Hey everybody! I'm sorry this took longer than usual, but school just started and IB is fucking intense!
Kanda: Shut up. I'm doing this. You talk to much. Ankhesa apologizes for the shortness of the chapter; it had to be broken into several parts or it would take you "dear readers" hours to read. There is a poll on her page partaining to this story; she requests you "dear readers" take it. Aditionally, there are a lot of shifts in perspective this time, just so you are aware. She doesn't own DGM or the characters. That is all.
Ankhesa: *glares at Kanda* You forgot the *warning for the slightly bloody scenes and character death.
Chapter 7: Demons of the Past I
~Time skip (because Ankhesa is a lazy lil shit) about 4 months later~
December
Allen's PoV
"Alright class, listen up! As you all know, midterms are right around the corner." Groans were heard from all corners of the class. I watched Tiedol with curious eyes, knowing he would do something unusual. Tiedol held up his hands, silencing the class. "I am well aware of your feelings towards standard tests; therefore, I have decided to make your midterm project based. Since this is a fine arts class after all, you will have to create a word of art, any type you wish."
Tiedol paused for a moment to let the idea sink in.
"However, it won't just be whatever you feel like creating for me. There are guidelines, of course. Your project must be centered around our current unit goal: "Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas, and synthesizing these into a work or body of works". Furthermore, this project will not be about you and your ideas, values, or symbols of yourself; it will be about someone else." Oh shit...
" 'Scuse me, Tiedol-san! Will we be choosing our subjects?" Lavi called out from beside me. Kanda rolled his eyes, and Lenalee blushed lightly.
"Ah, no, I'm sorry, Lavi. Your partners have been chosen for you. The list is on the back wall. You may go look at the end of class."
"So, what exactly are we supposed to do for the project?" a shy, nervous girl asked.
"I'm so glad you asked, Miranda. You are going to delve into your partner's past, and find out what makes them who they are, what shaped their personality, what they value, what makes them tick. Once you've done your research, you are to create a work of art that represents who your partner is. Again, you can use any medium: photography, painting, a musical composition, a play, or skit..."
~RRRRIIIINNNNGGGG~
As the bell rang, I stepped back and watched as the class surged towards the list to see how their partners would be. I sighed, and packed my things. No way am I going in there...
"Lenalee! We're partners! And you won't believe who Yuu-chan and Moyashi got paired with!" Lavi, looking battered came back over to our table.
"Don't call me that, baka Usagi!"
"Who?" Lenalee leaned forward, eager to heard our partners.
"Each other!" Aw fuck! Why! Why, God why!
"Che. Fuck no."
"Yuu-chan is something wrong?" Tiedol had come over to our table, and heard his son *foster son*, swear, not that that in itself was unusual...
"I am not working with the Moyashi."
"Yes, Yuu-chan, you are. No changes to the pairings." Tiedol walked off, smirking slightly.
"I swear teachers are the biggest shippers out there..." Lenalee muttered.
~The Next Day~
Kanda's PoV
Lenalee, Lavi, Moyashi, and I walked into our English class with Nine-san. Lavi was excitedly interviewing Lenalee for their project. Lenalee laughed as Lavi frantically scribbled her answers as though his life depended on it. Moyashi and I had not spoken of our project; we had four weeks to get it done, why bother start now? It was going to be awful.
"So, have you and Allen started your projects yet?" Lenalee turned to me, shutting off Lavi's deluge of questions. I rolled my eyes.
"Of course not, it was only assigned yesterday."
"We haven't even talked about it yet. This one disappeared to play samurai right after you told us we were partners, and didn't show up at our room until after midnight." Allen scowled at me. He looked especially tired today; I knew he hadn't slept much for the past few weeks. I had a creeping suspicion his nightmares were getting worse.
"Well, it's not like you have to get it done immediately. Do you guys have any ideas what you're going to do? I'm planning on writing a monologue for Lavi."
"Yeah, and I'm probably going to make a movie about Lenalee! I'll finally get a chance to get my hands on that awesome recording equipment the media kids use!" Lavi run his hand through his hair, thinking wistfully about the recording equipment.
"I don't really have any ideas yet; I might compose something for Kanda, but it's been such a long time... I don't know yet..." Allen spoke slowly, stifling a yawn as he spoke. Man, he was not doing well; he needed some serious sleep, without being disturbed by what demons he has. Wait, why do I care?!
"Kanda? Any ideas?" the Usagi pulled me from my train of thought.
"No."
"Class, stop talking!" I leaned back in my seat, not paying attention to Nine-san, rather thinking about the project Tiedol had assigned. What had possessed him to assign such a project? He knew I wouldn't do it. He knew I didn't want to let anyone in. So why?
