DISCLAIMER: I don't own -man, all belong to Hoshino sensei... If it was otherwise...... Lavi e Kanda should have been together from a VERY LONG TIME!!!
WARNING: YAOI - if you don't know what this word means, or if you don't like boy/boy relationship this story is not for you, don't say I didn't tell you! You know the song, DON'T LIKE DON'T READ!!!
Well, first of all I thank SO DAMN MUCH Em1 & Em2 (aka Saxon-Jesus) for doing the beta work for me, being sooooooo patient and kind with such a crazy person like I am^^
About that... Please EM2 close your eyes at the "moyashi" word... Anyways, he won't show up again any time soon, so you won't have to worry about it for really LONG. XD
Then, I once again apologize if someone find "strange" my way of identifying dialogues, or my writing style^^;;
Also, for those who were following my other story... Please don't kill me for deciding to start translating this one, instead of doing it for the second chapter of "Do you Trust Me?" *bows* I promise I'll start that soon, too.
Well, what else to say? I really hope you'll like this one!
UNDER THE SKY AT THE BORDER OF THE WORLD
CHAPTER I: THE ESCAPE
Circumspect steps in the middle of the night. Two figures shrouded by shadows were sliding silently through the Black Order Tower's corridors, heading to a very specific place.
- Why did you bring me here, and more importantly, at this time of night? - the more slender of the two youths snapped, crossing his arms to his chest and putting on an angry expression, just after the other stopped in front of a great inlaid door.
- B'cause the Library is my kingdom, ya know, but mainly b'cause it's the only place where there's not so much traffic at night... - the taller one answered cheerfully, running a hand through his hair, which was red as the flames of hell.
The echo of their voices in the corridor resulted in furtive movements inside the room, but when Lavi opened the door, the light was off and nothing seemed to be out of place. Neither of the two young men had noticed the previous muffled rustling. Bookman Jr. sat on the desk, placing the lamp he had with him by his side, quite close to the table's center, smiling lightly. Kanda approached him with an inquiring look.
- Tell me quickly what you need to and be quick about it. I'm tired and I want to go to sleep. - Lavi's face suddenly let the playful mask he used to define his persona fall, and the expression he assumed showed deep sadness. His only eye became dark, and his lips curled into a bitter grin.
- Yuu, I… although this is forbidden to me, I absolutely wanted to say goodbye to you. - the Japanese teen was startled hearing those words, and his eyes went wide, although he managed to keep his face impassive.
- To say goodbye? You... - Kanda couldn't ask that question, the voice died in his throat, in spite of all his efforts to keep it steady.
He swallowed, his dark eyes staring into Lavi's emerald green one. The redhead gave him a sad smile, nodding.
- I... we'll leave tomorrow. You know... Because of the things that happened recently... the old man says it's time to go, and... I don't know if we'll come back.
Kanda looked away, clenching fists at his sides in an attempt to prevent himself from trembling. - Fine. Is that all? I'm tired.
- Yuu... - Bookman Jr. raised his hand up to the samurai's face, who dodged it, backing up of one step. - I knew you wouldn't care, but I wanted to say goodbye all the same. - Lavi looked somewhat hurt, and that was impossible, Kanda knew it too well, and yet he could feel that pain seeping through the redhead's voice. Still, this sounded so fucking impossible for him to believe.
- What changes if I ask you to stay? It's useless... - he said in a flat tone, diverting his glance on the floor to avoid looking straight into that deep green eye.
Lavi's face lit up with wonder. Had he just heard Yuu saying he cared if he was leaving? Was the tremor that ran through Yuu's body the great effort he was making not to cry?
- Yuu... - Lavi murmured again, this time catching the youth and holding him tightly in his arms.
Kanda immediately stiffened but didn't try to escape, even when he felt Lavi's hands moving through his hair and freeing it from the hair tie, fingers intertwining in the long, pitch colored strands. He lightly pulled that wonderful hair to force the other to look at him, and when Kanda lifted his face toward him, Lavi joined their lips in a desperate kiss.
Kanda hadn't expected a reaction like that, nor that Lavi had had feelings in the first place, that he could return his own then was out of the question. Instead, the redhead was kissing him passionately, guiding his every awkward move, stealing away his breath.
