Hey guys! So I know I've got other stories that haven't been as updated as frequently, but I liked this, and apparently I missed Kanda's birthday... oops... so Happy Bleated Birthday to Yuu!
Hope you guys like this!
Allen stood in shock at the sight of the imposing woman, her painted lips pursed and her head standing proud. Dark hair that rivalled her son's was tied in a knot at the top of her head, an ornate hairpin keeping it in its place, the trinket worth more than Allen had probably ever seen.
"And just who are you?"
Both young men jumped at the curt voice, the silver and cobalt flickering at each other while they desperately searched for an answer.
"H-He… He's u-uh-"
"Hiro."
Kanda's eyes widened at the word Allen blurted out, his mouth open slightly as he tried to form a coherent sentence.
"I-I'm Hiro," Allen pressed on, his lips pulling into a convincing poker face with a sweet smile, "it's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."
Eyes quickly flickered up and down the lithe form with what Allen could only assume was distain.
"You're Hiro?" she question, "you sounded… taller on the phone."
"Can't trust reception out here," the younger joked weakly, "but, this seems private so… I'll just be off then-"
"Oh no you won't!"
Again Allen jumped as he turned to look at the sever woman, her lips pulled in what looked like a permanent frown.
"B-But you said I couldn't-couldn't st-stay-"
"Changed my mind," the woman muttered, "I don't recall hearing or seeing you come in," she commented, taking a careful step towards him, "so just how did you get in my house?"
"I-I-I…"
"I let him in from the back of the house," Kanda jumped in, his voice holding a tone of what Allen could only describe and resentment towards his mother, "I was aware how much you hate visitors-"
"And since when do you want friends over?" his mother interrupted, "since when do you have friends?"
"He just came over to return a jacket I left when I was over at his place," the elder told her, "he was leaving now-"
"Why so soon?" the woman questioned, her tone laced with something that made Allen shudder in fear, "why don't you stay for dinner?"
"Because you said that we're having important company," her son growled, the younger feeling trapped in the middle of their fight, "you also said he had to leave, now."
"And he can join us," she smiled sweetly to Allen, the entire effect resembling a snake that had seen a terrified mouse, "I'd like to know more about you, Hiro."
"You and me both," Allen mumbled, forcing a smile to his lips, hoping the effect wasn't ruined by the churning in his stomach, "but… I'm not properly dressed-"
"I doubt you have anything better," Kanda's mother started, turning on her heel and moving out of the room, "but if you must, Kanda should have something you can borrow."
The echoing slam resonated in the room, both young men left standing awkwardly together.
"S… So," Allen started, swallowing thickly, "think… think I could uh-"
"No," Kanda told him bluntly, "no, no, and no. Because this isn't happening… this cannot be happening…"
"I think… it just did," the younger mumbled, "that or we're both having the same fever dream-"
A hand smacked the back of the white hair, the cobalt boring holes into him.
"Well done," Kanda seethed, "you've managed to screw me over, brav-fucking-o!"
"What did I do!?" Allen defended, "I just came over to see you! You could have mentioned your mother was coming!"
"I told you to get out!" the elder snarled, "you were too damn stubborn to listen and now we're both screwed!"
"How!?"
"Because now she's going to hound you for answers and bust my ass!" the dark eyes narrowed further, "good job!"
"Oh don't bite my head off!" the younger retorted, "look, all I gotta do I lie my way through what, an hour and a half dinner? It won't be a problem!"
Kanda just stared at the younger in disbelief, his face torn between killing and fainting.
"Please let this be a hallucination," Kanda muttered, "please let me be dead and or dying…"
"If what you told me about your mother is correct, you might be," Allen pointed out.
"Is your brain missing?" the elder asked, "what the Hell is wrong with you!?"
"Just staying positive," the young man shrugged, "I've learned that if you don't, you're liable to go insane."
"Like I am now," hands reached to rub the black locks.
