Hello dearies!
As I mentioned before, I am officially back into the fandpm. And yesss! This is an update, after almost two years. :") I hope many of you are still with me. :D
Okay so about this chapter. I suppose this is a "development" chapter? This will have Lenalee-Kanda backstory, and Lavi is getting more screen time. Be warned though, that this chapter contain shifting tenses (I use past tense in flashbacks and present tense in current timeline) and also switching POV, as I need to explore more from other characters as well. I hope this will still be enjoyable nonetheless. :)
Special thanks to Harmony283 for beta-reading this and brainstorming with me.
P.S. Because someone pointed out to me via review. If anyone ever wondered about the research Allen randomly stumbled upon in the Part 3's 'Secret' story, where it said 'women cannot keep secret', it is it's an actual study commissioned by Michael Cox, UK Director of Wines of Chile, to mark Chile's National Day in 2009. You can find it if you google "women can't keep secret longer than 47 hours". It was a stupid study, yes, but don't we all at some point stumble upon something weird in the internet and then end up reading it anyway? Yeah, that was what happened to Allen, too.
Well, enjoy the chapter!
.
.
.
THE WALK
.part 4.
.Young.
Lenalee first met Kanda during her first year of high school. Being of Asian descent, she wasn't the tallest of the kids, and her lithe, delicate built gave off a fragile impression.
But she was pretty and smart and she had this sweet, sweet smile.
The boys had noticed that, though Lenalee herself never paid attention to such looks and whispers. Having a pampering, sister-complex for a big brother, Lenalee thought the stares the boys were giving her as nothing.
The girls noticed, however, and they did not like it.
They started mildly enough. Just hiding her books or pencils, occassionally throwing small things at her when she wasn't looking. It got worse faster than she could blink, and before she knew it, most of the girls in her year were shunning her.
In the third week of her being ignored, the boys started to divert their eyes. Started to think it was embarassing to think Lenalee Lee was cute, because she was the enemy of the girls.
Entering the sixth week, no one would even speak to her.
She started eating alone during lunch break, choosing to hide on the rooftop or the empty science room or sometimes, just the corner of her classroom. Thankfully, Komui always cooked her lunch, so she did not have to go to the cafeteria and met those hatefull gazes and mocking whispers. But she couldn't completely escape even at her hiding places.
It was on the ninth week that she couldn't hold it in any longer.
There was an old, big tree in the school's backyard. Rumors had it that the tree was haunted, so few people dared to actually be around. Located at almost the very back of the garden, the tree was surrounded with bushes and tall grass. Took an effort to actually reached the place. But Lenalee was desperate enough to seek solace to venture into that 'sacred' teritory.
The big tree grew on a small hill made by uneven ground. Lenalee sat down and leaned against the trunk and opened her lunchbox. From where she was seated, she could see the other kids from afar. She could see them laughing and playing and just talking to each other, yet she was so far she could barely hear them over the sound of rustling leaves.
It felt so peaceful and yet so, so...
Alone.
And before she knew it, her shoulders were shaking and she started sniffling and she had to put down her lunchbox to avoid making a mess and—
And she just felt so alone.
"Oi, that's my spot."
Lenalee's hand froze in the middle of wiping her tears away and looked up to find another Asian—boy, right? The posture and voice suggested that he was a boy, but his face was so pretty he could be mistaken as a girl, if one did not see the sharp jawline.
"That's my spot. My place. If you're done crying, could you leave?" the boy asked again.
"O-oh I'm sorry I didn't know—I just... I just..." Lenalee quickly wiped her tears away and moved to pick her lunchbox, but then—"I don't... have anywhere else... to go..."
And it hit her right then. That she had no place in this school. That she was so lonely and her tears started spilling again despite herself and another bout of sniffling was coming and—
"Okay, okay, stop crying—tch." The boy searched his pants pocket hastily and produced a handkerchief while muttering about 'the old man' and 'crybabies' and 'another kid he would have to deal with'.
Nonetheless, he offered the handkerchief and Lenalee took it, wiped her tears, and then blew her nose on it.
She only looked up when the ponytailed boy dropped himself not too far beside her and grumpily started biting into his sandwich.
"Umm," she started after feeling calm enough. "I'm so sorry. I'll wash the handkerchief and return it tomorrow."
