Tyki and Rhode sat at the edge of the main wagon, their legs dangling off the edge as they watched the ground go by. Rhode had her hands spread across the wood behind them, her arms straight and keeping her upper body from touching the floor. With the exception of yet another muffled argument between the Millennium Earl and Allen, and the creaking from the wheels below them, the air around Tyki and his niece was filled with silence.

"It's been like this for too long." Rhode muttered unhappily, bending her arms at the elbows until her back hit the bottom of the wagon and she could tilt her head back against the wood. Through a small sliver of space, she could just make out Allen's face; withdrawn and full of uncharacteristic anger, silver eyes rimmed with black and full of stubbornness, he looked completely unlike the boy who Rhode loved and grew up with. "He keeps making such a fuss, and all for some boy who's seventeen seasons and will most likely abandon him soon." Sighing slightly, Rhode looked away from what she could see of Allen and turned to face her uncle again. "Even you aren't as upset to leave Lavi behind."

"He's gotten too close to the Kanda son. We all knew this would happen at some point." Tyki murmured back tiredly; rubbing his hand over his eyes, the older gypsy lay a hand next to his niece's as he thought of something to tell her he hadn't already said. "Darling- - -"

"Don't 'darling' me!" She snapped, standing suddenly and making Tyki blink at her in confusion and surprise. Rhode stood for a moment, fists clenched by her side, trembling from keeping what she wanted to say inside. There was a deep scowl on her face, strands of hair falling from the braid hanging down her back and framing her gold eyes. "He can't leave! Allen's part of our family!"

"I never said he wasn't, but Rhode- - -" Tyki tried again, but she cut him off almost violently as she stamped her foot on the ground. All of the hurt and anger she'd been keeping bottled up spilled out of her suddenly.

"He shouldn't even be having these ideas! What, does he plan to just abandon us after all this time?" She hissed, trying not to alert anyone else to the topic of their suddenly heated discussion. Her lip curled at the thought, her golden eyes narrowed fiercely. "How dare he! It's not his place, he's only fifteen seasons, he's not even an adult! How dare he try to make decisions like this on his own, as if he were smart enough or old enough to!" Rhode had begun pacing during her rant, fury and hatred in her eyes. She was still trembling, though now it was more due to anger than anything else; her arms began waving wildly as she spoke, adding to the crazed rant she begun. "Is this how he plans to repay Mana for taking him in? Is this his payment to us for accepting him into our family with open arms the way we did, when no one else wanted him? This-This absolute betrayal? I'll go tell Allen that under no circumstances can he just- - -let me go!"

Rhode was so engrossed in her tirade she didn't notice Tyki behind her. She turned, ready to make good on her threat to speak with Allen, only to have her uncle grab her arms and keep her back.

"Calm down, Rhode!" Tyki grunted out- - -despite being a girl, Rhode was stronger than she looked. And now, with fury and hate running through her, the adrenaline rush made her even harder to contain.

"Let. Me. Go!" She yelled this time, freeing one of her hands enough to swipe it around; the knuckles and back of her hand caught Tyki in the face, the force behind it snapping his head to the side with an audible slap.

They both froze, and the argument behind them came to a stop as the sound died down. There was no movement for a long moment, the only sound coming from the creaking of the wagon below them.

Rhode's eyes, narrowed in her anger, slowly widened as realization dawned on her. Her mouth worked soundlessly, trying to come up with something that could possibly save the situation that had gotten out of control. Tyki wouldn't look at her, and she felt panic welling up in her.

"Kak...?" She whispered quietly. Her hand, still in the air, retreated slowly as she brought it level with her uncle's face. Shaking slightly, now from fear and worry, Rhode gingerly touched the abused cheek, sucking in a breath when he winced and abruptly dropped her other hand. She could hear Allen heading over, calling out to see if everything was all right, but ignored him.

Tyki was surprised by the amount of strength behind the slap; already, he could feel blood rushing to his face and a bruise forming on it. Rhode touched it with her fingertips, making pain spike through it once more, and Tyki drew away from her more, putting space between them just as Allen managed to make his way through.

"What happened?" The younger asked in concern, silver eyes glancing from a stunned Rhode to a subdued Tyki and back.

"Nothing much, Allen." He said, meeting his niece's surprised gaze firmly. Her eyes watered slightly at the stern look in his own, and Rhode bit her lip and looked down after a few moments. "It's fine. Nothing to trouble yourself with. Right, Rhode?" Rhode nodded stiffly, her lower lip trembling.

"It's nothing." She murmured tearfully. Allen frowned in concern, but when he reached out to touch her shoulder, she pulled away. "It's fine." She hissed, her gold eyes narrowed and accusing. Allen drew away with a surprised look.

"Tyki-pon?" The Millennium Earl joined their group, his hands falling firmly on Allen's shoulder. "What's going on?" His hand squeezed Allen's shoulder, and the boy's face turned uncomfortable at the pressure. Despite the worried tone of his voice, Tyki could tell that the Earl in no way forgot what had been happening between himself and Allen Walker a few minutes prior.

