A/N: I know I'm ignoring the 14th... but I every time I bring him in things go weird or boring. Thank you to Kohikari for reminding me of a few important plot points that I meant to put in the last chapter, but forgot.
Komui doubted that Cross and Allen were really dead. Over the past few years finders had been deployed to several towns only to discover that the mysterious phenomena that they had been sent to investigate had disappeared and the townsfolk had no idea what had happened. In addition, there was usually a day or two missing from their memories.
However, he had no proof. He wouldn't go looking for any either. After all, if his suspicions proved correct he would probably be obligated to tell Central. So he ignored the rumors of two, later three, mysterious travelers in the area (besides no one remembered seeing them in the town themselves) and large swaths of destroyed forest. He also ignored the fact that General Cloud was bringing in twice her usual amount of innocence. Hevlaska had confirmed that the pieces of innocence recovered from the scene had "belonged" to Cross and Allen. The fact that Maria's innocence as well as a few of the other pieces of innocence that Cross had carried with him were unaccounted for had been overlooked by Central's investigators.
Allen was a good kid. Lenalee had been fond of him, if he died all over again it would only be more difficult for her. If however, the situation blew over or was eventually resolved and he was allowed to return, then she would be thrilled.
Luckily Central never brought the case up again, so he never had to lie.
Xxxx
Allen had reached a point where he would to almost anything to see Kanda's face again in person, the key word being "almost". The fact that Kanda would probably murder him didn't bother Allen as much as the fact that if he was discovered Kanda would be in serious trouble. He couldn't allow that to happen. Especially since Kanda probably didn't want to see him anyway. He couldn't put Kanda, Cross and Conrad in danger through his selfish actions.
Xxxx
Time continued to pass and Allen faded into the back of Kanda's consciousness. Still ever present, but the pain was a constant dull ache rather than a sharp thing for him to constantly cut himself on.
Cross was the same as before though a bit more restrained so that they wouldn't be caught. Conrad was quickly growing into a handsome young man. He was much more sure of himself now, though he still stuck to Allen's side as much as possible. They had a good and easy rapport between them, most people assumed that they were brothers. A few interpreted their relationship differently, and completely incorrectly, but those people were simply ignored.
Xxxx
Just when they had lost hope, It happened, Levillie, The Bastard... was dead. Natural causes. His replacement had recognized that Allen had not actually done anything and posthumously forgiven the boy. It didn't mean they were in the clear... but it did mean there was a chance... that they could go back, have lives again, not have to hide, see friends, see Kanda. Kanda. Allen hadn't checked on him in months, it hurt too much, wanting something he knew he might of had but that was now forever out of his reach...unless... He knew that even though Kanda might have liked him once, despite all evidence to the contrary, he would have moved on by know. He must have. Allen had instructed Tim's clone to alert him if anything bad happened to Kanda. Anything more made him feel like a stalker, especially since he'd accidently seen Kanda in the shower. That had been an... experience.
Four months later, it was time, time to test their luck. Their best chance for getting back in.