When hearts Collide

I do not own D. Grayman or any of it’s associated characters, nor do I own any songs used within this fic. I do not make any money off of these works of fiction, they are for entertainment only.

~Push it~
I was angry when I met you
I think I'm angry still
We can try to talk it over
If you say you'll help me out

Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
No need to fight
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
We'll be alright

This is the noise that keeps me awake
My head explodes and my body aches
Push it (make the beats go harder)
Push it (make the beats go harder)

I'm sorry that I hurt you
Please don't ask me why
I want to see you happy
I want to see you shine

Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Don't be uptight
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
We'll stay up all night

This is the noise that keeps me awake
My head explodes and my body aches
Push it (make the beats go harder)
Push it (make the beats go harder)

Come on push it you can do it
Come on prove it nothing to it
Come on use it let's get through it
Come on push it you can do it

Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Don't be uptight
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
We'll stay up all night

This is the noise that keeps me awake
My head explodes and my body aches
Push it (make the beats go harder)
Push it (make the beats go harder)

This is the noise that keeps me awake
My head explodes and my body aches
Push it (make the beats go harder)
Push it (make the beats go harder)

This is the noise that keeps me awake
My head explodes and my body aches
Push it (make the beats go harder)
Push it (make the beats go harder)

Don't worry baby
We'll be alright
Don't worry baby
We'll be alright

Push it…

~Push It - Garbage~


Aleia felt her stomach tighten as she waited. Hevlaska had the innocence in hand, watching the reaction of it. She was anxious, frightened, elated, and worried all at once.

Kanda hadn't helped, he'd been so withdrawn from her. The only time he acted normal was at night when he curled around her. But even then, well some times he didn't come.

“There is no doubt” Hevlaska said in her soft voice, “You are the user to this innocence.”

Komui clapped, delighted. Allen and Lenalee looked apprehensive. This would change Aleia’s whole life. They resolved that they would do whatever she needed them to do to support her decision.

Allen was certain she was doing this because she felt she had to. That saying no would be a betrayal of some sort and above all he knew that she carried the leaded weight of guilt on her heart.

He also knew that since word of her decision had gone out through the Order that Kanda had been more irritable. He wondered if Kanda was convinced that she wouldn’t be a good exorcist or if the bad temper came from worry.

Whatever it was, the anti-social man wasn’t saying anything.

Allen wasn’t blind. He and Lavi were rather good and reading people and it was clear that Aleia and Kanda had feelings for each other, they just weren’t really acting on them and Allen was certain that dilemma lay with Kanda.

What would it take for the older man to open up and let someone care about him? Lenalee had said that Kanda had always been aloof and alone. Preferring his own space rather than the warm coven of friendship.

Allen knew how that felt to a point, but the cold winter of alone was blindingly painful when confronted with the warm sun of belonging. Kanda might pretend that no one mattered to him, but Allen knew better.

If that were true, Kanda wouldn’t have nearly died several times in the defense of himself and Lenalee. Not to mention the countless others.

He turned uncertain silver eyes back to the platform where Aleia stood with Hevlaska looming over her. The innocence in her hands fluttering with a strange, nearly urgent light.

“This is strange…” she said.

There was a brilliant flash of light and then a terrible, tearing scream.

A scream that made his blood run cold, that went on and on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kanda leaned against the wall, his expression cold and indifferent. Inside, he was worried. His thoughts spinning wildly behind his dark gray eyes. His stomach in knots.

If only her synch rate was low. Then she wouldn’t be an exorcist. He knew it was selfish of him to wish for such things….but still.

His life was short and nearly over if the research was to be believed. His young years filled with endless battles and bloodshed, a wealth of wounds and sorrows that couldn’t be shared. She had her whole life ahead of her.

And he didn’t want that sort of life for her.

If he had explained to her, perhaps she would have understood his viewpoint. But he hadn’t said these things, had been unable to. Even now if she were here before him, he would not say them. For it was not allowed.

He suspected that he loved her, or was getting there rapidly and that in itself was unacceptable. She would grieve him when he was gone, her life would be torn apart until she could heal. As for himself he would enter every battle not wanting to leave her and that would make him hesitate.

Make him lose. Before he finished what he had to. Before he found THAT person.

Life had been much simpler before she came into his life with her soft skin, red lips, greener than green eyes and far too memorable scent.

He grasped Mugen so tightly the sheathe creaked, his jaw clenching.

He jerked away from the wall when a scream split the air, eyes snapping wide. His head whipped towards the door, dark ponytail streaming behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aleia lay curled in a fetal position, her body wracked with pain. It was as though something was forcing it’s way through her veins and into her very being. Tears welled at her lash line, spilled over.

"It burns..." she gurgled. Hevlaska tried to soothe her, speak to the Innocence.

Komui and Allen rushed to her, but the green light around her held them at bay.

“What’s happening?” Allen demanded of Hevlaska.

The being knew only too well. “Her innocence will not be formed into a weapon by us.”

“What does that mean?”

