Chapter 15
Kanda and Allen fell through the trapdoor and landed in the Order's water system. Allen helped Kanda, who didn't know how to swim, surface the water to take a breath of air. Allen swam Kanda to the water's edge and helped him up.
Kanda, who didn't know that they would be falling much less into water, coughed up water which had found its way into his lungs.
Before Kanda could finish coughing, Allen grabbed Kanda's arm and dragged Kanda with him.
"Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!
Down that path into darkness deep as hell!"
"Stop." Kanda wheezed, still coughing up the water.
"Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!" Allen drug Kanda to his chamber.
"Hounded out by everyone!
Met with hatred everywhere!
No kind word from anyone!
No compassion anywhere!
Kanda, Kanda...
Why, why ...?" Allen asked Kanda.
After an awkward silence, Allen gave up and opened his dresser drawer. He extracted a 2 pairs of black pants and 2 button - up shirts. One shirt was blue and the other was white. Allen threw a pair of pants and the blue shirt to Kanda. "You don't have to change but warm clothes might feel better than the wet ones you have on."
Kanda picked up the clothes and quickly changed.
####
"Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!
... at the level of your eyes ..." Miranda warned Lavi as they navigated threw the sewers "Be safe." She said and waved Lavi off.
####
Kanda watched as Allen stripped.
"Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?
Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?"
Allen removed his gloves and changed his pants. As he removed his shirt he heard a faint gasp from Kanda upon seeing his left arm. Allen grabbed a small, white container from off his desk and opened it, nothing was inside. Allen skillfully extracted his left silver contact from his eye and set it in the contact fluid in the container. After placing the container back on his desk, Allen turned to Kanda, to see the teen's shocked reaction.
"Wha…?" Kanda asked shocked by what was going on and the sudden change in Allen's appearance.
"That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood, has also denied me the joys of the flesh ..." Allen had walked up to Kanda to stroke his hair, but Kanda pulled away.
"This face - the infection which poisons our love ...
This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing...
A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing...
Pity comes too late - turn around
And face your fate: an eternity of this before your eyes!" Allen picked up a ring on a necklace from his desk and fastened it around Kanda's neck.
"This haunted face holds no horror for me now ...
It's in your soul that the true distortion lies ..." Kanda backed over to a mirror and looked in it.
Allen looked over at the draw gate.
"Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!" The two watched as Lavi approached soaking wet, having tripped and fallen into the sewer water. Allen grabbed his white shirt and slipped it on without buttoning it to show his bare chest.
"Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped that you would come.
And now my wish comes true - you have truly made my night!" Allen laughed and pulled Kanda into a hug.
"Free him!
Do what you like only free him!
Have you no pity?" Lavi pleaded.
"Your lover makes a passionate plea!" Allen shrugged, laughing.
"Please Lavi, it's useless!" Kanda stated.
"I love him!
Does that mean nothing?
I love him!
Show some compassion ..." Lavi begged.
"The world showed no compassion to me!" Allen yelled in defense.
"Kanda, Kanda...
Let me see him..." Lavi begged.
"Be my guest, sir ..." Alle pulled a lever switch opened the draw gate.
"Monsieur, I bid you welcome!" Allen waltzed over to Lavi wadding through the water.
"Did you think that I would harm him?
Why should I make him pay for the sins which are yours?" The draw gate lowered, returning to normal. Allen reached down and grabbed a noose, that was hidden beneath the water.
"Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now - except perhaps Kanda..." Allen tied Lavi up quickly, before Lavi could even react.
Kanda ran forward toward the two.
Allen situated the noose. "Stay where you are Kanda!" Allen yelled, tugging on the rope chocking Lavi.
Kanda stopped in his tracks.
Allen let the rope slacken, giving Lavi breathing room, "Kanda all my life I have been used! Now I'm tired of it all." Allen snapped.
"Start a new life with me –
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!
This is the choice –
This is the point of no return!" Allen declared.
"The tears I might have shed for your dark fate
Grow cold, and turn to tears of hate!" Kanda spat out.
"Kanda, forgive me please forgive me ...
I did it all for you, and all for nothing ..." Lavi admitted in defeat.
"Farewell my fallen idol and false friend ...
We had such hopes, and now those hopes are shattered!" Kanda sang bitterly.
"Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity!" Allen warned.
"Say you love him and my life is over." Lavi said in defeat.
"All hope of cries for help; no point in fighting!" Allen pointed out.
"For either way you choose, he has to win/you cannot win!" Allen and Lavi sang together.
"So, do you end your days with me?
Or do you send him to his grave?" Allen quickly tugged on the rope as a warning.
"Why make him lie to you, to save me?" Lavi chocked out.
"Angel of Music... " Kanda pleaded.
"Past the point of no return …" Allen sang.
"For pity's sake,
Kanda, say no!" Lavi begged.
"...who deserves this?" Kanda begged Allen.
"... the final threshold..." Allen continued.
"Don't throw your life away for my sake!" Lavi begged.
"When will you see reason ...?" Kanda demanded.
"His life is now the prize which you must earn." Allen sang to Kanda.
"I fought so hard to free you ..." Lavi admitted.
"Angel of Music ..." Kanda sang.
"You've passed the point of no return ..." Allen warned.
"... you deceived me.
I gave my mind blindly." Kanda informed.
"You try my patience - make your choice!" Allen tugged on the rope.
Lavi wheezed as Allen relaxed the rope.
"Pitiful creature of darkness...
What kind of life have you known?
God gave me courage to show you, you are not alone..." Kanda waded through the water, walking up to Allen. He wrapped his arms around Allen and kissed him.
Allen let go of the rope and returned the kiss. A tear slipped down his face.
Allen's tear rolled down Allen's cheek and it slipped onto Kanda's.
Allen pulled out of the kiss. "If I loved you… I'd let you go. I can see that you don't love me in return."
"Allen, I…" Kanda began but was pushed away by Allen.
"Take him - forget me - forget all of this...
Leave me alone - forget all you've seen...
Go now - don't let them find you!
Take the boat - leave me here, go now, don't wait...
Just take her and go, before it's too late...
Go!
GO NOW!
GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!" Allen yelled at Kanda and Lavi as he retired to his bedroom.
Now alone, Allen changed his wet clothes with new ones. He sat on his bed and grabbed the golden ball which was sitting on his bedside table. He pressed the light yellow cross on the front of it. A melody began to play.
"So laugh in your loneliness,
Child of the wilderness.
Learn to be lonely.
Learn how to love, life that is lived alone.
Learn to be lonely.
Life can be lived; life can be loved alone…" The music trailed off and died.
Kanda walked in, interrupting Allen's singing. Kanda walked up to Allen and took his left hand and placed the necklace with the ring on it in the palm of his hand. Kanda kissed Allen's cheek and walked off to Lavi.
"Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime...
Say the word and I will follow you..." Kanda sang as Lavi steered the gondola that they were in.
"Share each day with me…" Lavi sang.
"Each night," Kanda cut in.
"Each morning..." The two lovers sang together.
"You alone can make my song take flight," Allen sang as he watched the two leave. He picked up a candlestick and broke a mirror which connected to a secret tunnel. He set up a curtain drape over the passageway and exited through the tunnel, leaving before the police and performers arrived.
"It's over now, the music of the night!"