Author Notes: You know, I'm starting to think I keep making Lenalee sound way too young. She's supposed to be 12 here, but I make her sound like a 6 year old. XD And just to keep you all sticking to my story, I'll give you a spoiler: There's going to be a little bit of hinted KandaxLenalee in the next chapters. And no, I'm not a fan of KandaxLenalee. XD

Disclaimer: I don't own D.Gray-Man or anything related to it.

"The Longfeng Team is from Guangdong which is in the Southern regions. But their performances involve elements from both Southern and Northern styled lion dances." Lenalee added, "Northern lion dances are usually used for entertainment purposes in the imperial courts while Southern lion dances are for exorcising evil spirits, celebration and the summoning of good fortune and luck."

●Кαηδα Ġαιδεή●

Gently placing down the small cup that had once been filled with warm tea, Komui turned to Tiedoll who stared at the children playing with small pebbles by the road side and asked hesitantly, "Um… I've got some business to take care of, would you two mind taking Lenalee back to the house?"

Beside her brother, Lenalee frantically shook her head and gave her brother a look that told him 'please-don't-leave-me-alone-with-the-guests!' Kanda could only raise an eyebrow at the twelve year old as he continued to sip his tea from the small cup and poured himself another cup. Komui gave his sister an apologetic smile. However, the grey haired man shook his head and replied, "I'm afraid I have some things to take care of as well, Komui. I'm sorry."

"I'll take her back." Kanda emptied his cup of tea again, "I'm feeling a little tired today anyway…"

Komui's face suddenly brightened up, "Really? That'll be great; thank you, Kanda!"

As Komui continued to talk and ask Kanda about whether he knows the way back or whether the two of them could go by the market and buy some food for dinner, Tiedoll slid a little closer to his pupil and whispered in his ear, "That's rare of you to volunteer for something like this, Yuu."

"Shut up." Kanda replied in a whisper as well before he stood from his seat and grabbed Mugen from the empty seat beside him, "We should get going; it looks like its going to rain soon." He leant forward a little to take a peek at the greying sky.

Lenalee also stood up nervously and bowed politely before following the Japanese boy outside to the streets that were now slightly deserted because of the grey clouds that were now moving to cover the sun and shield the city from its bright rays. In the distance, the unmistakable sound of thunder could be heard. "Kanda, would you mind stopping by the market, we need to buy food for dinner tonight…" Lenalee jogged a little to keep up with Kanda's big strides.

Narrowing his eyes and frowning at no one in particular, Kanda replied, "Make it quick." Thus, the pair went from one stall to another, buying vegetables and meat. Once they were at the end of the main street where the market area ended, Kanda lifted up both his hands where bundles of vegetables hung, "Is this all?"

The Chinese girl scanned over the vegetables that dangled from Kanda's hands and then to the meat that she held and nodded, "That's all. Let's go home then… Ah yes! I know a shortcut; this way." Lenalee started heading off towards a narrow alleyway filled with large tall baskets made out of bamboo and bamboo sticks left over from construction projects. "It's a little tight in here, but it leads us straight back to the house." Lenalee explained as she walked around the bamboo sticks and baskets.

Sensing the presence of someone or something, Kanda paused momentarily. When she felt that Kanda wasn't following her, Lenalee turned around and gave him a questioning look as she asked him what the matter was. Kanda shook his head and continued on his way after Lenalee. But when that same presence continued to stay around, Kanda started to doubt things; and when he saw a shadow move out of the corner of his eyes, he knew something was coming after them. "Lenalee," he called out to the girl in front of him, "Take these and run as far as you can."

"What's wrong – " Lenalee asked as the vegetables were shoved into her already full hands. But before she could finish her sentence Kanda pushed her down the alleyway, urging her to go. After the Chinese girl's back disappeared behind a stack of upturned baskets, Kanda turned around with a hand placed on the hilt of Mugen, ready to unsheathe the katana when needed.

When silence ensued and not a single thing moved in the narrow alleyway, Kanda inquired, "Who is it? Show yourself."

"As expected from an exorcist." A teenager's voice came from the wall. Looking up, Kanda saw a teenager similar to him in age crouch on top of the wall. At the sight of the teenager's face, Kanda instantly recognised him as one of the Longfeng Team's performers.

Drawing out the gleaming black katana from its sheathe, the fourteen year old exorcist glared challengingly at the lion dancer, "Who are you and why are you following us?"

"Questioning now are we, exorcist? But since you asked, I'll answer you." The teenager gave Kanda a superior look, "I'm a Level Two akuma. I just wanted to find out what you exorcists are doing in Beijing."

Kanda gripped Mugen's hilt tightly, "Che. That was easy to get answers."

"And are you going to help me complete my purpose?" The teenager grinned.

Kanda smirked and sheathed Mugen once more, "We're just here since we're travelling. Not much special reason. Why ask?"

The teenager blinked its now amber eyes at the exorcist, "Oh? Just worrying about whether you guys knew about the strange phenomenon from eight years ago."

"As if we'd know about that. We're not even on a mission right now." Kanda turned and started to walk off towards the direction where Lenalee had ran off in. By the time droplets of rain started to make the dirt covered ground turn a dark shade of brown, Kanda could no longer sense the akuma's presence. Just then, a piercing scream came from further down the alleyway. Realizing that it was Lenalee who had screamed, Kanda raced down the alleyway to where the scream had come from.

●Кαηδα Ġαιδεή●

"Well, how have you been, Zhilan?" A man in his thirties who wore a simple navy blue Chinese article of clothing that resembled a qipao except it was made for males. Underneath the mandarin-like clothing he wore a pair of plain white pants and a pair of black Chinese shoes to match.

A stunning lady in an attractive baby pink qipao that had chrysanthemums sewn at the corner of her dress. With an easy flick, the folding fan in her hands opened and the woman covered the bottom half of her face with the fan which had a beautifully painted picture of orchids on it. "I've been very well, Wenlong. I've been looking forward towards your arrival."

At that moment, a teenager came into the room silently and whispered something into the man's ear before retreating out of the room respectfully and closing the door behind himself. "What is it?" Zhilan snapped the fan shut again and waited for the explanation.

"It seems that our little exorcists know about and are here because of the phenomenon from eight years ago." Wenlong gave the stunning woman a smile as he sipped his tea.

Index:

Qipao – Chinese for mandarin dresses.