Disclaimer: D.Gray-Man belongs to Hoshino Katsura.
Ticklish Moment
Reita was woken up by sounds. His first reaction was to reach out for his Innocence, the book lying on the bedside. "It's only me," the intruder spoke, and the teen breathed relief. "Zero? What's up? It's the dead of the night." Zero was hovering at the edge of the bed, looking hesitantly at the door once in a while. "Can I stay here? Something seems to be…watching me. I don't feel at ease." "Watching you? Why didn't you flush that person out? I'm sure you're more than capable of it," Reita asked, rather curious as to what would give his really apathetic friend discomfort. "I don't think he means me harm, but he gives me a feeling of…Squeamishness…" Zero tried his best to describe the aura that crawled over his skin whenever the stalker's eyes were on him.
"Uhh…Sure. You want to sleep here?" Reita smiled a little at the eccentricity of his friend as he patted the space next to him in bed. "No, I'll do fine here," Zero answered as he climbed onto bed, curling up at Reita's feet. "Take this extra blanket, the nights here are always cold," the elder human piqued as he tossed a sheet at Zero, who pulled it close around himself. "Good night, Reita." "Night, Zero…"
When Allen woke up, the first thing that graced his sight was magnificent black silk. He blinked, and upon closer inspection, discovered that it was hair. The small one sighed, and took a deep breath of the soothing jasmine scent that dusted the body that lay with him in bed. Kanda never went out of his room yesterday night, but had stayed with him. The man was kinder than Allen thought him to be, not doing anything forbidden to him but only holding him and laying light kisses on his lips.
The larger body shifted, and dark eyes swam in and out of focus as they struggled to pinpoint the wisps of white filling his vision. Allen let out a muffled squeal when the arm lazily draped around his waist tightened and pressed him against the elder. "Did I wake you, Kanda?" He asked softly looking up at the stern man. "I don't have the luxury to sleep in," Kanda answered, pressing a morning kiss to Allen's lips. Allen responds a little eagerly, almost anxious to earn the affections of the Immortal who honestly loved him with all the flaws. Finding Allen's lips parted invitingly, Kanda wasted no time in pushing his tongue in, tracing circles on the roof of his mouth, gently teasing Allen's tongue into playing with him. The young Immortal let out a moan, encouraging the Japanese to deepen their kiss, covetously stealing the much needed air until Allen pulled back. "And yet you have the luxury for a kiss?" The beguiling young boy asked, mirth evident in his voice.
"You have no rights to complain, you cry-baby," Kanda stated as he tugged Allen so that the boy was lying on top of him. Allen's petite frame easily draped over his own bigger body. "I'm not complaining. But Kanda…What about the person you're looking for?" He asked quietly, remembering the reason why Kanda chose to remain with the lycans in the beginning. Kanda stiffened at the mention, but he reasoned, "I can solve it without bringing the factions in. It is…a personal vendetta."
"…Can you tell me…Who it is?" Allen asked; his head against Kanda's chest. "…A woman, who cursed me when I still lived in Japan. I want to find her, and ask her why she cursed me." "How did you know she's a vampire?" Curiosity couldn't possibly kill now, can it? "…In my journeys later, I found out that she was a Noah." "N-Noah? Do you…know her name?" Allen's whisper nearly wavered. The Noah family, despite all its cold appearances, was a very tight knit family. No doubt they will target Kanda should he ever strike down one of them.
"…I don't know her name, but she has dark, long hair with sharp eyes and quite beautiful from what I've heard from my searches," Kanda answered simply. Allen racked his brains, trying to think of any Noah which fit the description. The Noah family was small, and the women within, even fewer. Of the living female Noah he knew now, there were only Lulubell and Road. Could it be the former then? "Does she wear glasses?" The white haired boy asked, now wondering about the slim possibilities. "No. She had metal hair bands with the design of a cross," Kanda tirelessly replied the relentless questions. Allen suddenly sat up. He jumped off the bed, and scrambled through his belongings to Kanda's confusion.
Allen held his fist up as if in triumph and crawled onto the bed again. Unfurling his fingers, Allen showed Kanda the object he had been looking for. "Is it something like this…?" Kanda stared at the minute band of metal with the shape of a cross carved onto it resting innocently on Allen's palm. "Where did you get this?!" Kanda demanded in frenzy. Could Allen be related to that woman? "My Master gave it to me quite some time ago. He said he charmed it so that it worked as some sort of alarm, which will warn him if any one of us were in danger…You said it was a hair band. The one I have is a ring," Allen said. "…You mean to say that General Cross may be able to help me find her?" Kanda now asked.
