21. Enemies
Kanda had never gotten along with the bean sprout. Ever since his arrival at the Order headquarters, Allen had been butting heads with the Japanese warrior. It wasn't much of secret that the two teens were an odd mix of allies and enemies. However, Kanda never agreed with the Order members.
They didn't like each other, he admitted that much, but he refused to call the young exorcist his enemy. When asked about it, the eighteen year-old would calmly state that he didn't consider anyone an enemy "unless the feeling was mutual". That only confused the members more. It was pretty evident that Allen didn't consider the man a friend. The exorcist would scoff and begin to walk away when told this. "The bean sprout only has one enemy, and it's not me," he would throw over his shoulder before disappearing into his room.
No, they weren't friends, Kanda would never deny that. He hated the naive boy with a hero complex, but didn't consider him an enemy, because the boy didn't consider him an enemy. Some would claim that he did, but the Japanese warrior knew better. He had seen the look of pure, unadulterated hatred in the boy's eyes usually directed toward an enemy, only once.
He really didn't know the bean sprout had it in him. He was always so kind and cheerful around headquarters. In the middle of a battle was obviously a different story. Up against the Earl, Allen was a new man and Kanda wasn't sure whether he liked him or not.
Blood and bruises covered the boy's lithe boy, while the Earl continued to smile that ridiculous smile of his. It wasn't until the fat man directed his attack at Lenalee did Allen lose it. Screaming in fury, the boy launched himself at the akuma creator. His long, sword-like fingers ripped through the material of the Earl's jacket like butter. The man howled in pain and transported away from the battle, saying a final, mocking good-bye to the bean sprout.
The pain and hatred didn't leave the boy's face, contorting the soft skin into a hideous mask that didn't belong there. Kanda had seen the look in his eyes that day and could safely say he had never had that directed at him. That look was only reserved for the bean sprout's enemies.
And Kanda had no desire to ever have that hatred pointed at him.