Hana: New chapter ready for y'all to read and enjoy~!

Allen: Things...definitely escalate for me here, doesn't it?

Hana: Well, the plot thickens, I think...so y'all know the drill! We, that's Xavier and myself, have no ownership of DGM.

Allen: They only own the story they've been working on. Happy readings!

... ... ... ...

+ - Chapter 33 - +

"What did you find?" Allen asked, sitting at the counter of the Krory's Antiques.

Eliade rested her chin against the heel of her palm, elbow pressed against the glass counter. "It wasn't easy, because I was right. A lot of one Raku Kanda was mostly erased if not vague."

"So either someone else is purposely trying to get rid of all the info on him, or he is."

"It would seem that way," The woman said, eyes trailing around across the room. "Either way, it's a bad omen, if I've ever seen one."

Silver eyes closed, as he sighed to himself. "Can't say I blame you there..."

"Allen, when you said Kanda found out with what you were up to, you didn't mean he found about you figuring out who was involved with the Akuma Killings."

"It…may have slipped my memory in the moment Kanda found out I was even looking into the case that turned out being his case too..."

"How would you lose track of the memory?"

To that Allen blushed scarlet. "E-Er...u-um...w-well...y-you know...p-pervert and a-all that..."

"So instead of saying that it 'slipped your mind', maybe you should have said that you were 'distracted at the time'."

"Yeah... maybe that would've been better..." Kanda had been really handsy... among other things. It'd been all too easy to forget that little tidbit of info...

"Er...sorry?"

"Don't ask it like a question, Walker." Eliade glowered. "Now tell me. Will you tell Kanda of who this person—"

"I can't."

"And why on Earth not?"

"You figured it out too, didn't you?" Allen asked, sighing in defeat, "The Akuma Killer is Raku Kanda. Raku Kanda…"

"Is Crowned Clown." The European-born woman finished. "Yes, I can see how that would be problematic. But this isn't something you should keep from him."

"I know! I know...but...it's just..." There've only ever been two Crowned Clowns, and now he's linked to both of them, Allen thought to himself. For someone to be that unlucky...

"It's just that with all that's going on, you're fearful of what could come out of Kanda knowing this." The pregnant woman guessed.

Allen flinched, before nodding timidly.

The Brit opened his mouth to speak, close it, then opened it again. "I love him, you know," he said, tucking his hands into his lap. "That means I don't want him to suffer. I know hiding things from him is wrong, but... if what I'm doing makes him hurt less, then... I'm not sorry."

Eliade only sighed at the response, wholeheartedly understanding the motives of the boy across from her. "Arystar still knows nothing about my old profession," she murmured, eyes dropping to the glass below. "He's too soft, so I know telling him would only make him... suffer, as you said."

"Krory doesn't need to know of your previous work, and Yu doesn't have to know his own father is the man he's supposed to find."

"That's where you're wrong, Allen." Eliade sternly told the younger. "Kanda has every right to know that his father is the man he's searching for."

"No, he doesn't!"

"Don't make me fight with you." Eliade's tone lowered to a threatening level. "Pregnant or not, I will make you tell Kanda this information. He. Needs. To. Know."

"No, he doesn't," Allen hissed, eyes narrowing. "And you won't tell him a thing."

"And if I do?"

He knew it was dirty. He knew he shouldn't. He knew what saying this meant, but... "I'll tell Krory what you were." If it was for Kanda, he was fine with fighting dirty. He was fine with it, so long as his fiancé was alright.

That man was his saviour, and he would do anything for Kanda.

"Fine. I won't tell him. But when, and yes, I mean when he finds out, I can guarantee neither one of you will come out of this unscathed." The woman leaned back in her chair, placing her hands over her swelling belly. "And when that happens, don't come crying to me."

"Alright then."

"Go ahead and take those files. Look over them if you wish. Maybe you'll somehow find something I missed."

"I may have another contact work on that...I am still in a college student after all."

. . - * - . .

"What in the hell are those two doing here?" Tyki Mikk hissed, having pulled Wisely away, glaring over his shoulder every so often to make sure the twins weren't trying anything funny. "You have so much explaining to do, Kamelot."

