A/N: ah, how I love writing~

Since it's summer, I'll probably be working overtime.

seriously.

And okay okay, I lied about B. But I promise, he's got a part in this chappie, if it's not apparent, it's there, I swear.

100th reviewer gets a s'more!

I do not own DN or "I carry it With Me" by E. E. Cummings.

Also, since nothing apparent happens between February and the current date besides Valentine's Day, I'm timeskipping to June. Don't worry, you'll know what happened, in a flashback. Just thought I'd let you know.

Also, if you look up "Misa's theme B" I find that it fits this chapter quite well, especially toward the end...

Chapter Thirty Six: Keeping the Stars Apart

I lay on the floor, buttons clicking furiously on my pink DS. My hair was pulled up in a bun, out of my face, and I was kicking Bowzer's-

Oh!

"M-Matt? What are you... doing?" I asked, suddenly requiring a reason for why Matt was currently straddling my back like Mello and his motorcycle.

"Playing a video game," he whispered in my ear, settling himself to where he was comfortably laying on my back, his head resting on my shoulder, and his hands craftily stole my DS. "What's it look like?"

I really did not want to say what it looked like.

"Aer you having fun with my DS?" I asked, semi-annoyed, mostly terrified for whatever reason.

"Mmm. It'd be funner if you rolled over."

What the hell?

"Okay, you're in a mood today, aren't you?" I asked, making an attempt to sit up, but he wouldn't budge.

"Actually, yes. Mello's gonna be out of the house for the week. Maybe more."

"... week?" I asked. "Why?"

"He says he wants to 'catch up' with anybody at Wammy's that might still remember him. Thing he doesn't know, is just about every kid there idolizes him," he chuckled. Which felt strange with the way he was sprawled across my back.

"Bah, I think Mels's just getting sentimental," I giggled. "Um, can you get off of me now?" I asked hopelessly.

"Only if you can provide with proper entertainment besides this lovely Nintendo, my dearest." Oh, how I hated it when he was stubborn.

"Okay, fine. You win." I didn't exactly know what that implied, but it had the desired effect.

"Huh? Really? Just like tha-" I rolled over when his guard was down, causing him to be pinned to the ground on his back, with me laying on him, facing the ceiling.

"Nope. I win." I grinned as he rolled his eyes and sat up, comfortably adjusting me in his lap, plucking the hair tie from my hair and bringing a lock to his cheek, thinking.

"Okay, you won the battle. But it's a fact that I will win the war," he said.

"No idea what that meant."

"Good. You can't know."

"..." He was in a mood today!

I sighed. "How about a bit of poetry, hmm?" I needed to think, and poetry helped me do so. It was just an added bonus that I had Matt to cite romantic ones to. I turned to face him and put my arms around his neck. "You ever heard of E. E. Cummings?"

"Uhh, rings a bell, never actually sat down and picked up one of his works."

"Hmm... Then you'll like this one," I said, looking him in the goggle-clad eyes.

"What's it called?"

" 'I Carry it With Me'. I adore this poem, so, so much." Matt blinked and lie back down, pulling me back with him.

We both just lay there, looking up, as I recited:

"I carry your heart with me,

I carry it in my heart,

I am never without it.

Anywhere I go, you go, my dear,

And whatever is done by only me,

it's your doing, my darling.

I fear no fate,

For you are my fate, my sweet,

I want no world,

For, Beautiful, you are my world,

My true,

And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant,

And whatever a sun will sing is you."

I rolled over so that I was facing him, but I was still on his chest. I whispered the last stanza.

"And here is the deepest secret nobody knows,

Here is the root of the root,

And the bud of the bud,

And the sky of the sky,

Of a tree called Life,

Which grows higher than the soul can hope,

or the mind can hide,

And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart."

I pressed my lips to his, softly, before whispering, "I carry it with me, I carry it in my heart."

The kiss was just a short one; the most passionate by far that we'd ever had was the very first one. Every now and then, sure, we would have a tender kiss, but it was a very, very laid back relationship.

But that didn't mean I didn't feel so strongly for him, it was a wonder I didn't implode.

He took a lock of my hair and breathed into it. "You know what just occurred to me?" he asked suddenly. "We haven't even had a real date yet."

Well that was certainly something to think about. I didn't realize it, either. Huh, it was true. Unless you counted movie nights, we haven't dated one single day yet.

"Hey, Rose?" Matt asked. I looked up. "Could you come here a sec?"

I nodded, putting the DS down on the table and standing up, making my way over to the kitchen.

"Ah.. stop!" I froze as he put a hand on either one of my shoulders. "Close your eyes." I complied. "Hold your hand out like you're about to grab some one's hand for a handshake."

When I did, I felt something thin and long get placed into my hand. It was fragile, and almost so incredibly delicate I could almost feel the other side of my hand through it.

"You can open your eyes, now."

