Author's Note: Hiya~ Sorry...the update is a day late. My dad conned me inta paintin' the fence yesterday...150 feet of fuckin' FENCE. -___- So...i was pretty busy (not ta mention, i looked like a leopard, covered from head-ta-toe in orange/brown paint-splatters... xD). An' my hands really hurt, so i didn't feel like typin'. In any case, it's jus' passed 4am, an' i'm prolly gunna go ta bed in a few hours, so i figured i'd git this up now, then do some more work on chapter 3.
Enjoy~!!

Disclaimer: Refer ta chapter 1. Seriously. It'll make everyone feel better. -implodes-

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Chapter Two - First Mistake

Bookman was in no particular hurry to return to the inn, that evening. But the day's events needed to be recorded, and it was the young man's duty to write his logs on a daily basis.

Sighing, he fixed a neutral expression on his face, and pushed open the front door. He nodded in acknowledgment as he passed by Lenalee's desk, then headed up the stairs. He made his way swiftly to the third floor, and turned right, quickly reaching his room. The redhead pushed the door open, and kicked it shut with his foot as his gloved hand sought out the light-switch.

He was not prepared by what the light revealed. Nor was he all too pleased. Narrowing his uncovered eye at Kanda, Bookman crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation.

The swordsman stood from his seat on the redhead's bed, and slowly moved towards the younger man. Bookman, of course, moved away, until he was backed into a corner, with Kanda standing directly in front of him, blocking any possible chance of escape. Yet still, the Japanese man kept advancing, until he was pressed flush against his ex-lover's smaller body.

"Kanda..." Bookman ground out, ignoring the too-intimate hands that were now running slowly up and down his sides. "I thought I'd made it clear...your relationship with 'Lavi' died when he did."

"Lavi is not dead," Kanda growled, shoving the redhead tighter into the corner, and leaning so close that the two men were forced to share air-space. "So stop saying that."

Bookman closed his eye, and sighed heavily. "'Lavi' is dead, because I let him die. He died when the old Bookman was killed; when I was forced to take the old man's place."

"...Forced..?" Kanda repeated slowly, a small grin forming on his lips.

Bookman immediately realized his slip-up, and tried to change the subject. "I won't deny that 'Lavi' was in love with you, because that's a fact I know to be true. Had he been given a choice, he probably would have chosen a life with you, over the solitary life of a Bookman." He paused, thinking of how to continue, but quickly continued speaking, the moment Kanda opened his mouth to interrupt. "But he was not given a choice, and because of that, he is gone. I am a Bookman now, Kanda. 'Lavi' is no longer a part of who I am, and nor will he ever be again."

"...I refuse to believe that," Kanda snarled, shaking his head. "Your persona has been slipping far too much for me to believe that Lavi's gone. Too much for me to believe that you think he's gone. You're trying too hard to be something we both know you're not, and it won't work. Not on me, Lavi." Finished with his speech, the Asian reached out with one hand, and flicked off the light. Bookman gasped softly, as two large, calloused hands cupped his face. "Remember this, Lavi? We used to do this all the time...fool around in the dark. You can't see a thing right now, but I can see you perfectly. I'm going to make you remember."

Bookman gulped, and went still as he felt Kanda's tongue travel lightly from his collar bone, up his neck, and finally to his lips. The samurai paused briefly, breathing heavily against the other man's lips, before pushing his tongue inside. Bookman didn't bother to put up a fight this time, and simply allowed the older man to explore the cavern of his mouth. Slowly, his hands went up - of their own accord, mind you - to rest lightly on Kanda's hips, inadvertently pulling the Asian closer. Kanda smirked against Bookman's lips, and gently ground against him, eliciting a soft gasp from the redhead.

"Yuu..." Bookman moaned, once again slipping out of his 'objective' persona. Letting his instincts take control, he slid a gloved hand forward to squeeze Kanda's crotch tightly. The unexpected action caught the older man off-guard, causing him to freeze in place, and stare at his former-lover with wide eyes. Bookman, broken out of his lustful daze, let out a frantic yelp, and shoved Kanda away from him.

