Bedford-Upon-Hull

Chapter one: a new master.

Full summary: Allen Walker is one of the last companions around when his master sells him. His new master is the unsocial Yuu Kanda an exorcist working for the Black Order Psychic Research Center. The poor fox-boy gets dragged to cases where they discover that maybe he too has special powers. Then their strength is tested when they are asked on a case where a whole village disappeared 20 years ago. Well the people did, the village still stands there, waiting for new victims...

Pairing(s): Kanda x Allen, Lavi x Lenalee.

Warning(s): Bastard!Cross, mentions of previous child abuse.

Rating: T for now, may change to M if I or the readers think that the scenes are getting inappropriate for – 16 years old.

Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot. If I did Kanda and Allen would he happily married and Choji wouldn't exist...

A.N.: First anthro!Allen but a little more original that a neko!Allen XD. This will most likely be a thriller/light horror story. CROW and Link will be present but I'm not so sure if I will introduce the other characters. There will be some OC's because I needed someone to play the ghosts without killing all of the original cast. But don't worry they won't have a big role. More likely just mentioned in passing.

IMPORTANT: the whole companion and fox!Allen and BOPRC thing will be explained in the next chapter! This is more like a prologue, introduction to the story.

Please enjoy ^^

P.S.: If someone knows a better title for this feel free to tell me. I kind of hate this one but couldn't think of a better one.

EDITED on 04/01/2011: I removed the double paragraph in the middle of the chapter.

Life for Allen Walker wasn't pleasant. First of all he was one of the last companions around. Secondly even among other companions he was special. White hair, grey eyes, silver fox ears and a warm silver fox tail with a white spot at the tip.

Due to a birth defect his left arm was an angry red with scales, black rock hard nails and veins popping out near the surface where it met his upper arm.

He also had a scar on his left eye but he didn't know how he got it. His master also refused to talk about it. That was in fact the biggest reason for his unpleasant life: his master.

In everyday life the man was known as Marian Cross, gambler, drunk and ladies man. He loved exclusive wine that he could serve his girlfriends. Everywhere he came he racked up debts and they had to run away from debt-collectors.

The man – he claimed that he was and ex-general – used Allen to pay off his enormous debts. The poor half fox had to nothing to bad. Mostly he cheated with Poker, a game he had become very good in.

He was however concerned about the fact that he hadn't be able to pay last month's installments. And his master had threatened on more than one occasion to sell him should that ever happen … like now.

Allen really did NOT want to be sold. God only knew where he would end up next. Knowing his master probably with some kind of pervert who had a ear/tail fetish. Most likely a pedophile too considering the fact that Allen was only 15 years old.

Then again could that really be much worse that his current cold-hearted master? The answer: YES!

A swift kick to his ribs brought him out of his dark thoughts. "Get up you stupid brat. Someone wants to meet you."

'NO! Will he really sell me today? Master wouldn't do that, would he?' The albino couldn't ask it either since Cross has forbidden him to speak without permission.

The redheaded man dragged the poor boy by his hair from the kitchen into the living room where another man was seated. The stranger looked absolutely shocked at the way the ex-general handled the clearly frightened anthro.

"Marian can you not treat him like that? You' re hurting the poor thing."

"Shut up you sentimental idiot. He's still my property so I'll handle him any way that I want to." And with that he threw Allen in front of the grey haired man. Who – to Allen at least – had a friendly aura around him.

"What is your name boy?"

"Allen Walker sir. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too. I'm Froi Tiedoll."

"Brat he's your new master from the moment he pays me that 10.000 Pound that he promised me for you. So pack up while we do business. And be quick about it. The sooner you are out of my house the better!"

Sounding as respectful as possible he answered. "Yes master." Before hurrying to the kitchen where he spend most of his time and where his bed was located.

He finished packing his stuff within less than 5 minutes. It wasn't like he had much possessions. The albino had two sets of clothes, one nightshirt, one pillow and one thick blanket. Oh and of course a brush for his hair, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Except that he also had a picture of him and his first master – who also named him – Mana Walker. But if he was completely honest the man treated him more like a son than as a companion.

Taking a good look around the room that he had called his for the last 5 years he walked back into the living room. He sat on his knees on the soft carpet and bowed his head in a gesture of submission, waiting for his master to acknowledge him.

The man however walked past him, ignoring the poor boy all the while. When Cross was out of the room, the other man – Froi Tiedoll – kneeled before him. Gently grasping Allen's chin, he lifted it so that the albino could look him in the face.

"Well are you ready to leave here?"

A shy, hesitant nod was all he got. Sighing he made sure that one thing was absolutely clear to the fox boy. "There is no need to be like that boy. If you want to say anything or if you want to ask something then just do it. I won't hate you for it and I definitely won't punish you."

"Yes sir. Are you my new master now?"

"No I'm not."

This surprised the albino. "But didn't you just bought me sir?"

"Yes I did. But not to keep you for myself. I was planning on giving you to my son. Well he's adopted actually as he likes to remind me of all the time. Anyway you see he's a little bit anti-social and I'm hoping that by giving him something he would be responsible off that the ice around his heart will melt. Even if it is only a little bit and takes years to do so."

"I'll do my best sir!" Allen's ears had perked up and his tail was wagging – much like that of a dog. Maybe his new master wouldn't be so bad as Cross. Following mister Tiedoll he walked out into the sunshine.

XOXOX

The carried towards where is new master would be was silent and it gave Allen a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep. He stuffed his tail beneath his head and used it as an improvised pillow.

Not only was it soft to lay on it was also warm and because he had wrapped it over his body he could stay warm without unpacking his blanket.

