Au Crowne : Uhm, sorry for the extremely late update. It seemed like writer's block has taken a liking on me... mou, weell, this update proves that I am not dead yet.. So please kindly, leave a review? Thanks.

Do you know that moment when you were doing something but you suddenly stopped because you heard someone call your name?... Or at least you thought so. There was always that feeling of familiarity. The voice that had called you must belong to someone important or close to you if it managed to catch your attention even if it was barely audible.

It is an unsettling feeling...

... It also makes people wonder, the voice, was it really from an important person? If that was true then...

Who did you forget?

Chapter 3: Whispers

'... Allen'

'...Don't... forget...'

'Remember...'

That formless voice that had been accompanying Allen most of the day ever since they had visited Mana's grave. It took him days till he recognize the voice as the same one in his dreams.

... It still sounded sad to him.

The young albino was curious though. What was he suppose to remember. 'Ugh... All this thinking is giving me headaches,' the boy inwardly groaned. Allen shook his head in an attempt to 'clear' his head, only to find himself tackled to the ground by a certain hyper dog."L-lourd!," he exclaimed, a slight whining tone in his voice.

The dog merely barked in response and licked the boy's face as he wagged his tail in excitement.

"A-lleeeen~," Road sang, stopping beside the white, furry dog then crouched down. The petite female made a pout, poking her adopted brother's cheek with a lollipop,"I was looking all over for you," she said with a huff then added,"I was worried, you know~"

Allen blinked, confusion clearly on his face,"Worried?," he repeated then asked,"Why?"

"I heard from one of the maids that there's a ghost heeere."

"W-wait.. A real one?," he asked.

"Yep~," she confirmed in a rather cheerful tone. She giggled as she noticed Allen pale a bit. She had just recently found out of the boy's fear of.. well, the unknown, which includes ghosts and all and she always find his reactions cute and certainly amusing.

"Y-you're joking!," Allen whined.

Road giggled, hugging her younger brother as she nuzzled his cheek,"Who knows? It certainly makes our stay here muuuch more interesting, ne?~," she smiled at him then ruffled his hair.

"Not my hair," the boy grumbled.

Road blinked then giggled,"You're turning into a Tikki~"

"Am not!," he huffed then asked,"How long are we going to stay here again?"

"For a whole week~"

The Camelots had just arrived yesterday at one of their summer houses. The reason? So that Allen could see something new... Well, Allen had actually asked to attend Road's school. The minister had refused and wailed about how young he is to see the 'outside world'. The boy had to remind him that he had seen the 'outside world' when he was with Mana. Of course, Sheryl turned a deaf ear on that and just suggested to visit one of their summer houses.

He still wasn't allowed to go outside by himself

And now, he found out that there's a ghost staying with them. He yelped as Road suddenly picked him up and placed him on Lourd's back. Somehow, they seem to like seeing him on the large dog's back... even his Uncle Tyki does."I can walk by myself," he huffed.

Road just giggled,"But Al~ Lourd's got a better sense of direction than you," she teased, laughing more at the cute face her adopted brother was making. Out of habit, once again, she fondly messed up his hair then skipped ahead, calling for the dog to follow her. The dog barked as a response then trailed after the female. Allen instinctively held onto the dog's thick fur, not wanting to fall. The white-haired boy gazed at her sister. She had been kind to him, even with the occasional teasing he gets from her. She was treating him like a blood relative but still there was something that prevented him from trusting her completely. Not just her but his father, uncle... and especially the Earl. Those doubts though would just disappear when he was near the Earl, it was quite strange. He hadn't spoken about it to anyone, not wanting to worry them. He had decided that it would just take time before he completely trusts them.

'It's normal, isn't it, Mana...?'

...llen...Don't...

Allen froze as he 'heard' those words. That same voice. Who is that man? Just who is he is to him? Why does it hurt him to hear that voice in such a sad, lonely tone. Just wh-

"... Allen? What's wrong?" The boy's train of thoughts were interrupted as he heard the concerned tone of her sister. Road had stopped as she caught the glimpse of a tear escape the boy. The petite female just embraced the boy without waiting for response."Don't cry, Allen," she whispered.

Crying? He blinked twice. He didn't even noticed that. He hugged Road, murmuring a sorry. He had made her worried and he felt guilty somehow. He should just stop thinking about the voice... At least for now, he decided then smiled a bit,"I was just scared that a ghost might take you away," he said.

Road chuckled, kissing his forehead,"That won't ever happen. I can scare the ghost away," she assured him."Well, let's go.. Father and Mother's already waiting for us."

"Okay."

Stop worrying about things that you're not sure of. That was what he had decided. The voice gradually faded away yet he could feel his presence, even if just barely. It was warm... just like Mana's and now he yearned to find out more about the owner of the voice. Just the same as when he was younger, he never told anyone.

... And now, he had just turned fourteen. After years of begging, he was now allowed to go out on his own as long as he tells them where he is going to go. The minister still worries a lot.

The young teen crouched down in front of the grave, a smile on his face as he gazed upon the resting grounds of Mana. He could still remember the times he had spent with him. It had been fun despite their situation back then.

'Allen... Do you remember your fa...r's face?'

He blinked twice as the words faintly replayed in his mind. That conversation had always been too blurry for him. Strange but he thought it was due to the fact that he was still young back then... but.

'... I sti... haven't given up...'

His eyes widen as he heard that faint voice. That same voice he thought that had faded away. He felt some warmth wrapped around him as if someone was embracing him.

'... Just... please... try to remember'

Tears fell down his cheeks, the same way it does when he hears that voice when he was younger.

"... Who are you...?," Allen whispered even though he knew the voice wouldn't respond.

"... You've completely forgotten, haven't you?," a voice grunted.

Allen quickly turned around, wiping the tears away. His eyes narrowed at the stranger in front of him. There was a sense of familiarity. Like he should know who he is.

The crimson-haired man just stared at him indifferently as he brought out a cigarette and lit it up."Just what did they do to you?,"

============ AU CROWNE=============

Au Crowne: Sorry if it's bad DX. Oh, please don't forget to leave a review