Attached Strings~
Love starts by uneasiness,
Diligence, ardour and sleeplessness;
It grows with risks, slings and mistrusts,
It stands with weeps and pleas.
Izzie looked suspiciously at the young girl. She saw her once, in the woods, during their first tour with Innocence. Angel told her that she was Rhode Camelot and that, in spite of her age, she was the songwriter of The Noah's Ark.
Now that she had her closer, Izzie observed the girl more attentively. She had tanned skin, like Tykki Mikk's, and golden eyes and black hair too. She was wearing a pretty, red dress that reminded Izzie of the Lolita Style.
Rhode couldn't be more than thirteen. However, in her eyes, no childish innocence was left. Izzie felt as if she was staring at a woman in her middle twenties rather than a girl that is about to start puberty.
"So…" Rhode Camelot intertwined her fingers businesslike on the table, setting aside an empty tray of food, "You're famous Izzie Fletcher."
Izzie raised an eyebrow. Famous? "Yes." She harshly responded, tense. There was something in this girl that she didn't like.
The girl let out a giggle, "You're not that pretty." Izzie frowned. What was this about?
"What do you want?"
"Oi, don't get so cocky." Rhode breathed in deeply and smiled, "I just wanted to meet you, that's all. I have been wondering what makes you so special."
"Special?" Izzie exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. Was she making fun of her?
"Yeah." Rhode shrugged nonchalantly and smiled creepily at Izzie, "You know, so my uncle didn't kill you. I mean, he had the chance. I know that, and it was his obligation, but he…" here, the young girl frowned, showing confusion proper of age. Her golden eyes looked right through Izzie, as if trying to decode a crypt, "he let you live. Despite knowing what he was risking…I wonder, why? Why let you live?"
The way this young girl talked about death and her hijack sent chills down Izzie's spine. How could a kid touch those subjects emotionlessly? That couldn't be natural.
Izzie suddenly remembered Rhode was the daughter of Sheryl Camelot, her father's contender. The man, besides Leverrier, that wanted her gagged and tied up. Why didn't she think that in first place? Izzie felt stupid…that was the first thing that should have crossed her mind upon seeing Rhode Camelot.
She looked around nervously in search of any suspicious movement. Her eyes fixated on Kanda, some yards away, and she prayed to the heavens that they didn't hurt him. He didn't have anything to do with the elections and that stuff. The picture of the bullet hitting Kanda still haunted Izzie at night.
"Did I scare you?" Rhode Camelot asked, strangely thoughtful.
"No" Izzie curtly replied. She couldn't show fear… not in front of a little girl. "I'm guessing your uncle is Tykki Mikk."
Rhode smiled, showing off perfect, white teeth, "Yep. I have it understood you became perfectly acquainted with him…if you know what I mean." The perverse gaze the girl directed to Izzie looked even creepier than her smile.
Izzie scowled. During the days her kidnap lasted, Tykki Mikk tried to take advantage of the situation. He did do some things…but nothing too alarming. Compared to the stuff Izzie had done with Kanda in the last year, Tykki's approaches were children's games. However, it still made her uncomfortable to remember them.
"You shouldn't be talking about this." Izzie sternly replied. Then, she stood up, "You saw me, now I'm leaving."
"Oh, no!" Rhode exclaimed, "Please, sit down. I still want to talk to you. You're funny." She grinned.
"I'm not funny."
"Uncle Tykki wants to see you!" Rhode blurted out. Izzie glared at her. Seeing that she caught her attention, Rhode beamed, "He doesn't say it…but I know it. He has slept with less women since he met you. He…"
"He kidnapped and hit me." Izzie spat, "I have nothing to do with him. If he dares come close to me, I'll…"
"You'll what?" Rhode haughtily asked. She leaned back on her chair and smugly crossed her small arms across her chest, "You're far away from the US. You're in our territory now and we still have pending issues."
