Enigma (Kanda x OC/ Lavi x OC)

E Rua Tekau ma Toru

Eleven hours after Lavi left France, he arrived in Rome. He nearly leapt off of the train and rushed to the Ticket Office Clerk.

He knew she would be headed to Malta, and he was prepared to hop on a boat and sail to the island.

But when he spoke to the uniform-clad man, he said that he hadn't seen Xael. He explained that she would have to come to their office to buy tickets for a boat or train, leaving the red-haired boy confused as to where the girl would be.

He walked around the city urgently, trying to collect his thoughts to figure out where the short, pretty girl was. But without an idea, he couldn't go anywhere.

Walking along the brick roads among locals and tourists, he found a jewelry shop with a little old lady outside. She seemed so peaceful and had a joyful air around her as she sat in an old rocking chair and strung beads on a leather ribbon.

For a moment, the Italian woman's face transformed into the face of the woman who gave him the Pounamu necklace. He took a minute to watch her frail, wrinkled fingers powerfully work with the beads and string.

He knelt in front of the woman with the jade-like pendant in his hand. "Excuse me?" He hummed.

The old woman looked at him with dull eyes that seemed to light up when she saw the stone.

"I need to give this to a very special girl, but the chain broke. Do you have a simple chain to thread this on? I have money to pay you."

She smiled sweetly, her eyes becoming glossy. "No need." She clasped her hands over Lavi's. "I know of the Pounamu. She must be very precious; this girl you love." She reached into an organized box she had and unraveled a small, yet sturdy silver chain. She gently took the pendant from him and strung it on the chain, then presented it to him.

"Thank you." His green eye widened in relief.

"Where is this girl you speak of?" The old woman asked.

"You see, it's a long story. But she ran away from me and our friends, and now I'm trying to find her." His face saddened, yet he grinned at the generous lady.

"You will find her." She encouraged. "You can find her where she has been before. So, look for her there."

The gears in his mind finally clicked. "I think I know where to find her." He stood eagerly. "Thank you so much!"

With that, he rushed after a carriage and told the coach where to go, demanding he rush. He quietly prayed that he was right.

Thirty minutes later, the carriage pulled into the circular courtyard of the grand Vatican. The place was crawling with CROWs and other odd-looking characters associated with the Black Order.

He frantically searched through the masses trying to find the short, dark-haired girl.

He found his way to the center of the courtyard with a clear line of sight straight to the building. A moment later, he nearly fell to his knees.

Xael emerged from the glamorous building. She looked solemn and wouldn't look up. She watched her feet as she walked slowly.

"Xael..." Lavi gasped. When he caught his breath, his feet started moving without his mind. Soon, he found himself running towards the girl, forcing himself through groups of people.

When he was just a few steps away from her, he shouted, "Xael!"

Her face snapped up, and her knees buckled beneath her.

Lavi caught her before she fell and held her close.

"Lavi..." Her voice shook.

"You idiot..." He hugged her tighter. "You said you weren't going anywhere..."