THE CAVE: CONTINUUM

Part Thirty-Four – The Final Battle

Kanda is making headway to the castle and stands at the meeting point where Cross had said would be the entrance to it. Two stone pillars stand on each side of the entrance, each holding half of an iron gate which is now closed. A person from the local village walks by Kanda and he turns to ask the man a question.

"Excuse me, can you tell me if this is the road leading to the castle?"

"Yes it is. An evil Lord lives up there now and I would recommend not venturing to close to it, or you could be taken captive. Some town's people have gone missing going up there," warns the smaller built man.

"Well, thank you for your warning, but I need to go there to save someone very dear to me that was taken away," Kanda answers, looking at the closed gate.

"Just to let you know, this evening has been the worst of the loud, wailing shrieks coming from that place. Something strange is going on up there and it all started happening this evening. Please, trust my words and stay away from that evil place," the villager replies, insistent about his warning with a visible shiver.

"Thanks again for the warning." Kanda bows to the older man. The man continues on only looking over his shoulder once at the teenager in the black coat. Kanda pushes on the heavy Iron Gate opening it and hurries up the roadway anxious to get to Bean Sprout.

Kanda comes up over the rise and sees the eerie silhouette of a dilapidating castle and it's jagged remains of the curtain walls profile against the evening sky giving it that spooky appearance even from a distance. Rumble and debris in huge, spread out piles, are on one corner of the curtain wall that had collapsed many, many years ago.

Moss clings to the stones and erosion has picked at the material holding them in place making it appear as if they could fall out at any moment. On the other far corner, barren vines creep up the side and over the tall, stone wall, attaching themselves into the crevices, swearing you can see the sinister trailing plant moving.

Kanda carefully makes his way closer to the castle, listening for any signs of the enemy near him. In front of him he sees large boulders and mounds of rumble near the front of the bastille. Kanda sheaths quietly through the tall grass as he makes his way closer to them.

"Hold on Bean Sprout, I'm coming for you," Kanda utters under his breath.

He makes it to the tall mound of debris and shrinks into their shadows to rest. How long will he have to wait for Cross to met him? What if Cross doesn't show up, or gets detain along the way? He has to make up his mind if he should wait for the bastard, as he asked him to, or just go in by himself.

It would be wiser to wait for Cross. Two would have a better chance of breaching the castle. Kanda wonders if he went in alone would he even be able to make his way to Bean Sprout. As Cross had said, it wouldn't do Allen any good if he, too, is captured.

While time has passed by, the sun slowly falls behind the trees and the evening air becomes cooler. He continues to sit and wait for Cross's arrival. There hasn't been any sign of the General, or any of the Third Exorcists. Well, truthfully, most of the time no one ever sees the Thirds until they are standing right next to you, and then it can be too late for the enemy.

Kanda receives his answer to go in without Cross when he hears an eerie, outcry, from an animal in pain explode from within the castle, then shortly, another loud explosion of harrowing howls burst and echoes beyond the walls. The disturbing, long wails produce a vibration that quakes through Kanda's body and the earth trembles beneath his feet.

"Bean Sprout!" Kanda whispers, his body shaking, and without another thought darts towards the castle walls to search for a way into Allen's stony prison.

He keeps a fast pace in checking the perimeter of the curtain wall. At the back of the castle the walls jet out to the sides, beyond the main part of the structure, creating a huge addition. There are enormous weathered, timber doors on the back of the add-on with a giant sink hole not far from the entrance.

Kanda is about to creep in for a closer look, hoping to find a smaller doorway, when the huge doors open and a enormous body of a monstrous two-headed hound is being dragged out by oxen's—also of abnormal size—monks flanking it on both sides. Studying the hound from this distance even Kanda could see it is no ordinary hound, but fits the descriptions of demon hounds from mystic tales.

The hound's tongues droop to the side of its mouths, the dull green eyes glazed over by death and a rope is wrapped tightly around its neck as if it had been hung. The oxen's are dragging the carcass of this evil demon hound to the sink hole. He watches as the body levitates slightly off the ground, moving forward until it is hovering over the sink hole then drops out of sight.

