(A/N): Hey there, not dead…but I would like to say a little something before I get to the story. This has happened mostly anonymously and it's actually getting on my nerves a bit; I've been getting messages and reviews asking if this story has been abandoned or if it's really going anywhere. Never before have I've gotten such and it is kind of disheartening. I understand and am happy over the concern but some are a bit much. I know my updates can be very far apart and I had thought people would have more hope in my story. I do not wish to let this story go, especially since it was made for a request and I'd hate to let that requester down. But I would like to feel that you all had a little more faith in me… Sorry for all this BS, let us actually get to what we are here for.
"So how do you think we can help him out?" Lavi's voice echoed through Kanda's home as the long-haired man entered the building. Upon walking in further he could spy his two guests helping themselves to tea in his kitchen.
"Other than constant trips to the wood I'm not to sure…" Lenalee sighs as she pours herself a cup of tea.
"You can leave that to me." Kanda comments when slipping into a seat at his dining table.
"Oh?" Lenalee turns to Kanda out of curiosity.
"I'll lead him home and that'll be that, no need to make things stupidly complicated." Kanda huffs.
"But that's no fun!" Lavi whines.
"And what part of this is supposed to be fun?" Kanda growls back at the redhead.
"The fact we have a horse-man in our presence. I know we promised to keep him secret but we can still something out of this." Lavi points out.
"Lavi…" Lenalee sighs and shakes her head. Kanda also lowers his head in disappointment.
"You may be a writer Lavi, but I'm sure if you write anything of this the Black Order would come banging on your door; and not for anything good."
"I'm well known for writing weird things, this wouldn't be any different." Lavi attempts to defend himself. Kanda is quick to hold up a hand.
"Look, do what you want but don't come crawling to me when you fuck shit up." He takes a breath before continuing, "I will be taking my gear and Mugen into the forest with that Moyashi and get him home starting tomorrow morning, and I could do without you in my way. The sooner he's out of our lives the better."
"He's right Lavi, I know we only went out there because you wanted to find something like Allen in the first place, but we never expected something like this to actually happen. It's an opportunity of a lifetime, however, we need to play things safe. If not for our sake but his." Lenalee adds in. Lavi finally seems to slump in defeat at his friends' words.
"I guess you guys have a point." The redhead sighs.
"Of course we do." Kanda huffs. The conversation turns quiet and awkward until Lenalee moves thing onto something completely myth-being free. For the time being it seemed as if the whole centaur in the stable thing was forgotten as the trio went on talk about things that were part of their lives before heading to the woods the days before. When the sun began to set a honk alerted the three friends to the outside world.
"Big brother is here." Lenalee is quick to alert the other two the source of the sound.
"I forgot he was coming to get us." Lavi squeaked upon realization.
"Take care you two." Kanda grumbles out lightly as he spots the two getting their things together.
"As long as you take care of your guest. We'll try and do some research on our own time at the library and whatnot, okay?" Lenalee gives Kanda a smile and wave.
"Come on Lenalee, if we take any longer Komui will have us boy's heads." Lavi nervous chuckles.
"Right, right." Lenalee starts walking faster towards the front door. When his guests leave Kanda takes the time to clean up his space and head back out to the stable. As he tends to Mugen's needs Allen makes up the stable air with small talk.
"You seem worried about something." The centaur starts off. Kanda only scoffs as he fills Mugen's feed bucket. "Oh come on, Mugen told me your tells." Just as he made the statement Mugen released a happy whiny.
"You can talk with her?" Kanda makes a face as if he wanted to argue with the centaur but was more curious over his mare.
"Sort of." Allen hums, "It's not a perfect style of communication like between you and I, but it's enough."
"Does she…" Kanda starts but is quick to cut himself off.
"I think even you can figure the answer to that question." Allen chuckles softly before stamping a hoof. "So…how am I getting back to my herd?"
"You and I will go exploring through the woods for a set time each day until we get close enough for you to do the rest on your own. I'll bring Mugen, a map, and some other essentials." Kanda explains.
"Doesn't sound to bad…and I'm sure we'll run into some wisps on the way. Who knows if they'll help us or not." Allen hums.
"Wisps?" Kanda questions.
"Will-o-the-wisps." Allen states firmly, "Ever since I was little they've been a constant thing in my life. Usually they lead me to…important things."
"Odd…but it furthers my conviction that Lavi should not be a part of this." Kanda huffs.
"Oh…" Allen appears to be a bit saddened at the fact but he's quick to renew his smile. "Why aren't your friends coming?"
"It's just for the best." Kanda replies, "I trust them but…I also know how they are. Lenalee is busy with her own things and something tells me Lavi would be best left with as little knowledge of all this as possible."
"If you think so…" Allen shakes his head and his tail hitting the pen door could be heard throughout the stable. While Kanda continued on with Mugen's care Allen would continue on with small talk. He'd talk about himself and his herd. Kanda secretly listened intently to the centaur's babbling.
xxx
Lavi knew that Lenalee and Kanda were right in what they said earlier, but something about Allen the centaur just made Lavi want to stick his nose father than he knew he should. He'd figure tonight instead of heading straight home he'd hit a bar. For some reason places like bars and clubs really helped the redhead think.
"Hello darling!" The friendly bartender at a bar simply named "The Silver Cross" was the first to acknowledge Lavi's entrance.
"Hey Jerry!" Lavi greets in return as he slips onto a barstool. "How's business been today?"
"Same-old same-old." Jerry sighs.
"Shame, and here I was looking for some inspiration tonight." Lavi pouts and turns to scout the bar's current guests. No one seemed to out-of-the-ordinary for the redhead, at least until the bar's front door opened. A fine looking man that Lavi had never seen before had just walked in. And what ever were the odds of him taking a seat right next to Lavi.
"Hey there stranger what can I get for you?" Jerry cheerily asks the newcomer.
"Surprise me." The man states with a pearly-white smile.
"I like your style." Jerry chuckles before turning away to fix something up.
"What brings you here?" The man turns to Lavi, "Ah, but where are my manners…My name is Tyki."
"Pleasure to meet you, I'm known as Lavi around here." The redhead chuckles, "And I guess you could say I'm here for the mystery." Without taking a glance at the drink Jerry's handed him Tyki pulls it closer to take a sip.
"Mystery?"
"You never know who or what could show up here." Lavi breaks out a small laugh and throws up a hand to attempt at stifling it.
"Now, now, no need to hide that pretty little face from me." Tyki takes Lavi's arm into his hand quite gently, "Say bartender, put all his drinks on me tonight." Jerry turns to look at Lavi before answering and when the redhead gave him a nod the bartender grinned madly.
"Alrighty!" Jerry claps his hands together happily and gets to making more drinks.
"Perfect." Tyki grins in the way of a gentleman. And that night was easily filled with the laughs of Lavi his new companion.