Chapter 2:

Kanda had still not returned home from wherever he had gone. Tim had grown hungry which led Allen to rifle through the man's kitchen cupboards and refrigerator. Not unexpected, there were large quantities of noodles, fish, and vegetables. It was no wonder Kanda was so fit, not that Allen would complain. Though it did prove a problem to finding something for Timcanpy to eat, and it would prove difficult in sating his own hunger.

Allen managed to find enough green beans and carrots to tide the dog over, and prepared them in a plastic bowl that he'd be sure to discard afterward. He tossed a bit of spaghetti in the mix after remembering an article he had recently read about "human foods" that dogs could also enjoy.

Not a minute after Tim began eating his meal, the door knocked and Allen called out that he would "be right there." The thought that it would be someone for Kanda did not cross his mind until his hand was already on the door knob and turning to open. He vaguely thought that Kanda wouldn't really be the type that had guests, and came face to face with a beautiful woman with her hair falling straight down her back, her only makeup was the smile on her face, and it was flawless.

"Lenalee." Allen greeted with a smile of his own.

"Oh Allen! I'm glad you're okay." Allen invited the girl in, and she hugged him in response. Before the conversation continued Allen secured the door shut and then led his guest to the kitchen area, where Tim continued to chow down. Though he did manage to look up and bark happily at the girl, earning a few scratches behind his ear. Allen breathed a sigh of relief knowing that he was leaving Timcanpy in capable hands.

"So Allen. Are you sure everything is alright?" The girl asked once seated at the kitchen counter.

"As alright as things can be under the circumstances."

Lenalee responded with a small "right" before continuing on another line of thought. "It was nice of Kanda to offer you a place."

Allen gave a light chuckle. "It wasn't so much 'offered' as it was me forcing my way in." The look Lenalee gave him made him reiterate. "Kanda doesn't mind. Much. I'm positive."

Lenalee shook her head at her friend and gave a little laugh of her own. "Well that's good. The 'Kanda not minding' I mean." Allen just smiled as Lenalee continued. "How many rooms are there?"

"Hmm? I think just one. You know Kanda's not fond of company. All the other rooms are utilized as something else."

"Then where will you sleep? On the couch?" She gave him a look of concern. "Would you be able to get good sleep that way?"

"I don't plan to sleep on the couch." Allen spoke as if the idea never even occurred to him. Lenalee raised her eyebrows and waited for some other explanation, but all she got was, "We'll work something out."

When nothing else seemed to be coming her way in form of an answer, Lenalee moved on. "Where is our beloved swordsman anyway?"

"I'm actually not sure. He probably went off to train."

Lenalee nodded, "I see. Well, you'll be happy to know that I picked up some things for Tim on the way."

"Thanks again Lenalee." Though Allen was curious to where these "things" were as the girl had come with nothing but her hands dangling at her side. She seemed to notice Allen's silent inquiry and responded.

"It was a bit heavy so I took them home first. Brother then tried to keep me there which is why I'm late. Sorry."

That did explain why she showed up more than an hour later though she had suggested she would have been immediately on her way. Komui really was something else. Yet another time Allen wondered about his dog's safety with the man. "By the way." The girl spoke again drawing Allen's attention from the dog, to her. "Lavi is here as well. He said there was something he had to do before coming up."

As if on cue the door knocked and Allen went to answer it seeing Lavi's contagious wide smile.

"Al!" Lavi grabbed him in a hug and Allen had to struggle out of the tight grip. "I just had to talk to this gorgeous blond downstairs!" Lavi seemed excited enough that Allen could almost see the hearts in his eyes. Though he tried to refrain from rolling his eyes or thinking of the similarities between both redheads in his life before the pair regrouped with Lenalee in the kitchen.

There were only two stools so Allen gave his to Lavi, while he bent down to pet Tim while the dog ate.

"I can't believe Yuu let you stay here." Lavi began again.

"It wasn't easy. I assure you."

"But what about getting along? Ya sure the stress a fightin' is good fer yer?"

"Kanda and I get along when we need to. Though he wasn't so lenient with Tim... By the way, am I the only one that thinks a cat would suit Kanda? Just the things he eats is proof enough. The way he acts doesn't help much either."

Lenalee laughed and agreed. Lavi swore he was a dog person earning him a very skeptical look from Allen, because they would not be in the predicament they were in now if Kanda had indeed liked dogs...or animals in general. The three had eventually fallen into a steady stream of idle conversation. After some time had passed Lavi's curiosity got the best of him. "Where's Yuu by the way?"

