned to Book Man and lashed out.

"We haven't asked him about how the dragon looks like in its human form! We must have it hunted down before we are cursed!" Lvellie shouted.

"Walker-kun would be unable to answer that question right now, Lvellie. He was too transfixed on its dragon form, not that I blame him since his left eye does see the hidden. I doubt Walker-kun would be able to provide us with any useful information," Book Man said in a monotone.

"Yeah, best leave the idiot to himself while he figures out how to confess to a dragon. Gah! A male dragon at that! I never knew this day would come so soon," Cross groaned as he slapped his forehead.

"He may meet the dragon again. After all he can see only the truth. Not even a dragon can lie to him," Book Man said loudly over Cross's musing. "Maybe then he'd be able to tell us how this dragon looks like as a human. After that we can negotiate about him leaving our village as it is."

"Preposterous! Dragons shouldn't even exist anymore! I will contact the slayers. They will track down that vile creature and kill it before it even think of coming here," Lvellie growled and he stood up before stomping out of the room leaving the other two.

"I don't like what is going through that man's head," Book Man said steely as Lvellie disappeared from the view. He knew exactly what the stoic man was thinking.

"Me either but what he says is true. If it were any other village, their elders would have called the slayers already," Cross pointed out. Book Man sighed heavily.

"Any other village doesn't have Allen-kun," the panda-ish man sighed again "The boy sees only the truth and speak only the truth. You heard how he spoke of the dragon. He saw his loneliness and I do not want Allen-kun to be saddened," Cross nodded in understanding.

"I know," he got up and stretched and turned to leave. "But we can't always get what we want old man," He said before exiting the room leaving Book Man to his thoughts.

Okay! What cha think? I hope its not too bad for a first chapter. It is actually 2 chapters originally but I just hate having 1k word in a chapter. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Anyway,

RnR please!