"Bunny~!"

Kotetsu slammed into him, sending them both down to lay in a tangle of limbs on the floor.

"Wh—What the hell Kotetsu?" Barnaby spluttered. He sat up, tried to push Kotetsu away. Kotetsu remained firmly planted in his lap, face plastered with the usual huge smile as he said,

"Happy Valentine's Day!" He rifled around in his bag—strapped across his shoulder—and pulled out a little magenta bag. "I. Got. You…" He leaned close,

'til their noses brushed, expression suddenly serious. Barnaby blushed, biting his lip nervously.

"W-wait, Kotetsu—"

"BEST FRIEND CHOCOLATE!"

A red box. Shoved in his face. Heart-shaped with a green ribbon across it. Barnaby blinked and leaned away a little, taking the box wordlessly. He was embarrassed. Very embarrassed.

Kotetsu smiled expectant sunbeams at him and Barnaby rolled his eyes. He slipped off the ribbon, pulled at the lid, picked up a chocolate. Cheap, rabbit-shaped. He bit one experimentally. Filled with slightly nauseating strawberry filling—fluffy and light pink. It was an awful, inexpensive gift, but it made Barnaby's stomach turn girlishly. It made him feel both ill and inexplicably happy. He bit back a funny noise and looked sternly at Kotetsu—with some difficulty—muttering, "Cute. Next time you jump me like that I'll bash your face in." He stood quickly—causing Kotetsu to tumble backwards with a yelp—and looked to the wall. He couldn't show the man how emotionally confused he was. His eyes prickled wetly, and a foolishly quivering smile forced its way across his lips. He covered his face with his hands and kept himself from turning toward the rustle of sound that was Kotetsu standing and dusting off his pants. Barnaby clenched his teeth over a sob. He was so confused.

Kotetsu walked his fingers up Barnaby's arm—ever the dopey father—and mumbled, "Don't cry Bunny. It was only a dollar forty-nine… Promise." He wrapped his arms around Barnaby daintily. "I know it's been a long time since you got a gift but… Don't be sad."

A tear fled down Barnaby's cheek, and he squeezed his eyes shut in a futile effort to stop crying. "I'm not sad!" he choked. "I just…!" He didn't know what to say. This gift… made him so, so happy, sending little rays of sunshine to warm his heart, but at the same time it filled him with loneliness because he knew Kotetsu had only given it to him out of friendship. Not love, or even like. "I'm not… sad…" Barnaby tried to pull out of Kotetsu's embrace, but Kotetsu held him there.

Barnaby sighed… He let his shoulders slump… gave up. Sniffed quietly and looked at his toes.

When Kotetsu felt him relax he turned him around so they stood eye to eye, and smiled sweetly—the really caring smile Barnaby had never gotten before. The one reserved for Kaede, and happy memories… He wiped away Barnaby's tears with a rough thumb and bumped their foreheads together.

"I forgot something…" He looked down restlessly, then back up. His smile grew a tiny bit shier.

"…what?" Bunny gulped. His eyes were locked on Kotetsu's—he couldn't move or look away or anything.

"The rest of your gift…" Kotetsu blushed, took a breath and kissed Barnaby.

…Barnaby's first kiss was soft, and awkward, and minty smelling, and seemed to last too long, yet not last long enough. It sent a sick flutter through his stomach and sunlight through his brain, and when Kotetsu pulled back, leaving a slightly damp spot on Bunny's lower lip, Barnaby let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He looked speechlessly at Kotetsu.

Kotetsu wore a goofy grin, looking childishly pleased. His cheeks were scarlet. "H…" He paused and buried his face in Bunny's neck with a quietly embarrassed laugh. "Happy Valentine's day. bashful Bunny… "

A meager, strangled sound made its way out of Barnaby's throat, and all he could do was hug Kotetsu close.

Happy Valentine's Day, Old Man…