When Allen awoke the next morning he felt as if he was hit by a bus. His head felt like it was filled with cotton, yet still it somehow managed to throb like hell. It was also very difficult for the albino to gather his thoughts and remember what happened the day before.

And then he spotted the little medicine box lying innocently on his bedside table: Diazopan. Or more commonly known as sleeping pills. Both he and Kanda had taken once because neither had been able to sleep after losing so much friends and colleagues yesterday. Allen clenched his fists together as he tried to keep his tears at bay.

He was startled out of his thoughts when 2 strong arms wrapped around him from behind. "Cry if you like, for once you don't have to be strong for anyone..." Kanda's voice was still gruff with sleep but the understanding in it was enough for the pathologist to turn around and bury his head into his lover's chest while bowling his eyes out. Was it a childish gesture? Yes. Did he care? No, not particularly...

When he was done he looked up and saw that the other's dark eyes were also damp. "How do you feel?" The albino asked in a soft voice.

"Like shit. Like beating someone up... Preferably the Noah scum that killed Choaji." Now those beautiful eyes had taken on a darkening look in them that gave the Japanese man a dangerous appearance.

"We'll catch them. Even if it is the last thing we do... But they will pay for their crimes." And Allen really meant those words. The Noah family had caused enough damage and grieve already. "But for now we should get dressed. It's going to be a long day, today."

Kanda simply nodded a bent down to place a kiss on his Moyashi's lips when the doorbell rang. With a colourful curse the man pulled away before storming over to open the door and yell at whoever had interrupted them.

Shaking his head, the albino allowed a small smile to play around his lips before he – too – got out of bed to rescue their early visitor from an enraged Kanda. Imagine his surprise when he saw his 'master' standing in their doorway, calmly smoking one of his cigarettes.

"Brat we need to talk." Was all what the man said but the seriousness in his voice was enough to put the two lovers on alert. Whatever was to follow, would be important...

"First of all I would like to know your thoughts about the little brat you're looking after."

"What do you mean?" Kanda sounded and looked just as confused as Allen about the sudden question. What did Timothy have to do with any of this?

"Are you only looking after him or do you really see him as a son? Would you adopt him? I need to know the answer before I tell you what I need to tell you."

Dark eyes met with silver as both mulled over the question. They had never thought about it, let alone discuss it... But when the pathologist really thought about it: "I guess he has stayed to long with us to just leave him behind. He has grown on me you know..." Suddenly ashamed, Allen quickly broke eye contact with his boyfriend. How would Kanda react to all this.-? He had always made it clear that he saw the boy as a pest...

"It's not like I hate the brat you know. And at times he does feel like our son. For some time we've been a little family and I wouldn't want to exchange it for the world." The sincerity in his voice was heartbreaking and never in his life had Allen felt so proud of his boyfriend!

"Jesus Christ! Brat you've turned into a sap! Please excuse me while I go vomit 'cause all those suger-sweet lines are making me sick!" Trust Cross to ruin the mood... A lesser man would have cowered under the glare sent to them by the detective. But not the redhead... He simply lighted another cigarette as he repeated his earlier question: "How do you feel about the little brat living with you...?"

"We would like to keep him with us."

"Good..." The older pathologist pulled out an envelop from the inside pocket of his jacket before continuing his explanation. "In here are three plane tickets to America for the two of you and the little brat. You will leave the day after Choaji's funeral."

Shock was clearly visible on Kanda's face as Allen was only able to utter the word: "What?"

"Whether you want to or not you are going back to America. Do you want me to explain in detail or are you going to beat me up first? Your boyfriend seems to have itchy hands..." The infuriating smirk on Cross's face made the albino really want to smack him on the face but he and his lover were able to contain themselves. For now...

"Not many people know this but I have a mole within the Noah-family. This person contacted me last night that the Ears knows that Neah is still alive and that he wants to use Allen to draw his former lover out. I talked with Shibo and Komui about this new development and we decided that it would be easier to protect the two of you if you are in the same place."

"Yeah but why America?" Allen asked.

"Wouldn't it be more dangerous if the two of them are together?" Kanda – in turn – wondered.

"Neah is currently living in America and Komui wants you back on his team. As for the pretty boy's question... We know all the faces of the family members. If one of them tries to leave the country in any way possible then we will know. And we will be able to arrest them."

