Chapter 34

After so much careful planning, the red head contacted the lady and set up a date he knew that Tyki would be elsewhere. She gave directions where they'll meet up. He was surprised to find out that Cross was involved but then again it shouldn't be a surprise. She works for him and her knowledge would mostly come from him who has the position to have all access to the information he needed.

"So that's the kid," said Cross while smoking looking displeased. He always held that look when it's not women or alcohol.

"His name is Lavi Bookman," said Maria.

"Bookman... Ah that old man with dark rings in his eyes. So you're his grandson?" he asked with a cold look before drinking the glass of wine he held that put him in a better mood.

"Yes," the red head said calmly despite the intimidating aura he is feeling.

"I remember your mother, pretty. Too bad she was taken. You look like her removing that eye patch. What's there?"

"You met her?" the boy asked curiously while ignoring his question about the eye patch.

"That's not the point here. You said Magdala Curtain. What are you looking for?" the older man said irritated.

"The truth. I want to know the truth behind the deaths," he said with determination and focus.

"What is in it for me if I tell you the truth?" he said while his words slightly slurred due to his almost drunken state.

The red head was about to say something but was cut off.

"Don't look surprised. I don't give information like that for free."

"What can I do?"

"Money will do. I need to pay off some debts."

"Cross, riggin' money off a kid?" said Maria with a questioning look at the man.

"I don't have much," said the boy honestly.

"I haven't much time lately. Why don't you clean up my place once a week?" said Maria.

The man deeply sighed before agreeing to the idea. Their place really is a mess. Yes, their place. He and Maria live in the same apartment but regretfully not the same room.

"Fine, he can do that."

"Where?"

"I'll give you the details later."

"Come here, kid. You can only read through them, not take them," said Cross as he threw the key towards the boy who somehow caught it.

"Things you might find interesting are in that room," said Maria while pointing.

The boy nodded and went inside the room where there were a lot of documents. There was one locked drawer though where the key fit. He opened it and started reading.

`Lavi

This is just hard to believe. He let me come here and read through the files just like that. I tried looking if the case about what happened to my parents is here but there's nothing but a blank folder with blank papers. Their names are there but the papers inside are gone, replaced with blank ones.

Did he notice this? Did he remove them himself?

Even the case about Tyki's parents are here. It's blank as well except for a few words.

A murder made to look like an accident. One survived, a kid named Lavi.

Nothing more besides what I already know, the truth I always hated. They died while I didn't. Why? Are Uncle Sheryl and Auntie Trisha going to die too?

No. They can't. They just can't. I have to do this fast so I can leave. I have to know the truth and end things. I have to so it won't happen again. I don't want it to happen again. It just can't.

`Tyki

I had been away in a social gathering and returned home to see Lavi slumped up on the couch sleeping. Road just grinned quietly while placing a finger on her lips to tell me to keep quiet. I returned the gesture and hid my laugh at the sight. She drew on his face and he didn't even stir. I guess he was that tired but I wonder why? Today wasn't the day for his shifts in work. I wonder what got him so exhausted. I didn't stay and went upstairs to my room.

The red head woke up still tired and went to his own room. It was already night and he missed dinner. They didn't wake him up since he looked that tired which he was thankful for. He didn't really know how to face them after reading all those facts. It wasn't enough so he still needs to do more research. He sat down on the bed and stared into space thinking. He couldn't set his mind right and lied down and then he fell asleep.

Tyki noticed the opened door and saw Lavi already transferred there and asleep. He just lied down there without pulling the covers nor changing and removing his shoes. Tyki lightly laughed to himself as he entered the room. Lavi was being like a kid again just falling asleep like that when he was too tired.

Tyki removed the shoes then pulled the red head up. He placed the covers above the red head so he won't be cold. His hand ruffled the strands of red hair then left the room closing the door behind him.

The red head's eyes opened after hearing the door close. He was asleep but startled awake when Tyki pulled him up in the right position on the bed. He was nearly falling in his previous position. Cheeks warmed for unknown reasons. It just did.

The gesture of ruffling his hair was remained a habit by the older one. He remembers it and the past memories. His older brother would often do that. It felt so much like back then. A small smile forms on his face as he falls into a dream.

Waking up, Tyki smiled to himself feeling well after having a nice sleep. It had been a stressful week but his family was enough to put a smile on him and make him feel relaxed. Getting up, he took a shower, wore his clothes for his work then went downstairs for breakfast where the red head was already there surprisingly. He often rushed down after sleeping late. Maybe it was because the red head had been sleeping the day before all afternoon and night upon arriving back as he had heard.

Road boasted about the shocked expression of the red head that morning when he looked into the mirror. He never noticed it when he went to his own room and Tyki somehow forgot about that and laughed along.

Tricia scolded Road lightly telling her what a young lady should and should not do. Sheryl just smiled as he drank the cup of coffee after giving an eye to his daughter and then to Tyki who seems aware but did not do anything.

After finishing breakfast, the red head went out for his part time job. He walked silently thinking until he reached the place. It was silent still.

Kanda hadn't been back to work yet. He never really needed it but Kanda didn't like asking money from Tiedoll when he needed it for personal things. He didn't like asking too much after everything the old man had done for him despite his character. He would never tell anyone that anyway. It was his secret that his friends know and pointlessly known by the man himself that kept quiet and just smiled.

"Lenalee, what's up? Moyashi seems depressed, much more depressed then before."

"Well, I don't really know how am I supposed to say it..."

"It's fine. I'll tell him," said Allen who appeared and heard their conversation.

He was silent and reluctant at first but said it anyway, "My teacher and friend just died. His name is Kevin Yeager. He's a teacher at our school. I think you know him. I knew him before going there and he was really kind. And now he died in an accident. It looked like an accident but I don't think it is. It's just sad. He's dead."

Lenalee held him in a hug trying to comfort him and said no more words. Lavi became silent but held smiles when he served customers. He's used to faking them that it wasn't hard. He left and went to the train station. He boarded one and then left when it was his stop. He walked for a few minutes until he reached an apartment. He knocked and minutes passed by before it was opened.

"You're here, junior. Sorry if it took awhile," said Maria who opened the door looking like she just rushed into changing clothes. She smelled like smoke or more like Cross. Heat rose to Lavi's face but tried to hide it.

The lady laughed saying how much of a kid he still is then let him enter the apartment that really looked like a mess.

"Cross is already at work. You can't touch the bedrooms although I doubt you will. I'm leaving you the keys. Place it here when you're done. Any questions?"

"Have you heard about the death of a man by the name of Kevin Yeager?"

"Where did you hear that? We didn't place him in the files yet," asked Maria looking surprised. "I know you are his grandson and all but-"

"He was a teacher at our school and my friend knows him. He said it was an accident but he said he didn't believe it. I was just confirming it with you. I guess I was right."

"I'm letting you off kid since you're his grandson but you should be careful with the information you know. Be careful where ever you go. I'm not responsible for you."

"Yeah, I will be careful."

"Good. I'll be leaving then," said Maria as she closed the door behind her.

`littlebunny1412: Thanks for reading.

Thanks to 'PINKhairedBADASS' and 'Monkey Girl 13624' for reviewing. Thanks for reviewing. I'm really grateful.

Thanks to everyone reading this ^_^

Your opinions are very much requested for. It's fine if you don't. Thanks still.

04/29/2012