Allen sighed and told the redhead the same thing he had told Lenalee previously. So when a voice not belonging to the three of them spoke, inquiring none too gently with a, "what the hell are you all doing here?" the three of them jumped and turned to see the man in question. Kanda had his hair in its usual impeccable ponytail and his skin was slightly flushed. Though the light sheen of sweat on his skin proved to be the reason, and not his anger.

"Oh Kanda. Welcome back." Allen was all smiles in counter of Kanda's grimace. "I mentioned Lenalee was coming to take Tim with her."

Kanda turned his attention to the only female in the room. "Are you taking him with you?"

The 'him' in question was meant to mean Allen, and the girl smiled ruefully at her eldest friend.

"You know how brother can be Kanda..."

"Yes. And?"

"Ah, Y-you Kanda." Kanda gave Allen a warning look because he knew that the white haired teen had almost called him by his first name. Though Allen played it off just as easily. "Where did you go? You were gone for a while."

"Che' How is that any of your damn business?" Kanda walked over to his fridge, saw Tim and gave him a look of disgust to which the dog pointedly seemed to ignore. Kanda extracted a bottled water from the fridge, downing half the contents before walking back to the entrance of the kitchen and announcing his next move. "I'm going to take a shower."

"Didn't you have one earlier?" Allen asked curiously and earned a glare from Kanda before the man left.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Lenalee wanted to know.

"Hmm?" Allen turned from the spot Kanda was last, and looked at the girl.

"Maybe Yuu had a little rendezvous to help him adjust." To the new living arrangements is what Lavi meant. Allen also knew what he meant by rendezvous and frowned at the man.

"Kanda wouldn't do that."

"Yuu is a man Al, my boy." Allen's frown deepened as Lavi's eyebrows wiggled suggestively.

"If Kanda did do that... Wouldn't it make sense to have a shower there?" Lenalee's face flushed a pretty pink as she spoke.

"Lenalee is right." Allen affirmed. "Kanda's a private person. Why would he come home to have a shower if that is what he did?"

"Well if he knew Lenalee was coming. Maybe he thought you'd hang out with her. He didn't expect me either right?" Lavi continued with his thought. At the point in time, he was just having a little fun at Kanda's expense but the thought disturbed Allen.

"Lavi." Lenalee warned. She wasn't in the mood to continue the particular line of gossip about her friend. "It's getting late Allen. So I should probably go. My phone has been constantly vibrating for the past half hour and I think I let brother worry enough."

"Ah. You're right..." Allen tried to shift gears and tune into the matter at hand. He bent and gave Timcanpy a big hug, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. "I'll miss you so much, Tim. I'll visit every chance I get."

"Allen." The aforementioned boy looked at the girl who called him. "Maybe you can join me when I take Timcanpy on walks. We could go to the park, and have breakfast too."

"That's an absolutely brilliant idea Lena. It's a date." Allen announced brightly and the flush in Lenalee's cheeks returned.

"Well then. I'll give you a call."

"I should get going too. Panda'll have my hide for skipping out on work time." Lavi chimed in and the two got up from their seats.

Allen's smile faltered when Tim looked up at him. He was sure it was one of the saddest things he had to do in his life. And tears sprung forth when he watched the three go out the door.

When all was said and done, Allen returned to the living room and saw Kanda enter as well. It was like deja vu with him standing before Allen, bare chested and hair wet. Allen frowned, wiping away the stray tears that clung to his lashes.

"Where'd you go Kanda?" Allen tried again.

The interrogation only served in annoying the older man, and his thought on the matter did not change. "It's none of your business."

"I'd like to think differently." Allen responded and hated the way his mind played into Lavi's earlier words. Kanda had a really bad personality more than half of the time, but his looks were beyond stellar and made up for it as long as he kept his mouth shut. He could get both guys and girls if he wanted. And then it hit him, before Kanda had the chance to speak again. Kanda didn't want anyone.

"What? You think what that baka usagi said was true." He meant the insinuation that Kanda was sleeping around, and Allen knew. "You're more of an idiot than I thought."

Allen expelled a heavy breath from his lungs and ran both hands through his hair. The feel of the gloves got to him and he pulled them off and threw them onto the couch. "I feel like an idiot."

"Tch."

"I'm sure you just went to train. It's what I mentioned to Lena as well."

