Disclaimer: I own nothing remotely connected to D. Gray Man.

What's Love Got To Do With It

Chapter 10

Nozomi stood with her arms folded, her hand resting under her chin as she stared intently at the dress in the display window. The mannequin wore a long, svelte navy and sparkly Parisian strapless gown with pure white satin gloves. It was truly a beautiful gown, and she owned nothing like it, but she wondered if it would be too much for her and Cross's anniversary gala later that night.

"I think that would look absolutely amazing on you…" A husky voice whispered into her ear.

Nozomi refused to turn around as she could make out the fine silhouette of the person behind her clearly in the store window. She could feel those dark eyes burning holes into the back of her skull. "Don't you think you're a tad close?" She asked, gritting her teeth. His body was so close she could feel his warm breath tickling the fine hairs at the base of her neck.

"No, I don't." He coolly chuckled.

Nozomi turned to face Tyki, not the least bit surprised to see him dressed so nicely and smirking. He still dawned pieces of his suit, only without the over towering top hat. Nozomi saw a glint of life in his dark orbs, she'd almost forgotten how handsome he was… in every way. She felt her face heat up as he flashed her a grin.

"Don't tell me you're falling for me again," He chimed, waving an accusing finger at her.

"As if, lover boy. What are you doing in town dressed so formally?" She asked, giving a nonchalant roll of her eyes.

"I'm working," He replied. "Why are you here looking at dresses?" He nodded his head over at the display.

"Well if you must know, Tyki, I'm looking for something to wear to my anniversary gala tonight."

Tyki gave her an expression of mock shock then hurt. "And I wasn't invited? How very rude of you, Nozomi. Considering you wouldn't even be his if I had stuck around long enough." He slightly was regretting his last statement once he caught a glimpse of hurt flash in her large doe eyes. "All I'm saying is I'd at least like to meet the guy you're married to." Sighed Tyki.

"I don't know… he's got some serious jealously issues. I don't want my night reunited because of you two getting into a 'my thumb is bigger than your thumb' dispute." Nozomi said.

"Well, I don't mean to brag but I'm pretty damn sure my thumb is bigger." Tyki chuckled.

"My husband has a big gun, and he knows who to use it." Winked the pinkette. "Anyway, if you want to go that bad then I suppose you can… it's the least I can do." She said, giving him a kind smile. Tyki felt his heart flutter at her indirect gentleness, oh how he missed those days when he had the pinkette and her touches all to himself. But if it was for the sake of his own mission, then he was willing to show his face and act civil. He was going to be the first Noah to enter the order and he didn't want to mess anything up. True enough he felt bad tricking Nozomi (he had always had her best interest at heart, and who knows… maybe once he wiped out all the generals he could have her sweet little ass back to himself, maybe even get her working for the Earl himself), but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Tyki Mikk had a job to do, and he was never the one to disappoint.

"I promise to be on my best behavior," He smiled. "Did you get the orchids?"

"I did," She blushed, she'd never let him know she had them thrown away. "I haven't seen those in years... how did you know I worked at the order?" She asked.

"Hmmm… lucky guess." Tyki shrugged. It wasn't like he was spying on her per say, he was more interested in the generals as were all the Noah members. And her husband, the infamous General Cross, was on the top of their hit list. "Anyway, I'll see you tonight." He caressed her cheek with a glove hand before leaving her dumbfounded and blushing on the sidewalk.

Cross was always in total dismay around this time of year, simply because everyone (including all the people he'd wronged over the years) showed their faces at his and Nozomi's anniversary gala. He always looked forward to seeing his wife dressed down in her finest, looking just as beautiful as she had on their wedding day (not that she wasn't beautiful everyday), and enjoying herself. He lived to make her happy, or at least he tried to… it wasn't like she made things easy for him at times. For instance, her recent promotion as general. As much as he hated it, he would never hear the end of it if he allowed her to pass up such an offer… despite all the dangers circulating around those holding said title already. But Cross aimed to please, and he would do anything to make his beloved little pinkette smile… within means of course. It would be rude for the general to not be a great host, especially since his most dearest of friends wouldn't be joining them that evening. So with little remorse, he dressed in an all-white suit similar to the one he got married in with blue accents.

