past life

What makes Lenalee, along with Allen Walker, Cross Marian and the Millenium Earl, different from any other characters in D.Gray-man is that they were destined to meet way before the series even started.

Doesn't make sense, you said? Well, sadly, you cannot deny that. We have evidence here, dear visitors. In fact, Hoshino Katsura had arranged their meeting in one of her older works, a one-shot manga entitled ZONE.

ZONE happens to be D.Gray-man's prototype, that's why it had similar characters and plot—except with simpler art and character designs. It has an exorcist, a sadistic lecturer of the said exorcist, a villain known as The Millenium Earl, and akumas.

The main protagonist is Robin (who resembles Allen), an exorcist apprentice. Meanwhile, Lenalee (yes, that is also her name) is a waitress in a restaurant in Japan. Her appearance in ZONE is not too different from the present Lenalee we know. She is half Japanese and Chinese. She lost her fiance in a terrible flood. However, one day she receives a letter from a mysterious man saying that the fiance was still alive, and he awaits in the church at night. Of course, it is a prank—the Earl intends to turn Lenalee into an akuma with the memories of her boyfriend. Robin has to prevent the tragedy and save her. In the end of the story, Robin travels again and gives Lenalee a memento of his dead sister.