"And Shibo approved?" The Japanese detective asked, sounding very doubtful.

"He did. Besides it's only until we can arrest the Earl and his family. We are so very close to catching the bastards. Please just do this..." Cross almost never begged. That he did so now only made the seriousness of the situation clearer.

"If we were to go... What would our lives look like in America?" The pathologist's voice had always had a soft tone to it but never before had it sounded this soft, this defeated. Even Cross felt a twinge of sympathy for his former student.

"Well you would have a house in a small suburb where you will be living with your Samurai-wannabe-boyfriend, the little brat and Neah. Pretty boy will be partnered with Lavi again and Reever is more than happy to once again become your assistant. Neah will watch the house and Timothy can get into a good school there."

"You said something about protection. Does that mean watchmen and bodyguards?" The anger in the detective's voice made it quite clear that he was still pissed about the 'samurai' comment.

"Nothing of the sort... A police car will drive through the area every hour but other than , you'll be on your own."

"Fine... But we have until after the funeral right? That way we can prepare ourselves and make sure that we have everything that we need with us." The idea didn't sit well with the albino but his mentor had made it clear that they did not have a choice in the matter.

"Uh-uh That means you still have four more days. If you'll excuse me now, I've got a funeral of my own to arrange..."

"Who died?" Kanda asked.

"Mahoja... We found her after the two of you went home. Since she didn't have any family left of her own, Anita decide to arrange her funeral." And with that little explanation the red-headed pathologist left the two lovers alone.

XOXOX

It rained on the day of the funeral. But then again doesn't it always seem to rain on these days? Or at least it looked that way to Allen, who had been to more funerals than he wished to count. Standing off to the side he quietly observed the visitors. Many of the faces he recognized, most of them he didn't know. Among the familiar faces there were: Tiedoll, Marie, Diasya (in a wheelchair), Krory and Eliade, Cross and Anita, Link and Timcanpy, the members of C.R.O.W. And colleagues from the CSI lab.

Like many other times, Tiedoll had absolutely no qualms about showing his emotions by freely letting his tears stream down his cheeks. The man hid his face in Kanda's shoulder and for once the latter showed no problems with it. He tolerated it for the man that had adopted him. Because he wasn't heartless, because he was trying to keep his own tears at bay...

Daisya was seated in the wheelchair he had borrowed from the hospital. He wasn't officially discarded yet but the nurses and doctors understood that he wanted to be present at the funeral so they let him leave for a few hours. The Turkish man was looking at the grave but his eyes were glassed over, indicating that he was somewhere far, far away in his mind. Behind the wheelchair stood Marie who simply bowed his head in a show of respect and to hide his tears.

Next to them was Krory, holding close his Eliade. The same Eliade who had come out seemingly unscratched but on the inside there were deep scars. Scars left behind by the loss of her first unborn child. Scars that also ran over Krory's soul. But Allen knew that although the couple was mentally harmed, they would come out stronger than ever.

Before the albino really could comprehend what was going on, the service had ended. Slowly everyone stepped up to the grave one by one to say their last goodbye's to their deceased comrade before going home to try and pick up their lives once more. Some would succeed in this far better and quicker than others...

When warm, strong arms wrapped around his chest, he leaned into them with a long sigh. "I guess it's time..."

"Hmm..."

"I don't want to go to America."

"Me neither but we don't have much choice Moyashi. We've made our move, now it's the Noah's turn. But no matter what they do, we will get them in the end." Allen believed his boyfriend. Because Kanda would fight for his beloved ones, because he wanted revenge and because the man was strong and he hated Tyki.

"Let's go." And together they walked hand in hand towards the car waiting for them. They would go home and pick up their belonging and Timothy before boarding the plain to America.

The End

This was one of the most difficult chapters to write and it took a long time before I was happy with it. But now I like it, especially the ending ^^

So anyway this concludes the second story in this trilogy. I won't start on the next story until I have finished some of my other stories so it may take some time before it will be published :(

Anyway I'm still looking for a good title so if you have any ideas feel free to share. It needs to have 3 words and the first words has to start with a 'D' because:

Dragon = first story/one word + starts with 'D'

Deathly Sin = second story/two words + starts with 'D'

Hugs and kisses

Chibi Mathilda