Edit done 2018.03.10.
Whoa, I managed to get more feedback than I expected, thank you everyone.
Raicheda-Gives-Ya-An-Idea: I have something similar in mind, but there'll be a few chapters before actual lemon.
MeltedWings: Glad you like it. I'm curious how you'll react to this chapter.
Hanashi o suru: Oh, there will be mayhem, rest assured. Also, you don't have to worry about Allen, he's not getting raped, it's completely consensual :)
OMG: I couldn't decide if it should be Yullen or Laven, since I like both, so I thought: why not both? There are very little OT3 (I think I found 3 or 4), so this is my shot.
CrashBagPhoto: I prefer the manga to the anime, the atmosphere is not the same. Also the characters XD
Inuyashamunkey: Of course, it just takes time, since I don't want to fall behind with my other stories.
Panda Master X: Of course, I'll dedicate my summer to my stories :3
Chapter 2 - Watching Him
The next day Kanda followed his morning routine. He woke up at 5 am and started the day with training in the forest blindfolded. After a good two hours he headed for the showers. On the hallway he paused, he was three doors away from the Bean's room. Was he lazy as fuck, like the Idiot Rabbit?
As he passed by the door he expected to hear soft breathing, however, the voice that came out sounded a little strained. Kanda stepped closer to the door, withholding his breath. Was he jacking off? "139...140..." Kanda blinked in surprise. The kid was working out? In his room? There are multiple training rooms, almost every floor has one. Was he self-conscious? Tsk, weird kid. He decided to leave before the brat or someone passing by found him.
After a long shower - fucking Lavi, making him have a monster-sized, massive, morning wood - he dressed up in his uniform, ready for breakfast. He sat down to his usual table to silently enjoy his meal.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Brit enter the dining hall and order at Jerry. As the boy was backing him, Kanda had a clear view of him from behind. Kanda freely roamed his eyes on the collared neck, the vest that hugged his fit torso the long and strong legs, and the firm behind. Now that was some ass. Despite the fact that it belonged to a guy, it was round, as if it mocked him just like a forbidden fruit. Kanda wondered how would it feel if he groped those cheeky butt-cheeks.
He wanted to pay attention to what the guy was saying, but his voice was drowned out by someone's sobbing. Without really paying attention he snapped at him. "Quit yowling already."
Wrong move. "What did you say?!" A really tall and bulky Finder jumped up from his seat, screaming at him. "You wanna say that again?"
Oh hell, what kind of stupid mess he ended up in. "Be quiet!" he repeated. "My meal tastes back when you're talking about dead people." He was having an okay mood and didn't want it spoiled because people pointlessly reminded him of the harsh reality outside Lavi's arms and that Alma-
"Is that how you show respect for your comrades?! We, Finders, support you with our lives!" he shouted as he clenched his fist and swung back to strike. "And you're saying your meal tastes bad?!"
Without much effort Kanda dodged the punch and before his attacker would have the chance to attack again he grabbed the man by the throat. Stupid Finder, making him remember. "Support us?" he asked in a mocking tone. Damn, he was pissed. "All you can do is to 'support us'. You guys are the ones who weren't chosen by the Innocence." His victim was choking by now, yet his so-called friends didn't do shit. Despite popular belief Kanda wasn't - entirely - idiot. He knew that these people didn't give a rat's ass about Kanda as a person, all they saw in him was their pathetic hope for survival. Here they are, preaching about companionship, and they leave their comrade on his own when he was defenceless. Such ugly creatures humans are. "If you don't want to die, run away. Your insignificant life can be replaced any time." He didn't need cowards like this. In the end they'd just run to save their meaningless lives.
Unexpectedly a red, scaly, Innocence-laced hand wrapped around his wrist. "Please stop it." The Bean's determined gaze bore into his. Tsk, still polite as ever. At least now he wasn't smiling like an idiot. Well, he could continue his watching, now that the brat came to him. "I'm sorry to interrupt when I have nothing to do with this," What did he mean nothing to do with this? He was the reason the argument started in the first place! "But I don't think this is a good way resolving things."
