WARNING! This story contains SPOILERS and YAOI! Also a few minor OCs, so don't kill me.
Ooook...so this chapter took a while to update. ^_^;; I was kinda occupied with the holidays and...LOVE...and all that jazz. *coughcough*
Anywhoozles, just a heads up, but in the next few chapters, you may...want to shoot me. Hehe...things happen. SO ANYWAY! Just find out.
I love you reviewers! You guys make my day every time I read your responses. So much so that...once we reach 200 reviews, I'm gonna write an extra-special omake just for you! After 200, I'll take requests from everyone and put them all together into a crazy mixed-up short! Sound fun?
Oh and...*clears throat*...GO READ SACRIFICE!! xD Tis by my lovely Moyashi. And it's epic. ._. Don't just take my word for it...go read it!
Rated: T [for violence and language] Bold: Used only in dreams or flashbacks to indicate the main character's lines. Italics: Used to indicate dreams, flashbacks, and thoughts.
Chapter Seventeen: Tension
A grunt.
A giggle.
A groan.
"This is an embarrassment to the entire Order."
"Ohmigosh, they look adorable!"
"L-Lenalee-san..."
Mono Fei, Lenalee Lee, and Howard Link had walked in on Kanda and Allen. The two were peacefully asleep in each other's arms. Kanda had one arm securely about the younger's waist while Allen was nuzzled under the older's chin, one hand resting on an undamaged portion of the samurai's chest. Both inspectors were shocked to different degrees, but Lenalee thought it was the cutest thing ever.
"Oh come on! You have to admit that's cute!"
Fei gave her a sideways look. Link facepalmed.
"No...not really Lenalee..."
The Chinese girl proceeded to go off on a fan-girl rant about how no one should be judged based on their sexuality. The inspectors groaned and Fei began arguing vehemently on how it was a disgrace and blasphemy against the church. Link just tuned her out.
And in the middle of it all, a certain samurai woke up.
Ugh...what on earth is that racket?!
"It's not right!!"
"If Kanda-kun loves Allen-kun, he can do what he likes!!"
Kanda's eyes flew open.
WHAT THE F*CK?!?!
It was then that he realized just who was in his arms, snoozing away. Kanda sat up with a start, peeling Allen off him. There was barely a twinge in his chest, thanks to the healing power of the lotus. Surprisingly, the white-haired boy kept snoring, head buried in Kanda's lap.
"Oh! Kanda-kun, you're awake!"
Lenalee smiled brightly, leaving a fuming Fei and a distracted Link behind her as she hobbled over to the side of the bed. She supported herself on crutches and one of her feet dangled just above the floor, swathed in a cast. Kanda tugged at his own bandages around his chest and shoulders, prying them off. He gave her a sideways glance and narrowed one eye.
"Hn."
Fei cleared his throat and gave Kanda a dark look.
"Pardon me, but what pray tell are you doing with Master Allen in your bed? You're supposed to be healing."
"I'm healed."
"That doesn't explain Allen."
"The moyashi fell asleep on me. Che."
They both stared at each other accusingly until Lenalee burst in, much to Kanda's chagrin.
"Oh~! And you LET him?"
#%$#*!!
::
Nnn...what's that noise?
Allen woke slowly and yawned, hearing voices. His head was lying on something warm and he snuggled into it, earning a muffled curse and a twitch from said thing. He rubbed his eyes groggily and opened them.
Fei and Link were staring at him in slight horror. Lenalee was grinning with that evil spark in her eye. And as Allen glanced up, he caught sight of Kanda, who was currently shirtless and shooting him a glare. A very embarrassed glare complete with reddened cheeks. Then he noticed he was lying IN the older exorcist's lap. With his head on Kanda's crotch.
A dark blush crossed his face and he shot upright.
Well...that's not awkward at all.
"Ah...hehe...hey guys..."
The poor boy's weak attempt to diffuse the situation didn't work in the least. Link's shocked look turned into one of mildly angry disappointment. Fei's turned into a piercing glare that rivaled even Kanda's. Lenalee burst into a fit of giggles. And Kanda...
Allen chanced a look at the samurai, only to find him red as a beet with a hand over his face. He cracked a nervous and uneasy smile.
"S-Sorry...Kanda."
"Baka yaro..." (1)
"...Kanda?"
"You're an idiot."
"Oh...okay."
He didn't dare argue with the other now and merely agreed meekly with an embarrassed grin. Kanda looked up and stared at him, then shook his head, mumbling something else in Japanese that Allen couldn't understand. Lenalee got over her amusement enough to smile semi-innocently at the two of them.
