Meh. Enjoy the chapter.

Lavi: What's up, buttercup?

Me: I'm cranky cause my room is EMPTY! It was so full of life before. Stupid move.

Allen: Aw don't cry!

Me: I'm not crying.

Allen: I will sing you a lullaby, and sooth your aching heart!

Me: That's not necessary...I'm okay...

Allen: The hills~ are alive~ with the sound of MUSIC~!

Lavi: (ears bleed and he falls to the floor)

Me: Lavi! I swear I'll avenge you!

Allen: You put the lime in the coco nut and mix it all up! You put the lime in the coco nut and call me in the mor~ning!

Me: Nuuuuuuuuuuu~! (head explodes)

Allen: Hakunamata~! What a....(looks around and smiles) Okay Kanda it's clear!

Kanda: (walks through the door and takes out ear plugs) Good work babe.

Allen: Take it out!

Kanda: Now? Are you sure?

Allen: Yeah! C'mon Kanda, I can't take the anticipation!

Kanda: (giggles seductively) My, what an eager little bean sprout you are. It'd be rude to keep you waiting. Beg.

Allen: (bats eyelashes) Please~ Kanda. I need it.

Kanda: Well how can I refuse a face like that?

Allen: Yes!

(They sit down and play kingdom hearts: extended edition - Riku and Sora: Relationship Problems)

Allen: I love this game.



Chapter Eight: Lavi, on his own.

Allen watched Lavi and Kanda argue. He sat wondering what he should do in this situation. Lavi and Kanda were arguing on what to do next. The first factor was to the west, the second to the east. Lavi thought they should split, defeating the two at once, and then join to travel to the Earls castle and defeat the third factor together. Lavi would go alone, while Kanda and Allen would work together to defeat the second factor. Kanda, however, thought it was foolish. He inquired whether one or the other was hurt in the process. Especially if it was Lavi.

"Then you would leave me behind and go on." Lavi stated indifferently, as if it was a fact that everyone knew and had to live with. Allen tensed.

"And if it were Allen or I? Would you leave us behind?" Kanda glared harder.

Lavi paused. "No. Nevertheless, I have faith in you both. You'll be fine."

"You can't know that. Listen, I don't care if you're over a hundred years old, there's no way that we can survive without you, or you without us." Kanda folded his arms, resolute on the matter.

"Yeah." Allen perked up, though neither man looked at him. "We need each other. Let's just go together Lavi."

Lavi shook his head. "It would take too much time. We…do not have enough time left to be sentimental about these things. We must do what will best ensure a better future. As quickly as possible."

"You're willingness to die will be your un-making." Kanda snarled.

Lavi looked at the ground. "I'm going to die, regardless of what comes about. My precautions are for you two."

Kanda growled and continued to yell. Lavi seemed to have already made up his mind.

Allen sighed. Slowly he stood and walked onto the ashen ground. He felt himself shiver, as if the spirits used to build this place were reaching up to him, calling him for help. He shook the feeling away. He walked behind Kanda and kept moving down the path. The two older exorcists did not notice. They were too wrapped up in their arguments. Allen shook his head.

Allen walked to the intersecting points of the crossroad. He looked to the east and west path, as they stretched on into seemingly, nothingness. He looked to the north, where in the distance; he could vaguely make out the shadow of a castle.

I wonder if it's close. Allen thought. Allen looked in all directions. It was so quiet here.

It's strange. Allen looked at a femur protruding from the ground. The closer we get to the Earl, the less Akuma we come across.

"Allen." Kanda walked up to the boy and put a hand on his shoulder. Allen looked up and smiled at him, despite the disheartening air.

"Have you two come to an agreement?" He asked politely.

Kanda's brows furrowed. "No. The stupid Usagi seems resolute on the matter."

"What about back at the beach Kanda?" Allen's smile disappeared. "You had no problem leaving him then. Why's it different now?"

Kanda looked to the side and mumbled something. Allen moved closer, almost touching Kanda, straining to hear.

"What?"

Kanda growled and looked at him. "Because you would go after him."

Allen stood rooted to the spot, staring at the samurai. So Kanda didn't have a problem leaving Lavi behind. But Allen would undoubtedly go back for him, and that, Kanda did have a problem with. He knew that Lavi was strong, and Allen and Kanda together were strong too. But should something happen…Kanda couldn't help but worry. In that one sentence, everything was clear.

Allen felt something in his heart stir. He took a lock of Kanda's hair and ran it between his fingers, suddenly finding it the most interesting thing in the world.

