CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Val! Come on!" Kanda called. "I'm hungry!" I grabbed my exorcist jacket and slipped it on. Kanda gave me a look that clearly said he was losing patience. I rushed out of my room and he slammed the door behind me.

We walked at a steady pace toward the cafeteria. It had been a week since the death of Daisya and a week since anyone in the Order, other than Kanda and Lavi, had seen me. Kanda had said this morning that it was time to stop hiding. I agreed. I couldn't hide anymore. It was too difficult to shut myself away from everyone.

Kanda's pace was rapid, and I was jogging to catch up with him. This was a bad idea, for when I took the corner I smashed right into Miranda. Kanda reacted quickly, one arm encircling my waist to keep me from toppling over. Miranda, however, was not so lucky. I heard Kanda make a noise, and when I looked up at him, still in his arms, he was smirking at me. I stood up and held out my hand to Miranda.

"I'm so sorry," i apologized as she took my hand and pulled herself up. She shook her head at me.

"Oh no. I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," she replied.

"No really, I'm sorry. It was all my fault," I rushed to say.

"No. It was mine! I can't do anything right! I'm so sorry!"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been running in the halls!" I insisted.

"Please Val. It was all my fault. I apologize!"

"Miranda, it was my fault. Really. I'm sorry."

Miranda opened her mouth to protest some more, but a low growl from Kanda silenced us both. We turned to look at him. His face was tight and I could tell he was annoyed.

"Sorry!' we said simultaneoulsy. He glared at us and walked off.

"Kanda!" Miranda called.

"Yuu!" I cried at the same time.

"JUST SHUT UP!" he yelled back angrily. I looked at Miranda and burst out laughing. She looked shocked at my sudden outburst of happiness.

"I'm sorry," I said. I couldn't stop laughing. "Why don't we just say it was both our faults?"

"Alright," she said. She turned and looked down the hall. An odd expression crossed her face and I followed her gaze. There was nothing unusual at the end of the hallway.

She looked at me with a smile. "I'm glad you are feeling well enough to walk about, Val."

"Thank you. Are you coming to the cafeteria?"

"Yes, I'll be along. You should go," she said. "Kanda's waiting for you."

I looked at her curiously, but she just smiled and went on her way. I continued down the hall and turned the corner.

"Took you long enough," Kanda said, his steps joining mine. I shrieked and jumped. Hand on my collarbone, I turned to face him.

"You scared me," I said breathlessly.

"Obviously. Stop dawdling," he commanded. I rushed to catch up to him.

The mood in the cafeteria was a somber one. No one was eating, though Jerry's cooking was probably as good as ever. Even Allen, who was always so excited for lunch time, could do nothing more than stare at his mountain of food.

We were sitting at one of the long, rectangular tables with Lenalee, Kanda, and Lavi. I kept glancing at Kanda, who was grasping his chopsticks so tightly that his knuckles were white. I wondered if he felt the same pain I did about Daisya.

He glanced at me and I turned my head down. Tears prickled at my eyes and started to run down my face. A hand grasped mine underneath the table. I looked down and traced the arm back to Kanda. He squeezed my hand, letting me know that he was there, that he cared.

We all sat in silence. The table shook when Lavi got up with his tray of food. I watched him as he crossed the cafeteria. He turned to see me staring and winked. Then, before disappearing out the door, he grinned that mysterious grin that I had come to know, love, and fear.

When he returned it was with one of the men from the Science Department. The man was carrying a violin. Lavi stalked up to Miranda, who had arrived shortly after Kanda and me, and bowed. She blushed head to toe.

"May I have this dance?" Lavi asked. The violin began to produce a flowing waltz. Miranda allowed herself to be twirled by Lavi. Soon she was smiling and laughing.

I watched, a smile forming on my face. Lavi was grinning while he and Miranda twirled around the cafeteria. Finders evacuated their seats and pushed the benches and tables against the wall to make more room. The song ended and Lavi kissed Miranda's hand, causing her to look as if she might faint.

"Keep playing," Lavi commanded. I was smiling when he walked up to me. He raised his eyebrows and extended his hand to me. It took me a minute to realize that he was asking me to dance and I felt my cheeks flame.

"Oh, I don't know, Lavi," I said.

"Come on Val! It'll be fun," he replied with a smile. HE tilted his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. I looked around to see everyone staring at us. Kanda was glaring at Lavi. I laughed and took his hand. Lavi pulled me to the center of the room and we began to dance.

