Ah, the beginning of a new story. Joyful, ne? =D It's my first Kanda/Allen (in fact, it's my first fanfic in general) so be nice. I appreciate compliments and criticism, but flames will be doused very painfully with a firehose.

Disclaimer: I don't own -Man, because if I did, Kanda would have far more screen time with Allen. -glares ice at writers-

Revised according to advice received months ago by one very astute reader, which I was too stubborn to have taken before now. xD Also according to my own OCD, but whatever.... Enjoy! =)

Kanda Yuu sat on the opposite seat, ramrod straight, staring blankly out the window at the Italian scenery flashing past. He seemed oblivious to everything that lay outside, however, along with the first class compartment, the young Exorcist sitting across from him, and the unbearably high temperature in the room.

Allen Walker was baffled, trying to understand how Kanda could survive the heat when he was still in his Exorcist's jacket, not to mention that long, dark hair....

"Moyashi," Kanda hissed, annoyed, "stop staring."

Blinking, Allen averted his gaze to the landscape slipping by on the other side of the window. The Italian countryside in the dark really was a sight to see; starlight twinkled off the lake, small towns and villages glittered amongst the hills, and the waning moon cast it all in a pale light.

But, inevitably, Allen's thoughts shifted back to the Japanese man before him. The white-haired boy's expression appeared vaguely disgruntled.

'I've already taken off my Exorcist's jacket, and I have shorter hair, but it's still so warm....'

"Moyashi."

Blinking again, Allen raised his gaze from Kanda's chest to his face. He noticed a slight flush on the older boy's cheeks before taking in the daggers springing from his eyes.

"Sorry...." Allen muttered self-consciously, returning to staring determinedly out the window.

'Well, I suppose his demeanor is enough to keep him cool,' he thought darkly. Remembering Kanda's flushed complexion, he added under his breath, "At least I know he's a little warm...."

Kanda suddenly became much more interested in the window.

*-*

The train reached the station at dawn the next day, and Allen stepped off with a stiff neck from falling asleep against the window. Their destination was a busy town in southern Italy, and the streets were surprisingly peopled, given the time.

Allen walked alongside Kanda as they went to meet the team of Finders. Allegedly, they had discovered Innocence somewhere in this town, but hadn't been able to get anywhere near it for the Akuma skulking around the place.

The Exorcists walked side-by-side in silence, Kanda simmering darkly, Allen looking sheepishly annoyed. He kept glancing sidelong at the Japanese Exorcist, half-glaring as he noticed the slight dusting of pink that persisted on his cheeks. Then he would notice the flames flying from Kanda's eyes and look away again.

'Come to think of it,' Allen realized, 'he's probably still angry about what happened back at home....'

"Allen!" Lenalee called. The Exorcist turned at the sound of his name.

"Hi, Lenalee," he greeted her, smiling.

"Some friends and I are meeting in Lavi's room to hang out before the next mission. Wanna come?"

"Sure," Allen agreed. He followed her to Lavi's room, where they opened the door to find Lavi and Kanda seated on the floor.

"Allen! You're here!" Lavi exclaimed happily, jumping up to greet him.

"K-Kanda?" Allen stuttered, surprised, ignoring Lavi altogether.

"Moyashi?" Kanda looked just as confused as Allen felt.

Then Allen turned to Lenalee, and Kanda turned to Lavi, and they both said in the same dry tone, "You didn't tell me he was coming."

Lenalee and Lavi grinned dismissively.

Kanda stood, walking toward the door. Pausing with his hand on the doorknob, he said stiffly, "I'm leaving."

"But Yuu-chaaaan," Lavi whined, clutching Kanda's arm like an eagle clutches its prey, "I never get to see you! I just want to play a game with all my friends!"

Looking annoyed to the point of homicide, Kanda removed his hand from the doorknob. "Fine," he snarled.

Lavi smiled, pulling a deck of cards out of nowhere. "Okay, let's play strip poker!"

Kanda was halfway through the door before Lavi could react. "Fine, fine, we won't play strip poker." Lavi looked severely disappointed as Kanda came back in, shutting the door.

Finger on his chin, Lavi sat on the floor, thinking. Allen sat beside him, Lenalee on Allen's other side. Finally, Kanda sat across from Allen, his sworn enemy, closing the circle.

"Lenalee, what do you think we should play?" Lavi asked too innocently.

