Well, this is the second part for this two-shot story.

Pairings: None

Warning: look out for bad grammar and bad vocabulary usage

--

"Thoughts"

"Spoken"

"Voice in the head"

--

For the time we lost

Part II

Two days later…

Mana sat on a chair near the bed where Allen was sleeping. He had his silver clock in hand and kept playing with it, opening and closing the lid. Every time he opened it, he would watch the face of the clock for a second or two. It had stopped. The clock's hands had stopped. The water had gotten in it and damaged the delicate mechanism that made it work. But for some reason he felt void of any kind of negative emotion.

He wondered… where was the desperation that took him over when it was stolen? But no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find it. It was as if he had been another person and suddenly he was himself again. This thing… this clock… it just didn't mean anything anymore. He chuckled at the idea: "I'm glad that only you died the other day", he said to the silver trinket, "Now, I hope that your little corpse is useful for what I have planned." He put it back in his coat and looked at the sleeping young boy.

It had been two days, and Allen had yet to wake up. Mana wasn't sure if he should be worried or relieved. The doctor had checked the boy all over. He had a deep cut on the back of his head and they had to stitch it up. He also had many dark bumps on his stomach, as if someone had kicked him repeatedly. Similar was the appearance on his back. Mana sighed thinking about the clock. What had Allen done to get it back? "Whatever he may have done, I won't allow him to do so again."

The clown looked at the child's peaceful visage. He was so adorable when asleep. The doctor had told him that Allen had apparently been suffering from physical exhaustion. Such a state was impossible to reach in only one day. Even with the beating he had received it was obvious that he had been carrying it for a while. He advised Mana to watch when the child slept. It was possible that he had been staying awake at night. The face of the doctor warned him that it wasn't a joke, if Allen didn't rest enough he could go on fainting anywhere as he did on the bridge. Also, the disorientation caused by the lack of sleep had probably caused him to crawl over an obviously dangerous structure in the first place.

"Mr. Walker, I know you are new at this, but you will need to make a better effort if you want him to be happy. And you know what? I bet that if he sleeps well enough for a while, when he wakes up, he'll be renewed, maybe even nicer."

Mana thought of it. Since they left the circus, they hadn't taken much of a rest, neither of them. But Mana was used to traveling long distances on foot and getting little sleep. He was used to stress himself that way. But to Allen this was the first time going anywhere farther than a town. The clown had notice him a little down, but every time he asked, Allen would deny it … why?

"Hmmm…what could he be thinking of?" He wondered.

The doctor had given him many advices, not only as doctor but as a father himself, things he needed to take care of to help little Allen feel better. But he did congratulate the clown about something. He was very surprised that Mana had knowledge of resuscitation techniques. He said that if Mana hadn't done that the boy would probably be dead. Mana denied his words saying that Allen didn't wake up, no matter how much he tried. The old man's assistant just shook his head: "My dear friend…, sometimes, people that had been through a trauma such as drowning had difficulty to react to treatment. You did help him, it's just that his body had to fight to push the water out of his airways… that took more time than you expected."

The black haired assistant had been the one who took them back to the inn and brought his boss to help them. The clown thanked him deeply for his help. The man, who seemed around his age, gave him an advice himself, "When this one wakes up, I'm sure he'll be as hungry as if he hadn't eaten in his whole life. Feed him well. That will help him recover even faster." Mana almost laughed. On that he was sure the assistant was quite right.

"So many things are changing so fast," he mumbled. Just a few months ago his life was void of meaning and his hopes were down the deepest hole on Earth. He had been so confused for so long he didn't even remember when it all started. And after his dog's death he was at the verge of the abyss. Then suddenly, his life had a meaning and all the shadows that hunted him were completely gone. Out of nowhere his whole world became this boy… sounds crazy, doesn't it?

"If I'm going nuts then this is the most blissful kind of madness I could have fallen in," chuckled the clown.

"Umm…" the soft sound made him forget every single thought he had as he jumped towards the bed. He saw how the boy stirred from sleep giving a big yawn and rubbing his eyes with his normal hand.

"Hey there, sleepy head," said the clown in a cheerful way as he sat on the bedside slightly away from the kid.

"Where…?" asked little Allen with a sleepy tone.

"The Inn", answered the man.

Then silence.

Both kept still, not saying a word, just there. Mana could feel the tension in the air as he kept his smile. "Maybe this is not the right time to smile," he told himself as he let it drop. With gentleness he leaned and tried to put a hand on the boy's head, only to have him flinch a little backwards against the wall. Mana retreated. "Definitely not the time."

"How do you feel?" he asked softly.

"Hurts," commented the boy as if it was not a big deal.

"Where?" Mana got a little worried.

"Everywhere", the way he said it was proof that he was used to this kind of thing. The clown sighed and walked to the desk at the other side of the room. There he took a glass of water, a little flask and a spoon. He mixed a spoon of red liquid with the water making it slightly pink. Then went back to the bed and handed the glass to Allen. The child was about to refuse, but the man's face let him know he hadn't been asked if he wanted to take it, he had been ordered to take it. Allen frowned and turned his head to the side.

"Drink" said the man.

"Ay don' want to" said the child.

Silence.

"You hurt?" asked the clown.

"I do," answered the boy.

"Then drink."

"I won't."

"Don't you trust me?" asked the 'father'.

"Would you?" answered the 'son'.

Silence.

The man sat down on the chair beside the bed. He rubbed his forehead thinking what he could do to make the boy trust him.

"I'm sorry", he started, "I…"

"Got angry, I know," completed the boy as he looked at the pinkish liquid on the glass "Do you have the clock?"

Mana nodded uncertain of what was going on in the child's head.

"Good," but that 'good' didn't sound good at all. "Now you don't have to be angry." Mana could see the boy's hands trembling a little. He was scared.

"Allen," he called softly, but the boy kept looking at his glass. "Allen," he called a little louder. "Allen!" but nothing, Mana felt some frustration welling up within his mind.

"I fell," the clown looked at the child's lost face. "Did I not?" he only nodded in response. "To water?" he nodded again. "It was cold," it wasn't really a question but he nodded as well. The boy's hands trembled harder almost making the water spill from inside the glass. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Mana looked at Allen dumbfounded. "Sorry? Fo-for what?"

"It broke, right? It's my foult… I should not have fallen… I broke Mana's treasure," as he said those words his hands stopped trembling and his features relaxed visibly. Mana was lost… was the boy happy or was he sad? Wait… the boy was only angry or sad… so he could not be happy… or… AHHHH! "I'm sorry", he said again.

Mana didn't know why, but his frustration escalated every time he said sorry. "You are an idiot," he finally said. His answer was the very familiar scowl that had greeted him the day they met. "Just what the heck did you do to get this back?" he asked with a scowl of his own as he raised the silver clock in his hand.

The child avoided looking at it and mumbled. "Not your business"

"You got beat up, that is my business," he grumbled, if Allen was going to play the stubborn child then two could play that game! "I want to know, and I want to know now!"

"What do you care, I got it back didn't I?" he growled.

"Yes, indeed. And got all those bumps in the process," he countered.

"It was a mistake; if I not tripped he woud not have caught up to me!"

Mana looked at the child with wide eyes. So he was chased by the thief and tripped.

"Why did you trip?" asked the man a little worried.

"Not your business," he could be really stubborn that was for sure.

"Boy, tell me why you tripped," it was funny how just by saying 'boy' his 'son' could react.

"I… I… was… I was a little tired…" the child answered nervously. That was the answer he was waiting for. The doctor had been right; Allen couldn't go on like that.

"You haven't been sleeping well have you?" he asked as he rubbed his temples trying to avoid a possible headache.

The boy looked taken aback.

"What do-do you mean?" "Playing dumb now? Ok, that's a game I won't play along with you, child"

"All this time you've been getting exhausted walking with me from town to town. You've overworked yourself. And for some reason, you haven't slept well whenever we stop,"the expression of the child was surprisingly child-like. The classic face of a little boy when he is caught trying to steal candy. It made Mana kind of hopeful. "Why haven't you?"

