Title: belladonna

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters!

Pairings: Kanda/femAllen, Lavi/Lenalee

Summary: Kanda, a captain of the City Guard, meets Allen, the priestess of the city, in the throes of war; they try very hard not to fall in love. Contains Kanda/femAllen. AU.

Chapter One

The moon was dead and hidden the day he first saw her. He was out patrolling the city, his robes sweeping over the cob-stone pavements, boots clicking lightly against the uneven surfaces.

Then footsteps came, slight and relentless, falling pitter-patter against the ground like soft summer rain.

Kanda paused, frowning. No one in their right mind would be out walking on a night like this; most of the town's people were superstitious. They feared the new moon – earlier, he'd seen even the headmaster of the local school crook his finger at a deformed beggar lying in a muddy ditch, as if such acts could bring him protection from evil spirits which were said to possess the weak when the moon was swallowed by the dreaded darkness.

The footsteps came closer, and Kanda decided to duck behind a large barrel, trusting in the wispy shadows to cloak him from sight.

To his right appeared a glimmer, and a cloaked figure slipped into view. The light came from a small lantern held by a pale hand. Except for the glimpse of a slim wrist, the rest of the person's body lay hidden in darkness.

Kanda held his breath, careful not to draw undue attention to his probably undesired presence. To be sure, he had every right to be out on the streets. It was, however, the night of the swallowed moon; given that most sane (and admittedly uneducated) people stayed indoors on such nights, anyone who wandered out of doors would thus be suspect. Even high-ranking members of the City Guard, such as himself, would not be exempt from such suspicion.

Meanwhile, the figure inched along the empty street, its cloak quivering slightly in the cool breeze. It was slight; Kanda deduced that it was either a small man or a woman.

The figure then paused with a sharp intake of breath, as if it had discovered something awry in its plans or surroundings.

It swung the little lantern around, and Kanda could vaguely make out the person's head moving from side to side, as if checking for possible dangers. As the lantern light moved in tandem with the person's hands, splintered light disclosed a pair of clean, smooth leather shoes, such as a lady of high birth would wear.

Kanda cast a fleeting glance toward the shoes, then stood up and shrunk into the shadows, following the cloaked figure as it – she – flew along the quiet lanes. He found her movements graceful; she glided along with smooth steps, never falling over the uneven surface that had felled many a careless peasant.

After what seemed like an hour, the figure came to a stop. They were now out of the crowded part of the city and were now standing amidst a silent road to nowhere. Kanda knew this road somewhat; strange things often happened along this road that ran south of the city – it led to the wall surrounding the city, but there was no gate where the road met the unyielding stone.

The figure now knelt by a large tree. She had set her little lantern down beside her. Kanda could see the girl – or woman – crossing herself.

Then she spoke. Her voice was on the low side; it was pleasant and clear, with a slightly melodious quality to it. "Mana."

Kanda frowned. Who was this Mana? God forbid that he should start to believe in enchantments and sorcerers, but had some of the self-professed lore-masters (fools) of the town seen this girl, they might have conjectured that she was calling up evil spirits.

"Mana," she said again. This time round, her voice was coloured with sadness and desperation. "I'm so, so sorry. I never meant to 'cause you so much pain."

She sobbed.

Kanda stood in the shadows, watching, watching, the girl's soft pleas for forgiveness ringing about the little space. The night passed – so. The dark grew heavier and the lantern light seemed fainter, but still the girl sobbed and cried.

It was only at the turn of the night that the girl stopped her strange ritual and leaned her forehead to the ground as a token of respect to the dead man who (Kanda supposed) she had killed. Then she brushed the dirt off her cloak and stood up, walking unsteadily toward him.

The cloaked girl did not see Kanda, hidden as he was in the shadows hanging from the branches of sleeping trees, but as she passed him, the lantern light danced faintly over her lowered face. Kanda vaguely made out pale skin and an angry red scar that stretched across the left side of the girl's face.