"Back off Beansprout." He threatened. Either the Bean leaves him alone or fights him would be fine with him. He wanted to test the limits of this guy. Physical, mental and temperamental.
It seems the insult him home, he could swear he saw the guy's eyebrow twitch. "My name is Allen." He reminded.
"Heh, if you don't die within the next month, I'll remember your name. There are many that die here, like these guys." To his surprise the brat wasn't deterred, instead, he applied even more pressure on his hand, to the point when he unwillingly let go of the Finder's neck.
This kid... was hella strong. He was a genetically engineered superhuman and yet, this mere human boy was overpowering him. No one ever had the power to stop him. Heck, no one had the actual guts to try and stop him. Not even Lavi was that suicidal.
"As I said, it's not a good thing to say." What was this kid scared of, that he'd jinx it?
"You're gonna die soon." He said, secretly eager to see the boy's reaction. He didn't even flinch. "I hate your type."
"Well, thank you." The Sprout replied dryly. He turned to properly face the Bean. Even though he towered over him with a seven centimetres (2 and 3/4 inch for those who measure in imperial system) the boy didn't tear his gaze away. This guy... he made a foreign yet familiar emotion swell in his chest. It mildly burned his veins like liquid fire. The same feeling he got when he looked into the eyes of -
Ah, he was getting all fired up. And he could feel that it was mutual. He could practically see the fire that burned in those silver eyes - though much more restrained than his - and around them, accompanied by crackling electricity. He... maybe he could be a worthy opponent. Someone, whom he could fight without having to hold back.
A rival.
Neither of them backed down, they kept their gaze until Reever snapped them out of their glaring contest. "Kanda! Allen! Eat your foods in the next 10 minutes and come to the command post. You've got a mission."
The two spared a glanced to each other and both of them went back to their respective seats. Kanda brought his tray back, when he saw a mountain of food get carried away by the Brit. His eyes widened barely noticeably. Sure, the guy was parasitic-type, but could he seriously eat that much?! All that meanwhile maintaining his figure?
He immediately headed to Komui's office. Even if Lavi entrusted him with keeping an eye on the Sprout, missions were more important. Besides he doubted he could watch the kid without anyone noticing it after the fight they had. The very thought made his heartbeat faster, he wouldn't mind having an all-out against the Brit.
He was surprised to feel eyes boring into the back of his head. It was the Beansprout, no doubt. It was strange that he only noticed him by his gaze, he didn't even hear his footsteps. If he hadn't trained with blindfold, he probably wouldn't have noticed him following.
With a few steps the Sprout caught up with him and they walked next to each other glancing when the other didn't. Soon they reached Komui's office where Reever was waiting for them. As expected that idiot of a Supervisor was sprawled out on top of the paperwork he supposed to do - or supposed to have done a long time ago. Damn procrastinator.
Reever attempted to shake the man away, but he didn't bulge. He hit the man on the head, but no such luck. Stubborn little shit. Reever leaned to the idiot's ear to say: "Lenalee's getting married~"
"LENALEE!" Komui screeched. "How can you get married without telling your own brother?"
"Sorry about that," Reever apologised. "That's the only way to wake him up."
After 10 minutes that moron finally composed himself somewhat and got to the point. "All right, we don't get time, so after you hear the summary move out." Komui explained while Lenalee handed out the briefings. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Bean and Lenalee smile at each other. Kanda's eyes unnoticeably narrowed. Could it be that the girl too, was interested in the white-head? He really hoped not, he might not have been the caring type but he didn't want to end up in some sort of competition with a comrade. "If you want more detailed info, just read this while the two of you head to your destination."
Wait. Two of- His incredulous eyes met the Sprout's. "You two will go as partners." Komui confirmed his suspicions. "Er what?" he asked seeing their reactions. "You aren't getting along? But no excuses. We've found Innocence in Southern Italy, but it may get taken by an Akuma. Your job is to destroy the enemy and secure the Innocence."