He was roused from his dream about Mana when Tiedoll gently shook his shoulders. It seemed like everything that the man did was with gentleness. It certainty was a big step forward from dealing with Cross every day.

"Come one Allen let's go meet Yuu-kun."

"You?"

"Yuu, Y-U-U, he's from Japanese descent so his first name may sound weird in English. Most people just call him by his last name. That's Kanda by the way."

"Master Kanda?" Allen tried the words in his mouth and cutely tilted his head sideways. He liked the sound of that!

He patiently waited for the grey haired man do unbuckle him and open the passengers door. Taking Allen by the hand he lead him into the apartment. The albino walked a bit faster to be by Tiedoll's side when he noticed that many people were looking at him.

"Don't worry once were upstairs I'll collar you so that everybody knows that you are spoken for."

"Okay sir."

"Just call me Froi or Tiedoll if you like that better."

"Okay Tiedoll." A beaming smile broke out on the fox's face. He really was lucky to be bought by such a friendly man.

The albino was led towards the elevator and that caused him to start showing reluctance. He really, really did not like small, compact spaces. After all Cross had enjoyed to punish him by throwing him into the storage closet until he was crying and begging to be freed.

Off course then he would punish Allen even more because of his crying. And those would often be very corporal with the his ex-master kicking the life out of his and then hitting him in the face until the companion passed out. It was needless to say that Cross was seriously drunk when he did those things to the fox boy.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to go in that. Please don't make me go in that." Tears were threatening to spill.

"Then we'll just take the stairs. Come on."

"Tiedoll!"

Both turned around to face the man who had called the older one. It was a 29 year old with shoulder length black/purplelish hair. On his head he wore a white barrette. His eyes were covered by glasses and over his clothes he had on a white lab coat.

"Ha Komui-san. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. Are you going to Kanda?" The man – now indentified as Komui – turned to look at the companion. "And how do we have here? Oh what a cute anthro."

"This is Allen Walker I'm planning on giving him to Yuu-kun. Allen meet Komui Lee, he's my son's boss and a scientist for the BOPRC."

"Pleasure meeting you sir." 'What the hell is the BOPRC?'

"Same wise Allen. But Tiedoll if you're giving him to Kanda doesn't he has to be … you know more proper looking?"

Tiedoll and Allen both looked at the latter. The scientist had a valid point. The clothes on the albino's body were dirty and tattered, bruises were visible on his skin and the boy just looked plain dirty.

"You know Kanda is at the dentist at the moment so why don't you bring your little friend inside and then we can path him up."

XOXOX

Patch him up had been taken quite literally by the two grown-ups. As soon as Allen had set a foot inside the apartment he had been ushered into the bathroom. Taking off his clothes the Chinese man – which was Komui's nationality apparently – said that he would throw them away.

"But if you do that what will I wear. I don't have any nice looking clothes and mister Tiedoll can't present me to his son if I'm naked right?"

"Don't worry I'll ask Lenalee if she can borrow some clothes from Lavi. They will be a little too big for you but at least you will look decent."

"Okay I guess. Who are Lenalee and Lavi?"

"Ha good question. Lenalee is my sweet little sister. She's so sweet and beautiful. And Lavi is the stupid octopus she's dating. I swear if he hurts her I'll kill him using my Kumolin." The man went off in a long monologue about them but Allen and Tiedoll weren't really listening anymore.

"Allen listen, don't ever mention Lavi in the same sentence as Lenalee. You see what the result of that is right? Well the last time he went into a octopus-speech he wouldn't shut up for like 5 hours. And then the only reason he stopped was because my darling Yuu-kun knocked him unconscious.

The albino sweat dropped. And he thought that Cross had a few screws lose but apparently it was something common among normal human beings.

"Well anyway sorry for that. Now let's take care of those wounds, and then you can take a bath. You don't hate water do you? I mean dogs and cats don't like it when you wash them."

"Don't worry mister Lee, it's not because I share the same DNA of a fox that it means we share the same treats. I actually enjoy taking baths but my ex-master didn't like it. Said it was too expensive.

"Oh. Okay then when you are washed you can come out and then we will dress you in fresh clothes, brush your hair and introduce you to Kanda."

And with that the albino was left alone. Filling the porcelain tub all the way with warm water he eased his battered body into relaxing. He took his time shampooing his hair – being careful around his ears – and then proceeded to wash away any dirt that was on his tail.

20 minutes later he had finished and was dressed into overly large pants and a dress shirt that was 2 sizes too big for him. The trousers were black and Tiedoll had made a hole in them near his but so his tail could be freed. His shirt was red and somehow nicely accentuated his scar.

At the moment Lenalee Lee – who had come home while Allen was in bath – was brushing his hair while her boyfriend Lavi was trying to brush his tail. The girl had black/greenish long hair and violet eyes that sparkled when she had first seen the fox boy. She nearly squealed in joy at finally meeting a companion face to face. Lavi on the other hand was a redhead with an emerald green eye. The right one was covered with an eye path. When saw Allen he had launched into a tirade of questions.

"Now Allen lift up your head please." He did and a red collar with name tag was attached around his neck.

"Now you are ready to meet Kanda. I assume he should be back from the dentist by now. Come one let's introduce you to your new master."

TBC…

So what did you think about the introduction to my new story? Please review and let me know if I should continue this... Even if you didn't like it let me know what you didn't like so I can change it.

Constructive criticism is welcomed, flames will be laughed at :)

Hugs and kisses

Chibi Mathilda

Next chapter is expected in about 2 weeks. That is if I get at least one review for this chapter...