The sun was setting on horizon, creating a magnificent hue of yellow and orange in the cloudy sky. A left hand; pale and small held an emerald stone up just above the head, making it glint as the setting sun's light streamed through it and producing beautiful rainbow colors. Wind then joined the stillness of late afternoon as the grass swayed to left, lulling the kid who sat at the hillside with his legs spread and his right hand pushed against the ground behind him to support his weight as he was leaning back while the other fingered the emerald stone. His eyes, the purest silver, lingered on the stone in hand with curiosity and let a sigh escaped his soft young lips as he tucked the stone in his pocket when the wind blew. His left arm then moved a little to the back and pushed the ground to fully support his weight as he leaned back. With a small smile, the kid closed his eyes and held his head upward; allowing the gentle wind to ruffled his short brown hair.

The kid savoured the moment of silence, listening to the whistling sound the wind made before falling on his back with a light thud and arms spread wide. The smile did not leave his young face when he reopened his eyes. Two big and round silver orbs, so innocent and lively, stared up at the clouds painted in yellow and orange calmly. He inhaled a lungful of air; the sweet smell of freshly trimmed grass filled his nose, and exhaled ever so slowly.

The kid was content of how the world revolved.

He wished that these tranquil and safe feeling would remain forever...

"Young Master!" someone called; a female.

The boy knew it was their maid, the one who watched after him whenever his parents were away. But, this time his parents will never come back.

Mom... Dad... How are you up there?

"Young Master?" inquired the maid while looking for the boy.

Unfortunately for the maid, the boy decided not to move or make any noise. He just wanted to stay still and if the impossible could be possible, he wanted to be swift by the wind away and carry him wherever the mindless wind deemed to.

The wind blew again and the kid could still hear the maid calling for him, but paid no heed as his small smile widened whilst drowning all the noise to the deepest depth of his mind and letting his soul drifted away and joined the wind.

"There you are."

Ah. She found me.

The kid would have moved and faced the maid by that minute, but it seemed his body was too absorbed at what he was doing a second ago. He wanted to move, but his body betrayed him.

Standing behind was the maid in her beige dress and white apron with her hair tied in braid. She scowled at her little charge's stubbornness and put her hands on her hips, complaining, "Young Master, I've been calling you all this time! Why didn't you answer?"

The kid chuckled a little. He could feel the maid's scowl.

"Sorry Belle. I was preoccupied with things."

The maid, Belle, softened her face as she smiled sadly at the boy lying before her. She then walked gracefully closer to her charge and sat to his right side. She looked down at the boy who had his eyes closed and lips curved a little upward.

While he had Lord Walker's hair and eye color, his eyes and face...so serene and soft are just like his mom's... Belle noted as she stroked the kid's hair.

"What are you doing, Belle?" asked the boy with his eyes still closed.

"... Nothing. I just want to feel how soft your hair is."

The boy hummed in response. He remembered when he lied on his mom's lap she would do the same thing like Belle while humming a lullaby to make him sleep.

"Were you thinking of them?" asked Belle.

"No. Not really, but I did when you found me."

"I see."

Silence.

The boy liked it. Silence; it made him calm. It made him feel safe.

Belle continued on stroking the boy's chestnut hair. It felt so soft against her palm and relaxing which made her addicted to it.

No wonder the Lady liked to stroke Young Master's hair.

The boy beneath Belle's palm opened his eyes and looked straight into the latter's brown ones just right before the wind blew again and the former watched as Belle's honey blonde hair that was not tied swayed, caressing her fair-skinned face.

"Belle?" inquired the boy, his forehead creasing as he raised his eyebrows.

"Hm? What is it Young Master?" asked Belle with a smile.

"I... I miss them."

Belle stopped stroking his hair and her smile faltered.

Oh, Allen... She mused.

The tragedy happened two years ago on Allen's eighth birthday, but never did Belle saw him cry over his lost...not even a hint of sadness. Allen remained the way he was before like nothing had changed, like nothing was taken from him. She would have thought he did not love his parents had Allen never visited their graves to say 'hi'. But, today was different. For the first time since the tragedy happened, Allen finally said it, and Belle could finally see the soul through the silver eyes.

Allen appeared strong, but his soul was shredded in pieces.

Belle then wondered how her little charge could move on with his chin up while he was broken inside.

Smiling back, Belle said, "Me, too... I miss them..."

"Really...?" asked Allen with wide eyes.

