Authors Note: Since I reached the 50 reviews mark, I decided to post up another chapter! Yay! hehe.
Thanks for all the reviews, I'm glad you guys like it! Enjoy!


Part 6: Recovery…or Not?

Both boys froze in shock. Yuki's violet hair was drenched as his clothes started to soak and weigh him down, sinking him deeper into the tub and into Kyou's lap. His arms were flailing out above the water, wanting to reach for something to grip, but at the same time still rendered motionless due to complete shock. Half his legs dangled out over the side of the bathtub, making it even harder for him to get up.

As Yuki turned slowly to face Kyou, he was somewhat awestruck at the sight. Kyou's red eyes peered out behind his dripping orange bangs, wide with shock. His lips were slightly parted, almost ready to speak. Yuki could see his bare shoulders above the steaming water, and they were well-muscled as droplets of water clung to his tan skin. Yuki felt his face grow hot from the close proximity with Kyou, yet he could not bring himself to tear his eyes away.

Kyou was also experiencing the same mixed emotions, and he saw them reflected back in Yuki's eyes. 'Why isn't he getting up?' Kyou wondered to himself, still unsure of what to say. He could feel Yuki's warm body even through the water, and though he was heavy, he felt comforted by the weight on his thighs. He found himself not wanting Yuki to get up at all, but he had to break the silence.

"Yuki…" he started. He saw Yuki's face flush with pink, suddenly awakening from his reverie.

"Ah, sorry! I slipped on some water." Yuki struggled to get himself out of the tub, but arms flailing, managed to fall back into the tub again. Kyou couldn't help but smile awkwardly as he watched Yuki's comical efforts. He had never seen such un-princely behavior from Yuki: legs half out of the tub, hair dripping and arms waving uncontrollably. It was quite a sight, and he let out a small chuckle.

Yuki glanced over at Kyou's amused expression, and embarrassed, haughtily said "I don't think this is very funny", eyebrows creased in a frown. This only made Kyou laugh even harder, and finally, he stuck his hand out to help Yuki.

"Come on, you're not going to get anywhere if you don't hold onto something," he offered gruffly. Yuki looked warily at Kyou's outstretched hand, unsure of whether Kyou was being sincere, but he took it regardless. Kyou's hand was warm and wet from the water, soft yet rough with calluses from training.

Kyou watched as Yuki took his hand tentatively, and gripped it harder as he managed to pull himself out of the water with the other hand on the edge of the tub. He was startled by the paleness of Yuki's hand contrasting with his darker skin, and blushed as he noticed how soft and slender his fingers were.

As Yuki stood awkwardly without a towel, Kyou's laughter came out again as he stared at Yuki's dripping body, looking like a helpless near-drowned dog. "I guess you don't need to take a bath now," he chuckled.

Yuki's eyes narrowed, but there was a playful smile on his face, knowing Kyou's laughter was not mean-spirited. He suddenly shook his head like a dog, and water flew everywhere, splattering Kyou in the face. Both boys laughed as each tried to out-drown the other, and in the end Kyou emerged the victor as he had a whole bathtub of water available to douse on Yuki.

"Use my towel, you stupid mouse," Kyou said laughingly, as he pointed to his towel lying on the counter.

"What about you?" Yuki asked, eager to get dry, but unwilling to soak Kyou's towel.

"Don't worry, I'll just re-use it." Kyou said easily before realizing that he was actually going to share a towel with the mouse.

Yuki eyes widened slightly at Kyou's words, but turned around and started to dry himself with Kyou's towel. He could smell Kyou's earthy scent in it, and couldn't help but breathe it in deeply before handing the towel back to Kyou and turning around to let him get out.

As Kyou rubbed the damp towel on his head, he could smell Yuki's sweet scent on the towel, and it made him lightheaded. Or maybe it was the fact that he had stood up too quickly from the hot bath and had stayed in there too long, but Kyou felt the world around him spin, and he reached out for Yuki's shoulder before he felt the world around him darken, and then turn pitch black.