Lavi reached his hand towards the doorknob, only for the door to open before him. He blinked at the person before him. "Gramps-OWWWWWW!"
His mentor had directed a flying kick at him, sending him flying to the grass outside. Lavi winced as he got up from the ground, shouting incredulously, "What the hell was that for, Bookman?!"
The one who called himself Bookman scoffed. He turned away. "Nothing. I was just testing your reflexes." He said. "You have poor reflexes, stupid apprentice."
Lavi glared at the old man, "Of course! You just- kicked me out of nowhere!" He spluttered. "I didn't even know you were back!"
"That is no excuse. A bookman must always be alert."
"I'm not a bookman! You're Bookman!"
"You're my apprentice." Bookman said simply. He turned. "By the way, your room is a mess. What's with all those balls of paper on the floor?" He said in annoyance. "Shame on you, Lavi! Can't you even keep your own room tidy while I'm away? And you call yourself my apprentice."
"You were the one who decided I was your apprentice!" Lavi yelled. He sighed and picked himself up off the ground. "Yeah yeah, I was making plans…"
"Plans?" Bookman asked as they walked into the house.
"Uh," Lavi said awkwardly. Plans to court his girlfriend wasn't exactly something he wanted to talk to the old geezer about. "You know, plans…" he trailed off.
"What plans? Be specific, Lavi!" Bookman said. "Bookmen must always be specific and focused." He nodded.
"Alright." Lavi said, thinking. "Hey Gramps…if I tell you, will you do something for me?"
"What is it?"
"Buy me a car!" Bookman blinked. "Or a motorbike! I just need a –vehicle! Badly! You're a writer, so we have enough money, right?!"
"…What is with this sudden request?" Bookman said.
"Well," Lavi scratched his messy red hair nervously. "You know, I have a girlfriend-"
"No."
"What?! But I haven't even said anything!"
"I will not buy you something so expensive just so you can impress some girl," Bookman coughed as Lavi opened his mouth. He held out a hand. "I've told you before. Relationships are fruitless. When will you get that into your head, Junior?" He said in annoyance.
"But- she's not just some girl! She's Yuu!" Bookman stared. "You know, Kanda Yuu! My- childhood friend! The girl I've liked for ages!"
"Kanda Yuu?" Bookman said in surprise.
"Yeah!"
"He's a girl?"
"Huh?" Lavi blinked. Then he remembered that Bookman probably didn't know. "Uh yeah, Yuu's a girl, I didn't know first either- but anyway!" He leaned forward, staring at Bookman pleadingly. "Yuu's my girlfriend-"
"Kanda Yuu is your girlfriend." Bookman deadpanned.
"Yeah-hey, what's with that look?! You don't believe me?!"
"No," Bookman coughed. "I just, find it surprising." He said dryly. "That Kanda would agree to become your girlfriend."
"I know! I know I'm not worthy enough for Yuu- which is why I need to impress her, damn it!"
"I don't think Kanda is the type who can be impressed upon." Bookman said. "Unless you spar with him-uh, her."
"What? I'm dating Yuu, not fighting her!" Lavi said. He sighed, raising a hand. "Anyway, where was I? Yuu's my girlfriend and I'm gonna court her next week, so I need a personal vehicle!"
"Why would you need to court Kanda if she is your girlfriend already?"
Lavi flushed as Bookman stared at him curiously. "Uh, because I'm a lousy boyfriend?" He pouted. "Well because- I suck at relationships and Yuu and I aren't as close as we should be- and I have to do, something!" He said determinedly. "Anyway, I told Yuu and she agreed!"
"Kanda agreed to let you court her."
"Yeah-hey stop using that disbelieving tone, you stupid panda-AHHHHHHHHH! SORRY, I'M SORRY!"
Bookman huffed and released his grip, and Lavi dropped to his knees on the floor, grimacing in pain as he clutched his arm. "Damn it, what are you trying to do, break my arm?!"
"Learn to be more respectful, Lavi." Bookman said. He nodded. "It was an automatic reaction anyway."
"WHAT KIND OF AUTOMATIC REACTION IS LIKE THAT?!"
Bookman coughed discreetly, looking away. Then he stared at Lavi with a serious gaze. "How serious are you about this, Lavi?"
"Eh?"
"How serious are you about Kanda Yuu?"
"I love her." Lavi said, returning Bookman's serious stare with his one green eye. He clenched his fist. "I-this person I am- Lavi Junior- he's in love with Kanda Yuu. And he'll always be."
Bookman stared at him. "Even if you have always thought relations with other humans are useless?"
"Relations with other humans are useless." Lavi said almost stoically. "A relationship with Kanda Yuu is not." He said. "I do not do things that are useless. I do things with a purpose."
