Chapter 1
Kanda leaned back in the sole chair of the bedroom he had been allotted while he stayed in Yulia City. The room was small but cozy, full of neutral shades and gray tones. It reminded him somewhat of the rooms back at the Exorcist Headquarters, the only difference being that there were things to brighten it up. Wall hangings served their purpose, bringing color to the walls, as soft red and brown tones filled the curtains, bed comforter, and the large rug that covered the floor. Even Kanda's Exorcist coat that hung from a coat rack near the door seemed to add to the room's décor.
After the earlier bickering about where he had come from and how he got there, Tear, who was not the only one getting fed up with their speaking in circles, decided that they should figure out what to do with him now that he was here. This had irked Kanda. He didn't like having no control of what he did, but rather than start a fight with an enemy of unknown fighting ability and with unknown resources, he had let them continue on with the tiny hope that they would become allies and help him figure out a way home. He really didn't like having to rely on other people but considering his situation, there wasn't much else to be done about it. They had decided for the time being that he would stay in Yulia City with them, under guard, until they returned to the Outer Lands where someone else may know more to help him. The entire situation was all very frustrating. He growled, shifting in the chair once more. At least they hadn't taken his sword. He couldn't take the chance that there were no akuma here, wherever 'here' was. Someone in the group had just made sure to alert the guards to the fact that the person they were watching over was armed; his bet was on Tear, the long haired woman. She had seemed uncomfortable around him, more so than the rest anyway. In any case, he wasn't being held prisoner quite yet.
Kanda leaned his head back and gave an internal sigh. Sitting there and thinking was getting him nowhere. He got up and put his coat back on; dinner was going to be served in a little while and he was expected to join them to be introduced to the leader of the city. Feeling something in his pocket, Kanda pulled out his wireless golem. Turning it on, he tried to get a connection but there was no signal. Frowning, he placed the small machine back into his pocket as he buckled Mugen to his side and glanced down at his uniform. Not knowing how long he would be staying in this place, he realized he would need to make some additions to his wardrobe. Between fighting, training, and simple everyday hygiene, he would require at least a couple more sets of clothes. He would have to ask about that at dinner. At the Order, he had never had to worry about things like that. He just tossed out the battle ruined clothes and sent an order for new ones. The least the Order could do was clothe their warriors.
Already mourning the absence of soba that he was sure he would encounter, Kanda walked out of the room, passing the guards stationed there, and down the hall to the large, formal dining room he had been shown to earlier. Kanda's eyes instantly locked onto the brunette male sitting at the table, searching for anything to be wary of. Sensing nothing, Kanda turned his eyes to the rest of the room, noting exits as well as taking stock of the people in it. He found that the women, Tear and Natalia, were already seated, as well as an elderly man that Kanda assumed was the leader he was supposed to meet. Tear and Jade seemed unarmed, not that that counted for much given his knowledge of Innocence and its ability to materialize or change size or shape, but he saw that Natalia had her bow and quiver hung over the corner of her chair in quick reach; at least they couldn't badger him about Mugen. The elderly man saw him and spoke.
"Ah. You must be the newcomer. Welcome to Yulia City," he said with a smile. "Why don't you come join us and sit down," he encouraged, offering Kanda a seat at the table.
Kanda nodded and sat down at Tear's right side, across the table from Natalia and Jade with a respectful 'thank you' to the man. He could feel the others watching him. After a moment Jade asked, "How are you finding your accommodations?"
"It's a room like any other. Should I be expecting something other than a bed?" Kanda stated. He was used to whatever room he got, if he got any at all. Traveling across the world was not always kind.
"I see." Jade absorbed the information, adding it to his growing picture of Kanda. He wondered what kind of traveling life the man before him was used to for him to be expecting so little in the way of accommodations.
Looking slightly nervous about taking her eyes off of him, Tear turned to Jade. "Where are Luke and Guy?" she asked. He shrugged.