“Allen. She is a parasitic, like you, although her innocence is invading her body at present. If she can survive this, the innocence will fuse with her and she will be able to control it.”

“If she survives?!” Allen shouted and his own innocence activated, he was determined to rip her from the hold of her innocence.

“Its too late Allen, its already in her body, you cannot separate them now!” Komui called frantically, “Her innocence is out of control!”

Lenalee clasped her hand over her mouth to fight off the urge to gag. She knew what happened when innocence went wild. Her own had done so, but not like this. And she had seen the horrible experiments where Innocence had gone wild and turned on the potential user.

When they had fallen.

The door slammed open and she turned to see Kanda standing there. His eyes wide in surprise. “What is happening?” he demanded and for once, she heard it. The worry ringing in his tone.

Lenalee’s wide violet eyes swung back to the crumpled form. “Her innocence is out of control.”

Kanda swore softly and leapt onto the platform, brushing Allen aside. But the smaller man held him back, “You can’t help her, you can only wait.”

Kanda shrugged from his hold just as Hevlaska called out, “Sync rate 5%……46%………81%………Komui…… 94%!”

The light began to glimmer and fade and soon it dissipated, leaving a sweating, bloodied, tearful, panting Aleia on the platform floor.

“Aleia!” Komui shouted rushing forward.

Her legs were encased in silvery boots that were wickedly edged, her forearms as well. Was this her weapon then?

Kanda crouched beside her, gathering her against his chest. Her body was tight and shaking. Her eyes had rolled back and her head lolled with his movements. “I’m taking her to medical”.

Allen and Lenalee chased after him. When the door closed, Komui turned to Hevlaska. “Is that her weapon?”

“A part of it. She, like Allen may be able to alter her weapon as she wishes. But… You know that her life will burn away faster now.”

Komui lowered his head sadly, “There seems to be an increase in parasitic innocence Hevlaska. What are your thoughts on it?”

“I believe that we have looked innocence in the wrong way before. It is not the exorcist that is parasitic but the innocence itself, certain fragments are of this nature. I can only guess that it has something to do with the make up of the original cube.” she paused allowing Komui to ponder what she had said, then continued.

“If the cube is like the ark then various parts of it would be needed for internal functions, defense, movement. These would draw more power from the source. It is a possibility that these are the parasitic innocence fragments and when attuned to a user, they pull from the source of the user. The life force.”

Komui shook his head, “There has to be a better way Hevlaska. It isn’t right to ask them to fight with the innocence only to have them devoured by it in the end.”

Hevlaska looked downward and Komui was instantly contrite. “Forgive me Hevlaska” he whispered, “You were also devoured by it.”

She nodded, “Yes, but unlike them, I live… in a way. But I agree Komui, I cannot believe that God could be so cruel as to want this.”

Behind them the door slammed open and a scowling Kanda strode inside. His expression dark and dangerous. “Then you are a fool” he snapped, “Because of dark matter and innocence we are all God’s playthings.”

His hard glared moved to Komui, “You should never have told her.”

Komui stiffened, “We need every member we can get Kanda, you know that. And Aleia had the right to choose her own destiny.”

Kanda lunged at him, grabbing his collar in a tight grasp, lifted the heavier man from his feet. “And the destiny she should choose is blindness?”

Komui blinked, dangling in the air, “Blindness?”

Kanda shook him hard, “Yes, that is what the medical ward is saying and that perhaps she has lost the control of her arms and legs. That…innocence… is tearing her apart, making room for itself. Great, you have a weapon that can only sit there.”

Komui gasped at Kanda’s words, “That can’t be…”

Kanda shoved Komui away from himself as though he couldn’t bear to be near the other man, “Go see for yourself, at this rate she’ll end up like that one” he jerked his chin towards Hevlaska, “More material than human.”

“Kanda!” Komui admonished but the other had already turned to go.

The director slowly turned to Hevlaska, his hands outstretched at his sides, “I am sorry Hevlaska. He shouldn’t have said…”

“No”, she cut him off, “That is only truthful after all. You should go the medical ward at any rate.”

Komui nodded, watching as Hevlaska returned to her sanctum and he left the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The hall of the medical wing was silent, none of those gathered outside the large double doors spoke. Lenalee sat her eyes fixed on the door, Allen sat beside her, head in his hands. Lavi, just returned from a mission, stood nearby, looking bruised and haggard. Jerry, Roland and a few others hovered nearby in tense silence.

The air was thick with tension and worry as Komui walked slowly towards the large oak doors. His violet eyes locked with his sister’s and he knew she was close to breaking down.

“Lavi” he said quietly, “You look exhausted, you should rest. Take Lenalee with you please.”

Lavi blinked tiredly, “What?”

“She can fret over you more effectively than she can fret here.”

Lavi nodded, reaching his hand out to Lenalee. Allen gently urged her upward, “I’ll come and find you when I know anything” he promised. She disagreed for a moment more but he merely caught and held her gaze, pleading with his eyes.

