YAY! For danger, true love, and cinnamon rolls!

:D

- Love from, HA15

. . .

Chapter 10: The Birth of the Blues

. . .

"That's not possible," Rhode defended, though her voice was quiet. Her eyes turned to her so-called mate's questioningly. Suddenly, there was a beep from the metal chip in Narien's ear.

Tyki was already pulling food from the pantries, stuffing it into the grocery bags that were still littering the kitchen's island.

"Sheryl, Rhode, Skinn, you need to leave" Tyki urged his relatives. "If they get you –"

"We have a Master, Tyki, we'll be fine. But what about you? We could take you with us to our home if you like?" Sheryl said. Tyki's head whipped around.

"WHAT! You have a Master! Sheryl, why the hell –"

"Tyki! We have to go! NOW." Lavi hissed. "They'll be fine, but we won't if humans get here!"

Allen gaped for a long moment. Then, his adrenaline kicked in. Pulling himself from his mate, he ran upstairs as fast as he could, bypassing Lavi on the way. The platinum-haired boy ran into the bedroom he and Yuu shared before yanking on the small white string located above their full-length mirror. A set of stairs descended, and Allen hurriedly pulled them down before scrambling up them, pulling himself into the dusty attic of the house.

Located through a low crawlspace to the east of the house, there was small window that lead straight onto the roof. Allen had often climbed through it to stargaze on nights when he had nightmares about Mana. Crawling through the window once again, he flipped himself onto the roof and crawled up at high as he could, careful to keep both hands and feet on the tiles in case he slipped.

He activated his left eye and quickly scanned for humans.

He didn't know how or why, but his left eye had been deformed along with his left arm when he was created. He had soon learned that his left eye was able to see miraculous distances, and all with the perfect clarity that few NECOs possessed. Using it now, Allen did a 360-turn, letting his eye adjust to look more closely whenever something caught its attention. After doing two of these sweeps, Allen threw himself back into the attic and jumped down, ignoring the stairs. He fell on his hands and knees, but kept pushing himself forwards, running to the living room.

He took a deep breath before yelling, "Yuu! There are at least 2 vans with white coats and Fighter NECOs running up the hill. Plus there's a truck of other humans heading for the house!"

There were odd noises from the kitchen. Then, Yuu's voice carried up to him.

"From what directions?"

"North and east!"

"Any sign of guns?"

Allen winced at the word 'guns', feeling fear begin to build his stomach.

"N-no! But I'm positive the whitecoats will have needles!... They always do…" Allen whispered to himself, shuddering at the memories that flooded back to him. Memories of pain, isolation, testing, and hurting all the time.

"Moyashi! Find a good place to hide!"

"Well, there's a small river a few miles from here, to the southeast – " Allen said as he spotted it. It seemed like the perfect location.

But won't that be where the scientists in white coats look first? Allen worried.

Tyki barged into the bedroom below him, followed closely by Lavi. "Allen! Get down here!" Tyki ordered, acting as the temporary leader.

Allen scampered out of the attic and back into his and Yuu's bedroom.

"Look, boy, we're heading out the back window, through the forest towards that river. Go now."

Allen nodded and then quickly moved to go grab Yuu. Tyki and Lavi simultaneously grabbed his arms and flipped him around to face the window. Allen's white tail curled and his ears perked in confusion.

"Yuu will join us later, He's staying to fend off the intruders and give us time to run."

Silver eyes went wide in panic, but Tyki could spare no pity at this moment.

"Boy, go! Your mate is strong, He will be fine."

"W-We can't just leave him alone here to –"

"Allen. GO."

Allen hesitated for a moment before he ran to the window, threw it open and leapt out, far quicker than either Tyki or Lavi had expected. Tyki finished adjusting the bags on his back right before Lavi swore in realization.

"Shit," Lavi said, taking the bag of clothes with him as he ran for the window, "Allen's gonna try to grab Yuu from the kitchen window!"

Tyki cursed under his breath, knowing that the little cat-boy would be stupid enough to try something like that if his mate was involved.

Tyki spun quickly, but by the time he had turned, his redheaded lover was already gone out the window as well to get Allen. The wolf NECO ran after the other two, leaping out the window landing gracefully on the grass. He turned just in time to see Allen violently shove Lavi, the redhead landing on his rear.

"Lavi, get into the woods! I'll grab Allen!" Tyki hissed, dashing to grab the white-haired NECO.

Allen ran for the kitchen window and peered in. His heart went into a staccato again as he saw Yuu slam someone against the counter, tossing food everywhere.

Yuu turned just slightly as he caught sight of Allen in the window, and hesitated in surprise, right before Yuu was thrown over his opponent's shoulder and into the wall. Yuu's back arched in pain and his wrist was angled oddly as he fell to the floor.

"Yuu!—" Allen cried.

Then, there was a swift and crushing pressure applied on his neck, just beneath his snow-white hair. Allen tried to scream, but found his voice wouldn't work.

