“Oi! Rabbit!”

Lavi looked up from the game of chess he was playing with Johnny, as did everyone else watching the total slaughter. “What’s up, Yuu-chan?”

“You. Me. Roof. Now.”

“Aw, can’t it wait ‘till I clobber Johnny?”
“No.”

All the bystanders gulped. It finally happened. Kanda finally got sick of being called Yuu-chan and was going to murder Lavi for it. A few grabbed Lavi’s wrist to keep him from going, while a couple others blocked Lavi form Kanda’s view.

Despite this, Lavi stood and pushed past them. “I’ll be right back. Johnny, don’t mess with those pieces. I know exactly where they all are.” He laughed at everyone’s horrified looks. “Yuu-chan just wants to talk. He’s not gonna attack me.”

“Yeah,” Roger commented suggestively. “He only does that on weekends.”

Lavi raised an eyebrow at Roger, while Kanda glared from across the room. Then the future Bookman laughed and ambled over to the swordsman. “Well? Shall we?”

Kanda didn’t take Lavi’s hand, much to the redhead’s disappointment. It made sense, since there were people walking past, but it made Kanda seem distant in a way. He hated the fact their relationship had to stay secret, but it was the only way they could stay together. If Lvellie or Bookman found out, they’d both be skinned alive.

They reached the rooftop without running into either problem. Kanda opened the door and waited for Lavi to go outside first. Once he was safely through the door, Kanda followed and closed the door behind him.

“So what’s up?” Lavi asked. He leaned against the rail and watched Kanda while he tried to figure out whatever he wanted to say.

Kanda took a deep breath. “Okay, Lavi, you know I’ve loved you a really long time, right?”

“Right...?” Lavi said suspiciously.

“And I’d never do anything to hurt you, or not on purpose, at least.”

“Right,” Lavi said. A million alarms were going off in his head.

“And I’d do whatever it takes to protect you.”

“Are you...” Lavi couldn’t believe it. “Are you breaking up with me?”

It was Kanda’s turn to be surprised. “What? No!”

“It certainly sounds like it,” Lavi said. “Look, if you want to break this off, just tell me. Sugar-coating is just going to make it more painful for both of us. If you want this over, just say so.”

Kanda slapped his forehead, then dug in his pocket. “Baka Usagi,” he grumbled. He knelt down and pulled out a small black box. “I’m trying to ask you to marry me!”

Lavi’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?” Lavi asked. “You can’t be serious!” Lavi knew he was, though. There was a ring in the box and everything.

Kanda got up off his knee. “Lavi, you were suppose to say ‘yes.’”

Lavi smiled. ”I’d marry you if I could, but I can’t. I’m a Bookman. I’m not suppose to feel anything or even have someone.” Lavi wrapped his arms around Kanda’s waist. “You’re my little secret.” He kissed Kanda.

“At least wear the ring. Even if we can’t be married officially, we can still promise to be together.” He held up his own hand, showing his silver ring.

Lavi held out his hand, and Kanda slipped the identical ring on his finger. It wasn’t the fanciest ring in the world. It was a simple silver band, nothing that would attract unwanted attention.

“Thank you,” he whispered, tilting the ring so it caught the light just so. “But what about you? I don’t have anything to give to you...”

“Che. You don’t need to give me anything.”

Lavi’s eye was still on the ring. “But...”

Kanda put a finger on Lavi’s lips. “No buts. You’ve given me plenty... I don’t deserve all the attention you give me. I don’t deserve the way you look at me. I don’t deserve... you.”

“Oh no, you deserve my attention,” Lavi said. His arms moved up to Kanda’s neck and pulled Kanda closer for another kiss. “And I deserve yours. The way I look at you is the same way you look at me. If you don’t deserve me, then I hardly deserve you.”

They shared another kiss, this one longer than the first. When their lips finally parted, Kanda stared into Lavi’s eye, stroking his hair dreamily. Lavi stared back, the same dreamy expression on his face.

“How long can we keep this up?” Lavi asked, burying his face against Kanda’s chest. “How long until someone catches on?”

“How long can you keep a secret?” Kanda replied, still running his fingers through Lavi’s hair.

“A pretty damn long time.”

“Then that’s how long it’ll take for someone to catch on.”

They didn’t realize that Bookman had heard the whole exchange from the other side of the door. Once they were silent again in what he assumed was either a loving embrace or a deep kiss, he slunk away.

---

Later that night, Bookman knocked on Kanda’s door. Lavi was nowhere to be found, and he needed to talk to him.

Kanda opened the door a moment later, his shirt unbuttoned and his hair down. “I’m sorry to disturb you this late,” the old man said, “but have you seen Lavi?”

“If he bothers me, I’ll send him to you,” Kanda replied, closing the door.

Bookman pressed his ear against the door. Something was up, he could tell. Kanda was hiding something.

