It was a while before Kanda had calmed down enough to look where he was. And when he did he realised he didn't recognise anything.
"Shit," he yelled, swiping his tail at some poor fish that happened to be swimming nearby. His stomach grumbled.
"Now, now dear, we mustn't lurk in doorways. It's rude." The voice came from further inside the large cave he seemed to have drifted into.
"What the fuck do you want?!" He shot into the cave.
"Now, now, that's no way for a prince to talk." A figure drifted into view, grinning widely tipping his odd top hat in greeting.
"How the hell do you know who I am?"
"I have my ways. My, my..." He moved around Kanda, looking him up and down. "You are as pretty as they say."
"Shut the hell up. Don't talk to me that way." He was starting to feel disturbed by the stranger's familiarity and odd comments. He began to leave.
"Wait a second, my child." Kanda didn't stop. "I said wait."
It felt like shackles had attached themselves to his wrists, holding him firmly in place.
"What the-"
"Good, good. Now I have an offer for you. I've seen the infatuation you have with that human and I'd like to help you."
"You want to help me... wait... what?!"
"You don't need to hide it from me, I saw the way saved him from the shipwreck and how angry you were when the king destroyed the statue."
"I wanted his hammer, idiot, that's all."
"Oh, right, his hammer. It sort of comes as part a package deal, you know. In order get the... hammer... you need to make the prince fall in love with you, and to do that you need to be human. That's where I come in."
"You can make me human?" It seemed fair enough, really, if the human fell in love with him, he'd give him the weapon.
"For a price."
"Who are you? I don't make deals with people I don't know."
"Ah. Smart boy. I'm the Millennium Earl."
"Millennium Earl," Kanda muttered. He'd heard it before, he was sure of it, but where?
"Here's the deal: I make you human for three days. In that time you have to get this prince to fall in love you – that is, he has to kiss you, and not just any kiss, the kiss of true love – then you can have his hammer and remain human permanently."
"But I don't want to remain--"
"That's the deal. Take it or leave it. Oh, and if you should fail, you will belong to me, to do with as I please."
It was a tough call. On the one hand, he would get the hammer, which he really, really wanted. On the other, he would never see his father again... wait, that was a good thing too. And he would never see his sisters again... that was another good thing, they would never touch his hair again. He'd never be forced to sing in public again. It was perfect!
"I'll do it." It couldn't be that hard to get the prince to fall for him.
"Alright," The Earl was grinning. In fact he hadn't stopped grinning. "One more thing, I expect compensation for my generosity. As payment, I'm taking your voice – temporarily, of course. Just for the three days."
"Che. Just do it already."
"As you wish."
And then everything was black. All Kanda could feel was pain – as though he was being ripped in two. His eyes blurred and began to sting. He tried to take in a breath, but the water that filled his mouth gushed down his throat, salty and unpleasant. Then he was choking. Desperate, he swam upward on the strange limbs that had replaced his tail.
He took a deep breath as his head broke the surface, coughing until the water emptied from his lungs. He kicked his legs painstakingly until he reached shallow water. He stood shakily, and looked down over his new legs.
"What the fuck is that!?" He yelled, or at least he tried to. No sound came out.
Kanda took a few uncertain steps towards the beach, tripped over his feet and caught himself on a large rock.
"Shit!"
He sat down, trying to think of what to do next. He didn't even know how to find that man.
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Lavi was at the beach. He'd been out there a lot lately. Looking for her.
In the distance he could make out a figure on a rock. She had long black hair cascading down her slim back. He couldn't believe it. It was her. It had to be. Why was she naked?
He ran forward. "Miss! Are you alright?"
The girl swung her head around, losing her balance and falling unceremoniously to the ground. She stood quickly, spinning to face him.
He looked her up and down. She... wait... definitely not she... shit... that was his... he...
Lavi gawked.
"Holy shit!" That was defiantly not the girl he was looking for.
"Who the fuck are you calling 'miss'?" The boy glared at him and seemed to be yelling, but he couldn't hear anything. Lavi quickly regained his composure.
"Uhh... are ya okay...sir?" He watched eyes narrow further and received no answer.
"Do you have any... um... clothes?" The boy drew himself to full height, pushing his shoulders back and displaying himself proudly.
"I have nothing to hide."
Lavi stared at the ground, taking off his jacket and holding it in front of himself. "Please put this on. Uh, I'm Lavi by the way."
Kanda was about to refuse, but he saw the hammer glinting at Lavi's side. Grudgingly he accepted the article of clothing.
Kanda looked at it for a second, not quite sure what to do. He figured his arms were meant to go through the openings, seeing they had no other possible use.
Lavi watched with interest as the man struggled into the jacket. Amnesia maybe? His lip quirked upward. Or perhaps he was a part of one of those nudist colonies? Nah, that wasn't it. The way he held himself, he was too arrogant. If he hadn't found him naked on a beach, he would have assumed royalty. But watching him struggle with the coat, that seemed highly unlikely.
When the boy was mercifully covered by his knee length jacket, Lavi looked him over more carefully. He looked just like her; the same oriental features, long hair and bottomless eyes.
"Do ya happen have a sister?" Lavi asked smiling. Kanda glared, but eventually nodded, holding up six fingers.
"Strike!"
Kanda rolled his eyes, gesturing across the ocean.
"They're across the sea? Damn. So, whatcha doin' here on the beach anyway?"
Kanda pointed at the sea again. He waved his hands trying to indicate a shipwreck.
"Ya came on a boat?" Lavi guessed. "An' it... exploded?" Kanda nodded (close enough).
'Boat'. That was what those human vessels were called.
"Oh, I see. If ya need somewhere t'stay, you can come with me."
Kanda nodded. Not smiling, but not glaring anymore.
"Come, I'll show ya the way." Lavi walked forward, looking back for a moment to make sure the strange boy was following. He was, albeit shakily. It seemed like he was trying to relearn how. Poor guy, he must have been through a lot.
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