"Just give me a quick run-down of what you made up with Shiro and Hiro and I can wing it from there," Allen tried to convince him, "if I run now, she's gonna know something's up, regardless of what you tell her."
"You're insinuating she doesn't already," the elder muttered, "fine. I'll see if I have any clothes that fit you, but I don't think I have any of my baby clothes," Kanda snapped bitterly at him.
Finally giving in, Kanda led Allen through the manor, grumbling all the while; Allen too interested in the enormity of the house to be offended by any snide comments.
Kanda's summer home made the one he was housesitting seem like a country cottage. Everything from the floors they walked on to the furniture and what covered them screamed wealth and made Allen think simply looking at it was a crime. There was a way Kanda walked which seemed to avoid the area an item occupied, giving it a wide berth to avoid damaging the aura around a vase or a table.
The younger felt his skin crawl at the simple perfection the house emanated, how everything was in its proper place and not a centimeter off. Not one fleck of dust dared float to the lacquered tables and tarnish the sterling silver, no drafts ruffled the table cloths and upset the order of the unnatural world.
"N-Nice house," Allen managed to stammer out as he followed the strong back up the stairs, his hands not even daring to touch the railing for fear of leaving greasy fingerprints.
"Don't patronize me," Kanda snapped as they walked down the carpeted halls towards his bedroom, "it's creepy as Hell and looks like no one lives here."
Not wanting to argue with Kanda's mother so close, Allen followed the elder into his room, the silver eyes noting the bareness of the walls and the emptiness of the shelves, no trinkets, no memories, no photos, just textbooks and some classic novels.
After catching the pants and shirt Kanda threw to him, both young men dressed quickly, Kanda in black pants and a jacket, Allen in similar but found most of the jackets too big for him, opting for a simple black vest instead. Hair fixed at Kanda's request, the two made their way down to the front hall, Kanda's mother seen ordering what Allen would assume to be the chef to work faster.
"Yuu! Hiro!"
The mystery of Kanda's barking voice was quickly solved, his mother's tone snapping like a mouse trap and making him, and possibly even Kanda, jump.
"Come here," she ordered, a lump of anger forced down Kanda's throat while Allen tried to remain calm.
"Yuu! Straighten your tie, tuck in the shirt properly, fix that mane you call hair and for goodness sake stop with the attitude!"
Allen was impressed with her speed and ability to attempt to straighten any imperfection she saw within her son and Kanda's ability to hold his tongue despite obvious resentment he had to her.
It was reasonable for Allen when her narrowed eyes turned to him, her nose held high and her face twisted into something that resembled a person who had something foul under their nose.
"I suppose that's all I can expect from you," she sighed as though in defeat, her body turning from the two of them as the doorbell rang, "and stop sighing Yuu!"
The silver eyes flickered up to the elder who, as per his mother's request, had his tongue between his teeth, his eyes looking as though he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"So… um…" Allen started, the silence around them thick enough to cut with a knife, "wh-who's coming to dinner?"
At this Kanda turned to look at him, his brow raised in scepticism.
"Do you remember me mentioning something about my mother wanting me to have a girlfriend?" Kanda asked, pressing on at Allen's nod, "well, I lied."
"About?" the younger goaded.
"About the girlfriend part," Kanda told him, "what she's actually trying to do is set me up with a wife."
Allen looked up in shock at the elder, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape.
"But… isn't that… archaic?" the young man asked, his eyes flickering over Kanda's expressions.
"A bit," the other shrugged, "not all that uncommon actually; my parents did it-"
"Speaking of which, I haven't met your dad yet," Allen commented, "is he…"
"He generally doesn't join us," Kanda told him, a hint of sorrow in his voice, "not a business dinner, so it doesn't concern him."
Any comment the younger had was silenced as Kanda mother re-entered the room where they stood, two women, a mother and daughter, at her heels.