"Junior."
"I am in love. I'm in love with Kanda Yuu." Lavi said, looking up at Bookman. He stood up fluidly from the floor, green eye gazing down at his mentor. "It is a feeling I cannot get rid of, even if I wanted to."
"You are sure, Junior."
"Yes. I am sure, Bookman."
Bookman sighed. "I do not have the right to stop you, the way you are now," he said, a tired tone to his voice. "If I had known, I would have never asked you to…" he cleared his throat. "Nevermind. Junior."
"What is it, Bookman?"
"If I assist you with your…relationship, will you promise me one thing?"
"Anything, if it is within my ability."
Bookman looked at his apprentice. Then he turned and walked to the window. He placed a wrinkled hand on the window pane. "There is a war coming."
"War?" Lavi frowned.
"Yes. A war."
"Impossible. War will not reach this country," Lavi paused. "Not in these times of peace."
"Not in this country." Bookman agreed. He raised his gaze. "I will not be the one fighting the war." He murmured. "I am getting too old."
"You have not aged since I first saw you." Lavi said, bringing forth the image in his mind. "And, you are too old to fight a war, wherever it is." He looked out the window.
Bookman and his acclaimed apprentice stared out at the scenery for a while, before Bookman drew his hand away and turned. "Junior. I will assist you with your relationship with Kanda Yuu." He nodded. "As for the promise, I will extract it from you at a later date."
Lavi blinked. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Do you really mean that?"
"Don't make me change my mind."
"Ah! Don't! Please don't!" Lavi said quickly, already grinning widely. "Gramps! THAAAAANNNKK YOUUUUUU-OWWWW!"
"Do not touch me," Bookman coughed in an embarrassed manner, retracting his elbow from Lavi's stomach. He turned away. "I will not allow my old bones to be crushed by your teenage antics."
"Owww…" Lavi whimpered, clutching his stomach. "Well, excuse me for wanting to show my gratitude!" He said petulantly. "Geez." Why did the people around him not like hugs?
"I will make arrangements for you to have a personal vehicle," Bookman said, looking at Lavi. "You will also receive an increase to your allowance."
"However, you must promise to do what I ask of you when the time comes."
"Anything! Anything at all-"
"I am serious, Junior."
"I know. You never joke." Lavi said wryly, tone turning more serious as well. "I will. I promise, Bookman."
Bookman nodded.
"Good."
Lavi blinked, then grinned. "Then, I'm going to my room now!" He said, turning with a wave. "Later, Gramps! And thanks!" He smiled sheepishly. "I didn't really think you'd agree to help, but I'm glad! Rest assured that I'll definitely do whatever you want me to do!" He winked.
Bookman watched as Lavi practically skipped up the steps. Moments later, there was a shriek, "GAHHHHHHHHH! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
"As you can see, it is a bed of nails." Bookman replied. "A rather fine invention, if I do say so myself."
"FINE?! I ALMOST STEPPED ONTO IT! WHY IS IT IN FRONT OF MY ROOM?!"
"Is it?" Bookman said dryly. "I seem to have misplaced it then."
"LIKE HELL YOU DID! IF I FELL I COULD HAVE BLED TO DEATH! YOU TRYING TO KILL YOUR APPRENTICE?!"
"As my apprentice, you should not make unjustified assumptions." Bookman said placidly. "If you were more well versed, you would have known that the bed of nails can be used for meditation purposes-"
"This?! On something so sharp?! Even Yuu wouldn't be able to meditate on this!"
"I believe Kanda would be able to perform quite apt meditation on it." Bookman said. He coughed. "Your...girlfriend has much more focus than you do, stupid apprentice." He said. "You should learn from her and meditate to calm your mind."
"No thanks! I tried to meditate with Yuu and I almost got impaled by Mugen!"
Bookman blinked. "Is that so."
"Yeah!" Lavi sighed, brushing his hair back. He stared warily at the bed of nails in front of his room. Reaching out a foot, he slowly pushed it to the side, looking at it as if the nails on it could come to life and move to prick him anytime. It was a scary thought.
"You probably were disturbing Kanda's meditation process." Bookman's voice came from downstairs.
Lavi pushed the bed of nails away until he had enough space to enter his room safely. He sighed and yelled back, "Whatever, Gramps!" He moved to enter his room, sending one last wary glance at the thing which looked like a torture device. "Seriously…putting something so dangerous in front of my room! And after I thanked you too!" He said loudly, eyebrow twitching.
"I'm going to sleep! On a proper bed!"
"In the afternoon? Lazy pig."
"Shut up! I'm a man who needs sleep to function! Goodnight!"
The sound of the door slamming closed resounded, and Bookman looked towards the direction of the stairs.
