Warning: Just slight hints of LavixKanda in this one, but that should be a hint as to where this story may be going. Also some slight language.
Note: I don't own -Man.
When Allen awoke it seemed that the atmosphere had not changed. It was still dark outside and snowflakes still drifted by the patches of light the window provided. It appeared that he had only slept for a few hours, but when he looked to the clock on the far end of the room it read an hour earlier than when he had been brought in. From there it was easy to conclude that it was the following night. It had felt good to sleep for so long, but he felt an uncomfortable tugging at his left arm. His arm was beginning to ache again and the feeling of someone messing with is certainly didn't help any. He looked to his left and saw Kanda sitting in the chair by the bed pulling back the bloody bandages.
"How are you feeling?" Kanda asked, not looking up from his task.
"I've been better," Allen replied as he took a deep breath, trying to refill his starved lungs. Kanda tried to hide his pain at hearing Allen nearly gasping for air. Rivalries melted into insignificance when a comrade was this ill. Like everyone else in the Order he was sick at the fact that he was watching Allen die before his eyes.
Once the bandages were removed Kanda examined Allen's Innocence and shuddered. Lesions were still appearing at a near alarming rate, but he was pleased to see that at least some of the wounds near the cross itself were healing slightly.
"Crown Clown is crying," Allen sputtered. Kanda ripped his eyes from the limb and looked to Allen's face. "It says it hurts," he continued, closing his eyes again.
"Are you in a lot of pain?" Kanda asked.
"It's not excoriating yet," Allen replied.
"I'll get the doctors then. Better to get the pain killers now than after you can't stand it anymore," Kanda said as he got up. As he turned to walk away he felt a weak hand grasp his own.
"Please don't leave," Allen asked. Kanda turned to look at the lithe figure lying on the bed. He sighed but more in suppressed grief than annoyance. He sat back on the chair and took up a roll of clean bandages, gently wrapping them around Allen's arm. He looked at Allen's pale face, but saw something out of place. A few streaks of red were dripping down his face from his forehead. Kanda panicked and quickly pushed Allen's bangs aside.
"What's wrong?" Allen asked, not entirely sure of what was happening. Kanda didn't reply immediately. He was shocked when he saw the source of the blood.
"Allen, the pentacle is bleeding," he said as calmly as possible. When Allen heard this new problem he moved his hand toward the star above his left eye, feeling the warm liquid. When he pulled the hand away lines of blood followed.
"This isn't good," Kanda said as he quickly picked up a wet cloth and a new bandage. Once the blood was cleaned away and the bandage was in place Kanda rushed off to find one of the doctors. It appeared that suddenly the process had been jumpstarted if even the traces of the akuma virus were being attacked as well. Ultimately that meant that now Allen was just dying faster.
Once the nurses were informed of Allen's condition Kanda began the journey to Komui's office. His pace was slow, his mind calculating the best way to break the news. Truthfully Kanda didn't want to drag Komui down further. He was already under so much stress and this new development would surely make it worse. Then there would be two ailing bodies in the Order.
Kanda stopped in front of Komui's door, not quite finding the courage to knock on it. He smiled bitterly at his cowardice. He never flinched in battle but he couldn't bring himself to inform a superior of a friend's ailing. His face contorted into a slight scowl as he thought about his actions. He wasn't used to caring this much for anyone. When he finally made the announcement he didn't want to sound blunt and cold, but he wasn't sure if he would be able to inject any sympathy into his tone.
"Why so unhappy looking, Yu?" a voice asked in his ear. He knew it was Lavi from the gentle tone and the arms snaking around his waist, pulling the two closer.
"Allen's getting worse," Kanda replied bluntly. He felt Lavi wilt which caused him to turn, wanting to see his companion's expression. A large frown was painted across the red head's face.
"Have you told Komui?" Lavi asked in a low tone.
"I was about to," Kanda said, "But then you interrupted me." He didn't expect Lavi to be put off by the coldness, but he also wasn't expecting to be pulled into a near suffocating embrace either.
"I've never seen you care so much about anyone, Yu," Lavi said, his eyes watering. Kanda's eyes widened, a blush of embarrassment spreading across his cheeks.
"What are you talking about? I don't care," he replied sharply, trying to push Lavi off. That only managed a smile out of the red head.
"I know it's not easy for you to admit, Yu, but the only people who have to know are you and me if we play our cards right," Lavi replied. Kanda laughed.
"I think I usually evade people's suspicions fine on my own," he said with a snap. Lavi laughed again.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Lavi asked. Kanda glared at him.
"I don't need you to hold my hand," he growled.
"Yeah, you do," Lavi replied as he took Kanda's hand and knocked loudly on the door. Kanda flushed as his heart jumped into his throat.
"What are you doing?" he hissed as he yanked on Lavi's hand. Lavi didn't seem to notice. He merely continued to stare at the door, intent on the forthcoming task. "Come on Carrot, you better let me go or else…"
"Can I help you?" a rather overly chipper voice asked. Kanda truly went white at that and he turned his eyes to the source. Komui stared back, a large cup of coffee in his hands. The head of the science department looked between a chipper looking Lavi and a blanched Kanda before taking a sip from the cup in his hands.
"Well I want you two to know I support you entirely, but I don't want you doing anything in my office. The rest of the department might not like it," he said as he turned.
"Yu has something to tell you, Sir," Lavi said, his tone suddenly turning very serious. Komui stopped and turned back toward the two. He knew Lavi's tone and expression only turned this intense when something very serious needed to be said.
"Alright, come in," Komui said as he moved aside, beckoning the two to enter. Lavi took the invitation and moved forward, dragging a despondent looking Kanda behind him. The swordsman may have had a look that screamed murder on the outside, but inside he couldn't be more thankful for this comforting contact.
"What's the problem?" Komui asked as he sat behind his desk. Lavi gave Kanda a gentle nudge, causing the boy to straighten.
"Sir, Allen's getting worse," Kanda blurted, no emotion permeating his voice. At the initial announcement Komui didn't react, perhaps caught off guard by the suddenness of the news. He merely leaned back in his chair and took another sip of coffee. Kanda and Lavi both felt the pit of their stomachs drop out but they didn't let any of their emotions show. It seemed an eternity before Komui sighed and dropped his eyes upon his messy desk.
"What happened?" he asked gloomily.
"The pentacle began to bleed," Kanda replied simply.
"Hmm," Komui responded flatly. He got up quickly and moved toward the door. "It looks like we'll be pulling more all nighters," he paused. "Unless we can find Cross…"
"Find Cross? What do you…" Lavi didn't get time to finish his statement before Komui left the room, closing the door quickly behind him. Outside he leaned against the door and snickered.
"Hmmm, now it's just a matter of finding that man," he said with a bitter smile before he downed the rest of his coffee with abandon. "If only he could stay in one place.
AN: Hmm, it's starting to get interesting ^^ This story is pretty fun to write so I hope that everyone is having as much fun reading it as I am writing it! I like having another big project to work on. These things help keep me motivated lol. Hope everyone is looking forward to chapter 2!