- Seventh Petal -

Seclusion

With each falling petal, Kanda turns away.

Yet Allen, as per his nature, still persistently remains at the hospital. Even hours into Kanda's emergency treatment, he continues to pace the halls. And wait. Though his Crown Clown is deactivated, Allen can still feel the heat of exploding Akuma on the claws of his left hand and the numbness in his right hand from excessively swinging his sword. Within the crisp, white walls, he can still feel the pain of witnessing the leveling of the humble village by an army of Akuma and the guilt weighing in his heart of having Kanda rush in to shield him from a stream of bullets.

Allen grits his teeth and sets a scowl upon his usually cheerful face. Who ever asked "Bakanda" to protect him?

"Walker-san, would you like some coffee?"

A kind nurse approaches the white-haired boy and offers a steaming cup of coffee.

"Ah, thank you."

He takes the mug, and the faint fragrance of the drink instantly reminds of the Black Order headquarters. Home. Where he first met the Japanese Exorcist.

"You may visit Kanda-san now," the nurse adds softly.

"Really?"

Allen's gray eyes revoke their usual shimmer as he dashes towards Kanda's room.

"Kanda! Kanda! Are you alright? How are you feeling?"

The said Exorcist's sour face instantly greets his relieved companion. Allen's gaze grazes across Kanda's heavily bandaged chest (did the tattoo look that big before?) and legs and arm cast, not to mention the many slashes that have already closed into small cuts (how much of his life source is left?) and the copious amounts of blood Kanda has shed in the past days of battle.

"What does it look like?" Kanda snaps.

"I'm just worried for you, Kanda," Allen counters, all previous relief and cheerfulness lost now.

"You're always in my way, Moyashi. That's why I get so wounded."

"Wha-… I never asked you to jump so hastily in front of me!"

"That's why I said you're always in my way, idiot Moyashi."

"My name is Allen, Bakanda. And I can protect myself."

"Che. It didn't look like it."

"Don't tell me you actually care for me?"

"Who would care for you, Moyashi?"

"It's Allen!"

"Shut up!! Do you want to die?"

"Ahh, Kanda-san!" the nurse cries helplessly. "You mustn't move around so much—"

"SHUT UP, YOU'RE ALL SO ANNOYING."

Immediately, Kanda jumps up and furiously strides out of the room with hospital clothes and loose bandage wraps in tow.

"Kanda!"

"Kanda-san!"

"SHUT UP. Don't follow me!"

"Kanda…"

"Che."

Allen watches quietly as the blue-haired Exorcist slams his way out the hospital. He ignores the flailing nurse's wails and slumps against the wall. Kanda's words ring harshly in his ears and seem to impale themselves in his mind. His eyes, just a pair of fiery gray orbs a moment ago, are now dull and lackluster. Stifling a surge of emotions welling up inside him, Allen turns his head away from the door through which his friend just walked. Sadly, he lowers his head and raises his left hand to stare without seeing at the black tone of its skin.

"I want to protect you too, Kanda…" he whispers. "Why… why do you always push us away?"

A/N: Ah, the ever famous "Yullen" pairing. Once again, a big thank you to tokiya, Belladonna-Isabella, Kuro666, RebelFlame, Ai Minamoto, Maedhros, froomball, and skele-gro for supporting my efforts.

D.Gray-Man (c) Hoshino Katsura