"So you…" Allen spoke slowly. "So you were fighting for my benefit?"

Kanda gulped and seemed to struggle with what to do. He moved a hand to cup Allen's cheek and move his face to look at him. He moved closer, so they were touching, wrapping one arm around the boy's waist. Allen took a deep breath, taking in Kanda's sent, finding it alluring. He wanted more.

Allen moved forward and closed the distance between them. It was a light, chaste kiss, more of a test than anything. It was all the invitation Kanda needed. He kissed back, putting more pressure on their lips. He wrapped both arms around Allen's waist, drawing him as close as he could, loving the feel of Allen pressed against him. It wasn't long before Kanda wanted more, running his tongue along Allen's bottom lip.

Allen hesitated for a moment. He wondered if he should stop it there. They still had a job to do, both in the future and the past. And each task was far from over. Kanda sensed his hesitation and moved away. Allen clung to his jacket, not allowing him to go much farther.

"Wait." He said, almost desperately.

Kanda nuzzled his cheek. "It's okay Allen. I can wait…for however long it takes."

Allen smiled and kissed Kanda again. Kanda gratefully returned the kiss. He moved and kissed his forehead, his nose, his chin, and both his cheeks. He hugged Allen tighter, and sighed, content for now, with this. Allen returned the favor, and vowed that this would not be the last kiss.

Lavi had his back to Allen and Kanda, his face towards the ground. He was secretly smiling to himself, as he wiped it away to face them. Time was an issue. Though the future here had already been determined, the Earl could unleash what was left of his army at any moment. Allen the Akuma left, the Noah, and maybe even…Maybe even him. The Earl himself might come. Lavi realized that he had to strike now, or forever loose his chance.

As soon as the two exorcists saw him walking towards them, they separated, both blushing their own shade of red. Lavi remained indifferent. He pointed to the west.

"I believe Tyki is that way." He stated.

Allen looked surprised. "Tyki Mikk?"

Lavi nodded, and then pointed to the east. "Rhode resides there I believe. Let me take care of her."

Kanda returned to his usual glare. "Why?"

Lavi handed Kanda the bag of supplies they had brought. "Because she's stronger. And besides…we have a score to settle."

Allen looked worried. "Lavi…"

"It will be okay Allen." Lavi nodded. "Good luck to you both."

Lavi began walking to Rhodes tower, and Kanda stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait!" He said. "I never agreed to us separating!"

"Let me go Kanda." Kanda and Allen froze. The tone in Lavi's voice had changed. What sounded determined before now only sounded like something…broken. Allen unconsciously reached forward.

"Lavi…"

"I can never return." Lavi turned. "You have to let me go."

Kanda starred at him. Slowly, Kanda released his arm. Lavi turned again and started walking down the path to Rhodes tower. The two watched him go, until they could not see him anymore. Allen sniffed and Kanda wrapped his arms around his fragile angel. Such an angel, who saw grief and tried to make it happiness, who saw suffering and tried to right it, who saw despair and tried to turn it into hope. What was his angel to do now, when the one in suffering was the one that could not be saved?

"Don't worry Allen. He'll be fine…We can save him." It was an empty promise. But a comforting one. One Allen would cling to until the very last moments. He vowed the kiss he and Kanda shared would not be the last. Now he vowed he would save Lavi. He would bring him back home.

Kanda led him by the hand, to the tower where Tyki Mikk waited eagerly for his guests to arrive.


Rhode jumped up and down and clapped her hands wildly. "Hurray! He's coming! He'll be here soon~!" She sang joyously and twirled around. She landed on a wire and leaned on it, her demeanor changing from giddy to sly.

"Do you see him? He's coming for you, you know." She chuckled. "This is going to be so much fun!"

The wires were attached to the ground, many of them shooting out in random directions to look like a spider web. If not for the size of the room, they would have been constricting. Rhode ran her finger along the wire, as if she were petting a snake.

"I can't wait till he sees you. I bet he'll cry. Won't that be something? He'll probably take one look at you and fall to his knees." She threw her head back and laughed. "And when he's finally at the peak of hope again, I'll tear out his eyes!" The room was filled with malicious laughter, both joyful and ominous.

A-midst the tangle of wires, the very center stirred. The wires were meant as a prison, holding within their tangled embrace and fragile body of scars and blood. His head hung, his limbs limp, by all accounts he was labeled dead. But his finger twitched, his head slightly bobbing as if trying to look up and speak.