The Japanese stumbled backwards, eyes still wide. He'd been expecting the younger man to slip-up a few times..but that had just been too 'Lavi', too soon. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes, realizing that in his surprise, he'd lost his control over the situation.

"Lavi..." The second the name left his mouth, Bookman's eye widened, and he bolted for the door with desperation. Kanda lunged forward, his hand outstretched towards the redhead...and he missed, by mere centimeters. Bookman was out the door, and running down the stairs, two at a time, with Kanda not far behind.

"Lavi, wait!!" he growled, finally grabbing hold of the back of the smaller man's jacket, just as they reached the foyer of the inn. Bookman turned as far as he could, and lashed out with his fist, but Kanda easily dodged the badly aimed blow. Lenalee looked up from the front desk with a surprised gasp, before rushing out of the room. Not even a minute later, she returned with Allen, who calmly approached the two older males.

"Kanda...let him go." Allen's words were soft, but were an obvious command, none the less. Kanda glared at the slightly shorter man, and slowly - hesitantly - released his hold on his quarry's coat. Bookman stumbled a bit, but caught his balance quickly enough, that its momentary loss could have easily been played off as a figment of one's imagination.

"I think...I'll stay out tonight," he stated calmly, once again in perfect control of his emotions; or seeming lack thereof. Lenalee nodded in understanding, while Allen just continued to focus a soft glare at his Japanese friend. As soon as the heavy doors closed behind Bookman, Kanda let out a frustrated grunt, and yanked his arm out of Allen's grip.

"I'm going to meditate," he said slowly, making his way to the stairs. "Anyone who interrupts me, gets their hands cut off."

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It was raining.

Which meant it was cold, and it was wet: two things Bookman hated being. But still, it was better than returning to the inn, and facing Kanda. The redhead still couldn't believe he'd slipped like that. It was unacceptable. But still...

It allowed him to escape, unscathed.

Bookman sighed, and ran a hand through his rain-soaked red locks. He'd foregone the headband years ago, which left his hair to hang carelessly in his face. Though honestly, he didn't mind it. His visible eye was left uncovered, so what had he to lose? The bandana had just been too...'Lavi'. It had needed to go.

Gazing up at the cloudy night sky as he leaned back on the hard tiles of the bridge he'd found, Bookman closed his eyes to the rain...to the turmoil rampaging through his mind, and - though he'd never admit it - his heart. Or so, he tried.

Thoughts of the reckless samurai refused to leave his mind in peace, and old memories from 'Lavi's' past - ones he'd thought he'd pushed away to the deepest corners of his mind - resurfaced, forcing Bookman to realize something that he found immensely troubling.

'Lavi' wasn't as 'dead' as he'd initially believed. Or, more truthfully, as he'd tried to believe. Perhaps Kanda had been right in his assumptions. And if that be the case...then perhaps it was Bookman himself who'd been in the wrong; running away like he had.

Bookman quickly shook himself of such detrimental thoughts. He was in the right. If he had stayed, and played along with Kanda's...'game', then he would have been sent straight back to square-one. He was a Bookman. No one else could do the job he'd set out to do, and he needed to stick to it. No exceptions.

Shaking his head, and laughing in self-contempt, Bookman stood from the unforgiving ground, and made his way back to the inn. He and Kanda would have a nice little chat, like two grown, civilized men, and they would sort out this...miscommunication, once and for all.

It was time to face the music.

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Author's Note: Once again, dears....sooo sorry fer the length (or lack thereof) of the chapter. I prooooomise, chapter 3 will be longer, at least by a bit. Eugh. Motivation has been scarce in my life recently, but alas...i'm tryin' ta git things under control. I've jus' been goin' through (quite) a bit of a hard time, so...please be patient with me? I promise it'll git better.
Love ya guys, toodles~