"It's nothing, Lord Millennium." He answered, but the man seemed to forget everything when Tyki turned to face him.

"Ah, Tyki-pon, your face!" He cried, pushing Allen to the side in order to see the other's face better. His fingers touched Tyki's chin, tilting his head to the side to better see the bruise blooming on his face. "What happened?" The man's gaze didn't move, but the atmosphere cooled. "Rhode."

"I..." Her voice failed her again and she didn't seem to know what to say.

"It's nothing, Lord Millennium, truly." Tyki insisted, pulling his face away slowly so he wouldn't anger the Earl any more than he already was. "It's fine. A little bruise won't hurt me or anything." The Millennium Earl's lips pursed, but he let the matter drop as soon as he released Tyki's face.

"If you say so." He said decisively, casting a warning glance at Rhode. She dropped her gaze again. "Come, Allen." The Earl said firmly, reaching out to touch Allen's shoulder again. "I have not finished talking with you yet."

"There's nothing to talk about." Allen hissed, his stance becoming tense and his eyes narrowing again. The Millennium Earl seemed surprised, but the presence of both Tyki and Rhode made it almost impossible to say anything.

"You're acting cruelly." Rhode told him, her eyes flashing as she took out her anger on the one who caused it. Tyki groaned silently and rubbed his temples- - -this was exactly what he'd been trying to prevent. Allen and Rhode were too close for anything the girl said to not have anything aimed specifically at harming the boy. "Don't be so naive and trusting, Allen. What happens when your little samurai doesn't want you anymore?" The boy flushed, wincing as if the words physically struck him, and Tyki rubbed at his eyes again with a sigh.

Allen bolted suddenly without a word, startling everyone in front of him; Rhode reached out to stop him, but she just missed him as he jumped out of the moving wagon.

Nobody moved; Allen had managed to shock them all with his apparent disregard for his own safety.

"Go make sure he's ok." The Millennium Earl murmured harshly, glasses flashing. "Lulubell, tell Skinn to slow down so that Tyki and Rhode can get off!" The wagon slowed almost instantly, making the three occupants on it stumble a bit- - -Tyki caught his niece's arm, giving her a small smile as a show of forgiveness; she gave him her own shaky one in return- - -before regaining their footing.

As soon as they were steady, Rhode and Tyki jumped off and headed towards the tree they saw Allen running

Lavi stood precariously in the tree, his hand blocking the sun from his face as he took up the watch he started way back when he was eleven- - -watching the distant horizon for the familiar caravans of the Millennium Earl and his Noah. Below him, more willing to wait than he'd like to admit, Kanda leaned against the trunk of the tree. Every now and then, Lavi heard his grumbled annoyance drifting up to him, but he dutifully ignored it the way a self-proclaimed best friend should.

(Besides, he knew Kanda had been missing Allen immensely- - -it seemed harder and harder for the pale gypsy to separate from the swordsman with each passing year, something that hadn't escaped the apprenticed Bookman Jr's notice.)

Lenalee was sitting next to Kanda, her hands trailing mindlessly in the dirt as she giggled each time Kanda complained. She had a book open in her lap, the only source of entertainment the three had, besides the sword Kanda kept attached to his side since he got it at fourteen, affectionately named Mugen.

"Any sign of them yet?" Lenalee asked him anxiously. Lavi took a break from scanning the distance to smile down at her. He could hear in her voice how much she missed the young gypsy girl who had begun keeping her company and allowing Lenalee to dress her up like a doll.

"Not yet." He called down, looking up to scan again. Lavi felt his heart pound in his throat- - -he was missing his own companion, the older gypsy that was able to reduce him to nothing more than a stuttering mass of body as easily as the older breathed. As the friendship between the two became stronger over the years, Lavi had found himself noticing little things about the other boy. Small things, like how Tyki would have Tease appear at random moments while with the red head, or how his gold eyes softened whenever they met his own. Even things like how protective Tyki was of everyone in their group, and how he seemed to be the runner up in Tyki's affections after his niece and cousin. Lavi found himself hoping fervently that Tyki's affections ran deeper than familial ones- - -while he himself wasn't sure whether or not his feelings were classified as the ever-elusive 'love' everyone sought in their lifetime, Lavi knew that his own affections ran deeper than friends or family.

And this was to be the year. This year he didn't want to wait for Tyki to seek him out; he'd approach the older gypsy on his own terms, and the red head would confess when he felt he should. He knew Kanda felt the same way, though he'd never let it through the cold mask he kept firmly in place.

"Oh!" Lavi grinned suddenly. "I think that's them, guys!" Kanda muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'finally!' while Lenalee stood up, closing the book and holding it firmly against her chest. Lavi stayed in the tree, his hand against the firm trunk, and watched as the caravans went by.

He recognized Tyki's older brother, Sheryl, leading the way, his hand on the side of the horse in the very front. On it was his wife, Tricia; even from the distance, Lavi could tell they were clearly in love and, at the same time, purposefully ignorant of Allen's guardian, Cross Marian, behind them.

Lavi continued to watch, searching what he could for Tyki, Rhode, and Allen; as he looked, he wondered in the back of his mind who would be the first one to be seen.