Then she was gone, and it was almost morning.

:::

Kanda had about forgotten this memory of a cloaked, weeping girl when said girl appeared before him again.

This time round, he saw her across the square, her cloak swishing gently at her feet as she stopped to peruse a hawker's wares. He hadn't been looking for her, truth be told. He'd been walking down the street after ending his shift. It had been a long day and he was glad to be on his way home.

Then – out of the corner of his eye – he saw a slight figure in a cloak. There were many cloaked ladies walking around the square, but this one somehow caught his eye. He stopped and looked. When she turned, he saw the red scar again.

Without missing a step, Kanda followed the cloaked girl again. He was not often curious – Tiedoll always said that the one thing Kanda needed was an imagination – but for once he was curious as to the girl's identity.

The girl did not seem to notice his presence in the sea of people, but as soon as he stepped after her into a deserted alley, she turned and stopped and looked straight at the structure behind which he hid.

"Why are you following me?" The girl's voice echoed lightly around them.

Kanda decided to show himself. He walked forward, shoulders straight and bearing noble. "I am Kanda Yu," he said, "a captain of the City Guard."

"Yes, I do observe the insignia on your uniform," the cloaked girl said. "Then we are allies. Why are you following me?"

"Allies?"

"Yes, that is so. You do realise that I am a priestess of the Black Order."

"A priestess," Kanda repeated, scrutinising the person before him. "There's only one priestess – you – you don't mean... you can't be –"

"I am Allen Walker."

Kanda stared, even though he knew he was being rude. "You – you're the priestess!"

"Hmm?" The girl looked up, and Kanda saw that she was pale. The red scar he had seen earlier stretched down the left side of her face, though it did not detract from her winsomeness.

"The priestess – the one they say will end all wars," Kanda said, masking his surprise behind a dignified mien.

"I don't know that much about ending all wars, but I am training to learn enough to end this war," Priestess Allen said. She smiled, and against his will Kanda noted how her eyes seemed like the stars in the evening sky.

"Cliched," he mumbled to himself.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing," Kanda said. "Mind your own business."

"You don't have to be so rude –"

"And you can stop asking questions."

"I was just trying to help..."

"You can help by – for chrissake – just shut up."

Priestess Allen seemed crestfallen; her eyes darted to the ground and she clasped her hand before her. ''I'm sorry."

"Why were you out the night of the swallowed moon?"

"Pardon?"

"Stop saying that, will you? It's annoying, you beansprout."

'I'm not a beansprout!" the priestess said, colouring slightly. "I just happen to be short."

"The same thing, isn't it? Now answer the question."

"It's not the same," Priestess Allen denied. "And I see no reason why I should answer you. How did you know I was out anyway? No one was supposed to know... you don't mean they sent you to spy on me?"

"They? Who?" Kanda raised an eyebrow. "If you do not answer my question I could have you dragged back to the Guard to be questioned."

"Where did you see me that night?" she asked, and her skin seemed paler than usual. "And you have no authority to question me. My position in this city is above yours."

"I can arrest you, regardless. I don't give a damn about positions and ranks."

"That's interesting," she said, smiling. But her face was still pale.

"I saw you," Kanda said, watching the priestess carefully, "walking along the road that runs south."

The girl visibly paled; her hands clutched at the sides of her cloak. Still, she stood straight. "Yes, that is true. I did walk that road."

"Why did you walk that road?" Kanda asked. He had to find out – it was not like him to be much curious, but for some reason he could not fathom, he just had to know why the priestess had behaved so strangely that night. "Were you out consorting with the enemy?"

"No," she said, and a strange smile spread over her face. "What did you see me do?"

"Kneeling and sobbing."

"Heartless words can rend fragile heart," she said. 'Do you know that?"

"Stop talking in riddles."

"I am not. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Stop." Kanda stretched a muscled hand out to halt Priestess Allen's progress. "You haven't answered my question."

