Hana: Early in the morning, an i'm only awake 'cos my room IS A FUCKING FREEZER FOR SOME UNGODLY REASON!

Allen: Maybe you should get that fixed.

Hana: Jee, I never would've thought to do that. It's not the A/C that's not working, it's JUST in my room. -sighs-

Lavi: Okay then...Han-chan and XavierForest still don't own D. Gray-man...and be sure to check out his stuff!

Hana: Wasn't Kanda here earlier?

... ... ... ...

+ - Chapter 36 - +

The shot was loud, Kanda knew that much. He swiped his blade, blood splashing the walls near him with a vibrant red. He glared down at the dying man before him, clucking his tongue in disgust. Wisely had run off somewhere, where he went, the Japanese could care less. Assuming the others managed to take care of the previous NOAH, then the only remaining in the facility was Road Kamelot and Adam Millennium himself.

"Broken..." Skinn's weakened voice surprised Kanda, as he turned back to the dying man, a maniacal grin plastered on his face, "can't be fixed...you have...no hope...for...him..." He coughed until blood leaked from his mouth, and then convulsed before the Wrathful NOAH moved no more.

"Like hell, you bastard." Kanda told the dead man, sheathing his sword. "If he's broken, I can pick up the pieces, and put him back together." He turned his back, and never looked back, heading in the direction he heard the gun fire.

"A-Allen...?" Lenalee's voice was a little more than timid, as she felt hands undo the cuffs binding her. Her friend said nothing, as he worked on the other, the moment her other hand was free, something was placed over her shoulders, before the blindfold was finally removed. The sight before her made her heart clench.

Covered in blood, and eyes, although shining, seemed dead, and broken. She was scared, yes, but it was no longer because of what Road almost got away with. With shaking arms, she placed her hands on her friend's mask, removing it. He did nothing to stop her, as she dropped it to the floor, before pulling him in for a hug, the tears she thought had dried up from Road's torment, fell through. "Lena...?"

"You st-stupid i-idiot!" She was quick to interrupt before a hand came in contact with his cheek. Allen, confused, looked to the crying Chinese girl, her hand still over her chest, the after effect of when she slapped him. "How could you make us worry so much? Aren't we friends?"

"E-even after-"

"Allen Walker, if you even THINK of saying things to degrade yourself, then I swear to God, I'll kick you instead of slapping you again!" Allen visibly stiffened, choking back a sob. She sighed, and pulled Allen back in a soothing hug "It's okay to cry. I'm practically your sister, aren't I? Don't keep it bottled up, Allen. I'm here...because of you."

"I-I shoul-d be co-morting y-ou..." He managed between hiccups.

"After what happened...let's...comfort each, okay?" Allen nodded mutely, wrapping his own arms around Lenalee's now covered form. He was glad his Crowned Clown coat fit around her enough to cover her naked form. Dirty, yes, but it worked. Neither heard the door open.

Neah sighed as he finally found his nephew, he looked to Lavi who was still using him as a crutch. After hearing the gunshot being close to where they were, it didn't take long to find them. He could see the younger male's only eye tearing up, obviously emotional for his friend and girlfriend's safety. "Thank god...oh th-thank god..."

"Let's give them a moment." Neah suggested, closing the door silently. Lavi agreed, though he wanted to make sure Lenalee and his little buddy were alright. He supposed he could weight another ten minutes or so...unless Kanda came along, anyway...then he could wait for a week if the need arises.

Kanda's fingers twitched, his entire body aching, screaming at him to throw open the door. He wanted to see the boy, but instead of doing what he wanted, what he NEEDED, he steadied his breath and stared daggers at the door. Just a little longer, he vowed.

After what seemed like forever, Allen removed himself from Lenalee's embrace, smiling sadly at her. "I'm really glad I could see you again, Lenalee."

"You make it sound like you're saying goodbye."

"I am." Allen sorrowfully admitted. "You have always been great to me, and I'll remember your kindness. But, there are still things I have to take care of."

"I won't allow that!" Lenalee's voice was firm, "You can put more trust in us, for crying out loud!"

"It's not that I don't trust you!"

"Then what it is, Moyashi?" Allen was about to speak, when it clicked that the voice he heard was far too deep and masculine for the girl in front of him. Silver eyes widened as he looked behind him, seeing a fuming Kanda, embarrassed Lavi, and an exasperated Neah. "Please. Enlighten me. What is it that you can't count on us?"

