DISCLAIMER: Gosh knows what I'll do if I owe them…


0500-On the way to the training fields

Lavi woke up from the sound of Krory's loud snoring and Kanda's sleep-threats. When he tried going back to sleep, who but General Cross comes in with a long whip in his hand and a loudspeaker on the other.

"WAKE UP, YOU MAGGOTS! WE'RE STARTING YOUR TRAINING IN T-MINUS 2 MINUTES!"

In a flash, the gang woke up from their good night's sleep and ran to the training field. Apparently, the training General Cross had in mind had something to do with carrying a 100kg camping bag (with rifle!) across the dense forest… And back… After the jungle trekking came obstacle course. Which includes climbing a goddamn high rope with nothing to support you if you fall and crawling through mud and soft ground. There was no break, for General Cross went full throttle on them. The sun was already at its peak, showing no mercy to the poor Privates that were currently basking underneath its wrath. Lavi was drained of his energy when General Cross dismissed them for lunch. Signs of relief were heard and Lavi quickly took Kanda by the arm and lead him to the cafeteria.

After taking their order of food and settling down, the gang gobbled up their lunch like there was no tomorrow. During their heavenly lunch, Captain Lenalee (under the ever watchful hawkeyed Colonel Komui, her older brother) brought her food and sat down opposite Lavi. After an awkward silence, Lavi introduced himself to the random captain and the gang immediately warmed up to her as well. But they made sure they stayed away from coming in contact with her; rumors have it that the last guy who attempted that had to be removed after a metallic safe 'coincidently' fell on his head… Then something caught Lavi's eye: The West table filled with older soldiers.

5 veteran soldiers, including Colonel Komui and General Cross, were seated and were eating their lunch peacefully. But something was off: There wasn't anyone sitting around them, like they had some sort of invisible barrier around them that outsiders couldn't go through. Also, Lavi could feel the magical aura around them; whoever they are, they had a high authority and powerful magical rate that makes you want to just puke when going so close to them. That shows how heavy their magic is. And from what Lavi has learnt, the more powerful the mage is, the heavier and pressurized the atmosphere around them is. Lenalee followed Lavi's sight and gave him a lift of her eyebrows. Lavi brought himself back and asked the amused captain,

"Who are they? I can feel their magic from here!" Lavi's statement attracted the gang's attention and they looked for Lenalee for answers to satisfy their curiosity.

"The one sitting at the side is General Cross, as you all know. The one sitting beside him, the beautiful blonde woman with the monkey on her shoulder is General Klaud Nine. She was a beast master before becoming a General, so you boys better watch out, cuz she knows her stuff! Next to her is General Winters Socalo. He's the meanest, toughest and scariest General around, so good luck if you're under him during training, because he's known to be an all-round sadist when it comes down to business! Opposite General Winters is my brother, Colonel Komui, the goofiest of the bunch. I have absolutely have no idea how he became a colonel, but there he is. The one sitting beside my brother, the one reading a book is General Froi. He's the oldest and most experienced among the Generals, but he's more of a peacemaker instead of a fighter. You should already know this, Kanda; you're his adopted son after all," commented Lenalee, which earned her a grunt from the said adopted son of General Froi.

"Which totals up to 4 generals, a captain and a colonel, right?" asked Reever.

A shadow of a smile appeared on the captain's face that only Lavi's fast photographic memory could detect. Lenalee was about to answer when the cafeteria doors opened and Private Allen comes walking by, face obviously looking for something. Lavi saw the private and his mind went straight back to last night. His score… His score broke the record as easy as that! Who is he? Allen walked over to the enthusiastic chef, Jerry and asked him something that Lavi couldn't hear.

"Hey, Allen! Come here!" Shouted Lenalee, which brought Allen and also everyone else in the cafeteria's attention. Allen heaved a sigh and strode towards the gang. The General's table didn't lift their heads, already used to the noise the younger ones always make.

"Hullo, Captain Lenalee. Hullo, Lavi," said the polite private to his cheerful captain and wondering mate.

"What are you looking for, Allen?"

"I'm looking for Timcampy, have you seen him anywhere?" enquired Allen.

A shook of the head was Allen's only reply. Aside from the confused etched looks that came from the others of the table.

"Timcampy is a golden golem, belonging to me. He was a gift. He always like flying about and wonders around the academy," explained Allen.

"Where were you last night, Allen?" asked Lavi, beginning to get more and more suspicious about Allen's behavior. "You weren't in today's training also,"

Allen took about a second to recoil, and then composed an innocent smile on his face.

"I was injured and was kept under observation in the infirmary all night. This morning, my injury still wasn't healed enough yet, so I had to skip training. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find Timcampy before he gets eaten by some wondering cat," said Allen, taking his leave.

Lavi watched as the mysterious Private walked away and never once looked back. Just like he did before… What was Allen hiding? Lavi could swear that it was him who broke the shooting record as easy as snapping a twig, but here he was, denying that fact. Was it really him? It was dark, so he couldn't see clearly. But that same pure white hair is easy to distinguish, even in the murky night. On the other hand, it could be just an illusion, a trick of the mind. Yeah… Thinking back, that Private couldn't even defend himself over some bullies, so he couldn't be the one who was shooting in the middle of the night….

