CHAPTER 2

'Let's go get some dinner,' Touya said with a grin. Things were going better than he'd hoped, but his friend needed to be fed regularly. It was something he'd come to find endearing. 'You're looking forward to tofu cuisine, aren't you?'

'I love tofu!' Yukito answered with more than genuine enthusiasm.

'The travel guide mentions a traditional restaurant very near the inn.'

They were greeted by a cheery grandmotherly woman who led them to a cosy corner of the establishment and insisted they absolutely had to try their special sake. She didn't listen when Touya tried to explain that they didn't care much for alcohol.

'Nonsense!' the lady said. 'It is healthy for two handsome young men like you.'

She promptly produced two cups and filled them to the brim. Touya just nodded, resigned. They said sake didn't affect you so much if you ate plenty of food, right? An enormous tray with different dishes was brought and Yukito brightened up even more. Touya absent-mindedly wondered if he himself ranked above or below homemade traditional food.

'The seasoning is delicious,' Yukito said. The he seemed to remember about the sake cups. 'Maybe we should try it? I think she's kinda staring at us...'

'Do you drink at all?' Touya asked, although he thought he knew the answer.

'Nope, but it's a special day and we're in Kyoto and we should celebrate.'

'You've got a point. Plus, I don't want to incur her wrath,' Touya grinned. Then he lifted his own cup and waited for Yuki to do the same. 'Kanpai!'

Touya only took a sip, but the liquor burnt its way through his mouth instantly and made him tear up a bit. Yukito's cheeks flushed all of a sudden in what was probably the cutest reaction Touya had ever seen.

'I like the taste,' his friend said, loud of enough for their hostess to hear. She looked satisfied and went about her business. 'It goes well with the grilled vegetables.'

The liquor in their cups disappeared in the blink of an eye. Touya was feeling fuzzy inside. He couldn't think of a better place, better food or better company.

'Are you sure?' he asked, voice somewhat husky when he saw Yukito pour again.

'Come on, you like it too... Don't know if we'll find our way to the inn, but it can't be that far?'

'Guess I'll carry you if needed,' Touya chuckled.

The snow bunny was seriously on his way to getting drunk, by the look of it. And Touya didn't feel like he could stop it. Or do anything. Because it was making him a little dizzy too. But wait. How could alcohol have an effect on Yukito? He sure couldn't imagine the other one drunk. Now that was a hilarious thought. Yue was way too dignified to be in such a state. He'd heard Sakura say that he didn't even eat.

'He's worried,' Yukito said, as if he could hear Touya's thoughts. 'Yue. He doesn't want me to do stupid things, but I feel like... I feel like doing things.'

Touya almost choked on his rice. Yukito meant foolish things. Not other things. He couldn't have. Please someone define foolish because whatever it is, I'm in, he thought. And oh hell. Yue is watching? Literally just contemplating the scene? Must be better than a movie.

'Do you hear him? His voice?' Touya asked.

Yukito looked perplexed for a moment, then reacted. 'Not hear him. It's just... we communicate. Not constantly. He's sharing a little more lately. And I can talk back, reach for him, which is good because... I guess before he simply watched and I didn't know he existed.' His friend looked like he was going to be upset about it but then gave up halfway and just smiled at Touya, who refrained from pressing the issue any further.

Dessert was brought with cups of some liquor that was thick and sweet in his mouth. So no tea, then. Touya had hoped tea could lessen the intoxication, but felt too faint to argue. He started summoning his strength and the little willpower he had left for the trip to their accommodation. Yukito looked like he was past all care, with glassy eyes, red-tinted cheeks and his lovely lips frozen in a contented smile. However, he sprang up when the bill came and practically stole it from him, leaving Touya no other choice than to let him handle it.

'You're taking care of everything else; it's not fair,' Yukito said matter-of-factly.

Trying to stand proved tricky but Touya held on to the table and arched his back very straight so as to preserve some of his dignity. The restaurant was empty by now and he didn't hesitate to offer his arm to Yukito. His friend seemed wobbly on his feet, and held on to it.

