Oops! I'm sure that I put this story on hold almost as long as Hoshino-sensei hehe...! Hopefully she has done more useful "research" than I have in the meantime! And without further ado! I present to you the continuation, though forgive the long university part! I promise next chapter we're getting right back to the Host club setting! :D

Kanda stared incredulously at the empty tall glass (or glasses as he noted now) on the low table right next to the lifeless body. Dejected, could not even begin to describe the feelings washing over him: anger, humiliation, confusion and back to anger seemed to have trapped him in a vicious cycle.

That wasted brat could take care of himself for all he cared.

His heart was still pounding from what surely must have been the exercise or poison of an alcoholic beverage when he stood and left for the changing rooms, pretending nothing had happened. (What could everyone possibly be staring at?)

From a distance he could hear Lavi's voice calling the end of the party and many voices giggling moaning the end of the night.

Relieved he made up his mind to get changed quickly and disappear home before anyone could say anything to him.

"Yuu~! Good job there! You're almost ready to go, aren't you?"

He had been so close! Kanda already had one foot out the double doors, when the most annoying redhead on earth jumped up in front of him. He shuffled to further block the escapee. "And don't forget to bring this guy here home…" he winked while nodding towards the deadweight plastered to his back.

A deep groan escaped his throat. He growled at the expectant Lavi before grabbing a fistful of the drunk's uniform and transferring the body onto his shoulder, holding the boy like a sack of potatoes. The walk back to his apartment definitely didn't allow for him to carry the frail body like princess, not that he had imagined that.

A thought occurred to him. He cursed under his breath when the contours of his condominium came in sight.

Xxx

The sound of clanking and clinking of tupperware woke up the boy. He could make out squares of white Styrofoam. But why wouldn't they stop moving in random circles? Wait. The ceiling at his house was never this clean and tidy. He sat up abruptly, only to curse when the cocktail in his stomach started swishing around too much.

Looking around, this apartment indeed looked way too clean. Did Cross finally hire a maid? He almost laughed out loud at that thought. That would be the greatest birthday present in his whole life, and his master would definitely keep reminding him how unattainable that was.

There was a luke warm towel dampening the blanket in front of him. It seemed to have come from the porcelain bowl on the side of his futon.

Just a minute….Allen didn't own a futon! He didn't even own a Tatami room! In fact the only thing that did resemble his apartment in any way was the setting of the ceiling! As if on cue, the headache reported back for duty. This was definitely not his apartment, Allen thought eyeing the array of (he hoped) decorative only Japanese swords mounted on the wall.

As was usual for a stomach such as Allen's, a boisterous growl roared from his stomach. Ah, he needed food. A lot of it… Immediately! Standing up on wobbly feet, he made his way to the door, supporting himself on the wall.

But before he could reach the exit, the sliding door moved to reveal a sight he would have never dreamt to see. There stood the prissy Japanese balancing a tray precariously. For a moment both of them locked eyes, before Allen could hear a sneer.

He raised a delicate eyebrow: "If you are healthy enough to walk around my place, you can just as well go home."

Allen felt the heat rise up in his chest. As if in slow motion he reached back for the blanket and slowly sank back onto the sheets. Kanda followed his movements with a glare before settling on the right side of the futon.

Under cautious stares, he dipped the fallen handkerchief into the bowl and replaced it on Allen's forehead. "Keep this in place." He ordered.

Kanda grimaced at the thought that Tiedoll would be crying tears of happiness if he could see what Kanda was about to do next. It wasn't like the stoic man was heartless! While the other was still confused, he lifted the pillow underneath his opposite and scooted close enough to support his upper body on his chest.

Allen stared at the stern face above him with wide eyes. What was happening? The last time he checked, he almost got punched when he got this close. The heat that had already been there began to soar into his cheeks. He didn't really mind the proximity though. It somehow soothed him and made his heart beat with vigor.

"Tche. You're looking at me like some love-sick puppy. It's disgusting." The sharp tone tore him away from his thoughts.

Kanda could definitely feel a migraine come up when he heard a cheerful knock on the door. Now that once in his life time he had woken up early, some stupid reason such as compassion had taken away his peaceful morning. This tended to be the pattern of his life.

"You should probably get the door…" the little heap of misery on top of him told him. Kanda chose the smaller bad and ignored the knocking. "It's fine. It's just the rabbit."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Lavi lives here?"

"Next door" Kanda cringed internally at the memory when Tiedoll introduced his friend Bookman and his obnoxious grandson.

The knocking continued regardless.

"Well, that's all nice, but… what am I doing in your apartment, Kanda?"

Addressed man froze midway pouring a hot cup of lemon tea. He was glad that there was a pillow between the white head and his chest, otherwise the other might be able to sense the heat rising.

"Are… you telling me you don't remember?" his voice came out harsh and to his surprise, with a tint of disappointment?

"I know my head hurts because Lavi forced shots down my throat at the party yesterday…"he chuckled darkly at the thought of decimating the red head for that. "Oh! I'm sorry I was supposed to teach you yesterday, too! I must have passed out! Thanks, for taking care of me!" Round big eyes were shining up to him with sincerity that Kanda couldn't and didn't want to take.

He stood up abruptly from his position and turned towards the kitchen. "I'm going to have breakfast. Finish the food and leave." he stated tersely without looking back.

Confused, the younger man looked at the tray that was left behind.

In the kitchen, Kanda was currently attempting to fight down the rising urge to strangle the beansprout and hide the body in the next dumpster. It had never occurred to him that his "mentor" wouldn't remember. To be honest he had been rather tipsy himself. How else could he have let something so disastrously unproductive happen?

