Chapter 4: Songs and Memories

When Allen woke up, she felt an arm draped around her and a warm body at her back. She didn't turn around; she knew who was there. Instead, she smiled and put a small, pale hand on top o Tyki's larger, ashen one and startled him awake. Allen hugged his hand tightly against her chest. He reacted by pulling her in and flipping her so she was buried in his chest.

"Good morning, Allen. You slept well, I hope?" Tyki purred as he embraced the small body of Allen and kissed her forehead.

Allen looked into his golden eyes with her silver and smiled brightly as she replied, "Of course, Ty~ki." She played with his name as she said this. Allen opened her mouth to ask something, but was cut off by the Millenium Earl.

"Pardon my intrusion, but I have a job for Tyki~pon," the Earl interrupted as he handed Tyki an envelope. Tyki got up and got it giving Allen an apologetic look before dispersing through the Ark on his mission. Allen sat up and lowered her head, unsure of what to do with her day. "Allen. What's the matter?"

"I don't know, Millenie. I just don't know what to do… I'm bored, I guess," Allen replied. She sighed and plopped back down onto her pillows. The Earl floated right next to her.

"Would you like to join me on the piano for a while?" He asked. Allen's face lit up.

"Really? Oh, yes, I'd love to!" Allen jumped up and hugged the Earl, dangling from his neck. She hung on him as he made his way down to the piano room. Allen released her grip on Lord Millenium and landed gracefully on her feet and followed him to sit on the bench with him. The Earl began pressing keys and playing a song as Allen sand along with the tune.

The song, unlike most of Allen's others, was happy and slightly upbeat. The song told a story about two little songbirds that traveled the world, singing everywhere they went, bringing peace and tranquility to all they met and passed. When they finished, they did another song, this one more ominous. It told of the calm before the storm, leading into its arrival and the destruction it wrought, and then the climax in which it ended and the skies cleared, shining light upon the new day. They did a few more other song before the Earl mad a suggestion for the song they always played, no matter what.

"Should we play your song, Allen?" The Millenium Earl suggested. Allen nodded and pulled out a flute from on top of the piano. "Flute this time, huh?" Allen smiled. The Earl shrugged and began playing, Allen following with her flute before she began to sing, eyes closed.

Soshite bouyaha nemurini tsuite

Ikizuku haino nakano hono o

Hitotsu, futatsuto ukabu tukurami itoshii yokogao

Daichini taruru Ikusenno yume, yume

Ginno hitomini yuragu yoruni

Uma reochita kagayaku omae ikuo kuno tositsukigu

Ikutu inoriwo tsuchihe kaeshitemo

Watashiha inori tuzukeru mou kakonno kofoni aiwo

Tsunaidateni Kisuwo

Allen opened her eyes to find the Earl crying, as usual. Everyone always cried at the end of her song. Even that man named Kanda, although he hid it; it still, however, appeared at the corners of his eyes, unseen to all but the most observant of people who never missed a beat. Allen suspected it was his pride that held back his tears.

"Oh, Earl. Why does everyone always cry when I play that song?" Allen sighed.

"It is a spell within the song. That is my guess, my little musician," he answered. "You enchant us with your beauty and angelic voice."

"Lord Millenium, please. There is no spell in my singing nor my song," Allen denied.

"It is only my theory," he wiped at his eyes.

"Don't you have another theory?" Allen wondered as she sat back down at the piano bench.

"Yes. Maybe because everyone recognizes your beauty and talent and either are envious of you, or they wish they had you for themselves," the Earl replied.

"But, I have always been rejected. I'm cursed and deformed, remember? Why would they change now?" Allen was on the verge of tears from her rage at the idea due to her rough past. "Besides you and the rest of the family are the only ones who ever accepted me, gave me a chance, even. You are all that matters to me anymore."

Flashback-3 years ago

Even though she took his hand happily, she was unsure of how they would react. This family the 'Millenium Earl' had spoken of. She feared she would be rejected again. When the Earl began to float, taking her in his arms, she yelped and held tighter, hiding her head in his coat, afraid to fall.