"They should be here in a moment." At that the two walked into the room. "Speak of the devils."
"Hey guys. Sorry we're late." Guy strode into the room and planted himself on Kanda's right. Luke sat beside Natalia, to the right of the elderly man who claimed the head of the table. Kanda noted that they, too, kept their weapons on them. He wondered if things were so dangerous here that they needed them all the time and if they were any good with them. Before he could analyze the thought any further, Tear spoke.
"Kanda, this man is my grandfather, Mayor Teodoro, the leader of our great Yulia City. Grandfather, this is the man we told you about earlier. He appeared in the conference room and couldn't explain where he came from aside from the fact that he was in a country called England. His name is Kanda Yuu. So far he does not appear to have any knowledge of Auldrant." The older man stared at Kanda as everyone else watched. If it was anyone but Kanda, he may have been intimidated or squirmed under that gaze. But being Kanda, he just stared back, also making his own assessment.
"Hmm. I see. Well, unless you do something to offend myself or my people, you are welcome here."
"Thank you."
"Grandfather, I don't suppose you have ever heard of the Black Order?"
"No I haven't. Why?"
"It's the organization that Kanda says he is from."
"Ah. No, I have not heard of it. For now, let's eat." The meal was served. Kanda, having no say in what they ate, tolerated their hospitality and tried to ignore the fact that they didn't serve the only food he found worth eating. It seemed to be some elaborate meat dish covered in a brown sauce and surrounded with a variety of vegetables. Kanda eyed the plate before him suspiciously, but ate a few bites to be polite. The meal seemed to relax everyone for the most part, enough that the conversations began to flow one after another. Kanda mostly kept to himself, muttering or grunting a comment here or there but mostly keeping tacit. Finally, the talk turned towards him out of curiosity. It wasn't nearly as bad as the interrogation he had suffered upon his arrival. It seemed that the group in front of him just wanted to know more about him, granted, they were still wary of the fact that they didn't know who he was.
"Kanda, what is it like where you come from?" Natalia asked. Surprised to be directly addressed, Kanda looked up from his meal. Nothing, he thought as he happily ignored the still half empty plate, would ever be better than properly made soba.
"Why do you want to know?"
"What were the people like? Where do your people stand politically? Maybe knowing things like that can help us help you."
Kanda took a moment to think about what the classy, short haired girl had asked. Rather than just quipping with a snappy comeback like he was prone to do, he might be able to figure out a way to a place that he knew. Deep green hair and violet eyes floated in his mind for a moment before he mentally cringed and a frown reserved just for a specific redheaded Exorcist appeared on his forehead as Kanda thought of him as well. "Well, the people that I work with are all a bunch of infuriating, over emotional saps." He responded, picturing a particular Allen-shaped bean sprout as well as all the finders. "They're too nice for their own good and some even have problems with martyrdom. Even so, they're all very tough people. Annoying as hell, but when it comes down to it, they put everything into what needs to be done." If any of them repeated a single word of what he had just said, he would murder them in their sleep, and he made sure to tell them, accompanying it with his best glare. Natalia, Tear, Guy, Luke, and even the old man all froze in their seats, apparently having never witnessed a threat the caliber that Kanda's eyes alone could produce. Jade, unshakeable as always, stored the information away for later. Blackmail maybe? "Politically we stand wherever the church stands seeing as we work for them."
"Wait. You work for the church?" Tear asked interestedly, shaking off her ice shell. Kanda nodded. "Tell me about your church," she demanded, thinking to see if it resembled the Oracle Knights at all.
"I work for them. Doesn't mean I know much about them. I definitely don't believe in God if that's what you're asking."
"Then what do you believe in?"
