Hana: Okay, first of all, YES. I forgot. YES. I blame college. But hey! At least it's not being updated later in the week, right?
Kanda: Stupid idiot.
Allen: Can't be more creative with the naming?
Kanda: Che.
Link: I fear that is the limit to his vocabulary, Walker.
Hana: How'd you get here?
Link: Do you really wish to know?
Hana: Uh...Neither XavierForest nor I own D. Gray-man...just the story you guys get to read here.
Kanda: Get it over with and read the damn thing.
Allen: You don't have to be so rude, BaKanda!
... ... ... ...
+ - Chapter 15 - +
They could've died. Kanda realized. The day after the explosion, Link had informed him of what had happened. Apocryphos himself preferred a hands-on experience when he went through the motions of his MO. Why change suddenly? Did he hire someone to do it for him? Either way, he didn't like this. If that crazed sex offender, rapist, and whatever the hell else he was had been partnered with someone this one time who's to say he wouldn't try this again?
Why assume that? It was because the body of the man behind the explosion was found. A block from the crime scene 45 year-old arsonist Gerald Barnes was found murdered in perhaps the most brutal way none could've imagined. THAT was definitely Apocryphos' way of dealing with "sinners", even if he himself was the one to enlist that man.
The Japanese male glared at any and all that got close, wanting to be left alone with his thoughts. Mostly, 'what the hell is going on', and things like that, but also how he couldn't let this affect him. The Moyashi would notice, and Kanda couldn't have that. The boy finally had his happy, normal life, and there was no way Kanda would take that away from him.
"Agent Kanda!" Fucking hell...the other thought darkly.
"What?"
"I've been calling you for a while, sir...u-um, y-you see..." Now the man was getting nervous. Just great. Who was he again? The guy was tall, very hard to miss. An officer, maybe? Whatever. Didn't matter. Maybe he was a football player...
"Stop fucking stuttering."
"Ah... sorry, sir..."
"Who the hell are you?" Really, he could've cared less. This guy was probably a noob. Fucking newbies.
"Ah! Right, I'm Goz, and I recently joined the force...uh..."
Goz? Strange name. "What do you want?"
"Well... s-sir..."
Great, still fucking stuttering.
Kanda could literally feel his patience wearing thin, assuming there was any patience left. "Listen, if you don't tell me what the fuck you want in the next five seconds, I'll personally introduce you to Mugen." His hand was already clutching the sword's hilt.
"A-ah, sw-sword? Uh...p-pointy...!" It seemed he only just realized the infamous katana was even there. "Gah! Wait, wait! I'm sorry sir, I was s-supposed to tell you w-we found footage th-that I think you w-wanna s-see!"
The oriental male stood, glaring at the other. "Then why didn't you say so sooner?"
Instead of explaining, the taller male screeched, and ran off. He'd give the man credit. He was probably just as fast a Lavi...faster, considering Lavi doesn't run away when his life is in danger.
Well, sometimes he did... but most of the time, the idiot was just a stupid hyperactive rabbit that couldn't tell when its life was in danger.
He then cursed under his breath. He didn't know where the fuck he was supposed to go see the damn footage.
Goddamn pansy... running off before giving the whole damn message... Now what was he supposed to do?
"Kanda!"
"Fucking shit." Kanda grumbled. "What?" Why the fucking hell was Fou even here?
"You really scared Goz back there." The young woman pointed out. "So~ what'da do? Glare? Yell? Oh! I bet you just plain out screwed up before he could give you my message!" The orange-haired woman laughed finding that she whacked the nail on the head. "Never took ya ta be so damn easy ta read!"
"Fou, I swear to god—"
"Y'wanna see the damn footage or not?"
Gritting his teeth, Kanda nodded.
"Next time ask politely, idiot," she grinned.
But her face turned serious as she looked the man in the eye, to the best of her abilities at least. "You know. I'm the only one who's seen the footage. Consider yourself lucky no one else got to lay eyes on them."
The taller of the two crossed his arms, quite clearly confused. "What do you mean?"
"Because I saw one Howard Link with two ex-NOAH in the earlier time stamps."
She started walking away, gesturing for Kanda to follow, "One of those NOAH were in jail. I wonder why he wasn't anymore."
"Shit..." Kanda muttered under his breath, eyes on the woman in front of him.
Cobalt eyes widened in realization of his mistake. Fou crossed her arms, and smirked. "Well, well, cat's outta the bag, right?"
"You little—"
"Nuh-uh-uh, girly-man. I ain't telling anyone about this. It's pretty damn obvious you've got something on the recent "Crowned Clown" attack, so I'll just turn a blind eye to your misconduct."
"You're not my superior."
"But I know who is. Trust me, neither of us wanna deal with that bastard."
"Did you have hunch there were two?"
"Yeah, seeing you slip up was the icing on cake for me." He. Wanted. To. Fucking. KILL that bitch of a part-time CIA... "But seriously, there was more to the surveillance than just the trio."
"What else was up?"
"I take it you're already aware of one Harald "Apocryphos" Jamison isn't in his jail cell either?"
"And?" He prompted, glaring daggers at the girl.
"Well, that's common knowledge by now. But what isn't knowledge is who the hell let that bastard out."
"No one knows?"
"No. The security cameras in his solitary cell have been disabled from the hours of 2 in the morning for a grand total of two full hours."
"Why are you bringing this up with me?" Kanda asked. He hoped this wasn't going where he thought it was; why did Fou have to be so damn intuitive?
"Because if I'm right, then you're already on the trail to figuring it out, right?"
"Not that I'm close." Kanda begrudgingly admitted. "I do, however, have a lead."
"Mimi Éclair, right?"
"First I've heard her name." Kanda grumbled. "You're more well informed than the Crow."
"I like that codename...does it refer to a group or..."
"Group." Kanda said. Before long they were in the security room. Showing their badges to the police officers outside, they were let in.
"I have a few more people who may be able to help. Two spots should know them pretty well." Fou said, taking a seat, and staring at each screen. "They often talked about him, after all."
Kanda absentmindly nodded. Looking at the footage himself, he noticed how they were all rewound to different points. The earliest seeming to be from earlier last month. "They're at different times."
"Your point being?" Fou smirked.
"Don't act so fucking smug, bitch."
"Way to woo the ladies." Fou sardonically stated. "Listen, I'll throw the big bad doggie a bone then. The earliest these cameras can go is about a month back. We found footage of Apocryphos from back then, and it seemed he'd been coming to that place long before these cameras were even installed. Apparently, the landlord had been getting complaints of arguments coming from the hall."
"Complaints."
"Everyone knew everyone in this building. But the voices they heard were unfamiliar."
"So? What's the place he's been going to?"
Around Mimi's place, But he's often been to some other corridors too." Fou quickly paused one of the cameras, pointing out the time stamp saying 14:32.23 in the upper corner. The date of that moment in the opposite corner. "You can see right here he's on his way to the end of the hall, it seems he meets up with someone, but his face doesn't show with the shadows surrounding him."
"Quality of these cameras suck." Kanda grumbled. "Couldn't be bothered with night vision?"
"Nope. By the way, this was the day before the building caught fire."
"Like hell I'd not notice that." He had indeed taken note of the date. It was only two days ago. "Then that must make the second guy the arsonist we found block away."
"That's safe to assume for now, but I get the feeling there was someone else. We won't really know unless we get the autopsy reports."
"This is all one fucked up mess."
"Amen."
. . - * - . .
"I'm bored." Timothy sighed, looking out his window. He really missed seeing Allen and Kanda.
"That's really nothing new." A girl said, giggling a little. She was a new kid here, being no older than himself he'd guess. She lost her grandfather in a recent heist gone wrong, and her parents died when she was even younger. That's what Emilia was able to find out, anyway. It was in that accident where she'd also lost her left eye.
"Very funny, Lala." Timothy grumbled. Most the other kids were afraid of the blonde-haired child, but really Timothy thought she was pretty cool. For a girl anyway.
"Who are...Allen and Kanda?" Timothy, confused at first, turned to his new friend. "I heard you talking about them to Miss Emilia earlier...I'm sorry I eavesdropped...Grandpa Guzol always said that was a bad trait to have..."
"S'fine." The blue-haired boy shrugged. "And those two are the guys who are gonna adopt me. One is this really short motherly guy, and the other one is this cool FBI agent."
"It sounds really nice." Lala mused. "I don't think anyone would adopt me...that was why my grandpa was the one to take care of me after my mom and dad died."
"You can't say that!" Timothy was quick to exclaim, "I bet anyone would be super lucky to have you as their kid, and if they don't see that, then they're totally missing out!"
"I kinda wish you could be my brother now." Lala giggled. "You're supportive enough for it."
"A brother? Me?"
"Yup."
"You're not guilt tripping me, are you?"
"Course not!" She grinned, pushing back the few strands of blonde hair that had fallen forward and were beginning to annoy her.
"Why don't I believe you?"
"Because you apparently have trust issues, I'd assume?" Both kids blinked, before turning to see who was behind him. Timothy's shock becoming joy seeing who it was.
"Allen!"
"You're Allen?"
The young male chuckled, and nodded. "Allen Walker. And you are?"
"I'm Lala...how come you have grandpa colored hair?"
"Why're you here, Allen? Is that really cool FBI guy here too?" Timothy was quick to distract Allen from any anger he may have had at the 'grandpa hair' comment.
"Yu is a bit busy now," the white-haired man young man said apologetically. "Apparently he's working on a case right now."
"'You'? Why did you say 'you is'?" Lala asked, confused.
Allen should his head. "Not 'you'; my fiancé's is Japanese, so his name is 'Y' and 'U', though I'm the only one allowed to call him that."
"How come?"
"Because is anyone else tries to call him that, he gets grumpy. And he's a bit scary when he's grumpy." He smiled ruefully.
"That's silly!" Lala giggled.
"It kinda is, isn't it?"
"Timothy's right, you are a motherly guy."
"Uh...I have to...um...d-do something over there..." Not given a chance to runaway, Allen grabbed Timothy by the scruff of his shirt. "Gah!"
"Motherly, you said?" Allen said in a sing-song voice.
"N-no way. I've got no idea what sh-she's talkin' a-about," Timothy stuttered, eyes on Lala, silently pleading for help.
The girl only smiled innocently, "Well, at least I think that's what he said...but my memory may be a little fuzzy..."
"And how would you remember exactly what he said?"
As though thinking of her answer, she smiled, "I might be able to remember if we can go get some ice cream?"
Timothy blinked. Surely Allen wouldn't actually fall for— "Fine then. We'll go get ice cream." —the hell? He knew Allen liked food, but that was actually sad on his part...bribed with ice cream.
"Hooray~!"
Well, at least they could get out of the orphanage core a while. And he got to see Allen, so it was pretty much okay.
"Can...I be let go of now?" Really, he was starting to feel tingly in his arms right now. Plus, he missed the ground. How was Allen holding him up like this?
Attention now back on the younger boy, Allen smiled. "I don't know Timothy, should you?"
"...you're seriously doing that thing Emilia keeps doing?"
"What thing?"
"That thing!" He hissed, pointing at the elder accusingly, eyes narrowed.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Allen said with a grin. "Which thing do you speak of?"
"You're trying to get me to say 'may I', before you let me down!"
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are," Timothy said with a glare.
"Allen!"
"Timothy!" The elder whined back, a mischievous grin set itself on the otherwise innocent looking face. "You gonna ask nicely, or not?"
"Grr...FINE! MAY I please be let down now?"
Sighing overdramatically, the Brit relented, lowering the younger to the floor. "I guess... since you said 'please' and all."
"You're mean." Timothy grumbled.
"And you're a brat." Allen shot back. "Now, are we all ready for ice cream?"
"Yup!" Lala piped up with glee.
Allen smiled at the children, glad to see them in a good mood. He'd first come here to see Timothy, but Lala seemed nice enough. He didn't see why he couldn't treat the both of them.
"Oh, Mr. Walker, what brings you here?" Allen smiled as he greeted Emilia.
"Hello, Emilia...and uh, Allen is just fine." He was pretty sure she was older than he was. Not that he would actually say that out loud. He had a feeling she was the kind of woman whom would probably kick his balls in if upset.
"I'm on the clock, so formalities is pretty much necessary." She explained, gesturing to the man peeking from behind the door behind her. Seeing what she meant, Allen rolled his eyes.
"I was going to take Timothy and Lala to get some ice cream. I hope that's okay."
"You know what? Give the man issues. Have them back by dinner if you will."
"B-by dinner?"
"I think it'd be good for them. I can see it in your eyes you're thinking of adopting Lala here." To this, Allen blushed.
"W-well...I guess the thought...m-may have cr-crossed my mind..."
Hearing this, the young blonde child glanced excitedly across at Timothy, who returned the look with a grin of his own.
"Really and for truly, papa?" Silver eyes widened. He was sure she slipped in her words, right?
"W-what?"
"Are you really, really gonna adopt me too, papa?" Not...a slip of the tongue. Allen realized, his face turning a darker shade of pink...papa, him? Papa...
Timothy blinked, before grinning, "That means we're already brother and sister."
"Mm-hmm!"
"W-wait a moment! I—"
"I suggest you and the kids hurry up and go get that ice cream." Emilia interrupted, a smirk on her face. "Bond with them, and maybe Kanda will be able to bond with them too at some point." She was already ushering the trio out the door. "Have fun, enjoy your outing, and see you near dinner time~" The door shut right behind them. Allen couldn't get a single word out of it.
"Uh...I-I guess that was—"
"Totally awesome~!" Timothy exclaimed. "Let's go~! Let's go!"
Lala giggled, and grabbed Allen's hand. "Papa, let's go get ice cream!"
These children were evil. They knew exactly which buttons to press, and now he had to adopt the both of them. Hopefully Kanda was in a good mood... The Brit winced at the thought of just how much sex and bondage he'd have to participate in before his lover agreed to this. No more walking for at least a week... Allen sighed. Well, at least Lala seemed like a nice enough girl... And Timothy liked her...
Whelp. Allen sighed to himself, it could be worth it in the end...he'd just...have to butter up his fiancé is all.
A lot of buttering up... He shivered at the thought.
Best not to think about that right now, he told himself, watching the two talking and walking ahead of him.
He really had these two until dinner time? He pulled out his phone, and checked the time. It was ten to twelve. Seemed he'd be doing some errands with these two for a bit as well.
... ... ... ...
That happened. Sometimes a story has a way of...taking a life of its own...that may or may not have happened while we wrote this part out. -innocently smiles- But hey, it works~
R&R ain't for rest and relaxation, even though I know I need it...(And it's only the second day of the semester too) Show the story some love! Drop a review, and let us know how we're doing~ Don't forget to follow to get chapter updates sooner, and favorite if you will~ Be sure to check out my partner in crime for this story, and we'll see you next week!