The next morning was brutal on the poor exorcist. It seemed to have all started the moment he opened his eyes, that he got a strange feeling in his stomach. And before he could even fully wake up and get dressed, he found himself running over to the bathroom as fast as he possibly could. For a good hour or so he spent his time just sitting there on the cool-tiled floor, his head resting on the toilet seat as it hung over a bit into the bowl. Every so often he would gag and puke something up, although at this point it was just bile and some dry heaving. It must have been a very long time since he has last gotten sick, because he didn't remember it being this horrible and painful.
His poor stomach ached so badly, he thought for sure that he would be stuck here being unable to get back up to his feet. It felt like hours had passed by. It wasn't until Link knocked on the door to check up on him, that he was finally able to get the help that he so desperately needed. After helping him up, he went right over to the sink to brush his teeth. Of course he just played it off like it was nothing. In his mind, he still believed that it was the cake he had yesterday. What else would cause him to get sick like this? It must be food poisoning, or something along those lines. Either way, he couldn't allow for this to mess up his mission. It may have been with the biggest jerk, but surprisingly that didn't matter too much to him. Sure it will suck having to deal with him, but oh well. It was better than being trapped here another day.
Allen tied his shoulder-length white hair back into a bright red ribbon, and then slowly made his way back into his room. Not much was said between the two as he got ready for the day. All of his essentials were already packed away in a small suitcase, taking as how he was going to be gone for roughly a week or two in France. He could only hope that they were getting separate rooms at whatever hotel they decide to stay at. If he has to share a bed with the same person he slept with, then he will take the floor as far away from him. He would rather sleep on a hard surface, than to sleep so closely to him.
"Is it alright for you to go on this mission, Walker? You look like you are about to pass out." Link chimed in; and he brought it upon himself to stick his hand out press it against the teen's forehead. It wasn't warm at all, which really shocked him. For someone who was just puking his guts up for so long, this sure did confuse him greatly. Why else was his skin so pale? And why was he breathing so hard like he was in a lot of pain? Knowing how stubborn he can be, he chose not to press on the matter. Either way he was going on this mission, and that was final! If only he could get him to change his mind.
And sure enough, he shook his head. A very small smile spread on his lips as he looked back at the blonde, and he gently took his hand off of his forehead. "Thanks Link, but I'm fine. I ate something off yesterday, but it will pass. I don't want anyone worrying about me while I am away." He responded quietly. It's weird, because he has never eaten a single bad piece of food that was made from Jerry. Hopefully this won't happen ever again, because he is the best cook around! It would be a real shame if they had to replace him with someone else, all because he started to slack now of all times.
Link let out a heavy sigh. That response was so like him. Why did he have to be like that? He rubbed at his temples a bit, and then grabbed the suit case. Well he didn't want him to push himself after what all just happened. "Let's get going then. I hear Kanda is already there, waiting." And the last thing anyone wanted to do, was to keep him waiting too long. Everyone has experienced first-hand what it is like to piss the man off, and it wasn't pretty at all. He held the door open and motioned for him to walk out. If he collapses, he wants to be able to catch him before he hits the ground.
Allen gulped, and smiled nervously as he staggered out of the room. It wasn't because he felt weak or anything. He just...felt anxious to face him again. Those words still rang in his mind. He didn't want to believe that he really would be better off dead. Clearly it would be stupid of him to tell Kanda how much it really hurt him. It's not as if a jerk like him would care about his feelings. The way he said it just, grinds his gears. "Just pretend he didn't tell me to come back in a casket. Pretend that...we didn't sleep together. Just act like things are normal, and that nothing happened between us. Yeah, I can totally do that. This will be a piece of cake!"
The thought of cake made him gag.
The train ride to France was absolutely torturous! Even the atmosphere was almost unbearable. It definitely didn't help that things were very quiet, and you could hear just about anything. Both sat across from each other; their gazes either out the window, or at the passengers around them. Neither one of them tried to take a nap. Maybe it is because they simply had too much on their minds. That, or they just weren't tired at all. At least Timcanpy was there to help but a sort of wall between them, what with his constant flying around to help distract the exorcists from picking a fight. It still didn't change the fact that things were uncomfortable though, and that was something he just could not fix.
Kanda, who had been tapping his fingers on his lap for a good while now, finally let his gaze drift over to the younger male. The expression he currently wore was blank; making it impossible to figure out what he was thinking, or what he was feeling. But then again, he has always been a mysterious person to begin with. It is very hard to read him. It's not like he had a problem with the silence before. In fact, he actually preferred it! However this time it really seemed to get on his nerves. For some reason he...hated it. It felt as though he was about to snap and break something.
"Moyashi." He finally said after clearing his throat. What he was about to say wasn't easy for him at all. It isn't something he does, and so he wasn't used to it at all. Was he even approaching this the right way? Regardless of if it was right or wrong, it was his own way of trying to fix what happened the other day. If they are to work together and get things done without any problems or casualties, he needed this fight to end. His eyes never left those bright purple ones, not even for a second as he waited for a response.
