A/N: How long has it been? One month? Two? Anyways I'm back oh man this chapter it's intense…lol well at least I hope it is…Anyways let's get on to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own -man

Warning: Unbetaed

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Ch.11: A Hand To Hold

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Lavi stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Kanda with wide eyes. Were his ears mistaking him? It seemed too good to be true those four words he'd been waiting to hear all this time had finally been said.

Kanda's face looked as though he'd been surprised at what he'd said but he didn't seem to regret it. It was finally time for him to let go.

"Yuu...really?"

"Yes, call off the search. Tell them that their services will no longer be needed."

Lavi stared at him with his jaw dropped but quickly hurried to compose himself. "Got it!" He then ran out of Kanda's office with a huge smile on his face.

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As Allen walked towards Kanda's office to give him the latest updates on his schedule he was bumped into by an ecstatic red-head.

Lavi quickly apologized to him before running to the nearest elevator with a smile still glued to his face. Allen was rather surprised but managed to compose himself before walking into his boss's office.

"Mr. Kanda?" When he didn't hear a response he slowly opened the door and found his boss lost in thought and staring intensely at a picture frame.

"Mr. Kanda?" Allen tried again and this time he managed to get his boss's attention.

Kanda placed the picture frame face down before turning to look at his assistant with tired eyes. "What is it?"

"I-are you ok?"Allen asked placing his black clipboard down on one of the guest chairs.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" Allen asked more concerned.

Kanda gave Allen a bitter smile. "Yes I'm sure."

Deciding not to dwell on the topic any longer Allen resumed his assistant mode and started to list the latest updates to his boss's schedule as well as the list of people who'd called wishing to arrange an appointment with Mr. Kanda. Halfway through the list Allen noticed that he no longer had his boss's attention.

'He's never been this distracted before.' Allen chewed his bottom lip debating on what to do next. He really needed his boss's attention right now.

He didn't have to make a decision as his boss stood up from behind his chair with a frustrated sigh. "Cancel all the meetings I had today and reschedule them for a later date. I need some time to clear off my head."

"I-Yes sir. Can you tell me where you're going?"

"I don't know." Kanda said as he closed the door behind him and left his office leaving behind a worried Allen.

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It'd been three hours before Allen started to grow anxious. He knew that his boss was a grown man capable of taking care of himself but the way the man had behaved before leaving was what worried him the most. He'd seemed empty as though he'd just lost something really important to him.

'Please let him be ok.' Allen thought to himself as he arranged tomorrow's schedule trying to distract himself.

Right now it was 5:00 p.m., Mr. Kanda hadn't come back and it didn't seem like he'd come back after all in a few more hours it would be almost time to go home. It'd be pointless to show up right now but Allen still hoped that he would show up.

Allen continued to work for another hour before he lost it. He needed to know where his boss was, he hadn't called the office once since he'd left.

Allen tried calling Mr. Kanda's cellphone only to be sent straight to voice mail. 'President of Mugen Corporation, leave your message after the beep.'

'Fuck.' Allen thought as he was sent to voice mail for the fourth time. Without wasting time Allen called the next person he thought would know where Mr. Kanda would be.

"Lavi?" Allen asked as he heard the other male pick up his cellphone.

"The one and only." Lavi responded.

"I need your help."

"What's wrong?" Lavi asked hearing the desperation in Allen's voice.

"It's Kanda."

"What's wrong with Kanda?" Lavi asked starting to grow worried. When he'd left said male's office he'd seemed perfectly okay.

"He's gone! Three hours ago he just got up out of his office and left. I asked him where he was going but he said that he didn't know."

"Three hours ago?"

"Yes three hours ago, I thought he was going to be back after an hour or so but he hasn't come back nor called. Please Lavi we need to find him. When he left he didn't seem like his usual self, something was bothering him."

"Did he tell you what was bothering him?"

"No, he didn't. But that doesn't matter right now can you please tell me where he could be? I just-I need to know he's okay." Allen pleaded desperately with the red-head.

"Don't worry I have a few ideas as to where he could be and I'll find him and make sure he goes back home. I'll call you as soon as I find him."

"Thank you." Allen said as he heard the other hang up the phone.

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'Where could you be Kanda?" Lavi thought as he drove around town. He'd already visited a few of the cafés, restaurants and hangouts Kanda used to frequent with Alma but with no luck.

He had a faint idea as to why Kanda had walked out of his office and he understood him to a certain extent. However it'd been 5 hours since they'd last seen Kanda and he was starting to grow desperate. It didn't help that the sky was starting to darken and the wind was picking up.

'Kanda I swear if you don't show up soon when I find you I'm going to embarrass you so badly in front of your workers that you'll think twice before ever pulling something like this again.' Lavi thought to himself bitterly smiling.