"I will not answer that," those little eyes held fear as he tried to escape the adult's constant gaze.

Mana sighed yet again. "Alright… I guess I can't actually force you to say it, but from now on you will be sleeping when I say so, you won't stay awake all night, got it?" the clown tried to add a funny accent in the end to make it a bit comical, but the face Allen had told him he wasn't thinking something funny. "Boy?"

A little tear fell down his eye. Just one. And his scowl turned into an unhappy smile.

"I… guess it was about time," said the boy. "I said I'm sorry but that isn't good, right?" Mana was getting wary about his words. "I'm bad… nothing can change that…" the clown was feeling guilty, but he wasn't sure why he should feel guilty for. "Say… if I obey would you change your mind?" the smile on his sad little face was tearing the adult apart. "Ay'll try again… OK? ay'll be obe-obedient… ay will do anything… won't complain, I will… I will…" tears started to fall one by one as he thought what to offer the clown.

"Are you Ok? What are you talking about?" asked the preoccupied adult.

"I will be anything… I can work if you want… I'll buy you another clock I…" with a teary face he looked down to the glass and frown. "I'll even drink this stuff," closing his eyes he drank from the glass completely to prove his point. The boy coughed hard and fast as he finished drinking it, Mana was sure it was disgusting. He tried to pat his back but the boy flinched again.

"What's wrong with you?" asked the man. He just wanted to help. He only asked the boy to sleep well, was it really that bad? "Child, if you don't tell me what's wrong, then I can't help you" the boy chuckled softly, he was so confused himself, but for some reason his body was feeling a little weak… the pain wasn't so bad anymore… Mana noticed his eyes fluttering a little and he seemed to be scared by it. "It's the medicine, it will make you a little numb, maybe make you sleep, but it'll take the pain away," Mana took the empty glass and tried to stand up, but just when he was going to go, the child flung himself towards him, grasping his shirt as if it was his life line. Mana was surprised.

"Don't… don't throw me away… please," begged the little one, Mana was shocked to say the least. "I know… you want to be alone… but… please don't leave me."

The clown left the glass back on the bed and softly put his hand on the child's head. The boy flinched, but didn't escape from it. It took only one look at his tightly closed eyes to know the child expected Mana to hit him. The simple idea made him sick. "Why would you say that?" he asked him, trying to avoid thinking about the many times someone hit his child.

"You said it… you yelled you wanted to be alone… I knew it," the boy shook against his chest. "You want me to sleep…I don't want to sleep… when I sleep, people go away… I wake up alone… I don't want to sleep…", the child held him with all the strength he could muster, which wasn't much thanks to the medicine. Mana listened to his words and understood. Allen was scared that Mana will abandon him while he was asleep. "You regret taking me… I know… everyone does… but I'll be good, please… I'll do anything you want… anything," the way that 'anything' sounded, suggested things that Mana preferred not to think about. All this time, when the boy said he wasn't tired, it was because he was trying to avoid Mana from getting annoyed. When he didn't sleep, it was because he was afraid to wake up and find himself all alone again. And the clock…

"You went for it, so I would take back what I said about wanting to be alone, right?" his voice trembled as he felt the lump on his throat growing.

"I'm sorry it broke, I'm sorry," the child hold on to him for dear life, Mana had never been so disappointed of himself. Such a simple comment, such a common phrase could hurt this poor child so much. Damn whatever had possessed him back then. The grown up took the child in arms not caring if he fought back and hold him close.

