title: A Sleepy Interlude

disclaimer: I am not Takahashi-sama or one of the other lucky people who own Ranma. If I was, I wouldn't be wasting my time on FF.net, I'd be reading manga and watching anime like an obsessive freak.

for: Clara, a supporter of this couple and someone who needs to feel better soon. ^^;

"You're up late." Actually, he guessed that the correct terminology for the time would be 'early'. To the best of his knowledge, it was around three or four in the morning. The storm had woken him up, and some urgent whim had led his feet out of his room.

"Mm." The reply was a warm, soft sound, perhaps testifying to just exactly how awake she was. She was in an organized heap on the floor in the dark kitchen, listening to the way the steady rain outside made the walls hum.

He sat down next to her, perhaps just a bit too close in the daytime, but it was night, and since the unknowing pretenses had fallen, it was alright. "Somethin' wrong..?" The statement, his words hung somewhere between a question and a weighted fact.

There was a pregnant pause, a stretch that would have been silent if the thrumming of weather outside hadn't been so eager to fill it.

"No." The word wasn't sharp, nor was it noncommital. It was a stated fact, even if her speech was a bit quiet, a bit slurred with sleep. "I wanted to listen to the rain. I can hear it better in here."

There was a nod from him, though if he were acknowledging or approving her answer he wasn't sure.

"N'you?"

The returning question surprised him. A thoughtful look creased his brow as his head angled backward, the top of his head resting comfortably against the wall. "I wanted to talk to you." He was surprised to find it true. How had he known she would be awake in the first place?

Again, a pause, then another "Mm."

Thunder gently rumbled through the ground as she stretched. He pretended not to notice her hand somehow landing atop of his, which was lying uselessly next to him, and she pretended not to notice as he turned it, grasping hers softly within his own.

"It's been raining for a while now," he continued, struggling to keep up a vein of conversation.

"I like it." Her voice was growing softer, perhaps with the impending threat of sleep. She could feel the heat from his body, and it made her drowsy. "It's relaxing."

She managed to press closer under the pretense of another stretch.

"Yeah." He leaned his head over near hers, eyes falling shut. "Arigatou. For letting me stay here, I--.."

She cut him off with a quiet laugh and an unconcious squeeze of the hand. "Stop. It's not like you to apologize and thank someone like that."

He nodded at her sleepy, heavy words, trying not to smile at the reassuring tightening of her fingers around his. "You should get some sleep."

Later, she would pretend that her actions were guided solely by exhaustion. The opportune moment was too much to pass up, and she allowed her head to droop to his shoulder.

He smiled faintly at the way her lashes lay on her cheek when her eyes were shut.

"I will," Ukyou murmured, content in that position. She didn't realize how fast she was approaching sleep, and was blissfully unaware as she dropped off a doze, lips parted slightly.

Ryouga shifted a bit, making himself more comfortable against the wall and shutting his own eyes. He had the feeling he'd be there, too, until she woke up.

//

Did I make anyone mad with the ending? Or was it totally expected? Brr. Lemme a review, please! I'll love you and be your slave forever. Really!