THE CAVE: CONTINUUM
Part Thirty-One
Beads of sweat trickle down Kanda's face like raindrops gliding on a window pane. He has traveled for several miles since he had departed from his home without taking a rest.
The air is stifling and he can see the heat wavering as it rises upwards, off the dirt road, same as he had seen extreme heat rising from desert sands. Allen and he had been on missions where they have had to cross the deserts and this heat feels just as hot and overbearing.
Looking straight ahead he sees the sun lowering in the sky. Thank God it will be dusk soon, and then, hopefully, there would be some relief from this dreadful hot weather. He couldn't go on much longer, he thought, taking a swig from the canteen of water.
When finally, up ahead he spots the landmark Cross had written down. The second one since he has been traveling on this godforsaken road. He hasn't seen a single soul since he had turned and started traveling on it, though the road does convey the impression it is obscure from other travelers.
It's just as well, at least he didn't have to chat with anyone and he could concentrate on making headway to the castle. His thoughts never straying much further then thinking of Allen and praying he's alright and still alive. It has also given him the time to brew over what had happened with Allen's kidnapping.
"Fuck, what was Cross doing, that was so important than watching out for Bean Sprout's safety," Kanda grumbles under his breath, still seething over Cross's stupidity, "The arrogant arse," he adds.
Coming upon the marked trail, Kanda turns onto the path and hikes into the woods until he finds the small clearing, the one Cross had told him about to camp at.
Yes, this is a spot where many travelers, before him, have used as their campsite. The campfire appears as if it has been recently used. The charred wood is still warm, and a hint of glowing embers smolder from the remains of a fire, slightly brightening from what little breeze wafts through the ashes. There is plenty of kindling to start another, but he will need chunks of wood for one to last most of the night.
He drops his knapsack to the ground and immediately goes in search for fire wood. It will be easy to start one with dry kindling and enough coals are left to build another fire before he sits up camp. Dusk is coming quickly and soon the early evening grayness will follow and the fire will give him plenty of light he'll need to fix a quick supper.
After Kanda has eaten, he rolls out his blankets and lies down to rest. He lies on his side with his hand propping up his head and stares into the flickering amber flames. With his other hand he finds his necklace Allen had given him and rubs it between his fingers—thinking of his husband.
"It's so lonely without you, Bean Sprout," Kanda's whisper drifts into the evening air.
"I would give anything to hear you chatting away, making no sense, but just to hear your voice," Kanda quietly speaks to himself.
He misses Allen's laughter and how his whole face lights up deliriously happy, smiling, grinning and radiating with love—sending it straight to Kanda. How his heart aches for his lover, his husband. They have come so far since leaving Boston.
"We don't deserve this anguish in our lives. Damn Rouverlier! He'll pay for the torment he has brought to Bean Sprout and me," he hisses out loud, the acidity from his stomach rising to his throat.
With all their travelling and troubles to find their home, it had brought them closer together. Kanda rolls onto his back, looking up at the clear, crescent moon, crisp and bright, a perfect slice as it stands out against the pitch-black sky.
He remembers back when Allen had almost drowned and the nightmares his lover had suffered. Allen had one really bad nightmare where he had stopped breathing and Kanda had to shake him awake, pleading with him to breathe.
It had scared the life out of both of them, so much so, that Allen had desperately wanted to make love—to feel alive—and that they did. It had been a sweet, gentle lovemaking with moonbeams spilling down to the earth, radiating its light, brightening the dark night with its natural beauty.
It had illuminated Allen's beautiful face and his soft white hair glowed like an angel's. Then Allen had snuggled his warm body up to his and Kanda had placed his arms around him, holding him tight, inhaling both their scent—mingling together. He wishes he had Allen in his arms now and he could smell his husband's unique scent.
Kanda had known all the uncertainties in their life would bring tears and heartache. But he also knew every small moment of pleasure they had shared only added to the treasures of their life together.
He had acknowledge, quite a while ago, that he could never go back to his isolated, unloved life, now that Allen had become his husband—that is until death would pull them apart. He could never love another—only Allen. Pain stabs at his heart thinking about his loving husband and his stomach churns wondering how his Bean Sprout is holding up, not wanting death to separate them. With time, Kanda closes his eyes and eventually he falls into a fitful sleep.
The wisp of fog, ebbs and flows, moving gently around Kanda's sleeping body in the early morning light. A chill quivers through his body where the blanket has fallen off his back leaving it open to the raw elements.
"Bean Sprout, stop stealing all the covers," Kanda mumbles, as he is awaken by the cool air on his neck and back, reaching for the fallen blanket, not feeling his husband's body behind him—he panics.
His eyes flutter open and the pit in his stomach returns when he recalls why he is sleeping on the ground and Bean Sprout is not there cuddling up to him. He brings his hands to his heart, holding it and curls into the fetal position. The sharp pain is back and the darkness of his emotional whirlpool swirls in his mind at losing the other half of him.
He allows himself this brief moment of mourning his beloved, praying quietly to Kami for his safety. He needs to start out soon to be able to make it to the castle by early evening.
