And it's Komui's story now~! Because someone has to be wondering how a bunch of pretty Asians all miraculously managed to get into the same house… A bit of sad back story is necessary for this, clearly. Goodness, this chapter is gonna be long….
Disclaimer: Saya doesn't own the actors, just the script they're acting to.
Warnings: Rated M for sexual material en masse, and pedophilia, considering how both Cross and Tyki are much older than Allen.
10. The Right Choices
Komui didn't really like school, so he was glad when the New Year's break came around. It wasn't as though he was a stupid child, and it wasn't as though he didn't value education. He just knew there was something beyond what he was being taught, and he wanted to get there but it seemed that no one was ever going to show him that secret knowledge. There was something lacking in all of his subjects, something uncertain about them that he didn't like. Who was to say the history he was taught was true? The rules of language changed all the time. The "sciences" he was taught seemed so much more like mysticism that real science to him. Math at least had a nice, solid foundation. There were no exceptions in it; things were just as they appeared. He felt like that one subject at least could be trusted to bring him closer to the truths he wanted to find.
He was home now though, and things were simpler at home. All Komui had to worry about at the moment was getting the ingredients his mother would need for their New Year's meal. Shopping was such a chore, but he was happy to help out in any way he could. The marketplace was always pretty interesting, too; there wasn't much that caught his eye, but studying the people there was just as entertaining as anything else.
One person in particular always caught his interest. There was a foreigner who ran a small shop of his own. He wasn't as outlandishly foreign as some of the other outsiders Komui had seen, his hair was a medium brown instead of that strange gold color so many of them had. His eyes were a hazel color instead of blue. He was still pale with distinctly non-Chinese characteristics, but at least he didn't stand out so much in a crowd.
"Ah, Komui! Coming to visit again, or just running errands?" The foreigner asked as he waved over to him. Komui waved back and walked over to the small shop, he had plenty of time to spare. Komui had come to befriend this man over some books that he sold. This guy was a scientist, a real scientist. He relied on formulas and proven facts, mathematics and concrete evidence. Komui had found himself hanging around the shop so much that the owner had eventually given him a job there. That was a bit of a blessing, as Komui's parents had been hoping he would get a job to help them with their financial troubles.
"Just running errands, though a little visit never hurt anyone," Komui said happily. The two of them entered the shop; it was a bookstore, and while the majority of the books were in a language that the locals could understand, there were a few sections that were just filled with English books, and a few other languages. Komui liked those sections best; they had all sorts of interesting books on physics, chemistry and anatomy. There was even a few Chinese-to-English dictionaries, which were a great help to Komui seeing as he had a very limited English vocabulary. The foreigner could only teach him so much while they were working, and Komui couldn't really practice at home, his parents didn't like foreigners or their languages. They'd be shocked to know their dear son was working for one.
"Getting ready for New Years, hm? The celebration is always so extravagant, I like the way you celebrate it a lot more than the way I do."
"I wonder if I'd agree," Komui said quietly. For a long time he'd been very curious about the place this man came from. The foreigner didn't particularly like where he came from which was why he was here, but Komui was fascinated with European culture, and of course western science.
"Knowing you boy, you'd probably love it there," the man muttered with a roll of his eyes. Komui chuckled, but stopped when a stack of heavy books was dropped before him.
"What're these…?" Komui asked with a raised eyebrow. The foreigner gave his usual roguish grin and explained.
"They're some medical books I just got in today, newest edition," he said, anticipating Komui's excited expression. Komui was not one to disappoint, and he didn't this time either. His eyes lit up and he quickly started flipping through the top book. Oh goodness, these books were practically begging for him to buy them. For one greedy moment he was tempted to use the money his parents had given him for shopping to buy them, but quickly he threw that thought away. He could come back and get them later, if he really wanted them. It would be wrong to steal from his family like that.
The foreigner knew Komui well enough to have a pretty good idea of what was going on in his mind.
"Take them Komui, I know you're dying to," the foreigner said, feeling charitable. He found it difficult to deny Komui anything.
"I can't, I can't pay for them," Komui said immediately, denying the man's kindness. It wouldn't feel right to him to just take them when those books were undoubtedly costly.
"Sure ya can Komui, consider them a New Year's gift. A Christmas gift too, since you wouldn't let me get you anything at the time."
Komui was unsure if he would feel right accepting these; it didn't feel like he'd earned them. But oh, did he want to just take them, say a quick thanks and then bolt for home and forget all about anything that didn't have to do with science.
"You've been working your ass off here since you were twelve. After two years of hard work and loyal patronage, I think you deserve a gift or two."
"You always think I deserve a gift or two," Komui muttered back, but despite himself he was finding it harder and harder to reject the man's offer.
"Well it's not everyday I find a young boy so interested in learning. What's wrong with me trying to fuel the fire? The world could use a bright mind like yours. Just take them and enjoy, Komui. I'd be a bit insulted if you didn't."
That was sort of unfair. Komui knew he wouldn't really be, but now he was sort of obligated to take them. Granted, it was an obligation he'd gladly fulfill but it was still a bit low to say that. Darn foreigner knew just how to make Komui accept a gift.
"I see then. Thank you for your kindness," Komui said, his gratefulness and excitement showing clearly now that he'd accepted the gift.
"Don't mention it kid."
000
Komui thought nothing of it when he walked into the closed bookstore on a day that it was usually open. It wouldn't be the first time that the owner forgot to open shop, or had slept in and had yet to open the store. Komui had even found himself making breakfast for the owner a few times, oddly enough. So he walked into the store, fully prepared to go upstairs into the older man's apartment and wake him up.
However, he didn't expect to enter the store and see the shelves empty and boxes stacked all around.
"What's going on here?" Komui's eyebrows knitted together, his confusing evident on his face.
"Sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner Komui, I'm sure this is a surprise for you," the man apologized as he brought another box in from the back room. "I recently got a letter from my brother. My father is practically on his deathbed, and I intend to see him before he dies. I'm going back to England."
"Oh." Komui couldn't argue with the man's reasons because if his father was dying he would drop everything and go to his side, too. "Will you be coming back?"
The foreigner shook his head. "Probably not. I can't now, I'm the oldest son, expected to take over the family business. I've got a job waiting for me there, and if I read my brother's letter right, I might have a fiancé waiting for me, too." The foreigner's dislike of this situation was evident in his expression, though his tone was resigned.
The foreigner wasn't the only one who was upset by this, naturally Komui was too. The man had been a very close friend of his for years now, ever since Komui had wandered into the science section of this store when he was 11. It had been nearly four years since then, this man was almost like an older brother to him, or maybe a favorite uncle. Komui would feel very lonely when he left.
Still, Komui couldn't selfishly ask him to stay, or to come back when his father was dead. Komui couldn't take this man from his family and his responsibilities selfishly, even though the man probably wanted to stay just as much as Komui didn't want him to leave.
"Um…Komui, I've been thinking about this for a while, since even before I got this letter," the man said, seeming uncertain, "I've known for a while I would have to go back, ever since I caught wind of my father's illness. So I've been wondering… if you would like to come back with me. I know you've wanted to go there for a long time, and it would be much easier for me to teach you there than it is here. You know enough English now to get by, too. If you wanted, I could bring you home with me."
Komui was struck with the mad desire to leave for England when he heard those words. How easy it would be to just pack his bags and leave with the foreigner? He could go off to England and learn the science he was so interested in properly. Together he and this man could do all those experiments that they couldn't do here because they didn't have the supplies. He could always come back home if he wanted to, too, this didn't have to be a permanent move. So tempting this offer was, so, so tempting…
But Komui had family, too. He also had parents that were getting on in years, and he had a precious little sister who was just two years old. His parents wouldn't be able to keep up with her in a few years, she'd be a ball of energy and they'd just be old and tired. Komui was needed by his family; he was needed by his sister. Someone had to protect her from all the jealous girls and love-struck boys when she grew up, someone needed to teach her right from wrong and shield her from the bad things in this world. What if something happened to her, or their parents? Komui couldn't leave his family alone.
After a long, tense silence Komui had come to his decision. "I'm sorry…I can't come with you. Just as you have to be there for your family, I too have to stay here with mine. Maybe when little Lenalee is married I'll go to study in England, but until she is taken care of and my parents are secure, I can't leave."
The foreigner gave a small, understanding smile. He'd known that the question was stupid; he realized Komui would never come with him but he just had to try.
"I see. Well, if you ever do make it to England, be sure to stop by Soho Square, I live in there area. Maybe we'll meet again?" The man said hopefully, his uncertainty turning the statement into a question. Komui felt like he couldn't look at this man whom he owed so much to while denying his kindness like this.
"I hope we do," was all he said in return. The store was silent as the two continued to pack everything into boxes.
000
By the time Komui was fifteen, he'd translated every book he'd ever gotten from the foreigner's store, and had read through half of them. Some of it was very complicated, it was the kind of science that a fifteen-year-old shouldn't be able to understand, Komui was sure. Still, he had textbooks for every level of learning so it wasn't difficult for him to go back and find the information he needed in order to make sense of something.
School had become completely pointless to him. He knew plenty of his own language, and he didn't care about history, not really. He'd gotten mathematics books from the foreigner, too; he was currently decoding a trigonometry textbook. Komui decided it would be for the best if he concentrated on doing work to help with finances. But everyday before he returned to his room, he went into the storehouse and got out whatever book suited his fancy. He couldn't keep them in his room, he couldn't keep them anywhere that his parents might find, so he kept them in that old storehouse on the edge of their property that was in disuse.
Today he didn't think he would be making a stop at the storehouse, though. The scent of smoke made itself known to him in little teases of air, wafting slowing from the direction of the main house. His stomach clenched in fear, but he tried to calm it. It wasn't too unusual for there to be a fire going, the air was chilly so someone was probably just warming up the furnace. There was no reason to panic, surely, and yet he did.
For a moment, Komui stopped dead in his tracks when he came to the top of the hill, where he could clearly see his home. There, at the very center of his house in the area that he was pretty sure was the kitchen, a fire was raging. It was eating its way though the roof already, burning through the walls, his home was burning from the inside out.
There wasn't a moment to lose, Komui had to run as fast as he could, he had to reach his family and be sure that they were alright. The fire had probably started in the kitchen, chances are whoever had been in there was dead or at least seriously injured. At this time of day Lenalee would be sleeping in her room, it was farthest from the kitchen. If Komui was fast enough, he could probably reach her before she inhaled too much smoke. He knew what would happen if she did. Oh, the drawback of knowing too much.
In the end, Lenalee was the only one he could save. He'd made it a priority to get her out of her room first, because he knew he could save her, at least. But the rest of the house burned fast, and as hard as he tried he still couldn't find anyone in any of the safe places in the house. The two of them waited for hours outside of the house, even long after it had stopped burning, hoping beyond hope that their parents would come home from the market, upset but safe, or that one of them would miraculously walk out of the wreckage. Neither happened.
Komui counted it as a small mercy that Lenalee was so young; she was two and probably wouldn't remember much of what was happening, or of their parents. She wouldn't have to miss them the way he would. It was midmorning when she woke up again, perfectly fine if not somewhat confused. She made him put her down, and when she realized she wasn't at home in her warm little room but outside near the old storehouse, her eyes got wide and watery and her little lips trembled.
"Shhh, little Lenalee, you're alright, you're big brother's got you now."
