Chapter 7: Bonds

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive. ~Anäis Nin

x - Colourful Moments - x

Everything just tore away the instant he saw the shocked expression formed on the raven-haired adult's face. In fact, he shouldn't be that stunned to see such a reaction from Kanda who knew nothing about him and his feelings on him till today. He did not know what was happening to him today. He wasn't the type of person who confessed out so willingly, considering the fact that Kanda might not return back the feelings. But after the girl entered between the both of them so easily, he just knew he had to tell him, and faced the consequences aftermath.

"It was because...I love you," Allen whispered softly at his ear. He could clearly see the stoic expression gradually turning slightly horrified at his statement. The grip loosened as his hand slowly let go of his, and Allen averted his gaze and turned away, slipping his hands into his pockets of his denim jeans as he started to leave. Thick silver strands mostly moved to the front of his face from the wind, hiding the tears which was threatening to stream down his cheeks. He bit his lip, trying to force the tears back because not only he did not want to be noticed by anyone at this moment, he did not want to feel

He was debating inwardly to himself, that telling his feelings to Kanda would lift up the heavy weight that he had been carrying for years. It did not matter whether he would return the feelings back. He just needed to know how he felt towards him. He would accept anything that came out of this. After all, this was just a one-sided love.

On the other hand, he really wished that, in a slightest chance, Kanda might love him back. He would pull him into a warm embrace, just like what couples and lovers did all the time, and as his warmth slowly filled him up, he would whisper softly in his ear, the three lovely words that he so wanted to hear. Their hands would entwine together, their faces leaned against each other as they breathed in their faint scents from their bodies. Then they would slowly close in the distance between them, and their lips met, tasting the sweetness that lingered inside.

Allen stopped as he saw a couple sitting on the bench, kissing. The area was rather dark, away from the street lights. This might be the reason why they chose that place to do that kind of...thing.

Their lips were moving in a rhythmic way, yet it was rough and furious, as though the man wanted to devour her whole. She just moaned softly between kisses, her hands clutching the shirt of the man before wrapping her arms around his neck and leaned closer to him, wanting more. He granted her request, as the man shifted down to her collarbone and started licking and making small bites which sent her mumbling for more. He smirked, feeling the side of her face as he proceeded unbuttoning her dress, his finger slowly trailing down her body. He could see her shuddering as a slow but loud groan escaped from her parted lips.

Allen looked away quickly, not wanting to see what was going to happen next. Well, he had a slight hunch of what was going to occur next, but he did not want to think about it.

Their loud cries rang through the silent night. He hid behind a tree, hearing and seeing everything, and the worst of it was, all he could think of right now was Kanda and him, and what they would be doing in the darkest corner of a room, all by themselves.

Everything just snapped. The silver-haired teen walked out and hurried off, not caring whether the couple would notice him. Anyway, the two of them seemed to be too absorbed in their routine that he doubted they even knew that the Earth was constantly revolving. His converse shoes stepped onto the damp ground as he continued to run till he finally reached to the open streets. He stopped in his footsteps, feeling breathless all of a sudden. His head was spinning strongly and his heart was hammering so hard that it felt as though his ribcage was going to break.

Allen swallowed and gasped as he closed his eyes for a few seconds, before reopening them as he stared at the street names. Hues of lights in different colours of gold and silver shimmered as they were decorated all over the town, so bright that he was slightly dizzy. People were moving around, mostly in families or couples, probably on their way home. Hearty whispers could be heard among them as they hugged one another, smiles lit on their faces. This was supposed to be a happy occasion, but it did not lift up his mood in the least.

He struggled with his disturbed emotions as he got up a bus which arrived at the bus stop. Allen sat down at the far end of the bus, his heavy head leaning against the window as he stared at the night view of the town in silence. As light wind blew at his face, his mind trailed back to the time when they celebrated Christmas in the Black Order. Everyone, except Kanda who did not want to engage himself in such festivities, took part in decorating the whole place with pretty lights and beautiful ornaments. He would always help Jerry in the cooking, partly because he wanted to test out the delicious pastries and dishes. Lavi would tease him for being so greedy, while Kanda called him a glutton. The two of them would end up quarrelling again, and when things got out of hand, Mother Lenalee would always find the right time to step in and stop them. Well, she always acted like a mother whenever she was dealing with him and Kanda.

This was not all. The best part was the decoration of the Christmas tree. Each one of them could use their imagination and decorate the tree to what they wanted it to be. He could recall how indecisive Miranda was in choosing whether to hang the colourful balls or the plastic candies first, and how Krory entangled the wires which almost got him electrocuted. They could spend hours just by deciding which best position the big star should be placed.

Everyone would gather at the cafeteria in the evening for their Christmas dinner, and as they chatted among themselves, somehow it would always end up in a food fight, to Jerry's great dismay. He remembered clearly how Lavi made a prank on Kanda into believing that there would not be any of his favourite soba served. And Kanda really fell for that. As the raven-haired swordsman began striding towards the kitchen to ask Jerry for the reason, Lavi used this chance and slapped a piece of butter creamy cake right at his face when he put down his guard. Boy, he could see that expressionless face darkening fast as the raven-haired swordsman flashed out Mugen and swore loudly that he would slay him in front of Santa. Everything just turned from bad to worse and the Christmas party had to end early with the canteen in total mess and everyone trying their best to separate the two of them to prevent a bloody scene from occurring. At this, Allen stiffened a laugh which slipped past his lips.

