Chapter 19: Conflict, Complication, Compassion

The occasional spat amongst the exorcists was an inevitable part of life in the Order. One could not expect everyone to cooperate every waking moment. Eventually a line would be crossed and someone's temper would run thin and their patience, or in Kanda's case tolerance, would run out. Angry words would fly, insults hurled, maybe some regrets had later, depending on those involved, but all in all, the cohesive alliance of their semi-tightknit family would endure.

Until today, Lenalee had thought nothing could shake that belief.

It began as a normal enough morning. She joined Kanda for breakfast, and they in turn were joined by Timothy and Emilia, who was intent on the boy exorcist practicing his spotty English. Allen and Link arrived sometime later, and the white-haired boy practically dove for the seat next to Kanda, which left only one seat open for Link. Right next to her. Under a menacing glare from his less than thrilled neighbor, Allen flashed her a wink and smile before tucking into his usual impressive platter of food.

Lenalee only blushed and hoped the inspector wouldn't notice.

He did, but Allen and Kanda were the only two who saw him pretend not to, which made the latter curse under his breath and pass the former a crumpled banknote under the table.

"Carrot?" Timothy guessed.

"Close. It's cabbage." Emilia patted his head. "Chou."

"C'est dégoutant."

Kanda turned to the boy with a frown. "It's good for you."

"Alors pourquoi tu ne le manges pas?" the boy grumbled.

"Timothy," Emilia warned.

He sighed. "Why…can't you eat it? And why do you eat with sticks?"

Kanda's only response was to slurp up a mouthful of soba noodles, then click his chopsticks in midair before the boy's scrunched nose.

"Maybe you should give chopsticks a try, Timothy." Allen leaned back in his seat to peer around Kanda. "You know, something new and all that."

The boy was about to answer, but at that moment Krory and Chaoji stormed into the mess hall, locked in a heated argument that Lenalee could hear clearly above the usual morning din. Eyes raised, heads turned, naps were ruined as General Zokalo snorted back to consciousness two tables over, and Jerry and his assistants' work was interrupted as Krory's furious voice rang out, "What is it to you that I mourn the woman I loved?"

Then Lavi appeared following after the pair. "Yeah, man, you need to calm down. There's nothing wrong with—"

Without a second thought, Lenalee abandoned her breakfast and rushed toward the trio. Neither Krory nor Chaoji acknowledged her approach, but she saw Lavi's single green eye flicker briefly toward her. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice almost as timid as Miranda's against the raised shouts. No one answered, though whether she'd been heard or not she could not say, and from what followed, she found she could guess what had transpired.

"What kind of exorcist grieves over an akuma?" Chaoji growled. "What kind of soldier mourns an enemy bent on our destruction? Those are the sentiments of a heretic!"

"You never knew her!" Krory yelled back. "She did nothing to you. She was nothing to you!"

"That's enough! Stop it!" Lenalee shouted and tried to get between them, but Lavi was already there, hands outstretched. So she circled back behind Chaoji, ready to grab him if the quarrel turned violent.

"It was a monster for God's sake!" Chaoji retorted. "If it was intelligent enough to deceive you, then think of all the innocent people it murdered to reach that state! It didn't have a heart of its own! It never loved anything and it couldn't understand what love even is, and you pine after it like a—"

Three things happened at once: First, Lavi was knocked aside by Krory; second, as the punches were dealt and the shouts echoed in the mess hall, Lenalee felt a sudden starburst of pain explode in her right eye; third, Allen and Lavi succeeded in pulling Krory back, and Kanda forced his way between the fighting accommodators and shoved Chaoji away.

For a moment, as she stumbled back, Lenalee saw nothing but a flash of white, and then she lost her balance and fell back against the floor. Clutching her watering eye and swelling cheek, it registered that something—someone—had hit her. She'd no idea who. It had happened so fast. Had it been Krory's fist and a mislanded punch? Or had Chaoji's elbow bashed her when he'd drawn his arm back to strike the count? Unbidden, her good eye welled up and tears began to spill down her face. A second later, Krory noticed her on the floor with her hand over her eye, and his feral demeanor immediately melted. "Lenalee, I'm so sorry! Are you all right?"

"ENOUGH!" The voice that shouted wasn't Allen or Kanda, nor was it Emilia or Zokalo. Hell, Zokalo would've been enjoying the fight too much to even dream about calling it off. No, as Lenalee looked up through her one good eye, the person she saw storming through the gathering crowd was none other than Jerry, come to restore order in his domain. "You boys are acting like children! What's gotten into you? Attacking each other at a time like this? Lenalee, hon, are you okay?"

Kanda twisted around to look at her, having not even noticed her go down in the conflict, and his glare became absolutely poisonous. Whatever Chaoji said in response, Lenalee did not hear. Link helped her off the ground, and Emilia arrived on her blind side with a worried, "Oh, my. Let's go get some ice on that."

