Many, many thanks to Erstina 13624 and ovoriel! I really appreciate your reviews. And YES, it is indeed the most civil Kanda and Allen have ever been. XD less violent lives = good for them... ^_^! Lemme know if there's anything you wanna hear more about! Otherwise, I'll wind this story to a close.

Chapter 6
Allen is Hired

When I open my eyes again, it's early evening. The light has gone dim, but it's not true dark yet.

The way I fell asleep here surprises me more than I can say. A childhood of wariness, years of stress under Cross' tutelage, and then I come here. To what effect? Sleeping on strangers' futon and talking entirely too much.

I can tell Yu's not been idle while I napped. The place has been cleaned up—there's less dust, and what looks like a drinkable bit of water.

I sit up. Some of the pain has turned into stiffness, and vice versa. I'm likely to be sore for days if past experience tells me anything.

"You're awake."

I nod vaguely, and absently make my way to my feet. Tim flutters a greeting, and through my fuddled state, I manage to somehow do a turn of some kind, balancing on the tips of my toes to stretch most fantastically.

Yu smirks. "You look like some lazy animal." He comments wryly. "Just out of hibernation and ready to do anythingat a slight provocation."

With a prim smile, I attempt a better response. But I can only yawn and stretch some more. "Mm?" Finding the words I want is a little…beyond my abilities at this point. Eventually it'll come to me.

Yu only laughs. That too surprises me so much that I've noidea what it means.

Tim flutters at me from the side. He flashes his teeth and pink tongue, so I remember another morning priority. "D'you—" a yawn overtakes me for a second, "—have any food?" I ask blearily.

With derisive shake of his head, Yu lookslike a warrior's wet dream—or that's what Cross would have said. Just thinking it makes me redden.

With a snarky sort of smirk, he raises his chin. "I'll go get something to eat." He concludes, but the words sound more like a jibe. "Soba all right with you?"

I nod lightly. "Uh-huh." Absently combing my fingers through my hair, I add, "Soba…somehow, it suits you…"

Yu stiffens. "What are you mumbling about, bean sprout?"

Tim lands on my head. Just as absently, I tug him off and into my arms—he's gotten bigger for some reason—oh, but maybe that's because I'm stretching him. Hmm. "Nothing." I reply slowly. "It's just not a surprise is all."

There's a flicker of memory behind my closed eyelids—flashes of explosive light, heat and extreme sensory input from my left arm. Like every millimeter tingles under the strain of—something. And…also…long, black hair flowing….a serene, finally free of pain and—

I shake my head to clear the fog from my mind.

Kanda looks at me blankly. I can't read his expression at all, but at last he nods curtly. "Whatever."

"Bring something for Tim too?" I pull his wings, still slightly preoccupied. The church members say that those random flashes…are memories. Truth buried in the subconscious, bearing witness to the god of rebirth's favor.

When I look up, Yu's already gone.

I stretch quietly, removing gloves and rolling up my sleeves, still thinking. Slowly, I begin a routine I learned as a child, loosening the muscles and beginning to relieve some of the pain.

Without thinking too much of it, I start a vocal warm up too, trying for some sense of reality.

…that face…I get the feeling I've seen him before…

Juxtaposed with the previous image, a death mask, in its white relief and stunningly despairing expression, rushes in on me.
I can see a weeping soul. A parted mouth that cannot scream. Evil magic I've heard of again and again in stories of the church, but nothing I want to dwell on.

"Is that some kind of kata?"

I whirl around. The voice had come from behind, at the door. I can see her—Lenalee. She's dressed in a neat outfit that half speaks of uniform and half of girlish fashion. Her expression is embarrassed, but a smile teases her lips.

"Sorry to surprise you. I wanted to talk with Kanda."

My arms drop to my sides. She's...here. I offer a weak smile. "Ms. Lenalee." I bob a fraction of a bow, desperate for more time to get my thoughts in order, and my glove back on. It's rather difficult when my stomach is so empty, and my wits are still sleeping. "He's gone out..." I manage, slipping the gloves back on, and unrolling my sleeves.

She nods, as if it isn't the most obvious thing I've said. "I see. I'm more surprised to see youhere." she offers a girlish smile, turning her attention to the half-cleaned room. Her friendly expression doesn't falter, and she drops her gaze. "He doesn't associate...which...is to say, he's a bit of a loner." she fidgets.

Relaxing a bit, I return to my stretching. "Oh, I thought as much..."

She smiles. "You getting along then?" Her eyes travel to my bed-head, and I really have no idea what she's thinking now.

"Um…" I shrug. "Well enough?"

