Author's Notes:

Ha! I'm back! I realized that I'm very weak when it comes to consitency of how I name my chapters. I'm very sorry for that, be sure that I will go back to correct it (and the missing paragraph breaks) when I find the time. Please accept "---" as transition to a new paragraph until I get enlightened. annoyed

This chapter's shorter than the previous; there's still a continuation of last chapter's day in here and the first half of the next day. I don't really know why I did it like this, but I'm gonna stick with it. (Laziness? Cruelty? Stupidity? No clue). Enjoy!

Disclaimer: D.Gray-Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino

Kapitel 7 Third Lesson: Praise

After their dinner, which Kanda had left earlier, because "girly chatter" was an offence to his ears, the two girls went up to the baths.

"Come, Ellen, it's normal that we women have baths together! And now that you have your period it's better to wash often", Linali advised and even though Ellen was quite embarrassed she couldn't say no to her. So Linali took her to the quite spacious bath which really seemed exotic to Ellen.

"My brother designed those", Linali explained as Ellen looked at the bathing space, which was build into the stone floor, and the bamboo decorating the wall.

"I am impressed, dear Linali, highly impressed", Ellen admitted and got dragged to the changing room. Two female finders and a few nurses were there and at first very surprised to see Ellen, still dressed in boy's clothes, come in. But they didn't say anything because, truth been told, Ellen's sex had been quite ambiguous from the start; some people which had seen the argument between Kanda and Ellen on her very first day at the order, claimed that someone so courageous could only be male, while the other claimed that only a woman could dare to stand up to Kanda. Ellen was sure, now that these women knew, it was only a question of time until everyone knew.

"Ah, don't worry. No one dares to talk to Kanda, and he avoids crowded placed and he's quite dense too…", Linali assured her after Ellen had told her what was troubling her.

"Dense? I do not think he is… Thick-headed yes…", Ellen mused and Linali started laughing. With some hesitation Ellen took off her vest and blouse.

"You aren't wearing a brassiere?", Linali exclaimed with wonder as Ellen opened her shirt.

"I mostly do not need to. The dresses I wear do not require me to wear such a thing…", Ellen explained and took off her shirt, but backed off under Linali's analysing look.

"Well… If you will keep on wearing this shirt of yours, you don't have much choice. I will give you one of my older ones if you'd like". Unsure what to say Ellen just nodded. Linali was quite a modern girl, while Ellen herself was very traditional in all things she did.

"Ellen, don't dawdle!", Linali called from the other room and Ellen stopped thinking about it.

---

"That was refreshing, wasn't it?", Linali asked Ellen when they were already out of the bath and walked back to their rooms. Ellen was wearing a new sleeveless top Linali had given her, it looked Asian, was made of silk and had little red embroidery on its white surface. She still wore her black trousers, but only because Ellen could not be convinced to wear the very short matching skirt. But she felt very comfortable now that she was washed and Linali had promised to give her shoes so she could wear her dress.

"Yes. We must repeat this", Ellen agreed and smiled. Linali returned the smile and they stopped at a stairway.

"I must go up to see my brother. Should we meet at the library after dinner tomorrow?", Linali asked.

"I would be delighted", the white-haired girl answered.

"Very well! This there is Kanda's door by the way, I didn't know your rooms were so close!". Ellen looked at where she was pointing.

"Indeed…", the girl said and turned back to Linali, "I wish you a good night!"

"Good night!", Linali repeated and went upstairs. Ellen turned around and went into her corridor, at Kanda's door she halted. Unsure of what to do, but remembering her good manners, she raised her hand to knock at the door.

"What do you want?!", was the reply she got, and the door opened just a few seconds later to reveal an angry looking Kanda. His hair was undone and he was wearing a simple shirt over grey trousers. "Oh. It's you, idiot beansprout", he said, his face losing some of the coldness. Ellen smiled up at him, albeit uneasily. He took in her appearance; her hair was wet and smelled of lavender, her skin was pink and she was wearing a strange top he vaguely recognized. More than Ellen just showing up at his door at around nine o'clock this shirt intrigued him. It was rather wide, yes, but he could still make out her body underneath it because the silk clang to the dampness of her skin. And really… It did look like… Kanda snorted as he heard an "uhm" coming from the girl.

