Chapter 16 Surprise

KANDAS P.O.V

I walked into the infirmary without bothering to knock on the doors. The Head Nurse looked up angrily and glared at me.

"Now, Kanda," she said, in that annoying admonishing tone she had, "you cannot just barge in here like that. We have ill people who need to rest and they can't do that with you making all that noise."

I exhaled angrily and was about to argue in my defense, but checked myself. Instead I unclenched my fists and spoke with what was an almost calm tone. Almost.

"Can I see Val?" I asked. Nurse did not look surprised at my question, and merely shrugged.

"If she's awake. The events of your mission seem to have taken a toll on her. Her arm is broken and I think the shock of discovering who her parents' murderer is is exhausting her. Not to mention that Komui runs you all to the ground. You yourself should be due for a checkup."

"No. I'm fine," I said, backing away as she stretched her hand out toward me.

"Exorcists! Always thinking they're invincible!" she muttered to herself, before storming off angrily to wait on another moaning patient.

I walked off to where there was a partition surrounding a bed. Val had to be put in the men's wing of the infirmary, as one of Komui's experiments had gone awry and destroyed the women's wing. Like that hadnever happened before. I wondered why the science department didn't keep the man away from strange chemicals and stuff. Everything he created just led to disaster. Although that wasn't a bad thing in the case of the deserted experiment hall. I at least had somewhere to play my piano in peace and quiet, without nosy Finders getting in my way.

I moved the curtain aside, without bothering to announce my arrival. Val was sitting in her bed, an IV attached to the crook of her arm, reading a book. I hadn't been allowed to see her since we got back, which was about a week ago. She looked thinner, like she hadn't been eating, and she looked exhausted. Bags were under her eyes, which were red rimmed and swollen, like she'd been crying. I noticed right away something different about her.

"You've cut your hair," I said, eyeing the shoulder length locks. The untamed curls made her hair look wild, and I could tell that she hadn't combed it in a while.

"Yes. It was becoming a nuisance. I asked Nurse to cut it shorter," she said, folding the page in her book in, marking her spot. She set it down on the side table next to her bed.

"How's your arm?" I asked, gesturing to her left arm, which was in a cast and sling.

"Fine. Nurse says it should take about six weeks to heal. So I can't use my Innocence for a while," Val said, a shadow of upset passing over her face.

"Oh."

"Yeah. I'll be out of commission for a while. But I spoke with Komui yesterday and he said that the Science Department could use my help, so I'll work in there until I can use my bow again."

"You're just as likely to get killed in the Science Department as you are out battling the Earl," I muttered. Another look crossed Val's face. She twisted her hands and finally spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking down at her knees. "I should have listened to you."

I understood that she was referring to when I told her to stay away from Tyki Mikk at the masquerade. I was about to say 'I told you so' but then thought better of it.

"Whatever. That's over now," I said instead.

"No 'I told you so'?" she asked, a sad look on her face. I shook my head.

"I thought about it," I said with a smirk. She smiled finally. I stood up. "I guess I should go. Let you rest."

"Okay."

I started to walk away. I reached the curtain and pulled it back, creating a view of the rest of the infirmary.

"Hey Kanda?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Che." I stepped out from the curtain and walked away, looking back at where Val was behind the partition lying in her bed. I shook my head and opened the door to the hospital wing, contemplating what Val was thanking me for.

VAL'S P.O.V.

"You're free to go," Nurse told me about a week after Kanda came to visit me in my hospital bed. She had kept me for much longer than necessary, but I was grateful for her care.

"Thank you very much," I said, swinging my legs over the side of my bed and standing up. I pulled on my dressing robe and slipped on a pair of black slippers similar to the ones that I borrowed from Kanda when I first arrived at the Order, ten years before.

"Take care Val," she said. I nodded and left the infirmary.

I strolled through the halls, noticing that they were mysteriously empty. I wondered in alarm if there was a rogue experiment of Komui's on the loose and if everyone was hiding in order to secure their lives. I sincerely hoped there wasn't.

I opened the door to the cafeteria, but there was no one there either, except a few small gatherings of people. It was odd to see the whole of the Order practically deserted when it was usually so bustling. Something in the back of my mind warned me that something was wrong, but I pushed the thoughts away.

I was sure that Kanda was confused as to why I thanked him yesterday. His brow had furrowed and he had got that slightly dazed look that he sometimes got when something was unsure.

I was thanking him for caring. What the Noah had said to me at the ball, about Kanda not liking me back, it hurt. A lot. I didn't want it to be true. And I know that Kanda has his way of showing emotion, so I knew that what Mikk said wasn't true. How could Kanda not like me too, if he reacted the way he did? I had the strong feeling that he wanted to be more than friends too.

I walked into the training room, now, prepared to see someone doing some sort of exercise with their Innocence. I half expected to see Kanda and Allen in some kind of brawl, but there was no one here either.

I turned and left the room, walking toward the Science wing. A voice from behind made me stop walking.

"Val!"

I turned around to see Komui walking toward me, accompanied by Reever. I smiled and waved at them with my good arm, a huge smile on my face.

"Have you two seen Kanda?" I called. They didn't answer me, instead kept walking toward me. I kept the smile on my face, but it faded as soon as they were close enough for me to make out their expressions.

They were both looking tired, as always, with bags under their eyes. What caught my attention was that their eyes were etched with pain and sadness, and there were tear tracks running down their faces.

"What? What's going on?" I asked, panicked.

"Please follow us. I'm sorry," Komui said. I practically sprinted after them.

A casket in the center of the room was the first thing I saw. My eyes trailed over it, over the banner that showed it was an exorcist inside. I looked around at all the people there. Tiedoll, Marie, Allen, Lavi, Lenalee, and some other guys from the Science department all had tears in their eyes. Kanda looked up solemnly as I entered.

"What's going on?" I repeated, my body filling with dread. No one spoke.

Then, "It's Daisya. He's dead."

I choked out a mangled sob. Daisya, my friend, gone. I collapsed to the ground. I expected to feel my knees scream in pain when they connected with the floor, but they didn't. Strong arms were holding me up, turning me around, and crushing me into someone's torso. I sobbed into his uniform.

"How?" I heard Allen ask.

"He has no visible wounds, but when we performed the autopsy we found that he was missing his—"

"Enough!" Kanda yelled when I let out another muffled sob. I realized it was he who allowed me to cry into his chest.

"Kanda?" Komui asked, shock at this outcry evident in his voice.

"That's enough," he repeated, voice filled with anger. He hand pushed on my back gently, and we walked away. We didn't need to know how Daisya died. I already knew just how Tyki Mikk worked.

Kanda led me back to my room, opening the door and not bothering to turn on the light. I sat down on the bed, unable to think of anything to say, unsure of how to act. He turned to leave and I panicked. I grasped his hand, pulling him back and preventing him from walking away. I tried to voice my need for company.

"Kanda…I…don't" I choked out. He understood and sat down next to me. I drew in a shaky breath, before leaning into him and sobbing.

He stiffened, and then wrapped me in his arms. I was soon curled against his chest.

"Don't leave," I whispered. "Please."

"I'll stay. I'll stay as long as you need me," he said. He held me while I cried myself to sleep.

KANDA'S P.O.V

It was hard to believe that Daisya was gone. We hadn't been the best of friends, but it's not like I hated him. I liked him enough.

Truthfully, I felt horrible for Val. I didn't like seeing her in pain. I hated it. Of all the things that I hated, I hated that the most.

Because, I can't deny this any longer. I hate seeing her like this because… Gah! This shouldn't be so hard to say. Okay. Because…

I love her.

I'm sorry that it took me so long to post. And I'm sorry that this chapter is so short. Please don't hate me, and review. Show me you still like my story.