It was the 21st of December. Four more days till Christmas. Those happy memories could finally happen, as all of them would reunite once again. A faint smile appeared on his face as Allen stared at the shadows of the lamp posts on the road while the bus was driving on the expressway. Pale golden hues brightened and dimmed whenever they passed by a street light. As darkness sank in, he wandered back to the moments he shared with Kanda just now.

The bus just took a left turn, exiting the expressway and entering into another neighbourhood. He reached out to his right wrist where Kanda had gripped onto just now. The warmth was already gone long ago, yet he somehow had a slight feeling that it was still there.

I hate you.

Was it the right thing to let go of his hand? Now, he could no longer think in a calm and rational manner. Allen gently pressed the bell as he stood by the doors, waiting for the bus to stop. As the doors opened, a strong gust of chilly wind rushed onto him. He slowly stepped down onto the empty street, gazing at the housing district where his abode was. Pushing all thoughts behind his head, the silver-haired teen headed back to his house.

If you hate me, why are you doing this? Why are you...holding me back?

He opened the wooden door and was greeted by emptiness. It seemed that Lenalee had gone out. It wasn't as if he was expecting her to be home. Allen took off his boots as he closed the door behind him, before he walked to the kitchen to put down the bags of detergent and washing powder. He took out his brown coat and hung it on a chair, not bothered to hang it neatly on a hanger. Allen let out a breathless sigh as he sank onto the soft couch and lied down sideways, his legs dangling at the side. As he put his hand on his warm forehead, he gazed at the golden light on the ceiling.

That is because you are the person that is fucking holding me back!

He closed his eyes, slowly remembering the touches that he felt from the raven-haired man earlier on. They burnt intensely on his skin, so much that it hurt. He remembered how rough and hard he gripped onto his wrist, feeling the growing anxiety from the forceful tug as he pulled him out of the crowd, isolating the both of them in a dark area where no one would come here. He could feel his breaths tickling the side of his face. Allen let out soft groans as he turned and shifted his body, hugging his knees together.

"Kanda..." He breathed. His body started to heat up for no reasons. Deep inside, he could still hear the soft whispers of his low monotone voice echoing in his mind.

Before he led himself be swept away by his own shameful emotions, Kanda's smiling face appeared out of the blue. He was awake instantly, silver eyes snapped open as he sat up. He then began to laugh bitterly to himself. The silver-haired teen covered his face, messed up his long fringe as he continued to chuckle hysterically, before he gradually stopped. Allen peered at his frail reflection from the television screen, before he fell onto the couch, tears escaping from his eyes.

Kanda was indeed smiling, but that smile wasn't meant for him.

Silver eyes narrowed in pain as he bent down and covered his face with both hands, wishing to shut off everything that reminded him of the former raven-haired Exorcist.

x - Colourful Moments - x

"So this is where you live?" Lavi asked as he sent Lenalee to the door. Lenalee smiled and nodded her head.

"Yeah. With Allen and niisan. But niisan is currently overseas," She said as she took out the keys and put it into the keyhole. As a small click was heard, the door slowly opened with a long, irritating creak. The lights were left switched on, meaning that Allen was already home.

"Allen might probably be home now. Do you want to come in and sit for a while?" The redhead blinked for a moment.

"Is it okay?"

"Of course. Come in." Lenalee took off her boots as she gestured him to come into the house. Lavi nodded his head and entered, looking around. Everything was basically kept neatly in place. A tea set was placed on the white marble dining table, while a piano was situated at the side beside an old bookshelf. He raised his eyebrows in slight curiosity.

"Do you play the piano?" He asked.

"Oh. Frankly, my skill isn't that good. It is Allen who does the playing. Surprisingly, he is a genius at this," Lenalee laughed as she put her boots into the cupboard, before taking her cloth bag which was put on top of it and walked into the living room. She then spotted Allen sleeping soundly on a couch, hugging a cushion closely to his chest. The olive-haired girl smiled, somehow relieved that the silver-haired teen looked fine, but as she looked closer, she could see faint trails of tears at his cheeks. She frowned as she paced to him, kneeling down until she was looking at him at eye level.

"What is it, Lenalee?" Lavi noticed that she had been keeping quiet for the past five minutes. When she did not reply, he went over to her, before turning to see the person who had got her attention.

"Why, isn't this Allen. He looks well." Lenalee did not answer. A grim expression formed on her face, as she reached out to him and brushed strands of silver locks away from his eyes, putting it behind his earlobe.

"He was crying again." She muttered. Lavi's eyes widened slightly.

"What?"

"And I have no idea how to help him." Lenalee sat down on the floor as she turned away, tears welling up her eyes. Lavi said nothing and just went to sit beside her, putting his arm around her shoulder. She leaned against him for comfort.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I think it has got to do with Kanda."

"Yuu?" Lavi asked in slight surprise. He then remembered that very day when the two of them met. After seeing a ghostly figure of Allen, Kanda practically went crazy as he tore through the whole place. The raven-haired man definitely looked desperate at that point of time, but he was definitely surprised, because Kanda never showed his emotions to anyone - not even himself. When they found nothing, he slammed his fist against the tree in sheer force and got extremely worked up. He admitted that he was slightly taken aback by his behaviour.

The redhead frowned. But...why Allen?

"Lavi." He felt a light tug at his sleeve. Lavi looked up and saw Lenalee looking at him with slight pleading eyes.

"Can you...stay here for a night?" He could see fear reflected in the violet orbs. He gave his signature grin as Lavi ruffled her hair messily, like an older brother taking care of his little sister.

"Of course!" Lenalee smiled and hugged him back.