"So, Mrs. Takaumi and Riko, this is my son, Kanda Yuu," the woman had suddenly adopted a somewhat professional and happy demeanour, "and this is his acquaintance, Hiro."
Following Kanda's suit, Allen bowed low to the other guests, them doing the same, a bright smile on the young woman across from them. She was very much like her mother, beautiful with straight and shiny black hair that was tied up in a neat bun. She was petite too, her figure slim even in her floral patterned dress.
"It's nice to finally meet you Yuu," she smiled cheerfully, "and you too Hiro! I didn't know we were having company, but it's nice all the same."
"I'm sorry for dropping in like this," Allen murmured, noting how her mother was looking over both her potential son-in-law and himself, "I hope I'm not bothering you."
"Not at all! I love meeting new people," Riko told him exuberantly, the younger noting how her mother seemed to give him something that resembled a nod of approval, "so? Shall we sit down for dinner?"
Surprisingly, Kanda's mother said nothing as the girl took over the reins of the conversation, her arms slipping around Kanda's as she began formally introducing herself to him, Allen holding back a grin at her seemingly incisive chatter, knowing it would bother Kanda to no end.
The table was set for five, Allen at first thinking his intrusion was too early to make a place for him, but quickly learned that Kanda's father would not be joining them.
"Why not?" Allen asked as he was instructed to sit between Kanda's mother and the elder.
"Father never joins these things unless business is involved," the other grumbled, a hint of resentment detected in his voice, though the younger decided not to dwell on it.
Dinner was a rather upscale affair, the appetizer consisting of duck liver with a bitter salad, the flavours something Allen was unaccustomed too, but not entirely against. Their discussions ranged from what Kanda did to Riko's pursuits, the conversation steered away from their mystery guest.
Until the entrée arrived.
"So, Hiro," Kanda's mother started, "it's an interesting name you have."
"I assume you mean for someone British," Allen finished as he cut into his stuffed duck, "my parents are big into Japanese culture, and my mom thought it was interesting."
"Sounds like you should have been named Shiro," she glanced to her son, her eyes narrowed while his were in defiance.
"Name was already taken," the younger shrugged, laughing weakly.
"You sound like you're close to your cousin," the woman pressed on, "tell me about him."
Allen was thankful that Kanda could control his look of surprise as the younger rattled off every little detail the elder told him about the imaginary Shiro, from his birthday to his school and place of birth. Even Kanda's mother seemed impressed with his memory, her body leaning back as she let the young man finished his chicken.
"I see," she looked towards Allen, "so where are you staying this summer Hiro?"
The drink Allen had in his mouth returned to his glass quicker than he anticipated, a napkin to his chin to mop up what he had spilt.
"I… beg your pardon?"
"Your house," she repeated, "where is it?"
"I-I uh… I don't really remember-"
"Surely you must," Kanda's mother suddenly jumped in, fixating on Allen.
"I-I really-"
"Go on," she smiled sweetly, her head tilting like a praying mantis that was about to decapitate its mate.
"Well… see, I don't really know the-the numbers and street name," Allen murmured thinking quickly on his feet, "I've got dyslexia see and-and it's really hard to remember things like that," he sniffled quietly, his fingers reaching to wipe a tear from his eye, "it's rather embarrassing, actually."
"So… how long are you staying here?" Riko started, the young man across from her catching her fascination.
"Just for the summer," Allen mumbled, "then I go back off to school."
"Which is where?" Kanda mother's voice cut in.
"Overseas," the younger thought fast, "England."
"You've been to England!?" the young woman announced excitedly.
"Yeah," the other shrugged, "and other places. D-Dad's a travel writer," Allen fabricated, "so… we travel a lot."
"Oh really!?" Riko squealed excitedly, "where to?"
"Um… well," the silver eyes flickered upward as he thought back, "we've been to India… China… Africa-"
"That's amazing!" the young woman giggled, "which one was your favorite?"
"Oh… um," Allen thought back, "I guess… India was my favorite."
