Chapter twenty four – Marian Cross

There was a distinct odour of booze hanging permanently around the building Kanda found himself standing in front of. It was an odd, unpleasant smell of cheap alcohol and expensive liquor, blending together to form some kind of permeating haze over the area. Hell, he could practically see the nauseating fumes wafting off the solid brick.

Allen – damn him – seemed completely unperturbed by it save a small frown that was creasing his brow. Although that may have something to do with the actual nature of their visit to this… brothel – thinly disguised though it was as a bar. Speaking of, why were they there? Kanda had better things to do than visit a freaking whorehouse.

"Are you sure he's in there?" Kanda asked, checking, once again, that they weren't going to simply waltz in and embarrass themselves. Not that Kanda would be embarrassed. He didn't do embarrassment. He did, however, do beat-the-shit-out-crappy-beansprouts-that-put-them-in-shamful-situations.

"For the last time," Allen sighed, "I don't know for sure, but I certainly hope so."

Kanda shot him a withering look for that before glancing back up at the building just in time to see three scantily clad women giggling as they pushed themselves out of the door, one adjusting a falling dress strap while the other two seemed less than conscious of the their rapidly descending clothing, the tallest – and blondest – of the three slipping a cigarette out from a small handbag swinging by her side.

Kanda scowled at them – and no, that wasn't a faint blush seeping into his cheeks as he caught an eyeful of massive cleavage – but the trio didn't seem to notice him; far too busy with their drunken giggling he suspected.

"Perfect," Allen said suddenly, surprising him with the faint smile on his lips, "We can ask them for assistance."

Kanda blanched. Surely his little sprout wasn't serious? Ask the inebriated prostitutes that were just now unscrewing the lid off a bottle of whisky? Was the boy insane? Did he honestly believe he'd get any information out of them at all?

But it was far too late to protest as Allen was already making his way over, just in time to catch the tall blonde as she staggered in her high heels and slammed into him. Allen's gentlemanly manner allowed him to smile softly as he straightened her up, taking the bottle of booze from her hand while she was distracted and handing it to her female friends.

"Good evening," Allen greeted as the blonde let out a small giggle and clapped her bony hands to her mouth while she ogled the younger male before her. Kanda felt his eyebrow twitch for no apparent reason and he tried to suppress the budding feeling of annoyance he was that was making itself known at the back of his mind.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your night," Allen said softly, fluttering his lashes in a way that would look unappealing on practically any other male in existence, "But would you mind terribly if I bothered you with a few question?"

"Not at all," Squeaked Blondie's friend, attempting to flip her own chin-length locks over her shoulder and nearly falling backwards on her drunken ass as a result.

"Oh, thank you so much!" Allen all but simpered.

The women swooned.

Kanda felt nauseous.

"I'm looking for a man, you see. Tall, broad shoulders, mysterious mask, glasses, red hair, perpetual stick up his ass," Allen added in a harsh whisper before clearing his throat and resuming his line of questioning, "You haven't seen him, have you?"

The women he was flirting with – yes, let's not beat around the bush. He was definitely flirting – all gave a high pitched giggle and looked at one another. Allen, Kanda noticed, grimaced expectantly and gave his eyes a quick roll before one again focusing his attention on them.

"Are you talking about Cross?" Blondie grinned, clinging tightly to Allen's arm. Kanda sort of felt sorry for the poor kid; he could smell the alcohol laden breath from where he stood several meters off.

"Yes, that's the man I'm speaking of," Allen affirmed, and slowly, as though to prevent Blondie from noticing – not that she could in her drunken state – extracted his arm from her grip, "You know him then?"

"Ohh… Yes… He's been hanging around here for a few days now." There was another round of giggling at this which Kanda found was grating on his nerves. Also, for some completely incomprehensible reason, Blondie had wrapped herself around Allen's arm again and this time the Moyashi was far too busy questioning the slight redhead to his left to do anything about it.

This was also irritating. Kanda understood that the brat needed to fish information out of them any way possible, but was he really going to slink as low as flirting with prostitutes? Really? A small amount of rage was building up in him as he watched Blondie snuggle ever closer, using one hand to turn Allen's face toward her so she could talk to him more intimately.

Fuck off lady, Kanda thought tartly, it's my bed he sleeps in every night.

Kanda blinked, surprised by the sudden possessive and admittedly rather wrong sounding statement that had just played through his mind. Where did that come from? He wondered as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly in an attempt to prevent heat from rising to his face as he pondered the obscure implication of the previous thought.

"Thank you very much," Allen was saying when Kanda finally riveted his attention back to the current proceedings, "We'll be on our way then. You've been a lot of help."

Instantly the girls moaned and Blondie tugged at his arm playfully, "Don't go. Why don't you have a drink with us?" The girl with the red hair waved the bottle of whisky as if it were proof.

Allen gave them a genial smile and – once again – extracted himself from the flirtatious hold he was caught in and politely declined. "I'm afraid I have things to do and I'm under aged ladies," he tilted his head innocently to his side and received a disappointed round of cooing as a result.

Not mad, Kanda worked to convince himself as the disappointed looking prostitutes finally began to slink away, I am most definitely not mad.

Allen approached and gave Kanda an odd look upon spotting his barely controlled facial expression. "What's wrong with you?"

Not mad…

"I'm mad at you," Kanda informed him and strolled off into the building before Allen could press the matter, leaving the young Moyashi confused behind him.

oOo_oOo_oOo

I'm from NOAH…

Lavi stared disbelievingly at the words that were on the computer screen before him, barely allowing himself to breath.

A lead… They'd just found a lead… Alright, so the lead had found them, but really, who kept track of those things?

Beside him Lenalee let out a soft little squeak, her face pale as she cupped her cheeks with her hands looking at the words as though they were harbinger of doom. After sparing her one glance Lavi resumed typing.

I haven't a clue what NOAH is. Wanna share?

"Lavi," Lenalee moaned, tugging at his hands looking significantly upset at his pointed reply. He shrugged her off impatiently and waited for a reply. It was a moment before one appeared; Lavi had a sneaky suspicion that the person at the other end had spent that short period of time laughing at him.

Ooh. Somebody has guts, was the first teasing line, shortly followed by, I'm sure you know something. In fact, that's why I'm talking with you.

How would you know I know something? Why ARE you talking with me?

"Lavi," Lenalee groaned again, trying once more to pry him from the keyboard, "Don't. Shut down the computer. Please."

A small ding announced the reply.

So, if you don't know anything, why are you looking for information then?

Because, Lave typed, we WANT to know what it is.

You don't. Trust me.

No, I'm pretty sure I do. Trust ME.

Lenalee had slumped down beside Lavi and while looking pale was no longer trying to get him to cease and desist. Perhaps she sensed that no matter how awful and scared this conversation with an unknown entity was making her feel, the elder male beside her wouldn't stop. Not when information was so close he could almost taste it.

Silence for a moment, then: Why?

Because we want to know what's going on with Allen.

"Lavi! Don't tell him about Allen! We don't even know who is," Lenalee gasped, horrified at her friends reckless actions. This whole idea had been a bad one. She shouldn't have tried to prove Lavi wrong. She didn't like this. This… Interaction. She was curious, god knows she was, but she didn't want to get involved in something like this which was clearly very dangerous and several kinds of illegal.

"Lenalee," Lavi said distractedly, "Shut up."

Lavi never told her to shut up. She complied expertly.

I thought as much. You'd be Allen's friends I saw at the bus stop then, would you not?

Saw at the bus stop… A chill glided down Lavi's spine as his mind froze at that simple question.

Saw at the bus stop…

This person from NOAH – Tyki if memory served Lavi right, which it always did – was perfectly capable of finding them at any moment, whenever he wanted, for whatever he wanted. He was currently talking to him online like it was no big deal. He knew things.

Lavi started typing again.

Who are you?

The extra exclamation points felt needed.

I told you. I'm from NOAH. Did you not believe me?

I mean who are YOU? As in who is NOAH? What is NOAH? What is Allen's involvement with you? Why did you start that fire at your old factory?

Hmm… My, my you HAVE been busy, the tone of the text was almost pleased, good thing I rigged his program up. You certainly have a lot of questions there Lavi.

Lavi almost slammed the lid of the laptop closed right then and there.

How do you know my name?

It's my job to know your name. I'd be quite the failure if I didn't, wouldn't I?

WHY do you know my name?

Ah, now that is a better phrased question, isn't it?

"I'm going to get Ni-san," Lenalee said, "This is getting creepy."

"Don't you dare," Lavi snapped as he began typing, "I'm this close to getting information, if you go and get Komui it'll be ruined!"

Are you going to answer me?

Keep your pants on boy. You're just so fun to rile up.

…

Isn't it obvious? Do you really need me to say it?

What the hell are you on about?

So young and so ignorant…

Lavi was about to type out a biting reply when the ding let him know that Tyki had already answered. He looked up at the slender text curiously.

I keep track of everyone in and out of Allen's life.

Ding.

You're in his life.

Ding.

That means I keep track of you.

Ding.

And if you prove to be a problem...

Lavi held his breath waiting for another ding but instead was greeted with a small electronic groan as his the text he was staring at flickered for a moment, the laptop giving a small shudder before the screen went completely black and a faint hiss was heard from the wires and such of the gadget.

"Lavi," Lenalee began to say, panic clear in her voice as she clutched tightly to his arm with so much force it began to ache. However, before she could continue the computer gave a faint noise and slowly came back to life.

Letting out a whoosh of air Lavi leaned forward and eagerly placed his fingers over the keys, ready to tap away and bring his computer back up to functioning standard. However, as the screen gradually came back on he was greeted with the last four words of Tyki's message staring out at him from a pitch black screen, the white writing bulky and frightening.

I will eliminate you.

oOo_oOo_oOo

The building was not as ratty on the inside as it was on the out, Allen observed as he made his way through the room, Kanda sulking near a wall to the left. Allen pulled his brow down. He was still yet to work out what had sent Kanda's mood from bad to worse. The man was so temperamental.

Sighing, Allen continued forward. He'd decided Kanda would be better off in continuing to lean against the wall out of Allen's way while he tried his best to hunt down Cross. He was snubbed for his efforts and Allen was trying to remind himself that Kanda was a significant part of his life and it probably wouldn't do any good to shove a knife in him no matter how tempting the thought was.

Approaching the bar he managed to paste on his 'people smile' just at the landlady looked up, aging well considering she seemed to be pushing forty. However, seeing the clearly under aged boy in her bar she simply looked back down at the glass she was cleaning. "Go home boy," She said in way of greeting, a smokers rattle leaking into her voice, "We don't play with kids here. Come back in five years."

Allen gave a light laugh and leaned on the bar, "I'm not here as a customer as I'm sure you've noticed. I'm looking for someone."

"Aren't we all," She muttered dryly under her breath as she placed the glass mug back on a nearby shelf before tossing the rag down on the surface of the bench and leaning on it to stare fixedly at Allen with piercing blue eyes, the crowfeet that were being to spread out from their corners giving her a wizened look.

"I believe you've probably seen him in her before," Allen said pleasantly, "His name is Marian Cross."

The woman's eyebrows shot up into her fringe and she really looked at Allen for the first time since walking into the bar. "That'd make you his brat than, I suppose," She reasoned as her eyes traced down the ugly scar that ran down his face and the white hair that was neatly flicked out of his eyes,.

"I suppose so," Allen said dryly, not liking at all the way that previous statement had sounded. The woman gave a faint cackle before straightening up.

"No wonder you didn't seem antsy in this place. Used to it I expect," she paused to look him right in the eyes, "Word on the grapevine is you're looking for him. Not real discreet about it, were you kid? Guess I shouldn't be surprised you've turned up on me doorstep."

"I guess not," Allen was beginning to feel he was simply repeating the woman's word but he didn't want to risk saying something insensitive and being kicked out. Or, maybe he did. That way he'd have a perfect excuse for not seeing Cross. Yeah, best to keep his mouth shut and avoid the temptation.

"Won't hold you up much longer; your boyfriend in the corner over there is killing my business," mulled the brothel owner and Allen looked over to see that indeed, Kanda was glaring up quite a vicious storm that was rather off-putting. The last part of her statement clicked and he whirled back around to object to the usage of the word 'boyfriend' but was greeted with a flick of a hand in the general direction of a door.

"He's in the back," the woman said, "Get going."

Allen opened his mouth to thank her but she was already back shinning another glass, Allen clearly dismissed.

Frowning slightly he pushed himself away from the bar and headed back towards Kanda already dreading the encounter he knew was only minutes away. Kanda raised an eyebrow as he watched Allen approaching, pushing himself off the wall and quite ready to leave the room and the people who kept staring at him.

"He's in the back," Said Allen in way of greeting and the pair of them took this chance to glance at the nondescript door that Allen was pointing to. Who knew that absolute evil lay behind a door painted a dull grey in chipped paint?

Allen sighed, running a hand through thick silver hair before finally deciding it was best to get it over with and slowly making his way to the door, staring at the aged wood with distaste. Behind him he heard Kanda snort an annoyed 'for fuck sake' before he leaned around the wilting bean sprout and gave the door with a hefty push and shoved Allen into the small hall it opened up to.

"Hey," Objected the youngest of the pair, "You didn't have to do that! I was getting around to it!"

"Sure you were," was the sarcastic reply and Allen was about to viciously argue back when the soft rumble of a deep voice sounded from the door to their left. Allen paled significantly and Kanda was left with little doubt as to who the voice belonged.

"Well he seems to be here. What are you waiting for Moyashi?" Kanda asked of his comrade and received a weak elbow in the ribs for his comment.

Allen wanted to give Kanda verbal jab himself in return for the unnecessary comment but another deep laugh just caused him to wrinkle his nose in distaste. He wasn't going to stand here being miserable while Cross was clearly enjoying himself.

With that volition in mind he crossed the meter or so to the desired door and gave it a decided shove, watching as it swung up to reveal a rather expected – but no more desired – sight.

Cross was sitting on the couch, one arm around the shoulders of a thin brunette while a curvaceous blonde poured wine into the long stemmed g lass that was resting gently in the palm of his hand. All in all, the man looked like he was rather comfortable having these scantily dressed women draped over him.

A shiver ran down Allen's spine causing him to visibly shudder. The very sight of Marian Cross was enough to dredge up some rather unfortunate memories.

It didn't look as though Cross had noticed them yet, seemingly to busy conversing softly with the women. This, however, was easily remedied when Kanda violently slammed the door closed, an echoing bam resounding loudly throughout the room, bouncing off the room and causing Allen to flinch.

The other occupants snapped their gazes up and looked at the new additions to the room – the women with interest and Cross with what could only be described as contempt.

"Master," Allen said, distaste making the word sound more like a cuss than a greeting.

"Idiot apprentice," Cross replied easily, "you shouldn't disturb beautiful people."

"Then we haven't a problem. I don't seem to have disturbed anyone beautiful."

There was a sound of shattering and the women yelped as a wine-red stain dripped down the wall an inch from Allen's head, the remains of the fine crystal glass scattered along the carpeted floor near Kanda's feet. Cross, however, was already having the brunette pour him another serving.

"Don't talk smart to me boy," he muttered as he swilled the wine around, watching the way fragments of light danced along the surface of the liquid. He took an appreciative sip and then smiled charmingly at the startled blonde who was instantly smitten again.

A tick was fast developing over Allen's eye and Kanda could see he was struggling to keep his breathing even and – possibly, as it looks so to Kanda – refrain from jumping over and throttling the shit out of the obnoxious redhead before them.

"So, idiot apprentice, what have I done to deserve your presence inflicted upon me?" Cross said in his deep, gravelly voice, paying the two teens in front him little to no heed – and yes, his shitty attitude was beginning to irk Kanda.

Allen's gaze shifted to the two women hanging off of Cross and said, "I think this matter is one best discussed in private. And you already know what I want, anyway."

Cross let out a snort and straightened up, swallowing the rest of his wine and placing the glass back on the table before whispering something in the ears of his women and causing to blush and giggle like young schoolgirls before they extracted themselves from his grip and walked teasingly towards the door.

Allen watched them go with a guarded expression, following their movements until they slipped silently out the door, shutting it with a little more noise than their smooth movements. As soon as the door rested comfortably in the frame Allen turned and strode forward to Cross, Kanda following at a distance.

"So brat," Cross said as the pair of them approached, pouring himself a new glass to drink from, "What did you bring your boyfriend here for?"

Kanda spluttered wordlessly for a moment, clearly taken off guard by the bluntness in which Cross referred to him with. Allen, however, merely snapped, "This is Kanda and, not that you care, but he's not my boyfriend you dick."

Cross snorted dubiously and took another sip from his drink, not once raising his gaze to look at them. "Don't call me a dick, boy, or it'll be your head on the line. I didn't raise you to speak to beautiful people like that."

"If you can call what you did 'raising me'. Also, I still don't see any beautiful people."

"Don't be a smartass," Cross repeated.

"Don't be a dick," Allen, also, repeated.

Kanda felt a bit lost at this… strange exchange. When Allen had said he had a rocky relationship with his mentor Kanda hadn't imagined it would be like, well, this. An error in his judgment as he could clearly see. Hindsight, a wonderful thing it was.

"Brat," Cross cut in, interrupting Allen's tirade about debts, and debt sharks and more debt and something about sharks – but not of the debt variety – and then something about poker and more muttering, "Go get me some more wine."

Allen and Kanda both gave him an odd look but he didn't seem perturbed in the least. "I didn't come here to be your servant," Allen replied edgily, "I came here for –."

"Wine brat. Now."

Allen let out an annoyed whoosh of air. "Don't go running off while I'm gone," He said tightly before beckoning towards Kanda and approaching the door, eyeing his guardian unsurely as he set a hand on the door, clearly thinking he'd get up and dash away the moment he was out of his sight.

Kanda made to move towards Allen and go with him to collect the wine but Cross called lazily out to them as they went to leave the room, "Your boyfriend stays here; you go get it."

Allen froze and a spasm of panic crossed over his face before it was replaced with instant suspicion. "What –?" He started to ask but was quickly cut over.

"Just go get the wine. Beautiful people shouldn't have to wait for insignificant brats."

Allen looked like he wanted to argue – like, really wanted to argue – but all he did was open his mouth, pause for a moment, frown deeply and jam it closed again looked frustrated, clearly unwilling to put on a proper fight with his foster parent when the man was being serious. So, he simply swung the door open, gave them both a warning look and ducked out again, slamming it shut behind him.

Without Allen in the room it suddenly felt that much colder, that much more isolated and even though Kanda wasn't intimidated by the man – refused to be intimidated – he couldn't deny that the sombre looking man made him uneasy when left alone in the room with him.

"Now," Cross said as he drained the very last of the crimson liquid from the glass and set it down on the table with a small thunk and turned to face the Japanese teenager, "Yu Kanda, I believe it's about time we have a talk."

A shiver arced down Kanda's spine but he solidly met the man's eyes and sneered.

"Yes. I think it is."

.

.

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A/N: I'm alive.

I've had an offer from the wonderfuly kind Nishi no hanato translate this story into Spanish. Whether she stills wish to or not is entirely up to her, so if any one you are native Spanish speakers, you might want to keep your eye out

Yuu-chi out ~