"Sorry...I tried keeping him back, but..." Neah trailed off, deciding his nephew could fill in the blank.

Allen realized how it must have looked from an outsider's point of view, what with him leaning towards a crying partially-clothed woman, a blindfold and rope lying beside them. Pushing his embarrassment to the back of his mind, he turned back to face Lenalee, maneuvering himself so as to slip his hands under the bloodied woman and carry her close to his chest, all the while being mindful of her injuries.

Upon standing, the boy noted exactly how many emotions were present in the Japanese man's deep-blue orbs: anger, concern, relief, annoyance, seriousness... and... desperation? That couldn't be right. No way could he be in his right mind if he was somehow seeing 'desperation' in the eyes of the great Kanda Yu. Maybe he'd been damaged worse than he'd thought...

For Kanda, it was different. The moment his gaze had come into contact with the other's detached one, he'd felt uncomfortable with how... dead it had become. It was almost as if those silver eyes just didn't care to reflect much of anything anymore. In fact, it was the same for the rest of him. This wasn't right... something was definitely wrong... What had happened?

"Short stack, why don't cha come back with us?" Lavi decided to break the silence, "I'd say we have quite a bit of catching up, don't ya think?"

"What do you think, nephew?" Neah asked, adjusting Lavi's weight. The younger bit his bottom lip, a gesture unmissed by the others. "You have plenty of people who care for you. Do you really want them to suffer further from your actions?"

Flinching from his uncle's words, Allen eventually shook his head, resolve strengthening. "All of you, please leave this place at once."

They all understood the true meaning behind his request; he didn't plan on going with them.

"Link." Kanda called over his shoulder. The blonde German entered the room, Wisely in tow. "Take Lenalee. All of you get out."

"You're not coming with me, BaKanda!"

"If I leave you to your own god forsaken devices, you'll die."

"Maybe that's what I want!"

"And maybe you should think of what OTHERS want of you instead of being stubborn and fucking selfish!"

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Um...Allen, if you're going to fight with Yu...again," Lavi cautiously stated, eying his two friends, "Then at least let someone else hold my girlfriend...I'm fearing her safety right now."
Taking tentative steps, Link walked to the glaring men, and carefully took Lenalee from Allen. "Pardon me."

"By all means." Lenalee sighed, wincing when the fabric brushed against her wounds. The rest of the world could've been ending, and those two wouldn't have known anymore. Both observed.

"What it fucking means, you stupid, insolent brat, is that there's no fucked up person in this room right now who wants you fucking dead!"

Allen's hands clenched into fists as he continued glaring up at the older male, who had noticed that the anger present in those pale features still had yet to fully reach mercury eyes. "Leave."

"Why should I listen to you, brat?" It took all of the agent's self-control to be so close to the boy, but not touch him.

"Because I don't want anyone slowing me down."

The elder stood tall, crossing his arms, and glaring down at the younger. "You don't want anyone slowing you down."

"Yes." Had Kanda always been that intimidating? "You'll only slow me down."

"If anyone is slowing you down, it's yourself." He turned to the others, barking out an order to them, "Che. Oi, you idiots get the fuck out."

"What the bloody-"

"Will do, Yu~!"

"I dare you to call me that again." Kanda's tone was dark, as his hand rested on his blade's hilt. Lavi paled, and quieted down. "Thought so. Moyashi, we're going."

"No, I am, YOU'RE not!" Kanda clucked his tongue, and grabbed the boy by the scruff of his shirt, dragging him off. "LEMME GO YOU BLOODY WANKER! HOBKNOCKER! PERVERT! ARSE WIPE! BLOODY KIDNAPPER!" All of his words fell upon deaf ears, as Kanda dragged him off, irritated, and thinking of a 1001 ways to shut him up. Most of which sounded rather appealing to him. After all this was over, he planned on cuffing the idiot to the bed, and let him cool off that way. Maybe the shower instead...the cold water would do him more good, than the bed in this instance.

The rest of the group watched Kanda drag their younger friend off. "Um..."

"Leave him." Link sighed, adjusting Lenalee. "First things first, we get out of here."

"Fair enough...I think Yu and Allen can take care of themselves." Lavi said.

..-..

No amount struggling Allen did, much to his dismay, could loosen the iron grip the older had on his collar. "Dammit! Just lemme go!"
Kanda glared over his shoulder, before deciding he'd had enough. He flung the boy to the wall, trapping the younger between himself and the drywall behind them. "You listen to me, you god forsaken little spaz because I'm only saying this once."