She nodded and stood, letting Lavi take her hand in what might have been misconstrued as a friendly gesture of comfort. Only the unseen action of his thumb on the pulse point of her wrist served to comfort in the nature of lovers.

Komui watched them go with a sadness in his eyes, he hated to see Lenalee hurt. Moreso when it was one of his subordinate’s pain that caused it. Right now he was wracked with guilt. Perhaps…Kanda had been right after all.

He looked back to find Allen’s gaze on him, probing, measuring.

“Go ahead” the younger man said gently and Komui, taking a deep breath, opened the door and stepped inside.

Aleia was in the far corner, the white curtains drawn around the bed. Rarely had he seen the nurses do such a thing and it made his stomach twist. On slow feet he moved closer, pulling back the curtains.

Aleia lay on her back, so pale that even the white sheets seemed vibrant around her. There were large slashing cuts on her calves and forearms, as though the innocence had sliced it’s way free. After seeing what had occurred on the platform he supposed it had done just that.

The lines of her veins were prominent, more blue as though each one had bruised all the way to the surface and her eyes were covered with a thick white bandage but the he could see the crimson starting to seep through.

He felt sick. He sat down in the bedside chair and gently touched her hand. She cried out and recoiled as though being touched were painful and he stared in shock as one the head nurses came in.

“Nerve damage as far as we can tell” she said bluntly, “We aren’t sure of how badly her system is damaged or if it will heal. All we can do now is wait.”

Komui’s head fell, his eyes stinging as he fought for control. His hands clenched tightly.

“She said something when she was brought in”

He didn’t move.

“It was a message for you.”

He slowly lifted his gaze. Here it was, the condemnation that he so justly deserved. Yet how was he to have known this would happen?

“She said she was sorry.”

And just like that Komui’s reserve of strength failed him and he wept for the once fiery, vibrant, ferociously independent woman laying so helpless on the bed. Leaning forward he whispered to her, not sure she could hear but needing to say it.

“We will help you, whatever you need. You will have it, I promise.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lavi had barely left Lenalee long enough to shower and now he was sprawled on his back, the distraught woman curled against him. She had told him what had happened in his absence.

How Aleia had been hurt, how Kanda had torn through the medical wing like a madman until Allen had made him go. How badly Aleia had been injured. He ran his hand gently through her dark hair.

Her tears had stopped some time ago, now she lay there, exhausted. It was a hell of a homecoming.

“I’m sorry Lenalee” he whispered to her and the soothing tone of his voice made her curl closer to him.

“I think… Someone should check on Kanda” she finally said.

An emerald eye popped wide. “Hmm?”

Lenalee rose up to lean over him, “I don’t care what he says Lavi. You should have seen him. He acted like, well, how you and Allen act when I get hurt. I believe that he loves her.”

Lavi brushed his thumb across her lower lip and sighed, “You want to believe that Lenalee, we all do. But I am not so sure. He feels something, yes, but right now the last thing she needs is Kanda’s crappy attitude.”

“Lavi…”

“Lets be honest Lenalee, Kanda is not a nurturing, loving person. Right now she needs all the love and support we can give. Do you really think Kanda can do that?”

“I want to believe he can” she said firmly.

“And I want to protect her as much as I can as her friend” he said just as firmly.

She sighed, “I suppose you are right.” But in her heart she wanted Kanda to love Aleia like she loved Allen and Lavi. Heaven knew his heart needed that healing miracle.

She felt the familiar tightening of Lavi’s grip in her hair, the light, needful pressure. She lowered her lips to him, lapping at his lower lip.

Lavi opened, taking control of the kiss immediately, his tongue sliding against hers in a wanton rhythm. She moaned when his teeth found her bottom lip, biting down lightly.

The tugging pressure echoing between her thighs. Her hands roved over him, pushing blankets aside, to get to bare skin. His smooth chest, more heavily muscled than Allen’s contracting under the butterfly soft caress of her fingertips.

“Mmm, Lavi” she moaned into his mouth, “Welcome home.”

His large, callused hand slid over her back, grasping her bottom and pulling her up until she straddled him. Her lovers had the ability to make her hot and wet with the barest touches. Perhaps because she knew what always came later.

She pressed nipping kisses along the edge of his jaw, tugging his earlobe between smooth teeth. He groaned, when her mouth moved to his throat, the junction of shoulder and neck.

Lavi tensed knowing what was coming. Lenalee bit down, rather hard and he tightened his arms around her, rising up to her with a pleasured moan. His hand cupping the back of her head as his mouth latched onto the pert breast at eye level with him.

Feeling her hands twine in his bright hair, he rolled them, pinning her beneath him. One hand moving to the cropped nest of moist curls at her core.

He groaned against her, feeling the slick waiting wetness.

“Hasn’t Allen been taking care of you while I was away?” he asked playfully, knowing full well she had been thoroughly loved by the other.

She moaned as his fingers pressed against her pearl, “Y..yes, I miss you!” she moaned. Lavi smiled against her flesh. Words like that made a man feel powerful. He pressed two fingers inside of her, feeling her ripple around him.

