Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Or anything, actually.
Chapter 14
Komui turned his head back to the road, and the next ten minutes flew by in silence. Then the court building loomed ahead, all white stone and marble columns.
Kanda groaned under his breath, and Allen heard him. Meanwhile, Komui calculated the likelihood of the judge being cowed by his Komurin. At the same time, Lavi walked hand-in-hand with Lenalee toward Komui's yellow car, whistling lightly and swinging his briefcase.
Bookman smoked by the door, where Leverrier nodded at him. Link brushed past them all.
It was going to be a long day.
:::
It was cold in the courtroom, as if someone had forgotten that winter still lay over the land and had consequently switched the heater off.
Allen shivered slightly, trying to find a comfortable sitting position on the hard seats behind the witnesses' stand. Lenalee was behind her, equally uncomfortable, but having noticed Allen's discomfort, she reached down to pat the younger girl's shoulder.
"Thanks," Allen said, turning her head toward Lenalee by a fraction.
"It'll be okay," Lenalee said, squeezing Allen's shoulder.
One of the clerks at the front stood up, and thrust his sharp chin toward the people sitting below. "Court rise."
Allen rose uncertainly, her hands moving protectively to rub against her abdomen. She saw the judge walk in, his rotund body made even rounder by the thick ceremonial cloak he wore. Across the room, Link glowered at her, his eyes mere lines in the map that was his face.
Now, come to think of it, she hated his face. She had never truly loved him, although she did like him when they started their relationship. Gradually, though, whatever romance that once existed between them fizzled out, and she wanted to break away from him. It seemed to her that being with him stifled her. He was something of a control freak, always wanting to know where she was, what she was doing and who she was with.
Even the most passionate couple couldn't last with obstacles like that. And they had never been near the pinnacle of passion, anyway. He was too stiff to know passion, and she too full of anguish to embrace it.
Theirs was a make-believe tale moulded from mutual need. They met one fateful night in the catacombs of despair – he believed that his uncle was dying and she was horribly frustrated with the huge stack of new bills that Cross had just presented to her that morning.
They met under a swirling disco ball.
The next morning, they found themselves tangled together, naked as the day they were born, white, pristine hotel sheets covering them, but only just barely.
Somehow they got together. They lasted happily for about half a year before Allen stopped loving Link, but then she could never find a way to break up with him. He didn't love her properly, of that she was sure – he was too possessive, too incensed with her when she did something he didn't approve of.
Allen was quite sure that he only lusted after her. He needed an outlet for his desire, and she provided it, though somewhat reluctantly.
She didn't feel at all guilty that she remained in a relationship with him purely because to leave him would incur his wrath and prevent her from paying off Cross's many debts. Breaking up was not an option, and while she knew that her actions were unethical, she didn't feel the least guilty.
Then he left, saying that Leverrier was sending him on a business trip. That was when she decided to act as a surrogate. Link knew that she had suffered some unhappiness in her past, but he had never bothered to get the details from her. His lack of sensitivity she found callous, but in its absence she found herself free to get certain things done.
Like getting pregnant.
"Allen Walker?"
Allen looked up. One of the justice clerks stood before her, his face lined with wrinkles. His eyes were cold.
"Yes?" she said.
"Please take the witness's stand. I hope I will not have to address you thrice again before you deign to take note of what I say."
"I'm sorry," she said, making her slow way to the stand. At that moment, she felt a strong dislike for Link course through her veins.
"Please swear on the bible," the judge said.
Allen placed her palm on the bible on the stand. She could feel the raised lettering of the words on the cover of the book; they somehow felt like little ants trying to call up her skin. She shivered slightly. "I, Allen Walker, hereby swear to uphold justice and to tell only the truth."
"Let's make this quick," the judge said, "because the witness is pregnant and therefore, I think, cannot stand for too long."
"Yes, Your Honour," the prosecutor said. "Now, you are Miss Allen Walker?"
"Yes."
"You were there on the day of the fight?"
"Yes."
"Did Kanda Yu hit my client?"
"Yes he did, but –"
"So my client was hit by the accused?"
"Yes, but –"
"Where did he hit my client?"
"On the nose. But –"
"I hope you know, Miss Walker, that causing intentional harm to another is an offence!"
"I –"
"I'm done, Your Honour," the prosecutor said, walking back to the desk where Link sat.
