DISCLAIMER: Don't own D.gray-man or its characters
"Sorry about this, but because of the winding canyon, we can't ride on Oudzuchi."
"It's all right. I can walk." Lenalee said softly. It was a struggle for her just to talk. She walked in between the two, as they held her arms, steadying her.
"Well, don't push yourself. If you need to rest, just say so." Mizuki said.
It's still quite far to that old geezer, but safety is our top priority. Lavi glanced quickly at Mizuki. At least there are two of us.
A cry sounded, not far from where they were. "Mizuki, stay with Lenalee!" Lavi said urgently. She nodded, and helped Lenalee sit down.
As Lavi rounded the corner, he spotted a young girl attempting to fight off an Akuma, unsuccessfully. She fell to the ground. "Oudzuchi Kodzuchi! Grow! Grow! Grow!" bringing his hammer down, he destroyed the Akuma quickly. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked.
The girl, dressed as a maid, got up and yelled, "Thank you so much for saving me!" She ran up to him, "How can I repay you?" she grabbed his hand and shook it up and down enthusiastically as Lavi sweatdropped."You saved my life, my nose, and my chest! I'm Mimi, by the way," she winked.
Lavi returned to Lenalee and Mizuki with the girl. "You!" Mizuki yelled, pointing a finger at Lavi. "I leave you alone for one second, and you go and pick up girls?! Especially when Lenalee is sick?! What's wrong with you?" she punched the top of his head.
"Ow! I wasn't picking up girls!" he said, rubbing his head. "She was being attacked by Akuma!"
"Um…would it be all right if I traveled with you?" she interrupted.
Mizuki stopped mid-punch as Lavi cringed, eyeing her fist. "Huh? Travel with us?"
"Yeah. We're traveling the canyon in the same direction. Until then, please let me accompany you."
"No. Go back."
Mizuki looked at Lavi in surprise. It wasn't like him to speak this way to a young girl, and a pretty one at that. He's right, though. If she does come with us, then not only do we have to protect Lenalee, but this girl as well. Besides, if the Akuma are targeting us, we'd just be putting her in more danger.
"Do you want another experience like that again?" Lavi echoed Mizuki's thoughts, referring back to the girl's confrontation with the Akuma.
"I'm a maid. I would like to assist you at least until we get to the village. I beg of you Danna-san (master or husband)!" she pleaded.
Mizuki fell to the floor. "Danna-san…?" she said weakly. They just met. She sweatdropped.
She's determined to follow us, Lavi thought. I guess there's no other choice. "Fine. But only until we get out of the canyon," he said reluctantly.
"Thank you! As a maid, I'll put my whole heart, nose, and chest into serving you!" she said clapping her hands together. She ran up to Lavi and hugged him, nuzzling her face into his chest.
"Hey," Lavi protested.
An anger mark popped out of Mizuki's forehead. "Let's not get carried away now, all right?" Mizuki peeled the reluctant girl off of the boy and half-dragged her away.
The three exorcists walked forward as the maid trailed closely behind them. She quickened her pace to walk with them. "Let me help you with something."
"Your intentions are good enough…" Lavi said politely.
"Don't say that…how about this?" she whipped a huge fan out of nowhere and fanned Lavi.
"I'm fine. Do Lenalee."
"Okay!" she walked over to Lenalee and fanned her.
"Thank you."
Mimi inspected Lenalee closely. "You don't look very well at all," the young girl said. "Do you want to take a break?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine." Lenalee looked a little dazed and would have fallen forward if Lavi hadn't caught her.
"Maybe she's right. Let's take a break," Mizuki suggested.
Lenalee sat, leaning against a slope, panting heavily. Lavi went to the river and knelt, washing a cloth. The girl snuck up behind him and extended her arm out…
"Hey! What are you doing?" Mizuki snuck up from behind the girl, who jumped up in surprise.
Lavi reached back and grabbed the girl's hand. "Mimi, what are you doing?"
"Uh…I thought you could use this too!" she pulled a washcloth from her pocket. "Sorry for doing something so reckless…"
"No, it was my fault," Lavi released her and Mimi walked back to Lenalee.
Mizuki knelt down next to Lavi. She looked back at the girl suspiciously. "Umm…what exactly was she trying to do?" It looked like she was trying to grab his ass or something.
"I dunno, I guess she was trying to help." He shrugged.
"I'd keep my eyes peeled if I were you, Lavi."
"Food preparations are complete, Danna-sama!" she yelled. The two exorcists turned around and she held a plate of cooked fish with some sort of sauce in the shape of a heart around it.
"I didn't ask you to do that…" Lavi said slowly.
"This is my first time making a meal for a man," she winked. "Maybe this will lead us to being a couple, getting married, having five babies, and being a happy family!" she thought dreamily. "If that happens, what will I do?" she had pink hearts in her eyes.
"I don't think so…" Lavi responded, embarrassed. Not too far from where they were, Mizuki gagged rather loudly.
"Please eat this for the sake of our future together!" she persisted. She walked towards him, but tripped, the fish and the plate flying into the air. She made a leap as if to go grab Lavi's leg, but he used his hammer 'extend' to catch the food and she fell to the ground.
