Ok, let's get the housekeeping out of the way.

First of all, I do not own D. Gray Man. Obviously. If I did, I wouldn't be the skint English girl that I am.

Secondly. This is my very first fanfic. Like, ever, so don't expect a work of art. At all.

Thirdly, although it's rated M, this is for later chapters. I've never written smut before (hides from shame) and just sort of glossed over the 'nasties', so I need to work up the guts LOL.

Um…fourthly(?) This will (eventually) contain YAOI peoples, so don't read if boy on boy isn't up your street. Or anywhere in the neighbourhood. OBVIOUSLY we will be focusing on Yullen. And why not? Relish in the hotness people! Maybe more pairings later.

And fifthly and finally (Too many '-lys') I am an insomniac. I no sleepy. Hardly ever. So my chapters will be being written in the stupid hours of the morning, so expect randomness. And random updates. Any excuse not to be doing ACTUAL work…

Any who, I guess I'll leave it up to you whether you like or not. Reviews will be appreciated and replied to, but keep it nice LOL. Flaming never helps anyone.

Thanks to Kanda for the chapter title. Mine rarely make sense.

A twisted world

Chapter One- Hero-complex

The white haired exorcist scuffed his boots impatiently against the dry earth floor of the hut, driving up small puffs of dust.

"Why are we waiting again?"

Kanda's scowl deepened and he made no attempt to answer.

Allen grumbled slightly. It had been like this for more hours than he cared to number. The waiting, the hiding, the creeping and the oppressive silence that begged to be broken- none of it fit into the usually rash nature of the younger exorcist. The choice, if it could be called that, of mission partner was not helping things in the least.

Said partner shifted positions a little, bringing Allen out of his thoughts.

"What is it?"

Kanda continued to ignore him, peering out into the rain, his dark eyes searching.

Allen huffed quietly. This whole being ignore thing was getting really old, REALLY fast.

"Look, I'm all for stealth, but we're supposed to be partners. How am I supposed to support you if I have no idea what you are planning?"

The Japanese exorcist turned on him slowly, his already angry scowl becoming more pronounced.

"I don't need your support, baka Moyashi."

"It's Allen" was the automatic reply, for all the good it did him. Kanda was already looking out into the rain again. The silence lengthened.

Allen's thoughts turned to is next and much anticipated meal, prompting a loud rumble from his stomach.

"Oops, sorry" he laughed nervously, a faint blush of embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

"Control that monster of yours Moyashi, or I'll do it for you." He lifted Mugen threateningly.

Allen was just about to retort when his left eye flared into action. "Finally!"

Kanda looked around. "Where?" He could see nothing in the near-complete darkness.

"Three o clock." Allen fixed his gaze in the direction of the Akuma. "Four level twos and…"he did a swift head count "maybe twenty level ones."

"Is that all?"

Allen looked incredulous. "Isn't that enough?"

"Tch." Kanda drew his blade, looking something other than angry for once. Was that excitement running across the older boys face? "Just stay out of my way and maybe I wont hit you."

Allen's jaw dropped, but Kanda was already out of their hiding place before he'd had chance to snap back. He was tempted to leave Kanda to it. He was handling he situation fine, destroying Akuma left, right and centre.

"Maybe he doesn't need my help after all." This was a rather sad thought. Kanda was the only exorcist to make him feel so useless.

A movement behind Kanda caught his eye. The other exorcist was too bus dispatching the Akuma to see it, but Allen did. He pounded across the muddy ground toward the battle. Kanda ignored him completely, but that didn't matter- he just had to get there first. The hidden Akuma's attack was headed straight for Kanda, who was too involved in the fight to notice the impending danger. Allen threw himself into the line of fire at the same moment his innocence cut the offending Akuma down. The impact of the attack threw him backwards, landing on the sodden ground with a heavy, terribly final dull slap. The rain continued to fall, mingling with Allen's blood.

Kanda finally seemed to realise something was wrong, but the rain lashed his eyes and he couldn't see. The Akuma were gone, whether destroyed or run away he didn't know or care at that point. Damn Moyashi, taking him so seriously. He hadn't had too much trouble fighting the Akuma, but it would have been so much easier if Allen had actually lifted a finger to help. Kanda then frowned, vaguely remembering Allen charging past him at one point. So where was he?

"Tch" he cursed softly. The mission was complete, the innocence collected and the Akuma gone. Kanda wanted to return to the Order, away from this Godforsaken patch of mud he'd been occupying for three long months with only Allen and his stupid little golem for company.

Speaking of Timcampy… The golem, frustrated at being ignored by the Japanese exorcist went from tugging lightly on his long black hair to hovering by his ear, which he then bit sharply. Kanda rounded on the golden orb, brandishing Mugen. Tim ignored the threat and made urgent beckoning motions. Kanda was intrigued and a little annoyed. The little idiot had probably got himself lost. Again. He followed the floating winged ball, stopping dead when he'd only gone a few paces. The rain slackened, and what he saw made his heart leap into his throat, though he'd never admit to the feeling that slowly overtook him.

Allen was sprawled face down in the mud, a few feet from where Kanda had been engaged with the Akuma, oblivious to everything else. A quick glance around told Kanda what had happened.

"Baka Moyashi" he said softly, kneeling in the mud and turning Allen onto his back. "I told you I didn't need your help." He cursed Allen's hero-complex.

Allen's eyes were half-closed and blank, his blue-lipped mouth slack and his pale face coated in dirt, rain and blood.

Scowling again, Kanda flipped the boy onto his shoulders and carried him back to the small hut that they had been occupying for the last few months, while trying to ignore the coldness emanating from the younger exorcists prone form.

A/N

Has anyone ever noticed almost all fanfics start with Allen nearly dying? LOL. I wish I'd thought of a better way to get going. And of course it always starts with the unrealised love hidden in the hate. Maybe. Not quite sure about anything anymore…

BTW, is this a long chapter or a short chapter? I'm not sure where the boundary is LOL.

Oh and I'm sorry, I know you don't really need this after the essay I wrote at the top, but I thought I should warn you of the phantom 'X'. My laptop is possessed you see and every now and then the letter X will pop up in a word that frankly does not need an X in it. I try to keep on top of everything but now you know why it happens if I miss one. Or delete one by accident that should be there.

Much Lovage to all!!

Aerika-san