Forever Holding On

Chapter 20

This is it. The day has arrived.

"Ivory...Allen..." Lavi's voice rings through my ears as he shakes my shoulder a little. I snap awake and look at my surroundings, I was still in the hall, leaning on Allen's shoulder. I rub my eye and yawn. "Yeah, I'm getting up..." I mumble lifting my head, my neck cracked in all angles.

Allen woke up after me, he groaned a bit and stretched himself out, rubbing his eyes. "We fell asleep out here..." Allen said in a low raspy voice. Iift myself up and stretch, sleeping against the wall was not a good idea. Lavi helps Allen up, my suitcases were taken out of my room and set against the wall. I look at Lavi, then at Allen. We knew, it was almost time. "I just want to take one more look at my room." I say, Lavi and Allen nod.

I turned on my heel and walk into the room, the bed had been stripped, everything was empty. I suck in a shaly breathe, then sigh. The lump formed in my throat again, I lowered my head and run my finger across the wall in the room. I looked around it a couple times until I had enough and I walked out.

"You have time to take one shower and get ready." Lavi says to me. "Allen and I will be guards, Lavina will meet you there." He said. I could tell in his voice that he was getting sadder and sadder. I give a nod, I turn and make my way towards the girls bathrooms. Lavina leaned against the wall, she caught my sight and waved. "Hey Ivory." She smiles a little.

"Hey Lavina." I smile at her as well, we walk into the bathroom together. I take a look at the showers, I thought about the first time I used these, the time that Allen knocked over my food and it went all over me. I give a small laugh. "You know, I remember using these when Allen spilt my food all over me." I say. Lavina gave a small laugh. "How did he manage that?" She asked. "He was playing football in the cafeteria with his friend." I said.

I turned on the hot water, I hung my clothes over the railing and step in. "Hey Lavina? Could I ask a favor of you?" I asked over the the water. Lavina nodded. "Sure anything." She said to me. I shampoo my hair. "Take care of Allen too. I was thinking about it, and he might get a little sad too." I say washing the soap out of my hair. "Sure, I can keep him company." Lavina smiled.

I nod, I stayed silent as I washed my body, I was actually crying at this point, but it wasn't heard thanks to the water, the tears washed away with the water as well. It was going to he extremely hard letting go, I will miss everyone. "Hey Ivory you sound a little quiet. Are you okay?" Lavina was out of the shower and finished. I snapped my head up and nodded. "Oh yeah I'm fine." I say and turn off the water, I sniffed quietly and pluck a towel off the rack.

I start to dry myself and put my clothes on, Lavina continued to watch me quietly. "Ivory." She says, I button up my pants and turn around. "Yeah?" I ask. Lavina smiles a bit. "Can I do your hair for you?" She asks me. I smile at Lavina's request. "Sure." I say and hand her a brush. Lavina starts brushing out my hair. "Listen, I know your going to be leaving soon, but just remember that when you come back, we will all be waiting for you." She smiles.

I feel more tears roll down my cheek as Lavina ties my hair in a French braid. I purse my lips together and sigh. "I mean, first I have a bad beginning. A bad mission, i went missing, Allen confessing his love for me. Lavi and I, Cross...the promise ring. Everything happened so fast, I just can't believe I'm leaving again." I tell Lavina. Lavina finishes my hair and she turns me around by my shoulders, she gives me a tight hug. "Don't worry about us Ivory. We will be fine." She said soothingly.

We hear a knock on the door. "Ivory, everything is ready." Lavi says through the door. My heart falls in my chest, Lavina glanced at me. I heave a sigh. "Okay!" I call, my voice cracking. I grab all my stuff I took with me and walk toward the door, Lavina opens it for me and I walked out. The first thing I looked at was Allen, I smiled painfully and took his hand for the last time. Allen enclosed his fingers around mine and we walked down the hall. Lavi and Lavina stayed behind us.

I saw Cross standing there with my stuff, Komui, Lenalee, and even Kanda were standing there. "What the hell is Kanda doing there." I mumble. Allen shook his head and stayed quiet. He released my hand and glanced at Kanda. "Do it." He said seriously. Kanda rolled his eyes and came up to me.

"Listen shor-" Lavi narrowed his eyes at Kanda, Kanda huffed. "Ivory....I didn't know you were leaving again, I didn't know that you went missing for a month and all that stuff. In return, I..." Kanda paused for a minute. "I'm sorry." He held his hand out.

My eyes widened, Kanda actually said sorry to me, it was shocking to hear, but also good. I look at his hand, then back at him. Extending mine I gave it a shake. "Apology accepted." I nod. Still shocked that he apologized, I looked at Komui. "Do you happen to have an apology too?" I close an eye. Komui lowered his head embarrassingly and sighed. "Yes, I am sorry for jumping to conclusions too quickly, and judging you for the way you are. Your really aren't bad, I'm sure when you come back you will be even better." Komui flashed a smile.

I nodded, giving Komui and smile. "Goodbye Komui." I bowed slightly. Komui patted my head. "Goodbye Ivory." I look at Lenalee, internally I wanted to just walk away from her. "Bye Lenalee." I bow a little. Lenalee nodded. "See ya..." She said with a small smile.

I turned around. "Kanda." I nod. Kanda crossed his arms, he averted his eyes. "See ya." He mumbled. I shake my head and looked at Lavina. "Goodbye Lavina. I'll miss you." I give my best friend a hug. Lavina hugs back. "Goodbye Ivory, I'll miss you too." Her voice quaked, now things were starting to get emotional. Lavina had started tearing up when I pulled away, and so did I.

I turned to my brother, I bit my lip and just hugged him. "Goodbye Lavi, stay safe." I squeak quietly. Lavi rubs the top of my head and hugs me. "Goodbye sis, I will write to you.." He tells me. I start to really cry now, Lavi puts his head down and kisses the top of my head. "I love you little sis." He says. I look at him, when I do, I see the Lavi that I knew when I was little, I smiled faintly at him. "Love you too big brother." I hug him again.

Finally, I turned to Allen, he automatically pulled me into a hug. I was really going to miss him, and his hugs. I hugged back as tightly as I could and sob quietly, Allen rubbed circles in my back. "Hey now, remember what I told you about crying." Allen pulled away and held my hands. "Don't go crying over one person, be strong like you are. Don't worry about us..." Allen brushed away the tears on my face. I wipe the rest away with my sleeve. Allen smiles a little. "Promise?" He asked. I held up my hand with the ring on it. "Promise." I nod.

Allen didn't care if Lavi or Lenalee, or even Komui or Cross was watching, he took my face and kissed me for a long time, his kiss was perfectly soft. I hugged him tightly once more. "Alright alright, we need to get going." Cross sighs. I look at Allen, I peck his lips once more before pulling away, our hands released. Everyone waved at us as Cross started out the door, I turned back and waved at everyone. "Goodbye everyone!" I waved. "Goodbye!" They all called.

Before the doors could close, Allen ran out. "Ivory!" He yelled. I looked over my shoulder. He stays where he is. "I love you! And will remember you always!" He tells to me. I smile painfully once again, extending my hammer I was lifted into the air. I waved back. "I love you too Allen." I yell before I descended down, everyone disappeared from my sight.

I don't know where we were headed now, but I had to be prepared for the next three years. God only knows, what will happen next, but when it does...

I will be ready fight.

~End of Book 1~