Allen, to Lavi's surprise, was the first one out, his bare feet hitting the floor as he jumped from the still-moving wagon. He lost balance and almost fell on impact, but managed to steady himself.

"Oi, Moyashi." Kanda called harshly; the boy's silver eyes met the swordsman's cobalt and Allen bolted towards him, his arms wrapping around the taller male's waist and his face burying itself in Kanda's chest as soon as he was close enough. Kanda let out an undignified squawk at the sudden contact (he denied it fiercely later, his face unwillingly turning crimson), his hands going to the boy's shoulders as if to shove him away. Allen tightened his grip, his body shaking slightly.

Lavi forgot to look for Tyki; instead, he dropped down to the ground and shared a confused look with Lenalee.

"Moyashi-chan...?" He asked softly, reaching out to touch Allen's shoulder.

"He's been in trouble with Lord Millennium lately." Lavi and Lenalee turned to see Tyki standing behind them, looking apologetic and worried, a red-purple mark covering a good side of his face. Behind him, Rhode peered at them, sending a grim smile at Lenalee briefly before locking her gold eyes on Allen.

"It isn't fair that you're doing this, you know." She informed him coldly, her words tinged with exasperation, as if she had been saying the same thing for a long while. "It's only going to destroy the whole family. And it's started already, thanks to you and your stubbornness."

"What is Allen trying to do?" Lenalee asked curiously. Rhode's eyes flashed before her face and demeanor changed completely.

They watched, Tyki with a vague sort of amusement, as she grinned at Lenalee as if it was the first time she had seen the girl.

"Lenalee!" She cried, racing around Tyki to wrap the girl in a tight hug. "How are you this cold season?"

"I'm fine, but- - -" Rhode pulled away with a gasp of surprise, her hands going to the other girl's shoulders as they began a conversation about who-knows-what (even at eighteen seasons, Tyki still had no more understanding of the girls he met and knew than he did ten seasons previous; he learned to let them do as they pleased and tried to stay out of their way when he could).

"Wait." Lavi stood in front of Tyki, frowning in confusion. "What happened to your face, Tyki?" The red head didn't wait for an answer; instead, he reached up and gently touched the area around the mark. Tyki's eye scrunched up slightly as the red head inspected it.

"It's nothing." He said insistently. "Just a bruise." Lavi's visible eye narrowed lightly.

"What happened?" He asked quietly. "Did you get in trouble for something?"

"Of course not." Tyki covered Lavi's hand with his own and pulled it away from his face. As he did so, he allowed their fingers to intertwine. He watched with slight amusement as Lavi's breath caught in the boy's chest, his eye darting from Tyki's face to their hands and back quickly. "You shouldn't worry yourself so, it's not healthy for you." Lavi smirked slightly.

"You're not healthy for me." He replied back, not missing the flash of emotion going through Tyki's eyes and the raised eyebrow. Rolling his eyes, Lavi leaned forward and gave Tyki a brief hug. "Let's walk around for a bit. You can tell me what's been happening to you all lately."

"Later, Lavi." Tyki ruffled Lavi's hair. "After we help settle in. Come along, Rhode, Allen." As they said their goodbyes, Tyki pulled Lavi close. "Meet me just outside the town Lavi- - -I'll see if I can't have a replacement and spend more time with you tonight. Ok?" Lavi nodded, a grin on his face as he tried to control the blush taking over his face and the racing of his heart.

With a smirk, Tyki waved once at him before they moved in the direction of the stopped caravans.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lavi walked with his fingers tangled with Tyki's, the older having permission from the Earl to roam about their area despite the approaching night (besides, Tyki reasoned, Jasdero and Devito had been wanting to open for far too many seasons- - -he was willing to give up the spotlight in order to spend time with Lavi).

"Where are we going?" Lavi asked curiously, watching as several young girls ran past, their feet bare and their skirts fluttering around their legs. Tyki shrugged carelessly while he watched them race around the corner of one of the tents.

"Nowhere, I suppose." Lavi grinned at him before tugging him forward. Confused, Tyki followed as well (not that he had much of a choice- - -they were connected by hand), allowing himself to be pulled around people until they had reached the tree that seemed to hold far too many milestones for them. Feeling amused, Tyki waited a moment before climbing onto the first branch, Lavi following behind him. They sat above the earth in silence together, facing the camp set up and watching as blue smoke drifted from one of the main tents- - -a product of Jasdero and Devito's guns.

"Hey, Tyki?" The gypsy glanced over at the red head, though the other's eyes stayed firmly on the rising smoke, which was slowly turning red. "Would the Millennium Earl oppose a relationship with someone outside your troupe?" Tyki blinked slowly, thinking over the question in his mind.

"Maybe not at first." He said slowly, trying to find a proper way to word it. "But, if it will not go anywhere after a time, then yes, I suppose he would." He glanced at the tent again- - -blue smoke once more- - -then turned to face Lavi fully, his legs straddling the tree branch underneath him to keep his balance. "Why do you ask?" Lavi fidgeted slightly before taking a deep breath.