Kanda's eyes widen and he stifles a gasp from what he had just witnessed. There truly is evil within those walls and to think Rouvelier is at the very core of it all. He has to find a way in.

The group of monks and oxen make their way back to the huge wooden doors and once all have passed through, the doors close slowly as if on their own.

"What other evil entities does Bean Sprout have to face," Kanda whispers to himself, promising he will find a way in to rescue his husband from these demonic creatures.

While Kanda is searching for another way into the castle, Allen is brought back out to the arena to face his next demon from hell. He glances up at Rouvelier, his fiery hatred boiling within him. If only he could get up there and kill the man then this nightmare would end.

Allen looks around the balcony and now sees several monks standing above him. All waiting to watch him be torn apart by another evil creation, but maybe his luck will hold out and survive this round also. The sword and chained mace is once again on the ground for his use. The young Exorcist's attention is drawn to the heavy, tall gate when he thinks he hears his next opponent.

There is a swishing sound of movement as the creature approaches the gateway leading to hell. Once again, he finds himself having to listen to the heavy, metal gate, scraping and making that hideous screeching noise as it lifts upwards, the chains in the background rattle and jangle together as the spindle turns.

Large, blood red eyes flicker in the darkness of the gateway's opening. The red blazing eyes move slowly in different directions as if sizing up the environment in front of it. Slowly, it slithers out of the opening into the large spacious arena.

He couldn't believe his eyes as he watches the giant snake zigzag its way out of the darkness then stops—its tail end tangling and coiling around its own body, and leaves a trench in its wake . Allen stands perfectly still not wanting to attract attention to himself as he sizes up his opponent.

By the appearance of this enormous snake, Allen figures it's a King Cobra magnified many, many times its size. It sways its head back and forth, its fork tongue hisses as it spits in and out of its mouth. There is a pair of large scales visible at the back top of the head and different size scales, overlapping one another as they run down the center of the Cobra's back.

It wears the distinguishing black and yellow chevron pattern on its neck which identifies the type of snake. Allen remembers this particular type from missions Kanda and he had been on in the Asian countries. Could this have been conjured up as a demon or just some magical spell to enhance the overall size of the snake, Allen wonders, keeping a close eye on the monstrous creature.

Allen feels he is not the only one checking out his opponent, but gets the feeling he too is being sized up. The Cobra is probably gauging the distance to Allen's location, thinking of him as his next meal, though he certainly wouldn't fill the creature's stomach.

There's a pause to the sound of its spitting tongue then a low pitch growl come rumbling from the snake, not a hissing sound as he would have thought. Allen feels the vibration under his feet from the rumbling growl as if a small earthquake is moving the ground.

Eventually, the snake becomes aware that Allen may be something to be concerned about, and it rears up the anterior portion of its long body, extending its neck in a defending posture. The huge snake towers over Allen just like the giant squid's long tentacles had in front of Kanda and him when they were on the ship coming over to Japan.

The tall body of the Cobra slightly sways back and forth as if moving to its own music, like he had seen snake charmers do in the Asian countries. Then it slithers forward with caution staring at Allen with its flickering, red fiery eyes. Allen tries to shallow quietly, hoping he doesn't upset the snake, but it didn't matter, its hissing growling sound becomes louder.

The Cobra must feel some sort of confrontation is coming, because its giant hood begins to extend up and out from its neck. Once totally expanded, all around the hood edges long, sharp spikes spring up and out at the same time its fangs begin extending long and bold from its mouth, much longer than any normal snake, looking more like vampire's incisor protruding downwards with venom dripping out of the pointed ends, giving it the most grotesque, demonic appearance.

Allen is thankful he has a sharp sword, but wonders if the skin will be tougher then it looks which would render the sword useless. He moves slowly around the giant beast cautiously. It has been known that a normal King Cobra can be a dangerous snake when confronted and had earned a fearsome reputation—when continuously provoked.

Though Allen is not given the choice to walk away from this beast of a snake, it comes down to either it dies, or he dies, which means it will have to be provoked in order for one of them to win.

