It must be about two or three in the morning, but I stir and get up quietly, without disturbing Hajime. Or at least I -hope- – my ookami-sama is a light sleeper.
I get cool water from the kitchen, and go upstairs, relying on a reverse of how I came down – on my bottom, like a child would. But it’s less stress and perhaps I won’t be so strained when I get up there, and I can bring the jug with me as I go.
In the familiar hall, I move quietly down to the boy’s room. Eiji-san sleeps quietly, soundly.
I lean down to Tsutomu-kun and softly feel his face for temperature, with practiced hands. Just because Makoto has been a healthy child… doesn’t mean that I didn’t check her, and -often-. At one time she was my only treasure. Not because of who her father is, but because of who she is. It’s the same with Tsutomu-kun, too.
(OOC – Hide is feeling for Tsutomu-kun’s temperature.)
Tsutomu:
Someone’s touching me. I’d wake but I know it’s her. If I stop her she’d just linger. I pretend to sleep as she puts some cool water on me. It feels good but I’m not that sick and I want to go back to school. I want to know if Midori didn’t get into trouble with the school or with that guard.
(OOC: Tsutomu will remain stubbornly “asleep”.)
Hajime:
I fell asleep more soundly than usual that I didn’t notice she’s left the bed. My plan of “imprisoning” her in my arms didn’t work. By the time I followed her, she was already more than half way up the stairs, in that -ridiculous- way she’s doing it. I sigh and wait until she’s in the room before going up and waiting outside the door. She can’t possibly think she’s going down the same way is she? Or is that how she got down the last time?
He still feels warm, and I suspect without medicine, he’d be blazingly hot. But for now, he needs sleep while the medicine works… I’m hoping that his good health will be stronger than this illness. His eyelashes flutter and then they stay closed so resolutely… “Sleep well,” I say, softly, and brush his hair back. I leave the cool cloth on his forehead, along with the drinking water as well.
Outside his room, I’m surprised that Hajime is waiting. “He’s warm, but resting,” I whisper after sliding the door closed. I lean up to kiss his cheek.
Hajime:
“He’s warm, but resting,”
“I told you he’s not fragile.” I reply and get my kiss and carefully take her up in my arms again as we slowly make it down the stairs. “He’ll feel better once he finds out what happened to that Nishino girl. He was acting like a stubborn moron when we dropped her off at the school.” Setting her down, I grin suddenly and cup my chin, “Although it might do him some good if the girl decides to give him a hard time.”
I look at the time, it’s that weird hour in the morning when everyone’s still asleep but it’s probably not a good idea to go to bed. I reach into my pocket to look at the time but then again realize that’s not there either so I simply open the door to our room and look towards the window. “Maybe I should start work early. Get home early too…”
He picks me up and takes me carefully back downstairs. “Ah, perhaps that’s so.” She has been a friend to him, and Makoto. But a stubborn moron? Oh -dear-…
“We’ll see if she’s the type, if she even allowed to speak to him again,” I say, grinning back.
Maybe I should start work early. Get home early too…
“I’ts not near enough to morning, yet.” I touch his face. “I’m sorry I woke you – I was trying to be -quiet-… but you had me wrapped up so tight.” I laugh softly as I close the door, and go to check on Ai-chan, who sleeps soundly. “If you want to lie down and -see- if you sleep, I promise I’ll be very good.” I get back on the bed. “It’s too bad… it’s not another week yet. After all, didn’t we claim these hours as our own?” It’s about the only time this house is quiet anymore.
“We’ll see if she’s the type, if she even allowed to speak to him again,”
“I’d be surprised if not, after all the trouble I took to write down a note of commendation.” I shrug, “If so maybe he’ll be extra sick when he comes back.”
We enter our room again and she checks up on Ai. She makes a comment about being wrapped tight and I make no comment of my failed plan. She offers for me to go back into bed with her and I can’t seem to resist it so I do get back in the covers. I pull her close, similar to how I had her before.
“It’s too bad… it’s not another week yet. After all, didn’t we claim these hours as our own?”
“We have the power of time remember? Everything can be explained away in a few paragraphs.” I kiss her neck lightly, “The boy, the girl, the doctor, etc. etc. But I suppose advancing one week will mean you’ll have to tolerate your foreign visitor.”
I’d be surprised if not, after all the trouble I took to write down a note of commendation. If so maybe he’ll be extra sick when he comes back.
“Maybe that will save her,” I say, glad that he was looking out for her. She’s a nice young lady…. “as I don’t want Tsutomu-kun ill,” I say, frowning with worry.
Back in bed, I find myself entirely -surrounded- by Hajime. “Those long legs and arms of you give you an advantage,” I say, trying to look stern but failing. I take a deep breath. Here… I am safe, and loved… he smells as he should, that perfect mix…
I let out a happy sigh as he kisses my neck, and I stroke his back as I nuzzle his cheek. “As long as Tsutomu-kun isn’t ill… but as for facing that visitor… well, I can’t avoid him forever, can I?” I nip at his lips, taking a brushing little kiss before trailing up his jawline. “Avoiding trouble in this place only leads to more, doesn’t it?”
“Those long legs and arms of you give you an advantage,”
“So you wouldn’t want me if I were short? Is it the face – not “cute” enough for you or do you like shaved samurai heads?” I grin, “Wasn’t -that- your type before?”
She leans into me and we enjoy each other even if we know we can’t. The warmth is nice.
. “As long as Tsutomu-kun isn’t ill… but as for facing that visitor… well, I can’t avoid him forever, can I?” “Avoiding trouble in this place only leads to more, doesn’t it?”
I nod, “You learn -slowly-. But at least you -are- learning.” I plant a kiss on her forehead. “Now I’m told I either go to bed now with you or leave and work, just like the idiot has to work. Apparently misery loves company.”
So you wouldn’t want me if I were short? Is it the face – not “cute” enough for you or do you like shaved samurai heads?
I brush back the bangs. “I like this hair – so much for me to play with!” I kiss the tip of his nose. “And I thought once you liked tall, slender women, but isn’t it nice to have one with -plenty- to put your hands on?” I smile and enjoy just -being- with him. Not as part of a seduction… but just how I love any stolen moment we can find, to enjoy this connection that has so many dimensions. “It’s funny how tastes change as we mature, but I think I’ll like this face -very- much even if it gets -more- lines on it, and the bangs go grey.”
I keep my grip on him. “Oh, no, you’re getting at least another hour or so of rest before you go out to fix Japan’s problems.” I put my head on his chest, where I can hear his heart beating. “Sleep… your fine pillow didn’t finish her job tonight,” I say, in a soft voice, as my eyes start to close.
(OOC – you may close)
I can only smirk as she insists on what she likes now… and as for comments about how I liked tall women? I don’t say anything about that, the octopus is rather short and the other… not tall. Well Tokio is tall but why ruin a moment when I find much contentment here.
She talks about my fine pillow but it seems she’s decided I’m the pillow tonight with her head tucked away into my chest. I pull her closer and go back to sleep.
(End)