000
Komui didn't have much money on him, but after his parents were confirmed dead he was left with much more money that he ever would've thought his family had. Most of it was money to go towards Lenalee's marriage and education, though a good deal was for Komui, too. He emptied out all of their accounts, took the money and decided to use it to get himself and Lenalee to England. He didn't know much about the place, but he knew it wasn't really kind to the destitute. Then again, nowhere was and at this rate they were destined to become just that. Komui couldn't keep Lenalee alive and fed that way. He was going to get to Soho Square in London, if he could find it and he was fairly good with geography so he was sure he could at least get them in that general area.
The trip over was longer and harder than he expected. Budgeting was difficult enough when he was using his local currency, but he constantly needed to go to the exchange and he knew that if he weren't so adept at math and if he didn't know English he would've been swindled out of a lot of money, just because he was a teenager and people thought they could trick him.
But he did make it to England, and it was easy enough to make his way to London. Of course, once he got there he was completely out of money and he didn't want to risk living as homeless for even a day while he had Lenalee with him. If he was by himself he wouldn't mind it at all, but he wasn't and he wouldn't endanger his precious sister. He needed to find shelter, and he needed to find shelter in a safe place.
Faintly, he remembered that the foreigner had always kept a cross around his neck. It took a moment for Komui to think of why he would remember something like that while wandering the streets with his baby sister. Komui had thought it was strange that the foreigner was a religious man when he was so involved with science. He'd asked once about it and the foreigner had said that God had proven himself just as surely as any science had. He'd said that God had helped him through plenty of things, as well as the church…
A church. Komui was remembering this because that foreigner had told him about the churches in London. Perhaps someone there could help, or at the very least they could take shelter in the chapel for the night. Komui made finding a church his top priority.
It wasn't so hard to find one, as it turned out. It was midday when he stumbled upon one, just across the street from what looked like a school. That was pretty convenient, the foreigner he knew had once told him education was compulsory in England for children, and now Komui knew where he could send Lenalee when she was old enough.
The tall, graying stone building with its large wooden doors was a bit intimidating at first, but Komui was tired and hardly cared. Hesitantly he entered the church, his little sister holding his hand, tottering beside him.
"Um…Excuse me, anyone here?" Komui asked quietly. He felt like he was trespassing on sacred ground or something; Komui didn't even believe in these people's God and yet he was going to ask for their help. His eyes focused on a small figure to the very back of the church, near the alter. The person stood and looked back at them. It was a woman, and she looked to be in her late 20s. Slowly, the woman made her way to Komui and his sister. Not sure what to make of this woman, Komui picked up Lenalee and held her to him protectively.
"Ah…Hello sir, is there anything I can do for you?" She asked, much less wary of him than he was of her. Komui tried to calm down, though he found it hard to.
"Um… I'm not really sure if you can help or not but… My little sister and I don't have anywhere to stay, and I was hoping someone here could be of some assistance…" Komui wasn't really sure how anyone here could help him, now that he thought about it. Maybe he was being stupid, and this woman was just going to tell him so?
Contrary to what he'd expected, the woman's face became worried as she looked from Komui to the tired, slightly frightened girl in his arms. Lenalee was clinging to his shirt, her face buried in his chest as though she really believed he could protect her from everything. So far he'd done a pretty good job of it. Eventually though, she looked over to the woman, who was speaking to her in a soothing voice. Komui had only ever talked to her in Chinese, she had learned to speak fairly early but even she had no idea what the lady was saying to her. Komui knew that the woman was doing her best to ease Lenalee's fears, and he felt that anyone who was so concerned about his dear sister couldn't be bad.
He knew that the moment Lenalee looked at the woman with her round, perfect eyes that the woman was taken with her. Maternal instinct seemed to take over, and the woman looked up to Komui.
"I think that we should be able to help you, but I will have to ask the priest first. For now though, please feel free to stay in the church. I will go find Father Marc and get the two of you something to eat. Does that sound alright?"
"Uh…Yes, that would be very much appreciated, thank you," Komui said awkwardly. He hadn't been expecting to meet someone so kind first thing upon entering London. The woman, she'd identified herself as a nun belonging to the church's associated convent, whisked out of the church hall, and came back a few moments later with a middle-aged man and two sandwiches. Lenalee was so happy and thankful that Komui couldn't help but be doubly thankful for the nun's kindness.
"Hello, I'm Father Marc. I've heard a bit about your situation from Sister Claire. Would you mind explaining it for me? After that, we can work out a plan to help the two of you. How does that sound?" The man spoke with a soothing tone, his very presence was enough to reassure Komui that everything would turn out right, one way or another.
"That sounds fine. Thank you so much sir."
000
Together with Father Marc and Sister Claire, Komui worked out a deal that would allow both himself and Lenalee to stay in the church. Lenalee would be given a room in the convent (though she was not obligated to become a nun or anything of the sort), and Komui would stay in the rectory with the father, simply because as a male he couldn't be allowed to stay in the convent. Komui would do chores around the church to earn their keep, and when Lenalee was old enough she would start attending the school across the street. They were welcome to stay as long as they wanted, though Father Marc made it clear that Komui had to work diligently, and he had to find himself a proper job and place of residence by the time he was 18. Komui would've been grateful for just a night's stay; he hadn't been prepared for this sort of kindness.
Maybe that foreigner wasn't so off when he said God proved himself?
000
The nuns seemed to have absolutely no inclination to turn Lenalee into a nun herself. They were definitely trying to bring her up in God, and they were doing a wonderful job of teaching her English, but they all seemed to think she'd make the most darling bride when she was old enough to marry, and hoped that they'd get to see her walk down the isle of their church. That was when Komui started worrying about Lenalee getting married. He had to admit that she definitely would make an adorable bride, and she'd definitely be one worth having, but she'd be much too good for all those boys! She couldn't get married, because her husband would take her away from him!
More than anything, Komui was starting to wish that Lenalee would choose to be a nun.