Allen followed the man's path, despair hanging heavily on her. He hadn't given her a chance to explain anything! She hadn't managed to explain that Kanda had hit Link because Link appeared to be about to hit her – she hadn't managed to help Kanda at all.
Link glared at her from where he sat, a small smirk sitting smugly on his face. Allen clenched her fists and turned resolutely to face the front. She stared at the judge's white wig, trying to stop thinking about strangling Link.
"Miss Walker," Lavi said, standing before her. "Now I will ask you some questions."
"Yes."
"Did my client hit Mr Howard Link for no reason, or did he do it upon being provoked?"
"Yes- yes. He did. He was provoked."
"What happened?"
"Link was trying to pull me away, and I didn't want to go. So… Link got angry. He clenched his fists and Kanda got agitated. Then Link insulted Kanda, so…"
"I see. I will ask you one more time: the assault was provoked?"
"That's right," Allen said. She nodded.
"Thank you, Your Honour," Lavi said. "That is all."
"Please return to your seat, Miss Walker," the clerk said.
Allen fumbled her way back to her seat, her mind half fogged-over with despair and confusion. Behind her, Lenalee again reached forward to squeeze her shoulder, and she acknowledged the other's concern by turning and smiling.
"The plaintiff will now be called to the stand."
Link walked stiffly toward the stand, his yellow hair still pulled into a thick braid. His eyes were narrowed and his shoulders were thrust back as straight as they could be. In Allen's opinion he looked like a toy soldier sold in toy stores, and she wondered anew what she could ever have seen in him.
The prosecutor nodded at Link. "Did the defendant hit you on that day?"
"Yes, it was him who hit me."
"Was it provoked?"
"No it was not. I was trying to settle a domestic dispute with my girlfriend, and he intervened."
"And your girlfriend is Miss Walker?"
"Yes, that's her," Link said, shooting a furious look in Allen's direction. "Kanda Yu had no right to interfere."
"What was the dispute about?"
"About her cohabitating with Kanda," Link said, venom thrusting through his words.
"It looks like you had sufficient reason to be angry with her. And so she got Kanda to hit you?"
"No. He hit me. I have no quarrel with Allen. I just want to get back together with her and continue our happy days together."
Allen crumbled inside. Now that she had known days of true happiness, she did not particularly want to return to Link's side. Their romance was long over, and only the strings of possessiveness (on Link's part tied her to him.
"Mr Howard Link," Lavi said, as the prosecutor returned to his desk, "Did you provoke my client?"
"No."
"The witness Miss Walker said you did."
"I was merely trying to take her away."
"Against her wishes. My client merely wished," said Lavi, green eye burning bright like a falling star, "to help Miss Walker out because it seemed like she was in a difficult position."
"What happened between her and me was none of Kanda Yu's concern! She's my girlfriend! I have the right to talk to her in private."
"Possessiveness brings only misery," Lavi said. "I have completed my examination of the plaintiff, Your Honour."
"The defendant will now be called to the stand," the clerk called.
Allen sat up straight and watched as Kanda moved swiftly toward the stand, his long dark hair rippling down his broad back. Anxiety washed over her, and she again placed her hands on her swollen abdomen, as if doing so could provide Kanda a talisman against what was to come.
'Do you know that it is an offense to assault another man, Mr Kanda Yu?" the prosecutor asked.
Kanda looked up, and his dark eyes were hollow. "Yes."
"You still hit my client despite knowing that the law disapproves of violence," the prosecutor said. "This shows a complete disregard for the law!"
"No –"
"No?'
"You little dipshit –"
"Language, Mr Kanda," warned the judge.
"Sorry," Kanda said, his head held high.
"You were cohabitating with Miss Walker?" the prosecutor asked.
"No."
"Do you understand the meaning of cohabit, Mr Kanda?" the prosecutor asked. "I ask you again – were you cohabitating with Miss Walker?"
"No."
"Ah, but you were living in the same house!"
"Your Honour," Lavi said, "I object to this question!"
"Please keep to the subject in hand," the judge told the prosecutor, who glowered.
Then Lavi took up the questioning, and Allen remembered to breathe properly.
"Were you just looking out for Miss Walker?"
"Yes."
"Are you and Miss Walker in a relationship?"
"No."
