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Courtship for Dummies
Chapter Nine
This time it was Allen who had arrived first to the library, shortly followed by Lavi.
"Hey, Miranda isn't coming, she has another date with Komui. So what have you learnt?" Lavi asked hopefully.
"I can't use this 'manual'." Speaking like a man who had just endured a very trying battle with several akuma Allen tossed the book across the table back to Lavi.
"Why?"
"I don't think I have the courage to gently cup Kanda's heaving bosom." Allen replied with complete honesty.
"Ah, I don't think anyone has the courage to do that." Lavi nodded his agreement and pondered what else they could use instead.
"Stupid boys! Give me that!" A shout from the door indicated that Lenalee had been able to slip away and join them while her brother was again distracted by Miranda.
She stomped towards the table, reading the title of the book before using it to smack both boys round the head.
"Didn't I already tell you to think about what Kanda would want! You think he wants to be part of a harlequin romance? Stupid, stupid boys!" Looking as if she wanted to throttle them, Lenalee continued to chastise them.
"Lavi you are hereby forbidden to give Allen anymore ideas on how to pursue Kanda. Allen I want you to think, actually really think about what you are doing, what you like about Kanda, respect, admire, what he likes and enjoys. Do you both understand?"
As Lenalee held the book threateningly over their heads the boys agreed quickly to her demands.
"Good. Then Allen go think. Lavi go…do something."
xxxxx
Allen had hastily departed from the library from fear of incurring anymore of Lenalee's wrath, feeling slightly bereft without Lavi's guidance, although admittedly it had not been very helpful.
So not knowing what to do Allen was aimlessly walking through the halls of the Black Order occasionally stopping to bang his head against a wall. Lost in his thoughts and feelings of frustration Allen failed to notice that many of the Order members were throwing him concerned looks, although no one was actually brave enough to approach the obviously unstable exorcist.
He was also paying little heed to where he was walking. Therefore it was by pure coincidence that he found himself in the training area, with a swollen red forehead watching Kanda perform his exercises with perfect precision. Reluctantly impressed by the movements of the older exorcist Allen moved forward to get a better view.
Kanda had simply ignored the Moyashi as he had entered the training room by persevering with his training. However the older exorcist was discretely observing Allen, as he moved unsteadily towards the closest wall and banged his head firmly against the surface three times before moving away again. Kanda refused to interfere if the Moyashi was trying to kill himself.
Then appearing to suddenly realise where he was, Allen focused his gaze onto Kanda, a look of unease followed by admiration falling across his face. As Allen moved closer, Kanda turned to throw him a glare and just as expected the other exorcist glared back. Their glaring contest lasted a whole two seconds before Allen fearfully checked his surroundings, taking a few steps backwards for good measure. Leaving Allen to scan the area Kanda turned his back to the other man.
Having returned to his training Kanda was not ignorant of Allen's intent stare following his every move. Although Allen had moved further away he was still quite close to Kanda, sitting crossed legged on the floor, his chin propped up by his left hand and Timcampy sitting on his head. As unnerving as Kanda found this, compared to the strange activities of the exorcist during their previous encounters Kanda decided to just let it pass for fear of inducing any weirder behaviour.
They spent the following hour in this manner before Allen suddenly rose and disappeared from Kanda's sight. A sigh of relief escaped the remaining exorcist who continued his training ignoring the niggling thought in the back of his mind that it had been nice to have some company for once.
xxxxx
Allen was once more in a familiar stance, hands outstretched holding out his offering to Kanda, slightly hesitant but more confident in his actions then in previous attempts. This time he had yet to see the door slam in his face, he hoped it was a good sign.
"What do you want now?" Kanda asked angrily. Drawing his courage up Allen replied as honestly as he could.
"When I watched you training yesterday I noticed how much stress is put onto your hands because of the weapon you handle. The gloves are lightweight and fingerless so you still have good movement but the material will also give you a better grip on your sword, especially during a hard fight where your hands can become slippery from sweat and blood." Finishing his monologue Allen was tempted to just close his eyes and wait for the inevitable, but he held his ground, Kanda deserved that much respect at least.
"Che" Kanda's usual reply was unsurprising, and as he saw the door slam in his face yet again, Allen could feel the smile forming as he looked down at his empty hands. So Kanda was rude, unsociable, mean, uncaring not to mention violent but not stupid, that was a relief, Allen often had severe reservations about the other exorcist's mental capabilities.
As Allen returned to his room he analysed his current feelings, obviously he really had needed to think about what was going on, without the whole forced to submit into a façade of a courtship always at the back of his mind. He had to get past pretending to already like Kanda to attempt to begin to like him instead, treat Kanda like he really was trying to court him not just because he had been told to. He also needed to figure out if he could like Kanda, otherwise courting Kanda would continue to be a source of torture.
Entering his room, ready to turn in, Allen noticed that Timcampy had gone off on his own again. He wasn't too worried, Tim had the habit of disappearing every so often, he would be back by the morning.
-Interlude of a Scheming Master—
Marian Cross was amused. He had been following the progress of his apprentice in his task of courting Kanda through regular updates via Timcampy and it looked like the idiot was starting to get a clue.
When he had first seen Kanda in the cafeteria, he had mistaken the man for a woman, it had been a few years. But finding out that his apprentice had finally managed to ensnare a woman that was something he could be proud of, especially as the idea that any person who had been under his care for so long without growing a veracious sexual appetite would be a severe blow to his ego. However it was okay, Allen had merely needed time away from him, obviously it was hard to catch anyone's eye when in his shadow, of this Cross was certain.
Finding out that the woman in question was a man, well that just made things more interesting, and later when he had realised it was Kanda Yu, that was an altogether pleasant surprise. The runt had grown into a fine specimen, obviously running around with a sword for several years had done him wonders… but maybe too fine, for someone of Allen's stature.
Cross smiled at himself in the mirror, making sure he was able to convey a glint of evilness that didn't affect his roguish good looks. Behind his shoulder he noticed Timcampy trying to imitate his grin; pets were meant to resemble their owners after all, for some reason people always forgot that he had been the one to program the golem.
As he turned away from his reflection his thoughts turned once more to the physique of the long-haired exorcist. Yes, he was far too good to be wasted on his apprentice and it did seem as if Allen could start to make some definite progress in the matter. Unlike young Allen, he had been willing to give Kanda time to blow off some steam before beginning his overtures, but these new developments had changed his plans.
It looked like it was time for the Master to re-enter the stage.
-Interlude of a Scheming Master—
-TBC-