Ch 4

_____________Sometimes Titles Are Not Needed_____________________

"Tell me how you got into this mess in the first place, brat."

Kanda half leaned on the French window, throwing a severe glance at the cowered kid. Tch. That brat really needed to wipe his nose. And get some new clothes. He really looked like a tramp, even if he protested being called that.

The said brat did wipe the nose. With his sleeve. Tch. Bastard. He really needed to be taught manners.

"Talk." Kanda imperatively moved his chin up, now resembling an Oriental god. As if mistakenly thinking that the man was addressing to it, the clock started banging happily: 12:00!

Allen jumped slightly, startled by the loudness of the obnoxious machinery. Uneasiness grabbed him by the throat, making it almost impossible to even think of a response. He desperately fidgeted, as if his bottom became a nest for the most ferocious ants of the rain forest.

"Well?"

"I…I don't know where to start…" He mumbled quietly, with a faint hope that the man is not in the mood to listen to fairy tales. But, as Hope always proves to be a sorry illusion, Kanda was quite ready. He even approached the sofa and sat on it, menacingly frowning. The boy gulped, a droplet of sweat landing on the chin.

"I…My mother died when I was little. I don't remember her at all, so…" he fiddled uneasily "…I don't know much about her. I do remember my foster father, Mana." His face illuminated slightly, like a dirty shirt under hot water and good soap.

"He was a clown. He taught me to read and write, and…" He glanced at Kanda, to see if the man was listening. He rapidly averted his gaze then, caught in the middle of the action. "M-mana was a good man. He took care of me, and taught me a lot of—"

"How do you know he was a good man?" Kanda stared at him, shocked at his shallowness. The brat stared back, revolted.

"That man took care of me! How can he be a bad person?!? He protected me! He taught me—"

"-Thaught you tricks, did he not? And let me guess, you took his place as a clown." Kanda smirked at his stunned look. "This is how tramps make money, idiot. He never paid you, did he? He just fed you just enough so you couldn't complain." Kanda snorted when the shocked look became a mask of rage.

"Don't you dare speak about Mana that way!" The boy was on his feet, shaking a sharp fist. "He did it because he cared for me! He loved me like a son!"

"A son he sold to Cross later? That's more like Judah, kid."

"H-he did not sell me! He told me that he needed to go away for some time, so he can adopt me formally! He had a contract with Cross! He—" Realization hit his face with a deadly blow. He suddenly sprawled, his arm falling unenthusiastically in the ripped lap. "I-its impossible… H-he promised…"

Kanda watched him calmly. This was not the first time he saw foolish (he called them) people being used while prevailing in a blissful ignorance. He loathed people like that. They did were incurable fools who would kiss the hand that hit them. Tch. "And then what?" he clicked his tongue with impatience, feeling annoyed and a bit angry.

"T-then? Then Cross signed a contract with me. That I will obey him until Mana comes back or when I will be eighteen." Allen murmured weakly, as if his soul was half extracted from the limp body. He unconsciously opened and closed his good palm, digging the nails deeper every time.

"How old are you?"

"Thirteen. Just five years more to go. Just five." He opened the palm, counting the fingers. As if he were hoping that God did a mistake with his hand, he counted them again and again, discouraged by the result.

"Maybe Mana will come by then. Maybe he didn't forget his promise. Maybe he can't come, maybe—" His face lit up and he rose from the sofa facing Kanda with a newborn hope.

"Are you an idiot? He used you! How stupid do you have to be to get that?" Kanda felt a warm and painful beast in his chest. That damn thing bit his heart with ferocity, making him fume. He stopped yelling, tired. He has not eaten since morning and now the gnawing sensation was teasing his intestines. He rose, sighing and paced to the door.

Allen glanced at him shyly, not knowing how to react to the sudden change of mood. The door opened lightly, like a shadow, letting the man out. In a few minutes, a smell of garlic and fresh cucumbers hit his nose, waking up the strange monster in his stomach. He flushed, feeling shame. He was in this house his fourth day, yet he still hasn't eaten with the owner of the apartment. He nibbled the insides of his cheeks, not feeling comfortable with the sentiment. He suddenly realized then that he was alone, and could certainly slip outside, without Kanda noticing.

