-scene-

The two lay, staring at the stars, the tile of the roof cool against their backs.

It was comfortable, Haru thought, lying there, his fingers laced with Kyo's, his boots contrasting nicely next to the shorter boy's converse all-stars, their breath clouding in the chill air. "Or is it too soon to say that…?" he finished his thought allowed.

"Hn?" Kyo asked, turning his head to look at the boy.

Haru glanced over at the redhead. "I was just thinking…" he replied, buying himself some time.

"…Should I be impressed?" Kyo asked in a cynical voice.

Haru gave him a playful glare before turning back to look at the stars. "You know… that I like you…"

Kyo paused. "…Duh." He finally replied.

The younger boy took a moment, clearing his throat, disregarding his cousin's sarcasm. "Kyo… I love you, I'm in love with you." He turned back to face the boy.

Kyo was staring at him blankly, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Haru…"

He looked away. "Yah, I figured it was too soon to say it."

There was silence for a moment, and then Kyo shifted, dropping the boy's hand.

"oh" a soft sound of disappointment escaped the younger boy, but he had little time to expand upon it, as Kyo was suddenly straddling his waist and kissing him. It was a soft, sweet kiss, much different than the frantic ones they usually shared.

When he pulled away, the redhead buried his face embarrassedly in Haru's jacket collar. "I'm… er… glad you said that." He mumbled.

"Yah?" Haru encouraged.

"…" Kyo paused and Haru could feel the warm breath against his neck. "I didn't want to have to be the first one to say it."

Haru smiled, letting his eyes slide closed. Was is really possible… that he could be this happy?

The white haired boy only realized that he had fallen asleep when he began to wake up. He wondered vaguely why he had awakened when he noticed the older boy still lying atop of him, shivering in his sleep.

"Oh…" he exclaimed softly, wrapping his arms protectively around the boy. "Kyo," he murmured. "C'mon Kyo, we fell asleep. Let's go inside."

Ginger eyes blinked open blearily, disoriented by the cold and the haze of sleep. Kyo nodded, cuddling down into his light sweater for warmth.

The two climbed down off of the roof and back through Kyo's bedroom window. Once inside, Kyo could barely stay awake long enough to make it to the bed, where he flopped down unceremoniously, still fully clothed.

Haru chuckled at the spectacle and shook his head. He gently undid the laces of Kyo's shoes, tossing them aside, and unzipping the boy's sweater. After undressing himself, and pilfering a t-shirt and a pair of shorts from Kyo's drawer, he nestled in next to the boy, pulling the comforter up around them. Yah, he reflected, this was the happiest he had ever been.

When he awoke the next morning, Haru was surprised to find Kyo still cuddled next to him. The boy was usually an early riser, and the sun had long since settled high in the sky.

"We're late for school…" Haru remarked, wondering why no one had awakened them. Then, noticing Kyo clinging to his chest, he figured that was why. He grinned. How considerate of them.

"Kyo," he nudged the older boy, "C'mon, we're late for school."

The redhead groaned slightly, squinting his eyes against the sun. "Don' wanna…" he mumbled sleepily.

Haru reached down to brush the boy's bangs from his eyes and jumped. "Jesus!" he exclaimed. "You're burning up!"

Kyo opened his eyes, gazing at Haru calculatingly. "I feel like shit." He commented, and his voice was heavy and congested.

"You have a cold…" Haru observed guiltily. It was his fault for making Kyo stay out so late.

Kyo groaned again, burying his face in the pillow. "Ah hell…" he growled. "I don't get colds."

"Apparently you do." Haru replied, tugging on Kyo's sleeve. "Go take a bath, but don't get your hair wet, then I want you to come back and lay down."

Kyo growled louder, again burying his face. "Just let me sleep!"

"No." Haru replied. "You need to take better care of yourself when your sick, come on."

Finally, after much cajoling, Kyo stood… and promptly fell.

"Kyo!" Haru exclaimed, surprised. "What happened?"

Kyo glared at the younger boy with a look of duh and replied. "I fell."

Haru helped the boy to his feet.

The redhead clung to the younger boy's shirt to steady himself. "Dizzy…" he explained.

