Happy Valentine's Day :)

"Kanda!"

"What?"

Lenalee smiled. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, right?" She said. "Are you giving anything to anybody?"

Kanda stared, wondering why Lenalee was asking him. Lenalee blinked, and he replied, "No," the swordsman said. "It has nothing to do with me. And, it's the girls who give chocolate anyway." He said tersely.

"Eh?" Lenalee looked surprised, "It's that way in Japan?"

"…It's different here?"

"Uhuh." Lenalee smiled. "In most Western countries, it's the opposite. It's the guys who give girls stuff." She explained. "I'm sure it is for Allen who's from Britain. Though I can't remember if it was that way in China…" she said softly.

"It's the opposite for most Asian countries," Kanda said and Lenalee looked at him. "I think. Lavi said that anyway."

"Lavi?"

"A long time ago." Kanda muttered. "No idea why I even remember."

Lenalee smiled. "Is Lavi Asian?" She asked.

"I don't know, and I don't care." Kanda scoffed and turned around. "See you."

"Ah, wait!" Lenalee called out, running to catch up with him. "Kanda!"

"What is it?"

"Can you tell me more about Valentine's Day in Japan?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, girls give guys chocolate in Japan, right?" Lenalee smiled brightly and Kanda blinked. "It's perfect! I've always wanted to try making chocolate and…"

Kanda stared. "…You have a guy in mind?" He said wryly. "Does Komui know?"

"No!" Lenalee blushed, averting her gaze. "It's not that! I just want to make chocolate for my friends!" She said. "You guys have stayed by my side for this long and even though we're in a war…it doesn't mean we can't have good days, you know?"

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Well, I was hoping you'd tell me more about how Valentine's Day works in Japan!" Lenalee looked up at him with a hopeful smile.

"There's…nothing much to say," Kanda said. He scoffed. "I don't know much about this stupid holiday." He said. "Girls give guys chocolate, and that's it. It doesn't have to be…romantic." He said somewhat awkwardly, wondering how in the world Lenalee had gotten him to explain Valentine's Day, a day he didn't give a damn about, to her, "Girls can give guys who are their friends or colleagues chocolate too."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's called giri-chocolate."

"So if you give this giri-chocolate to a guy, it's not romantic?" Lenalee asked carefully.

"No. It's just obligatory."

"That's great!" Lenalee exclaimed and Kanda blinked. She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm just excited." She said.

"Then, I'll see you later, Kanda! I'm going to ask Jerry to teach me how to make chocolate!"

Kanda blinked as Lenalee sprinted away.

"What is she hurrying for? Valentine's Day is tomorrow, isn't it?"

Lenalee was soon gone. Kanda scoffed and turned around, continuing to his original destination.

"Yuu!"

At the sound of that word, Mugen was out in a flash and pointed at the speaker's neck, glinting dangerously like its owner's eyes, "Don't," Kanda hissed, "Call me by my first name."

"Y-Yes," Lavi smiled nervously, but other than that, he didn't look scared. Kanda looked at him, then snorted and sheathed his sword and continued to eat his soba.

"So...Yuu," Kanda glared but Lavi just smiled. "C'mon, it's fine, isn't it?" He sat down next to Kanda, slinging an arm around his shoulders, "I've got exciting news!"

"What."

"Lenalee," Lavi leaned in close, "Is making chocolate!"

"So?"

"So?" Lavi stared at Kanda who didn't seem to care, "Yuu! Lenalee is making chocolate! On Valentine's Day!"

"Even though it's usually the guys who give chocolate," Lavi said idly, fingers almost touching Kanda's hair. He smiled. "Hey Yuu, who do you think she's going to give the chocolate to?" He said excitedly, "The Science Department already has a bet! Well except Komui, of course. If he knows…" he shuddered.

Kanda ignored Lavi. He picked up the heart Jerry had placed on his soba with a grimace and dumped it on his tray. Lavi gasped. "Yuu-chan!" He said as if Kanda had just rammed Mugen through a real heart. "It's Valentines' Day, you can't throw hearts away!"

"Precisely why I should throw it away." Kanda said in annoyance. "We're in a war. We don't need distractions. We don't need hearts. We only need to fight."