"I don't think..." He murmured softly, fingers twisting in his lap. "I think I..." Lavi struggled for a moment more before resolutely moving towards Tyki. Before the older gypsy could do anything, Lavi pressed his lips against Tyki's.

The action stunned the older gypsy for a moment- - -he hadn't been expecting the sudden contact. While he knew of his own growing attraction to the red head, Tyki had no way of knowing Lavi felt anything past friendship for him.

Knowing his feelings were reciprocated made the older gypsy smirk when Lavi pulled away, face crimson.

They sat in a silence that was comfortable for Tyki, though he knew the red head was burning with a need for any type of response from him. Tyki watched out of the corner of his eye as Lavi endured the silence, biting his lower lip and glancing at him every now and then. His fingers resumed their previous twisting, entangling his hands together as he awaited Tyki's response.

After a few moments of amusement, Tyki moved so he was sitting firmly on the tree branch, sliding himself over until their bodies connected from hip to thigh while their legs swung idly in the air. His hand reached over and gently untangled Lavi's, taking the red head's left hand in his right and intertwining their fingers once more.

"You know," He started conversationally, gold eyes turning to where purple smoke filled the air while Lavi whipped his head up from their body positions to take in the gypsy's profile. "I knew my feelings had begun running deeper than friendship that night you found me in the storm, searching for Rhode and Allen."

"What?"

"I realized it when you had been drying my hair that night," He continued, seemingly unaware of Lavi's surprised voice. "And as I had been unsure of where you stood with your feelings for me, I chose to keep quiet." Tyki smiled at Lavi and leaned over to press a kiss to the red head's temple. "Knowing that you would want this with someone like me, who wanders as freely as an uncaged bird, makes me incredibly happy, Lavi."

Lavi leaned into Tyki's arm, both content to just sit and not say anything to one another.

"Do you..." Lavi swallowed lightly; when Tyki looked down at him, his free hand was fingering the eye patch the other hadn't taken off since they were young. "Do you want to...see...?"

"Only if you're comfortable." Tyki answered, understanding the unfinished question. Lavi didn't move before he pulled himself away and tore off the black fabric quickly, as if he would lose his nerve if he moved too slowly.

For a moment he wouldn't face the gypsy; then he took a deep breath and turned his face to him.

Tyki hesitantly reached out and touched the freed skin; it seemed odd, looking at Lavi's uncovered face for the first time since they'd met. His fingers gently touched the marked eye as he studied the scar tissue surrounding it.

The burn only covered the boy's eye, allowing him to wear the eye patch as it didn't seem to go any further than the sunken part of the eye, just inside the bone and skull. There was no eyebrow along the bone, and it appeared that the object used to burn him was hot enough to fuse the skin together in a twisted mess. The skin was darkened and gnarled under his fingertips, and Tyki let out a quiet sigh of discontentment.

How had he allowed this to happen?

"I wore the eye patch before because I liked to pretend I was a pirate." Lavi admitted. "Even when I was nine years old, ten years old, up until I was kidnapped, I still liked to play pretend. But I always knew that if I took the eye patch off at night, I'd still look normal. I wouldn't have this horrid mark on my eye and watch as people gave me pitying looks because I took it off."

"I'm sorry it happened." Tyki murmured gently, pulling Lavi to him despite the awkwardness of the position. "Especially because it happen while you were waiting for me." Lavi shrugged lightly in the awkward embrace, inhaling Tyki's scent deeply while he was pressed against him.

"It's fine." Lavi murmured back. "I try not to think about it too often, but every now and then..." He trailed off when Tyki pulled away and pressed his lips gently against the eye that no longer worked. "Tyki..."

"Shhhh." Tyki hugged the boy again, his cheek pressing against red strands of hair. "I'll still stay by you, if that's what you had been worried about before." An inexplicable tenseness that had surrounded Lavi from the moment the fabric left his skin left suddenly; Lavi's arms wrapped around Tyki as well, his hands clenching at the white shirt around Tyki's shoulder blades as he breathed shakily. Tyki comforted him as best he could, murmuring reassurances into his ear and pressing kisses against his head until the red head compare himself.

He gave Tyki a grin when he met the golden eyes again.

"Thanks, Tyki." The gypsy nodded in acquiescence and looked toward the camp once more, Lavi following his gaze soon after.

And when his hand shyly met Tyki's once more, Tyki took it and held onto it firmly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Why doesn't Allen have cross tattoos?" Tyki turned to Lavi at the question, his eyebrow raised. Ahead of them, Lenalee and Rhode were holding hands and giggling, the older girl wearing a long white summer dress and the younger gypsy wearing an old skirt of Tricia's and a tight tank top shirt. Behind them, Kanda was being forcefully dragged by Allen; both boys were covered completely, Allen even wearing a glove to avoid questions about his arm.

"What do you mean?" Tyki asked curiously, peering behind them at the couple. "Allen has them as well. It makes what he's doing even worse than it should be." Lavi pursed his lips- - -despite the hints Rhode and Tyki had been dropping, the snide remarks of just what the pale haired gypsy was doing, nobody outside the three of them seemed to know or were willing to tell them.