"Lord Earl. I believe you are scaring little Allen, Lero!" Lero pointed out.

"Eh?" The Earl looked down at the little girl. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Allen. I will protect you. You are part of our family now," he reassured. "Try and sleep a bit. How long has it been since you slept?"

"Um, I think maybe three days," she looked up at him innocently. This surprised the Earl and Lero.

"Three days? That's a long time, child," the Earl pointed out.

"I-I know sir, but I couldn't. Mana died and I had no one or where," she whispered.

"It's alright. Try to sleep, young Allen… And don't call me 'sir.' Call me Uncle, that's what I am to you now, okay?" He told her. Allen nodded and soon fell asleep in his arms.

"She's so cute, Lero! We're keeping her, right?" Lero asked.

"Of course. She is the Fourteenth; our little Musician, reborn as a sweet angel," chuckled the Earl.

"Is that true? I'm so glad, Lero! But he's a girl this time, Lero!" Lero exclaimed. "I hope he, or she, doesn't betray us again, Lero."

"I think she'll be different this time. We just need to prove to her that we are better, which shouldn't be hard considering. Her past is full of cruelty and rejection," the Earl explained to the umbrella. "It was that misleading Cross that tricked him, anyways. Those idiot exorcists don't even know the true past of this war." Allen, now deep asleep, clenched the Earl's cloak in pain. Her breathing was uneven and pained. The Earl even noticed tears streaking her face. "I wonder if this happens often. Maybe this pain is why she hasn't slept in so long." Lero agreed with his theory.

As the trio neared the Ark, Allen began to calm down and fall into a calm, peaceful sleep, which pleased the Earl for he began to worry about her wellbeing. Allen curled up tightly against him as they entered the Ark. Since there was a family meeting, the Earl went straight to the dining room upon entering the Ark.

The table was filled with Noahs and lots of noise however went immediately silent when the Earl walked in. What they stared at though, was not the Earl himself, but what he held in his arms. All was silent until Rhode ran over and asked, "What's this, Lord Millenie?" She pointed at a sleeping Allen.

"She is our new family member, Allen," he said. "Wake up, little Allen." He coaxed her awake. She slowly blinked her eyes awake and looked around at her new surroundings, obviously frightened. "It's all right, Allen. This is your new family and home." All the Noah were wide-eyed and surprised. Allen was still scared but calmed down a bit.

"What do you mean, Earl? She's a human," Rhode argued.

"She is a Noah, as well. I was there for her Awakening," the Earl explained. "She is the new Fourteenth, our Musician." Allen then held her left arm against her and winced as if in pain. The other Noah recognized the glowing green cross on her hand as Innocence and began to protest.

"But Earl! That's Innocence! She's an exorcist!" Rhode exclaimed.

"Yes, she is. But she is also a Noah, as I said, her inner Noah reacted to my presence and awoke; however the same happened with her Innocence, which is embedded in her body, as you can see," the Earl said, indicating Allen's deformed arm, which she was still holding in pain. "Why don't we welcome her? She will be with us from now on."

Rhode looked puzzled, but smiled and held out her hand to Allen. "Welcome to the family, little sister Allen." Allen slowly and shakily took Rhode's hand and shook. The others, as well, smiled and said their hellos and welcomed Allen into the family.

Allen removed herself from the Earl's arms and landed gracefully on the ground and smiled. "Thank you very much, everyone," Allen bowed deeply, her hair cascading over her face and down to the floor.

"Well, now, I do believe it is time for dinner!" the Earl announced. As if on cue, Allen's stomach growled and her face darkened as she grabbed her stomach. "When did you last eat, Allen? A week ago?" The Earl was obviously joking, but Allen nodded and blushed, surprising everyone. "Oh, then let's get started! Come sit over here with me." She followed him to a seat next to his and had her first family dinner with the Millennium Earl, her new uncle as he said, and the rest of the Noah, who grew very attached to and liked Allen; she became everyone's favorite.

