Chapter 10

Everyone watched as Mai stormed off from the table without a word. They all exchanged glances that told each other that none of them knew why she left. Nina sighed and started taking small bites of her food. Allen basically shoved plates down his throat while Lenalee and Lavi were still staring in the direction that Mai went down. After each teen finished their meal in silence, Lenalee stood up.

"I have to go after her."

"No." Nina wiped her mouth and stood up beside Lenalee. "I'll…I'll go."

"What?" They all exclaimed in unison with obvious surprise in their voices.

"A-are you sure?" Lenalee's eyes met Nina's and she could see the intensity in Nina's blue orbs. Nina nodded and began walking towards Mai.

"Nina…" Allen muttered softly to himself. "She must still feel bad about what happened to Hue."

Nina walked briskly across the cafeteria, but Mai was already halfway down the hallway. She began to quicken her pace to catch up with the blue haired girl. Why did Nina decide to chase after Mai all of a sudden anyway? Maybe it was because she got a vibe from her that made her feel like she was the reason why Mai decided to leave the group earlier. But why? What did Nina ever to do make Mai angry? To Nina, it seemed like Mai could have everything she ever needed. Two caring siblings, her family. And she was really smart at such a young age and she was an Exorcist. Now that she thought about it, Mai reminded Nina a little bit of Lavi…well, besides the temper she seemed to have at times.

"Mai." Nina finally caught up with the younger teen and tapped her shoulder.

Mai turned around and unintentionally glared at her, "What?"

Nina flinched and took a step back. She stared at Mai for a second and hesitated, "Wh-what's wrong? Why did you leave?"

"Is that really any of your business?" She spat out.

Nina frowned, "We all just got back from our mission. Why are you – "

Mai cut her off, "Maybe it's because I never get what I want. And when I do get something, it's not like I asked for it! I never asked to be an Exorcist!"

Nina sighed, 'She's acting like…like a child. What is she talking about…?'

"You seemed excited about it before we left…"

"That's before I really knew what it meant to be one."

Nina looked at Mai seriously, "What is it that you want?"

Mai stared back at Nina with the same seriousness in her eyes. She was jealous of her because Nina had the one person Mai wanted. At least, that's what she assumed. Nina had Allen.

"It's none of your concern." Mai gritted her teeth, "What're you doing here anyway?"

Nina shrugged, "For some reason…it just seemed like you were mad at me."

Mai seriously just wanted to punch Nina in the face, but she would never do that. Nina knew Mai was mad at her, but wasn't it obvious why? Or was Nina just playing with her?

"It's because of Allen!" She blurted out.

Nina gave her a sideways glance, "What about him?"

"You mean you haven't noticed?"

"Noticed…what?"

Oh, now Mai really wanted to punch her.

"Nothing…just nothing…"

Before Nina could open her mouth to say something, the other three teens walked up to them.

"Mai! We were worried about you." Lenalee embraced her sister in a tight hug. Mai, however, just shrugged her off and stormed off yet again. They looked at Nina, waiting for an answer.

"So why is she being moody…again?" Lavi grinned.

Nina shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know…m-maybe Allen should talk to her."

Allen pointed to himself, "M-me? Why me?"

"Just go talk to her, Allen. I'm really worried." Lenalee frowned and pushed Allen towards the direction Mai went off to. He looked back nervously at Lenalee, who gave him a thumbs up.

Before Mai should shut her door, Allen put an arm out and she instantly froze.

"A-Allen? What're you doing here?" She opened the door slowly to let him inside. He hesitated before taking a step in her room.

Allen looked around nervously. It was the first time he's ever been inside her room before and he wasn't exactly sure why he was the one nominated to talk to her. Mai smiled instantly at him and motioned him to sit on her bed beside her. He returned the smile and sat down.

"So Mai…is everything okay?" He asked her nervously.

For some reason, anything that made her mad or upset earlier instantly vanished as she looked at the white haired teen smiling at her. She couldn't be upset now that Allen himself came to visit her in her room. She thought it was the sweetest thing.

"Not really…why?" She started absent-mindedly smooth out her clothes as she gazed at him.

"Um…well…" He began. "You just seemed upset earlier and Nina said I should – "

The wrath has returned.

"Nina?" She raised her eyebrows at him. "Nina said you should come see me?"

"Y-yeah…is that so bad?" He put his hands up defensively and started backing away. He knew Mai was angry again and it was not a pretty sight. Although Allen never directly suffered under her rage, he saw it enough with Komui and Lavi.

Mai groaned, "Ugh! Of course she would! And of course you'd do whatever she asked of you!"

"M-Mai…what are you talking about? I came because I was worried…"

Her expression softened up a bit, "Really?"

He nodded, "Yes."

