I was working on my other story (currently untitled) but I left my USB at home. Being at the library, I was chatting with a close friend of mine and since she's always really nice about my writing and was going to look over my other one despite its um… maturity and sadistic violence and rape… so, this is dedicated to her. Lavi POV.

.oOo.

She screamed. I couldn't stand the sight and I couldn't run to help her, but I couldn't look away. The level three akuma was laughing wildly and I had trouble holding back the bile rising in my throat. The akuma had somehow grabbed a hold of her in its massive hands. His one hand clenched at her waist and he yanked at her right arm again.

This time I couldn't avoid throwing up as I saw her arm, already wrenched out of the socket, start to tear at the shoulder. Stupid chains, stupid akuma, stupid hammer just out of reach, stupid, STUPID, STUPID!

The tendons were slowly pulling apart, her white sleeveless shirt being stained by her blood. Her coat was shredded and her arm looked too similar to the garment. I don't think she even realized that each muscle was separating. Small holes were letting light through at the shoulder, the setting sun's beauty seeping through the horrid mess.

Damn world. How come every horrible day seemed to be bright, sunny, beautiful? Was the Earth trying to mock me? My parents died on a day like this. The massive attack that had killed so many Exorcists had been bright and sunny. Life is so stupid.

Each muscle was a thin red string. With a devastating rip, her arm wrenched free. Lenalee, who had been unconsciously tugging backwards, jolted backwards and went silent. Her fierce kicking stopped and she stared at the limb being held, almost delicately, in the akuma's thumb and forefinger. A blank numb look came into her eyes and I thanked her mentally as she closed them, hiding that gut-wrenching expression from me.

"Brother," she whispered, "Allen, Kanda, someone come save me. Someone tell me this is all another bad dream."

I stared. My name hadn't been uttered. Of course I couldn't help her, being chained, but oh, how it hurt hearing her murmur the name of the people she loved and my name not being among them.

The akuma shifted Lenalee and grabbed for her other arm. The disgust, fear, sadness I had felt gave way to pure anger. I jerked forwards and felt a sharp pain in my shoulders. My fingers brushed Nyoibo's* handle. I didn't care if my shoulders were yanked out, if that kept Lenalee from the same fate, it was worth it.

For a moment I could've sworn the akuma turned its head towards me and I froze. Before its eyes could reach me, Lenalee squirmed and attempted to smash her Dark Boots into him. Its head snapped back and I breathed a sigh of relief, lurching forwards and grabbing my hammer.

"Grow, grow, GROW!!!" I was frantic, and my ever faithful hammer complied, seemingly responding to my urgency. The chains smashed. So did the akuma's head. Any other time I would've been amazed at the record time. Instead, I grabbed Lenalee, stripping off my shirt and ripping it into strips to bind her shoulder.

Her dignity hadn't caved until now and she finally cried. Each tear cut into me like a knife but I couldn't help noticing how beautiful she was even as she wailed. I rocked her gently back and forth, extending my hammer above the treetops, hoping for any sign of a village, a hospital, any place where she could get treated. As far as I could see there wasn't. The blood had already soaked through the makeshift bandages and I could feel the warm liquid along my chest. I was babbling, unaware of what I was saying, only knowing that she couldn't die and that every other phrase was a plead for her to stay with me, not to leave, I couldn't live without her.

"What… Lavi, what could you mean? What are you saying?" I never realized how much I loved her beautiful voice until now. I could barely register the tears sliding down my face as I held her close to my chest, hugging her tightly.

"God Lenalee, if you die on me now I don't know what I'd do. I goddam love you and I don't ever want to lose, I don't ever want to give you up. Gee, Gramps is gonna be pissed."

Lenalee smiled at my weak attempt at humor, but when she tucked her head across my collar I realized what I'd been too blind to see before. She felt just the same and neither of us needed words. All my jealousy had been pointless. I love her and I don't care what Gramps says; I've grown a heart. Allen, Kanda, everyone else is all tucked inside it, but it's Lenalee who that heart is built around. I can't remain indifferent. This is a war I am willing to fight- against the akuma, against the Earl, against any obstacle. This is my life; no one is going to tell me how to live it because I am going spend it with this angel, this perfect little blip that had thrown my life off course, this girl who was falling asleep in my arms. As a small sigh escaped her lips and she drifted off, away from the harsh reality of life, I saw that tiny spot on the horizon- a village, another little unexpected dash of hope in the sea of fate and destiny.

.oOo.

*Nyoibo is supposedly the hammer Lavi uses… not sure if that's right, but I looked it up and that's what I found.

Wow… I really am getting cheesy… but at least I managed to get in my little bit of morbid description this time! YAY! Morbidness (Spell Check says its wrong but tough, I'm using it)!!!

I'm also pretty sadistic. I wrote a poem for a competition and… the first line was about how, to a murderer, beauty is the screams of a victim… a couple people have expressed their belief that it'll be rejected or banned 'cause of that… it's quite possible.

An… acquaintance, I guess he would be called, brought to light the question of Lenalee's arm… the akuma doesn't do anything with it but I don't think they would take it with them… so… I guess they just left it there XD. He also thought of the symbolism that it shows how "everything in life seems to tear off a piece of you, as you move on" literally.

I am making a depressing additional ending… so… if you like the cheesy finish, end here. If you like depressing endings with lots of death (trying to avoid spoilers), then feel free to continue.

I also need a better title for this so let me know with ideas… and anyone who'd like to beta, please tell me.

Reviews really do make me happy! If everyone could write well and get good reviews, drugs wouldn't exist, so don't make me resort to drugs people (as if I ever would)!