With a helpless look around the room, Lenalee continues on a slightly more serious topic. Her hands fall to her side. "Find anything more about Atkin's murder?" She genuinely looks concerned. Even still, it feels wrong, somehow. Like her concern for the murder victim and her concern for a friend's lost possession are one and the same.

I shake my head.

Lenalee bites her lip. "I've heard a few things around town," she begins, one hand fiddling with the clasp of her purse. "People knew him around here," she begins. "Do you really think they'll talk to you? He probably had dangerous connections..." she looks me in the eyes. "Wouldn't getting involved be dangerous?"

"I think I can learn things even if they don't want to talk to me," I begin just as carefully, but stop when I hear something behind me. Some rustle of cloth or creak of board, maybe. Or maybe just the feeling that someone is watching. I look around and see that Kanda is back from his errand. "Hello," I smile.

Lenalee smiles too, and goes over to make some small talk in Chinese—Cantonese, maybe? I make out only a few words—a negative (Kanda) and some question words (Lenalee). It's a very short conversation.

She turns around and is talking to me again after hardly any time at all. "Actually, I had something for you, Allen." She rustles in her bag and pulls out an envelope.

I take it from her, careful for my gloved hands not to touch her pale ones. "May I?"

Lenalee nods, her eyes serious.

I open the letter to find a list of….a mixture of things. "Eh?" It's not at all what I expected. "Weekly comic magazine, motor oil, lotion, petri dishes?" I read off a few items at random, turning them into a question.

Lenalee smiles. "Look at the bottom," she urges. "That seal is from my brother. Only show it to someone if you have no other option, or they hint that they want to see it." She crosses her arms, and I wonder what her body language is telling me. At my lack of reaction, she shakes her head. "It shows that you've been hired," she explains.

"Oh!" I give a nod, not sure I should say thank you or not. "Informal permission, or in code?" I wonder. "Or am I supposed to pick these things up on the way?"

Lenalee shakes her head, "Come on, Allen. Be realistic." She smiles. "You're just looking for some things on a friend of the community." She's certainly earnest. "I…" she hesitates. "I'm sorry. We seem to be misunderstanding one another."

I cough lightly, trying to forget all of the warnings I've ever heard about the Black Order. Cross hates it, Tyki doesn't trust it, and half the Quartered District is afraid or angry, the other half in awe. It's not exactly an easygroup to work for. "It's not that I won't do it," I find myself saying, "But—"

She cuts in almost immediately, before I've even thought what I would have said. "You've heard all sorts of things about the Black Order," she says. Her eyes are wide, her expression hurt. The way her lips tilt, the incline of her chin—it all reads as an innocent, charming girl. "It's not anything bad…" she wavers a minute, as if unsure of my reception.

I nod, waiting for her to continue.

She's lying, you know.I want to ignore that.

Everybody lies,I think back.

"The order…it's my family." Her hands move in a tiny circle to include herself, Kanda, and presumably her real brother. "We're a tight knit group. When you're in the Quarter, you have to work together, or everyone you care about will suffer. From discrimination to outright violence; you should know that, Allen." She allows a hint of awkwardness to slip into her voice. "We just work to protect each other, and the people of the Quarter."

I wonder if she really believes that. "Like a police force on the people's side?" I ask innocently.

She scoffs aloud. "We take care of the needs others won't. We don't police anybody but the people directly concerned."

Vague,I note. "Don't you have your own information gatherers?" I persist.

She nods slowly, reluctantly. "Yes, but if we send any of them, people will know we're looking. One way or another, someone will figure out that they're related to us."

I doubt that using me would be any different, but maybe Lenalee knows better. I nod my assent. "Mm-hmm."

She looks vaguely annoyed now. "What?" she demands. "Your Cross's almost-nephew, right?" she demands, a bit of temper flaring. It's kind of cute…like she brushed a bit of pink on her cheeks. "I would have thought he'd—" she bites her tongue.
She takes a breath, and begins abruptly again. "My brother told me about him." She settles. "So you'll be fine."

I mirror her posture and sigh. I turn to Kanda. "Can we please have breakfast now?" I ask plaintively.

Lenalee's cheeks redden further, as if she's only just remembered. "…you're still half asleep, aren't you?" she complains.

"…and hungry, too." I grin sheepishly. "While we eat, can you tell me about what you heard?" I think back. "In town, you said."

Kanda obligingly crosses the distance between us. He holds out a tray full of heavy plastic bowls—the fake lacquer kind with a lid that delivery places usually carry. He doesn't say anything, but distributes the chopsticks with a solemnity most people reserve for formal banquets, not delivery.