Allen looks up into those red eyes of fire as they follow him furtively moving around its body. The gleam of the red-orange torch flames dance off the stone walls in total contrast to the silhouettes, the creature's large, black shadow shows, shifting around the arena adding to the evil drama that will soon unravel.

The snake strikes an attack at Allen with a quick and gracefully movement. Allen flings himself out of the way, somersaulting and rolls up quickly gaining his footing. Grabbing the sword, he rushes at it, raising the blade over his head, he brings it down forcefully, slashing at the snake's skin.

Just as he suspected, it slices through, but not far enough to sever the snake in half. The snake's body jerks in response to the swords sharp blade striking and sends Allen across the arena's dirt floor.

Slithering quickly over to Allen it propels his neck, throwing its sharp poisonous spikes at him and he scrambles to his feet dodging the projectiles whizzing past him then dives to the ground avoiding the attack.

He picks up the sword that fell out of his hand during the attack and with what speed and strength he could muster, he charges at the snake, swiping his sword forcefully at the fangs in front of him, actually being able to break one in half, dislocating the fang in its mouth as it now hangs loose and crooked.

A roaring growl, hissing combination bellows out of the creature as its tail snaps in pain and strikes Allen once again, slamming him against the stone wall—his body crumples to the ground. Allen shakes his head trying to stop the room from spinning and manages to get up to stand on his feet when a sharp pain from his ribs takes his breath for a moment. He has to endure the pain and continue on if he is to survive—he will have to deal with his pain later.

At least he had the snake raking in sheer agony from its injured fang as its head and neck thrashes back and forth with a god awful groaning sound that pierced through his eardrums. Blood rushes and adrenaline pumps into his veins, part from the feeling of desperation and part from fear he tries to quell.

Rouvelier sits up above in the balcony on his throne, leering down at Allen, smelling the young Exorcists fear, but Allen pays him no heed. He will not yield. He will fight until the end.

With a new found energy, Allen activates his Crown Clown, once again.

"Crown Clown Invocation!" Allen bellows out, his eyes squint dangerously, flashing with determination, his mouth twists in a grimace.

Again, he rushes at the angry, hurting creature and takes flight at the monster snake with his sharp, scissor, talons. With his quick response, Allen slices off the snakes flickering tongue and stabs his prongs into its eye. The creature went wild in thrashing, coiling, extending and re-coiling its body.

Allen landed far from the bloodied, flogging snake wailing in pain still wrenching its body. He figures the most venerable spot to kill the creature is under its neck.

Catching his breath for only a moment, Allen takes flight once again, ignoring the pain that rakes his own body and with his razor, sharp talon Innocence, he slices and tears open its throat, blood spurting and spewing as it collapses to the dirt floor.

Allen lands staggering trying to keep his footing. He would not give Rouvelier the satisfaction of seeing his failing body. His reward is looking up at the furious bastard's red face, pounding his fists on his throne armrests like a child having a temper tantrum, and being able to sneer up at the son of a bitch.

At the same time as Allen is battling the snake, Kanda has found a way into the castle and has been furtively making his way through the barren place looking for any sign of Bean Sprout. He must be getting closer; he hears a roaring growl bellowing out from a creature that sounds as if it is in extreme pain. It's a god awful sound piercing through the air. Kanda swears it would burst your eardrums if you were in the same room as the creature.

"That has to be where Allen is," Kanda mutters under his breath, and follows the agonizing sounds. His heart is beating fast in his chest as he picks up his pace to find his husband.

There doesn't seem to be anyone around which Kanda finds suspicious, but then again, maybe Rouvelier has his minions watching his lover fighting for his life.

Kanda creeps past a door way when ahead he sees the gigantic wooden doors just like the ones he saw earlier outside. He must be at the end of the castle where he had seen the large addition. This would make sense seeing they were dragging that colossal size demon hound out from this location.

Kanda looks down a darken hallway, wondering if this might lead to a smaller entrance outside the interior room, behind those large doors. Cautiously, he enters into the blacken hallway, making his way slowly, checking both in front and back of him when suddenly, a huge, hairy hand covers his mouth pulling him further into the darkness.