"So you were just trying to lend a helping hand to Miss Walker on the day of the incident, am I right? You were trying to help her because you felt that Mr Link was being too forceful?"
"Yes."
"Your Honour," Lavi said respectfully to the judge, "I am done."
"We will take a break while the jury considers the verdict," said the judge.
:::
"The jury has reached a decision," the judge said. "Due to insufficient evidence, court is now adjoined. The next hearing will be in two months."
Lenalee helped Allen up, and they held each other for a few seconds. Both were relieved that Kanda had not yet been sentenced to jail. Together, they made their way to the desk where Kanda and Lavi sat.
"The ordeal's over for today," Lavi said. He leaned back and beamed at them all. "I thought I was pretty good myself, today."
"You were," Lenalee said, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. "You were brilliant, and I'm proud of you."
Kanda made a gagging sound, and Lavi disentangled him from Lenalee to smile at his friend. "Are you envious, Yu? If you want to, you could always ask Allen here to give you a kiss too."
"What?" spluttered Allen.
"You piece of shit!" Kanda said, his eyes burning with fury.
"Hey, calm down man. I saved your ass today, so please try to act like you appreciate it," Lavi said.
"Shit you!" Kanda said, but kept his hands to himself instead of placing them around Lavi's neck.
"Look out," Lenalee warned, and they looked up to see Link headed their way.
"You'll pay for this!" Link hissed as he passed them. "Damn you all."
Kanda flipped his finger at Link's back, and Allen cast her gaze downwards, unable to meet anyone's eyes.
"Maybe we should head outside?" Lenalee suggested, anxious to rush Link's words out of their minds.
"Komui's waiting for us outside," Lavi said.
Kanda immediately stood up and moved toward the door without so much as a backward glance at them.
Allen looked apologetically at the Bookmans. "He's just like that. He's probably too proud to say thank you."
"We know that," Lenalee said. "You don't have to worry that we'll take offence."
"Yeah, we know Yu like the back of our hands," Lavi agreed. Then he looked at Allen and frowned. "Why are you speaking up for him, suddenly, hmm?"
"Stop teasing Allen," Lenalee chided. "Now let's go!"
As they left the courtroom, none of them noticed the blonde woman who was observing them from the audience's seats. The woman moved swiftly toward the door, drawing a pair of over-sized sunglasses from her Burberry bag.
She paused at the door, sunglasses already perched on the bridge of her nose. Half-hidden by the lattices of the door, she observed the four getting into a car driven by none other than Komui Lee.
She remained hidden behind the door until the car was far away. Only then did she emerge into the weak sunlight. Pulling her trench coat tighter around herself, she whipped her iphone from her pocket and dialled a number.
"Hello? Who's this?"
"It's me. They've gone. I can email you the details of the trial as soon as I get back to the office."
"Why don't you drop by tonight? We can all discuss this over dinner. Tyki and Skin will be heading over too."
"Yes, Master."
"See you in the evening, Lulu Bell! Good work."
:::
The glory of the setting sun was lost on Lulu Bell as she walked up the pathway to the Earl's mansion. She looked straight ahead, blonde hair straight and glossy, her bright eyes ignoring the luscious tints of the rose bushes lining the path. Her ears only heard the slight clicks of her heels, and not the chirping of birds as they prepared to nest for the night.
"Lulu Bell!"
The woman turned. "Tyki."
"You're here," Tyki said. "You look good in this suit." He winked.
"I always do," she said.
"How did the trial go?"
"Later."
"Secretive, as always."
"Why ask if you know?"
"True," Tyki said. He opened the front door with a flourish, gesturing for Lulu Bell to go first.
"Lulu Bell," the Earl said, meeting them in the hallway, "and Tyki. Dinner's about to start!"
The three of them moved toward the dining room, where the other Noahs were already seated.
"I want to hear about the trial!" Rhode shouted.
"Me too!" said Debitto.
"Me three!" cried Jasdero, grinning madly and pulling at his yellow hair.
"All in good time," the Earl said. "Let them get some food into them first!"
Then dinner commenced, and nothing important was spoken of until dessert was over.
"Can we start now?" Tyki asked. "I have other business to take care of."
"It went badly," Lulu Bell said. "I don't think they can win. They won't be able to win."
"That bad?" Tyki asked.