Cross, much to his surprise, turned out to be an excellent host. Normally General Yeegar and Klaud were the ones hosting the gala in the couples honor, but given the grim circumstances and Klaud off helping his wife get dressed, he had no choice but to face the crowd with no one but Timcanpy at his side. He bore the friendliest smile he had, greeting the entire guests, which were nothing more but his fellow coworkers in their finest garb. All commotion seemed to stop as he caught sight of Nozomi. She wore the finest form fitting gown in the deepest of blues; all her pink locks were pulled back into an elegant bun, a single strand of pearls at her pale neck. She smiled as she made her way through the crowd of finders and exorcists, each of them equally as taken back at how naturally beautiful the woman was. Klaud was with her, clad in a short plum dress, her blonde tresses in curls.

"My, well don't you look rather delicious." Cross grinned as he approached his wife. Nozomi turned to face him, gracing him with a dazzling smile.

"Well you clean up well yourself." She teased, giving him the sweetest of kisses. "So handsome…"

"Keep the complements coming, princess, and I'll reward you appropriately." Cross teased, giving her earlobe a gentle pull between his teeth. Never mind all the people who were surrounding them and undoubtedly watching the public display of affection- the man had no shame at all.

"Don't touch me," Nozomi blushed. She tried to moved but an arm wrapped strongly around her waist, keeping her in place.

"Please, you know you want me to touch you." Her husband snickered, Nozomi said nothing. He was far too cocky for his own good.

"I would like to thank you all for coming out tonight." Nozomi said as the crowd settled down. She stood, with Cross planted firmly at her side, his arm still coiled around her slim waist, at the top of the chapel's balcony where they over looked the crowed below. "We appreciate each and every one of you and the brave faces you wear despite our time of grieving. General Yeegar was dear to us all; it's because of him that we even have this gala every year. He wouldn't want us to mourn him, but celebrate his memory and all the wonderful times we shared with him. So, to General Yeegar… gone but not forgotten." She and Cross raised their wine glasses.

"To General Yeegar, gone but not forgotten." The crowed echoed, doing the same.

"Because of that old man and his ideas, it's become tradition for us to present our gifts to one another. I was given mine early, so Nozomi, happy anniversary dearest… this has truly been the best six years of my life." Cross said gingerly, handing his wife a box wrapped in paper the same shade as her hair. She knew it was cliché, but Nozomi smiled nonetheless at his efforts. Cross watched as she opened the box, her face lighting up as she held up the golden bracelet. It was a charm bracelet, stuffed with elegantly crafted charms, each charm representing something significant in their lives alongside different sized hearts, the largest charm being an engraved pearl flower with their names on it.

"This is beautiful," Nozomi gasped with the softest of blushes gracing her cheeks. "I love it."

"I'm glad you do… Kevin helped me pick this out too." He confessed quietly, placing it on her wrist and securing it with the satin ribbon. In his closeness, Nozomi noticed he bore the locket she had gotten him (a personalized locket with their wedding picture engraved on the inside and the date on the back). That must have been the general's last gift to the couple; it was almost like he knew his time was quickly coming to an end. She felt her eyes water at the thought.

"That's cute and all, but I at least thought it would be sexy lingerie." Lavi said, loud enough for nearly everyone to hear. Lenalee gasped at how rude he sounded, others laughed at how nonchalant he seemed with the whole ordeal, Allen, who had been right beside him at the time, just wanted to die from the embarrassment.

"Like I would give her something like that… with all of you present." Cross chuckled, wondering why he hadn't gotten her that in the first place. Not that he wasn't pleased with his gift, oh quite the contrary, but at the same time Nozomi's petite little body in sexy sheer lingerie or some role play would've always made for a great way to wrap up the evening.

