Author's Notes:
(Wow; I changed the summary. Me cool)
Back with the next chapter. We're still working towards the confrontation between Kanda and Ellen. Well, let's see what you make of this chapter. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: D.Gray-man belongs to Katsura Hoshino
Kapitel 9 - Fourth Lesson: Progress
Ellen was already trying herself at push-ups when Kanda arrived at their training hall.
"Good Morning, Kanda", Ellen greeted and got up on her feet.
"Did you bring the swords?", the Japanese male wanted to know. Ellen nodded and pointed to the back of the room.
"Yes. But will we not continue with boxing?", Ellen asked and raised her fists playfully, "I still have not been able to hit you". Kanda raised an eyebrow at her remark.
"You did, idiot", he reminded her but she just grimaced.
"But it was not fair play, right, Kanda?", he asked and lifted her left hand. Kanda snorted to hide an amused grin at her naïve thinking.
"High morale again", he said, shaking his head. "Get the swords, beansprout". Ellen did what she was told and handed him the wooden sword. "You told me you have some knowledge in fencing, right?"
"This I do, but it is rudimentary, I must admit", Ellen told him.
"Well, Japanese sword fighting is something entirely different…"
"In fencing you stab and in Japanese sword fights you slash?", Ellen asked.
"Only an idiot would put it like that", Kanda answered, which made Ellen pout. "We will just have a look at the basics of both. You probably won't need it, but it's always good to know variations", he advised and Ellen nodded. "Very well. Take up the sword"
---
By the time it was midday Ellen was quite good at slashing air, because Kanda did not want to waste time and risk injuries just before they went on their mission, thus he did not fight her.
"This is fun, but also exhausting…", Ellen told him as she returned the wooden sword to Kanda, "It must have taken you a long time to master your sword". Kanda put the swords away and walked back to the door.
"It needs discipline and patience. I still practise as I still can improve", he informed her as they were walking towards the dining hall.
"Hmmm. You seem to have ambitions", Ellen mused and Kanda rolled his eyes.
"Every man has ambitions", he answered, "but you will have your hands full with just trying to survive, so there is no space for further ambitions".
"You are being mean"
"I'm being honest", Kanda retorted and Ellen sighed.
"Hello Jerry! Could you get me some polenta with sausages?", she asked as they got to the kitchen counter.
"Hi, my dear! I'll be right there! Oh, and I've also made some delicious soup and pie! Would you like to try them?", he asked while leaning over the counter to pinch her cheeks.
"Of course! Everything you cook and bake is delicious, I am looking forward to it!", she agreed and smiled, touching her red cheeks, "and Kanda would like the same as always, do you?"
"Don't jump to conclusions, you idiot", Kanda snorted, "The usual", he added when Jerry raised his eyebrows because he thought Kanda would order something different just to annoy Ellen. Which of course he didn't. As Jerry hurried to prepare the food, Kanda leant against the wall Ellen standing in front of him.
"Did you learn sword fighting in Japan?", she wanted to know and because she was just in front of him, Kanda had a hard time ignoring the interested look in her eyes. "Or did you learn it here, in Europe?"
"In Japan. The basics at least. I left Japan in my childhood", he answered.
"Why?", Ellen wanted to know and Kanda closed his eyes, visibly annoyed.
"Because I'm an exorcist, idiot. You can't just stay where you live if it gets out that you're compatible", he told her, hoping to shut her up, but he should have known that such an answer only sparked her interest. Damn that General Cross for not teaching her anything!
"That sounds awful, Kanda. To be separated from your loved ones… And at such a tender age. Really… How awful", she whispered to herself, looking at the floor, as if she was responsible for it all.
"Stop being such a whiny idiot!", he shouted and Ellen looked up again.
"But, Kanda…", she began.
"Sorry to interrupt you, but here's your food!", Jerry spoke up, leaning over the counter with two trays in his hands.
"Oh! Thank you Jerry, that was fast!", Ellen praised and took both trays before Kanda could reach for his.
"Don't carry my food, you will just spill it", Kanda remarked, while Ellen carried the trays to a free table.