'It's near. We're almost there,' Touya said, helping him along the way. He shouldn't even have this kind of thoughts but he was enjoying it a little, his arm practically wrapped around Yuki's waist to support him as they walked, one step at a time.

'Thank you, To-ya...' he answered breathily.

I'll take care of you, Touya thought. And he meant it, although there was no helping the hot, desperate feeling that such close contact aroused in him. He'd always played a number of scenarios in his mind, including the good ones and the really, really good ones. But they were both sober in all of them. He was honour-bound to see Yukito tucked safely in bed, he thought with what determination he had.
It didn't take them too long to reach the inn. He half-carried Yukito upstairs to the first floor and through the door of their room.

'Mmh? We're here?'

'Our room. Sit down, Yuki.' Touya led him to one of the two single beds that occupied most of the modern, sparsely furnished room, less than two feet apart.

Yukito sat on one of the beds, blinking, then looked at Touya as if he were not processing his surroundings correctly and Touya remained his one anchor to reality. Only now did Touya realize that he was not feeling peachy himself, and he sat down on the other bed.

'Guess that wasn't a great idea. The sake,' Touya snorted.

'But I liked it.' Yukito was smiling again. Another sudden change overcame him, however, and he knitted his brows. 'That person would... I see. I know...' he muttered. Touya was pretty sure that Yuki wasn't speaking to him. 'But why-why do we get drunk? Oh, all right. Me.'

'Yuki. Let's get you to bed, okay?' Touya said. He felt bad even listening to that conversation; Yukito probably didn't notice he was talking out loud.

'Mmh. Yes?' he turned to Touya. 'My pyjamas are… somewhere in there.' He stood up and tried to fetch his bag, but was too unsteady on his feet.

'Let me.' Touya fetched the bag for him, and waited for a minute until it was crystal clear that Yuki was no closer to finding his pyjamas among the few clothes he had brought with him. Then Touya took out the characteristically cute set of blue and white rabbit print trousers and a plain white button-down shirt. He didn't even find his friend's choice of clothing odd anymore. 'Here.'

A sense of crisis overtook Touya when he saw that Yukito had no intention of stumbling into the bathroom to get changed. He just started unbuttoning his shirt. Touya meant to look away but did so only after catching a glimpse of perfect ivory-pale skin. His heart was throbbing furiously as he looked pointedly at the wall. Damn it. It's only his shoulder. I've seen it before at football practice. He had been fully in control of himself every time they had been together in the locker room, though.

'To-ya? Are you dizzy too?' Yukito asked, and touched Touya's shoulder. Touya turned around and his eyes were instantly glued to the sight before him; Yuki's pyjama shirt was still unbuttoned and he could see a stretch of pale skin visible from his neck to his lower abdomen.

'A bit,' Touya answered hoarsely. It was a wonder he didn't suffocate considering he could barely breathe and all his body seemed to be heating up at once. Cold water, he thought incoherently. Need. Now.

Yukito's eyes were too bright behind his glasses, his cheeks still reddish. 'I'll take care of you,' he said, as if he was not far gone and it made perfect sense. Without a warning, he grabbed the hem of Touya's t-shirt, as Touya had removed his jacket himself somehow, and pulled it up. 'Raise your arms.'

What the…What!? Touya thought, but he obeyed mutely. Every little touch was magnified as Yuki got rid of the t-shirt and his hand lingered on Touya's arm, fingers gently trailing down the length of it. It had Touya reeling, especially because the gesture seemed innocent but it didn't feel innocent. Yuki drew back exactly when Touya's self-control started to crack. He reached for Touya's bag and got his navy blue pyjama shirt. So his friend only meant to dress him, didn't he? What had he been expecting, anyway? As if it wouldn't be out of character for Yuki to pounce on him and do… Do what? he wondered. He could conjure up a few ideas.

'To-ya? Need your help here?' Yukito mumbled. He was trying to put Touya's arm through one of the sleeves.