"You are singularly rude for a captain of the City Guard," she said. Her grey eyes bore into his. "Pray tell me why I should divulge my little secrets to you."

"A secret may be little, but in your case, it concerns the security of our city. You have to tell me."

"You're a knave."

"What?"

"Uncouth and unlearned."

"I'm educated!"

"So you say, Captain."

"It's Kanda."

"So you say. I beg you to leave my secrets alone."

"No can do."

"Do you really insist?" Priestess Allen asked, eyes flashing.

"I do, Beansprout."

"My name is Allen," the priestess said.

'I heard it the first time around."

"Then use it, like a normal, courteous and learned person would."

"I'm not normal" – shrug – "or courteous – shrug – "or learned."

"I can tell, Bakanda."

"What did you just call me?"

Allen reached over and kicked Kanda – admittedly in an area that would never see the light of day – and disappeared in a flash, her skirt and cloak flying behind her.

Kanda, doubled over with pain, fought his urge to sit down and nurse the poorly-treated portion of himself and started to chase the gutsy priestess, but she was nowhere in sight. Only peasants and half-starved horses could be seen; there was no glimpse of black and silver amidst the raucous crowd in the dusty marketplace.

:::

"Ah, Yu, there you are."

Kanda stiffened at the mention of his private name – for chrissake, did Tiedoll not understand what respect and privacy meant? Frowning, he turned and nodded at his foster parent.

"General Tiedoll," Kanda said.

Tiedoll noticed Kanda's tight grip on his sword. "Calm down, my son."

"I'm not your son," Kanda said, almost spitting in his fury.

"You need to learn some etiquette, that's what," General Cross said from the side. "Tiedoll, you're too damned soft on the boy."

Kanda bristled at being called a boy, but he didn't bother to retaliate because it would only mean more trouble for him.

"What is it?" Kanda asked, disliking how his time was being wasted.

General Tiedoll smiled benignly. "My dear boy, you really do need to learn some etiquette. There's a feast tonight, and you are required to attend."

"What feast? I didn't hear anything about a feast."

"Didn't you? I'm quite sure I told Daisya to inform you about it a couple of weeks ago."

"He didn't."

"Oh, Daisya, that forgetful boy... anyway, I've checked your schedule. You're free tonight, aren't you? So it doesn't matter –"

"General, I –"

"You're just weird, Kanda Yu," Cross said, shaking his head, cigarette smoke trailing around him. "A feast is always good. Don't you want to eat and make merry like other young people?"

Kanda scowled.

"Don't sulk, my son," Tiedoll said, ignoring the dark look Kanda sent his way. "Your friends will be there tonight too. All the captains of the City Guard will be there, and Bookman and his apprentice will be there too. And Cross's ward will be there too; you can take the chance to meet her. I'm sure the two of you will get along capitally."

"Che."

"Don't care for girls?" Cross asked, laughing.

"She's quite a pretty girl, so..." Tiedoll said, breaking off with a smile.

"Shut it, General," Kanda said.

"It's good that you don't have designs on pretty girls," Cross said, "although that takes the fun out of life, eh, Tiedoll? You can have my ward if you want to, though. She's a little brat."

"Marian..." Tiedoll said.

"Old people," Kanda said, making to walk away.

Tiedoll called after him. "Be sure to be there when the clock strikes eight tonight, my boy! Be in your finest uniform."

Kanda scowled and ignored him.

:::

"Yu!"

Kanda stiffened at that voice – it was that insufferable idiot of a Bookman. Said idiot bounced into his view, red hair held up as usual by a green bandana.

"Don't call me that," Kanda said, glaring at Lavi Bookman.

"Nice uniform," Lavi said, poking at Kanda's chest. He fingered a medal. "Is that real gold?"

"Shut up, you idiot," Kanda said, swiping Lavi's hands away.

Lavi shrugged and accepted a drink from a passing waiter. "So, what's up?"

