So, here I am again, I managed to write two more stories (one is an optional theme, so you'll be hearing from me tomorrow as well :D)... This one is for the main theme: Shadow ... I'm not quite satisfied with this one as well, but it's alright! I hope you like it :)

P.s. I couldn't come up with any freaking names for these two themes, but I'll try my hardest for the next few :)

Allen loved the dark, Kanda figured after some time. The secret night walks were one of the things which made Kanda think that. Allen's love for winter, for stormy skies, and night skies was another one.

Not long after did he realize Allen had another reason, a deeper reason for going out in the dark, for leaving the safety of his room, his home, his bonds, and searching for solitude inside empty hallways and silences.

The shadow.

The thing following Allen around, making him remember every minute of his day, that he was

the enemy,

the betrayer,

the betrayed,

lost.

At night, it would vanish, and leave him be. Even though Kanda didn't see it, and didn't know the history surrounding it, he knew that much.

So now, he was following Allen around, as he tried to imagine what it felt like being watched, being forced to remember, to be on guard, to be suspicious all life. But he couldn't.

And that was the reason for his nightly stalker hobby. Even though he was aware he acted like a shadow on his own, selfishly taking moyashi's freedom even at night.

"Will you stop following me?"

"I'm not following you, baka moyashi."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Going training, obviously."

Their routine discussions lasted for a long time on those nights, never leading to anything, never making any sense, Kanda figured. And even though Kanda began to enjoy those stupid, little conversations, throwing insults, small talk, he never would tell moyashi.

Moyashi grew weaker and weaker by the day, Kanda realized after some time, but Komui's answers were always the same;

No cure,

apologies,

there was not enough knowledge,

tears.

So Kanda became anxious. If this kept up, he wouldn't be able to do this kind of thing anymore, he thought. He didn't want them to stop, those night walks, not yet, not ever.

He became impatient, and grumpy, and obsessed.

Ironically, the one who calmed him every time he secretly broke down, was Allen himself, the source of his worry (even though he would never tell).

"There is no helping it, so please don't act this way, Kanda." Allen says one night, as he sees Kanda following him again.

"How can I be calm in this kind of situation, moron?"

Painful eyes, and painfully indifferent silver ones.

"Because it is unavoidable, and for everyone's sake, please act like nothing's wrong.."

"That's impossible, that's stupid, and ignorant!" That's not something I'm able to do, Kanda wants to say, but he is Kanda, and such words never leave his mouth.

"I know. I know, but there's nothing we can do for now.. so you only think about our time together now, alright?" Silent pleadings.

"I...I can't.." He sounds pathetic, it's the first time he sounds pathetic. And the worst thing is, he thinks, that Allen doesn't comment on it.

"Just.. remember our conversations, and stupid little chats, the ones where we didn't need truths to entertain ourselves. The ones where little lies were enough to keep our conversations, and out life's going."

"That's.."

"That way we'll be able to keep up. " Allen persuades, and Kanda, with a pained expression again, vulnerable like never before and never again, has to accept.

"Please Kanda, do it for me..."

"I accept, but only as a temporary solution."

"Thank you Kanda, thank you." Thank you's followed by words that aren't told, but feelings that are exchanged. Silently, carefully.

"And only because like this we will be able to keep up. To keep up the nightly conversations..." Kanda can't believe those words leave his mouth, but when Allen finished the sentence, he knows it's alright. Because Allen understood and completed: "...in which lies are enough, in which we can hide from reality and truths inside our own little worlds."

"Yes, because between us, no truths are needed."