"Oh, by the way, my brother will be back tomorrow. It's the afternoon flight. Do you want to come along?" She asked as she got up and took Allen's brown coat, before she went to him and put it over him, making sure that he would not catch a cold. The silver-haired teen just let out a soft moan as he moved slightly inside the covers, before he fell into a deep sleep again.

"Uh...is it really okay for me to see your brother?" He asked in hesitation. Lenalee just gave him a confused look.

"I mean, uh..." Lavi couldn't find the right words to say. If Komui found out about their relationship, he could somehow guess how that sister-complex brother would react. He was really thankful that the Order had been disbanded and the science equipment and machines were no longer here, which means that those crazy robots he made would not exist here. At this, he heaved a great sigh of relief, so glad that he did not need to relive those horrible moments he had experienced in the past.

"What's wrong, Lavi?" She questioned, sitting beside him again. She gasped in slight astonishment as she felt her hand being clasped by another warm hand. Lavi just grinned as he leaned against her shoulder and slowly closed his eyes. Lenalee just blinked.

"Smells nice..." He murmured softly.

"What smells nice?" She asked. The redhead just gave a goofy smile and snuggled closer to her.

"Your scent." Violet eyes widened slightly, before she blushed in embarrassment. As Lavi fell asleep beside her, Lenalee just continued to watch over Allen through the silent night, until she also drifted off to sleep, with only the sound of soft crackling fire heard at the fireplace.

x - Colourful Moments - x

Allen groaned softly as he opened his eyes, greeted by the warm sunlight reflecting through the windows. He slowly sat up, wondering how he had fallen asleep on the couch without knowing. He just took the brown coat which had somehow left on top of him, staring at it for a few seconds, before he looked at the kitchen, picking up the strong aroma of honey cinnamon pastries. His stomach growled hungrily.

"Lenalee?" He got up of the couch and walked over to the kitchen, but it caught him by surprise, as the person he saw was not the olive-haired girl but the familiar redhead who was taking out the pastries from the oven. Lavi noticed movements from the entrance and looked up, seeing Allen standing there with an astonished expression.

"Looks like you are awake, Allen." He smiled.

"Lavi...is that you?" Allen asked, not believing who he saw early in the morning. He rubbed his watery eyes, wondering whether he might be hallucinating again, but when he reopened his eyes, Lavi was still standing there, taking the plate of pastries out to the dining table. The silver-haired teen just froze in his position, before he realised that everything he had been seeing was real. Lavi was real, and he was right here, inside his house.

"Are you alright, Allen? You look so stiff." Lavi waved in front of his face while his other finger poked his shoulders to shake the teenager a little. A smile slowly appeared on his face, as Allen gripped his arms, before pulling him into a friendly hug.

"It is really you, Lavi. I really miss you so much." He murmured softly.

"Me too, Allen. It has been three years." The silver-haired teen nodded his head in agreement.

"What are you guys doing?" Lenalee asked as she came out of the balcony, taking an empty basket with her.

"Making out with each other," Lavi playfully replied, hugging the silver-haired teen loosely by his waist as he gave a mischievous smirk.

"That is absolutely nonsense," Allen instantaneously answered as he shook off him and went to sit down at the dining table, taking a cinnamon roll to eat. Lenalee just giggled in reply as she went into the kitchen to put down the basket, before she joined the two boys for breakfast. Lavi continued to tease Allen as always, and Allen would always defend himself and occasionally ask her for help. As she watched the two of them in silence, everything felt as though they went back to the time when they were still Exorcists. Even though they were leading a complete different lifestyle, some things really did not change in the least.

"Lenalee?" She blinked as she realised that the two of them were staring at her now. The olive-haired girl bit off a small piece of her cinnamon roll in her hand and just smiled.

"I was just recalling the times we had spent together when we were still in the Black Order. Now, I just simply cannot believe that all of us will be meeting one another once again." Allen popped the last bit of his cinnemon roll into his mouth and took his glass of milk in his hand, staring at the rising sun outside the window.

"Yeah, from today onwards," Lavi murmured softly, hearing the faint rumbling engines of an airplane which was flying across the vast blue sky.

x - Colourful Moments - x

"Have I packed everything I need? Have I packed everything I need? Have I packed everything I need? Have I..."

"Argh stop chanting Miranda! You have been starting this for the past freaking twenty-three hours! Please, let me off for once." The 26-year-old forgetful woman stopped and just turned to stare at a woman of younger age, before she gave a strained look on her face.

"But I'm scared that I might forget to bring something! I don't want any mistakes for this important day!" She wailed in frustration as she turned back to stare at the luggage which was stuffed full of clothes and other things that she thought might be necessary for the trip. She walked over to the dining table, checking that she had her air ticket to London and her passport. Miranda then glanced at the antique clock, which showed a time of nine in the morning.

"When is my flight today? Is it 12 noon, or should it be 1? Argh, I can't remember!" She cried out as she ran around in circles, until she felt something slapped right at her face. Miranda halted in her footsteps as she got hold of the thing which turned out to be her air ticket.

"Look at the time." Her friend instructed. Miranda nodded her head and peered at the thick black ink imprinted at the front of the air ticket. She squinted her eyes, making sure that she saw it clearly.

"It says...1pm...1?" She blinked, before realisation hit her.

"I'm going to be late!" Miranda screamed hysterically again as she practically ran the whole house, taking everything she could find before shutting her luggage and locked it. As she stood up and sighed, patting her blouse and long skirt, she realised that they were finally meeting again. It really felt as though she was returning back home, just like the times after finishing the missions while she was still an Exorcist.

