BETA READER: Beta Read
SUMMARY: Well, it's time to have a little action for the young married couple. What would their relationship be without a little bickering, taunting and maybe even a little competitive streak in them? Allen's almost healed his stab wound when all hell breaks loose on the ship's deck! Please enjoy.
THE CAVE: CONTINUUM
Part Six
"Well now, this wound looks much better than it did a few days ago. I'll put some more ointment on it, and use an extra bandage for protection," the doctor says cheerfully, giving Allen a warm flamboyant smile.
"Sir, I would like to request, if possible, that you bind me with cloth wrappings," Allen asks, figuring if he's bound tightly maybe Kanda would touch him again – at least more then he has in the past few days.
"Well … I see no problem in doing that … the wound would have more protection and it will give your rib some stability. Yes, I'll bind it for you. Now, where did I place my glasses?" The doctor mutters, pawing through his medical equipment on top of the movable table to see if he had left them there.
"Do you mean these, sir?" Allen asks, picking up a pair of wire spectacles lying next to him on the examining table.
"Yes, thank you. I had an emergency late last night and I've been up since, so I'm a bit tired," he replies, picking up the cloth wrapping.
Kanda's standing on the other side of the room leaning against the wall. He has one leg crossed over the other, and his arms are folded in front of him, his eyes fire up with glee at the absent-mindedness of the doctor. Seeing the look in his partner's eyes, Allen shrugs his shoulders giving him a placid smile.
His smile fades quickly as he winces when the doctor starts to wrap his torso. A whisper of a grunt then a sharp draw of breath is educe from Allen at the same time the doctor pulls tightly on the cloth wrapping making sure it's snug.
Kanda's eyes once again light up with laughter, and a smirk on his face appears as he watches Allen struggle not to make a sound, due to his discomfort from the wrapping. 'Damn Kanda, I'd like to go over there and smack that bloody look off his face,' Allen's thinking, fuming inside.
"Okay, that should do it. I'll want to see you in a few days before we get close to the shoreline. I'll need to check that wound for any signs of inflammation before you disembark from the ship," the doctor says, his velvet brown eyes focus on Allen's. Then he picks up Allen's shirt and helps him put it on.
"Now, continue to take it easy. I assume the horse-play has simmered down seeing the stitches aren't ripped out again," the doctor says, pointedly at Kanda, looking over his spectacles with an audacious smile on his face, taunting Kanda. As hard as it is, Kanda takes his eyes off the doctor and looks over at Allen, who doesn't seem too happy by the way he's staring at him.
Allen looks over at Kanda and gives him the evil eye, thinking, 'You're damn right we haven't done any horse-play, in fact, Kanda's practically afraid to touch me. I swear he thinks I'm some kind of china doll ready to break,' Allen mulls over in his mind angrily.
"You ready Bean Sprout?" Kanda asks, ignoring the doctor, keeping his face emotionless.
'Damnit, Bean Sprout knows exactly why I'm not grinding the hell out of him. He thinks by binding himself tightly I'll fuck his beautiful ass? Well, he might as well keep on thinking because until that damn wound heals, I'm not taking any more chances with his health,' Kanda deems, feeling sexual frustrated.
It's only been four days since the antagonist doctor had re-stitched Allen's wound. Though, to Kanda its felt more like four weeks since he's held Allen in his arms. He looks over at Allen's large silver-gray eyes staring back at him, making him so damn hot he could fuck him right now.
He's kept his distance from Allen because it had been easier not to touch him at all then to be close to the damn brat. It hasn't taken much to start their fire ablaze, and lose control as they get lost in their passion for one another. So he's resign himself to the fact that until Allen's wound heals, they will just have to keep their hands off each other.
Just then a flash of gold zooms past their heads as they duck from Timcanpy's attack, "That fucking golem," Kanda shouts, stretching out his arm quickly trying to nab the damn thing. But Kanda misses and Tim zooms over to Allen's shoulder and settles down. "Timcanpy, what are you doing up on deck? You're supposed to stay down below," Allen lectures the golem.
Suddenly, outside there's a loud cry from the crow's nest. "Ahoy captain! There appears to be a small islet off from the bow of the ship sir," the sailor yells down.
