I haven't had downtime like this in ages. Don't get me wrong. Kyoya and I moving in together is one of the best things that's ever happened to me. But the alone time while he was at school. And while Rhiannon was getting ready to play with Yuzuha. This was nice, too. A nice, calm, quiet apartment with a beautiful view. The lights of the city twinkled like stars and I couldn't help but get totally lost in them. My dad always said that New York City was overrated. It's too loud, the people are too rude, everything's overpriced. His regular, casual bitching. But I've never disagreed with anyone more in my life. Hidden magic hides in these city streets.

After a while of being in a state of pure bliss, a loud growl snapped me out of it. Looks like I'm hungry. I didn't have the energy to go out for something and Kyoya and I had to go grocery shopping. I could always order something, though. Thank God for Postmates. The world may be a horrendously imperfect place, but for a girl that gets anxious from making a phone call, apps have made the world that more accessible. What was I feeling today? I'm thinking something spicy. It's only going to be me. Kyoya said he'd be staying late and I'm sure he'll find something on the way home.

Curry. A good chicken curry would hit the spot right now. Most people would never guess this about me in a million years, but I loved spicy food. After I was recovering from my eating disorder, Rhiannon had me for the summer. For my first meal coming out of the hospital, Rhiannon made me curry. It became a drug to me. Bowl after bowl went into my mouth until my stomach couldn't take anymore. The spiciness may have burned a hole in my stomach, but it was definitely worth it. Mmmm...And there was an Indian restaurant just down the road. Damn, I love modern technology! It's come such a long way.

I forgot how nice a little solitude could be. Just me alone with my thoughts. That alone is a bit nerve-wracking, but honestly, I liked the solitude. Once my curry got here, I decided to run the bathtub and turn on my laptop. If Dash was making me audition for Chicago, I might as well study, right? Dinner in the bathtub, Chicago on my computer. Life is good.

Now, who to use for audition fodder...I can't pick a main character. Otherwise Dash is going to get some ideas that he doesn't need. God forbid I actually get casted. No, Lana. Don't think like that. This is just your monologue. You're not getting casted. You're overthinking. Let's just lay back and enjoy the movie. And the sweet tingling sensation overcoming your mouth right now. It's not as good as Rhiannon's curry, but it's a close second.

As the movie went on, I couldn't help myself. I started humming along to the numbers...only to start adding words to it. Dammit. I'm going to have to pick a main character. No one else really has enough for me to pacify Dash. According to the whiteboard in front of his classroom, it had to be at least thirty seconds long. Maybe I could do the bit where Roxie's telling her special man friend about Velma Kelly killing her husband and her sister. That'd be pretty good.

But honestly, I couldn't relate with Velma Kelly. My sister's already pregnant and living with her boyfriend. I trust Kyoya with my life. Despite the fact that Kyoya and Rhiannon are relatively close, I don't ever see them two sleeping with each other. Kyoya loves me too much and Rhiannon knows I'd never forgive her. I guess I couldn't blame Velma for snapping like that. No matter how much she pleads temporary insanity.

"Chicago, huh?" a deep, soothing voice asked from the doorway of the bathroom. Speak of the devil, "Should I be worried? Dare I check where any guns are? Or hide the knives? Or have someone else taste my food for me?"

"Hey, baby," I cranked my neck back, "If I were plotting your death, do you really think I'd be the one to do it? And risk getting my hands dirty?"

"That's my girl," Kyoya sat at the edge of the tub, greeting me properly with a little kiss, "So, what has you watching Chicago?"

"It's for my drama class," I explained, "My professor and I had a heart to heart today. He understands my situation, for lack of a better word. So, he gave me a proposition. Either I read a monologue in front of the class or I audition for his off-Broadway production of Chicago."

"I'm assuming you're going for the audition?" he figured.

"Reading in front of one person or in front of eleven..." I hummed, "I'll take the one over the many."

"Alright," Kyoya got that little smirk on his face. The one that suggests either world domination, Tamaki tripping over his own two feet, or a plan coming to fruition. And that always worries me, "Do you mind if I join you?"