“Can’t wait” he panted against her ear, even as he moved his fingers inside of her. Lenalee jolted as his thumb circled her pearl as he curled his long fingers to press against the spongy area within her.

He rubbed hard against it, feeling her shake and writhe against him, heard her pant his name against his ear.

“L..Lavi!”

He groaned, pulling his hand away from her, and replacing it with the hard length that needed her so badly.

He filled her in one smooth, motion, robbing both of them of breath.

He stilled for a moment, feeling her tighten around him and pressed his brow to hers. His eyes closed, enjoying the moment of union. Then he pulled back and slammed into her, making her eyes close and her toes curl against his legs. His hands moved under her shoulders to hold her even closer as he pounded into her with a burning desire that made his back ache.

“Gah.. I’m close.” he rasped.

Lenalee was having none of that, it had been too long since she’d had him to herself.

Her small hand moved between them to find his heavy sac and tug lightly, he groaned, eyes closed tightly, head thrown back. His orgasm delayed by her action as waves of pleasure rang through him.

He grabbed her arms, pinning her by her wrists above her head with one hand. Her legs wrapped tightly around him, higher on his back now. Lavi slid his own hand between them to press against the wet nub of her pleasure with each demanding thrust he poured into her.

Her head fell back, her cries disjointed, the color spreading from her cheeks over her chest and Lavi bit down softly on her throat.

He felt her clamp down on his length and clenched his jaw to keep from exploding at the feeling. The hot rush of her release poured around his deeply imbedded tip and he groaned.

One thrust, two, three. “Ahh Lena…..”

He shattered against her, his release moving in hot pulses through his body into hers. Her arms and legs were tight around his body, her nails digging into his shoulders, her spine arched nearly off the bed.

Lavi felt her slowly relax beneath him, her limbs slackening, twitching. Lavi dropped against her, barely remembering to support his weight on his arms to keep from crushing her smaller form.

His face buried against her shoulder, his breath rushing against her sweaty skin in great ragged pants.

With the last of his energy he lifted his head, “Now I’m home” he murmured and dropped his head again, dozing atop her, still protecting her from his weight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kanda slipped through the medical ward doors after midnight. The nurse on duty was sleeping at the far end of the hall and he didn’t concern himself with her. It had been three days since he had carried Aleia here, broken and bleeding.

Three days since he had come to see her. But she hadn’t woken. So they said. On silent feet he approached the bed and surveyed her. The veins were not as prominent as he had heard so he assumed she was healing.

He knew that touch was painful for her, Komui had told them of that development. Kanda settled for passing his hand through the air over her, an inch above.

“K…Kanda” she whispered.

He stilled, “I’m here” he said quietly.

Her head moved slightly as though she would seek him out, the heavy bandages over her eyes still in place.

“Oi, stupid don’t move” he snapped. He silently cursed himself for being so harsh with her. He sighed, propping Mugen against the bedside table and sank into the chair. “Go back to sleep.”

“Sleep?” she asked, “I haven’t slept much since I have been here.”

He leaned forward, “Are you in pain?”

A soft sigh, “A little, but in the last few hours it has faded. It’s tolerable now.”

“You should have said something” he told her.

“Doesn’t matter” she said flatly and a small part of him ached to hear that lifeless tone.

He sat very still and he pondered what Allen or Lavi might say at this moment. Damn them for being better at this type of thing anyway.

“It wasn’t your fault” he said at last, and his tone was forced.

“You don’t believe that” she said, and her voice cracked just a tiny bit and Kanda knew that his attempt to comfort her had failed.

“I’m not good at these things” he grumbled.

“You said I shouldn't do this, and I proved you right. I am clearly everything that you have always thought me to be.”

He blinked at her. Yes she was. Beautiful and hard headed, strong and courageous. All the things that he could never tell her. All the things that made her precious to him.

“I’m weak and foolish, I think too much with my heart. I should never have come here. I wasn’t even a good medic for you, you always got hurt.” Her breath caught and Kanda watched as the light pink trail of moisture stained the edge of the bandage.

He had never meant for her to think so poorly of herself, or to see herself so badly through his eyes.

“I don’t think those things” he bit out.

She gave a short mirthless chuckle, “You always have Kanda. Everyone is beneath you, which is why you don’t get close to them. Its that darkness in you."

His mind wandered back to Sophia... that sad Akuma made of twin sisters. "You have a darkness that even I cannot understand" she had said.

"I can’t be an exorcist now, but I feel it….”

he focused his attention on the bed. “What?”

“The innocence. It moves in me, changing things, and even though its hurting me, I feel stronger. I don’t understand it.”

“You should tell Komui”. This could be something they could work with.

Her hand rose slowly, shakily into the air and Kanda flinched from it, unwilling to hurt her.

“You dodged me” she said, “You won’t even touch me now…”

“That isn’t…”

She cut him off, not wanting to hear anything else. “You will have to find another toy now. I’m tired now Kanda.”

And though they both knew that he knew it was a lie, he rose and left. She was tired he knew, and all because Allen had been right. In his confused feelings, he had treated her like a favorite plaything. Something to throw down and forget when he felt like.