"… Nu-huh boy, what are you thinking?" Nozomi asked, folding her arms as she gave her husband a narrow eyed glare, noticing his mind wondering gaze.

"Just all the things I'd love to do to you once we're done here." Cross replied with a wink.

"God… you're such a pervert." She sighed. "Just remember… don't drink too much, you're such a pain when you get drunk." Nozomi shuddered at the thought of her husband drunk with his fellow friends (Winters and a few people from the science department), and sulked at the horrors of the memory that popped up. Cross had been a complete mess that night (a night similar to that one sadly), and then ended it all whining to his poor worn out wife about how he wanted jelly filled donuts.

"I never get drunk," Cross said almost offended by her words. "But I've been all fucked up." He chuckled inwardly at the thought, or lack thereof since he never remembers a thing, as he grabbed a new glass of wine from a nearby table. Nozomi of course didn't see the difference but decided not to pressure him on it. After losing someone as close to him as General Yeegar was, he at least deserved to enjoy the night.

"I hope I'm not late." A cool voice said, taking her attention as far away from her husband as humanly possible. Nozomi turned to face Tyki, a blush instantly rising to her cheeks. Even after all this time away from him, he still could do little to nothing and still work up a storm within her.

"Tyki," She smiled kindly. "You're just in time…have something to drink, eat…mingle." She said, gesturing about them.

"No I'm fine, I just came to see you. You look beautiful." He said, admiring how well her body had filled out over the years. If she was beautiful when she was with him, then she was out of this world now. She was like a rare wine; she got a hell of a lot better with age. He instantly hated the bastard that had snatched her away from him, but deep down he couldn't help but blame himself. Maybe if he had been "home" that night, she'd still belong to him; that would be his ring on her finger. No use crying over spilled milk right? …Right? "Here, these are for you." He said, handing her a small bouquet of blue orchids. Nozomi eagerly took them, giving them a sniff as she held them close.

"Thanks Tyki," She said sweetly. "I love them."

"I know… I figured you didn't keep the ones I originally sent." He said.

"How do you know that?" Nozomi asked, her head tilting to the side.

"Because I know you," Tyki replied with a halfhearted chuckle. "And I know you always try to please others without taking yourself into consideration." This caused Nozomi's blush to deepen.

"And you're still smoking I see." She countered. Nozomi could still vividly picture all the days she would come home from work to find him lounging on the couch in front of the TV, wearing nothing but his underwear and smoking this second or third cigarette that evening. His shaggy wavy hair tussled about his face as he would shoot her a grin after her scolding him about smoking in the house, the same grin he gave her now.

"Of course," He said. "I'll quit when I'm dead."

"Who is this?" Nozomi nearly jumped out of her skin as Cross suddenly appeared beside her, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist. Tyki gave the red headed man a knowing look, rather tickled that his ex-lover was married to the man he was hired to kill. The very man he had seen no more than a day ago. He had to stifle a snicker as the man studied him closely.

"This is Tyki Mikk," Nozomi said, her face flushing. Cross stiffened at this but remained cordial nevertheless. So this was the man before him, he didn't seem like much but of course he wouldn't be fooled by the man's looks. The air among both men thick with awkward tension, the awkward being completely one sided. Nozomi just stood quietly, hoping her husband wouldn't flip a table after the passing of the brief silence.

"Very nice to meet you, I'm Cross Marian." He said, offering a hand to shake.

"The pleasure is mine." Said Tyki, offering the latter a firm shake of his own. Cross arched a questionable brow to him.

"You seem oddly familiar, have we meet before?" He asked.

Tyki's smile didn't falter an inch as he gave the man a grin, "I get that a lot, but no I don't think we have." He replied. "I saw 'Omi in town today looking for dresses when she invited me." Cross's finely arched brow gave a twitch at the nickname he had for his wife, his grip on her waist slightly tightening.