All summer, though, Tyki had noted how Allen gravitated towards Kanda Yuu more than any of the rest of them- - -even Rhode. Especially Rhode. Ever since they'd arrived, way back before it started getting cold for the winter season, Allen had somehow worked his way more firmly into Kanda Yuu's life, going so far as to sneak out of the tent he slept in with Tyki. Tyki had made no mention of it, but he was almost certain Rhode knew as well. And if the intensifying glare the paler boy received from the Millennium Earl was any indication, their leader had his suspicions as well.

Despite this, Tyki noted how Allen only seemed truly happy when he was arguing with the older swordsman, odd as it was. As such, he and Rhode saw Lavi and Lenalee more times this season than ever before, so that it wasn't as strange that Allen was with Kanda Yuu; it looked better with the three of them gone, as Rhode and Tyki could always convince Allen to return to camp, than if Allen had just gone by himself.

"Well, where are they?" Lavi asked curiously, returning to the previous topic and peering over at his so-called best friend and the pale gypsy. "Why aren't they on his forehead, like yours and Rhode's?"

"He had that mark over his eye before we found him." Tyki explained. "Lord Millennium thought that his face had been marked enough, so decided not to put them on his forehead like the rest of the family. He's the only exception- - -even our doctor has them across her forehead."

"That doesn't tell me where they are." Lavi informed him when he stopped talking. Tyki laughed slightly.

"For that, you'll have to ask Allen." Without hesitation, the red head whirled around and placed his hands around his mouth.

"Hey, Moyashi-chan!" He yelled. Tyki watched as Kanda's eye twitched and Allen groaned. "Where are your cross tattoos?" The pale gypsy open his mouth.

"Across his chest, just under his collarbone." Everyone turned to stare at the two; Allen's face turned crimson while Kanda stared off to the side, pink slowly covering his cheeks. "There are seven."

Silence. Only the birds could be heard, the leaves rustling slightly as a soft wind blew through them. Rhode and Lenalee glanced at each other, violet meeting gold, before both girls blushed simultaneously, Rhode's face turning scarlet from the amount of blood settling in her face. Lavi's face was frozen in an expression that was a mixture of shock, slight horror, and faintly gleeful. Tyki covered his eyes with his hand, pursing his lips in an attempt to keep in what he wanted to say as a response to Kanda Yuu's sudden statement.

"And exactly how," he began slowly when he believed he could speak without throwing some form of insult at the two boys in his shock, not removing his hand from his eyes, "have you come across that information? Surely Allen didn't simply just tell you..." Both boys turned darker at the implications in his tone, but neither moved to deny anything. Silence reigned again.

Kanda suddenly fingered Mugen at his side, cobalt eyes meeting Tyki's gold in a piercing glare when the older gypsy brought his hand down to regard Allen.

"Do you have a problem with it?" He snarled quietly. Tyki raised an eyebrow, looking from Allen (who had suddenly found the ground below them fascinating) to Kanda and back several times.

"Let us continue onwards, shall we?" Tyki artfully ignored the question and continued walking, carefully grasping Lavi's hand in his own. Rhode and Lenalee moved as well, the blushes on their faces not fading as they carefully placed more distance between themselves. After a moment, Tyki heard Allen and Kanda begin walking again.

"That means that Yuu-chan got farther than any of us." Lavi said after a few moments of silence. "That's not fair. He and Allen didn't even like each other at first!"

"I didn't like you at first." Tyki said conversationally. Lavi gaped at him, the pale hand going slack. Tyki laughed at the stunned, wide eyed expression the boy gave him.

"Seriously?" Lavi said finally. Tyki shrugged slightly.

"You were not the first person who offered to befriend a gypsy. I felt I had learned my lesson the first time around, and had no desire to repeat the experience with you." Lavi happen at him, wordlessly prompting Tyki to explain. With a slight sigh, the gypsy went quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "When I was four or five seasons, a boy around my age wanted to be friends." Tyki explained, Lavi staring at him with a curious expression. "I accepted, and when he took me to his house his parents were largely uncomfortable around me. They, ah..."

"They were completely abusive." Rhode said from ahead of them. "Papa told me. He said that they were horribly cruel and unusual in their wording, and they insulted our family and everything about us in front of him. They even hit him- - -a lot. Papa said that they didn't realize it until after Kak took off his shirt, but when he did, he had so many bruises covering his body, his torso looked completely purple." Lavi looked from Rhode to Tyki and back, horror clearly on his face.

"I hadn't mentioned it to anyone." Tyki admitted. "And I tried to run away once. I didn't get far- - -Lord Millennium caught me and managed to get the whole story from me."

"Papa said that Lord Millennium brought Kak in front of the whole troupe and tell his story again." Rhode added. "And then he said that outside humans by nature were cruel, and that only family could really support each other properly."

"I never saw that child again." Tyki murmured after a while. Lavi looked at him, then tightened his hand on Tyki's. "And when you introduced yourself, you reminded me of him. I didn't trust you at first." Rhode smiled and returned to her own conversation with Lenalee as Lavi leaned over quickly and pressed his lips against Tyki's cheek.

