Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone that took their time to review. And thanks to Achiru once again for that beautiful fanart! (for those interested, I linked it via my profile)

Anyways- I hope you enjoy this second installment of this holiday tale. :)

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Chapter 2: On the First Day of Christmas

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Jakotsu sighed contently as he slept. He was warm, comfortable, and having a very pleasant dream about sleeping with a cute, yet very sexy man curled up in bed with him.

But as his brain registered the feeling of an arm that wasn't his own being rested on his chest, Jakotsu started to wonder if perhaps he wasn't dreaming after all.

Slowly cracking open an eye and hoping that for once, his dream was reality; he found that there was indeed a sexy male body curled up next to him. Eyes widening in surprise, he resisted the urge to pinch himself to assure that this indeed was real. But as the figure moved against him, he knew for certain that he couldn't be dreaming this. For even as the situation began to sink in, Jakotsu still found himself mildly in shock over who this dream man was.

For he certainly would have never guessed, that the one making his dream a reality- was none other than Bankotsu.

Finding the predicament a little too weird for even his own weird tastes, Jakotsu tried to figure out the situation. From all indications, Bankotsu had simply rolled in his sleep; but that didn't explain why his arm rested where it did. Nor why he seemed to be closer than necessary.

Squinting in the poor light, Jakotsu was able to discern a few things. One, Bankotsu didn't appear to be having any sort of nightmare- so the reaching over and clinging to him couldn't be out of fear. But this brought him to another quandary, for with that reasoning- there wasn't any excuse for the way Bankotsu clutched tightly to the front of the older man's nightshirt, or for how his right leg rested almost up and ontop of Jakotsu's leg.

In short, Jakotsu concluded, he'd just woken up to find himself in a rather close and intimate position with an attractive male friend. And for once, it wasn't his fault!

"Should I…wake him? Ah shit- no. Then he'll think I did this. But…if he wakes up like this he's gonna freak out."

While Jakotsu pondered his dilemma further, it seemed Bankotsu was only moving closer and tightening his hold.

"You know- normally I'd enjoy this if I didn't think he'd kill me for it when he woke up."

Wondering exactly what time it was, Jakotsu once again found his powerless clock of no use, and sighing, took to observing Bankotsu in the small amount of light the early rays of sun were providing.

"Well, his face seems peaceful enough…"

He had to smile at that, his heart unable to resist the endearing sight of Bankotsu's content expression.

"Oh what the hell, either way I'm getting blamed for this," The dark-haired man reasoned, finally deciding to make a move.

Shifting slightly, he gently wrapped his arm around Bankotsu's waist and pulled the younger man closer.

But instead of the expected outburst or panic, Bankotsu just clung tighter to the warm body next to him.

This time though, Jakotsu noticed that he seemed to be saying something in his sleep.

From the prior occasion of being roommates, Jakotsu knew that Bankotsu would mumble random words and thoughts from his dreams aloud while he slept. And now, with that knowledge in tow, it was the word Bankotsu said and not the fact he said it that had Jakotsu in shock.

"Okay, I'm going crazy. There is no way he just said that…"

"Jakotsu…"

But there was the soft murmur again and this time Jakotsu was certain that he'd heard it.

"He's… thinking about…me? While sleeping…Like this?"

Stilling, and facing a state of minor shock, his words from the night before echoed in his mind.

"Sure I've liked lots of guys; there are a lot of hot men out there in the world. But I've never met any one of them that liked me in return. Well, at least liked me as something more than a friend…"

Jakotsu swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. For a moment, he thought that Bankotsu's heart rate had increased.

That's when he realized, that it was his own heart that was racing.

"Why am I…feeling nervous? I've never really thought like that about him before. I mean- sure I joke around with him, but…I never thought that he would…"

Bankotsu shifted, and Jakotsu's thoughts halted as he tensed up. On seeing that the other man was still sound asleep, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"What…what am I going to do? I mean, just because he's dreaming it doesn't mean anything right? But…if he really does…feel…something for me? What am I supposed to do to show him I know and that I…"

Dark eyes darted down to the mussed top of Bankotsu's head rested up against his side.

"He's been my friend, my roommate, my most trusted companion…but I never thought that he could ever be anything more than that."

Still rather confused, yet finding that dwelling on something that could be nothing but a misunderstanding was getting him nowhere; Jakotsu sighed and rested his head against Bankotsu's.

"Bankotsu…would you, really let someone like me love you?"

And as the foggy remnants of sleep beckoned Jakotsu once again back into his dreams, he could vaguely remember pulling Bankotsu even closer in one last ditch effort to hold onto his hopes before slumber once again claimed him.

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He felt- warm, very warm in fact, and very safe. It was a feeling Bankotsu wasn't used to. Even though he'd never admit it aloud, he hated being in an apartment all alone. There was no one to talk to or just hang out with, and going next door meant Jakotsu would realize that he missed him- and that was one thing Bankotsu didn't want him to notice.

Memories of the day he left months before flitted through his mind. The anger, the irritation, the jealousy…

His mind halted at that word, and he slowly tried to pick apart its reasoning for being there.

It was a normal day for the two of them. Jakotsu had come home, and like he had been for the past couple of weeks, began his usual session of talking about how 'sexy' a man by the name of Inuyasha was. But this day, Bankotsu had had the last straw and was intent on showing his roommate just how upset he was.