"Of course not, put a little faith in me, Kanda", the girl told him with a smile.
"But it's stupid. I'm not your girlfriend!", he hissed, finding it oddly unnerving to have his tray carried by a girl. Ellen turned her head to look at him, at first with a blank look, then she started laughing.
"Oh Kanda, what are you thinking?", she asked and put the trays on a table near the windows, "I cannot seem to find a connection between carrying trays and you being my girlfriend… But, just to follow this train of thought; you also carried my trays and I am not your girlfriend either", she retorted, to which Kanda just snorted. "Let us just call it being civil among friends"
"I'm not your friend, idiot!", Kanda told her and started eating. Ellen was not bothered much to hear his harsh words.
"But I consider you to be my friend", she answered calmly and started to eat as well. "So stop being thick headed, Kanda"
"Che. Whatever, beansprout". For some minutes they were able to eat in complete silence until Ellen, having finished most of her food, spoke up again:
"Now, tell me: were you never lonely here in Europe, far from your home?"
"Stop asking stupid questions", was all Kanda said.
"Fine, but I am. I am often lonely without my parents. I sent my mother a letter. Do you?"
"No", came Kanda's short reply and Ellen knew she shouldn't pry into it.
"Well. I am happy to have met you. With Linali and you by my side the order is less intimidating…", she admitted and started eating her dessert. Kanda just shook his head at her.
"We are not children, beansprout. We're here to fight, this is no place I would ever call home…"
"But can you not find your home everywhere if you have a loved one with you?", Ellen wanted to know and Kanda grimaced.
"No idea where you picked that up, but I wouldn't agree with it…", he answered.
"Hm... Anyway, I am happy to have you here!", she told him, "even if you are mean and thick headed and are not able to remember my name!". She smiled and he only put his hand over his face.
"You're so annoying, idiot!", he spat, then lowered his hand again, "I'm only here to train you. You shouldn't get used to my presence", he added. Ellen's smile slipped just a little bit. But she had guesses as much.
"Well… Then promise me one thing"
"I won't", Kanda interrupted, but Ellen just put her hand on his upper arm, which shut him up for unknown reasons.
"Promise, that you will write me a letter. Not always. Just… once in a while"
"I won't", Kanda repeated after she had drawn back her hand to finish the rest of her pie.
"Yes, yes"
---
Later in the afternoon Ellen followed Kanda out into the gardens. It was unusual for them to meet after their training, except for the occasional visit at each other's doors to say a short good night.
"Will you be training?", Ellen asked and saw the sword attached to Kanda's hip.
"Yes. You should be too", Kanda informed her as they were walking down a path between flower beds.
"I was", Ellen told him, then she took the skipping rope from the coat's pocket. "But I can skip if you want", she continued and started skipping next to him.
"Why are you even out here?", Kanda asked and they got into the forest, Ellen had no idea where he was going.
"Well, I wanted to pass the time. Linali was busy… I was helping Jerry out in the kitchen for an hour or so, but now I have a lot of time on my hands until I meet up with Linali"
"Che. You're such a child"
"And you try to be all grown-up", Ellen answered, still skipping.
"I am an adult", the Japanese retorted, faced turned to the skipping girl.
"You might be, but being legally considered an adult does not mean that you have the mental capacity of an adult". Before Kanda knew it he had drawn his sword and slashed at the girl, a usual reaction to someone annoying or teasing him. But this didn't mean he intended to harm a girl. Ellen saw him fast enough, because she had fallen behind slightly while skipping, let go of her skipping rope and blocked his blade with her invocated arm.
"I told you!", Ellen chuckled, one handle of the skipping rope still in her right hand. "Adults should not be so short tempered". Kanda withdrew his sword, slightly baffled.
"Well done"
"What?", Ellen asked, looking up at him.
"Blocking my attack even though you didn't know I was going to attack. You might just survive your first mission", he told her, then continued his way into the forest. "I'll train. Don't disturb me. Go pick some flowers, beansprout!". Ellen pouted - the excited happiness at his praise forgotten - as he disappeared into the thick forest, but picked up the second handle again and skipped away to explore the gardens of the order.
