Author's Note: This alphabet story filling the time gaps between events from original manga. It's centered around Kanda / Lavi relationship, but, as it is, there is no plain yaoi. There is just enough to tickle your imagination ^^
Some chapters will be stand-alone but there are quite a few that, together, create one smaller story.
Title of the story comes from "Explorers" by Muse - have to love it ^^
Disclaimer: D Gray Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino.
SPOILERS – it's full of those as it follows the story closely.
A is for Arrival
It took three years for him to arrive to the European Headquarters of the Black Order. Three long years of travel with General Tiedoll and Noise Marie. After the massacre of the Sixth Laboratory and as soon as possible, he was dispatched to leave with the exorcists. Asian Branch had a lot of work with the mess and they wanted the cause of it as far as they could manage. Back that he didn't quite get the reasons behind it. After all, they all knew of the project and it's possible outcome. He didn't understand the strange looks people there were giving him. They were unsettling, as he later learned to name them. And so, he was as glad to be away as the staff was.
The traveling, however, was not as easy as he assumed it to be. It was the most educative and confusing time of his life. He has seen the World for the first time in his current reincarnation and the amount of questions and uncertainties and surprises was overwhelming and frustrating at the same time. From time to time his brain would come up with scraps of memories sending him into pain-filled fits that left him psychically drained for a while. He would always come to when Marie played his strings, soothing his nerves and emotions. He would always see Her floating around, reminding him of his resolve to live and find Her. She would sometimes pick up on of the forever blooming lotus flowers.
Between fury breakdowns, awe-inspiring sights and painful attacks he worked out his emotionless, strict composure and exquisite sword fighting. And when fatherly General decided him ready, Kanda Yuu, with Mugen in his hand, was left in the Headquarters to become a full-time exorcist.
However, all the awkwardness of his new life and all the unknown has made him feel constantly annoyed. The three years of travel had revealed but a tip on an iceberg of the World and what he couldn't put up with were the people. They were stubborn to discard all the differences and otherness either by making fun or getting unpleasant. And so, Kanda Yuu has taken into to way of violence to make it clear he was not being laughed at of looked down on. He made sure each and every one member of the Order remembered that, his Mugen helping him make the point. There were but a few exceptions including his own team. General Tiedoll, first and foremost, for taking care of him and being his first real guide in life, despite irritatingly acting like a father that he did not have. Noise Marie for the very fact of helping him, back in the Asian Branch when they first met, without asking a single question and always offering his silent companionship. Although the Japanese would sooner die than admit that out loud. And last but not least, Daisya Barry for being an annoying brat that outright ignored his constant threats and, without a mocking smirk or condescend look, lightly explained all his uncertainties.
Kanda Yuu never wanted the list to expand.