"Che. That's none of your business. It has nothing to do with getting me home." Kanda turned his head sharply to the side and refused to answer. The group, as it was, was unaware that Kanda had already peacefully spoken enough for a lifetime. He did not like to deal with idiots and the questions they were asking were becoming unnecessary. Kanda sighed. This was why he hadn't wanted to be on the Ark. He could have been far away fighting akuma or searching for Innocence. But what happened? He ended up doing reconnaissance in some interdimensional city and found a door that disappeared so he couldn't go back. Why couldn't anything even remotely relating to the bean sprout ever turn out right?
~~~~break~~~~
Allen Walker, Miranda Lotto, Noise Marie and Lenalee Lee were all gathered in the Chief Supervisor's office. Komui had pulled their exploration of the Ark a few hours ago when one of the Exorcists didn't report in as scheduled. What's more, when the others were sent to retrieve him, they could find nothing explaining his disappearance. Kanda Yuu was missing from the Ark. Komui leaned on the front of his desk, a wrinkle on his brow symbolizing deep thought. Lenalee and Miranda sat on the couch displaying various levels of distress. Luckily, Miranda had yet to go on a self pity and lack of self worth rant. She just sat there wringing her hands on her lap. Allen and Marie stood to the side in silence as well.
Allen was worried. Before Kanda had gone missing, he had felt a door being opened somewhere on the Ark. That should not have happened. Allen, being the fourteenth and the musician, should be the only one who could make connections with the Ark and anyplace else. Kanda's disappearance definitely worried him. Especially since Marie mentioned when he stopped being able to hear Mugen's song and the timing matched up perfectly. He decided to talk to Komui about it later in private.
"Well you can all go back to your rooms until I figure out what to do about this. And if you think of anything that may be able to help, don't hesitate to let me know," Komui said to those who filled his office. Nodding in acknowledgement, they filed out. He had been rather surprised to find out that Allen had no knowledge of what had happened to Kanda. He had expected that he would have had some inkling since he was using the 14th's powers. This was one more worrisome thing to worry about, both for Allen and the Ark.
Rather than go back to his room, Allen headed towards the cafeteria to satiate the nagging beast in his gut. He would talk to Komui after he had eaten. He had managed to suppress it while in the office because of his worry, but now that there was nothing he could do to direct that focus, all those rumbles fought for his attention. He walked up to Jerry, the chef who was ever willing to put a plug in the black hole situated somewhere around where Allen's stomach should be, and asked for the usual. After receiving an order that most people could not carry, much less eat, Allen situated himself at an abandoned table, spreading his meal around him while keeping it all within easy reach. About halfway through devouring his mountain of food, Allen heard a familiar voice.
"Hey Moyashi-kun, good to see ya! Just got back from my mission and I'm starving. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
Lavi, the ever energetic, redheaded Bookman's apprentice, made his way through the cafeteria to join him. Allen smiled around his mouthful of food and put down his fork to wave at the older boy. Lavi plopped himself down in the seat across from Allen as the white haired boy swallowed.
"Welcome home Lavi. How did your mission go? Did you find the Innocence?"
"Yup! No problem. It just took a little longer than planned because it was hard to get to."
"Well I'm glad that you made it back without too many injuries."
"So what's been going on around here without me to keep you all on your feet?" the redhead asked, hungrily eyeing a plate of the younger boy's food. Allen glared back fiercely, making Lavi look away hastily, before his face gained a mask of concern.
"Actually, there were a few of us who weren't on missions so we were sent to investigate areas of the Ark. We were just called off. Kanda went missing."
"What?" Lavi sat straight up in his seat.
"He just disappeared. No one knows where he went; though I did get the feeling that an Ark door was opened somewhere, but that shouldn't be possible for anyone but me. Komui is trying to gather more information."
"Is there anything I can do ta help? I can't believe Yuu-chan just got lost." For a moment, Lavi pictured a frustrated Yuu-chan wandering the inner workings of the Ark, searching for the way out while brandishing Mugen, before shaking his head and concentrating on worrying.