"Really? Why? Was it the culture? The music? The cities? The shopping?"
"The food was amazing," the young man grinned, "boy can they cook…"
"But there must've been something else," Riko pouted at the answer Allen gave here, "the food can't be the only thing."
"Well… I made a really close friend over there," Allen explained, neglecting the fact that they met because his sister worked for Cross' latest mistress, "that always helps."
Kanda said nothing as he glanced to the younger, his face a mixture of bliss and sadness.
"So, Yuu," Riko started.
"Kanda," the elder interrupted her, "I prefer to be called by my family name."
"But… doesn't that get confusing with your parents-?"
"That's not my problem," Kanda muttered as he speared his chicken.
"Yuu!" his mother barked, her fist slamming on the table, her son looking at her, the muscle in his jaw twitching as he sighed.
"So um… y-you were saying… Riko?" Allen asked the young woman, hoping to ease the tension in the dining room.
"O-Oh, right," she nodded, suddenly appearing nervous-looking, "um… y-your birthday's coming up… right? K-Kanda?"
"What of it?" Kanda turned his attention back to her, her fallen face now perking up.
"So… I hear you'll be joining us at the country club for it; won't that be exciting!?"
At this Kanda said nothing but shrugged, his face bored as he looked away from the table.
"Um… Mrs. Kanda," the young man started, hoping that his nervousness wasn't ebbing through, "would you like me to help Kanda get the dessert?"
At this she looked up from her son to the young man, Allen's smile weak though he seemed sincere.
"Very well," she nodded, "Yuu."
Kanda silently agreed, taking the dishes as he had done for the appetizers. That was another thing that surprised the young man; despite them hiring a chef to prepare dinner, they had no serving staff, meaning Kanda had to remove the plates and bring them out for the guests.
"Thanks for that," the young man muttered once the two of them were in the privacy of the kitchen.
"Figured you could get out of there," Allen grinned, "and you're welcome."
For once Allen didn't linger on the thank you he received from the elder, the two searching around the kitchen before Kanda started once more.
"You can cry on command?" Kanda asked sceptically.
"Cry, laugh, sneeze and burp," Allen announced proudly, "you'd be surprised how much the last one comes in handy."
"Thought it'd be the first," the elder muttered sarcastically.
"You'd think, but no," the young man grinned, "um… where are the-"
"Fridge," Kanda muttered, "we're having some sort of pudding for desert."
Nodding his thanks, Allen grabbed at least two of the bowls, careful not to disturb the aesthetics of the dessert.
"So… what do you think of Riko?" the younger asked with a teasing laugh.
"I think it'd be nicer if we met under other circumstances," the elder muttered, "and I think you shouldn't be stringing her along like that."
"Like what!?"
"When she asked you where you've been," Kanda snapped, "she meant Countries, not fast food places."
"Interestingly, that was the part I didn't fabricate," Allen retorted, "I really have been to all those places."
A dark eyebrow rose as he pulled down the bowls from the china cabinet.
"Really?"
"And the Himalayas, Italy, France," his shoulders shrugged, "Cross has an amazing talent of finding some 'financer' and send us somewhere untouchable."
"Financer?"
"Some rich woman he seduces," Allen grumbled, "it gets really boring after the first time."
"What about schooling?" Kanda asked as he gestured to the silverware drawer for the younger.
"Learned the language and transferred schools," his hands pulled the spoons from their holders, "what I didn't learn, I took online."
Allen gripped the desserts as he passed them around the table, the mood considerably lightened until late evening when the five of them wrapped up.
"It was nice to see you Kanda," Riko nodded as she stood with her mother, her light summer coat over her body, flushing lightly as she turned to Allen, "it was really nice to meet you, Hiro."
"Likewise," Allen smiled to her, "it was great to meet you too."
Bashfully, the young woman stepped to the white-haired man, her fingers passing him a white sheet.
"Um… call me?"
The young man looked shocked for a moment before he smiled warmly, "yeah, sure thing!"