"Yuu~! If you don't come out now, you're going to be late. Besides, I am going to knock down the door!" He heard Lavi's cheerful yell from outside. The other apartment owner next to Kanda must be throwing a fit at this charade of his every morning. But it wouldn't be the first time Kanda would have to pay for repair fees because the rabbit broke down his door.

Putting the empty bowl into the sink and moving to the door, he made sure the chain was still on, when he opened it and caught one eye peering at him relentlessly.

"You're going to be late!" the other repeated just as cheerily.

"Don't you have something else to do every morning?" he grumbled.

"But Yuu!"he jumped back just in time to avoid Mugen thrust through the space in the door. "we always go together~!" He whined.

Kanda sighed. "I don't have lectures. Tiedoll gave me the whole month off to prepare for the exhibition next month. I'm going to stay at home today. See you at work." Before the surely moping rabbit could continue and shut the door in his face.

Kanda guessed that if the idiot did not remember he didn't have to explain it or bother with figuring out what it all meant. Good! It would save them awkwardness. It probably was the alcohol anyway. They were both drunk and that was that. He sighed again and went to check on the patient.

"Are you done? I need to finish the rough draft of my sculpture." He gave him a meaningful glare. But as soon as he had entered his room the other jumped out of the futon and pressed himself to the opposite wall – like a caged animal.

"What's wrong now?" he was starting to get slightly pissed.

"I-I'm sorry for whatever offended you! A-a-and thank you for the food!" He smiled awkwardly. Kanda followed his stared to see that he was still holding Mugen in a death grip.

"Tche. If you get it, hurry up! I don't have all day."

10 minutes and another wheelbarrow of food later, both of them walked out of the door. "You will have to grab a change of clothes when I'm finished with you. I don't want to waste another… " he turned to look at the beansprout, which had disappeared?

In his confusion he stared at the space where he was supposed to be until he heard the sound of his neighbor's door opening. He was relieved that Lavi had duely gone ahead because then he wouldn't have to deal with the complaints that were sure to come.

Except that it wasn't an angry old man or lady stepping through the doors. It was in fact the beansprout himself now dressed in a casual shirt and tight-fit jeans.

He giggled at Kanda's immobility. "I thought you would say that. I recognized the complex, so I just popped home really quickly while you were busy with the door. "He explained with a smile.

"You've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I should've just dropped you here yesterday evening!" Kanda thought, fuming. Instead, he tched and walked past his model towards his studio.

"Hey! It's not my fault that we're neighbors!" Allen was sulking all the way to the university.

Xxx

This time, Allen immediately proceeded to the storage room where he had left the coat last time. He shuddered at the thought when Kanda thrust Mugen at him at full speed last time only to skewer the piece of wood behind him.

Today the meter-high block of wood already had several markings in pencil. Allen also noticed a blanket on the floor and the fact that Kanda had put on an apron and a pair of oval-shaped glasses. For some reason he really gave the aura of an artist at the moment.

With his usual apathetic face Kanda turned around and pointed a finger at the blanket. "Go sit over there!" he ordered. As soon as the boy sat down he placed a large wooden board a few centimeters from his nose.

"Hey! What are you- ?" he complained.

"Shut up and let me work." Kanda cut him off sharply. Then, he felt a rough tug at his legs and was about to kick back when he felt an iron grip around his waist and a hand turning his face. The Japanese was hunched over him; their eyes so close he could feel the other's breath on his face.

"Will you relax, sit still and let me do my work mo-ya-shi?" Kanda pronounced each syllable of his name. Hold it! That wasn't his name! But the intent stare he was receiving and his face so close made it difficult to breathe, let alone argue back. Allen looked sideways, and swallowed. He was sure he was blushing.

Soon, he could feel strong arms pull continue pulling his one leg into such position he was lying sideways on the floor, left arm supporting his bodyweight in front of the wooden board. Hands were finding their way on his thighs now tugging them into the right position and Allen was glad he was staring at the board because he was sure that Kanda was wearing a smirk and/or could hear his heart rattling. He squeaked when he felt the same hands lift his hips closer to the board, so that one of his hands automatically pressed against the wood. Did he just hear a low chuckle?

"You're working in a host club and this agitates you?" He heard a sarcastic whisper in his ears before turning a deeper shade of red. "R-r-rule number one is not to sleep with your clients…" he stammered.

"Hmm! That's not what you said yesterday." Kanda simply stated. He shrugged his shoulders before stepping over his model and back to his wood block to admire the positioning. Perfect as usual, he smirked.

"W-w-what?" The color drained out his face before evolving into burgundy.

Kanda was amused. "Tch. I need your relaxed face. So stop scrunching up or else I might slip!" He ordered, taking out Mugen, while eyeing the wood block.

Even though he didn't want to admit it, every once in a while when Allen risked a glance at the artist standing on his side, mercilessly cutting away at the wood, he couldn't help but notice how efficient every swing was and how precise it cut of parts of the wood, even in a round, not jagged manner. He watched it, entranced by the look of concentration on his mentee's face, every time he closed his eyes, until the other snapped at him to stay still.

There was something beautiful he couldn't quite grasp.

I thought I'd be good and didn't leave a cliff-hanger! :3 Thank you if you have read this far and just discovered my story and if you stayed on board all this time, Thank you for rereading! :) I love you all!.

If you think I deserve so, or you have a thought itching at your head, then please write me msg in that box below .