Grabbing food out of the knapsack, he eats as he breaks down camp and readies to leave. He looks around him to see if he has forgotten anything and then heads down the trail to the road.
Reaching the road, he begins his travels, once again, determined to be there by evening. If he keeps up this pace maybe he could make it there even earlier than nightfall.
Kanda wonders if Cross has set out yet to meet up with him. For once he wouldn't mind the company to take his mind off what lays ahead, or even to begin to make a strategic plan for when they get there. But this wouldn't be the first time he has had to rescue Allen—he could do this on his own.
The intense heat has let up in comparison to yesterdays sweltering weather. This is due to the sun hiding behind gray clouds that are rolling in creating an overcast sky. Kanda figures this is a good time to stop briefly to rest and eat.
Finding a soft patch of grass, just off the road, he walks in and sits down to rest. Rummaging through the knapsack he finds the bread and cheese to have for lunch. When he finishes eating he lays down for a while to rest his back.
A heavy sigh comes from Kanda feeling the comfort of the softer ground as he lay down. Last night the dirt had been hard and uncomfortable and he had gotten little sleep. He closes his eyes which seems only for a moment when he hears the breaking of branches and a fast pace of stomping in the woods.
Quickly, he jumps to his feet unsheathing Mugen ready for the intruder that is clumsily crashing through the forest. 'What idiot would be making so much noise if he was trying to sneak up on me,' Kanda wonders, 'Could this be some of Rouverlier's men?'
The noise approaches quickly as Kanda stands ready for a fight. Then jumping out of the shrubbery is a large buck running for his life, never seeing Kanda standing there, his eyes straight ahead with one purpose in mind—escaping.
If Kanda hadn't moved clear of the deer's path he would have been trampled. But he had jumped aside in time before that could happen.
"What the fuck is spooking that animal?" Kanda curses under his breath, wondering what had alerted the deer to danger.
Once again there is noisy stomping, running and breaking of branches along with loud chattering conversations in Japanese as the group emerges out of the woods. Their talking stops instantly and they all back up hitting the one behind them when they are accosted by Kanda standing there holding Mugen in front of him with a scowl on his face.
"Who are you people?" Kanda demands harshly, not moving an inch from his spot, but evidently had a look on his face that scared the shit out of these men.
"We're a hunting party in search of fresh meat," someone from the group speaks, overawed at Kanda's stance and the menacing look in his eyes.
"Are you Rouverlier's men?" he growls, looking sternly at each one of the men in their eyes.
"Who's Rouverlier?" one of the other men asks timidly, who had also been terrified by Kanda.
With that said Kanda places Mugen back into his sheath and relaxes. He can almost taste the fear in these men and they have no idea who Rouverlier is. The whole group gives a heavy sigh when Kanda removes Mugen from their faces and sees the man relax.
"Who is this Rouverlier?" asks another man, who is brave enough to ask Kanda. Kanda pulls his map out and opens it to have the man look at it.
"I'm on my way to where he is staying which is at this castle. Do any of you know of this castle and how far I am from it?" Kanda asks, pointing to a spot on the map.
The stranger looks closely at the map as others also peer over their comrade's shoulder.
"I know where that is, it's near that large mill farm. You must remember, it is where we had gone to get our rice grounded," said the man standing behind him who spoke in broken English.
"Oh yes, now I remember it. That's at least another four or even five hours from here," the man says, looking up at Kanda.
"Then I should make it there by early evening, correct?" he asks.
"Yes, if you keep a steady pace you will make by then, but if anything holds you up then you should be there at least by nightfall," the man answers. Of course, Kanda already knows this, so it isn't any new information for him.
"Very well, thank you for telling me how much further," Kanda says quietly, rolling the map back up, placing it into his knapsack. His heart thumps hard against his chest knowing it will still take just as longer to get to Bean Sprout.
"We must leave to search for other prey before we run out of daylight," one of the men speaks out. Others nod their heads in agreement.
"Then leave, I'm heading out anyway," Kanda comments, picking up his knapsack, putting his arms through the straps and hikes it up onto his back making sure it is secure.
They each head out in different directions. Kanda stays on the same road heading to the castle.
As miles pass by, the clouds are becoming darker and a mist of rain sprays into Kanda's face. In the far distant, there's the rumble of thunder then a quick flash of lightning whips across the darken clouds. He looks to the sky, deciding if he should chance walking with having long bolts of lightning streak straight down to the earth. The storm rolls closer to him.
Then the dark gray clouds open up and rain pours down on him. Kanda slows his pace to listen. The rainfall seems to mimic the sounds of his own heart beating; the thunder roars his rage across the sky; and the sharpness of the lightning, hones the furiousness of his hatred and determination to finish Rouverlier off—once and for all. He will continue on, no matter what elements are thrown his way—he will reach that castle by nightfall—and Allen.
To be continued …
A/N: I'm sorry to say that this week I've been so tired it was difficult to keep focused. Please, let me know if there are major flaws so I may correct them. Of course, Kanda is having a tough time not having his Bean Sprout around, but he will make it to the castle. I just hoped the chapter came out to your liking, seeing I felt like I only had half a brain to work with! Thanks again to all!