"I don't know," Lenalee answered in kind. She put her finger on her chin, too, thinking.

Allen looked from one friend to the other, both suspicious and expectant, waiting for someone to speak.

Kanda sat with his eyes closed, both uninterested and uninterested, silently paying no attention.

Lavi and Lenalee stirred, speaking simultaneously.

"I know!" they chorused. "Let's play truth or dare!"

"Che....What a pain...." Kanda muttered to himself. So he had been paying attention.

Allen blanched. "H-huh?" He briefly wondered if this had been staged for his "benefit."

"Truth or dare!" Was it just Allen's imagination, or did Lavi's smile look strangely devious...?

"O...kay...." Allen relented, afraid.

"Whatever," was all Kanda said.

"Great! I'll go first." Lavi thought for a moment, then pointed a Razor Sharp Finger of Death at Allen. "Truth or dare, Allen-kun?" His eyes glinted ruthlessly.

"Uh...truth." Allen decided that was safer.

"Have you ever kissed anybody?"

Allen started, then blushed. "N-no." My, how interesting the floor was....

Lavi laughed, patting him on the back. "It's okay. You'll get there. Now it's your turn."

Allen nodded. "Um...Lenalee, truth or dare?"

"Dare!" she giggled.

"I dare you to...." Allen thought for a second before a malicious grin split his face. "I dare you to tell Komui you're pregnant."

Lenalee's eyes widened. "B-but he'll go berserk! He'll kill everyone! Everyone!"

"Just make sure you set it straight before he hurts anyone." The grin never left Allen's face.

"Okay..." she agreed uncertainly.

They all followed Lenalee to Komui's office, Lavi dragging Kanda by the arm in what looked to Allen to be a very uncomfortable manner. When Lenalee entered, Lavi and Allen pressed their ears to the door. Kanda leaned against the wall, apathetic.

"N-Nii-san..." Lenalee began timidly.

"Lenalee-chan!" Allen heard footsteps through the door as Komui walked around his desk toward her. "How nice of you to visit me--! Lenalee? What's wrong?"

"Nii-san, I...I...."

"Yes? What is it?"

"I'm...I'm pregnant!" she blubbered, quite convincingly, too. Allen tried to control his mad cackling.

Silence.

"YOU'RE WHAT!?" Komui exploded. "WHO DID IT!? I'LL KILL HIM!" Allen heard the distinct sound of Lenalee being crushed in a hug. "Lenalee, it's okay...We'll get through this...." So Komui did, in fact, have the capacity to be properly brotherly when the need arose.

There was scuffling, then Lenalee bubbled, "Just kidding!" Lavi and Allen backed away from the door, faces red from keeping their laughter in check. Lenalee reappeared before them, snorting helplessly and gripping her stomach.

"Run!" she gasped through her incessant giggling, launching herself in the direction of Lavi's room. Lavi followed, almost doubled over in laughter. Next came Allen, holding his own mouth closed, and finally Kanda, silent as ever.

When they reached Lavi's room, Lenalee, Lavi, and Allen instantly collapsed into fits of laughter. Kanda stepped over their writhing forms, taking his seat at the circle. Once they had recovered, the others joined him.

"That was amazing!" Lavi panted, out of breath. "Good work, Allen!"

"Okay, my turn," Lenalee said. She turned on Lavi. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Lavi grinned.

"Hmm....Do you like anyone?"

Lavi's grin faltered for less than a second, which went unnoticed by none but Lenalee (even Kanda was paying enough attention to notice), then he answered, "Yes."

"Who?" Lenalee asked eagerly. She was practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

"Ah-ah-ah," Lavi warned, shaking his finger at her, "only one question per truth." Lenalee drooped almost imperceptibly, which went unnoticed by none but Lavi (Kanda pays much more attention than Lavi does). "Besides, I like everyone. You should know that." Mild giggling on the rabbit's part. "And now...." A malicious grin spread slowly across his face as he turned to the ebony-haired block of wood beside him. "Truth or dare, Yuu-chan?"

Kanda's eyebrow twitched at the nickname. "Dare," he mumbled without opening his eyes.

"I dare you to kiss Allen."

'Oh, kiss Allen,' Allen thought. 'That's an interesting....'

"WHAT!?" Both Exorcists leapt up in outrage.

"I..." Lavi pointed at himself, "dare you..." he pointed at Kanda, "to kiss Allen." He pointed at Allen.