"I'm sorry." The other boy smiled at him, swinging their connected arms slowly.

"It's over and done with." Tyki said breezily, bringing their hands up briefly to press a kiss against Lavi's hand before allowing them to succumb to the pull of gravity once more. "Besides, you've been different from the start."

"That's good." Lavi smiled widely as they went quiet again; each gypsy enjoying the last day they had together with their friend and significant other before they left the next morning.

And when dawn arrived, Rhode leaned against Tyki, asleep once more, Tyki watched as the only members of their group- - -Cross and Allen- - -slept on in their tent. Sighing slightly and pressing his head against Rhode's, Tyki's gaze drifted over to the tree that held yet another milestone in his relationship with Lavi, a small smile lighting up his features.

With a yawn, Tyki closed his eyes and slept, thinking of the red head and inwardly counting seconds until they came back the next season.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Kak Tyki, do you know where Allen is?" Tyki turned, his fingers stilling on the fabric he was currently tying around his neck. Rhode looked vaguely uncomfortable, her lower lip caught between her teeth and her brow furrowed.

"No." He answered carefully. "I haven't seen Allen around at all." Rhode entered the tent fully and sat on the bed Allen used. "He said he would be with Cross after we started packing up to leave..."

"And no one has seen either Cross or Allen since." Rhode said, bringing her hand up to rub her eyes. "But Cross decided to go a different way, didn't he? So they should be here any day now, right?"

"That's right." Tyki finished tying the fabric and picked up his hat easily, the purple Tease fluttering from it as soon as he touched it. Despite having Jasdero and Devitto take his opening spot, Tyki still used his Tease in performances on stage. "Cross had sent word ahead that they'd be here late tonight or early tomorrow; worry not, darling," he said teasingly, "for your companion will be here soon." Rhode flushed and stuck her tongue out.

"Perhaps the short separation is for the best." She said, "When Allen comes, he shouldn't be in such a horrible mood. Maybe he'll give up thoughts of leaving us now."

Tyki paused at her last sentence. Despite her voicing it, both of them knew it was unlikely Allen would abandon such thoughts. They both knew the boy well, better than anyone else with the exception of Mana; and as such, both knew that once Allen got an idea into his head, it would remain there until he managed to somehow act on it or change anyone's way of thinking. It had been an endearing trait when he was younger, though now it was causing more pain in the entire family than usual.

"Perhaps." Tyki agreed carefully. "Maybe Cross will finally beat some sense into that boy." Rhode smiled shakily and stretched, her back cracking in several places as she did.

And when Cross appeared the next morning, Rhode was at his side faster than anyone could blink.

Tyki watched as the girl asked something of Cross, only to frown when the man shook his head and Rhode's jaw clenched tightly. She said something else, bowing slightly, then stomped over to Tyki, eyes blazing.

"Cross says he hasn't seen Allen since we left. Allen was supposed to travel with him, but Cross couldn't find him when he was ready to leave, so he assumed Allen would be with us, which means that he's nowhere to be found." Rhode's jaw set and she seemed to struggle with her words, playing absentmindedly with her long hair. "Where could he be?"

"Perhaps it is time to go to Lord Millennium now." Tyki said, his pursed in disapproval. Rhode 'tsk'ed but agreed, following her Kak in their sudden job of locating the Millennium Earl.

They found him easily; he had been standing outside of Skinn's tent, making some sort of over excited motions at the gypsy. Tyki regarded Skinn coolly for a second before turning his attentions on their leader.

"Lord Millennium." The Earl turned to face Tyki, his smile as wide as always; it seemed the break from Allen's constant defiance brought back their leader's cheerfulness. Tyki hated to be the bearer of bad news, but knew that the matter at hand was of utmost importance. He had no doubt that Allen's disappearance had been chalked up to traveling with Cross, and when the Millennium Earl sought out the man and discovered Allen still missing, Tyki knew there would be hell to pay because he hadn't been told immediately.

"Tyki-pon!"

"Allen is missing." The Earl seemed to be taken aback, and Tyki continued. "Cross is here, but Allen isn't. We have no idea where he is."

"None whatsoever, Tyki?" The Millennium Earl's glasses flashed, and Tyki sighed in annoyance.

"It's more than likely he stayed behind in the last village." He admitted finally, rubbing his eyes. Allen, it seemed, had discovered his newfound ability to create unnecessary drama amongst the Millennium Earl and those closest to him and was using said ability as best as he could.

"Ah." The Earl seemed to be deep in thought, the accompanying "I see..." coming out thoughtfully. They stood in silence until the Millennium Earl turned to Skinn. "I know you dislike being a messenger, but do go fetch Allen as soon as you can." Despite the pleasant way of asking, everyone heard the harsh order in his voice, and Skinn nodded once, shooting a withering glance at Tyki and Rhode.

"I'll leave now, Lord Millennium." Their leader nodded once before taking Rhode's arm gently in one hand and leading her away, Tyki following silently after. They waited a few moments while Skinn took what he needed, then watched as the older gypsy left.

Rhode smiled when she realized that Allen would soon be among family again.