"I don't know if there is much we can do right now. It's probably best to wait and see what Komui finds out." Allen sighed. He rubbed the side of his head. For a while now, there had been this humming noise that he had been hearing. It wasn't unpleasant, just different. It wasn't distracting at all either; it just gave Allen the feeling that there was something left undone, something he was forgetting. Lavi leaned over Allen, a frown forming.
"Are you okay?" he asked. Allen smiled and nodded at him. Lavi sat back down at the table resting his head on his palm, watching the younger boy. "Well, at least wherever Yuu-chan is, he's probably kicking butt and glaring into oblivion anyone who crosses his path."
~~~~break~~~~
Kanda wished, oh how he wished, that he could whip out Mugen and start kicking some serious brunette ass. Having realized that they really didn't have the extra guard to keep Kanda under constant surveillance, the group decided that one of them would stay with him. And who did Kanda get roped into staying with? None other than the Colonel, Jade Curtiss; the man whose innards Kanda would happily view right now if it meant he would shut the hell up and leave him alone. It seemed to have taken no time at all to figure out what made the Japanese man tick.
"It's not as if this is the worst situation. You could be sleeping on the bed with me. Remember that you chose this option," the Colonel said calmly. He would have never shared the bed willingly but he only offered because he knew the strange man would say no.
"If it was my choice I would not be sharing a room with you." True, he had chosen to sleep on the floor over sharing a bed with the other man, but that wasn't really what was bothering the samurai. He wouldn't be able to get any rest at all with a potential threat in the room. Even if he had his own room, there would still be a threat from all the strange fighters around him, but at least he wouldn't be sleeping right next to it. And it seemed that just about everything -scratch that, absolutely everything- that came out of Jade's mouth managed to piss Kanda off. And of course he could do nothing about it. He had brandished Mugen once and was almost attacked by everyone before they realized it was only a warning threat. Unfortunately, it didn't have the desired affect and he was made a promise by the rest of them that if he did it again he would be locked up and his beloved sword taken.
"Whatever." Kanda sat with his back to the wall and one knee bent, his sword at his side. Should an attack come, he was in the best position to reciprocate. Jade watched the long-haired man for a while before smirking and shrugging.
"Don't get mad at me if you're sore in the morning." Kanda's eye twitched but he ignored the older man's comment. It didn't matter that much anyway because Kanda didn't plan on falling asleep first. He would let the Colonel have that courtesy, then situate himself however he saw fit. "Suit yourself," Jade said before turning of the main light and sitting up on top of the covers of the bed, pulling a book off of the night stand. The brunette sat back comfortably, reading by the soft lamplight, while Kanda, realizing it would be a while before Jade went to bed, rearranged himself so that he could meditate.
~~~~break~~~~
Hours later Jade realized that Kanda was not planning on going to sleep before him. This posed a slight problem since that, too, was his plan. The meditative pose had caused the Colonel to believe that the foreign man was asleep at one point, but the sudden, intentional shifting in position at random intervals proved him wrong. Jade simply did not think that the Japanese man would be able to stay up that long; though looking back at his observations about the man, it seemed to be a rather contradictory thought. After all, he had noticed the exotic man's strong and well maintained build that could only be due to rigorous training and intense discipline. Surely a man like that had mastered mind over matter. Either way, Jade was not ready to leave himself as unguarded as sleep would leave him with this stranger. Turning the page in his book, the Colonel settled in for a long night.
~~~~break~~~~
A/N: Hey all, I realized that there was something that I didn't mention in the first chapter. This fic WILL eventually become a yaoi pairing, so if that's not something that you're into, you can stop now. However, this pairing won't really be coming together for a while since I'm one of those subtle writers that likes to take my time building to things. Even so, it may not be very intense as I've never really written scenes like that before. I just thought I should put that out there now so as not to surprise people later. And PLEASE review. As a first time fanfic writer, a lot of my confidence in this comes through reviews. It also helps me take direction with the story.