It felt so nostalgic. She sniffed, feeling tears welling up her eyes. Her friend just gaped at her in slight disgust.

"Hey hey, don't go emotional all of a sudden! It's just a Christmas gathering right?"

"Yeah, but somehow, this just takes so long. I really miss all of them so much..." Miranda cleaned away the tears and tried to force a smile out, getting rid of that pathetic expression that her friend hated so much. She just peered at her for a moment, before a sigh escaped out of her lips as she shook her head in resignation.

"I got it. Have fun, okay?" She said with a light smile. Brown eyes twinkled as Miranda smiled back, laughing softly.

x - Colourful Moments - x

He hummed his favourite tune by his lips as he gripped his bag by his shoulders, stepping out of his office building as he stopped, taking a deep breath. His golden hair basked in the sunlight, bringing out the bright colour even more. He shaded his eyes from the glaring white light, a smile slowly lit on his face.

"We will miss you here. You could have joined us for Christmas party this Saturday." He turned around to see one of his colleagues waving to him as he approached him, a slight frown at his forehead. He couldn't help but laugh softly. He wished to join his new family, the friends that he had made in this company ever since he left the Science Department in the Black Order. But...

"I apologise for this, Billy. Really."

"Really, Reever. But, wish that you have a good time with them. After all, it has been a while since all of you meet one another," Billy smiled as he slapped his shoulders lightly with his hand and winked playfully, before he went off to his car parked at the side of the road. Reever grinned as he waved back to his colleague, before he stared at the watch.

Two o'clock. Six more hours, and he would be flying back to England to meet them again.

"It has been so long..." He murmured softly, taking out his cell phone and flipped open. A wallpaper showing Komui, Lenalee, Allen and the rest of the family appeared, and he could not explain the pain and the longing to see their faces once again. Reever slipped his hands into his pocket, and took out a silver key chain which Komui had given to each of the members to differentiate their keys. He could see his name clearly marked at the surface, shimmering in the sunlight.

"From now onwards, all of you would be given your own key chains to differentiate the different set of keys that you are holding. Your names will be marked on it, so that no one will take the wrong keys," Komui announced as he handed them each a silver key chain to attach to their bunch of keys.

"Is this really necessary?" One of them asked. Komui just stared at him silently for seconds, before he smiled.

"Yes, Reever. It does."

Reever just shook his head as he chuckled to himself, walking his way to the subway underground. All of the members always registered themselves in a catalog whenever they would be taking something that belonged to the Science department. It was definitely not necessary to do an extra step, but knowing the Supervisor's character, he would surely whine about this, so neither of them said anything and just accepted it. Now that he thought of these past memories, a weird feeling just filled him. He wasn't sure whether it was a longing feeling, or an empty feeling that he once experienced when he was leaving the Order to start a completely different life.

But, he just knew that he was finally going home.

"Passengers, we are reaching the next station in about five minutes."

Home, where everyone should be.

x - Colourful Moments - x

He did not know that the faint scent of fresh grass growing on the light-brown ground could be so refreshing and nice. He walked over to the small sprouts which were eager to get out into the open to bask themselves in the bright morning sunlight, bending down as his hand brushed past the soft damp leaves gently. As little beads of morning dew fell onto his palm, a light smile was spread across his face.

Exactly how long had the time gone by ever since the Holy War ended? When he viewed the scenery when it had just ended, everything was almost destroyed. All the trees and greenery and flowers had withered, and bloody corpses were scattered everywhere, unclaimed. There was a horrible stench of decomposition and blood lingering in the still air which was so bad that he retched out everything from his stomach. From the terrible state the world was in, he thought that everything would never be the same again.

He slowly stood up by his feet and took a slow walk through the empty ground which was used to be filled with little grass and flowers in the summer. After three years, he had never expected himself to come back to the same place where he started. The middle-aged man felt the tip of his gelled white hair as he looked up the green hills, seeing ruins from above. He could still remember what had happened at that particular time, when he was still oblivious about Exorcists, Akumas, the Millennium Earl and the war that he had gotten himself involved with.

Krory stopped by a particular spot, where there was a gravestone carved with the name of a woman that he had cherished all his life. Without her, he would probably not be here, knowing everything that was needed for a human to live in this world. She was his first friend, someone who showed him many things through his entire life. Even though she broke their trust in the end, he was still grateful for her to show him the way and guide him.

"I have come back, Eliade," He murmured softly, his voice gradually drowned by the howls of the evening wind. His black coat rustled noisily as the edges brushed against his legs lightly. He bowed down partially, before placing a rose at the front of the grave.

That woman would probably ask him to leave, not wanting to see his face. Krory gave a bitter smile. After all, he was the one who stopped her and ended her life by his hands. But he knew that she would eventually understand him in the end.

"How are you? Time really flies. After three years, I'm going back to meet them once again."

The freezing wind blew past him, bringing up the edge of his black coat he always used to wear when he was an Exorcist.

"Please forgive me for what I did. I just knew, at that moment, that you would understand my actions in the end." He stepped up, placing his hand lightly on the top of the tombstone, feeling the coldness travelling up his skin. He brushed away the dirt and dust that had accumulated through the years, before he stepped back again, staring at the golden words that were carved beautifully on the stone. After a few minutes, he turned around.

He looked up at the clear light-blue sky, before he closed his eyes, feeling the soft touches of the wind, taking the remains of his sorrow away from him. A sudden gust swept through the empty meadows, bits of dirt and dust flying up strongly into the moving air, and the low and monotone howls of the breeze sounded so melancholy. He hoped that, after so many years trapped in their own darkness, all of them would break free of the past and be free, to do what they wanted and had to do.

