Title: Delirious

This one's set in a random mission, after all the Ark junk, and the Headquarters getting moved elsewhere, so... Yeah.

Disclaimer: See the Earl on a drastic diet yet? Then I don't own D. Gray-man.

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Oh, damn.

Oh, damn it.

Oh, damn it all.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

No, no, no…!

As the figure in front of me collapsed to his knees and the weapon mercilessly pulled out from his chest, I could only tear up and watch in horror.

God damn.

"No," I whispered, collapsing to my own knees. "No, no, no!" I cried, my voice rising in alarm as I grabbed his shoulders. "Damn it, Kanda, get a grip! You can't die; not here!" I shook him, trying to keep him from slipping into unconsciousness.

My left eye whirred and buzzed as the many level 3 akuma and the two level 4 began to surround us, their Noah ringleader Tyki Mikk watching with a smug grin, but I didn't care. For all I cared, they might as well not even be there.

This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.

My right hand ran over the puncture wound left by the Noah's attack—the attack that I should have taken, not him. Not BaKanda.

The blood began to gush out now, coming out in a steady stream. Tyki Mikk snorted, just loud enough to reach my ears despite the cackling of the akuma, and dismissed his army. His work here was done.

"Come on, BaKanda," I whispered, placing my head in the nook of his neck, "get up and use that damn healing thing of yours. Get up and call me 'bean sprout' again. Don't die on me now."

I could feel the heartbeat fading. I felt his body stir, and I sat up immediately. His beautiful sapphire eyes glistened with the haze of one who was almost gone, and on that thought, tears began to spill.

His lips moved, his hand reaching up to brush away a tear. No sound came, but I knew what he said. "Stupid bean sprout. I'm not dying; I'm just taking… a…"

He didn't get to finish his sentence, for he slipped into unconsciousness. His hand fell from my face, going limp against his body. I tore off parts of my shirt to use as a bandage to help relieve the bleeding. Despite this, the blood still came out steadily, although it seemed to be slowing down a bit. I could hear his uneven breath, coming out in erratic gasps, signaling what could be death.

With a grunt of effort, I hoisted him onto my back. Timcampy, who pulled himself (itself?) out from my pocket, fluttered around us. I think he (it?) was trying to encourage Kanda to hang on, and to me to continue to do my best.

"Tim, go back to headquarters and get help," I murmured to him. The golem nodded and zipped ahead to race to the base.

I trudged along with Kanda on my back, determined not to leave him to die. We stopped at a creek, where I cleaned his wound. His pulse was fading quickly, and I began to panic. The black tattoo on his chest began to spread in fire-like shapes to coat his left arm in black welts. What was this thing?

But I noticed that, as it spread, Kanda's fading pulse became stronger, bit by bit. His breathing became more even, though still a little strained. It seemed as if he was healing. Maybe the puncture had missed his heart, and he was healing now. Maybe, just maybe, Kanda would live.

The mid-afternoon sun turned to dusk, and Tim still hadn't come back. Kanda's pulse was normal now, but it still frightened me to see him so vulnerable and weak. What if he didn't make it?

He began to have a fever. Little by little, his temperature rose, and again, I panicked. I tore off more parts of my abused shirt to plaster on some cool, wet strips of cloth on his forehead. I made a fire using driftwood I found along the creek, and caught fish using my Crown Clown. Sure, it could be considered abuse, but I didn't really care. Kanda was the first priority; the only priority.

As I sat next to him, listening to the fire crackle and watching his chest rise and fall in a steady beat, I found his hand and held it loosely at first. I was a bit scared; I was still hoping that he would snap up and fume at me for not leaving him behind. "Sacrifices are necessary in war," he would say.

On second thought, I would love that. At least he'd be alive. I didn't care how much abuse I would get, I just wanted him here and alive. Sure, he might hate me, but I didn't care. I love him.

I buried my face in my hands. "Damn it, why do I sound like a girl?" I muttered to myself. I glanced at him and smiled softly.

"Hurry up and wake up, BaKanda," I whispered with a smile.

-

When I woke up, it was morning. Kanda still hadn't woken up, nor had Tim found us. I walked over to change his bandages. When I removed them, though, I nearly hurled at the sight of the wound.

Dried blood crusted around the outside, and one could see the bones. Muscles and red veins pulsated steadily. The wound itself was swollen and was situated a little more towards his right than to the left, where his heart was. Even still, it would require immediate attention. I couldn't be sure if he had damaged any vitals.