"Sorry, boy," Tyki murmured, pulling Allen backwards with apparent ease. "But your mate will kill me if you get hurt…"

Yuu, Allen tried to say as his vision went fuzzy and his limbs became incredibly heavy. Blackness began to creep into his vision despite how he tried to fight it off.

He tried to pray, Yuu, please be okay, but before Allen could, darkness swept over him like a crashing wave, drowning him in its depths.

Allen collapsed.

Hurriedly, Tyki threw the boy's limp body over his shoulder and took off running into the woods, trailing behind his rabbit-eared lover. He didn't spare a look back to the house and ignored the sound of glass shattering as someone went through a window.

After all, he knew that through hell or high water, Yuu would come for his pure, white-haired lover.

Running swiftly through the forest, Tyki and Lavi along with an unconscious Allen moved like shadows in the afternoon sun, the heat of the cloudless blue sky beating down on them.

"How long … have we … been running?" Lavi panted.

"Half-hour…I think…" Tyki panted out, sweat dripping down the back of his neck as he readjusted Allen on his shoulder for the ninth time. The suit he was wearing was ridiculously hot to wear.

Suddenly, the shade of the trees that had protected them disappeared from sight, leaving them to bear the full force of the sun's heat as they found themselves on the outskirts of a bustling town.

"Shit," Lavi cursed, "We must've…taken a wrong… turn…"

"No, I'm sure…it's this way…" Tyki said, praying that Lavi believed him. "Allen said…south-east… so the river… should be…on the other…side of …here…"

Tyki cleared his throat and took a moment to compose himself, steadying his breathing and laying Allen on the dirty ground of a nearby tree. After a minute of silence apart from the two males' panting breaths slowing to a steady rhythm, Lavi moved into his lover's side.

"Oh, Tyki," Lavi breathed as he suddenly realized that Tyki had been carrying Allen this time. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. The boy is light, despite how much he eats," Tyki forced a smile for his mate. "Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to keep moving in a minute."

"But the people in that town! – " Lavi said.

They'll make us their pets, went unspoken.

"It's alright," Tyki reassured, grinning. "I have my suit in one of these bag here... not sure which one, but it's okay. I'll just dress up and we can pretend it's another shopping trip. A Master and his NECOs. No need to worry, querido."

Lavi's long crimson ears perked to their full height in interest. Tyki unzipped one of the many bags he had slung across him, and fiddled around in search of his top hat and suit.

After dressing himself overtop the shirt he already wore and switching his slacks, Tyki ran his hands through his hair before hiding his ears under the black hat.

"It's easy," Tyki said, moving to his feet and dusting off his suit. He adjusted the top hat, making sure that his wolf ears were covered fully and then double-checked that his coat-tails covered his black wolf tail. "Just keep your head down, carry Allen, stay two steps behind me at all times, and just let me do all the talking, querido." There was a brief kiss between them. "Now, follow me."

And, looking every bit like rich gentlemen, Tyki strolled past his lover without a backward glance.

As they entered the town, people passed by them without a second glance. Tyki kept his gaze straight ahead and his neck held high. Some people were even stupid enough as to bow slightly towards him, thinking him some sort of nobility.

As the entered the center of town, passing the metallic buildings and cars and bay-windowed store fronts, Lavi had kept true to Tyki's word to keep his head down. He knew that he looked submissive and weak this way, but why Tyki needed him to look that way was still puzzling to Lavi.

Lavi was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he bumped into a passerby, almost dropping Allen at the sudden jolt.

"Oh, forgive me," the tall, attractive brunette man said, giving Lavi a smile. Then, upon seeing Lavi and the unconscious cat-boy he was holding, the man's smile dropped.

Fuck! No! Lavi thought, freezing as he saw the man's eyes immediately fall to Lavi and Allen's necks.

He was checking for the ownership chips that should have been implanted in the side of their necks - the Master "collars" that neither of them had.

The man, whom Lavi had thought was attractive, suddenly looked horribly ugly as he grinned.

Lavi became uncomfortably aware that neither he nor Allen was wearing a shirt.

It wasn't uncommon for a NECO to go shirtless under orders from their Master, but being clad in only pair of pants, with this man's eyes slithering all over his body, Lavi felt more exposed than ever before in his life.

No, Lavi realized, notmybody –

The fucker had his eyes all over Allen's young body.

Lavi pulled the platinum-haired boy into his chest, trying to cover as much of him as he could.

"You're not claimed. Are you runaways? You looking for a good Master?" the man asked, licking his lips. The statement drew unwanted attention from a number of passersby, who also stopped to eye the rabbit and cat NECO with lusty eyes.

Lavi tried to speak, to recall an excuse, a lie, anything to escape from this man, but found nothing.

The man moved forward, alongside a few others from the crowd in an attempt to grab Lavi and Allen.

"Oh dear, forgive me sir," Tyki said suddenly, stepping towards them, his voice flowing like caramel. "Have my pets disturbed you, sir? If so, I apologize."