Lavi…Kanda… But words never escaped his lips. He was silent. And silent he would remain. Rhode giggled at his failed attempt.

"You're so cute. Stupid, but cute." Her lips curled into a smirk. "Maybe I'll be nice to you. Maybe I'll let you watch as I kill your friend."

To this, Allen did not respond.


It was quiet except for the soft murmur of the ocean. Though its dramatic fall in might and size, it still sounded the same. The sound was comforting to Allen. He closed his eyes as he walked and thought of India. He wasn't sure why that memory came to him, but he thought of golden jungles, filled with life and sound. He thought of dancers dressed in fine robes of all colors, radiant like the sun. He thought of the ocean, sparkling like the stars. He thought of tall palaces, clear windows, bustling towns, and smiling faces. He closed his eyes and imagined all this, ignoring the land rich with decay around him. In a moment, his thoughts sent him to where he wanted to be. He saw Lavi there, basking by the light in swim trunks and sunglasses. He smiled and gave Allen thumbs up. Allen looked over to the ocean and saw Kanda swimming in the shimmering waters, his hair let loose and flowing elegantly behind him. Allen looked back to Lavi and smiled.

Allen opened his eyes. "Hey Kanda."

Kanda grunted in response, not looking at Allen. Allen only smiled.

"What are we going to do once we get back?"

There was a long pause, as both boys looked up to the ashen sky and wondered.

"I don't know." Kanda said finally. "I suppose we need to work on that end too. Once we fix this future."

"Do you think we'll have to betray the Order?" Allen frowned.

"That would be idiotic and suicidal. We must work from within to change it from within. To work outside would mean the Order would be hunting us, we'd be completely on our own, and there's only so much we can do outside without it resorting to violence."

"Maybe we should do both." Allen stretched his arms and chuckled. "We could be like double agents."

Kanda raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You're awfully giddy despite our present situation."

Allen blushed. "Yeah, well…yeah."

Kanda moved closer to Allen and snaked an arm around his waist. Allen squeaked with surprise, but unconsciously leaned closer.

"You're so red, Allen. Are you hot?" The line was cheesy, but it made the boy blush more.

"S-Stop it! It's…It's you're fault anyway!" Allen looked to the side with a pout.

Kanda chuckled. "If you're hot you should take of your cloths." He moved in a whispered to Allen. "The air on your skin will cool you down."

To add emphasize Kanda pulled Allen's shirt from his pants and slid his hand up his chest. Allen squeaked, turning more shades of red than imaginable. He tried to scoot away, but Kanda attacked a spot on his neck that made him weak in the knees. Allen gasped a little, allowing himself to enjoy the caress for a moment, before he resumed trying to get away.

"W-We ha-have to get to the, Ah! T-Tower!" He managed to get out.

Kanda now stood in front of Allen and was lavishing his neck with his tongue and lips, while he continued to massage his chest.

"What tower?" Kanda asked sarcastically.

"Kan~da~!" Allen complained, though his body betrayed him.

Kanda laughed and pulled away, kissing Allen before he looked down at him with a smile. "You're adorable."

Allen went into full pout mode. "Coming from you I know that's an insult!"

Kanda looked thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps. But for you I can make an exception." Kanda kissed his cheek, smiled, and then continued walking down the path. Allen watched him go for a moment, his face slowly returning to normal.

"Tease!" Allen yelled after him, and Kanda just waved without looking back. Allen shook his head. "Bastard. Next time…" Allen smiled. There would be a next time, and next time he would show Kanda. Allen giggled and sighed, stretching again and silencing his hormones telling him to go back and finish the job. He looked around one more time and was almost disappointed that nothing had changed.

It's amazing how love can make you forget the things around you. In his mind, Kanda and him were in India, with there own room, not out in an waste land of decay. Allen smiled and ran after his samurai. I wonder if I've always loved him.


The days went by as nothing. Lavi was alone again, and time went by as it did before Allen and Kanda came. Nothing but moments passing one another as one goes and another comes to take its place. All Lavi could see was the path before him and a mission ahead of him.

Rhode had been the one to tear out his eyes. He remembered that day, and that battle so well. She had also been the one to imprison Allen. Lavi grit his teeth. So many things went wrong, and yet the best he could do now was to destroy this whole future.

Two days gone by, and Lavi looked up to the ominous tower, starring down at him.

"Rhode." He hissed. "This time I will kill you."

With his weapon in hand, he walked into the open doors, a single word ringing through his thoughts.

Revenge.


Hope ya liked it. Review please.