All the harsh things he had said to her resounded in his head and he supposed that laying there, pained and blind that she heard them over and over in her own head.

"Baka" he said quietly.

Damn him anyway. He closed the door softly behind him.

In her bed, Aleia lay breathing roughly, she preferred not to cry as the tears stung and caused her eyes to ache but she couldn’t help it.

“I love you Yu” she whispered brokenly with no one to hear but herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A week later, her nerves seemed to be recovering. She could stand light touches now and increasing pressure as the days went by. She could sit up by herself. Komui considered her increased healing to be a miraculous side effect of the innocence.

He didn’t care what caused it however. He spent time with her each day and Reever and the others never came to chase him back to work.

“I’m bored” she said one day to the darkness that would be her world.

“I imagine you are” he conceded, “Are your eyes still tender?”

She nodded, “We think it’s a good idea to gradually thin the bandages to let them get used to the light in phases but that is a long way off. Besides it’s not like I would be able to see it anyway.”

“What can I do?” he asked.

She thought for a moment, “Let me work” she insisted.

“Work?”

“I was making progress in my research before this happened. I want to get back to it.”

Komui paused, hating to state the obvious. “But you….can’t see..”

“I know that. Get Bookman to help me, or Sandra from Tiedoll’s team. They can read to me, and write what I report. I can still think damn it!”

Komui held his hands up in surrender though the action was lost on her, “Ok ok, but you aren’t to overdo. Why is the parasitic research so important to you, beside the fact that you are one now?”

“Kanda” she said simply, “Allen and Lenalee. The others. I want them to live.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eyes bandaged, she continued her work. Bookman and Lavi, even Lenalee and Allen offering to read results to her and in no time she was back in the swing of her research.

Komui worried about her pushing herself too hard, but the work seemed to keep her mind off her own condition. Her spirits were upbeat if a little guarded but at least it was better than being comatose.

What was more, her research began to yield results which left her nearly jubilant.

By the end of the month, she was moving blindly but accurately around her small sick bed area. Her hearing and sense of smell had sharpened, and she attributed that to the loss of her sight. She could recognize Allen, Lenalee, Lavi, Bookman, Komui and several others by scent alone.

Lenalee smelled of jasmine, like her shampoo.

Lavi smelled of old leather books and fresh limes.

Bookman smelled of inks and oils.

Komui smelled of coffee and faintly of his sister.

The head nurse smelled like medicine and that damn cayenne she put in all her food.

And Allen, well he smelled of cookies and tea and a variety of other baked goods.

But the scent that she knew best, missed most, never came with them.

Every now and again she swore that she smelled Kanda. Usually late in the night or early in the morning but she suspected it was because she missed him and he never came anymore.

In truth, Kanda had taken to sitting with her for at least an hour each night as she slept, sometimes longer. He never spoke to her, never touched her. Although sometimes she seemed to sense his presence, even in her sleep. Her lips parting to whisper his name softly.

Komui had told him that she continued her work, for his sake and others. He said nothing. Would not allow himself to hurt her again. He didn’t deserve her care and consideration when he couldn’t even let himself be honest with her.

So he sat. Content to watch over her in her rest. Wishing that he had the power to make things different between them, lost as to how. He knew what he had to do, but doing it was another matter all together.

He couldn’t let himself…need or be needed. Ever.

He was dying.

So is she…. A little voice in his head kept whispering. She was a parasitic like him. He only hoped that her inability to use her weapon meant her life would remain long.

So he decided, that he would be what she needed to grow strong again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Allen smiled to himself as he carried a large breakfast tray to the sick room. His own mountainous breakfast dwarfing Aleia’s berries and toast. He was eager to spend time with her now that she was improving. He didn't feel quite so helpless around her now.

He kicked the door closed behind him and turned towards her bed. “Alei…Ahhh!”

He nearly dropped the tray, swiftly placing in on a nearby bed. She was kneeling in the center of the floor, her bandages laying pooled around her. Her face bared to him for the first time in weeks.

Her eyes were closed and she was turned away from the window. “What are you doing?” he asked as he crossed the room to where she was. His hand instantly moving out to cover her eyes protectively.

“I have to know…” she whispered, reaching out to cover his hand gently. “The bandages allow me to hope that the injury will heal.”

Allen slowly removed his hand to cup her face between his palms. “Then we will face it together.” he promised, knowing that once confronted with the true nature of her plight, she would likely need his strength.

She nodded. “Thank you… Allen”

He smiled though she couldn’t see it, “Whenever you are ready. Take your time.”

She nodded against and he felt her swallow hard.

Five minutes passed, ten, as she mentally prepared herself to face the unending darkness that loomed before her. Allen saw her bite her lip, knew that her mind was going a thousand miles a minute and stroked her cheekbones with his thumbs.

She nodded, “Ok.”

Her brow furrowed and slowly, so slowly, she opened her eyes for the first time in weeks.

Allen watched the dark line of lashes flutter and lift in minute movements. And then it was over.