'Sorry.' Touya made it easier and soon he was exactly as his friend was, unbuttoned shirt and all. 'I can-can do the trousers.'

'Really?' Yuki asked with an amused, almost cheeky expression Touya wasn't sure he'd seen before. 'But I said I'll take care of you.'

Okay, this is it. Touya moved fast and pulled Yukito towards him, so that they were both kneeling on the bed and so close to each other that their breaths mingled. Yuki's eyes widened but he didn't recoil, not even when Touya took off his glasses and kissed the corner of his mouth hungrily.

'Just tell me this is okay,' Touya said hoarsely.

'Yes.' It was one breathy word only, but Yuki underlined it by tilting his head, so Touya understood he could kiss any inch of pale skin he wished.

I can't think. His mind was clogged under the effects of the liquor but it was all too easy to act on instinct. He kissed his way down Yuki's neck and felt his racing pulse. When their lips met again, Yuki parted his to Touya's probing tongue and the kiss deepened, far more desperate than their first. Touya slid his hands under Yukito's shirt and ran them over the tense muscles of his back until he felt him relax a little in his arms. Touya was fully aware of the tension in his own body. If only he could unbutton his jeans. But then the kiss broke and they both gasped for air, and Touya's eyes met Yukito's. The pupils were dilated, the irises a shade brighter, sparkling with emotion. Just when Touya was about to lose it completely, the sweetness in those eyes made him stop. What am I doing?

'Yuki. I-I didn't mean to-' Touya said, shaking his head, hands falling to the sides. 'Not that fast.'

'Did I do something wrong?'

'That's not even possible,' he answered reassuringly. Touya could feel the beginnings of what would be an epic headache, no doubt. 'We just had too much to drink and it'll be better in the morning.'

Yukito smiled dazedly and stretched an arm to pull the other bed closer. 'Just sleep with me?' he asked.

Touya nodded. 'Be right back. I'm just- Be back,' he stammered, and stumbled into the bathroom.

He splashed cold water on his face and willed his heart to slow down. Fuck, I really can't think. Yukito hadn't been with anyone before -that he knew, and Touya hadn't even brought himself to voice his feelings. This wasn't the right way to do things. Maybe we won't remember this. But he seriously doubted that.

He was reasonably in control of his body by the time he stepped back, a few minutes later. Yukito was lying on his back and at first Touya thought he might have fallen asleep, but the snow bunny tilted his head to look at him. Touya did a quick job of removing his jeans and putting on his pyjama pants, turned off the lights and crawled on their makeshift double bed next to him.

'Yuki,' Touya said, heaving a sigh. 'There's something I want to tell you tomorrow.'

'Okay.' Yukito moved a little closer but simply laid his head on the pillow, inches from Touya's. Even in the dark, Touya could feel his eyes on him.

'Would you-would you speak with him too, To-ya?'

'Him?' It should have been obvious who he meant but Touya was not exactly in control of his faculties.

'Yue.'

'If he wants to, sure. We haven't spoken much since that day.'

'He does. Good night, To-ya.'

What might Yue be thinking of him, after such a scene? If the guardian had trust issues, it wouldn't make things better. Yukito had his own mind, but what if Yue decided it was too risky to leave Yukito's heart in Touya's clumsy hands, after all? These were Touya's frantic thoughts as he finally fell asleep, long after Yuki's own breath had slowed down.

He had a dream in which he woke up and Yukito was gone. Instead, a white figure was sitting on the far end of the bed. Touya shouldn't have been able to see his profile in the dark but he did, as the guardian radiated a pale light from the tips of his huge folded wings to his bare toes. Yue seemed to be deep in thought, his silver eyes heavy-lidded, and his expression was wistful when he looked in Touya's direction. He looked vaguely alarmed then, as if he hadn't expected Touya to see him. Is this really a dream?

The last thing Touya saw before closing his eyes again was Yue's outstretched hand slowly tracing some pattern in the air.

Tbc