Spawned by a daydream in class where Kurogane was in a toystore, so hard not to laugh.

Kurogane heaved a sigh. He always wanted the mage to be quiet, but the one time he wasn't talking Kurogane found it was pissing him of severely. He wasn't sure why Fai was so silent, but it had all started when they had passed a toy store. Fai's face had brightened in the special way that came before he harassed Kurogane. Then after he spotted a toy in the window, his face fell.

It was a small, stuffed white cat that had caught his eye. Not like Kurogane had actually been watching, no, not at all, his silence had merely caught the ninja off guard. Kurogane was considering doing something about it, but his pride and manliness had told him not too.

"Mage, you feeling alright?" Kurogane asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. The mage had pretty much just walked into a child and it's, yes it's, Kurogane couldn't tell the gender, anyway, he had pretty much walked into a child and their mother and just absently apologized. Fai looked up at the older man.

"What makes you ask that Kuro-sama?" Fai inquired.

"It's Kurogane!" Kurogane snapped. Then, realizing he hadn't actually made his point, added, "You're too quiet."

Fai gave a plastic smile. "Are you saying you want me to talk Kuro-rin?" Fai asked, his voice as sweet as the fake sugar they sold in the store.

Kurogane scowled. That was the last thing he wanted. "No" He growled.

Fai grinned a little before resuming his dazed state. Kurogane, no matter how hard he tried, couldn't get rid of a tiny, teensy-weensy bit of worry for the mage.

Kurogane cast an uncertain glance back in the direction of the toy store.

What was so special about the damn cat anyway? It had to have had some significance to Fai otherwise he wouldn't be moping.

An irksome silence spread between the two men. Fai looked down at his feet sadly. Kurogane rolled his eyes, placing a callused hand on the blonde's tiny shoulder. He knew he would regret this later, but all the same the silence was almost as straining on his sanity then when the mage was talking.

"Stay, I'll be back later" Kurogane growled, turning on his heel and heading back towards the store. Kurogane was feeling mad at himself about this, really, he was buying a stuffed cat for a mage that managed to destroy most of his sanity. It was something he would have never done before, but, then again, he knew he had changed, for better or worse was still undecided.

The door jingled as it opened irking Kurogane. He never saw the point in the bells. Sure, it let people know that someone else was entering the store, but it was still really annoying. Then again, Kurogane hated everything involved with shopping.

Kurogane sauntered over towards the counter, trying to look as manly as intimidating as he could while surrounded by stuffed animals and little plastic bubble containers. The sight was rather amusing though, a big, tall, crimson eyed, muscular man wandering through a toy store, pretty much being swarmed by little kids and toys.

"I want that cat" Kurogane demanded, pointing to the cat once he'd reached the counter.

"I'm sorry sir, that cat's on display only" The clerk responded, sounding like he'd been doing this all day.

"I want the cat" Kurogane repeated, ignoring the clerk.

"Again, display only" The clerk said again, still sounding bored.

"Are there any others in the store?" Kurogane asked, a small twitch beginning in Kurogane's left eye.

"No sir, now, I would like to request that if you're not going to buy anything that you leave" The clerk said.

"I just want the damn cat and then I'll leave!" Mother's passing by covered their children's ears. Seeing as how Kurogane was in a bad mood before, and this was only making it lose, one more thing was going to make him snap.

"Sir-" The clerk began again, his tone never wavering in Kurogane's glare of oncoming death.

"No" Kurogane snapped. Heads turned round to examine the muscular man making such a show.

"All I want is that cat, it's important, and as soon as I get I'll leave." Kurogane folded his arms and planted his feet firmly on the ground for extra emphasis.

The clerk, finally realizing that Kurogane wouldn't back down if hell froze over, grabbed the cat from the window display.

"Would you like that in a bag sir?" The clerk asked. Somehow Kurogane's intimidating manliness had no affect on him.

Kurogane nodded, scowling in a proud way. He had got what he wanted; even if what he wanted was a fuzzy cat.

Damn Fai, making him go into a toy store for a fuzzy cat. The clerk nodded, shoved the cat into the bag, and handed to Kurogane.

Kurogane grabbed it, paid, and walked out of the store, a proud aura surrounding him.

Fai was standing in the same spot Kurogane had left him, which was sad. Normally Fai would've rushed off and left it up to Kurogane to find him later.

"What'd you buy Kuro-wan?" Fai asked, eyeing the bag curiously.

"Nothing" Kurogane replied, averting his gaze from the mage's puzzled face.

Then, still looking away, Kurogane shoved the bag into the blonde's arms. "Don't look until we get home," Kurogane said, walking off faster than intended.

Fai nodded and followed, looking puzzled.

Once they were back Fai ripped open the bag and pulled out the cat. Kurogane watched his expression carefully, waiting to see if Fai liked the gift.

Kurogane was also mentally cursing himself for actually caring.

Fai's expression was confused at first, both brows furrowed, as if he was trying to figure out what exactly was going on and why Kurogane had bought such an un-manly item. Then, it morphed into a somewhat sad expression, and he looked down at his feet.

"If you don't like it you can take it back" Kurogane muttered, uncertain of how Fai felt about it.

"Why would I want to do that?" Fai asked, azure eyes meeting Kurogane's own. Kurogane blinked, feeling even more confused. Fai was smiling, and honest to God real smile, but yet tears shone in his eyes. The cat was being clutched tightly to Fai's chest, almost protectively.

Kurogane said nothing, merely allowing a surprised blink.

"I love it" Fai promised, a tear sliding down his pale cheek.

"You're crying" Kurogane pointed out blandly.

"Because I'm so happy" Fai assured him, smile still shining brightly. After a moment of more blank staring from Kurogane, who was trying to figure out why something as trivial as a toy cat would make you cry, Fai buried his head into Kurogane's chest.

"Thank you Kuro-chan" He murmured.

Kurogane wrapped his arms around Fai's waist, still having very little idea of what was going on.

"I don't see what the big deal is" Kurogane grumbled.

Fai pulled back, another tear slipping down his cheek, "When I was really little my brother and I had toy cats just like this" He explained, a sad smile replacing the old one.

"Well, you're welcome" Kurogane said gruffly, removing his arms from around Fai and turning slightly pink. Whatever tolerance he had for sweet moments had disappeared. So Fai just gave Kurogane one last big smile, clutched the cat tightly to his chest, and disappeared into the house. Kurogane watched him go, feeling rather proud, because joyful was not to be used to describe Kurogane under any circumstances, ever, anyway, he was feeling rather proud that he had managed to get a real smile for the mage.

Later on that evening, around midnight, Kurogane was making his nightly round to make sure everyone was safe. He had no logical reasoning for doing it, they were in a peaceful world, he just couldn't sleep right not knowing if they were all in their rooms. When he reached the mage's room, because this was one of the worlds were they had actually managed separate rooms, he turned the knob slowly and peeked in carefully.

Fai was curled up into a ball with the cat still being crushed against his chest, faint traces of a smile still lingering on his face.

Kurogane had to give a smile at the sight. When Fai was sleeping he was perfectly all right, and cute. Although Kurogane would never admit that. "Night Fai" Kurogane murmured before returning to his room, hoping that Fai wouldn't bring this up the next day.

In all honesty, I had no idea what was going on when I wrote this, but, that's not the point.

In case no one's noticed I have started writing an AU fic..so, yeah, just lettin' y'all know.

R&R

-Y.A.O.G