Unsure of what he could do in this situation, Allen gulped, looking up at the Japanese male. "W-why should I?"

"Then you'll have to face the consequences."

Going by the expression on the elder's face, Allen decided that he didn't want to even KNOW what the consequences were. After a few more seconds of struggling, the boy eventually gave up being gentile and used his actual strength to separate the man's hand from his collar. "That's enough."

Kanda was only mildly surprised by the boy's the strength. But it didn't last long. "No. It's. Not."

"Yes. It. Is." It was as though a dam had burst open, and Allen suddenly felt his face being all but burried into the elder man's shoulder, strong arms holding him as though afraid of letting him go. It confused him, especially when he felt the larger body trembling. "K-Kanda...are you...crying?" His own arms hung limp from the shock, Kanda? Yu Kanda himself...crying?

"You idiot." He heard a crack in the elder's voice. "Don't you know how fucking worried you made everyone?" He didn't allow the boy in his arms to speak as he chose to continue on, "I tell you straight out how I felt of you, and you walk out. Just like that."

"I-I..." He what? Was he sorry? He...made everyone worry of him that much...he...made Kanda worry? Kanda really did have feelings for him...no one faking such a thing, even as stone cold as Kanda could be, would ever hold someone so close after being parted. Allen saw his world blur together, the burning telling him he himself was going to cry. "I-I'm s-sorry..."

And for the first time, he realized how foolish he was. His arms clung desperately to the other male, and tears he thought had long since dried up, fell forth. Neither aware of when they had fallen to their knees. Maybe it was selfish of him to ask of anyone, but was it really too much to ask for someone like him to have even a small slice of happiness? "You better be, you idiot."

It probably was. Happiness? How selfish could he get? What about all of those people? Where was their happiness? How was it fair that he could have this, and they ended up as just another who lost their lives at his filthy hands? It wasn't. Life had never been fair.

"Moyashi." Kanda was trying to steel himself, not wanting to let his voice break again, "I have a plan."

This caught the younger off-guard. "W-wh-at?" He hiccupped. He was gently pushed away, though Kanda kept both hands on his shoulders. "What...plan?"

"I need you...to fully trust me on this...if it plays out the way it should, 'Crowned Clown', will be no more, as would the Earl, and all that forced you into the hell I found you trapped in."

"I'm a killer, Kanda! I-"

"Allen!" The boy's eyes widened upon hearing his name. "I know all that stupid shit. And I don't. Fucking. Care."

"I-"

"Moyashi, I was serious when I said I love you." He quickly interrupted. "I don't care of what you did, and I don't give of damn of the person you think you were. Yes, as Crowned Clown you've killed, but nothing would be right if you offed yourself. The dead won't come back if you die. If anything, it'd be rubbing salt onto opened wounds for them. Live for those who can't, the road is long and treacherous...but god fucking dammit, I'll be there every step, whether you want me or not."

The younger couldn't help it, he laughed. "Th-that was s-so sa-sappy!"

"Shut it, you little brat." Kanda grumbled. Though secretly, he was glad to hear such a beautiful sound from the boy. He wouldn't mind hearing more of it.

Even though he was reluctant to leave the Japanese man's embrace, Allen knew what had to be done. He knew that he should get going; no use staving off the inevitable. Not much longer now.

"In the end, I still need to avenge Alma's untimely demise." Kanda said, standing up, and offering his hand to the younger. "And like I already said, I have a plan...but it's risky."

"Weren't you the one who said to not throw my life away?"

"Which is why I need you to put your trust in me on this, for the plan to work." He sighed, taking the boy's hand to help him up again.

"So...what is this...plan you conjured up?"

"The Usagi would be proud on this one. I'm calling it 'Operation Phoenix'." Kanda smirked at the confused expression before him. "When a Phoenix dies, it is reborn in a new life from its ashes. Crowned Clown will 'die', taking the Earl with him, and you will be reborn as Allen Walker, and only Allen Walker."

"Poetic." Allen said, a small, timid smile appearing on his face. "I didn't know you were the type for such a thing."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Moyashi."

The boy had the sudden urge to scoff. "I know enough."

"Like?" Kanda leant forwards, intoxicated by the warmth of the younger's body beside him.

Allen pretended to think, before giving the older a cheeky grin. "Like the fact that you're a massive pervert."

Raising a brow at the statement, the FBI agent's hands slipping southwards, giving the boy's ass cheeks a squeeze. "Really now?"

