Note: DGrayman is a Japanese manga (& anime) written and drawn by Katsura Hoshino. If you haven't read it, go read it! It's one of the few manga that still got me addicted.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Dgrayman characters, never did and never will, no matter how much I like them. This is just a fan work, it is not for commercial use and is done solely for the sake of fan-girlism.

Forewords: Tonight I had a sudden compulsion to write about them. A story between two brothers. Neah Walker and Mana Walker. Feedbacks are always welcomed and appreciated!

Brothers

Part Two. 3 years later.

"Back off!" I commanded and glared as the Akumas shrinked away into the distance, far away from the circus tent. That was the fifth attack this year, and it was only mid-January. The attempted attacks on Mana by Akumas were getting too frequent. Last time, the attack of the demons caused Mana his job at the previous circus. Mana worked so hard to find this new job now!

There was no more movements in the dark. I returned back inside the tent, just in time to see my older brother bowed at the small group of audience. They clapped and cheered as my brother waved and blew kisses at them. He winked at me as I sat down in one of the seats on the last row. I waited for the show to end. Mana had been working as a clown in the circus for nearly two years now. We would move from towns to towns, constantly changing jobs between different circus groups, and avoiding the pursue by Noahs and Akumas as much as possible.

His face was painted in a funny way but I could always recognize him as if he wasn't wearing any makeups. He said he wanted to give people happiness and watched as they smiled and laughed. I never comprehended his reason for being a clown. Mana was just too kind a man. Even now that he was nearly 24 years old. I should have been 23 years old but I remained 17.

"Where've you been? You missed my new act!" smiled Mana as he met up with me after the show. I was not a bit interested in his foolish clown acts after watching him practising for some time beforehand. Never did once I laughed to his acts. They were just stupid.

"Some souls were wandering around and I told them to get lost," I looked away, knowing Mana would not approved of my rudeness. "That's not nice, Neah. Come on, Neah, let's go celebrate tonight!" he grinned and patted me on the head. I pushed his hand away, "you should save up your salary for a rainy day you know, I really don't need to eat this often!" It was pay day today and every pay day my brother would take me to a fine restaurant to feast. He still remembered my childhood favorite dessert was raspberry and milk chocolate cheesecake. It was weird to see your brother growing up to be like your father. I felt odd. What did he feel towards me? I must be like a freak to him. By now, he should be well aware that I stopped growing up was not because of the amount of food that I consume. Why waste money on me when he was already so deprived of it?

"Oh Neah! What good is earning money if you can't spend it as you wish? All I want is to have a good time with you! Come on! Don't pout! Smile! Smile!" he smirked and pinched my cheeks. I hated it when Mana started to treat me like a child. I was his brother for Noah's sake!

And these frequent attacks troubled me.

We would rarely encounter a Noah. Most likely those Noahs were in the middle of a task and only fooled around with me for a bit before leaving off. They didn't really harm Mana or me. But these Akumas, they were aiming at Mana. I couldn't really leave my brother for a few minutes. What was the Earl thinking? If he wanted me, he should come and get me! Where was he anyway?

I watched as Mana bounced happily back into his little tent, he called from inside, "I won't be long, let me take off the makeup first!" I glanced around as I waited. Mana emerged from the tent after a while, all cleaned up and wearing his favourite yellow coat. He smiled and happily flashed his few dollar bills from his pocket. I sighed inwardly. The more my brother grew older, the more I felt distant from him. I surrendered to him and allowed him to treat me to the monthly raspberry and milk chocolate cheesecake. It costed him half of his salary as usual.

We walked back to the tent after dinner. It was only a short walk if Mana had not deliberately paused every now and then to sing and dance, making up new clown acts along the way. Mana had always been cheerful and lively, even during the hardest times while we were on the run. I stopped in my thoughts and he came to pinched me on the cheeks. I did not respond to him.

"What's wrong? Are you sleepy already?" he asked, overwhelming with energy, "let me carry you back! Hop on!" He half knelt down in front of me, offering me his wide and firm back. I looked blankly at him. I had made up my mind. We couldn't continue like this. I couldn't continue like this. One day, I might be not looking and Mana would be killed.