"So cold even on Valentines' Day!" Lavi sighed. He smiled. "So you think hearts are useless?"

"Yeah." Kanda said as he ate his heart-less soba.

"Hmm," Lavi said in such a contemplative tone that Kanda looked at him. He smiled with a wry look in his eyes. "It's a common belief that a person's heart gives one strength though," he mused, "Maybe that's why the greatest Innocence is the Heart."

"Yeah." Kanda said. "That's the only heart I'll ever need."

"What about the heart beating in your chest?"

"…That's different." Kanda said. He turned, and jabbed a finger at the heart he had thrown away, grimacing. "It doesn't look like this."

Lavi grinned widely at him, grinned in that way that was prone to making Kanda's eyebrow twitch. "Then," he said, reaching out with his other hand, "You don't mind if I have this heart then?"

"Whatever. Take it." Kanda said as Lavi's fingers touched the blue heart.

Lavi smiled and picked the navy blue heart up. "It's a nice color." He said. "You don't see many blue hearts." He removed his arm from Kanda, and leaned his chin on his hand. "They're all either pink or red. You sure you don't want it, Yuu?"

"I have no need of a heart."

"That should be my line."

"What was that?"

"Hmmm?" Lavi smiled at Kanda who stared at him. "Nothing." He turned the blue heart in his hand over, "Nothing, Yuu."

Kanda scoffed. "If having a heart means having feelings," he said, "You're the person who has the biggest heart." He muttered. "So loud and noisy with so much energy with everyone. Stupid rabbit."

Lavi blinked, then grinned, "Did you just compliment me, Yuu?!"

"It wasn't a compliment!" Kanda glared, "It was an insult! I said you're loud and noisy!"

"But you said I had the biggest heart!"

"Which means you have the most stupid feelings!"

"You're mean," Lavi sighed, flicking a hand. Kanda just glowered and Lavi smiled, meeting those cold black eyes. He stood up, "Well, I guess I'll go see how Lenalee's doing! I wonder if she's done yet?"

Lavi smiled, and Kanda turned his gaze as he held the blue heart in between his thumb and index finger.

"Thanks for the heart, Yuu."

Lavi was walking along to the kitchen when he saw a white haired figure standing near the door. "Allen?" He said in surprise.

"Shhhh!" Allen put a finger to his lips as Lavi moved to stand beside him. "She'll hear."

"Spying on Lenalee?" Lavi said in amusement, "Didn't expect that of ya, Allen."

"That's not it," Allen shook his head. He peered around the door again. "Hey Lavi. Who do you think she's making chocolate for?"

"Hmmm I don't know. It could be any guy." Lavi said. "Yuu maybe?"

Allen choked. "K-Kanda?!"

Lenalee blinked as she heard a noise. She turned around, and Allen quickly retreated. He waited for a bit, then looked again, to see Lenalee turned back around, smiling. He sighed. "That was close."

"But seriously," Allen stared at Lavi. "Kanda?"

"It' just a guess." Lavi shrugged. "Yuu didn't seem surprised that she's making chocolate. Maybe he knows?"

"Or," Lavi said as Allen stared. "It could be me."

"You?"

"What? It's a possibility." Lavi grinned at Allen, who gave him a deadpan stare. "Lenalee and I are quite close, you know?"

"In your dreams, Lavi. Lenalee's not like the other women whom you flirt with."

"Whoa," Lavi looked amused, "What's this, Allen? Ya jealous or something?"

"No!" Allen said. He sighed, raising a hand to his hair. "Whatever. Maybe she's making chocolate for Komui." He said. "As a gift to her brother."

"Mmm, maybe. Or it could be Miranda!" Allen blinked as Lavi smiled, "Like, as a gift to her friend. Girls give each other chocolates during Valentines' Day in Japan." He said.

"But Lenalee's Chinese."

"Uhuh. But she seems to be following the Japanese way."

"Is that so…"

"Yup." Lavi said. "You want her to make chocolate for you, Allen?"

"I'm- this is just for the sake of a bet," Allen said, but didn't deny it. He frowned. "I just came back from a mission and the Science Department was placing bets. They pulled me over, and somehow, I got roped into this," he shrugged, "Komui doesn't know of course. He isn't in on the bet. But they told me to find out who is she making chocolate for, so here I am."