"I'M SORRY," he almost screamed to be heard over all the things the child was saying "Just shut up! OK? Shut up! You silly boy, you are not supposed to be begging me… you should be mad at me. You should be resented, pouting at my attitude and demanding me to apologize. You should act like a child. You shouldn't call yourself bad, you shouldn't think I'm leaving you, you shouldn't ever offer anything in exchange company, EVER!" Mana's tears fell fast down his face, he needed to let it out, he needed to show the child it was OK to let it out. "I thought you had left me… I was scared… I made a mistake and I'm sorry for it… Listen to me now, I will never leave you, not as long as you want me there, I will never leave. NEVER!" the child cried even harder as the man let his heart out to him. "I'm here right now, no one will hurt you, less would I, so please, don't fear me," the boy leaned on his embrace as he rocked him from side to side ."I care for you," that was it. That was the thing that made the first scratch on the child's defense. He really wanted to say 'I love you' but he figured it was too soon. He didn't want to scare him away. "Don't ever go away like that, even if I say so… because I tend to be a very stupid adult sometimes, and it takes time for me to realize my mistakes…"

Both cried in silence as they held close. For the very first time in a long while, both felt safe, both felt warm, both felt at home. The man was learning to be a father, the boy learning to be a son. So they had to be patient, because not even real parents or real sons where good at such a job, they will have to work even harder than them.

In the peace of the room, after many minutes of sharing an embrace, both finally were able to calm down. The man still rocked the boy's tired body as the child relaxed by hearing the grown up's strong beating heart against his ear. He could act rough later, right now, he didn't mind being nice.

"Mana cried much," commented the boy almost teasingly. The clown smiled and looked at him.

"Well, I had to practice much for it. I haven't done this for years."

"Silly clown," mumbled the young one.

The adult laughed softly as he rubbed caringly the little one's head.

"Will I get an explanation of what happened with the whole clock incident?" asked with curiosity.

"Nope"

"OH, come on! Just a little hint?" he begged playfully. The boy couldn't hide the little smile on his face. Mana almost jumped from joy. So he could make the child smile after all? Ha-ha! He was the best clown in the world!

"Just followed the guy. Took the clock when he was asleep, but he woke and went after me… I would have escaped, but I fell, that's all."

The only thing Mana might never get used to was the way Allen said this type of thing as if they were daily stuff.

"I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt," the man said, having thought it better not to scold the child for this.

"Ya, me too," the boy moved his hand to the man's pocket and asked. "It really died?"

Mana looked at him before smiling and taking the clock back in hand opening the lid and showing his 'son' the frozen hands of the clock. "In your own words, Ya."

The boy looked at the thing almost in trance, Mana was surprise to see the small smile getting bigger before been replaced by the common frown as the boy shook his head waking up. "Oh, that's bad," he said with fake disappointment.

The grown up got quite confused by this. The child had almost lost his life getting that thing back and now he was acting as if the fact that it broke was the greatest thing that could have ever happened. "No it's not," he decided to confront Allen about this. "You don't really care it's broken, do you?" the child looked at him with startled eyes before pushing his way out of the embrace. He had been nice enough for one day.

Mana smirked at the attitude Allen showed. He had caught the little criminal in the crime scene.

"You are happy it broke. You actually like it to be gone," he almost chuckled at the boy's pouting face. Now, that was more child-like! But he still had one thing to solve "Why?"

The boy looked uncomfortable with the question, as if he were to be fighting to find the perfect excuse that may cover the fact that he had been wishing for the demise of the little silver trinket.

"I'm not mad at you, and whatever you say, I swear I won't get angry. I just want to know why you seem to feel so happy for this to be broken after risking so much to get it back," the face Mana had was completely honest and it seemed to convince him.

"I… I hate it," he mumbled earning a quizzical stare from his 'guardian'. "I hate it." He said clearer. Mana was about to ask why, but he beat him to it. "It feels wrong, whenever I see you looking at it… whenever you touch the lid… when I touch it… it feels wrong," the child was having a difficult time putting his feeling into words. "I especially don't like that cover… that crest over the lid… it's scary."

Mana looked at the clock's crest. It was weird, yeah, but why would someone found it scary? It was just a simple shield with a curly design inside, a crown floating over and some ribbons surrounding it. It was… it was… "The family crest." "Not again" where was that voice coming from? "Just a seal for those of our kind." Alright… maybe the clock had something to do with his constant hallucinations…

"Mana?" the man waked up as he felt the child touching his hand. "You alright? Your head wasn't here," the man nodded, he was quite fine, he was better than fine.