"Did she?" Nozomi scratched the back of her neck in a nervous manner as she felt Cross's eye boring deeply onto him. "It's not everyday outsiders are invited in, she must really trust you." Said Cross, stifling back what he really wanted to say. Nozomi shifted uncomfortably as she took small, quick sips from her wine glass.

"Well we were lovers after all," Tyki shrugged as he picked up a nearby wine glass.

'God… he wants me to get killed…' Nozomi blanched at the mentioning of their past. Of course Cross knew about their history from all the night she woke up screaming the other man's name like bloody murder, but to have said man very much alive and well, right there talking about it was an entirely different story. Cross nearly snapped a blood vessel as he struggled to keep his cool.

"Well all of that is in the past now," Said Cross. "She's happily married now."

"Happily? That's funny." Tyki chuckled under his breath, taking a sip of his wine.

"What's funny?" Cross asked, sitting his half empty glass down. He released his hold on Nozomi, meaning he was nearing a breaking point, getting ever so close to smashing the other man's face in.

"Hey!" Nozomi said sharply, drawing both their attentions. "This is for our anniversary Cross, and in Kevin's memory… don't you dare do anything to ruin this night. And as for you Tyki, I told you to behave… I expected more from you." She said. Cross exhaled deeply grumbling an apology as he draped an arm around her once again. She looked at Tyki expectantly waiting for him to do the same.

"I apologize, I have no right to try and ruin your night." He said sincerely. "I've accomplished what I came here for, I'll see you around. Enjoy the orchids." He gave a bow, stealing one last glance at Nozomi, which left her blushing all over again, before turning to leave.

Once the infamous stranger could no longer be seen, Cross led Nozomi out into a nearby hallway. "What the hell was that?" He all but raged.

"I told him to behave," Nozomi defended.

"What was he even doing here? Looking at you like that? Like he still loved you? Made my skin crawl! I wanted to vomit watching him talk to you!" Cross bellowed.

"Tyki knows I'm married, he knows that he can't have me anymore." Said Nozomi.

"He knows, huh? Seems to me like he mocked the entire thing! Have you told him about us? Did you tell him you weren't happy?" He asked. Cross felt a twinge of hurt fall over him, married all this time just to find out from someone else that the most important person to him wasn't happy? That was more powerful that any blow and hurt him the most.

"I-I didn't say I wasn't happy, I just said that no marriage is perfect." She said.

"So he's just knows everything that goes on between us?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying at all." Nozomi felt her eyes swell with tears, she wondered if inviting Tyki had been a huge mistake… which it obviously was. Because now her perfect evening had gone out the window, replaced by this heated argument with the very person she was supposed to be celebrating with. "I didn't tell him I wasn't happy… I'm very happy… I'm happy Cross." She sniffled, turning away from him.

"Soooo how'd it gooooo?" Road asked as licked happily on an oversized lollipop. Tyki entered through the doors to the main room in the Noah house, joining his fellow members at the overly large table. Everyone was present except for the Earl himself.

"Fine, I guess." He said, shrugging off his jacket as he sank into his assigned chair.

"Still can't believe after all these years you're still following behind that human's ass like a lost puppy." Skinn Snickered.

"Have you not seen that human? I'd tie her down at have my way with her any day!" Jasdevi laughed manically, earning a fearful glare from the third apostle.

"I love her, what can I say?" Grinned Tyki, slyly.

"But she's married to Cross," Countered Road with a snicker of her own. This is why he bothered to not get those fools involved in his personal affairs; everyone seemed to have something they wanted to say.

"Not for long, not at the rate of their marriage. She'll either leave that bastard or I'll kill him first, I'm perfectly fine with either one. Besides, when all of this is over, no matter how things play out, I will have her bent over and withering beneath me once again."

A/N: Two chapters in like a day! I'm on a roll! Thanks for the reviews, I love them! ^^ The line "I never get drunk… but I've been all fucked up" is from this standup special I watched with Geroge Lopez, I figured that suited Cross perfectly. And with his bad ass personality, I figured a drunk Cross would be the polar opposite of that. Anyways, thank you for reading and please review! XOXOXO