Recap:

Alice had met the other exorcists- generals of the Black Order. Because of certain circumstances, she accidentally summoned her innocence, Soul Eater. Now, she was faced to reveal herself as Cross Marian's daughter.

Why are they so shocked?

Disclaimer:

I do not own D. Gray Man, Katsura Hoshino does.

"If you could fix it
Then I would want us to go and see the summer fireworks festival, kay?"

Eerie silence…

The atmosphere around the grandiose room was so suffocating that even the sharpest knife cannot cut it in half. Everyone stilled, no one dared to move an inch from their current location, very shocked of the information the brown-haired girl had shared.

Maybe the thought itself was too much to process for them?

On the other hand, the red haired general who is known for his notorious actions towards women and now a will be dedicated father sighed in distress and especially for himself. Utmost humility and responsibility is now dawning on him, taunting him of his current situation.

He was done for.

Cross Marian's legacy will now end.

Goodbye to all the beautiful women and high-class alcohol.

"Did I say something," The revealer of the big news, Alice said unsurely while looking around the different reactions of the people around here. "-wrong?"

She had said it rather, proudly and she was kind of not expecting this kind of reaction from them. Alice was expecting something in the lines of 'happiness and celebration' but not like is a general's daughter; Cross Marian's daughter.

What is wrong with that?

So, she decided to seek the guidance of her father who looks rather down infront of her.

Or more like look solemn.

'Is he angry…?'

With so much confusion and worry looming inside her head, Alice decided to look more closely around her. Marshall Tiedoll is thinking like some detective investigating a murder case while pacing around, the lady and the creepy guy are exchanging looks from each other, Lenalee looks baffled though, like she had seen a ghost and lastly, her father is just standing still with that grim expression she seldom see him with.

Out of the blue, a gentle voice that she knew belongs to a certain general with glasses spoke up.

"So, she is your daughter, Marian?"

"By the looks of it, she looks like she have French blood in her." The white-haired general whom she not know his name said.

"…."

"I don't think you are the kind to get settled, do you?" The blond lady-general said kind of chuckling to herself while hiding a small smirk behind her hand. "Or you really cannot control yourself, huh?"

"…"

"I say the latter." The creepy-scarred guy said." Or he became so stupid not to use some protection of his."

"Good lord, what have you done?" Marshall Tiedoll sighed but managed to continue talking while shaking his head in rejection. "-To get to the point, why is she here? I'm not trying to sound rude but..do you know the consequences?"

"…Don't asked-"

"Answer us, General Cross Marian." The white-haired man said.

"Stop being too uptight General Yeegar. " Cross just replied with a snort. "You are really becoming so old."

"And you are still irresponsible."

"You-"

Alice continue to watch the scene unfolding itself infront of her. She can feel the pressure building up around. It makes her agitated….scared. If what she heard is right, this is what they called 'something that children her age shouldn't get into'. She looksback at her friend Lenalee and grasp her hand as if trying to say that everything is right. But in reality, it was her who needs it most right now.

It is just fair to get scared and uneasy, to cry if something is clearly troubling them. Yes, she had grown to be independent in some ways that she doesn't act like a kid at all but she is just a kid after all.

And kids her age have that privilege too.

Sensing her agitation, her Chinese-friend gave her a reassuring smile.

"I know what I am doing."

That voice that sounds like her father, said. Making all the attention divert towards him in an instant.

"Then,?" The creepy guy asked but this time, the tone used was rather stern, serious from what she knows as plain scary awhile ago. "-what is your plan?"

"She'll stay here and be a good exorcist." Cross replied plainly. His tone is flat. Alice cannot understand what lies behind her father's words, making her more worried about their situation. She cannot stay still. She wanted go and bombard him with questions.

But she needs to wait.

"Does she know this?" Marshall Tiedoll asked as he looked at her small with a hint of concern.

"The question is, is she ready to accept it?" The general now known as General Yeegar, said sternly but still holding that gentle gaze towards Alice.

'Why are they acting so weird?'

