Edition To My Heart
SMILES SAYS: I think that I abused Bak too much in this chapter…Oh, and I don't own DGM, DUR.
I was kind of dozing off after the thirty minutes of watching Bak pace to and fro, from one end of the room to the other. There really wasn't anything else to do than to watch this man pace and rub his chin in a serious manner, which was rather silly because he was far from capable of being level-headed and deliberate—my experience the half an hour prior to now. Occasionally, he would give me these sudden glances (I feared whiplash) and later resume to his chin-rubbing, frowning routine, and at this I would wonder what was he thinking in that head of his (I bet he was pretending to be serious the whole time).
I repositioned my seat (because my left butt-cheek was starting to go numb) and looked at the clock. Great…I get thrown into the principal's office (I think) with nothing to do and miss out my classes. Was this really happening to me? All I did was point out that Bak was a stalker—because he really was one! Anyway, was he a teacher? Should teachers be doing this to students?
"I've got it!" he suddenly exclaimed, causing me to jump.
Whatever he had 'got it'…erm, well, it certainly brought that woman's attention. The small Asian lady from earlier kicked the door open and leapt into the air (it was almost like in slow motion!) and thrust her leg against the man's cheek. This sent him flying against the wall (just like last time) and scream bloody murder.
"Fou!" he cried, caressing his bruised face. "Stop doing that!"
"Well it's about time you come up with something!" she shouted back. "Do you know how fucking long I had to wait there? Huh? It was like five fucking hours!"
It would be wise not to correct her.
His face was erupted with blotches (hives I bet) and turned into a furious red. "You didn't have to give me the boot to get your point across, you know!"
"Shut your trap and get on with it," she snapped flippantly and then plopped herself on the couch.
"Hmmph." Bak turned his nose away from her. After, I don't know, a second or two, he imitated an evil scientist with a sinister scheme to take control over a city—he even got the hand-rubbing, dark chuckling thing going on. "Okay, so here's the plan."
I would be lying that Fou and I weren't leaning forward in our seats, anticipating. Sadly, our curiosity had gone to waste when he announced, "I'll pay the young lady not to tell."
There was one part of me that would have slapped itself on the forehead. This was more ridiculous than the time I was somehow moved up two grades and landed in Lavi and Kanda's classroom (yes, that was ridiculous…and bizarre).
Another part of me had the urge to make a derisive comment that would put Kanda and Tokusa into shame—okay, I was joking about that, there's no way that anyone can be more mordantly harsh than them. I, apparently, happen to know these kinds of people, namely those two.
The last part of me would have eagerly accepted the money. Why? It's sort of…a habit, I'd say, and it's money without the labor. Well, it's like this: charity = decrease in Cross's debts = increase in food + payment for bills = Allen's happiness. Though I probably don't have to worry about Cross sending me his debts, being critically penny-wise is a nasty habit to get out of.
Anyway, the point was that Fou had a very different reaction than what I could have expressed.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING ALL THIS TIME!" she screeched while doing another, if not brutal, high kick at Bak's face.
That could have been suspected coming from her, but her voice was .Loud! I'm sure Tokyo had an earthquake just right now.
While Fou continued to blow Bak's ears out and shaking him by the neck, I watched the show for a minute before clearing my throat and gaining their attention. If I may add, as Fou was shaking Bak so vigorously, the blood that was dribbling down to his chin flew into different directions. Alrighty then.
"Um, was that really what you came up with?" I asked.
"Tch. He was daydreaming about Lenalee all this time, I'm sure of it," Fou sneered, getting off of the man.
"W-was not!" Bak protested.
"You're breaking out again," I pointed out.
"GYAAAH! Don't look at me!"
Again, time flew by we waited for him to calm down. Thank God it took him ten minutes instead of thirty.
"Now then," he began, as if he never had his weird moment, "how about it."
"No," came my answer.
"What? Why?" he cried, obviously distressed.
How should I put this? "Stalking and taking pictures of Lenalee is not only disgusting but illegal. However old you are, you should be reported." Because I once knew a ten-year-old who pursued Ashley—the girl who often picked on me and dump coffee on my head in my old school—and was nearly sent to children detention center. Oh wait, that's not so bad…I think. Well, comparing to actual prison and all.
"He's thirty-one," Fou said.
"Holy Saint Francis!" I gasped (and accidentally used a line from Romeo and Juliet). "Have you no shame, sir?"