During the daytime, when Lenalee was being taught English by the nuns and Komui was done with his morning chores and had free time, he would sit out in the church yard and read. His textbooks had been undamaged by the fire because they hadn't been in the same house, and considering they were the only things that had made it through the fire, Komui felt it was only logical to take them on their journey. He'd bought a suitcase for them and some necessities for himself and Lenalee before they left. He'd taken to reading a bit every day during his free time; the churchyard was so pretty and calm.
Komui didn't really sit in the yard though, he preferred sitting on the wall that surrounded the church. It was a medium-height wall that was a little difficult to climb on top of, but it was well worth it to climb up there everyday; the churchyard looked better from a bird's eye view. There was better lighting too, because there were no trees in the way. His eyes were pretty bad as it was; he was considering getting glasses when he could afford them.
Something he started noticing after a while was that everyday someone walked by the wall he sat on. It was always that same one person; a boy, maybe his age, maybe a bit older, with long vermilion hair that hung free of any bindings, so unlike Komui's sleek black hair that hung down his back in a long ponytail. Sometimes the stranger would be with a woman, and Komui noticed that he was never with the same woman twice. At first, Komui didn't pay the boy any mind; who cared if someone decided to walk past the church everyday? It was no concern of his.
But then Komui noticed something about this person—every time he walked by, he looked at Komui curiously. It wasn't a bad sort of curiosity, the boy was just curious. He peered at Komui everyday from under a sheet of his pretty red hair, whether he was with a woman or not. Komui noticed that half of his face was covered with a mask, he started wondering why.
One day, Komui was simply far too absorbed in his reading to care when the teen walked by, not to say he ever had, really. That was the day he should've been paying attention though, because if he had then that person wouldn't have had the chance to sneak up on him and blow into his ear. Komui jolted and nearly fell off the wall, and his book fell to the ground. The teen chuckled and carefully bent down to pick up the book. He examined the cover for a moment, a mix of amusement and surprise on his face.
"Reading science texts on the church wall? A little blasphemous, isn't it?" The boy asked, his voice was deep though not oddly so, and smooth as silk. It teased the ear sensually and Komui was lost in the sound for a moment. Then he looked at the teen who'd spoken, really looked at him for the first time from a distance where he could clearly see his face. The face he was staring into was just as beautiful as the voice that it had spoken with.
Komui shook himself out of his daze and answered the boy a little rudely, "Not really. I got this from a devote Christian. He wouldn't have even touched this if it said anything against God. I imagine that's why he ripped anything concerning evolution out of my textbooks." And Komui knew that's what the foreigner had ripped out only because the missing pages were the pages listed for evolution in the table of contents and index.
"If you say so, stranger," the boy said with a shrug, not seeming to care that he was talking to someone he didn't know. "But if you're reading that, then I can guess that you're interested in science?"
"How astute of you," Komui said dryly. This guy exuded an air of self-confidence that bordered on arrogance so closely it was annoying. Besides, blowing into someone's ear was definitely not the proper way to greet someone. Komui wasn't partial to arrogant jerks, gorgeous or not.
"Your manners astound and amaze," the stranger said with a roll of the eye, Komui snorted at his sarcasm.
"I might've been prompted to be more polite had I been given a proper greeting."
"Oh, is that all?" The stranger said, as though he couldn't believe he even needed to do something so normal. "In that case, my name is Cross Marian, heir to the Marian family. What might your name be miss?"
"Not a girl, ass." Komui had been mistaken for a girl before, and with his delicate face and long hair he could understand why. It was still a blow to his pride though, and it definitely didn't make him like this foreigner any.
"I know, your figure is hardly feminine. I was just curious about what your reaction would be." As doubtful as Komui was about that statement, one look at that smirking face (so annoying he just wanted to punch it) and he knew the bastard was telling the truth.
"I've got to say though, even if you can find a loophole in reading physics books on the church wall, I doubt you can think of an excuse for swearing on it."
"…" Komui opened his mouth to reply with an annoyed "Screw you," but he didn't feel like prompting the boy, Cross, to talk anymore than he had. Komui felt that Cross had been very properly named; he certainly made Komui feel cross.
"You know, when someone gives you their name, it's only polite to give your own in return," Cross said with a hint of impatience in his face. Komui raised an eyebrow to the statement and snatched his book back from the boy, still such a stranger to him, and deigned to reply.
"Lee, my name is Komui Lee."
"Komui Lee, hm? A name just as pretty and exotic as you are." It was Komui's turn to roll his eyes now, but he did so with his lips turned up into a bit of a smirk. It was plain as day that Cross was joking when he said that, he was just being sarcastic.
"Your lines won't work on me, playboy, find another victim," Komui said with a hint of mirth. Cross chuckled behind his hand.
"I think I'm going to like you, Komui Lee."
"Really? Because I think I'm going to hate you."
000
Despite himself, Komui found himself not hating Cross Marian. That sort of pissed him off because he'd been very determined to dislike this character. Cross was a morally corrupt womanizer and was only 16, a year older than Komui. He did so many things that went against Komui's own ideas of right and wrong, and even Father Marc had told him to beware of getting sucked into iniquity by Cross, for goodness' sake! Even so, Komui found himself inexplicably drawn to this person, there was just something very alluring in the sinful nature of this man.
Of course, it helped that Cross was just as into the sciences as Komui was. That had been how it started; everyday Cross would stop at the church wall and they'd talked over different theories and laws and the specific fields that interested them. They spent hours talking over higher-level science, sounding for all the world like a couple of old scientists who'd tested every theory and proved every law themselves. Komui hadn't really gotten the impression that Cross would be so intelligent when they'd first met, but truly the man was a genius.
Eventually, they started talking about more personal things, too. Marian talked about this girl he absolutely hated but was going to have to marry (to Komui, it sounded like Cross was head-over-heals for this girl), and Komui talked about Lenalee and the foreigner he'd befriended so long ago. They never bothered to find a different place to meet; a change of scenery never crossed their minds. It was easy enough to stay near the church and besides, Komui couldn't leave the premises without permission.