By the end of the school day, both Lavi and Lenalee had their information mapped out and were already planning their artworks. Moyashi and I hadn't spoken two civil words all day. Being so tired, he was even easier to provoke, not that I was trying to provoke him or anything...
Back in our dorm, I dumped my school bag on my desk, grabbed my training gear, and went to change. After changing into my training outfit (a form fitting blue sleeveless top and pants), I noticed Moyashi had arrived as well, and was working on his homework.
"Oi, Moyashi!" What am I doing?
"What, BaKanda!" his head snapped up to look at me, his eyes tired but furious.
"Get changed." Why am I doing this?
"For what." Damn, he was short tempered...
"You're coming to train with me." I really don't want to do this...
"Why." He continued to glare at me.
"Because you need to learn about me, and get out some frustration." What the fucking hell?
"No." Nope, I'm not accepting that answer.
"Yes." I stepped towards him.
"No." His eyes narrowed.
"Last chance." I smirked. Moyashi remained silent. Shrugging, I picked him and threw him over my shoulder. At first, he was stunned, and didn't resist. Once he figured out what was going on, he began to fight back. Damn, I didn't think he would be this strong. He struggled the entire way to the clearing in the woods. Of course, his struggling coupled with my carrying him attracted attention, and we were followed by those damn fangirls.
I set Moyashi down; he turned to face me.
"Are you happy now?! You've drug me all the way out here; now what!" He was angrier than I had ever seen him. I leaned Mugen up against a tree, gave a warning glare to the girls who had gathered to stay away or die, and turned back to Moyashi.
"Fight." With that I went for him. Right hook, left jab, roundhouse, turn side. Moyashi effectively evaded all my attacks. He came back at me, his pent-up frustration and anger evident in his eyes. He swung for my head; I grabbed his hand and twisted so he was on the ground. He freed himself with a spinning sweep kick, knocking me off balance enough to release him. He, sensed his advantage, came in with a series of lighting fast kicks. I dodged all of them, and countered with my own blocks and strikes. Roundhouse, down block, side kick, step left, in, jump turn roundhouse, punch follow-through, block, twist, dodge, axe kick, punch, side step, knee, step right, evasive spin, roundhouse.
Soon, we were both panting heavily, exhausted from the intense fight. Moyashi was laying on his back in the soft grass, one arm flung over his eyes. I leaned with my back up against a tree, both arms over my head. I glanced over to Moyashi. And his gloves are still on...
Slowly, I unsheathed Mugen. The fangirls, who were still watching, squealed with delight and excitement. I sent them my signature leave-or-die glare. Several got nosebleeds, and had to be escorted out by the others. I'll have to remember that one...
Sighing, I turned with my back to the school and Moyashi. I closed my eyes, running my fingers over the length of Mugen, mentally preparing myself. I opened my eyes, and began to move to the familiar motions. I completely focused on Mugen and my opponents. I forgot all about Moyashi. I felt my frayed nerves be soothed. Mugen... My constant companion... My only solstice...
When I had finished, I turned back to the school, and saw Moyashi still sitting in the grass. He was staring, watching my every move. I shifted uncomfortably.
"What?"
"N-nothing... Come on, let's go back to the room and get cleaned up."
"Che." I nodded in agreement. We began to walk back towards the dorms in silence.
"... Kanda?" Of course, just like the Usagi, he can't stay quiet for long.
"What."
"Thanks."
Allen's PoV
"Mana! Mana! Wake up, Mana! Manaaaaaa!"
Mana slumped down the wall of the alley, blood pooling around him. I gripped his shirt with my small hands, tears streamed down my face.
"Mana!" Rapid footsteps approached me, but I stay where I am.
"Allen? Oh, God! Allen!" Neah's voice came from behind me. I felt a gentle hand guide me away from Mana's body. Neah knelt down to check his pulse. He hung his head, tears building in his eyes. He pivots on his toes, still kneeling, and pulled me to him.
"I'm so sorry, Allen... It will be alright... I will find out which one did this, and they will pay." He whispered in my ear, as my tears soaked his shirt.
Blackness enveloped us. I found myself outside Uncle Neah's house. I knocked on the door, no answer. I pushed against the wood, and it gave in easily.
"Uncle? Are you here? Neah?" I wandered through his house. I approach his room, a dark stain was spreading from beneath the door. A sharp metallic scent reached my nose. Pushed open the door.
Neah laided in the center of room, covered in blood, just like Mana. A knife rested a few inches from Neah's unmoving form.
I jerked awake, covered in a cold sweat and trembling. I drew my knees up to my chest, and let the tears come. Almost immediately, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me.
"K-Kanda?"
"Che. Who else would it be Moyashi?" He rubbed circles on my back, and patiently held me to his chest until the trembling subsided and I could speak. I pushed away from him, so I could look at him.
"Talk. This has gone on long enough."