He struggles, kicking and wrenching himself, his shouts muffle by the huge, furry hand covering his mouth. Kanda manages to get an arm free and bites the beast hand yanking it from his mouth.

"Let me go you beast! You're not stopping me from saving my husband!" he yells, only to have the huge hand over his mouth again.

The beast lifts Kanda off the floor walking away with him further down the corridor until the beast stops at a door. The sounds of hisses and growls are much louder here and then he hears Allen activating his Crown Clown. Kanda stops struggling at Allen's voice and his heart feels like it skipped a beat.

"He's alive, Allen's alive!" Kanda loudly whispers, and the beast opens the door and carries him inside.

Once inside the room, the beast lets Kanda down. He looks around at his surroundings and notices all the bloody rags and bandages thrown onto the floor of the small room. His body weakens for a moment knowing full well these are Allen's bandages and a chill of fear streaks down his spine.

"Allen?" Kanda whispers as he turns to face the beast for the first time and gasps.

The beast quickly throws his hood over his head to hide his marred face and motions to Kanda to follow him. They walk down a short corridor; the stench of blood hangs heavily in the air. They reach a thick stone doorway with a heavy metal, slatted door and Kanda peers out into the large arena.

There's Allen, covered in blood and Kanda's stomach sours and churns at the sight of the largest snake he has ever seen and it's a King Cobra at that. Stun, Kanda watches his husband, land far away from the wrenching, wails of the snake in all his glory. Then again Allen takes flight and his razor sharp talons slices and tears open its throat, blood gushing everywhere as it collapses, dying.

Allen lands staggering, and if Kanda knows his husband he will not give Rouvelier the satisfaction of seeing him fall to his knees. Kanda looks up at a very frustrated Rouvelier and feels proud of his husband as he watches Allen sneer at the bastard.

"Allen!" Kanda cries out, as the large, burly beast unlocks the metal gate door.

Allen turns, not believing his ears, to see the one sight he has been praying for. This could be the last time he will get to see his lover and attempts to walk towards him but is too exhausted to move and stops—swaying on his feet.

Kanda rushes over to his husband wrapping an arm around his waist to hold him up when Allen flinches and groans in pain from the contact. His lover's clothes are tattered, soaked with blood from his wounds and that of the two beasts he has battled and killed. But then he sees the blood soaked slashes covering his shirt on his back.

Kanda releases Allen and lifts the back of his shirt horrified at the welts, and deep gashes across his soundly, beaten back. There is no doubt in Kanda's mind Allen had endured excruciating pain at the hands of his torturer's whip. He shakes, the rage seething inside of him with a fury that even Rouvelier could see from above.

"You are going to die by my own sword, Rouvelier! Not only had you condemn Allen to death knowing full well the Noah didn't exist in him any longer, but you also have viciously tortured him. I will avenge my husband's maltreatment, do you hear me Rouvelier!" Kanda's tone of voice said murderously.

"This ends here, Bean Sprout," Kanda utters quickly to his husband, removing Mugen from his sheath.

"Quickly, release the third demon!" Rouvelier roars to his minions at the huge gate of hell.

Kanda's head whips over to where the noise of the heavy gate is lifting, grinding and screeching as the rusty metal slides over rusty metal, and chains clang and rattle sharply against each other until fully open. Then the third demon monster boldly steps into the arena.

Both, Kanda and Allen, gasp at the sight of this clamorous, giant monster from hell. It's vociferous growling and snarling resounds off the walls piercing through ones eardrums making them feel they would pop at any second.

The earth trembles from the pounding footsteps of the colossal beast, its huge, ugly face with scaly skin, large slanted eyes, and large ears that stick outward like the gargoyles they had encountered. It's disgusting, grotesque mouth and teeth of the creature, has an under bite with two long, protruding tusk pointing upwards and drool running out of its mouth—worse than the demon hounds.

It's massive arm muscles ripple with horns extending outwards from the hard scaly skin, across the shoulders, and down to the elbows. The heinousness creature's chest resembles an armor plate of a turtle divided into six sections like abdominals—but tougher—for protection.