"Nothing."

"You seem troubled."

"You seem observant."

"Oh, but I am!"

"Idiot."

Lavi sipped at his wine, fingering the intricate designs carved on the goblet's surface. "Something wrong? The City Guard's facing some threat?"

"Threat?" Kanda repeated. "No, unless you count the damned Noahs."

"The Noahs," Lavi chuckled. "They're always a threat."

"They have always been a threat, haven't they?"

"That's about right," Lavi said. "Our records show that they've been at odds with this city since its founding, I believe."

Kanda nodded. Lavi would know that. He was the apprentice of the town's resident lore-master – who held the honorary title Bookman. There was little the Bookmen did not know of the history of the world. There was a whole organization of them, and they recorded the crevices of history into scrolls which were shared over the world.

"Have you seen Lenalee?" Lavi asked. "Daisya told me she'd be here today."

"She's probably with Komui."

"Oh... shall we go find them, then, Yu?"

'I told you not to call me that!"

"Sorry?"

Kanda sent his friend a dark look yet again. 'You just want to talk to Lenalee, don't you? If you ever call me Yu again, I will tell Komui that you're hankering after his dear Lenalee."

"Don't scowl, it makes you look a little ugly, though you're still handsome."

"Shut up, idiot."

"Come on," Lavi said, leaving the now-empty goblet on the table beside them. "I miss talking to Lenalee!"

"I don't."

"Don't be mean, Kanda," Lavi said, pulling Kanda along with him. "Didn't get to polish your sword today, am I right?"

"No. I polished it in the morning."

"Then why so grouchy?"

Kanda muttered something along the lines of "I hate feasts and people."

"Now, now," Lavi said, "you can't hate food and people. That's just wrong."

"You're just mad."

"No, you are. See, you're already bristling!"

"I do not like these word games, Bookman."

"So, it's Bookman now, huh? What is the matter, Kanda?" Lavi asked. "You've got a temperature?"

"No," Kanda snapped, pushing Lavi's hand off his forehead. "Stop being annoying."

"Lenalee!" Lavi cried, turning his attention to the girl. "Over here!"

Lenalee looked up and smiled at them. She motioned to the girl beside her and pulled her toward the duo.

"Great to see you again Lenalee!" Lavi said, grinning widely.

Kanda rolled his eyes. If Komui Lee saw Lavi behaving this way around his precious sister... it would serve the idiot right, anyway.

"Guys," Lenalee said, snapping her fingers at Kanda to get his attention, "let me introduce this pretty girl to you!"

Kanda looked at the girl. She was clad in some shimmery black material that skimmed her body; the strange thing was, she also wore a cloak. "Why are you wearing a cloak indoors? Are you an idiot?"

The girl looked at him.

"Moyashi?" Kanda gasped.

The girl frowned. "Allen Walker, you idiot. My name is Allen Walker."

"You've met?" Lenalee asked, her bemusement clear in her eyes.

"I would say so," Lavi said, beaming. "Look, Yu's found his soulmate!"

"Soulmate?" Kanda spluttered.

"Soulmate?" Allen said, disbelief clouding her eyes. "I should hope not!"

Lenalee laughed. "Looks like Kanda's found himself a new friend. Or enemy, perhaps?"

"Enemy sounds more like it," Lavi said, laughing.

"If the Moyashi were not the priestess, I'd have slashed her with Mugen by now," Kanda said, scowling.

Said girl glared at Kanda. "Would it kill you to be courteous?"

"Men of war and honour need not be courteous. We speak with our triumphs in war."

"Is he a moron, then?" Allen whispered to Lenalee.

Lenalee looked slightly affronted. 'Uh, no. He's actually schooled in all the classics, and he can dance and fence and the like. He's also pretty good at horse-riding."

"Really. That's hard to believe. He behaves like an uncouth boor."

"That's right," Lavi agreed. "Kanda's nowhere as suave as me."