A boulder installed in Izzie's stomach. The threat in that statement made her feel unsafe and fearful. Not for her. For Kanda. She glanced at him, her heart racing. Kanda had this charming and worrisome tendency to protect fearlessly the persons he cared about, in spite of the cost that it'd carry to him. Tykki didn't hesitate when he shot him the first time. He was clearly aiming for Kanda's death. Would he dare to shoot him again? Would he succeed? Was Kanda going to die while trying to protect her? And her friends…she couldn't let the Noah hurt them either.
"What do you want?" she sourly muttered, averting her gaze from Kanda's figure.
Rhode grinned, "Oh, now we speak the same language." she giggled, "I just wanted to tell you…if my uncle Tykki asks something from you, you better accede. You know, he is the owner of this place and many others after all. It'd be a disgrace if some tragedy befell accidentally on your friends during the tour." Said this, the little, not-so-innocent girl, took out from her dress's pocket a lollipop and unwrapped it nonchalantly.
"By the way," Rhode added. There was something in her tone –was it shyness?- that made Izzie linger by the table a little bit more. The young girl's gaze flickered and she casted her eyes downwards, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. For the first time since they started their conversation, Rhode Camelot looked like a totally normal girl. She took out something from the same pocket and slid it across the table in Izzie's direction, "Could you give this to Allen-kun? Tell him I think he is the cutest boy in the band." She timidly smiled.
Izzie glanced at the object Rhode had handed her. It was a key chain with a charm of a tiny, plastic keyboard hanging from it. It also had a little, red heart glued to one of the keyboard's corners.
For a moment, Izzie considered the idea of refusing to do the errand but, given the circumstances, she was not in the position to deny Rhode anything. If her threats were true, and Izzie had reasons to believe they were, then she'd have to lower her head until she knew more. She hated being treated according to the caprices of a whimsical girl and her uncle, but she didn't have a lot of options right now. She knew beforehand that Portugal was the home of Tykki Mikk, and the auditorium, part of his property, so, as long as they were in Lisbon or anywhere near, Izzie had to watch her back and protect the ones she cared about.
"You should tell him that I'd like to go out on a date with him too." Rhode mumbled.
Izzie frowned, "We're going soon."
"Oh, don't worry." The girl smiled confidently, "We will move around Europe too."
There, another threat written between lines. Izzie's marrow froze. Were the Noahs going to follow them around Europe?
Izzie walked towards him and smiled, although she looked pale and nervous. Kanda raised an eyebrow, demanding an explanation. He had recognized the girl the minute he landed eyes on her, and he needed all his self-control to not snatch Izzie away from her. If Rhode Camelot was there, there may be others around, and he was not going to risk her safety when no danger arouse.
"Let's go back inside." Izzie said in a thin voice.
Kanda frowned, "What did she say?"
"Nothing." Izzie snapped, "Let's go back."
There was something wrong. He could tell by the way she refused to meet his eyes. Just before she could sweep back into the auditorium, Kanda took her arm. "Izzobel, what did she say?"
Izzie jerked her arm back and hissed, "Nothing, Kanda." She looked up at him and wryly smiled. A fake smile. "I promise."
The Japanese narrowed his eyes with suspicion. Old resentment crawled into his chest and he grunted angrily at Izzie, "You still don't trust me, right?" he bitterly muttered.
Izzie opened her eyes even more, "It's not like that, Kanda. It's-"
"Forget it." He bluntly said, and walked past her.
"Kanda!" he heard her call, but he kept on walking towards the stage. He ignored her summons, as well as the inquiring looks her band mates darted in his direction. Instead, he grabbed his bass and tuned it absentmindedly, abstracting himself from the world that surrounded him. Izzie babbled something, but he drowned her voice with the low notes of his bass.
He didn't want to hear lame excuses anymore. It all leaded to one same end: Izzie didn't trust him. Living under the same roof was not enough to make her open up to him. What was the point in sharing the food, the house, the money and the cars if they didn't share their feelings, thoughts and secrets? They could have a roommates' contract as well.
Why was he feeling suddenly like this? So angry, so lost…so lost…lost…that was it. He felt lost, and the only place that he found refuge in was his own music. His notes, the melodies…they filled him with comfort and obliviousness. That was why he devoted his life to this: because here he had a place he belonged to, and where he could go when everything outside was starting to crumble down.