Allen's brows furrowed together in worry. "…You won't kill her, right?"
"I don't know. For now, I only want the truth. Are you afraid that I'll take revenge, moyashi?"
"You should know that targeting a Noah has serious consequences. I don't want that to happen."
"The Noah do not concern me, even if they are to hunt me down it is one of them who did me wrong first," Kanda stubbornly kept to his opinion. Allen sadly shook his head. "But it concerns me, Kanda. I can't betray them this way. I'd have led an enemy into their midst if I allow you to go on with revenge in your mind." Now the Japanese stared outright at the boyish face made older with its seriousness. "I've been meaning to ask you, why are the Noah so important to you? You're neutral, and yet you seem to side with the vampires more than anything."
"Peace for everyone is my dream, but my family belongs with the Noah. I've known them ever since I was born," a mysterious smile that hid secrets appeared, "Mana, my foster father, was a Noah."
"!!"
"Do you remember the two Noah that were with me when you met me in Denmark? I grew up with Devit and Jasdero. We didn't live together, but Mana was their favourite relative. They came over a lot and spent time with me. I grew so used to them; I started naturally shunning away from human children because they weren't as fun as Devit and Jasdero. I knew they were vampires because they told me the first time they met me, and I didn't care. I was happy that I had a family as nice as them. I'm not a saint as to accept humanity who would not accept me for my arm. When Mana passed away…The incident with this curse happened and when Devit and Jasdero saw me after Master brought me over to them…They held me, comforted me and cried with me."
"By that time, the rest of the family knows me. They took me in as a part of their family. They are the closest to actual relatives that I will ever have. Even if their rules will bind me to secrecy and loyalty to them forever, I don't mind. And the core rule of the Noah family is to protect your brothers and sisters. As a general of a faction that does not conform to their beliefs, I am prepared to fight for my causes against them fair and square, but not to the extent of killing them. As their unofficial family member…Even you I will not spare if you kill any Noah out of personal vendetta. In a war, it is unavoidable but if you make it your individual mission to claim revenge then I will make it my task to stop you."
Kanda paused to digest all that information, with Allen sitting in front of him gazing at him with cloudy silver eyes that spelt unspoken danger for him.
Slowly, Allen's hand reached out to tug at Kanda's collar. "You'll have to fight me first."
And the boy crushed their lips together in a bruising kiss. Kanda was taken by surprise at Allen's blatant act but he wasn't about to back down. He roughly pulled at Allen's hands and pinned them to either side of his head as they fell back onto the bed. Allen let out a gasp as he was pushed down and Kanda took the chance to slip his tongue in. Not one to fall behind, Allen fiercely pushed back with his own tongue, and wrestled with Kanda for dominance. At the back of his mind, Kanda kicked himself for having lewd thoughts about the feisty attitude Allen had now. The smaller boy jerked his leg up and brushed against Kanda's groin. Kanda jumped back as though the touch scalded him. Allen drew himself up with a satisfied smile. "Finally getting away? I was going to lose air if you continued coming at me like that."
The petite boy climbed down the bed and began changing into his uniform. "If we don't hurry, we'll miss breakfast."
Kanda begrudgingly got out of bed and started dressing as well. In his little exchange with the Immortal, he had neglected the fact that Allen Walker was already a bit over two centuries old and could probably be as smart as him. Of course, Kanda refused to even think that Allen could outsmart him. That was a blow below the belt to get Kanda to retreat. Well, there was plenty of time to get back at him later…
The fork trembled a little as it poked at an innocent piece of roast potato. Of course, the potato didn't react. But the one who held the fork half expected it to. Lavi had been extremely careful of what was put into his mouth, and it was all Road's fault. If she had not mentioned the possibility of Tyki drugging his food so that he may have his wicked way with the poor dubbed bunny, Lavi may have still been able to enjoy his food in peace. For once in his whole life, Lavi was being careful. It was tedious but hell; anything was worth protecting his virginity and life status as a lycan. He did not want to risk even one percent of chance being raped by Tyki or be turned into a vampire by him.
