Author's Note: My laptop is still not fixed but I realized that I can use a hotspot from my phone to connect my laptop to the internet. Though, I wouldn't be doing that often.

Hope you like this chapter. Hikaru and Mikoto start realizing their feelings for each other.

Chapter 10

Trouble

Another week had flown by after I had revealed myself as a girl to all of HOMRA. Nothing major had changed since my grand reveal. However, the boys seemed more protective of me and overall friendlier with me. I guess that we had all gotten closer together since I was able to completely be myself around them. I wore more feminine clothing that usually consisted of shorts with high socks or leggings underneath or skinny jeans with a t-shirt or tank top. I was almost always seen with my leather jacket. I loved that jacket. I threw out the old shoes I wore and was now wearing hiking boots. I felt so much more comfortable wearing things I liked to wear instead of hiding behind a hood and hat.

I still had nightmare and would try to sleep on Mikoto's couch but he would still switch places with me when I was asleep. Today, I planned on putting my foot down. I was not going to let him sleep in the couch again. I was not going to take his bed from him anymore.

I was laying on the couch after changing into a large t-shirt that I had borrowed to sleep in from Mikoto. I was happy that I did not have to be wearing my disguise while sleeping anymore. I could sleep more comfortably now. It surprised me when he offered me one of his shirts to sleep in. But it was so comfortable and it smelt like him. In an odd way it was very comforting to wear his shirt with his scent.

I stood up on my knees on the couch and leaned my arms on the inside back of it to see him laying down on his bed, "Do not move me this time. Stay on your bed."

"Hm," he looked at me from his position as if he was in deep thought. And then stood up to walk over towards the couch from the outside back. "Why not?"

I frowned as I looked up at him from my position, "Because it's your bed. I'm not going to kick you out every night. I feel bad."

He smirked down at me, "We can share." I blinked in astonishment, thinking I had heard that wrong. He just stared at me, waiting for my answer.

I felt my cheeks heat up, "I uh." I didn't know what to say to him. Did I even hear that right? "You want us to share your bed?"

He shrugged, lazily, "Only if you want. Beats sleeping on the couch, doesn't it?" Well, he had a point. His bed was way more comfortable than the couch. But sleeping with a guy was a big deal. Wasn't it? I pursed my lips, thinking through my options. It's not like I hadn't slept next to him before, recalling the time I had woken up in his arms a few weeks ago. And I did trust him. I also felt safest around him. Somehow, his presence casted away my nightmares. Besides, it didn't really mean anything if we did share a bed. He was just helping me sleep. That's all. He was just doing me a favor. But then why did it make my heart beat so fast at the thought?

"Okay," I agreed, making up my mind. I didn't see an upside to not sharing a bed with him. Other than a fact that it could be misconstrued as intimate. And the fact it was kind of embarrassing. "But you have to put on a shirt," I said as I got up to walk around the couch to get to the bed. I hopped in the bed and made myself comfortable underneath the covers. I was facing the wall, trying to calm my breath and beating heart. I felt the bed give way to his weight as he got in next to me. What surprised me most and almost gave me a heart attack was when he had wrapped his arm around my waist and began to spoon me. His face was in my hair. I felt my cheeks heat up at his closeness. Honestly, what the heck was wrong with me lately? "W-what are you d-doing?" I stuttered out, frozen from shock.

"Protecting you," was his simple, lazy answer. I was going to retort that there were better ways to protect someone without touching them but I just couldn't say it. It felt nice. No. It felt right to be in his arms. And I did feel a sense of protection there. My heart started to still as I relaxed in his arms.

I smiled as I closed my eyes, "Goodnight, Mikoto."

"Night." And I slipped into a dreamless sleep in the arms of the man that had broke me out of my façade and begun to steal heart.

XXXXX

I woke up feeling warm and safe. I shifted slightly which caused and arm to tighten around my waist. That was when I realized that I had moved in my sleep to lay my head on Mikoto's chest, my arm in front of my face. I smiled at how good it felt to wake up that way. I slowly sat myself up and stretched out my arms over my head, letting a yawn slip from my lips. I felt eyes on me and looked down at a sleepy looking Mikoto. His hair was all messy but it made him look... Sexy. Cough.