"I just realized that our rooms are close by and as I came from the bath I wanted to bid you good night", she informed him and smiled up at him. "Good night Kanda".

"Good Night…", was all Kanda could say, though he would have liked to add a "what idiot comes knocking at another guy's door to say good night?". Ellen smiled and turned around, quite content.

"Sleep well", she told him, and waved, "see you tomorrow!", with this she turned around the corner and left Kanda still standing inside his doorframe. He shut the door and sat on his bed. The idiot sure was stupid. And a weakling. And a coward. And he was wearing Linali's top. And he came from the baths.

"Wait a second…", Kanda stopped his flow of thoughts, "was he bathing with Linali?" With this disturbing realization Kanda decided to go to sleep early today and call it quits.

---

Next morning when Kanda got out of his room he saw Ellen, fresh and pink faced, skipping towards him with her new skipping rope. She stopped just in front of him and smiled.

"Good morning!", she greeted and Kanda just groaned at her early-morning cheerfulness. Kanda led the way to the training ground, Ellen following, skipping all the way without stopping even once.

When they finally arrived at their personal training room Kanda was very irritated; he just couldn't make sense of Ellen Walker, and the very fact that he was trying was even more annoying.

"Would you stop smiling like an idiot?! Get to the floor, I want you to make at least ten push-ups! Even someone as girly like you should manage that!", he told her and pointed at the floor. Ellen just handed him her skipping rope with a huff and got to the floor, where she performed some clumsy push-ups. But Kanda found himself not paying particular attention to the push-ups she was doing, he was busy with glaring at her shirt. It looked normal enough but the white Chinese top had nearly given him nightmares because of its total inappropriate use on anything other than a woman. But even though Ellen Walker looked like a perfectly normal guy (more or less) the fact that he had been (most probably) bathing with Linali, smelled of lavender and was an expert with the skipping rope made Kanda groan in frustration. Something was very wrong with this guy.

"Okay. Will we box now?", Ellen asked him and he realized that she had gotten on her feet again. And he was annoyed at himself for being caught up in his thoughts instead of training her like he should be. Kanda didn't say anything, put the skipping rope down and got in position. Ellen did the same, hands raised, no glove on her left hand.

"Offence and defence, just try not to break anything in he progress", Kanda said with a sneer and threw a punch at her. He had to stop thinking, because it didn't matter now. He should train her, that's all that mattered. Just because he was confused didn't mean he was allowed to slack off.

Ellen blocked and dodged and punched. But Kanda had emptied his mind and was as alert as always. Her excited smile was fading fast as she realized that she could do no damage to Kanda. Every punch aimed at him was too weak and got blocked or evaded before it could hit flesh.

While Kanda was trying hard not to think of Ellen as a person of either sex, Ellen was trying hard to build up some sort of equal ground just because of her sex. All in all it ended in Ellen being frustrated and angry and annoyed and Kanda being smashed against the wall by a white claw.

It took both of them some moments to realize what just had happened and it was Ellen who made the first move; she screamed.

"Oh my goodness! What have I done?! Are you alright?", she shouted, stopping the invocation at once, and rushed to Kanda who was just getting up on his feet. His left shoulder, with which he had crushed into the stone wall, hurt but he ignored it, he was used to minor injuries.

"Well done", he said, face not showing signs of being hurt. Ellen looked up at him, her hands on his arms and just stared. That was the first praise she had heard him say and why? Because she had lost control over her innocence and hurt him?!

"Why… Why are you saying that…?", she asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"Because you managed to hit me. With you Anti-Akuma weapon even. Well done, beansprout. That even rivals the one time you got me on your first day". Ellen let go of Kanda's arms and lowered her head.

"That is terrible"

"Stop whining", Kanda told her and tried to move his left arm, not to much avail. "You're an Exorcist, not a child. Every time you can defeat your opponent, you should be pleased. Stop thinking in such high standard morale, it just gets in your way", he explained.