'Where else can I look? I'm running out of places to search for him.' Lavi continued to drive without any destination in mind right now. He couldn't seem to think of another place to look for him. He racked his brain for more clues as to where Kanda could be. Then it hit him like a pile of bricks.

In the large park located among a crowded forest of trees there was a pond which was home to light pink lotus flowers. The pond was a secret location that he'd found out about accidentally through Alma 5 years ago when the raven haired man had been upset about his brother's death. He'd asked Alma why he'd left the older male and he'd responded by saying that Kanda needed to be alone and that the lotuses would calm him down.

'Found you.' Lavi thought as he made a u turn and sped up.

In a matter of minutes he'd arrived at the park. He didn't know exactly the pond's location but he knew where the forest of trees was located so maybe if he wandered in far enough he'd find Kanda.

"Yuu!" Lavi shouted as he ran into the forest. "C'mon I know you're out here!"

"Yuu! Yuu-chan!" Lavi continued to shout as he dwelled deeper into the forest. "Kanda! Answer me!"

He felt a drop of water splatter across his face and his sense of urgency increased. "Kanda show yourself! It's about to start raining!"

As he continued to run in the forest it started to rain harshly making it almost impossible for him to see anything. Despite his limited vision after 10 minutes he saw a small clearing straight ahead. He ran faster hoping that he'd found what he was looking for.

As he neared the clearing he realized that he'd found the pond with pink lotus flowers. A figure in a white shirt and black trousers was crouched near the edge of the pond staring longingly at the lotuses. He'd found Kanda.

"Kanda!" This time when he shouted his name Kanda heard him and turned to look at him surprised to see the red-head in his secret spot.

When Lavi finally reached Kanda he pulled him into a tight bone crushing man-hug.
"You're a real bastard for making Allen and I worry."

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After being reassured that Lavi would find Kanda, Allen managed to calm down slightly. He now knew that they'd find the raven-haired man with Lavi's help. He knew that he wasn't thinking straight enough to continue working so he turned in for the day and called a taxi to take him to the Black Order Daycare.

"Daddy is there something wrong?" Lenalee asked as her dad pulled her into a tight hug.

"No, everything's just fine." Allen said lying through his teeth.

"Are you sure?" Lenalee could feel that her dad was hiding something from her.

"I'm sure Lena."

"Where's Mr. Samurai Prince?"

"...he's had a long day so he's taking a break."

"Is he okay?" Lenalee asked concerned.

"I don't know." Allen whispered softly.

There was a silence between the two.

"Everything's going to be alright daddy." Lenalee said trying to reassure her father.

"I hope so."

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When they'd arrived home Allen had looked around the house hoping to possibly find Kanda. When there was no sign of said man he decided to start making dinner, hopefully by the time he finished he'd have news on the raven haired man's whereabouts.

As he turned on the stove he heard a loud thunder resonate throughout the house. It was raining.

'Please be okay.' Allen thought as he continued to make dinner. It was now 7:45 and there was still no sign of Mr. Kanda. Dinner had been prepared but left untouched Allen wasn't in a mood to eat and Lena, sensing her father's worry, decided to wait by his side for Mr. Samurai Prince rather than eat dinner.

He continued to wait in silence for what felt like an eternity before he heard the sound of two cars parking in the driveway. Without missing a beat Allen quickly rushed to open the door.

A soaking wet Kanda made his way towards the house's entrance, however before he could even reach the door the wind was knocked out of him as his white haired assistant pulled him into a tight hug.

"Don't ever do that again." Allen whispered from his place in Kanda's arms.

"I won't." Kanda replied honestly as he let the younger male continue to hug him. He'd gone to the lotus pond to think. He'd looked at his life from another point of view and realized that he'd let himself be miserable for too long. He couldn't continue to live the way he had until now.

Forgetting about Alma was the first step it wouldn't be easy but then again most things in life aren't easy. Somehow he'd forget about Alma and move on with his life. He was still hurt from Alma's betrayal but in time it would turn into a dull ache.

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A/N: So how was it? Was it good? Bad? Oh man you guys should stop me from starting news stories I'm seriously considering adding another one right after A Superstar Only for You (which you guys should check out ;) ) Lol well I'm done promoting myself here. Anyways until next time and let's see if we can reach 176 reviews! Can you believe we've passed the 100 mark and are getting closer to the 200 mark? We should celebrate when we reach the 200 mark I'll maybe do a double update or draw a cute pic for this story? Whatever you guys want~

Oh before I go anyone wanna be my beta reader? Anyone? It'd be awesome if you could read over my story beforehand and tell me if it's ready to publish. Beta reader positions are open for: A Hand to Hold, The Subtle Art of Murder, and A Superstar Only for You.