And before she knew what was happening, Lenalee was being whisked away from the mess hall and up to the Infirmary, Allen and Emilia on either side of her. That meant Link was close behind. Upon arrival, the Head Nurse looked her up and down, her expression shifting from startled to unbelievably irate in the span of an eye blink, then got her situated in one of the exam rooms with a cold pack over her eye. "What nonsense is this," the matron demanded of the four of them. "Exorcists fighting amongst themselves? Haven't we enough problems without this sort of drama? Well, what started it then?"

Lenalee hesitated.

"Speak up," the Head Nurse snapped impatiently to no one in particular.

"I'm given to understand," Link was the one who answered in a calm and even voice. The sort of voice he used when methodically reporting the events of a mission. "That before Lord Krory was identified as an apostle, he had a…companion of sorts who was revealed to be an akuma. Is that about right, Walker?"

"Close enough," Allen said. "It seems Chaoji's taken exception to Krory mourning her death."

"Of all the ridiculous…"

Lenalee tuned out her voice as movement caught the corner of her eye and she turned to see said culprits being marched into the exam room to tend to their own injuries. As they disappeared behind the privacy curtain, Chaoji turned his head and looked at her in concern. Krory kept his head down and wiped at the stream of blood that ran from his nose. Lavi, seemingly unhurt, followed after them, sparing a grin for Lenalee as he went.

"So what happened to Lenalee?" the Head Nurse asked once she finished her tirade. "Don't tell me you were brawling too, girl."

"No," Lenalee winced. "I…I was trying to break up the fight."

"Then who hit you?"

"I…I'm not sure. It all happened so fast."

The Head Nurse fixed her with a sympathetic yet severe look. "Lenalee, this is serious. I know how you feel about protecting your friends, but this kind of behavior among exorcists is intolerable."

"It was just a little spat," Lenalee said and knew it was a poor excuse. "They happen all the time. Kanda gets into a fight daily, doesn't he?"

"Not over something like this," the swordsman said as he appeared suddenly in the doorway. "That idiot Chaoji's missing a tooth, Lottie, and I'm pretty sure he might've broken the vampire's nose. Besides, Duckling, you and I and everyone else knows an argument like that isn't 'just a spat.' This'll get back to Komui if it hasn't already."

Emilia spoke up then, "I sent Timothy to his office as soon as the first punch was thrown."

"Someone should tell Tiedoll, too," Kanda muttered. "One needs to deal with his student and the other needs to deal with his exorcists."

"Why not Zokalo?" Emilia asked. "Isn't Comte Krory in his unit?"

"You really think Zokalo's the type to discipline a brawl in the mess?"

As the discussion continued again without her, Lenalee sighed and adjusted the bag of ice. Her eye had swollen completely shut by now and her cheek felt raw and puffy, like it wasn't a part of her face any longer. She didn't even realize tears were still running from it until they dripped onto her knees. Or was that just the melting ice?

"Are you well, Miss Lee?" She raised her one good eye to find Link had knelt on one knee in front of her, one of his hands reaching for her face to brush her bangs away. "That is quite an impressive mark. Are you certain you don't know which of them hit you?"

She really didn't. She doubted Krory or Chaoji knew either. "It was an accident."

"Perhaps, but their intent to hurt each other was not." Here, she noticed he was not his usual stoic self. There was a worried shade in his eyes as he looked at her, and his voice, while serious, was almost gentle in a way. "I understand your concern, Miss, really I do. But the Head Nurse is right. This behavior cannot stand unchecked."

Lenalee was about to answer when footsteps announced a new arrival and she looked up to see Komui standing in the door. Her brother had seen her injured before. Countless times she'd returned to the Order battered, bandaged, and bruised, and more than once she had been hurt badly enough to warrant a lengthy stay in the Infirmary. And yet the distress in Komui's eyes whenever he saw her in such a state, no matter how minor, had never abated no matter how many years it had been since that first harmless scrape. As he looked on in silence, Lenalee watched his throat convulse when he swallowed, teeth clenched behind his lips. Finally he opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words, there was a long, resigned sigh, and he turned to Kanda. "Would you mind getting the curtain if everyone else is ready?"

The black-haired swordsman did as he was told and Lenalee saw the party behind her, Krory and Chaoji standing shamefaced, Lavi perched on the bed and regarding the room with a thoughtful, Bookman gaze.

"Is everyone here involved?" Komui said. "Lenalee?"

"Except the medical staff, yes. Krory, Chaoji, and Lavi were there from the beginning, though."

"I see." Her brother nodded and drew himself up to address the three on the other side of the room. "We appear to have a situation. Would you perhaps care to tell me what happened?"

There was an uneasy silence as Lavi looked back and forth between his comrades before volunteering to go first. "Um, so…Krorykins and I decided to head down to the chapel. Wanted to get some prayers for lost comrades in before breakfast, you know?"

"I had the same idea," Chaoji spoke up. "So I ended up joining them when we arrived."

Komui said nothing, his stern gaze prompting them to continue.

"On our way out, Chaoji asked who we prayed for. If we were willing to share that is." Lavi paused. "I…wasn't. But Krory decided to open up about Eliade."

"And this bothered you?"

"Not me." Lavi jerked his head in a nod to Chaoji.