"Not if your life depended on it," Kanda snarled at Lavi, heading for the door again.

"Yuuuuu-chaaaaaaaan," Lavi whined again, stepping precariously between Kanda and the door.

"Get out of the way." Flat. Low. Hissss.

"Not until you kiss Allen."

"Get out," Kanda murmured dangerously, using that same flat, low hiss as he fingered Mugen's hilt, "of the way."

Lavi's eyes trailed slowly from Kanda's face, to Mugen, and back again with trepidation. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he sighed, "Fine," stepping to the side to allow Kanda passage. Allen sighed in relief as Kanda headed for the door.

Neither Kanda nor Allen saw Lavi give Lenalee a look, his gaze wandering quite obviously to the white-haired boy; neither Kanda nor Allen saw Lenalee nod, positioning herself behind the indicated Exorcist. In fact, by the time either boy realized what was going on, Kanda was already being whirled around and thrust in Allen's direction, and Allen was already flying toward Kanda.

The two boys crashed together, avoiding falling to the ground only by clinging to one another. Their lips met. For a moment, they stared into each other's shocked eyes; then Allen registered how warm and soft Kanda's lips were against his, and he closed his eyes, savoring the sensation. He gripped Kanda's sleeve as the older Exorcist pressed ever-so-slightly into the kiss. Then, realizing where they were, they both pulled away, Allen removing his hand from Kanda's sleeve. His lips tingled pleasantly.

Had Lavi's room always been so hot?

Eyes still closed and looking as flustered as any Kanda Yuu could look, Kanda breathed, "I'm leaving." Lavi watched him go, grinning triumphantly.

Allen's hand drifted up to his lips as he stared at the floor. 'What is this?' he wondered, awed into silence. Damn, Kanda was a good kisser. (From what experience he had, Allen realized. With that thought, a thousand insecurities—namely involving how much more pathetic he must look to Kanda now than he already did—reared their ugly heads and started digging their teeth into his self esteem and tearing it to shreds.)

"See?" Lavi said brightly, draping his arm across Allen's shoulders. "I told you you'd get there!"

Lavi and Lenalee grinned conspiratorially at each other as Allen's face turned roughly the shade of a tomato.

Allen sighed. This was going to be a long mission.

*-*

The two Exorcists entered the inn in heavy silence, glaring in opposite directions and trying to forget who they had the displeasure of being stuck with. After Kanda had checked them in, they looked toward a table in the corner, where the team of Finders sat, whispering amongst themselves. As the two boys approached, a Finder with shocking green eyes stood up to acknowledge their presence.

"Hello, Exorcists," he drawled in a thick Italian accent, "I am Seguchi, leader of this Finder team."

Kanda mumbled a greeting uninterestedly.

Allen flashed the Finder a smile. "Nice to meet you," he said politely, shaking Seguchi's hand.

As soon as they were all seated at the table, Seguchi got right down to business. "We believe the Innocence is somewhere in a forest just outside the eastern city gates."

"Outside?" Allen queried. "Not in the city itself?"

"That's what he just said, isn't it, Moyashi?"

"It's Allen," the younger Exorcist breathed, irritated.

"Yes," Seguchi continued, seeming not to have heard anything, "the townsfolk have been complaining that trade from the East has been all but completely cut off, and there have been small fires sprouting in odd places." Allen wouldn't have paid any mind to the fires, except that it was the dead of winter.

"There have also been a number of disappearances."

Allen looked concerned, asking confusedly, "Well, where'd they all go?"

"Obviously, he doesn't know," Kanda scoffed. "That's why they're called 'disappearances.'"

"I know that!" Allen hissed back, growing increasingly aggravated with each passing moment he was forced to spend with the girly-haired jackass. "Have you been able to find out anything about what's causing all of this?"

"Unfortunately, no," Seguchi said sadly. "Whenever one of us tries to leave the city, they are immediately attacked by at least five Akuma. We've already lost three of our members." He made the sign of the cross on his chest. Suddenly, he leaned closer to the Exorcists across the table, whispering. "But there's something you should know about the fires—"

BOOM.

Ahahahaaa...Cliffhanger. -laughs in your face-

Sorry if it sucks. Or for any OOC (damn, I hate OOC...). Rate and review! I'll have the next chapter up within the week (probably...), and it'll definitely have more of the good stuff! :p

Wow, was I naive.... xDDD