I smiled warmly down at him and cheerfully said, "Good morning!" He slowly got himself up. I was hyper aware of how close he was to me. I was even more aware that his arm was behind me, hand resting on the bed to keep his body up. He was leaning awfully close to me. I never saw that look in his eyes before. It seemed hazy as if he was still half-asleep. I looked up at him, questioningly, "Mikoto?"

His other hand made its way to my chin and his thumb gently traced my bottom lip. It was as if time had slowed down but it was in mere seconds. What was he doing? He was being so gentle yet I felt a panic go through me. It wasn't fear but something I hadn't ever felt before. My heart was beating fast and hard, my cheeks heated and my lips parted slightly from his touch. I didn't know my skin could be so sensitive. It was like my hairs were standing on end.

He closed his eyes, bringing his face closer to mine. Without any other warning his lips brushed against mine. It was so soft that I barely even felt it but it still sent shivers down my spine. My eyes widened at his actions. I wasn't sure what to do. Should I push him away? My body had a different idea as I closed my eyes and leaned into the kiss, deepening it. The simple acceptance of his kiss had released him from whatever it was that held him back. The hand on my chin slid to the back of my head as he pressed his lips more forcefully on mine. The arm that was behind me, wrapped around my waist and pulled me into his lap. I straddled him as we continued the passionate kiss. I honestly couldn't say I had ever felt anything like it. One hand gripped gently on my hair while the other held me close to his body. An overwhelming feeling of desire washed over me. And that was when that I knew that this man had captured my interest completely. I was enamored. Did he know what he was doing to me?

There was a knock on the door that made me whip my head at it. Mikoto still held on to me as Tatara's voice spoke through the door, "Wake up, Hikaru. We are suppose to go get my new guitar today. Remember?"

I had almost forgot that I had promised to go with him to go pick up an acoustic guitar. I looked back at Mikoto to see him lazily glare at the door. I giggled at this. He must have been upset that someone had interrupted us.

I looked back at the door, "I'll be right out!"

"I'll see you downstairs," I heard his footsteps leave from the door, leaving Mikoto and I alone again.

I let out a sigh, "I got to go." I was surprised that he had let me go so easily. I was kind of thankful because I was a little embarrassed at what had happened. What would it mean? Does he even like me that way? Or was he just half-asleep, not knowing what he was doing? Just as my feet hit the floor I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind. I was once again in his lap, his head resting on my shoulder. "Mi-Mikoto, what-"

"Stay. A little longer," he said, cutting me off. It took me a few seconds but I finally relaxed in his arms, nodding. What was up with him all of a sudden? After a few minutes of him hugging me from behind, he let me go.

"I'll see you when I get back with Tatara," I said to him before making my way to my own room to change. I didn't bother looking back at him. I was too embarrassed and didn't know what else to say or do. He had totally taken me off guard. It's not that I minded his affections. It's the opposite that scared me. I didn't want to mess things up because I mistook his actions for something else. And anyways, if he did feel the same way that I did him, would he still stay by my side after finding out about my past? What I am? I shook the thoughts away as I got ready. This wasn't the time to think about this. Tatara was waiting for me downstairs.

XXXXXX

"You don't plan on going of on your own are you?" Yata questioned as Tatara were just about ready to walk out the door. The boys all seemed very protective of Tatara because he couldn't fight. When it came to me, they were just as protective. It could get pretty annoying at times but I knew it was because they cared so much.

"Relax, Yata. We will be fine," Tatara reassured the younger boy with a warm smile. "Won't we, Hikaru?" He turned towards me for my agreement. We had gone off to do errands on our own before, but that was usually because no one else was around. Nothing had happened to us yet, other then getting lectured by the boys and Kusanagi. I'm pretty sure Mikoto would have joined in on it too but was too lazy to add in when everyone else had already done so.

I nodded my head, "We've been fine up until now."

"You should probably ask Mr. Mikoto first," Rikio protested with worry. I rolled my eyes. I didn't see why everything I did had to be approved by him now.

"Ask me what?" Mikoto's voice was heard as he walked from the staircase and made his presence known. His hands were in his pockets as he waited for someone to answer.

