The Devil’s Symphony
Disclaimer: This kind of thing would never exist in D.Gray-Man. So it’s obvious D.Gray-Man doesn’t belong to me.
Chapter 2: Serenade My Soul.
Allen peered nervously at the old man, his eye moving back and forth between him and the case.
He unzipped the violin case on the counter before him carefully, still apprehensive of the situation.
He flipped open the cover carefully, pulling the score for Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major from his mind.
But the sight of the violin inside the blue fabric case instantly, completely grabbed his attention, astounding him, refusing to let him concentrate on his priorities.
The strings were contemporary, clean of any type of dust particles and there was no trace of wear despite its obvious age; such craftsmanship had pretty much died out before 20th Century.
The long strings were like those on his violin-made of catgut- and were perfectly sustained, tuned well and perfectly tightened. They were spotless, common rosin dust absent, seeming to have been cleaned with a common wine cork.
The corpus of the violin was a rich russet colour polished until it was so shiny, and the varnish pure and untainted. The snow haired boy could see his own face in a reflection.
He marvelled at it, and the seconds that passed seemed like hours.
‘Snap out of it!’
Allen mentally slapped himself, and was so focused on the beautiful instrument his hand almost subconsciously slapped his own face physically.
His mind was totally blank, and all he could do was stutter.
“I-It’s beautiful…”
The old man simply smiled and nodded, his head bowed down, gaze fixed on his fingers which had tangled themselves together.
“It makes a beautiful sound too. My pride and joy… The old guys in the family made it.”
He looked up at Allen with old soggy eyes.
“Well, shall we, lad?”
Allen nodded solemnly, a determined expression on his face.
-
Lenalee sighed.
Lying wasn’t one of the things she did often.
She glanced at the violin case that lay unmoved on the table, a few inches away from her empty green mug.
She looked up meaningfully, staring at the overcast sky overhead as she leaned lightly on her right palm, elbow on the tabletop.
The glass separating her from the outside world was clear, and she could see that it was snowing ever so slightly outside. She could even pick out each snowflake and focus in on them, noting each of the unique, intricate patterns.
She sighed, turning her gaze away from the grey mass of stratocumulus opacus clouds; clouds so thick, not a single inch of blue sky could be seen from where she was.
It was also apparent to Lenalee that the drizzle those clouds were supposed to be spilling had been the reason for the little snowflakes; the temperature was too low and they’d frozen into uniquely designed, paper-thin shards of ice on their way down from the upper layers of the atmosphere.
“Lena-chan…”
Lenalee was jolted out of her musings, jumping at the given nickname as a warm breath tickled her ear, and she spun around in shock.
“Ohmygosh…! You scared me!”
The red head simply grinned at her, cramming his gloved hands into his pockets. His emerald eye gleamed with amusement.
“I’d meant to.”
The ebony haired girl couldn’t help but smile at him, and they shared the amusement of scaring her.
She couldn’t even try to be angry.
This was something she’d gotten used to after two years spent in this guy’s company.
It always appeared to be that his infectious personality had somehow allowed the transmission of amusement between them, despite the odds.
He smiled at her, unfolding his arms from behind his head.
“Black coffee?”
She nodded.
“Mmhmn.”
He chuckled lightly as Lenalee’s violet eyes searched his face for an explanation.
“I was running an errand for Panda Ji-ji and saw you staring at nothing when you should be at home practicing for the upcoming examinations.”
She was about to protest but he held a finger to her lips and grinned.
“Yes, I do know you went to send Yuu-chan, but that was an hour ago, Lena-chan. And it’s almost dark. Your brother will be worried if you don’t get home for dinner. You know how he is.”
Lenalee looked away stubbornly with a huff.
Her companion laughed.
“I’m just warning you, Lena-chan.”
Lenalee simply sighed, proceeding to continue watching the sky and the snowflakes’ descent.
The redhead smiled.
“I’m waiting for someone to get back, Lavi.”
“Mmn.”