"Soho isn't too far away from here, you know," Cross said one day as they were discussing Komui's old friend, "If you want to see him, we could always walk there."
"No, I can't right now," Komui said immediately. He didn't want that foreigner to know he was living off the charity of a church with his little sister, it would too embarrassing, and he knew his old friend would offer him help. He didn't know if he'd be able to resist that man's generosity this time around. Naturally Komui didn't explain that to Cross, but he had the feeling that the other boy knew without being told.
"Hm, to each their own I guess." Cross shrugged and hopped off of the church wall just as the bell rung three. "In any case, I've got a date."
"With Maria, I hope," Komui said; he had yet to meet this mysterious girl, but Komui would prefer it if Cross was faithful to her. Cross just grinned and rolled his eye, which was answer enough for Komui. Poor Maria, how on earth would she fair, being married to this threat to women everywhere? Though if Cross' stories were anything to go by she wasn't much better. The black-haired boy sighed, it was impossible to understand those sorts of people.
000
Winters in England were a lot gloomier than they were back home, Komui realized as he shivered through his first winter there. He was sincerely thankful that Father Marc hadn't decided to boot him after one year; Komui was becoming unsure of whether or not he could survive without the church's kindness. Lenalee wouldn't be so well off, that much could be certain.
It was too cold to sit on top of the church wall, instead Komui used it to block the cool wind that whipped around him as he waited for Cross. He half-expected that the spoiled brat wouldn't show.
"Huh, and here I thought that you wouldn't leave the rectory while it was so cold." Apparently Komui wasn't the only one with his doubts.
"I didn't think a pampered boy like you could withstand the elements either." Cross laughed his deep, rich laugh that smoothed Komui's annoyance mysteriously. He sat back on his haunches next to Komui, watching as fluffy white snow was tossed around carelessly by the wind. A moment of silence passed between the two teens.
"You know, the guy who kept the records for my family died recently. Didn't really know the old bugger so I can't say I miss him," Cross said suddenly and for what seemed to be no reason. Komui gave him a strange look, not understanding why Cross would bring that up.
"Why tell me that if you don't care?" Komui asked, and with his eyebrow raised he turned to look at Cross. Said spoiled teen sighed in exasperation.
"That means his job is open, stupid. He mainly did accounting for the multiple companies my family owns. You're a genius at math. Take a moment to think about what that might mean for you and your sister who are currently living at the mercy of the church."
Komui didn't have to think long before he understood what Cross was saying. This was a job offer. For a moment, he didn't know if he really wanted to take that offer, after all he definitely didn't want to work under his arrogant friend. Still, when Komui thought about it while thinking about what was best for Lenalee, the offer was much more appealing. The two of them would be out of the church when he turned eighteen in two years, Komui had to find himself a steady job that paid enough to at least keep the two of them out of the east end of town because he refused to subject Lenalee to that sort of living. Cross' offer was just so perfect.
"But I'm only 16."
"And you look like you're 13, but it's your brain that matters, not your age. You could do higher level math in your sleep than you'd have to for this job."
"I imagine there will be some sort of test to see if I could actually do the job, no?"
"Mana will probably see if you can do the math and he'll walk you through the first few weeks of working, but I can't imagine you'd slip up too badly."
"Who is going to take care of Lenalee while I'm working?"
"She'll have to go to school next year, right? Until then she can tag along with Mana, he's great with brats. Maybe Maria, if you'd prefer a woman watch her. Maria's always going on about wanting a little sister, she'd take care of Lenalee as good as any nun."
"Just how is this Maria character anything like a nun? I never got that impression of her." Cross laughed for a moment before going on.
"She knows how to act in front of kids, at least. Personally I think she'd have come out better if she'd had a sibling to set an example for."
"Don't talk as if you're any less corrupt than she is. Besides, from what you say, she hates you, so she'll probably hate me by default. What makes you think she'll take care of my sister when she's busy hating me for being associated with you?"
"…Just say you'll take the fucking job already Komui, it's too cold out for me to walk over here everyday, and I know you'd be just torn if I didn't visit your cage often."
For a moment Komui scowled at Cross, annoyed with him for having the audacity to think that his absence would have any affect of Komui. But he couldn't stay angry for long, and a moment later he was exhaling loudly, ruffling his bangs to stop himself from laughing.
"So your pampered ass really can't stand to weather the elements after all. Pansy."
"Could you just take the damn job already?"
000
Komui had felt much more confident about taking this job while listening to Cross go on about how great he'd be at it than he was now. The Marian manor was much more intimidating than the humble church he lived at had ever been. It was tall, beautiful and extravagant. Komui was hesitant to just pass the gate, even though the guard hardly looked menacing. That probably had something to do with the fact that Cross was standing beside him, and no one would dare frighten the young master's guest. Damn rich people.
Mana came to greet the two on the walkway to the front door of the mansion. He was a middle-aged man with strong features who was graying just a bit. Komui knew him from the stories Cross told about him; he was fatherly and had raised Cross since before the young master could remember. Mana had also accompanied Cross out a few times to the church wall. He too, seemed much more intimidating than he had before, especially considering he was the one who really held Komui's hopes in his hands.
A bit of Komui's fears dissipated when Mana smiled warmly at the two. "Good afternoon you two. I already know of your aptitude for mathematics, Komui, so I don't really think this little test is necessary. Let's get these formalities out of the way now, shall we?" Komui nodded numbly to the question and tried to calm himself enough to actually do this.
The test was laughably easy; Komui could've passed it in his sleep. Mana had just given him a few copies of the old accounting books that Komui's predecessor had used, and had him fill them out properly, doing the math he needed to along the way. It hadn't even taken Komui an hour to breeze though it and so by the end of the day, he had a job. He had a home, too; a real home that he would be working for and get to keep for himself, not just two little rooms in a rectory and convent.