He found himself staring into eyes he didn’t recognize. The leafy green was gone. Her eyes were not clouded as he suspected they might be. They were clear and bright, and a very pale glimmering silver.

“Aleia?” he asked when those eyes seemed to fix him.

Her hands tightened in his sleeves and the rush of tears met her cheeks, “No good.” she whispered, “I knew better but somehow I hoped.”

He lowered his head slightly, “Nothing at all?”

“Only darkness” she confirmed, “Are they…ugly?”

Allen gathered her to his chest and hugged her tight, “They aren’t. They have just changed. They are lovely.”

And she wept against him for several minutes more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bookman came later and examined her eyes. His dark eyes and aged fingers missing nothing. “No pain?”

“None”

“No gray areas in the black?”

“No. Should there be?”

“I believe that your eyes are healing. I cannot be sure, but it would appear that they too are part of your weapon”

“Please Bookman, no false hope”

“Fine. Your blind until you aren’t” he said waspishly.

She chuckled and patted his hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Her eyes have changed Lenalee. You should see them. They don’t look like...well... blind eyes.” Allen was saying to his lover and friend as they wandered the halls.

Lenalee cocked her head, “I am happy that you could be there for her in that time. It must have been very hard for her.” She closed her eyes and continued moving, “I can’t imagine the loss of my eyes….. What a terribly dark place that must be.”

Allen caught her hand before she bumped into a wall, “Its strange Lena,” he said, “Its almost like she can see though. She doesn’t run into anything. She says that she feels the air get tighter around her when she comes close to things. Almost like she can feel the energy of everything around her. And that nose of hers is amazing. She knew Lavi ate one of her strawberries from across the room.”

Lenalee considered that, “But that’s good isn’t it?”

Allen nodded, “Yes, I suppose it is”

They passed Kanda’s room and he, within, heard everything they said.

Midnight came and he entered the room, finding her sitting up on her bed, facing the tall window. Moonlight made her skin pale blue, her hair nearly purple.

“Kanda” she said softly in greeting. He paused beside the door. “I can smell you. Its ok, come in”

He crossed the room, not bothering to hide his movements. He sat in the chair as he had nearly every night since her accident.

“Your bandages are off” he said, feeling foolish for stating the obvious.

Her eyes were closed and she smiled softly, “They are” she agreed, “I am sorry Kanda”.

He blinked in confusion, “For what?”

“I said terrible things to you last time you came.”

“You didn’t. Don’t apologize.”

She smiled in his direction and he found his heartbeat increasing. “I took out my upset on your, it wasn’t right of me.”

He tched. “I said some things I shouldn’t have” he said grudgingly.

She lifted her hand towards him. This time he didn’t flinch from her, feeling her cool fingertips ghost over his face to his brows.

“Ah” she said knowingly, “You are frowning. Before you know it you will look like an old man”.

“I won’t” he said plainly.

She lowered her hand and Kanda felt the loss of her touch acutely. He looked at her small hand resting against the bedding. He reached out the tip of one finger to trace the back of her hand. The first touch he had allowed himself in over a month.

“Allen says your eyes have changed” he said, for lack of something better to talk about.

She nodded, “ The first time everyone sees them, they gasp. I asked Allen if they were ugly…. I think he might have lied.”

“Moyashi doesn’t lie” Kanda stated.

A red brow lifted in question, “Defending him now? Has the world ended while I was in here?”

“Tch. Not defending. Its just the way he is.”

“Hm.”

“Show me.” he commanded softly.

“What?” she asked, surprised by the note in his voice.

“I won’t lie to you.”

She turned her head away from him, nearly gasping in surprise when his callused fingers found her chin. He tilted her head back towards him.

She nodded, relaxing into his gentle hold. Slowly she opened her eyes.

Kanda to his credit didn’t gasp but the sight was striking. He saw himself clearly reflected in vibrant silver depths. He noticed that the shape of her eye itself had also changed. The outer corners lifting slightly, much like a feline.

She looked exotic, lovely and completely... Dangerous.

“They are awful aren’t they?”

“No. They simply aren’t green anymore, it’s a surprise.”

“What do they look like?”

Kanda thought for a moment, “Mugen’s blade in the light.”

She huffed with soft laughter, the man was by far not a poet.

“You should sleep.” he told her then, “And stop working so much.”

With a small, smile she settled in the bed, “No, Kanda”.

He walked to the door, “Tch. Cheeky.”

He didn't admit that he missed her, or that even now, he often curled in her bed, just to breathe her scent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One week later, Bookman looked up in surprise when Aleia called out to him from her bed. “Bookman! Oh! Bookman! Gray!”

He lifted his head and looked over at her, “What was that?”

“I see gray!”

He and Lavi had hurried to her side, Bookman gently prodding around her eyes. “Lavi… my bag” he grunted.

An hour later, she lay still as Lavi and Bookman twisted the thin needles under her skin. “Does it hurt?” Lavi asked for the tenth time out of habit. He knew perfectly well they didn’t.

