Title; The Only Thing I'm Missing
Repertoire; 12 The Emptiness Will Haunt You.
Authoress; Chrome Hearts
Fandom; My Candy Love
Main Focus; Lysander x Candy
Rating; K

A/N: I quite like using lyrics as chapter titles. Second time doing so for this fic. Can you guess the first? It's a line in an All-American Rejects song. Chapter title credits go to Alesana (Hymn For The Shameless/Curse of the Virgin Canvas.)
So, I'm predicting the end to this series in another four or five chapters. Maybe sooner. Who knows.
But don't worry; I have a sequel/companion fic thing in mind for this. (Actually, I've already started it, heh… ^-^' )

Shadowroselily; I'm glad you're enjoying reading this lovely. Here's your wish! The next chapter! *waves magic wand and disappears in a cloud of smoke*

Disclaimer; All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

Tyson's Viewpoint

Sliding my bus ticket into my wallet, I sighed patting the dust off my jacket. I had managed to survive for well over a week with little money, and only one spare change of clothes –I had come across an op shop a day or two after I'd left Sweet Amoris – and, as a result of not having a proper bed to sleep in, they were fairly dirty, to say the least.
My stomach rumbled angrily and I frowned, I had been living off the bare minimum since I left. A slice of bread here, a dry biscuit there. They were the only sources of food I carried with me. Well, that and a bottle of water that I would re-fill from taps in public toilets, parks, or people's front gardens.
I had travelled clear across the country in an attempt to get as far away from Sweet Amoris as possible, most of my money being invested in bus or train fares; most of my energy consumed by walking when possible, or trying to keep my stomach's painful hunger at bay.
In a way, this was my only option. My chance to end the constant hunger in the pit of my stomach and to stop the suffering of my body. To finally put my wary mind to rest.
I glanced up at my final destination, my eyes stinging with tiredness.
I had found myself sleeping 'with one eye open' these past few days, if you could call that sleeping at all. No, I really wouldn't.
Shaking the few last drops of water from my bottle into my mouth, I tucked it away back inside my worn bag. I sucked in a deep, shaky breath.
"This is it," I breathed quietly to myself. "There's no turning back now."
Yes, I'd reached the end of my journey. There was nothing left for me back in Sweet Amoris. Not anymore. This was the only thing I could do. My suffering would soon come to an end.
I took a small step forward. And then another. And another. Until I had reached my final destination. My resting spot.
"This is it," I repeated quietly.
The night sky feels as though it has never been darker. With the fleeting hope of vengeance compelling me, I will attempt to recollect myself and resume my chase. But, what is it that I am really chasing? Am I really chasing anything at all? Or am I simply attempting to drown my thoughts to avoid the horrifying truth?
I've lost the only thing that made me feel truly alive.

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

I awoke early the following morning to the sound of an air horn, its shrill cry piercing the still morning air. Pushing myself out of bed groggily, I felt my body engulfed by the cool of the morning, a small shiver running through my body as I dressed quickly and headed outside.
"Tyson?"
My ears pricked at the sound of my name.
"Tyson?"
I spun around, my eyes darting across the landscape behind me before I looked down. There, in front of me stood Ken, his military uniform hanging loosely off his thin body.
"Why are you here, Tyson?" he asked as he adjusted his glasses. "I didn't think you were the type to join the military."
I chuckled darkly. "Neither did I."
I didn't really have a chance, in a way. I was fed. I was clothed. I had a bed to sleep in at night. And, most of all, no one would think of looking at a military encampment on the other side of the country. Here, I could finally be free, away from everything. Although, I have to admit. I was relieved to see a friendly face.
Ken nodded his head slowly as he took a spot at my side, and we stood at the ready, silently, waiting for permission to move to the Mess Hall for breakfast.
When we were finally seated, a small plate of food in front of the both of us, Ken looked up at me, the concern reflected in his eyes was only magnified by the lenses of his glasses.
"Why did you leave Sweet Amoris, Tyson?" he asked quietly. "Didn't you have a girlfriend?"
"I did," I said dryly as I put a small fork full of scrambled egg into my mouth, chewing it a lot longer than I should.
"I see," he replied quietly, taking a bite out of his toast. I smiled weakly at him, relieved by the fact that he didn't want to press the subject any further than necessary.
As the horn that signalled the end of breakfast sounded, Ken and I got to our feet.
"I'm sure Janiel had her reasons," he said, giving me a reassuring pet on the small of my back.
"I hope so," I breathed as I calmed myself, readying my body for the rigorous regimes that were planned for the day.
Everything here was run like a factory – everything was governed under the strict control of the air horn; when we would take a break, when we could eat and when we would sleep.
I realised that quickly; it took me less than a week before I wanted to tell the Lieutenant where he could shove that air horn of his.
However, it took me at least six weeks to be able grow accustomed to the strict control and succumb to the institutionalisation.
After one particularly long day of the strict training regime, out in the pouring rain and sticky mud, I was all too relieved when we were finally allowed to head to our dorms.
I fell into my bed, my body cold, seemingly frozen, and occasionally broke out into a fit of uncontrollable shivering.
I hugged the scratchy woollen blanket to my body and sighed as Janiel's smiling face occupied my mind.
She was engulfed in a warm yellow glow and it seemed to wash through my body, the shivers that once controlled my limbs like a warped marionette disappeared instantly.
She reached out a hand and caressed my cheek. Her touch so soft, her skin so warm.
"Everything's going to be okay, isn't it?" she said, her brows creased with worry.
I shook my head fiercely and the image of Janiel faded slowly into the darkness of the small room.
It was just a hallucination. She was better off without me.
It was just my imagination, I repeated in my mind. Just my imagination.
I felt something wet on my cheek and gently lifted a hand to touch it.
"So then," I breathed, "why am I crying?"
I shut my eyes and once again the pleasure strangles me. I taste the tears of sweet indulgence, pain and fantasy. Oh, the visions inside my head.
The emptiness will haunt you…

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

A/N: Alesana lyrics. Gotta find em' all!

R&R~ x