From within the forest Kanda could see the girl skipping away. He didn't particularly care what happened to people once they angered him. Being sliced apart was a good punishment and people like Rabi often got very close to the sharp blade of Mugen. But never before had Kanda raised his sword against a woman, not that there were many female allies in the order. He let Linali get away with almost everything she did, because she was a woman (and because her brother Komui was very scary when he thought that Linali could be harmed). Kanda knew that Ellen was also a girl and the same rule applied to her… But still, she was annoying, he lost patience and he attacked. He almost immediately regretted his actions, but she wasn't harmed because she knew how to defend herself. She was not the same girl that had arrived at the gates mere days ago; she had grown remarkably, not only her strength but also her mind as an exorcist had developed. She still had those silly romantic and girly notions, but if you ignored that she was just a boy. As long as she didn't tell him what he already knew, nothing would change between them. He didn't know what she tried to achieve by not saying anything because she must have known that he was aware of it. And he always tried to tease her so that she would say something along the lines of "but I AM a girl", but nothing of that sort ever came. She didn't try to hide it it seemed, because Jerry knew and most of the order knew as well. So why? Kanda did not understand and instead of just ignoring it like usually (because he didn't care about people's motivations) he was constantly thinking about it.
---
Ellen had spent the last two hours in the gardens, skipping, exploring and picking flowers, but when it started to get chilly she went inside. She put her flowers in her bedroom and went down to the library.
"I am an exorcist and I should know what I am doing", she decided while picking out books about Innocence and the history of the Black Order. For about an hour she was going through the books picking up more and more information, even though she still didn't understand most of what Innocence really was.
"Ellen!". The girl looked up and saw Linali standing at the door, smiling and waving. "I'm having dinner! Care to join?". Ellen shut the book she was reading and raised herself from the comfortable chair.
"Of course!".
"What were you reading?", Linali asked after they both left the big hall, walking towards the cafeteria.
"Books about Innocence! There is still so much I do not know which I should as an exorcist"
"Don't worry, Ellen. We exorcists don't need to know everything, that's the Science Department's job!", the Chinese girl said.
"Yes, but a little bit of knowledge should not do me any harm", Ellen answered. Linali just smiled and they went into the dining hall. It was very busy and noisy, but Ellen felt very comfortable.
"Hello Jerry! Could you get me some jasmine tea, some rice and meat buns?", Linali ordered as it was their turn at the counter.
"Right away! And you, dear?", he asked facing Ellen.
"I would like some… uhm… How about spaghetti bolognese, some lasagne, some of the cake you baked this afternoon and tea!". Jerry nodded, "did Kanda already eat?"
"No, darling, I haven't seen him since lunch", the cook answered.
"Oh, then could you get him the usual? I will go looking for him!", she turned to Linali, "I will be right back!". Linali nodded and Ellen walked out of the dining room.
"Hm… Where could he be?", the girl wondered but decided to first have a look at his room. She knocked and luckily he also opened the door. "Hello Kanda! Do you want to eat?". He rolled his eyes, but put on his shoes and went out of his room.
"I already ordered for you, if you do not mind…"
"I do mind, idiot", Kanda informed her, hitting her shoulder, "don't go making decisions for others!"
"But you always take 'the usual'!", Ellen argued.
"Doesn't matter!", he spat, but he was not really angry, Ellen could tell.
"Fine. Tomorrow you may order for me, as compensation"
"I'll order pig food", he teased her as they reached the dining hall. Ellen turned, an inpatient look on her face.
"My, do not behave like a child!", she said, finger raised. He rolled his eyes and punched her shoulder again, which still earned him pleasant laughter from the girl. They picked up their food and went to sit where Linali was already waiting for them.
"Hi Kanda!", she greeted him as he sat down next to Ellen, which she noticed with amusement. "Good for you to join us!". He didn't reply and they started eating. "It would be nice to have Rabi here with us! He would have a lot to tell!".
"Rabi? The bookman you two are friends with yes?"
"He's not my friend", Kanda argued, but Ellen ignored him, having already expected to hear that remark.
