Disclaimer: D.Gray-Man belongs to Hoshino Katsura.
Chapter Four: One Time You Smiled
Tyki was worried for the boy who clutched at his arm in a near painful grip. Allen's panic hasn't risen like this for the past five years. "Alright there, lad?" Allen looked up with a weary smile, trying to reassure him. "I will be." "It's always an 'I will be.' Good grief, Allen, why can't you admit that you need others and say 'I don't know' or 'I can't do this alone.' You're not the only one trapped in this shitty place," a new person spoke up. "Oh, you twins. How's it going?" Tyki greeted. Devit and Jasdero grinned widely.
"We reckon Doug will be able to find us in another half an hour, hihi! His record time keeps getting broken! He's one dedicated guy," Jasdero laughed. Apparently, they had given their overseer the slip. "But still, when will we get out of here? I'm so bored," Devit muttered. "We just have to wait. Good things come to those who wait," Allen murmured with a dazed smile. "But what if we wait and nothing ever happens?" Jasdero quipped. "We don't wait and do nothing. We're waiting for an opportunity, a weakness we can exploit..." Road flippantly answered, but in a sinister manner.
"Not like that for me, Road. Not like that," Allen smiled, but it was cracked, and sad. "What's up?" Devit asked, but this time he sounded rather unsure and hesitant. Allen and Jasdero are the only ones able to make Devit fumble. "He met his Yumebito today. And, as with all Yumebito, has no recollections whatsoever," Tyki answered for the snow haired adolescent. Jasdero looked deep in thought, so out of place with his usual chatter and crazy personality. "We're all tied to this place, aren't we?" He mumbled out.
"Why'd you say that?" Devit didn't understand what his twin meant.
"Somehow, we all drifted here. And miraculously somehow, only patients here recall that past. And then somehow, our Yumebito gather here. This has become a dependence. We're all staying here, because we're afraid that we wouldn't meet our Yumebito if we left this place. At least, I know I am," Allen stated neutrally. "And seeing him today, it felt as if all my restraints were broken and I went a bit overboard. I couldn't help it. It felt so good, as if I was free, and he was there, right before my eyes, alive."
"We know how you feel," the company of four chorused.
Tyki smiled a bit and patted Allen's head affectionately. "Especially you. I've been waiting for six years and nearly wanted to rape my dear bunny when I saw him if you weren't there to restrain me. How could you have waited for ten years? I'd have gone crazy by then! Look at Road, just one year deeper into it than I am, and she's a raving lunatic!" Tyki exclaimed trying to lighten up the situation. Road smacked Tyki's back. "I'm not a raving lunatic. I'm just a sweet, innocent, overly-pampered child who wants lots of attention." "Hah! You finally admit that you're a spoilt brat!" Devit exclaimed triumphantly.
"I think it's safe to saw the twins are the craziest of us all," Allen joked feeling a little better. "Damn, we are!" The twins cackled in agreement.
"Hey guys, sorry to burst the happy bubble...But here we are," Tyki muttered. The whole group paused, and looked up at the door label. The word 'Pharmacy' stood out almost threateningly against its bland white walls. "Hah, it's just some stupid drugs that don't work even when we eat them. It's okay," Devit said aloud bravely. Jasdero opened the doors for them, and as usual, Timcanpy was sitting behind the counter. The young man raised his head as he heard the door open.
"Hello, guys. I'm assuming the usual?"
"Yeah, Timcanpy. Sorry for the bother. You have to make sure we have to eat our medicine, right?" Allen asked. The blonde man nodded, passing to the patients each their own prescribed dose. "I'm sorry, but its standard procedure," Timcanpy replied. He went to the back of the room to get glasses of water for them to wash down their medicine with.
Jasdero made a face while Devit cooed at his brother, comforting him as he took his pills. "It still tastes bad every time," Jasdero said as he gargled his mouth thoroughly with water. "Can we go grab a soda at the cafeteria later?" "Sure we can," Devit answered smugly.
Allen swallowed his pills and drained the glass of water without complaints. After all, he had to deal with it for ten years. Pretty much nothing could faze him in the facility. Timcanpy smiled at the young boy. He kissed Allen on the top of his head and patted him affectionately. "Now there's a good boy. Run along and go do something else. I've got to stay in this smelly place."
Allen often had to wonder, if Timcanpy also have memories of the past seeing that the man was especially fond of him. But the blonde had never shown signs of recognition or such towards others, like Cross, who came here just once. Allen had managed to catch a glimpse of his ex-mentor.
"I'll see you around, Timcanpy," Allen nodded and left, with Road and Tyki in tow. The twins headed off for the cafeteria.
Tyki delivered the two younger ones to their own rooms before heading back to his own cell. Cell, yes. This place was nothing more than prison. He had been delivered here when he was 20 years old, still a young chap making ends meet. He remembered very well why he was taken here. He was charged with insanity by his nosy little neighbours.
And then, men in white coats just barged into his house and took him away. Tyki sighed, wishing he had a cigarette to distract him. All patients knew why Allen was treated like a specimen under the watchful eyes of the researchers. They all had been getting flashbacks of things they could not recall, but all was made clear the moment they saw Allen.
Those idiots told everyone that all this began when Allen came in. What a big fat lie, Tyki thought wryly as he bypassed the sick bay. It had already happened, but they had become normal when they met Allen. But now, they were confined to this fortress where they had no way out. Some people had families outside waiting for them. The man wondered what sort of lies they had been fed to prevent them from coming to see the so-called mental patients. Tyki was slightly surprised to find the trio still in his room when he returned.
"Hey guys, it's getting late. Go home and get some sleep," he advised with a little smile.
Kanda exited the room with a gruff nod, while Lenalee bid him good night as she left the room. Lavi was about to leave when Tyki gently grabbed his arm. "Tyki...?" Lavi looked up in surprise at the unusually solemn man. "Be careful on your way home, okay honey? Good night."
And before the redhead realized it, Tyki pressed a soft kiss on his forehead and closed the door to his room. Lavi stood there, shocked, face bursting into flames, and gaped wordlessly like a fish out of water before finally yelling, "Y-You kissed me!!!!! You sneaky bastard!!" Kanda snorted. "Be glad he didn't french you, idiot bunny. He looks horny enough to do that." Tyki was smiling behind his door.
"Now we're even, Allen."
Thank you guys, for all the encouraging reviews XD Ohh, by the way, in case you are curious, Yumebito means Dream Person literally. 3 It will be kind of obvious as to why I use this term.