Chapter twenty – Summons
Deciding to go see Cross had been the easy part.
Okay, maybe that wasn't entirely correct. It hadn't been easy. Most definitely not. Decisions involving Cross were not to be made lightly; the consequences were far reaching and endless. So, it was fair to say Allen had agonized over the decision.
However, when you compare the pain he went through deciding to see Cross to the pain he was going through trying to find Cross… Well, one could see the agony of deciding was easily surpassed.
That wasn't to say that Allen had expected it to be easier. Contrary, really. He had expected it to be so frustrating he'd be tearing his own hair out before he finished and then he'd really be bald and Kanda would never let him live it down.
Regardless, it had been three days since he mentioned the possibility of meeting his Master to Kanda and all he'd managed to learn was that Cross had been sighted in the next town over. However, that had been a month ago and there was no bloody guarantee the bastard was even in the country anymore.
He hated his Master. No… He loathed his master with a burning, fiery passion. Cross had that effect on him.
"Thank you for all your help," Allen sighed politely to the person on the other end of the phoneline before he pulled his mobile down from ears and ended the call.
Zilch.
Zip.
Nada.
Cross was a real bastard.
oOo_oOo_oOo
Kanda, Lavi and Lenalee stared through the glass doors in the café as they watched Allen end his phone call. It seemed, Lavi mulled thoughtfully, that Allen-chan spent every moment he could on his phone these days. In the morning, during break, in between classes, throughout lunch… And that was without mentioning the amount of time he seemed to spend in town by himself.
And seeing as how as far as he knew, Kanda, Lenalee and himself were the only friends Allen had, it did make one wonder who he was talking to.
Lavi cast a curious glass over at Kanda who was toying absently with his soba noodles. And then there was this one, Lavi thought with faint amusement, who'd normally throw a tantrum if Allen were to spend all this time acting like that.
Which meant whatever Allen was doing; Kanda was likely in it on. While Lavi and Lenalee, despite their unwavering support and iron tight friendship, were not.
Lavi took a chomp of his sizable burger and continued to stare at the Moyashi through the frosted glass. He didn't like this. Not one bit. He hated being disincluded like this. Especially, he thought with mock bitterness as he cast a sideways glance at Kanda, when he had been the one slaving away over a computer, trying to dredge up anything about Allen he possibly could.
"The guts of some people," Lavi muttered through a handful of fries, earning him curious looks from his friends who wisely chose not to call him on it.
The sound of squeaking hinges announced the opening of the door and Lavi looked up to see Allen returning to the café in all his bloodshot-eyed glory. The beansprout managed to muster up enough energy to smile as he took his seat beside Kanda, which, Lavi noted dully, seemed awfully comfortable.
"Who was that on the phone," Lenalee inquired interestedly, tilting her head to the side in the way Lavi found oddly alluring so she could see Allen better.
Allen himself made a big show of rolling his eyes as he reached for his – now cold – slice of pizza. "Wrong number, if you would believe it," He lied as he bought the mixture of stringy cheese and spicy meat to his mouth.
"You seem to be getting a lot of those these days," Lavi was quick to chip in, eagerly watching Allen for any kind of reaction. He was, however, disappointed. Not that he had truly expected much else. Allen had the poker face of a master player. Which, Lavi reminded himself, Allen was.
Ever the gentleman Allen waited until he was done chewing to answer. Well, tactfully lie, but really, was there any difference with Allen Walker?
"Prank calls mostly," he said easily, "I wouldn't put it past Northward to be behind it."
Uh huh, Lavi thought doubtfully, and I bet they're totally the reason you've been disappearing into town at every opportunity these last few days.
Kanda remained silent, an odd occurrence for the perpetually angry teen who was always looking for a reason to start an argument with his younger white-haired friend. Lavi sensed a perfect information gathering chance.
"So Kanda," he said slyly, "I notice you've been awfully placid of late."
He was met with a bone-chilling death glare and the threatening snap of wooden chopsticks. "Do you want to die, you fucking rabbit?"