“Thank God he’s gone,” Bookman heard Lavi muttered. So he is there!

Bookman heard a laugh that could only come from Kanda. “Be careful. He could still be out there.”

“Bah,” Lavi said, and Bookman could perfectly visualize Lavi’s face as he said it. “He has better things to do than spy on you. He has to hunt me down, and I’ll go to him when I’m good and ready. So... where were we?”

Bookman heard fabric against fabric, and the squeaking of bedsprings. They aren’t...

“We were somewhere around me taking your clothes off,” Kanda said.

“Oh, Yuu,” Lavi said lovingly.

I’m ending this here. Bookman threw opened the door. “All right, that’s enough of that.”

Lavi and Kanda were in each other’s arms, kissing. Bookman could tell that they were about to do more than make out before he interrupted. Lavi’s shirt was off and his pants unbuttoned, with Kanda’s hand where it shouldn’t be.

Both stared at Bookman like a pair of deer with a gun pointed at them. Lavi dived under the covers in an attempt to hide. Kanda, meanwhile, snatched a book from his bed stand and attempted to pretend he was reading. Of course, he had the book upside-down and they were both about thirty seconds too late.

Bookman rolled his eyes. “Oh please, I’ve seen it all before,” he mumbled to himself. Then, louder, he said, “Lavi, get your clothes back on and get to our room.”

Lavi peeked out from under the covers. “Yes, Bookman,” he muttered guiltily. “I’ll be there in a few.”

“No distractions,” Bookman warned before turning to the open door. “Get your ass back to our room now.” He closed the door behind him.

Lavi buried his face in his hands. “I’m doomed. Bookman’s gonna murder me.”

Kanda put an arm around Lavi’s bare shoulders comfortingly. Lavi just shrugged Kanda’s arm off and started searching for his discarded shirt. “I’ll come, if you want. You look like you need some moral support.” He’s shaking.

“Thanks, but no.”

“What about our promise?” Kanda asked, taking Lavi’s hand and touching the ring. “I said I’d protect you, remember?”

“I remember,” Lavi replied, pulling his hand away so he could put his shirt back on. “But this is Bookman business. It has nothing to do with you.”

“If it has to do with you, it has all to do with me.”

“We’re not married,” Lavi said. His voice was distant, and his eyes looked like he was staring off into a far-off world. “I wish that could happen, but I’m a Bookman. Hell, that’s probably what Bookman’s going to yell at me about, anyway.”

In spite of his words, Lavi wanted Kanda to come with him. He was scared, terrified even. He had no idea what was going to happen. Kanda was the only thing that made sense to him right now. And, though Lavi didn’t want to think of it, this could be the last time he’d see Kanda. Bookman would never allow him to be alone with Kanda again.

Kanda followed close behind Lavi. He’s so pale, Kanda thought. He placed a hand on Lavi’s shoulder, and this time Lavi didn’t shrug it off. “I’m here if you need me.”

“I know,” Lavi said, his voice empty.

They reached Bookman and Lavi’s room without meeting a soul. It was a good thing, too. Lavi was shaking like a leaf, and Kanda was helping him with each step. Lavi was too distraught to knock, so Kanda did it for him.

“Come in.”

Kanda pushed open the door. Bookman was sitting on the floor with a book in his lap. He frowned when he saw Kanda. “Thank you for helping him here, Kanda, but he’ll be fine.” When Kanda didn’t leave, Bookman said, “I’m not going to kill him, Bookman’s honor.”

“What honor?” Kanda groused. Lavi elbowed him hard in the side. “Ouch! I get it! I get it! I’m leaving.” He opened the door and closed it, but didn’t go far. He put his ear against he door and listened as well as he could.

“Bookman, I’m sorry,” Lavi muttered.

“For what?” Bookman said, closing the book and placing it on the stack of many others.

“You’re... not gonna kill me for being with Yuu? I mean, being with him like... that.”

“Lavi, I’m going to tell you a little story, one no one’s heard, not even the Bookman who taught me,” Bookman said seriously. Lavi nodded and sat down next to him. “When I was young—”

“You were young?!” Lavi gasped.

Bookman glared at his apprentice. “Yes, I was young once,” he snapped. “Anyway, when I was young, I was in love, though in my case it was a woman.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved an old photograph. “She was the light of my life, and I was willing to give up being a Bookman for her.”

“Then what happened?” Lavi asked, taking the photo. There was a much younger version of Bookman in it, with his arms wrapped around a pretty girl from behind. “Why are you a Bookman now rather than with her?”

“I didn’t get a choice in my decision,” Bookman admitted. “She was killed by an Akuma a few days before I was going to tell my master that I was quitting.” He sighed and took the picture back from Lavi. “When she died, it was simply too painful for me, since I’d learned to live without emotions. I decided to never love again, and thus never feel the pain of losing someone.”