Nice plan! The stomach disagreed, but who would listen to a black hole? Allen tiptoed to the door, his movement automatically becoming stealthy and extremely cautious. He poked his head out first, like a daisy, to check Kanda's position. A clacking of pots and metallic pans invaded his mouth with a wave of saliva. He lustfully watched the semi-open door of the kitchen, so inviting, so warmly and deliciously welcoming…

He swallowed the saliva that kept invading his mouth. He turned his back at the door, the door he would gladly trespass. The front door was watching him indifferently, offering the handle. He just needed to walk away. To walk out of this apartment where he lived three calm days. He smiled gently, recalling Kanda's reaction when he raided his fridge. These days were some of the best in his life. He glanced at his mutilated arm. He paid a price for his happiness. Huh, life was a tough thing.

Suddenly, the air was filled with an intoxicating smell of fresh, oceanic fish being fried. Allen stopped dead in his track. That kitchen was seducing him! He gulped, fighting inside; to turn or not to turn. The handle of the front door was offering itself exasperatedly, take it and go, leave this place until it's not too late. Allen licked his lips. His stomach rumbled as if a Minotaur inhabited it.

He sighed, irritated by the lack of choices. He had to go. If Cross found out he was 'playing,' he would surely throw him under another car. He shuddered, imagining the man, with his red beard and hair, with the strange mask on his face that gave him a "mysterious," as he called it, look. He just looked plain stupid, but Allen was not the one who would tell him that.

"Well? Are you leaving or what?" Allen screamed out, startled by Kanda's appearance above his ear. Panting, he glued himself to the door, not wanting to risk leaving his back unprotected.

"What are you doing scaring me like that? I almost pis-"

"Are you leaving or what?" Kanda leaned on the kitchen door, like the angel sent by God to protect the gates of Eden, the Eden Allen longed to be in.

"I…I…" Allen hid his face under the long, unkempt bangs. He gulped loudly, stuck between answers. He glanced at Kanda, quickly in a hopeless attempt to read his mind. He sighed, defeated when he saw a poor resemblance of a human emotion, more like a stone mask. He decided to take the risk of being blunt.

"What will happen if I stay? I already know what will happen if I leave," he murmured in a length of breath.

"What will happen if you leave?" Kanda cocked his head mockingly and raised a brow.

"Cross will be furious," The brat smiled sadly, looking away. "He…" the boy stopped, agonizingly trying to push out an answer. "Hewillcreatemoredebt!!!" He finally threw the response in Kanda's face. Tch, what a liar. Allen looked up hopefully.

"What will happen if I stay?" Kanda smirked ominously. He slowly cracked his knuckles, looking at the boy significantly.

"You'll get a beating for the troubles you brought me. Then I will send you to HAA."

"What is this...HAA?"

"Hellish Adoption Agency. Who knows, maybe there are fools who would be as stupid as to adopt a kid with Mafia background." That should scare that shit out of the brat. Hn.

Allen did not even blink. He lowered his eyes and poked his lower lip with the index finger, in deep thought.

"So you mean, I will be able to go to school?" Kanda's jaw fell on the floor. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS BRAT?!? Is he thinking seriously? Is he? Tch. He closed his eyes, irritated by Allen's stupidity. He just joked. There was no way he would touch the kid again, not with those wounds.

"I accept! I kind of deserve a beating anyway, so it's not a big deal. But you have to take me to that…adoption thing." Kanda narrowed his deep blue eyes, now clouded with a stern light. He stared into Allen's gray ones, and spoke coldly, as if each word was born in Antarctica.

"Cross lied to you. Mana used you. What makes you think I will not do so too? What guarantee do you have that I will keep my 'promise'? Think, fool!"

Allen watched him wide eyed. Perplexity was now dominating his features.

"But Kanda-san, you're a good person!" Kanda almost fell on the floor, feeling a strong desire to kill the idiot.

"MANA WAS A 'GOOD' PERSON TOO!" Kanda yelled. This naivety was so painful, almost an agony of mind. He grabbed the boy by the shirt.

"How more foolish can you get? Don't you damn realize that here are bastards who will rape your soul? JUST LIKE MANA AND CROSS!!!" He clenched his head, turning the back at the boy.

"But not all people are like that," Allen quietly said, almost inaudible. "You aren't."

The man moaned in exasperation.

"It is a waste of time and breath to explain it to a dumb masochist!" He angrily ran through the kitchen door, where the fish was ready, covered in garlic and lemon. Allen tiredly opened the front door, staring at the uninviting coldness of the hall.

"What are you waiting for, dolt? Get in, get a chair, and stuff your face!"

---

He will never forget the horror. In two seconds, literally, the only intact things left on the table were the bones of the huge fish. Kanda nervously gulped looking at his own plate. It was licked clean. He felt awe filling his own bones with a trembling sensation. This brat, no, monster was the God of Gluttony. And, mind that, he used only one hand! He swallowed a hard lump in his throat before eyeing the boy.

