Spiral

Chapter 4

Rated M: For my piece of mind.

Chapter Warning: A bit of language, but mostly a bit of violence and seeming OOC-ness (though I did warn this is A/U)

Disclaimer: I still don't have a hope in hell of ever owning D . Gray -Man.

Sorry no beta on this, so please forgive (or point out) the errors.

As always this chapter is going out to my friends M . Nikolai (first story is up go and read it people it's a 'Fullmetal Alchemist' one, it's good and worth the read) and Shizuhana (she has tons and they're good and also definitely worth the read) and my new friend whisperypath (as always, I love the support and many thanks for the "ghostly aura of good luck"). You guys are the greatest! I hope that this story is still going well so far, in your opinions, and that this chapter doesn't disappoint.

oOoOo

Previously…

Demonstrating the one true advantage that big cities had over smaller ones she gave a slight frown but nodded her agreement and told him to talk to her son inside. Kanda nodded his thanks and headed inside to look up the address he needed, all the while silently thanking whatever god was listening for the fact that as long as you looked like you belonged people in big cities were too concerned with themselves to look further than their own noses.

oOoOo

Having gotten the needed address Kanda wasted no time in leaving the store and crossing the street to get back to where Allen was still patiently waiting.

"So, did you get it?" Allen asked as Kanda rejoined him on the bench.

Kanda snorted in amusement, "of course, like there was any doubt that I would."

Allen could only smile in agreement of Kanda's skills, his belief and faith in Kanda absolute.

"The only problem is that we're far enough away from it that by the time that we do get there they might have already locked their doors for the night."

"So you're saying that the real question is do we head over there now and try to beat their closing time or do we just try to find a safe place for the night and head over there for breakfast?"

"I'm saying that we should hurry and head over there now but also keep an eye out for possible places to stay in case we don't make it in time." Having said that Kanda stood and hoisted one of the bags that had been previously lying at their feet then extended a hand to help Allen up, waiting as he grab the last bag.

Deciding on speed rather than obscurity they stayed on the main streets as they headed north as quickly as they could without drawing undue attention to themselves. Kanda's eyes never slowed as he took in the sights and alleyways around him, while Allen did his best to keep up without running into the few people that were still on the street with them.

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When they arrived they discover that their speed was for naught as the doors were firmly shut.

"Did you see any places to stay Kanda," Allen hated to disturb Kanda's fuming but he knew that he wasn't paying enough attention as they were traveling and he didn't like the feeling that standing there in the open was giving him.

"A few that might work," Kanda said irritably as he glared at the doors. He was annoyed not just because they had missed a place of relative safety to sleep but because they had also narrowed down on the chances of getting easy access to food for the morning. It was first come first serve until the food was gone and they couldn't stay close enough to the shelter to ensure that they would get there before the food ran out.

"Come on, we can't keep standing here." Turning around Kanda headed back in the direction they had just come from.

While he was gritting his teeth Kanda was trying to balance the thoughts of the best place to settle for the night against the best place to find something to eat before morning.

Logically the best place to eat would be around the same area as the shop he'd gotten the phonebook from, all those shops around pretty much ensured some kind of food in the dumpsters. But the shops were too far from the places to sleep that he'd spotted on the way to the shelter, as well as being too far from the shelter itself.

Staying there all but ensured that they would not get to the shelter in time for breakfast but the places he'd seen to settle in didn't look like they were in areas that would contain a lot of food. That left the big question of could they risk going another night without food.

Looking at Allen he was even more torn in his decision. Allen looked pale and cold and he easily remembered how thin he was without the baggy shirt on, he needed food but he also needed rest. As Kanda opened his mouth to ask Allen which he needed most the decision was momentarily lost when a high pitched scream cut through the night.

oOoOo

Allen's eyes widened in surprise at the noise and he stopped moving while Kanda swiveled his head to determine the direction and to discover if there was any danger to them. Determining the direction to be the opposite side of the alley to his left and that there were no sounds of pursuit coming for them, Kanda dismissed the noise as just a mugging but decided to get himself and Allen out of the area just in case.

As he started off in their original direction he got only a few steps before noticing that Allen had not followed him. Looking back he could only sigh when he saw Allen glancing between the alley and his face.

"We can stop and help everybody," Kanda didn't like sounding that cold but it was simply the truth. Like everybody else in the world his only goals were to keep himself, and Allen, safe not go around rescuing everybody who had a little trouble.

"But, she sounds like she really needs help. What if…what if they're trying to…" Allen couldn't finish the sentence but his eyes were haunted with the memories of what had almost happened to him. Kanda could easily see the look and the slight tremors that shook his body again and he knew that regardless of his personal beliefs he was stuck helping whoever it was that had screamed.

Grabbing Allen and pushing him to the dubious safety of a storefront awning he gestured for him to stay there and hide in its shadow, then set off at a quick but quiet pace around the corner and into the alley itself. Sticking tightly to the shadows as he tried to discern what exactly was happening before deciding on a course of action.

Drawing closer he could now hear the sharp sound of hard impacts on flesh. If the sounds were any indication of the act he was thinking of Kanda was doubly thankful that Allen wasn't with him.

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'Tonight was so boring. There were no serious prospects from that party. I hope nobody minds me going back on my own, maybe there are a few customers at home.' A somewhat short but slim and shapely woman wearing an almost indecently short black skirt and a close to see-through purple mid-riff blouse set off at a fast pace in a Southern direction to get to her "home" swinging a small purse as she swayed her hips in a dance that only she heard the music to.

She moved with a seductive ease and an air of confidence that few could master and yet it came so natural to her that she was able to pull it off without thought. The few people still out with her watched as she glided past, some with envy but most with lust. Used to the looks she paid no attention to them, in her mind unless they showed true interest and flashed a little cash they simply weren't worth acknowledging so instead she focused her mind on thinking of what to do if there were no customers at the house.

'Hmmm, I guess I could ask to go out to a different party. If it's slow then maybe I'll go to a movie; I wonder if he'd agree to join me? Probably not, he's always got work.'

She was about two blocks from home when she saw the bright hair and even brighter shirt of the one she was just thinking about.

'Honestly, who wears that shade of green? He looks like he's radioactive.' She thought fondly as he started to turn her direction and she raised her arm to wave to him. The surprise on his face melted into his usual wide grin and he was raising his arm to wave back to her when a person she had previous ignored emerged from the shadows behind her, grabbed her by the waist and arm and proceeded to pull her into the alley on their right side.

The instant the figure made a grab for her the male she was greeting lost his grin and sprang into action, starting to run quickly towards her so that by the time she was thrown into the alley he was already approaching its entrance.

"Give me the money you stupid little slut," the man was pudgy and about average height yet easily towered over her as he raised his fist and struck her shoulder, though overweight he still had quite a bit of strength behind his punch and its power knocked the breath from her briefly as she collided with the wall.

As he raised his arm for another hit he was suddenly hit by the body of the man that had followed them, their combined weight throwing them into the wall next beside her as she scrambled to get out of the way. The would-be attacker proved to be quicker than he looked when he twisted as they landed and was already bringing his knee up to the others mid-section before he could gain his full footing.

While the attempted rescuer was doubled over the attacker locked his hands together and brought them down on the back of his shoulders with his full strength. When he collapsed the man continued to strike him and the female seeing her friend in such danger did the only thing she could think of, letting loose the loudest scream she could muster.

That worked for and against her, as someone did hear her scream and was indeed on their way to help but it also irritated the assailant and he reached his left hand up, grabbed her neck and in an attempt to quiet her pushed her into the wall again knocking her out. Noticing that she was no longer a concern he turned his now undivided attention, and fists, back to the other who had started to once again struggle to get back on his feet.

oOoOo

The sight that greeted Kanda was, in many ways, a relief. The scene now easily identifying that the sounds of the assault were of the more mundane variety. Despite looking to be unconscious the female looked to be in fairly good condition but the individual on the ground looked to be in need of a little aid.

'What I wouldn't give to have that branch again,' Kanda thought wryly as he did a quick glance to see if there was anything lying around that he could use as a weapon.

Not spotting anything bigger than a beer can and seeing that the male on the ground was still willing to fight he decided to just try an attack from behind and give the other a chance to get to his feet and help in their rescue.

The assailant must have been concentrating too hard on the person in front of him as he gave no indication of hearing Kanda's charging footsteps but the one on the ground seemed to hear him just fine as he suddenly drew his feet and hands underneath himself to launch the attacker into a better position for Kanda's tackle.

The move worked perfectly as the man's own weight helped to throw him off balance and Kanda hit him hard from behind, barely missing the girl and throwing him face-first into the wall. The one on the ground quickly recovered and was on his feet next to Kanda in an instant. Knowing the fight had nothing more to do with him, Kanda was content to back-off and observe the other while he did what he felt was necessary.

The man was lean and looked to be around the same height as Kanda with an unusually spiky hairstyle though the hair color was currently indeterminable, Kanda could only say that it was lighter than his own and dark than Allen's. While watching the man's moves Kanda could tell that this individual knew how to hold his own in a fight. Leading Kanda to wonder how he had gotten in the position he did.

When he was done gathering information from the male, Kanda turned his gaze on the female. She had short dark hair and seeing that she was still slumped on the ground it was hard to accurately gauge her height; his impression was that she was shorter than him though if he had to guess he'd say that she was probably only a little taller than Allen. Watching her as her friend pummeled her attacker he could see that she was now shivering, though whether from the cold, as she not dressed in the warmest of clothing, or from something else he couldn't say.

