Kanda did not miss the millisecond of irritation that flashed on his girlfriend's face when she saw the Guardians standing at the entrance of the Asian Branch with Bak and Sammo Han.

Lavi also observed Tsukiyomi Ikuto trying to look nonchalant, but he could not hide the excitement in his eyes seeing Amber again.

Amber greeted her friends as they approached her enthusiastically, asking her questions a mile a minute. With his hooded cloak on, Link looked amused while Tiedoll had his sketchbook out, furiously drawing the Guardians group. Unbeknownst to him, Timmy, Christa and Yumi came out to meet the other guardian characters to greet them.

Allen and Johnny, wearing hooded cloaks, noticed Ikuto did not move from his place next to Bak, maybe to let the Guardians have their chance to speak with Amber first. Eventually, Amber managed to settle down the Guardians enough for Ikuto to take the opportunity to approach her himself. Kanda somehow resisted the urge to maim the teenager as Ikuto hugged the more petite redhead in greeting. He tilts his head to see Kukai talking to Lavi.

At least some of them have manners.

Bak finally greets the entire team but quickly addresses the elephant in the room. "With Allen Walker being a fugitive, I am not sure about letting him into the Branch, I must admit."

Amber raised her hand to silence the Guardians before they could say anything. "He is only a fugitive because the Order thinks he killed Link. That is wrong because Howard Link is very much alive."

At that moment, for dramatic effect - Link lifts his head just enough for Bak and Sammo Han to see his face and recognise him. The shock was evident on their faces, but Amber was not in the mood to get into details, especially in front of the nosy Guardians and Ikuto. Instead, she instructs Bak to let them in so they can have dinner first, and she will give them a full report later with Tiedoll. Bak readily obliges, and he leads the group inside.

Hours later, Lavi sighs profoundly, looking at the door to Amber's room. The jealousy inside of him nearly made him giddy with anger when he saw Kanda taking both his and Amber's luggage into the room.

They were sharing a room again.

Lavi knew what Amber looked like out of bed in the morning - vulnerable, innocent and sweet-looking in her pyjamas. Lavi couldn't fathom how any man could keep his hands to himself with a gorgeous girl like that. Safe to say, Kanda wasn't - the memory of Kanda and Amber kissing in the caravan made his hands clench again.

With trembling fists, Lavi remembered Apochryphos's offer. The redhead gulps at the thought. He could never betray his friends like that. He loved Amber, but the idea of crossing the Order, thus forcing Amber to turn her fangs on him, was enough to make him quake in his boots.

Allen and Link listened as Johnny told them he saw Ikuto eyeing Amber like a wolf during dinner and taking every opportunity to be close to her. Link wanted to set him straight, but Allen stopped him, insisting he hadn't done anything.

Link grits his teeth, saying Cross would want them protecting his daughter. Allen swallowed nervously; that ghost was going to haunt his dreams now. Luckily, Johnny managed to cut the tension, reminding them that Kanda would eventually lose patience and threaten Ikuto to back off.

That was enough to put Allen and Link at ease.

Kanda can be a scary bastard if you set him off.

Amber, meanwhile, was reading a book, dressed in her maroon romper - the Humpty Lock still around her neck as usual when Kanda stepped out of the shower in his standard black sleeping pants. The samurai was still drying his hair as he looked at his girlfriend, completely immersed in her novel.

Amber's red hair was in a loose bun - the sleeves of her romper pulled down slightly, her smooth shoulders exposed with the zipper showing a smidge of her growing cleavage. Amber looked delectable, as usual.

Kanda shook his head and reminded himself, three more years.

Amber noticed him leering at her, so she took the opportunity to commit Kanda's abs to memory. When they finally met eyes, they smiled at each other.

Kanda was the first to say something, "Tiedoll offered me a position as a General."

Amber blinked, wondering if she heard right. Kanda continued.

"I took it. As I've said before - you are my equal. I'm not letting you leave me behind. I will get stronger and fight with you to end this war at the soonest possible. I want a safer world for you, us, and the family we will have."

Amber did not miss Kanda's sly intention to slip in that he wanted a family with her - not saying it never crossed her mind, but Kanda was her first boyfriend. Cross would roll in his grave if she showed too much eagerness to marry this early on in her relationship.

"I look forward to a future without this war, Yuu. I do."

Kanda's eyes soften at her gentle smile, and he joins her on the bed, lifting her into his arms so that she's sitting with her back against his chest. They kiss, and Amber places her novel on the nightstand to converse about the day - content with each other's warmth and closeness.

Rima Mashiro was excited that Amu was back - she wouldn't disclose details about her meeting with Bak and the old General Tiedoll, but she didn't care. All Rima wanted was to spend time with Amu.

Nagi followed Rima to Amu's room. Nagi knocks on the door, and Amber opens it, but before Nagi can see anything, Lavi's hands cover his eyes. Bookman just happened to leave his room and took the opportunity to take his grand eyeful of Amber's just-washed face and doe-like eyes looking up at him quizzically.

Lavi's eyes travelled lower; Amber's zipper was a mid-chest, the gracious swell of her breasts evident on her tanned skin, her long legs on full display as she stood at the door with no shoes on - her manicured feet clear as day.

"Lavi? Is something wrong?"

Lavi grins in a second, hurriedly guiding Nagi and Rima away from her room and towards the hallway, "You kids, let Amber shower and get dressed, okay? She will meet you guys later for breakfast!"

Rima tried to protest, but Nagi shook his head - the possessive aura coming off of Lavi was transparent to him, and he empathised.

Kanda appears at the door and leans his head down so his chin rests on Amber's shoulder, "Who was it?"

"Lavi took care of it."

Kanda frowns, unable to read her expression but doesn't say anything. He kisses her shoulder before walking away, bringing her along by the waist.

Lavi was never going to be a threat to their relationship.