"Winter is almost over, and Spring is approaching," Krory murmured in a soft voice, breathing deeply in the cold moist air. He wondered how everyone had been ever since they went separate ways. What changes would he see in all of them when they reunited once again? He had never thought that they would spend time together again, so he did not really consider the possible scenarios whereby they would be under one roof, away from the war for good. As Exorcists, they had to be prepared for the worst.

He had never thought that this would happen. That they were still alive in the end. Krory sniffed as he rubbed his watery eyes, before he turned towards the grave with a small smile lit on his face.

"See you, Eliade."

Somehow, he could see a faded vision of the golden-haired woman smiling back at him. Krory laughed softly, before he walked down the hills. At the ground level, he saw his friend in the car, waving at him and calling him to come up lest he wanted to be late for his afternoon flight. He stopped in the middle of the route, staring at the surroundings which had been his home through the years before and after he became an Exorcist.

Farewells do not mean that they would not see each other again. Rather, it marks a new start to their new lives, and that they would definitely meet again, because the bond, which was formed years a long time ago and had bound each and every one of them together, would not snap so easily.

And now, it was just the beginning.

x - Colourful Moments - x

A small photo frame was situated on the small side table beside the bed, the only photo he had which summarised all the times that they had spent together. He sat on the bed and took it up, looking at it. Seeing everyone's smiles, it somehow brought him back to the days, how they bonded together, how they fought and protected one another, how they held on to that thin line of hope that one day, this world would eventually be saved. And it came true in the end. He, and everyone else, could not explain the happiness and the relief they had when the enemy was pronounced dead. It felt as if everything just came back alive again, that there was something to live for.

He had once hated the Innocence, hated the Exorcists, hated the Akumas and the Millennium Earl for robbing away his happy life and his beloved family members. His hatred and the stabbing pain was so deep that he once thought of lashing out at the Exorcists or anything that came by, before he ended it himself. He cursed, berated and swore that he would get vengeance for his family, but realised that he did not have enough power to do so. In the end, he had to flee the village in ruins and run for his life, away from those monsters chasing after him - his Innocence. He thought everything was done for, and that there was nothing left for him to live on.

Until he met him - Allen Walker.

He was also an Exorcist - someone he totally detested, but he was also different. He was not like those bastards who came to him not to comfort him but wanted his supernatural ability for the likes of the organisation. He did not have that pity look when he looked at him, which was reflected so clearly in other people's faces. That person did not sympathise him, nor did he condemn him in the state he was in. All he did was to approach him, stretch out his white gloved hand, and asked whether he was hurt.

Like an angel, descended from heaven.

Standing beside him was another Exorcist - a swordsman who had that cold look and scary eyes staring straight at him. He did not seem rather eager to help out, but with Allen's continuous persuasions, he gave in, probably to stop that irritating mouth from going on. They tended to his injuries and stayed with him for days and nights, making sure that he was okay.

One day, Allen finally told him the topic that he always avoided - to join the Black Organisation and aid the Order in killing the enemy. He also told him that he resembled him a lot in many ways. His only foster father had died, and because of his grief, he summoned him back by an Akuma, only to kill him again by his own parasitic hand.

"However, why not turn this hatred into an inner strength, and using your powers bestowed, to help others in need? Don't let more victims fall into the Millennium Earl's traps again. Don't repeat the same mistakes again."

Allen told him that no matter how he answered him, he would respect his decisions. Kanda seemed to be slightly unhappy with this idea, but surprisingly, he did not ask. Was this part of Allen's powers as well, being able to let the people around him understand his intentions and follow his footsteps?

At that moment, he hesitated no more. He decided to follow him till his death, if there was, by chance, that they weren't going to get out of this endless bloodshed.

Even if it was finally over, he still wished to stay by his side.

"Tim." He looked up to see a young woman of middle twenties at the door, with a little girl standing by her side. He smiled and stood up, walking to them. She gave him his passport and the ticket to London tonight. His daughter loosened her grip at her mother's hand and tugged the side of his pants, whining softly. He bent down and ruffled her soft hair, before pulling her into a gentle hug.

"You must have missed them. Have fun together," She said. Timothy peered at his wife for a moment, before he stood up and clasped her hands together with his.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"We are going to celebrate Christmas at my mother's place, so it's not like we are going to be alone. I wish I could join you, but I have something on and I cannot leave. I should be apologetic instead," She murmured as she leaned against him, sighing.

"Nana...I promise I will return after Christmas," Timothy said.

"Don't need to be in a hurry. We will always be here," She replied with a smile.

"Daddy, where are you going?" He looked down at his daughter, Jo.

"Daddy is going back to visit his old friends who are important to him."

"Who are they, Daddy?" She asked. He stared at the ceiling as he pondered.

"They are..." His voice trailed off as he stared at the clear view outside. He slowly smiled.

"They are...people who make me fill whole once again."

x - Colourful Moments - x

"Bak!"

"..."

"Bak!"

"..." Fou lost her patience at waiting for this old man, as she stomped right up to his room and kicked the whole door down. The golden-haired man was shirtless with only a towel hanging loosely at his waist. As he turned around, his eyes widened and he gave a shout of fright and slight embarrassment at her sudden intrusion.

"Wh-What the hell are you doing, Fou?"

"Because you did not answer me!" She snapped as her emerald eyes narrowed, staring at a particular lower region of his body. Shades of red appeared across his face instantly as he turned around, his hand grabbing for his towel before it fell onto the floor.