His gaze wandered past her, catching sight of the dark-coloured prism case on the table and he sauntered over to the seat Allen had been sitting in across from Lenalee and sat down.
“What’s this?”
Lenalee came to face him now, and looked for some form of examination he would commence on this foreign object; she was ready to protect her new friend’s property if the need arose.
But there was no inspection as the boy stared her straight in the face with his one emerald green eye, still waiting tentatively for an answer.
It seemed he knew it wasn’t hers.
-
Music flowed elegantly through the air, filling his heart as the bow rose and fell in a calming flow.
Allen hummed quietly to himself in his head as the music continued.
The violin he had borrowed was producing some of the most wonderful sounds he’d ever heard.
The strings were smooth, and the white-haired teen easily slid the bow up and down, the horsehair rubbing on the catgut strings. It was easy to hold, yet fragile in his grip.
The boy opened his left eye a peek and caught a glimpse of the practised vibrato of the old man.
He had his eyes closed, a soft smile playing on his lips.
-
“Alright then Lena-chan. I’ll catch ya later!”
Said girl waved at the redhead, smiling.
Her right hand was wrapped around the handle of Allen’s violin case and she proceeded away from the shop.
The shopkeeper had left, closing the shop for the day, and had told her that she should probably go find Allen and tell him that he’d decided that he’d start his violin playing shift the day after; he’d just put their payment on the her tab for now. He’d come running back just minutes before and since the shop was now empty, regular customers knowing the shop would close early,
Besides, it was already late. Her brother would be expecting her home for dinner soon.
A familiar tune came within her hearing range and Lenalee perked up.
It was definitely a string instrument; that she was certain.
But she couldn’t tell which it was. The sound was too far away.
The only thing decipherable was the tune.
She moved in the direction of the beautiful melody, the sound of voice of singing violins growing easily recognizable to her sensitive ears.
-
The song was coming to an end.
Allen slid the horsehair over the last string, ending on a light note.
He lifted his chin lightly off the chinrest and straightened up, his left hand still holding the fingerboard of the violin as he lifted it off his shoulder.
Footsteps echoed around the empty room as the old man placed his hand on the shoulder of the white-haired teen, smiling joyfully.
“That’s the best sound I’ve heard in years.”
There was a light thud; the sound of a case being gently put on a table.
There was a slow clapping noise that followed it, and Allen turned around to see the same ebony bangs and violet orbs he’d seen earlier.
“L-Lenalee?”
The girl only smiled.
“I only heard the last part of it, but it was beautiful, Allen.”
He flushed a light pink as his name rolled off her tongue quaintly.
She only smiled.
“Good evening, Jigo-san,” she said, addressing the elderly shopkeeper this time, bowing politely.
“Good evening, Lee-san.”
Lenalee laughed a soft, velvety sound.
“Jigo-san, I’ve told you to call me Lenalee.”
Her thousand watt smile showed itself again.
Allen simply stared.
The said Mr Jigo sauntered over to the table of where-which sat his violin case.
Sliding the shoulder rest from its place, he smiled, and said, “Same to you, Lee-san. I’ve told you to call me Tikano several times.”
He chuckled softly.
“The title ‘Jigo-san’ makes me feel old, Lena-chan.”
Allen looked back at Lenalee, watching for her response as he made his way to the blue fabric violin case.
“Yes,” she replied playfully, “Tikano…”
She grinned before adding, “…san.”
The old man sighed, a smile still on his face as he finally slid his violin into place in the case.
At this, Allen saw something shift in Lenalee’s eyes.
He decided to inquire.
“Lenalee, do you like the piece Canon by Pachelbel? The piece we just finished playing?”
A forced smile showed on her face, distinguished by the absence of the light in her eyes.
She nodded.
“I do.”
The wooden instrument he’d borrowed was already in the case, but he gently lifted it out again.
“Jigo-san, can we play the piece again?”
The old man raised an eyebrow, looking a little bit angry.
“I told you. Call me Ti-ka-no.”
