Lol, just before I wrote this, I wrote the final scene of this fic. It was calling me and begging to be done, so I did it. And made myself cry, I'm such a loser. Though I am excited now since I want you lot to read it too, so it's motivating me to get going on the chapters between this and the final bit. Argh…must…write…faster!

Chapter Seventeen- Change of Orders

Four Months Later…

Komui stared morosely at the papers carpeting his office, drumming his fingers thoughtfully on the phone sitting in his desk. He hated waiting for a call- it disrupted valuable time that could be better spent working. Or sleeping. Yes, sleeping sounded good right now- his head was almost on his desk before he realised what he was doing and jerked upright, blinking rapidly. He was just about to call Reever to get some more coffee when the phone beneath his hand started to ring, startling him so much he sent a stack of papers flying. Eleven o clock…right on time.

"Hello?"

"Supervisor Li" the stern voice on the other end greeted sharply and Komui immediately felt a stab of trepidation at the tone of whatever high ranking Order official he had on the other end of the line.

"Yes Sir?" Komui responded, growing more anxious by the minute. Maybe he shouldn't have had that sixteenth cup of coffee…

"It has come to our attention that certain exorcists have been spending too much time at headquarters instead of completing assignments."

Komui frowned to himself. What exorcists were they talking about? Even Lenalee was away more often than he would like at the moment- the only exorcists regularly found around headquarters were Lavi and Bookman, mainly because not even the Grand Generals dared to order the crotchety old man around lest they incur the collective wrath of the Bookman Clan, so Komui doubted that those two were the exorcists being referred to.

The official on the other end of the line, doubtlessly some high-handed, arrogant, elitist snob that served as a secretary to an equally (if not more so) high-handed, arrogant, elitist snob served as a Grand General, one of those that saw exorcists as tools, faceless commodities existing to serve the church, made a disparaging noise, as though he sensed Komui's confusion. "Exorcist Generals" the voice clarified, sounding smug as he did so.

The supervisor swore, and only just managed to bite back the string of curses. "Generals?" he asked, attempting to sound both unphased by the revelation and politely confused.

"You're a smart man Li, you know exactly who I'm talking about, so don't insult my intelligence by playing dumb" the man scolded, sounding faintly amused. "The Grand Generals have recently learned that both Walker and Kanda are spending more time at Headquarters than they are out in the field." The official cleared his throat awkwardly. "While we…understand…why they should want to spend time at headquarters, many feel that this" he paused, as though searching for a word, "union…is unnatural and preventing the generals from completing their set tasks." This meant, of course, that those at Central Administration did not approve of Allen and Kanda's relationship. It seemed that the recent reshuffle of personnel had moved some bigots into positions of power- the issue of same-sex couples had never been mentioned before- although strictly against the churches doctrines, many a blind eye had been turned- they needed to keep their soldiers loyal after all.

It also went against all previous Orders concerning the two youngest generals. The last Komui had heard, both Allen and Kanda were to be kept away from as much danger as possible. There were very few innocence fragments left to be located and further battles would only serve to lessen the two young general's life-spans more. It had decided that both Allen and Kanda's remaining strength should be preserved as much as possible, ready for the final battle with the Earl- something that the general opinion agreed would happen sooner rather than later.

"I see," Komui replied after a pause during which he gathered his thoughts. "I will inform the two generals that their orders have been revised."

"See that you do."

Komui replaced the receiver with a soft click, though he'd rather have thrown the damn thing across the office, his face ashen. He hated having to be the barer of bad news.

Reever bustled into the room, another stack of paper in his arms. He frowned at the expression on Komui's face. "Supervisor?"

"I need to see Allen and Kanda as soon as possible" the Chinese man told the concerned scientist. Reever nodded, hurrying from the office.

Allen yawned widely, not even trying to hide his boredom anymore. Not even he could stay polite indefinitely. He snapped the book closed and tossed it onto the teetering pile on the desk at his side and threw his legs over the edge of the settee, sighing loudly.

Lanel looked up, a very small frown on his face. "What is it now?" he asked, sounding very irritated.