"Can you don't...never mind, can you just get out of my room? I need to get changed!"

"I came here because you are late, idiot."

"Okay I got it, so can you go outside now! I need to change!" He shrieked in desperation. Fou just sighed as she walked out of the room, making sure to put the door back in place. She leaned against the wall and stared at the glass lighting from above, before she let out a long sigh.

"You don't need to do that, Fou," She turned around to face the former scientist assistant of the Asian Branch, Rou Fa. Fou snorted as she slipped her hands into her pants.

"Che. Why does he need to freak out? There's nothing to see in that old man anyway."

"Fou..." Rou Fa muttered as she looked away, blushing furiously at her blunt statement.

"By the way, where is Wong?"

"Oh. He is already downstairs. He asked me to come here to check whether the two of you are ready to set off," Rou Fa replied. Fou did not seem to catch her words as the robot girl stepped up to the half-broken door, ready to crash down the whole room.

"Bak, are you ready? We have to go now! Can you be faster?" Before she could finish her sentence, the door opened with a long and eerie creak, before it slowly broke and collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud. Bak was standing at the entrance, wearing a black cap, checkered shirt, grey shorts and brown sandals. He just stared at the pieces of wood and sighed.

"Look at what you have done. It adds up to my monthly bills."

"As if I care," Fou gave a snort as she turned around, pretending not to see. Bak just sighed, defeated by her. The three of them proceeded down the hall of his villa towards the entrance, where Wong was waiting.

"All of you are finally here! We better hurry! The plane to England is leaving in about an hour's time!" He hurried them to the taxi which was already waiting for them. As they loaded their baggage to the vehicle and strapped their seat belts inside the car, the taxi moved out and was now going towards the expressway.

"How many years had exactly passed ever since the holy war started?" Rou Fa asked, staring at the wide sky as birds were flying across the floating clouds.

"Centuries. Or even more," Bak answered. Till now, he couldn't believe that the war had stopped, and the beautiful view he was seeing had once turned into ashes and ruins. Every day, he had to face thousands and millions of casualties and victims who suffered from the war. Although they were there to help, but there was simply too many people to reach out. Some of them could not hold on much longer and died. Others were too overwhelmed by the deaths of their loved ones and committed suicide.

"And thus, three years has passed. Fast huh?" Fou muttered softly under her breath.

"At least, that part is finally over," Wong replied with a soft smile. Rou Fa nodded her head in agreement. After the announcement that the Black Organisation was going to disband, things had been rather hectic for all the scientists in the Asian Branch as they had to pack up all the important documents into boxes to be handed in to the Vatican. In order to allow Fou to move around with greater mobility, Bak had invented a portable battery to be installed inside her body. It was lightweight and could be charged for a day before using it again. With it, she no longer needed to depend on the walls of the Asian Branch which acted as a power generator.

"Bak, did you bring enough money?" Fou asked.

"For what?" Bak questioned.

"Of course it's for shopping! You know that the stuff sold in England ain't cheap!" She barked as she slapped his head at his stupid answer.

"If you want to buy, bring your own money!" Bak answered back in slight displeasure. Why must women always go shopping the moment they stepped into another country? And why should he lend his money to her when she had broken one of his doors which cost at least a few hundreds?

"What did you say!" Fou hissed as she pounced up to him from behind and rubbed her fist hardly against his head as punishment for talking back to her. Bak yelled in pain as he gripped onto her arm in an attempt to stop her. The two of them continued messing and fighting with each other like wild cats for a few minutes, until the taxi jerked all a sudden, sending all of them forward. Dark-brown eyes widened as he released his grip, falling backwards, while Fou let out a soft gasp as her body moved forward and slowly sank downwards, right to where the golden-haired man was. She stretched out both arms as she halted herself before she fell onto him. The two of them just stared at each other with astonished eyes, their faces less than ten centimetres apart.

"Are the two of you alright?" Rou Fa peered from behind. Fou grunted as she pushed herself backwards and returned back to her seat, while Bak cleared his throat and sat properly from the front, staring out of the window.

"Can the both of you sit properly in my vehicle? I do not want accidents to happen!" The driver snapped angrily at them. Rou Fa apologised to him profusely. She stared at the both of them, wondering what exactly they were thinking. Letting out a soft sigh, she turned and stared out of the window as well.

She could not believe that they were all going to England, to reunite with the rest of the members of the Black Order. Of course, that would also mean getting to see Allen again. At this thought, a smile slowly crept out of her face. How long had it been ever since she met Allen at the Asian Branch? When she saw him for the first time, something within that silver-haired teen attracted her, and ever since that time, she had a crush on him. She could remember that she would always go and visit him in late hours of the night when he would be training to regain back his Innocence. She had no idea why she felt like this, but she just knew she had to support him, help him recover his Innocence and go back to be an Exorcist. As she watched him in silence, she could feel a tinge of satisfaction that she made sure he was safe in their care.

How was he right now? Was he living well in England? As the questions swirled in her head, her excitement grew as she couldn't wait to step onto the land of England to visit him.

"What are you thinking?" Rou Fa jumped at her seat at the soft yet seducing voice. She turned to see the robotic girl leaning on her shoulder with a devilish smile on her face.

"N-Nothing..." She turned back and bit her lip, getting nervous all of a sudden.

"Really?" Fou breathed as she sniggered softly. "Are you thinking of...Allen Walker?"

"Wh-Wh-What? Al-Allen-k-kun?" Fou stammered as her face turned red.

"What is that about?" Bak asked in curiosity as he turned around and peered at them.