Said man was watching him now. In fact, with a lewd grin upon his lips. All too suddenly, Lavi wished that Bookman, his strict and long-winded master was here. At least he would know how to deal with Tyki. Tyki caught him staring and grinned at him. Lavi quickly looked away and started to eat his eggs, stabbing it rather violently. Jasdero quietly snickered and pointed at Lavi non-too-discreetly, while Devit laughed along with his brother. Aouruu watched the whole affair with wide eyes. He knew Lavi of course, for the redhead always pestered him or his father when he was still with the lycans. To see the tables switched, and for Lavi being the one teased instead of him doing the teasing, was unbelievable. He wished he had a camera.
"So…You're from the lycans huh? Why's a human like you doing with the wolves?" Road asked Aouruu, who was distracted from observing Tyki and Lavi. "So?" Aouruu's answer was short and gruff. "You look like that Kanda…" Devit mused, which brought Lavi's attention to call. Lavi grinned a little, glad to be distracted from Tyki. "Aou-chan is Yu's son! Foster-like, anyway," Lavi chirped. Aouruu scowled deeply, but it bounced off Lavi who had prior training with Kanda. Jasdero's eyes lit up strangely. "Ohh…Really? Hmm, can we speak for a minute alone, Aouruu?" "What do you want?" Aouruu asked rather rudely, but got up and followed the blonde anyway, whose twin tagged along from curiosity. " Hey Aouruu, do you know Allen? As in, personally?" Jasdero quipped. Aouruu let slip a slight maniacal grin when he heard the name, but quickly masked his façade again.
"Not personally…But I do hope to get to know him better."
"Well, well, we could get you the chance…Providing if you'd tell us more about your daddy. We are very interested in him," Devit bargained. Aouruu's eyes widened slightly. What is it about his father that attracted them so…? "…Is there something you'd like to know about my tou-sama?" "Hmm…For starters…Is he a paedophile?" Devit quipped shamelessly. The poor mortal all but paled in shock. "Of course he's not! What do you take him for, a molester?!" "Nah, he's a hundred twenty percent a rapist, hihi, "Jasdero countered easily. "He is not! He's just sexually frustrated!" The young boy defended his father figure…In a sloppy manner.
Devit and his twin brother laughed even harder at the term. "Sexually frustrated, oh hell, that's rich!! I don't think he's never had sex in his whole life as an Immortal, right?" Aouruu kept strangely quiet at that, prompting Jasdero to gasp, "You mean he really HASN'T?!" The boy shrugged. "I don't know about his years before I met him, but I do know he spurns any advances women put on him. They don't deserve him," Aouruu said off-handedly. The twins grinned wickedly. "You have told us quite a bit. So in return, we'll introduce you to Allen!" Devit kept true to his words. "Really? When can I see him?" Aouruu asked excitedly like a child.
"Oh look, here he comes. Lo, General Waaaaaaaaaaallllllkkkkkkkeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr!" Jasdero hollered. The white haired boy, who had just descended the stairs smiled. "Good morning, Jasdero, Devit and, uhm…" Allen's eyes furrowed in concentration trying to recall Aouruu's name. Being in close proximity with him brought the ultimatum to the mortal boy. "Kaa-sama!!" He practically squealed and glomped the hapless general. "W-What?!" Allen was shocked and even others had turned to take a look at the commotion. "You brat, what're you doing?!" Kanda hissed, out of pure embarrassment. "Hugging kaa-sama," Aouruu replied innocently not letting the boy go. "Since when was I your mother?" Allen asked, still not fully recovered from the shock. Before Aouruu could answer, someone else had zipped in and slapped a hand over Aouruu's mouth. "He's just a bit tipsy because I let him drink a bit of the good wine down here. Don't worry about it, General," Reita hastily explained as he dragged him away towards his friend, Zerulis. Which led to another interesting sight.
"You pervert! You're the one stalking me yesterday, weren't you?!" Zerulis accused, fully prepared to beat Vlodfield within an inch of his life if Skin wasn't holding him back. "N-No I didn't!" The dragon violently denied, unaware of Tiedoll laughing politely while Klaud raised an eyebrow at the comment. "You have eye bags," Yeegar stated as kindly as he could, pointing out Vlodfield's dead giveaway. "I am not a pervert! I was only fascinated by his physical features!" Vlodfield tried defending himself. Zerulis was so angry he was at a loss of what to speak. "…That was one bloody hell of a roundabout way of saying you're a pervert," Cross added fuel to the fire. "I'm not!" Vlodfield wailed, really attempting to prove his innocence. "I just find it amazing for a human boy to have a slim waist and shapely hips like a female human's, with such voluptuously long eyelashes and sharp facial features! You have to teach me so I can transform better!" Allen was left tongue-tied. For all the purposes, the dragon seemed to be researching methods to improve his humanoid form, but he was going totally the opposite way about it. Besides, he thought the dragon looked handsome enough as he was.