"S'fine," the boy replied in-between chews. His brows were knitted and his general expression just looked angry.
Lenalee lowered her head, not knowing what to do. She was scared of this boy, yes, but—
"Aren't you going to eat your lunch?" he asked when she did not move and Lenalee turned to him, eyes widening by a fraction.
"I... can?"
She was replied with a frown. "Of course, it's yours. Why do you even ask?"
"No, I mean... I can eat here?"
At that, the pretty boy clucked his tongue softly and went to threw his gaze to the front. "Didn't you say you have nowhere else to go?"
Lenalee's eyes started to water again, and the boy just looked at her, sighed, and reached out a hand to thumb her tears away. "Stop crying already."
Heat rose to her cheeks jus as the boy pulled away. "I'm sorry to bother you," she said.
He simply snorted. "I'm used to crybabies like you. There's one at home."
"Oh? A younger sister?"
The pretty boy looked like he tried so hard to swallow his food and not laugh. "No. Just the kid next door. A boy."
Lenalee couldn't help but smile a little. "You don't look like the type who likes kids."
"I don't. I'm just stuck with him. Somewhat."
Despite his words, Lenalee could see his eyes softened and that tiny almost-smile on his lips. Which, in turn, put a smile on her own face.
Later that day, she learned the boy's name. Yuu Kanda, a second year.
The next day, Lenalee came back to eat lunch under that big tree again, waiting for Kanda so she could return the handkerchief.
Kanda said nothing when she came for lunch the day after, and then the next day, and the following day. Two weeks later, Lavi started joining them—practically latching himself onto Kanda and refusing to leave even with all the threats Kanda threw at him—and Lenalee's school days just got all that much brighter.
It was about a month later that things started to change for her. She was walking down the corridor trying to not listen to a group of girl badmouthing her just a few feet away—and then they suddenly stopped. It was then that Lenalee noticed Kanda walking from the opposite direction while glaring at the girls behind her. He stopped next to Lenalee, gave the girls a good, long, degrading look, before putting a hand on top of Lenalee's head and told the girls, "Shut your rotten mouths, you all are just polluting the air."
That day, Lenalee found out that Kanda was highly popular among the students—especially the girls, and that getting on his bad side was something no one wanted to achieve. That day, it was known by the whole student population that Lenalee Lee was a friend of Yuu Kanda and therefore not one to be messed with.
That day, something grew in Lenalee's chest for Kanda.
Then, the next academic year rolled around and Kanda introduced her to Allen Walker who just enrolled as a freshman. It didn't take long for Lenalee to notice that Allen was Kanda's 'crybaby from next door'.
.
.
.
.Teacher.
Allen's house is more often than not empty, as Cross is barely home for a long period of time. Thus, this little group of four has somehow agreed to make the house their base camp. Besides, it's the only place Kanda is actually willing to spend a lot of time in after school, due to his antisocial nature—or really, he's just lazy, Allen thinks.
Right now there are only the three of them in Cross' living room: Allen, Lenalee, and Lavi, who in his free time would kindly and gladly tutor the two, especially nearing exams period like now. Kanda had to go home first and helped Tiedoll with something, but he is only next door, so they made him promise to come later.
"See, here's how you solve the equation," Lavi's hand danced across the paper with such ease, reminding the two that this clown of the group is actually the smartest of them all.
Lenalee nods her head and lets out small 'ooh's and 'aah's in understanding every time Lavi shows her the easy way to solve a math problem.
They are sitting to next each other on the carpet, making it easy for Allen who sits across them at the low coffee table in his living room, to observe. Lavi's voice, Allen notices, is a little different whenever he talks to Lenalee. Like now, his tone is lower than usual and a little hushed. The kind of voice one would use around a lover—Allen is pretty sure Lavi doesn't realize he's doing this. The guy rarely slips. It must be because Kanda isn't around and Allen himself is pretty much forgotten by this point.
He feels like an intruder in his own house. So Allen excused himself to his room, saying he needs to change his clothes and wear something warmer and ask a would you like some hot tea?
When he returns, wearing a black loose knitted cardigan and carrying a tray of jasmine tea, Allen had to pause in the doorway.
Apparently, Lavi just said something funny to Lenalee and made her laugh, and boy they are so close why can't Lena just fall in love with Lavi? It would be easier for her.
Then again, with Lavi, things could be unexpectedly complicated.
