Time Flies When You Are Having Fun...(D.Gray-man x Reader)

Chapter 17 - Forgiveness and Obstacles

Authors Note: I'm back baby! Time really does fly when you are having fun! :D I've been pretty busy with recuperating and therapy concerning my ankle. I'm now able to drive and walk around again with minimal to no pain! I won't keep you any longer! Enjoy!

As everyone begins to pour through the door I am held back by someone grabbing my wrist. I look back and expect to find Tyki but, surprisingly, it was Kanda. Wasn't he the first to go through the door since he unlocked it? What is he gonna say now? Tyki saw this confrontation and halted in his tracks. I notice and quickly wave him on with my hand. He shakes his head and stays firmly rooted to the ground like a child throwing a tantrum. I give him an eye roll and drag Kanda back towards the kitchen area away from Tyki. "What is it? Is everything alright?" I give him a concerned look as I ask. Kanda looks at me before bowing deeply.

"Thank you for taking the time to make the mochi and getting me through the first door. I don't know how you knew I was going to fail, but no matter the reason you helped me, I am grateful. Even after I treated you so harshly all you have shown me was kindness." He lifts his head and his eyes meet mine. I was shocked. Even when Allen helps him, he just blows him off, why is he doing this for me? I try to recover and give him the biggest smile I can muster.

"I know you are a good person Kanda, even though you treated me harshly, you did so to protect your allies and I can understand why you are so protective, I even know someone similar." I shoot a very targeted stare at Tyki as he still is standing by the door. Kanda follows my gaze and lets out a small chuckle.

"That is all, let's get back to the group...____." Kanda places the stoic expression back onto his face as he walks towards the door. I'm so happy! Over a simple thank you? For us it was simple but that was a once in a lifetime thing for Kanda, he rarely shows shame or guilt or gratefulness for anything. I'm glad I could help! I follow Kanda with a dopey grin on my face as we walk to the door. Tyki sees my expression and quickly goes through what seems like the 5 stages of grieving before finally accepting and smiling along with me. I run ahead of Kanda and jump through the door into the next trial ahead of us.  As I connect with the ground I look up to find everyone in a wide hallway, similar to ones you would see in old decrepit mansions. I guess this hasn't changed, but we aren't fighting so what are the twins trying to pull- I just barely finish my thought the room starts to change dramatically. Smoke fills my vision and lungs as I begin to cough. What the- The smoke finally begins to clear and what is unveiled in front of me is...

"An obstacle course?" Lavi's question halts my thoughts. I walk over and touch one of the walls only to find it cave in slightly at my pressure. My eyes light up like a small child's on Christmas day as I run over and throw myself into the course. Most of the group yell my name to stop me but it was no use. I jump up towards a block that we have to scale and bounce high into the air. As I giggled and jumped around, two other figures came bounding out of the course. It was nonother than the twins.

"We are glad to see someone else... other than us is enjoying this." Jasdero starts the sentence and Devit finishes the thought. I give them a wide smile.

"How did you guys think of this?" I ask hopping over to them. As I get closer they grab my arms to steady me and stop me from just running them over.

"We might have snuck a quick glance at your phone while you were asleep." Jasdero states with a twinge of guilt lacing his voice. "It was so much fun looking at all of your pictures!" Devit states with no shame. I slightly blush and look down.

"All of them?" Both look at me before bursting into laughter. Most of the group saw my blushing and became curious about the topic.

"We avoided anything too embarrassing but, we saw this in a picture when you were younger and you seemed to love it," Jasdero states while motioning with his arm to the bouncy obstacle course. I nod eagerly. "Now onto the fun!" Devit shouts before hopping off of the course and slinking over to the group. Most of the Exorcists backed away from Devit while Tyki walked over to greet him.

"What are suppose to do with this..." Kanda gestures to the obstacle course. "...thing." I begrudgingly get off of the course and walk over to the group with Jasdero trailing me. As we get close Jasdero coughs to get everyone's attention.

"We are going to be racing as well as doing a long-range test. Each one of you needs to beat me and Devit's time or beat our ranged test to move on to the final door. If you cannot complete either, then you will have to stay behind with us. And pay off all of our debts!" Jasdero finishes with a smirk. Devit nods their head enthusiastically as he walks over to be side by side with Jasdero. Most of the exorcists look pretty confident except for Chaoji. I shake my head and quickly try to clarify something.

"Not everyone knows what you mean by the long-range test. Could you guys explain?" I put my hand on my hip, waiting for an answer.

"A long-range test is where we test your skills in any long-ranged weapon from guns..." Jasdero and Devit hold out their guns in a pose that closely resembled Charlie's Angels. "to bows and knives. We have a target for us all to use at the end of the obstacle course." Jasdero finishes his explanation and silence falls over the group. It looks like Chaoji feels more confident, maybe he has something up his sleeve for the long-ranged test. It seems like everyone seems pretty confident so we all start to line up one after another to time our runs through the course. To have a semi-neutral party record the times, we all decide I should record. As Jasdero and Devit get ready to make their first run I turn to talk to Allen and Lenalee who stood with me a ways away from the main group.

"How do you guys feel about this, and the Noah?" I ask timidly. I hope their hearts changed slightly about the Noah, even a little bit. Allen maintains a thoughtful look before replying.

"I mean I like this friendly air even if everyone is a little nervous. It really does seem like they don't want to harm us." Allen pauses slightly before continuing, "I feel more comfortable with Tyki solely because he was the hobo on the train I played cards with. It feels like he is more human than the rest, yet I have no idea since I don't really know the others that well. I can't forget what Tyki did to the general, but maybe one day..." I give Allen a small smile as he trails off and I turn towards Lenalee.

"Let's hope that this peace will last."