"...?" Allen, hesitantly, turned his head so that he could look right back at his partner. The look on his face gave away that he was feeling irritated, but there was also a glint of shock in his eyes. This was very unexpected. He didn't think that they would speak a word to one another for a good while; at least not until they got to France that is. So when he felt that deep, soothing voice cut through the silence like that, it almost made him flinch. His hands were balled up into fists as he just stared at him for a good few seconds. What should he even say to him? He opened his mouth a couple of times to try and speak, but each time nothing came out. His mind was drawing a blank.
His eyes became shadowed by his bangs all of a sudden. "I don't know what to say to you. It's not like I asked for this to happen! But knowing that you prefer for me to be dead... I don't even know if we can have a normal conversation again. And don't you dare put the blame on me again. I swear if you do, I will make you taste my Crown Clown-" His thoughts were interrupted by the stare he was receiving. No, he did not look angry or annoyed with him. As a matter of fact, his face seemed to soften a little as he waited for his response. "..."
"Fine, you do not have to speak. All I ask of you is to simply listen to what I have to say. That isn't so hard, is it?" Those dark eyes bore into the other's, making it quite clear that he was being very serious about this. There weren't any signs whatsoever that he was struggling to talk right now. Mugen was sitting on the spot next to him, and his arms were now crossed over his chest. Actually, his body looked pretty damn relaxed for what he was trying to say. When he saw the other exorcist give him a small nod to keep going, he leaned back against the chair a bit and sighed. This really wasn't going to be easy for him, but it was necessary if he wanted things to be, well, not so awkward and uncomfortable between them. They can't have any distractions during this mission.
"He didn't even protest when being called Moyashi. My words affected him that much, huh?" Kanda thought. Guess he really should have thought first before opening his big mouth. Yeah they piss each other off, but never to this extent. Things have just been...stressful for him. Ever since that night they woke up naked in the same bed, he hasn't exactly been the same. He was plagued by dreams, and strange feelings whenever looking at the stupid Moyashi. He honestly didn't know what to do about them, and it was about driving him insane at this point! Hopefully he doesn't end up making things worse between them. He has to choose his words much more carefully from here on out.
"Look, I...didn't mean what I said yesterday... About you coming back in a casket, that is. Even I wouldn't want that. Not only are we short on exorcists as it is, but you also didn't deserve to be treated like that. I just can't believe I gave myself away to another person so easily is all. It upsets me that my first time was when I was drunk, and with the last person I ever expected it to be with. I can't believe I got drunk and did something so...stupid. I just want to forget about that night and move on with my life. From here on out I will not take my frustrations out on you, okay?" He said.
Allen blinked a couple of times. Was he perhaps trying to apologize? This must be a first for him. And to think it was being done to him of all people! His lips twitched into a grin as he tried not to laugh. "So what you're trying to say, Kanda, is that you're sorry for telling me to come back as a corpse?" Oh this was priceless! He leaned forward a bit to close some distance between them, his grin now turning into a slight smirk. It didn't hurt his feelings that he said all those other things. This is who he is, and he accepted that a long time ago. It really was a stupid thing of them both to get drunk, and to go as far as to bang each other.
"Tch!" The samurai tore his gaze away and stared out the window. Why is he smirking like an idiot? "I am. Do you accept it? Because I am not saying it again..." He muttered. There was just a very faint pink color on his cheeks as he said this. It was embarrassing for him to stoop to this level. Normally he didn't feel sorry for the things he did or said, but this time he did take things too far.
The young teen stared at him for another minute. It was so hard to see his face from this angle. For some reason he really wanted to see it, even though it has never bothered him like this before. His smirk slowly disappeared the longer they sat there in silence. When he spoke up next, his voice was quieter than before. "I don't know how much liquor I can handle. If so, then I never would have let myself get drunk like that... Especially if I knew what the outcome would be. I didn't ask for this to happen, Kanda. Trust me I didn't! Shacking up with someone who doesn't like me isn't something I ever wanted to do. I was...very surprised to wake up in someone else's room, and to find out that it wasn't my bed that I was sleeping on."
He fidgeted with his fingers a bit then, his head hanging sort of low as he stared down at his lap. "I definitely didn't want to wake up in the pain that I was in. Obviously I never had, um...sex before." His cheeks turned red when saying that last part, but he continued anyways. "I wanted my first time to be memorable, and to be special. I wanted to be in love, and to be much older than I am. I'm not even an adult yet, and already I had my virginity stolen from me. So please do not think that this was something I wanted, because it isn't. I am trying my hardest not to think about it. I'm just glad that I can't remember anything in between all the drinks I had, and waking up alongside you."
