At last! I'm here with an update. I have quite a few more chapters in the works, so, please bear with me until the end. Grab some tea, buy some mochi and read ahead.

Psst, Mochizou and Tamako share a bed.

Before

Home

Love is new experiences. It's finding small and big things about the other person that you never knew existed. These are the thoughts that floated through Tamako's serene mind. Her eyes were closed and she felt her body incased in a warm, and comforting cocoon.

These were the recent discoveries she had made when she was pulled by Mochizou up stairs to his room:

The scent of his room always changed. One week it was it was cherries. The next, it was Cinnamon. It all depended on what was on display downstairs, at his parent's store. But, Mochizou, always smelled like powdered sugar. She once let it slip when they were sitting together. He laughed, his eyes twinkling with that mischief that seemed to be growing, "Well, you smell like strawberries!"

Second, he loved trains. Other than the one that always seemed to be in the center of his room, he had stacks of boxed ones in his closet. He said, he used to leave them all around his house until his dad tripped over them and threatened to throw them away.

And lastly, his sheets smelled like him. And they were just as soft as she imagined them to be.

Her eyes fluttered open. She was on Mochizou's bed, her head cradled in the space between his arm and his chest. She could feel his heart under her ear and she felt he own heart mimic the same tempo. His arm was under her head and around her shoulders, keeping her close while the other held one of her hands over his stomach. She let herself look up at him. His closed eyes and his lightly parted lips letting out small steady breaths told her that he was fast asleep.

Tamako pretended that there weren't empty shelves behind her or boxes taped shut by the door ready for their journey. Instead, she watched him breathe in and out. She squeezed his hand gently and smiled. Everything seemed natural with him. Meeting him in the morning was natural. Playing with his hair was natural. Letting her hands trace over his jaw and around his chin was natural. Ever so slowly and careful, she let her hand detach from Mochizou's. She missed his warmth the moment she let go and he mumbled something in his sleep. Her fingertips drifted to the bridge of his nose and she traveled to his mouth. They had yet to kiss, it was something so fragile still but just being this close to each other made her wonder what it'll feel like. Her fingertip found his cupid's bow and marveled at his soft skin.

He stirred and she started to pull her hand away but he caught her wrist. She looked up surprised, but his eyes were on her hand. He pulled her hand up and brushed his lips over her pale knuckles. He was still waking up slowly and, for a moment, he thought this was a dream where nothing was off limits and he let his mouth hover over her hand briefly until he opened her hand carefully and kissed her fingertips. A bit callused from her years of working with her family but his were no better.

"Mochizou. . ." He felt a shiver on his spine from her words that echoed over his chest and her wide eyes staring up at him, patches of scarlet over her cheeks. He lowered her hand back to his chest and held it there as he smiled down at her. Not once did he think they would share his bed this way. His own blush spread when thinking that it could go beyond this.

"Sorry." He murmured.

"No, it's okay."

Tamako," He gripped her hand tighter and moved so that they were face to face, "If I'm ever . . . too forward, or do something that makes you uncomfortable. Tell me. Please."

She laughed lightly and her hand drifted to his cheek, "You never make me uncomfortable."

His knees brushed against hers, "I don't have much time until I leave. I'm scared that I'll hurt you by being so anxious. But I'm just so glad to be with you. Even if we're drinking coffee or here. Everywhere with you, I'm happy. But, please, stop me if I'm too forward."

She shook her head, her mochi hairbands were on his nightstand and her hair fell over her shoulders. A few strands came apart and fell over her cheek, his hand moved to push them away but instead cupped her cheek as she grinned. Her eyes closed feeling the warmth of his touch.

"Tamako?" he murmured pulling her closer, to his chest. Her body fit perfectly against his, like finding a missing limb or a missing puzzle piece. He felt whole, he felt at peace.

"Hmm?" Her voice vibrating against his heart.

"I love you," He whispered leaning down to her hair, cradling the back of her head with his hand and bunching up her hair gently, "I love you," he repeated letting the scent of her shampoo fill his senses.

Her arms wrapped around his torso and she held tight, "I love you, Mochizou. Come back for me." Her words were muffled by the fabric of his sweater but he heard them, he felt them, clearly. And he felt the slight moisture from her tears. His own eyes began to sting.

"You're my only home, Tamako."