Author's note: After this chapter there will be only one left. I want to say a massive thank you to all of you fellow readers for following, reviewing and making this story your favourite. But luckily, I have another D. Gray-man fanfiction in the works. And a massive thank you to my beta that has also became my friend through this journey so give a massive clap to Hanashi o suru whom made this fic better than I could hope for.
Warnings: Character death
The race was on, and their opponent was time itself. Allen, Mana, and Link were going as fast as their horses could take them, knowing the figurative clock was ticking away. It was only a matter of time before the villagers, in all their fear and newfound hatred, would make it to Kanda's estate.
With each minute he wasn't back there, Allen could only feel more and more dread fill his veins, becoming ice rushing below his skin.
Please, gods, oh please…let me get there in time!
. . - * - . .
"Tyki," Wisely had spoken up, looking to his long-term friend and idol with unhidden concern, "what do we do as soon as we find the beast?"
The elder chuckled darkly, though didn't turn to face the younger man, "I would assume it to be quite obvious, Wisely. We're going to kill the beast and have his head as a friendly little memento to hang over the mantel of my fireplace."
"…I have one last question." The golden-eyed younger stated. He didn't wait for Tyki's response, "What is Allen Walker to you?"
. . - * - . .
Before they knew it, the servants were able to see the flaming torches and glinting metal of pitchforks just breeching the estate's garden. "Don't just stand there, barricade the door!" Komui called out, already rushing to the entryway.
The doors were already being threatened by the sheer force of the mob's make-shift battering ram. They moved quickly when provoked, didn't they?
"You heard him!" Reever barked out, "Get to it!"
"This is bad! Bad, bad, bad!" Lavi grit out, doing what he could to keep the barrier shut with his small normally inanimate body. "Why did it come to this?! Oi! Marie, you're the biggest and heaviest here right now! Help us!"
"I got it." Marie spoke up, allowing himself to walk up and place himself near the doors himself. "I'm not sure how long we can keep them at bay."
"We need a plan…" Komui said through grit teeth. "Lavi, you're supposed to be Kanda's best friend, aren't you?"
"I doubt he'll listen to what I have to say." The mug muttered.
"Try!" Reever ordered, "We need Kanda more than ever, and there's only so much we can do."
"Don't let those fucking dick-heads in this castle!" Shouted Lavi, as he rushed up the stairs.
It wasn't left unheard of Miranda's scolding, "Lavi, we may be trying to save our home but please don't say anything rude. Imagine what your grandfather will say!"
"Hey, he'd kick me in the face a thousand times over." Lavi muttered under his breath. "Shit, I hope I can knock a little sense into Yu…"
His mind set, and plan now placed firmly within his brain, the coffee cup rushed off as fast as he could possibly hop up each step.
Miranda watched her son…stepson, really…before turning her attention to the doors. She gulped, knowing there was no way in high heaven or hell she would be much use when the conflict was sure to arise. What could she possibly do? She was a coffee pot!
"Miranda, get boiling hot water, wait for my signal in the rafters." Komui instructed. "Marie, I need you and Jo—"
"Just do what you can!" Marie interrupted, "Scare them off, don't let any one of them pass by this area!"
"Alright…then, how about we welcome our unwanted guests?" Komui suggested. "Give them the hospitality they deserve. TO YOUR PLACES!"
A collective wave of nods, were made, before everyone quickly removed themselves from the doors. The enchanted inanimate objects reverted to as still as they could.
The doors were forced opened, and all the villagers entered the castle. There was a standstill between the enchanted staff and the intruders. None dared break the tense atmosphere until someone shouted from either crowd.
"It's…about as dark as I would expect it to be…" A villager with white hair and gold eyes muttered, as he unknowingly picked up the enchanted candelabra. "Do you think there really is a beast?"
"Wisely, my dearest friend, only a monster could possibly live in such darkness." An older man stated. "Though I suppose the reassures here would be a bonus for our fair village."
"ATTACK!"
All that was left, was nothing but chaos.
"Don't try to get past me, you mongrel!" Noise Marie called out, as he began using his piano keys as projectiles, managing to hit each threat that tried to get near. "You will not destroy our home." He scowled to the retreating villagers.
"To the stairs!" Another villager cried out, only to be stopped by a moving wardrobe.
"Don't you know it's rude to invade in one's home like that?" Said the annoyed cursed servant. "I think you boys need a timeout! Now, brother!"
"Of course, my beloved sister!" Komui said with a maniacal grin. With little effort, a burst of inferno forced the three men to jump forward, evidently getting trapped within Lenalee's clothes-filled self.
"EEK!" Lenalee found herself shrieking, there was a scuffle from within, before the men were otherwise spit out, with their new appearances making them look like drag queens.
One of them embraced their new look, flaunting off his new dress and hair, while his colleagues were running away in fear.
"Wonderful work, Lenalee~!"
"I learned from the best." The siblings both grinned, before Lenalee's dropped. "NOISE!"
"Damn it…" The grand piano hissed.
"NOW!" Miranda's voice called from the rafters, pouring boiling hot water from above the intruders unlucky enough to have been caught. "I-I am not sorry!"
"Yes she is." Muttered a spinning wheel who had caught his friend's outburst. "Hey, you guys seem a little tied up at the moment. Why not go home already?" He then asked the man he ensnared in his silken thread.
"TYKI! HELP!"
"I would if I could, old friend…but it's like he said, you seem rather tied up." The man, Tyki mused. "I will toast your bravery at my wedding to my beloved."
"Wedding? Huh?" The spinning wheel asked in disbelief. "Ain't he supposed to be your friend?"
"…is it too late to switch sides?"
"So…you're gonna fight with us now?"
"Mikk is no friend of mine. I'm Wisely."
