Decisions

It was two days since the professor's visit and Kanda lay on his bed, deep in thought. Timothy had basically decided straight away that he wanted to go, once he had confirmed with Lavi, Johnny, Krory and Howard that they would visit. Kanda didn't find it so easy. He guessed that it was because he had been created by the Church. He knew no other life except in blurry snippets from his previous life. Alma had approached him and told him that wherever Kanda went, he would follow. He wouldn't leave Kanda's side this time. Kanda smiled at the memory, thanking Allen again in his head for bringing his friend back. Only two were accounted for though - had no idea what Allen and Lenalee wanted. Needing to clear his head, he grabbed a towel and headed for the bath house.

The gentle humming and movement of water made him aware of Allen's presence. After grabbing a quick shower in a stall, he headed to the baths, sinking down next to the other boy.

"Ah Kanda. Are you struggling to decide too?" Allen asked him.

"Hnn? Yeah" Kanda replied, leaning back into the water. Allen mirrored the motion and the pair looked at the steamed ceiling in silence.

"I've been thinking" Allen broke the silence.

"Hmm?" Kanda turned to him.

"I've been thinking that, if you and Lenalee decide to go, I'll go with you. I think Alma said the same."

"Lenalee I get, but why me?"

Allen smiled at him.

"You're both family to me, Timothy and Alma too. Before the Church, I didn't really have anything. So I'm happy to go wherever as long as I'm with my family"

Kanda swallowed slightly. Family huh? He'd never really thought about it in that way. He'd always resented the church and struggled to think of any reason to stay apart from familiarity. But Allen was right. All of the Exorcists had become family to him. Even Komui, Jonny, and the rest of the staff had become like eccentric relatives to the man.

"It's just so different" was all Kanda could say.

"In what way?"

Kanda glanced at him before answering,

"I'm used to being ordered around or making split second decisions in battle. I'm not used to having a choice." Allen made a noise of confusion,

"But you decided to come and look for me. That was your choice" he recalled. Kanda blushed, before mumbling,

"That may have been a split second decision"

Allen stared at him.

"You didn't think it through? But it was so dangerous!" he said, wide-eyed.

"Everything in war is dangerous Moyashi. You'd run off by yourself and Jonny was throwing himself in harm's way to find you. I couldn't just leave you without repaying my debt!" Kanda stood and Allen stared at him before his face settled into a smile.

"You're a good friend Kanda"

Kanda's blush returned and he sat back down in the water.

They spent a long time sitting in the bath, both silent, contemplating what they wanted to do with their futures. It was about an hour later when Kanda eventually spoke.

"I want to go"

Allen looked over and responded,

"I thought you might" he got up from the bath and headed into his cubicle to dress. Kanda watched Allen emerge with a towel draped over his white hair and cocked his head, suddenly making up his mind.

"Hey Moyashi. You cut your own hair right?"

Said Moyashi paused drying said hair and looked over at his brother still in the pool.

"Yeah, why?"

"Would you cut mine?" Kanda asked him.

"Sure. How much do you wanna cut?" Allen asked casually, tying up his white locks.

"All of it," Kanda answered bluntly.

Allen paused mid bow.

"All of it?" He repeated in a state of shock.

Kanda sat on the stool by the showers as Allen began to carefully snip at his black locks. It was drastic but Kanda needed the change. He needed to see a physical difference before he could admit the mental one, and Allen seemed to understand.

"There. I left enough length to cover your neck and I just trimmed your fringe. What do you think?" Allen stepped back, letting Kanda head over to the mirrors.

"Wow" Kanda said as he checked out the long bob that he now sported. He walked back to Allen and pulled him into a hug, ignoring the man's muffled 'mind the scissors'.

"Thank you Allen"

Allen smiled and hugged him back,

"Anything for family" he replied, grinning as Kanda tightened his grip.

People stared as the pair headed into the cafeteria for the evening meal.

"Kanda - your hair!" Lenalee stood and Alma and Howard followed. Kanda scratched his, now lighter, head,

"I needed a change. And anyway, I've decided to take up the professor's offer" he told them. Alma nodded - he would follow him.

"Komui gave me his blessing, so I'm going too" Lenalee replied, smiling. Allen nodded to show that he would be going too.

"Yay! We're all going to Scotland then!" Timothy swung his arms around Kanda and Lenalee, making them wince from the strength of his grip.

"Did you cut your hair yourself Yuu?" Alma asked, looking at the new style as they sat with food. Kanda shook his head.

"Moyashi did it," he replied and everyone turned to look at the boy in surprise. Said boy shrugged and went back to his food.

"Oi Lenalee, you have the neatest handwriting. You write it. Mine's chicken scratch" Timothy passed the paper to his friend. Lenalee rolled her eyes but took the letter and ink pen and wrote out their reply.

"I just put it in the box right?" she asked once the letter was in its cursive envelope.

"That's what she said" Alma agreed and they watched her place the reply in the box and close the lid. There was a flash of light and they blinked before Timothy warily opened the lid and noticed that the letter was gone.

"That's wicked" the teen said with a grin and the others could only agree.

The box gave out another flash and Allen took out the reply.

"Thank you for your reply. I will meet you five by the clock tower at noon on Sunday, M. McGonnogal" he read out.

"Ah crap. That means we have to pack. Aah I didn't think of that!" Timothy whined and the others laughed at the boy's laziness.

"Why don't I help you?" Howard offered a hand to the boy. Timothy grinned up at the blond and slapped his hand down.

"Race ya!" he yelled and took off out of the cafeteria.

"Oi! Timothy!" Howard yelled after him, chasing his younger friend.

"Blondie's gonna be sad when we go, isn't he" Alma noticed, and the others watched their two friends race out of the room.

"Don't worry about him, We'll keep him busy enough" Lavi announced with a grin. Kanda glanced at the red head warily,

"That sounds ominous. With what?" Lavi waved him away,

"I'll think of something" he replied before heading out of the hall at a more leisurely pace than his friends.

Kanda and Lenalee watched him go. Lenalee leaned into Kanda and mumbled,

"Howard's gonna be lonely but I think Lavi will suffer too"

"Ah, he will. But hopefully Usagi and two-dot can keep each other company and the others are here too" Kanda replied. They had both known the redhead for the longest out of all of them and, though the man had introverted tendencies, he didn't like being lonely.

"But" Kanda continued, "the professor never said he couldn't visit from time to time" Lenalee looked at him in surprise.

"What?" he asked, catching her look.

"Nothing." she stood up "We should start packing too. Come on you two" Lenalee told them and headed in the direction of her own room.

Allen shrugged and helped Alma up from his seat,

"Well, better follow the lady's instructions" Allen said with a wink. Kanda huffed but followed everyone out of the hall.