I wrote this right after the anime ended but forgot to post it here, sorry about that! Takes place after the anime. Just a little something for after Tohru comes back to Kobayashi.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kobayashi-san chii no Maid Dragon.

Chapter 4. Home

Despite everything that's happened, it doesn't take too long for things to return to normal in the Kobayashi household.

Well, as normal as things are ever going to get when you're living with two dragons, of course.

After Tohru had gotten the strength to stand, straighten herself up, and open up a portal to return them home, she'd carried Kobayashi on her back with Kanna flying beside her until they'd reached the apartment.

Home.

Kobayashi had never really had a grasp of that word before.

When she was younger, she'd always called home the place where she lived with her parents. As she'd grown, 'home' had become whatever apartment she was renting that month, wherever she was tossing around her laundry every morning and crashing into a mattress every night.

But only in recent months, since she'd met Tohru and Kanna, had 'home' actually started to mean something.

Once they arrive home, Tohru and Kanna change back to their human forms and stand outside the door. Right away, Tohru is holding tightly to Kobayashi's hand, squeezing and refusing to let go.

Kobayashi glances her way, but Tohru's expression is hidden by her bangs.

It's strange. The rest of the town – the rest of the world – doesn't have any idea what just happened between them. But somehow, they're supposed to go back to living like they'd used to.

For a moment, Kobayashi doesn't move. She can still hear Tohru's little hiccups as tiny droplets fall down around her shoes. Kobayashi gulps.

"U-Um-"

"Tohru-sama, welcome home."

Kanna says what she'd been wanting to say so effortlessly, in a way that almost makes Kobayashi envy her for it. The little dragon scampers up to the door and opens it, her usually-calm eyes sparkling with excitement now.

Tohru lifts her head slowly at the invitation, then shifts her gaze to her mistress. Kobayashi chuckles a little sheepishly.

"Yeah. What she said." She gives a squeeze to Tohru's hand and guides her a step forward. Kobayashi tries out a smile. "Welcome home, Tohru."

It's odd. She's never really been the one to say that to Tohru before. Usually it's the other way around.

Tohru wipes her free arm across her face and sniffles. Her cheeks are red and puffy, but her eyes and smile are bright as ever now.

"I'm home, Kobayashi-san!"

Kobayashi can't help it when a surge of emotion rises up in her stomach. She wipes a tear from her eye and lets out a sigh. Releasing Tohru's hand, she slides her arm up around the girl's shoulders instead.

"Come on. Let's have dinner."

Tohru leans into her side, resting her head on her shoulder.

"Yes!"

That night, Kobayashi lays herself down in bed like she's done every other night of her life. But this time, it feels different.

I can't believe I traveled into another dimension today and watched two dragons fight each other…

But the shock of experiencing those hectic events only compares to the relief she feels at having Tohru back again.

She stares at the ceiling for a moment, then reaches up to remove her glasses. Tohru had repaired them for her with magic after her father had attacked Kobayashi. Just remembering that now still makes her shudder.

That really terrified me… But it was even more terrifying to think he might take her away from me…

She puts her glasses aside on her nightstand, then begins to situate herself under the blankets. She can already tell she'll be too antsy to sleep well tonight, given how her mind is still buzzing.

But it's fine now. Because Tohru is here to stay.

Of course, there's a part of her that fears Tohru's father might come back regardless and take her away. Kobayashi wants to believe he's decided to trust his daughter like she'd suggested, but she doesn't know most dragons well enough to make that assumption for certain.

If he does come back, I'll give him another ear-full. I won't let him or anyone else take her away if she doesn't want to go.

There is always the possibility that one day, Tohru might want to leave of her own volition. Kobayashi knows it would be tough to see her go, but she'd much rather Tohru leave because she herself wanted to.

But for some reason, I can't ever imagine her wanting to leave…

And Kobayashi is happy for that. Just a little.

As she's trying to settle her mind enough to invite sleep, a timid knock sounds at her bedroom door. She sits up.

"Yes?"

"K-Kobayashi-san, it's me," Tohru calls softly. "M-May I come in?"

Kobayashi smiles a little.

"Sure."

The door creaks and the girl steps in, still wearing her maid outfit's scales. Kobayashi can tell right away she's flustered and uncomfortable about entering her room at this hour. Which isn't how Tohru would normally behave in this situation.

The atmosphere is already set to something a little more serious than usual as Tohru slowly closes the door behind herself.

"Kanna is already asleep," she announces, as is common practice of her to report on her duties. She flashes her eyes up nervously, but instantly looks down again. Kobayashi pats a spot on the bed beside herself.

"Good work. So… why did you come in here?"

"M-My apologies. I didn't want to intrude on your sleep, but I-"

"It's fine. Come here, Tohru." Kobayashi pats the bed again, giving a verbal cue where the motion alone didn't suffice.

Tohru swallows hard, both hands clutching her chest as she makes her way forward. Kobayashi notices her maid still can't look her in the eyes.

Tohru sits down a little farther away than Kobayashi might've expected her to, but she says nothing. She waits for a moment, looking Tohru over in the darkness.

"So?" she prompts. "What's on your mind?"

She doesn't really need to ask. She knows the things troubling Tohru are the same things that are troubling herself. But she needs to invite Tohru to be honest, or else she might not be.

Tohru fidgets and remains silent for a moment. It seems to take her a lot of effort to tear her eyes away from the floor and finally meet Kobayashi's.

