Rhythm of Life

Chapter Fifty-Four

Kanda and Allen couldn't have been happier to see Tiedoll's house come into view after being hospitalized for weeks. Allen had tired of hospital food and was anxious to have some of Tiedoll's homemade cooking. He had never been particular about who made the food as long as he ate, but to come home to Tiedoll's food would be like going to heaven.

Cross pulled into Tiedoll's driveway and parked the car. Allen was the only one who didn't jump out the minute he stopped due to his knee brace which of course wouldn't allow him that flexibility. Cross walked around the car to Allen's door to assist him in getting out.

His guardian had argued with him to ride in the front seat, but Allen had been insistent to sit in back with Kanda and it had been a tight squeeze when he got into the back seat at the hospital. The design of the car gave limited space for easy access because of the way the wheel-well protruded out and curved down to the floor board, so Allen felt proud of himself for accomplishing this feat.

Once they were home, Allen tried to extricate himself out of the back seat and found it was easier to get in than it was to get out. The younger teenager placed his good foot on the ground, but he had to twist his body and injured leg to slide out which caused pain to zip down to his toes. He had no success in dragging his other leg out of the back seat without having considerable pain. Tiedoll and Kanda observed Allen trying to get out of the back seat and it made Kanda restless not being able to help his boyfriend because of his broken arm.

"Allen, why don't you get back in and sit facing the other door with your legs on the seat. When I pull you out put your good foot on the ground and ease your injured leg out," Cross explained and Allen did as his guardian had instructed. "Ready?" Allen nodded his okay.

Cross grabbed him under his arms. His guardian lifted him enough to get him from the seat up and over the wheel-well. This put Allen into another precarious position when his good foot made contact with the ground and his body flexed forward as if stretching his hamstrings. Bent forward in this manner put immediate pressure on his knee cap causing a sharp pain.

"Ouch! Damn it Cross, I can't bend that way," Allen yelped as Cross pulled him the rest of the way out and his bad leg fell to the ground with a thud.

"Jesus Cross, are you trying to break my leg?" Allen yelled as the pain shot through his knee.

"Damn it Allen, I told you to sit in the front seat…" Cross started to holler.

"Cross! Why the hell did you drop him?" Kanda snapped and rushed over to his boyfriend with his crutches.

"Here Moyashi," Kanda said heatedly, angry at Cross and handed Allen his crutches. "Can you get yourself up the sidewalk and into the house?" Kanda asked. "Damn I wish I could use my arm," he cursed as he tried to help Allen the best he could.

Tiedoll went to Cross immediately to sooth his anger that was ready to boil over while the boys made their way into the house. After Cross had cooled down, he and Tiedoll unloaded the trunk and carried their son's belongings up the sidewalk.

"Kanda, I need to rest for a minute," Allen insisted once they were inside. He hobbled over to the sofa. The pain still throbbed from flexing forward in that awkward stretch, sapping his energy.

Kanda helped Allen sit down on the sofa and propped his leg up on the coffee table before he sat next to him and leaned into the corner. He guided Allen's body back against him and wrapped his arm around him lightly. The warmth of Kanda's body felt good after weeks in the hospital not being able to cuddle with him. They had tried to a few times, but kept getting caught by the nurses who told Kanda to please go back to his own bed. Now that there wasn't anyone around interrupting them, Allen sighed and melted into his boyfriend's body content to stay that way for the rest of the day.

Cross and Tiedoll entered the house paying no attention to two teenagers on the sofa and went directly upstairs with the boy's bags to their bedroom. When the two came back downstairs, Tiedoll noticed the contentment on their son's faces and didn't want to disturb them.

"Well, getting the two of you home took longer than I thought, so I'm going to start dinner," Tiedoll said glancing over at Cross. "Marion, why don't you help me in the kitchen?" Tiedoll asked and winked at his partner then grabbed his hand, tugging him that direction.

"Uh…yes…of course, I'll give you a hand," Cross stuttered as he went along with Tiedoll.

"That was strange." Kanda said his tone of voice held a note of curiosity to it. "I wonder what they're up to."

"Maybe they just wanted us to relax and have some time alone," Allen suggested with a sly smile.

"I see the mischief in your eyes, Moyashi. Wait till tonight and I'll give you something to help relax you," Kanda whispered into Allen's ear, tickling him with his warm, moist breath.

Out in the kitchen Tiedoll made a green salad. He covered the bowl and left it on the countertop for Cross to take outside to the patio table then opened the refrigerator door and pulled out the potato salad. The door bell rang. "I'll get it," Tiedoll shouted and sat the bowl on the countertop before he answered the door.

"Oh, hi Lavi, Lenalee, come on it. They're sitting on the sofa," Tiedoll said greeting the boys friends then turned and headed back to the kitchen to finish getting dinner ready.

"So, you two are finally home. I bet it feels great," Lavi said and he sat in one of the two chairs. Lenalee gave both her friends a kiss on the cheek before taking the other chair.

"Is this a house call? Because I had my fill of them in the hospital with you," Kanda groused, not crazy about his friends stopping by right after they got home. He would much rather be alone with Allen right now with their bodies touching—preferable naked.

"No, Tiedoll and Cross invited us over for dinner tonight to welcome you two home." Lavi said smiling like the Cheshire cat. Allen and Kanda looked at each other resigning themselves to an evening of entertaining their friends.

Allen could smell the hamburgers and hot dogs cooking on the grill and his stomach growled from the aroma of food. "I'm starving," Allen said. A general statement he's complained about quite often.

"Moyashi, you're always hungry," Kanda countered, and as emphasis patted his boyfriend's stomach.

"Okay everyone, Tiedoll has everything out on the patio table. Let's eat," Cross said. He was starving too. 'Good God, am I getting as bad as Allen?'

Lavi and Lenalee got up and went directly to the kitchen allowing the two teens to take their time. When Allen and Kanda stepped out onto the patio they were greeted by lighted paper lanterns that hung above the table with a banner saying "Welcome Home". The two teenagers's had their own special chairs with balloons attached to the back. Kanda had two extra balloons saying, "Happy Birthday" and the other one, "Congratulations" for graduation.

The two of them were awestruck by the festive decorations. "Wow, I don't know what to say except thank you," Allen said smiling. "It's nice to be home."

Of course Kanda was more sarcastic, because he was uncomfortable having this sort of attention thrown at him. "We celebrated my birthday and graduation in the hospital. You didn't need to do it again. Besides it's the last day of June," Kanda retorted as he pulled Allen's chair out to have him sit down.

"Yes we did, but you were not in any condition to enjoy it. We can celebrate the fourth of July on the fourth, but right now this is Allen and your party," Tiedoll replied.

Cross brought the grilled meat to the table. "Help yourselves," he said. He looked over at Tiedoll and watched him pass food and helped everyone get what they needed. 'Damn, I'm one lucky guy,' Cross thought. Tiedoll glanced up and caught Cross checking him out and gave him a warm smile, his eyes twinkled when he gazed back at his partner.

"Are you two going to make goo-goo eyes at each other, or are you going to sit down and eat with us?" Kanda asked and rolled his eyes. 'It'll take a while to get use to them as a couple,' he thought. Lavi and Lenalee giggled and Allen had a huge smile on his face.

"Kanda, play nice," his boyfriend whispered with a huge grin on his face. Kanda shook his head at his lover's comment.

It turned out the small gathering was something both teenagers needed to help forget the past few weeks, if only for a short time. Eventually, Kanda let his guard down allowing himself to have some fun like Allen and he used to have. Kanda's heart skipped a beat every time Allen's silvery eyes stared into his and his boyfriend's sexy smile crossed his face.

The laughter and jokes continued into the late evening as friends and family enjoyed the cooler air and company. Kanda laughed as he sat back, his hand rubbing Allen's back up and down while challenging Lavi to some bet. A bet that would have to wait until Kanda's arm had healed. Lenalee chatted with Allen and her giggles floated up into the evening air.

After the cake was served, Tiedoll and Cross talked quietly at the other end of the table while they enjoyed a glass of wine. Tiedoll was encouraging Cross to take a piece of cake off his fork to eat when Kanda glanced down at the other end of the table for a second. His breath hitched when he saw the love for Cross sparkling in his foster father's eyes. He had been so preoccupied with his own feelings about Cross he hadn't thought about Tiedoll's, but when Kanda saw the happiness on his foster father's face Kanda felt guilty for being such a brat to Allen's guardian about being with his foster father.

He watched as Tiedoll got up and collected the dirty dishes and Cross picked up the food. His foster father leaned over and whispered something into his partner's ear that made him chuckle and warranted a kiss from Cross. They headed into the kitchen were Kanda could still see them through the kitchen window when Cross brought his foster father into his arms and they shared a passionate kiss. Kanda still had his doubts if Cross really knew what love was, but as long as his foster father was happy then he was too.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it Kanda?" Allen asked interrupting his boyfriend's thoughts. "In the hospital I woke enough to see them hugging and the contentment on Cross's face was incredible. Your father brought that into his life and it started changing him," Allen whispered to Kanda while Lenalee and Lavi shared a kiss. "It seems love is in the air tonight," Allen said quietly as he looked at their friends and parent's sharing kisses and Kanda nodded yes.

"Your pretty amazing, Moyashi. I want us to make love tonight. We both almost died in that car accident and Alma did. I need to feel you inside of me and hold you," Kanda said softly as he gazed into his lover's eyes. It has been so long since they've been able to be together and he needed Allen more than anything else.

"You woo me right off my feet, Kanda Yu. I love you," Allen replied. "I was so afraid I'd lose you forever."

"Ahem, Lenalee and I were just saying we need to leave and let you two get some rest. It's been great having all of us together tonight…like old times. I almost lost the two of you and let me tell you, my life would never have been the same if you had. I'm sorry Alma had to die when he pulled such a stupid act, but I'm glad he died and not one or both of you." Lavi's emotions touched Allen's heart and their friend came around the table and hugged the both of them.

"Thank you, Lavi. It would be the same if it ever happened to you too," Allen said as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Thank you both for coming over and making our coming home special." Kanda helped Allen up and gave him his crutches and they all headed inside the house.

"Thank you for coming over. It was a pleasure having you both here to celebrate our joyous occasion," Tiedoll said, his voice light and happy as they walked through the kitchen heading to the front door.

"Yes, thank you for coming over," Cross reiterated what Tiedoll said and shook Lavi's hand. Allen and Kanda walked their friends to the front door and thanked them again before they left.

"Would you like to stay down here, or go up to see your room? You didn't have a chance before your friends came over," Tiedoll asked once their guests had gone.

"We'll go to our room to check it out. I'm really tired," Allen answered and adjusted his crutches under his arm pits. Tiedoll helped Allen up the stairs even though he was perfectly capable of getting around on his crutches. When they made it to the top of the stairs, Tiedoll turned and walked back down.

Kanda was the first to enter his room and was astonished at what Tiedoll and Cross had done to the place. He glanced over at the bed and saw Cross had caved in and bought him the queen size mattress he requested. His mouth formed a grin when he remembered their argument over which size mattress to buy.

When Allen hobbled into the room he hadn't expected to find a freshly painted room let alone see most of his belongings there. What caught both their eyes were their portraits of themselves hanging side-by-side.

"Kanda, you're a very good painter," Allen said as he stared at his likeness on the wall.

"You're not bad yourself, Moyashi," Kanda replied. "But you'll have to get use to seeing only my portrait on the wall, because I'm taking the portrait of you with me to college in the fall."

"That's one way for you to remember me," Allen countered, happy Kanda would have thoughts of him when he gazed at his portrait when he was away.

"Don't forget I have my keychain too that you gave me for Valentine's Day," Kanda said quietly as he came up in back of his boyfriend and wrapped his one arm around his waist, resting his head on Allen's shoulder.

"Yes, and I have the silver picture frame with our pictures, too," Allen responded, his voice soft, almost subtle. He slowly turned and lifted his arms up wrapping them around Kanda's neck and brought him down to his supple lips. As soft as his voice was, so were his kisses, which he continued down his boyfriend's neck scarcely touching his skin. Kanda groaned beguile by his lover's moist, wet lips and tongue feasting on him delicately filling him with pleasure.

It was awkward to move their activity to the bed gracefully with Kanda's arm in a cast and Allen sporting a knee brace and crutches, but the two managed just fine with their clumsy attempts. The door was ajar and luckily Tiedoll rapped and announced his presence in case the boys were in a compromised position. He had walked in on the boys more than once unannounced and had been embarrassed every time.

"Come in," Kanda replied to the rap on his door as the two straightened out their clothing.

"I was wondering if the two of you had everything you'll need for tonight," Tiedoll inquired. Allen and Kanda were fatigued after the activity of coming home this afternoon and then the party right after.

"Yes, I would like to go to bed, I'm feeling tired. What about you Moyashi?" Kanda asked. He lifted his eyebrow suggestively which Allen caught on immediately what his boyfriend had in mind.

"I'm exhausted too," Allen replied, genuinely tired.

"Let me turn the bed down and close the drapes. When you wake up in the morning I'll have breakfast ready. Sleep in as late as you want," Tiedoll said as he quickly took care of things for them to lie down.

Allen and Kanda changed for bed while Tiedoll went into the bathroom and brought down towels for both of them. He made sure everything they would need for the morning was out before he returned to their bedroom.

Tiedoll helped Allen up onto the bed and placed a pillow under his knee to prop it up while Kanda slid in under the covers on the other side and moved next to Allen. Kanda tried to get comfortable with his cast so he could lie on his side facing Allen. With the boys settled Tiedoll headed for the door to leave.

"Tiedoll, thanks for getting the queen size mattress."

"It was Marion's idea to get it. Something about a discussion you had with him about mattress sizes," Tiedoll replied hiding his gleeful expression. Kanda's eyes shone with mirth. Tiedoll walked to the door and held the knob in his hand and turned to look back at the boys.

"It was also Marion's idea to bring some of Allen's belongings over so the room would feel more like he was home," Tiedoll added then quietly closed the door behind him.

"Kanda…"

"What?"

"Do you mind that Cross brought over some of my things? It is your bedroom and I feel like I'm invading your privacy," Allen asked. He wanted to make sure how Kanda felt about him practically living there.

"No, my little Moyashi, it's our bedroom here as it is our bedroom at your place," Kanda said.

"I wonder which house they plan on moving into. Anyway, Cross said we'll still have to go back to sleeping at both houses for the summer just in case Neah's around so he doesn't see a pattern," Allen remarked.

"Let's not think about any of that right now," Kanda's sexy voice growled low and deep. Allen's chest tingled with the anticipation of his lover's touches. He moved closer to Allen and had to adjust himself to be able to slide his hand up under Allen's pajama top. His hand rested on his boyfriend's abdomen then slowly and gently rubbed circles on his stomach.

"Mm, that feels good," Allen hummed closing his eyes. He enjoyed his lover's warm hand and silently willed him to go lower. How he needed to make love to Kanda and feel him as close as he could to him.

Kanda pulled his hand out from underneath Allen's shirt and he groaned from his lover's withdrawal. One-by-one Kanda unbuttoned his lover's top then opened it wide to expose his chest all the while the younger teenager's eyes were closed, relishing being seduced by his lover. Kanda pulled down the covers only to discover his boyfriend's pajama bottoms tented from his arousal, Kanda's mouth formed a smirk.

"Looks like someone missed my touches," Kanda ribbed. His hand slid down to the top of Allen's bottoms, his hand teased at the waist band rubbing his boyfriend's stomach then slid inside his pants roaming further, close to but not touching his enlarged cock.