The Uniform's jackets fell on the floor behind them, and Lavi began to descend down the Japanese teen's neck, slipping his hands under the tight, black sleeveless jersey, then moving down again, starting to tinker with Kanda's belt buckle. A groan escaped from the samurai's lips, while his hands, too, were wandering along the apprentice Bookman's body.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of books falling on the floor, and Lavi jumped on the desk, stepping over it, just as the heavy sofa behind them capsized to the ground. He then tried to thread under the massive furniture, and found himself nose-to-nose with Allen, who looked truly shocked.
Kanda turned back, astonished and still panting. Hearing a wail coming from under the other furniture, he approached the lounge hurriedly, finding himself in front of Lenalee, whose face was wincing in pain.
- What the hell were you doing here! - he growled as he lifted the couch, moving it to the side, freeing the girl's legs, and helping her stretch them from the very painful position in which they had been pressed.
- Lenalee! - a shrill voice screamed at that very moment from the doorway. - I knew you were in danger! - Komui continued, adding heart-rending wails to the sentence. - That monster is raping my sweet Lenalee!
- WHAT? - Kanda exclaimed in disbelief. - Komui, you bastard, are you crazy? Stop rambling and give me a hand! - the man instead let himself fall on his knees, weeping, still shouting Lenalee's name.
- Niisan, stop whining, you've seen it wrong! Kanda was just helping me! - Lenalee protested.
On the contrary, Komui saw it too well, the two youths realized in horror looking at each other. Lenalee was lying on the floor with legs spread, skirt up and jacket unbuttoned. Kanda had his knee between her legs, his trousers were undone, his shirt raised and his hair loose, and as icing on the cake his hands were on one of Lenalee's just freed legs… As if he'd been burnt, the samurai drew back sharply, thus giving Komui a better view of the scene.
- Argh! You put my Lenalee's panties on display! - the Supervisor exclaimed like he was being murdered.
Wait. Where were Lenalee's shorts? Why didn't she have them on?
The girl immediately pulled down her skirt, her face flushed, then she stood up on the feet and kicked her brother, who finally stopped wailing. But perhaps it was worse, because the man got up from the floor, and declared in an unappealable tone that the two of them were to be married to repair the damage.
- Me, marry Lenalee? Forget it! - roared the Japanese youth.
- I assure you that you will, Kanda-kun. I can guarantee it, you'll see. - and with that promise, Komui walked away, dragging a recalcitrant Lenalee with him.
- Kanda-kun, I'll convince him that he got it wrong, don't worry! - the girl shouted at the Japanese Exorcist, not at all worried about the situation.
Meanwhile, Allen and Lavi had emerged from their hiding place, pulling up alongside Kanda.
- Jeez, I thought it was the Ol' Panda when I heard the books fallin'. I nearly had a heart attack... - Bookman Jr. said, pressing a hand on his chest at heart height.
- H-He... just said he wants you to marry Lenalee? - stammered the English Exorcist, looking towards Kanda.
- Shut up, moyashi. That is out of the question.
- I'm absolutely sure of it, after what I saw... and heard... and the name is Allen! - Kanda cast him a murderous look, which the young white-haired boy sustained defiantly.
- C'mon, we shouldn' be fightin' now... we aren' havin' any difficulty imaginin' what you were doin' here b'fore us, right Yuu-chan? - Kanda nodded, and Allen turned pale.
- What about Lenalee's shorts? - the long-haired Exorcist asked sharply, raising an eyebrow.
- O-OK, I'll be silent as a grave, but you must be too! - he looked at them seriously. - It's a deal? - the other two Exorcists nodded. - Well, then... I'll leave you two – huh – to your business....
- Yuu! - Lavi exclaimed, seizing the samurai by the arm to prevent him from strangling the impudent English brat.
After being left alone, the two teens set up the couch and sat down side by side, unsure of what to say.
- Komui was joking, right? - Lavi shuddered at the thought.
- You heard him too.
- But he wasn't serious...
- And what if he was serious? - Kanda paused for a moment, thoughtful. - I've decided that I'll come away with you. - he suddenly declared.
- WHAT?? - the redhead nearly choked while shouting out his disbelief. Hearing Kanda saying something like that was... was... He couldn't find a word to define it, really.
- You heard me. I'm coming with you. And I don't fucking care if the old man doesn't want me in his way, if necessary, I'll follow you down to Hell. I don't intend to lose you now, not after what you've shown me to feel.