The glass in his hand had shattered, he remembered, as he yelled at Jakotsu about giving up on unrequited feelings. Then, he'd left. And that- was that.

Anger and irritation- those feelings belonged to that situation. But jealousy stood out.

Slowly rousing his level of conscious thought from its slumber, Bankotsu began the task of attempting to sort this matter out.

"Why was I…jealousy? I wasn't jealous then…was I?"

A resounding silence filled his head until his subconscious voiced its opinion.

"You didn't want him talking about that other man, isn't that right?"

Bankotsu froze, and moved closer to the warmth beside him- as if it would protect him from the truth he didn't want to face.

"It was getting annoying, that's all."

"You were more than annoyed. He was breaking your heart."

"What? What do you mean? How could he…"

"You like him, don't you? As more than just a friend- perhaps?"

And as a quiet little answer began to make itself known, Bankotsu forced himself awake before having to face it. Little did he know, he'd be facing the cause of it instead.

Eyes opening, he squinted against the sunlight shining in from the bedroom window.

"What in the…"

All motion and thought came to a screeching halt as he realized where he was- and more precisely, who he was with.

"Jakotsu. But…When did I? Last night. I came over. I was cold…and then we…" He swallowed hard as he processed everything, "Then why am I…"

He was in Jakotsu's arms; that was for certain. But the thing that scared Bankotsu the most was the fact that going by his grip on Jakotsu's shirt- he wasn't against the idea of sleeping curled up with the other man.

"How did I get so close to him… Please don't tell me that in my sleep I…"

At about that moment, Jakotsu began to stir awake as well. And on waking up to see the wide-eyed, shocked expression of Bankotsu gaping up at him, his mind responded the only way it knew how.

"Morning, Handsome."

And that's all it took for the silence to be broken completely.

Bankotsu jumped up, and practically scrambled out of the bed. Upon getting tangled in the sheets, he ended up falling backwards and ending up a heap on the floor.

Jakotsu cocked his head to one side and smirked.

"Well, he took that better than I thought he would."

With a yawn, Jakotsu leaned over the side of the bed and looked down at Bankotsu's vulnerable figure.

"You okay down there, or do you want me to join you?"

"No! I mean- I'm fine. It's just. You. I. How did…"

Crossing his arms, Jakotsu pouted.

"You mean after we shared such a romantic moment- you went and forgot? How dare you!"

He playfully tossed a pillow at him in mock-anger, but Bankotsu wasn't laughing.

"Jakotsu!"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it," The older man said as he gestured to calm down, "Anyways, it was you that cuddled up to me- so don't you go blaming me for this."

"I…."

The thoughts he'd been having before he'd fully awoken slowly seeped into his mind and he took a deep breath.

"Um… sorry."

Sliding off the other side of the bed, Jakotsu walked around to where his friend remained seated on the floor. Extending a hand down, he pulled him up.

"Don't worry about it. It was cold. Things happen."

A look of relief washed over Bankotsu's face, but Jakotsu wasn't letting him off the hook so easily.

"Unless- you wanted something else to happen. I'm sure I could arrange that…"

Jerking his hand away, he snatched up his blanket and began to leave.

"Bankotsu- come on. I'm just teasing you…"

He followed him, watching as he made for the door.

"Well I'm not the least bit amused by this, okay?"

Turning around in the doorway, Bankotsu stopped a brief moment to regard his friend.

"Look- thanks for letting me stay and everything, but I've got to go…"

Jakotsu's eyes darted up then quickly, he reached out and grabbed Bankotsu's wrist.

"Wait…"

"What?" He questioned; an uneasy expression crossing onto his face as he noted how serious Jakotsu appeared.

"I need to know… I'm sorry Bankotsu- but I've got to know the truth. And since you won't tell me…"

Tugging him towards him, he ignored the brief protest and moved him back under the doorframe. Before Bankotsu could pull away, or even register completely what was occurring- Jakotsu had leaned down and captured his lips in a kiss.

It began rather chaste, just a brief moment as their lips met. But driven on by the unanswered questions that hung in their minds, the two became bolder clinging to one another almost possessively for that one moment when they forgot about everything else.

And as quickly as it started, it ended. Both pulling apart and looking at the other with widened eyes. Their faces were flushed and their minds were reeling from what they'd just experienced.

"How…how could you?" Bankotsu stammered, his hand drifting up to the still-damp lips as if that might reclaim their purity.

"Mistletoe," Jakotsu gestured above him, "I was just joking."

He winced as the words left his mouth. That was not what he was supposed to say then and by the momentarily wounded expression on Bankotsu's face, he knew he would regret letting those words ever come out.

Bankotsu didn't say a word more as he turned hastily and went back to his apartment. His face a mixture of hurt and anger as the door slammed behind him, leaving Jakotsu leaning against his own doorframe.

Shakily Jakotsu closed the door and slumped into the nearby chair, his eyes wearily focused on the small sprig of green that had brought it all about.

"There was…something there. When he kissed me. I didn't expect there to be…I didn't think he could really…" He paused, clasping a hand over his own mouth as the full shock set in, "For once Bankotsu- I wasn't joking. I meant that…and…if I'm right… then, I think you did too."

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Preview for Chapter 3:

Who takes a kiss under mistletoe from their best friend seriously? Well, someone who might be harboring a crush on that friend would.