This is a College!Drabble and follows #12:Borrow and #21: Friend.

Ravyn

'Maybe if someone else makes it to Nationals, the fan girls will start bothering them.' Kenshin's mouth twisted down. A man could hope. Stepping into the elevator, he dropped his bag with a sigh and brought his hands up to rub his face, attempting to wake himself up long enough to take a shower. Bringing his watch down to eye level when it beeped he groaned; at 3 A.M. even Sano would be sleeping.

Even if he was certain his friend had absently mentioned a party. Frowning, he tried to recall if had mentioned Megumi…which might have meant that Kaoru would have come. Disappointment flickered through him at the idea of missing her. A faint smile quirked his lips as he considered the situation he was in with her. He didn't know whether he should be amused or just frustrated at her continued lack of understanding about their relationship. He was the first to admit that the movie hadn't turned out exactly as he had expected, but he couldn't say he had minded being her impromptu pillow or the way she smelled like flowers. He would give her a little more time before he spelled it out. Some things were just worth enjoying and the confused little blush every time he touched her hand or kissed her cheek was worth it.

Even if he had to refrain from other, more interesting ideas in the process.

Bending down to pick up his bag when the doors dinged open, Kenshin let out a low groan at the way his muscles protested and the thump of music echoing down the hall. Rubbing his eyes in an attempt to hold his temper, he moved down the hall and stubbornly ignored the music. He was tired enough that he might actually be tempted to go and yell at someone. The last time that had happened, there had been a few complaints filed with his Coach and he didn't feel like explaining himself again. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his keys and unlocked the door, barely remembering to muffle his cursing when the scent of beer and sweat reached his nose.

Kenshin slowly blinked at the bodies strewn out across his living room; someone had even curled up on top of the table. Half of them he recognized by the sounds of their snores, the other half… he didn't. The fact that he had to pick his way across the floor set his teeth on edge; if he found some strange man sleeping in his bed like last time, things would probably get violent fast. He needed at least four hours of sleep before Sano woke up or there was no guarantee that he would be polite to the remaining guests. Opening his door, he set his bag down with a thump and tugged on his bangs before looking at the bed. Empty. Sighing in relief, he turned and shut the door; locking it firmly behind him before he turned to make his way into the shower.

There was a body sprawled next to his desk, curled up around a couch pillow. Long, black hair spilled across his floor and he stood there for long moments, blinking to make sure that he wasn't imagining things. As tired as he was, it was possible. Letting a slow grin cross his face, he shook his head. Only Kaoru would hide in his room to sleep on the floor.

Right. First relocate his sleeping non-girlfriend and then take a shower. He needed hot water. Reaching down he carefully slid his arms under Kaoru's limp body and lifted her. She made a faint noise and wiggled closer, her nose pressed against his neck as she inhaled and he gave into the urge to smile again. Moving to the bed he reached out to pull the covers back when she moved again, this time the noise coherent.

"Wadda…" Kaoru mumbled, her head falling off his shoulder and onto his arm so he found himself starring into sleepy blue eyes.

"I don't think my floor is the most comfortable place to sleep," Kenshin told her as he settled her on the bed. "I'm putting you to bed."

"Loud," Kaoru grumbled, her eyes closing. "Stupid Sano."

Kenshin swallowed a laugh. "Go back to sleep, honey."

Instead of answering, she tucked herself around one of his pillows and made an agreeable noise. Kenshin watched her for a moment before turning and heading into the bathroom, intent on taking the fastest shower of his life. By the time he walked back out, clean and relaxed, she had kicked the covers off and sprawled out across the length of his bed, one leg hanging off the mattress. Rolling his eyes, Kenshin pulled the covers back up and settled next to her, picking his second pillow off the floor and carefully rearranging her limbs.

"I would sleep on the couch," he told her as he managed to shift her position a little. "But there is a loud hairy man who I just don't have the patience to deal with."

X

Kenshin woke to the loud sound of Sano yelling for someone to grab the fire extinguisher. Blinking slowly, he growled in protest as someone rattled his door handle. Curling one arm around the waist of the woman using him as in impromptu pillow, he cracked one eye open. Kaoru had wrapped herself around his torso, one arm trapped underneath his stomach, the other wrapped around his back so her hand was wrapped loosely around his bicep. The sprawling way she had taken over his bed when he had been in the shower apparently now included his body as well. Kaoru shifted so that the slide of her legs tangled in his became apparent; Kenshin lifted himself as high as he could without disturbing Kaoru and looked down. Apparently, she had kicked the blanket to the edge of the bed again.

'Note for the future,' Kenshin thought in amusement. 'She can be clingy in bed.'

Shifting to move away, he stiffened when she wiggled closer, the noise coming from her throat unhappy; he swallowed when she slipped her hands under his shirt and fisted her fingers in it, moving until her mouth was pressed against the skin of his throat.

"Honey," Kenshin muttered, sliding over until half of him was hanging off the bed. "You're going to have to let go."

He managed to untangle her fingers and hit the floor with a dull thump. Groaning, he rolled onto his back and glared at the arm hanging off the bed. There were loud grumbling noises, some rustling and then the arm disappeared. By the time he had pulled himself up she had sprawled onto her back and her braid was wrapped around her throat, her lips parted as she breathed.

Pushing himself to his feet he decided to do the honorable thing. First, check on Sano and make sure he wasn't burning his kitchen down or ruining the pans he knew better than to use. Second, distract himself until Kaoru woke up so he didn't crawl back into bed and nuzzle her neck until she woke.

It took several moments before he could get his feet to work.

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