Friend

Friend

Chapter 3

Found…

The water's cold but a small figure with untied black hair didn't care. His dirty black and white shirt and robe were sunk down in the clear liquid. Two hands gently squeezed the dirt off. Sapphire eyes looked silently down at a reflection of calm emotionless face. They glared back over the left shoulder and lips parted to sigh. The owner of the orange hair thought he didn't notice him watching?

A small rock was perfectly aimed and got the hiding one's forehead without missing. Whining was heard and only made the smirk get wider.

"Yu-chaaaannn…..That's hurt!!"

"That's the point. Stop staring at me. Your old man doesn't tech you that it's impolite to watch people taking a bath?"

The one eyed-patch boy gulped and looked guiltily at the naked one in the water. Yet, he still stared and hoped that the other would turn around. So, he could see a strange black tattoo on his left chest. Another rock snapped him out of his thought.

"I said 'Stop', you idiot!!" Now, the stared one couldn't stand it anymore and sank deeper. His blued eyes still stared back with threaten look.

"Urrgg…….But….But, I'm really curious."

"What!? Tell you first, I'm certainly a BOY!!" The pissed one threatened darkly. He's really afraid that stupid thoughts would get in that redhead.

"I already know that. It's a strange tattoo on your chest that I'm interesting. What's it?" He asked with innocent face but got angry and annoy look from the other.

"Leave-Me-Alone!! Why'd I tell you!? It's none of your business!!"

Ravi knew it's typical of this arrogant one but he still couldn't help to be disappointed. He had met him only a few days. So, this closed-up boy surely didn't tell. In this point, he understood as he didn't want to tell anyone about his patched eye either.

But still…., he's curious. It's not that he would get any benefit or advantage for exploring the secret. But, Kanda surely didn't believe him. He hadn't trusted him.

"Mou, I just want to know, that's all….."

And the short red haired Exorcist slid back and disappeared from the sight. He sat with arms wrapping around his legs. One hand grasped a small ice stick and drew reckless things. Though, the slippery ground was too hard to scratch, he didn't care.

Kanda nearly want to hit Ravi when he saw what he's doing. This idiot suddenly lost his mind?

"What the hell are you doing?" He couldn't help to ask.

"Just release some stress out of my mind."

"That's why I told you to get lost."

He said coldly more than he intended to but he didn't care. He knew what the other meant by that simple sentence. Who wouldn't be when they had to stay with harsh arrogant boy like him? But, that's their business, not him. This was what he's if this cheerful Exorcist couldn't stand it, then it's his problem. His good side didn't have for everyone and he wasn't sure that he ever could show it to anyone.

"Stop it; it's annoying. Go cool your head in that damn lake and relax."

Ravi seemed got a hidden massage. And, Kanda wanted him to clean himself from his own blood and wound, too. So, he gave small smile and nodded before he walked to do just that.

The silent arrogant one barely turned away just in time when the other suddenly stripped.

"Get some cover, moron!!"

"Why not? We're both male, right? So, there's anything we should hide from each other?" Ravi laughed with Kanda's faint red ears. He tried his best to say with innocent face but failed as playful mood was too much. "Don't tell me you never see any other naked boys before?"

"Shut up!!"

And, the young shy Exorcist sank deeper in the water. The hammer participle user couldn't help to silently chuckle and looked at the other amusingly. His friend's really cute and he's happy that he had a chance to see.

"Just get in the water already!!" 'Drown and don't ever resurface, again.' He darkly thought inside.

It took only five minutes and the heir of Bookman got up. Kanda's right. He's relaxed, felt fresh and comfortable. He pulled his pants on and walked to sit beside his friend whom had gotten off the water before him.

"Wow, you really get more wounds."

He eyed and counted how many place white and black cloth was wrapping around Kanda's body. After this mission, they surely had to ask Komui for new Exorcist officer robe.

"Don't waste time and bandage your wound, eyed-patch."

My, it's another unpleasant nickname. But, Ravi shrugged it off and started to do as told. He did know they had lost too much time for staying here. He started to worry that Akuma might found innocence or not.

"Ne, may I ask something?" The other just glared at him like saying 'Go ahead but I won't answer.'. But, it's necessary to know, so he asked, right away.

"Why didn't you get infected by Akuma's blood?"

"You're, right?" Kanda answered with his question. Ravi nodded and hoped that the other would tell him. Fortunately, Kanda also had the same thought.

"My Innocence is a bit different."

"So, your Innocence has something to do with your body? And, it involves your strange black tattoo on your left chest, right? But, your Innocence's the same type as mine."

Kanda had to admit that Ravi wasn't stupid as he called him. He didn't have to say anything more when this boy already said almost everything out. He didn't want this redhead knew anything more than that, after all.

The other seemed noticed and didn't ask anything further. And, it's good he knew when to stop, Kanda thought.

--

This was strange, the young long black hair Exorcist thought. He flicked his hand and called his small black flying ball with two batted wings back.

"Hey, eyed-patch, found anything, yet?"

He asked while walking along the ice narrow path that he had found a minute ago. The other's silent a few seconds before a pout voice was heard from the flying tool.