Komui turned to the sailor turned exorcist, and Lenalee noticed the room seemed to grow cooler then. The Head Nurse looked on in chilling disapproval, matched only by Kanda's glare. Even Allen looked resentful as he sat down next to her and gripped her hand, shifting his body so that Komui wouldn't see.

"The akuma are our enemies, and sympathizers…" Chaoji finally spoke. His eyes flicked toward Allen, but he continued. "Sympathy for demons is unforgivable, sir. There's nothing more to it."

"So you argued?"

"Yes, sir." He bowed his head. "It got out of hand. And then I hurt Miss Lenalee. I think I accidentally hit her when I drew my arm back to strike the count."

Then Krory finally spoke. "I thought I did it."

"Lenalee?" Everyone looked at her expectantly.

Unseen by her brother, thank God, Allen squeezed her fingers, and Emilia approached to put her hand on her shoulder. Lenalee looked at Krory and Chaoji's mortified faces, then at her brother's serious one, then down at her knees, drops from the ice bag soaking into her stockings. "I really don't know. I promise I don't. It happened so fast and I barely even realized I'd been hit until I was on the floor."

Komui nodded grimly and took a deep breath, as though composing his thoughts, then turned to Krory and Chaoji. "While I won't say there is no infighting within the Order—these things are natural when we all live and annoy each other under the same roof—a disagreement of this calibre, however, is cause for alarm. Chaoji," he continued. "This is not the first time you've gotten into disagreements with others on this matter, correct?"

The young man bowed his head. "Yes, sir."

"You were a sailor once. What sort of punishment lay in store for your shipmates if a brawl like this were to occur onboard."

"L-lashes, sir. Fifteen for fighting. Thirty more for injuring an officer." He nodded to Lenalee and her blackening eye.

"And Krory, you're a decently well-read individual. Perhaps you have an idea of some military punishment or other that would be suitable here."

The vampire exorcist nodded slowly, saying nothing.

Komui continued, "Perhaps both of you could have thought of a more diplomatic approach rather than all the trouble the two of you caused this morning."

"Yes, sir."

"Now then. First and foremost, I think an apology to Lenalee is in order. And to each other. Then—"

"No."

Everyone turned to Krory in surprise as the count drew himself upright. "I apologize to Miss Lenalee for letting my anger get out of hand and causing her harm. But to Chaoji, no. Eliade was very dear to my heart, and when she was revealed to be an akuma, I did what was required. However, I will not apologize for the love, unreciprocated or no, I had for her. If that makes me a traitor and slaps me with Crow shadow of my own, so be it."

Lenalee turned to Link, wondering about the report he would be making back to Central, but the Inspector was intent on watching the events before them. A tense silence had again fallen over the room, as though someone would again start throwing punches at the slightest provocation. Krory and Chaoji had returned to eyeing each other down with disdain, but surrounded by comrades, commanders, and medical staff as they were, neither of them started anything.

"Lenalee," her brother said, and she turned to him. "Were you fighting as well?"

"No. I was trying to help Lavi break up the fight."

"Very well. Krory and Chaoji, when Lottie discharges you from the Infirmary, I will speak with you both in private." Komui turned to the Head Nurse, who shrugged and muttered she'd be finished treating injuries in a quarter hour or so. "If no one else has anything to add, you're free to leave."

No one did, so one by one, they all began to filter out. Kanda disappeared first, muttering irritably to himself, then Emilia hustled out the door, likely in search of Timothy. Allen gave her hand another reassuring squeeze before he stood up, asking if she was up for finishing breakfast. "I can bring yours down to you if you like."

Lenalee shook her head. Knowing Jerry, he was already on the way. "You head back. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I was almost done anyway."

Her friend waited a beat or two and then reluctantly stepped away. Timcanpy took a moment to fly off his shoulder and nuzzle her good cheek before returning to Allen. Then the Head Nurse made a motion toward Krory, Lavi, and Chaoji the four of them began to file out. Lenalee smiled and offered a little wave as they passed, but they seemed preoccupied with Lottie's instructions.

Taking a deep breath, Lenalee pulled the cold pack away from her eye and gingerly brushed her finger against it. "How bad is it?"

Allen gave her an appraising look, lips pursed, then after a quick glance out the door to make sure Komui was far enough away, "I think you still look pretty. Doesn't she, Link?"

The Crow, in the midst of jotting down notes for the report he would have to make later, fumbled with his fountain pen and gave his charge a baleful look. Unlike Miss Lee, he was full aware of the series of bets that now revolved around the two of them, and he did not appreciate Walker fishing for another couple pence.

"That wasn't really what I asked, Allen," Lenalee said with a smile. "But thank you."

Link cleared his throat and tucked the notebook away in his pocket. "There is a good deal of discoloration and swelling, Miss Lee, but if you're not experiencing any vision trouble, it should return to normal after a week or so."

"Thank you."

By the door, Allen could not say he wasn't disappointed by the Inspector's answer. However, he thought as he reached into his pocket and fingered the banknote he'd collected from Kanda earlier, small victories were still victories. Progress, he thought smugly as a knock came at the doorframe and Jerry sailed in with Lenalee's replenished breakfast.

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Author's Notes: ...I'm back…

D. Gray Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino.