A/N: I feel horrible now, mostly because I received so many death threats (both hilarious and scary) for the trick I pulled. Well, there was a point to the insanity and mass chaos I might have caused. What it was… I can't remember. I am sincerely sorry and I will never do it again (crosses fingers behind her back).
And wow! I've never had so many reviews! Thanks to all you reviewers!
But, without further ado, Chapter 7 of My Love, My Spirit Medium! Please read and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and the creepy ghost lady but then again, that might not be such a good thing.
Finding the Skeleton in the Closet
Warning: Not sure if this one would count as horror (points to the title) but remember to keep that little plushie in your arms and read with all the lights open! (edit) Okay, this one is creepier than the rest so make sure you read with full lights on. Don't worry though, the fluff and all that good stuff will come back soon!
Allen groaned as he blinked the heaviness of sleep away from his eyes. He felt so dizzy and achy all over, like he was hit with a large truck and then, skidded a few meters on hard concrete. Distinctly, he heard the beeping of a monitor and he felt heavy. That was when he registered the cold and antiseptic smell that could only be associated with a hospital. He shifted his arm a bit and felt the wires going to his vein, attaching him to an IV. He felt bandages around his head, his stomach, and various places over his arms and legs. What the hell was he doing here?
Drugged up on morphine to stop the pain of his concussion and numerous but luckily, minor internal injuries, Allen stared blankly at the white walls and the ceiling with unfocused eyes. He slowly turned his head to the side. Two people were standing over him, seemingly overjoyed. He recognized Lavi and Lenalee but there was something else he was forgetting. Something very important...
"Moyashi," Lavi grinned, relieved to see the white-haired teen awake. "You're okay now. You were on the brink of death but luckily we found you."
The redhead took the opportunity to hug the boy tightly, almost squeezing the life out of him. Allen's drugged mind did not process anything at all for a moment until the recent events finally came back to him. Kanda was still back home... His silver orbs grew wide.
"Kanda!" he shouted, sitting up abruptly and knocking Lavi to the ground in his haste. "Where is he? I need to save him!"
He attempted to swing his legs over his bed but a hand took his shoulders and stopped him.
"Allen-kun! Allen-kun!" Lenalee pushed him back down, surprised by his vigor. "Calm down! You're in the hospital!"
Reluctantly, Allen let himself be pushed back down and his back hit the pillows with a dejected thud. He glanced at his friends and noticed how uncomfortable they looked at him back. "What happened to me?"
"You came through the ceiling!" the red-haired teen jumped right in. "Never mind freaky! It was wicked awesome! How the hell did you do it?"
"We caught you but then you were so cold, and you were turning blue so we took you to the hospital," the violet-eyed girl put in. "By the way, who is this 'Kanda' person you are talking about?"
"How long have I been here?" Allen questioned tersely. He fingered the IV in his wrist nervously, hoping he still had time.
"Not long, just two days," Lavi answered as a matter of fact. "We were so worried since you were about to die. The doctor said your heart was almost ready to give out and your internal organs were failing on you."
"Two days?" the cursed teen shrieked, sitting up again. "Kanda! I've left him in the mansion!"
"Hold it there!" Lavi pounced on Allen's legs and held him from springing up. "I just told you—OUCH! Stop hitting me!—that your internal organs were failing! Did you not listen?! Urgh! Hey-don't punch me! Lenalee, hold down his arms!"
"Get off me!" Allen squirmed frantically and made a move to punch Lavi again. He needed to get back to Kanda and help him. Kanda had saved him and now he wanted to do the same.
"Not until you give us some answers!" Lenalee yelled right back, tears pouring down her cheeks as she restrained Allen's arms. "We're worried about you, Allen. You were about to die! So please, tell us what is happening."
I don't have time for this! Allen mentally screamed in frustration. Kanda could be gone for all I know!
But he saw the desperate and inquisitive look on both his friends' faces and couldn't help but sigh and relax. He owed them at least this much. "Fine. But you are going to have to let go of me. You're cutting off my circulation."
So he began the crazy story and hoped that Lavi and Lenalee believed him while hoping in his heart that Kanda could wait a few more moments.
"You guys should have gone home," Allen mumbled, handing both Lenalee and Lavi a flashlight with obvious reluctance. It was dark, the moon was a pale crescent that cast a feeble light across the large mansion that was the cursed teen's home. It was cold and Allen shivered slightly.