"Rou Fa is in love with Allen Walker," Fou replied.

"Eh? Walker? Is it true?" Bak questioned in slight surprise.

"N-No! We are just...friends!" She exclaimed.

"I don't remember a time which the both of you are close to be considered friends," Fou said with a slight monotone voice. Rou Fa couldn't find anything to answer back as her face was steaming red like a ripe beetroot.

"Well, isn't it good in the first place?" Wong laughed.

"You think so too, Wong? See, even he agrees to that!" Fou said.

"No, all of you are getting the wrong idea!" Rou Fa answered in a fluster, trying to stop them from misunderstanding, but this conversation just went on until Rou Fa finally gave up and admitted her feelings. At the same time, the taxi had reached the airport and they went down and grabbed their belongings, before entering the building to check in their baggage and board the plane.

x - Colourful Moments - x

"What do you like for your drink, sir?" He looked up from the newspaper, seeing a very pretty stewardess standing beside him with a trolley of snacks and beverages for the passenger to consume during the long hours flight. He gave a smile and peered at the choices they had.

"Red wine, please." She nodded her head as she took the glass bottle out and carefully poured the red-coloured liquid into the glass, before handing it over to him. He thanked her for the service before he placed his lips at the tip of the glass and tilted it slightly, letting the liquid flow into his mouth and sliding smoothly down his throat. As he swallowed the oh-so-good sensational taste of the wine, he let out a soft sigh, staring outside the window, seeing the light trails of bright orange beneath the floating clouds traveling alongside the plane.

It had been so long since he returned. He could still remember how hesitant he was when he had been posted overseas to do his assignment, because after the war, he and Lenalee could finally had the time they wanted together, and he wanted to use the time they had to make up for his sister who had been mostly living alone ever since their parents died. It was Lenalee who managed to persuade him to take up this opportunity and go to work.

"I will be fine, nii-san. Allen will be here for me, so just focus on your work and do your best!"

He could still recall that strained smile and her weak voice which was filled with a little tinge of sadness. He knew she was considering the whole situation, and that she did not want him to feel that she was a burden and a responsibility. Seeing how firm and determined she was when she finally made her decision, he had no right to refuse - it would hurt her instead. Forcing down the arguments that appeared in his head at her answer, he just let out a tugged smile and agreed.

They would send letters every week - in fact, he was the one who insisted on that, despite her objections, saying that it was not necessary because it would disrupt his work. It was always so pleasurable to read her letters. As he read every word, registering everything into his head, he could sense her feelings - the happiness, the longing and the joy - it was as though he was living together with her right now. This was the only thing that could make him forget that lonely void between the two of them.

And now, he could finally go back to his home and see the real person - the real Lenalee. He did not need the letters to imagine and feel. She would be there, calling out his name as she entered his embrace. Oh, how wonderful that was. A smile slowly appeared on his face as he leaned back to his seat and closed his eyes. He hadn't slept a wink for two whole days, but thinking of his sister was more than enough to keep him fully awake.

"Passengers, we will be reaching London in about fifteen minutes. Please return back to your seats and buckle up your seats. Your seats should be pulled up to its original positions. Radios and other electronic stuffs should be switched off as well..."

The airplane jerked and plunged down all of sudden. His eyes flew open in slight panic as he stared at the person's head in front of him for a while, mainly the bald part with a little small hair, before his eyes trailed to the display whereby a map on the destination was shown. The red line represented the distance away from his home, which was terribly long. Now as he realised, he had stayed so far away from his sister for the very first time.

Komui took in slow, deep breaths, hearing the blasting roars of the engines as the wheels were launched out. He could finally see tiny little black dots that was actually the city of England clearly from this height. He shut his eyes again, his breath hitched as the airplane took another short yet deep plunge, getting ready for landing. The nauseous feeling was attacking him, and as he distracted himself from thinking about phobia on heights, he began to think about Lenalee, and what they were doing to do later.

After a few minutes of waiting, the plane finally touched down, and Komui found himself exiting the door and walking towards the entrance of the airport. He badly wanted to rush out and search for Lenalee at once, but fought back the urge as he reminded himself to collect his belongings before going to the arrival hall. He waited alongside with the crowds of people, looking out for a black medium-sized luggage and a camping bag filled with Christmas presents that he bought back for everyone. As he saw one that looked similar to his, he almost jumped out and grabbed it, only to realise that it belonged to someone else. He frowned in disappointment as he leaned against the trolley that he had pulled over, tapping his feet in slight impatience as he wondered why this whole process was taking so damn slow.

"If only my phone has battery..." The Chinese man muttered under his breath. It had never crossed his mind that this would happen, and he just happily tossed his iPhone into his luggage yesterday night! He hoped that Lenalee and Allen would not wait too long for him.

With all his belongings on the trolley, he set off to the arrival hall. As he approached the exit, there were huge crowds by the railings, holding signboards as they waited patiently for the return of their friends and family members. He could see their longing portrayed in their eyes, that they missed them so much and were glad that they had finally come back to them. People laughed as they clasped each other's hands which seemed so foreign, and others cried their hearts out as they hugged one another tightly.

Lenalee and Allen weren't here.

He frowned, stepping out as he pushed the trolley through the small and narrow passageway, trying to find an olive-haired girl and a silver-haired teenager who might be in the crowd. There were some people who looked like them, but they weren't them in the end. He finally came out in the open, and stopped. They were not here.

Had they forgotten his arrival time? He thought he had reminded Lenalee so many times in the phone conversation. He even emailed her, so why weren't they here yet? A sudden chilled feeling invaded him and he began to think that something might have happened to the both of them. Komui paled instantly as he looked around in panic, pondering on what he should do, but his mind was in total blank.