No, not particularly, Lavi mused as he said "Chill, it was just an observation. Normally when Allen's being all secretive you're so irritable. I was just saying that, well, you haven't been so bitchy about it this time. Not complaining though, it's an improvement."
Lavi was rewarded with a sharp flash of recognition behind those dark eyes as Kanda quickly snapped, "I'm not bitchy."
Ah ha, Lavi smirked, I've got you. You definitely know what's going on with Allen, don't you?
Perhaps Kanda remembered the Lavi was an unusually perceptive individual and a certified genius for he quickly slammed down his chopsticks and got to his feet, lugging his back over his shoulder as he did so. "Keep your pointless observations to yourself," he sneered, "some of us don't have time to be sitting around doing fuck all."
"Why Kanda," Lavi gasped sounding scandalized, "I'll have you know I have a very hectic schedule! You should feel lucky I even make time to inquire about your day!"
"Well don't," Kanda snapped, "Keep your fucking nose out of it."
"I will put my 'fucking nose' wherever I please," Lavi said with as much dignity as he could, "And it just so happens it pleases me to keep it firmly lodged in your business."
"I will break you. I swear to god."
"You'll break me? But not my nose? So, my nose is safe?"
"Maybe," Allen hurriedly interjected as the swirling rage surrounding Kanda steadily became a tangible thing, "we should leave before the bell rings and we're all late to class."
"I have a free," Lavi said smugly and then, because he had no self-preservation instinct, "and I think I'll use it to nose around a little bit more in Yu-chan's privacy."
If it hadn't been for Lenalee's hand roughly pulling him down, and what a dainty little hand it was, he probably would have been skewed alive by flying chopsticks.
oOo_oOo_oOo
Allen's last class of the day was shared with Kanda. A class that depending on the day and his mood could be either a great blessing or a lesson from hell. Today seemed like a mix of the two.
"I don't suppose you've managed to fucking get a move on and track down that bastard of a 'Master' of yours," Kanda muttered dryly as the pair took their respective positions at the back of the classroom. All the better for muted conversations and the occasional argument.
"I'm trying," Allen mumbled back, "I don't think you really grasp how hard it is to find my Master. If he doesn't want to be found – which he doesn't – you won't find him."
Kanda gave a disparaging snort, "So a Moyashi like you doesn't stand a chance."
Allen bristled at the insult. "You're one to talk BaKanda. You couldn't find your way to the Eiffel tower with a map and a tour guide."
"Maybe because I've never been to France," was the returning snap, "But I bet you've been there to lord over all the gay art stuff they have."
Mustn't rise to the bait, Allen thought, must continue meaningful conversation that is actually productive.
Taking a deep breath he replied, "I have been to France. But that's beside the point," Allen slunk lower in his seat and brought his voice down a few notches as the teacher glanced in their general direction, "all I'm saying is that it'll take a while to find Master."
Kanda set him a glare but ultimately did not object. This came as a great relief to Allen as after spending so many late nights fruitlessly searching, he found himself understandably lacking the energy to keep up a prolonged and witty argument.
What he'd been thinking when he'd asked Kanda to accompany him to see his Master, Allen had no idea. It had seemed like a great idea at the time. The two were bound to meet at some point, why not be the catalyst himself and hurry along the process? He'd hate for their first meeting to be under more… stressful circumstances.
Why he wanted Kanda to make a good first impression, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because a first time meeting with either of them could be rather startling. It certainly wouldn't end well if two people of such… different character were shoved together in the middle of a situation.
Allen grimaced at the explosion that would follow such a thing.
No, much better to have them meet in a peaceful setting. And, it would be a perfect opportunity to give Kanda some of his much craved information. Not too little and not too much. Enough to sate him for the time being.
Yes, Allen pondered as he idly twirled his mechanical pencil, perfect.
He cast a sidelong glance at Kanda and smirked with mild amusement. The raven haired teen was scowling up at the bored with the most loathing expression. Allen couldn't blame him; the numbers displayed there made him want to ram his head into a brick wall.
Regardless, Allen quite liked that expression Kanda was showing. He'd never seen anybody with such a surly default look. It was a charm within itself.
Sharp, entrancing eyes narrowed in annoyance while his forehead pulled in at the centre, somehow without wrinkling. Corners of the mouth titled in an obvious show of displeasure and a withheld sigh or violent words waiting impatiently to lash out at the first unsuspecting idiot to test his limited patience.
Allen was aware he was staring, but he couldn't bring himself to be bothered enough to look away. Kanda hadn't noticed, so where was the harm?
In fact, Allen felt as he nestled his chin firmly in his palm for comfort, it may please him to stay this way for the rest of the lesson.
oOo_oOo_oOo
"Anita's asked us to come down to visit her," Lavi said cheerfully the second Allen and Kanda bumped into him in the hall, "her treat, of course."
Lenalee blinked in pleasant surprise, "That's nice of her," the Chinese girl said with a tender smile, "we haven't been down to the club in a while anyway."
Not since what happened last time.
Not since that not-so-glorious day with Julian that had ended in tears.
It wasn't said, but it was clearly left hanging in the air around them, suddenly making for an awkward silence as the quartet lapsed into their own thoughts, forgetting for a moment they were standing in the middle of a bust corridor until an impolite elbow in Allen's ribs by a disgruntled passer-by reminded them.
"Hold on, let's take this conversation elsewhere," he said, gesturing in the vague direction of the dorm rooms.
"Why does she wants us to come down?" Kanda muttered as he shifted his bag to a more comfortable position and trailed after Allen. Lavi gave a mystified shrug.
"I dunno. I'm not complaining though. However, come to think of it..." the redhead thought for a moment as something seemed to occur to him, "She seemed pretty determined that Allen come along."
"Me?" Allen asked in surprise, "Why?"
"Anita is a nice lady," Lenalee said, "She probably didn't want to leave you with a bad impression."
"That could be it," Lavi agreed as the mounted the stairs, "But seriously though, do you think," he paused and his face froze in a horrified look, "You don't suppose that maybe she likes Allen?"
Instant reaction from Kanda, "Don't be stupid," he snapped irritably, "What's there to like about the Moyashi? She'd just be wasting her time."
"Gee," Allen said dryly, "Thanks Kanda."
"What's there to like about Allen," Lavi repeated, "why don't you tell us, Yu-chan? I mean, you seem to have liking Allen down to a fine art."
It was only due to his quick reflexes after years of dodging flying books that he was able to stagger down a few steps in time to avoid the swift – and power packed – punch thrown his way by a very pissed off Japanese youth.
"Anyway," Lenalee interrupted as the reaching the landing with the boys rooms "Why don't we meet up again in about two hours and head down to see Anita? I mean, unless nobody here wants to…"
"Of course we want to," Lavi hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dream of turning down an invitation from lovely Miss Anita."
"Careful Lavi," Lenalee said with perhaps more venom than normal, "If you flirt with her too much her scary bodyguard will crush your bones into powder."
"Tche, love can conquer anything," Lavi said confidently, apparently oblivious to the dark aura surrounding Lenalee which always surfaced alongside his womanizing tendencies.
Allen took this chance to duck away before blood was shed, slipping silently into his room right behind Kanda and shutting the door just as quietly.
Now rewarded with blissful silence Allen turned around and set his bag down before absently remarking, "I do wonder what Anita wants to see me for, though."
Kanda was still apparently in a bad mood from Lavi's earlier outburst and did nothing but shoot Allen an annoyed look with a "Che, like I care."
"Pleasant as always, I see," Allen muttered with a frown as he busied himself attempting to hunt down Timcanpy.
oOo_oOo_oOo
A/N: God, I'm sorry this has taken so long. Writers block, you know how I am. And school's been a real bitch. Be grateful though, because I dragged myself out of bed at 1 in the morning because I felt like I might be up to writing ;D
I know it's not nearly as long as you guys deserve after the long wait, but I swear to dear god, next chapter things are going to start heating up.
I haven't gotten an email from fanfiction in ages now, so maybe you should all leave me a review ~
In other notes, guess who turned 16 last week? ;D
Also, unbetaed at the moment and it's three in the morning, and I'm tired. Errors must be excused T^T