Took a while, but I finished. This chapter was tough to write, why, I don't know.

Enjoy!


Chapter 8.

The two kings left the room. As soon as the door closed on them, Allen took the candle and burned the letter over the fireplace. With delight he saw how the drawings crumbled together and got turned to ash. Kanda watched is as well, imagining the now ashen remains to be Cross and his father.


"So the whole thing about the marriage... was because of a contract your father and uncle wrote when you were a kid?" Lenalee summed up, she and Allen were sitting outside Allen's old suite in the garden. He was leaving Ligoun the first thing the next day and wanted to spend some time with his friend who was going to stay in Li Sar for a bit longer.

"Yeah, apparently dad had thought we looked 'cute' together", Allen rolled his eyes as he talked. Lenalee giggled and Allen gave her a mock hurt lock. "What's so funny?" He asked.

"Nothing... just that this whole thing just seems so... Allen, you're married, actually married... to Kanda!"

"Not by choice..." Allen grudgingly said, "s'not like that will change anything. We're just friends... maybe not even that anymore..."

"I'm sure that everything will work itself out. And you know how Kanda is, gotta be patient with him", Lenalee smiled and Allen worked up a small one too.

"Yeah, he's a bit slow, isn't he?"

"That's an understatement, Allen", Lavi said and promptly sat down next to them, "Yuu is just stupid."

"Don't say that to his face, he'll try to kill you... again", Lenalee smiled at some distant memory.

"Remember when Lavi cut his hair in his sleep?" Allen said and laughed, "His face was priceless!" Lenalee giggled, and Lavi got a dreamy look on his face as he reminisced about times long past.

"Yuu was slower back then... so easy to run away."

"He was pretty fast even then", Allen commented, "he got me every time."

"That's because you're slow, Alene~" Lavi teased and tugged at Allen's long ponytail. "At least he didn't try to beat me up" Allen replied smugly and moved away from Lavi's hand. The red-head retracted his hand.

"Well, that's just because you wore a pretty little yellow dress... you were too adorable for anyone to hurt you."

"Don't call me adorable!"

"Allen, he's right, you were really cute when you were a girl", Lenalee said, taking Lavi's side, to his immense happiness. Allen grumbled something inaudible, knowing that they were probably right. He was only saved from the same beating Lavi got when caught because Kanda had thought he was a girl – therefore a no-go, unless he wanted to experience the wrath of the adults. But now Kanda knew the truth... Allen could already feel the pain the future might bring if he made Kanda angry.

Then again, if he's king he can deport Kanda to some distant place... perhaps Aed Hel in the southern desert. Aed Hel is a prison where the worst criminals are sent, all aederian soldiers must serve there as guards for at least six months before being able to officially join the ranks. Though, from what Allen heard is that it's almost impossible to escape, and if someone were to, the desert would probably kill them.

The rest of the day was uneventful. He spent time with his two friends; Kanda was off somewhere doing whatever, and Cross didn't bother talking to him about the preparations for the journey home, Link however were with him – like a shadow, silent and always behind him, Allen was used to it.


"Have everything you need, son?" A worried king asked his son. Tiedoll knew that Kanda could take care of himself but as any father he had trouble actually letting go.

"I'm fine, let go of my arm!" Kanda was surprised at the strength Tiedoll used in the grip, and to not make a bigger scene than it already was – Allen was doing a great job on that already – Kanda didn't forcefully pull his arm away, lest Tiedoll might fall into the water as he tries to regain the grip. Sniffing, Tiedoll nodded several times before he slowly released Kanda's arm. The prince immediately took a step back to avoid further anxiety attacks from his father, but he didn't have to worry. Marie was subjected to the sudden crying and whatever nonsense Tiedoll was mumbling about, being the gentle soul that he was, Marie let him, he nodded to Kanda in good-bye, who did the same back. Among the 'brothers' he grew up with in Ligoun, Marie was the only one he could actually stand being with longer than a few minutes.

If he was to miss someone, it would probably be him.

Not that Kanda would ever admit it.

As he walked towards the ship that would take him to his new home, he saw Lenalee and Lavi, as well as her brother and Lavi's grandfather. He noticed that the two young adults stood close together, hands almost touching. But he didn't bother thinking about that, he was just glad Lavi wasn't being his usual rambunctious self.

"This is the last time I'll ever set a foot on a ship again!" Allen declared grumpily, Cross nodded without really listening, he signaled to Link, who nudged Allen to move. He ungraciously walked up to the ship's deck, after the king and the other prince, muttering the whole time.