"No shit." The two words served as proof that Kanda truly did go to a gym or dojo for training. Allen felt more of an idiot.

"Sorry Yuu." Kanda's eyes stayed narrowed but he didn't say anything. "I suppose what happened with Cross is finally getting to me."

"Everyone knew he was insane. You should've known better than anyone."

Allen chuckled. "Quite. I thought I knew better than to put anything pass Cross when it came to women, alcohol, and money. If it was one thing he did right, it was skipping town on a weekend. I don't have to worry about school for now. I also had my wallet, and electronics. Could've been awful."

Kanda had nothing more to say in the matter and Allen happily switched subjects. "So~ have we thought about sleeping arrangements?"

"I'm still ready to kick you out. Don't get comfortable."

"I'm tired. It's late. I think I'll take a raincheck on this discussion." Allen stated, waving his hand dismissively.

One of Kanda's elegantly shaped eyebrows quirked on his forehead as he watched Allen make his way to the bedroom. "I don't care if you're dying. If you try to get in my bed without a shower, I will physically throw you out on your ass."

He meant it too, if the look he gave Allen was any indication. The white haired teen pouted, he just wanted to lay down somewhere and sail off to dreamland. Maybe the couch wouldn't be a bad idea after all. Then again, Kanda's bed was really comfy. Allen found himself sighing again for the nth time that day. He would take the shower. It would relax him.

And so he did. Allen found himself stripped down to nothing but his birthday suit with a heavy stream of hot water beating down on his body. His disfigured arm braced against the wall to steady him. He took his right hand and ran it over the skin of his left shoulder blade. Despite the smooth skin caused by multiple graftings, Allen could still remember the bumps and ridges that had been there prior. He gripped his now blackened arm, the result of several tattoo sessions he'd began once he'd turned eighteen. He still had work to do at his shoulder, the sleeve -black at every available corner and surface- reached to his bicep. From there, the tattoo separated in ribbons of black ink, alternating between black and the pale white of his skin. Some of the only skin that hadn't been affected on the arm. The overall work was much improved from what it had been before.

Allen turned his head up to the water stream and let his face and hair suffer the onslaught. Several more minutes passed before Allen turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. He saw a fluffy white towel atop some clean clothes at the side of the sink counter. He quickly dried his body, slipping into a pair of boxers, and sweatshirt. He didn't really need the sweatpants.

With the towel draped over his damp hair, Allen brushed his teeth with a spare toothbrush, and existed the ensuite.

Kanda sat on the floor in his meditation pose. Allen only hoped the older man had started once Allen had first gone into the bathroom because it would be very tempting to annoy the man. As it turned out Allen simply flopped onto the bed, back first, and Kanda opened his eyes.

"Had some good alone time?" Allen teased.

"Yes. Then you showed up." Kanda grumbled before gracefully pulling back the covers and getting into the bed.

Allen used the large towel to ruffle his damp white hair a few times before getting up to hang it up in the bathroom. Quite honestly he would have liked to toss the thing onto the floor next to the bed but he'd rather avoid unnecessary arguments with Kanda.

He re-entered the bedroom and got under the covers with the older man, scooting close so that they shared their body heat. The warmth washed over him like a sudden wave and his body, already weary from the day, easily gave in as sleep tried to claim him. He began to close his eyes when he felt a hand slide down his backside and cup a cheek. Allen's eyes fluttered open as he swatted at the offending hand.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?"

"I told you the moment you step into this apartment, your ass is mine."

"For the love of-" Allen deterred another attempt on his virtue. "I just went through a traumatic experience."

"Not my problem."

Allen's face flushed red, and he shoved at Kanda's shoulder putting more space between the two. "I am not having sex with you."

Kanda ignored him, pulling the lithe body to his own and started trailing kisses along the teen's neck and collarbone. The boat neck of the sweatshirt giving him all the room he needed.

Allen's body began heating up as he squirmed in Kanda's grasp. He finally managed to get out of Kanda's grip after the umpteenth time and proceeded to whack the man atop his forehead. "Down, boy. Heel. Sit. Stay." And for good measure he whacked him again.

While Kanda tended to his bruise, a steady stream of curses escaping his lips, Allen scooted away and made sure that he was securely protected by the covers around them. He turned his back to Kanda and mumbled a quick, "goodnight."

Kanda grumbled to himself but his advances ceased, and he turned off the lights shrouding them in darkness.