When I did, it was so... sweet. It was literally so tender, so perfect that I wanted so badly to cry, but my smile prevented tears.

I flung my arms around his neck, and he kissed my cheek. "Where did you find a purple rose?" I asked in awe.

"Believe it or not, they do grow."

"But still... wow." I just rocked against his chest, and he trailed his fingers along my spine, and I don't remember how or when we moved from that spot. All I remember is the way he whispered 'I love you' in my ear, so many times...

I was jerked out of my thoughts by Mello's bike pulling up into the driveway. Hmm. Figured. He would need to pack, if he was staying a week. And then there was the airplane business but Roger would probably arrange that.

We didn't exactly have enough time to get off of each other before Mello came in, seeing as we were in the living room and incidentally so was the front door.

But I have to say, the look on his face?

Priceless.

"Blocking it out," he whispered to himself, putting a hand in front of his face and turning toward the hallway. "Gonna go pack now."

I rolled my eyes.

"We were just exchanging a little poetry, Mello-kun." He froze. I only used formalities when I wanted something. Matt noticed something was up, too, because he let me get off of him long enough to go pester Mello.

"Poetry get a little too heated for ya, guys?" Mello chuckled. "Or did you just get lost in the moment?"

"Can't you wait a little longer before you go? You didn't even tell me!" I threw an accusatory glance at Matt, who shrugged.

"Found out this morning," he defended.

I pouted. "Mello-kun, can't you take us with you?"

"I only have one plane ticket. Roger bought it for me." Called it.

"Can I at least drive ya to the airport?" Matt asked.

Mello shrugged. "I don't see why no-"

"Shotgun!" I raced past Mello, heading for the garage. Didn't expect Matt to grab me by hooking his right arm in front of my waist and hoisting me over his shoulder.

"Matt!" I yelled, shocked. "Pumme down!"

"Nuh-uh."

I sulked, crossing my arms and resting my cheek on his back. He carried me to the car when Mello was finished packing, and, yes, I did get to ride shotgun.

[line here]

The two hour drive home was kind of sad without Mels there. I wondered if he left any of his chocolates back home.

I leaned back in the seat, letting the Summer wind blow on my face as Matt drove us home. Through my sunglasses, I could see wisps of clouds, and the occasional bird lazing about the sky. My tank top was the perfect garment for this kind of weather. It kept you cool. I smiled to myself, for there was a stormcloud on the horizon. The perfect night. Warm air, cool water droplets running down your neck- these were nights I dreamt of since I was old enough to enjoy the rain.

It was already sprinkling by the time we pulled up to the house. I looked up longingly to the sky; the drops were coming down bigger, plumper, harder. Perfect weather. I sighed, abandoning the route to the doot and detouring to the nearest tree, which I sat under. Matt watched me with interest, but I honestly didn't care. Let him go hide indoors, while he becomes even more terrified of germs.

Germaphobe.

I closed my eyes and took the sunglasses off, looking up to the sky.

The tree was perfect cover. It allowed enough water down to get you wet, cooled off, and feeling quite comfortable, yet it protected you well from the heavy raindrops.

It wasn't long before it was dark out. I didn't mind the loneliness; it was nice. I didn't realize I was humming until I heard a voice in my ear: "Take good care or yourself, you belong to me."

I jumped, startled. "How long were you out here?" I asked, curious. I wouldn't know, my eyes were shut and I was zoned out. He shrugged.

"Only long enough to bring you some hot chocolate," he grinned. I smiled, taking the hot mug from his hands, sipping it. It was almost as if it were a certain stolen chocolate bar, it was so good.

We sat, and talked for God knows how long. Matt told me his real name, which was Mail Jeevas, and I pointed out several constellations. We went from lying on our backs and talking, to being on our sides looking at each other, till eventually we were a considerable space away from the tree we originally started under, and were sitting side by side, looking up at the sky. The stars were nice, but I wasn't paying attention. I was listening to the way he was breathing. Suddenly, he gasped, and I looked at him just in time to see a shooting star reflect in the goggles he had perched on his head. Then another, and I watched as his eyes moved to take in yet another falling stars.

I smiled, laying my head on his shoulder. I had forgotten. There was a meteor shower tonight. Obviously, Matt hadn't heard of a meteor shower happening any time soon at all, because he looked around, awestruck, at all the falling orbs of light. He put his arm around my shoulders, hugging me tightly. I buried my face in his shoulder.

I felt his hand come over to cup my chin, tilting my head up to his. He kissed me, soft, slowly. But when he pulled away, this time, it was different. His mouth lingered by mine, and I could feel his cold breath washing against my face. I leaned up for another kiss, and he kissed back. The pattern continued when I would pull away for air, he would come right back in for another kiss.

I felt one of my hands reached up to tangle itself in Matt's hair, and I felt his hand place itself at my waist, pushing me down onto the ground gently.

And we lay there, kissing as the sky fell around us, and I thought to myself,

This is what keeps the stars apart.