Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.

The cold war between Allen and Kanda lasted a grand total of two weeks. Both ignored the other for the entire duration. This unfortunate turn of fate made Lenalee extremely irritated, she being the proverbial friend stuck between the two halves of a quarrelling couple.

Luckily for them all, Lavi (his cheerfulness restored) decided to come back at this very appropriate time. His arrival did something that no one expected it to do – Lavi's good-natured interference in the matter caused the two quarelling lovers to make up.

Exactly two weeks after the explosive quarrel, Lenalee awoke to find something rather spring-like about the atmosphere. It was still winter, but the sun was shining brightly, for the first time in days. She went about her lessons with a light heart, and stepped lightly into the cafeteria for lunch feeling somewhat hopeful and optimistic.

Having snagged a table, she sat and waited for Kanda and Allen to turn up, which they soon did, seperately. They settled into chairs on either side of her and ignored each other as they ate quietly. Lenalee was puzzled. So the tension between the two hadn't abated yet. So what was the cause of her optimism?

Could it be –

"Oh my gosh!" Lenalee gasped in surprise.

She turned around to identify the idiotic person who had frightened her by putting his hand on her unsuspecting shoulder. Her eyes took in the untidy red hair, the scruffy attire, and the green eye.

"Lavi! You're back!" Lenalee smiled. Allen and Kanda looked up in surprise, both shocked into doing the same thing, despite their unspoken consensus to not follow each other in their movements.

"Hey everyone." Lavi was as cheerful as ever. "Nice to see you all again."

Allen looked worried. Her mind buzzed with the monochrome memories of a certain day when Lavi had left her with an ashen face and an empty eye.

She stood up and faced Lavi. "Lavi, I'm really sorry about that day…"

"Don't be. I'm over it already, no worries." Lavi flashed his playful grin at her, as debonair as always.

Kanda intercepted it, and he could feel his insides curdling into a solid leaden mass that weighed him down. The heaviness overcame him and fuelled his anger. Why was Lavi talking to Allen in such a flirtatious manner?

But Lavi then turned his attention to Kanda. "Why so sour to see me, Yuu-chan?"

"Che, baka usagi."

Lunch that day was finally normal since Lenalee and Lavi made merry, with Allen speaking every now and then. Kanda cordoned himself off from the conversation, but remained civilly seated till they decided to leave.

Only, Lavi noticed the weird silence between Allen and Kanda, and was puzzled. The last time he checked, the two were fond of quarrelling and fighting during the many lunches they had had together. He tackled Lenalee after lunch with his many questions.

"Eh, Lenalee, what's with the cold war between Allen and Yu?"

"Oh, you noticed?" Lenalee looked worried.

"You think?" Lavi stared at her, bemusement written all over his face.

"It's rather complicated…" Lenalee's voice trailed off. "I don't know if I should tell you…"

"Go on. I'm over Allen already, if that's what you're worried about. I have a new target now." Lavi winked at Lenalee.

"Well, Kanda and Allen have started dating." Lenalee replied uneasily.

"Yepps, I knew it. But this is a really funny form of dating... Do they ignore each other whenever they see each other? Is that their preferred form of communication?" Lavi pondered, finger on his chin.

"No. They quarrelled, about two weeks ago. Apparently Kanda isn't the best person to go on a date with, so Allen got mad. He only took her out to watch films and then he didn't talk much to her. You know, that sort of thing. Plus Allen's got it into her head that he prefers Lulubell… And you know how Kanda's like – he won't apologise. I've been in a pretty situation for the past two weeks!" Lenalee sighed. "I'm really at my wits' end."

"You're right. They do need a push in the right direction."

"Ehh?"

"Hmmm. Then I guess it's time, for Operation Get-Kanda-and-Allen-to-Talk!" Lavi thrust his fist into the air, replicating the Superman pose.

"Okay! Count me in!" Lenalee punched Lavi lightly in the shoulder.

......

"Here's the battle plan." Lavi pointed at the words he'd scribbled on the paper.

"I can't read those wriggles, Lavi." Lenalee glared at the redhead.

"Oops, sorry. So anyway, we have three approaches. If Plan A fails we go on to Plan B. If Plan B fails we still have Plan C. This will be a multi-faceted method of problem solving!" Lavi gave a diabolical grin.