"Yes."

"Hm..." Allen turned to face the darkening sky and saw a star, blinking at him steadily. "Do you think...they're watching on me?"

"Why, yes of course."

"How can you say that?"

"Because..." Belle paused as she carefully joined Allen on the grass and looked up at the sky, at the star Allen was gazing at. "...they love you."

"I know that already, Belle."

"Sorry, Young Master."

"Don't say that please. Anyway, how can you say that they're watching on me? That they're keeping an eye on me? You aren't even dead."

Belle chuckled. "You're right. I'm not dead. Not yet, but someday. Everyone does when the time comes. I don't know what hell or heaven looks like or if it really exists, but I do know that our loved ones who passed away are watching on us, wishing for our best, and praying for our safety. You may not understand this now, but someday you will when you grow older. Because of their love, their filial love, they keep on watching."

Allen was silent for awhile, absorbing the information from Belle before murmuring, "I understand..."

But, there is something...something I'm looking for.

"Oh!" started Belle as she pushed herself up and stood, dusting her clothes. "My, my I forgot! Let's get back now Young Master. I'm sure dinner will be served shortly."

Belle offered her hand to Allen who took it without a second thought with that warm smile of hers and pulled the latter up.

"Thanks Belle, and please stop calling me that. Allen is fine."

"Of course! Allen."

The two then walked side by side back to the manor while Allen had his hands tucked in his pockets, clutching the stone in one hand.

Mom... Dad... It will take years, but I- no, we... We will stop it. I promise you that.

Birds' chirping outside someone's room was like a melody to a young boy with short unruly dark hair who sat on a piano stool with both his hands gripped the sides of his seat while his feet dangled back and forth. He moved his head, left and right, as he listened to the sound the morning made, and then hummed a calm and smooth tune that matched the chirping sound.

The room the boy was in was painted in light color; had a couch, a maroon couch with yellow swirls and red daffodils in front of the fireplace and two comfy seats with the same color as the couch were placed at either sides of the couch while the black piano was behind and a little to the right near the door. To the other side of the room; to the boy's left, was a window with it's sky blue curtains were drawn open, allowing light to stream through.

There was a knock on the door and the boy snapped out of his musical world.

"Neah? Are you there?" asked the one behind the closed door; his voice was muffled.

"I'm here." hopping down, replied the boy named Neah.

Outside then room stood the boy who had the same unruly dark hair, though a little longer. He waited outside the room for Neah who then opened the door and asked, "What is it?"

"He's here."

Neah's dark eyes widened with surprised for a second before a grin made its way on his young, fair-skinned face.

"Really!?"

"Yes! He's in the living room with Belle." replied the other boy, cracking a smile.

Neah then run off to the living room, his feet made a loud thumping sound, with the other boy not far from behind. The two were so excited to see their visitors that they ignored their mother's berate when they passed by her.

Standing by the window and watching the horizon through it, was Allen in his white shirt topped by navy blue blazer, and black shorts and matching shoes. He had a smile on. Behind him was Belle who wore her green dress, sitting on the comfy chair and silently sipping on a glass of orange juice.

"Allen!" exclaimed the two boys from before.

Allen turned his head towards them and his smile turned into a big grin as he peeled himself off of his spot.

"Mana! Neah! It's been awhile!"

Belle gracefully rose from her seat and moved next to Allen.

"Awhile!? God, Allen it's been freakin' two years! Where were you!?" snapped Neah and Belle said 'hello' to the boys though only Mana acknowledge her as Neah busied himself in prying Allen's life.

"You know mom and dad died, so I have to do stuffs regarding the inheritance that I will receive." reasoned Allen.

"He's right Neah." said Mana, putting a hand on Neah's shoulder.

"Why don't you kids go outside? We'll call you when lunch is ready." suggested someone.

All three heads turn to see Mana and Neah's mother. Her long wavy dark hair tied in a bun and she wore a frilly light yellow dress topped by a white apron. "Hello Belle." she smiled.

Belle bowed her head, a sign of respect.

"Thank you for taking care of Allen."

"Yes, m'lady. It is my job."

The beautiful lady chuckle lightly. "Please, no need to be this formal. We're friends."

Belle smiled at her as she sat on the couch and she sat back on her seat, leaving the boys who had run off.

