Author's note: I wanted to write something angsty. But somehow this sin against humanity was born. It only proves that I need theme ideas! (Hint, hint.)

Disclaimer: If, on the off chance I do ever own D. Gray Man, just know it'll be the end of the world as we know it.

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Lotus

It was one of the times Lavi knew he had to choose his words carefully. Of course, there wasn't really anything he could say that his beloved samurai would respond to with anything else but a severe beating. It was quite an ironic situation, actually. One that Lavi tried to convince himself he would look back on and laugh. Laugh because – thank God – he's finally got the love of his life chasing after him and – oh God – he's got a sword.

"Yuu, hold on a minute and let me explain…"

"Give it back before I maim your sorry ass."

Lavi suddenly found it very hard to give a reassuring smile while taking a step away from a seething Kanda, while also holding the boy's precious hourglass, enclosing a lotus and several of its fallen petals. "I just wanted to see what it was."

"You've seen it!" Kanda roared. "Give it back!"

Lavi took a moment to drink in the sight before him. He had never seen nor imagined Kanda exasperated before and it made him wonder even more what the lotus in the hourglass meant. Deciding to take a chance (and risk his own life), Lavi held the hourglass over the railing dangerously. Kanda froze.

"But I couldn't figure out what it was, so I was hoping you could tell me."

"Not on your life." Kanda hissed.

"If it's not that important, I'll just drop it." The grin on Lavi's face must've been more convincing then he thought, because Kanda slowly lowered his sword and stared at his feet.

"Give it back…Lavi."

"Aren't you going to tell me what it is?"

"N-No!"

"Does it have anything to do with that tattoo on your chest?"

"So now you're stalking me?!"

"Showers, Yuu. We're both humans here."

Kanda made that "che" sound Lavi loved so much and glared at him from several yards away, as if daring him to drop the hourglass. Even though Lavi had never intended for things to get this heated, he didn't exactly enjoy seeing his Yuu-chan mentally pulling his limbs off, one by one.

"It helps me heal." Kanda said coldly.

"I always wondered how you could be so invincible."

"I'm not invincible, you moron."

"I like to think you are."

Was that a blush? Yes! Haha! Lavi had succeeded in making Kanda Yuu – the Kanda Yuu blush! Grinning rather smugly Lavi pulled the hourglass away from eminent shattering and held it to his chest triumphantly.

But then it hit him, like the hilt of Mugen in the back on his skull. "But Yuu, what happens when the flower dies?"

"What do you think!?" Kanda yelled, fierce sarcasm dripping off every word.

"Yuu…" Lavi said slowly, staring at the fallen petals as the realization he had never imagined hitting him harder then Mugen ever could. "You're not going to die…are you?"

"Che." Kanda spat bitterly. "Everyone dies, you idiot." In several fluid steps, he had made his way over to the railing, and grabbed the hourglass out of Lavi's suddenly-limp arms. At the look on the redhead's face, Kanda added, "You were the one who asked what it was."

"Yeah but…" Lavi said weakly, "I didn't think…I don't want…" He couldn't even talk properly with the thought of the person he loved dying – and until a few seconds ago, he wouldn't have known why. Being a stupid boy with a stupid crush, he had wanted to get to know Kanda better, and that had started with knowing that that creepy hourglass and lotus in his room were (no, he still wasn't stalking Kanda).

"Stop blubbering." Kanda snapped, holding the hourglass like the delicate thing it was. "I can deal with it."

"Have you told anyone?"

"That fool Komui; and Heveleska knows, obviously."

"So you've been dealing with it, all on your own, haven't you, Yuu?"

Kanda stared back at Lavi with the most unwavering gaze the redhead had ever seen. How could he handle living his life while he watched petal after petal fall away? How could he insult Allen or get hit with a clipboard by Lenalee knowing it might be the last time that ever happened? Or leave for a mission without saying goodbye, even though he might never get a chance to say "I'm back" – or in the most likely case – hear someone say "Welcome back, Kanda."

So, without thinking, without wondering, Lavi lunged forward, and grabbing the stunned samurai by his shoulder, plunged his lips onto Kanda's, as they were simply open with mortifying shock.

As quickly as he had started it, Lavi pulled away. Even without a mirror in sight, he was able to feel the intense heat in his cheeks, and he could see it on Kanda's as well. Lavi was suddenly struck with the thought that he might have just stolen Kanda's first kiss; the poor boy's face was a very dark shade of red, his eye were saucer-wide with shock and his (gorgeous) lips still hung open slightly.

"Did you just–?"

"Yup."

"You really–?"

"Yeah…"

"Why did you–?"

"Umm…yeah…I sorta…think I might love you."

"Oh."

"But Yuu, the bottom line is, I don't want you to go though all that crap by yourself, 'kay? And even if you hit me, or insult me, I'm not going to let you keep all that hidden behind your PMS face, got it?"

"Why aren't you running?"

"Huh? Oh sorry, I'll get right on that, Yuu-chan."

"Don't call me by my first name!"

Kanda flung the suddenly-not-as-important hourglass into his room and chased Lavi all around Headquarters, like a madman. And it was confirmed as the samurai had one of his very few epiphanies: somewhere in the same recesses of his mind in which the thought of killing the Moyashi known as Allen Walker resided, Kanda was able to come to terms with the fact that he loved Lavi.

On a side note, Kanda found it easy to be close to Lavi when he was trying to cut off his head.