She watched him.
She watched his chest rise and fall ever so slowly, and his eyelashes flutter occasionally.
She watched the twitch in his hand and fingers and listened to the occasional hitch in his breath.
Ryuuji was sleeping.
Taiga, still drowsy from waking up so early, wasn't very sure what led to the two having to share the same futon, but it allowed her to use her dog as a pillow, and that's all that really mattered.
It was the first time she'd really ever seen Ryuuji sleeping soundly, considering he was always up and about first and banging on her window with something or other.
If she placed her head back on his chest, she could hear the steady beats of his heart.
She really liked that sound, the soft thumps under his shirt. They were comforting.
Looking at his tousled hair, she realized he had bed head. A tiny giggle escaped her lips in a quiet exhaled.
It looked cute, with it sticking up here and there, a strand or two falling onto his face.
His face was turned to one side, as if he had tried to nuzzle his way into the futon.
She smiled.
Ryuuji's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she watched, to see if he was waking up.
His eyelashes fluttered again and his fingers twitched once more.
He sighed ever so softly, and his face turned to push into the soft fabric beneath him.
Then his eyes opened, and Taiga tilted her head to the side as his eyes took in where he was, and who he was with.
"W...What're you doing?" he whispered, his voice thick with sleep.
Taiga hid her smile. "This is the first time I've seen you sleeping."
Ryuuji sat up slowly, his body obviously screaming in protest. He stretched his back elegantly, like a cat emerging from its own slumber.
"It's nothing special, you know. Everybody sleeps."
She huffed, scowling. "I know that," she snapped.
Suddenly, she pushed his back down onto the futon, and Ryuji's eyes went wide though still glazed with sleep.
"Go back to bed," she ordered. Ryuuji frowned, clearly confused. "Huh? But-"
"No buts. Go back to sleep."
He was still so exhausted and his body readily agreed with Taiga's declaration.
By the time Taiga was snuggling against his side, he was going slack and his eyelids were falling shut against his will.
Taiga allowed herself to smile again as she watched a tired Ryuuji fall back to asleep.
His face visibly relaxed as his eyes closed and she listened to his breathing get slower and deeper.
She laid her head on Ryuuji's chest and listened to his heart, already beginning to feel sleepy.
Raising her head to look at his face, she whispered, "Good night, Ryuuji."