Allen had been discharged from the hospital after a change of bandages and a stern warning to be more alert when climbing stairs (because apparently, that was the lie Lavi had fed the doctor and Allen had nodded dutifully).
"And miss the adventure of a life time and an opportunity to see moyashi-chan's lover?" the redhead flipped the switch on, "Not a chance."
"You won't be able to see Kanda," the cursed teen blushed a bright shade of red. "He's a ghost."
"I'll know he's there when you turn red like a tomato," Lavi pinched the boy's cheeks playfully. Allen waved him away.
"We're your friends, Allen-kun," Lenalee smiled as she also turned on the flashlight. "We're going to do this together."
"But if anything bad happens, you both need to promise me that you'll run away or hide," the small boy spoke to them solemnly. Both teens nodded, sensing the seriousness in Allen's voice and opened the doors to the mansion.
The inside was dark and quiet. Allen looked around. Nothing was out of place in the kitchen nor the living room. If anything had happened, it wasn't taken downstairs.
"Is anyone here, Allen-kun?" the girl asked. He shook his head.
He headed for the stairs with Lavi and Lenalee following close behind.
"Kanda," Allen whispered upon finding his room destroyed. The magnificent four-poster bed was upturned and torn to shreds, the desk that had stood in the corner was broken, and his clothes littered the room that had served most likely as a battleground. Papers were also strewn all over the floor and his suitcase was in one corner, battered and dejected.
"This place is a dump," the redhead commented. "I can see the battle. It looks like they left a long time ago though."
No one was in the room to his fear and he glanced at the door next to his. It was open to his surprise. He debated whether to explore the room and mentally steeled himself.
"Don't come with me," Allen motioned to the hallway. "Wait outside for me. If I'm not out in 15 minutes, I want you guys to run for it."
He crossed the threshold without waiting for the protests that he knew would come.
The room had not changed since he had last visited although the lotus hourglass was missing from the vanity. Hesitantly, he peered into the mirror. No one was over his shoulder but he blinked in mild shock. The room displayed in the mirror was beautiful and depicted it in much better condition. The bed was covered with the softest downs and colored rather femininely. There was a dresser was standing proudly in a corner as long as a small dresser with an ornate lamp. Why had it changed?
Sighing with confusion, he headed back out, tucking the tidbit of information in his mind. Lavi was outside but Lenalee had disappeared.
"I don't know what happened!" Lavi put his hands up innocently, frantically trying to stop Allen from exploding. "She was here one second and gone the next!"
"Where is she then?" Allen panicked in his head, glaring at him. Had the ghost lady gotten to her? Where was she now? Oh God, he couldn't afford to lose another friend.
"Lavi-kun! Allen-kun!" Lenalee shouted from outside. They looked around and saw her face through a window. She was fine to Allen's relief.
"Lenalee!" the shorter boy shouted, rushing out to the garden.
She was standing by the mansion and pointing to a patch of grass near the base of the foundation. The grass was yellowed with death and seemed to be recently dug up. A small portion of metal was revealed and Lenalee's flashlight had caught the glint that reflected off of it. "I-I think I found something."
"Good going, Lenalee!" Lavi cheered on. "We might find this Kanda person before the night ends!"
Allen bent down and dug his fingers into the soft, upturned earth a bit until he hit something solid. "Lavi, I'm going to need a shovel or a pick axe. There were some lying against the kitchen counter."
A few minutes later, the emerald-eyed teen came out with two shovels.
"This has all the makings of a horror film," Lavi handed Allen one and started digging.
"Shut up, Lavi," the white-haired boy growled out in annoyance. Kanda hadn't been in the house although his room was a mess and he was at the edge of his patience.
"Really! Dark creepy house, nighttime, three wandering teens: an innocent girl, a moyashi, and the handsome and funny me, and now a secret buried near the house," the emerald-eyed teen listed off. "This would totally make for the best horror film of the year!"
"You should stop," Allen scraped the dirt away once they had hit something. "You're going to scare Lenalee."
"I'm fine, Allen-kun," she giggled nervously before peering at what they had dug up. "It looks like a cellar door."
There was a rotted rope ladder leading down into a pitch-black abyss. Even the light of their flashlights couldn't reach all the way down.