"You know what?" he said with a smile, the boy shook his head "I think you are quite right," the man had carried the clock for so long, whether it was family or not it was out of place, and something had been telling him it was time for a change. "It is quite weird." As Mana put it back in his pocket he was even more decided than before to go on with his decision.

"Mana?"

The man turned "Yes?"

"I'm hungry," the Oh so waited declaration! Mana laughed. "It isn't funny, I'm starving!" and the clown laughed all the more. Especially when Allen yawned tiredly barely keeping his eyes opened.

Making the drowsy child lay down; he whispered. "I'll bring you a good bowl of hot stew. Try to sleep a little, boy," but before he got to leave he felt the little hand grabbing his sleeve. He looked at the boy who had his eyes closed.

The child opened one and said. "Allen," the man looked at him startled. "The name's Allen, not boy."

Mana stood there feeling overwhelmed by happiness. The truest smile drew itself on his face as he whispered "And here I thought you didn't like being with me."

"Idiot clown" mumbled the child dragging his words for he was almost asleep "who… would… get a stupid clock… for someone you don't care… about….?"

Mana wasn't sure whether those sleepy words were a heartfelt truth or simply the medicine effect, but he knew one thing for certain, he loved his son all the more for them.

"Mmm, let me see, I think it's good silver, but the fact that it's broken will considerably reduce the price."

"Well, I understand, how much then?"

"Ok, Mr. Walker I'm willing to offer this much," the money was placed over the table for the man to look. "But that's the best I can give for this."

The man nodded in agreement.

"Very fair indeed. I'll take the offer, thank you very much."

"No, thanks to you, Mr. Walker."

The man turned and left the pawn shop. He had been able to trade the old clock for enough money to be able to give Allen the first gift he could buy him, a new set of clothes. The boy couldn't possible keep traveling with that unfitting attire; he wasn't homeless anymore, so he had all the right to wear the right clothes.

"What took you so long?" asked the boy with eagerness. The doctor had been right on his prediction. Apparently, a week of good rest had done marvels to the child's temper. The change made Mana think that Allen, more than probably, had never had a good rest before. Out of nowhere, the child had started to act nice and playful. Mana couldn't be happier.

"I just had to get rid of something in order to move faster. Come on, we have to make up for the time we lost."

Both started to walk on their way, the father taking his son's hand. And the child didn't refuse to the caring gesture.

A man walked by them and moved his hat in greeting. Mana recognized the doctor's assistant that had taken him and Allen back to the inn.

"Leaving I see," commented the man. Mana nodded.

"For all your help, my sincere gratitude my friend," said the clown giving a polite movement to his hat.

"No problem. Good luck," then turned to the boy. "Take good care of each other," the child nodded shyly as he hid behind Mana. The two men said their goodbyes and each went on their way.

The man walked to the pawn shop and entered taking off his hat.

"Hello, how may I help you?" asked the old shop owner.

"The clock," stated the man.

"Ah?"

"The clock the man with the hat and gray suit just sold you. I want to see it."

The owner looked surprised for a moment before taking out the item from his desk.

"Here it is," he said showing the trinket. "It's made of very fine silver, but the mechanism is damaged, so it isn't more valuable than the raw material."

The man took the clock and with a gloved finger, caressed the carved lid.

"Perfect," he said. "I'll take it."

The owner of the shop looked at him not believing his words. "With all due respect Sir, I bet I could find something better for a man like you to wear-"but before the salesman could continue talking, the man took a bag out of his coat and threw it over the desk making some of its contents spill. Many golden coins fell.

"I'll give you three times the price you gave him for it. Take it or leave it."

The shop owner looked greedily at the amount of coins and whispered. "I take it." as he took one to inspect it. "But are you sure…" he looked up to see his client, but he and the clock were gone.

The mysterious man walked down the streets ignoring completely any passerby that recognized him as the gentle assistant of the local doctor. He moved a few strands of black hair as he entered an empty alleyway. He went very deep into it to make sure he was out of visual range.

There he leaned against a wall and raised his left hand a little.