The captain quickly takes his telescope and looks in the direction of the small islet. "Quickly men, that's no islet! It's a Kraken! Prepare for battle, it's approaching with great speed!" The captain yells out and barks his orders as to what weapons will be needed to battle this monster.
Kanda, Allen and Timcanpy step out onto the deck to see what the commotion is about. The entire ship is in throes, with men running in all directions, gathering up weapons and orders bellowing from the captain of the ship to his crew. A sailor runs into Kanda in his panic.
"What the hell's going on here," Kanda spits at the sailor in anger.
"You should all get down below sir, this is a huge monster we must battle and pray that we can beat it!'
"What fucking monster are you talking about? Answer me you idiot!" Kanda grabs him by the front of his shirt and practically picks him up off the deck.
"A huge Kraken sir, now let me go so I can prepare for its swift attack!" The sailor yells, ripping Kanda's hand from his shirt and scurrying away.
"Kanda I've heard of these creatures in deep ocean waters. Tales my master and I had heard from many a sailor. This is serious. Tim, I want you to go down below right now!" Allen orders. For once Timcanpy did what he's told and zooms to the doorway leading to the quarters below, but stays under the threshold to keep watch over Allen and Kanda.
"Allen, I want you to get your ass back to our quarters," Kanda quickly snaps his command at Allen.
"No way Kanda, you're not battling this thing without me by your side … we're a team!" Allen shouts, full of rage in his voice. Fear piecing through him afraid for Kanda's safety.
"Get your fucking ass out of here, if anyone is going to die, it'll be me, now go to our quarters," Kanda yells, grabbing Allen's arm, yanking him toward the doorway, as Allen struggles against Kanda to release him.
"Neither one of us is going to die Kanda. I won't let you fight this monster alone. It'll take the two of us to battle this thing and you know it," Allen lashes back, his rage hardly inconspicuous.
While they're arguing, the Kraken's long arms creep up all sides of the ship. Suddenly, one long tentacle bursts up and out of the water. The shock look on Allen's face causes Kanda to turn around and gape at the ugly tentacle rising upward. Sheets of water pour off the monster's tentacle and spews sea water across the ship's deck, churning it to foam as it rises higher and higher into the air.
Even the sky turns to an overcast gray, creating an eerie backdrop. The ocean water surrounding the monster's huge tentacle resembles an underwater volcanic reaction, the black water bubbles and boils creating in its wake sudden dangerous currents and eddies. This turbulence brings forth large waves that come crashing against the ship's sides, causing it to sway and heave as if it's a child's toy.
The underbelly of the monster's long, huge tentacle is covered with round enormous mucous-like suckers. The suckers' circumferences have razor sharp teeth which enable the creature to hold on to its prey – its grasp bringing an inevitable and painful death.
The Kraken's tentacle extends out of the water at least thirty feet in length. Crew members point at the creature's large, tall tentacle when suddenly it plummets back into the ocean with a powerful deafening splash.
Ocean water spews in every direction as forceful wave's pound and clash at the sides of the careening ship, allowing water to spill over the rails onto the decks. It seems as if out of nowhere the creature's many arms are now on deck flailing them in all directions.
The strong thick ugly arms grabs one, two and then three sailors, curling the tips around them, whipping them about like rag dolls before flicking them out to sea. Sparks flare out from the end of guns firing at the creature only to have them bounce off its tough, seemingly imperetrable exterior. Another sailor took a hatchet and with a courageous yet futile swing, barely mars the thick hard skin of the creature. He frantically chops to release a sailor from its grasp as the captive sailor screams in pain.
Chaos is everywhere as sailors fight for their lives as well as the lives of their fellow mates and officers, many who are being flung about mercilessly by the creatures' arms and tentacles. Crew members run in all directions throughout the turmoil, picking up weapons from fallen shipmates, continuing on, battling the gigantic monster, unwilling to lose sight of victory.
Kanda and Allen watch in horror at how quickly this monster is destroying everything in its wake in a matter of seconds. Kanda unsheathes Mugen and attacks by slashing the tip of an arm off the Kraken. Allen grabs a sword lying in front of him and attacks alongside of Kanda dodging crates and barrels being flung as if they were wooden toys.