The un-suave captain scowled and turned away, grumbling under his breath. Then he leapt up and caught something with his fingers.

"What's he doing?" Allen asked, eyebrow raised.

"I don't – oh no, hide! Lavi, protect Allen!" Lenalee shouted.

Lavi pushed Allen down, hiding her with his body as the windows nearby broke with a resounding crash. The chandeliers overhead swayed dangerously, and candles flickered as the wind rode in through the broken doors.

With the wind in strode a woman in a suit, her golden hair flying behind her. She led some hundred men and women behind her.

"The elite troops!" Lenalee hissed. "Kanda!"

The captain had already taken up a position before Allen, his sword held at the ready. Nearby, the generals had also drawn their weapons.

"Who goes there?" Komui Lee called. He was the chief administrator of the city, and the woman turned to glance at him. At once, another two captains of the City Guard, Marie and Daisya, stepped forth to protect him.

The woman's eyes glistened like pools of molten gold. She licked her lips, her movement oddly sensual. "Since you will die tonight, you might as well know. I am Lulu Bell of the Noahs."

"How dare you break into our sacred hall!"

"There is nothing so very sacred about your hall," Lulu Bell said. "It reeks of your odious low blood. Tonight, I will have your priestess killed. Once that is done, you will kneel before me and beg for the Earl's mercy, or die."

"Die?" Kanda spat. "You will die, that's all I know!"

"Attack," the woman said, snapping her fingers. "Go, akuma. Do your duty by the Earl! Go for the girl cowering there! Ignore the rest for now."

The elite soldiers ran, their ugly masks flapping slightly in the wind, and all of them were headed in Allen's direction.

"Idiots," Kanda said, stance ready.

"I'm here, Allen!" Lavi shouted, pushing her down further, his body enveloping hers like a shell. "We'll all protect you! Yu won't let them hurt you!"

"I... can't breath well," Allen said, pushing against Lavi's shirt as she struggled against the floor. Lavi didn't hear her – he was looking over his shoulder at the fight.

Kanda was engaged in battle; his sword flew majestically, piercing armour and disabling man, and the Generals danced alongside him with ferocious moves. Lenalee stood before Lavi and Allen, ready to defend them, her arms out and holding a sword from a fallen Akuma.

Thankfully, the City Guard made short shrift of the Akuma; they were well-trained and well-equipped to deal with such invasions, it seemed. The wounded Akuma soon drew off to a side, clutching at their limbs, and at long last, Kanda sheathed his sword.

He turned to General Tiedoll. "I told you we should have scheduled a guard."

"My dear boy, so you did," General Tiedoll said. "But no one would have expected such a thing to happen."

"It's really rude of you to barge in like this," General Cross said, pointing his smouldering cigar at Lulu Bell. "Didn't the Earl teach you not to interfere with such feasts? You're a looker, though, I'll admit that. But you need to have some etiquette lessons, just like that little brat over there."

Kanda looked insulted. Lulu Bell, though, glared at Cross, and with a toss of her head she was running toward them, her arms reaching into her pockets to draw a set of pearl-handled knives. She swerved past the generals and captains, and made in the direction of Allen. Some of the wounded akuma immediately followed her lead, forcing swords onto members of the City Guard.

"Die you must!" Lulu Bell hissed, and shoved Lenalee aside.

Lavi gasped and reached for a wooden pole that had fallen nearby. "Stand back!" he shouted.

Allen fell back, only to see Lavi get pushed out of the way.

Lulu Bell advanced toward Allen, her gleaming hair like that of an angel, except in her face was writ death and not life.

"Die," she said, voice filled with the malice born from centuries of mutual strife and warfare.

The knives moved through the air – Allen paused, took a deep breath, and instinctively tumbled out of the way. She landed in an inelegant heap some distance away.

"You cannot escape," Lulu Bell said, her voice getting slightly hysterical. "Die, in the name of the Earl!"