A golden flash came at full speed and stopped just before crashing into the man, allowing the little creature to fall gently on the open hand.

"Are they far yet, Timcampy?" the golden ball gave a toothy grin as answer. "Good enough."

The man touched the right side of his face. In an instant, the mask that covered his face retreated changing his features facial structure. He mumbled a few words in an old language. His hair became long and red as his eyes turned green. The man sighed in relief as he took of his long coat revealing the black coat he wore under it. He took a pair of glasses out of a pocket and then asked the golem for a cigarette. The little ball opened his mouth and allowed one to fall into his hand. The man put on his glasses and then lit the cigarette up, inhaling deeply and allowing all the stress from the past few days to disappear.

"He made my life a nightmare," said the general to the floating golem. "That doctor didn't allow me to smoke or drink not even once since I replaced his assistant," he let the smoke out in form of rings that the golem happily flew through. "Shame I won't be there when his real assistant comes back from his mysterious travel not knowing what the hell happened for the last week," a devious smile appeared on his face.

Taking out the clock from his pocket he looked at it closely.

"Say, do you think Mana has forgotten?" asked the man to the golem who only got closer to the object. "It's really difficult to say. He could have figured out that the boy was the fourteenth so he didn't need the clock anymore, don't you think?" the golem tilted his body to the side. "I wonder which one it is…" touching the crest of the clock he narrowed his only visible eye. "Yet, to leave something like this in a simple pawn shop… that could have caused much trouble. Ah, man, I even had to pay to save the greedy idiot's life," he said thinking of the stupid shop owner. "If the earl were to find this, there wouldn't be a way to guess how many lives would be lost because of his rage."

The man's glance turned towards the golden golem.

"Tim?" the golem got closer to let him know he was listening. "If any kind of danger gets close to them again, you are to call me immediately, you understand? No matter how drunk or how 'busy' I may be, we can't risk the player's life again, got it?" Tim nodded fast allowing his master to know he had it recorded in his little mind.

"Tch," growled the master. "From all the people he could have chosen, he had to go for that boy," the man's voice held almost some pity as he talked. "Mana might never guess how he actually saved the child," he laughed to himself. "I'm still surprised by it. If it wasn't for your recordings I wouldn't have guessed it myself," the man brought his cigarette to his lips again. "To think he actually forced the innocence to save its accommodator just by mere words…make that little parasite feel guilty, what a great strategy of our young Mana Walker… this leaves it clear, that innocence is really something."

Consuming the last bit, the man threw the butt to the floor and stomped on it. Then taking the clock closer to inspect it he smiled.

"You know Tim?" the golem perched over his shoulder to look. "There is no way that anything the fourteenth had ever built with his own hands would be so fragile to break just by falling into water, don't you think?" the golem nodded with its body. The general took a little piece of metal wire out from his pocket and used it to open the face of the clock. Looking at all the little pieces he placed the wire over a gear and gave a little knocking motion over a group of delicate silver plates. There was a weird sound coming from the resonance of the little pieces, almost like little bells. Timcampy flapped his wings happily, he liked that sound.

When it was over, the general closed the face and the lid. Gave a few turns to the nut. Then with a confident smile he opened the lid and just as he expected, the clock started its tick-tock again.

"This is one fine piece of clock making. But I still wonder why the fourteenth told me how to repair it but never told his brother?" the general showed it to the golem "Could it be that he looked forward to Mana getting rid of it? Maybe he hoped to deceive their enemies by making Mana let go of it somewhere and attract their attention to me by having it?" the golem opened its mouth slightly as if waiting for his master to say the words. "Whatever the case, let us hide it for now," the golem opened the mouth and the man allowed it to swallow the clock. "Well, let's get going, we can't afford to lose them."

As he walked he frowned slightly at his thoughts. "The child you carry Mana, will have a complicated life since he belongs to both sides…no matter what you do, you can only guide him so far… I just hope he can choose a path before the clock your brother started finishes completely its count down."

Ooo

Well, this was all, hope you liked it.

Thank you for reading.

Till the next story, Bye!