"Johnny. Nice to meet ya." Wisely grinned in response, and sighed when the silk strings were removed from him. "Oh no! Miranda!"
It didn't take too long for the golden-eyed man to see a falling coffee pot from the rafter above. In just the nick of time, he caught her, and sighed in relief. "Too close."
"I-I'm confused, a-a-are you…?"
"I just switched sides." Wisely said. "Miranda, right?"
The confused coffee pot bobbed her body, unable to really bob a head she didn't have. "DUCK!"
. . - * - . .
Hevlaska left the chaos, with a calmer expression than that of one which should have been visible on her features.
"Is this what you were hoping for?" She asked an unseen presence.
She gained no response, but continued her way towards the room where the cursed rose was being kept. As she did, her appearance changed to something that wasn't quite human.
"We've played this game long enough; do you not agree? I believe you have finally lost."
. . - * - . .
Meanwhile Tyki Mikk was searching for the beast. After searching countless room, and various halls, he found the creature he was searching for in one of the higher towers where the monster was mourning. The tower itself was able to overlook the entirety of the gardens.
Whatever his prey was sad over, it didn't matter to Tyki. All he desired in that moment was this atrocious abomination's head hung on his humble lodge's mantel.
Sorrowful eyes found the hunter, but he never reacted to the intruder. He turned his attention back to the gardens…
Until the arrow hit its mark in his shoulder. Kanda roared in pain, already making the move to remove the projectile from his flesh, though not before he was tackled out o the window, and onto the roof of a lower building.
A sudden thought occurred to the cursed prince as he found himself trying to get a higher ground than his enemy. Shit…this must be the man that tried to force Allen to be his so-called wife! The realization of who this person was, along with the bitterness Allen had with him was more than enough to push Kanda over the edge in rage.
"You. You're the sick bastard giving Moyashi a hard time." Kanda physically growled out.
"Oh? Sick bastard, am I?" Tyki inquired, "How cute, coming from a disgusting beast. Allen could have a happy life. One where he marries me, and we live out our lives as husband and wife…"
"Like hell!" The cursed man growled out, attacking Tyki before he could draw his next arrow. "You don't deserve him."
"I don't deserve him? If I didn't know better, I would assume you loved him."
The comment caused a massive fight between the two. Kanda needed the upper hand, as he dashed off easily scaling the rooftops until he found a place where he could hide in plain sight. He blended in very well with the beastly gargoyles that rested upon each of the ridges just above the walls.
Now he just had to wait. Rain began to pour in heavy torrents, and lighting flashed across the skies. Keeping still in a meditative state, the beast could hear Tyki's footsteps approaching. He needed to wait.
A little more…
A little more…by then Tyki had just passed him. Taking it as his cute, Kanda opened his eyes, and snuck up from behind the enraged man. "COME AND FIGHT ME, YOU COWARDLY DEMON!"
"Gladly." Kanda hissed, giving Tyki hardly any time to attack.
Despite his element of surprise, his opponent was more competent than he would care to admit. Kanda kept getting hurt and tried to dodge the other's attacks. Most cases, he was just barely getting out of the way in time.
Perhaps that could be his new advantage? And it turned out to be the case when in Tyki's next attempt to end the beast's life, the collar of his shirt was grabbed, and in fear for his life, the hunter dropped his only visable weapon to the foggy depths below.
"N-NO! D-don't hurt me! I-I'll do anything!" Reduced to begging. What a hapless piece of shit.
"Give me one reason why I should spare your sorry ass?"
"KANDA!" That voice… "Kanda! Please!"
That was Allen's voice…it was so close…he quickly surveyed his surrounding area before finally finding the familiar silver twin pools a level above him. "Moyashi…" He clucked his tongue in annoyance, and threw Tyki back on a pathway that led between towers. "Leave. Leave my home, and don't you dare thinking of stepping foot here again."
He didn't wait to see if the hunter would as he was bidden. All Kanda wanted was to see his beloved. Hold him close.
He began to scale the wall, before coming to the tower where the younger male was holding his hand out to him. "You came back."
"I would be a fool not to." Allen said, a shy smile gracing his features. "I'm glad you're okay…"
"Don't cry, idiot." Kanda sighed. But then roared out in pain feeling something stab through his flesh.
"KANDA!"
"YU!"
Two voices called out. No one paid heed to the man who had lost his balance, as Allen's focus was soley on grabbing Kanda's arm, and hoisting up onto safer ground. "Oh god, oh god, Kanda, Kanda look at me, please look at me!"
"Yu! Hey, c'mon, snap out of it!" Lavi cried, "D-dammit…"
"Usagi…leave." Kanda grunted in pain.
"But—"
"Lavi, just leave us…o-okay?" Allen coaxed to his hyper-active friend. Without room for argument, Lavi hopped once, before leaving. They were alone now.
"Allen…you've made me the happiest I've ever been." Talking hurt him, Allen could see it in the pained breaths the cursed man had breathed. "…you made me realize that beauty can be found within."
"Kanda, p-please don't say that!" Tears were beginning to collect in those innocent silver eyes, "Y-you'll be ok. I-I don't want to lose you…I-I've lost a lot of th-things in m-my life. Pl-please d-don't leave me too!" He was openly crying now, as Kanda let released his last breath. "I-I love you…"
The last rose petal fell.
Author's note 2: see you guys at the last chapter. The epilogue chapter will hopefully be posted very soon.
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Note from the Beta: Hey guys, Hanashi here. I'm just gonna make a quickie apology. I had every intention to send this over to Rose so she could post it sooner, but for some reason I was constantly pulled away from my laptop between editing these past couple of weeks. Happy New Year by the way, and I hope you're enjoying reading this, as much I've been having fun editing.
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