Author's Note:

Wow... This was better received than I thought it would be... Arigato minna!

Disclaimer: I don't own D Gray Man. I could only wish...

UPDATE: beta-ed! Also made a few additions to smooth things out.

Chapter 2: Aftershock

The alarm clock rang loudly and almost tauntingly woke up the only occupant of the small bedroom. A pillow came flying towards the clock, hitting it with great accuracy and force.

"Leave me alone," mumbled Lavi sleepily turning to face the other side of the messy bed while pulling up the wrinkly covers to his head. It took a good ten seconds for his drowsiness to wear off and the memories of yesterday's events came flooding back.

"Shit!" he cursed loudly and he suddenly sat up straight and alert. He hit his forehead with an open palm.

This can't be. My life is ruined. I can't believe that I actually kissed another guy! How stupid is that?!

"Gaaaah...!" he cried out in desperation.

FLASHBACK

"Wait! I'm sorry okay?" Lavi said for what seemed to be like the twenty-seventh time as he ran across the school gym and headed for the more secluded areas. He had enough spotlight for today.

"Tch. Nothing you say will save your life. You're going down, usagi," said the Japanese tearing after him with ease.

He wasn't sure but Lavi felt like he should take the transfer student's threats seriously. He felt the soles of his sneakers warming up with abuse. He should have worn his running shoes. They've been running for quite some time already and Lavi felt that his legs would give up soon.

Lavi chanced a glance at the other. He's fucking persistent!

The Japanese on the other hand looked terrifically murderous but nowhere near tired with his fluid movements and his hair beating behind in the wind.

"You're getting slower, usagi!"

Lavi felt his stomach sank. He's not human! How can he run all these time and not break a sweat?

They reached the part of the school that was under construction where a new building will rise. Lavi stopped to catch his breath falling on his knees in exhaustion. He heard the gravel crunch behind him under the weight of footsteps that he could only wish belonged to anyone but a Japanese.

"Ready to die?"

"You know as well as I do that no matter how many times you say that, you're not actually going to kill me," Lavi said though he didn't really believe his own words.

"You don't know me," the transfer student said as he walked closer. "You're lucky I don't have Mugen with me today."

"What's Mugen?" Lavi asked trying to buy time.

"My katana"

Being the smart boy that he is, Lavi knew exactly what katana meant and he didn't like the sound of the word at all.

"Lucky me," he said.

"Not quite."

Lavi felt a hand grab the neck of his shirt and he shut his eyes preparing for the impact.

"Kanda!"

Lavi's eye opened just in time to see a dark man with huge built and very few hairs come running towards them. "Stop it. What do think you're doing to that kid?"

Kanda's fist was still hanging in midair but he didn't land the punch. "My dismissal time is not for another hour. Why are you here?" he asked not taking his eyes off Lavi.

"Let him go," the man said. There was not a hint of command in his voice but Kanda complied letting the redhead go. Lavi sighed in relief.

"Daisya forgot his lunch money. Good thing I brought it to him or this kid would have been hurt," the man finally answered.

Kanda stood and straightened his white shirt. "He was going to be a lot more than just hurt if you hadn't come." He glared at Lavi.

"You know what master said. Keep your temper in check."

"Don't talk to me about controlling my temper," Kanda said in a low voice.

"Then do not do things rashly. What's this kid done to you anyway?"

Lavi felt a sweat drop rolled down his forehead. You have no idea... He casted a sideway glance at Kanda who was also looking at him.

The Japanese turned his gaze at the man. "Nothing. He's just an annoying little bastard that made me lose my temper."

"I see. I will have to tell him about this, you know."

"I understand. I'm prepared to take the consequences of my action," Kanda said.

The two proceeded to walking back to the school leaving Lavi sprawled on the dusty soil. He breathed deeply before letting himself fall back flat on his back.

END OF FLASHBACK

Just remembering yesterday's ordeal made Lavi's head throb. Forget about the humiliation that would certainly haunt him from this day on but what about his life? Lavi might not be rich and he may find reading and memorizing fun but really, he loved to live. He cared about his life! How was he going to spend the rest of his days in the constant look out for some boy that might try to kill him?

"Oi!" A knock on his door interrupted his train of worries.

"I'm awake Jiji. I'll be right down," Lavi told the person outside. He couldn't even wallow in his misery in peace.