He still had a fever, and I didn't know what I could do to help it. "Hang on, Kanda," I whispered to him. "Help will come soon, I promise." I turned to go hunt for food, activating my Innocence.

"Allen," Kanda cried.

I turned back immediately and flocked to his side. He moaned, delirious in his fever. Kanda's back arched, his face scrunched in pain. "Allen!" he cried. "Don't… don't leave…" he murmured, calming down a bit.

I was a mess. Should I go hunt for food? What was he thinking about? Would he be okay if I wasn't here?

I rubbed his hand. "Shh… I'm here, Kanda, I'm he—"

Wh… what was that? Was that his eyelids fluttering? Was he alive? Was he conscious? Slowly, cautiously, I lowered my face to hover over his, ignoring the quickening pulse in my chest. There it was again!

A broke out into a relieved smile, leaning back with a sigh. He was alive! Of course, I had known that, but he was getting stronger now. He still ran a heavy fever and had that disgusting wound, but he was going to live, if things kept going in this good direction. If Tim could hurry and come back, then Kanda would live through this catastrophe for sure! I breathed another sigh of relief and laid my head on his chest, a safe distance away from the throbbing wound.

"Thank God you're alive, stupid BaKanda…" I murmured, my eyes closed. I snapped them open again as a thought crossed my mind.

He wouldn't remember this, would he…? I thought as I scooted up to hover over his face again. No. Of course not, I countered myself, and pressed my lips onto his. He tasted faintly of soba, and I smiled. Of course he would. That BaKanda would only eat soba—morning, noon, and night.

When I pulled back at last, his eyelids fluttered again. They opened halfway, barely focused, and he whispered a few words before slipping back into unconsciousness. Those words made me blush, a deed done with much difficulty.

"I love you, Allen."

I moved away from Kanda, pulling my knees up to my chest. Did he really, or was that just a figment of my imagination? Or was he still extremely delirious and was talking about a different Allen? I shook my head to clear my thoughts and spared a glance towards the swordsman. His treasured Mugen was next to him now. When I had pulled Kanda over here, I had forgotten completely about Mugen until he had begun to toss and turn and reach for something that wasn't there last night.

Those four words echoed over and over again in my head. With each repeat, I could bring myself to believe those words more and more, but doubt as to why arose. Was teasing me his way of showing affection? After all, we spent most of our time together either arguing or calling each other names. I smiled. Or maybe… Maybe Kanda was like me—using the hostility to cover up unwanted feelings.

But for me, those feelings were wanted again.

I glanced up at the sky. It was a while past noon, almost an entire day since I had sent Tim to find help.

When I closed my eyes again, finally relaxing, my left eye buzzed and whirred. It broke out, alerting me of an akuma. Luckily, it was only level 2, but I didn't want to leave Kanda if I could help it.

I waited for it to come closer, but my eye went ballistic. It rolled around in its socket, urging me to hurry and destroy the akuma as soon as possible. I clutched it with my right hand, my left one breaking out to reveal the claw. The white cloak of Crown Clown donned itself on me. My body craved to destroy the akuma, but my mind wished to stay and keep watch over Kanda.

"Nghh…"

My left arm and eye were plotting a conspiracy against me; I swear! I finally gave in and sprinted the short distance to the level two akuma. I didn't want to spend too much time on this for fear of having something happen to Kanda in the period that I was gone, so I killed it in one swipe.

Once that one disappeared, more came; level 3's now. I remembered some of these souls. Oh, God, no, these were the akuma that accompanied that Noah…

I glanced behind me at Kanda. The akuma were closing in on him now, but I couldn't move—they barricaded the passageway to him.

"Out of my way!" I cried.

At last, a golden golem zipped by. Timcampy!

Lenalee followed it closely. "Allen!" she cried happily, a smile on her face. "So you were here!"

"Hey, Allen," Lavi called, saluting me from upon his hammer. "The cavalry has arrived. Where's Yuu?"

"Lenalee, can you get him? He's over there," I said in between slashes. The level 3's were ganging up on me now.

"Hi ban!" Lavi cried. The flame serpent engulfed some of the akuma, while others leapt out of its way just in time.

I was relieved when I saw Lenalee take Kanda and race away from the battle site. It's okay now. Kanda would live. Lenalee would take him to headquarters, where he could rest. It's okay, now.