Bak looked away. "Umm…"
"No, don't talk. You don't deserve to. Mister, she's seventeen. You're thirty-one, for goodness sakes! Thirty-one. She's seventeen and you think that—"
"She's going for eighteen so she'll be legal soon!" he put in.
Scrunching my nose, I frowned down at his kneeling self. "Indeed she is. And now how on earth do you know that?"
"Umm…"
"Because he's a pedophile and a stalker," Fou snorted.
"Fou!" Bak cried, flailing his arms.
I wonder how much of Lenalee's personal information does he know. I wonder what other hobbies he have—oh good grief NO. I take it back! I don't want to wonder about it anymore!
"Well then," I coughed into my fist, "as a witness, it's my duty to report this to the person who would need to know this the most."
The man's face was becoming pale as his eyes went wide. "N-no…"
"I'm sure this person would be most surprised." Definitely surprised.
"No! Anything but that! No!"
"I'm going to call Komui."
"Nooooo!"
The small woman narrowed her eyes at me, but I could tell that she was curious. "So you know Komui, huh?"
"Yup. I have his number and such."
"'Such'?"
"He gave me some sort of manual in case if Lenalee ever gets injured."
"Tch. Figures."
Bak crawled up to me, grabbing my ankle. "Please! I beg of you! He'll skin me alive if he knows!" he cried some more.
I shook my head. "You must atone for your sins, or, uh, something that sounds old-like." I pulled my foot away and walked to the door. "Now I must be off for class. Farewell."
At the moment I had the song We're In Heaven playing in my head before going for the doorknob. However, what stopped me was the shrill shout of him saying "Wait!", and so I did. I faced him, blinking.
"You're—you're a student, right?" he said.
"Yes…"
"Ah hah! Then unless you keep it a secret, you are hereby suspended."
What? "What?"
"You heard me."
"But—but you can't do this to me! That's completely unfair!"
"I'm the principal and what I say goes."
Who would have figured…that this pedophile/stalker/crybaby/acquaintance of Tokusa (that was important to know) before me would be principal—let me repeat, principal of my new school.
Why God? Why did this have to happen to me?
"But I'm the new student," I said.
"New student?" He paused. "You couldn't be Allen Walker…Allen Walker is not a transfer student from—from—from whatever nation you come from!"
"You really couldn't tell that I'm English?" I deadpanned.
"Hey, almost everyday I'm surrounded by a rainbow of people with accents from here and there. Try dealing with that."
True…Also Tokusa does have a peculiar accent that cannot be indentified…
"Okay, anyway, I am indeed Allen Walker and I have lived in America for the majority of my life."
"Fou?"
Fou whipped out a clipboard that came out of the blue and examined whatever was on it. "Let's see…Walker, Walker, Walker, Walker…Ah, here it is. Allen Walker. Yeah, looks just like her."
"So Walker isn't a transfer student."
"Nope."
"Nope," I agreed.
"Oh. Hmmm. Well, you're still suspended."
"Fine then," I grumbled, "I'll just leave this school, go to a better one, and tell Komui that you've been stalking his sister."
"No can do."
I frowned. "And why not?"
Bak, for the first time, grinned (I think this would be considered to be his kind of moment). "Last time I checked, Allen Walker was looking forward to what the Science Branch Department can offer." He took the clipboard and did a little reading. "Ah, and it says here that Allen Walker dreams to go to a university and be successful."
Pressing my lips together, I nodded slowly.
"Oh brother," Fou muttered.
"This school, if you don't know, is one of the well-known academic institutes of the North-Eastern U.S."
"How well-known," I tested.
"The best."
What? "What?"
"You heard me."
I sure did, now if only he would elaborate more, that would be fantastic. What did he mean that this school was the best? Best at what? I'm aware that it served greater education than any other places, but wasn't this simply a regular public school?
"Most of our students graduated and went to Black Order University," Fou said, rolling her eyes.
Hot dog! That's where everyone went to!
"Of course! You would know it since you know Tokusa," Bak said. "Did he ever tell you how great that university is?"
Yeah…he did…
"Fine then," I grumbled, "I won't leave this school and keep your secret."
"How will I know that you're not lying to me?" he said.
I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it, then opened it again, then closed it again. "Why would I…N-never mind," I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Then make a contract."
"How will I know that you'll be lying to the contract?"
"Then what do you want me to do?"
"I'm wasting my time here," Fou exclaimed angrily. "I'm leaving." And she marched out of the room.
