01 || The Black Order

The girl with the white medium length hair stood under the cliff, which seemed endless if you stared up and tried to look for the top, as she stared at the poorly drawn map in her hands with an unsure look on her face.

Looks like this is it... I think. She gave a sigh and pocketed the map given to her by her general. She stretched her arms a couple of times before beginning her trek up the cliff. This is impossible, augh.

An hour or so and lots of climbing later, the girl collapsed in a tired heap at the edge of the top, breathing in and out deeply. "I am seriously out of shape, and who builds this stupid Black Order place this high up on a random cliff?!"

The girl lay on the ground catching her breath. When she felt it was long enough, she reluctantly pulled herself up off the ground (it was starting to get really comfortable down there) and trotted skeptically up to what she believed was the gate to this Black Order. She wasn’t even sure if it was even the Black Order (it looked way too shady). It better be the Black Order. I did not climb up that cliff for nothing. She suspiciously looked at the dark black castle before her before refocusing on the gate with the weird design.

"What is... this thing? Is it supposed to be the gate?" She cleared her throat before knocking on the gate to the ominous looking building and announcing her presence. "Hello, is anyone there? I'm Claire Walker. I’m here by Father Cross Marian’s referral. My brother, Allen Walker, was sent several weeks ago, assuming that he made it safely here of course." She then mumbled, “Gosh, this place is weird…”

A voice, coming from out of nowhere in the girl’s mind, told her to be examined by the gatekeeper, the one that she had knocked on before.

The door that the girl, Claire, knocked on slowly opened its eyes groggily as though it had just awoken from a really long nap. When its eyes landed on the girl, who was looking at the door curiously since doors weren't supposed to have a face (they didn't, right?), it started to freak out.

The door gave a girlish squeal of horror and began to shout, "YOU AGAIN! DON’T TOUCH ME, YOU CURSED BOY! GO BACK TO THE MILLENNIUM EARL! NOW I’M GOING TO BE CURSED! OH NO, WHAT AM I TO DO?! I’M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!”

“What?! I am not cursed!” Claire shouted back, before mumbling, "okay, maybe a bit." She paused and gave the door a really weird look after she got over the initial shock of the door talking. Cursed boy? It’s not talking about Allen, is it?

"Um, excuse me, but—" Claire didn't even get a chance to explain herself before the door let off all sorts of sirens and alarm noises. She wasn't a very patient person, so she closed her eyes irritably before shouting back at the door. "Hey! Shut up you stupid door! I am not cursed, and I most definitely am not with the Millennium Earl! Listen to a person's explanation before making assumptions!" Claire continued to shout and bang on the door, trying to get it to shut up.

"What is going on Gatekeeper?" the voice from out of nowhere asked.

"THERE IS AN AKUMA! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" The Gatekeeper shouted.

"A-Akuma?" Claire gave an offended look. "What the—"

A golem, much like the one Claire had, appeared out of nowhere. "Gatekeeper, this doesn't look like an akuma. In fact, it looks like Allen Walker in drag."

Claire held in a laugh at the thought of her brother in drag. I'd like to see that. Oh wait, he would just look like me.

"B-But..." the Gatekeeper whined.

"What is your name?"

"Claire Walker." she answered. "General Cross has sent me. Allen Walker had arrived several weeks back."

"You are granted permission to enter the castle Claire Walker." the voice from the golem announced."Let her through."

Claire stuck her tongue out at the Gatekeeper before giving it a kick, which awarded her with a terrified squeal from the door, and entering through the opening created for her. She stopped when she reached the a large corridor.

"Please wait here Ms. Walker. Someone will come to escort you inside." The golem said before flying off.

Claire gave a look around the area. "Installing some lights here and there wouldn't hurt, right? I can feel my vision getting worse as we speak."

"Are you Claire Walker?" a voice asked from up ahead.

Claire looked in the direction of the voice to see a petite girl with long black pigtails. "Uh, yeah, that's me."