"Good. In case you forgot, your bike is still unfixed so you'll have to walk to school again."

"Right," Lavi said. He stood up and started fixing his bed thinking up of ways to go through this day in maximum distance from Kanda.

Gaaaahhhh...! Lavi mentally groaned at the site of the classroom. Seated on his favorite chair was the transfer student looking like he was about to jump off the window while the rest of the class huddled around him. Right, he sits there. But... what's happening?

"I told you we're not together. I only met him yesterday," he heard Kanda say, looking like he was being tortured.

Lavi felt beads of sweat form on his forehead. The intermingled voices of all his classmates were excitedly grilling Kanda in his seat.

"Eeehhhh?!"

"Really, there's no point in hiding it anymore."

"We saw you kiss"

"I can't believe that Lavi is gay!"

"Can you blame him? The transfer student looks kinda hot."

"So he's gay too? What a waste!"

Even at the distance, Lavi could clearly see Kanda's hands clasped together in front of him shaking furiously. He half wished that Kanda would go berserk again and try murdering the entire class this time. He waited, watching Kanda struggle to control his temper.

Why isn't he lashing out on them yet? Kanda looked at the verge of his last stroke of patience yet he sat there quietly ignoring all the insults to his pride. Lavi felt guilty. Kanda might have been rude but really, he was the one who kissed him.

"Wow everyone! Give the transfer student some air," Lavi said cheerfully as he suddenly entered the room and plunging himself into the spotlight. He saw Kanda's eyes narrowed and he could have sworn he felt someone slap his head. He could be more grateful...

"Oy Lavi! The girls said they saw you kiss him. Is that true?" one of the guys asked. The whole room was suddenly silent.

Lavi wanted strangle himself for stupidly entering the room without a plan. Everyone was staring at him, waiting for his answer. His gaze fell again on Kanda who finally returned his gaze with a look that said 'answer them well or you're dead'.

"Well, yeah I did."

STUPID! Both Kanda and Lavi mentally screamed. The room burst with 'eh's' and 'what's'. Kanda wanted to vaporize right then and there.

"Bit to make things clear, Kanda and I are not together."

That earned him an even louder outburst. Lavi could see from the corner of his eye that Kanda was now clinging to the last thread of whatever higher power that was making him sit swallow everything. The baka is making everything worse.

"Then why did you kiss him, Lavi?"

Lavi thought this was the chance to fix some of the damage he did. "Hehe... it was funny really. I thought he was a girl."

A high kick on the gut knocked the air out of his lungs. Lavi's eyes watered as he coughed and spat blood on the ground.

"Marie went back to Japan last night so he won't be coming to save your sorry ass," Kanda said as he looked down on Lavi's crouched form.

Lavi breathed deeply as he tried to stand and return Kanda's gaze. "What the hell was I suppose to tell them? It's the truth! Besides, at least we convinced most of them that we are not gay."

Lavi felt a dizzy sensation as another kick hit him but this time on his cheek. "I don't know what you should have told them but saying that you mistook me for a girl is insulting," Kanda said.

"It is the truth!"

"Shut up!"

Lavi was about to receive another blow when the ringing of his cellphone startled them both. Kanda seemed to have been doused with cold water and was just realizing what he was doing. Lavi took the chance and reached for his phone.

"Hello? Oh right! Sorry about that... I know its tonight and all but we could still practice before the actual performance if we go early... "

Kanda walked away from Lavi, slumping his back against the old and dusty wall of the old school building where he dragged Lavi. He sighed closing his eyes.

"It's still early... I'll be there in a two hours." Lavi hung up and found Kanda solemnly sitting at the corner. His white shirt was now smeared with dirt and blood.

"Tch. You're one troublesome usagi," he said.

Lavi was taken aback with the comment and the sudden calmness of Kanda's voice. He tried to read him but the Japanese was not making it easy. "There it is again," he commented.

"Tch, what?"

"Usagi. You called me usagi," Lavi said. "You also called me that yesterday when you were trying to murder me."

"Tch," the other said but did not answer him.

He watched Kanda while he closed his eyes quietly. Lavi could only guess that the other was meditating or something, with that straight posture and just general... camlness.

"Did I break anything?"

Another surprise statement. How can he be all murderous one moment and be civil the next moment? Lavi unconsciously moved his jaw and touched his torso. His jaw seemed fine but his torso ached like hell. "I don't know."