Bak remained unfazed. "I suppose that you can do me one itsy bitsy favor…"
I missed him groveling at my feet. "Yes?"
"Since you have an acquaintanceship with Komui," he said, going to the folder that had those many pictures of Lenalee, "I need you to deliver him this." Bak handed me an envelope from the folder. There was a cursive writing that particular for Komui Lee with no "from so-and-so".
"You're not going to put your name here?" I asked.
"Feh! I'll stay anonymous," he said.
"Very well then." I held the envelope between two fingers and raised an eyebrow. "And how am I supposed to reach him?"
"You don't know?" When I shook my head, he frowned. "Then how did you get to know him? Accidental pen pals?"
"Oh no, I used to go to the same high school as Lenalee and we became friends. She then took me to her place one day, and that's when I met her brother." And unexpected things occurred there. "Afterwards, they moved somewhere."
"Mmhmm. And have you two kept in touch very much?"
"No, however, I still hold possession of their numbers and e-mails."
I could clearly hear him mutter "Blasted" under his breath.
"I do know where they are," Bak said. "They're in Phoenix, Arizona."
My brows furrowed. "Hold up, that's like…several states from New York," I said.
"Yeah it is! You'll need a plane to get there."
"Why can't you just mail this?" I asked, lifting the envelope to him.
"No, no, no. You don't understand," he chuckled somewhat nervously. "This has to be hand-delivered. No matter what."
"But…How am I going to get a ticket for a plane?"
"I'll provide that for you."
"Wh-what about my classes? I'll be missing a lot!"
"I'll have an excellent teacher give you private lessons. You'll catch up in no time."
"Then—Surely I'll need a place to stay. What if I can't find them? Can't you be more specific on their location?"
"I'll give you enough money. And don't you have their numbers?"
"Well, yes. But what if they question me of doing this? Do I say it's from you?"
"No, no! I said before that I want to stay anonymous, didn't I? Just say that…you're doing an errand!"
"An errand," I repeated dryly.
"Yes, yes! An errand! Don't mention my name when you see the Lee's." I had plenty more questions, but Bak made it clear that he wasn't going to answer anymore. "Now then," he said, clapping his hands together, "with that settled, you should get packing! I'll inform your guardian, Tyki Mikk, was it?"
"What will you say?"
"Something simple, like you have been temporarily transferred to another state for an educational encroachment in which we will observe the divergence of students away from their usual environment."
He…said it so fast that I…"…What?"
He sighed. "A student exchange program."
"Oh." That made sense.
"Nice. So off you go! I excuse you to go packing as I make that phone-call." Bak pushed me to the door.
"W-wait! How am I going to go to an airport?" I asked with haste.
"I'll leave that up to you."
"Huh?"
With a final shove, I was out the room. "By the way, Miss Walker," he said before closing the door, "by the time you return, please get that tattoo removed off your face."
I scowled. To think that my scar was finally disappearing!
"Isn't this a bit too sudden? I mean, you're the new kid and already they have you in this exchange program," Tyki said.
I rubbed my neck. "Yeah. Huh." I wasn't lying, but I knew that my expression was totally giving it away. It was really fortunate that Tyki was looking away. Not to mention that I'm a horrible liar regarding to the time with me, Daisya, and fourth graders. Oh, what a time that was.
"This certainly had taken things unexpectedly," he muttered.
I looked up. "What do you mean?"
"It's pretty ironic that you're suddenly going to another state when just so recently we've been settling here, another state."
"It hasn't been that recent."
"Yeah, just a couple weeks." He shrugged. "And again, I shall remind you that you're the new kid."
I smiled, bringing Tim to my lap. "Thank you for the reminder."
"I shall also inform you of my opinion."
"And what shall your opinion be, sir?"
"That this is all too strange." Tyki rested his chin on his knuckle. "Like that time when that blonde lady came here. Say, what's this program's name anyway?"
My smile was beginning to hurt. "Beats me."
"Now what am I supposed to say to Bart?" he sighed.
The hurting had gone away as I erupted into giggles. "Ah, our dear son? Tell him that Mommy is going for an impermanent business transfer."
"But what if Bart misses Mommy too much? What then?"
"Hmm," I hummed, tapping my chin. "That would be a problem. What do you supposed we do, Papa?"
"I'd say I'd give my boy a good father n' son time. Man to man, you know?" He gave me a funny lopsided grin, causing me to laugh loudly. "I'll also try to teach him how to do Mommy's ever-so cute accent, but I don't think I'll do so well seeing how I'm Portuguese."