Right now though, his brother in apprenticeship Zerulis was shaking in obvious rage. It was pretty amusing to see, for he had yet to witness Zerulis blow his top. "Vo…Voluptuous? You…called my eyelashes voluptuous?" Aouruu broke out of Reita's hold and smacked Vlodfield on his head. "Ignore this idiot, he's always spouting bullshit." "Be good children and go back to breakfast," Yukinojou chided as he gracefully descended the stairs, Luxeria escorting him by his side as always. Fuming, Zerulis sat down and attacked his food, not caring for the fact that he was sitting next to Winters, who was just as irritated by his presence. Allen smiled at the antics; such peace was hard to be found in such warring times, even as the three different factions were under one roof. He took his place by Cross and started on his breakfast, which was a mountain. Even Kanda stared at it with disbelief. "Parasitic-type like me needs more food," Allen whispered nonchalantly.
Accepting the explanation, Kanda sat down and began on his own breakfast. "A-Ano, please enjoy yourself while you're with us," Miranda timidly greeted. Kanda stared at her for a long while, before stiffly nodding. "Hn, what a boring guy. I bet he isn't one to sit down and do the work for us," Cross snorted. "Speak for yourself, Master. I at least complete a decent amount before getting into missions. You happened to have sent away the two people willing enough to do your deskwork," Allen reprimanded heartlessly, referring to Kin, or Timcanpy as he was originally known. "Whatever, I can get someone else to do it for me anyway," The redhead General replied. "If you are fine with it, I could help with deskwork," Ease offered kindly, being brought up by Timcanpy to obey his master. "See? You can do all the deskwork for me," Cross ordered, smirking at Allen as he did so. Allen quietly fumed, inwardly cursing his master for being an incorrigible lazy drunkard of a bastard.
"Master, this…" Lulubell whispered as she passed a note to the Millennium Earl. The Earl took a glance and nodded. "Aha, I see. I approve of it." Discreet glances passed between the members of the Noah family, and Zerulis glimpsed at Reita sending him an untold message. Reita grinned in answer. The Noah twins gleefully dragged Aouruu aside and whispered conspiratorially into his ears. Aouruu blinked in surprise for a while. Then a serious and thoughtful look crossed his eyes as he looked at his father. Kanda didn't comprehend the look at all. Time soon came for the three factions to separate.
"Stay safe, and try not to provoke others even when you know you're saying the truth," Allen reminded with a smile. Zerulis nodded and glanced at Kanda for a while, who glared back for good measure. "Keep the paperwork thin and...there'll be a meeting tonight," he whispered the final part of the message into Allen's ears. Allen's wide, childlike eyes focused on the boy who was not so much older physically, reading in his body language. He nodded quietly, and boarded his carriage. "What did he say?" Kanda questioned upon being in the privacy of a carriage. "We have an important debutante party tonight…" Allen chuckled. Kanda soured at the mention of such distasteful social events, but he got curious at Allen's mindful watch on him. "What?"
"You're the one who's debuting, Kanda."
"Aouruu is to be treated with nothing but the best care. He is a member of the family now," Tyki ordered his servants as he got onto the coach. The vampires watched the mortal boy, who glared back with intense eyes. They nodded their consent, however distrustful they were of a mere human. "Come on in with us, Aou-chan," Lavi invited cheerfully, and doubtfully, Aouruu accepted. His suspicions were right. Inside the carriage, Lavi sat so close to him he was squashed up against the carriage walls. "Excuse me you rabbit, but can you back off? There's something known as personal space," Aouruu ground out through gritted teeth. "I can't help it, Aou-chan, that vampire wants to rape me!!" Lavi wailed, clinging even closer to the boy as he pointed accusingly at Tyki.
Tyki had a lecherous grin as per his usual tease.
"It doesn't help that you are oh so attractive, my dear flame bunny. Plus, you were so adorable in your child years. And the sound of blood rushing through your veins is like music to my ears, beguiling me and bewitching my senses; it makes me desire your nape so much."