Kanda sends a black, narrow glare at his partner for fighting and defying his orders. "I told you to get the fuck back to our quarters, Bean Sprout," Kanda shouts, a wave of water tosses over the rail drenching both of them.
"No! I will not Kanda! I will not let you fight this monster alone. I told you we're probably the only ones who could possibly kill this creature!" Allen shouts over to Kanda, the salty ocean spray burning his eyes.
"Fuck! Bean Sprout, quickly, to your right side!" Kanda couldn't get his warning out quick enough as the creature swiftly whips its arm at Allen. Luckily, with his snappy reaction Allen jumps up onto the rope netting of the mast to get out of the way.
"Shit, you fucking idiot!" Kanda bellows out over the screams and clamor of the crew.
Kanda watches as Allen starts to scale up the rope netting. 'Not a bad idea,' Kanda thinks and he too jumps onto the netting following Allen as they race to the top of the mast.
Allen slashes his sword out at an arm as it flips back, uncurling as it intends to snatch him. Instead, Allen swipes the tip clear off the tentacle. He makes it to the top before Kanda and glances down at him with a sneer, shouting, "What's taking you so long, Kanda?"
Kanda swings, slicing and hacking off pieces of the creatures' arms as they attack him, then looks up to see Allen sneering and flaunting his achievement down at him. 'He's so smug for making it to the top first, asshole,' Kanda's thinking as he finally reaches the top of the mast and sneers back at Allen. Both glares at each other, unconsciously knowing this completive spark of fire that happens between them will keep them going strong in battle.
"Kanda, I'll have to use my Crown Clown for this battle," he shouts over, grinning.
"You shouldn't even be out here fucking fighting, moron. Have you even tried using your Crown Clown since you've been bound for so long? Did you even think about your fucking healing as well?" Kanda growls, spitting out the ocean water splashing his face. He wipes it off with his wet coat sleeve.
The ship dips, making the mast unsteady and they start to lose their balance, "It'll work Kanda, just wait and see," Allen grins back. That grin, the grin Kanda hates and ignites even more dangerous flames between them. Allen loses his balance and Kanda gasps as fear spears through him seeing Allen as he starts to fall. At the last second he grabs at a dangling rope allowing him to swing out.
He gives a wave to Kanda which sets his blood boiling hotter, if that is at all possible. Allen watches as Kanda loses his balance and falls off the mast. His heart feeling like it stopped, he quickly swings over and grabs at Kanda as he hit the sail and misses him.
Allen quickly slides down the rope to Kanda but went too far past him. He looks up at Kanda sliding at a swift pace down the sail. Taking Mugen, he stabs the canvas, slowing his descent to the deck below. Passing Allen he gives him a sneer and waves. Allen's eyes shoot daggers at Kanda first for scaring him half to death and second for making it to the deck below before him.
"What the bloody hell was that all about? You could've been killed. Damn you Kanda!" Allen yells at him as he finishes his decent to the deck and releases the rope. His yelling is totally from the fear Kanda could've been hurt, or worst killed.
The battle isn't over yet. Spinning around swiftly, with sword in hand, Allen strikes another powerful blow to the snake-like tentacle of the creature, half-severing it. Kanda quickly swipes it with one slash, cutting it off completely.
"You can try to do it Bean Sprout, but you know I will always do it better!" shouts Kanda, gloating at his little victory. Turning with great speed, Kanda swiftly slices another arm with several quick slashes. Kanda smiles with a hiss as Allen strikes multiple deep wounds into the creature.
"Ha, ha Kanda, you know with my Crown Clown I can do that just as easily," responds Allen, peeving.
The captain and remaining crew members are dumbfound as they watch these two characters bickering and bantering back and forth at each other yet at the same time they're mutilating the Kraken as they go along. They've never seen anything like this and are in awe at how quickly both respond to the danger, treating it as if it's some annoying trivial matter which interrupts their little spat.
Allen jumps back up onto the netting once again, just missing the swinging arm from the creature. Kanda severs the last tentacle off the monster leaving no more limbs to attack. All that is required now is to finish this abominable creature off once and for all.