Had Allen turned around, he would have seen not one set of angered eyes, but a second, both of which were a steely blue.
"Kanda," the elder woman started once the door was shut behind the two guests, "give Hiro back his clothes and send him home."
There was no other communication between the two young men as they dressed in casual clothes and made their way out the back door towards the house next door.
"Are you honestly going to call her?" Kanda asked suddenly, his eyes sceptical as he looked over Allen, the two having swung over the fences.
"Maybe," Allen shrugged, "she's cute! That, and it might piss you off…"
"Yeah right," the elder snorted, "I'm just wondering what she sees in you."
"Well I'm funny!"
"So are clowns," Kanda muttered.
"And she thinks I'm cute-"
"So is a puppy," the elder shot back, "just tell to get one, she'll replace you in a heartbeat!"
Silver eyes looked over the young man next to him, wondering what made him suddenly so bitter.
"Hey," Allen started, "can you come up for a minute? I got something I wanna show you."
Sceptical, Kanda nodded slowly, following the other into the house, waiting by the kitchen as Allen returned with his laptop in hand.
"You wanted to show me you have a computer?" the dark eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"No," Allen glowered at him, "my pictures."
Kanda looked over the younger's shoulder as the screen booted up, the glow illuminating both their faces for a moment before Allen flicked through his pictures, Kanda watching as images of a younger Allen smiling in front of various scenes, sometimes with people near him or hugging him.
"See," Allen turned to Kanda with a satisfied smirk, "pictures of India, Africa, China, the Himalayas-"
"So you're good at Photoshop," Kanda grumbled, "big deal."
"Believe it or not, but there's your evidence," Allen grinned as he flicked through the pictures.
"How old were you?"
The younger looked up to the man over his shoulder, the arms crossed over the back of the couch as he looked at the picture of the young man with another, more tanned child.
"Bout twelve?" Allen guessed, shrugging while the elder looked to him.
"About?" Kanda repeated, "you don't know?"
"Told you, my adoptive father found me… we didn't even know when I was really born," the younger explained, "we just made my birthday the day my father found me."
Humming softly, Kanda stood slowly from his spot, his body straightening as he reached for his phone.
"Well, thanks for not screwing me," Kanda muttered, "my mother bought it… for now at least."
"You're going home I take it?" Allen asked as he closed the laptop lid and walked with Kanda to the door.
"Yeah," the elder muttered, "dishes to do."
Nodding in awkwardness, Allen felt the summer's night air brush over his face, Kanda reaching to swing his legs over the balcony.
"Oh! One more thing."
Kanda's dark eyebrow raised in confusion.
"When's you're birthday?"
The elder returned to stand on the deck, his face looking towards Allen.
"Why do you ask?" he pressed, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Riko mentioned it… and I'm just curious," Allen shrugged, "so?"
Kanda's lips pressed into a thin line, his body still defensive towards the young man in front of him.
"June 6th," Kanda finally admitted, "but I'm spending it with my family."
"Wasn't offering to throw you a party," Allen told him, "but… Happy Birthday."
Kanda watched as the young man's face fell slightly, his lips curling downward before he moved towards his exit.
"Yeah," he sighed softly, "thanks… by the way…"
Allen became incredibly confused at the words, his head tilting slightly as he looked towards his elder.
"For what?" the younger asked.
"For being there," Kanda muttered, his head turning away from Allen, "you… kinda made it bearable…"
"Oh… well… you're welcome then," Allen grinned, "gee, this is the… third thank you I've gotten? Are you sick?"
"Don't expect it too often," the elder snapped.
"Don't worry… I won't," the mismatched arms crossed over one another, a teasing smirk on his lips as he watched Kanda disappear off the balcony, wondering why the elder looked down at the mention of his Birthday. A slow smile spread over his lips, wondering if there was something he could do to change his attitude.
Phew! So, reviews? Hope it wasn't too rushed.
