As I've said for the past eleven chapters, I don't own DGray-man.

After a few minutes of prop and set shuffling and Komui yelling about something, Allen reentered the stage and sat himself on the floor of the stage and sighed lightly, putting on a face like he was thinking deeply about something. "I wish…I could get more out of life. More than just this little town." He muttered leaning back against a 'tree', which was really just a badly done cardboard cut-out. Suddenly, a scientist—who'd ended up playing Maurice's assistant because of the lack of available Exorcists—came rushing in from the other side of the stage and collapsed at Allen's feet.

"Oh! What happened? Where's Papa?" Allen cried, shooting up from his position to go over to the scientist, very nearly knocking over the 'tree'. The boy fought the urge to look over at Kanda, knowing they would have another scene together in a few minutes. Despite that, Allen was getting fairly bored with this rehearsal, considering they'd done all of these scenes at least thirty times each day within the past four days. So that was what, 120 times for each? The cursed Exorcist suppressed a groan. They still had three more days to go until the actual play. All the fun—not that there really had been any for the young Exorcist—of the play would be gone if they kept it up at this pace. Shaking his head mentally, the snowy haired boy tuned back into what the scientist was saying.

"We…went to a castle…in the forest…Maurice was…he had gotten sick on the way…and we… needed shelter…"

Immediately after the scientist had said 'he had gotten sick' Allen shot his hand up to his mouth with a—quite possibly over-dramatic—gasp. "I-I must go and help him!" he said, shooting up again and moving towards stage right, only to have the end of his dress caught by the scientist. The boy stopped, looking down at the man holding his dress.

"No…you…you mustn't go, Belle. Th-there is nothing that you can do…for…Maurice…the Beast of the Castle…has …him…" he said, before stopping completely and letting his head fall against the stage. Allen looked at the man for a moment longer before hoisting his skirt and rushing off the stage.

There was more shuffling to be heard out on the stage as Allen leaned against the wall 'backstage' reading his script. The castle scene was the only one for which he hadn't memorized his lines. Not that there were that many lines to memorize, the whole scene was basically Kanda stalking him through the 'castle' while he tried to figure out if anybody was there and then Kanda getting angry at him when he found Krory in the dungeon. The boy started violently as his script was grabbed out of his hands.

"You're on, Moyashi." Kanda said, with surprising politeness.

Allen blinked at him a couple of times before nodding and moving out onto the stage, wondering vaguely how the actual play was going to go in three days. Allen went through the motions of 'looking around', shouting a 'hello' and 'is anybody here?' every so often until he felt something grab onto his skirt, at which point he bent to look through at Krory, who was laying on his stomach behind a set of cardboard bars, looking depressed.

"Belle! You must leave the castle at once! The Beast lives here, you mustn't let him catch you! Go home, Belle!" Krory said, a very panicked look on his face. Allen had to fight the smile that was coming onto his face. It was such a Krory look; his was the only role Komui had chosen well.

"I can't just leave you here and go home, Papa! I'm going to find this 'beast' and demand that he let you g—" Allen cut himself off before finishing his line, standing from his position on the floor the teen turned, looking into the dark curtain that bordered the set.

"Who's there? Who are you?" He called, in the direction of the dark curtains, where Kanda was supposed to be waiting.

"I should be asking you that. You're the one who is trespassing here." Kanda replied, barely contained anger in his voice.

"Well, I wouldn't be trespassing if you hadn't abducted my father!"

"Your father was trespassing as well. He is my prisoner. Do as he says and go home, before I decide to make you a prisoner as well." Kanda said in the same tone he'd used countless times with Lavi. As he spoke, Kanda stepped from behind the curtain, but stayed off to the side, where the spot light wouldn't be shining when they were actually doing the play.

"Let him go! He's sick, and he needs medical help. Let him go and we'll both leave and never come back!"

"You're in no position to make demands. He is my prisoner. He will stay here."

Allen paused for a moment, staring at Kanda. "Come into the light." He said his tone curious. Kanda scowled for a moment, then, stepped towards Allen grudgingly, stopping on an X marked with tape a few feet in front of him. Allen gasped— though again, it was a little too dramatically, and he could have sworn that he heard Lavi snicker from behind the back drop—and took a step back from Kanda before stopping and squaring his shoulders, a defiant look crossing his face.

"I am willing to take my fathers place. I will stay as your prisoner if you let him go."

It was Kanda's turn to pause and think for a moment. "Fine. You can take his place. The guards will see to him." The samurai responded, stepping forward to grab hold of Allen's wrist, dragging him off the set with little, if any, grace.

I'm sorry, it's been forever since I've updated, I know. This was up way, way, waaay later than I had planned, but I was a little bit put off with my writing because of the lack-of reviews for my other works…not that I'm trying to guilt-trip you guys for reviews. I would never do something like that. Though it would be pleasant if I got some!

And for all of you who read Forgotten as well as this one, chapter thirteen is on its way, I promise!

~Star