It was very begrudgingly that Komui thanked Cross for this; he hated knowing that he'd had to rely on yet another person's charity to get him what he wanted and needed. What was it with foreigners and doting on him, anyway? Komui didn't understand it. Still, he definitely owed Cross, so he did try to express his thanks.
Unfortunately, in the middle of his hesitant thanks and Cross' smug acceptance of said thanks, an interloper entered the scene. She had to be the most beautiful interloper Komui'd ever seen. The girl was about his age, with moon-pale skin and the most delicate face. Her eyes were cat-like in their shape with long black lashes and deep chocolate irises. Her red lips turned upwards just a bit in a somewhat amused expression. Lush dark brown hair was piled on her head in a detailed fashion that Komui couldn't hope to comprehend, some of it coming down to frame her elegant face. Komui did his best to keep his eyes on her face, he didn't dare let them stray towards her shapely body for more than a second.
There was no doubt in Komui's mind that this beautiful woman—a girl really, but boy did she look like a woman—was Maria, Cross' fiancé. Physically she was perfect, but Komui could see the sharpness in her eyes that made it clear that her personality was probably a bit crueler.
"Hm, I've seen Cross bring home a lot of women before, but this is the first time he's brought a man home for the night," she said, looking reading to burst into laughter. Her eyes cut to Cross' face, amusement making them shine. For the first time Komui watched genuine annoyance and even a hint of embarrassment come over Cross' features. Mana sighed and dragged a hand down his face.
"It's not like that Maria and you know it," Cross ground out through his teeth. Komui tried to stop himself from feeling too awkward. "I told you I'd be bringing Komui here for a job interview today. He's a friend of mine."
"I know, I know. Damn it all though, I was really hoping you were of that persuasion," she said with a resigned sigh. "Looks like I'm stuck with you after all."
"No one's stopping you from running away if you hate the idea so much princess."
"Maybe I will."
"Good."
"Jerk."
Cross' reply was cut off suddenly when a strange, almost strangled noise made it's way out of Komui's throat. The bickering, reluctant couple both looked at him strangely. Try as he might, Komui couldn't keep it in anymore, and a moment later started laughing almost hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Maria asked, not quite getting the joke and feeling a bit peeved to know she was being laughed at.
"I-I get why Cross hates you so much now," Komui said when there was enough air in his lungs, "You're just like him!"
000
"I demand you take what you said back, Mr. Komui!"
"But it's true."
It had been a week since Komui had come to the Marian manor, and both he and Lenalee had recently finished moving in. Leaving the church had been a sad thing, but Komui promised Father Marc and Sister Claire that he would have the two of them in church every Sunday so it wasn't like they'd never meet again. Neither Cross nor Maria had let his comment about them being the same go.
"It is not true! I am nothing like that womanizing, arrogant, self-absorbed scoundrel!"
"Strange, Cross said the same thing to me, only he said he wasn't like 'That man-eating, proud, vain hussy.' Even your descriptions of each other are identical in meaning."
Maria huffed, her delicate hands clenching into fists. 'Cross made just that same expression,' Komui thought with a chuckle, and continued walking to his room. Maria seemed to realize that he wasn't paying attention to her and followed him, determined to get him to pay her enough mind to see that she clearly was nothing like Cross. It reminded Komui of the way Cross had followed him around as he'd packed up to leave the church.
"I'm nothing like her, how could you say that?"
"On the contrary, it's uncanny just how alike you are."
"Oh come on Komui, there has to be something different about the two of us; you can't say we're just alike, no two people are."
"You're right; there is a difference between you."
"I knew you'd see the light."
"Yes, you're of different genders."
"Ugh." Maria looked ready to hit her head against the wall in frustration. Or maybe she wanted to bash Komui's against the cold stones, he couldn't be sure. He imagined that Maria wasn't used to having people not do as she said, and she was probably very unused to men shirking off her orders the way Komui was. He felt impervious to her charms, most likely because he'd met Cross first and everything she did made him think "Cross would've done the same" and that was a bit of a turn-off. Besides, Komui was too upright to even think of letting himself be seduced by his friend's fiancé.
"You're so difficult, Komui," she said, her tone changing to one that was a bit pleading in a decidedly not-innocent way. His eyebrows shot up as he looked at her, pretty face pouting perfectly as she stared at him. Without meaning to Komui imagined Cross' equivalent to that expression and shuddered at the thought. He needed to get out of the habit of comparing them.
"I suppose I am."
"What, I wonder…" Maria was suddenly closer, looking seductive. Komui thanked God his room was just a few steps away. If he made it into the door he could shut her out and shake off the unpleasant feeling this situation gave him. "Does it take to break through to a man like you?" The light pressure of her perfectly manicured hand on his arm was warm, inviting in a way it shouldn't have been. Komui took another sure step towards his room; she was getting much too close to be proper.
"Okay, two differences then. I don't think Cross would ever attempt to seduce me," Komui said as he reached his door. He gently pushed her away, with a small smile on his face. He could tell that she wasn't so serious about this seduction; it was probably a game to her at this point. She smirked at her small victory.
"Then again if he were desperate enough, who knows," Komui added sarcastically. Maria snorted at the thought.
"You're funny, Komui," she said, no longer seductive. She was just a girl now, just a sixteen-year-old like himself who wasn't expressing her hate for her fiancé by coming on to anything in pants.
"Funny indeed." The two teens jolted when they heard the third voice. Slowly the two turned to see Cross leaning on the wall about a meter away from them. His expression was one of amusement, but Komui could see something brewing just below the surface that made him feel endangered. Maria didn't seem to notice it though, maybe she just ignoring it.