"Really?" Lavi grinned. He nudged Allen, "Soooo…who did you bet on?" He said teasingly. "Yourself?"

"No way," Allen said. He blinked. "I bet on everyone."

"Everyone?"

"Uhuh. It's just like Lenalee to make chocolate for everyone on Valentine's Day, isn't it?" Allen said. "For her precious friends." He nodded, smiling. "She loves us all."

"Besides," Allen's eyes suddenly had an evil glint and his fist clenched as a dark aura emerged. "I have never lost a bet."

"Uh," Lavi said, sweat sliding down his neck. He retreated, grimacing, "It's Black Allen again…! Allen's dark side!"He put out his hands, making sure not to touch the dark aura he thought he saw from Allen. "Someone!"

"Allen-kun?"

"Lenalee!"

Lavi watched as the dark aura around Allen faded. He sighed in relief, as Lenalee said curiously, "What are you and Lavi doing?"

"Uh-" Allen smiled nervously. He made an awkward gesture. "We were just- you know, we heard you were making chocolate so we decided to come take a look!"

"Oh. Well why didn't you come in then?"

"Eh, we didn't want to interrupt you…" Lavi said.

"It's fine!" Lenalee smiled brightly, "After all, I'm done already! I just need to put them in the oven." She said.

"I see." Allen smiled, and he and Lavi followed Lenalee into the kitchen.

"They're over there." Lenalee pointed at the tray with chocolate. She smiled. "I'm just going to go wash my hands."

"Alright." Allen called and Lenalee walked away. He and Lavi walked towards the table, when a noise sounded, and Lavi blinked. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Like, something was opened." Lavi looked around, and nothing was out of sorts. Lenalee was still washing her hands with a satisfied smile on her face. "I thought I heard something."

"Really-ah!" Allen gasped, pointing towards the ceiling, "Lavi, look up there!"

The ceiling was made up of squares and one of them had opened, revealing none other than Komui, Head of the Science Department and Lenalee's overprotective brother. Allen and Lavi stared as he held something which looked like a gun in his hands, a gun loaded with a syringe. An empty syringe. Komui grinned evilly, his spectacles seeming to reflect off the light. He cackled, then retreated, the ceiling closing after him.

"Uh…" Allen said. "Lavi, did you see what I saw?"

"Yeah." Lavi said. "I did, Allen."

The two exorcists looked at each other, then slowly turned their gaze to the heart shaped chocolates on the tray.

"It," Lavi said nervously, "Looks a bit darker than before."

"Really?" Allen said dazedly.

"Yeah. I can tell." Lavi said. "Only a tinge darker though."

"Don't tell me…" Allen said slowly. "Lavi, you don't think…"

"Yeah." Lavi paled. "I think he did, Allen."

"Should we…" Allen said. "Throw it away?"

"How could we?" Lavi replied. He pointed frantically, "Lenalee must have spent a lot of effort making this! What are we gonna tell her?!"

"That her brother poisoned the food?"

"We have no proof though." Lavi said. He blinked at the heart shaped chocolates. "It hardly looks any different to the untrained eye."

"But that's the point of poisoning food, isn't it?" Allen pointed out. He waved a hand, "We could, just, you know-upset the tray and tell her it was an accident-"

"I know, she was in here for a long time though!" Lavi said. "Hours. We can't just…waste her efforts, can we?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?!" Allen exclaimed, "We can't just do nothing and let her give poisoned chocolate to some unlucky guy!" He hissed. "I mean, hypothetically speaking, what if it was you?"

"Uh," Lavi's face drained of color. "Me? I think it's you, Allen!" He said quickly.

"No way!" Allen said, grimacing, "I bet it's you, Lavi!"

"Didn't you bet that it was everyone?"

"What are you two talking about?"

"L-Lenalee!" Allen turned. He smiled, scratching the back of his neck. "Ah nothing, just some bet. Ahahaha."

"Oh." Lenalee said. She smiled, then reached forward to pick up the tray. "Well, I'm going to put these in the oven now!"

"O-Okay."

Lenalee smiled widely and turned, walking to the oven as Allen said, "She looks really…happy."