Haru frowned. He felt really guilty. He hadn't meant for Kyo to get sick, and now he was doing a horrible job of taking care of him. Suddenly, the boy's arms were around his neck and his hot face was pressing into Haru's shoulder.

"Come with me…?" Kyo mumbled the question. "I'm… too tired."

Haru pulled the boy to him gently, kissing the top of his head. "Yah." He agreed. "Okay."

-scene-

Kyo leaned back against the taller boy, the water lapping at the sides of the tub. It was nice, peaceful. The steam was making his throat feel better, and Haru's gentle caresses, though embarrassing, felt rather good.

"Mmm tired." He mumbled.

Haru gave him a quick squeeze, making to stand. "Alright, let's get you dried off and back to bed." He replied softly.

Kyo growled as he leaned on Haru's shoulders, stepping into the sweatpants. "I don't need you to help me get dressed." He snapped, but his teetering from side to side said otherwise.

"That's okay." Haru replied. "I don't mind." He led Kyo back to his room, and had him sit down against the door. "Where do you keep your sheets?" he asked.

"What's wrong with those ones?" Kyo grumbled.

Haru paused, glancing around the room, locating the linen trunk. "Clean sheets will feel much nicer." He told him, extracting a pair from the trunk and making the bed.

Kyo flushed. He wasn't used to anyone caring for him like that, not in a long time…

"Shishou?" a teary appellation. "My tummy hurts!" the little boy was sobbing, clinging to the older man's robes.

"Here, Kyo, let's get you some-

"…warm milk."

"What?" Kyo snapped back to reality.

"I said, go ahead and lay down, I'll make you some warm milk."

"I don't want any." The redhead flushed, flopping down on the freshly made bed.

"Whatever." Haru replied, exiting the room.

Kyo growled to himself, burying his face in the pillow. He had to admit, the clean pillowcase was nice. It was cool and soft against his flushed face. Damn Haru…

Just as he was about to drift off into a fitfull sleep, Kyo was awakened by his slat door banging open once again. He sat up, noticing the white head bob through the doorway.

Haru was carrying two mugs. He sat one on the endtable next to Kyo's bed. "Drink up." He told him.

"I said I don't want any." Kyo replied.

"Too bad, I made it." Haru told him, sipping from his own mug. "It's good for you."

"I don't like it." Kyo grumped, pushing the mug away childishly. "It's bitter."

"Bullshit." Haru accused. "You haven't even tried it."

"I've had it before!" Kyo protested. "It's bitter and I don't want any. Besides, it'll be too hot." He folded his arms, turning away as if that settled the argument.

Haru sighed, setting his own mug down and standing quickly. In one fluid movement, he grabbed the mug in one hand and Kyo's nose in the other, holding the cup up to the cat's lips. "Drink it or wear it." He threatened, beginning to tip the cup.

Having no other choice, Kyo swallowed a generous mouthful of the stuff, and was about to protest, but stopped. "Honey?" he asked, surprised, wrapping his hands around the warm mug.

"Nnhn." Haru nodded. "So it's not bitter."

Grudgingly, Kyo took another sip. It was just how Shishou made it… just the right temperature too. "S'not too hot." He mumbled into his mug.

"Shouldn't be." Haru replied, leaning back against the bed.

Kyo hesitated before asking his next question. He didn't want to sound too impressed. "How'd you know how to do it right?"

Haru turned around to face him, studying him with a calculating look. "I make it for Kisa when she's sick." He replied. "I figured… a cat is a cat, right? So it'd be the same for you." Kyo glared at him over the edge of his cup. "Besides," Haru interrupted the death glare. "That's how I like it."

After finishing his milk, Kyo began to feel drowsy, and with that drowsiness and the haze of his fever came deliciously lowered inhibitions. He hung his arm over the edge of the bed, playing with a tuft of Haru's white hair, sighing gently to himself. "Haru?" he drawled sleepily.

"Mmhm?" Haru asked, sounding equally languid.

"…Thanks…" he said.

"Well it's my fault you got sick." Haru replied.

"Hn-nn." Kyo argued. "I was the one that laid on you."