Yu tewa….Call my name, will ya….?

"Then, stop calling my given name and maybe I'll call you better."

But, it's your name.

"Stop fooling around and answer my question, idiot."

Shi, you're no fun. Nope, I haven't found anything more than this cold boring Ice.

"Then, get your Golem tracking mine and come to me. I found something unnatural."

Innocence?

"Don't know, yet. It's just suddenly warm here."

Warm? Okay, I'm on my way.

And, communication's ended. The should-staying-put-and-waiting one walked without caring that the other would found him or not. Well, if he couldn't, he better dumped his tear-shaped Golem and found a new one. Besides, if they could contact each other, that meant Ravi wasn't too far from him.

It's warmer as he stepped nearer a small hole. It's small but big enough to get through. He wondered why temperature didn't affect the ice.

It's not surprised when three 1 level Akumas suddenly appeared in front of him. His face twisted annoying when they floated near the hole.

"Stay away from it..." Kanda just said absently and charged at the nearest monster. "First Illusion, Kaichu Ichigen!!"

The white monster worms with red eyes shot right through it before he slashed it head to toe. It's good that 1 level had small brain and thought only killing human. So, he didn't have to worry that one of them would take Innocence away while he's fighting.

"You're too slow, eyed-path!!"

Though, a black Golem's behind a big rock was quite far away but Kanda still could hear Ravi's voice from it. He cursed annoyingly when his wounds opened, again. He automatically putted one hand on his stomach while blocking a barrel of Akuma's gun with his Innocence. He hissed with the pain but didn't step back.

'Where the hell is that Bastard!!'

As if answering him, a familiar black and white hammer shot passed his shoulder from behind. He narrowly side-stepped the Akuma and let his friend handled it while he got the other. The hammer Exorcist seemed to get his silent massage and took his place.

It's good that this circle space was wide had high ceiling. He smirked with the truth and jumped in the air while pressing hammer firmly on the Akuma.

"Man!!"

The Innocence extended in huge size and destroyed it by its width. The young Exorcist smirked with his victory and stood proudly on his weapon. He'd laugh crazily like the great king winning his war if he didn't have his partner to worry about. All of his playful thought disappeared when he heard a cry of pain.

'What's it now!?' "Yu!!"

He jumped and dropped beside his friend who groaned and covered his eyes with one hand while the other tried to support himself on the wall.

"What's wrong, Yu?"

The future Bookman asked but he didn't have time to get an answer when he's roughly pushed away. His eyes widened with disgusted green liquid. It melting the place he had just stood.

"That damn creature suddenly has an ability of creating acid!? Hell!"

And unpleasant curse went on. Kanda didn't have to guess how his co-worker's pissed, right now. He shifted blindly near some rock and took it as a cover. From crashing, booming, yelling and splash of liquid on the ground, Ravi surely released his anger on that monster. But, he knew he still wasn't safe for staying around here.

"Shit!"

Kanda cursed when his hand found only hard surface. So, everything near him was dead end or it's just very big wall that he didn't know where the end was. And, this damn pain on his eyes just got worse.

He felt something wet sliding down along his burn cheek. It's his blood, that damn acid or whatever from the insides, he didn't know. While his body could be healed from nearly everything, he doubted that it could create a new set of eyes.

He suddenly stopped thinking and jumped away from another splash of acid. It wasn't hard to dodge a few shots and block something with his Mugen. At least, he still had good trained hearing for saving his life.

But, he wasn't fast enough for uncountable lashes that quickly wrapped around his body. He heard only his friend's voice and evil laugh.

"Let him go!!"

Didn't have to tell who shouted that, right? He really wanted or snapped the redhead to do something more than shouting but the monster didn't let him. One of its lashes squeezed his neck nearly breathlessly. He couldn't wait anymore.

With a flick of hand, he cut nearest lash and the others and attacked Akuma with Kaichu Ichigen. He heard a cry of pain and exploration, so it meant Ravi finally finished the monster off.

"Why didn't you do it sooner?" He groaned and tried to push the redhead's arms off. He didn't want his help now and never.

"I was trapped in that damn tentacles, too, ya know? Your worm insects just gave me a small chance."

"At least, you could do something..." Kanda trailed in annoyed tone.

'What do you think? Damn, that monster's too fast and I had to use both eyes for catching its speed.' Ravi thought silently while covering his secret eye, again.

"Innocence?" The blind Exorcist asked seriously.

"Um...Where's it?"

"It's around here. Go get it."

"How did you tell?"

"Chi, whatever?"

He's irritated and didn't want to repeat his words. Here's the next generation of Bookman? Where's his brain gone, so he didn't have anything to recognize.

"Oh, yeah."

The heir of Bookman said cheaply and held his partner up in his arms. He brought him to sit against the wall.

"My, you're very light..." The redhead was surprised a bit. "Okay, be a good boy and wait here. I'll be right back...no, I better bring you with me..."

He changed his mind. It might still have more Akumas in the cave, somewhere. But, the tip of sharp blade and dangerous threat stopped him from touching the injured one, again.

