Observations

It was no secret that the third son of the Ootori family was a rather ill-tempered riser. All those with even the slightest bit of knowledge or insight to his true personality could muster a guess at the assumed, if they had not seen it happen first hand.

But not all knew his sleeping patterns and rituals quite as well as they thought; all, but perhaps one.

Though it was a very small number, the younger of the Hitachiin twins had been witness to Kyoya's waking more than once and he learned about the boy's habits more and more with each occurrence. For instance, if it was before the hour of five in the morning (and it wasn't done by shouting or an alarm clock) Kyoya would rise silently, but promptly; mostly because if this was the case something was wrong. However, if it was to the sound of his phone, he wouldn't offer true words of greeting, but merely an inquiring and gruff sigh. He would never seem too upset, unless the matter was utterly unnecessary, until later on.

If it was the weekend and after ten, Kaoru found that the shadow king would awake in a foul mood and remain that way until he had been giving a number of essential items. First of course would be his glasses, then his ever present log book (or his laptop if he was having one of those day), and then a hot cup of tea no matter what season it was. If it was after noon, well Kaoru learned you had just better be ready to let the mood turn tranquil on its own time.

But, when given the chance, Kaoru loved to watch his older friend awake in the most rewarding way possible. On school holidays Kyoya would rise perfectly three to five different times. Never in the beginning of the break, for he would be pulling all-nighters that left him cranky, and never at the end for the same reason. However, in the middle the boy would slow his work and breathe a bit.

Kaoru was patient, and not like Kyoya when he rose to meet the day. Kaoru would be the first to admit that he enjoyed sleeping in, and was not much of a morning person and disliked early-morning chatter. Though, when the boy did wake he was void of drowsiness and had his wits about him.

It was because of his patience that Kaoru had gotten to see Kyoya awake perfectly almost three times now.

He had been over for reasons he couldn't care to find names for, and had spent the night. He was currently stretched out on Kyoya's bed, laying on his stomach and watching the dark haired boy sleep. He looked peaceful and soft, a nice change to the normally calculating look that hung around those dark eyes. Speaking of those eyes, Kaoru watched as they drew tighter together trying to fend off the awakening of their owner.

Here it comes.

Slowly, after a moment of Kyoya actually being awake, they slid open. He took another moment to inspect the blurred world around him in silence to affirm himself of his whereabouts. His face was still soft and his eyes not narrow as he glanced over at Kaoru and stared for a moment.

He could see the small smile of the younger boy's face and slowly he felt his own lips tug into a small smile of their own.

Kaoru made no indication of talking and he was perfectly still as Kyoya stretched and reached for his glasses. The clock by his bed read 9:24 and it was the fifth day of winter holiday. It was a good day. They wouldn't talk for a while yet, but then they really didn't need too.

With grace and refinement Kyoya slid out of bed and Kaoru soon followed as he led the way to the kitchen. It was time for tea.

Notes:

1. If I owned this it wouldn't be slash, but canon. 3

2. I blame Live Journal.

3. Rushed and done without a beta, so if there needs to be any changes due to speeling and what not, please let me know! Thank you!