.
.
.
.Two.
"I swear that old man is only making me do stuff to annoy me." Kanda stepped into the living room about an hour later, wearing that cream, oversized and fluffy sweater Tiedoll bought them for Christmas last year. He didn't even knock, let alone say hello. Then again, Allen is used to it.
He feels the need to point it out anyway, just for the hell of it. "I believe you should at least knock when entering someone's house, BaKanda."
Kanda's hair, now left untied and still a little wet, swished lightly when he turned his head to glare half-heartedly in Allen's direction. "Shut up, bean sprout. The door was unlocked, so why do I have to knock?"
"In case you didn't know, there's such thing called 'common courtesy'."
"Oh, you dorks," Lavi cuts in. Allen is glad Lavi's voice is normal now. "You bicker like some old married couple."
"Shut up, Lavi," both Allen and Kanda chorused, which only adds to the redhead's amusement.
Kanda unceremoniously drops himself on the cozy leather couch behind Allen with a huff, fiddling with his cream sweater and making himself comfortable while ignoring the way his leg is poking Allen's head and shoulder—and the boy's protests—in the process.
Allen simply rolls his eyes and returns to his homework. He doesn't need to offer drinks to Kanda—the jerk knows his way around this house.
And—that's when Allen notices Lenalee stealing glances. Of course, Allen thinks. Must be his hair. Kanda rarely ever lets his hair down. While Allen is no stranger to such a view, it is rare for the other two in their group to see Kanda so—relaxed.
Lenalee is ogling, and Lavi is watching Lenalee ogling at Kanda and Allen wants to bash his head against the table—
"Hey Allen," Lenalee snaps him out of that train of thought.
Looking up, he finds her looking intensely at him—or his clothes, to be precise—before moving her gaze to Kanda's lounging form on the couch. And back at him again. "Umm, yeah?" Allen asks tentatively.
"Your sweater… it looks really similar to Kanda's," she tries to laugh, but Allen notices the strange tone in her voice.
Kanda, though, is as oblivious as ever. "My old man got that for the bean for his birthday. Christmas," he answers for Allen, all the while fiddling with his phone on the couch. "Bought me the same thing, too. I don't know why he got the black one, though."
"Oh geez, you're still bitter about it?" Allen rolls his eyes. "Mr. Tiedoll already told us the black one was only available in my size."
"Pfft—" Lavi bursts out laughing a few seconds later. "That is so precious. Almost like, what, Couple Sweaters?" he snickers.
Allen nearly chokes on his own saliva from Lavi's comment. His eyes immediately focus on Lenalee's face. She is smiling, but Allen knows all too well that that is not a genuine smile. He tries to amend the situation. "More like brothers." he retorts finally.
Behind him, Kanda snorts unhelpfully.
.
.
.
.Kind.
Allen is generally unhappy after receiving a call from Cross. This is usually marked by stress lines forming between his eyebrows, pouting lips, and low grumbles after the phone call is disconnected.
However, this time is an exception. It's rare, and the probability of Cross ever calling to bring some good news is still incredibly low, but it does happen. Sometimes.
"Cross said Anita is coming," Allen tells the whole room when they all look at him, questions hanging in the air.
"Who is Anita? She has a pretty name," Lavi grins.
Allen tilts his head, seemingly considering his answer for a moment. But it's not like Lenalee and Lavi don't already know he was fostered by Cross. "She helped take care of me before—when Cross had just taken me in and had to go back and forth to take care of the administration and prepare a house for us to live in. And she helped us settle in here…"
Kanda's brain suddenly recalls a very vague memory of a black-haired woman he had seen from his front yard when he was a child. That was from before Cross had properly introduced himself and Allen to his family, if he was not mistaken.
"Even after we moved, they kept in touch. But this is going to be the first time she visits us here," Allen goes on with a tone so fond it gets Kanda to stare at him with a raised eyebrow and a barely disguised curiosity. "She's a very beautiful and kind lady, I still can't believe she is acquainted with Cross."
"Is she your first love or something?" Kanda asks without thinking, unaware of the curious glance Lenalee throws at him.
Allen blinks at Kanda and then he laughs. "What? No, nothing like that… I mean, I do admire her, but it's more like… how do you put it…"
"What?" Kanda prompts, and the small group note how Kanda is showing a great deal of interest, coming from him. Even if he's trying not to show it.