"Lavi!" snapped Lenalee into his ear, breaking his concentration.

"What?"

"I've been trying to call you for 2 minutes now! Is your head in the clouds?" a sign of realization dawned on Lenalee's face and she gave a mischievous grin, "Or does somebody have a C.R.U.S.H. on the Private with white hair?"

"N-No, I do not!" Lavi felt his face turned bright red over the statement, and turned away, not making eye contact with anyone in the table. Lenalee laughed gleefully, like she had just checkmated her opponent and the said opponent didn't know it yet.

"But Lavi, I didn't say it was you~~" sang the devil in disguise as his captain.

Then for sure Lavi felt his face turned brighter red, knowing he'd been cornered. There was no way I'm having a silly crush on him! Allen had just met him yesterday, so there was no way a crush could've developed in such a short time! He was just curious, and suspicious. I mean, come on, who wouldn't be if he was in my position? But Lavi couldn't deny the fact that all of his thoughts in these 2 days revolved around Allen.

"But you should forget about him, Lavi. You don't have a chance," stated Lenalee to her musing Private.

"Huh, and why is that, oh mighty and wise Captain?" banged Lavi, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Captain Lenalee only shook her head, as if she never wanted to say those next words for as long as she lived. Her voice was bitter with what Lavi could only recognize as disgust, "I mean, you don't stand a chance with Allen. He's already taken,"

1500 Hours- General Klaud's History Classroom

Lavi couldn't think straight. When Lenalee had spoken those last words, Lavi's mouth hung open. Taken? Taken by whom? Lenalee wouldn't answer, showing her stubborn face. All she said was that the guy was not worth her time and that the guy better take care of Allen properly or she'll go after him with a jackhammer and a chainsaw. Again, Lavi didn't concentrate on his current reality, and was called out for punishment from the seriously strict General Klaud. He didn't care when the General preached to him about the importance of being alert and didn't bat an eyelash as the said general ordered him to clean the bunkers as punishment for his blurriness. All his thoughts were running away with Allen. Why should I care if Allen was taken? He's nothing to me, so why is this news disturbing to me? Who is he to me? Surely just a friend, right? No, not even a friend, close to a comrade…. So why does my heart ache like this?

2317 Hours- Bunkers

Lavi had just finished cleaning the bunkers and was very sleepy. He knew that there was training tomorrow and that he should go back to the dorms and gather his strength, but his body wouldn't obey him, growing more and more heavier every second. He fell asleep right there and then. In his dream, he felt strong arms circling around him, lifting him up and carrying him to soft and comfortable ground that seems eager to swallow him up…..

A few days later, 0900 hours-Main Hall

"It is my displeasure to announce that we will have the annual dinner together with the Noah Military Academy tonight, and you idiots are all invited. So you better behave or you'll wake up tomorrow morning tied upside-down with the climbing rope, wearing nothing at all!" Shouted General Cross to the soldiers across.

1900 Hours- South Hall

The night was still young when the Noahs came by. Everyone was dressed to impress; the men in grand tuxedoes and the ladies in breath-takingly beautiful dresses. Lenelee, in her dark green dress, hung out with Lavi and Kanda throughout the night.

"Do you see the plump man with that eerie smile on his face? The one talking to General Cross over there?" whispered Lanalee. The men accompanying her looked over to her direction.

"That's their Grand General Earl. He's the strongest and most powerful among the Noahs. Some say he could go head-to-head with General Cross himself!"

Then Lenalee went on introducing them to some of her girl friends (to Kanda's disgust). Lavi was distracted when his eyes fell on Allen. The Private looked dashing in his dark blue tuxedo. He was busy looking at a large painted picture hung on the wall. For some reason, my heart rate's beating faster….

Without taking his eyes off him, afraid that he might lose sight of him if he had taken his sight somewhere else, he strode towards the white-haired Private. Halfway there, Lavi stopped his tracks when he saw another man, who appeared out of nowhere, hugged Allen from behind. Lavi's shock double-fold, no, triple-fold when he saw the newcomer kissed Allen on the lips. Lavi's legs couldn't move as they were rooted to the ground. He felt his heart turned to stone as he watched the man deepened his kiss on the private. A touch on the shoulder brought Lavi back to the present.

Lenalee had her eyes on the couple too, but unlike Lavi's face of shock and surprise, hers was a face of pure hatred and suspicion. What she said next gripped Lavi's heart of stone coldly.

"That's General Tyki Mikk from the Noah Military Academy. And he's Allen's lover,"


Erhem, thank you veeery much for taking your time reading my story! Many thanks and kisses (sorry, I'm hug-a-phobic!) to cookie-club, sammi117, FullmetalFan16, silverXshadow, Anon Novelist, NeaThe14th, White Guardian, kitsune630, Synk, CandyCayne, jessyvaga, Myterymew, bunnylov, RhiannonWolf, SoulEaterEvansFan and GeliiAce for your loooooving support! You fellows make me go highhighhighhighhigh!