"Uhuh." Lavi stared. "So we can't…tell her, can we?"

"But," he continued. "What if it really was everyone?" He pointed, "I mean, there are ten chocolates on that tray. Surely she isn't giving it all to one guy!"

"If she was giving it to someone she liked, it would only be one." Allen agreed. "So it must be…everyone."

"Her friends." Lavi said. He grimaced. "Which makes it even worse!" He reached out, placing his hands on Allen's shoulders. "What should we do, Allen?! We can't let her accidentally poison everyone! Including us!" His green eye was wide, "I don't want to die!"

"If that's the case, that means I won the bet." Allen smirked. Lavi removed his hands from Allen's shoulders with a grimace, and Allen blinked, then smiled slyly. He leaned in close.

"Listen, Lavi. I have a plan."

Lavi listened as Allen whispered in his ear. His eye widened and he shot away from Allen, "Allen! That's crazy!"

"No it's not." Allen said. He nodded. "Sacrifices have to be made. Besides, it's okay. We just need the proof, right?" He grinned. "It's perfect!"

"What if the unlucky person dies?!"

"Impossible. Komui may be crazy but he wouldn't want to lose an Exorcist."

"Well what if it's a finder?"

"Uh," Allen blinked. "Whether it's a finder or an Exorcist, I don't think Komui will really kill anyone." He said. "…Right?"

Lavi stared, then sighed. "Let's just hope the first person is not you or me." He said. He turned.

"Hey, Lenalee! Who are you giving the chocolate to?"

"It's a secret!" Lenalee called back, and Lavi blinked. She smiled, an eager light in her eyes. "But, there is one person I must give it to first!"

"One…person?" Lavi said. Beside him, Allen tensed.

"Uhuh!" Lenalee nodded, her smile reflecting the light in her eyes. She nodded. "I must give it to him first! He helped me, after all!"

"Don't tell me…Jerry?!" Allen asked in panic, starting to rethink his plan. If Jerry died he would have no food! The thought was horrifying and almost caused him to whimper.

Lenalee blinked, but shook her head. "Nope. I already gave Jerry his." She said. "Since he taught me how to make chocolate." She said shyly. "He was very patient with me."

"Ah ok." Allen sighed in relief.

The oven made a beeping noise, and Lenalee opened the door, taking the tray of chocolates out. Lavi hoped the heat had killed whatever Komui had injected into them. But knowing Komui, the crazy scientist had probably thought of that and made the poison heat resistant. He grimaced.

"So…" Lavi said, "Who is it?"

Lenalee winked at him as she moved to pick up the tray.

"You'll see!"

"So…who do you think it is?"

"I have no idea." Lavi said. He smiled as they followed Lenalee, who was carrying a plastic bag full of poisoned chocolates. "Well, it isn't us, or she would have given it already." He said, sounding relieved.

"Huh. You know what would be funny?" Lavi blinked, and Allen grinned, "If it was Komui."

Lavi's eye widened, before he returned Allen's grin. "Oh man, that would be so damn ironic and hilarious!" He snickered. "If she really is going to give the chocolate to him…!"

"I'd love to see his reaction." Allen smirked. "It would serve him right."

"If it's Komui, he better hope he didn't put too high a dosage into that chocolate." Lavi grinned. "That guy could never refuse anything from Lenalee."

They walked for a while more, and Lavi observed their surroundings. He turned to Allen. "Allen? I don't think we're heading for Komui's office."

"It's not Komui then." Allen frowned. "And it's not us."

"Actually…" Lavi said slowly. "It looks like we're heading towards the training dojo."

"Training…dojo?" Allen almost stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. "Don't tell me…"

"Kanda!"

Allen and Lavi stared at Kanda, as Lenalee said with a smile, "You just came back from meditation?"

"Yeah."

Lenalee's smile widened, "Do you know what day today is?"

"Valentine's Day." Kanda said, to Allen's and Lavi's surprise. He scoffed. "You told me yesterday."

"That's right!" Kanda blinked in surprise as Lenalee held out a nicely wrapped chocolate heart, with a blue ribbon tied around the plastic bag, to him, "Happy Valentine's Day, Kanda!"

"…I don't want it."

Allen's and Lavi's jaws dropped. "He rejected her?!"