"You don't have to worry about Kanda-kun anymore, Allen-kun. He seems fine now."
The cursed boy flushed further and cleared his throat, not daring to look at the Japanese as he was given a curious look.
"I...wasn't worried. He's always fine, otherwise he wouldn't be BaKanda."
Allen declared defiantly, crossing his arms with a childish huff. Kanda's interested glance soon became one of indignance.
"Che, you idiot, you were worried sick. Why else would I wake up to find you all weepy and sitting near me?"
"I was not! I merely was worried that we'd have to haul your ass back to the Order if you didn't wake up. It would have been a bother."
"Yea, sure, that completely explains the weepyness."
"BaKanda, weepyness isn't even a word!"
"It is now."
"Ch-eh!"
"...What are you trying to do, be like me?"
"No, I was mocking you, straight-cut-fringe."
"Well it didn't work, old man."
"I'm not an old man!"
"Yes you are, and you're a beansprout to top it all off."
"I'm not a sprout! Geez, Kanda, I'm nearly as tall as you. That insult doesn't work anymore."
"Baka, a beansprout isn't short. It's weak and brittle and thin. And shrimpy."
"Wh-What?! I'm not shrimpy!!"
"You're so shrimpy I'm surprised you haven't eaten yourself with tartar sauce yet."
"...Was that a jab at my eating habits?"
"I don't know, Moyashi, was it?"
The two male exorcists fell silent, glaring at each other. The inspectors were blinking in awe. Lenalee tittered. She had forgotten neither inspector had witnessed a full-out Kanda vs Allen verbal fight. Their faces were priceless. Link was the first to speak, hesitantly at that.
"U-Uhm...Kanda? Walker? If everything is in order and you are well enough to travel...we need to be going."
Lenalee couldn't resist adding in very smoothly to the conversation.
"Yea, I'm going to wait outside. Just meet up with me after you two have finished your little married-couple spat."
Neither boy was spared from mortification.
::
About a half an hour later, the exorcist trio and the two inspectors stood outside the hotel. Allen and Lenalee were in uniform, but since Kanda's was destroyed in the fight with Tyki, he wore his casual white collared shirt and black slacks, with Mugen strapped securely to his belt. Fei looked uninterested as Link stepped forward, all business.
"Alright, here's what's going to happen from here. Kanda and Walker. You two were supposed to stop in India, where General Tiedoll was to take the Innocence. However, since it was destroyed, you will continue on to Japan, where your next mission awaits. Inspector Fei and I will accompany you. Lenalee, since you're injured, you will head back to Headquarters. Krory and Chaoji have finished up their mission in Greece and will meet up with you so you don't travel alone."
Lenalee seemed disappointed, but nodded. There wasn't much she could do anyway with a broken ankle. Link turned aside to talk to Fei about something and Lenalee went over to sit down on a bench, resting her ankle. Allen sighed, not wanting to spend the next mission with the inspectors, but there was nothing he could do about it. He forced a smile on his face and glanced at Kanda.
"So it'll just be us this time. Kinda like our first mission together. Remember? With the doll?"
There was no reply.
Golden eyes blinked in confusion and Allen waited for a response, but the samurai wasn't giving it to him. He was staring ahead across the street at a fish seller.
...fish seller? Is Kanda hungry?
The boy's own stomach growled at the thought of food. It had been some time since they'd last eaten. He grimaced at the loud noise it made, catching Lenalee's laughter from the bench and the curious looks from the inspectors.
Kanda still gave no reply.
Allen narrowed his eyes at the other and tried again.
"...Kanda? Do you remember that mission?"
At the third moment of silence, Allen began to get worried. Kanda seemed not to hear him at all, continuing to stare at the peddler. No...not at the peddler.
He's not looking at anything...he's staring off into space.
And his eyebrows are furrowed.
...he's upset about something...
Surprised at how well he knew Kanda, Allen hesitantly placed his hand on the exorcist's shoulder. He wasn't sure what to say, so remained silent. The fingers of his hand gave Kanda's shoulder a soft squeeze.
That seemed to be enough to snap the older boy out of his reverie, because he jerked slightly and blinked a few times. His head turned to look at Allen, eyes narrowed accusingly, though the irises appeared cloudy.
"What do you want?"
Allen studied him for a moment before lowering his hand back down to his side. He heaved a sigh and looked away.
"...Nevermind."
A chance gaze back at the Japanese proved that Kanda had once more started staring off. Allen swallowed nervously.
...is he mad at me?
::
...Japan.
Of course it would have to be Japan.
Kanda glared at nothing in particular, trying to forget as he was washed over with memories. Japan was not exactly home-sweet-home, even if it was his homeland. It didn't feel like it.
"U-Uhm...so...are we taking the Ark or what?"
The hesitant question from sprout made him turn suddenly and study the boy. Allen was almost...recoiling...from him.
What the...
Kanda swiftly narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.
"No, baka. He is required for that."
Allen seemed to shrink further away, only to hitch a breath and stagger forward as the inspectors loomed behind him. Fei shot a look in Kanda's direction, which the exorcist returned with a glare. Link spoke firmly.
"There is no reason for the Ark not to be used, but considering the circumstances, I think Master Kanda should be given the choice."
The samurai blinked in confusion. Why him? Link caught Kanda's eyes and he found a strange gleam there. His own sapphires narrowed slowly.
What is Link thinking...?
Fei objected to that arrangement and turned to Link to argue in hushed tones. Kanda began to understand the reasoning behind it. If he was still injured, he had a right to choose the longer way of getting to Japan. This would eliminate the need for the Ark, though he wondered why Link, of all people, was bringing that up. Wouldn't the inspector want to see Allen use the Fourteenth's abilities? It just didn't make sense.
In any case, his choice meant Allen wouldn't have to take the Ark. And it delayed their arrival to Japan. Kanda would take it. Clearing his throat, he got the attention of the inspectors.
"Hn. Normally I wouldn't say this but...I am still feeling some pain. I would prefer taking a ship to the Ark."
Much to Fei's displeasure, Link nodded, closing the matter. Kanda chanced a glance at Allen, only to find the boy staring at him with a worried look.
"...You're still hurting, Kanda?"
With a sigh, the Japanese rubbed his temples.
I just can't win, can I?
He turned to walk past Allen and over to where Lenalee was sitting, but the sprout caught his arm. Directing a glare down at him, Kanda found himself stopped by the concern in Allen's golden orbs. His glare softened and he turned his head away.
"...I'll...be fine, Moyashi..."
Allen didn't seem convinced. He tightened his hold on Kanda's arm and narrowed his eyes.
"BaKanda! You were stabbed through the chest! I don't care how fast you heal; it's got to have some effect on you! Stop...blowing it off as if it's...nothing..."
He whispered shakily and the older exorcist felt his heart leap into his throat. Why, he didn't know. Ever since he'd woken up in the hotel room, there was something different about how he viewed the beansprout. Allen had cried for him when he thought he was going to die. Allen hadn't left his side. Allen was...the first person who'd shed a tear for him. Ever.
And Kanda didn't even deserve it.
Baka Moyashi...you're not supposed to care about what happens to me. No one is. No one DOES...but you...
...idiot.
Kanda sighed and pulled his arm gently out of Allen's grip, moving it to ruffle the head of snowy white hair. Allen closed one eye and tilted his head in confusion. The samurai let the tiniest bit of a twitch curve up one side of his mouth. But only slightly.
"Moyashi...how many times do I have to tell you? You're underestimating me."
He watched as the golden eyes softened and lowered his hand from Allen's head. Kanda looked away and opened his mouth to add in a quiet voice.
"...you...care about me too much..."
A strange lump formed in his throat and he heard the rapid intake of air as Allen prepared to answer him, but before either of them could say anything more, Link interrupted them.
"The ship to Japan is leaving in twenty minutes. Come."
Allen turned to follow Link obediently, glancing back over his shoulder at him. Kanda fell into step behind him, trying not to look at the sadness in his eyes. For some reason, it hurt to see that.
"Number Eight, remember what day tomorrow is. We may not be near Hevlaska, but you will still be taking your tests."
The snake-link voice at his ear made Kanda tense. He hissed under his breath and glared at the ground, focusing the real hatred towards Fei behind him.
One day I swear...I'll wring his f*cking neck.
Kanda: Wow Allen, really? You just HAD to wake up with your head THERE?!
Allen: You know you liked it. .///.
Kanda: Che. .///. Did not.
Allen: And if you're number 8, I got dibbs on number 9 cause I'm better than you.
Kanda. -.- Baka, higher numbers are typically WORSE.
Allen: o.o Oh. T-then I'm number 7! Ha!
Kanda: Idiot.
1: "Baka yaro" means "Stupid bastard". That wasn't very nice, Kanda.
Next chapter...On The Last Nerve.