Kanda nodded and stood up, ready to follow Komui and mentally thanked him for making his job easier. Seeing them stand, Allen got up too and followed them. As they arrived down to the Underground Waterpath Komui handed the Exorcist coat to the kid. After the brat put it on and got his golem back they set off. Komui said something about watching the boy's past. Kanda wondered if he could get Tim to show some things to him as well.
XXX
Kanda clicked his tongue in annoyance, seeing their train leave the platform, when they haven't even reached the train station. Damn, the next one only departed the following day, they didn't have time to dawdle around.
"Let's go." Toma, the Finder who accompanied them to the mission said as he ran for the ladder that lead to the top of a building. Once they did they jumped from roofs to roofs of the different institutes.
The Bean uttered a surprised 'eh', but followed them. "There's one thing I don't understand." He said as his eyes roamed the info they were given.
"Just worry about the train now." Kanda ordered. Seriously, this guy wasn't even looking when they were jumping off a four-storey building. Was he an idiot or he was just that confident in his skills?
"Please hurry, the train has come," Their Finder urged.
"What?!" the Bean asked incredulous as he held himself with only one arm. "We're going on that?!" Seeing the others jump, he swung himself too and managed to land on the train without falling off. "Illegally boarding a train..."
"We've always done this way." Toma replied shrugging, then removed a lid so that they could enter the train.
"Excuse me, passengers!" the conductor of the train said. Tsk, what an annoyance. "This is a 1st class train, normal citizens are supposed to be in the 2nd class. And you just came in from there..." he trailed off, referring to the not-so-conventional-entering-through-the-roof method.
"We're the Black Priests." Toma enlightened as he helped his companions off. "Please get a cabin ready."
Now seeing the Rose Cross on Kanda's chest he bowed deeply and scurried off.
"What was that?" the Sprout asked amazed.
"The Rose Cross you carry on is a symbol of the Vatican. It allows you to enter any place you desire." Their Finder explained. "By the way, I will be supporting you until we reach Martel. My name is Toma. Nice to meet you."
After exchanging pleasantries on the rookie's and the Finder's part the two Exorcist occupied their cabin.
"All right." The kid sighed as he sat down. Kanda ran his eyes through his frame. Not only he didn't even sweat, his breathing was normal. Whatever training he had was effective. And to think that this guy probably never even fought on proper battlefield... Or maybe he did by his Master's side? "The question I was wondering about earlier... What does this eerie legend has to do with Innocence?"
Kanda frowned in distaste. He didn't feel like explaining. He cursed Cross for not saying shit about the Innocence to the brat. For a fleeting moment he thought that maybe Cross didn't want to drag the kid into it too early, but he dismissed the idea. It was Cross for crying out loud. He was just a lazy fucker.
"Tsk. An Innocence is..." he clicked his tongue in distaste. How he hated this, he was never good at explaining shit. (A/N.: For those who only watched the anime without reading the manga or just picked up the unanimated chapters: In the canon it was Kanda who did the explanation, I don't get it why the anime handed to over to Toma. Either way, I'll be following the manga - for a while then alter it - that's why the characters will differ from how the anime pictured it.) "A substance that has changed over the years, from the time of Noah to the present. In the beginning it was sunk in the bottom of the sea. But as if the power of the stone lured humans to it, it was discovered. But its appearance changes every time, and it could appear out of nowhere in any form. The stones always cause eerie illusions for some reasons."
"So that means, the Ghost of Martel might have something to do with Innocence."
"Yeah." At least he caught up quickly. "In an eerie place, there lies Innocence. That's why the Church investigates these kinds of places and whenever they feel that there's a high probability of an Innocence being there they send us in." He said as he raised his book higher, signalling the end of conversation. Though, in reality he was watching the kid with careful eyes. He was eyeing the glove on his left hand, as if he could see through it. As if...
Kanda frowned. As if what? He kept watching the boy discreetly, but no matter what he just couldn't figure it out what went through his head. He could read only the emotions he let in those mercury orbs show, but nothing else.
