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It wasn't hard for anyone to find out Amber had woken up since everyone in the entire HQ heard the shouting match the girl had with her father and the Head Nurse the next morning.

Apparently, her father was furious that Amber neglected her well-being to the extent that landed her the way she was now, the Head Nurse was just as angry maybe even more but more towards Cross, scolding him for not supervising his daughter better. Amber, on the other hand, was defensive of her actions; claiming that her father, her grandfather and all the other Marians before her did the same when they were focused on a task hence why she felt she should not be held at fault if all she was doing was just focused on her work. Cross did not approve her answer claiming that Amber was still a growing child and needed to be vigilant of her health. Amber argued that she was far more mature than any child her age and her father fired back that despite that, she had behaved irresponsibly and was acting like a petulant child.

That's when all hell broke loose that it even made the Head Nurse leave the infirmary. For the entire morning, father and daughter argued loudly for all to hear. In the afternoon, the Head Nurse returned and forced Cross to return to his office. Cross did return but he was highly agitated and threw things at anyone who said anything he didn't like in his meetings.

Lavi wanted to visit her badly but he decided that the smart thing was best to visit Amber the next day, thinking that she would be calmer and a better mood to talk after she cooled off, however, there was one person in particular who wasn't keen on waiting. He visited her just after lunch, not willing to waste any more time.

Hours Later

"Kanda? What are you doing here? And how the hell did you even get in?"

Kanda stared at Amber, she looked pale and sickly, but most of all he couldn't tear his eyes away from the dark and tired eye bags under her eyes. Amber's hair was tied up in a messy bun and she wore a long sleeved, white pyjamas of some sort. He did not recognise this Amber because his Amber was all bright-eyed and perky not restless and ill.

"How could you do this to yourself?"

Amber's eyebrow twitched at the question and turns away from him, refusing to answer. Kanda was about to force a reply from her but he caught sight of the golden and glowing handcuff chains that bound her to the bed.

Without a word, he ripped the blanket off and found that she was bound by her ankles as well, "What the hell is this?"

"Marian Protections. Special binding spells only a Marian can perform on another Marian."

Kanda was confused by how calm she was, he knew she liked her freedom yet she explained restraints like it didn't bother her the least, "So your father did this to you?"

Amber nodded, pursing her lips causing Kanda to want to say something but then he noticed there was some sort of curved, tribal-like rune around her neck in red.

"Is that a Marian Protection too?"

"Yeah, it prevents me from casting any verbal spells."

Kanda shook his head, "Why do you need these?"

"Because after lunch, I tried to escape. After the third time, the Head Nurse called my father to cast the spells."

Kanda tilted his head, obviously confused, "You only woke up this morning and you tried to escape three times only after lunch?"

"That's what I said."

"Why?"

Amber rolled her eyes as if the samurai has asked a really obvious question, "Because I hate being still."

Kanda sighed deeply, unsure of what to say to that. He looks at her, uncertain of what to say and do next but Amber began feeling uncomfortable so she broke the silence with a question.

"Why are you here?"

"Because I was worried obviously. Why else would I be here to check on you?"

Amber blushes slightly and avoids his eyes shyly, unsure of what to say. Sure, she and Kanda were friends but he had never clearly expressed that he cared about her so verbally and directly until now.

"You should apologize."

The little redhead meets eyes with him once more, clearly confused, "Apologise about what?"

"You know what."

Amber shakes her head and Kanda rolls his eyes, "Apologise to your father Kit."

"Why should I?" The redhead answers hotly, her eyes narrowing.

"Because you miss him."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because you love your father and you hate being mad at him. I saw how you acted when you pretended to ignore him the last time. You still watched him from afar."

Amber's cheeks colored, surprised that Kanda had seen her. She was sure she had hid well in the shadows so how did the samurai catch sight of her?

"Personally, I agree with your father that you were reckless however I doubt that you would admit it but I think apologizing would suffice for his forgiveness."

Amber's glare hardened but Kanda ignored it and turned to leave, "Talk to him Kit and behave yourself. You need to rest so you can get better quickly."

Without another word, he walks away and Amber says nothing, listening to his steps as he left the infirmary out the window.

