Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the D. Gray-man universe, which is the property of Katsura Hoshino.

Note: I haven't seen any Lenalee x Kanda fanfiction, so I wanted to write one. If you don't this one, I hope you'll write a better LenaKan fic. I'm also using the official spellings of the characters' names... well, for most of the characters, anyway. Onward!

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Yu Kanda wasn't sure when he'd fallen for Lenalee. It might have been when he'd first met her three years ago, when he was 15 and she was 13. It might have been just a few hours ago, when he'd caught her unconscious form and held her in his arms. It might have been any of the time between those two events. Whatever it was, he hadn't been sure of it until that moment.

The exorcists stood on what remained of the battleground. They had just finished an epic fight with the Earl of the Millennium and his accomplices. Kanda had been battling against Tyki Mikk, a tall, polite gentleman who was stronger than he cared to admit. Allen Walker had dared to go against the Earl. Of course, the Beansprout was losing. Just as the Earl was about to finish him off, Cross Marian showed up and saved his student's life.

A few minutes ago, three unnamed Noahs had arrived at the scene, announcing some news about some kind of ark. The Earl and his accomplices had grown extremely excited, and left them. The conscious exorcists had just finished off the remaining akuma. Kanda sheathed his sword, and looked around him.

Allen was curled up on the ground, unconscious. Kanda sneered. That would teach him to overestimate his strength. Cross was trying to wake his student up. Arystar Krory, Miranda Lotto and Lavi were checking for injuries among the non-exorcists. Bookman, Froi Tiedoll and Noise Mari were deep in conversation, discussing their next move. Lenalee, who had managed to escape from her nightmarish prison in the heat of battle, was now running towards his direction. Although her long hair was gone, Kanda thought she looked as pretty as ever. His insides squirmed like it always did when he saw Lenalee.

"Lenalee. Are you okay?" If it were anyone else, Kanda wouldn't have asked. But he felt inclined to question Lenalee's well-being.

"Fine!"

Instead of stopping to chat, Lenalee made a beeline towards Allen. Kanda watched as she crouched down beside Cross, and joined him in trying to wake Allen up. Lenalee touched the face of the white-haired boy, and spoke his name. Kanda strolled over and watched their attempts. Finally, Timcanpi flew over and chomped on the end on Allen's nose. His blue eyes flew open, and he took a sharp intake of breath.

"Cross? Kanda?" Allen sat up and looked around him. "Lenalee?"

"Allen! You're awake!" Lenalee cried joyfully, and threw her arms around him. She buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Lenalee… you're okay too!" Allen placed his arms around her, and they embraced.

Cross looked at them with an expression of amusement on his face. Kanda watched, feeling something unpleasant stirring inside of him. His stomach knotted and his heart tightened. That feeling… was it… no, it wasn't hated. It was… jealousy? At that moment, Kanda knew that he was in love with Lenalee. But as he kept on watching her embrace Allen, Kanda realized he'd never have a chance. His mind screamed for him to pull Lenalee away. Instead, he gave the two his coldest look.

"There's no time for this," he told Allen and Lenalee crossly. He walked away, and started shouting at Lavi to go back and report that they'd found Cross.

"Cranky as ever," Allen noted.

"That Kanda," Lenalee smiled at the long-haired exorcist's retreating back fondly. "He'll never change."

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Lenalee had always liked Kanda. Of course, the latter was rude, obnoxious, self-satisfied, arrogant… she could easily write a book about the things she didn't like about him. But something about him that always lightened her mood. When Kanda looked at her, she always felt like smiling. That is, when he didn't make her feel like hitting him for being a jerk.

"You'll think about it, won't you?" a boy's voice cut through her thoughts.

They were back at Headquarters now. Lenalee was in Allen's room, sitting at his bedside. Allen's arm had been injured during the battle, and he was recovering.

"Oh, of course," Lenalee promised.

"I'm sorry if I came off as too strong," apologized Allen. "I'm sorry if I scared you, but I really think this will work. I really want this to happen. Please?"

Lenalee greatly admired Allen. She sympathized with his circumstances. She respected him for his strength. And she loved him for the unselfish way he dealt with everything. Allen was sitting up on the bead, looking at her with anticipating eyes. She smiled. Everything about him was so frail and beautiful. She wished she could gather him into her arms and protect him forever.

Instead, Lenalee leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Allen blushed, putting his hand over the spot her lips touched. Then, he yawned.

"I'll let you know as soon as possible," Lenalee promised. "Get some sleep. I'll leave you alone now."

"Okay. See you," Allen gave another great yawn, and lay down.

Lenalee left his room and gently closed the door behind her. She sighed. So much had happened since she'd met Allen. Did she care about him? Certainly. But love? Lenalee decided that she had to spend some quality time with her thoughts. There was always one place where Lenalee could think undisturbed. She headed towards the roof.

It was a clear night, and the moon was full and pale. Thousands of starts dotted the sky. Lenalee stepped across the tiles, searching for the place she'd always sat. It was an unobtrusive place hidden from prying eyes. The roof sloped down gradually, making a good seat that faced the moon. When she reached it, she realized she wasn't alone.