The akuma that attempted to follow them were instantly met by Lavi and me. I smirked at them, finally taking their challenge head-on. "Let your soul find salvation, you pitiful akuma!" I cried.

-

Once home, I ran straight to the infirmary. Lenalee led the way, rushing ahead with her Dark Boots and racing back. When I burst through the door, the nurse instantly shh-ed me. I smiled awkwardly and waved an apology before walking over to Kanda's side. His wound was cleaned now, and it seemed to be healing. I didn't want to pull back the bandages and see for myself.

His face was eerily calm, although his eyebrows were still scrunched in a fierce scowl. I smiled. Was it frozen that way, or was he thinking of something bad? His hair, similar in length to Lenalee's before it was burnt away, was spread haphazardly across the sheets as if he had been tossing and turning.

"He kept asking for you in his sleep, Allen," the head nurse said softly. My smile grew larger and a bit bashful. "And now that it's said and done," she continued sternly as a murderous aura arose, "why aren't you sitting in the infirmary as well? Injured exorcists like you need to heal."

I waved my hands in front of me. "It's okay, head nurse, I'm fine, really! It's just a few cuts and scratches!"

"'Cuts and scratches' my butt," Lavi commented. Just where had he come from, and since when had he been here…?

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, irritated.

"It means that you took quite a big hit back there with those akuma."

"Did not!" I countered, my voice rising.

The head nurse's murderous aura reappeared. "If you are going to shout in here," she threatened, holding a surgery scalpel in one hand, "then get out. Now. I will not tolerate any sort of ruckus in my hospital."

"Sorry" was the only thing we could say. And say it, we did.

I returned to Kanda's side after Lavi and Lenalee left. I brushed some stray strands of hair from his face, bemused as the crease in between his eyebrows lifted a bit. With a small smile, I took his hand in mine and rubbed it carefully, reveling in the fact that they were still warm and alive. I closed my eyes, smiling still, and lifted his hand to my cheek. It was so big and warm…

"… Hey, bean sprout," a familiar voice intervened groggily. "Just what the heck are you doing?"

Surprised, I stood up abruptly, knocking over the stool that had just been set out for me. It hit the floor with a clang and I hastily picked it up, glancing around nervously for the head nurse. She was nowhere in sight. I breathed a sigh of relief, setting it back down and sitting next to Kanda.

"Are you going to answer me or not?" he muttered angrily, sitting up.

I looked at him now. He was obviously pretty angry, but then again—when wasn't he? I smiled. "Just, ah, making sure you aren't dead yet, BaKanda." I spoke his nickname with particular distaste, trying to recover from the intimate cuddling I had been doing with his hand.

He glanced out towards the window. Was that… was that disappointment reflected in those deep sapphire eyes? Amazed, I craned my neck to see it clearly, getting out of my chair and leaning across his legs, my arms planted between them as a means of support, lest I lose my balance.

Automatically, Kanda's eyes turned to glare at the offending limbs. A deep, this-is-golden-stuff smirk spread across my face.

"Hmm? What is that, BaKanda? Does it feel awkward, having my arms here? How about if I move them up…?" I asked, sliding my arms forward and onto his legs. I rubbed them through the sheets.

My heart pounded as I watched his expression. I tried to keep my own from looking too embarrassed, but I was amazed—shocked, even—to see that he tossed his head back and gave a sexy groan.

I knew I was pushing my luck, but I had to go on. This might be my only chance, after all, and I wanted to play on it.

"How about a bit further…?"

My hands were at his crotch now, and I could see that his were fisted tightly, grabbing the sheets as tightly as possible. I looked up at him, and he grabbed my head and crashed his lips against mine. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and I duly returned the favor, pleased with the results of teasing.

We continued like that for a few minutes until I found myself onto the hospital cot with him, my arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"Now that that's over with," Kanda murmured softly, breaking the kiss, "do I still have to say it?"

I smirked, pressing my forehead against his. "Of course. I might still be insecure about your feelings."

"Fine, you stupid bean sprout," he said affectionately. "I love you."

"I love you too, BaKanda."

Hehe. :D I'm really proud of how the ending came out. It was 11:30 at night, and I was on a roll. My dad yelled at me, but I just kept goin'... xD But yes, I'm very proud of this yaoi-like ending.

Anyway, if you hate it, love it, or have something to say about it, review! I'd like a bit of constructive criticism to work on for next time ;D

Sora Pwns x3