He didn't know what this guy was thinking. He couldn't read him. Whenever he thought he'd figured him out, he'd do something that breaks the pattern. He was completely unpredictable.
It seems it was a good choice to keep an eye on him. This boy was the definition of interesting.
XXX
They left the train the same fashion they arrived and sped off, leaving Toma behind. "The Ghost of Martel is a doll." The Sprout murmured referring to the shocking truth they have read in the report.
Kanda spared him a glance. "It wouldn't be surprising if an Innocence was used to create dolls." It seems greedy humans had the same thoughts. Giving artificial life to an uninhibited body... The similarity was striking.
The two Exorcist halted as they reached the end of the cliff that overlooked the whole town. Moreover, this cold chill... It seems the Finders were done for. Even if he didn't fancy them, Kanda didn't like to helplessly watch as people were killed. "Damn, we tried to get here as soon as we got the transmission. But they're already dead."
The rookie was oddly silent. Silent mourn for the comrades he didn't even know of? Tsk, he might be skilful, but he's still soft. He's not going anywhere with an attitude like that. "Hey you. I'll always say this before we start." He was many things, but unfair or a liar was not one of them. "I don't care if you're on the verge of being killed. In a war, there are always sacrifices, so don't think of us as partners." If this boy couldn't even take on an Akuma then it's better if he backs out now. If he ran away now then he could disappear off the radar.
However, the boy didn't look surprised. Don't tell me that Cross said the same thing. Though it's highly possible, that guy wasn't known for being patient or compassionate. That guy was really blunt and didn't bother sugar-coating.
What annoyed him most is the look he received. Here he was, threatening to abandon him, yet the guy didn't even bulge, he couldn't see any traces of fear or anger. He couldn't read-
Oh.
No. No way.
Don't tell me...
The reason why he couldn't read him... was because Kanda was the one who was carefully inspected?
Oh no. Oh hell no.
That's absurd. Kanda could read anyone. No one escaped his sharp eyes, not even Lavi, who was a Bookman in training!
Kanda didn't like it at all.
This guy... he was danger. Those silver eyes bore into his shamelessly, slowly, unnoticeably peeling away the layers, getting through the barriers he erected around his soul. Those eyes were inspecting his very essence. He felt undeniably exposed.
The boy unaware or very much aware of Kanda's inner turmoil - Kanda didn't know and it was driving him insane! - , only shook his head. "I don't like your way of thinking."
Their chit-chat was interrupted by a loud explosion. Even from this distance they could see Akuma rise from the rubbles. Before he could say anything the Bean shot out like a bullet. Kanda shook his head. This wasn't going to end up well.
He saw the Bean attack a Level 2, then got kicked into a wall. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Stupid, stupid boy. The boy freed himself from the rubbles, it seems he had the sense to at least protect himself with his Innocence arm. He also noticed that his left eye was discoloured. Must have been from the hit, so he didn't dwell on it. "You're the one that killed the Finders," the Bean declared.
The Akuma let out a gleeful laugh and lunged at the boy. He glanced at the two forms surrounded by the 4 seals. Even if those could withhold attacks of a Level 1, they don't last forever. With that on mind, he unsheathed his Innocence and activated it. "Mugen. Return of the Apocalypse." He leapt off the building as he summoned his First Illusion. "Underworld Insects!" The attack tore through the Level 1s with ease, so he sheathed back Mugen. He saw that the Sprout was alright, just frustrated. He didn't even have to worry about him, he saw what the boy's Innocence had done, its simple touch has corroded the Akuma's hand. "Hey." He addressed the Finder who was barely breathing. "What's the deactivation code for the talisman?"
"E-exorcist... You came..." he breathed out.
"If you want to avenge your comrades' death then hurry up and answer me." He ordered, his voice lacking its usual bite. As mentioned, he didn't like watching people die sitting back and do nothing.
"Ha... Have...Ho... Hope... Have Hope..." as he uttered those words out he passed on. Kanda wasted no time to free the two in the barrier. "Come with me." He ordered, and thankfully the two obeyed. Still holding the two he leapt back up to a two-storey house.