"H-How is your wound, Kobayashi-san?"

"Eh? Wound?" Kobayashi follows Torhu's gaze to the spot on her temple. "Oh, you mean this? It's hardly a wound. Just a scratch. And there's no pain anymore. It's just a bit red now. I'm fine."

Tohru's gaze drops down into her lap again.

"I see. I'm so relieved…" She takes in a deep breath, and Kobayashi hears it tremble in her throat. When Tohru continues speaking, her voice is thin, barely a whisper. "I was… so scared when my father attacked you. I think my heart almost stopped. In fact… it might have, just for a second…" She squeezes her chest tighter, as if to keep her pulse from halting again.

Kobayashi keeps her voice level.

"Yeah. I was scared, too. Your dad's really powerful. But he was only looking out for you in his own way."

"Th-That is no excuse!" Tohru whips around to face her again, her voice rising quickly before she covers her mouth. Tears begin dripping down her cheeks, one by one. "I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to shout."

"I said it's fine," Kobayashi assures her. She can't help but reach out and place a hand on Tohru's head, petting gently. "You know, Tohru… today was probably the scariest day of my life. I've never had anyone get angry at me like that before. Especially not a dragon. Not even my supervisor is that bad."

"It… It's the same for me…" Tohru's chest jolts with hiccups. "I… I've never been so scared… that he would take me away from you… that he would hurt you, Kobayashi-san…" Another pang shoots through her body, as the mere thought of Kobayashi being injured because of her pains Tohru. Kobayashi shifts a little closer to her.

"Oy, I said I'm fine, remember? He went easy on me."

"B-But-"

"Toh-ru." Kobayashi holds her gaze firmly. "I'm all right. So don't worry about me, okay?"

More tears drip down her maid's face.

"I… I will try… But I can't promise…"

"That's good enough, I guess." Kobayashi continues patting Tohru's head, because she knows it calms her down. After a moment, Tohru's still crying. Kobayashi feels the need to keep talking. "You know… your dad scared the crap outta me. But there was something that terrified me even more. And that was the thought of losing you, Tohru."

At that, Tohru stiffens, then coyly lifts her face again.

"Eh…?"

"I'm serious," she sighs. "I mean… the thought of you being forced to do something you don't want to makes me sick. It kinda makes me angry, too. Part of me wants to give your dad a good hard punch."

"K-Kobayashi-san!"

"I just mean hypothetically," she says. "But you know, it just makes me mad that he didn't even consider your feelings in all of this. It wouldn't be as bad if you were to leave on your own-"

"N-Never!" Tohru blurts out. "I will continue serving as your maid for as long as you will have me, Kobayashi-san!"

"I know," she smiles. "Thanks, Tohru." She ruffles Tohru's hair again, and earns a little sigh of relief from her. "But I just wanted you to know, Tohru. I couldn't stay quiet, even if I had no right butting into your conversation with him. But I think it was my business, too. Since you're my maid."

Tohru whimpers, but nods vigorously.

"Yes… I am… I am your maid, Kobayashi-san. Even before I am a dragon."

Kobayashi smiles again.

"That's an honor, believe me."

"N-No…" Tohru whimpers. "It is… an honor to be your maid, Kobayashi-san. No one has ever… stood up to my father on my behalf before. No one has ever dared…" She shakes her head, and Kobayashi can infer that a part of Tohru is still in disbelief about that. "Thank you, Kobayashi-san. From the bottom of my heart…"

With this, Tohru can't hold herself back any longer, it seems. Kobayashi opens her arms up just as Tohru slumps against her, embracing her with as equal fervor and desperation as she had earlier today, nearly enough to knock her over again. Kobayashi sighs, but wraps her arms around the girl.

"It's good to have you back, Tohru."

Her maid nods quickly, though she can't talk anymore due to the tears spilling over. Tohru's trembling again, crying so hard she's nearly choking on her own breath. Kobayashi can tell it's the good kind of crying. Even so, she doesn't want Tohru to go overboard.

"Easy, easy." She pets through her long twintails and down her back. She's so focused on helping Tohru feel better that Kobayashi barely notices when a tear runs down her own cheek as well.

Huh? I think… today was the first time I've cried for someone else… in a long time…

She smiles, and rests her chin atop Tohru's head, between her horns.

She lets Tohru cry as much as she needs to, letting out all of the bad, hurtful emotions so the better ones can take their place.

"It's okay, Tohru," Kobayashi murmurs. "You're home now."

Tohru clings to her a little tighter.

"Yes… I'm home."

Just for tonight, Kobayashi lets Tohru stay with her. The dragon girl slips out of her shoes and instantly cuddles up to her mistress. At least now there's a smile on her face.

Kobayashi takes the liberty of wiping Tohru's tears away for her, patting her shoulder and running her hand down over her ribs until she comes to a halt over Tohru's wounded side.

Tohru snuggles close. The aura wafting off of her is a mixture of relief, joy, and comfort.

No more pain. No more fear. No more sadness.

Kobayashi knows Tohru is exactly where she belongs.

No matter where they might end up, Tohru will always belong by her side.

It doesn't matter how many more times they might have to move or find new places to live.

Because now Kobayashi understands that 'home' isn't a place at all.

It's a feeling.

One she'll only ever experience so long as Tohru is by her side.

A/N: I have a feeeew more ideas I might be getting around to~

Please review!