"Yes."
"You're very, very sure?" the Earl asked.
"Yes, Master."
"Should we take the initiative, then?" Wisely asked.
The Earl pondered the point for a moment. "Rhode and Tyki will have to ask Allen Walker to join us again. If she agrees, then we move."
"She will say yes," said Lulu Bell, "if you tell her that by joining us she can save Kanda Yu from languishing in jail."
"Yes, that might work," said the Earl.
"We'll ask her, then," Tyki said. "Though I can't imagine the man languishing in jail."
"Good boy," the Earl said.
"If there's nothing else, then I'll leave." Tyki pushed back his chair and stood up, walking away, his footsteps firm and calm against the marble floor.
"He's taking it badly," Wisely observed.
"We're Allen's good friends," Rhode said. "He feels bad that we're taking advantage of her situation to get her into Noah's Ark."
"Don't you feel bad?" Debitto asked.
"Yes. And no."
"It's just that Tyki takes things too seriously, sometimes," Sheril said. "He'll come round in the end."
:::
The day after the trial, Allen was busy tottering around Judgement, wiping at any specks of dust the might lie on the shelves.
"Allen."
She turned to find Tyki leaning against the counter, his dark hair curling around his forehead.
"What're you doing here? Weren't you busy?"
"I came to see my best female friend!"
"Right," Allen said. "If you're so free… help me dust the top of the shelves. I can't reach them."
"You're short," Tyki said, smirking. He took the duster anyway.
"So… you have something to say?" Allen asked, watching as Tyki wiped at the grooves along the shelves. "You wouldn't be here if you had nothing to say to me."
"Yeah."
"It's about the offer?"
"Smart girl."
"Well?"
"We heard about the trial. The odds are not in your favour, yes?"
"But… there was an adjournment…"
"It just means Kanda Yu's safe for now. The jury's likely to vote him guilty 'cause they're afraid of Leverrier. And strictly speaking, they're kind of prejudiced. Bigots, the lot. They'll support Link 'cause he has money."
"No!"
"Uh-uh," Tyki said. "Snobbery still exists today, my friend. It's subtle, but it's there, believe me."
"No…"
"Yes. All the Noahs think so – and trust me, we've been to plenty of trials before. We know what's done and what's not."
"But –"
"If you agree to join us, the Earl will pay Leverrier off. Link won't be able to continue suing Kanda and your friend will be safe. You join us in return. That's not such a bad deal."
"I…"
"We all like you. Jasdevi are especially excited at the thought of you joining us. Consider it? Both sides gain."
Allen sat down. It was true – Kanda would not have to be jailed if Link dropped the case. She wanted Kanda to be safe and happy (if he could be happy). And the Noahs were indeed nice to her. Maybe she should…
"I'll accept the offer,' Allen said, not looking at Tyki.
"That's great!"
"Give the Earl my thanks. And could I start work only after I deliver this child?"
"That'll be good," Tyki said. He reached over and squeezed her hands. "Welcome to the Noah family. You've made a wise choice indeed, Allen."
Allen merely nodded. When Tyki left, she was still in the same chair, legs tucked under the base of the chair and lips pressed together. Passers-by would have thought it strange to see a pregnant woman sitting in a fixed position without moving, but they didn't see the stranger thing.
Beneath her white fringe, tears flowed down eyes closed tightly together.
She didn't really want to leave.
But she had to. For Kanda's sake.
:::
"Mr Leverrier, sir?" the butler said, bending by the large armchair beside the fireplace. "There's a man outside. He wants to see you."
"I'm not free," Leverrier said, flipping through a magazine laconically.
"I'm sorry sir, but the gentleman said it was urgent. He called himself the messenger of the Earl."
"The Earl?" Leverrier said. "Could it be the Earl of Millennium?"
The butler did not reply, opting to stand beside the chair with his head down.
"Invite him in," Leverrier said at last.
It was a cold day, and to be honest Leverrier could not think of a better way of spending such an evening other than sipping wine by his fireplace, with magazines sitting on the floor waiting to be read.
However, while Leverrier was the chairman of a property firm, the Earl was a renowned (and somewhat notorious) businessman. It would have been rude to deny entry to his messenger – and anyway, Leverrier was interested in finding out exactly what the Earl had to say to him.
