I am particularly excited and proud of this chapter. Without further adu, I give you Usagi to Piero.
"You're sending me to London?" Kanda sounded perplexed.
'Does Komui already know?' the samurai thought. He knew the answer. 'Lenalee must have passed the note on. I don't suspect Komui to turn on Allen and Lavi though. I'll trust him for now.'
"That's right! London. My sister tells me it's a bit cold this time of year. I suggest you bring a thicker jacket," the elder of the two smiled enthusiastically.
"I assume the usual? Find the innocence and bring it home?" Kanda asked, straight to the point.
"Of course. I even have the file for you to look over." Komui passed Kanda a plain manila colored folder. Kanda opened it. Inside, in somewhat neat hand writing, the paper read:
Lenalee shared Lavi's note with me. I am on your side of this war. Therefore I am sending you to London to meet up with Allen and Lavi. Lvellie and anyone who needs to know will be told you are on a mission to London regarding attacks by akuma, and the possibility of an innocence being involved. I can buy you a week at most before anything otherwise is suspected. I'm sending a golem with one-way communication. I'll keep in touch.
"What about this golem? They can be wired to a one-way communication?" Kanda had never heard of such a thing being done.
"Think of it in terms of being a private line."
"Alright. When do you want me to leave?" the samurai was eager to move. Komui laughed slightly.
"Don't worry, Kanda. You can leave tomorrow morning." The boy scoffed indignantly.
'Good old Kanda,' the chief thought, satisfied (in good-humor).
"Is that it?" Komui nodded.
"Go and pack. And make sure you get a good nights sleep. You've got a long train ride tomorrow." Kanda got up and met the chiefs eyes.
Komui's face was sincere. He understood. Kanda had never been great with thanking or apologizing. Basically normal human interaction by most standards. But Komui understood the others silent words of thanks.
The golem picked itself up from the desk's surface and flew to Kanda's hand, bringing its black wings in, fitting in his palm. Said golem, resembling a bat, had blended in with the messy desk top. He left the office with Komui's gift in hand.
The meeting was still a fresh thought in Kanda's head. He hardly noticed the gradual slow of the trains motion forward. Coming to a stop, the destination was announced by the conductor, and Kanda exited his small seating compartment.
Stepping off the train in a small crowd of strangers into the cold brisk wind with his trunk in hand, he scanned the platform and surrounding area for an ally. He was almost positive that had been what Lavi's note read. Moving with the crowd, so as to not be mowed over, Kanda found an empty bench to stand by out of the way.
He scanned the platform one more time. This time he spotted an ally in the low evening light off to the left of the crowds. With no one in the vicinity, the exorcist discreetly (as much was possible) moved in that direction.
'There's nothing suspicious about entering a side ally by yourself,' Kanda thought in his sarcastic manner. Before turning down the darker path, the boy took one last discreet glance, semi-turn of the head to make sure he wasn't drawing attention. It was clear as far as he could tell.
Once in the small shadows between the two buildings, Kanda couldn't help but find his one way ticket to the inn, and the glowing white panels that held together by an unseen force was his one-way ticket to London. He stepped through, not a doubt present in his mind that he would end up where he was supposed to.
Lavi fidgeted in his seat in the lobby (if it was even that) of the inn.
'Did Kanda find the gate?'
'Did he get lost?'
These questions and others of the sort ran through the boy's frantic mind. Lavi had become uncertain of how to care for Allen. The situation was something completely new and a complete mystery. He knew Kanda probably couldn't do much to help the current predicament, but him being there would be enough for himself and the sick exorcist.
The door to the inn opened, a brisk wind tagging along behind the person in the door. Lavi looked up at the sudden slam of the heavy wooden entrance. His face lit up like a child's, the same excitement when given a gift.
"Yu! You made it!" Lavi practically jumped to his feet.
"Yeah. You could have given me a name for the inn. And maybe mentioned how long Lacey street is-" Kanda started fuming. Lavi didn't notice. He already had his friends hand and was towing him down the only hallway.
"I can't believe it. I didn't think you would be able to get away!" Lavi had never seemed so animated.
"And loud,"Kanda muttered.
"Thank Komui. He sent me your way. I guess he's on our side." Lavi turned to face Kanda, still pulling the samurai.
"He's always been on our side, Yu. His loyalty is almost as thick as your head," the red-head let himself laugh at his own joke. Kanda didn't fail to bring his bit to the table.
"Do you want to die." It wasn't a question. Lavi chose to ignore the aura of murderous attempt. Lavi didn't falter in his childish grin.
"I'd rather live long enough to harass you and Allen a little more. Maybe even Miranda and Krory! I'll spare Lenalee. She's too cute. Than you can behead me, slice me, whatever to your hearts content." Lavi laughed.
'The stupid rabbit is enjoying this,' Kanda sighed, but found he was enjoying the normalcy a little bit himself.
"Here we are," Lavi stopped in front of a worn, thin looking door. He turned the knob, and Kanda followed him in.
The room wasn't large. It held a single bed, and a desk that might as well have been thrown out, at least in Kanda's opinion.
"Oh no you don't. Sit." Lavi's mood turned; more serious than usual. Kanda turned to the bed. Allen's lithe figure was leaning against the wall for support to stand. Trying was more accurate.
