Hana: Hey everyone! New chapter ready for your reading!
Allen: I bet people are going to throw rotten tomatoes at you.
Hana: Why? I don't think there's any reason for that.
Kanda: Che. Neither of the idiots working on this piece of-
Hana: WONDERFUL HARD WORK!
Kanda: ...whatever. Neither own D. Gray-man. Get over it.
Allen: -shrugs- That'll be the best you get from him.
... ... ... ...
+ - Chapter 18 - +
Allen groaned. He knew what to expect, but god dammit, that didn't mean his fiancé had to go round, after round...to the point where he was pretty sure he had more cum up his ass than he knew what to do with...not to mention he was also pretty sure that when he eventually got to the shower, he'd probably see a little blood too. His rear end was killing him at this point.
Blinking open an eye, Allen saw that Kanda had at least left two painkillers and a glass of water. Did Kanda have work today? Oh, right...he heard the man's phone ringing while he was semi-passed out a while ago. He couldn't catch what the elder was saying, but whatever it was, it seemed important. Speaking of important, he had a few things to take care of later today.
Sighing in dismay of having to leave the bed, he carefully, slowly, moved to grab the pills, and swallowed them dry. He'd drink the water after a nice long shower. Or...maybe have it to wash down his breakfast. Less things to get out of the fridge.
The walk from his room to the bathroom was... painful. Then again, after being subjected to all those rounds of sex, with Yu Kanda of all people, well…that was to be expected.
He supposed, in the grand scheme of things, it was worth it. After all, they would be adopting both Timothy and Lala now. That thought brought a smile to his face. But it soon turned to a frown, as he thought about the layout. The only other guest rooms Kanda ever had, were renovated to be a laundry room, and his own music room respectfully. And his fiancé only did that to prevent others from having an excuse to stay the night...or longer.
Lala and Timothy were young now, but he was pretty sure siblings would've wanted their own rooms after a time...they couldn't have that here. Now that he was thinking of it, Lala hadn't met Timcanpy yet, had she? Was she okay with dogs? Would Tim get along with her like he did with Timothy? She's never set foot in the complex yet either...
A whine came from just outside his shared bedroom door, and Allen realized that Tim probably wasn't fed yet. "I'll be out in a bit Tim!"
He was answered with a bark, before the sounds of four paws padded away. So much to do...so little time.
First things first, though, was to clean out all the cum coating his inner walls, because that stuff felt nasty now that he was up and about.
. . - * - . .
Lavi prided himself with plenty of things. Remembering, for instance, every letter of anything he's read, every detail of every person, and place he's been. He also prided himself in being able to tease his friends, and live to tell the tale. Especially with Yu. Nine of ten times that man does have his precious heirloom, Mugen, on him after all.
But Allen's actions a while back were troubling him. He was great at reading people, a master even! He himself was the master of masking what he didn't need others to concern themselves with. At least, he was pretty sure he was. When Allen finally got back to them when he rushed out, the red head knew something was up...but even if there were, Allen Walker showed no sign of it. Not even a small crack in the figurative mask on his youngest friend's face.
"LAVI!" The old raspy voice called out, making said male fall out of his chair in shock. "What do you think you're doing? Rather, what do you think you're NOT doing?"
"Ow! C'mon, old geezer! I'd think you'd be happy I was actually quiet for once!"
"Not for two hours on end." Bookman said with annoyance, but Lavi noticed the concern in his eyes. "Two hours of doing nothing but sitting there in your head."
"Ah..." Had he been lost in his thoughts for that long? This issue really must've been eating at him more than he thought.
"I feared for a moment 'Deak' was coming back again." Lavi's lone green widened, as his body tensed.
"H-He's not...he's not c-coming back."
"For your sake, and all around you, I should hope so."
"Don't worry, you old panda," Lavi grinned, trying to dismiss the topic. "Lavi's here to stay."
There was silence between the two, before Bookman finally replied to his only grandson; "You're already so far beyond what a psychologist can aid you with."
"I...know." He paused, before continuing, "But I promise, my friends, books, and stories held within the past...all of those help keep me grounded. I know they, my friends, always got my back."
"Speaking of 'getting back'." His grandfather's tone had changed into one Lavi was more than familiar with. But even with the warning, he had no time to react as a well-aimed kick whacked him from behind. "Cease and desist with the old geezer nonsense!"
"OW! DAMMIT, PANDA THAT HURT!"
"And stop with the 'Panda'! I am your grandfather and I deserve respect, especially from you, fool!"
"THAT DIDNT MEAN Y'HADD A HIT ME!"
"Fool! I kicked you, not hit! There's a difference!"
"It's all still considered physical abuse!" Lavi shot back.
"Then at least learn how to tell the difference!"
"I'm sorry...should I come back later?" Both men stopped their squabbling in favour of turning their attention to the young woman who came in.
"Oh! Lenalee!" Lavi got up, almost bouncing to the Chinese woman. "What brings you here to our humble abode~?"
"Idiot." Bookman muttered under his breath.
"Oh! I just came to-" The woman frowned. "Lavi…is that…a shoe mark on your face?"
"What?!" The red-head cried, hands flying to his face to cover it up. "I'm ruined! My face is my best asset!"
"You never had a 'best asset', foolish brat!"
"It's your fault, y'damn panda geezer!"
"Um...guys...?"
"My fault? It's yours more so than mine!" The elder had whacked his grandson once again, "On record, cease calling me a panda, and I am not old!"
"Denial! Denial! It ain't a river in Egypt anymore, I see!"
Sighing, Lenalee walked to the counter, finding her brother's order, and leaving the check he'd written for them. "I'll just...come visit later. Bye Bookman. Bye Lavi." Not that she was heard. She smiled softly, and left the shop, her brother's purchased item in her arms.
(* *)
She shifted whatever it was she was carrying in her arms, curiously taking a glance at the rectangular object. She could tell it was in a box, but for the life of her, she couldn't tell what could possibly be in there. Lost in her thoughts, she failed to see an obstacle in her way, until it was too late.
"Oh! I-I'm so sor— Kanda?" No, that wasn't Kanda...at first he looked like him, but there were differences. Dark hair was shorter, but still tied in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He had dark grey eyes, she was sure, and Kanda's were cobalt. "I must apologize, sir, I thought you were a friend of mine..."
"No, quite alright, miss." The man's voice was deep, but not the same deep her friend's is. Older, strained? "I wasn't watching where I was going myself. You said...'Kanda', right?"
"Well...it's my friend's last name, really...he really dislikes it if I, or anyone really, save for his fiancé, calls him by his given name...I never could fathom why..."
"I'm sure Yu has his reasons...but I must be going now...it was a pleasure running into you, miss." He walked passed her, and realizing the man had casually said Kanda's first name, she turned to try and catch him, only to see empty space.
"W-what just...who was he?"
He'd looked like Kanda... and knew his name... A relative, perhaps?
But it couldn't be, could it? Deciding she'd figure it out later, Lenalee continued on her way.
. . - * - . .
"Oh my darling sister~! You've returned~! A breath of fresh air! A warm ray of light in the dark and dreary coldness-"
"You know, you could work in a less dreary setting if the morgue is getting to you, brother." Lenalee pointed out, as she placed the box on her brother's desk. She loved her brother, but visiting him at work was unnerving knowing that any one of those storage drawers within the morgue outside the office space housed John and Jane Does. There was a body ready for autopsy on one of the cold metal tables, and although it was covered by a white cloth, it was no less unsettling for the Chinese woman.
"Ah, well, I suppose I could, but these people need me as much as the living do. They can't tell their story, unless I figure it out for them."
"You say that a lot...but working with the deceased..."
"Honestly, you get used to it. Not immune, never immune, but just used to it." Komui sighed, leaning back in his chair, looking off into the distance. "By helping those whose lives got cut short, I'd like to believe I'm also helping people never get into similar situations the ones outside were unfortunate enough to get snagged into."
Lenalee smiled. "You know, brother, you really do surprise me sometimes."
"How so?" He asked.
"You go from childish to wise in a second."
Komui huffed at that. "Honestly, you think so little of me!"
"Hard not to, most of the time." Lenalee pointed out. "By the way, what is in that box you wanted from Bookman?"
"Oh, nothing you should be worrying yourself about, my dear sweet sister~"
"Komui, you know when you put it that way, I will start worrying!" The younger Lee complained.
"Because it truly isn't, I swear."
"Brother."
"Why don't you run off, and enjoy your day. I doubt corpses are the best company for you right now anyway." He gestured to the man on the table, "Unless you want to see what I do when I do my job, which, we both know, is quite doubtful."
Sighing in defeat, Lenalee gave in. "Alright. But I expect to know what you got when you get home. No excuses."
"Fine," Komui said, putting emphasis on the 'i'. "You're such a worrywart, Lenalee."
"Considering how many times you nearly destroyed the house? How can I not be?"
"I thought you'd of forgotten about that one time by now..."
. . - * - . .
"I cannot fathom how you allowed the target to get away." Although calm, Malcom C. Rouvelier was anything but on the inside. "I let you out of your cell, and this is the results I get?" How close was he to destroying the cordless in his hand right now? "I don't want excuses, Apocryphos, I want results!"
"And you will be getting them." The calm voice said. "That's the beauty of this plaything I've stumbled across. He's sloppy, yes, but with the right training, I'm certain this man will be an invaluable pawn to the grand scheme of things."
"A civilian hardly equals to anything." Rouvelier seethed. "Who is this person you've taken under your wing?"
"I'll introduce the two of you in time." There was a tone in the other man's voice that had the one in his home office on edge. He didn't like it.
But then again, anything that had to do with involving himself with Apocryphos was something he didn't particularly like, so the feeling wasn't all too new to him by now. "You do that."
He hung up soon after, and released a breath he didn't know he was holding. Every time he spoke with that man, it was like talking with Death. The man was known for doing unspeakable things to those he sees as a sinner. He had to play his cards right, and make sure he was one step ahead of this crazed man.
And in the end, Apocryphos would prove to be as disposable as the rest of the garbage he'd... disposed of.
. . - * - . .
"You're late." Eliade grumbled, seeing the white haired male finally met up with her. "Don't you know you shouldn't keep a woman waiting? I don't care if it isn't a date. It's still rude."
"Uh...sorry?" Was that the hormones of pregnancy talking? He was glad he was born in a male in that case. He doubted he'd be able to handle what Eliade was currently going through. "What did you find out?" He asked, taking the seat across from Krory's wife.
"This information was hard enough to get, so don't go spilling it to that FBI fiancé of yours," she warned, wanting to make sure that they were on the same page. "It wouldn't do any good for the Feds to be snooping around in our business."
"I wasn't planning on telling him anything, Eliade," Allen said, feeling perhaps a touch guilty over the fact that it was the truth, and he actually was going to keep Kanda in the dark on all of this.
"Good." She said, handing the documents to Allen. Taking them, he skimmed through the papers, catching some things, and go over others. He'd look at it fully when he got home.
"That's...quite a bit...huh? Raku?" He'd only heard of this name once. "Eliade...do you know who Raku is?"
"I can't say there's much significance of that name...why, is it familiar to you?"
"I think so...Kanda told me that it was the name of one of his fathers."
"I'll do a bit of digging on him specifically, and see what I can find."
"Thanks." And there went the last change of him ever telling his fiancé about what was going on.
He found it shocking that Eliade found anything on Raku Kanda. Shocking still, was that said man seemed to have a record...did his fiancé even know? He wanted to know if he knew, but if he asked, he was sure the man would grow suspicious. He couldn't allow that. "Eliade...one last thing."
"What?"
"I see Raku's name, but his picture doesn't seem to come up at all..."
"I've looked everywhere I could, but it was like his mugshot was wiped out of history. Either that, or it was never taken."
"How old are these records?"
"The oldest records appear to be six years old. They are only minor things, stealing from drugstores, purse snatching, and he was found to have had abused alcohol. If anything else happened while under the influence, it doesn't seem to have been included in the official records."
"I see..."
"Will you..." Eliade frowned, seeming to have trouble putting her thoughts into words. "Tell him? Your fiancé?" She looked down at her hands. "I know what it's like to keep secrets from someone... so..."
"I won't. Ever." He gave the woman a smile, hiding the guilt he felt behind it. "I was never supposed to get involved with something like this ever again, so I'll do everything I can to make sure he never finds out about it. And when it's over, all I have to do is pretend it never happened in the first place. Easy." No. Not easy. Yu Kanda could read the boy like an open book. Well, all he could do for now was avoid the topic as much as he was able and hope he wasn't corned anytime soon.
Eliade, skeptical as she was, decided to drop the subject. "If you won't tell him, I won't tell Arystar."
"Huh?"
"Neither of us wanted to be in a situation like this ever again. If you're not telling Kanda, I'm not telling Arystar." When Allen was about to speak, she held up her hand to silence him. "However, if either party finds out on their own, then the other has to tell their significant other everything. That in mind, I will not even hint to Kanda, and you won't to my husband."
"Deal," Allen agreed without a second of hesitation. If that happen, as unlikely as it was -because Krory was stuck in hospital so he wouldn't be finding anything out anytime soon-, then he would tell Kanda everything. Then he'd face whatever kind of punishments his fiancé threw at him. And Allen wasn't talking sex wise.
Besides, he'd probably deserve it if Kanda found out.
When he finds out.
Allen shook his head. No, he won't. I won't let him.
Denial is such a silly thing. You can't hide this from him forever.
The boy stood, thanked Eliade, before leaving. What was with that voice in his head?
His subconscious, maybe? Or was he finally going crazy?
Neither option was really good...the younger noted.
... ... ... ...
Ohhh, a lot going on this chapter~ Looks like there are quite few secrets going on...
Show this story some love! R&R if you hadn't already, and please check out XavierForest's stories too :) After all, this piece of work is literally half his work as it is mine x)
Now, I have assignments that need my attention, so I'll see you guys next Wednesday! :D