We did have a relatively big bathtub. God bless you, Yuuichi. Someone was thinking while he was doing our house hunting for us. Not to mention, I could stand some quality time with his brother. While the time alone was nice, I missed him. I moved over a little bit, "Be my guest."

"Thank you," he stripped down and crawled in next to me. If this didn't send me into flashbacks...Oh, how I miss Karuizawa and those hot springs. This would do for the time being, though. Kyoya wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest, and the two of us went on watching Chicago on my laptop, "To think there was once a day where this very situation was entirely unheard of."

"And you're pushing it," I splashed him.

"I told you," Kyoya cuddled me, "There is absolutely nothing wrong here. It's just like the hot springs in Karuizawa."

Looks like I'm not the only one getting nostalgic, "Just on a small scale. And in our bathroom."

"I could open a window."

"No," I laid my head on his chest, "It's not the same."

"We'll be back, Lana," he vowed, "In a few months, we'll be off for winter break and we'll be free to go wherever we want. Even if my credit cards get frozen and I get cut off, I still have a way."

"You do?" I gave him a look. I did wonder how we were keeping the lights on around here and how we were keeping food in our stomachs. His cards were fine, last I knew anything.

"Yuuichi is my backup to everything," Kyoya told me, "If my father ever does anything stupid, we'll still be fine. And I've talked with Carlos. My internship is paid."

"If it's enough to keep Rhiannon afloat," I relaxed, "We should be fine, too, right?"

"Absolutely." Suddenly, Kyoya turned quiet. Not exactly uncommon, but something about this didn't feel right. And it made my stomach turn.

"Kyoya…?" I wondered, "You ok?"

"Lana…" he sighed, "You know I love you, right?"

Oh crap. Not good, "Of course I do. Kyoya, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Kyoya assured, "But…I…"

Oh, God. He's cheating on me. We really are going to end up like Velma and Charlie, aren't we? No. Lana, we've been over this, "What is it?"

"I think tonight's the night," his smirk came back, sending chills down my spine, "The night."

Then, everything became clear and his smile became infectious. He's not cheating on me, "The night?"

"The night," Kyoya confirmed, "Lana, I know we've been here for a couple months now and the time's never felt right, but I think now is the time."

"Really?" I kissed his cheek, "I want to hear you say it, Kyoya. What are we going to do?"

"First," he grabbed a towel off the rack on the wall and helped me out of the bathtub, "I'm going to help you dry off."

"Mmhmm," I groaned, falling into the soft, fluffy towel, "Then, what?"

"Then," he nuzzled his face in my neck, kissing me a couple times, "You get to put on those cute, little shorts that hug you just right..."

"Dial it back, baby," I settled hi, "I'm not wearing shorts."

"Fair enough," Kyoya let it go, "Bottomless is fine with me, too."

"Kyoya!"

"I know, I know," he giggled, "I joke. Then, how about those pajama pants you have that I hate that are a size too big for you?"

"That's better," I approved, "And after we get dressed?"

"I think you know," Kyoya turned the charm back up, getting closer to my ear, his voice a soft purr, "Let's build the nightstand."

"Oh, Kyoya..." I let out a moan, "You know how to talk dirty to a girl, don't you?"

"I sure do," he really was on tonight. And I'm not complaining, "Come on. I'm going to put in some long hours in the next six weeks and I'd like to spend as much time with you as I can."

"Where are you going to be?" I wondered. I knew there was a catch.

"I'll be staying late for my design class working on my project," Kyoya hugged me tight, "It's only a few times a week."

"But while you're gone," I pointed out, sweating a bit, "You're going to be working your ass off and I won't be there to tell you when to stop. You know how you get when you throw yourself into a big project."

"Lana," he let out a heavy sigh, "I love that you're so worried for me, koibito, but I'll be fine. I promise."

"You have a bad habit of overworking yourself," I scolded, "Promise me you'll take breaks once in a while."

"I promise." I'll be sending a text to Yuzuha. No doubt she'll be there, too. If anyone will keep an eye on Kyoya for me, it'll be her, "Now, enough of all this and let's go build the nightstands."

"Yes, sir." I've been staring at those damn nightstand boxes for the past month and a half. It's about time they got put together. In our defense, though, we've had a lot going on, too. Between all our friends being here at the beginning of the summer and all the help we've been giving Rhiannon and Elliot and us starting school, things have been hectic.

