Disclaimer: I don't own Juvenile Orion, and I didn't write it.

Say Good Night, Softly

By Kasumi Sora

Story One: Mana keeps hearing something outside her window.

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The first time she heard it, she thought that she had imagined it. The second time she thought it was a dream. But the third time she was awake. And this time she opened her eyes just enough to peak, to really see if that familiar rustling of wings sound belong to who she thought it did.

Yes, Kaname had come to her window to check on her again.

She fought to stay still, and to keep from smiling as she heard the window scrape open quietly. The two other nights he had come before, he always perched just outside her window, a shadow cast across her bed. She did her best not to fidget, when she heard his footsteps tapping across the floor. When she felt his hot breath beside her ear, it took all here effort not to move.

"Sleeping people still breathe."

And all her effort was, apparently, too much. She cracked open an eye to see him smiling down at her. She retuned his smile, desperately trying to ignore the growing blush on her cheeks.

"Oops?"

He sat down on the edge of her bed. His wings had disappeared like they had never been there. At a glance she could tell he was tired. His face was paler than normal, dark circles had started to appear around his eyes, and everything about him just seemed to droop. There had been more fights lately. None of them were getting much sleep these days, too haunted by their waking nightmares.

"It's after one. Can't you sleep?" His eyes went over her face as if desperately searching for something important.

"I was looking at the sky. It's so clear. Is that what brought you out flying tonight?" Of course she knew it wasn't. For the same reason she hadn't asked why Isshin had called her at three a.m. last week, and only let her say hello. For the same reason she never asked why she sometimes felt the gently poke of Haruna in her mind, when she got home from school.

When there are people who want to kill those you care about, you sometimes just have to make sure they are still around, and okay.

She also knew that Kaname wouldn't like it, if she knew that, from time to time, he flew around the city to check on everyone.

"Yes, nights like this are the best for flying."

"Ah, and are you done flying for the night?" He nodded. "Would you like to spend the rest of the night here?"

She couldn't be sure, the light was far too dim, but she thought she saw Kaname blush.

"I don't think I could do that."

"Why not? The bed is big enough for both of us. Aunt Natsumi has tomorrow off. There is no way she'll be out of bed before noon."

After a few moments hesitation, she watched him awkwardly lay down on top of sheets beside her. She had meant in the bed, but thought she shouldn't push her luck by saying so. She draped her right arm over his stomach, and laid her head on his shoulder. Now, she didn't need light to know he was blushing.

It didn't take long before the steady 'ba-dum' of Kaname began to send her to sleep. But before she could answer the pleasant call of her dreams Kaname's gentle voice broke though.

"You never look tired."

"Mm? I bet I looked tired when I fell asleep in class yesterday."

"No, even when you're asleep you don't look tried. Just...happy."

"Maybe that's just when I'm around you," She smiled, and nuzzled his chest "Good night, Kaname-kun"

"Good Night, Mana"

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Good? Bad? Chicken? Review and let me know.

A big thanks to Zudin, Cintasia, ani, queen of spades, Bleed4therose, and Artee and Sporky for reviewing! I fixed most of the grammar mistakes.