Having grown accustomed to the breeze that blew through the tunnel, stepping out of the Ark and into the familiar setting was welcoming. Lenalee started her ascend up the concrete staircase, trusting her feet to know where the cracks lie in the steps. Her first stop was her brother's room.
'Komui should be done with work by now, I hope for his sake,' she thought, smiling, knowing her sibling's tendencies to put paperwork off. Or rather any kind of work for that matter. The bland hallways were dimly lit upon reaching the top of the stairs, and the exorcist took the first left. Another hallway later, Lenalee stopped promptly in front of her brother's room. Knocking, she waited for the door to open. "Coming," came a shout from behind the door. The hinges complained, sounding their opinion when the door opened.
"Lenalee! You're back," Komui excitedly greeted his sister. He was dressed for bed, still seeming wide awake. "I missed you, little sister," the man pulled the girl into a tight hug. "You have to tell me everything. How was your visit?" She was happy to see him too.
"It was great. Can I come in?" Komui nodded his response, opening the door wider, ushering his sister inside happily. Content with hearing the door closed, Lenalee sat on her brother's bed. "The Asian Branch is doing well," she spoke, "Bak was great. I'd even say he's past that crush he had for me for so long," Lenalee laughed. Remembering the letters, she reached into her bag that still hung on her shoulder.
The letters in hand, the girl shuffled through them, finding the one that was addressed to Komui. "Here," extending the letter to him, he accepted it eagerly. Recognizing the neatly written letters spelling the man's name on the pristine white envelope, Komui was thrilled seeing Allen's writing. It was a reminder that the exorcist was alive. And it was a reminder he needed.
"How is Allen?" Komui asked, hoping for good news over the worst case scenario. He had been curious about the boy's progress in his conflict with the 14th, but the possibility that things weren't in their favor kept him from asking so. Yes, if he was admitting it to himself, Komui was avoiding more bad news. There was plenty of that waiting to be read on his desk, and most of it had Lvellie's doing behind it. "I haven't been in contact with Bak recently. We haven't been sure of the Director's plans lately and didn't want to ruin everything by the wrong person overhearing anything." He opened the letter while Lenalee answered his question. Resituating herself comfortably against the wall the bed sat against, her legs stretched in front of her, as she was mindful of her uniform pink skirt.
"He's doing so much better Komui." Her tone was buoyant. Lenalee's face beamed with serene joy. "When I saw the Ark in London, I was," she pondered the vocab she had, unsure what truly captured her feelings at that moment, "I was relieved. Because if the Ark was here, Allen was too." Komui put his letter opening on hold to listen, his sister's every word important to him. He looked down, focusing on his lap, feeling guilty.
"I wanted to tell you sooner. Lavi wasn't supposed to come back to the Order originally, and when you saw him, well, everything went...differently than we planned." Lenalee was never upset with her brother but angry with the situation from the beginning. She didn't like the thought of knowing he had blamed himself.
"I never blamed you," she assured him, "It was Lvellie's order that started this mess. You didn't sentence Allen for something he didn't do." Komui felt better knowing his sister never blamed him, however, he still wanted to do more for his family at the Order. Encouraging him to finish opening Allen's letter, she came to sit closer to him on the edge of the bed.
"Open it. I promise it will put all your doubts to rest. I know my letter did," she grinned, wanting to put the others conflicted thoughts and doubts to bed. Komui did so, ripping the seal, and removed the letter from its envelope. Lenalee watched the other in anticipation. She hadn't known what the other letters talked about but had figured they mentioned what hers had at some point. Komui read:
Hey Chief, It's been awhile. I hope you're doing okay. I'm sure things haven't been easy. Lenalee caught me up on the latest news from headquarters. I wanted to thank you for doing everything you have for Lavi. I was relieved to hear that everyone was doing okay as possible with everything happening. I'm sorry to get straight to the point, but I want to get things started. I hope you can believe what I am about to purpose, despite how crazy it's going to sound. We can defeat Lvellie and take back the Order. We have the power to defy his orders and position. But only if we all are on the same page. Bak, Fou, and most of the Asian Branch are on board with the plan. Using all exorcists, generals, finders, the science department and anyone willing to stand against the Director, I believe we can end this war. The plan as of right now is to make our strike in four months time. I have explained the rest of the details in the letter's contents. If you trust me, I know we can take back our home.
Komui looked up from the rest of the letter and met the girl's hopeful expression.
"We can do it Komui. I just have to deliver the rest of the letters, and then we get everyone on board." Lenalee took her brother's hand in hers, both a gentle hold and gesture. "What are you thinking?" she asked, wanting him to speak his mind on the matter.
"I want this plan to work, just as much as you do Lenalee. However," his words dropped off. He hated destroying her optimism. "It's almost too rash. No structure. The plan seems based on brute strength alone." She wasn't detoured.