"Yes. You shouldn't have thanked me." Bookman said solemnly to the thin air.
"After all, I was the one who deprived you of your right for a relationship, Junior."
"I'm home-what the hell?!"
"YUUUU-KUUUUUN!"
"Not again. Get the hell off me!"
Kanda shoved the blubbering mess away, looking at her guardian in disgust. "Master Tiedoll. Please do not latch onto me the moment I step through the door."
"But Yuu-kun!" Tiedoll protested, sniffing with watery eyes, "The family was waiting for you! Why are you so late?! Don't tell me," he gasped, "You were on a date with your boyfriend again!? " He clenched his fist, "Oh that man, stealing my daughter away-"
"No!" Kanda said, twitching, "If you actually remembered, I had Kendo practice today!"
Tiedoll blinked. "Oh."
Kanda sighed and made her way into the living room, long hair flowing out behind her. She looked up. "Everyone's already here?"
"Yo. Kanda-chan."
"Kanda. Welcome home."
"Marie." Kanda nodded towards the taller man respectfully, then turned to the shorter one sitting beside him. "Daisya. Don't call me that."
Daisya smirked, "Would you prefer Yuu-chan then?"
"No." Kanda deadpanned, moving to take her seat. "What's for dinner today?"
"Soba for you, my dear Yuu-kun, of course!" Tiedoll said cheerfully, "Put your things down and eat! Honestly Yuu-kun, you're always so tense!" He sighed as he took his seat, "Can't you relax with your family?"
"I am relaxing." Kanda said after placing her things carefully on the floor. "Master Tiedoll."
"It's father, Yuu-kun! Call me Father!"
"I'll pass." Kanda said simply.
"But why?!"
Kanda ignored Tiedoll as she clasped her hands together. "Itadakimasu." The Japanese muttered.
"Itadakimasu!" Kanda heard Tiedoll say loudly as she separated her chopsticks. "Come on, Daisya, Marie, you two say it too!"
"Why do I have to say it?" Daisya complained, "I'm not Japanese!"
"Itadakimasu." Marie said obediently.
"Because Yuu-kun is saying it! And we're a family! A family does things together!" Tiedoll reprimanded.
"I-Itadakimasu." Daisya said awkwardly.
Tiedoll beamed. "That's a good boy!"
"Shut up."
"So, my dear children," Tiedoll said happily as his proclaimed family ate dinner, "How's life?"
"Boring." Daisya said. He blinked, then smirked, "Well, we have a competition coming up, so it's a little less boring."
"Soccer?" Marie asked.
"Yup. Competition always makes things exciting!" Daisya declared with a confident smirk, "Even though we're gonna win anyway. But it's way better than studying! Studying is sooo boring!"
"Studying is important." Marie said.
"Yeah yeah whatever." Daisya drawled lazily. He shifted his gaze. "What about you, Kanda-chan?"
"What?"
"Well, you're the only girl here," Daisya waved a hand with that smirk Kanda found annoying, "Even though you don't look like one. With your lack of breasts. Oh I mean no offence of course." He said, "So, how's your life, sister?"
"Normal." Kanda replied, eating her soba.
"Normal? What kind of answer is that?" Daisya chewed on the rice in his mouth with a frown. "Surely you can give a more exciting answer!" He leaned his elbow on the table, "C'mon! I'm curious! And I'm sure they are too!" He gestured to Marie and Tiedoll with a smirk. "So? Any guys chasing after you whom I can beat up? Any romance? Any guy you like?"
"What about you?" Kanda returned Daisya's smirk, "Got a girlfriend yet?"
"Well no but-" Daisya cleared his throat, "I'm the soccer star so I've got lots of girls chasing after me!" He smirked confidently, pointing his chopsticks at Kanda, "And hey, I asked first!"
"It's none of your business." Kanda said.
"Oooh, what's with that response? Why so shady, Kanda-chan? Do you actually have a guy in mind?"
"You think so?" Kanda said casually, "In case you don't know, I'm a guy in school."
"Eh?!" Daisya gaped, rice falling from his mouth. "When did that happen?!"
"I thought you knew, Daisya." Marie said simply.
"Yeah I knew- but- but that was in the past where Kanda-chan wore the guys' uniform! So obviously Kanda-chan was a guy! But even now-?!" Daisya exclaimed disbelievingly, staring at Kanda who couldn't seem to care less, "Sister! You're nineteen!"
"And?"
Daisya stared, then turned to Marie in exasperation. "Oi, Marie! Tell our sister what's wrong with the situation!" He jabbed a finger at Kanda.
"I don't see anything wrong." Marie said honestly, nodding his head. "If our little sister prefers to be identified as a male by other people, I'm fine with it."
Kanda turned away. "Hmph."
