My Restless Peace

Summary: Casper' story, DGM style - Lenalee learns of the tragic story of the Walker Manor's Master's death, only to discover a sinister plan and a trapped soul that can't move on or remember his past. She discovers Allen is a spirit haunted by another spirit...

Warnings: This is an AU (Alternate Universe) Fic, meaning it does not follow the script or story of the TV show or Manga books…

Also, child hardships ARE ahead. If you don't like reading child angst then I suggest you look away and find another story to read. But if you don't mind then join the group of evil sadists here and read on! Please note though, no child was ever involved in the writing of this story or the inspiration for this fic.

Authors Note: I'm sorry to those already waiting for my other stories to be updated, but this idea just wouldn't leave me alone. As I've said before, I will finish all my stories; it's just a case of 'when' that's debatable… SORRY!

Just a note, I listened to "Casper's Lullaby" whilst typing this, try listening to it while reading… it might make the scene hit you a little harder?

Anyway, let me know if you want any more of this fic…

As always, let me know what you think, but no flames please. If you have any criticism to make please do it politely otherwise I shall ignore your words. (It's happened before, I'm sorry to say, and I hadn't even posted any chapters…)

Prologue: "My Death…"

"Uncle She has nothing to do with this!" Allen yelled from his place by the door. He wasn't sure what had been escalating these past few days but something had been working his uncle up to the point where he was beyond bothersome with his manners and foul language. And he reckoned he knew what it was now – His recently announced engagement. If the truth be told, he didn't care about the ridiculously fat man that was his father's brother. The guy was just too shady. He thought that by finally finding a fiancé he could get rid of the man who'd been appointed as regent of his fathers will and caretaker of the heir – Allen.

"She has everything to do with this!" His uncle yelled back, pointing an accusing finger at the poor young girl frozen in confusion and fear. She looked back to her fiancé hoping he could clear this up for her but Allen just seemed too focussed on the man he called uncle. Years of humiliation and hate had fixed the boy's attention on the rage-filled man before them.

"How?! Just what is it that you're after uncle?!" He asked as he moved closer but not close enough for the young girl to be within arms reach. He was sick of the man; not once had he given the boy any leeway for his own plans, adhering strictly to the will only when it suited him. He knew the man had never felt anything but contempt for him but 'why?' was only just beyond his understanding; he'd had a feeling for a while now…

"You know already what I'm after boy!" The larger man yelled, not caring if he scared the young girl to death. "I want those deeds my brother left you, but only you know where they are hidden…" Allen's eyes narrowed. He'd been right. This was what had been bugging his uncle; the deeds to the Manor, his father's estates… everything. "I can't have you lollygagging with a girl and producing another heir to the estates and riches that are rightly mine!" The fat man replied as he took out a gun and aimed it at the young girl. Allen's eyes widened.

"Uncle no!" He yelled as he moved into action, jumping into a run to protect his lover. But she let out a squeak and started running to the door on the other side of the room, away from Allen.

"She needs to die!" His uncle yelled, following her with his gun, sweaty fingers squeezing the trigger slowly.

"No! Stop!" Allen yelled and jumped just as the gun fired.

The girl disappeared through the door, never to be seen again, as Allen fell limply to the floor, rolling on to his back as he let out an animalistic yell of pain before laying still. A searing pain in his chest melting away any other sound he could've possibly made.

"No! You can't die!" His uncle yelled angrily. He could hear the man drop the gun and start running over to him. "Tell me where they are! Tell ME!" But Allen could only choke as his lungs began to fill with blood. He was losing too much blood, could feel it pooling beneath him. "Damnit boy, tell me!" A cold sweeping feeling slowly curled around his toes and up his legs… the red carpet beneath him became darker as he bled freely from the wound in his chest.

The man finally fell to his knees and shook the boy where he lay. "Where are they boy?! Before you die damnit! Where are the deeds?!" Again, all Allen could do was gasp for air and choke when all he got was a lungful of blood. He convulsively coughed it up, feeling it spill out over his tongue as his body turned onto its side instinctively.

And still that cold feeling spread further up his back before settled heavily in his stomach.

He was dying.

He was going to die here…

"Damnit it boy! Where are they!"

He was scared, regretful. He didn't want to die. He still had to find his mother, still had to marry Liana…where was she? Was she ok?

The cold feeling swept up and over his shoulders, crawling slowly up the back of his neck. He coughed again, more blood spilled onto the already stained carpet; his chest was stinging, his ears ringing. He felt light and somewhat numb to everything around him…

He was fading…

Slowly disappearing into the arms of death…

'No, I can't go… have to keep… walking…'

But his chest stopped heaving...

The blood slowed and then stopped…

And his eyes slowly glazed over.

"Li..anaa…"