"Holy shit!" Kanda curses under his breath, stealing a glance up at Rouvelier who is sneering down at him.

"Bean Sprout, you're too badly wounded to attack another one of this monstrosity," Kanda whispers.

"I'll fight with you. I'd rather die in battle with you than to live without you," Allen answers, activating his Crown Clown.

"Let's get this over with, partner," Allen murmurs giving his husband a warm smile. Kanda quickly puts his hand behind Allen's head giving him a quick kiss.

"Okay, I'm ready … partner" and Kanda gives a warm smile to his lover.

They charge at the demon, who roars out as the two of them make contact with the creature, their weapons not even breaking the skin. The monster arms wave in all direction trying to swat at both of them as they continue assault after assault at the demon.

Rouvelier's clapping and his laughter rings out, even over the demon's roaring noises, knowing the creature will kill both of the Exorcists, and it is pleasing him immensely.

The demons concentration is fully on killing these two pests flying around them like bees to honey, sticking to him the best they could.

"Kanda, I'm going for the eye, to blind him, it's the only spot that my talons may be able to penetrate," Allen yells over to his husband. Kanda nods his head in agreement.

"I'll go for the other one with Mugen. Allen, if this doesn't work I'm going to fully activate to Ripping Flash Claw," Kanda shouts over to where Allen looks much paler now.

"Don't you dare!" Allen roars at his husband. Dodging the swinging massive arm, just missing the horns.

"I have to Allen it may be our only chance!"

"A high risk chance for you to die, asshole! Don't you dare activate to that level! Do you hear me Yullen?!" Allen's voice explodes into a thunderous scream.

Allen's heart is striking against his chest so fiercely he swears it's going to rip out of his chest. With all his energy, Allen whisks past the creatures deadly flailing arms straight to his eye, penetrating his talons deep into its socket as Kanda simultaneously meets the other eye with Mugen, thrusting his activated sword just as deeply.

The creature flinches, screaming out in pain as its body recoils quickly sending the two Exorcists flying through the air hitting the ground hard. Allen, already having the worse injuries, couldn't move. Quickly scrabbling to his feet Kanda rushes over to his husband.

"Kanda, did we do it?" Allen asks barely audible, having trouble breathing.

"Yes, I think we did," his husband answers as bravely as he could, but he couldn't stop the one tear that ran down his face.

"I love you so much, Kanda," Allen says, raising his bloody, weaken hand to Kanda's face for a brief moment before it slides off and Allen's eyes close.

"No!" Kanda wails, time stopping for a split second before he feels a hand on his shoulder and he turns to look.

"Tiedoll, I think it may be too late for Allen," he says dazed.

"Kanda, listen to me," his General firmly says, gripping his shoulder harder.

"I'll take care of Allen and Cross will take care of that …. Demon. You go after Rouvelier! Do you understand me, son?" Tiedoll speaks adamantly at him.

Kanda shakes his head to pull himself out of this stupor and looks over his shoulder as Cross is ready to fire Judgment's Arrow Of Original Sin directly at the demons heart area.

Kanda hears the fire of Cross's weapon as he twirls around honing in on Rouvelier's whereabouts. The vile man is trying to open the door up above to escape from the scene playing out below him, but it is locked! Who would have locked the door, Rouvelier thinks for only a moment before Kanda flies over the balcony wall, landing gracefully.

"It ends here, Rouvelier," Kanda growls odiously, Mugen pointed at the revolting, despicable savage in front of him.

"Hah, hah, hah, well I guess I have got my revenge now that Allen is dead," Rouvelier's haughty laughter echoes, spitting on Kanda.

Kanda is beyond furious, his eyes blazing with hatred at what this thing, called man, standing in front of him has done. He's taken the only precious person in the world away from him—Allen.

He walks towards the ex-Inspector with each slow footstep prolonging Rouvelier's destiny—making him squirm. The hideous man stands just away from the wall as Kanda comes face to face with the vile man. He clenches his jaw tightly, Mugen's point resting on Rouvelier's vital organs.

Adrenaline is pumping through his veins, and the vision of his husband's bloody crumble body lying in the dirt below flashes in his mind.

"This is for Allen," Kanda says, leaning on Mugen, the sword piercing straight through Rouvelier. Rouvelier gives Kanda a sick smile then smirks.

"I hope this makes you feel better, Kanda, but Allen is dead, so have a long, miserable life—I win," Rouvelier chuckles, blood tickling out the corner of his mouth. Kanda's heart aches for the lost of his Bean Sprout.

"Kanda! Allen's alive! We need to get him down to the village immediately," Cross bellows, echoing off the stone walls.

Kanda stares into Rouvelier's dulling eyes and he pushes against Mugen again, until he sinks into Rouvelier's body up to the hilt of his sword, breathing heavily his antipathy on the dastard.

"Well, it looks like Allen and I win, so have a pleasant trip to hell, Rouvelier," Kanda sneers at the demon of a man in from on him, hatred still pulsing through his veins.

Rouvelier looks one last time at the victorious Kanda in the eyes then chokes up more blood that pours out of his mouth. He closes his eyes as his head drops to his chest.

Kanda slowly pulls out his Katana, Mugen, from Rouvelier's dead body and he drops to the floor. Kanda bends down and wipes the blood off his sword onto the bastards clothing, relief flowing over him.

"Kanda! We must be going! Allen's in the wagon, he needs you!" Cross roars snapping Kanda out of his stupor, remembering he has to get to his husband.

"I'm coming!" Kanda shouts as he jumps from the balcony to the dirt floor below, rushing after Cross to get to Allen.

The wagon comes into sight and he sees Tiedoll pressing a bloody rag to a wound on Allen's side. His eye catches the tall hooded figure with shaggy hair, knowing this is the beast that had helped Allen. It fades into the shadows, not wanting to be seen.

"Thank you, beast man for helping my husband," Kanda quietly says, without looking in that direction, knowing the beast can hear him.

"Be safe my friend until Allen and I can come back to help you."

Kanda jumped into the moving wagon anxious to be with Allen. It's the first time he has been able to really take a look at his husband's physical condition and his heart cries out inside for him.

His beautiful Bean Sprouts face is bruised with lacerations and his eye is blacken, swollen shut. He looks to where Tiedoll is applying pressure to the wound on his side and then looks up with worried, glistening eyes at his General.

"Son, he will make it through this. Before he went unconscious again, he said he wants to come back to you and that he loves you," Tiedoll whispers, reassuringly to his apprentice.

It seems like forever by the time they arrived at the village hospital. Everyone is rushing around getting Allen out of the wagon and carried him inside to be lain on a rolling table—blood everywhere.

"I won't leave his side in surgery, Kanda. The god damn brat is going to pull through this, mark my words," Cross says sternly at him then disappears with the doctors going into the emergency surgery room.

Tiedoll's lays his hand on Kanda's shoulder consoling him.

"Kanda, you need to go with this doctor so he can take care of your wounds. You've lost a lot of blood and you need stitches," Tiedoll says quietly.

Kanda looks down to see what he's talking about when he notices the blood seeping out of a wound to his side. He didn't even realize he had been injured—until now. There hadn't been any time to think about him, he just reacted to what needed to be done.

"Tiedoll, you know I will heal quicker then Bean Sprout," Kanda reminded his General, but allows to be taken into a room to have his wounds treated.

Now, that the adrenaline has calmed down in his system, he feels the pain he had been denying. It is definitely a broken rib and something had cut his side deeply to require quite a few stitches.

"You need to lay down, young man and rest," the doctor reiterated one more time.

"Not until Bean Sprout is out of surgery," Kanda says, once again. Tiedoll walks the doctor away from Kanda and whispers into his ear. The doctor nods and leaves the waiting area. Kanda is tired, but he cannot sleep until he knows Allen is going to be all right.

Hours later, Cross walks out the door that had lead to the operating room. He looks drawn and pale as he yanks the green cap off his head and mask off his face. Kanda feels the bottom dropping out of his stomach when Cross walks up to him and places a hand on his shoulder.

"Kanda, he lost a lot of blood. When he fell from that height it appears his broken rib tore through the skin, but luckily did not penetrate any vital organs. We managed to correct the rib and stitch up the wound, it should heal. He also has a split spleen and as far as his eye, we'll have to see if he'll have sight in it once the swelling comes down.

Sit down, son, I have to be honest with you. He's not out of the woods, this can go either way in a heartbeat. The next forty-eight hours will be crucial to see if he turns the corner," Cross explains, watching Kanda go paler and paler with each word spoken.

"Can I see him? Can I stay with him?" Kanda chokes out.

"Yes, he's unconscious, not in a comma, and … well … I've seen how deeply connected the two of you are … and … maybe … just maybe … you should stay with him through this. Who am I to say if it will help, but maybe he'll fight to live. Shit, it's worth a try," Cross stammers, for the first time looking lost because this is something out of his control to fix.

"Thank you, Cross," Kanda replies, keeping the tears back that threaten to flow.

Kanda and Tiedoll follow Cross to a room where Allen's frail body laid. He has a large patch over his eye, and bandages tightly wrap around his torso. Now cleaned up, without the blood, you could see more bruising without his shirt on. He went quickly to his side, taking his hand, squeezing it firmly.

"I'm here Bean Sprout, please come back to me. I need you and I love you so much," Kanda whispers because he has no voice to speak out. He kisses his hand.

"Kanda here are clean clothes to change into. There is a bathroom down the hallway. As you can see, I had them put him into a large bed to accommodate both of you. Why don't you go wash up and change. We'll be here with him," Cross says, picking up a pile of white clothing and hands them to Kanda.

This is so out of character for the outspoken General, Kanda wonders when the 'other' Cross will appear. But he's not going to complain, he has made it possible for him to spend the days and nights with his husband and that is all that matters to him right now.

Kanda returns laying his dirty, blood soaked clothing in the chair. He is exhausted and the pain is increasing even for him and all he wants to do right now is lay next to his Bean Sprout.

"Kanda, you need rest also with your own injuries. Yes, your blood will heal you quickly, but you still need to rest for that to happen," Cross reminds the long, black hair Exorcist.

Pulling back the bedding, Kanda slides in between the crisp white sheets. Carefully he moves closer to his husband, taking his hand between the both of his. Though Allen smells of medicines and iodine it doesn't matter, he is here next to him and he will do all he can to bring his lover back to him.

"Good night, Bean Sprout, I love you and I'll see you in the morning. Get some rest," Kanda murmurs drifting off to sleep, still holding Allen's hand.

"Come on Tiedoll. We need our own rest. We'll check in on them tomorrow," Allen's General says, moving to the door and turns around to check on him one more time.

"Thank you Cross. I'm not sure how Kanda would have rested tonight if you didn't arrange for them to be together," Tiedoll says, once outside the room and the door is closed. He holds out his hand to shake Cross's.

"Ah, shit, you're welcome," Cross answers roughly, taking his hand and shaking it.

That night, Kanda woke up from a nightmare with Allen falling in slow motion from the huge demon monster. It had felt so real he has to touch Allen to make sure he is still beside him.

Squeezing Allen's hand he sighs, then let's go to gently wrap his arms around Allen's. He leans his head closer to his husband's shoulder, his other hand caresses up and down Allen's bare arm, being comforted by the mere touch of his lover's warm skin under his hands. It's enough to sooth him and lets him fall back to sleep.

When morning came, Cross and Tiedoll were bring in breakfast for all of them. Kanda slides out of bed and goes to the bathroom while Cross takes the time to examine Allen's bandages for any seepage. He will need to change them later.

"Did you notice any movement from Allen last night?" Cross asks Kanda when he returns.

"No, he didn't move all night. Do you see any change in him this morning?" Kanda asks anxiously.

"No, not yet, but it is still early to see any tell tale signs," Cross answers.

The day didn't feel long to Kanda because he stayed in bed with Allen, staring at his lover and sleeping when he needed to which helps in healing himself. Cross and Tiedoll show up in the late afternoon needing to change Allen's dressings and Kanda stays in the room.