The white-haired Brit yelped, embarrassed by the way that those hands continued to fondle him, even with the situation as it was. A pair of lips suddenly crashed into his own, stealing his breath and thoughts away with ease.

This kiss was different; neither forceful nor lust-induced, therefore he gladly relinquished control and let himself be pulled tighter into the older male's arms. It was obvious to the boy that Kanda simply wanted to be close to him at this moment.

This... it was enough for him. To him, this was one of the memories he would gladly take with him into the depths of hell. The least he could do way make use of the time he had left. Even if what he was doing would only make it all the harder for the man, he at least wanted this much... he knew exactly how selfish his actions were... exactly how much pain they would cause later on... but... if he was really human... he could be selfish. After all; weren't humans supposed to be selfish?

Kanda broke the kiss, opting to rest his head against the boy's. "Just so you know...there's no way in heaven or hell I'm going to let you leave again. That's my own selfish desire."

"I figured as much..." Allen breathed, "And for some reason...I'm okay with that."

"Good. Because I want you to meet someone...two someones, really..."

"Who are they?"

"Make it out alive with me, and I'll take you to see them. We could bring your pervert-attacking dog." Dammit, he really wasn't going to spill the beans. "And...I hope that after all this...you'd..."

"I didn't quite catch that last bit, Kanda...what did you say?" He backed up as much he could, hoping to catch a glimpse at the man's face, surprise met him seeing a faint blush just barely dusting his cheeks. He didn't think Kanda could blush...much less cry like he did earlier.

"God fucking dammit. I want you to move in...with...me..." Siler eyes widened, as his own face flushed scarlet.

Kanda smirked, and flicked the other's forehead. "I live in a two bed-room one bath apartment, Moyashi. You can have your own room if you choose, if that's what you're so worried about."

"I...I...I'm just..." Kanda sighed, a small smile, not a smirk, not even a grin, a small smile gracing his features. He lifted the boy's chin with his hand, and stole another kiss from the boy. Words never seemed to work too well to get him to stop talking...this seemed to work just fine.

"Come, I think it's time once and for all to put a complete end to the Earl."

"So...this plan of yours?"

"Starts now."

"Then don't you think that you should let me go so we can get this over with?"

"I don't know..." Kanda caressed the boy's face with a finger. "This seems like a good way to begin."

Red staining his cheeks, Allen allowed the finger to travel to his lips, and his thoughts flashed back to the last time something similar had occurred.

"Damn...you're gonna be the end of me." Kanda muttered, reluctantly release the boy. "Come on, let's get this over with."

"Yeah."

..-..

Adam was a powerful man. His wealth knew no bounds, and the hold he had over the city was quite a catch in general. He could have whatever he wanted, and more than anything, he wanted death to befall those who opposed him. How long had that Kanda brat been a royal pain in his ass now? A year? Two? Either way, it was too long. He had thought his friend dying would've left him alone. But instead he retaliated.

Another, much bigger thorn was Cross Marian. He had the gall to show up after somehow keeping under his radar for years, before finally showing his mug around. There was no doubt in his mind, that red-headed bastard had found a hellva lot of dirt for all the things he'd done. And that wasn't something the Earl could stand for.

Allen Walker was a wild card. He always had been. It was only in a short amount of time before he'd turn on him. The fact he managed to oust Road, Lulu Bell, and others was proof of that.

He scowled seeing his beloved family slain. He looked at each security footage. To think, Neah had been alive, and Wisely was foolish enough to go against him! He heard a groan from one of the cameras, taking note of one Tyki Mikk, just barely alive. That was good, even he didn't want to face against Cyril if his little brother were slain. Road lay lifeless in a pool of her blood. The Earl had remembered her little victim. A young woman, oriental, yes had she of not gotten away, he was more than certain she would've sold for a hefty price...perhaps after he had the chance to...sample the goods.

No use in crying over spilled milk, after all. He knew the girl's face, and could get to her when he dealt with the flies buzzing around his mansion.

It was then his doors slammed open. "Good Evening, Lord Millennium." The young voice of Allen Walker...ah no, in this instance, he was Crowned Clown, in all his murderous glory. "I've come for your life."

... ... ... ...

Seriously though, I woke up at like 4 in the morning to a freezing cold room. I'm glad I had my socks nearby, or else, I'd have toe-icles. (.-.)

-clears throat- R&R and show some love for the story~! And that said, I will see y'all on Friday! :D