"Think about it this way then," The girl purposed. "How long have we done what Lvellie says, because he's the director and head of the Black Order?" Komui didn't have to think about the answer, "Always."
"Exactly. That exactly why he won't see it coming." Lenalee released her hold on his hand, standing excitedly. "Lvellie may have the Crows, but we have innocence, and the Ark on our side. Not To mention two Branches supporting the same team. If we hit him and his Crows with a planned, surprise attack, we actually may stand a chance!" Letting her words and ideas linger for the moment, she continued, "or we can sit here like we always have, and never see anything improve. Please Komui. What's the worst that happens?" She sat again by his side. "We've waited over a year now. Nothing's changed. So let's make it change." Komui, seeing the glint in his sister's eye he had missed seeing there, he realized wasn't the worst idea he's ever heard.
"I think you're forgetting someone," the man cracked a smile. "No fight is complete without Komlin the third." Lenalee hugged her brother tightly. Komui caught his sister with ease and happily welcomed the embrace.
"Thank you Komui. We're all going to be back together soon. I know this will work, even if it won't be easy." He replied, his own enthusiasm growing, "We'll kick Lvellie on his ass and show him who's boss. Now, go see Kanda before he loses his cool. He's been a ball of stress since you left. And tell him the good news while you're there." Lenalee let her brother go, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I'll find everyone tomorrow. Thank you brother," and she bid him goodnight. The door closed behind her, and she hurried to the samurai's door. The dark corridors did nothing to hinder her mission. Reaching the destination, she knocked, eagerly waiting for Kanda to open the door. He finally opened it, looking half asleep, yet half dead. She guessed with good reasoning that he hadn't been sleeping much.
"Kanda! I have so much to tell you." Lenalee pushed the door open more, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him. Kanda, surprised, enjoyed the greeting despite being half asleep. In his room completely, Lenalee grinned ear to ear.
"You can get comfortable. I assume you're staying the night?" Kanda asked. Lenalee released him and walked over to his closet. She browsed through Kanda's oversized shirts and picked one at random. Finding a large shirt to wear to bed, Lenalee went to sit on the bed, waiting for Kanda. The door closed and locked for the night, he joined her. The letter already in hand, the girl handed the other the envelope, eager for the samurai to read it. Kanda, sitting beside Lenalee now, opened the envelope, unfolding the parchment inside. His eyes scanned the content of the writing:
Kanda, I wanted to write to you for several reasons. The first being, I think you and Lenalee will make each other so very happy. And that isn't sarcastic, I mean it. Second, I have a plan. You of all people have reason to knock Lvellie down a peg, If we can bring everyone, all our abilities together, we can defeat the director. Here's what I'm thinking.
Allen's letter went on to detail the plan in which he had written in variance in each letter. Kanda finished reading, setting the parchment aside on his desk by the bed.
"So we're finally doing something?" he asked the girl. Lenalee nodded, "Yes. We're going to take the Order back Kanda. We're taking our home back." He smiled, feeling a sense of relief he hadn't remembered letting himself feel for some time. Too long in fact. "Thank you
'Allen's not dead.' Being able to think the idea and know it was true was so much guilt off his shoulders. Having already awakened the 14th completely, the last thing Kanda had wanted to learn was his friend's untimely death.
"Thank you for this," he gestured towards the letter on the desk. "Once you're dressed for bed, I'll blow the lantern out," he yawned. Lenalee understood that the samurai must have been tired, and set the shirt she had grabbed from the closet on the bed, standing up.
"Don't look. You know Komui will have your head" she smirked playfully. Turning to face opposite Kanda, Lenalee discarded her heels and stockings. The buttons smoothly coming undone, she made quick work of the uniforms jacket. The top fell to the floor, her fitting undershirt complementing her figure. Lifting the shirt over her head, her fingers were familiar with her bra clasps. Picking up Kanda's shirt again, Lenalee slipped on the familiar fabric, fastening most of the buttons. With her pink skirt now on the floor, she climbed into the bed, greeting Kanda again with a kiss, deeper and fuller this time. She rested her head against Kanda's chest.
"I love you Kanda." She said, gently. Lenalee liked listening to the words on her lips. Wrapping his arm around her to bring her closer, he returned the sentiment, "I love you Lenalee." Grinning, feeling just how tired she actually was after arriving back home, she yawned.
"We're going to kick Lvellie's ass. I know it." He couldn't help but feel the same elation at the thought of finally dishing out the damage the Director had done since his first day in charge of the Black Order.
"It's like all the pieces are falling back into place again," Lenalee spoke softly, slowly falling asleep. "Everyone at the Order will be together in a few short months, and that's, so," her words dropped off, the thought unfinished. Kanda Pulled the blanket up to cover Lenalee's shoulders and himself. The day to come would take some time talking to and convincing the others about the new plan of action. Kanda was ready to face the upcoming challenges, and that nights sleep. With the firelight extinguished, the darkness that enveloped the small room was a welcomed friend.