The Kraken, angry and in pain, bursts through the surface of the sea with it's gigantic orange blob of a body. It lets out a loud belching noise, spurting water from his dreadful nostrils leaving a foul smell in the air. The monster shows one huge white eye with a large, black iris measuring at least ten inches wide — and it stares directly at Kanda.
Kanda stares back at the once orange, now a green creature as it slowly changes color. The gigantic sea creature bobs in front of him. It seems to have significant intelligence as the two continue to stare at each other, as if assessing the challenge that lay ahead. Allen doesn't like the look of things. He knows Kanda all too well. The chance of Kanda jumping at that giant Kraken to kill it himself is one hundred percent.
"Don't you even fucking think about doing this alone, Kanda," Allen barks at him from up on the netting. Allen's tired and his side is painfully throbbing. Blood seeps into his shirt. Despite this he's not going to let Kanda kill himself over this huge ugly creature.
Kanda starts to turn his head towards Allen, not taking his eyes from the creature. He grins at the big dark green blob buoying in front of him with its one huge white eye, sneering at it. Allen is nervous as he's seen that look on Kanda's face too many times when in battle. When Kanda turns, he smirks at Allen with a nod. Allen knows what Kanda is planning on doing.
"Don't worry Bean Sprout. I won't have to use my life energy to finish this monster off," Kanda grins, a devilish chuckle roars out of him.
Kanda places his index and middle finger at the tip of Mugen and runs them along the sword's blade to activate it, "Mugen Unsheathe, Innocence Activate! Eight Flower Mantis!" Kanda shouts," jumping off the ship directly at the giant sea creature in front of him. Quickly, he slashes the Kraken eight times collectively, slicing the creature in a way which resembles a flower. Suddenly, the creature has one tip of an arm left and uses it to grab Kanda before plunging with a thunderous splash back into the ocean.
A bloody scream comes from Allen "Kanda!"
His fire blazes hotter inside now with his lover in serious danger. Allen activates his Crown Clown, "Crown Clown Invocation!" Allen shouts out, his eyes narrow dangerously, flashing, his mouth in a snarl.
The captain and crew watch as Allen invokes. His body forms an armor of Innocence, the white-hood cowl and the sleeve of Innocence energy covers his shoulders and right arm, along with what resembles a white cape. His left arm turns slender and black with a cross embedded on the back, clad in armor and razor sharp claws. A masquerade-style mask affixes to the cowl of the cape and Allen's white hair turns spiky in the back.
Before jumping into the ocean, Allen also activates his Clown Belt, wrapping it around the mast pole, and then dives into the cold dark waters after Kanda. Everything happens quickly and once in the water Allen can see Kanda struggling to get free as the creature slowly sinks to the ocean floor. The monster has Kanda's arms pin down at his side, though he still holds Mugen in his hand.
Allen swims faster and deeper to get to Kanda quickly, his heart racing at seeing his lover struggling, still holding his breath. Kanda looks up, his face showing he's ready to give up and let go of his life. There's a painful frown on his face and then he sees Allen frantically swimming towards him. His feeling of relief at the sight of his partner is overwhelming.
As Allen reaches Kanda he quickly takes his razor sharp claw and cuts through the tip of the Kraken's tentacle as though it were soft cheese, setting Kanda free in the process. Kanda has very little energy left to swim back to the surface. Reaching out, Allen pulls Kanda into his arms, holding him tightly. He mentally summons his Crown Belt to retract them quickly back to the surface.
The belt swiftly and forcefully pulls them up, breaking the water's surface and throws them onto the netting. Allen is still holding Kanda tightly in his arms as he lands on his back. They bounce hard on the netting, and then begin to slide down. Allen quickly manages to stop them from sliding further. The sudden action causes Kanda to end up sitting between Allen's legs, his back against Allen's stomach.
Kanda rolls up and leans to the side as he coughs and spits up water. Allen pounds his back to help get out what water may be left inside of him. Kanda rolls back and slides up onto Allen's chest and he wraps him tightly in his embrace. He closes his eyes, wanting only to feel his body against his lover's.
