When Day Meets Night

Chapter 4

Kanda sat at the back of the English literature class; he had a good vantage point to look over the class and more importantly the white haired moyashi, who wasn't in his regular seat. The class had started fifteen minutes ago and Allen was nowhere to be seen. He was tapping his pen against the table in a slow rhythm. He was earning himself a glare from the girl next to him. He didn't care. Where was he? Allen was never late to a class; he was always here when Kanda walked in. This morning he had been ready to walk over and sit next to the white haired boy but his usual space had been empty. Kanda was starting to worry, 'Damn, its not like missing one day means he's in trouble, but where the hell is he?'

Another five minutes of taking notes had passed when the door to the room was opened and shut again quickly. Allen Walker hurried into the room, ignoring the disappointed look from the professor and the curious glances from other students and sat down in his usual seat, he quickly took out his notes and a pen and started to scribble down what was on the board. Kanda noticed Allen wasn't in his normal smart outfit of a white shirt and black pants and shoes but in made to look scruffy dark jeans, a dark grey hoody with some design on it and a dark blue t-shirt with trainers. He would have decided that Allen looked good today if his hair hadn't seemed less bright; it was tied back, his whole being right now screamed 'under pressure'. Kanda also noticed that Allen's left hand was bandaged, he felt dread pool in his stomach but ignored it, it was probably nothing serious.

When the class had finished and everyone had filed out the room Kanda stayed back and stood at the end of Allen's row, waiting for the pale boy. Allen gathered up his things and sighed, it had been a long night, setting up surveillance around the house and surrounding woods. Allen had been busy all night connecting wires and setting up software programmes and such, not that he was tired, just mentally wiped, the idea of 'them' coming anywhere near him again made him shiver.

"Hey moyashi, you ok?"

Kandas voice broke through his slight terror; he was standing in the lecture hall alone with Kanda. He blinked, then what Kanda had said sunk in.

"Moyashi?" He raised an eyebrow at Kanda and smiled in amusement, "I didn't realise we were on a nickname basis yet Kanda." He laughed tiredly. Kanda's cheeks tinged with pink, Allen couldn't help but stare, the fresh blood flowing to his face, almost too much to resist, almost. Allen's restraint kicked in. Kanda looked down slightly and said, "You didn't answer my question, are you ok?"

Allen blinked. Kanda was worried about him? Allen looked at Kanda curiously, "Yes I'm quite alright, thank you Kanda."

"You look tired."

Allen smiled. "Yes I believe staying up all night can do that to you."

Kanda met Allen's gaze and felt his cheeks warm up, he stepped aside as Allen came closer so he could lead the way to the door. "Why were you up all night?"

Allen turned slightly as he walked through the door and looked at Kanda as if wondering what to say. "I had to make sure Rhode was alright through the part of the night and I was busy uploading new software to the computers."

Kanda walked up beside him and noticed they weren't headed to the lunch hall but somewhere else, "Why?"

Allen chuckled, "We each took turns looking after her and then I was awake and needed something interesting to do."

"And uploading software is an interesting pass time then?" Kanda couldn't help a small smirk cross his face, which Allen didn't miss.

"Yes well, it wasn't so much the uploading but the finished project that was interesting."

"Which was?"

"Setting up surveillance cameras." Allen opened a door to an outside courtyard, which was quite empty except for a few others who chose the peace and quiet over the noisy lunchroom.

"What would you need surveillance cameras for?" Kanda enquired.

Allen mentally winced, he'd let too much slip, he shouldn't feel so comfortable around a human as to tell him things he would rather keep a secret. He thought quickly, "For fun" he said lamely. Ha sat down on a stone bench and rested his back against a tree, crossing his legs, sitting facing Kanda.

"For fun." Kanda quoted Allen and sat on the other end of the bench, straddling it. Allen shrugged.

"It was something new to do, quite a learning experience actually." He smiled. Kanda nodded, they sat in silence for a few minutes, Kanda watched as Allen closed his eyes and smiled as the slight breeze played across his face. Kanda could have sat there all day just staring at Allen. He blushed madly at the thought. He then remembered his 'promise' to Lavi.

"Allen, what sort of things is your brother interested in?"

Allen opened one eye and peered at Kanda, he grinned showing his teeth, he watched curiously as Kanda's human instincts screamed at the sight. "Oh I see now," he chuckled, Kanda raised an eyebrow, "Are you just using me to get to Tiki?" He watched as Kandas confused expression changed to one of minor disgust, he laughed.

"No, Lavi wants to know what your brother likes."

"Ahh so Lavi is falling for Tikis devilish charms now," he smiled, not bearing his teeth this time, "Well he likes Lavi."

"Yeah I think we all guessed that." Kanda smirked.