Allen shrugged lazily, covering another huge yawn with the back of his hand. "Nothing, I'm having the time of my life here" he waved his hand around the (distinctly dreary) library negligently, emphasising his point, and Lanel's frown deepened a little. He was learning quickly, but still sometimes had problems identifying sarcasm. He lifted the book he was poring over higher, hiding his face from view. Allen closed his eyes, wishing Lanel had asked someone else to help him with his research, but even Lenalee's fascination with the green-haired Aviran wasn't enough to persuade her to sit in the library for hours on end. A few hours ago it had been more bearable, since Lavi was also ensconced in the musty depths of the huge room, and was also trying to avoid doing any reading. Unfortunately Lavi had been called away, leaving Allen with nothing to occupy his mind other than dusty tomes containing trivia about the planet that the Aviran was now banished to.

He also cursed his inability to say no. There was so many other, more productive things to be doing, like eating, he thought bitterly as his stomach rumbled noisily.

What he wouldn't give for someone to come and conveniently call him away. He had just resigned himself to picking up another history book (for some reason he had been ordered by the angel to try and find a list of every single Roman emperor that ever lived) when Reever appeared in the doorway.

"Oh here you are Allen! The supervisor would like to see you in his office as soon as possible" the Australian man said apologetically.

Allen mentally thanked Komui for his timing, smiling widely at Reever, trying to convey his gratitude for the timely rescue. "No problem, I'll go right away." He turned to Lanel, an regretful expression on his face. "Sorry Lanel, I've got to go."

The angel looked at him blandly, and Allen had the sneaking suspicion that Lanel saw right through him. "Goodbye Allen Walker."

"See you later!" Allen waved and walked as fast as he could without looking like he was running away, following Reever back up to the supervisor's office.

"Not that I aren't grateful that you rescued me from the library, I thought my brain was going to dry out in there, but what's this all about?"

The Australian shook his head. "Sorry Allen, I know as much as you do." He sighed thoughtfully. "The supervisor looked a little shaken though."

"I wonder what this is all about" Allen speculated, one hand on the handle of the office door as he watched Reever disappear down the corridor. "Time to find out I guess."

Allen went to sit on the settee and nearly sat down on top of Kanda. He made an exclamation of surprise when he noticed the other general reclined on the sofa. Taking a seat next to the samurai, he frowned curiously at Komui. "So, what did you wan us for?" he asked, crossing his right leg over his left at the knee and leaning against the arm of the couch with an air of unconcern. He didn't think that there could be anything too serious going on- after all, both he and Kanda were on light duties only, but the at the look on Komui's face he was considering rethinking that idea.

The supervisor cleared his throat self-consciously, twiddling his thumbs with his gaze fixed firmly on the paper strewn floor at the exorcist's feet. "I received a phone call this morning…from Central Administration."

Kanda rolled his eyes, opening his mouth to deliver a scathing remark, only to be cut off by a quick jab to his ribs, supplied curtsey of Allen's sharp elbow. Ignoring Kanda's glare, Allen turned his attention back to the supervisor. "Go on Komui."

Biting his lip nervously, Komui raised his dark eyes to the two men seated on the couch. "The Grand Generals have deemed it… prudent… to have the pair of you leave Headquarters and compete some missions."

Allen and Kanda looked at each other, mirrored expressions of surprise on their faces. "I thought we were being saved?" Allen asked, frowning in confusion. "Why would they want both of us out there so suddenly?"

"It's the final push I guess- they want all the innocence cubes found and more accommodators to be matched to them" Komui hedged, hoping to avoid further questions.

He's lying to you the Noah murmured from the depths of Allen's mind. There's something bigger going on here.

No shit scoffed Allen in reply. Outwardly he gave Komui a wry grin. "What's really going on here? Why would they want the two of us out there together?"

Kanda gave a low snort of disbelief, seemingly way ahead of Allen. Two sets of eyes turned to him, the dark pair filled with anxiousness and fear, the lighter more curious.

"Yuu?" Allen half-turned to face him completely.