I hid my growing smile behind my sleeve. "You think my accent's cute?"
"You know how much I love ya, ya Brit," he chuckled.
The fun ended, much to my sadness, was when Tyki frowned and mentioned, "What about your job?"
"Oh no," I gasped, "I've forgotten!"
"Do you know how long you'll be away?"
I shook my head.
"Then…I guess I'll take over for you."
"Tyki, you don't have to."
"No, it's alright. My current job can wait; it's kind of slow and dull anyway."
We spent the whole day packing, which shouldn't have taken so long but with all the goofing off it ended up wasting all our hours. We joked about getting Bartholomew a sister (it was a debate on whether the sister should be a cactus or a small palm tree). As we talked about whether I could try to bring Tim along the trip, Tim chirped and squawked and tweeted. Tyki commented about the same hybrid theory again.
"I would be so lonely without him though," Tyki joked.
"Alright, alright. Anyway, I highly doubt that I'll be able to bring Tim along," I sniffed. "He's grown much too big to be stuffed in the bag."
"Oh man, I remembered that. When he came out, boy was he cranky."
"Yeah, that's why I'm leaving him here," I laughed.
Night came sooner than we had expected. Tyki offered to give me a ride to the airport, but that would just give away the secret. When there, he would be expecting to see teachers and other students, wouldn't he? It would be best if I declined, but how would I reach my destination?
…Oh, wait, I could do that. Yeah, I cam definitely do that.
"That's alright, Tyki," I said, tugging on my cap, "I already got a ride."
It really shouldn't have taken us all night just to pack seeing how what I needed could be easily stored inside my backpack, but it was heavy nevertheless (I didn't like it how the straps were digging into my shoulders, but what can I do?) I exhaled through my nose and looked up for the sixth time. I know that just staring at it won't make it disintegrate and make this easier, but this wall was monstrously tall.
Taking a glance at my right, there was the black metal gate that was just as big as the wall. It would be a dicey take to climb over the gate since it's probable that there was a guard standing, so there was no other choice than to go over this barrier. And yes, I used to do this when Cross was around—he'd make me do dangerous stunts occasionally.
I took a couple steps back before running and making a jump. From there, I grappled a vine that grew against the wall and quickly stepped up and grabbed another vine before the one previous in my hand would snap. It was really fortunate that these plants were here; otherwise I would have to climb up the tree nearby and make a mighty leap, in which could cause me bone-fractures.
Hearing my panting made me painfully aware that I was out of shape. I used to be much more flexible, but I guess that because of my depression I did nothing but sit and eat. I wasn't sure if I can still hold up a fight…Well…at least I made it.
I sat on the wall and scanned the area, and immediately my eyes spot the lot. Perfect. Climbing down, avoiding the lightings from windows, and running to the lot was a cinch. The only problem was how I was going to break into one of the cars.
Oh duh.
Digging into my pocket, I pulled out a clip. A minute later, I succeeded forming it into a makeshift key, and normally this would give me entrance to any door depending on how I jam it in the lock.
And it turned out that I didn't even need the key! Why?
"I figured as much." Kanda, wielding a flashlight, walked up to me. "The nun of a sprout can't be truly holy."
That's why.
"Hi," I said, being very, very, very glum at the moment.
"So, out stealing cars, eh?" I swore I can hear a smirk creeping in that tone of his. "Didn't know this was a hobby of yours."
"I wasn't going to steal," I protested. I whipped out a note. "I was going to put an IOU!"
"Whatever. You'd be stealing anyway."
I threw my hands in the air and let out an aggravated groan. What point would it be to ague with Kanda?
"What are you doing up so late?" I asked, trying to change the topic. It was to my relief that he went along with it, but it was to my disappointment that he had to be so infuriating.
Here's why: "What are you doing up so late?"
"I asked you first," I said tersely.
"I asked you second." With the flashlight, I could see that his eyes were narrowed and there indeed was a smirk on his face. Gah.
"Since I asked first, it would be only logical that you answered first."
"Who said that I played by the rules?"
I really didn't know how to answer to that.
"You are so—Argh!" I smacked my forehead.
"Seriously, what the hell are you doing here?"
"Yeah, Allen! Why were you going to steal my car?"
My eyes went wide. "Daisya?"
"Daisya?" Kanda hissed. "Shouldn't you be in bed or something?"
