Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: don't own YYH

AN: I seriously wrote this chapter last week and it just didn't feel right to post it when I was originally going to so I held off. But now, it feels right.

Chapter thirty five

Someone once told me: Sometimes things have to go terribly wrong in order for them to go right.

When I woke up one Sunday morning, the room was pitch black. That was very unusual for me and it didn't take long before my anxiety started to spike. Swallowing I lay in bed staring at the wall. I barely was able to make out the surrounding features of my room. While I lay there, however, my breathing became louder and I knew there was no way I would be able to fall asleep. Sitting up, I glanced around from my clock and found no lights on at all, even from the digital alarm.

A howling wind shook my window and I took a huge breath, trying to calm my nerves. Licking my lips, I threw back my covers. The floor was cold under my bare feet as I stood up. My ears were on full alert as I tip toed out my door and down the hall passed the kitchen. Kurama's door was a jar and I pushed it open with the tips of my fingers.

His room was cast in darkness as well and I strained to see where the bed was located. Sucking in a breath again, I took slow steps until I found his mattress. I paused momentarily debating my options. Shaking my head, I moved forward, sitting on the edge, where the cover had been pulled back.

"Kurama?" I whispered grabbing the edge of the comforter with one hand. Sliding my feet underneath I laid down next to the red haired man. His sharp intake of breath broke the silence in the room.

"Botan?" he asked with worry and sleep engraved in his voice. "What's going on?"

"The power went out," I told him and I had no doubt he was confused. "Is it alright if I sleep here tonight?"

He was silent for a moment, probably trying to figure what the hell I was talking about. Or deciding if it was a good idea to let me this close to him. "Yeah, that's ok." His voice with light and I wished I could see his face.

I sighed and pulled the blanket up to my shoulders and tried shutting my eyes. But my nerves were on high alert mode and I felt like my night was shot. Glancing at where I knew Kurama lay next to me, I weighed out my options.

"Fuck it," I whispered under my breath.

"Hmmm?" I heard the vocal vibration moments before I scooted the short distance between us and snuggled into the red haired man. His body completely stiffened instantly. "Botan?"

"I'm scared," I admitted and he let out a small breath.

"What's wrong?" he asked as I felt his hand run over my arm tenderly.

"Can you just hold me?" I asked letting my fright leak into my voice even more.

"Turn on to your side, you shouldn't sleep on your back," Kurama said and I did as he asked, blinking a few times. I felt the bed shift as he scooted behind me. One hand went around my waist as the other snaked under my neck. "What's wrong, Botan?"

"I may be afraid of the dark," I told him quietly. Swallowing through the lump in my throat that wouldn't go away, I reveled in the feel of his chest against my back. It felt nice to have him lay next to me. "When I lived in St Cloud, my ex would throw parties a lot. I worked two jobs while being a full time student and had to go to bed at a decent time most nights for work in the morning. Opposite schedule than I have now," I rolled my eyes at that. "There were several occasions when people would wonder into our room when he was enjoying himself with his friends. I woke up once to a man standing over me." I felt his hand on my hip tense up.

"You're joking," he whispered, but his tone said that he believed me.

"No," I shook my head and pulled on his arms so that he would hold me a bit tighter. "The man never did anything to me, but it still scared me senseless. And when I had told my boyfriend he didn't really care. He just shrugged it off."

"Botan, I'm really sorry," Kurama whispered into my hair.

"I don't like the dark because you never know who's lurking in the shadows," I breathed. "There had been times where I've come out of the room in the morning for work and there would be people asleep in our living room. And when I'd ask him about it, he would laugh and say he had no idea who they were or where they came from."

"Is that why you always sleep with the TV on?" Kurama asked and I nodded.

"It's pretty much my night light."

He sighed and I felt him kiss my shoulder. "And that's why you check the door several times before bed to make sure it's locked?" I nodded again. "Don't worry, Botan. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

"Thank you, Kurama," I whispered and turned slightly on my back to look into his eyes. I was happy that at this close of a distance I could see the green through the dark. "You make me feel safe." He was so close that I could feel his breath on my lips. Watching his face, I saw his eyes flicker down at my lips for a moment and I didn't want to miss this chance.

Moving the few inches, I brought my lips up to his and pressed tenderly. Unlike last time, I held my mouth against his longer. However, similar to last time, his lips went still under mine. Swallowing nervously, this time it wasn't because of the dark. This time it was nerves of a different kind.

"Kurama?" I whispered while trying to read his face. His lips were so soft and warm that I wished he would kiss me back so I could feel the sensation they brought. Blinking, I watched his face for any emotion but, he seemed to have wiped it so I couldn't read it. "I'm sorry, Kurama."

"Botan," Kurama said so softly, it could have been the wind that pounded against the windows. "You make it so hard for me to be an up standing guy."

"Maybe I don't want you to be." I whispered back.

He shook his head then and I felt the arm under my neck bend to pull me closer to him until his lips pressed against mine. Joy spread through my body as I felt his lips on mine again. This time, he was the one who had kissed me and I couldn't stop the excitement from pulsing through my veins. His lips moved against mine tenderly and I felt my body melt into his. Both my arms rose up to wrap around his neck as we lay in his bed.

There was no way I wanted to let this guy go now that I had him kissing me like I was his prized possession. He was so gentle and sweet, it made me forget about everything but us in that moment. I didn't want this night to end anymore. All I wanted was to stay in his arms.