Allen hums softly, trying to find the right sentence to describe Anita, and then a bulb lights up in his head. He throws a fond smile at Kanda as he replies, "She's probably the closest to a mother I've ever had."
.
.
.
. Shadow.
The exam week is generally disliked by most students. Except ones like Lavi, who could write his answers in his sleep and still get a perfect score—it comes with many, many dirty looks from his peers, though. Including from Allen, who is now giving Lavi a pout.
It is the last day of exams, and while most of them rejoice for no more damned tests, there is also this fear of not doing well enough. Well, Allen is pretty sure he would at least pass, but Cross could be a bitch when he doesn't at least get a B. At times like this, he's somewhat jealous of Lavi—he never sees Lavi studies and yet look at his grades!
"Aww come on, Allen, don't pout at me or I might want to kiss ya!" Lavi ruffles Allen's hair, making the latter's eyebrows furrow a little deeper.
"Shut up, Lavi. I'm currently mad at you."
"Ouch! I'm hurt!" Lavi fakes a painful expression while clutching at his chest, and Allen is trying to fight a smile.
From where they are standing in the school lobby, they catch sight of Lenalee walking down the corridor, wearing a forlorn expression. When she notices them, her lips form a weak smile.
"I don't think I did good enough." Lenalee sighs as soon as she is close enough with the other two.
Lenalee is grade-conscious. Having a scientist for a brother probably does that to her. Even though Komui doesn't look it most of the time, he is a brilliant scientist in the robotics field—if he actually tries instead of messing around creating weird, malfunctioning robots just for fun. Lenalee herself is smarter than most of her year, but she wouldn't be satisfied if she is not at least on the top three—thus putting unnecessary pressure on herself.
"I'm sure you did just fine, Lenalee," Allen says amiably, giving the girl a pat on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm sure you are, don't worry to much," Lavi smiles at her and—that is. All.
That is when Allen realizes something. While Lavi is generally touchy-feely, he never so much as giving Lenalee a friendly pat on the shoulder... does he? Why is that?
It doesn't match up... with what Allen perceives as how Lavi feels about Lenalee.
"Hey, why don't we all—"
"Oi," Lavi's words were cut short when Kanda suddenly appears from behind Lenalee, raising an eyebrow at the rather heavy atmosphere. He looks at Lavi, then turns to Allen—and when Allen's eyes shift to Lenalee, Kanda finally notices her dispirited posture. "What is it?"
Allen could swear Lenalee's cheeks are pinking now. He immediately glances at Lavi, trying to find a reaction, but—he just watches them. Lavi simply watches even as Lenalee spills her worries, watches as Kanda clucks his tongue softly and tells her not to worry about it and asks her if she wants to drop by somewhere on their way home.
Lenalee's eyes light up. Lavi's subtly dim. Allen doesn't miss any of it and he wonders how Kanda can be so. Dense.
"You two are coming, right?" Kanda addresses both Allen and Lavi.
Whatever it was that was in Lavi's eye mere seconds ago has disappeared, Allen notes, as Lavi puts on a smile and says, "S'ry, would love to but gramps wanted me back early today."
Why is he lying? Allen's mind screams. Wasn't Lavi about to suggest all of them going somewhere before Kanda came?
So now why—
"Oi, Sprout. Let's go." Kanda tilts his head.
Allen steals a glance at Lavi, then at Lenalee's half-expectant-half-worried look, and puts on a smile much similar to Lavi's as he replies, "Sorry, I have to go home soon, too. I told you Anita is visiting, right? I should prepare her room or Cross would bitch at me again."
Kanda frowns at him but says nothing.
The four of them walk together to the school gate before splitting up—and both Lavi and Allen watch as Lenalee walks up to Kanda's side. Allen watches as their backs disappear down an intersection, then he glances up at Lavi.
Lavi's mask slips. Allen opens his mouth, and—
"Don't ask, Al."
Allen's mouth snaps shut.
Lavi's tone is—different. He's still smiling, but his voice is so cold Allen can almost feel the chill down his spine.
So Allen keeps silent, even as he sees the shadow on Lavi's now somber expression.
.
- t b c -
.
A/N: I'd like to know what you think of this, pretty please? :3
Do drop me a word if you are reading this. Thank you! :)