Later that night they all decided to make camp in a cool area within the canyon. Lenalee lay covered in blankets, her fever refusing to subside, and not showing any improvement whatsoever.
"I wonder if they're all right, Allen and Krory," she wondered, her voice weak. "If I hadn't been caught by that Akuma, we wouldn't have been separated from them. On top of that, I've caused you two so much trouble. I'm really sorry."
Lavi and Mizuki sat beside her, keeping her company.
"What did I tell you about apologizing for things that you didn't do, Lenalee?" Mizuki lectured. "None of this is your fault. And I'm sure Allen and Krory are fine."
Lavi nodded in agreement. "You should be worrying about yourself instead of others."
"Please," she put her hand on Lavi's and looked at her two friends. "If there ever comes a time where I'm slowing you down, leave me behind."
Mizuki balled her hands up into fists. "There is absolutely NO way we are leaving you behind. Ever."
Lavi put his hand on top of Lenalee's and gently squeezed. "I will get you to that old man," he said, resolute. "No matter what happens, I'll get you there!"
"She said to leave her behind," Mimi spoke from behind them. "So why don't you just leave her?"
"You know, it's rude to eavesdrop," Mizuki noted. "Besides, we'd never leave a comrade when she really needs us!"
"But, if she doesn't want you to, then you shouldn't pointlessly drag her along," she continued. "Feelings for your partner don't always have to bind you."
"Mimi…" said Lavi.
The girl covered her mouth quickly as if she'd accidentally let that slip. "Excuse me for saying something unnecessary," she apologized. She smiled, pointing her finger, "Perhaps I'm just tired. I'm going to wash my face!" she left the three in her wake.
Lavi got up and watched as the girl skipped away. She's really confusing.
Mizuki turned back to Lenalee and smiled, "Maybe you should sleep now, Lenalee. Just ignore her."
Lenalee nodded and closed her eyes, falling asleep quickly.
Mizuki got up and walked towards their campsite. "Hey, Lavi," Mizuki motioned him over.
"So…what do you think of Mimi?" she asked casually, not looking at him. She started fumbling with their sleeping bags. "She seems kinda shady to me. And I don't buy this whole 'damsel in distress' thing she keeps doing. I mean, how many times have you had to save her ass since she began traveling with us? Maybe she's using it as an excuse to get close." She seemed a bit disgruntled.
He shrugged. "It's probably just a crush, Mizuki." His grin grew even wider. "Don't tell me you're jealous!"
She flushed slightly and looked at him, indignant. "You wish! I'm just looking out for you, that's all!"
"Ahh, it's all right, Mizuki. It's not surprising. After all, not only am I charming, but I'm amazingly handsome as well," he closed his eyes and grasped his chin. A smug expression took over his face as he opened his eye. "Besides, there's no need to be jealous. She's not my type."
"Oh please, every girl is your type. And you'd better get that stupid smile off your face or I"ll rearrange it for you." She said with a glint in her eye. She threw his sleeping bag at his face.
"Hey!" he pulled the sleeping bag off. He frowned slightly. "That's not true!"
She ignored him and pulled her sleeping bag over next to Lenalee.
She lay down on her stomach, resting her head sideways on her arms. Lavi dragged his sleeping bag over to the girls and slept in the opposite direction, mirroring them. He imitated Mizuki's position, laying on his stomach so he could look at her.
"You're pretty violent for a girl, you know."
"Shut up. At least this way, people take me seriously," she mumbled, playing with a strand of her hair.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," she sighed. She turned over on her back put her arms behind her head. The stars looked like fireflies, sparkling in the moonlight. After a couple of seconds, Lavi's head blocked her view. He leaned over her, smiling, but she wasn't amused. "Excuse me, but I'm trying to enjoy the view."
"You mean you're not right now?" he joked. She glared at him and his smile slowly faded.
She sat up Indian-style, facing him. She rested her chin in one hand. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't really mean it. I know you're just teasing."
"No, it's not that." He paused to look at her wide eyes and her face, glowing in the moonlight. "Why don't you trust us, Mizuki?" he asked softly.
She looked away. "What do you mean? Of course I trust you guys."
"Not entirely. Sometimes you push us away when we try and get too close. Lenalee may not realize it, but both Allen and I know you're hiding something from us. Something that has to do with the Noah."
Mizuki's face darkened. I can't tell them. Not yet, at least. I'm not ready. She scowled, "I guess my response to that is…you guys just can't trust me."
"I won't accept that as an answer!" He raised his voice slightly, but tried not to yell because Lenalee was sleeping.
Mizuki sighed heavily and looked him in his brilliant green eye. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"Not for a second."
"I'll only tell you this much: I once lost two friends to a Noah. So, I guess you can say with the Noah, I'm a bit uneasy. And I'd rather not relive it right this moment. I'm sorry." She lay on her side and pulled the covers up to her neck. "Good night, Lavi."
Lavi sat there for a few more moments, mulling over what she had just told him. After a while, he lay down quietly and fell asleep. Mizuki trembled quietly, silent tears falling freely from her face.