Then he smiled.
“Sure.”
He lifted his own violin out of its case gingerly.
“Let’s play Canon in D Major. Again!”
Lenalee’s mood instantly lifted, and Allen could see the happiness of her smile touch her wondrous amethyst orbs.
Allen positioned the violin on his shoulder as Tikano pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, his chin already resting on the chinrest of the honey-coloured violin he was holding.
Allen waited, bow at the ready before the old man nodded, signalling the start of the piece.
His bow hovered above the strings lightly for the first couple of bars before his moving up and down, across the strings in a melody.
Lenalee’s right hand balled into a fist and she rested it over her heart, her left hand wrapping around it lightly. Her eyes fluttered shut as the music flowed and resounded through her.
She really missed it…the beautiful sound of the violin.
-
“Thank you, Allen. That was beautiful.”
He simply smiled at her, his smile further brightened by the golden light of the setting sun.
Lenalee turned to look at the vermillion-orange orb falling, dipping back behind the horizon, the darker upper portion of the visible sky already harbouring a young, silver crescent moon, highlighted slightly golden by the remaining rays of sunlight.
“Charmed,” she said to the sunset, “that’s the effect twilight has on me. And what your music did to me,” she turned to the white-haired teen, “was the same.”
“Thank you. I’m most flattered.”
He looked at her meaningfully as they continued down the riverside path.
The problem he’d pushed to the back of his mind till just then resurfaced, and Allen sighed.
Lenalee seemed to sense his unease, and looked at him, eyes curious.
The white-haired teen seemed to notice her inquisitive glance, and scratched the back of his head with his free hand.
“I haven’t exactly got any money for lodgings. How am I going to pay for my stay at this motel you’re bringing me to?”
The sixteen-year-old girl blinked.
“I could lend you money,” she offered.
Instantly, Allen’s left hand shot up and flailed about.
“No, no! I can’t do that!”
Lenalee raised an eyebrow, looking slightly irritated.
Friends were supposed to help each other out, regardless of whether money was included or not.
“Can I invite you to my house then? To stay the night?”
He looked at her expression, contemplating as he struggled to make a decision.
His brain was telling him not to impose, but his conscience was telling him that, judging by the face she had just made, she’d be very upset if he didn’t accept her request.
“Ehh? Are you sure your parents won’t mind? After all, I just met you today, and…”
Allen stopped short.
Lenalee’s expression had darkened noticeably.
“I don’t have any parents. They were murdered when I was little, right before I moved to this town.”
Her voice was monotonous, independent of emotion.
‘Uh oh.’
Allen stiffened.
“L-Lenalee… I…”
She lifted her face up to look him in the eyes with fiery amethyst orbs that simply screamed “don’t pity me”.
“But I’m sure my brother won’t mind.”
“O-Oh, you have a brother?”
She smiled at this, the dark feeling about her vanishing.
“Yes, an older brother.”
She chuckled softly.
“Though he does have a bit of a sister complex,” she added with a smile.
Lenalee tapped a thin, pale finger against her chin.
The action went unnoticed by Allen, who was flexing the fingers of his left hand, entirely engrossed.
The ebony-haired girl did not notice this either.
“Well, ‘a bit’ would be quite the understatement…” she muttered to herself, incomprehensible to Allen.
“Sorry? What did you say?”
“Oh! Um, nothing.”
They walked in silence the rest of the way and Allen pondering silently what Lenalee might have said, the fingers of his right hand curled around the handle of his violin case.
-
“Nii-san, I’m home.”
Allen stepped into the warm house illuminated by bright white lights.
It was an old Japanese-styled home, situated near the river they had been walking along earlier.
Perfectly normal. The only thing he noticed that was out of place, was the peculiar burning smell that lingered in the air.
“Welcome home, my sweet Lenalee!” an excited voice called, seeming to have come from the depths of the kitchen.
“I brought a guest, Komui-nii.”
A/N: alright. that's all of TDS's second chapter for now. ^^