"Kanda…"

"I need to get a nurse to fix that, you'll wait here and do something useful", he ordered and left the training room. Ellen was standing alone in the training hall, gaze still fixed on the wall.

"My innocence seems to react to emotions… I… Have to be careful... And tell Komui this afternoon…", Ellen decided, still feeling very guilty about having hurt Kanda. She invocated her arm and looked at the claw, its tips stained with some fresh droplets of Kanda's blood. She clenched her fist and held the arm in front of her. "Can you do anything different than hurt those I do not wish do see hurt? It there any use for you after all? You are my arm, are you not?!", she shouted, her glare fixed on the rough surface and the shining green cross at the back of her hand. "But you are a weapon… I have always had romantic notions about weapons being tools for protection…", she mumbled and the invocation ended. Ellen picked up the boxing gloves she had brought with her and put them on. "Men take up their weapons to protect the country, the nation, comrades, the landsmen, the family or a loved one. But no! You can just destroy all I love!", she yelled, unsure if she meant her hand or herself. She faced the hard wall and started to punch it, not enough to hurt her hands through the thick leathery gloves just yet.

---

When Kanda opened the door to the training hall, his shoulder bandaged but ready to use again, he found Ellen hitting the wall with full force, the punches of her innocence arm leaving cracks.

"How long have you been doing this?", he asked and Ellen stopped immediately.

"Since you have left the room… I am sorry for the damaged I have caused. To you and the walls that is… But I was frustrated…", she told him and Kanda took notice of her red eyes and the running nose. He just groaned and ordered her to hold her hands out to him. She obliged and he pulled the gloves off resulting in Ellen wincing. Her normal white hand was red, but the skin was still unbroken, her left hand looked as red and distorted as always.

"You still remember what I told you about being too rash, idiot? You've got to stay in control!", he told her and she nodded slightly.

"Are you… Is your shoulder still okay?", she wondered and Kanda rolled his eyes.

"It was just a small bruise, I'm no weakling you idiot", he told her. Ellen sighed, but nodded again.

"I know, but it does not stop me from feeling guilty about it… Mana was no weak man either, but my claw still killed him…", she told him and wiped her hand over her eyes.

"But he was turned into an Akuma. I am not an Akuma, I have told you before. Your claw can hurt me, yes, but it will not kill me. If it does have its own will it will still not intent to kill a human. You wanted to hit me, so you did". Ellen stayed silent, but Kanda didn't want to hear anything from her.

"Will… We continue our training?", Ellen asked and Kanda shoved the boxing gloves back into her arms.

"Stop asking stupid questions!", Kanda yelled and picked up his own gloves from the ground, "let's put some effort into this!".

---

By the time the clock struck twelve, Ellen was exhausted. Kanda's pride had suffered somewhat from receiving a punch from the beansprout and took her very seriously. Which is what she had actually wanted – respect – but he also didn't go easy on her. She knew that he didn't put all his strength and skill into their matches, but she still had new bruises and a split lip again.

"Fine. Enough. Before I have to carry you to the dining hall", Kanda stopped her and pulled off his gloves, which he just threw to the ground. "This was the first time you pulled through until lunch. We can build up from here. Just don't start slacking", he advised her as she pulled off her gloves.

"O… Of course not", she panted and tried to wipe her hair from her eyes. Kanda left the room with Ellen following.

"I must be at Komui's, I will eat later, go without me", she told Kanda and went up the first few steps of the stairs leading to the science department. He nodded silently and watched her sway slightly as she was making her way up.

"Idiot. It's his problem if he falls unconscious for not eating anything", Kanda concluded and went to the dining hall.

As he got to the counter Jerry faced him with a smile.

"Hello there! Oh, where is your friend?", he asked and was apparently looking for Ellen.

"The beansprout is not my friend and currently visiting Komui", he informed him with a glare, "now, get me the usual".

"Oh no and I already prepared a healthy meal!", Jerry whined, "A strong soup, some meat pie, potatoes with melted cheese, baked fish, Rahmschnitzel and Dango of course", Jerry listed the food without listening to Kanda.

"Just get me my food and stop whining!"

"But a girl has got to eat!", Jerry argued and Kanda snorted.

"But I do too, so – What did you say?", he stopped abruptly. Jerry raised his eyebrows.

"The little darling has a parasitic arm. I already realized that those exorcists need much food and we have seen that Ellen is exhausted when she comes back from training with you". Kanda just remained silent, his face stoic as always, Jerry thought that he was thinking about what he had told him. "So could you please bring her at least some of the food? Maybe the Rahmschnitzel, the Potatoes and the Dango?". Without waiting for his answer Jerry handed him two huge trays and he could even find his own meal squeezed somewhere between the plates.

"Why do you give this to me…?", Kanda eventually asked, "why don't you just order a finder to do it, they never are that busy anyway". Jerry just laughed and pinched his cheek now it was safe to do so because Kanda didn't have his hands free to reach for his sword.

"Why, because you're her friend, right?", he asked, "now hurry or your food will get cold". He shoved Kanda out of the way and waved. Kanda, hands full with trays, stood near the doorframe like a statue. What had Jerry just told him? Was that man crazy? Ellen Walker, a girl? No way. The beansprout was strange, but no girl. He lacked all the beauty a woman, like Linali for example, had. He was too girly for a boy, yes, but too plain for a girl. Jerry must have made a mistake, Kanda was sure of it, he was very fast in jumping to conclusions after all. But as much as Kanda did want to deny it, it was what had troubled his mind since last evening. He thought he had seen something like a small female chest under the girly top. But if she were, if Ellen really was a girl, then why hadn't she told him?

---

Meanwhile Ellen didn't suspect what thoughts were going through Kanda's head and was sitting on Komui's couch.

"Welcome back, Ellen! I am truly sorry for assuming you were a boy!", he told her, "now that I look at you again, I can't seem to figure out why I did!"

"Do not worry about it Komui…", Ellen told him with an uncertain smile. She had heard this from at least half of the Science department before and was starting to feel embarrassed by it.

"You didn't try to hide your sex, did you?", Komui wanted to know.

"Of course not… Master Cross wanted me dressed like this…", she answered, "though I cannot phantom his reasons to do so…", Komui laughed and patted her head.

"Well. My dear Linali already told me that you don't want a new uniform, but some new shoes. I have taken the liberty of sending some clothes and shoes to your room. And about your training with Kanda…"

"It is going very well", Ellen cut in, "please do not deny me these training hours". Komui widened his eyes and looked at her confusedly.

"Well. Fine. But does he know that you are a girl? He is very much against the fact that we are sending out women as exorcists"

"He does not… But exactly because of the reason you stated I would like to avoid telling him. I really do learn much from him", she explained. Komui sighed but nodded.

"Fine… It will do Kanda well to take responsibility for another human being… But you should not try to lie to him, he will hold it against you…", he advised and Ellen nodded.

"Yes I know… I will tell him when he has acknowledged me…", she promised. Komui nodded, then he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Now, let us meet Hebraska, she will examine your innocence".

To be continued

Notes:

Cliffhanger? Not really, right? lol I guess this chapter was quite important - especially as it gives some Kanda-development (what the heck is that supposed to be?? lolz)

I think that this is not how you people suspected Kanda to find out. It might be boring, but I think that it's kind of more realistic than the other options I had. Let's see what Kanda does with his realization. Guesses? X3

There's a silly little illustration of this chapter on my deviantart page (though it doesn't really match the description lol), so check it out if you like (I might add the link as soon as dA is out of read-only mode)

P.S. I know Kanda's lotus/ tattoo is supposed to heal his injuries and Kanda would not go to see a nurse just because he hurt his shoulder - but let's pretend he does, like we all pretend that he's a genius (and not stupid like Hoshino says) and that he has a very soft spot somewhere in his heart (which I also do, partially at least)

P. P.S. for those of you who wonder (if there even are such people); there will be something more or less romantic in here, but it'll take some time and it's what I just said: only more or less romantic. You'll see about that.