"Hi, Kanda," she greeted the other visitor. "Isn't it a beautiful night?"

"Hn." Kanda was lying on his back with his eyes closed. He opened an eye to look at her. Lenalee sat down beside Kanda. They were silent for a few minutes.

"What are you doing here?" asked Lenalee.

"I used to come here when I was younger," Kanda replied. "You did, too."

"I know," Lenalee smiled. "We hung out here about three years ago. But then, you stopped coming."

"Hn." Kanda closed his eyes again.

Silence came again. There was a look of utter peacefulness on Kanda's face. Lenalee remembered that they regularly visited each other at this place when they'd first met. At first, Lenalee was angrily escaping from her captors. She knew by then that running away from HQ was useless. She would come here when she wanted to be alone, and they'd let her because it was still on HQ grounds. Kanda had come to the roof to meditate.

After that, they sat together on the roof every night. They never spoke a word to each other. It was always silent, like at that moment. Lenalee always felt that the silence was tranquil, like two people savoring a golden moment. After about six months, Kanda stopped coming. Lenalee continued to visit the roof whenever she felt the need to be alone. No one else ever came, so it was just her and her thoughts.

Lenalee had fallen madly in love with Kanda during those visits. He was the only person she could sit with in silence, and not feel uncomfortable. Her feelings for him had died down after he stopped coming. Her explanation was that it was the insignificant infatuation of a 13-year-old. But why did her heart stir when he looked at her? Looking at Kanda, she wished he would hold her and protect her from the world. The wishful thinking confirmed the worst. Lenalee was still in love.

Of course, she knew it was useless. Kanda didn't like other people. He'd always had a higher tolerance of her, but Lenalee told herself it was only a tribute to their rooftop friendship. Lenalee told herself that Kanda was cold, and he didn't care about others. Perhaps that aspect of his personality was what drew him to her the most. However, Lenalee told herself that Kanda was meant for someone else. She wasn't the one. And as for her… well, there was Allen.

"Spit it out," Kanda commanded, interrupting her thoughts. He had both eyes open, and they were focused on her. Lenalee realized that she'd been staring at Kanda the whole time she was having her debate.

"Oh, well…" Lenalee suddenly felt very shy

"Say something, or stop staring at me," Kanda commanded, sitting up.

"It's Allen," Lenalee blushed. She thought she saw Kanda's face tense. But she was probably imagining it. After all, Kanda's face was always tense.

"Beansprout, huh." Kanda scrutinized her face. He finally decided: "You like him."

"Yes, I… how'd you know?" The cold night air felt refreshing against Lenalee's burning face.

"It's written all over you," Kanda informed her, turning away looking up at the full moon. Quiet came, but this time, it was uneasy.

"What do you think I should do?" Lenalee finally broke the silence.

"Why are you asking me?" Kanda snapped.

"Um, … see, he asked me to be his girlfriend. But I don't know. I mean, I obviously like him, but I really don't know what to say. I don't want to lose him, but I don't want to rush things," Lenalee sighed. "I told him I'd think about it."

"So think," Kanda told her. He lay back down and closed his eyes. Quiet. After what felt like hours, Lenalee couldn't stand it anymore. She was about to open her mouth to disrupt it, when Kanda did it for her. "What do you see in him?"

"Well, Allen's so kind, and self-sacrificing. He's really, really caring, and so polite…" Lenalee went through a whole list of adjectives that didn't describe Kanda.

"Do whatever makes you happy," Kanda snapped, not wanting to hear another word of praise about Allen. He stood up. He suddenly couldn't stand being around Lenalee anymore.

"Whatever makes me happy…" Lenalee mused. "Hey, where are you going?"

"To my room," Kanda replied. "Why do you care?"

"Oh, it's sort of cold tonight, and I forgot to bring a jacket," Lenalee had changed back into her usual outfit, which included the short skirt, but not bulky exorcist's robes.

Kanda unbuttoned the bulky exorcist's robes he treasured so much. He tossed it at Lenalee, who caught it. After she put it on, he turned to go. "Give it back tomorrow." Lenalee caught his hand before he could walk away.

"Won't you stay?" Lenalee requested. "We haven't hung out like this for such a long time."

"Hn," Kanda reluctantly let her guide him back down. Lenalee snuggled into the thick robes that shielded her from the cold wind. It smelt of blood and sweat. But it wasn't unpleasant. It was… Kanda.

"I… I think I'm in love," Lenalee whispered. And she knew that she was… with Kanda. But she didn't dare admit that. She told herself he'd never reciprocate her feelings. She persuaded herself that she loved Allen. She knew the answer she was going to give to him the next time she saw him. Lenalee assured herself that she was doing the right thing; that she and Allen were meant for each other. But still, Kanda's indifference stung.

Kanda felt his spine freeze at her words. He had no doubts that he loved Lenalee. He wanted to shout insults at Allen, and to scream at her for her betrayal. Instead, Kanda told himself it was inevitable. Allen and Lenalee both cared too much for their own good and he told himself they were made for each other. However, his assurances didn't make him feel any better. But all he said was: "Hn."

Although neither noticed, Kanda and Lenalee's hands remained firmly entwined.