The brat was sitting on the chair, like a big, fat, white cat. He closed his eyes, chewing the last bits of food, savoring the taste. Allen patted his tummy feeling a deep, deep happiness. He sighed, content. This was officially the best day in his life. He finally opened his eyes and flushed in embarrassment. Kanda was still eyeing him, as if he were a cannibal.

"I…I eat a lot." A lot?! A LOT?!? He was practically a… Kanda shut up his mind, just for a second. The kid watched him miserably, the cheeks still bleeding color.

" I…I'm sorry…I have a high metabolism."

"Do you even know what metabolism is?" Kanda smirked, raising one brow.

"Sure I do! It's that..you know…that….that thing tha-"

"Oh, shut up. You have no idea what that is." Kanda smirked again, amused with the kid's face. He was looking away, trying to conceal himself in the shadow of the table.

"It's ok not to know." The kid glanced up, somehow taken aback by his words. Kanda got up, clearing the table. He approached the sink, piling up the plates and the pots.

"Thanks." Kanda turned around and looked down. The brat was sitting on the floor with his legs under him. Tch. His clothes caught Kanda's attention for the first time. Even though clean, they were too big. Three sizes too big. He was practically swimming in them, no, drowning. Tch.

"Get up, kid." Allen looked up, startled. He had mustard on his chin. Tch. "Wash your face, sack of bones. We're leaving."

--

The mall was HUGE. It was suffocating, like a plastic bag pulled over his head. He cowered at every sight thrown at him, feeling the disgust, fear and suspicion. Kanda was walking in front of him, his arms full of bags. He entered another boutique again, this time filled with books. Allen sighed, tired and sleepy. He did not want to be here. The beautiful lady who was in the underwear section started 'hitting on' Kanda, completely ignoring him. Well, that's a lie. She asked Kanda if he knows the boy, and if he doesn't, she will just drive him away, it'll take just a minute, she said. Huh. He leaned on a brasserie commercial glued to the wall. The scar certainly did not help him in any way. He traced it slowly, feeling the rough margins. The finger came back, wet and reddened. Huh, it still did not heal completely.

"Don't touch that, idiot" Kanda gently slapped his hand away. He was out now, with a few more bags to hold.

"We're done. Let's go, bean sprout." Kanda paced away, carrying all those impossibly large bags.

--

The car was black. The car that hit him. It was standing on the parking lot, a little bit aloof, or just shy. Kanda opened the back door, dumping the assets on the sits. He paused for a little bit, murmuring to himself, staring at the boy scrutinizingly. Something was wrong, or…

"I'm not going to wait here all day, dolt. Get in the car, we're leaving."

He liked Jazz. The car was full of it, softly rocking Allen. He leaned back, letting the tiredness take what was hers. He felt his body going numb, just for a bit, and then finally relaxing completely. He slowly opened his eyes, doing that against their wishes. The eyelids were the heaviest thing in the world right now, and his head was full of warm feathers.

--

Tch, that brat. He was surely so much trouble. The phone was in his hand, dialing the most hated number ever.

"Hallooo! Who is it? Kan—YUUU-CHAAN~~~!!!!"

"You called me right the first time, baka! Now, get your ass here and fas-"

"Yuu-chan is inviting me to HIS PLACE???? AWWWW, you finally recognize my undying lov-"

"Get the *BEEP* your *BEEP* ass *BEEP* in *BEEP* beep, beep, beep…."

Lavi quietly listened to the dying beeps. Heh, seems that Yu-chan put the phone down, more like crushed it…

--

Lavi glanced at Kanda hesitantly.

"You sure you wanna do it? Be sure you won' regret it. It's an important decision, y'know."

"If I wasn't sure I wouldn't have called you." Kanda puffed is cheeks, as if to see how much air he could contain. Lavi gapped at him still not wanting to believe. Then his eyes softened and some seriousness was born in his voice.

"I'll see what I can do, Yuu." He got up letting the tea cup down. Kanda turned his face away, aroma of bergamot filling his nostrils.

"I am sure I will not regret it. Never."

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0.0 Allen seems to be getting younger by the chapter... I really need to fix some detailes in the first chapter. Huh. I enjoy writing this. So much. Why am I using chopped sentences?! If my Eng. Proff would know, I wouldn't be here, alive and kickng... I will not stop at the fourth chapter as I planned. I have no idea how long It will be...