Thanks a lot to Vivid Dreamland for the review... I'm not sure if I replied.... And to those who favorited or put on alert. But please, leave a review (I really don't mind if it's just a few words, though I've had the luck of having great reviews) if/when you do that.

Finaly written and uploaded, after a good while of procrastinating!

This chapter's a bit shorter than the other ones... But well, I guess it's not so bad since I finally know where this story is going... Somewhat.

3. School Work and Dangerous Sibling

Lenalee's thoughts wandered as she swept the floor, half listening to Miranda's profuse apologies. Usually, she would have comforted her friend and watched over her to make sure she didn't do anything suicidal, but images of the previous nights plagued her mind. Lavi had been much more open in Kanda's presence than he ever had before… Still, it somehow didn't feel right. Something had been so different… Maybe it was because it hadn't been just the two of them? She had never really seen him interact with other people before. She sighed again, wondering when she had started to think so much about the older boy.

"Uh, Lenalee? The floor's clean now."

She looked up, startled, to see a weeping Miranda in Allen's arms. The boy eyed her in confusion, and she returned an embarrassed smile. She picked up what was left of the coffee pot and dropped it in the nearest garbage can. The entrance's bell rang, and she didn't have to look up to know it was him. He was so precise, coming in at the same hour every day, sitting at the same table, ordering the same coffee… As if it was something he waited for all day. She turned to wave at him and he grinned.

She would have liked to go to him, but her shift ended in half an hour and if she started to talk, it would be much harder to go back to work. As if she wasn't distracted enough already… She sighed again, and then abruptly remembered the order of the man sitting by the window. The accident had completely made her forget about it.

She was somehow conscious of Lavi's one eyed gaze on her back most of the time, even when he pretended to be reading the newspaper, or to be writing something. He'd never show her what it was; just make it disappear with a smile whenever she asked.

She found herself glancing at the clock more often than she should have as the time seemed to drag on and on. She was curious: would he revert to the way he usually was, smiling but secretive, or more like the night before, when he'd asked weird questions and annoyed the hell out of his neighbour? Really, her and Kanda, a couple? She chuckled inwardly. The two of them probably had an unusual relationship, but she had never thought of the Japanese teen that way… Or not seriously, anyway.

Oh, right. That table's ready to order.

She pushed the thoughts to the back of her head and managed to be relatively professional for the remaining five minutes.

She dropped into her usual chair after a quick stop to the bathroom to change clothes, and he greeted her warmly.

"Hey! How's life?"

"Busy. You know, with school, and work…"

She sighed, and a concerned look flashed into his eye, if only briefly.

"You shouldn't overwork yourself, you'll get sick." He paused to laugh. "Uh, sorry, I sound like an old woman. Must be living with the Old Panda…"

"I'm all right. I just have this history project… I should have started it ages ago…" Something about the sudden spark in his green eye made her stop, but he motioned for her to continue. "I just haven't had the time, and I'm not sure I understand… My grades are horrible", she confessed

Something about her guilty expression amused him, but she saw the hint of bitterness behind it. Why?

"I could help you!"

"Really? I haven't even told you what it is about yet. How can you be so sure you know about it?"

"I do." He said it with the solemnity of someone getting married, but before she could ask again, his smile was back. "So? What is it? It'll be my first school project ever!"

She shook her head in disbelief at his enthusiasm.

"You don't know how lucky you are."

"Come ooon…. What is it?"

He seemed so alive, so happy, and so curious that she couldn't suppress a gentle laugh.

"I have to write an essay about one of the major figures of the late nineteenth century, since that's what we're working on. But I've no idea where to start…"

He plunged into his bag to find a pen and a piece of paper, quickly writing websites and book titles in a script that, she noticed, was incredibly neat and she couldn't help but wonder how he could remember the titles and authors of so many history books. It was as if he had memorised them…

"That's a start.... You should come by the bookshop someday, we have a few of these and I could order the rest, if you need them. I can give you more specific things once you've chosen your subject."