The two of us cleared the boxes off and dragged them into our living room. My god, this felt like I was carrying a body. I've had Honey on my shoulders once in my life and this felt about the same way. I've only built IKEA furniture once. And I did it by myself. Moving it after it was done was kind of a pain in the ass, but I managed.

"We don't need these," Kyoya took the instructions out of the box, "We can figure this out."

"Kyoya, no," I put my foot down, "Trust me. We need the instructions."

"Lana," he rolled his eyes, "I have a damn near genius IQ. If I can't figure out how to put the nightstand together, I have a problem."

"I don't care," I groaned, "If you love me, we will follow the directions."

"I do love you," Kyoya assured, "But we don't need the instructions."

I'm ready to ram my head into a wall. Instead, I threw my arms up, "Fine. If you want to do this without instructions, more power to you. I will be over here with my nightstand, using the instructions. When you come to your senses, you are more than welcome to borrow my instruction booklet. Until then, good luck and Godspeed."

"I'll be fine."

I love him with all my heart, but Kyoya's stubbornness may be the death of me. Regardless, I had a nightstand to build. And so, we did. Slowly, but surely, my nightstand started to come together. Pinching myself between boards wasn't exactly pleasant, but I got over it quickly. And while I was halfway through mine, Kyoya had hardly started his. We don't need the instructions, he says. I can figure this out myself, he says. I have a damn near genius IQ, he says. Oh, bless this boy. He may be smart, but putting together IKEA furniture was not his forte.

"Kyoya?" I had just finished my work, "You want some help?"

"How the hell do you have yours finished already?" Kyoya gasped, drenched in sweat.

"It's amazing what happens when you follow the instructions," I teased, "Now, do you want to admit I was right yet?"

"No."

"Swear to god," I rolled my eyes, "Give me the Allen wrench before you hurt yourself."

"What do you mean?" Kyoya scoffed, "I'm doing just fine."

"Kyoya…" I shut my eyes, trying to visualize a happy place, "Give me the damn Allen wrench or so help me God, I will take it from you and stab you in the jugular with it."

"Ok," he handed it over without hesitation, "A little harsh, Lana."

"Desperate times," I let out a heavy sigh of exasperation, "Go sit in the kitchen."

"But…"

"KITCHEN!" I snarled.

"Alright," Kyoya got up from the floor and walked into the kitchen, taking a seat at the bar, "Do you…"

"Kyoya…Unless the next words out of your mouth are want something to drink like the bottle of strawberry water in the back of our fridge, I don't want to hear another word out of you."

"Yes, ma'am," he caught the subliminal message and got my water for me. If Kyoya and I ever have babies, I'm calling Elliot to put the crib together. And any other assorted furniture we may have. As the next hour went by, I finished our other nightstand. The least he could do was move them into our bedroom.

"I want to raid Rhiannon's liquor cabinet," I laid flat on the floor, "The Caprisun and vodka thing sounds like a hell of an idea."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful," Kyoya laid with me.

"That's your own fault," I started nodding off, "If you would've listened, you wouldn't have been in your situation."

"And I've learned from this," he kissed my cheek, "You want me to take you to bed?"

"Yes, please," I rolled into his arms. I could pretend to be pissed at him all I want. Kyoya was still Kyoya at the end of the day. And so, as he carried me to the bedroom, I clocked out almost immediately. It's been a long night. I could stand the sleep.

A/N: Holy hell, friends. I cannot stress how much I can't wait for next week. Next week's chapter is going to be a million times better than this one. Although, I must admit, the thought of Lana and Kyoya building IKEA furniture together warms me to my core. And you can guaran-damn-tee that it would go just like this. Now, if it's all the same to you, I'm going to go watch the English dub of the new Black Butler movie. I'm very excited. If you'd care to come into my trash bin, you're more than welcome. Bring your own snacks. Blankets are optional. If you don't bring one, a blanket can be provided for you. If you wish for any sort of plushie, one can also be provided. Although, you can't have my cow Sebastian. You touch my Bassy and I'll cut you. See you next chapter! xx