Soon, he heard soft footfalls outside his study. Someone knocked on the large wooden door.
"Come in."
A man entered. He was dressed in a suit, with a top hat thrown in to complete the picture. His dark, curly hair reached past his chin.
"Tyki MIkk, at your service," the man said, nodding at Leverrier.
"Ahh. Tyki Mikk. Pleased to meet you. What business does the Earl have with me?"
"The Earl has only one business with you. That of the trial."
"The trial?" Leverrier asked, pulling at the ends of his tooth-brush moustache.
"Yes, the trial that your nephew is waging against Kanda Yu."
"My nephew can sue anyone he likes, Mr Mikk. This is a fair world."
"This might be a fair world, but money still makes the world go round, don't you agree?"
"Yes," Leverrier said through pursed lips. "But at the same time, sometimes money is insufficient to deal with insults to one's honour."
"But can an insult to one's honour weigh the same as the loss of one's entire fortune?"
There was an awkward silence, and Leverrier fidgeted in his chair. "Do take a seat, Mr Mikk."
Tyki nodded and took the chair opposite Leverrier's. "Nice place you have here. Pity to lose it all just for the sake of avenging an insult."
"I do not understand what you are saying."
Tyki studied Leverrier's face. It was splotched with liver spots and lined with wrinkles, and he could see the faintest trace of sweat appearing around the man's angry red cheeks.
"Do you not?" Tyki asked. "But fine, let us leave the game of riddles and go on to speak in plain words."
Leverrier frowned.
"The Earl is willing to vanquish you should you allow your nephew to continue suing Kanda Yu. Do you understand?"
"I – we –"
"No, sir, you do not understand. If you wish to live like this –" Tyki indicated the rest of the luxuriously-decorated room with his hands, "then you have to co-operate with us."
"I do not have to do any such thing!" Leverrier cried, anger burning his cheeks.
"No, you don't have to. But please remember that Noah's Ark has far more power and influence than you do… we have the ability to make you bankrupt."
Bankrupt… Leverrier shivered inside at the word. He didn't want to lose his fortune. Having grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth, he had never known poverty except for the briefest glimpses he had of it at charity events. He didn't want to go bankrupt.
"I will fight to the end. I will not go bankrupt," he insisted, trying valiantly to stick to his former position.
"Oh, will you?" Tyki said, smirking. A chill ran down Leverrier's spine. He looked into Tyki Mikk's eyes and saw nothing but contempt in those depths of molten gold. He knew then that his efforts were futile.
He was a wily businessman, and he knew where the wind was blowing. "Fine. Fine. I stop Link from suing Kanda, and you'll leave us alone."
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea," Tyki said. "The Earl is willing to pay Mr Link a settlement of a million dollars to drop the case."
"That's good," Leverrier said, breathing deeply. "If that's all…"
Tyki glanced at Leverrier, observing with some degree of satisfaction that the latter's moustache was still shaking above his quivering lips. "Then I take my leave, sir. I hope you keep to your end of the contract… The Earl doesn't quite like people who break their promises…"
"No, no."
"Then good bye, and fare you well." Tyki grinned and swept his hat off his head, bowing to Leverrier before he left the room.
Outside the room, Tyki pressed a number on speed dial and put his blackberry to his ear. "Mission accomplished."
:::
Kanda sat brooding in his shop in the darkest corner. There were no customers browsing his wares at the moment, and he was therefore free to meditate.
Try as he might, though, something seemed to block his ability to calm himself down and to enter the world of emptiness. He snapped his dark eyes open, glaring at his goods, and wishing them all to hell.
Then he nearly jumped.
The telephone was ringing.
Scowling, Kanda stood up and headed for the counter.
"Yu?" the caller shouted into his ear. It was Lavi, no doubt about it. "Guess what!"
"Shut the hell up, you noisy retard," Kanda growled.
"Don't be such a wet blanket, my dear friend," Lavi said loudly. "Listen to me!"
"Shit you," Kanda replied.
"You'll want to thank me after you hear this," Lavi said. "Guess what?"
"Just say it already, Usagi!"
"I got a call from Link's lawyer just now."
"So?"
"They're dropping the case against you!"
"You kidding me?"
"No!"
"Shit," Kanda said.
"What?" Lavi asked. "You're upset?"
"No – it's just, shit."