"Yes, yes how silly of me, hmmm, he likes card games, though I'm sure he'd like anything Lavi gave him", 'his blood even more so' Allen kept the last part to himself.

"Card games?"

"Yes Tiki is a gambler, we play when we're bored."

"Ok, what about you?"

Allen opened both eyes and look at Kanda confused, "Pardon?"

Kanda looked a bit uncomfortable but pushed it aside, "What do you like?"

"Most things." Allen said cryptically. Kanda "che'd."

"You really want to know what I like?" Allen asked.

"Well yes."

"Ok, I like to generally be in quiet peaceful atmospheres, I like books, music and art in general, I dare say I like a bit of adventure and a spot of poker here and there, I like m family and to be in company but not crowded and I really like to be on time."

"You like being on time?" Kanda asked.

"Yes and if we leave now we'll be on time to art." Kanda watched as Allen stood up and started to walk back to the doors, he stood and hurried to catch up with the white haired boy. As they walked down a corridor they talked about their art projects. Kanda noticed he was getting some glares from girls as they passed; Allen noticed Kandas hesitation and saw the passing glares, the girls looked away when they noticed Allen watching them.

"Ignore them Kanda."

"Who?"

"The girls, they see an attractive boy and instantly cal dibs, then when someone braver than them comes along and talks to said boy they get angry, of course they have no right but we cant help what others feel, they're just jealous." Allen looked slightly annoyed. Kanda was saved from the disgusting thoughts of those girls; he could tell exactly what they were thinking. They see something they like and they expect it to be theirs just like that.

"You look quite annoyed." Kanda felt stupid pointing out the obvious, but the sentence had slipped past his lips as he stood holding the door open for the smaller teen. Allen looked up surprised, he felt embarrassed he'd let his emotions slip through, he'd have to work of his frustration by sparring with Tiki later.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Art passed quickly for the pair and sooner than Kanda would have liked he said goodbye to Allen and watched Tikis car drive off. Lavi and Kanda stood on the sidewalk and waited for the street to clear enough for them to cross, they walked in silence until Kanda felt an elbow nudge his side,

"So?"

Kanda pushed Lavis elbow away, "What, baka."

"Did you ask Al-chan for me?" Lavi was bouncing with excitement.

Kanda sighed, "He said Tiki liked card games and gambling, or anything you would get him."

Lavi played with his scarf as he took on the new information, "Card games and gambling eh."

"That's what he said." Kanda fished out keys from his bag and unlocked the door to their apartment; he pushed open the door and walked into the space dumping his bag and keys on the kitchen table. He heard Lavi shut the door. Hey Yu, did you notice Al-chans hand?"

Kanda who was now seated on the couch twitched his head to the side, showing Lavi he was listening. "It was bandaged, didn't see what was wrong."

Lavi sat down opposite Kanda, "Tiki was worried about him, said Allen never had to bandage his hand before, he wouldn't tell me what was wrong though."

"Che."

Lavi looked over at Kanda and realised he was seeing something in the other boys face he hadn't seen there in years, worry. It was only slight, due to Kanda needing to mask most emotions but still evidently there, in his eyes, the subtle way his lips had pursed and dragged down at the corner and the slight crease in his brow. He knew better than to poke fun at him, Kanda never did are said anything unless he really ment it.

"Well time to cheer up Yu-chan, you know what will turn you frown upside down?"

Glare.

"Whaaat?"

Glare.

"There are posters up for the uni's Halloween party, you should invite Al-chan!"

For once Lavi had made a plan that Kanda was willing to participate in, not for the party experience, no Kanda was an anti-social bastard, but the chance to be with Allen outside class/university times was appealing to him. Very appealing. Lavi noticed the changed looked in Kandas eye and broke out in a grin.

"Good, I've already invited Tiki and I've planned out costumes."

Kanda resumed glaring at Lavi.

"Don't worry Yu, its nothing too embarrassing, but you better ask Allen tomorrow, the party is on the 31st and it's the 29th tomorrow!"

Kanda nodded and Lavi whooped and clapped his hands.

"Lets order pizza to celebrate, your paying Yu chan."

"BAKA!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Allen walked the corridors of his home, feeling slightly claustrophobic; he thanked whatever divine being exists that vampires did not have to sleep in coffins. As he walked passed Tikis door he heard the rustling of clothes and soft curses, he poked his head into the room to see Tiki, who usually was a very clean and tidy person, standing in the middle of his large room surrounded by clothes scattered over the floor.

"Tiki, may I ask what are you doing?"

Tiki looked up to see Allen in his doorway, "Ah lad there you are."

"Tiki I know sometimes you are victim to stupidity, but why search your closet to try and find me?"

Tiki looked slightly hurt, "Stupidity, huh, no lad I was looking for an outfit for the Halloween party Bunny boy invited me to, I could use your help."