"Don't you get it Moyashi?" Kanda sneered, turning hard, cold eyes to the supervisor who flinched slightly. "We're not being sent out together are we?" he asked Komui, a low growl colouring his voice. Komui didn't reply, but the look on his pale face said it all. Kanda turned back to Allen, far angrier than the younger man had seen him in a long time. "They're separating us- those jerks want to keep us apart."

Allen clenched his fists to stop himself from punching something. "Is that true, Komui?"

"It is" the Chinese man replied heavily, folding his hands together an knotting his fingers, once more lowering his eyes to the floor, trying to avoid looking at the confused and angry expressions he was being faced with.

"But…why?"

"Who said it had to make sense?" Kanda scowled. "Fucking hypocrites. They can ignore everything going on around them until it interferes with their plans. FUCK!" Kanda slammed his fist into the innocent sofa, grazing his knuckles on the rough material.

Allen watched as the small abrasions began to heal at an excruciatingly slow pace and felt suddenly angry. "There's a reason we're supposed to stay behind! I never liked it, but even I could agree it made some sense!" He pointed at Kanda's still healing hand, finger shaking terribly. "If Yuu goes out now, he could be killed before we get anywhere near the Earl!"

"Thanks Moyashi" Kanda said sarcastically, crossing his arms and raising a single sardonic eyebrow.

"If they want us separated, it doesn't mean we both have to leave. Yuu can stay here and I'll go." Allen said it firmly, in a manner that brooked no argument.

Kanda snorted. "Fuck that, you're the one that's more likely to die Moyashi. You stay."

"Bullshit!" exclaimed Allen loudly, poking Kanda in the chest. "You're so used to being invincible; you wouldn't last five minutes out there. YOU stay." His tone made it clear the discussion was at an end.

Kanda rose to his feet, towering over the still-seated Allen, radiating anger in a killer aura. Allen didn't cringe away, instead standing and glaring back at the older man, neither saying anything.

Komui cleared his throat noisily. "This argument is moot- the orders state that both of you leave Headquarters, so that's exactly what's going to happen" he said firmly. "Here are your mission packs" he gestured to the two folders as he slid them across his desk. "I'll leave the departure date up to you, but the longest I can give you is three days, make use of them."

Allen collected his mission documents in silence, offering Komui a grim smile before he left, shoulders hunched and so obviously ignoring Kanda it was nearly funny.

The other man picked up his folder and began flicking through its contents as he walked towards the door. When he reached the third page however, he stopped in his tracks. "What the fuck is this?" he snarled, turning on the supervisor in a swirl of dark hair.

Allen, one hand clutching his folder and the other resting on the door handle, paused and turned back to face the room, startled by the renewed anger in Kanda's voice.

"You bastard! Orders or not, this is ridiculous! We said it could wait a little longer, we agreed that going after it now would cause more problems than they would solve!" the Japanese raged, on the verge of drawing Mugen and murdering Komui on the spot. Allen moved quickly to stand in front of him, placing himself between the furious exorcist and the supervisor.

"What's wrong?" he asked, having apparently forgotten that he was ignoring Kanda. Wordlessly the folder was thrust at him and he accepted it carefully, not wanting to do anything that might set Kanda off again. Allen quickly read through the indicated passages. Once he'd finished he turned to Komui, frowning. "Why?"

The Chinese man sighed. "Because doing that will keep you away from Headquarters until they deem it time for you to come home."

"You mean when they need him again. Have I been given a useless suicide mission too?" Allen sneered in a very un-Allen-like way, flicking through his own mission documents. "Hmph, do these Grand Generals actually have any idea what they're talking about?" he asked, snapping the folder closed and ignoring Kanda's questioning look as the details of Allen's mission were hidden away.

Komui shook his head sadly. "Fieldwork is a strange concept for them" he agreed, "but we know how they work- and what will happen if you refuse this mission."

Allen paused. Yes, they all knew what would happen if they did not follow their orders, and none of it was pleasant. He nodded reluctantly. Without a word, he turned on his heel and practically stalked from the office, glowering. Kanda followed on silently, leaving Komui alone to wallow in his guilt.