"Yes! We three often had missions together when we were younger. He talks a lot, but he also knows much!"
"He must be a very interesting person, I would like to meet him!", Ellen said.
"Che. He's an idiot and his mouth is too big for his own good", Kanda told her and she laughed.
"So I should rather stick with you then?", she wanted to know and saw him lower his eyebrows.
"Whatever". Linali and Ellen laughed, while Kanda was starting to get annoyed.
---
Not long after they had finished their dinner, Linali and Ellen had left to train together, which left Kanda with nothing to do. He went out of the dining hall and to the Science Department.
"Komui", he exclaimed so the man, who had his head lying on a stack of papers, would notice him.
"Oh, Kanda! What's up?", the scientist asked and sat up straight in his chair.
"The beansprout and I have done enough training. We will go on the next mission you can arrange for us, next week if possible"
"You already want to go to battle? Isn't it too early?", Komui asked, a bit surprised, "Ellen has only been here for a few days!"
"No, it isn't. Just send us on the next Mission you have. That's all…", the Japanese left without giving Komui time to argue, which he probably wouldn't have done anyway. The man went down the stairs to get to the library. He wasn't fond of books, never had been, but he still felt the urge to gain some more knowledge, useless as it might be.
When the clock stoke nine Kanda had had enough of Roman History, let the pile of books lie on the table and left the library. He went to the big training hall where he guessed the two girls were. He pushed the door open and found Linali and Ellen playing a ball game with some finders.
"Oi! Beansprout!", Kanda called from the door because he didn't want to be dragged into this silly game.
"Kanda!", Ellen shouted quite surprised and had a ball thrown at her head, "ouch. Oh, I am sorry", she went to collect the ball and handed it to Linali. "Excuse me for a moment". Ellen ran to where Kanda was waiting. She was sweating, her shirt clung to her upper body and she was smiling. "What is it?"
"I need to talk to you about tomorrow's training"
"Really?", Ellen asked and brushed her hair out of her face, "very well. I will come with you". She turned back to the group of people. "I am sorry, I have to leave now!".
"Don't worry, Ellen! See you later!", Linali called and waved. Ellen smiled in return and left the room after Kanda. The young man led her to his room and let her inside.
"You should fix your window, will it not get cold in winter?", Ellen wanted to know as she looked at the crack and shivered slightly.
"Shut up", he told her, "sit". He got out of his coat and hung it on the coat stand, while Ellen sat on his bed, for lack of other possibilities.
"Will tomorrow's training be anything special?", she wanted to know as he too sat on the bed, his knee almost touching hers.
"Tomorrow is Saturday and on Sunday morning we will not train, I expect you want to be at the mass".
"Oh, how considerate of you. I really want to be there, yes", Ellen told him, quite surprised that he thought of something like this. "Will you not be there?"
"No. I might be a Christian, but I don't care about church", he answered.
"You were baptized?", Ellen wondered, but saw his glare, "I am sorry for changing the topic"
"I told Komui we wanted a mission. He'll surely have one ready on Monday. That's why we will have some special training tomorrow. Longer than usual and just us fighting with our Innocence". He saw her face and added: "I will attack you, you'll just have to block, idiot.
"Fine. I am a little bit nervous to hear that I will have my first mission soon…"
"Idiot", Kanda snorted, "you can go now if you want".
"What? Could I also stay here?"
"No", Kanda hissed and Ellen got up laughing.
"I know, I was just joking! Good night Kanda!"
"Good Night…", he replied and Ellen left his room.
To be continued
Notes:
I had fencing lessons today and my upper arms and thighs are covered with nasty red / blue bruises. In certain Fencing styles you can also slash, but I do not think that this would be what Ellen had learnt.
I try to avoid talking about Kanda's past, because in this fanfic I do not want to make things up (that's for the other one, not posted yet lolz). But I might have to eventually, depending on how soon stuff about Kanda will be revealed (all we know is that Hoshino plans to do it this year)
Well, can't think of anymore notes at the moment. Feel free to review!! (I enabled anonymous reviews - I hadn't even realized that I had it switched off. Silly me)