"Touch me and die. I can walk perfectly fine by myself."

"But, you..."

"They'll heal..." The arrogant Exorcist said sharply, wiped the wet liquid off his face and stood up. He kept his katana away and walked off. The other came and tried to convince him.

"But, it has to use sometime. So, let me..."

He stopped when he saw how perfect his friend walked after they had slid out of the hold. Kanda stepped firmly without missing or slipping anything. His hand was on the wall and helped guiding him. His face was emotionless like his body's painless. How? The hammer compatible user could only look curiously at this injured Exorcist.

"How did you do it? Doesn't it hurt?"

"Do what?" 'It's hurt like hell but it's just a little pain. They'll heal.'

"Walking like...like you're not blind."

"It's no different from my hearing training. Now, shut up and leave me alone." Kanda said annoyingly. The pain was eating his patience. 'Always keep listening and bewaring with everything all around and everything will be fine.' That's what his master said.

"Mou, c'mon..."

"Damare!"

It took only a few minutes and they finally reach the place Kanda thought it's. Ravi's happy voice proved that and he shouted it out loud. The hyperactive kid even described the place without being asked. It's a wide circle space. The ground was ice. There's no sunlight, water or even soil. Yet, green rich grass perfectly grew all around with beautiful blossomed flowers.

"It has to be Innocence. Let's go get it!"

Ravi shouted when he saw a small light in the middle of the huge tree. But, they couldn't go near it since the temperature was too high. The hot wind nearly pushed them off of their feet.

"Easy for you to say! We can't even get near it. Don't you have any seal that control the wind or this hell temperature?!"

"Hn? Oh, well, I completely forget about that...Alright, stand back."

Kanda cursed inside and couldn't believe that this stupid head could forget something like that. It's the power of his own Innocence for the god's sake!! But, that smile and laugh proved that he really did. Maybe, this kid never knew about it, at all? Then, why he said he forgot?

"Moku Ban! Tenchi Bankai!!"

A big light shot up from the ground. The storm and high temperature suddenly disappeared. There's no single sound around them. When the warm of body beside Kanda disappeared, he knew that Ravi went to get Innocence.

"It's high but it's no problem…..." That meant Innocence was out of his reach, Kanda thought silently.

"Yu-chan, come here! It's very beautiful!!" The future Bookman called after he jumped down on the ground.

"Put it inside."

Kanda said evenly and ignored the fact that the other forgot his blindness. Ravi quickly caught his words and laughed cheaply while putting Innocence in Kanda's small glassed-box.

"C'mon, Yu-chan! Let's clean your eyes and bandage them, so they can heal faster!!" Ravi said enthusiastically and dragged his silent friend to the small lake.

"I said I could perfectly walk alone!!"

Kanda said irritatingly but his mind was focusing with the new strange place while sitting. The holy gift from God really did the unexpected things, sometime. But, no matter what it could do, it's still acceptable since an impossible thing even happened to him.

"Hey! Stop it!" He unconsciously yelled and hit a hand and something wet away. He let the other drag him but it's just that.

"C'mon, stay still."

The other free hand still firmly gripped his face. A thump gently rubbed the awkward boy's cheek for calming him down. Blindness really got him and he retreated further in his closed mind. He's nervous and paranoid with everything around him.

"I'll just clean your face and look how bad your eyes are, OK?" 'He has to feel very unsaved and uncomfortable.' Ravi thought. "So, just stay still, ne?" It took nearly a minute before the silent one finally nodded.

Kanda just waited and pushed the pain away. He just hoped that inhuman healing could repair his ruined eyes. Though, blindness wasn't his big problem, it's still good to have the eyes for seeing the world.

"I think Innocence immerged in that tree for protecting this place. Maybe, it's the wish of the tree itself?"

"It doesn't matter. Mission's completed."

"Yeah..."

He's very worried for the silent one. It's really horrible to look when there weren't eyeballs to see. They already were gone with that acid. He didn't dare to tell and quickly wrapped another torn black cloth around Kanda's head and covered the eyelids.

"What time is it, now?" Ravi tried to lift the mood up by changing the subject.

"Why would you care..." The silent Exorcist trailed his words lazily. He started to feel asleep and exhausted. He needed time to rest and his body needed it to heal.

"It'd be a few days and I'm really hungry. You ain't?" The future Bookman asked with small hope. This swordboy's really light like he's no weight.

"And, what would you eat?" He knew there're trees, grass and flowers but they're uneatable.

"Fish?"

"Whatever. I'm going to sleep."

The black long haired kid said just that and dropped lying on his side. Ravi looked disappoint at his friend. But, he smiled and couldn't help to mock him a bit.

"So, 'lil baby Exorcist just takes a good sleep for growing up well, ne?" He pat on the black head but his hand was only roughly hit away.

"Leave me alone!"

Kanda's completely out in dreamless land after his last words. Ravi smiled, shrugged and walked away. He rolled the end of his pants up and stepped in the water. The point tip of his hammer was ready to catch some fish.

--

Translation

Damare – Shut up

Mou – Disappointed groaning