"Tatara and Hikaru plan on going out on their own again," Yata told his King as he crossed his arms.

"Honestly, you all worry too much. Hikaru and I will be perfectly fine. We are only going out to pick up a guitar," Tatara said scratching his head with a smile.

"Do you think you could protect Hikaru if she was in danger?" Chitose asked him. And that was the final straw for me.

"That's it!" I shouted, plopping my butt down onto the floor and crossing my arms. I was trying to calm myself down.

"Uh. What are you doing?" Yata asked, obviously confused at my actions.

"I've had it with all of you!" I yelled in my position, eyes shut. I bet they all looked taken aback or maybe even scared. I hardly ever lost my shit but this was my limit. "You treat me as if I'm some child that needs protecting all the time or even a damsel in distress! I am NOT a damsel in distress!" I let out a sound of annoyance. I didn't want to be caged and told what to do like before. I had escape to have some freedom. Not to be locked up and guarded all the time again. I took a deep breath, "I appreciate everything you all have done for me. I appreciate that you care enough to want to protect me. But understand that I need my freedom too." There was silence in the room as I slowly started to cool down after saying my piece.

"Sorry," I heard Yata say. The others followed suit.

"We didn't know that's how you felt," Dewa added.

"Yeah. I thought girls loved to feel protected," Chitose added. I opened my eyes and gave him an annoyed look.

"There's a difference between feeling protected and feeling suffocated," I slowly got myself back up. They all looked visibly upset, except for Kusanagi, that looked amused and slightly impressed, Anna, who was looking with her usual stare, Tatara, who was smiling as usual and Mikoto, who was smirking.

"How about we compromise?" Kusanagi said, earning everyone's attention. He through something small at me. I caught and realized that it was a PDA. I looked at him, confused. He shrugged, "Thought you'd need a way to contact us in case of emergency. Everyone's contact information is on it."

A smile made its what to my lips, "Thanks so much, Kusanagi!"

He just nodded back with a smile, "That's no problem. Just be sure to use it if you run into any trouble. I'm sure Mikoto would not be too happy if something happened to you." What did he mean by that?

I nodded, "I will. Promise."

Tatara stepped forward, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah!" I said excitedly as we finally got through to the guys to let us go alone. We stepped out of the bar together and made our way through town to pick up a guitar.

XXXXX

HOMRA 3rd POV

It had been hours since Tatara and Hikaru had left the bar on their errands. The boys were chatting amongst themselves to keep themselves busy but there was a nagging feeling in the air. Something didn't seem right. They should have been back by now. That was when Kusanagi's PDA rang, cutting the tension in the room.

"Kusanagi," he answered, putting it on speaker phone in order to continue to clean his glasses. He knew that it was Tatara that had called from the caller ID.

"Sorry, I didn't call sooner," Tatara voice came through the speakers. He knew that the others must feel worried that they hadn't been back yet. "Hikaru kind of ran into some trouble." That made all of the members perkup, ready for action.

Mikoto stared at the PDA on the bar. He never felt that most of worry before. That woman had really done a number on him. She was on his mind a lot and he felt the need to be close to her. He knew that he wanted nothing more but the have her has his at this point. At first, he thought maybe it was the fact that she seemed out of his reach that he lusted for her. But after he had kissed her, he knew there was something more to it. It was more powerful then the flames he could conjure. He was drawn to her. He can't say that this had ever happened to him before. He was glad that she got along with the boys. But the thought of her being someone else's made him angry. As Tatara's voice mentioned those words, the King could not hold in his strong urge to hurt whoever may have hurt her. He didn't not want anyone else to ever touch her. He glared at the PDA.

The other clansmen had noticed the change in their King. They, in their own way, knew that their King had feelings for the woman. They knew that Hikaru was his and they were okay with that. They saw how she was slowly changing him. And they saw how he had changed her. They were good together. Some may even go as far as to say that they were a perfect fit. They brought out the best in each other. So, when they saw their King's eyes darken at those words they knew that he would not sit this one out if there was someone that had hurt Hikaru in anyway.

"What kind of trouble?" Kusanagi questioned.