She nodded as he went over his list again, underlining things, adding notes before handing it to her. There was a strange expression on his face, concentrated but content, and she could see the passion behind his eye. He obviously knew what he was doing, and loved it.

"Thank you! I'll go to the library tomorrow… I'll find time, somehow." She frowned, mentally going through her plans for the next days, searching for free time.

"How about I bring a few of them tomorrow?"

"Oh, no need for that, you've done enough already."

"Please? I'm really curious about this." He would probably have added something else to convince her, but before he got the occasion the door opened again.

"Lenaleeee-chaaaaan!"

As much as she loved the familiar voice, she cringed. Her brother's presence couldn't be good for Lavi. In fact, she'd have considered herself lucky if she ever saw him again after the discussion that was sure to ensue.

She threw a smile at Komui and turned back to the boy, whispering to him not to worry and earning a curious and a bit uneasy glance. The older man dragged a chair to their table. There was a somewhat murderous aura around him despite his cheerful smile, and she saw Lavi shrink back into his seat, sensing the danger.

"Lenalee, who is that boy who is obviously much older than you, wears an eye patch and earrings?" He muttered something that oddly sounded like "must be a delinquent". Lavi apparently heard it too, since he opened his mouth to defend himself, but as much as she admired his bravery, speaking would not make him look any better in her brother's eyes.

"Uh… Well, nii-san, this is Lavi. You must have seen him around already; he comes here all the time. And he was helping me for a school project. There's nothing suspicious about him, honestly! Ask Allen, if you don't believe me."

"You never know, my dear sister. Why does he come here so often?"

The two teens exchanged a look and Lenalee bit her lip. She had no idea how to respond to that, they never had mentioned it in their conversations.

"You make the best coffee around, that's why."

"Is it? Admit it, you're stalking my darling little sister!" At this, Lavi actually looked a little flustered for a moment and blinked a few times before regaining his composure.

"I'm not. But I know someone who is."

Her brother seemed to ponder about that for a while and then suddenly shot up with a devilish look in his eyes. He turned to Lavi who suddenly paled and barked:

"You! This conversation is not over!"

And then he stormed off.

"Alleeeeeen Waaaaalkeeeeeer!"

Both of them watched him leave, stunned.

"What does Allen have to do with this?"

"Well… I think you mentioned Allen knew me earlier… So when I said I knew someone who stalked you, he must have thought I meant…. Poor kid. You do know your brother's scary, right?"

She dropped her head in her hands, sighing.

"So I'm told. He means well though… Most of the time."

He shivered at her words and then glanced at his watch, frowning.

"Sorry, I have to leave now. The old Panda's away somewhere on a trip, so I have to take care of the shop… I got Yuu-chan to replace me for a while, but I should go back."

"Oh. Kanda works with you? I didn't know that!"

"Didn't we mention it yesterday? It's not that he needs the money, but he hates living off charity from his tutor, so he helps around sometimes, when he's not training. He attracts clients, 'cause of his looks, but he's good at scaring them away too…"

She laughed.

"You'd better go back then… And I should probably go save Allen from my brother's wrath." She paused and then looked at him, curious. "Is there really someone who stalks me?"

"Well… Yeah. I don't think he's dangerous though. I'd have told you already if he was."

She opened her mouth to ask for a name but then just giggled and got up.

"That's a strange thing to know. I mean, why would someone want to stalk me?"

His expression softened as he gathered his things to leave.

"I can think of a few reasons. Anyway, see you again tomorrow? I'll bring those books for your project."

"Sure. But you really don't need to…"

"I want to."

Once he was gone, she couldn't help but think of his words. Did he mean..? No, that couldn't be it. She pushed these bothersome thoughts aside, and flew to Allen's rescue.

***

Hmmm... OOC or not OOC, that is the question. Please review to let me know what you think?

You know how much it's appreciated...

And if anyone has anything to suggest, I'm open to everything!