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Courtship for Dummies
Chapter Twelve
Kanda stood before Komui's desk ignoring the cluttered mess that was always present in the Supervisor's office with practised ease as he watched the Supervisor with barely concealed apprehension. Sitting up straight in his chair Komui focused all of his attention on the exorcist in front of him with a stern look.
"I'm afraid I've had to call you here for a very serious matter. It has been reported to me that you used unnecessary force against a superior, specifically General Cross." At these words Kanda refused to meet Komui's eyes, angrily staring at a particularly tall stack of papers.
"I understand, in fact I'm sure the whole Order understands that you've been under a terrible amount of stress recently and I can assure you that had I been aware of the true character of Allen Walker I would have kept a closer eye on him. Unfortunately I have failed to protect you from the miscreant and for this I am deeply sorry. However steps have been taken to alleviate your pain." Komui spoke grimly, angry at himself for his failings he gave Kanda a look of compassion.
Kanda was waiting for the punch line, suspiciously glancing around the room for any hidden recording devices.
"However your regrettable situation does not excuse your behaviour towards General Cross, a somewhat respected and valuable member of the Black Order.
The General has explained to me that he accosted you in a corridor on the forth floor following which he made a comment that was misunderstood and in response you used physical force to end the conversation.
Now I am giving you a chance to give your version of events, if there is anything you feel has been left out of this account please tell me now."
Komui clasped his hands together while he waited in silence, hoping the other exorcist would provide some explanation for his recent actions.
However Kanda was finding the very tall stack of papers very interesting and refusing to speak, he waited for the Supervisor to finish his admonishment for his behaviour.
Sighing in defeat at the young man's silence on the matter at hand Komui spoke once more.
"If you cannot give me some excuse for your actions I'm afraid I have no choice but to acquiesce to General Cross's demands. As punishment the General has requested that you assist him until he finds your character more agreeable. You will report to General Cross tomorrow morning."
"No, I won't do it." Kanda's petulant reply was spoken through gritted teeth alerting Komui to the fact that he would not comply with such a reprehensible course of action.
Finally having regained the exorcist's attention back from the stack of papers Komui sent him a beseeching look.
"Kanda…I want to help you but if you won't deny the General's claim I have to punish you, with all the past complaints about your behaviour I can't just let this slide especially when the complaint is from a General.
The alternative to helping General Cross is that your Innocence will be apprehended and you will not be sent on any missions until you can improve your countenance with the whole Order, particularly the people who have filed claims against you. You'd have to work through all the people contained within this file."
With his last words Komui placed a manila folder in front of him, so full of papers they were threatening to fall out of the folder completely. He then proceeded to place another folder slightly less full on top of the first.
Kanda's disbelief at Komui's words soon turned to anger as he the files were pushed into his view. Snarling he moved forward to swipe them from the table but grasped at thin air when the supervisor managed to pull them back just in time.
"Give me the files"
"I can't do that, unless you agree to make amends to all the grievances, confidentiality, don't want you killing anyone." Komui held the files protectively in front of his chest like a shield in case Kanda attempted to implement his own retribution with Mugen.
Instead however after he growled something in Japanese, the young man then practically ran out of Komui's office. Sighing in relief Komui quickly went through the files and took out his own complaints, he would burn them later, just to be safe.
xxxxx
In the library Lavi was happily looking over some blue prints of the Order Headquarters, planning the best route of attack. Content to let Lavi continue for the time being to keep him occupied Allen ignored him in favour of asking for Lenalee's advice.
She'd come into the library with Miranda while the white-haired exorcist had been clutching his head in his hands. Considering he'd been in that position for a good ten minutes it was thanks to their intrusion that he'd finally pulled himself back up.
However the female exorcists had yet to come up with anything that could give his mind any relief, in fact they were just as worried by General Cross's behaviour.
Any further attempts at comforting Allen were suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Jerry, who rushed over to them, slightly out of breath and looking a bit anxious.
"You need to come quick Kanda's eating cake. A lot of cake." Jerry spoke quickly but also quietly, trying not to attract any more attention to him; it was already a great surprise to see the man anywhere else but the kitchen and the dining hall.
At his entreaty, which was spoken to Allen, all four exorcists looked at him incredibly surprised.
"…but he doesn't like sweets." Allen's confused statement was overshadowed by Lavi's exuberant contribution.
"How much cake is a lot of cake? Are we talking a couple of slices or four? Because we need to work out how bad this is, he probably just needs some milk." The lack of humour in his voice suggested that he was completely serious in his assessment of the problem.
"I don't think you understand! He's past slices, he's on his third cake!" Jerry replied exasperated.
"Then we are going to need a lot of milk, but make it skimmed, don't want Kanda getting fa— Ouch!" Oddly it was Miranda who had whacked Lavi over the head before he could finish his sentence. Looking a bit sheepish she spoke timidly.
"He deserved that." Conceding her point the others once again ignored Lavi who pouted crossly but refrained from making any more comments.
"Why do you need me to come?" Allen asked Jerry, who appeared to become rather uncomfortable at the young man's question.
"Well, they are saying that he's in a bad mood because Toma accidentally interrupted your, um, your 'special' time together, so, um could you just go talk to him?"