In despair, Allen swept her hands around the ground on which she lay, and her fingers made contact with the smooth hilt of a sword. She was no swordswoman, but like the priestesses before her she had been trained in basic swordplay. She brought the sword up and above her head, deflecting the knives as they carved the air before her.

Lulu Bell moved back to survey the situation, before choosing another side from which to attack. Allen clumsily waved the sword before her, somehow managing to push one of the knives out of Lulu Bell's hands. The knife fell with a harsh clatter onto the floor barely inches away from the train of Allen's dress.

On Lulu Bell's face flashed outrage and dismay; then her eyes gleamed with determination as she struck anew, aiming this time for Allen's heart. Allen rolled out of the way as Lulu Bell fell to the ground, toppling as a result of her own momentum and from Lavi's weight.

Lavi now sat atop Lulu Bell, clutching tightly onto her arms. "Allen, hide!"

"You cannot dream of stopping me!" Lulu Bell cried, her eyes flashing. Without any sign of exertion, she pushed Lavi off. The young lore-master crumpled onto the ground in pain, and the Noah again took off toward Allen.

Allen stood her ground, sword ready to bite. As Lulu Bell drew closer, Allen feinted to the left, thus staving off the blow.

"Out of the way!" someone cried, and Allen found herself being pushed to the side.

Kanda had come forward, and now he was engaged in a deadly dance with Lulu Bell. Metal rang on metal, and the Noah's hair trailed brilliantly behind her in a cloud of benighted gold.

"You will pay for this," Lulu Bell hissed as Kanda again parried one of her blows.

'I won't," Kanda said. He allowed himself a wolfish smirk. "Your little knife is no match for my Mugen."

"Utter nonsense!"

Kanda moved forward, his hands swift; the little knife fell to the floor. The room was silent and everyone waited with bated breath. Lavi and Lenalee moved forward to flank Allen just in case Lulu Bell managed to get away from Kanda.

"You win," Lulu Bell said, anger marring the symmetry of her perfect features. "But – I will be back – and we will be victorious!"

She managed to move away from Kanda, and before anyone could stop them, she and her soldiers fled the scene.

"You fine?" Lavi asked Allen.

"Yes," Allen said. 'Thanks for the concern."

"You're an idiot," Kanda said, turning to address her. "You lack precise mastery of swordplay; your movements were fraught with poorly-considered moments and –"

"Captain Kanda," Allen said, colour rising in her cheeks, "is that really anything to say to someone who has just had to defend herself with a weapon she is not familiar with?"

"I see you've met," General Cross said, pointing the tip of his wine glass at them. "Kanda, that's my ward. Brat, that's Tiedoll's son."

"I am not General Tiedoll's son!"

"Don't be rude," Cross said. "And stop bickering like an old couple. Go and enjoy the feast! You just survived an assassination attempt, but there will be more such attempts in future, so enjoy yourself while you still can!"

"That's General Cross for you," Lavi said, staring at the man's retreating back.

"Yes, Master's just... that way," Allen said.

Kanda glowered, refusing to speak.

"Don't be so sullen, Yu!" Lavi said, nudging his friend. "Allen will think you always look like that!"

"I don't care what she thinks," Kanda said. He turned his back on them.

"Really?" Lenalee said. 'What if I tell you that Komui's thinking of making a match between you and Allen?"

"No," Allen said. "Please good Lord, no."

Kanda turned, shock in his eyes. "That's an untruth."

'I don't know about that."

Kanda blinked. "Who – Inspector."

Inspector Leverrier bared his teeth in a scary replica of a smile. "I wouldn't be so dismissive of Miss Lenalee's words if I were you, Captain Kanda."

A/N: Back for a while – with this new piece! It's probably going to be a chaptered fic (if I have the time and inspiration to continue, that is).

I really love the language used in LOTR – really beautiful, imo – and hopefully I managed to channel some of that into this fic (:

Thanks for reading, and any comments would be welcome (: