Hello again, Dearies! Surprise! Another story! I know that many (hopefully) are eagerly awaiting the next installment of "One Dark and Stormy Night', but I have hit a block of immense proportions! So to reset my mind, I wrote this for my best friend Garnet Kitsune!

**DISCLAIMER**

I do not own nor claim any rights to any characters from Clamp's Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles.
Heck- I don't even own the OC in this story- She belongs to Garnet Kitsune and is being used only with her gracious approval! I hope you like this one!

She watched him from across the small yard from where she sat under the tree, reclined against the trunk, feet crossed at the ankles, and nose seemingly stuck in a book. She never seemed to tire of watching him as he seamlessly and gracefully moved through the various practice moves with his sword, the picture of masculine health and vitality.

He ignored her as he practiced, focusing all his energy and attention on perfecting the many stances and moves. Every so often, a turn or twist would bring her back into his field of view, and those brief moments threatened to derail his concentration.

When he had met her, his first impression had not been a positive one- she came across as annoying, pushy, insanely negative, and across-the-board irritating… not to mention so shy she could hardly make eye contact with anyone when she spoke except that damn mage. Annoying bastard.

Over time and with each passing world, his impression of her had started to change. She had begun to relax and be more outgoing… at least towards the others. He found it somewhat endearing that even now, she still couldn't talk freely with him or even look his way without blushing and getting nervous. He also knew that there was little chance that she had even the slightest idea of which book she held in her hands, much less what page it was open to. He chuckled at the thought.

He always knew whenever she was watching him, even though every time she tried desperately to hide the fact that she had looked his way. He had even begun to enjoy knowing that she was watching him in the mornings and had taken to removing his shirt before starting, to free his upper body for the complex movements of course, and because he always worked up a sweat. He couldn't suppress the smile that crept onto his face at the thought of her reaction if she found out that he could see past her ruse.

Every morning lately, she had made it a point to get up early and 'read' a book outside, hoping to catch him doing his exercises. Her crush on him had started innocently enough… even before she had joined their adventures… back when she first stumbled upon the series of manga that told part of their story.

It had been a dream-come-true that day when she was summoned to the Time Witch's shop and dropped into her yard the exact day that everything had started. It was her dream… but it had also been a curse. Her usually shy nature kicked into overdrive and she closed herself off to them, refusing to speak to anyone except Fai, who she now considered her big brother. He had been easy to talk to since the very beginning. Over time she had begun to open up to the others too… all except him.

Every time she looked at him, a weird feeling would begin to creep into her core… one that she had not felt before and was somewhat afraid of. She would begin to get a fluttery-feeling in her stomach, and small chills would dance across her arms and back. Anytime he was near, her nerves would wrestle control away from her brain and she would be unable to even think straight.

But those times were beginning to lessen in frequency as she became more accustomed to his presence. Time still hasn't lessened my idiotic response to just the sight of him… she thought as she peered over the top of her book at him again. What the hell is WRONG with me?! Why can't I even talk to him without making an idiot of myself? It's not like he even notices me… I'm just something else in his way to annoy him. She sighed heavily, beginning to get angry about it all. I don't even like him! He hardly gives me the time of day and is always mean!

'Then why do you go out of your way every morning to watch him?' that stupid inner voice of hers asked. 'If you hate him so much, why do you get that funny feeling when you just LOOK at him? And don't even think about how you freak out when he just talks to you!'

SHUT UP! It's not like I LOVE him or anything! (Is it? OH GODDESS… what if I DO?! What THEN?) It's not like he would even BOTHER to be interested in someone like ME… he's WAY out of my league… if I even HAD a league. Wait… why the hell am I even THINKING about this?!

She could feel her face flush as she sighed again while looking longingly at her Knight in Shinning… sweat. Glorious, beautiful, shining, slippery…

ARGH! STOP IT! Quit thinking… things… and those… other things! Oh Goddess I'm completely hopeless!

He completed his ritual, sheathed his sword, and strode purposefully towards her.

She tried to focus with all her might on the book in her hands, hoping he wouldn't notice how rattled she was. Her heart was racing, and she was certain even HE could hear its pounding. CALM DOWN or he WILL notice! She told herself silently. She forced her breathing to remain steady and watched him out of the corner of her eye as he fluidly bent at the waist (Oh MY.. those ABS, that BACK…) and picked up the towel that he had casually tossed out of the way before he began. The morning sun glinted off of his sweat-covered, sculpted back and his muscles rippled as he retrieved the towel.

Her heart threatened to break out of her chest and dance down the counter to the show tune 'Ragtime Doll' complete with top hat and cane like that scene from 'Aliens'.

He turned and walked back to the house seemingly ignoring her as usual. He felt her eyes follow him the whole way, and something inside him was glad of it. He really didn't need to practice every day, but part of him enjoyed putting on the show for her. He smirked at the idea that he liked knowing that she watched him.