"Such a supportive big brother!" Tiedoll said approvingly. "You should learn from him, Daisya!"
"And you approve, Master Tiedoll?!"
"It's Father," Tiedoll corrected. He blinked. "Why not? If Yuu-kun is a guy, guys won't chase after her, right?" He said. "No perverted man will corrupt our dear Yuu-chan!"
"Ah wait," Tiedoll said, and turned to Kanda. "What about your boyfriend?"
Daisya spat his rice out and even Marie seemed to choke. "BOYFRIEND?!" They exclaimed together.
"Since when?!" Daisya flailed his arms, "Which daring bastard-"
"Kanda," Marie said, looking at Kanda who was still eating her soba calmly, as Daisya erupted in a string of curses, "Is it true?"
"I suppose."
Marie couldn't keep the surprise off his expression, and Daisya took the chance to butt in, "Oi, Kanda!" He pointed an accusing finger at the long haired Japanese. "You never told us about this new development! Who the hell is he?! I demand to meet him to beat the shit out of him!" He said fiercely. "I'll kick my soccer ball to his balls so hard he can never fucking-"
"Daisya!" Tiedoll said indignantly. "Do not be so vulgar!"
"Why do you need to beat the shit out of him?" Kanda said in slight annoyance, "Were you not pestering me about my love life?"
"That's different!" Daisya protested, almost seeming to pout. He waved a hand, "It's natural for a big brother to ask about his little sister's love life! But when he finds out she actually has a boyfriend," his eyes glinted, "Then that guy has hell to pay! Right, Marie?!"
"R-Right." Marie said, looking at Kanda. "We must judge whether he is worthy of you, Kanda."
"Like I said," Kanda's eyebrow twitched, "Why do you two have to do that?" She scoffed. "You're gonna scare him."
"Eh? So he's the cowardly type? But he's dating you-"
"He must be quite courageous," Marie continued, "If he is dating you, Kanda."
"However," the tall man said contemplatively. "It could also be that he sees only your beauty and is taking advantage-"
Kanda twitched.
"'Cause our little sister's cold and all but any guy can see that she's beautiful!" Daisya spoke Marie's thoughts out loud, "And since Kanda-chan's never dated before-"
Kanda gritted her teeth. "You…"
"She might not be aware of his dark intentions." Marie nodded. "That's why we are here."
"Yeah!" Daisya smirked, clenching his fist, "That guy better watch out!"
"Ah, such brotherly love!" Tiedoll said, bringing his hands to his heart. "Father is so touched! You should be happy to have such caring big brothers, Yuu-kun!" He said.
"That's right, the man who wants to steal away our dear Yuu from us must be judged!"
The chopsticks in Kanda's hand broke. "RIDICULOUS!" Marie, Daisya and Tiedoll blinked as Kanda stood abruptly up and yelled, an embarrassed flush on pale cheeks, "You two! Don't you dare lay a hand on him or I'll kick your ass!"
"But Yuu-kun-" Tiedoll protested.
"ENOUGH! AND YOU!" Tiedoll blinked as Kanda turned and glared at him. "Damn it. I really hate this stupid, overprotective side of you! I can take care of myself!"
"But you're my daughter-"
"I AM NOT YOUR DAUGHTER! GET THAT INTO YOUR HEAD!" Kanda shouted in frustration. The swordsman glared. "Whatever! I'm eating in my room!"
"Ah." Tiedoll blinked. "Yuu-kun! Did you get my SMS? We're attending a wedding dinner this Saturday-"
"I know! You sent it twice!"
"Heh." Daisya smirked, leaning his cheek on his hand, "You gonna wear a dress, Kanda-chan?" He said. "You look more like a girl with your hair down. You should let it down more often!"
"Are you bringing your boyfriend along?" Marie asked. "We'd like to meet him."
"No way. And no." Kanda shot one last glare, "He's not gonna be there so no, you won't be seeing him."
The three males watched as Kanda snatched away the soba bowl and stomped up the stairs angrily. There was a silence, before Marie said, "Did we go too far?"
"Oh no no no," Daisya shook his head with a big grin. "Kanda-chan is just prideful. We're just being good big brothers watching out for our prideful but innocent little sister." He said. "After all, this is Kanda's first relationship! How could we not interfere?" He smirked.
"It's my fault," Tiedoll sighed, lowering his head. "It looks like I have been away from my family for too long!"
"Please do not blame yourself, Master Tiedoll." Marie said comfortingly, placing a hand on the older man's shoulder. "It is the first time we have spoken of Kanda's love life, so Kanda is just embarrassed."
"True, true." Tiedoll nodded. He looked up and smiled. "That's what's cute about Yuu-kun." He said.
"It seems Yuu-kun really hasn't changed at all."