"Halloween party, I pray to god Tiki you are not going as Dracula, you know how Krory gets when we do that."

Tiki laughed, "No, no, this time I'm being something I'm not and have plenty excuse."

Allen rolled his eyes, he walked through the clothing sniffing and picking up items as he went, he snatched the top hat from Tikis bed and placed the garments in Tikis hands and shoved him into his bathroom. Tiki walked out a few seconds later, looking quite gothic, "Hmmm we could use some fake blood on the cuffs and collar, Tiki unbutton the top two buttons." Tiki complied.

"What exactly is the look supposed to be Allen?"

"Jack the Ripper."

Tiki sighed, "For the last time Allen that wasn't me, I was merely in the wrong place that once and now you wont believe me."

"Yes, convincing story Tiki, you just happened upon the dead prostitutes body the night you went out for a stroll and company and the blood wasn't hers, it was from some rats you snacked on," Allen looked up at Tiki with an eyebrow raised.

"That's my story lad, I didn't do it, ok maybe I had my fair share of the lovely ladies but I would never leave evidence behind, you think I wanted us to have to move all the way to Romania?"

"Fine, still, you do make a good Jack the Ripper."

Tiki sighed in defeat, "I wonder what Jim would say to that."

"Anyway, what Halloween party is it you're going to, I've seen posters around the campus."

"Yeah, that's the one, Lavi asked me during Modern Studies, is heart was jumping around like a jackrabbit, quite tempting."

"Is that all you think about?"

"What's wrong if it is?"

"Restraint Tiki, it's a good thing, I know naturally we only need 2 or 3 people a year to keep going, but just because we have a ahem varied diet does not mean you can have a taste as you fancy."

"I don't think that Allen." Tiki tried to look innocent; he failed badly, "Has your eye candy asked you to go yet?"

"His name is Kanda and no he hasn't asked me."

Allen sat on Tikis couch and watched as his brother go back to the bathroom and come out seconds later in his jeans and T-shirt. He brushed his hair from his face.

"No worries lad, he'll ask soon."

"How would you know?" Allen looked up from the dumb bell he was crushing in his left hand.

"If Bunny boy does good on his word, sword boy will probably ask you tomorrow."

Allen looked back to the crushed weight in his hand and back up to Tiki who was smiling evilly at him. "What?"

"I have a pretty good idea for your costume boy."

Allen's eyebrow twitched, "You do, do you."

Tiki picked up the smaller boy with ease and waltzed out his messy room and down the hallway to Allen's room, he dropped the boy on the desk and promptly began to remove clothes from the wardrobe and ump them on the floor.

"I hope your going to clean that up Tiki." Tiki didn't answer as he searched through the mess on the floor picking out dark clothes and an alarming number of belts.

"Here try this on." He pushed the gathered garments into Allen's hands and shoved him into Allen's own bathroom.

"What ALL of it?" he asked in alarm.

"Yes, all of it, trust me on this." Tiki smiled at the unsure boy before him. He gave Allen one final push and shut the door behind the white haired boy, listening to his crumbling. Seconds later Allen strode out in the costume Tiki put together,

"I feel stupid in this Tiki."

Tiki looked down at Allen, he was dressed in black knee length boots, dark red almost black skinny jeans that hugged his legs, two belts that overlapped from opposite hips in a X shape. He had on a tight fitting black tank top with a belt attached across his chest, his left arm bare (just so you know his arm looks like it did after he got Crown Clown, but human looking, so same black design) and a fingerless glove on his right that stretched up to his elbow, he had 'fake' guns strapped to his side. He had a long black trench coat in his had that had white design on the seams, collar and cuffs.

"What am I supposed to be Tiki?"

"I was thinking 'Hired Assassin', what do you think."

"I think you know I don't like to think about that past job Tiki." He began to take off the glove when he saw the hurt puppy look that did not suit being on Tikis face, "What?"

"I'm wearing you outfit, what's wrong with what I made up for you!"

Allen hated giving in to Tiki, but he'd do anything to get that damned look of his face, "Fine, I'll wear it, if Kanda asks me to go."

"That's the spirit lad." Allen was caught in a tight hug, he patted Tikis arm, "Ok, ok calm down."

Allen felt two bodies hit him and Tiki, they toppled over, after a few seconds of being dazed Allen saw that Rhode and Linali had joined the hug and Louis and Sophie where together at the door, smiling at their family.

"Ne Allen-nii, how come your playing dress up with out me." Rhode pouted up at Allen.

"To be fair, Tiki started it." Allen pointed his one limb that wasn't stuck in the mesh of bodies at Tiki.

Louis watched as Sophie walked over and joined the group hug, he loved his family dearly, although he did miss the quiet evening he had gotten used to.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

OMG that's chapter 4 for you. Hope you liked it.

RxR as usual.

Till next time!