"May I ask you a question, Kurogane?" Fai leaned over the ninja, who was drowsing against a tree in the summer sunshine.
His eyes snapped open, shock writ across his features. "What did you call me?"
Fai straightened, a finger pressing thoughtfully to his jaw, puzzled eyes lifted to the sky. "I believe that's your name, isn't it?" His smile lighted sheepishly across his mouth. "But it has been so long since I used it, I may have it wrong."
Kurogane shifted to sit up. He figured he might as well give his full attention, considering it was obviously important enough to be serious about. "What do you want?"
Fai was leaning over him again, his blonde hair brushing against his forehead. "Do you care for me at all?"
He was taken aback by that particular question, and his swallowing was loud in his own ears. Why would he ask that? What purpose could this possibly serve?
The questions reeling through his head were, of course, only his defense, his attempt to avoid the answer that it was inevitable for him to give. He hadn't ever put much thought into his relationship with Fai. The bantering came naturally, like they had been friends all their lives, and Kurogane mostly considered him like he would an affectionate pet – sometimes irritating, but usually nice to have around. But, never had he actually considered his feelings for him. They seemed irrelevant.
Fai seemed to take his stunned silence as an answer in the negative, and he nodded, brow creased in a perturbed way before his constantly-present smile reignited. "That's good to know, Kuro-tan." He turned away.
Strangely though, Kurogane found his hand reaching out to wrap around his friend's thin wrist, and he was pulling him back down into his lap, and wrapped his arms around him, head against his back.
Fai was giggled. "I knew there was some affection in you somewhere, Kurogane."
"Shut up." He murmured, having, against his better judgment, had buried his face against Fai's neck. "I definitely like my name better when you say it right."