"Mmm. So I'll give Allen a call now? You have the necessary materials?" Lenalee asked her comrade.

"Yes. Set Plan A into action now!"

Lenalee pressed the call button on her cell. "Hey Allen? You free tonight? Lavi and I are going clubbing. Join us?"

"Nah, I'd rather not." A rather soft voice issued from the phone.

"Kanda isn't coming, if that's what you're worried about. Come on, let's all go together!"

"Alright." Allen hung up shortly after. Lenalee turned to Lavi and grinned.

"Plan A's in action!"

......

The nightclub was crowded and noisy as usual. Allen, Lavi and Lenalee had to fight their way in through the throngs of other humans who were determined to have fun. They found seats at the bar counter and ordered their drinks. Unfortunately for Lavi and Lenalee, Allen was a teetotaller and she merely got herself a glass of water.

Soon, guys and girls came over to the trio. Girls in low-cut tops and flirty dresses came up to chat with Lavi, while various males went over to flirt with Allen and Lenalee. Before long, Allen found herself talking to a hulking man who kept staring at her décolletage.

Allen felt rather uncomfortable and crossed her arms. Why had she listened to Lenalee? Earlier, at the hostel, Lenalee had walked into Allen's room with a slinky red dress draped over her arm and a determined expression on her face. She'd forced Allen into the dress, even though Allen felt rather uneasy in the low-cut dress, not that she had much to show of course.

Lavi saw the man talking to Allen, and decided it was time to conduct the follow through for Plan A. He signalled to Lenalee across the group of girls gathered around him, swivelling around to allow her a better view of his signal.

Thus, Lenalee dialled Kanda's number.

"Hello Kanda?" She asked.

"What is it?" Kanda growled into the phone.

"We're at a club now, you know."

"Okay. Is that any reason why you should call me?"

"Allen's being threatened by this large guy. He's been bugging her for some time already."

"Che."

"Aren't you even worried?"

"The baka usagi is there, isn't he? He can settle that." Kanda hung up.

Lenalee shook her head at Lavi. Time for Plan B!

After a while, Lavi picked up his cell and called Kanda. "Yu!"

"Stop calling me that. And why are you even calling me, anyway?"

"Just so you know, Yu, Allen's flirting with a handsome guy right now."

"Che."

"Not a jealous man, are you? Too bad, then. She might just dump you for him." Lavi tried to goad his friend.

Kanda hung up again. Lavi shook his head at Lenalee.

"Looks like Plan C is inevitable." Lavi sighed. He reached into his pocket and dug out a sleeping pill, which he proceeded to dissolve in Allen's cup of water. He walked over to Allen and offered the girl the glass. She drank everything in one gulp.

Allen hadn't had dinner before drinking the water, so the two made sure to get themselves and Allen into a cab immediately after. She soon fell unconscious. After dragging Allen back into her bed at the hostel, Lavi called Kanda again.

"Hey Yu. Don't interrupt me. Allen fainted suddenly, for no obvious reason."

Lavi could hear a sudden penetrating silence at the other end. A voice close to its original tone, though a little shaky, asked, "Where is she now?"

"We brought her back."

Kanda hung up for the third time. He was trying not to panic. Hesitating only to grab his coat, he ran out the door in the direction of the hall of residence where Allen stayed. He ran with the wind, soaring through the falling snow. Dark hair streamed behind the soaring figure, like tendrils of moonlight sucked into an abyss and then spun out again.

Lavi opened the door of Allen's room for Kanda, and was surprised to see his friend all sweaty and red in the face. He had never known that Kanda could look like this; the guy appeared dry and pale even after a marathon. He must really have run all the way here with all the speed he could muster. What should I say if he asks me why I brought Allen to the pub?

Without a word, Kanda pushed past Lavi, a frosty glint in his dark eyes. He headed straight for Allen's bed, where the girl slept, pale and tired-looking, with enormous dark circles under her pretty eyes.

Lenalee smiled gently, and pulled Lavi out of the room with her.

The last they saw, Kanda was clutching Allen's hand as he knelt by her bed.

A/N: Heh this is the denouement already. I'm sorry if this didn't flow very well… I'm half-asleep already :/ also, I'm not sure if you can actually dissolve a sleeping pill in water. It doesn't sound plausible, but whatever lahh.

Tired tired tired (:

Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated. And of course, thank you to those who reviewed the previous chapter! :D