7 Friends

"This is all your fault!" Kanda yelled, dodging an attack by the akuma. He did a cartwheel in the air and landed surely on his feet. He bent his knees into a defensive stance and held his katana in front of him pointed towards the Level Two. Thankfully, both of us knew not to underestimate the demon, thanks to many encounters with them while on missions with the General.

"My fault?" I called back incredulously. "How is this my fault?" I nocked an arrow and released it. At the last second the akuma dodged it. I huffed a loud sigh at my opponent.

"I don't know! It just is!" Kanda said senselessly, once again blaming me for something beyond my control. I rolled my eyes at his stupidity.

"If you had killed it before it got away we wouldn't be in this mess!" he said in an attempt to make better sense. I ignored him and shot another arrow. It flew through the air and stuck in the akuma's chest. The Level Two screamed in pain.

"Why you-" it started, but Kanda had invoked Kaichu Ichigen and the swarm of underworld insects launched itself on the demon. I nocked another arrow and released my hold on the feathers. I was shaking so badly, though, that the arrow shot in the complete opposite direction. The akuma reached out with one deadly arm and I squeezed my eyes shut. There wasn't enough time for me to even protect myself. I expected to be blown off of my feet. My eyes open and I saw that Kanda had jumped in the way. The akuma used its razor sharp nails to slash across Kanda's chest.

Blood spurted from the open wound. I watched in horror as Kanda fell limply to the ground. We needed to get him help now. The demon's blood poison was probably coursing through his veins right now. All I could think of was that my comrade was going to die. I took aim with an arrow and released my hold on the string. The arrow soared into the akuma's heart. The demon cried out in agony and took a shaky step forward.

"You really think that you can kill me?" it asked. I nodded.

"Yes. Right now Innocence is flowing through your veins. Soon all of your blood will be purified and you will cease to exist."

"I won't leave without taking you with me!" it snarled. It lunged out and smacked my face. Luckily it didn't use the tips of its fingers, which would have injected the poison into the blood, but I still cried out in pain and blood ran down my face and neck. It raised its hand again and made to pierce my heart. I stiffened, preparing myself for the blow that I would be unable to prevent. I closed my eyes tightly. No blow came. I opened them.

The akuma was staring at its stomach, from which a silver blade was protruding. The akuma looked behind him in shock. Kanda had managed to get up and attack from behind.

"You! You should be dead!" it cried.

"Che. As if I'd die so easily. Now shut up and die!" He turned his katana and brought it up in a swift motion through the akuma's head. It exploded and disappeared.

"Finally," Kanda said. He looked at me and then crumbled to the ground unconscious. I could have sworn I saw the whisper of a smile on his lips before he fainted.

"Kanda!" I yelled, running to his side. I looked at his wounds. He was still bleeding, but not as profusely. I managed to get him on my back and I made my way as quickly as possible back to the town and to the hospital there.

I touched the bandage on my face from where the nurses had patched up the wound given to me by the Level Two. Upon arriving at the hospital the nurses had quickly taken custody of Kanda and took him away to be treated. Then another nurse had cleaned and bandaged the cuts on my hands, knees, and face.

I was thankful that they didn't ask any questions. How would I be able to explain why two young children had come into the hospital injured and one unconscious, with deadly weapons? It wasn't like they'd believe me if I told them that we were exorcists.

I was sitting in the waiting room in a rather comfortable chair. After getting cleaned up I managed to find a phone to connect my golem to and contact Komui. We were to stay here for two more days while we waited for a Finder to arrive and escort us back to the Order.

Now a nurse came into the waiting room to stand in front of me. She looked at her clipboard before addressing me.

"Are you Val?" she asked. I nodded.

"Mr. Kanda has requested your presence in his room," she told me. I nodded again and stood up. Kanda called me Val? He asked for me? I was a little shocked that he would actually ask for me. It wasn't like he made his dislike of me a secret.

"That's his room," the nurse said and I thanked her before entering. Kanda was laying in the bed, bandages on his face and torso. He looked up when I entered.

"I contacted Komui," I said. "A Finder is coming to pick us up in two days. Will you be able to leave by then?"

"Yes. I'm ready to leave now. Stupid nurse wouldn't believe me when I told her I'd be completely healed by tomorrow."

"How?"

"How what?"

"How could you possibly be healed so soon? And why didn't the akuma's poison affect you?" I asked. It was a miracle that he was even completely conscious right now. I waited for him to answer. He looked all around the room before his eyes finally landed on me.

"I can't tell you," he said. "Its personal."

"Fine." I didn't want to press the subject. I was rather liking him being civil towards me and I didn't want to jinx my good fortune.

"Val?" he said.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you."

I think I might have gone into a coma. Kanda was apologizing? I looked at him, confused and suspicious. Was he trying to insult me again.

"I really do mean it," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "I'm getting tired of always being mean to you."

"I forgive you."

"Thanks." We sat in silence for a moment. Then I decided to speak.

"So, do you think we can try to be friends?" I asked, hopeful. He contemplated for a moment. Then I think I may have seen the first real smile to ever grace Kanda's face.

"Sure."

YAY! Friends at last! I hope everyone is happy with this chapter! Please review, and if you've got time you should check out my Oneshot called Cherry Blossoms Fall. It is a KandaxLenalee story.

I will post again as soon as I can.