“No”.

“I was correct.” Bookman stated grimly, “Your eyes are healing”

“Ji ji that isn’t something to sound unhappy about” Lavi complained.

“Her body is changing you pup. In ways that we are not sure of.” The old man snapped back.

“But she is healing!”

“She’s changing! Her body is new to her now!”

“That sounds ridiculous you old panda.”

Crack!

Aleia imagined that Lavi was sporting a good sized lump now.

“Watch” Bookman was saying, he raised his hand and threw a punch at Aleia.

Before Lavi could grab him, she had.

She blinked blindly, his wrist caught in her grip. “Bookman?”

“Her senses warn her of danger. The innocence is trying.”

For the next hour the three of them discussed what this might mean and in the end Bookman concluded that Komui must be notified at once and she should begin training as it would likely speed the transformations.

That night Aleia told Kanda what had been decided. Allen and Lavi would begin training her.

Kanda was decidedly against it. Her innocence might warn her of danger but she was still blind, still frail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For two weeks they trained. Allen and Lavi impressed that she was able to dodge and block attacks in her state of blindness. Her skills were getting better. As were her eyes.

Now she was aware of shapes, dark fuzzy shapes. But it was something more than she’d had before.

Kanda watched her training from the sidelines with a critical eye. He sensed the innocence moving within her, guiding her. However at this point it wasn’t a weapon, but a shield.

Allen and Lavi danced around her, throwing light punches or kicks that wouldn’t really hurt her if they had landed. Kanda frowned, while her movements were smoother, the nature of the weapon had not changed.

Her anti-akuma weapon had not manifested itself either.

Allen and Lavi were going to have to get serious if they wanted to be of any use to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Her sight had improved enough that she could spot the blurs of potential targets and fight hand to hand with them. However, the blades of innocence did not appear and everyone knew that she could never hope to defeat Akuma in her present condition.

Kanda heard her at night in her room going through the actions she had learned and practicing them. She wanted to be good, she wanted to fight. This had to stop.

His irritation was nearly palpable as he stormed off. If they were going to train her, the least they could do was see it done correctly.

The following day, Kanda took matters into his own hands. As he watched what he had termed the dance lessons, he grew irritated and leapt into the training ring. His blue-black hair flying around him as he leapt into action.

“Out of the way Moyashi!” he shouted. Allen blinked in confusion.

“Kanda…what?” he stammered.

“She can dance just fine believe me I know. She needs to fight.” Kanda replied in his usual arrogant tones.

He flew at her hard and fast, a series of kicks and punches forcing her back, forcing her to block.

“Push yourself!” he barked at her, “Prove that you want it…”

She grunted from the exertion of moving to dodge him.

“Don’t run from me damn it…attack me. Use your weapon!”

She panted, staggered, her concentration broken momentarily and she lost ‘sight’ of him.

He kicked her legs out from underneath her, holding his breath, inwardly willing her to succeed.

“Come on. This is it? This is what you have to show for your desire to fight?”

She managed to flip once and land in a crouch heavily, her body heaving with the effort to breathe. “Kaa. Kanda….”

“Fight me. If you can’t stand against me how do you ever plan to fight an Akuma?”

“Hey!” Lavi called out, “No one said she is going to fight.”

Kanda tched. “You really think that the Order will let anyone with innocence sit on the sidelines. You all are too soft.”

Lenalee shook her head, dashed off to find Komui. This had to stop. Kanda was going for blood.

Again and again he came at her, giving her no rest, forcing her body to exhaustion. He paid no heed to Allen and Lavi when they called for him to stop, threw them out of his way when they tried to make him.

‘Come on Aka’ he silently urged, ‘You have to do this.’

Aleia tried to follow the swift shape that she knew was Kanda but he was so fast. Impossibly so.

‘Have we come to this Kanda?’ she asked herself, ‘That we are reduced to this…’

“Pay attention!” he snapped at her from the left, she had lost him in the shadows again.

He managed to get a hold of her and flung her hard across the room, her back connecting with the wall with a sickening thud and she slumped to the floor. Kanda tried not to wince at the sound. It wasn’t like him to fight a female who wasn’t akuma. It wasn’t like him to physically hurt the weaker.

But if he didn’t push her…. How would she survive.

Aleia heard the clip of his boots against the stone floor and tried to push herself up, but her tired legs wouldn’t obey.

Kanda unsheathed Mugen and attacked her despite the cries of the others from the sidelines.

“Kanda! No!” Allen cried out. Komui had just entered the room, Lenalee at his heels and echoed the cry. But Lavi was oddly silent. Watching, listening, that green eye missing nothing.

Kanda’s arm flew down in a vicious slice.

There was a large explosion and when the dust cleared they saw Kanda standing over her, his arm shaking with his effort to slice at her with Mugen. Her forearm was raised.

And from it, like a shining arm guard, a blade of innocence.

Her weapon had manifested itself. She looked up and locked eyes with Kanda, and though he knew she couldn’t really see him, he felt her challenge all too clearly.