"Eh, Yu, what's wrong?"
"Che."
"You're not going to hang up on me, are you? 'Cause, if you do, I'll pop by tonight with some champagne and you know you don't want that."
"Che," Kanda said again. "I'm hanging up. I don't want to talk to you."
"But –"
"Shut the hell up," Kanda said. "And – thanks."
And then he hung up, placing the receiver back onto its holding place.
So the trial was over. It was a relief, to be honest, even though he had refused to admit to anyone that the idea of imprisonment bothered him much. To tell the truth, the idea of being sent to jail had weighed heavily on him throughout the past few weeks, denying him a measure of sleep and weaving its way into his dreams.
Now it was all over, and the burden on his chest seemed to have lifted.
Maybe he should inform the Moyashi – if she hadn't already been informed by Lavi.
With quick movements he drew the shutters and locked the door.
Judgement was empty when Kanda reached. He could see the Moyashi sitting at the counter, staring idly into space, her twiddling fingers visible behind the till.
"What are you doing here?" she asked when he entered. "Decided to close for the day? What happened to your work ethic?"
"I came over to tell you something."
"Alright, speak then."
"Che."
"Well?"
"Lavi called me just now. Link has dropped the case."
"Is that so?" Allen asked, her voice light. "That's great! I'm so happy for you!"
"Che," Kanda said, "you're overreacting, as usual."
Allen only smiled in return.
"I'm going back," Kanda said, feeling uneasy.
"Sure. We should have a great celebration later!"
Kanda nodded, but could not shake the feeling of uneasiness that Allen's reply had triggered. She had sounded happy that he would not be convicted, but there was a certain element of surprise that was lacking in her tone.
It seemed to him, too, that her eyes were strangely glassy that day, and her posture too erect. She had not professed astonishment at his appearance; it was almost as if she had expected him to walk in with important news.
It was almost as if she knew the outcome of the trial before he did.
Kanda frowned.
:::
The next day, Rhode bought Allen lunch.
"You have a month and a half left with Kanda," Rhode said, staring at Allen with her large eyes.
"Whatever it is that you're implying…"
"Really, Allen, I'm being serious. You've spent about what, close to six months living with him? I'm sure there's something between the two of you."
"There isn't."
"If you say that, then you're not being true to yourself. Even if you're not attracted to him, you should at least have built up a friendship with him."
"Yes," Allen agreed. "And what are you trying to get at?"
"I'm just telling you… make the most of the next six weeks, hmm? You won't have much opportunity to meet him after you join Noah's Ark."
"Why are you so nice to me today?" Allen asked, her eyes narrowed to mere slits.
"You're my friend," Rhode said, shrugging. "Tyki told me you seemed quite depressed over the whole issue."
"I know what to do," Allen said. "But thanks anyway."
:::
"Kanda," Allen said two days later, "let's have a picnic this weekend."
"Why the shit do you want to have a picnic? It's still winter!" Kanda answered, looking up from his tea and soba.
They were at the breakfast table, and Allen had decided to tell Kanda about her ideas. After her talk with Rhode, Allen had planned a to-do list. It made sense, really, to make the most out of the next few weeks before she left her friends.
"I'll be giving birth in slightly more than a month," Allen said, glaring at Kanda, "and after that I'll be house-bound for some time."
"And so?"
"And so I want to have a picnic."
"I'm not going to a picnic in freaking winter."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
Allen glared at Kanda again, and Kanda stared back.
"Yes you are."
"Give me a reason to."
"If you don't… I will hide all your soba!"
"Che. That was a stupid threat. I can buy more."
"I hate you," Allen said.
"So do I."
Allen frowned and rested her head on her arms, trying to think of another way to persuade Kanda.
"What's wrong with you?" Kanda asked, prodding her arms with the hilt of his favourite sword.
Allen responded by raising her head and giving Kanda an empty stare that unnerved even his brave and courageous soul.
"Che, fine," Kanda said, not liking the hollowness of her eyes. He remembered the night when she had spoken of Mana and her dead child, and the empty eyes that had accompanied her story. He shuddered within. "I'll go. Shit you."
"Okay!" Allen said, smiling. "Let's tell Lavi and Lenalee and Miranda and Marie. Everybody!"
Kanda sulked.
:::
The picnic took place on the Sunday of that week, after two feverish days of preparation.