"I'm Lenalee Lee, the head officer's assistant." the girl smiled. "Welcome to the Black Order. I'll take you to him." She began to walk away so Claire thought that now would be a good time to follow after instead of spacing out. The two walked through the tower towards the Supervisor's office, making small chat here and there. Claire found out that Lenalee was 16 years old, a year older than herself, with the Supervisor being her older brother.

"Here we are." Lenalee announced once the two arrived in front of a door. The two entered to see a man with glasses and a beret sleeping on the desk, while a blonde haired male was trying to wake him up.

"Head officer... Head officer Komui, wake up. There's someone here." the man said once he noticed the two girls entering the room, but of course, Komui didn't wake up.

"He's sleeping again?" Lenalee sighed.

Claire looked at the sleeping man, Komui, curiously. Is he the Supervisor? Why is he sleeping on the job?

The blonde haired male bent down to Komui's ear and whispered, "I hear that Lenalee is going to elope with Allen."

Claire heard it all though and her eyes widened. Brother, why did you not tell me you're eloping?

"Lenalee!! How could you leave your dear brother all alone?! Allen, I'm going to maim you!" Komui shot up from his seat, shocking Claire. He noticed Claire standing next to Lenalee, "Allen! You have five seconds to run!"

Claire blinked twice before looking around for Allen, who wasn't present. She then pointed to herself. "Me?"

Komui inspected the girl more closely and realized he had mistaken, "Oh, you're not Allen. I apologize, I was out running errands all night, so I didn't get any sleep."

"So did I!" The blonde male shouted. Clearly, it was not an acceptable excuse to sleep on the job.

"This is his sister, Claire." Lenalee said, "Claire, this is Komui, the head officer, and that's Reever, the Science department lead."

"G'day mate." Reever saluted.

"Hello." Claire smiled back.

"Okay, well you can go explore or have Lenalee show you around." Komui dismissed, "Lenalee, show her to her room also. Claire, rest up because once some of our exorcists come back, you'll be paired up with one of them for a mission."

Lenalee showed the newcomer around, starting with her room and ending with the cafeteria. "If you're ever hungry, come by here. Our chef, Jerry, makes the best food ever. Why don't you go order something right now and I'll see you around? I have to deliver some things down to the Science department."

"Alright." Claire nodded and headed over to the chef.

"Who's next? Oh Allen, you're back already?" the chef, Jerry, asked.

He looks... odd. Claire stared at the chef. She tried not to, but it was hard. He was a big man, but had the most motherly air around him. "Uhm, actually, I'm Allen's sister, Claire."

The chef gave an exaggerated gasp, "Allen has a twin? Oh my, how adorable! Do you eat as much as he does? I'll make it all for you, so order anything you want." He smiled.

"Really? I can have anything?" Claire's eyes glistened. "I don't eat as much as Allen... but can I have some curry, steamed buns, two orders of lasagna with extra cheese, spicy rice cakes, udon noodles, and some rice? Then for dessert I'd like a strawberry shortcake, mango pudding, and ten white chocolate chip cookies, please."

"Wow, you Walker twins sure have a big appetite." The chef beamed and headed off to prepare the meal. "Just wait at a table and your food will come soon!"

Claire wandered around, looking for a spot that she would like to claim her own. She eventually settled for a spot off to the side, since she didn't do too well with crowded areas. Once the food arrived, her eyes brightened ten times and she scarfed all of the food down, loving every bit of it. After the meal, Claire thanked Jerry for the meal and headed off to her room.

"Which one was it again?" She looked at the doors. They all looked identical to each other, so she did eeny, meenie, miny, moe, and entered one of the rooms. Fortunately, it was the correct one. She plopped down onto the bed and sighed, "I'm pooped. I need to redecorate this room too. It's so plain."

Allen's coming back tomorrow! Claire had overheard some female exorcists in the cafeteria gossip earlier. She was excited to see her brother again after a long time. All thoughts were thrown out of her head though as she let sleep overcome her, too tired to do anything else.
 

.: D. Gray-man :.

Black Theatre, featuring Rin!
 

.: Author's Comments :.
Chapter one, an introduction sorta thing, is up! Kanda and Allen make their appearances next chapter!

01.08.13