All too quickly however she lost the hold of her innocence and the blade shimmered away. Kanda swung Mugen away from her, catching her face in his broad chest as she pitched forward.

Gently he gathered her close with one arm, “Better” he whispered near her ear.

She nodded against his neck.

“Damn it Kanda!” Allen shouted angrily, coming across the room, “What are you trying to do? Kill her?”

He was angry, Kanda knew. His need to protect those he cared for overriding everything else. “You are too soft”.

Allen swung at him, but Kanda deflected the blow with his elbow, while turning to keep himself between Allen and Aleia. He wouldn’t have her hurt on accident.

“You are out of line” Allen growled, “You interrupted her training to attack her when she isn’t ready for that.”

Kanda deftly sheathed his sword and settled her against his shoulder, “You call that training Moyashi? How is it going to help her if she can’t use her weapon. I, at least, forced her to activate.”

“You don’t have to push her so hard Bakanda!” Soft gray eyes hardened to the point of ice as they met darker hued ones.

“Of course I do. So do you. It’s for her survival. Akuma aren't going to be easy on her! If you can’t handle making the tough decisions Moyashi, leave them to someone who can.”

With that Kanda gathered her up and left the room.

As he strode down the hall, she panted against him, "He meant well" she defended softly.

"So do I" he replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kanda set her on a bed in the medical ward, the areas where her blades had come from were smooth and unblemished. “Your synch rate must be going up. The weapon didn’t harm you today.”

She mumbled something about him being too damned fast.

He smirked, “You need to work harder” he said plainly, “The training will do you no good unless you are meeting a serious threat. Your innocence seems to know that Lavi and Allen will not hurt you.”

She lifted tired sightless eyes towards him “And you will?”

“I will” he said simply, “For your own sake.”

She felt his palm cup her cheek and his thumb brush her lips then.

“You hate me, that’s why it would be so easy to hurt me” she whispered, exhaustion and raw emotions talking.

“I don’t and I do not wish to, but if it will teach you to survive, I will do what I have to. Rest now”

She nodded, closing her eyes, smiling softly when she felt his lips blossom against her brow.

“You never kiss me anymore” she murmured, words slurred by impending sleep.

He smirked, “I will.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deep down Allen knew that Kanda was right, though he was loathe to admit it. After several hours of inner searching he went to Komui.

“I have a request” he said simply.

Komui looked up from his desk in question, “What is it?”

“I want you to send her to the Asian Branch”

“Her?”

“Aleia.”

“To the Asian Branch? Why?”

“When I was hurt and couldn’t manifest, Bak had Fou train me. If anyone can force the transformation, it will be Fou.”

“Or Fou could kill her.”

“That’s true” Allen agreed, “But I believe in Fou and Aleia. Please Komui.”

Komui sat in silence for a long time, “This has to do with Kanda today doesn’t it?”

“He could have killed her”

Komui shook his head, “I don’t think that’s true. Would you say that Kanda lacks control of his innocence, his weapon?”

Allen frowned, “No, but she isn’t ready for that level of training.”

Komui sighed, “I disagree and apparently so do you if you want to pit her against Fou.”

Damn, Allen hadn’t thought of it that way.

“Fou is better prepared for this.” Allen argued, “When I am done here believe I am going to give Kanda a good piece of my mind if no more.”

Komui nodded, “Ok, ok. I will talk to Bak and Aleia about it in the morning. Does that satisfy you?”

Allen nodded and gave a relieved smile. “It does.”

He turned to go but Komui stopped him, “Has Tim shown you the images from training and from the aftermath yet?”

Allen blinked, “Erm no.”

“I think you should look at them before you go and give Kanda a piece of your mind.”

He left the Director sitting alone with his pink rabbit coffee mug.

“Not a bad idea at all Allen.”

He picked up the phone and dialed Bak’s desk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A blind exorcist?” Bak exclaimed, nearby Fou glanced up from her reading, “I see, hmm, Allen is a very clever. One moment. Fou?”

She strode to where he was seated, perched on the edge of his desk, “What?”

“There is a woman exorcist, her body is…. Well she’s nearly blind. They want to send her here for training and tests.”

Fou sighed, “Why?”

“She is Allen’s friend and this is his request.”

Fou looked slightly contrite, “Fine. Bring her, but you tell that ass he better greet me properly when he comes.” Her paddle-like hands were stacked behind her head.

Bak gave a soft smirk, “Its settled then. Fou wishes Allen to bring her. What was that?” His slanted eyes widened for a moment and Fou leaned closer. “I see. Ok.”

He set the phone back in it’s cradle. “She is coming, with Allen.”

Fou studied him closely, “Where is the problem then?”

“Kanda is also coming, apparently Komui thinks he cares for the woman.”

Fou was not unfamiliar with the swordsman, she also knew that he detested China. For him to come all this way…”We will see if that’s true. Knowing Kanda he won’t stay long, he will drop her off, say something arrogant and leave again.”

Bak nodded, “I suppose you are correct.”

At any rate this promised to be a most interesting endeavor.