Kuro had always been used to snuggling with that old bunny at night. As a child, he had somehow convinced himself that it was magic and would protect him at night.
He could remember exactly how he'd convinced himself that. He'd had it since day one; as long as he could remember, anyway. He had been a child in the streets, shivering from the cold. The holiday bells had rung, the carolers had sung out in the streets.
Christmas had been near, and he wasn't planning on celebrating it. He was simply waiting now for someone to drop money, to give him any change of getting food or warmth.
A woman, a kind looking one with two small children around his age, noticed him hidden in a corner; his clothes barely protecting him from the bitter winds.
She had scanned him down, and obviously having pitied the small, homeless boy, went up to him. He watched her with glazed eyes, too cold and tired to run from her.
"Please, child, you look like you need a gift. Please stay here for a moment," she had told him gently, before leaving and heading into a shop.
Having no mind to move, he had stayed put. She returned with a plush rabbit; a bow tied around its neck. The little lady held it out to him.
"For you, little one. Merry Christmas." Small, half frozen hands reached out and took it from her. Kuro stared down at it; then looked up at her.
"Thank you," he whispered, barely able to talk. She smiled at him; taking her children and leaving the boy alone.
For years he kept it; snuggling close to it at night. It seemed that it had never lost its warmth, even when he had a home at last, after he'd met Piko.
The two were in high school now, and moving to another small apartment on the other side of town. They were currently packing up their few belongings, sitting in the same room surrounded by a few cardboard boxes.
Kuro paused. He had been sorting through his clothes and looking in his backpack; and he held his beloved bunny. He had thought he'd lost it shortly after they had moved in. Clearly he hadn't, and he was glad for it.
He smiled, and pressed a kiss between its ears. He was happy to have found it, happy to know it was still with him. He placed it in the box of things he was keeping.
The two drove in companionable silence, taking a taxi with all their belongings with them to their new home. It was snowing out, Christmas soon upon them. Holiday bells rang, carolers singing through the streets.
Piko's head rested on Kuro's shoulder, quietly asleep. Kuro watched over him, an appreciative smile on his lips. Piko was not one to look peaceful most days, and Kuro would look over him whenever he fell asleep.
The small, pale boy's face was serene, a faint blush on his cheeks. Kuro found it difficult to keep awake in the long taxi ride. His eyes slowly blinked and closed, and he found himself asleep.
Kuro drifted in and out of sleep throughout the ride. When he slept like this, he would always cuddle his bunny, its being close would always send him back to sleep. However his bunny was packed up with his clothes in the trunk, and could not be cuddled with. There was something – no, someone – who could be cuddled with.
The ravenet's arms slipped around his friend's torso, pulling him up gently to cuddle and share warmth. He drifted off back to sleep, relaxing.
Piko woke later on, overheating a bit. He blinked to see Kuro's arms around him, tails entwined gently. Glancing at his friend, he smiled to see him asleep, serene in all ways.
Although he was too hot, he was accepting of Kuro's cuddling. He shifted closer. He would deal with it later, when the ride was over and the ravenet was awake.
For now, he would allow Kuro to cuddle him.