"Oops, looks like you've caught me with your man, Cross," she joked, and stood on her toes to kiss Komui's cheek, "I guess I should leave before the lovers' spat breaks out." Maria was quick to leave the hall, a bit of a giggle passing through he lips as she did. Komui was now certain that she'd seen the jealousy in Cross' eyes, and he knew something else, too; she wanted him to feel jealous.
Komui was dragged into his room and promptly slammed against the large mahogany doors.
"What the hell was that Komui?" Cross ground out clearly furious. Komui tried not to loose his head over how frightening Cross could be when angry.
"You were right there, Cross. You should've been able to realize that she wasn't serious in her pursuit of me and that I was clearly pushing her away."
"You were headed for your room."
"So I could shut her out. I'm not about to fall for my friend's woman." Cross took a step back from Komui with a longsuffering sigh. He moved back to sit on Komui's bed, both of his large hands raking through his long hair.
"Sorry, Komui, I was being stupid. It's just….ugh, she drives me crazy with the way she acts!" As Komui watched Cross burn in jealousy, he knew he'd been right to think that Cross really did love Maria, despite how much he said to the contrary. Something about that almost hurt and Komui didn't know why.
000
"Ge-ge do I really have to go?" Lenalee looked up at Komui with her adorable round eyes anxiously. It was her first day of school, and Komui was just as hesitant to let her go as she was to leave.
"Yes, Lenalee. Don't worry, you'll love school. All your friends from the convent are here, and you're so cute you're bound to make a lot of new ones!" Komui tried to sooth her fears while speaking calmingly in their mother tongue to her, but even he was worried. She looked so different from all of the children milling around the schoolyard, she was sure to be picked on. As Komui's eyes scanned the crowds of kids he noticed that she didn't look so different from all of them. One boy stood by the school wall that looked to be of Asian origin, so at least she wasn't the only one who was different. He could tell that same boy had caught her eye a moment later.
"You'll do fine, Lenalee… You're such a sweet girl, of course you'll be fine." Komui dropped to his knees to hug her as the school bell rang. "You're growing up so fast, and in school already…I'm going to miss not having you at home with me."
"Ge-ge, you're embarrassing…" She muttered even as she hugged him back. Komui smiled a bit and stood back up.
"I suppose I am. Now run along, you don't want to be late," Komui said, switching to English. Lenalee nodded, and headed to the Asian boy near the wall, who was now talking to a redhead. He hoped she wouldn't be late to her first class.
Komui also hoped that those two boys were nice to her, because they'd have hell to pay if they weren't.
000
The fact that Lenalee had quickly made friends at school took a lot of stress off Komui's shoulders, though the fact that they were both boys (boys! Those things turned into hormone-driven dogs when they grew up!) was a whole new worry to deal with. For the first time in a while Komui sincerely hoped Lenalee decided to join the convent.
However, as long as Lenalee was well taken care of at school, Komui didn't have to worry about her. That meant he had to either focus on work or on his own problem. His problem was that his work was too mind-numbing and repetitive to block out his other problems. Damn it all. His other problems weren't financial in nature; he was well-paid and was set for life, really. His worries were of an emotional nature. They had to do with Cross and Maria. Or just Cross in general.
He'd been realizing it more and more recently, as the deadline for Cross' marriage loomed ever nearer, that he liked not the young master's destined bride-to-be, but her bridegroom! Besides the fact that such feelings went against all the things he'd been taught by that foreigner from so long ago and by the priest he'd lived with for so long, he felt sick for falling for a friend, a taken man! Komui must've had something wrong with him, maybe he'd inhaled one too many poisonous chemicals while working in Cross' labs?
Komui had to do something about this, he couldn't let himself feel something so wrong for much longer. At the moment, Cross and Maria still had a bittersweet relationship. They were always fighting, but something about their fights had changed; it was like they were two actors simply performing opposing roles when they really loved each other off stage. But neither of them wanted to outright admit that they loved the other, so perhaps if Komui gave them a bit of a push in the right direction and they just admitted their feelings to each other, he could kill whatever feeling it was that persisted in his own heart?
One day, when the two of them had chosen to bicker in his office (his nice, if not ridiculously cluttered office), he got so annoyed with them that he decided to actually put this plan into action.
"Goodness you two! I get it already; you know how to yell at each other! Now could you please for the love of all that is holy just skip to the part where you accidently admit you fucking love each other and get out of my office?!"
The two had stopped mid-yell to stare at him, and then stare at each other. Komui could see it as the truth of his words made itself known to them and they turned back to each other, looking for all the world like two shy, awkward school children.
"You…You know what? Komui is right," Cross said once he'd regained his bearings, "I'll be a man and admit it. Maria, I've never once actually thought it would be a bad thing to marry you. I've been looking forward to it for years."
"Oh…Cross…" Maria's eyes were watery and she bit her bottom lip before it could start to tremble. She launched herself into his arms and let out a happy sob into his chest. Something in Komui clenched painfully as the desire to destroy their relationship grew in him and boiled violently. He locked it away into a little drawer in the back of his mind, and just let those feelings crush him as he watched the two resolve themselves.
A few moments later when Komui's hopes were good and gone, he cleared his throat and broke up their moment.
"I'm happy you two are happy now, but it's time for the two of you to move this little love confession out of my office," Komui said, managing to sound surprisingly honest about his words. The two had the grace to look embarrassed, and quickly left the room, most likely headed for one of their bedrooms. The moment they left, Komui sighed and put his head in his hands. Killing off his own emotions hurt.
000
Komui watched for two years as both Cross and Maria gave up their lovers one-by-one, locked away their liquor and threw their cigarettes into the trash. It was so sweet it was nearly sickening to watch them, but at least the hopelessness Komui felt because of the situation was enough to smother his feelings for the time being. He even felt sort of happy for them, because he wanted to see Cross happy; he wanted to see both of his friends happy. He'd even managed to stop himself from strangling Maria in the night by thinking about how happy they were. All in all, Komui thought he was doing pretty good.