Right after Kanda had reluctantly agreed to having a picnic, Allen called Lenalee and told her about it. Lenalee and Lavi were thrilled, and Lavi immediately chastised Kanda for being a spoilsport.
The three spent the next two days preparing food and beverages to suit the different tastes and preferences of those attending the picnic, and Allen managed to rope Kanda into Operation Picnic, whereby she forced him to make sandwiches and then laughed at the sight of him cutting bread.
"Shit you," Kanda said to Allen on Sunday morning. They were loading the ten baskets of food they had prepared into the boot of Kanda's car.
"My sentiments exactly," Allen said, giving Kanda a patronising pat on the back.
"Just get your sorry ass into the damned car."
Allen rolled her eyes and got into the Ford Mustang. "I ever told you that I like this car?"
"Che."
"Well, I do. Mana once had a car like this… and don't you like the leathery smell? I think it smells heavenly. This car seems like it belongs to those long-ago days of pomp and glamorous days. I'd almost expect Sherlock Holmes to have a car like that."
Midway through fastening his seat belt, Kanda looked at Allen and frowned. "Did you knock your head? Sherlock Holmes is fictional."
"I know that, you twit."
Kanda made a scornful noise and started the car. "Stop talking, Moyashi. You're damned noisy."
"We're almost late," Allen said by way of reply.
"I told you to shut up!"
"Okay." Allen paused. "Jerk."
"Damn you!"
The ride passed in a blur. Allen spent the time admiring the scenery, while Kanda fixed his eyes on the road. He did notice, though, that Allen's right hand – which was lying on her seat beside the gear lever – was slim and smooth, though a little too pale like the rest of her.
He could also see the little scars on the back of her hand, and wondered how it would feel to touch the calloused patches of skin on her hand, engraved into her skin through years of hard work.
In that instant, he wanted to retch, because such thoughts were disgustingly not Kanda and therefore harming his honour. But he didn't, because if he retched then Allen would know that he had been staring at her hand and then she would ask why he was staring – and then what would he answer?
That he liked her?
He couldn't possibly say that because he didn't know if he did like her in a romantic sense. (Or maybe he was in denial – but he really didn't know.) Anyway, to admit that he was attracted to someone would dent his ego, and he couldn't quite bring himself to tell anyone out loud that he liked one Allen Walker. Blame it on his personality.
"What are you doing?" Allen shrieked. Her voice was now high and frightened, cutting through his musings like a sabre.
"Damn it!" Kanda swore. He hastily turned the steering wheel, forcing the old car away from the tree it had been going to crash into. "Shit."
"Stop cursing," Allen said. "Were you trying to kill us?"
Kanda glared at Allen. "This is all your fault."
"My fault! How so?"
"I –" Kanda realised the full implications of his words. He was at a loss as to how to continue the conversation. "I –"
"Yu!" someone cried from their right. Never had Kanda been so glad to hear Lavi's voice. He made a mental note to spare Lavi one thrashing – because the damned idiot had saved him from a potentially embarrassing and humiliating situation for once.
"Go away you idiot."
Lavi continued to thrust his face through Kanda's open window. "You're here!"
"Shut the hell up and move."
"Hey, Allen! You're looking great, too!"
"Thanks," Allen said.
"What happened, Kanda?" Lenalee asked from behind Lavi. "We saw the car…swerve."
"Careen, more of. Looks like somebody lost his focus!" Lavi said, reaching in to ruffle Kanda's neat, sleek hair. "Atta boy, Yu! You finally learnt how to drive along. Oops?"
"Usagi" Kanda yelled. That did it. Now his hair was all messed up – and it was all Lavi Bookman's ault. The man would have to pay for the damage done!
Deep down inside, Kanda wondered if Allen was laughing at him. He didn't care to look back as he leapt out of the car after a shrieking Lavi, just in case he found Allen's strange grey eyes locked onto him, disapproval brimming in them.
"Boys," Lenalee said, shaking her head.
A/N: You know what? I kind of like this chapter.
Having said that, I must say that I'm sorry for not being able to do the court scene properly. I don't watch law dramas and so I really have no idea how a court scene should be written. I did try to google it but there wasn't much help. So please do pardon the below-average descriptions in that part!
Alright – so, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reviews and comments would be appreciated (: