❀ Fourth Illusion ❀ Kanda Yu

[decaying]

Kanda had been expecting some animosity on his return. No one really liked a traitor.

To his surprise, it had all been the exact opposite. The minute Kanda had walked through the main gates of the Chinese branch, he was greeted with sobs, tears, and exclamations about how he was never allowed to die or not!die the way he had again. Komui had taken him into his arms and Lenalee had sobbed and followed suite. After everyone was sure Kanda's hands couldn't reach for his sword he had been overrun by a dog pile. They told him he was home. Kanda knew better.

The only reason he had returned was because he had to. Being an exorcist meant he had to do what the innocence living inside of him wanted: kill akuma. If he went off that plan he would be corrupted and then he would become a fallen. He'd lose his mind and die in excruciating pain. Kanda had things to do before he decided to bite the dust.

I have someone to find...

After the scientists and the section leaders had their turn welcoming Kanda back, they left him to his own devices. He hadn't eaten in days so the first place he went to was Jerry's kitchen in the cafeteria. The guy was so annoyingly animated he figured it was going to take a lot of patience to deal with him. He hadn't even gotten near the cue line when he could all ready hear Jerry talking.

"Well if it isn't my new favorite General!" Several finders turned around and gave Kanda a hard look. "Where have you been? I've ordered all this soba and you haven't been here to eat it all."

Kanda gave him a weak smile and ordered his usual before sitting in the farthest corner away from everyone. He was a general now. No doubt about it.

Comments

[waterfell]

"Good afternoon, General!" Mercury's lips pulled back in a heightened smile as she tasted the title on her tongue. Her voice was breezy, and full of her enjoyment. She was casually seated at the same table with Kanda suddenly, though the chair had been empty a second ago. It was as if his thoughts had simply summoned her there. She acted as if she'd been there from the start.

It was a day for celebration. Somehow, Mercury had apparently convinced Jerry to make her lunch to order, because there was a plate of tidy sandwiches, all different kinds, set in front of her. Crumbs suggested she'd already been nibbling at them. They were delicious.

As a matter of fact, no one seemed to be questioning her presence yet, if they'd noticed it, although the sailor-style uniform and blue hair were not calculated to blend in. She made a mental note to take surreptitious picture of an exorcist's uniform to store on her teletia-s.

"Should I say congratulations now?" she asked. She hadn't forgotten Kanda's determination to see this through, to be in a stronger position for his own goals. It was a motivation and drive and strong will she knew very well. She wanted to see him reach all those aspirations, too.

[one_one_se7en]

From the side of the cafeteria, a familiar man in armor rests beside a wall. None of the seats available would be able to hold his weight, and very few people would want to eat with a Spartan, either. In this dream world, he was yet another classified project that few people got in contact with.

As soon as Kanda takes a seat, he looks at him for a long while, in silence. When he finally mutters.

"Congratulations."

But this time, his visor actually looks at him. He wanted to talk.