"She's smart. She understands." He simply replied.

"Little miss?" The lady asked as she looks at her. "Are you okay?"

'I'm...not.'

"You know how Leverrier is going to react, right?" Marshall Tiedoll asked." Did you tell him about this already?"

"That smartass seems angry but it is okay as long as I do my own thing." Cross said while lighting a new cigarette. "It doesn't matter if he agrees to it or not, as if he can do something against it anyway."

"Tsk, you're really are, goodness." The lady said with a face palm. Alice noticed someone looking at her from the corner of her eye. She noticed it is the blond lady with her downcast eyes upon her

'What are they talking about?'

When her father told her that they are going somewhere, Alice thought that this is just a simple everyday "escape away babble" with the debt collectors. That she just need to act all the cutesy with them and managed to distract them about the debts with her appearance and façade. That after this, they will go to some inn and eat something good and her father would tell her to sleep early for he has 'some business' to do.

An everyday occurrence to them.

But now, it seems that kind of life will start to change.

And she didn't like it.

"She needs to be here to improve her skills and become an exorcist. I also need to go on my own missions." Cross said not looking at her, like he was avoiding her questioning gaze.

'I'm not going to cry.'

So, she held up a straight face. She needs to be strong. This is nothing that big.

Everything will be alright.

"Do not worry, sweetheart. You'll love this place." She heard the blond lady said reassuringly but Alice didn't mind to look at her.

"Yes, yes. You can make tons of friends around here. So smile, ne?" She heard Marshall Tiedoll said.

"Maybe…you'll get stronger….we'll see about that." The creepy guy even said, like he tried to 'reassure' her too. They look like they are making her cheer up.

They have a point in making friends. Maybe it wasn't that of a bad choice, besides she wants to be friends with Lenalee for she is the first friend she ever had.

'To make things more easier, I'll just accept it, right?'

But the final verdict still lies on her father.

'I-It will be okay,'

She looks at her father and tug at his leg.

"O-ok. "She managed to put up a small smile. "Be careful, okay?Don't forget your promise to find me a mama!" And as always, still brought up the 'find-the-best-mama-in-world thing' agenda as a joke.

But truthfully, she doesn't understand at all. Why does she need to stay here? Is it okay? Is this her fault?

"Hahaha! You really are something…" Cross said while smirking with that light familiar touch Alice knows and grown fond of.

Maybe it isn't that bad at all.

'Papa is smiling like usual.'

"Ofcourse I am! I am your daughter anyway!" Alice grins innocently. How peaceful is this. How she wish this will last forever but she must stay here and train away from her father, whom she had grown to be with.

Meanwhile, everyone except Cross and Alice cooed at how adorable this 'papa and daughter' bonding is.

Kids always have that innocent glint with them. They are also the first ones to sense if there is something wrong.

Alice had sensed it, she knows of it.

But just for this moment, she did not think of the time and the consequences.

She wanted to embrace this warmth a little more.

"Sorry for that
Its impossible for me to know now
From the beginning everything about us was too different"

-VOCALOID(GUMI) The Last Revolver

Hope you like it~!

The other one will be long, promise~!

And sorry if I haven't updated Changing World up until now. *bows apologetically* I'm really really REALLY sorry. There is this lots of work and I'm kind of down with a writer's block syndrome(my friend author has one too) So I only managed to publish this one. I was really hoping to update CW(Changing World) last sunday but, I am busy helping a friend of mine with her college project and ending up doing that overtime...

I know I do not deserve your apology but I am really sorry.

and did I say, I am SO INTO VOCALOID~?(my friend Tyro is to blame for this)

ah~! And good news is the chapter 208 (last october 4)~! OH MY GOD KANDA~! I died there.,,,oh my...

That really boosted up my ego to write! And I discovered a way to continue updating changing world while in school without ending up carrying my heavy laptop~! I won't promise anything but I'll just do my best to update as soon as possible~!^^

Thanks~!

And belated happy birthday to me~!:)

-Jacqueline