Chapter 3

Kyo lay on the roof, pondering the day's events. Well, one event in particular. He wondered if the kiss he and Nanori had shared was as special for her as it was for him. She had said it was her first kiss, and it had been his too. But perhaps she thought kissing a person was normal for normal people, so it wasn't as special to her. He also wondered what exactly it was he felt for her. He knew he loved Tohru, but he had felt his feelings dim since Nanori's arrival. He knew he wanted to protect her, and wanted to hold her again. He knew his heart sped up whenever he saw her, and that he couldn't get her out of his mind for more than five minutes at a time, but what did that all mean? Was it love? Or did he only feel that way because she was able to hug him? He didn't want to use her like that, if that was all it was. He soon thought himself into a corner, and fell asleep, his unfinished dinner sitting beside him.

It was around midnight when Nanori jumped to the Sohma roof. She had wanted to see Kyo again. What is this, she wondered, this feeling that I want to always be by his side? Is it love? Or is it just that he's the only person since Sensei who accepted me? I hope it's love. She saw Kyo's cold supper first, and her eyes were drawn to his sleeping form. He looked so peaceful, curled into a ball. His face was free of his usual scowl, and his lips almost curved into a smile. She knelt silently beside him, and noticed him shiver a little. She dove lightly into his room and quietly grabbed his blanket from his bed. She lay down beside him and covered the both. She snuggled into his back, trying to get warm. It only took about five minutes for her to drift off to sleep.

When Kyo woke up the next morning, he found himself curled around something soft and warm. He didn't know what it was, but he protectively tightened his grip on it. The object grunted a little in protest of being moved, and snuggled back into his stomach. The object turned, and Kyo found himself face-to-face with Nanori. Her eyes blinked open sleepily, and she smiled. "Good morning, Kyo," she mumbled groggily. She closed her eyes for about five seconds, and then she woke up. "Kyo? How did you get in my tree? Where am I?" she asked frantically, looking around to orient herself. Before she could fire off more questions, he placed a warm hand over her mouth. "Shut up before the stupid dog and that damn rat hear you. First of all, I don't know how you got up here. Second, you're not in your tree, you're on our roof. I'm not sure about the rest of it," he explained before removing his hand. "Oh, well…. about that…. Last night I kinda came up here to see if you were here and you were here asleep. You were shivering, so I got a blanket and covered you up. I remember lying down beside you, but then everything went blank," she said. She yawned pulled the blanket up closer to her chin. "I'm still sleepy. Let's go back to bed," she said, snuggling back into his side. Kyo blushed madly and backed away. "H-hell no, woman! Why would I want to do that! Anyway, if I don't get up, I'll miss my morning training," he stuttered angrily at her. "But it's nice and warm up here—wait a second? Training? Can I spar with you? Please?" Nanori begged, her eyes shining. Kyo knew he couldn't take the LOOK. (A/N: The LOOK has been used for thousands of years by small children, animals, and women to get whatever they want from a man. Kyo is exceptionally susceptible to the LOOK, as he is easily misled by small things.) "Feh. Fine, I'll spar with you. Just stop looking at me like that," he said half-heartedly. "But don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a girl! 'Cuz I won't," he growled at her. "Yay! You just wait! I'm a pretty good fighter," she said, beaming. And with that, they both jumped into the yard to begin.

I'm sorry these chapters are so short. I haven't had much time to write, what with being at the hospital and all. Thanks for reading!