ARK-present

"Allen, it's okay. You are accepted and loved by us. Those cruel humans just like to twist the hearts of beautiful, young women like you. Don't bother with them," the Earl comforted as he hugged her.

"T-thank you, Uncle Millennium," Allen steadied herself. "I'm better now. Is Tyki going back to the others?"

"Yes, he is. Maybe you could catch him on the train if you hurry now."

"Arigatou!" Allen thanked as she bowed before leaving to catch the train.

TRAIN

"Hey, Yuu?" Lavi asked.

"Don't call me that, Baka Usagi!"

"Krory's been gone a long time. Do you think he got lost?"

"How do you get lost on a straight train?" Kanda growled.

"But something might've happened to him," Lavi stated. "We should go look for him."

"Che," was Kanda's answer as he stood to follow Lavi.

An hour of searching later…

"Hey, have we checked back here?" Lavi pointed to the end car of the train. Kanda shook his head, so Lavi opened the door and found Krory in nothing but his boxers, holding a poor hand of cards with some other men, also holding cars. It seems Krory got hustled.

"Krory? What are you doing?" Lavi exclaimed.

"I-I'm sorry. They offered a game of cards and I kept losing," Krory apologized.

"You're playing strip poker?"

"N-no. I just ran out of things. My clothes were the only things left."

"Hey," the man with the glasses said. "It's your turn." The door opened again.

"Now, now. Don't you think it's rude to have him lose and…" Everyone turned around to see what some of them thought was an angel.

"Allen!" Kanda exclaimed.

"Strike!" Lavi's eyes turned to hearts.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Exorcist. Kanda and Lavi," Allen smiled. She noticed Tyki's slightly puzzled eyes and looked at the cards, then back to Krory. "Oh, you poor man. It's very rude to trick someone into something they don't know how play." Allen sat down. "I'll play for him." Everyone stared at her wide-eyed and with their mouths agape.

"What if you lose?" one of the men finally asked.

"Hm. I don't care. Take what you will. Money, belongings, clothes. It's gambling. Now deal," she offered.

"What? You can't do this! They know what they're doing," Kanda argued.

"Wait, Kanda. Trust her," Lavi said seriously. "And anyways, if she loses, she will be-" Kanda hit him on the head with his fist. The other men just shrugged and dealt her a hand. She won, over and over and over. She grinned evilly and maniacally the entire time, as if she had a dark side. She kept winning, even after returning all of Krory's lost articles. She played until the situation was reversed and the other men were left in only their underwear.

"She's a devil at poker. An angel with a dark side," Lavi said amazed.

"Yeah," Lavi sighed disappointed. "And she didn't even lose once; those men were about to lose their dignity."

"Alright," Allen stood up, dusting herself. "I'm done. Here." She threw the men their clothes and possessions back. "You can't go walking around in only your underwear, now can you? And Mr. Krory, please be more careful with whom you play with. Not everything is as innocent as it seems." With that, Allen left the car.

"I think she had a double meaning in that," Lavi concluded.

"I agree with you for once," Kanda nodded. "Wait, we should go get her!" Kanda and Lavi took off, dragging Krory behind, who was still dumbfounded and unsure of what to do. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they never did find her, since she got off at the train station three minutes after their game of poker, which the three other men also got off at, leaving the exorcists very disappointed on their trip back to Black Order Headquarters.

TRAIN STATION

Tyki had sent his friends ahead to wait for Allen. As he saw her approaching, he said, "Sorry about earlier, but I had to return after my job. Why'd you follow me?"

She hugged him and whispered, "I thought it would be nice if I came to visit you guys. It's been a while and left too early."

"I'm so sorry. You're free for the day?" he asked. He felt her nod and said, "Then come. My friends are waiting for us patiently."

"Alright," Allen smiled brightly as she took his hand in hers. He smiled back and led her from the station to meet with his friends, who were waiting just like he had said.