Allen is breathing hard, keeping a tight hold on his husband as he rests. The captain walks over to them. "Ahem," the captain says to let them know someone is next to them. "I want to thank you for saving my crew and ship with your bravery. I have never seen an Exorcist in action, but now I see how powerful you are. Your group of saviors has a huge responsibility trying to save the world at large."
Kanda and Allen open their eyes to look at the captain during his speech. Allen smiles tiredly at the captain and Kanda just looks at him with no expression and tightens his hold on Allen's arm.
Kanda would like to think his fighting has more to do with the challenge and the thrill of the fight, but now, most importantly it is to keep his lover alive. He's not going to lose his Bean Sprout again. His fighting never had anything to do with helping the Black Order in the first place. They had created him to do battle against the Earl, basically forcing him to be an Exorcist.
Allen, also, would never like to admit it, but this particular fight he did for the same reasons – to keep his lover alive. This gives Allen the feeling that he's selfish, but he couldn't bear to live on without Kanda by his side and the crew came in second this time, to his Kanda.
"It would be an honor if you both would join me for dinner this evening in my quarters," the captain asks, giving a slight bow.
They look at one another. Kanda could already imagine Allen salivating at the thought of food. "Sure, why not. What time would you like us to show up," Kanda asks, slightly hoarse.
"Come around the toll of four bells this evening in my quarters, and thank you again for your bravery. I'll see you two later," the captain smiles warmly and bows. He then turns barking out orders to his men in back of him.
Kanda now turns his attention back to his partner, his anger returning about Allen putting himself in danger to save him. Even though he's thankful he did, he's still angry at the thought Allen could've been killed also.
"Damnit Bean Sprout, didn't I tell you to go below to our quarters," Kanda growls at Allen, climbing off the netting and helping his partner down. "You could've been fucking killed by that thing."
"Yeah, and if I didn't help your sorrow ass, you'd be down on the bottom of this ocean, jerk!" Allen quips back, snarling.
"Well at least you'd be alive, jackass!" Kanda snaps back, hands on his hips, glaring at Allen.
"You know what your problem is Kanda, you always want to be on top, but only whenever it suits you. Why is it so hard for you to let us do it together, without controlling the situation? But no, you have to do it on your own, thinking it's more fun doing it by yourself," Allen yells back, his face red with anger as he leans into Kanda.
"I'll fucking kick your ass for that comment," Kanda snarls back.
"Well, I can make you fucking scream when I pound your ass," Allen whips back at him his silver eyes narrow almost squinting.
"Oh yeah, we'll see about who can pound who's ass the worse, dipshit. I'll pound yours so hard you won't be able to sit for weeks!" a warning flare sparks in Kanda's eyes.
"Fine! You don't scare me Kanda and while we're at it, we'll see who can last the longest, you bloody imbecile," Allen sneers at Kanda, his own eyes now raging with flames at him.
"Imbecile is it?" Kanda shouts, aiming his deep blue piercing glare at him, but in the depth of those strong blue eyes is a flash of lust.
Allen's face flushes at noticing the lust deep and glowing hot in Kanda's blue eyes, which excites him to no end, "Yeah … imbecile," Allen says quietly, almost purring his words at Kanda, now lost in the depth of Kanda's deep blue eyes lusting after him.
Kanda grabs Allen by his wrist, "We'll have to see about that," Kanda says in his matter-of-fact tone, whisking Allen down to their living quarters.
The crew had been witnessing this display of … what … fighting, bickering, bantering and love? The crew had been so involved in Kanda and Allen's fighting they all automatic start to follow the two Exorcists to see what happens next.
That is until the captain roars his orders to get back to their duties and leave the two Exorcists alone. But even the captain himself had been quite enthralled by their little arguing, finding it immensely entertaining. He wants to know how the two are going to settle their differences, though he already has an idea of what's to become of that spat. 'Most intriguing couple,' the captain's thinking with a sly smile on his face.
To be continued …
A/N: Thank you all for staying with me and don't worry about Allen, he only has eyes for Kanda. The next chapter, when I get it done, will reveal how the Doc works out. I just like to add a little jealousy to Kanda. He's delightful in showing Allen how much he loves his Bean Sprout, because no one is going to take Bean Sprout away from him. Any questions feel free to drop me a line or better yet, write me a review!