Haru had to stop a moment and ponder that point. As true as that was, he still felt responsible.

"Haru?" Kyo interrupted his thoughts.

"Mmhm?"

"…Sleep with me?"

Haru opened his eyes to catch the older boy gazing down at him. "Okay." He agreed with an adoring smile.

With that, he stood, pushing the slightly smaller boy over in the bed and making room for himself. "But only for a little while." He told him. "I'm gonna go buy you some medicine."

"Nn…" Kyo replied, nuzzling into the other boy's chest. "Don' wan' any…"

"Too bad." Haru replied. "It's good for you."

"You're good for me." He replied, drifting into a quiet slumber.

Haru blushed. It wasn't like Kyo to say such loving things. He smiled, maybe they'd reached a new level in their relationship…

-scene-

"Well! It certainly is a surprise to see you!" Shigure's voice wafted up through the floorboards.

Kyo's ears perked up as he turned the page of the comic he was reading. He knew he really should be catching up on his schoolwork, but he somehow lacked the drive. Maybe Haru's bad behavior really was rubbing off on him. After all, they'd spent the entire week together.

"You're sick and it's my fault, so I'm gonna stay until I know you're better. I'm gonna take care of you."

The redhead blushed a little in memory. He had to admit, it was nice having someone look after him, and it was also nice having someone to snuggle up to at night, but he wouldn't admit that part!

"Who d'you figure it is?" Haru asked, tracing patterns on Kyo's back with the tips of his fingers.

"Hn?" Kyo lifted his head up. "Dunno…"

"Haru!" Shigure's voice called up the stairs. "You have a visitor!"

The white-haired boy raised an eyebrow. "Me?" he asked the air, curious. He stood, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of Kyo's head. "Probably Hari, here to scold me for missing so much school." He laughed.

"You're going to fail." Kyo commented, nonchalantly.

"Pfft," Haru returned. "Who cares? High school's not for me anyway."

With that, he retreated languidly down the stairs, mildly curious as to the nature of this visit.

"Haru-ni!" the little girl squeeled, flinging herself into the older boy's arms. "I've missed you so much!"

"Kisa?" he asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

The little girl looked up at him with teary eyes and an angry pout. "You… you haven't been around." She flushed. "And I-I really miss you."

The white-haired boy smiled adoringly, sliding down to his knees to be level with the girl. "Oh, Kisa… I'm sorry." He petted her hair gently. "I didn't mean to neglect you. I've just been really busy."

She shook her head. "Nuh-uh," she argued. "You haven't! You've been spending all of your time with Kyo. Kagura Neechan says so…" she flushed again, surprised by her own forwardness. "I'm sorry." She murmured. "I didn't mean to be rude.

Taken off guard by her accusation, Haru wasn't sure what to say at first. "Kyo and I…" he tried, but stopped.

"Is he…" she began quietly. "Is he your new best friend?"

"Best…" Haru paused. "Friend? What? Yes." He sighed, relieved for the excuse; he didn't want to have to explain the nature of their relationship to such a little girl, but it was a short lived relief when he saw her eyes begin to tear up again. "But I still care very much about you!" he countered, tapping her nose. "Now, why don't you spend some time with me today, since it seems you're already skipping school."

She blushed, looking down again; caught. "You're… not mad at me?"

"Of course not." He waved off her concerns. "Now what would you like to do today?"

The little girl beamed, her eyes glistening with joy. "You… you really mean it?"

He nodded.

Just then, Kyo appeared at the top of the stairs. "Oh." He stated, noticing Kisa, and there was a certain disappointment in his voice that the little girl was not too unobservant to pick up on. She frowned slightly.

"I want to go to a movie." She told Haru. "If-if that's okay. I mean… um… the new… new Mogeta is out so…"

"Sure." He ruffled her hair. "I'll go with you." He glanced to Kyo who's arms were folded across his chest huffily. "Do you want to go, Kyo?" he asked.

"I don't get your big fascination with those stupid cartoons." He grumped.

"You don't have to go." Haru offered.

Kyo glanced to the little girl glaring at him. "I'll go." He decided and grinned at the angry sulk it got out of her.