"Captain", Cross made an off-hand gesture towards his nephew and the others, "we're ready for departure", the captain bowed and as the party went below deck the ship slowly left the port.


The salty air was refreshing; the sun was setting and the sky was beautifully orange and pink, though the dark clouds hid most of it from view. The wind was picking up speed, but the ocean was still somewhat calm. Though, it wouldn't be long until the storm would hit.

"Damn it, a storm? Couldn't come at a worse time", Kanda turned around to see the king himself coming to lean against the railing, the never-ending cigarette between his lips, a large hat on his head, but the wind had him take it off. Kanda gave him a questioning look, not knowing what the other meant. Cross continued, without waiting for the prince to say anything. "Won't be fun on deck nor below it... if this will be anything like last time there was a storm, then you should prepare yourself, since you'll be sharing a cabin."

"What?" Kanda couldn't understand Cross cryptic message. The king glanced at him, a pitying look that looked so out of place on the kings face.

"I think you should go down to him, he's not feeling particularly well right now, and I imagine it will only get worse."

"Beansprout?"

"Who else?"

"What about the Beansprout?" Cross almost couldn't keep the irritation from his voice, and with great strain on himself he told Kanda patiently exactly what he meant:

"Allen is currently in your cabin, throwing up his insides, and as the rocking gets worse so will he."

"So? What's that got to do with me?"

"Well... unless you want the room messy..." Kanda blinked as he slowly understood, but his expression soon changed to a frown.

"That guy... who's always following Beansprout, he can take care of it."

"Sir Howard Link has been assigned another task."

"One of the servants..."

"You are the husband..." Kanda scowled at the king then he felt the first rain drop on his chin. He looked up at the almost black clouds, and muttering something inaudible he left the deck. He didn't see Cross' smug smile. Tossing the cigarette into the ocean he followed the prince down below.

Allen was not feeling well. Actually he was feeling downright horrible. He was sitting on the floor, a bucket between his knees, trying to stay still as the rocking progressively grew worse. He bent over the bucket and retched when a stronger wave hit the ship. The door opened just as he rested his head against the wall.

"You look like shit", he could hear Kanda's grumpy voice say.

"I feel like it", Allen could manage a small smile. His face was pale, almost stark white, his skin covered in cold sweat. He tried to sit up straight, but a wave of nausea came over him as he did. Kanda sat down on the bed after debating whether to leave Allen in his misery or not. The smile widened slightly when he saw that Kanda stayed, always doing what Allen didn't expect him to do.

"You don't need to stay... this won't end until we're there. The captain can probably give you an another room."

"I have a feeling your uncle wouldn't look too keenly at that", Kanda answered calmly, Allen made some kind of snort instead of laughing.

"You're scared."

"I'm not!"

"You are... and here I thought you couldn't get scared of anything."

"Shut up. I'm not 'scared'." Allen smiled even more, but it soon turned sour and he bent over the bucket again, Kanda looked away while the other was retching.

"Heh, don't have anything left to throw up anymore", Kanda, smelling the awful stench, stood up and took the bucket from the other. Allen reached after it weakly but Kanda was already out of the room.

He came back after about fifteen minutes. The bucket empty and clean.

"Get up", Kanda demanded, Allen looked up at him quizzically.

"Wha...?"

"I said get up."

"If you haven't noticed, I'm sitting here because I don't have the strength to stand anymore, and I don't want to spoil the bed or anything", Kanda made his trademark 'tch' sound and grabbed Allen's arms, forcing him up. He then guided him to the bed. When Allen lied down Kanda put the bucket next to the bed, just in case.

"Go to sleep", Allen raised an eyebrow at Kanda's strange behavior but didn't argue with him. He closed his eyes, hoping that the nausea wouldn't keep him up the whole night. He felt the bed shifting so he turned around and opened his eyes again to suddenly be face to face with Kanda. He blinked surprised and Kanda rolled his eyes.

"Blame your uncle for this", Kanda said and then turned around, his back facing Allen, who did the same.

The peace of night was disturbed many times by Allen, who'd bend over the bedside and loudly tried to throw up something, but since he hadn't eaten anything since they boarded the ship, there was nothing but bile left. Kanda woke up every time, cursing in his mind for the situation he was in. When morning at last came Kanda left the cabin in a hurry, not wanting to hear anymore of Allen's seasickness. He went to the deck first, craving the fresh, salty air. He leaned against the railing for a while, watching the horizon. They were not far from land; one could see the most southern part of Aederia on starboard's side, a vast, unforgiving desert. When he was young and his father took him to Aederia they would go by the sea, and every morning, as the sun arose, Kanda would come up to deck and gaze over the distant land.