Kanda…

Just After Dinner

Cross calls the team into his office on an urgent matter but everyone was wary of his mood so everyone kept alert as they entered so they'll be able to avoid any paperweights Cross will throw their way.

"Which one of you got my daughter to apologize?" Cross asked seriously as soon as Kanda, Allen, Lavi, Link and Leenalee were standing in formation in front of where he sat at his desk in his office.

"Apologize?" Link repeated, confused.

"Yes she apologized for fighting with me. She's stubborn to admit that she was in the wrong for neglecting her health but she sincerely apologized for worrying me and that she truly did not mean for herself to be in her current state." The spectacled older man looks over at everyone suspiciously as he continues, " I accepted her apology but normally, I would expect her to drag our disagreement for at least a month yet something or someone got to her...so...which of you knows?"

Everyone except Kanda shrugged their shoulders which immediately got Cross's attention and turned to him before the samurai could blink.

"Anything you want to say?"

Stoic as ever, Kanda lifted his head, meeting eyes with his superior as he replied, "I visited her and told her to do what she felt when I saw how she was. Nothing else."

Bridgette who stood by Cross, who was puzzled by what the teenager said and frowned, "How did you get pass the Head Nurse?"

"I waited until the Head Nurse had to go to the restroom so I could enter the infirmary by the window."

Cross's eyes widened, a memory rushing back to him.

FLASHBACK

"What are you doing here Pinky?"

"Shut up Scarlet. I'm here to visit your stupid ass."

"I am not-"

"What kind of idiot works himself to malnutrition? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Now Hinamori, watch your-"

"Shut up four-eyes. If you have the energy to try and argue with me, obviously you're in better shape than your grandfather made you out to be. I'm going then. Ja."

The pink-haired samurai jumps out of the window of his infirmary room without a second glance causing Cross to scowl.

Bitch.

END OF FLASHBACK

Cross shakes his head, returning back to reality and gulps uncomfortably.

Kanda did remind him of his late wife; the fighting styles, the brash manner, the soldier attitude and stunning good looks were traits the two Japanese natives both shared. Maybe it wasn't that surprising that Kanda and his daughter were friends.

"Is there anything else?"

Cross looks up at the samurai exorcist with a firm expression on his handsome face and an almost bored look in his eyes. He didn't waste a heartbeat as he responded.

"I want you to be my daughter's personal guard from now on."

Lavi's eyes bulged out in surprise obviously not liking this at all but Cross would have none of it and raised his hand in silence before addressing Kanda again.

"Kanda Yuu, I chose you as my daughter's guard because from what I have seen and heard, you stand at her level in terms of combat skills and intellectually. You'll give her a good run for her money if you two are ever to battle and because you two regard each other with such high respect, I perceive that she will not cause problems if it is at your expense or even in your presence."

"Master, Kanda wouldn't be-"

"Shut up Allen, I want to hear what Kanda has to say."

Allen closes his mouth, noting the sharp tone, knowing full well his master was not kidding around.

The dark-haired sword wielder folded his arms uncomfortably at the looks he was receiving from everyone; Lavi looked upset, Allen looked dazed and confused, Leenalee looked amused for some reason, Link and Bridgette looked curious while Cross looked at him with so much intensity, it was starting to disturb him.

"What if I say no?"

Cross's lips twitched as if Kanda had said something foul but answered, "If you don't I'll move my daughter to my room and keep her at my side 24/7."

"She'll hate you and you know that."

"She needs to be kept in check. What happened can happen again if she is not under supervision. Kanda Yuu, please. I want my daughter to be safe and I can only trust her with you."

The sincerity in the older man's eyes and the drastic change in tone made everyone uneasy.

This was not a superior asking his soldier to do a task.

This was a father asking for a favour to look out for his daughter.

Kanda did not like this. At all.

But neither did he like the idea of Cross having Amber stuck to him at the hip.

Being her guard wouldn't be that bad right?

Sighing deeply, Kanda weighed in mentally on how much a pian of the ass the assignment this would be but at the same time, Amber was someone he did care about and finding her unconscious in that room the day before made his blood run cold.

He did not want her to be in that state ever again.

"Fine. I'll be your daughter's guard."

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