"I will go find the Earl," I spoke quietly, staring at my brother's back. He didn't move and didn't turn to make fun of me.

"'Will'? When then?" he asked.

"Tonight, now," I spoke. I felt my voice fading.

"When will you come back?" he asked again. To my surprise, he didn't even try to stop me. Maybe he finally figured out that with my departure, he could be safer. But I knew the Earl would not let Mana live. I was so fed up with his clown acts earlier tonight but now I found myself reluctant to leave.

"If you are not taking me with you, then at least tell me, Neah, when you will be back." Mana demanded an answer. His voice was shaking but he still did not turn to face me. I told myself I had to settle the score with the Earl once and for all. I must leave.

"I will come back, brother. I promise." I turned and ready to leave, "When I come back, we won't have to worry about any Akumas or Noahs again."

I caught a glimpse of a shadow standing against a tree not far away. It was the young Exorcist General Marian Cross from the infamous Black Order. I smiled at him but he turned away. He was the only abled body I could count on to keep my brother save while I was away. I bet he counted on me to bring the Earl down too.

I hummed softly a tune to summon the portal of the ark. Among my light melody, I heard muffled sobs behind me. Stepping through the portal with a gentle spring, I was surrounded by silence. I was inside the ark.

Then I started killing. Killing every moving beings in sight until I reached the Earl's private chamber. I smiled and showed him the blood in my hands. Blood of the Noahs.

"You have come back to me Neah! But you have been very naughty! What have you done?" growling with a wide grin, the Earl pulled out a huge sword from Lelo. We started fighting and I lost.

"Any last will, my dear boy?" the Earl asked as he looked down upon me. My body was pinned down by his sword but equally, I had hurt him bad. Unfortunately, not bad enough to destroy him. If I had innocence on me, I could kill the Earl. It was too absurd an idea for a Noah.

"Mana... ," I muttered and exhaled painfully. The Earl narrowed his eyes sadly at me for a moment and then laughed, "one day, Neah, one day, you will understand!" He opened the ark portal and kicked me down the hole. I fell and fell through endless darkness. When I woke up I was on something soft and warm. I recognized the old yellow coat. It was a prize gift for my brother some years ago from a local poker game. I cheated, naturally, but he never knew.

Mana was carrying me on his back. I tried to move but I couldn't. I was dying. Mana carried me and kept walking in silence.

"Brother... put me down," I whispered, hoping he could hear me. I wanted to see him again. It seemed so long since we departed. He stopped and knelt down beside a tree on the roadside. I slipped off his back lifelessly. He turned and looked at me. His eyes were red and his cheeks were wet. There were wrinkles along his forehead and around his eyes. He looked... much older.

I smiled weakly. How long had I been in the ark?

"Brother, I had... to leave... for a while... longer," I swallowed as I tried to speak clearly. My strength was leaving me and I could barely keep my eyes open.

"When will you come back?" he squeaked through the lump in his throat, "Look what you did to yourself... bring me with you this time."

He held onto my hands. They were the same strong and warm hands as before.

"I am leaving... this body," I continued slowly word by word, "I will come back... as another."

"Where? When? Who? Tell me!" he cried, "Don't go off by yourself!"

"I... don't know... " my voice trailed off.

"I'll look for you, Neah! I'll come for you! I can know who's you!" he wailed as he wrapped me in his arms firmly. As if that was going to prevent my soul from leaving my body. Soul... I didn't even know if I still had a soul within me. I guessed I would find out soon enough.

"Let me... see your new acts, ... brother..." I lowered my eyelids, "... send me off... with a smile... brother..."

I passed into a new realm.

-the end-

P.S.

I heard voices. It was faint but I recognized it was Mana's voice. Wrapped up in darkness, I saw nothing. I was still trapped inside the small boy's body. Yes... I remembered now, this boy had a strong Innocence lurking in his body. I had chosen this as my resting place until the time came. You found me, my brother! Wait for me, I would truly return to you, I promise.