Lavi had never been pushed against a metaphoric wall this much, he didn't know which part of Tyki's words should he worry about, and ended up yelling, "How'd you know how I look as a kid?!" "Well…I have my sources…And they have kindly provided me with pictures…Even gave me valuable information pertaining your interests and the minor details of your personal life," Tyki drawled. His smile grew bigger as he remembered how he traded with Bookman the secrets of capturing a Tease and the method of control of those carnivorous golems in exchange for all the information Bookman had on Lavi. He was actually the reason Bookman was absent from this meeting, as the old man was off testing his new knowledge.
The lycan went pale. As pale as his red hair could possibly be. Aouruu watched in silent shock, half expecting Lavi's hair to turn white like Allen's any time. "Gimme those pictures, you stalker-rapist-pervert-vampire!!" Lavi roared, shaking Tyki with fistfuls of his shirt. "I can't, I bought them fair and square. Anyhow…Why don't you just give in to me…And be my bride, dearest Lavi?" Tyki purred, a hand suddenly appearing around Lavi's waist and pulling him down into his lap. "Oh, don't mind if I take him, do you lad?" Aouruu shrugged. "He's all yours." Lavi was on the verge of frothing at his mouth.
"TRAITOR!! LET ME OFF THIS CARRIAGE!!"
It wasn't surprising as Timcanpy, or Kin as he was currently known as, perked his ear in interest. Anyone within three miles could hear Lavi's scream. He did honestly wonder why Lavi had to make such a big fuss over Tyki's innocent flirting. Being a virgin lycan at the age of three hundreds must be a period of sensitivity for sexual exploration, he hazarded such thoughts. At any rate, Timcanpy found Lavi's disconcerted nerves too amusing to actually tell the redhead that Tyki was serious in pursuing Lavi as a mate than a simple plaything as Lavi so kindly insinuated. But the shape-shifting golem also mentally shook his head at Lavi's plain stupidity despite being Bookman heir. It was obvious from Tyki's sudden playfulness that Lavi was the cause of it all, or rather, Lavi's blood. And as common sense to the higher beings of the underworld goes, a pureblood vampire is only so much physically and mentally stimulated by the presence of his Socio de la Sangre. Just like how Cross gets extra arrogant and annoying to be around when he is met with Komui. Timcanpy couldn't wait to see Lavi's expression when the lycan finally discovers that his blood is exclusively attractive to the pureblood Lord of the vampires.
Lord help Lulubell deal with Vlodfield. The female vampire chose to sit in a carriage with Zerulis, seeing as they had more of a platonic tie than they had with the lycans. What she could not possibly fathom was that Vlodfield had chosen their carriage as well, despite Zerulis' earlier murderous outburst against him. Curiosity would have killed the cat indeed if Vlodfield was one. Zerulis was currently calm as he usually was, patiently ignoring the roaming stares from Vlodfield. "Zero…Can I ask a question?" The sentient dragon quipped. "You already asked one," the boy tartly answered. "Oh. Ahaha, well…I was just wondering what made you so mad about me wanting to observe you?" Vlodfield smiled brightly as he said so. Lulubell greatly resisted the urge to smack her forehead in exasperation.
"Vlodfield…The qualities you listed for the sake of observation, are of the feminine side. Do I look like a female to you?" Zerulis pointed out, not once opening his eyes. His side of the curtain was drawn, slightly disturbed by the sun. The Noah had a faint notion that Zerulis acted more of a vampire than a human what with his formality and his sensitivity when faced with the sun. Vlodfield shook his head at Zerulis' remark. "But you do look feminine enough to be female," the humanoid's statement made Zerulis twitch a little. "Please refrain from saying that. It makes me want to hurt you for damaging my salvaged pride as a male." "Eh, what do you mean?" Vlodfield's bluntness amazed Lulubell, though she did not show it. She thought a sentient dragon would be more intelligent.
"He has been subjected to Road's 'dolling' for numerous times we met for business purposes," The Noah divulged. Zerulis frowned, but he was in no power to deny one of the oldest pureblood vampires. Instead, he decided to divert the topic. "Do you have the medallion in your possession, Lulubell-sama?" "Yes; we move at the strike of midnight tonight," Lulubell softly answered. Vlodfield could only look confused, not understanding the conversation between them both. Zerulis noticed the expression.
"We are attending the meeting of the family I mentioned yesterday, Vlodfield. You will be coming with us."