Of course, now that the wedding was all of two weeks away and Komui was expected to act the part of an overjoyed best man, he wasn't so sure he could keep this up. What if he did something rash during the wedding, what if he ruined things for Cross? Komui imagined that wouldn't be forgiven easily. He was sure he felt more nervous about the wedding than both Cross and Maria combined.
That day while he tried to release his stress with science (sweet, cold science had never betrayed him!), Maria came into the lab alone to talk to him. This was highly unusual for two reasons; one, Cross had been attached to her hip for the last year and a half, and two, she had always refused to enter the labs.
"Komui, you don't have to force yourself to be so supportive," she said bluntly once she was sure she held Komui's full attention. For a moment his mind couldn't think of what she was talking about. Sighing, Maria went on to explain, "The Marriage. You don't have to be so supportive when I know you don't really feel that way."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Komui said nonchalantly, hoping to sound as sure of this as he wanted to.
"Don't lie to me; I've seen you looking at him. You look at Cross the way I do."
"I sure hope I don't." Komui knew he did; only he looked more hopeless than she.
"It's okay, Komui, really. Honestly, I'm sort of glad someone besides me loves him," she said with a strange tone of voice that Komui didn't really understand. That was such a strange statement, especially coming from her; she was so possessive of Cross usually, how odd it was of her to say she wanted competition. Not to say Komui was any competition for this positively stunning woman, no one was.
"You're acting strange, Maria," Komui said in a dubious voice. There was something so wrong about this whole thing, he just couldn't place it. Maria sighed and looked away from him.
"Honestly, I feel strange, too."
"Oh goodness, you're pregnant, aren't you? Do you feel sick? If so then please get out of here, the chemicals I'm working with aren't the healthiest to breathe in anyway."
"NO YOU IDIOT! Not that kind of strange! Just…I don't know!" She groaned in annoyance, and for a moment Komui could tell she was debating making him drink his solvent. He hoped she didn't decide to do it, it was poisonous…
"So you've just got cold feet, Maria? That's plenty normal, everyone feels that way before they get married. Just think of how happy you'll be when it's all over and the two of you are honeymooning in Barcelona." Maria let out a short laugh at the thought. Something in it was strained though, and it clued Komui in to the fact that there was something bigger than a case of the wedding blues going on here.
"You're right, Komui. I've just got to think about the happiness we'll share…" Maria's gaze was far away, but Komui couldn't help feel that she wasn't thinking about Cross.
000
"Ugh, make 'er go 'way…" Cross groaned drunkenly as he stumbled into Komui's bedroom. It was two weeks after the wedding, or at least two weeks had passed since the date the wedding had been set for.
Maria had run away and left only a note behind, explaining that she'd run off with one lover that she had never let go of. Cross had already gone through feelings of shock and anger, and now he was sinking into depression. Komui had never imagined that Cross could feel depressed, it was so…wrong. Komui had never wanted something like this for his friend.
"I can't make her go away Cross, she isn't here," Komui said, sitting up and getting out of bed. Cross tripped over his feet a bit as he made his way over to Komui. The man hadn't had a drink in two years, his tolerance for alcohol had clearly diminished somewhat. Then again, he'd been trashed for nearly two weeks straight; it was no surprise that it was showing.
"Don' lie Komuiiii… Y'always made 'er go…" Komui raised an eyebrow to the man; he couldn't recall one instance where he'd actually managed to make Maria leave a place when she hadn't wanted to herself. He'd never had any power over Maria, just like he'd never had any over Cross.
"Don't be silly Cross, I can't make her leave if she's not here."
"She's in m' head… Get 'er out."
"Oh yes, just let me reach into your ear and pull your thoughts out that way…" Komui muttered under his breath. Cross missed every word he said.
"You've done it b'fore… get her out again." Komui was pretty sure Cross had finally reached the stage of drunkenness where one started spewing out nonsensical drivel, and decided to put Cross to sleep soon. Komui could go sleep in Lenalee's room, or he could just stay awake and make sure Cross didn't over-sleep, but either way he didn't want to hear all of the strange things Cross was bound to say to him while conscious.
"I've never been able to get her out of your thoughts, idiot," Komui said quietly as he led Cross to his bed. Cross' eye narrowed and he faced Komui, stopping the younger man in his tracks. He took Komui's face in his hands ('Stop fluttering heart, now is hardly the time,' Komui told himself), and looked his straight in the eyes.
"You can, Komui. Do it now," Cross demanded, sounding much more sober than he actually was. Komui shook his head, denying Cross. He didn't want to think about what Cross was saying, the redhead was going to confuse him with his drunken rambling, and he couldn't allow that.
"I can't."
"Please." As far as Komui had known, that word had never been in Cross' vocabulary. A pleading Cross was… so, so wrong.
So tempting.
When Komui didn't make a move to back away or obey, Cross took it upon himself to initiate contact. He drew himself closer, so close to Komui's lips that the young man could feel the heat of his master's breath on him, so promising… But at the last moment Komui denied himself and pushed away.
"You're drunk," he said simply, more as a reminder to himself than to Cross, "I can't." Komui wasn't going to do let Cross do something that he would regret later, he didn't want to even be tempted to let it happen. Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, Komui walked away from Cross and left the room.
Komui wished he could do the wrong thing for once.
Ah…this chapter was even longer than the last! We'll get back to smaller chapters next time…oh goodness, that was crazy long. By the way, the place where Saya stopped this is about a year before Allen comes to the Marian manor. That's not such a big thing in Komui's life, so it didn't get into this chapter. Next chapter we go back to normal! Unless, of course, anyone wants some backstory on one of the other characters? These sort of chapters can really just be dispersed anywhere in the story, so Saya supposes that if a lot of people want the same character's backstory she can just add that chapter to this whenever… But whatever, y'all probably just wanna get back to normal.