The chapters listed in 'When Snow Covers the Earth' are written in no particular order. This one, for instance, takes place some time before chapter one.

D Gray Man is owned by Katsura Hoshino.

...

Chapter 2: Really, That One?

It was impossible to keep secrets from her oldest friend. Through all the trials and hardships the two of them had faced together since childhood, understanding the others' thoughts and feelings was inevitable. They noticed everything in each other. No matter how subtle she was…even if she just carried on with her day without any unusual remarks or silences, even if all she did was sneak a second glance at Link when he and Allen passed them in the corridor, Kanda noticed.

Lenalee's heart leapt clear into her throat as her leg caught against something solid. She didn't stand a chance; her momentum sent her headlong toward the steps, free falling into what should've been a painful heap at the bottom of the stairwell had a firm hand not grabbed the back of her uniform. Lenalee cried out as she jerked to a halt, a strong sense of vertigo briefly challenging her stomach before she regained herself and yelled, "What are you doing, Kanda?"

The elder exorcist ignored her, his black eyes focused on something behind them and Mugen now resting across his shoulders. She knew what he was frowning at. She could tell from the mix of emotions on his face: disbelief, amusement, astonishment. He was on to the secret she'd only been able to keep for about three days and seven hours. Not bad, all things considered, but still…

"Really?" Kanda turned to look at her again, gesturing with his katana. "That one?"

Lenalee kicked at his leg before planting her feet on the step and standing upright again. She followed her friend's gaze down the hall, but Allen and the Inspector had disappeared down a corner. The library, most likely. They were usually in the library at this time of day. Lenalee nervously brought her hands to her elbows and studied her feet, feeling her cheeks flush.

Kanda took her confirmation with a raised eyebrow, "You spent over half your life terrified of them, and to top it off, you've got eyes for Leverrier's faithful dog." She could hear the grin in his voice before she even raised her head. "When did that happen?"

Forget when, she was still hung up on the why. She'd never really spoken to the Inspector, never exchanged pleasantries of any kind before, nor had Lenalee felt any particular desire to. Crows were Crows. Elephants in the room. Uncomfortable shadows. Air. And that was a sentiment shared by all the exorcists who'd suffered at their hands in one way or another. The Crows knew it, too. From the moment Link had first introduced himself, she'd hated him on sight, and even more so when she realized Allen was Central's target this time.

And yet, three days ago in the library, when she found her younger comrade and his shadow seated at one of the tables in the back.… Well, she'd said hello to Allen, just as she normally did, and then, after a moment's hesitation, she murmured a quiet 'good morning' to Link as well. The Inspector raised his head in surprise and she felt herself automatically smiling at him. Normally, she just ignored him, and vice versa, but that day, it had suddenly felt awkward greeting Allen while dismissing the Inspector's presence altogether.

"Good morning, Miss Lee." Link had nodded politely once he recovered.

"So what are you two doing?"

Allen had taken over from there, oblivious to the meaning behind the exchange, and explained something about how they were going over the details from the Mater Assignment last year.

The exchange barely lasted two minutes at most, and yet for some annoying reason, she found she was having trouble getting the Crow Inspector out of her head. Any time she heard his voice since, it always sent a shiver down her spine. He rarely glanced her way, yet when he did, she found herself praying her face was nowhere near as red as it felt. In the rare moments they spoke, her words somehow became caught in her throat, spilling out of her mouth in a clumsy and often unintelligible pile. And now, she'd been stealing second glances that had been her undoing with Kanda.

"It's just a little infatuation." Lenalee nervously hugged herself, hoping to quiet the moths in her stomach. "You won't tell anyone, will you?" If Komui found out, there would be no end of trouble.

The elder accommodator permitted a small smile, more out of amusement than understanding, and wryly asked, "Who would I possibly tell?"

It was impossible to keep secrets from her oldest friend.

All that mattered was her oldest friend kept her secrets from everyone else.