Mai bit her lip, "Allen…do you like Nina?"

"Yeah, of course I do!" He smiled at her. "I like you, too! And everyone else at the Order."

She face-palmed, "That's not what I meant…"

Lenalee, Lavi and Nina heard a loud crash from the other side of the Order.

"I guess my brother is coming up with another nuisance again. I'll go check up on him. I'll see you two later, okay?" Lenalee waved and ran down the corridor.

Lavi and Nina exchanged glances.

"So…do you think Allen can calm Shortie down?" Lavi asked Nina, hoping to start a conversation.

"I…I don't know." She muttered. "I...hope so…"

Lavi looked at her curiously, "Hmm? Has someone become fond of our newest Exorcist?" He chuckled at Nina's face turning pink.

"Well…it's hard being an Exorcist. It's not the greatest job in the world…" She replied sadly.

In a total platonic way, Lavi draped an arm over shoulder, "Yeah, I know. But she'll be okay, I know it."

Just as Nina was about to say something, Kanda came walking down the hallway, Mugen in hand.

"Hey, Yu~ "

"Shut up." He spat out and continued walking.

"Well, he's in a good mood."

Nina giggled, much to Lavi's surprise. "Maybe…we should go find Allen and Mai…"

Lavi nodded, "Yeah. You know, I'm glad to see you're talking to us more. Although it's not much more, it's still an improvement."

"O-oh, yeah…I guess. I just hope that…" She trailed off.

"That what?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. I just want to be stronger."

Lavi took his arm off of her and put his arms behind his head. He knew Nina still felt bad about what happened to Hue, just like how Mai felt bad. But it wasn't her fault. It was hard to make choices when it dealt with saving someone's life. But, she didn't seem entirely that bad when she wasn't in her depressing, brooding moods. And at least she didn't try to kick him all the time. He smiled at the thought of Nina becoming angry. He couldn't even imagine it.

"Yeah, I get it. Well, let's go get the beansprout and Shortie!" And with that, they started walking down the long corridor towards Mai's room.

Just before the opened the door, they heard the voices of the young Exorcists still talking to each other. Lavi took Nina's hand away from the doorknob and she looked at him curiously.

"Just wait, okay?" He whispered and grinned to her.

"I didn't mean it like that. I know you like everyone at the Order. But do you like Nina like you want to osculation her?" It was Mai's voice. Nina looked at Lavi confusedly who was covering his mouth as he laughed.

"Mai…I uhhh don't understand." Allen told her honestly.

She groaned, Allen didn't understand osculation ment kiss.

"Allen…" She sighed and her voice was barely audible. Nina and Lavi practically had to press their ears against the door. "You…love Nina, don't you?"

Mai, Nina and Lavi waited for an answer. Nina's body tensed up as she heard each word and a million thoughts were running through her head. Love? Allen love her? What in the world? Where did that come from?

Lavi was shocked as well, but more amused. He ruffled Nina's hair.

"Awww, how cute. Allen's got a little crush on you." He said in a low voice.

Nina's face was bright red, as was Mai's. Nina had never even thought that love was a possibility for her. Who would ever love her, anyway? She pressed her ear on the cold door again to hear Allen's reply, unsure of what she actually wanted to hear.

"I…umm…" He stuttered, "I-I don't know…" He finally answered and waited for Mai to answer, but he looked up when there was no such thing. Her expression was unreadable and she just stared at him with a blank look in her eyes.

"I…I guess I should go…" He started making his way towards the door, but he was stopped when Mai grabbed his sleeve.

"W-wait! Allen!" She couldn't just give up. Not yet. She impulsively wrapped her arms around him. Each teen was shocked at the sudden action and Mai felt her face heating up.

Nina and Lavi were about to make their way up, but a miniature robot came their way with Komui and Lenalee following suit.

"Brother, wait! I don't think Mai wants to be bothered right now." Lenalee pleaded desperately, trying to stop her brother.

"Nonsense, Lenalee! Now behold!" Komui placed his hand on the doorknob and Nina and Lavi shook their heads frantically from the ground.

"No, Komui don't!"

"Don't open the door!"

But it was too late. Right as he noticed Lavi and Nina sitting down, the door was already opened to reveal Mai and Allen in a tight embrace. Everyone's eyes suddenly grew wider as they stared at the two youths inside the room. However, Mai and Allen were staring at Nina and Lavi.

"Do you think…they know we were listening in on their conversation?" Lavi whispered to Nina.

She nodded and let her head stay down.

"ALLEN WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY PRECIOUS BABY SISTER! ATTACK, SIR KOMLIN!" Komui pressed a button and the tiny robot made its way towards Allen without hesitation.

Lenalee's eye twitched, "Allen, what WERE you doing with Mai?"