Soon Allen had asked Lenalee to dance. Miranda and Krory were twirling around. People all around were asking each other to dance.

"Are you doing okay?" Lavi asked.

"I don't know," I replied.

"I see. How's Yuu?" he questioned. I glanced over at Kanda. He was watching everyone dance through narrowed eyed with his arms folded tightly over his chest.

"I think he's doing okay. I know the loss of Daisya shocked him a bit." Lavi considered this for a moment.

"Well I'm glad he's taking care of you."

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. He hasn't left your side since we heard the news of Daisya's death. And I saw him hold your hand earlier while you were crying."

"Oh." I blushed. Lavi grinned. I smiled and we started to laugh. Then the cafeteria doors burst open. Everyone froze. Kanda was at my side in a moment.

"What is going on?" Leverrier yelled, a frazzled Komui standing next to him. "Should you not be mourning? There's work to be done! All of you, finish dining and continue with your work. This is not the time to be dancing. We have a war to win."

All of the joy left me. Anger burned in my veins. Why did he have to come here and ruin our fun? Strong hands gripped my shoulders.

"Let's go," Kanda whispered. We walked toward the doors, where Leverrier was still standing. We passed him, Kanda glaring at the Director.

"Just one moment, Kanda. Val. I'd like to talk to you two." The director grinned a cold, uninviting grin. I ducked my head, refusing to look at this cruel man. I knew that Lenalee was terrified of him, and while I didn't know why, I was sure that she had reason.

Kanda and I walked behind him as he led us to Komui's office. Komui walked by us and picked up his coffee mug, looking childish with the bunny mug. Leverrier glanced at the Chief in contempt, before gesturing grandly to the purple loveseat, where Mari was sitting, waiting.

"Won't you have a seat," he said, somehow managing to phrase the question as an order. I took a seat next to Mari, who smiled at me, but Kanda continued to stand, arms folded across his chest as he glared at the man in utter hatred.

"Sit, please. I insist," Leverrier said to Kanda. Kanda opened his mouth to retort, but Komui, sensing danger, stopped him.

"Kanda," Komui said, a warning tone in his voice. Kanda let out a barely audible sigh and crossed to the other side of the sofa, sitting down next to me, perched on the edge.

"That's better," Leverrier said. He sat down at Komui's desk, leaning back in the chair, hands resting on his stomach. A tray of delectable looking pastries sat on the desk, covering some paperwork probably awaiting Komui's signature. I watched as the director lifted one from the tray and popped it into his mouth.

"It is time for you three to begin a mission. We are sending all the exorcists out in groups in search of the generals. I'm assuming that you three can guess whom you are looking for?" he said with a smirk.

"Che."

"Is that a 'yes', Kanda Yuu?"

"I don't allow anyone to say my first name."

"Of course, I understand. Now answer my question."

"...yes."

"Good. Now we believe that Tiedoll is somewhere in Spain. You should read the debriefing packet and head right along on your way."

Kanda stood up and chucked the debriefing packet he had received at Leverrier. The director caught it before it hurtled into his sweets.

"Careful, Kanda. Those were very time consuming to make. Would you like one?"

"I hate sweets. And don't you have anything better to do than bake? Say, I don't know, fight a war?"

The grin faded from the director's face. He stood up, palms on the desk.

"You forget your place, exorcist," he spat angrily.

"I know exactly where my place is, director," said Kanda evenly. He held his glare with the director, who was the first to turn away.

"Watch yourself, Kanda. You don't want to be disrespectful."

"Obviously I do, if I'm saying such things. Honestly, you'd think that the Order would be run by someone with more common sense."

"Kanda!" Komui yelled. "That's enough. Please go. Complete your mission."

Kanda glared at Komui, but turned on his heel and walked from the room. I looked at Komui, wishing I could apologize, but knowing that what Kanda said to the director was true. Marie placed a hand on my arm and led me from the room.

"Kanda is going to get himself into trouble with that attitude," Mari said.

"I know," I replied.

"He needs to be careful what he says. I have a feeling that the director will be here for some time."

I nodded, aware that Mari would sense the movement. We made our way to the underground canal, where Kanda was already waiting for us.

Its taken me a while, I know. I'm sorry. Don't let your hatred of me stop your fingers from typing a review though! I would love to hear what you thought of this chapter.