I felt him before I saw him; warm, insistent lips upon my own.

I stifled the immediate shock of receiving such greeting (I should have seen it coming…), hardly releasing a good-morning moan in return before his tongue hit mine. Even though the stranger seemed to know his exact intents, I was in the dark. At least, I quite literally had been before he had awoken me so rudely. The sunlight was now wrestling through my still-closed eyelids; an eruption of crimson and veins and blinding whites.

I was sure I tasted groggy as I felt, and hardly had the patience for Soubi's antics at this time of morning. He readjusted his body over mine and I took the opportunity to pull away, rubbing my eyes and glaring.

Soubi played innocent, nuzzling into my neck. "Morning, Ritsuka."

I had a sudden urge to smack that grin off his face, yet it was still too early for that, so I settled for a deep glare. If I concentrated hard enough, maybe he would catch on fire, like those guys in the movies…

My fighter continued to play dumb. "Isn't this much nicer than your mother pounding on the door?"

"Yes, but you're forgetting that mom doesn't physically assault me while I'm still asleep."

"There's a first for everything," Soubi chided, leaning back with that stupid smile gracing his features. "Last time I checked, I'm hardly your mom."

I tried closing my eyes, but sleep refused to be recaptured now that it had escaped my grasp. What a shame. It had been a marvelous dream, painted with scenes of Seimei, butterflies and black-and-blue tattoos…

There was a knock on the door- I wasn't imagining it, because Soubi's glance followed mine. The pounding didn't cease, soon accompanied by a, "School! Wake up!"

Silence. Footsteps.

I turned to tell Soubi that I needed privacy to change, but my fighter was gone. The curtain trembled slightly in his leave, and my eyes held the exit for a moment. He was gone as quickly as he had come- perhaps merely a dream, as well?

A hand absently trailed to my lips, and I closed my eyes. No, this was real.

And Ritsuka would never admit it, but it was a nicer alternative to waking up than he was used to.

---

I should be asleep. The idea wouldn't leave me alone. It kept prodding my eyelids awake. Perhaps now I can get some sleep…

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