Days turned into weeks, though, and when three weeks had passed, Rhode approached Tyki with a worried look.

"We haven't traveled far enough to warrant them both being gone for three weeks." She bit her lip and looked into the distance. "What's taking so long?"

"Allen is most likely being stubborn." Tyki sighed; he'd been gathering wood for dinner, and with Rhode's news he'd placed what he gathered on the ground. "It's probably best if we went after them now, to ensure they come back."

"Would Lord Millennium allow us to go?" Rhode questioned. As soon as it left her mouth, Devito appeared, twirling his gold gun in his hand.

"I'm supposed to take the wood in." He said. "Lord Millennium wants to speak with you both." Despite his careless way of speaking and the casual manner that he twirled his gun, Devito was clearly anxious. He was alone, and his bottom lip was red- - -it seemed they all had a bad habit of biting their lip when worried.

Without a second thought, both Rhode and Tyki rushed towards the direction he came, Tyki giving Devito a soft but reassuring pat on the boy's head as he passed.

They found the Earl by the edge of their camp, two horses beside him as he waited for the to come within hearing distance.

"Go bring them back." His voice was stoic, but they could detect the worry in it as he fretted- - -the Millennium Earl was the type of leader who appreciated having his little family as close to each other and as safe as possible. It mattered not that they were all strays picked off the street; to him, and to them, they were family and family stood firm. He forgave everything they did to each other short of betrayal and murder, and despite his current tension with Allen, Tyki knew that his concern for the boy's well being was genuine.

He took the reins gently, accepting a pouch filled with money and handing one to Rhode as they both climbed on.

"We'll be back soon." He promised. "With them both."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They'd seen Allen long before he saw them, and in an instant, both sets of gold eyes turned relieved and infuriated. Meeting each other's gazes briefly, Tyki and Rhode slowed the horses they were on as they got closer to the pale boy sitting on the side of the road with his head in his hands.

Allen looked up when he heard them approach, and as they came to a stop in front of him, Tyki could see the red rimming his eyes.

"What happened?" Rhode spoke first, breaking the tense silence around them. "Has your samurai finally left?" Allen grimaced at the question.

"No." Allen's voice was harsh and choked, as if he'd been screaming or crying lately. Tears began to slowly fill his eyes again, and as the two watched Allen took a shuddering breath and stood.

"Where is Skinn?" Tyki asked firmly. Allen winced slightly at the question. "Lord Millennium sent him here to collect you almost a month ago. There has been no contact since, and we've been expecting the two of you this entire time. Where is he?"

"Over here." Allen murmured in his hoarse voice. Tyki dismounted, Rhode doing the same, and they led their horses as they followed Allen.

He took them to a small clearing, confusing Rhode and Tyki as they had been expecting him to take them into town. Instead, Allen had them stop as he searched the trees' trunks until he came across something that made him pause.

"Skinn is here." He muttered.

Time froze.

Tyki rushed forward first, striding quickly to stand beside Allen and see what the pale boy was seeing: a name and age carved shakily into the trunk of the tree.

Skinn Bolic, twenty-three seasons of age

"You killed him?" Rhode hissed, and Tyki jumped. He'd forgotten that she had come with him, forgotten everything once he had seen his older 'cousin's name carved into the piece of living wood.

Though he and the older gypsy never got along, Tyki felt an overwhelming grief build in his body. While they were never as close as he and Rhode, or even he and Miranda (whom he treated very respectfully because of her willingness to treat them to the best of her abilities), Skinn Bolic had been something resembling family to him. He had, in a sense, been the protector of their small family, and Tyki bowed his head in a resemblance of respect at his passing.

Between them, Rhode had gone from hissing to screaming.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" She shrieked at him, fury and hatred making her voice cold, and the unfamiliar curse falling from her lips made Allen's eyes widen. It was a testament to the rage flowing through her frame- - -no matter what, the girl almost never cursed. "How dare you! You traitor!" Allen's eyes widened, and Tyki stood with his head bowed as Rhode's words echoed in the clearing around them. "You killed him!"

"I didn't!" Allen insisted frantically, hands raised as a token of peace. Rhode ignored it as her hand swung out and backhanded Allen firmly across his face. Unlike when she had hit her uncle, though, she didn't stop.

"You might as well have!" Allen winced at her tone. Rhode hit him again. "It's worse that you stood by and allowed him to die!" Allen bit his lip, but didn't deny her statement, which made her eyes narrow. Her attack never slowed as she screamed at him. "We trusted you! We loved you! All we wanted was for you to be safe!" Rhode stopped, her gold eyes filling with tears despite remaining cold. "We wanted you to stay with us. Those crosses on your chest mean that you're family. Those crosses connected you to me, to Kak Tyki, to Papa and Mama, to Lulubell and Jasdevi, even to Skinn and Lord Millennium. They're the same crosses that Cross has, Miranda- - -even Mana wore them proudly." Allen winced at the name of his adoptive father, but Rhode kept up a torrent of words. "How dare you go back on everything he taught you, and on the care and support you got from us because he wanted you." Rhode hiccuped suddenly, her shoulders beginning to shake. "Why would you do this?" She asked coldly. The tears were falling quickly down her face, and Tyki placed his hand on her shoulder without turning around. "We-We..." Her voice faltered and she backed up until her back hit Tyki's shoulder, his arm between them, a thought occurring to her suddenly. "You didn't even care enough to burn him...did you?"