Kanda twitched. "You're the lucky one then." Still, what he all said made perfect sense to him. Neither one of them asked for this to happen. It did, and there was nothing they could do about it. They just have to continue on with their lives like nothing ever happened. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but eventually it won't be so bad. He shifted in his seat so that he was sitting more upright. "So...do you forgive me, Moyashi?" That was all he wanted to know. And he wasn't going to let this go until he got an answer. He did not say all of this for nothing!
"It's Allen!" The teen snapped. To be honest, his mind just wasn't there before when being called that. This time however, he was fully aware of everything that was being said to him. It was so irritating that he couldn't even say his name. After everything they have been through, you'd think that he would just give it up... But nope. Will he ever change that about himself? Or will this be a forever thing between them? Despite it getting on his nerves, he couldn't complain too much. Things were a little better between them, which meant that this mission will go by a lot smoother.
His eyes softened then, and a smile even formed on his lips while gazing into his eyes. It couldn't be helped. A normal person would stay upset with him for a longer period of time, but not him. It was harder for him to hold a grudge. Plus Kanda seemed sincere when apologizing to him, so he obviously meant everything he said. "I forgive you, Bakanda..." He nearly whispered. This he can handle. Things weren't perfect for them, but they weren't bad either. They were sort of neutral.
A chuckle escaped Allen out of nowhere, and he placed a hand over his mouth to prevent himself from being too loud. "How do you sleep with that hair of yours?" He curiously asked. It was something he couldn't help but notice when he got out of the bed. That long, navy-blue hair had clung itself to his skin like glue, and it looked very uncomfortable. It didn't take a genius to figure out that it was sticking to his sweat and other bodily fluids, but he didn't need to bring that up and ruin the mood all over again.
Kanda raised a brow when he heard this, and his expression went back to being annoyed. At times it did get on his nerves, but this is how it has always been. When Alma pulled him out of that hole, his hair was well past his feet. He ended up getting it cut up to his shoulders to prevent it from getting in the way, but later on chose to grow it out when realizing that he could just tie it back into a ponytail. "Shut it, Moyashi." He huffed out.
The rest of the train ride was silent once more, but only this times things weren't so intense. Both exorcists felt perfectly content with not speaking for the rest of the way, and actually found it to be peaceful. People around them were, thankfully, just as quiet as most of them slept. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of their shoulders. That conversation was much needed. Unfortunately it still doesn't fix things between them. There was still that confusion that will not just go away on its own. And it was something that not Allen or Kanda could just talk about with each other.
When the train finally came to a stop, they stood up and grabbed their luggage. Since it was a short mission, they only needed to pack light. It was a relief being able to get off and walk up to their hotel without seeing any Akuma. Just where were they? Weren't there supposed to be a lot of them clustered about all over France? It was an uneasy feeling once realizing that things were way too peaceful here. It is nice that they don't have to get into a fight right away, but at the same time it just felt way too strange. It felt like Allen's eye should have gone off by now, right? He placed his hand over it as he thought of this. Hopefully his illness wasn't affecting it. If so, then that was going to be troublesome.
They can't take their guard down for a second.
Things only got worse when they made it up to the counter to check in. To their horror, there really was only one bed available for the remaining rooms they had available. Allen had to bite back a groan when slowly taking the key into his hand, and he glanced over at his partner to see how he was reacting to this. "A-at least there's a couch. It's just a matter of who will be sleeping on it..." He chuckled nervously, rubbing at the back of his head. It couldn't be helped though. This is apparently a busy time of the year for France, as this is when people take vacation to come here. It's not like they had the luxury to plan ahead for this, since they literally just heard about this mission yesterday.
Kanda reached over and snatched the key to their room out of his hand, before turning around and walking down the long stretch of hallway. "You are." His head kept turning from left to right to read the numbers on the doors. Luckily they were almost to theirs, so there wasn't much walking involved. He seriously just wanted a nap right now, but on the other hand, knew that they should be out looking for those Akuma. "You are smaller, so you should fit perfectly...Moyashi." He smirked a little.
Allen's eyes widened at this. He didn't waste any time in running after him, and tried his best to steal the key back from him. It was useless though, for he really was smaller. Why did he have to be so damn short?! "I told you, my name is Allen! And you're no fair! Who says I should get the couch, all because I have shorter legs than you? I say we at least take turns. Sooo tonight I will take that warm, cozy bed!"
No response.
This made his eyes narrow with irritation. Oh, this was going to a long mission indeed. "You know what?" He dropped his suit case in front of the door and turned around. "I'm going to find somewhere to eat... And don't you dare pick the same restaurant as me, Bakanda!" And with that he stormed off. His stomach has been growling for a while now, and he was shocked that no one said anything about it. It's not like he was hungry enough to eat breakfast before heading out. Even while on the train, his stomach was still trying to settle itself from what it went through earlier. "Sharing a bed is out of the question." He thought bitterly.