"How far is it to Aed Sorh?" Kanda asked the captain as he walked up the stairs to the helm of the ship.

"We'll soon be at the Guard tower, Your Highness", the captain answered.

"Guard tower?" The captain nodded.

"Yeah, 'tis a tall tower at the southern end of the peninsula at the Golden beaches. The king had it built after the Earl's forces landed there two summers ago."

"He attacked from the south?" Kanda couldn't believe the idiocy. Having your army march through a desert at the hottest time of the year was madness.

"What was his goal?" Kanda asked and the captain shrugged.

"Ah dunno, guess he wanted to get to Aed Balh, 'tis the only city that far south, but the army missed it by miles, they made it to Ligoun's borders but the border troops took care of them. Ah, there it is, Your Highness... Aed Hurh", the captain pointed towards a tall building the same color as the desert. It reached the skies, towering over the ocean ominously.

"Is there anyone in there?" Kanda asked as they passed it, the captain shrugged.

"Ah dunno, guess so, but ah dun think anyone want to be there by their own free will. Place's like a prison ah hear." The ship sailed passed it quickly, as if afraid of the immense tower. Kanda left the captain and went below deck. He went to the kitchen, thinking of eating some breakfast. The chef was shocked to find him there, but soon manned up and gave him the already prepared meal. Kanda took it and was about to leave when he suddenly thought of Beansprout, so he turned to the chef again, asking this time for an orange.

He went back to the cabin, holding his food in his right hand and the orange in the left.

"Oi, Beansprout, brought you something to..." Kanda said while entering the cabin, he was shocked at what he saw, "eat..." Allen was sitting on the bed just about to put a new shirt on, the old one discarded on the floor. But it wasn't any of that that had caught Kanda's attention.

"What the fuck's wrong with your arm?" He asked, not really believing what he saw, Allen got a panic look and hurriedly put the shirt on and the nearest glove. He was about to button the shirt close when he suddenly saw Kanda standing in front of him.

"I'm sorry you had to see that... I won't show it again. Promise", Allen said almost desperately.

"Show it to me", Kanda demanded, he put the tray and the orange down on a small table by the wall as Allen hesitantly took of the shirt again. Kanda roughly took Allen's left hand in his own and studied the arm. It was red, scaly and rough to the touch. The fingernails were sharp and black; it looked in every way like a monster's arm. Unnatural and hideous.

"How the hell you get this?" Kanda asked and Allen pulled his arm away and then proceeded to put the shirt on, he didn't answer. "Was it when your father died?" Allen stopped what he was doing and closed his eyes. Kanda could see a faint red line on the eyelid, from the scar.

"No", Allen finally said, "I got the scar and white hair from when he died, the arm has always been like that", Kanda remembered when they were young and Allen had always taken care that his arm was covered up. This was the reason? Not that it was strange that he would want to cover it up, it's not something one would like to look at. "Don't worry, I won't do the same mistake again", Allen said and then he ushered Kanda of the bed so that he could lie down.

"Tch, it's your room too", Allen looked at him incredulously.

"Huh?" Kanda threw him the orange hitting Allen in the face.

"Eat the damn orange", he ordered.


A little, black haired girl happily bounced into a parlor where an incredibly large man was sitting on a petite arm chair, drinking tea from an equally petite cup. His, black top hat was almost as tall as the little girl and adorned by fake lollipops and caramels.

"Is it true? Are they returning from Ligoun?" She asked and jumped up onto the man's lap.

"Yes dear, they are. And it seems Neah was correct as well", the man replied merrily. The girl's face lit up.

"They actually got married?" Her voice filled with excitement, the man nodded. She got a longing look on her face, her eyes distant. "I wish I had been there, must have been splendid. The man smiled and put a hand on her head, patting it, her smile was as sweet as candy, but sinister.

"Your chance will come, dear. So if you would please... ", he gently ushered the girl of his lap, "go get Neah and the twins, I need to speak with them."

"The vacation's over?" She asked.

"The vacation's over", he confirmed.


Okay, the story will actually get somewhere now -.-'

An 8 chapter prelude wasn't exactly what I had in mind but I guess it's fine...

I'm sure you know who the two in the last part are...

Seya next time ^^