"Lenalee..." He breathed, fear starting to grow within him.

"Nii-san!"

Suddenly, all the anxieties just vanished. Komui was stunned for seconds, wondering whether he was hearing things. Then, as he realised he wasn't, he turned around, seeing the familiar olive-haired girl waving at him from afar.

"Nii-san!" She cried out, smiling.

"Lenalee!" His mood soared and he was about to run to her when he stopped.

Besides Allen, there was someone else hovering around them, especially towards his precious sister, and he was so dangerously close to her! Wait, was that bastard leaning against her shoulder? And what was that disgusting warm feeling he was getting from the two of them?

That soaring mood of his just tumbled down to the bottom. In an instant, he was charging forward, his dark eyes glinting in fury and his teeth bearing as he lunged straight for that bastard who even dared to lay his finger on his precious Lenalee.

GO. TO. HELL.

"Nii...san?" Lenalee asked in uncertainty as she stepped back, wondering what had gotten into her brother, yet Lavi had a perfect idea on what Komui was exactly going to do, and it won't be good if he reached to them - no, to him. The redhead released his hold on her arm as he turned and ran behind Allen, taking the bewildered silver-haired teen, who did not understand a single thing happening now, as a shield from the flaring Komui Lee shooting daggers at him.

"Go away, Allen," Komui muttered coldly, violet eyes glaring darkly at the figure standing behind him.

"Wh-What?" Allen wasn't sure how to reply, but GOD, Komui's face was super scary right now. From his instincts and past experiences, it would be best to follow what he said. The silver-haired teen nodded his head and gladly stepped aside, leaving the poor Lavi in the open. Komui snarled as he pounced onto the redhead, his hands at his throat as he attempted to strangle him alive. Lavi coughed and choked as his eyes rolled, trying to breathe properly.

"N-Nii-san, what are you doing! You are choking him!" Lenalee exclaimed, shocked.

"S-See-See...I...I told-told you that...that he will-he will react like this..." Lavi grimaced as blood was slowly draining out of his face.

"How dare you do this in front of me. How dare you hang your arm by her shoulders in front of my presence. How dare you lean so close to her. How dare you..." He muttered continuously under his breath, seething with rage every minute. Allen just gasped, wondering what he should do to stop this. He knew that Komui hated anyone to be close to Lenalee, but he hadn't expected it to become this serious.

"Nii-san, I said, stop it! You cannot do this! We are...we are together!" At this, Komui stopped what he was doing, dumbstruck by her answer. Lenalee and Lavi were...together? They were...together? He just blinked for moments and stared blankly at the redhead who was slowly paling, before he released his hold. Lenalee went over to support him immediately as Lavi bent down and coughed hardly, as though he was about to throw up. She patted his back lightly to soothe his pain, before she looked up at him, slightly displeased.

"Why are you doing this, nii-san? Just when everyone is so happy on seeing you again..." She sighed as she frowned, not surprised in the least that he would react this way. Lavi nodded his head vigorously in agreement. Komui just shot back a death glare at the former Bookman, not seeking any opinion from him. Lavi squeaked in fright as he ran over to Allen and hid behind his back. Komui wanted to rebuke, but seeing Lenalee's unhappy face, he swallowed back his retorts and just let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry for not telling you earlier about our relationship as well, since this just happened rather recently. But...well, you already know," Lenalee apologised. Their hands were clasped together, and Komui wished he could kill that redhead who was tainting his pure Lenalee's soul.

"Well, it wasn't as if...as if I was going to kill him." He snorted with a small huff.

"You almost did!" Allen and Lenalee exclaimed loudly in unison.

"I didn't strangle that hard!" Komui stared hardly at Lavi who was blinking innocently at him. He was certainly reluctant to give his sister to someone like Lavi, who mostly kept fooling around, but he knew very well that it was time Lenalee should make her own decision. He couldn't always pamper her all his life.

"Ah, I forgot about this!" He felt warmth traveling into his body, as hands were clasped onto his. He slowly looked up, seeing the light yet radiant smile from his sister as she held close to him.

"Welcome home, nii-san!" She smiled. And throughout the three years, he had always wanted to say these three words to her when he returned home.

"I'm back, Lenalee."

Hey everyone! I'm so, so sorry for the late update! Have been rather busy with school projects and examinations, and I only have the free time to pick up my writing again recently.

This chapter is mainly focused on each of the members of the Black Order who are coming to England to celebrate Christmas with Allen, Lenalee and the rest. I have always wanted to write a chapter whereby everyone, no matter where they are and what they are doing, there will always be a 'home' for them to return in the end. Although the Black Order no longer exists, their hearts will always be on their friends whom they had worked with for years. As they held on to the happiness and excitement on seeing their friends again, they reminisced on the past and their feelings towards the change of their lives from the war till today.

There will be slight angst in this chapter, mainly from their feelings, but there is slight fluff at the beginning (though not on Kanda and Allen...-hehehe-) I'm not very sure how I fare on writing fluffs as it's my first time, so please give me your opinions on this!

For Tim's part, I wrote it from my own point of view on how he would meet up with Allen and the rest of the Exorcists before he joined the Black Order as an official Exorcist, thus it will not be according to the manga chapters.

It will be a very long chapter! Please do bear with me!

And thank you for the reviews full of loves! I am truly touched, and I apologise again for the late update!

Lastly, please review again, my lovelies!

See you next time!

~SingingBlues