“So... you’re telling me to give up on Kanda and stay as a Bookman.”

“Quite the contrary,” Bookman said, pocketing the picture. “I’m giving you the choice I didn’t give myself. You can either stay on as a Bookman, or you can decide to stay with Kanda. It’s your decision, so don’t let anything I’ve said or Kanda’s said change your mind. It’s up to you: what will make you happier?”

“I... love Kanda,” Lavi mumbled, “but I’ve been your apprentice for so long. How can you train a replacement—”

“I’ll worry about that,” Bookman said. “Just decide what you want.”

“If I had a choice, I’d be with Kanda and be a Bookman,” Lavi grumbled.

Bookman sighed. “You can only choose one.” He put his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll give you until tomorrow to decide. If you can’t make up your mind by then, I’ll choose for you.” And with that, he left.

“Kanda, don’t try to influence his decision,” Bookman warned.

“I know, I know,” Kanda said. He leaned against the wall. “But... what if he picks what you don’t want him to do?”

“It’s his choice. I’m not going to affect his decision, and neither should you. Stay out of that room.”

Kanda glared, but decided it was for the best, even if he didn’t like it. And so, he sat in front of the room and waited for Lavi to make his choice.

---

Lavi stayed up the whole night, chewing over his options. He could be with the person he loved more than anything and go back to a semi-normal life he’d abandoned when he became Bookman’s apprentice, or he could stay with what was familiar and ignore his feelings. No matter what he chose, he’d be losing something important to him.

This sucks, he thought. I want to be with Yuu, but then I don’t know what’ll happen. What if he decides I’m not the one and leaves? I can’t go back to being a Bookman if he changes his mind. Lavi shook his head. No! Yuu would never do that! Not after everything...

He was so absorbed in the problem at hand he didn’t realize the sun had risen. It’s all over, Lavi thought. I lose no matter what I decide.

The door creaked open, and there was Bookman with Kanda standing behind him. “So?” the old man asked. “What’s your decision?”

Lavi bit his lip. “I... I want to be... with Kanda.”

Bookman nodded. He didn’t seem disappointed or upset in the least. “Very well. I’ll alert Lvellie and Komui about this.”

“Eh? C-can’t we just keep this as... Bookman business?”

Bookman shook his head. “No,” he stated flatly. “I should also tell them why you decided to quit being my apprentice.”

Lavi groaned. “You can’t! They’ll never allow it! They’ll say we’re heretics or something and we’ll never be allowed to even speak to each other!”

“I’ll handle it,” Bookman said with a crooked smirk. “Don’t you worry about a thing.”

“But...”

Kanda slipped past Bookman and sat next to Lavi. “If Bookman says he’ll handle it, I trust him to handle it. He knows what he’s doing.”

“You both might want to come with me,” Bookman said. “This does deal with your futures, after all.”

Futures, Lavi thought. Separate? Like, more than one? He didn’t voice his fears, though. Kanda looked weary and swayed where he stood. If he were to say what he was thinking, he might give the poor swordsman a heart attack in his condition.

Of course, he wasn’t much better. Kanda just acted tired; Lavi looked it. He almost looked like Bookman, with dark circles under his eyes.

Still, they went to Komui’s office. Bookman didn’t even knock. He barged right on in. “Good morning, gentlemen,” he said.

“Good morning,” Komui replied, raising an eyebrow. “May I ask why you’ve brought two zombies with you? They look like they haven’t slept for weeks.”

Kanda grunted and sat down on the couch. Lavi flopped down next to him, too exhausted to worry that they were a lot closer on the couch than usual.

“They stayed up all night,” Bookman said simply. “Anyway, I’ve come to tell you that Lavi is no longer my apprentice and that I’ll need to find a new one.”

“W-what?” Komui managed to say. “That’s why you wanted to speak with us?”

Lvellie’s eyes narrowed. “And why, may I ask, is Lavi not your apprentice?”

Kanda stretched on the couch, and draped an arm on the back of the couch behind Lavi. Lavi, meanwhile, was messing with his ring. They both looked half-asleep and completely unaware of what they were doing in their zombie-like state.

“Lavi’s broken Bookman code,” Bookman said matter-of-factly.

“And what code’s that?”

“He’s gotten emotionally attached to someone.”

Howard Link, who was standing next to Lvellie, noticed Lavi playing with his ring. He elbowed Lvellie to gain his attention and nodded subtly to Lavi and his ring.

“I see. So he’s engaged?” Lvellie asked.

“So it would seem.”

“With who?” Lvellie demanded.

“Not Lenalee!” Komui cried.

“No, I can guarantee it isn’t Lenalee.” Bookman rolled his eyes. Of course the supervisor would jump to that conclusion. All he ever thought about was his sister.