Neah run up to the apple tree and sat on the base as Allen and Mana arrived, joining him. They talked about things that had been happening around them to catch up. During their talk, Allen climbed up the apple tree and picked three fruits for their snacks while lunch was still away. Allen sometimes stole a glance at the wheat field not far away from them, thinking of the past when his parents were still around, while the two were too busy to notice that he was not listening.

"Hey, mom." Allen, at age five, tugged his mother's sleeve. "Can I join them?"

Her mother looked down at him; her face obscured by the light that came from the sun that was behind his mother, but her bright and charming smile put the sun's to shame as Allen could clearly see it behind the light that almost blinded him.

"Go ahead Allen. Be sure to remind Mana to come back inside by five and drag Neah with you." his mother chuckled at the thought of Neah being drag by the two.

Allen also flashed his own bright smile. "Yes, mom! I will!" and he run off the wheat field.

"Hey guys." Called Allen. "I have something to show you."

Mana and Neah both fell in silence as they watched Allen pulled something out his pocket and opened his left palm, showing them the beautiful emerald stone. The boys then gaped. They had never seen anything so peculiarly beautiful like the stone Allen had. It was glowing against the light like it had its life. A stone so perfectly round and flat, so smooth, and so…

"Powerful." Whispered Neah, but the two heard him clearly and Allen blinked.

Did he know what this is? Allen wondered.

"I've never seen innocence in that form, but…it really is something." Said Mana; his eyes still on the stone.

Once again, Allen blinked and asked, "You already know what this is?"

Leaning back, Neah snorted. "Yeah, uncle told us about it and even showed us one. But, he destroyed it afterwards."

Mana nodded. "It's beautiful, too bad it turned into dust. Do you know something about innocence Allen?" asked Mana as he looked up at Allen; his hands on the ground supporting him.

"Yes."

"How much?" asked Neah and Mana in unison.

Allen was silent, wondering who this uncle was that told his friends about innocence. He planned to tell them about the stone, its origin, and its history, everything including the fate of future, but after hearing his friends…

Why their uncle destroyed the innocence? Is he one of them? Then…Neah and Mana are…are they affiliated with their uncle? Are they also one of them? But, I don't want them to…

Allen sighed.

Maybe I'll just ask them.

"Neah, Mana, do you guys know about Noah?"

"Yes. Isn't he the one who built the ark when there was a flood?" said Mana only to receive a fist on his head courtesy of Neah.

"Idiot! He's talking about those guys in the loose, you know." Neah scowled at Mana before turning to Allen and raising a brow. "We know about Noah. So, what about it?"

"Are you guys one of them?"

The two dark haired boys blinked at him in surprised and Allen stared back at them, anticipating the answer would be 'yes'.

"Pardon…?" they asked.

"I asked you if you are one of them."

"No Allen. We're humans. I assure you that." Answered Mana.

"That's right. I don't like the Noah's way of saving this world. It's more like they're destroying the human race, spread darkness, and reign. Who do you think they are!?" seconded Neah.

Thank God they're not.

"What about your uncle then? Is he a Noah?"

Allen's question put the two in complete silence as they thought over the past. Their uncle never showed any signs of being a Noah or those people who had the power of innocence or something so far, but he knew something. Their uncle told them what the Noah looked like and their goal and about the innocence- wielding people and their fake God. So, what could it be that made Allen asked that last question?"

"Are you accusing our uncle Allen?" asked Neah; his voice suddenly turned from carefree to cold. Allen noticed it, but ignored it nonetheless. He knew that their uncle was closed to their heart that was why he could not blame them if they were thinking of him that he was accusing their uncle.

"I'm sorry Neah. I didn't it mean like that."

"Then, what is?" asked Mana, furrowing his brows.

"I was just wondering how your uncle destroyed the innocence he had showed you, because as far as I know, no one can destroy it. Not even the exorcists, the people who wielded innocence fragments. If there is one who can, it is the Noah."

Shocked, Neah and Mana were shocked to hear what Allen said.

Impossible… they thought. They could hardly believe it. Their uncle? A Noah? That's a bull.

A complete bull.

It could not be, because their uncle was kind to everyone, so it was impossible.

Neah gulped; his eyes were covered by the shadow of his hair at the crown. If Allen was right then, their uncle was…

"Say…how much do you know about this Allen?" asked Neah without looking at his friend, afraid to see the look in the latter's eyes. Even though he was not looking, he knew Allen's eyes were hard, unwavering, and full of defiance which was unnerving to both him and Mana.

"… Everything, Neah… Everything."