- But... but... The Ol' Panda will kill me as soon as he sees you... and you along with me... - Kanda's expression became serious, he seemed... tortured.
- Lavi... do you care so much about Bookman? About his way of living? About the job you do with him? - he asked finally.
- What are ya gettin' at, Yuu?
- What if... if we were to go away, just the two of us?
- Yuu... - Lavi hugged him tight, and felt the other returning the gesture. - Could we go... in your room to talk about it?
Kanda nodded.
- I thought we had to discuss on what to do... - said the Japanese man, starting to turn over. The bed creaked under their weight at this sudden movement, and Lavi placed his arms around the other youth's waist, drawing him closer.
- Aren' we doin' that? - Lavi murmured through the other youth's hair.
- Until a moment ago, it didn't seem like that to me... - Kanda pointed out, raising an eyebrow, and Lavi laughed, laying a kiss in the hollow of his lover's neck.
- You didn' seem at all displeased, Yuu... - the redhead felt the other youth tremble under the touch of his hands.
- I wasn't. I've craved this for so long... - the words come out in a too soft a tone, compared to the swordsman's usual sharp tongue.
- You? - Lavi yelped in surprise hearing his normally emotionless and stoic companion admitting such a thing, but Kanda nodded weakly. - Yuu... Why didn't you ever say anything…? - Kanda turned his face to the side to avoid meeting Lavi's questioning gaze.
- It's not a thing you tell the person who makes fun of you every fucking day... - the Japanese teen said in a low voice, hardly sighing.
- I thought you'd learned to understand me, to distinguish my true self from my masks...
- Maybe, for the rest... I've never been good with feelings, you know. And... I've never imagined that you... well, this.
- Yuu... - the redhead whispered in Kanda's ear, following its contour with his lips, then gliding along the line of the other youth's jaw up to join their mouths into another long kiss.
- I love you, Yuu. I've always loved you, ever since the day we first met. - Lavi murmured when they parted, and Kanda looked at him, eyes slightly widened, clasping to him more, and the Bookman apprentice read a deep wonder on his face. - If you agree, I think we should leave now, before all hell breaks loose with Komui tomorrow morning, and before Bookman comes to look for me... - the samurai's face brightened with joy. He nodded.
- It will only take a moment to have a suitcase ready, we're so used to packing in less than two hours with what is strictly necessary... - Lavi silently smiled at him, at how just practical his mind was, thinking immediately to their plain needs.
Ten minutes later, they were already dressed, and Kanda had finished filling his little black suitcase. He stood up, wearing his coat and putting the sword on his shoulder.
- Are you bringing Mugen with you? - Bookman Jr. asked out of curiosity, looking at Kanda with a funny expression that usually had the immediate effect of upsetting the samurai beyond imagination. But now Kanda was somewhat different; he actually answered the question without adding any mean remark.
- Yes. It's my Innocence, I don't think I can live without it. Besides that, we somehow have to defend ourselves, Akuma don't go on vacation even if we're abandoning the Order... - at that statement Lavi laughed softly.
- I fully agree. - he said then, and put his Innocence into its usual pocket on his leg. - Well, I think I'll have to leave like that, we can't risk takin' my clothes and wakin' the Ol' Panda up... - a corner of Kanda's mouth turned to form a knowing smile.
- I've got clothes for you too. You'll put on mine for a while until we can find some others. - the Japanese youth revealed, and Lavi smiled at him. - I'll entrust the Lotus to Marie, I'm sure he will guard it carefully without saying a word. - Kanda wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper and folded it afterwards.
- Why doncha take it with ya? - Lavi demanded, and the dark haired Exorcist shook his head, hugging the redhead tightly to himself for a long moment, then he moved away, staring at his lover's face.
- I prefer not to know when the time will come. - Kanda lifted the hourglass containing the Lotus.
- Ready? - Bookman Jr. whispered softly, and the samurai nodded. Then he opened the room's door. - Let's go.
After closing Marie's bedroom door behind them, Kanda hesitated a moment.
- Where are you planning to leave this place from? Are we going down to the basement to take a boat as usual? - he asked, a vein of concern in his voice.
- I think I should be able to activate a Gate... it reduces the risk that we'd be caught and taken back here. Any one of those already opened, it makes no difference to us. From there we'll take a train to any place you like.
- What if we find someone in the science section? - Kanda objected.