“Then... Miranda?” Komui said, surprised.

“No.”

“...Lou Fa?”

“No.”

Komui listed the few female scientists, and Bookman said no to each name. He then listed the Finders and was once again disappointed. Kanda, at this point, was rubbing his eyes sleepily and not bothering to push Lavi away from him when the redhead slumped against his chest.

This also didn’t escape Link’s notice. “If I may,” he said. All eyes turned to him. “Is it Kanda?”

Both Lavi and Kanda jerked awake and sat up as straight as possible, and as far apart as possible. “What gave you that idea?” Kanda growled.

“The fact you both have matching rings and you didn’t seem to mind Lavi sleeping on you.”

Lavi blushed. “I... er...”

Lvellie frowned. “Certainly we cannot allow such a relationship. It’s against the Church and—”

“Quite the contrary,” Bookman said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a folded piece of paper. “If you read this excerpt, you’ll understand what I mean.”

Lavi was able to read the piece of paper on Komui’s desk, even though it was upside-down and in Bookman’s tiny scrawl. He didn’t say a word and Komui grinned from ear to ear at Lvellie, who was for once at a loss for words.

“Well, it seems that this is perfectly fine,” Komui said brightly. He handed the sheet back to Bookman. “The Pope agreed to such relationships in the tenth century, even if this information was buried in history.”

“You seem to be taking this rather well,” Bookman commented.

“Of course! Two less men to go after my dear Lenalee!”

Lavi couldn’t help but grin, but not from what Komui was saying. I still can’t believe he hasn’t figured it out! I mean, they did it on his desk!

“Do you find something amusing?” Bookman asked Lavi.

“Nope. Not a thing, Panda.”

Bookman bopped Lavi on the head with a knowing smirk. “Come on. You’re moving out of my room and into Kanda’s, if no one objects, of course.”

“I’m fine with it,” Komui said.

“Che, whatever,” but Lavi could tell Kanda was happy with the idea of Lavi being in his room.

“...Fine,” Lvellie grumbled at last.

Bookman led Lavi and Kanda out of the room. “So Panda,” Lavi started, “where does it say that? I’ve read those books ten times, and I’ve never come across that little tidbit.”

“And if you’re smart, you’ll never tell them that.”

“Wait... Did you...?”

“Secret Bookman art,” Bookman said calmly, “and I’d like to keep it secret.”

“And what was with that grin?” Kanda asked. He’d noticed that too.

“You two aren’t the only ones who know what happened on that desk.”

Lavi and Kanda stopped in their tracks and stared at each other. They then watched Bookman walking down the hallway in disbelief.

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell Komui,” Kanda commented.

Lavi shrugged. “Not his job.”

---

It took only an hour for Lavi to move all his ‘crap’ to Kanda’s room, as Kanda put it. Once he was finished getting settled, Lavi flopped onto Kanda’s bed. “I need a nap.” Then his stomach rumbled.

“I think you need some lunch,” Kanda said, offering Lavi a hand.

They walked next to each other, a little closer than usual, but the charade still continued. Kanda still had his scowl, and Lavi still had his aloof expression.

They weren’t quite expecting what greeted them in the cafeteria.

“CONGRATULATIONS!!!!”

Both froze and stared. The entire Order was there, and there was a large banner above their heads that read “Congratulations Lavi and Kanda!”

“Oh God,” Kanda murmured. “It’s an engagement party.”

Lavi glanced at the far wall. There was a table stacked high with presents. “How’d they get this together so fast?”

“Jerry,” they said in unison.

Then the man himself hugged them both. “I’m so happy for you two!” he said, almost sobbing. “You’re getting married and everything!”

One of the Finders had a camera in his hands. “How about a kiss for the camera?”

“Roger, you shut the hell up!” Kanda snapped. “You told everyone, didn’t you?”

“Well, I heard from Jerry who heard from Komui that we could throw a party,” he said, scuffing the floor with his heel. “Besides, everyone already knew. Lvellie, Komui, and Link were the only ones too slow to realize what was going on.” Roger held the camera up again. “Come on, kiss your cute fiancée.”

Kanda grunted, but Lavi wrapped his arms around his neck. “One kiss wouldn’t hurt, Honey,” Lavi teased.

Kanda stroked Lavi’s cheek. “Whatever you say, Rabbit,” he said, leaning down and kissing him while dozens of flashes went off.

And they both agreed later that that was the best kiss yet.

---

Well, there’s the end. ...And we didn’t have any A/Ns this time...

But we did a lot of joking around...

True. Anywho, thanks for reading, everyone!

Hope you liked it!

...Keep an eye out for more co-written craziness.

(cough cough) Beauty and the Beast. Anime Con craziness... (cough cough)

Anywho, this is sailorstar165

And this is Shimanishiki

See ya next time!