Lenalee tosses her hair again. "I guess." She huffs. She gives Kanda a look, and decides against sitting down on the newly cleaned floor cushions. Remaining as she is, she settles her stance to something less defensive. "Will you listen now?" she asks.

I nod as I take the cover off the first bowl. "Yes, of course." Tim has bounded down from my head and his tongue is practically falling out of his face. I offer him the first noodles, but keep the bowl out of his reach.

Lenalee is staring. Somewhat incredulously. "…what did you want to know?" she asks, watching the golem with an expression between dread and fascination.

"Just what you heard," I say around a mouthful of noodles.

Somehow, she can interpret that. She nods slowly. "Um, it seems like most people are surprised he died. They're also surprised anyone's asking about it." She shrugs. "…people like him…" she shakes her head.

Kanda clears his throat. "Bean sprout." He says calmly. "Slow down before you choke."

I ignore that, and gesture in a way that I hope conveys, continue.

"Does that mean you'll help us out?"

I nod. "I said I would."

She grins. "I'm glad." With a look from Kanda to me, she fidgets a little. "I guess I'll leave you boys in peace…" she murmurs satisfactorily. "We'll talk about your progress in…a few days, ok?" She pauses. "If you have anything important to say between then, let Kanda know, and he'll get word to us."

Kanda nods stiffly. He doesn't say anything.

I place the bowl down for long enough to smile. "Thank you, Lenalee."

She's already out the door, but her smile is bright. I think her presence will linger here a while yet.

Kanda lets me finish the soba before asking, "…what are your plans?"

I shrug. "I can go look around some more…" I say slowly.

"No. Not until tomorrow. You can make sure you're seen walking home, being friendly, but don't agitate anymore people for one day." He shakes his head, annoyance clear on his finely chiseled face. Oh, gods, did I just think that?

I nod slowly. "Then I'll go back…see if anyone on my side of the fence has heard much."

Kanda looks much relieved, and nods curtly. A ghost of a smile twitches his lips. "Good."

I look at him hesitantly. "If you wanted…" I suggest tentatively. "You could come see the People. When you're free."

He shakes his head briefly. Then as if reflectively, he nods. "Not tonight, but…sometime." He offers. He looks as awkward as I feel. "I'd see you home…" he says reluctantly.

I bristle. "Do you think I'm a baby?" I snap. "I can make my own way home."

Looking relieved all over again, Kanda nods. "Then I'll see you later." That's it. No explanation about his own plans, no nothing. Very curious, Kanda. Very curious.

He and I split the third bowl of noodles, and between him and Tim's excited flying, the night draws to a close.

I smile. Things are turning up.

(Kanda Seeks Information)

Allen loafed around my apartment for a bit after Lenalee left. Maybe he sensed my impatience to get to work, or maybe not, but either way he left. I don't need to bother hiding where I'm headed or make excuses.

The cool autumn air makes me tug my coat around my neck. The winding, crisscross shortcuts through the District are half as crowded as it might be in the evening, but still people watch. Out in daylight, my tell-tale Doll features get stares and whispers when people notice, but most ignore me, either because they've seen me around long enough, or because they think I just have good looks and a smooth gait.

I pass a few eateries and make my way to a small room behind the only library — part of a school— in this part of town. I hear a whirl of mechanical noises and voices before I even get close.

"Turn those things off," I grunt.

Lavi sits up straighter, his look of concentration turning to cautious suspicion. His features fall into an easy, relaxed expression when he sees me in the window. "Yu, you really ought to knock," he laughs, flashing his teeth in an easy-going smile.

"I have a question for you." I jump down from the window, pacing over a comfortable distance from the noisy machines.

Lavi cocks his head, looking surprised. "Oh? Personal or business?" He gets up to begin pushing pause on the recordings. "Because I could give your some great advice for fashion, girls, and how to get cheap ren—"

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I take a step forward. "Business. Do you know anything about Jacob Atkins?"

Lavi looks at me, his friendly mask firmly in place. Even still, he looks at me sharply. "The murder victim?" he confirms.

I nod.

"Who's asking?"

"I am. It's not technically Black Order business." I shrug. Or maybe it is, considering the seal. But I push that thought away as I try to settle on some way to describe Walker, to explain away my own involvement. With a slight concession to his thirst for knowledge, I continue relatively quickly. "Someone I know has been looking into the matter." I settle on.

"But it's not Black Order business." He mutters, flicking the last button, and pausing the last recording on his computer. He leans back in his chair, looking at me curiously. "First, tell me about your friend. Have we met?" he waggles his eyebrows. "Is it a pretty girl?"