"I'll go first," the small teen volunteered. "Don't come down until I've tested to see if the rope will hold."
Allen steadily climbed down the ladder, pushing down with his heel every-so-often to test how much weight the material could hold. His sneakers connected with the floor and he hollered to his friends. "It's safe! You can climb down!"
A few moments later, his friends made it down the ladder.
It was a small room and made entirely of chipped stone. Sconces dotted the wall here and there but they were old and outlived their use. In the middle of the room was an ancient wardrobe covered with large chains and numerous locks that had seen their fair share of brutality. A faded picture of a cherry blossom tree covered the double doors along with unfamiliar writing. On the handles were pieces of paper that fluttered innocently.
There was a certain dampness that hung about the room and it made the air hard to breathe in.
The white-haired boy felt his stomach drop. He had a sinking feeling he knew what was in the closet but he didn't want it to be true.
"Why is there a closet with chains on it in the middle of a room under a hidden trap door?" Lavi grumbled, rubbing his arms in paranoia. The violet-eyed girl nodded in agreement and moved closer to the two other teens.
"No idea," Allen bravely moved toward the wardrobe and examined the chains. "They're rusted through. If I can just..." Allen tucked his flashlight in the belt loop of his pants. He tugged lightly on a chain and it crumbled in his hands. "Lavi, help me with this."
"Right-o, captain!" Lavi handed his flashlight to Lenalee and helped Allen dismantle the chains around the piece of furniture. "What do you think is in here? Must be something valuable."
"Rare jewels, maybe? Or deeds to important buildings?" Lenalee supplied. "Or maybe just cursed clothing?" Nobody laughed.
Once the last of the rusted pieces fell to the ground, Allen peeled away the paper covering the handles. He flinched sharply and retracted his fingers; it stung his hands to touch the pieces of paper for some reason but he dismissed it and opened the doors, revealing what was in the closet.
It was a body, taking up the entire closet space. But not just any body. The long, black hair and angular face were dead giveaways.
"AH!" both Lavi and Lenalee screamed in terror while Allen just stared with large, unreadable silver eyes.
Kanda's arms were crossed against his chest and his body was propped to a side, showing off the slender pale column of his neck.
It was impossible though. The body was perfectly good. Kanda did not look a day older than his ghostly appearance and in the closet, he looked as if he were taking a nap. He was even wearing the same clothes as his ghost did.
"Holy shit!" Lavi grinned, allowing his heart rate to calm down. "No kidding, moyashi-chan. That was creepy."
"This is... Kanda, right?" Lenalee pointed. "He doesn't look..." She could not put her finger on the word and instead, let her sentence hang in the damp air.
Allen didn't respond but reached in and gently pulled Kanda's body out. The body collapsed in his arms; rigor mortis had not set in. He was heavy and felt very real in Allen's arms.
The small boy stroked the man's silky hair, marveling at the familiar sensation. This was definitely Kanda. He put a hand hovering over the older teen's nose and mouth and was surprised to find a small but steady breaths come from the body. Everything was forgotten there including the two people that were with him. Allen gently rubbed his cheek against the other man's and nearly burst with happiness.
"He's alive!" Lavi remarked, staring at Kanda's calm face. "So this is the person you're talking about. I have to say, moyashi. You have good taste in men."
Lavi reached out to touch Kanda but Allen glared threatening at him, holding onto the body with slight possessiveness. "Don't touch him."
"Okay, okay," the red-haired teen held his arms up in defeat. "You don't want anyone touching your lover. No need to resort to maiming me and my beautiful face."
"S-Shouldn't we take him to the hospital?" the violet-eyed girl asked. "He doesn't look too good."
"You shall do no such thing."
All of them froze and Lenalee dropped both of the flashlights in shock. When they stopped rolling, they pointed to the owner of the voice.
A/N: Okay, so technically it wasn't a skeleton in the closet but a body, and be thankful it wasn't! Now we know where Kanda's body is. Yep, it's alive and kicking (okay, not kicking). Oh, by the way, the person who was just illuminated is not who you think it is!
Oh, and I left a part out when Allen found Kanda's body. Cookies and your username mentioned in the next chapter if you can guess what is missing.
Also, I'm not terribly good at battle scenes but if you readers want one (the one between Kanda and Mizaki), I will think one up. Please review and cast your vote and your guess!