I do not own -Man, it belongs to Katsura Hoshino.

Chīsana Kokoro (Tiny Heart)

Chapter 1: Seek and Destroy

On their way to a small town in China, the two exorcist weren't very...eager to be working work with each other. Yu Kanda hated working people, he just dealt with it. None of them could be worst than being stuck with the most clumsiest, annoying, pour excuse for an exorcist that was Miranda Lotto. He sat in the train arms and legs crossed trying to fall asleep; he could hear her fidgeting. If there was a list of people Kanda didn't want to be stuck with this woman be second, to Allen of course.

Miranda was nervous, this was a nightmare! Not to mention horrible timing; she additionally walking into Kanda with a tray full of food didn't help beforehand. She wanted to try and lighten the mood with a conversation, but she didn't know what to say. The two have never really conversed, in fact their interactions usually ended up with Kanda yelling and Miranda in tears. Not a good start.

"I'm very sorry, Kanda" softly she muttered almost to herself.

"...tsk" was all he as a response.

Miranda's head fell in hopelessness, she sighed and turned her head to look out the window. Rain tapped the window, the sound was soothing and comforting. She stared out the window for awhile trying to keep mind occupied. The Order didn't send Miranda on too many missions, she isn't a very skilled exorcist. For all her strengths, (whatever that was, she thought) she had so many faults. Aside from all this she couldn't be more grateful to the order, especially Allen and Lenalee. Miranda smiled at the thought of meeting her two young friends. Her smile quickly fades as she remembers the events that transpired after, subconsciously she starts rubbing her hands. Thinking about the mission at Miranda was actually grateful to work with Kanda, he didn't talk much only about the mission. He was quiet, and Miranda was grateful to have silence.

Finally, Kanda thought; some peace and quiet. The rain made it even better, it drowned out the rest noise of the train. A town where the people randomly disappear, that's new, he thought. The town's people disappear randomly, and then go about the day as if it never happens.

Before Kanda could dwell, a small child no younger five walked over to them. The two exorcists looked at the child questionably. As young child looked at them, then cried and ran off. "Annoying runt" Kanda

With that Miranda stood up and began to walk out of the booth, then turned around to look at Kanda and spoke in a soft and kind tone "I'm going to help that boy"

Kanda didn't look at her, and responded with a "Tsk"

Miranda left to go help reunite the boy with his family.

Miranda came back about twenty-six minutes later. Kanda was sitting in the same spot, he looked up at Miranda "I helped the boy find his grandmother" said Miranda.

A silence fell over them as Miranda went to sit in the opposite seat of Kanda. She began to look out the window when he spoke "We are exorcist," he said in a cold voice "we don't help little whiny boys find their grandmothers" his words were cold and mean. He was right, it wasn't there job but Miranda was glad to help anyway. His words made Miranda upset, but she held back from making another comment; not wanting to start an argument.

An hour had passed, it was night, Kanda had been watching rain fall almost all day. He looked back over at Miranda who was now relaxed. She sat with her hands folded on her lap and head against the window, her eyes focused on the raindrops that hit the window, the soothing sound it made. Her eyes looked droopy. Miranda slowly drifted to sleep. Kanda found it hard to stay awake himself, then fell asleep as well.

Kanda woke up with the sound of thunder, he looked at Miranda who was still asleep. He got up and left the booth. He walked though the train and notice that most of the people who were here before were gone or asleep. Fifteen minutes into his little walk, he noticed the second cart had blood on the aisles. As he walked to look in one of the booths Kanda watched a level 2 Akuma eat an elderly woman. The Akuma was beast like, big and ferocious, a dog like muzzle, large horns above the ears; it also had razor sharp teeth. It had brown fur and something black that resembled hair it started at the top of its head and stopped at the middle of its back. The mechanical beast-Akuma had blood dripping from his teeth.

At the same moment Kanda had activated mugan, the Akuma attacked. The attack sent Kanda flying into another booth, the Akuma ran off making a loud howl looking for something else to feed on. Kanda stood up looking in the direction the Akuma was heading. Kanda ran after the Akuma.

The Akuma was fast and hungry, looking for where the delicious scent of blood came from. It made its way to the first train cart. Looking through the empty booths, he finally stopped in front of the booth where Kanda had left the sleeping Miranda. But now Miranda was awake and her hand was bleeding, it looked like just a small cut, but to the blood-thirsty Akuma it was more. It was the blood of an exorcist as identified by her coat. Miranda's eyes widen when she saw the Akuma, she screamed and shut her eyes, as the beast-like-Akuma made a low growl then made a thunderous roar as he leaped forward to attack.

When Miranda had opened eyes, she saw the Akuma lying dead on the ground. She looked over to where Kanda stood. Blood was dripping from mugan. He looked down at her whimpering as she looked at the thing that almost ended her life then looked up at him."Pathetic" he said to her.

"What?"

"You couldn't even stop an Akuma from attacking you, you're useless and pathetic."

Miranda looked down at her hands, she felt ashamed. Ashamed to be the only exorcist to need help from others, and putting others in danger. She couldn't stop the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Of course, Kanda thought. All the people he had to work with it had to be the one that couldn't defend themselves. He look down to see Miranda crying, seriously? He thought, and mentally faced palmed himself. Useless.

"Grab your things we're leaving." Kanda said as the train slowed down and made its stop.

She wiped away her tears and nodded. Miranda was still shaken up a bit, but never the less they parted from the train. Kanda heading in the direction of the town and Miranda stood at their in the station.

Kanda noticed Miranda was no longer following behind. He looked back at her as she stared at the train. "What are doing standing around for?" he asked in his normal aggressive tone.

"Do you think it attacked them?" she asked then looked at him tears threatening to come out again "the little boy and his grandmother?" she said with much concern in her voice.

Honestly, how could she care so much about people she hardly knows? Kanda thought to himself. "It's none of our concern," he said. Miranda looked back at the train, the tears in her eyes finally coming out. "We have to leave" he said. Surely enough when he said this the little boy and his grandmother had gotten off the train. They notice Miranda standing in the station they both waved at her. Miranda waved back still crying, but now it was tears of relief and happiness that filled her eyes.

The two of them left and Miranda turned around to face the angry Kanda, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Shall we be on our way t-then?" she said in a shaking voice as noticed the angry look on Kanda's face for keeping him waiting.

"Let's go, NOW!" he barked and they went to investigate the mysterious Kanda's face for keeping him waiting.

"Let's go, NOW!" he barked and they went to investigate the mysterious town.