I snort. He's always trying to keep that impression. "It's the newest hireling. Walker." As an afterthought, I add, "A Noah." Without making another noise, I shift my weight to even my stance. Ready, just in case. "He's been hired to look into the situation."

"And yet you're the one here, asking me. If he was hired, it's the Order's business, Yu," Lavi tilts his head back, settling into a napping pose. "Exactly how long have you known him?"

"One day."

Lavi snorts. "And it took me how long to even get you to acknowledge my 'hello's? You ignored me way longer." he laughs. "Ok, tell me what you know." He looks chagrined. "I was ignoring that little situation…" he idly taps one of the hand-held recorders.

I shift on my feet and resist the urge to give a salute I learned years past. Lavi isn't my master. I don't need to be submissive or respectful of him.

"Jacob Atkins, killed outside of the Quartered District the night before last. No clear suspects. Some witnesses claim to have seen a Noah at the scene at the time of the murder. Walker talked to a detective—apparently Walker himself is their only suspect. Junior Detective Link said that they didn't have any drug connection leads." I pause for breath. "Can you get the autopsy report?"

Not looking the least bit fazed, Lavi nods, already pulling up some program on his computer. He types and clicks for a few moments, and then begins reading a page. "It's not computerized yet. All I've got is some schedule…our guy will be looked at by the end of the week, probably. Looks like they've got a lot of stiffs, and not so much staff." He shrugs. "Preliminary guess work thinks poison and strangling."

I nod slowly. "Poison…" I frown, thinking.

Spinning lazily in his chair now, Lavi asks slowly, "How did Lenalee and Komui react?"

I pause, considering the question. "They seemed interested in Walker. Talked about hiring him." I frown, trying to remember our first meeting. "She said I didn't need to work on my own or neutralize threats before that, though."

"And when they hired him?" He completes one full turn. Spins some more.

"Lenalee was by herself. Carefree, smiling. " I shrug. "When he asked about why she wanted to hire him…she talked about the Order being her family. It was…." I stall, at a loss for words.

With a look like vague interest, he touches a foot to the ground. "Why would she want some young Noah to look into things?" Lavi muses.

"Ah, Walker was shot at and attacked the first night he was asking around." I remember. "Two men. Nondescript clothes. Good gun, poor skills. Cheap help. Don't know who hired them." This might have been why they decided to hire Allen. Clearly, someone was interested in something he found or knew.

"A quick job," Lavi guesses. "How soon after the detective left?"

"Only a few minutes…I don't think it was the detective." I offer grudgingly.

"Unless he signaled that he was in…but no, he wouldn't have needed to talk to your Allen if he was just signaling." He gets a thoughtful look. "How soon after Komui talked to him?" His eyes are shrewd, calculating.

I take a breath and hold it. "A few hours." Thatwas an interesting thought.

Lavi stops spinning. Looks at me. "Anyone else figure out that he was asking around? Show interest, I mean?" His tone is casual, but I know he's thinking at top speed.

"…no. I don't think so. People just kept quiet from what I can tell." I pause before asking, "You hear anything from the other crime families?"

"Nothing related…but there was something….a few weeks back." He screws up his face. "Ahh, what was it." He runs his fingers through his hair, like he's trying to remember. Too bad I'm not buying it. "Tell me about the conversation they had when they hired your Allen."

"Stop calling him that."

"What?"

"Your Allen. He's not." I glower and shift on my feet. "She gave him a sealed letter. Allen wanted more information about the Order. She didn't tell him much, just got him to agree to keep looking into things, and to agree to working for them."

"Wasn't Allen curious as to why she wanted to hire a green Noah? What did she say about that?"

I frown. "I already told you— she was defensive. Didn't tell him much." I grit my teeth, wracking my brain for more details, but nothing comes to mind.

"She wanted a Noah...because..." Lavi hms and fidgets, frowning to himself, now. "Who got shot at..." He looks at me again. "Bring Allen Walker over and maybe he can tell me himself. You're memory sucks, Yu." His eye crinkles, and he flashes a smile.

My lip twitches into a scowl, and I pull myself back out through his window. "My memory is fine," I grumble. "You ask for too many details."

The night air is cool around me. I wonder who Atkins was, and why Lenalee at least seems interested in him. Or is she really interested in Allen himself?

Gold eyes, but his eyes are silver..., and white hair are burned into my mind's eye, merging into a hazier image. The remembered reflection of a dream...and Alma. It's all I can do to keep walking straight.

tbc…
Thoughts? Just three more chapters. :) Unless you ask for more details somewhere, anyway.