"And so easily too!" Lavi added.

"Oi, Kanda!" Allen shouted angrily, "Lenalee spent a lot of effort in making this! You better take it!"

"Yeah- no wait!" Lavi shook his head. He turned to Allen. "Have you forgotten?! If Yuu takes Lenalee's chocolate…!"

"All the better!" Allen smirked as he pointed at Kanda, "You hear me, Bakanda?! Appreciate Lenalee's efforts!"

"Shut up, Moyashi!" Kanda said in annoyance. He looked at Lenalee. "I don't like sweet things."

"Oh…" Lenalee said in disappointment. Her hands lowered. "Alright then. Just…you were the one who gave me the idea, so I wanted to give it to you first…"

"I didn't give you the idea." Kanda said as Allen and Lavi gaped. He looked at the chocolate. "Is it…dark chocolate?"

"Yeah!" Lenalee grinned. "It's less sweet than normal chocolate, but it's still sweet." She said. "So I'm not sure if you'd like it…" She smiled. "It's okay, really! If you don't like chocolate I can eat it!" She moved to untie the blue ribbon.

"NO!" Lavi and Allen shouted together and Lenalee blinked. Allen took the chance to rush to Lenalee and pluck the plastic bag out of her hands. "Kanda! Eat this! Now!"

Kanda stared, then scowled. "Not if it's from you."

"It's not from me, idiot! It's from Lenalee!" Allen grimaced. He shoved the plastic bag into Kanda's face. "Hurry and eat it! Lenalee made this just for you!"

Kanda stared, then slowly took the plastic bag. He untied the blue ribbon, as Lavi yelled, "No! Yuu!" He said, "Allen, you sneaky bastard!"

"What?" Allen said innocently, but a smirk was tugging at his lips, "Lenalee can't eat it, so Kanda should eat it, right?"

"Lenalee can't eat it, but Yuu can't eat it either!" Lavi said in panic as Lenalee looked on in confusion. His eye widened as Kanda was bringing the heart shaped chocolate to his mouth. "Gahhhhh! Wait, YUU!"

"W-What," Kanda stared as Lavi grabbed his wrists. "What the hell, Lavi?!"

"Yuu!" Lavi exclaimed, and Kanda blinked. "You can't eat that! No matter what!"

"Why?"

"B-Because!" Lavi said, looking close to doing something crazy like shaking Kanda. "It's poisoned!"

"…Huh?"

"Lavi!" Lenalee gasped.

"Lavi!" Allen gasped along with her. "How could you say that?!" He said, stepping forward. "Lenalee would never poison anyone!"

Lavi stared, then glared at Allen. "Allen!" He shouted. "What are you saying?! Do you want to sabotage Yuu that much?!"

Allen shrugged. "Sabotage Kanda?" He said. "I wouldn't do such a thing!" He pointed almost dramatically at Lavi. "What about you, Lavi?"

"Huh?"

Allen smirked. "Admit it. You're just jealous, aren't you?"

"J-Jealous?!"

"Yeah. Because you want Lenalee's chocolate too!"

"Allen!"

"L-Lavi," Lenalee said in surprise, staring at Lavi. "Um. There's one for you too."

"No, that's not it!" Lavi shrieked in frustration, and whirled to face Kanda. "Believe me, Yuu! That chocolate's poisoned!" He said. "Allen's sabotaging you!"

"Allen, you're the one who's jealous!"

"Why would I be jealous?"

"Because you wanted to be the first one to receive Lenalee's chocolate, and she gave it to Yuu instead! So you're jealous of Yuu!"

"I'm not jealous of Kanda!" Allen yelled.

"Jealous, huh?" Kanda smirked, the edge of the chocolate heart touching his lips. "You're jealous, Moyashi?" He said. "How pathetic."

With those words, he shoved Lavi away and took a bite of the chocolate heart.

Lavi stared, then screamed, "NOOOOOO! YUUUUUUUUUU!" He dashed forward, taking hold of Kanda's shoulders and shaking him vigorously. "Damn it! Spit it out! Spit it out right now!"

"I've already swallowed it!"

Allen stared, then smirked. "Oh yes Kanda, I am so jealous," he said, "Why don't you eat more?" He said. "It's delicious, isn't it?"

"Allen! You are not helping!" Lavi shouted. "Yuu! Don't listen to him!"

"What the hell is with you?!" Kanda pushed Lavi roughly away, annoyance painted across his features. He took another bite of the dark chocolate heart and Lavi paled. "It's bitter." He nodded to Lenalee. "Thanks."

"N-No problem, Kanda!" Lenalee said in surprise, but she was smiling, "I'm so glad you like it!"

"Hn."

"It isn't supposed to be bitter though." Lenalee said as Kanda walked away. She blinked. "Did I mess up somewhere?"

Allen scoffed as he stared at Kanda. "Bakanda seems to be fine."

"I…" Lavi blinked. "Was worried for nothing?"

"Unfortunately."

"What are you two talking about?" Lenalee asked, puzzled. "Lavi, why did you say it's poisoned?"

"Uh…"

Lavi was interrupted from having to explain when there was a thump sound, like someone had fallen, and he turned his wide eyed gaze to the still figure on the floor. "YUU!"

"Yuu!" Lavi rushed to the exorcist's side, pulling Kanda's body up, "Are you alright?!"

"Wow," Allen said. "Even Kanda couldn't survive it, huh?"

"Allen!" Lavi glowered as he held Kanda's unconscious body. "This is all your fault!"

Allen held up his hands. "How would I know the poison was that strong?" He said defensively. "I didn't mean to kill him!"

"I mean…he isn't dead, is he?"

"He better not be!" Lavi shouted.

Lenalee gasped. "So there really was poison in the chocolate?" She said. She turned to Allen. "Allen-kun-why?!" She shouted angrily, "Do you really hate Kanda that much?!"

"What? It's not me!" Allen said in panic as Lenalee glared at him. "Honest! Really! It's Komui!"

"Big brother?!"

"HAHAHAHA…AHAHAHAHA!"

Everyone stared as Komui appeared from behind a wall. He stood with his legs apart, pointing a triumphant finger at the unconscious Kanda, "Serves you right, Kanda!" He cackled loudly. "You were always close to Lenalee! Oh I should never have underestimated you! I bet you had evil, dark intentions everytime you were with my precious Lenalee, no wonder you always destroyed my Komurin -woah!" Lenalee stared as her brother dodged her kick, "That was close! Ahahaha! Lenalee! I have learned! Do not underestimate me!"

"Big brother!" Lenalee clenched her fists, shooting daggers from her eyes at the crazy scientist. "How could you do that to Kanda?!"

"Because he's the guy you were going to give chocolate to!" Komui pouted. "A heart shaped chocolate! On Valentines' Day!" He said, "How could I ignore that?!"

"Odzuchi Kodzuchi…grow, grow, GROW!"

"Lenalee, watch out!"

Lenalee jumped deftly out of the way as Lavi's hammer came crashing down on Komui. Lavi lifted the hammer, then blinked. "He's gone!"

"Over there!" Allen pointed to the retreating figure, "He's running away!"

Lavi looked about ready to use his Hi-Ban, as Lenalee had learned he used when he was angry or pissed off (mostly during battles) so Lenalee said quickly before dangerous flames could emerge, "Don't worry Lavi, I'll teach my brother a lesson!" She said, "You take care of Kanda, okay?"

"But-"

"Someone has to stay with Kanda." Allen said. He grimaced. "And I'm not staying with him. He'll slice me with Mugen when he wakes up!"

"And who says he won't do that to me?!"

Allen shrugged, "You'll survive." He said. "Innocence, activate!"

"Innocence…activate!"

Lavi stared as Allen had his clawed hand out and Lenalee's dark boots were activated. Lenalee turned and smiled at him. "We'll be back!" She said. "Let's go find my big brother, Allen-kun!"

"Yeah!" Allen said. "Don't worry Lenalee, he shouldn't be hard to find!"

Lenalee jumped into the air, and Allen followed, running beside her. Lavi stared after them for a while, then sighed and looked to the unconscious Kanda in his arms. "Yuu." He said. "Guess you aren't as invincible after all, huh?"

He reached out to Kanda's chest. Lavi blinked, then smiled, relief in his green eye.

"Your heart's still beating."