"Now you act like an adult? Humorous."

"Answer. The. Damn. Question."

"They attacked me," he answered with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

"So you brought them here?"

"Of course. They missed you."

"I'm not even going to pretend I understand what is going on." Link muttered, handing Wisely a mug of tea. "You and Mikk, fine. But now those two?"

"They're harmless. Just stay on their good side."

"What 'good side'?" Both German and Portuguese males asked.

"Hii~ We have a good side, Devit?" The blond twin asked his brother.

"Maybe, Jas," Devit said, polishing his gun with his sleeve.

"Tch. Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to eavesdrop?" Tyki glowered.

"We're in the same room," Devit shot back. "And you guys are speaking loudly."

"Speaking loudly! Hee~"

Of course. Tyki huffed, he glared at Wisely, the younger male paling at the rather graphic ways Tyki wanted to kill the British male. "L-Let's not be hasty now~"

"Get along for the time being. I don't want you destroying our home." Madarao had walked in, pointedly glaring at the newest additions to their ranks. If they could be called as such. "What good are they, exactly?"

"That's rude!" The twins shouted in fury.

"They specialize in shooting," Wisely answered for them. "Good with chemicals too. The hallucination kind is their forte."

"We even perfected our Purple Bomb~!"

Wisely blinked, looking at the duo in disbelief. "You actually figured out how to get that to work?"

"Of course we did." Devit cackled. "Probably even better than our White bomb."

"Jasdero loves the Red Bomb best~ BOOM! BOOM!"

Tyki sighed, and combed his finger through his locks. "Maybe...you two can be of help to us..."

"If they're up to working with...someone else." Wisely carefully stated.

"Give us a reason to," Devit said with a grin. "You're still the traitor to us,"

"Apocryphos thought he could be the boss of you." Wisely helpfully supplied.

Devit tapped the barrel of his to his cheek, before responding with, "And you people killed our lord Millennium."

"I'm working with them," Tyki interjected. "And they shot me."

"We're all more or less working with people we don't like. I have to work with this shithead, and he's the reason my sister isn't here anymore."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Seriously."

"Mm...what'dya think, Jas?"

"Hehehe if we get to mess with Tyki again, then I say we stick around a while~!"

"Again, seriously?!"

"Seriously~!" The twins grinned.

"Nice to know that that's settled," Madarao cut in, dark red eyes sweeping across the room.

"Indeed." Link sighed. "Well then, if that is all said and done, may I ask what on Earth it is you brought with you that I am even studying right now?"

"Information I stumbled across in terms of Apocryphos himself." Wisely easily answered. "The Earl was very much responsible for him becoming the way he is today."

"Why am I not surprised?" Tyki muttered under his breath. "He left one hell of a mess and we're still suffering from it, it seems."

"You act like you were affected."

"My niece was turned into a psychopath. Yes, I was affected."

"She wasn't always that way?" Devit asked, genuinely curious.

Jasdero seemed just as shocked by the news. "No way! Road? Good? Not bloodthirsty?!"

"It's rather easy to forget most the...'family' only met her after the fact."

"So she was..." Devit gulped, leaning in. "She was... normal once?"

Tyki nodded, crossing his arms against his chest.

"Jasdevi can't imagine that at all." Jasdero mused. "Ne, wouldn't it be cool if we could've seen her before NOAH, Dev?"

"Seeing a Road we never got to see...that'd of been interesting."

"Hee~ Would've been weird!"

"Hell yeah!"

Madarao sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're going to be working with these imbeciles?"

"Yes. Yes we are." Link stated. "What are those bombs you were referring to?"

"Do we get to show off our bad-ass skills~?" Both twins asked cheerfully. "We're super awesome at what we do!"

"I will admit, I have been curious to the different ammunition you've used back at the Millennium Earl's estate."

"Since the AKUMA are all gone, we have to make it ourselves now," Devit said, a smile on his face.

"It's not that hard~ hee~" Jasdero added. "Since we used to make it before we had them~"

"We're pretty damn good prodigies at this stuff!"

"Prodigies!"

Link tapped his finger against his chin, before asking his next question, "Hm. I heard the white bomb was a temporary hallucinogen of sorts."

"It's the official antidote of our Purple Bomb!" Jasdero said with enthusiasm.

"Why are we even telling you this?" The cheerful duo had become somber the moment Devit asked.

"If we're going to work together, it's only fair you explain your abilities." Madarao pointed out. "We have no need to use your weapons, but you two yourselves would be more than perfect to shoot down the bastards most of us wouldn't be able to kill off on our own."

Wisely nodded along to Madarao's explanation, though wasn't really listening. What he wanted to know was whether or not Kanda would be mad at them for joining forces with the people who'd shot him in the leg.

They were bound to get an earful for this later.

Of course...Kanda's displeasure was rather amusing. So perhaps he'd end up with a win-lose situation at best. That was him being as optimistic as the situation called for, of course. "Oi. You're not even listening anymore, traitor."

"I'm choosing not to at the moment." Wisely said with a shrug. "Now. If you excuse me, I'm going to figure out how to explain this one to him."

Tyki grimaced. "Good luck with that."

Eying the twins, Wisely grinned, "I should be saying that to you, Mikk."

He walked off before Tyki had the chance to ask what he meant.

"Keep them out of trouble. We're going to check up on the others." Link said, walking out, Madarao behind him.

Devit grinned, "Say~ let's do some catchin' up, yeah?"

"Catch up~! Catch up with Jasdevi, Tyki~!"

(* - *)

"Thank you for staying, Mr. and Mrs. Torques." Lenalee said, as she saw the most recent patrons off. She sighed when they were gone, never had she ever been more relieved to not have to see such a couple. "Times like this I wonder why I can't seem to tell some people off."

"Not telling people off? Lena, you do that to us pleanty of times." Surprised by the familiar voice, she looked up to see Lavi holding a peace offering that hung on his index finger. "Yo. I bring thee a peace offering of a feast fit for half an Allen."

"So...half an army?"

Lavi laughed, before leaning down to place a kiss on his girlfriend's forehead. "I brought enough for a lunch date. You. Me, and the wonderful picnic blanket just waiting to be sat on under the cherry blossom tree out back."

"Sounds nice. I'll be on break soon, so do you want to go set everything up while I finish here?"

"Lena~ all it's missing is you!"

The Chinese woman blinked, before giggling softly. "You're impossible sometimes."

"But you know you love me~" Lavi cooed. "I'll be waiting under the falling petals of the before mentioned tree, 'kay?"

"Okay." The young woman smiled softly as Lavi waved her off, and headed towards the back. "Hm...I wonder what he's up to."

Well, she'd find out soon enough

(* - *)

Lenalee hurried to the back, her eagerness to know what the red-head she called her boyfriend was up to. This alone was perhaps more than enough to make time feel like it was dragging itself along. So when the minute the clock struck noon, she was rushing to meet up with the mischievous male.

"What's the hurry, Miss Lee?" Lena stopped, form stiffening.

"Oh...hello..." What was this person's name again? She couldn't for the life of her remember... "I have plans for lunch, so I was going to meet up with...my friend..."

The blonde eyed Lena with a skeptical look. "Your friend, was it? Red hair, green, gorgeous eye, super tall, aloof? Eyepatch? Quite a 'friend' you got yourself."

"Yeah..." Okay, that was unnerving.

"Mm...quite a catch...but if he's only your friend, then I suppose you wouldn't mind if I mess around with him?"

"NO!"

"No?"

"I-I mean...he's...uh, w-well, erm...t-taken..."

"Lena-lady, what's the hold—oh? Friend of yours?" Lavi had picked that miraculous moment to come in. "Judging by your reaction, I'd have to say no."

"Hotter in person." The woman mused, eying the tall male. "So...does the—"

"That's for me to know, and you never to find out." Lavi's tone was cold, as he grabbed Lenalee's wrist, and pulled her behind him. "Listen, slut, I don't like you. You're one of those people who get jealous easily, right? You're insecure, but I'll admit you hide it well. Lemme tell ya a little secret, yeah? I have a side of me that itching to teach you a lesson."

"H-huh?"

"Lavi...?"

"However, I have a very sweet, and very caring lil' lady here who helps keep me grounded. So I'm going to count to ten, and when I do, I expect you to leave us alone, and if I get wind of you causing trouble to my girl, well, let's just say I know a few things you probably don't want to know."

Scared out of her wits, the other female ran off, Lavi barely having the time to finishing saying 'ten'. There was a gentle warmth on his bicep, and Lavi felt himself relax at the touch. "Lavi...was that...?"

"Not...exactly, Lena. C'mon, let's go on our most awesome, and epic lunch date, yeah?"

"Will you explain that if I go with you?"

"Oh, c'mon! You can't deny a man his most basic needs! I mean food of course."

"Explain it over lunch then."

"Fiiiiiine." Lenalee giggled at the childish demeanor. "I don't really think it's suitable for a lunch topic."

"We can talk about date stuff afterwards." Lenalee promised. She was just glad Lavi wasn't cold anymore.

Lavi kissed her cheek, before sending her a playful grin. "Let us be off then, my lady."

"Lead on, my devilishly handsome rabbit."

. . - * - . .

Allen was on his way home with the files in hand. He'd need to find a place to hide these folders that Eliade gave him...it worried him that she had a knowing look on her face, and really...if that was one of those "womanly intuition" moments then he wasn't too fond on it. It filled him with a dread he wasn't sure of what to make of.

Kanda wouldn't find out. He didn't have to know...didn't need to know. But the question did remain...what the hell was he supposed to do if he ever confronted Raku? WHEN he confronted the man, he should say. Why was he doing these things? What drove the man Kanda called his father...to willingly take the lives of people where Allen had been reluctant? There were so many questions, but much to his own dismay, he had no answers.

What he did know, however, was that he had to protect his fiancé from this. Kanda wasn't an unfeeling jerk like most people thought him to be, even if the man was good at pushing his feelings down.

Allen didn't want his lover to break.

And if this was going to prevent it...and god he hoped it would...then so be it. Kanda didn't have to know, and then Kanda would live without ever knowing, and Allen would pretend none of that happened. They would focus their efforts on the trial, and win their rights to adopt Timothy and Lala. They'd be a happy family.

The final thought brought a warm smile to the young man's face. "Happy family, huh? I like it..."

He'd get a real family this time... not a house full of murderous lunatics who threw the word around far too casually. Hopefully he'd be a good parent... Kanda would be, for sure. Even if the man was rude at times, he was still good parent material. Kanda could cook, and he seemed to really get along with those two...

He clutched the files to his chest, a grin was prominent on his face. "I...really can't wait to call him my husband..."

"If you talk to yourself like that, someone might think you crazy." Allen's form stiffened, as he felt something sharp pressed against his back. "Don't make any sudden movements, kid. Just follow me into that alley, and we'll talk."

"What makes you think I'll listen?"

"There are two adorable brats...wouldn't it be shameful if harm came to them...Fourteenth?"

It was at that point Allen felt like a plank of wood. "AKUMA."

"A rank four AKUMA in fact." The man mused, "Now...let's talk. Try anything funny, and those two kiddies you're so fond of will probably be a pretty splatter on the wall~! The same goes for your boy toy too, in case you're wondering."

"Leave them out of this." Allen hissed.

I don't think so," came the reply.

"Don't you dare even think of touching them." Allen didn't have any weapons on him, and this person was a rank four... Dammit! "You obviously know who I am, so I suggest that you stop this and walk away."

Actually, never mind. NOAH and AKUMA had tended to tote around the oddest weapons back when they were still part of a fully functioning organization.

With that thought firmly in mind, Allen figured it was a good a time as any to catch that creep behind him off guard. He hadn't been Crowned Clown for shits and giggles, after all. It was time for this ass to learn that.

He let the AKUMA pull him towards the alley, away from anyone who might happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, waiting for the moment to make his move.

It came the moment they were out of earshot and out of sight from the general populace. The AKUMA had let down his guard, and Allen took that moment to strike.

Allen whipped around, the blade in his attacker's hands lightly grazing his right arm when the man tried to react in time. The Brit used his left hand to twist his opponent's wrist, and the dagger fell.

"You say you're a Fourth Level AKUMA...but you still made a rookie mistake." The young male's voice was low, menacing. "I don't know what you thought you would pull, but I'm far from being some pushover."

Much to Allen's perplexity, the man started laughing. His confusion was short-lived, however, when he felt an immense pain in the same shoulder he was shot in. "I'm not a pushover either, kiddo." Sneered the AKUMA. "I came prepared."

Shocked, Allen took an unsteady step backwards, his back hitting the cold hard brick wall of the alleyway.

"Unlike you, I don't make 'rookie mistakes'," the man said with a dark grin.

Silver eyes quickly reassessed their surroundings, and cursed when he caught a glimpse of a sniper just out of sight, if not for the sun hitting the barrel of the rifle. "What do you want?"

"My friends and I, see, we want a little revenge. But our employer, he ain't too thrilled on the idea of you biting the dust...the other guy however, he's after your head anyway...so think of this as—" His words were cut off when a gun went off from above. Allen watched in surprise and a little fear as the man fell to the ground. That wasn't a sniper rifle...the man's head had been blown to pieces...what on earth could cause that kind of damage? He couldn't think...couldn't breathe...clutching the folders to his chest, Allen did the only logical thing he could come up with in his frazzled state.

He ran.

. . - * - . .

Komui had left half an hour ago, and Kanda was impatient. How long does it take for a beansprout to get whatever it was he left at Krory's Antiques Shop? He doubted the kid got lost, he knew his way there and back...on the other hand however, Allen had been gone for almost two hours in total.

Kanda was worried.

Rightfully so, too, considering there was still someone gunning for the kid.

"Damn idiot...where in the hell is he?" It was then he heard frantic knocking on his door, was that Allen?

"Kanda? Kanda, please open this door!" No, that wasn't who was hoping for. "Kanda, you have to let us in!"

Us? It occurred to Kanda that this person wouldn't be alone. Limping to the door, he opened it, and three people made their way in, one of which was panting on the tallest male's back. "What in the hell happened?"

"AKUMA, that's what." Neah growled, as he shifted Lala's weight. "She wasn't hit or anything, she just caught a fever. Moving her around wasn't a good idea, but my place was ransacked when we got back from the clinic."

"I saw someone run away as we got to his apartment..." Timothy said, bent over, his hands resting on his knees as he panted. "Lala picked a dumb time to get sick."

"Mm...wasn't...my fault..." The girl grumbled. "I seldom...get sick..."

"You're right," Neah said, setting the girl on his back down. "It isn't your fault. We're the stupid ones for getting a couple of kids involved in this."

Lala shook her head, holding Neah's hand for support. "No...you're not...you didn't know..."

"You need to rest." Kanda sighed, already kneeled down to pick up the youngest child. "Moyashi will probably have a field day if he sees you're not in good health."

"M'kay..." Being mindful of his injured leg, Kanda picked up the little girl, and placed her on the couch.

"Go get a blanket from the hall closet." He told Timothy, who was quick to go fetch the article.

"Speaking of 'moyashi', where is my nephew?" Neah asked, taking note of the lack of Allen in the complex.

"I was hoping you were him when you knocked...but he hasn't been back for two hours."

"Then maybe he too was targeted..." Neah muttered. "Listen, I'll go look for him. You're still injured. Keep my future grandniece and grandnephew safe, got it, Yu Kanda?"

"Like you have to threaten me over something like that." As much as he wanted to go find his fiancé, he knew Neah had a point. "Bring him home."

The oldest nodded once, before leaving to begin his search.

That pegged the question; just where in this city was Allen Walker?

Kanda wasn't religious, but he hoped to God that Allen was safe.

... ... ... ...

That's that. Neah's place was ransacked, Allen is in peril...and now there's even more secrets that Allen is keeping from his fiancé! What more will happen!?

You'll have to wait and see! But for now, show this story some love! Favorite if you hadn't already, and please follow if you wanna stay up to date with the newest chapters! Leave a review to let us know how we're doing...besides, as I always say "R&R ain't for rest and Relaxation"! Be sure to check out my Co-Author's works too, and we'll see you next week...

...On Fade to Gray!