When the large bandage from Allen's side is removed, it looks disgusting to Kanda, but Cross seems very pleased with how it looks. He places the new bandage over the wound then Cross wraps Allen's body. As he is finishing, tightening the wrapping, Allen flinches as if in pain.

"Did you see that?" Kanda says excitedly, hoping that is a good sign.

"Of course I did, idiot. I was right here wrapping him for Christ sakes!" Cross snaps, checking Allen's pulse, not saying anything else.

Cross moves up and slowly takes the eye bandage off to replace it. Kanda is trying to keep still and quiet waiting for Cross to say something. When the bandage is carefully peeled back the ugly black and purple skin is revealed, it makes Kanda nausea thinking about the pain Allen must have experienced.

Placing a fresh patch on his eye, Cross secures it with tape then rechecks Allen's pulse once again. He looks over a Tiedoll with an encouraging look on his face.

"His vitals are getting better, but he's not out of the woods yet," Cross says, and looks over at Kanda who had sat down and finished what he could of his food.

"Get back in bed and stay close to him. You might sense or even feel him if he starts to come around. It was a good sign when he flinched like that. You may have to be on bed rest yourself for quite awhile if this helps Allen to fight to stay alive," Cross smirks, trying to embarrass the older Exorcist.

But Kanda is all too happy to jump in bed with Bean Sprout if it meant he is healing and could regain consciousness. He snuggles in as close as he feels is comfortable for Allen, taking his hand holding it tightly. Cross and Tiedoll stay until late evening before leaving.

Kanda, still tired, easily falls back to sleep once they left. In the middle of the night Kanda drowsily wakes up feeling a little movement in the bed and then a moan. His eyes spring open pulling himself up to lean on his elbow.

"Bean Sprout. Can you hear me?" Kanda whispers, his heart thumping hard against his chest. Allen's fingers move slightly in his hand then another low moan.

"Oh my God, Bean Sprout, come back to me. You're trying to move, but you have a severe wound on your side with a broken rib. It will be painful with any movement," Kanda explains, not knowing if Allen can hear him.

"No … kidding," Allen tries to say, breathless due to the pain and his eye opens a slit.

"You're back," relief and happiness flowing through Kanda.

"You … came … for me … Rouve—," Allen stammers, spacing out his words as he tries to speak, but is difficult with the pain.

"He's dead. He'll never bother us again. I'm going to take you home as soon as you're healed enough to travel," he promises his husband.

"Home … our home … kiss," Allen says and tries to smile, managing a small grin, then winces in pain.

Kanda carefully moves to reach Bean Sprout's lips and gently touches them. Allen opens his mouth slightly, letting their lips move marginally, then Kanda presses a little firmer and they both feel the connection that always happens between them. It's as if they become one with only a kiss.

Allen can feel Kanda's love and the current of his life force flow into him as Kanda can feel his husband's pain ebb back to him. It's a give and take of true love channeling it's divine power.

Their lips slide apart, both feeling Kami presents, blessing them. If someone should walk into the room at that moment, they might have a glimpse of the two shrouded in an angelic halo of pure love.

Kanda opens his eyes, his body vibrating with emotions, feeling a similar reaction from Allen. He sees more life in his lover's eyes knowing instinctively Allen is going to be alright.

"Kanda … better now," a slight smile of content on his face, "tired … sleep … don't leave me … I love … you—"

"Shut up fool and just rest. I'm staying right here with you, I'm not leaving your side. I told you I'm going to take you home—back to our paradise," Kanda chokes out, watching Allen's eye close. His breathing evens out so Kanda figures he's fallen back to sleep.

"I love you too, Bean Sprout," Kanda whispers.

To be continue …

A/N: I cannot express how overwhelmed I am by the response for this story and it is all due to all of you! So, thank you, thank you, thank you! To all my readers! I just hope this final chapter turned out to your liking, but I will not leave you hanging there. I will write up an Epilogue to finish off the story, so hang there for one more.

I will do my best for next week as I will be gone for the whole weekend. So, to everyone I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!