He had shed his coat and vest, wearing his white button-up. Even from where Kanda was across the room, Allen's face was an obvious flushed-red. Lavi hadn't been exaggerating.
Lavi was already across the room at Allen's side, helping him sit back on the bed. Though from another's view, he more or so forced the younger boy to sit.
"I'm fine. I haven't been out of bed for almost a week," Allen protested, weakly. He looked tired. Sleep had not been welcoming to the boy.
"It's only been five days. Besides, it's Yu's job here to exaggerate," Lavi pointed Kanda's way. Allen spotted Kanda closing the small door behind him.
"You made it. I assume you received the note than," Allen wore his usual, safe, smile. It was a little different though tonight.
'If I see it, Lavi does too. Moyashi hasn't changed. He still hides behind that damn polite smile of his.' The samurai's thought was not a bitter one. It was sympathetic.
"Of course. I'd have been here sooner if a certain idiot had given me a name for the inn," Kanda strode over to the desk near the bed, pulling it's worn and creaking sodden chair out, taking off his jacket and laying it over said chairs back. He sat down, crossing one leg in a half-show of effort.
"I told you to lay down Allen. I'm worried about you. How hard is it to sit!" Lavi sighed dramatically.
"I know. You try being cooped up for five days! I was only going to meet you and hopefully Kanda," the white-haired boy was frustrated.
"And can you not speak like your talking to a dog? I'm already named after one, let's not add insult to injury." Lavi's face went blank.
"What? Really?" he asked. His curiosity was peaked. Allen heard what he said.
"Nothing. I said nothing. Only a dog listens to sit, lay down. That's my point." Allen chose to play the defense.
"That's enough Moyashi. Just let the moron pamper you already," Kanda smirked from his seat, watching the two bicker. Allen's cheeks reddened a little. Lavi was observant.
"I think for once Yu has something wise to say. Embrace the pampering, Allen," Lavi threw one arm around the youngers shoulder. "What do you think?"
Allen laughed a little. Lavi's grin faltered watching Allen. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand. His laughing turned to a harsh cough.
"Lay down okay? It will help," Lavi's tone softened. It tore him apart a little more each time his friend's health faded. Allen nodded in response, not wanting to irritate his already sore throat.
Kanda sat back in silence, watching Lavi help Allen into the blankets and pull them over him. Lavi sat on the side of the bed. Allen's dazed expression turned into sleep soon, eyes drifting closed.
Lavi moved a few strands of white hair out of the boy's face.
'The rabbit and the clown,' Kanda thought, genuinely pleased with the idea.
Lavi waited another ten or so minutes until he was sure Allen was asleep. He moved to the end of the bed, sitting on the floor with the bed as a support.
"How have you been since leaving?" Kanda tried to make conversation.
"You know, the usual. Moving place to place, not starving to death. I don't think I've ever really appreciated Jerry's cooking. It's hard to keep up with Allen's stomach when he's feeling better." Lavi's humor had been weak, but he was trying.
'This isn't the first time,' Kanda realized, thinking about the notes message. Lavi had written about Allen's bouts of illness. They both knew, including sister and brother, that 'illness' was putting it simple. Allen was fighting a losing battle. Kanda decided to let his sarcastic remark stay unsaid.
"How are you paying for inns and meals?" Lavi laughed, a nervous air about it.
"Oh, that. We don't always stay in an inn. We didn't really have a choice this time. Otherwise we find places to stay. Living each day to day. That's the saying right? Anyways, we have money coming in."
"What master plan did Lavi Bookman conjure up?" Kanda asked.
"Did Yu Kanda just compliment me? I'm flattered," Lavi relaxed a little bit. "It's really thanks to Allen. You'll never believe what he-"
"Don't say it." The mumble came from the pillow Allen had his face buried in.
"You're awake. I was just telling Yu-"
"I know what you're going to say. No" Allen interrupted, turning on his side to face his friends.
"It's only me, bean sprout," Kanda tried, purposely sounding his usual self. Allen sighed.
"Exactly. I'll never live it down."
"You mean this right?" Kanda had turned to pick up the object on the desk behind him. He unfolded the bizarre material in question. It was a lose fitting, uniform of sorts covered in peculiar shapes and colors.
"Uhhhhhh," the boy groaned where he lay.
"Ok. I performed a little growing up. Worked for a circus for a while, where I met Mana. It's stupid really. But if people will pay to watch a clown act a fool, it's not so bad."
Lavi stood back up and sat back where he was before on the bed by Allen's side.
"You're too modest. You are amazing!" Lavi's eyes lit up. He had grabbed Allen's hand that wasn't under the blanket. Both exorcists looked alive in the moment.
"I'll be back. I've got to report to Komui," Kanda knew his words fell on deaf ears, but he didn't mind.
Pulling the black bat-shaped golem out of his coats pocket, Kanda left the room with it in hand. One last thought crossed the sword master's mind:
'Clown and Rabbit. It's an idea'
Behind Kanda, Lavi was still animatedly talking about Allen's performances. Said performer only listened, happy to hear his friend so excited and in love with something he had grown to hate.