Disclaimer: I don't own D Gray Man or any of its characters.

Wow. I can't believe I'm at the halfway mark already. Twenty-five chapters and still going strong.

This was inspired by a movie I watched once, where the girl was trying to teach the guy some English words and told him those three special words. However, he thought it was some sort of greeting and taught everyone else the words, much to her dismay.

Chapter 25 - Three Little Words

" Lenalee! Lenalee!" Allen panted, waving at her until he reached her. " I need a favour from you."

Curious but knowing Allen, Lenalee braced herself for the inevitable. " What is it?"

" Can you teach me Chinese?" he breathlessly asked. " Kanda (the idiot) said that I didn't know any other language than English, so I wanted to prove him wrong."

So began their lessons. Lenalee did her best teaching him basic words, like hello, how are you, please and thank you. But Allen grew restless, as Kanda had not accepted any of those words as worthy. He soon badgered Lenalee for more challenging words, more sentences and snatches of conversations.

" Maybe, you can teach me something that Kanda wouldn't know?" Allen suggested, after their fourth lesson.

Her mouth twitched in amusement. Kanda had learned Chinese when he was younger, so it was going to be hard for Allen to try to outwit the swordsman.

After all, she truly did enjoy these lessons with Allen. He had proven to be a quick and sharp student, having picked up a few other languages during his travels with General Cross. And maybe, just maybe, she secretly hoped to continue these lessons, to see him, to talk to him, to be near him. The recent missions had taken a toll and they were not always paired up together and away for long periods of time.

For the past months, she had realized there was an abrupt flutter in her stomach whenever she saw Allen. The way she simply felt comforted and joyed at his presence. How he could cheer her up and make her laugh when she was feeling sad or tired.

At first, she felt lost, ashamed and confused. There was no mother for guidance and no friend (Miranda was sweet, but she didn't have the knowledge) to ask. She dared not ask her brother about her newfound feelings. Knowing Komui, he would probably maim and tear Allen to pieces before she even said a word about it.

Lenalee went to the Matron instead, the closest person she had to a mother at the Headquarters, and asked her about it. Kindly, the Matron explained and taught her that this was normal, that what she was experiencing was nothing to be frightened of.

Then came the question of does he feel the same for me? The dreaded thought burdened her and she continually refused to confront it. Embarrassment and guilt plagued her, as she wondered what she would do if they were placed together for a mission afterwards. Their friendship would be ruined or at least would not be the same as it once was.

But the Matron spurred her to face her fears. She encouraged her to go seek out Allen and tell him about how she felt for him, for keeping these feelings bottled up and hidden was much worse than facing them.

The lessons were a good cover-up at first and many times, Lenalee tried to get the words out, but shied away at the last moment. And Allen was helplessly oblivious to how she felt.

Today will be different, she decided. Even if she cannot directly say it to him, she will at least say those words.

" Wo ai ni," Lenalee finally said, almost too softly.

" Hm?"

" Wo ai ni," she repeated, feeling heat creeping to her cheeks. Thankfully, Allen didn't seem to notice. " It's - it's a greeting you can use," she stammered, making an excuse on the spot. " Only for - certain people, of course. Like - like really, really good friends. So you can't say it everyone though. They might get upset or annoyed because of it."

Allen's smile could shame the sun. " I undestand, Lenalee. Thanks!"

With that, he speeded off, leaving her to muse about the fact that she had plucked up the courage to make a confession to him and he didn't realize it.

(The next morning, to her great embarrassment and amusement, Allen unwittingly had said those three words to Kanda. Needless to say, Allen received several sore bruises and a rather confused look on his face as to why a disgruntled Kanda tried to kill him.)