Because, let's face it, his relationship with Izzie was crumbling down. It was not just about the pills. It was about trust and comprehension and communication…all those relationship keys that they were lacking of.
The concert went on without any major incidents. Lavi acted like always in front of the fans. He was cheerful and funny. He never let his personal issues ruin his relationship with his fans, neither the atmosphere of a concert. Not even when she was there and she sang a song written by Matthew Evans, Izzie and Angel that was clearly meant for Lavi.
He poured down a glass of vodka in the tiny bus's kitchen and discreetly glanced at the bunk where Angel was taking a nap. Her body was concealed from the group by a black curtain, but he could hear the blankets shift as the girl rolled on her side. For a moment, the impulse to slide the curtain aside to admire her sleeping form flowed through Lavi's body. He rapidly suppressed it with a gulp of the strong liquid in his glass. Pretending that nothing had happened, he slumped on a couch and looked out the window.
They slept in the hotel last night and, at first hour in the morning, packed everything up to get back on the road. They were out of Lisbon before the sun showed its timid rays in the horizon.
The countryside of Europe was lovely. Everything seemed clean and minutely arranged, as if the meadows were especially made to amaze the spectator. While he admired the panorama, Angel's song buzzed in his mind again, like an annoying mosquito.
You and I walk a fragile line
I have known it all this time
But I never thought I'd live to see it break
It's getting dark, and it's all too quiet
And I can't trust anything now
And it's coming over you like it's all a big mistake
Oh, I'm holding my breath
Won't lose you again
Something's made your eyes go cold
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
You're all I wanted
Come on, come on
Don't leave me like this, I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone
Can't turn back, now I'm haunted
Stood there and watched you walk away
From everything we had
But I still mean every word I said to you
He will try to take away my pain
And he just might make me smile
But the whole time I'm wishing he was you instead
Oh Oh, holding my breath
Whoa oh, I'll see you again
Something keeps me holding on to nothing
Come on, come on
Don't leave me like this, I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
You're all I wanted
Come on, come on
Don't leave me like this, I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone
Can't turn back, now I'm haunted
I know, I know
I just know
You're not gone
You can't be gone, no
Come on, come on
Don't leave me like this, I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
Go finish what you started
Come on, come on
Don't leave me like this, I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone
Can't go back, I'm haunted
Suddenly, Angel's curtain ruffled. A gasp came out of the bunk and, followed by it, Angel's head popped out of the small compartment. Her eyes met Lavi's and, without repairing in whom he was talking to, she exclaimed, "Today is Izzie's birthday!"
Lavi almost smiled at her alarmed expression and needless preoccupation. Almost. Instead, he smirked and shrugged, "I know."
"We haven't given her anything!" Angel whispered. She eyed to the frontal part of the bus, where Izzie was occupying one of the six seats. The young songwriter had her earphones on, but Angel still murmured, "Oh my God, I can't believe I forgot-"
"We bought her a cake." Lavi whispered back. He surprised himself by the lack of harshness in his voice. It was just that watching Angel fret about something they had already taken care of was…adora-
No. He could not use that word in her. Never.
Angel frowned, confused, but her shoulders relaxed. She leaned on the kitchen's counter and murmured, "When? Have you already-"
"In the night." Lavi responded before she could finish her sentence. Gosh, he was being too nice to someone who broke his heart mercilessly, "It's a surprise, so don't you dare say anything." He warned, glowering at Angel. Better.
She seemed unsettled by the change in his tones. However, she kept her comments to herself and just nodded with comprehension. Afterwards, she climbed back into her bunk and isolated herself again.
Lavi felt observed. Or, more like, being murdered by a pair of eyes. He didn't have to even dart a look to the bus's seats to know who was killing him. He had done nothing wrong, though, and Matt could not make a scene this time. Lavi had won that much, at least.
His conversation with Angel spun in his head several minutes after they finished it. A weird feeling spread in his chest and he found out that it was some sort of satisfaction. Satisfaction for what? For being civilized towards Angel or for talking to her?
Lavi suddenly realized that this was probably the first time that they exchanged trivial words in a peaceful manner. There were no harsh retorts or complains, just questions and answers. He didn't like the way they talked so effortlessly when he had his guard down. And he liked even less the fact that this short conversation stirred up weird feelings inside of him. He couldn't allow himself to trust in Angel again. Lavi was not going to be thrown down again by a petty girl…
Stop looking at her bunk, Lavi. He commanded mentally when he discovered his eyes travelling back to the black curtain. Lavi forced himself to admire the beauty of the European countryside and wait for their arrival to Madrid.
They arrived to Madrid at dusk. The city was just as Izzie remembered. There were streets filled with tall buildings and modern edifices. Entire blocks were occupied by malls and offices. At the same times, classic neighborhoods with pretty, Spanish houses were found at certain sections of the city. Plazas with high fountains, lights and benches were common, and the air had that special Spanish smell that Izzie always related to sugarcane and tobacco.
Izzie felt excited, but disquiet at the same time. She never returned to Spain after the subway's incident, so many years ago. The city was impregnated with the fatality of tragedy, in spite of being certainly pretty. To Izzie, this was just a reminder of how ephemeral life is. One minute, you are asking for permission to sit on a bench. The next one, you are bleeding on the floor with a tube in your stomach.
That was why Izzie didn't take the earphones off during the whole trip. The turbulent Bach's symphonies kept her mind busy during hours, and then she changed for elegant Vivaldi and relaxing Debussy. That way, her mind fluttered away from painful memories.
They stopped at a restaurant in downtown. Somebody said something about their hotel being some blocks away, but Izzie didn't pay attention. Lenalee dragged her out of the bus before anyone else could even peep, and the Chinese distracted Izzie by asking her the meaning of some words in Spanish. Izzie knew what she was doing. Her friends were probably going to take the cake out of the fridge and explain in a broad Spanish their plans to a restaurant's employee. They were not very good at discretion and Izzie was sharp-eyed. Besides, they did the same last year. However, she played along to not make them feel bad.
What really surprised Izzie was Kanda's civilized demeanor after their small disagreement. He behaved the same way he did after their big fight –serious and aloof- but murmured a 'Happy Birthday' in the morning when they were accommodating their equipment. That made Izzie's predictably awful day a little bit better. Nonetheless, after that, they didn't exchange anything but a handful of irrelevant phrases before Izzie enclosed herself in her music. It was better this way, she believed. She needed to think in a way to make up with Kanda.
"Well, let's go inside." Lenalee said after a while. Izzie smiled at her and nodded, feigning complete ignorance. It was better this way.
When they arrived at the private section they had requested, Allen was already ordering dish after dish of Spanish food. Izzie half-heartedly smiled at the scene. She had always wondered how he managed to store everything inside. Matt ordered three entries and two main dishes,
so he didn't stay behind. The rest of the crew asked for normal and healthy amounts of food.
They have left the head of the table free for Izzie. She sat there without asking and smiled at her companions. Kanda was at her right and Lenalee at her left. Besides Lenalee, Komui sat down. Angel and Matt sat opposite to the formers and Nina.
They joked and chatted nonchalantly during the entire evening. Izzie chuckled disheartedly and tried to make some conversation to Kanda. She surrendered at the third intent. The Japanese responded to her questions politely, but he didn't make any effort to keep the conversation alive.
All in all, she spent a good time. They sang Happy Birthday in an awful Spanish and Izzie laughed at their intent.
"Feliz Cumpleaños." She sweetly corrected them while distributing pieces of the chocolate cake, "Cumpleañññññññññños." She emphasized.
Allen frowned and, between bite and bite, repeated, "Cumple-anos."
"Pronounced that way, it is kind of an obscenity." Izzie laughed.
"Caracoles, Batman!" Matt said, scratching her head. Everybody stared at him, bewildered by his expression. Noticing the perplexity in their faces, the young musician shrugged and said, "I heard that in a TV sitcom. It was set in Mexico."
Everybody nodded in comprehension and started to talk in a lame Spanish. They didn't know much, just a few words they had learned from the Latin immigrants, most of them profanities.
Izzie shared some of her scarce knowledge with them and then summoned Kanda outside. Discreetly, they left the restaurant without telling anyone else.
Outside, a small plaza extended across the street. Street lamps of wrought iron stood every three meters, illuminating the benches and the plaza's pathways. Sections of grass and trees were separated from the cobblestone pavement by iron fences, so the visitors didn't step on the vegetation.
Izzie led Kanda to a rather solitary bench. No peasants were seen around, and the closest lamp was two meters away. Without saying anything, she made him sit.
"I want a birthday present." Izzie demanded. She paced back and forth in front of Kanda, too coward to meet him face to face. Her stomach was twisting and her hands were sweating, but she needed to do this. "I want you to tell me in a calmed voice what is going on inside your head."
Collecting her nonexistent courage, Izzie stopped walking and stood in front of Kanda, challenging him with a defiant, yet comprehensive, look.
Kanda stared at her mutely, his expression unreadable. His blue eyes were shinning with the dim light, and their mesmerizing power almost overwhelmed Izzie. However, she couldn't lose her mind right now. She was determined to fix things, because Kanda's aloofness was driving her crazy. She loved him more than she had ever loved anyone, and she wanted, she needed, to fill any gap before the distance ended up with them.
He stayed in silence for so long that Izzie was starting to believe he would not answer. A stab of pain was leaving her breathless and she knew that it'd be the end of them if Kanda chose to remain silent
In the end, however, he opened his lips and said, "I believe you don't trust me."
The explanation hit Izzie, although it was not quite unexpected. She had sensed he felt this way when he found out about the pills. He practically yelled it at her, but they were so angry and she was so frustrated that nothing she said was right, and nothing could convince Kanda otherwise anyway.
Izzie took in a deep breath and carefully chose her words, "I never lived with anyone besides my dad. And I never had a formal boyfriend before. It is not that I don't trust you. You are the person I trust the most. It is just that…I'm afraid to try something new and fail and disappoint you."
"You disappointed me by not telling me things." Kanda coldly stated.
"I know." Izzie sighed. She slumped beside him on the bench, "But sometimes it is so hard, Kanda!" she moaned and hid her face in her palms, "You are not very expressive and sometimes I just feel like you don't care." Her voice came out weak and cautious. Izzie regretted saying them right after they were out. The last thing she needed was to have Kanda retaliating and arguing.
Surprisingly enough, his voice came out in the same calmed tone, "I'm not good with words," he reluctantly admitted between clenched teeth, "But I listen."
Izzie nodded. She knew this…she always knew this, then, why did she need to hear it from him? Was her resolution that weak?
There was a long moment of silence. It was not tense, like before. Izzie enjoyed the chilly breeze of the night, but the remembrance of the awful happenings that impregnated this city hovered above Izzie's head like a curse.
Kanda was the first one to break the silence, "Promise me you will tell me everything that is important from now on."
"Only if you do the same." Izzie rapidly replied.
Kanda thought about it for a moment and nodded.
Warmness substituted the previous anxiety in Izzie's body. She moved closer to Kanda and placed her head on his shoulder. The Japanese relaxed instantly at the contact and surrounded her shoulders with an arm, pulling Izzie closer. She inhaled the scent of his skin and the feeling of dreadfulness disappeared.
"Kanda Yuu being romantic?" a male's voice sardonically exclaimed. A shadow approached the couple, his features hidden by the darkness. However, his voice was enough to make Kanda tense and Izzie fret.
"I never imagined this could be possible." The shadow transformed in Tykki Mikk when he stood under the lamp, steps away. He was just like Izzie remembered: dark skin, black curls and golden, glimmering eyes, all of that in a perfectly chiseled body. He was wearing denim trousers, a black shirt and a gray blazer.
His eyes soon fixated on Izzie and, by the way his eyebrows raised, she guessed he felt rather surprised. However, Kanda concealed Izzie from his sight. "What do you want?" the Japanese hissed.
"Nothing, I was just strolling around…great concert, by the way. I was not able to be there, but Rhode told me…I believe she talked to you, right, Izzobel?"
Izzie had just opened her mouth when Kanda interfered, "Don't talk to her."
"Oi, don't tell me you're getting all possessive. Tsch, tsch, girls don't like that."
Izzie knew what Tykki meant by his inquiry. I just wanted to tell you…if my uncle Tykki asks something from you, you better accede. You know, he is the owner of this place and many others after all. It'd be a disgrace if some tragedy befell accidentally on your friends during the tour. Izzie gulped. "Kanda…"
Her quivering murmur attracted Kanda's attention. The Japanese turned to look at her and held her hand reassuringly. Then, he faced Tykki again, "Get lost." He growled.
"Hmm….I don't think so." The Noah grinned. In his eyes, Izzie recognized malice, resentment and hatred. It was clear how much Tykki hated Kanda, and perhaps all of Innocence. They were the ones to denounce him, after all. That realization only made Izzie fear for Kanda's precious life.
Tykki walked towards the bench until he stood face to face with Izzie. Kanda extended an arm protectively in front of the girl and glowered at the Portuguese.
"You owe me a date, if my memory doesn't fail me." The Noah said to Izzie. "Would you mind walking around with me?"
Izzie frowned. "You had me for three days. I think that's enough time."
The chuckle Tykki uttered was so out of place that it unsettled Izzie and vexed Kanda.
"That was work…and quite distasteful." Tykki flinched, "C'mon, I won't steal much of your time, sweetheart."
It sickened Izzie the way he called her 'sweetheart'. However, she swallowed her repulsion and forced herself to think rapidly. The look Tykki was giving her intended to be friendly, but his mouth twisted in a mischievous smile that Izzie didn't like. Tykki raised an eyebrow in Izzie's direction and a hand discreetly disappeared behind his back, as if he was fetching something hidden.
Izzie gulped. Her heart raced again and a cold perspiration started to run down her nape. The sight of Kanda bleeding at one side of the subway's rail flashed behind her eyes, and she knew what she had to do.
"Fifteen minutes." She firmly declared. Delicately, she pushed Kanda's arm downwards and stood up.
"What the fuck, Izzie?" he exclaimed.
Izzie spun on her heels and met Kanda's scowl. She forced a smile and leaned to kiss him on the forehead, "Fifteen minutes."
"Izzie, that man kidnapped you!" Kanda roared and stood up, grabbing Izzie's wrist tightly, "Are you crazy?"
"I swear on my honor that I'll return the lady safe and sound." Tykki Mikk promised.
"You have no honor, fucking Noah." Kanda retaliated. Then, he locked gazes with Izzie.
Izzie heard a click, or maybe it was just her imagination. Either way, the sound resembled to the one a gun makes when its owner prepares it to be shot. "I'll be back." Izzie tried to convince Kanda, although she was not quite sure that was going to be true.
Kanda stared at her for the longest minute. Then, he whispered, "What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Izzie…"
Izzie sighed. They had just promised… but if she told Kanda about the threat, he'd try to protect her and would end up hurt or worse… It pained her to break their promise just a minute after making it, but it was necessary.
"Trust me. I have something to ask him too…about my father." She lied, undoing his grip. "Fifteen minutes."
Said this, she hesitantly walked to Tykki.
A/N: Hey! I'm sorry for any mistakes and the delay and...you know. I have just returned to school and this first week was ...hard. I'm a zombie, so...sorry.
Song:
Haunted-Taylor Swift. A recommendation from lolekandmysi :)
w w playlist?list=PLodHkZII-GJ6gBoXpO0EXmSdQH8QitZbt this is a playlist made by PopHorrorScheme646. It is awesome! I believe she has a second playlist in her account, so check it out too! :D and subscribe! :D
Fanart in my profile :D
Next weekend is going to be PMs weekend, so I'll answer all of them until then.
Now, I'll go to sleep...I really need it :(