"I saw you come down so I wanted to see what was going on." He shrugged. "Oh, and Chomsuke came too."
"Heyo!" the girl said from behind.
"Hell no, you brought her along?" Kanda growled.
"No! She followed me!"
"I did!" the cook piped.
"Get the fuck out of here," he deadpanned.
"Hey, you can't order me around like that anymore—I'm a man now," Daisya said proudly.
"C he. Last time I checked, your—"
I don't know how she suddenly appeared by my side, but once she did Chomesuke quickly had her hands on my ears, preventing me from hearing anything. All I saw was Kanda and Daisya entering an argument, and it looked rather childish. Like…they were comparing sizes of their toy fire trucks…or something like that.
Once they stopped, they were glaring at each other. Chomsuke pulled her hands away and sighed. "Men…"
"He started it," they snapped simultaneously.
They probed me of my reason to "steal" Daisya's car. And so I explained. It went briefly like this:
"Why were you going to steal the car?" for the millionth time.
"I have to go to the airport and this was the only idea I had for transportation." It sounded smarter when I said it in my head.
"Che. That's stupid." Yes, thank you for pointing that out, Kanda.
"Why do you need to go there?"
"I have to send a letter to my principal's friend, otherwise I'll be suspended."
"Why not go to a different school?"
"It's a high quality school!"
"Geek."
"Her brain functions that way." Daisya had known me too well…
Obviously, the conversation would be much longer and complex, and that Chomesuke would say something as well. Also Kanda wouldn't have talked so much seeing how he's the silent kind of person.
Well, anyway…
Minutes later, I found myself in a car with Daisya, Kanda, and Chomesuke.
As I looked back, I realized that this had been a strange day. My principal turned out to be a pervert who was prone to being pummeled by a woman prone to being irate 24/7, and said man forced me to deliver a letter to Komui who was all the way in Arizona. I also noticed that I had been flirting with Tyki, and he did so back to me. And now, Kanda, Daisya, and Chomesuke decided to accompany on my trip just because they were bored.
The strangest of all was that I was okay how everything went.
RANDOM VERSE OF THE DAY
Psalm 106:3
Happy are those who deal justly with others and always do what is right
OMAKE
"Hey, Allen," Tokusa called.
Allen looked up. "Yes?"
"What is this?" He pointed to the thing.
"I already told you, that's Timcampy."
Timcampy was busy cleaning his feathers.
"I know that, but what is it?"
"…Um, he's a bird."
Tokusa frowned and focused on Tim, as if trying to see if the creature really did resemble a bird. "I don't see it."
"What do you not see?" the girl said.
"This being a bird. It looks more like a…"
"A…?"
"A rat," he said in finality.
"…" Allen glanced at Tim, who very much so did not appear that of a rodent. At least in her eyes. "I don't see it."
"Really?" Tokusa hummed, rubbing his chin. "Hmm, and I thought the tail and whiskers were obvious."
Whiskers? "Tokusa," she said, "what kind of rat would have feathers? And be yellow? And have a beak?"
He shrugged. "I never would have thought that it would be possible for a turtle or snake to have two heads. Or a calf to have additional limbs hanging on its back. Or a nine-year-old to have a six-pack."
Allen raised an eyebrow.
"You should look it up. It was rather horrifying," he piped, smiling cheerfully.
"Uh…"
"However, that doesn't mean it didn't happen. So it could be possible that a rat could be as freakish as this." He pointed at Tim.
Well, it was true that Tim was, to put it frankly, a freak of nature. He had exaggerated parts that would want to make a passerby look thrice to make sure he or she wasn't hallucinating. But there was no way that Timcampy would be mistaken as a rat! A miniature piglet, Allen understood that, but rat? No, no, no way.
"Tim's a bird," she said firmly.
"Rat," he snorted.
"Bird."
"Rat."
"Bird!"
"Rat."
"Bird!"
"Rat!"
"Bir—Am I seriously doing this?"
"Oh look, there's Inspector!" Tokusa waved the blonde man to come over. "Inspector! Inspector!"
"What is it now, Tokusa?" Link sighed.
"Tell me, is this a rat or a bird?"
"Obviously it's a bird!" Allen retorted.
"Now, now, Miss Walker, let's not be hasty."
"Hasty with what?"
Link narrowed his eyes, not hearing a word that they were saying when his eyes landed on Tim. "Why is there a cat in my library?"
"Mrrow," Tim mewed.
