Title: never lovers
Pairing: Ten/Koboshi
Summary: They were more than friends, but never lovers.
Rating: G

OOO

He had been having a vague dream about fluffy cats and colourful ribbons when he heard the sharp raps of knuckles on his door. Instantaneously he roused himself. The raps were quick and light; three long ones and two short ones. Through the haze of sleep, his foggy green eyes found the digital alarm clock through the darkness. Two in the morning. He grunted, but sat up and rubbed his eyes, peering at the door briefly. While normally he would have ignored the intruder and fell asleep again, he was fairly certain he knew the identity of his midnight guest.

Afterall, ever since they had gotten together; he had begun to see more and more of her at his house.

Manifestly she had been depressed because he had not chosen her. And because Takashi knew this and because he couldn't bear to see her so troubled, she had been unknowingly taken under his wing. And then they had grown closer after that -- closer than he had ever thought possible. It was a bond of mutual companionship; a camaraderie of trust and comfort.

The person outside did not do or say anymore but as walked to the door; but he heard her shift fitfully, bare toes skimming the cement floor. The wooden door barely creaked as he swung it open, and he nodded curtly, peevishly annoyed at the sight of the filthy, bedraggled girl stiffly standing there. Her golden hair was a straggly mess; rain water dripping off her soaked clothing and pooling by her white feet. She shivered, and without waiting for permission ambled past him inside the bedroom.

"Had fun in the rain?" his voice was quasi teasing, but essentially anxious as he shut the door and faced her. When she turned to glance at him he frowned sternly, and she looked away, slightly shame-faced.

"Yeah, 'course I did." Her chin thrust up, a triumphant look flaring in her bright eyes. Daring him to contradict her.

He rolled his eyes yet said nothing, and clicked the lamp's light on. She looked up at him with a provocative grin, but accepted the clothes he gave her rather meekly.

Takashi sighed tiredly, and modestly turned away from her when she began to casually slip out of the sopping shirt and sweatpants.

"You could have stayed at home," he told her dryly; facing the blonde-haired girl once she was properly dressed in baggy clothing three times her size. She did not reply, merely shuffled around impatiently and he tried another half-hearted attempt.

"I hate sleeping on a wet bed you know. Plus you kick me in your sleep." He sighed melodramatically, eyeing her wet hair with mild distaste.

Her response to that was throwing the pillow at him, but the small smirk on her lips ruined the effect. He snorted and she grinned in reply, padding stealthily around the small room and leaving muddy tracks. When he was sure she was somewhat dry he finally departed for the bed, and she soon followed, creeping in beside him and curling up like a very satisfied cat.

They lay snugly amid the sheets, legs tangled together and warm scents mingling. He noticed her shivering had stopped. Her damp soft hair tickled his nose as she exchanged the soft pillow they shared for his chest.

"I guess I'll have to let you stay here for another night then," his weary voice began to slur from sleepiness. He winced when she poked him with her elbow. Reaching over, the young man clicked the lamp's light off again. "But it'll still be your fault if we wake up wet tomorrow."

"Shut up." She yawned, wiggling a bit to get more comfortably. Finally she rested her head on the slope of his shoulder, smiling in the dark when his arm casually slung around her waist a little more securely.

"G'night, Ten-chan."

"Night, Koboshi."

The thunderclaps and bolts of lightning from outside the house, did very little to stir the two teens who were more than friends but never lovers.

OOO

Author's Notes: While I'm a big fan of this pairing, I've noticed in the anime they have a brother-sister relationship going on, in contrast to the manga. While I usually beg to differ, I've (actually) decided to expand on that just a bit on this lil one-shot/drabble. Anyone who reviews this thing can also request a pairing for the next drabbles. :D