Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Courtship for Dummies

Chapter Ten

Since Lenalee had banned him from helping Allen, Lavi found that he had a lot more free time; however he was also now bored out of his mind. Advising Allen had been the most fun he'd had in ages.

Lavi wondered if Miranda needed any help with her new relationship with Komui. Eye lighting up with hope for a new source of entertainment, Lavi began his search for the female exorcist.

However twenty minutes later Lavi was still looking for Miranda; it appeared that the woman had gotten lost within the Order again. Disappointed that his plans had been foiled the exorcist was about to head to the cafeteria when he came to a sudden stop and quickly ducked behind a pillar. Lavi had come across what could possibly just be a mirage conjured by his mind due to boredom. Yet when he peered around the pillar he confirmed that he had indeed seen General Cross pressing Kanda against a wall.

Kanda didn't seem to be enjoying the position he was currently in, on the contrary he looked oddly scared. On the other hand Cross seemed to be quite happy with the situation at hand. Neither had noticed the presence of Lavi, concerned with the more immediate state of affairs, for which Lavi was glad, although he would've have liked to be a bit closer to the action so he could hear what they were saying.

When Cross gently ran his hand through Kanda's hair the younger exorcist's eyes narrowed in anger while Lavi looked on shocked. Kanda's reply to the gesture was easy to anticipate, a terse "Get your hands off me." A polite request considering it was coming from Kanda, but then he was addressing a General. While Cross did retract his hand, he looked fairly amused as he spoke to Kanda and whatever he had said was as well received as the invention of Komurin.

Kanda tried to move away in vain but was completely trapped by the position of the General's body. As Cross pressed even closer Kanda let out an involuntary squeak, finally pushed to his limit, the angry exorcist delivered a hard punch to Cross's stomach before running for his life. Staggering against the wall upon impact Cross watched the young man flee from him.

Lavi noted that Cross was far from angry, instead he was leaning against the wall smiling to himself, almost evilly. After taking a few moments to resume his composed appearance, Cross began to swagger down the hall heading in the direction of Komui's office.

Waiting until the General had left his sight Lavi finally came out of hiding, almost tripping over his own feet, eyes wide with shock. He was so stunned by the scene he'd just witnessed that it took him a few minutes before he was able to move away from the now deserted corridor. Stumbling at first Lavi was soon striding determinedly towards the cafeteria; he had urgent news to tell Allen.

By the time he had reached the dining hall Lavi was slightly out of breath, his increasing excitement over the new developments had resulted in him power walking most of the journey.

Bursting into the room he frantically scanned the dining hall before he finally spotted Allen and quickly made his way to the young man. Without any warning the red-head grabbed Allen's collar, using it to pull him up and drag him off to the library.

Lavi had refused to answer any of Allen's choked out questions and had only released the younger exorcist upon arrival in the library. Yet even with their arrival at Lavi's chosen destination the red-head was unable to control his agitation and continued to move around anxiously.

"Plan, we've got to make a plan, or do we find out what's going on first, maybe it's a joke, or maybe that's how the General normally like to talk to people, or it could be a trap! No probably not a trap, what would he be trying to trap, apart from Kanda, or is he, what does he want with Kanda, that is the question. Maybe we should stalk him for a bit, get the low down. Allen talk to me, what do we do?" Lavi spoke furiously barely taking time to breathe, seeming to be talking to himself until he directed the last question at Allen.

Allen, who had very recently been dragged around the Order by his collar, was still looking a little purple as he lay sprawled on the floor.

"Breathe. I need to breathe." Allen gasped out as Lavi looked at him expectantly for a reply. However that had not been the response Lavi had been looking for and he once more grabbed Allen's shirt pulling their faces closer together.

"What do you mean you need to breathe? Breathing can wait! We need to act now, don't you understand! It's a matter of life and death! We'll need my hammer and some explosives. You get the explosives, I'll get my hammer, we'll meet back here in ten minutes."

Releasing Allen who flopped back down to the floor with a thud, Lavi was about to stride out of the library. But before he had managed to move away from Allen a sharp smack resonated throughout the library, indicating that although the young man was incredibly confused and struggling to breathe he still had the presence of mind to slap some sense into the crazy exorcist.

Although Allen may have been a bit too enthusiastic in his actions as Lavi was now also sprawled on the floor next to him. Furthermore they had attracted the attention of all the other occupants of the library who were still staring avidly in their direction. Finally able to breathe properly again, Allen picked himself off the floor and attempted to ease the attention they had gained.