"Don't tease me," Allen said as he waited for Kanda to end his sweet torment by encasing his hand around him to begin their dance of passion.

Allen felt Kanda's warm hand leave his hot searing body and groaned again. His lover pulled down and took off his bottoms, clumsily, off with his one good hand. He opened his eyes and watched Kanda remove his clothing then helped him with his top as he struggled to get his cast arm out of the sleeve. It was a romantic night for the young couple even with their physical limitations and their awkward movements were less then graceful.

They softly touched, caressed and kissed for hours not being able to get enough of the other as they examined and explored each other in their gentle lovemaking. They panted breathlessly, their cocks slid next to each other, their bodies covered in sweat, and they weren't done yet.

"Are you in any pain, Moyashi?" Kanda asked. He straddled Allen being careful not hurt his boyfriend's leg.

"No, not at all," Allen replied as he looked down with a shy smile at his lover's thick, large cock unable to prevent himself from stroking the velvety skin that had moments ago been gliding next to his.

Kanda threw his head back at the sudden onset of pleasure when his boyfriend's hand wrapped around him, stroking gently, his fingers gliding over the head slick from droplets of precome. Allen loved the feel of Kanda's firm cock in his hand and his soft velvety skin as he stroked it. The younger teen closed his eyes as he felt his lover thrust into his hand, and soft moans rumbled low in his chest.

"I need you, Moyashi. I want to feel you deep inside of me…fuck me," his lover pleaded. Allen opened his eyes to look into the amorous stare of his lover who bent down and kissed him passionately. Kanda pulled back and reached over to his nightstand drawer and opened it to pull out the supplies they'd need.

Allen watched his boyfriend rip open the condom with his teeth and one hand then rolled it down over his hard, stiff cock with both hands, his fingers moving at the end of his cast. Kanda added lube to his fingers and reached in back of himself, his eyes rolled back as his fingers breached then stretched his opening before he pulled them out.

Lustful eyes locked together as Kanda guided Allen's cock to his entrance and slowly pressed down, feeling the wonderful familiar burn as he gently lowered himself until his butt hit Allen's skin. Oh, how delightful it felt to have Allen fully inside of him and he rested enjoying the throbbing of Allen's cock before he slowly started to move.

A gasp elicited from Allen when Kanda moved and felt his lover's tight furnace enveloped around his firm cock. No words were needed between them. The rhythm of their bodies fell into sync as did their hearts and created a beautiful symphony only the two could hear. It won't take long with their heightened sensitivity and need to reach their peak.

Allen wrapped his hand around Kanda's cock and stroked it faster and faster, his own body thrusting up to meet Kanda's over and over forgetting about the pain he felt in his knee. They were relentless, their entire bodies tingled and vibrated and the heat spread throughout them as they both climbed higher and higher to the pinnacle of passion sending both of them flying to the stars and back. Kanda shook as he tried to hold himself up over Allen panting and trying to catch his breath from his mind-blowing orgasm.

Then Kanda reached over for the tissues and cleaned Allen and himself the best he could before he slid off and was cuddled by Allen who flung his arm over his lover's stomach. "I love you, Moyashi." "I love you too, Kanda." It wasn't long before they were lulled off to sleep still glowing in their aftermath—perfectly content—with love in the air.

To be continued…


A/N: Our young couple is home at last and well on their way to recovery. Having a little festive occasion is good to lift their spirits and a welcome home party is so sweet. Then we have Kanda who may not like Cross, but now he has seen for himself his foster father is madly in love with the guy. I guess I could see where he might question Cross ability to love a person from all his previous relationships, but we all know Cross did love someone. Another chapter I hope you all enjoyed and more to come in the next one. Have a great rest of the week! A big thank you to all my readers!

Note: I have reviewed this story many, many times with many rewrites, so I hope it flows well. I don't have anyone to review my work if you see errors—sorry about that.