Sensing more than hearing that the final blow was coming Kanda turned back and watched as the spiky-haired male drew his leg back and gave a vicious kick to the other's stomach. Whether winded by the blow or finally unconscious the man fell silent and ceased his struggles. By the tension in man's shoulders Kanda could guess how hard it was to stop at that attack.

oOoOo

Shadows still seemed to cling to his face as the male turned to face him, judging it seemed to see if Kanda was a new threat or an unlikely ally. Kanda made sure that his face stayed neutral as he gave the other a similar look, after all it wouldn't be the first time someone had tried to repay him by trying to rob him.

The male must have seen something he liked as his eyes lost their suspicious glare and a slight grin graced his lips before he turned his full attention back to the female. Kneeling beside her he did a quick check and some of the tension eased out of his shoulders as he picked her up and stood, cradling her in his arms.

Turning back to Kanda the other had a wider grin on his face and finally spoke, "thanks man, I really owe you one."

Kanda merely gave a quick nod of his head before shifting his weight to his right leg as a way of letting the other know that he was preparing to leave.

"Hey, where are you going? I've got to repay you somehow."

"No thanks," Kanda kept his answer a short as possible, wishing that he'd take the hint and leave himself. Kanda hated the fact that Allen was still unprotected on his own but he didn't want to lead the man to him either.

"What do you mean 'No thanks', I've got to give you something for helping out."

"I meant what I said, I don't need anything from you," Kanda now let his irritation show through as he practically growled out his answer.

That reply was obviously not what the other male was expecting if the stunned silence was anything to go by. However, Kanda's stomach decided to state its objection at this point and as there was so little noise it was easily heard by the other.

"Well, it sounds like you could at least do with some food," he spoke with obvious humor.

Kanda despised how elated the other seemed to be at this revelation.

"Come with me and I'll get you some great things to eat!"

"No, I told you. I don't need your help," Kanda mentally cursed himself for helping out as he now fought to not just run away from this persistent man.

"Maybe you don't but I'll bet that someone else does," the other finally lost his smile as he stared Kanda in the eye.

Kanda was now not only cursing himself but mentally kicking himself as well; knowing that the other must have picked up on his body language and now knew that Kanda had a weak spot.

"Look, I know that you don't trust me and you don't have to but I do owe you and I promise not to do anything that could endanger you or your friend. I can give you a meal and a safe place to eat it and before you turn me down again you should consider your friends well-being."

The seriousness of the others voice gave Kanda pause, they could use the help but there was still the question of safety.

"Who are you anyway?" Kanda decided to buy time as he tried to read more of the others body language and motives.

"I'm Lavi and this," he nodded toward the girl he was holding, "is Lena."

"You seem to be able to fight well, how did the guy get the drop on you?"

"I wasn't expecting someone that bulky to move that fast," Lavi seemed duly embarrassed by his admission.

Kanda could tell that the answers were sincere but it only made him leerier in trusting the other, Kanda knew how to fight and could possible take him but if he were outnumbered or if the other got a hold of Allen the fight would be lost.

"What were you guys doing here?" Kanda asked in a bid to buy time while he debated.

"Well, I was running out for some cigarettes and saw her get snatched. I'm not quite sure what she was doing here. She and a couple of other girls were supposed to be at a party." The other seemed to understand the ploy but answered promptly and honestly to try and set Kanda's mind at ease.

"Party?"

"Well, yes. You see we work at an exclusive little enterprise that provides company for the lonely."

"You mean you're prostitutes?" Now Kanda was definitely set against going with them, he and Allen may not have the best life but it was better than being caught and kept as a sex slave.

"No we're not prostitutes. Well, not all of us," Lavi amended sheepishly. "The people there are more like arm candy; you know show up at an opening event with some hot little thing hanging on your arm. Some are dancers and go to big business parties to provide a distraction from work but we're a respectable place of business."

"And what about the rest of you?"

"Well, some go above and beyond the normal service for a little extra money but that practice is frowned upon by the bosses."

"Bosses?"

"Yeah, there are three owners of our business. They work their hardest to ensure that the work environment is safe and that the employees are happy and healthy," Lavi confirmed with pride.

"And what do you do?" Kanda had caught that he had yet to speak of his job.

"I'm one of the bodyguards!" Pride definitely swelled through his voice.

Kanda could tell that he was still standing tensely and the other could probably read his uncertainty but he was torn between the decision to stay on his course with Allen or try and trust this virtual stranger at least long enough to get some food.

"So what do you say?" Lavi finally asked, breaking the long silence between the two.

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A/N: Isn't nature grand? I had this ready to post and on the day I was going to we got hit with a blizzard (apparently a first for our state). The storm wasn't really all that bad but it did take out my internet for the day, being bored I reread the work I had done on this chapter previously and decided that the last paragraphs just didn't flow that well so I sat down and rewrote them. I'm still unsure how well it works now but I think that it is a definite improvement from the way it was. Sorry about the delay, I'll try and get the next up quicker.