- Ya just back up with me, I'll take care to fool 'em. We'll make it. - the redhead placed a kiss on his lips, then started walking with a quick pace, pulling his companion by the hand.
Soon dawn would come; the two of them had to hurry or they would be discovered. They entered the laboratory in which there was the main Gate giving access to the Ark, ready to do anything, but instead of some random scientists, they found themselves facing Allen and Lenalee. The two other Exorcists jumped in surprise, reacting to the incoming danger, but with deep astonishment they recognized Lavi and Kanda as the newcomers, and emitting a loud sigh of relief, the teens immediately relaxed.
- W-What are you doing here? - the English Exorcist stammered, addressing the other two youths.
- Y'know, the exact same thing that y're doin', I guess. - Lavi claimed with his usual smile on his face.
- W-What? I don't think I understand...
- Are you deaf, moyashi? - Kanda spat out in annoyance. - We're leaving. Like you two seem about to do. Now open a fucking portal before we're discovered.
- K-Kanda? But, are you serious? - Lenalee cast him an incredulous look: she couldn't believe her ears. They had just heard Kanda confirming out loud that he was fleeing from the Order, with Lavi of all people.
- Yes, Lenalee, we're serious. We're leavin' the Black Order, forever. - Lavi's expression was serene, no apparent regret showing.
- Let's get away together then? – the Chinese girl proposed. Lavi nodded with conviction.
- Sure. That way we'll open just a single gate, but then our paths must diverge, otherwise we'll be too easy to track down. 'Cause they'll be lookin' for us, y'know it too.
- Where? Suggest a place where they won't think of immediately, and I'll open the gate at once. - Allen promptly answered, preparing himself for the task.
- Alaska? - Lavi said, smiling. - A lil' bit cold, but far away enough. On the border with Canada, so we can choose different destinations. Yuu?
- Fine. - Kanda uttered in response. Lavi put an arm around his shoulders, and the Japanese boy clung to him.
- Sounds good to me. - Lenalee nodded too, and Allen opened the portal, letting the others enter first and then following them through it.
Once on the other side, he canceled the Gate's exit.
- No turning back. - he said afterwards. - Our ways part here. – his expression was sad while looking at his friends.
- It's possible that we could meet again, Allen. - Lavi tried to console him with a pat on the shoulder. - 'Till then, take care of yourselves. - that said, he embraced Lenalee.
- Good luck guys! - the Chinese girl said trying to hold back her tears.
- Che. Enough whining. - the Japanese Exorcist growled, folding his arms.
- Kanda-kun ... - Lenalee smiled. - Sayonara.
- Lavi... I know that this was a shameful action, but... well, we needed it a lot more than them... - Allen drew out a wad of banknotes, handing it to the ex-Bookman apprentice.
- You've robbed the Order's funds! I can't believe it! - the redhead exclaimed, and Kanda raised his hand to his face with disbelief.
- Thieves in addition to runaways, then...
Allen let out an embarrassed chuckle.
- Thanks. - Lavi embraced the both of his young friends again, then waved to them as they departed.
The two couples set off in different directions and soon lost sight of each other.
Then now something to explain the situation:
On the Italian Fanfiction site we are used to have writing contests, in which the one proposing the challenge gives the rules or the prompt/track. I think you could label this as similar to a kinkmeme, just the fandom is free of choice or multiple choice between some imposed by the one proposing the contest.
This FF is the result of one of those contests, and the prompts were the following: one, or more of the main characters of the chosen fandom must decide (for any reason up to the author's choice) to stop fighting in order to save the world and go doing something else. That too, at author's choice. Everything is permitted, even that the "hero" sees a restaurant and decides to eat instead to go stopping an alien invasion XD And, another obligation was that the character had to be OOC. I hate OOC, so after the contest before to post the first chapter of the story I revised it all to remove Kanda's OOCness. Apparently, I did a quite good job with it without turning the plot upside down XD
So, I'm sorry if it looks like some pieces are missing, I just thought it was boring to hear over and over Kanda's denial for his growing feelings and Lavi being unaware of what was going on, hiding his own XD
But I'll add some flashbacks in the next chapters, promised. *nod*
Well, I'm aware that they shouldn't be at the Black Order's Tower if they wear the 3rd Uniforms, but I couldn't help it, I don't fucking like the whole "abandoning the Tower" thing. So deal with it XD