Thanks everyone, for reading and reviewing!

It makes me happy to know that people like this angsty little thing of mine, even if it's quite old already.

Because I only posted it now but I wrote it back in February :p

Anyway, since everyone was so kind with their words, I must let you all read the fluffy sequel.

It was created as an independent fic called "Metamorphoze", but I'll upload it as a second chapter of "The Fatal Believer" here.

Not that any of this matters 8D;

Thanks again for the support, I hope you have fun with this one as well

Lavi rushed down the halls, wishing he had Lenalee's Dark Boots, so that he'd be able to reach the medical department faster. Following him was Allen, also running and hoping the redhead wouldn't trip on his way down the stairway and go for a leap of faith. Allen had just been told by one of the nurses that Kanda's condition was finally stable and that his life wasn't in danger anymore. Of course, he had some serious injuries and had lost a large amount of blood, but both the doctor and the nurses were positive that he'd heal fast, as usual.

As soon as the white haired boy heard this, he immediately headed for Lavi's room, more than sure that he'd appreciate the news. And he really did. Lavi suddenly jumped from the chair, making the pile of books on his desk fall down, but he totally ignored it and left the room, starting to run towards the place where Kanda was. Allen barely had the time to blink and, for a second, he wondered if he should pick up the books or just follow Lavi. He decided on the second option, afraid that the junior bookman would end up barging into the infirmary and pissing off the not-so-amiable head nurse…

"Lavi, you don't have to spazz like this! Kanda is okay now and he's not going anywhere!"

"Shut up bean sprout, I wanna see my Yu-chan!"

Allen sighed and gave up. Lavi could be stubborn as hell when he wanted to and wait, did he just call him that name? They had just reached the medical department, so he stopped near the door and let it slide. "Fine, I won't say anything else. I kind of understand how you feel… So go and make sure to cheer Kanda up."

"Wait… you're not coming with me?"

"I don't think he'll be happy to see me after what happened… And you two need to talk about a lot of things without anyone else bothering. So just go, and tell Kanda I'll pay him a visit later." With those words Allen left, waving with one hand as he disappeared down the hall.

Lavi just stood there for the next minutes, his hand over the doorknob and his mind suddenly brewing a lot of ideas. What if Kanda was mad at him? No, scratch that… Of course he was, he had reasons to be. The red-haired boy was half-tempted to turn back and let Kanda just rest, instead of bothering him with cheap excuses. But no, he wouldn't do that, he wouldn't run away. The least he could do for the person he loved the most, above anyone else, was apologize. If Kanda decided to punch him or chop his head off as a punishment, he'd abide by it. Taking a deep breath, he finally pushed the door open and entered the small room. No nurses were there, which Lavi considered a good sign, it meant Kanda didn't need constant cares anymore.

"Yu… It's me… Mind if we talk a bit?" There was no answer, so he closed the door and walked closer to the bed. The Japanese boy was probably exhausted and still sleeping, he noticed. The lower half of his body was covered by white sheets and his white shirt was unbuttoned, revealing the bandages wrapped around his right shoulder and upper chest. He also had bandages on his forehead and his body was covered with bruises, scratches and bite marks. His skin was even paler than usual, almost blending with the clothing, and his long ebony hair was spilled over the pillow.

Lavi could do nothing except stare for a moment, now sitting on the edge of the bed, beside the older boy's waist. He looked absolutely perfect even considering how injured he was, he looked almost like a statue. The redhead couldn't say how it happened, because his body moved on its own, and he was now bending down and pressing his lips against Kanda's. They felt cold and Lavi didn't like that, so he moved one hand up to brush against the other's cheek, hoping that would make him feel warmer.

Lavi knew there were no fairy tales, happy endings don't occur very often in the real life. But he couldn't help but smile like a little child when he pulled away and noticed his Sleeping Beauty slowly waking up from his slumber, as if the kiss they just shared had some kind of magic in it… Well, it did. The magic called love. "Good morning, Sunshine… how are you feeling?"

Kanda blinked a couple of times and didn't reply yet. The first thought on his mind was "Where am I?". He couldn't feel a dreadful aura so this place wasn't his room, that's for sure. His second thought was "What the hell happened?". His body was feeling numb and was hurting all over, so he didn't even attempt to sit up. Instead, he tilted his head aside and blinked again when he noticed someone sitting by his side. "Lavi…?"

"Oh Yu, I'm so glad that you're awake! Ugh, don't scare me like that again, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack when I saw you pinned on the wall like that! So, how are you feeling? Want me to bring you anything? Maybe soba!"

"No… I'm not… hungry." That was all he could mumble for now, feeling his head spinning with all those sudden questions. But it was just like Lavi to talk like that. Kanda closed his eyes for a bit and tried to recall what happened. He saw Lavi and Allen, yes, and then headed for the forest. And there… he encountered him. His body suddenly urged to get up, find Tyki and beat him senseless until he wasn't breathing anymore. Although, the intense pain on his lower back wouldn't allow him to do so anytime soon and his leg seemed to still be broken. All he could do was lay down again and shift on the bed to face the wall now. "Where is the Noah bastard?"

"Yu calm down, you can't go anywhere in that condition!" Lavi panicked for a second, afraid that Kanda would jump off the bed and end up making another pool of blood surround him. He sighed in relief when he noticed the older boy was too tired to do that, though, and fixed the sheets around him. "So it really was Tyki, I knew it… Isn't he ever going to leave us alone? I feel like killing him for doing this to you, I'm so sorry Yu-chan…"

"Why are you apologizing? You're the one who always stops me when I'm about to kill him."

"I know, but… He is human and, like Allen says, he also has friends… Besides, I couldn't stand seeing you as a murderer…"

"Che… whatever."

"But I was apologizing… for another reason and you know it. This all happened because you saw me with Allen, it's all my fault…"

"This only happened because I didn't have Mugen with me, or else I'd have skinned that fucker and fed him to the animals of the forest."

Lavi had to make a small smile and feel comforted by those words. If Kanda was cursing and threatening like that, it could only mean he was recovering. "But Yu…"

The mongrel couldn't finish that sentence because the older boy suddenly sat up, those fast motions obviously causing him pain, but he ignored it and shot Lavi with a glare. "Stop that shit now! I am perfectly fine, I will heal soon and next time I see that bastard I'm gonna beat the fuck out of him!" He had to make a brief pause on his speech because the pain was making it hard to talk and breathe at the same time. But he quickly resumed, and Lavi was far too stunned by that sudden reaction to stop him. "And about the bean sprout… you were the one who told me that you don't love just me, ne? So stop being a damned wimp now! I don't mind if I have to share you with him, if that makes you happy… so let's just- "

Now it was Kanda's turn to be interrupted and he flinched when Lavi literally threw himself on top of him. "Yu… how can you… how can you love me so much?? You almost died because of me and yet…" He sniffled and couldn't stop two large tears from rolling down his cheeks."I'm sorry my precious… I am a bad lover…"

The poor Asian boy was struggling to not yell in pain, since Lavi was hugging him so tightly, but he still found the strength to push the redhead a away and poke his forehead. "Kami… didn't I already tell you to not doubt yourself? You're not a bad lover!"

"But!"

"Say that again and I'll shove Mugen up your ass!"

"…But I'm usually the seme, Yu-chan!" He sniffled again and wiped his tears, a small grin perking his lips.

Kanda rolled his eyes. "I love you just the way you are and I don't want you to change. I'll be with you for as long as you want me to, be sure to remember this."

"Does that mean you'll bear with someone as noisy and clingy as me forever?"

"If I have to."

"Aww, that wasn't sweet!"

"Baka! I was never meant to be sweet in the first place!"

Lavi smiled and watched as Kanda huffed and looked away, folding his arms. He had already witnessed that reaction hundreds of times but never got tired of it. The Japanese boy was so easy to tease that it was almost impossible for the redhead to resist. The way he always ended up snapping and making that small, almost imperceptible pout was just too cute and always made Lavi want to glomp his lover screeching "aww".

"Stop staring at me like that, I'm not a goddamned doll." The Asian sighed and laid down on the bed. Geez, Lavi was gazing at him with such intensity that he could tell it even if he was not facing the younger boy.

"That's 'cause you're pretty, Yu. And I wouldn't mind making you my own dollie!"

"I am not pretty."

"You are, too! Even when you are all beaten up like this, you're still so gorgeous that it makes me shiver! I'm really lucky to be your lover…"

"What the hell are you talking about? You're the popular one, you're the one with countless fangirls chasing after you! It should be me saying that."

"I don't know about that…" He sighed and thought for an instant. "Besides, you're the only one who matters to me. And, this time, I really mean it."

Kanda tilted his head slightly and wondered. "What do you mean?"

"You know…" Lavi sighed again and mentally reviewed what he was about to say. It was going to change a substantial part of his life, but he was determined to do it if it meant Kanda would be happier. "I'mma stop being a whore."

"You are not- " Kanda couldn't end his sentence because Lavi softly tapped his lips with his fingers.

"Yes, I am. What else can you call to someone who has the love of the most wonderful person in the world, but still fools around with everyone who shows up? I really do love you, Yu, and I never meant to hurt you, but I was always too weak. They always said "C'mon Lavi, there's nothing wrong with it and Kanda doesn't need to know"… But, one way or another, you always found out, and still you were always waiting for me and always welcomed me with open arms. When I saw you yesterday, bleeding all over and looking dead, I… God, it was like my own heart was ripped from my very chest. I couldn't stop thinking, "What am I gonna do if he's really dead? What will be of me without my pretty baby?" I've decided, Yu… You're the most important thing in my life and I'm not gonna lose you! I'm gonna change and I'll be only yours, just like you have always been only mine! So… would you please accept this bookman this last time?"

Kanda blinked a couple of times and didn't reply just yet. Lavi was the one doing all the talk, as usual, but this time he wasn't just talking. It was plain to see that he really did mean all that and the long-haired boy was caught by surprise by those words. The words he always dreamt of hearing. And it wasn't a beautiful dream, his boyfriend had, indeed, said all that, word by word, and was now smiling and waiting for an answer. That smile that was like the sun that always broke Kanda's storm. He forced himself to pull off that momentary daze and sat on the bed once again. Then he opened his arms and smiled back. "Okaeri nasai."

Lavi dived into that warm embrace and brushed his cheek against Kanda's, while gently stroking the other's hair. He still wanted to say so many things but, at the moment, just feeling him would be enough. "I love Yu."

Kanda couldn't help but laugh a bit. Lavi used to use that pun so often, it was tradition by now. But he would make it up to him this time. He pulled a few inches away and leaned his forehead against the other's, while holding his face with both hands and staring into that beautiful emerald green hue. "I Lavi you, too."

"Eh? I think the akuma nurse got you way too high on pain killers Yu-chan! That's not like you!" He grinned and kissed the samurai's nose.

"Why do I even bother about you, usa-gaki?"

"Because you love me?"

"Tch… I guess."

A pout. "You make me feel like a burden!"

"A burden that I want to carry forever."

"Eh, that's quite right… It will be you and me forever, lover! I am yours… and together we shall be this world's brightest rose! You will be the beautiful petals and I, the stem that supports you."

A brief nod and a kiss. "Kitto… Zutto."