A Little Bit Cursed: A D. Gray-Man FanFic

Shenanigans

        That night didn't end well. It couldn't have, being what it was.

        Three years passed without too much change. We juggled alias, recorded some wars, and made merry.

        I was now going by the alias "Cassandra". Cassandra broke the one rule that was important but at the time, didn't phase me.

        In the previous year, Lavi had finally grown taller than Bookman. Bookman claimed that because that didn't include his hair, it wasn't valid. I was right below his hair too so I couldn't make an arguement.

        This year, we were both taller than him. Lavi is ten and I am twelve. We were observing a war in China at the time.

        Bookman taught me a new method of getting good observations. That was to make friends but never get close enough to let them in. So I did. I became good friends with a girl called Leh-Ming.

        The battle of the day was going to particularly bloody. Bookman asked Lavi and I to stay behind. We agreed, not too interesting in this battle.

        Leh-Ming had her shop closed, not many shops open in the time of war. Leh-Ming was fifteen but was already in charge of her own jewelry store. She was also smart enough to have gone to school and learned a bit of English.

        She was fiddling to put jewelry on racks while Lavi and I kindly cleaned for her. I kept staring at all the beautiful earrings, wish I could have some of my own.

        "You like?" She held up a pair of dark gray hoops.

        "Yeah," I sighed.

        "Come. I'll put in for you."

        I grinned really big, "Really?"

        "Yes!" She smiled.

        "Me too!" Lavi called.

        "How about these?" I pulled out a pair of green hoops. "A pirate would wear these."

        "Yeah!" Lavi cheered, leaning his broom against the wall.

        "Come on." Leh-Ming giggled.

        Lavi volunteered to go first. I used my bandana to pull back his hair again so Leh-Ming could see.

        Lavi made it through, clenching his hands tight when she made the hole. He didn't even cry, just bravely made it through the process.

        "Look Sylvaine!" He grinned wide.

        "Your turn," Leh-Ming smiled.

        I sat up on the stool. I put up a confident facade.

        "Excuse me, I need to remove this," Leh-Ming tapped the patch before searching through my hair for the strings.

        "No!" I yell quickly, startling both of them. "I need to keep this on..." I say more quietly.

        My cursed eye. Only my father, aunt, and Bookman have seen it. I refuse to let anyone else see that wretched thing. I haven't even let Lavi see it, which is not an easy thing to do.

        "Shame. It distracts from your lovely face." Leh-Ming sighed. "Okay, let's go."

        I dig my nails into my thighs when she does, tears leaking out of both my eyes. I quickly brus them off, lifting my eye patch a little to do so.

        Leh-Ming pulls my hair back. "There. Now you'll look very pretty."

        "Thanks," I smile.

        "What are you insolent fools doing?" Bookman asked, walking in.

        I bite my lip, not sure exactly what to say. I just know we're screwed. Why hadn't that thought crossed my mind earlier?

        Grandpa Bookman looked between the two of us. His eyes flashed something dark.

        "Idiots!" He yelled, enraged, in the language of the Bookman. He only ever used that language on the battlefield or when he was mad, usually at Lavi.

        Grandpa Bookman walked over, smacking us both upside the head. "What more should I expect from you two clowns?!"

        He turned to Leh-Ming, who looked very confused as to what is going on.

        "I'm sorry," He apologized in English. Then he turned to Lavi and I and in the Bookman language said, "you two will be severely punished for this."

        Then he grabbed both of our shirt collars and dragged us out of the room.

        "Hey!" Lavi yelled. "Let go of us, you old coot!"

        "You both will spend the rest of the day studying. If I catch you doing anything else, you'll have more than that to pay." He swats us both, scratching us with the metal on the tips of his fingers. "Here are your books."

        "Mr. Bookman!" Leh-Ming called from downstairs.

        "Don't do anything stupid." The old man huffed.

        Lavi and I sit in silence for a but, reading our huge books. Suddenly, Lavi starts snickering.

        "What?" I ask.

        "Earlier, when he caught us, he had the funniest look on his face," Lavi laughed.

        I laughed too. Pretty soon, the two of us were rolling with laughter, nearing hysteric. The old man was funny when he was angry.

        Lavi disappears beneath a bundle of green. I am shocked. Grandpa Bookman is back. He glares at me from where he's holding a still-giggling Lavi by his collar. I know I'm next.

        The old man launches himself at me. I block it, using his momentum to send him at the wall. He pushes off the wall, coming at me again. His attack is aimed for my shoulders. He grabs on to my left shoulder so I move to toss him to the ground. Instead, he moves to the other one. My face flies forward into the carpet. I land softly until the old geezer's weight is on top of me.

        "Okay, old man." I barely say. "You win."

        Lavi starts clapping.

        "You two are Bookmen. You need to learn to take your jobs seriously. Get a grip." He sighs.

        "I'm sorry, Grandpa." I apologize, getting up.

        "Me too." Lavi sighs.

        "Now get reading, both of you. I will quiz you tomorrow."

        Bookman leaves us to read. This time, we actually focus.