There was a snap of Tyki's fingers before he ordered coolly, "Pet, apologize to this man. You have offended him and me with your clumsiness."

"These NECOs are yours?" the man said skeptically, eyeing Allen's black left arm and the black cloth covering Lavi's right eye. "You do realize that they're deformed, right?"

Lavi frowned and would've cussed the man out, except Tyki had spoken before he was given the chance.

"Deformed? Hahaha! Oh yes, I realize that they are … 'deformed' as you say, but these two are extremely rare breeds you see," Tyki said calmly. "I take it you've never heard of the collection of NECOs they have in Aquinos?"

The man craned forwards, eyes wide with interest. Lavi was appalled to see that many others had crowded around Tyki to hear the same news.

"These two were created specifically with the, ahem, 'deformities' you see here because it was what I desired. They came with a feature of being custom made, my dear sir. This rabbit, for example, is one of the best breeds for providing… pleasure, as you say."

Tyki delivered a swift smack to Lavi's bottom to emphasize his point.

The only thing that stooped the redhead from yelping was that Tyki had done it so often and the feeling was not unexpected.

He resisted the urge to smile, keeping up the weak and submissive persona.

"And the young cat-boy, well, I can see how you've been eyeing him," Tyki purred suggestively. The man flushed but didn't deny the statement. Lavi was disgusted to see that the brunette had the audacity to look at Allen's shirtless body and lick his lips.

Lavi wished Yuu were here, knowing he would've kicked the motherfucker's ass.

"Well, you have a good eye sir," Tyki said, trailing a single finger over Allen's pale arm in mock admiration. "You notice the unique platinum-coloured ears and tail? The beautiful red scar that blooms over the left side of his pale face? He is a truly exclusive beauty. Imagine that face, adorned in lipstick and blush the same colour as that scar…"

Tyki let the man imagine the scene for a moment.

"He is not nearly as skilled as the rabbit in the art of pleasure, but he has his… talents, we'll say. If you're looking to buy one for yourself, I suggest you try this number –" Tyki pulled a business card from his pocket.

Lavi had never seen it before but made no comment.

"In any case, I must apologize again for my pet's clumsiness and I beg you excuse us. We have errands to run."

"Wait!" another man from the crowd shouted. "Where the hell are their collars? How do we know that they belong to you? Cause if they don't – "

Tyki didn't allow the man to finish. He grasped Allen's thin left hand, lifting it up so everyone could see it clearly.

The glimmering pattern of the long diamond bracelet, looped three times around Allen's black wrist, was unmistakable.

It was Yuu's gift to Allen.

The gift he had stolen for Allen when they had first become mates.

Lavi knew better than anyone that Allen loved that bracelet like his own life.

People in the crowd gasped at the sight of the white diamonds contrasting with Allen's black skin, and at the thought of how expensive the diamonds must have been. Murmurs broke out amongst the humans.

"I choose to collar my humans differently than others," Tyki said offhandedly, "and if you would like further proof sir, well then – "

Tyki petted Lavi's hair, before trailing his finger down to Lavi's chin. He tilted the rabbit's head backwards so that they were starring eye to eye.

"Querido, who is your Master?" Tyki asked.

Lavi resisted the urge to grin.

"You are, Master," Lavi said calmly.

"Good pet."

Tyki claimed Lavi's lips in a fierce kiss.

Don't drop Allen, was the only thing that flashed through Lavi's mind. Then, as quickly as the kiss had come, Tyki pulled away to eye the man in the crowd calmly.

"Does that prove these are indeed mine, sir?"

There was no response.

"Excellent. Now then," Tyki snapped his fingers again. "Come along, pet. We have to finish our errands."

"Yes Master," Lavi said for good measure, and then quickly trotted after Tyki as the elder male walked into a nearby bread bakery.

There was a jingle as the entered through the double-plated glass doors and the low background-hum of a fan was the only noise for a long moment. Tyki did not speak until they had passed behind a small stand of cinnamon rolls.

"Fuck, I hate humans," Tyki hissed under his breath, so only Lavi could hear him. Lavi could only nod in agreement, hoping no-one else would try to get their hands on he or Allen again while they were in-town. Lavi hoisted the duffel bag higher on shoulder and readjusted Allen in his arms.

"Ah!" the female store clerk said, suddenly seeing the customers. Tyki began to lazily walk towards her. "Sorry, I'll be with you in just one second!"

She placed two trays of steaming hot bread rolls on the counter, smiling apologetically at Tyki before turning back to her oven, sliding another two trays of bread in.

"Now then," she said as she smiled over the counter, "can I help…you?..."

Like the wind, the three males had disappeared.

She blinked once…twice…and then suddenly realized that the entire stand of cinnamon rolls and the rolls that had been on the counter only moments ago, were now empty.

Next up, a Lavi X Tyki flashback. Yaayyyy! And more about Lavi and Master Bookman and etc. etc.

Oh and something bad happens to one of our dear NECOS.

*evil grin*