"What? Where did that come from?" Gob smacked Allen stared in shock at Jerry, the other exorcists in contrast were staring at Allen in slight awe.
"Allen you have been making progress! Tell us what happened!" Lenalee exclaimed excitedly, forgetting Kanda's current predicament.
"Not really, we were just in the training room when-" Allen's attempt to explain the situation was quickly cut off by Jerry's restless cry.
"Can we focus people! Three Cakes! THREE!" Sighing in defeat Allen took charge moving towards the door while beckoning for the others to follow.
"Let's go."
Relieved Jerry soon overtook Allen.
Upon entering the dining hall it was fairly easy to spot Kanda, the wide berth that had been given to him by the other occupants of the room was a good indicator of where he was. Kanda didn't seem to care as he shovelled more cake into his mouth, a dark aura emanating from his figure.
As they moved further into the room an anxious Toma approached Allen.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but I had a message and it was the training room and I didn't expect…" Allen gave the finder an uncertain pat on the shoulder to try and reassure the man that it was ok, he would have to try and sort out the misunderstanding later, now was definitely not the time, especially as they had now caught Kanda's attention.
Unbelievably Kanda's countenance seemed to grow even darker as he became aware of the presence of the white-haired exorcist, the room growing colder as the Order members took a quick step back.
Throwing the empty cake platter Kanda found himself once again storming out of a room, the crowd parting quickly to make way, moving fearfully in synchronicity. However Allen was too busy nursing his head to take note of this particular feat of Kanda's. Though he did manage to hear Jerry's quiet assertion, which was so quietly spoken he could almost be talking to himself.
"You know, Kanda looks quite cute with chocolate smears on his face, but don't ever tell him I said that." Shaking himself out of his musings Jerry spoke to Allen.
"Thank you for coming to sort that out, good job." Having given his thanks Jerry moved to return to his regular station. The crowd realising the danger had passed also returned to their usual fare.
Allen slumped into the nearest seat and tried to work out what he done to anger the other man this time. His companions had also moved to sit with him and Lavi as always, was ready with words of comfort, which for once seemed to work, a small smile appearing on the white-haired exorcist's face.
"You know Allen, you should be very glad right now that General Tiedoll has disappeared off somewhere to go paint."
However the smile quickly slid from his face when General Cross strolled into the dining hall, heading straight in his direction.
"Ah, apprentice! Just who I was looking for, I've come to tell you the good news. Kanda has agreed to become my assistant, my very personal assistant. I'll be working him hard and long so don't expect to see me for a few days, now that doesn't mean that you should slack in your exorcist duties when I'm not there to supervise!" Having delivered his message with great pleasure Cross happily left the hall, just as suddenly as he had arrived.
After a few seconds spent frozen in shock Allen hurriedly bolted from his seat, following after his master hearing one last comment before he was out of earshot.
"At least this explains the cake, I would have eaten three too."
However Kanda's cake binge was of little concern to Allen as Cross's antics left behind a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach.
This couldn't be happening. Kanda was his damn it! He was the one watching and admiring the prickly exorcist, which answered his question of whether he could actually like the man. They'd even had 'special' time together, the whole order was talking about it! And the bastard thought he could just waltz in and steal Kanda, the asshole! He was a womanizer! Allen had to protect Kanda from the raging beast that was his master; Kanda was just too good for that low-life!
xxxxx
Cross moved pretty quickly and by the time Allen had caught up with the man he had already moved several corridors away from the dining hall, it was just another sign that the man was a demon, no human was meant to move that fast. Hoping to stop the General's movement Allen called out to him.
Having heard the younger exorcist's shout Cross stopped and lazily leant against the wall while waiting for Allen to catch him up.
"Missing me already?" Cross grinned.
Allen glared fiercely at Cross, his hands clenched at his side.
"What are you doing to Kanda?" Allen exclaimed angrily. Nonplussed at the younger exorcist's behaviour Cross answered him calmly.
"Don't you mean what do I plan to do to Kanda? Well, I'd hoped you would have learnt this already, but I guess it's time I gave you the talk about the bees …and the bees. When a man wants to get it on with another man, he'll invite him back to his room, using wine liberally to get the other man in the mood and lube to liberally-"
"STOP! In the name of all that's Holy, Stop! You stay away from Kanda! I don't know how you've managed to trick him but you leave him alone!" Interrupting his master's monologue, Allen attempted to assert some control over the General's behaviour.
"I can assure you my dear apprentice, I have him as my assistant with the full support of the Supervisor of the Black Order Headquarters. All perfectly legal."
"Don't you dare lay a finger on him, he's mine!" Allen spoke vehemently, unaware that he'd voiced his genuine interest in the Japanese exorcist for the first time to someone who was for all intents and purposes turning out to be his rival for Kanda's attention.
However Cross did not miss that Allen's feelings had undergone a complete change from antipathy towards the other exorcist to obvious affection and his voice hardened with his reply.
"I'm going to be brutally honest, stupid apprentice of mine. You don't know how to appreciate an ass that fine!" And with a final smirk Cross left his apprentice standing dumbstruck in the middle of a deserted corridor.
-TBC-