"...Kanda said it was unethical." Allen admitted quietly. "He's buried there."

Rhode let out a wordless shriek of rage and flew at Allen again, punching his chest in anger. Allen moved back in surprise, but she stopped instantly. Returning to her uncle, Rhode buried her face in his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, sobbing quietly but harshly into his shirt. Tyki wrapped one arm around her small waist, the other coming up across her shaking shoulders. As he allowed his niece to cry on him, he pressed a kiss to her hair as a few tears fell from his own gold eyes.

"Allen." The other made an acknowledging noise. "Don't move."

For a moment, all three of them were frozen in that moment: two gypsies standing in front of a tree, both crying, mourning the loss of a member of their family, while another stood a few feet away, watching with pained silver eyes.

"We must return." Tyki whispered soothingly into Rhode's ear when her cries died down. She sniffed, nodding as she pulled her face away and rubbed at her eyes gently. Her eyes landed on Allen and went cold again. Tyki pursed his lips, but took her hand as he turned to face Allen. "Come, Allen."

"But I- - -" He protested; Tyki cut him off.

"You are coming with us." Tyki said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. Allen winced, but nodded hesitantly. The three made their way back to the road, and Tyki hauled Allen up to his horse, getting on in front of him. "Let's go."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"We've got him, Lord Millennium." Tyki, who was holding Allen's right arm, roughly threw the boy in front of the Millennium Earl. Allen stumbled, but managed to right himself as Rhode entered behind him. The Earl gasped at such a treatment, but both remained stoic.

"Allen-kun!" He cried out at the sight of the pale boy. His eyes moved from Allen to Tyki's impassive face and Rhode's cold eyes. "Where's Skinn? I want to know what took him so long." There was no answer, and his aura darkened. "Where is he, Tyki?" The oldest stayed quiet. "Rhode?" She took a deep, shuddering breath and crossed her arms, but stayed silent. "Allen?"

"He's dead." The Earl's gaze met Tyki's, then returned to Allen.

"Where are his ashes?" He asked coldly. Allen shook in front of him, but didn't answer. They watched him for a moment before Rhode answered.

"Allen didn't do anything." She said coldly. "He let Skinn die, and then didn't have the heart to burn him like he's supposed to because," her eyes flashed angrily and her emotionless voice turned venomous, "according to his precious samurai, it was 'unethical' to do so." The Millennium Earl snarled wordlessly, fury radiating off him.

"So," He started, his voice harsh, "is your precious little toy more valuable to you than family, Allen Walker?" Allen opened his mouth, but didn't get a chance to say anything. "A fling more important than lasting bonds? Did you want to leave so badly that you would murder a family member in order to stay away?"

"I didn't kill him!" Allen insisted angrily.

"If all you did was stand by and watched, you might as well have." The Earl hissed before abruptly turning his back on Allen. "I don't want to see him any longer. Get him out."

"And I should take him where?" Tyki asked, taking Allen's arm again.

"Out of this camp." The Millennium Earl turned to face Tyki. "I won't harbor a traitor among our midst. I don't want to see him at all after today."

"Tyki, please- - -" Allen tried, begging the older gypsy to listen to him, but Tyki wouldn't hear it. As soon as they were far away from the Earl and Rhode, the older gypsy pulled Allen around to face him.

"Do not address me so familiarly." He growled out. "You have brought this upon yourself, Allen Walker. I firmly support Lord Millennium's decision." He pushed Allen towards the horses. "Take one. Go back to the Kanda family and their son. And don't come back." Allen paused, clearly wanting to say something, before closing his mouth and doing as he was told.

As he rode away, Tyki watched him. And despite the tears he felt gathering at the corners of his eyes at losing yet another family member, this one closer and more dear to him than Skinn Bolic had ever been, Tyki turned firmly to return to the camp.

They had things to prepare for.

Sorry this took so long, everyone! This horrible thing called Real Life intruded on me in an incredibly rude manner, not to mention I feel my chapters are getting longer and longer as I continue. I had so much to get through in this one chapter, I suppose I'll be amazed when the next comes out. At any rate, I had not only focused on this chapter, but on the next one as well, the next chapter for A Bullet With Butterfly Wings (though neither are quite finished yet), and even on the one shot I started working on about a month + ago. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the brief inside to Lavi's thoughts and feelings, and I'm sorry for making Rhode have two more or less mental breakdowns in one chapter. I feel as though somehow, these characters spiraled out of my control and came out of character. Oh, the talk of cremation came from Wikipedia: I decided that, even though Romani don't cremate their dead, the Millennium Earl and his family uphold that practice. As always thanks to those of you brave enough to review! XD Voltairey and Yueaifeng, your input is most appreciated (though, surprisingly, there was no review from d-gray-geek...you ok, darling?).

According to the website I found:

Kak=uncle