He stopped hearing the brat's voice. "I'll catch up to you later!" he promised.
"I won't help you defeat him." He reminded. "It was your fault that you acted on your emotions in the first place." He needed to get these two to safety. Also maybe this would get SOME reaction out of him already!
Kanda wanted to go back and hit him when the boy only shrugged. "Alright go ahead. You have the Innocence, so there's no need for me to worry. I'll destroy this Akuma then follow you."
His eyes tried to read the boy again, but he noticed that yet again, he couldn't. The boy betrayed no real emotion. He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he leapt off.
He quickly swept his eyes over the scenery. This wasn't good, they were in a valley, he didn't have time to climb, moreover he could carry both of them. There had to be a path leading out of this city somewhere. "Oi, point me the way out."
"There's an underground distinct below the city." The girl explained without blinking. "It's like a maze, so if someone goes without knowing their way around they'll get lost. But there's an exit that leads us through the cliffs and out to the sea. That thing... that Akuma can fly... I think it's the best if we stay underground."
This girl was strange. Even though she was put under stress she wasn't sweating. Also, she didn't smell of anything. While the old man had, well, typical old-man smell, she didn't smell of anything at all. For a brief moment he wondered what the Brit smelled like, but he pushed the thought aside. He had to concentrate.
Kanda wanted to ask the reason why the girl was so goddamn composed when his golem rang. "Oh, Toma, how are things there?" Was the Beansprout still alive?
"I was investigating from a different, abandoned block. There seems to be a heavy battle going on, and then I heard a loud blast and now Sir Walker's whereabouts are unknown." Toma reported with indifferent voice. Tsk, desensitized bastards they were, that's for sure. Either the Beansprout's passed out, got lost or... Well, he'd rather not think of the third option. He hoped that he would give up and run from this inhuman Order while he can. Even if he was good, the one of the best he came across in years, he was still a child. War is not a place for a kid. "Oh, it seems that only the Akuma came out of the roof. And he's trying to catch the golem." Fuck.
"All right. I'll send my golem as your guide, so only bring Tim." Kid, run while you can. "We don't want to stay here much longer. We need Tim's ability right now." He ended the call, then turned to the pair he carried. "We're going underground. Do you know the path?"
"I do." The man's scratchy voice answered. "I have been living here for 500 years, there's no path I don't know." He removed his pointy, thick-rimmed hat to reveal his face. Kanda was taken aback, but he didn't feel disgust. The man's face was a dark purplish-brown colour, the skin(?) looked like it has been burnt, some places had even scales. He covered his face again, seeing Kanda's reaction.
"Ugly, eh?" he laughed bitterly.
"You're the doll? It's amazing you can talk."
"Yes, you people, came to take my heart right?"
Kanda nodded. "If it's possible I want it now." He had to know if the Bean was still alive. If he was, and he was lying somewhere heavily injured, then he had to carry him back. And it was just a doll, there's no harm done if it stops moving. "We don't need the trouble of carrying a big doll with us the entire way."
The two tensed hearing Kanda's request.
The girl jumped between the two of them. "Guzol is the only one who knows the underground path. Without him, we'll just only get lost."
"And who are you?" Kanda asked, turning his sharp eyes at the girl. "I'm... Guzol's..."
"She was an abandoned child!" Guzol explained hastily. "I found her... So I adopted her-" he was cut off by his own sharp coughing. Really, dolls can cough? So it was as if he was turned into a human?
Kanda felt bad for them. If he took the heart of the doll the girl would be left all alone. And there was no way the Church would take her in. Heaven forbid if they did, she'd only end up as a Crow.
But there was no helping it. In this war the goal was to fight Akuma and protect the Innocence, not its victims.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when the Finder turned up. "Sir Kanda."
"I'm sorry but I can't back off now." He had to complete the missions, visit as many places as he can, so that he can find a clue about That Person. He was dying to see Her every day. "Also, we can't let your heart fall into the hands of the Akuma. You can keep it now, but we're going to take it in the end. Sorry for dragging you into this." His heart went out to them, even if he didn't show. They too, were just sacrifices in this war.
Toma held out his hands, where some kind of stones lied. "This is Timcanpy." Oh. He watched in mild curiosity as the golem recollected itself. "Show me the info of the Akuma Tim." Obediently, the golem started projecting.
Kanda inspected carefully the Akuma's ability. "It's like a mirror." He concluded. "But this isn't just some copy ability. He's using something to copy off of. And whatever he copies, he can equip and use it as if it was his own." Damn that guy for letting this Akuma copy his arm!
"We should have searched for Sir Walker." The Finder said. "We can't even tell if Sir Walker is real, if he's even alive."
"No, we can tell." Kanda corrected him. "That Akuma will be the opposite of him. He's an idiot if he comes out like that."
As the Exorcist turned away, the two citizens disappeared around the corner. Kanda's eyes widened to see that he lost sight of them. "They ran away!" Kanda shouted in frustration. Seriously, he took off his eyes for 2 seconds and they're gone! "Damn, where could they be?!"
Toma gasped in surprise. "Sir Kanda, behind you!"
Kanda turned around to see the beaten up inverted version of the Bean. "Kan...da..." he breathed as if he was in pain. But Kanda knew better, the scar and the coat were placed in reverse.
"It's a mirror image." Toma gasped.
Kanda activated Mugen. "It seems, that we have an incredibly stupid one here."
The fake Sprout's lips trembled as they tried to form words.
"Return of the Apocalypse." He sliced in the air, unleashing transparent worm-like creatures. "First Illusion, Underworld Insects! DIE!" Just before the creatures reached their target, a familiar silver claw blocked them. The mirror image collapsed in relief and exhaustion. "Mas...ter Walker..."
A familiar white-headed form climbed out of a narrow tunnel. "You're-"
"Beansprout!" he barked at the boy. That stupid idiot should have run! "What do you think you're doing? Why are you protecting the Akuma?"
"Kanda, I have an eye that can tell people apart from Akuma." What? That's what his curse was about? If so why would it be considered a curse, this was a huge advantage! "This person here is not an Akuma."
The Mirror Bean mumbled something attracting the real one's attention. Silver eyes widened and reached for the face. He pulled the skin away to reveal the face of their Finder, which meant-
"Kanda, behind you!"
But it was too late, with a strong punch, the Level 2 sent him flying in the wall, making him drop Mugen. Without physical connection the invocation stopped.
He came to his senses held up by his throat. "You bastard." He coughed. "When did you-?"
The Level 2 laughed. "When you were talking with him. I found the one you call Toma at the same time I crushed the yellow golem. I thought if I wore this mirror image, then you wouldn't notice. Also, I made him wear the image of the white-haired one." It swiped its finger down in his own face. "My skin is duplicating paper. I got you for good."
He could only snicker before the silver claw mercilessly ripped through his flesh.
The Akuma let go of him, expecting to see him collapse, but even though on shaky legs, but he proudly stood. The stunned Akuma didn't dawdle for long and delivered a punch to his face. "Hurry up and die already!"
His blood splattered on the ground, but he still didn't fall. "I can't die yet." The lotus that was in his vision, that always haunted him dropped its petals. No matter, there were plenty others littered around him. "Not before I meet That Person." His vision dulled and the sounds became distorted. Darkness was closing in on him. But then something white entered his vision before he passed out.
White?
A white... lotus...?
XXX
So yes, this chapter was meant to reveal Kanda's very time, but still existing, heavily suppressed compassionate side. He does empathise with others, he just usually decides that he won't let his feelings influence his decision and follow his own interest - that doesn't mean he's completely heartless, if he was he wouldn't have come back for Allen's sake. He's just a damaged person - as everyone in DGM, though I think his past is the worst so far who can't trust others (we don't know Allen's full background but even now I can tell it'll be hellish). I hope you liked the characterisation. Don't forget that feedbacks are love. See you next time.