"Tch," Kanda said getting up and walking towards him. He suddenly pressed some areas on Lavi's torso who jumped in pain.

"What was that for!?" he said angrily clutching his gut.

"You're speaking well so that means your jaw is fine, and I don't think your ribs are broken either. Put some ice on your abdomen though. It will help with the pain if you're too much of a weakling to take it," Kanda said blandly before standing up and proceeding to exit the building.

Lavi didn't know if he was glad that Kanda finally stopped beating him up or annoyed that Kanda was suddenly walking away just like that. "Hey! Where are you going?" He was almost tempted to say 'hey, shouldn't you be beating me up more?'

"None of your business."

Lavi went after him and grabbed the other's arm. "Look, I'm really sorry for what I did but I still think that you also owe me an apology for being rude and beating me up like this."

"I don't owe you anything. Besides, I'll get a lot more than those when I get home," Kanda said more to himself, eying Lavi's injuries. He brushed off Lavi's grip and continued walking.

He'll get beat up for beating me up? What the... Of all the people he knew, Kanda was the first and only person that he can't understand. Everyone had a motive, a driving force, something. All he could read about Kanda was that he was bored, passive yet aggressive, rude, uninterested, hot-tempered... just... different.

He also felt like he should be angry with Kanda for beating him up but he also felt sorry for causing the transfer student one hell of a first day welcome.

"You're coming to the school's opening party, right?" Lavi asked suddenly.

Kanda didn't even look back. Lavi heard him huff humorlessly as he his form disappeared when he stepped out of the building.

The school ground glittered with lights and stars. It was night time and students were excitedly waiting for the party to start.

Allen put on the strap of his electric guitar smiling widely. "Nice job, Lavi. This definitely makes up for your missed practice yesterday."

"Allen's right. You sounded like you've been practicing outside our rehearsals," Lenalee agreed behind the red drum set.

"Thanks but we all did well," Lavi told them.

"Lavi, your lip seems a bit swollen," Allen said looking at Lavi closely.

Lavi touched his lip and felt a small wave of pain. "No need to worry. I got into a small accident but its fine."

"If you say so," Allen said.

"We still have a few more minutes before show time. You guys go get drinks," Lenalee said. They knew that even though she told them to relax before they played, she will stay there and tune their instruments or polish everything.

"Okay," Allen said happily. "Come on, Lavi."

"Sure," Lavi said.

They walked through the thickening crowd until they reached the food table. Allen grabbed a plate full of assorted things and started eating while Lavi looked around at all the people. Looks like he's really not coming.

On second thought, why is he even looking for him? He made it plain and clear that he's not coming. They're not even friends to begin with. Really, Lavi felt like he owed Kanda something. Blame it on the face if you must...

"Lavi?" Allen said waving a sandwich on Lavi's face.

"Hnm?" Lavi said.

"Are you okay? You look like you were searching for someone in the crowd," Allen said as he popped another sandwich in his mouth.

"What? No, I was just... looking around. It seems like the whole school is here," Lavi said hastily.

"I don't think so. I heard there's a new boy from Japan but I haven't seen him around. Pity, I heard all sorts of things about him," Allen said thoughtfully.

That got his attention. "Like what?" Lavi asked.

"Well, they say that this new guy looks really hot. Some of my classmates were going to spy on him in gym class tomorrow until a teacher found out," Allen replied. "Mind you, some of those classmates are boys. Anyway, you haven't seen him yet, have you?"

"Yeah I've seen him. He's in my class," Lavi said and took a sip of juice.

"Really? So how is he? Does he really look that good?" Allen asked excitedly and put down his sandwich.

Yes. Actually he looks good enough for me to kiss him. Lavi felt a little relieved that his little act with Kanda did not entirely spread to all the people in the school. "He's... okay."

"Just okay? Hmmmm... Looks like they're making such a big fuss out of nothing," Allen said and picked up his sandwich again.

Lenalee's suddenly appeared behind a group of girls. "Hey guys, we're up. Go get your equipment."

A/N:

I told myself earlier that ONLY Kanda and Lavi will be in this fic but I can't resist putting Allen as well! NO people... sorry to those LenaleexAllen fans but they won't be together here... sorry.

So, what do you think? Please hit that button and tell me! XD