"Uh slight disagreement over the hibernating patterns of bears, we got a bit enthusiastic, nothing to worry about. Hehe." Giving everyone a nervous smile and a quick wave Allen turned back to Lavi who was now standing beside him, tugging insistently at his sleeve, pulling him towards a table.

"Cross wants Kanda!" Lavi was wringing his hands in agitation.

"For what?" Allen hadn't quite grasped the urgency that Lavi was trying to impart on to him, which was making Lavi even more worried.

"For a roll in the hay!" exclaimed Lavi. Sudden understanding came to Allen though he was not yet ready to believe it was true.

"That's not possible. Kanda's a man, Cross only rolls with women!"

"But he pressed him up against a wall! He stroked his hair!"

"WHAT!" Allen's shout once again attracted the attention of the rest of the library but he had gone beyond the point of caring. Lavi hastily whispered a full account of the scene he had come across not that long ago and when he had finished relaying the information Allen immediately barked out an order.

"You go get your hammer and I'll get the explosives, we'll meet back here in ten minutes, put Miranda on stalker watch!"

"Aye, aye captain!" Lavi gave Allen a quick salute followed by a pat on the shoulder.

"I knew you'd understand! We must storm the fort, even if it means destroying the whole building, even if it means we will have no where to live, even if we are thrown out of the Order!" Lavi's encouraging battle cry unfortunately did not have the desired affect on Allen whose sudden anger just as quickly deflated.

"On second thoughts maybe we should try and find out what was going on first, I'll go and try to see if I can find out from Kanda." Studying Lavi, Allen decided it was best if the red-head didn't come with him.

"You stay here …and guard the table."

xxxxx

After escaping from Cross and his odd behaviour Kanda had retreated to the training room to vent. His movements were more vicious then usual, with Mugen slicing through the air at an alarming speed. If there had been any akuma present they would have been destroyed in seconds.

So it was no surprise that it was with great trepidation that Allen attempted to approach the irate man. Though Allen had only taken a few steps into the room Kanda immediately swung round to face him, glaring fiercely with Mugen held ready for attack. The younger exorcist immediately tried to appear meek by raising his hands in a placating manner. Kanda didn't even take a moment to consider the move before he charged.

Allen just about dodged in time.

"Wait! Kanda don't kill me! I'm not going to ask you out to dinner!" Allen shouted desperately. Snarling Kanda proceeded to attack again, not bothering to reply.

Allen confused and understandably scared for his life was running in all directions to avoid Kanda's blade. Although Allen was effectively dodging the attacks Kanda was getting closer to cutting off his head, so taking action he suddenly turned back, throwing all his weight onto the angry exorcist. Successfully knocking Kanda to the floor Allen quickly activated his innocence and pinned the man to the floor before he could regain his equilibrium and continue his attacks. Both exorcists were breathing heavily, Kanda struggling beneath Allen's hand.

"I…what…you…what…why." Allen spoke between gasps of air conveying his confusion to the man underneath him.

"Che." Defeated Kanda stopped his futile efforts to escape but was nonetheless unwilling to talk. However Allen wanting to get to the bottom of the matter pressed on.

"Did my Master do something?" Kanda remained tight lipped to Allen's question, glaring angrily at the other exorcist. Gulping Allen asked a more specific question.

"Did…did he proposition you?" Allen watched with growing concern as Kanda though still glaring was now refusing to make eye contact while a red tinge had covered his face. Frozen to the spot neither exorcist knew how to continue.

A few moments later their stalemate was broken by a nervous cough.

Turning both exorcists caught sight of a finder standing hesitantly by the door, trying not to look at them. The finder was blushing bright red eager to flee from what was obviously a private moment.

"Sorry to interrupt, but, uh, Komui wants to see Kanda." Having delivered his message he swiftly exited. Allen was at first puzzled by the finder's hasty departure but a low groan from Kanda redirected his gaze, finally understanding the suspicious position they had been found in, his face also turned a bright red as he quickly scrambled to pull himself up no matter the consequences.

Luckily for Allen, Kanda's blood lust had dissipated for the time being and he quickly stood, carefully avoiding making eye contact with the other exorcist. Allen too busy trying to calm down his burning face missed Kanda's mortified blush as they both recalled the memory of their previous position.

Pulling himself together Kanda swiftly left the training room to see Komui.

Sometime later when Allen had made his way back to the library where Lavi was anxiously waiting for him, shaking his fist at anyone who came to close to the table he was guarding, Allen collapsed exhausted onto a chair.

"So, did you find out anything? What are you going to do?" Lavi's time alone in the library had not managed to subdue his enthusiasm.

"I think I'm going to have to kill Master." Bending forward Allen buried his head in his hands.

"Shall I go get my hammer then?"

-TBC-