A/N: Hello again~ I'm trying to keep to my updating scheduled. So far so good. Apologies for mistakes, for I have no Beta. And remember, reviews keep me motivated!

Chapter Warnings: None really.

Akira sighed and pushed a hand through his hair, fixing Shirogane with a glare across the table. "Alright, spill it. Why'd it take you this long to come back." His voice was rough, still concealing his excitement to see the older Shin.

"My my Akira-kun, it almost sounds as if you've missed me~" Shirogane teased the young Rei King and smiled softly, if a little lecherously at him.

"Shut up! That's not what I meant!" Akira felt his cheeks heat up despite himself, okay so maybe he had missed him.

Shirogane's smile returned to simply sweet as he spoke. "Well if you really must know, I had to take a little time to build up my strength, so I could exist in this world." The silver haired Shin didn't want to reveal how much effort he'd had to put into that, but the last time he'd spent an extended period of time in the world of light he'd almost faded away. "Of course that won't be a problem now that I have you again, Akira-kun."

Akira scowled at him, though he clearly recalled the fright he'd felt when he'd spent the night kneeling by Shirogane's bedside, holding his hand so not to let him disappear. "Stop saying such weird things." He grumbled, getting a light chuckle from the Shin in response.

Shirogane stood suddenly, surprising Akira. As he walked over Akira had stood as well, eyes suspicious. If Shirogane was going to try something he wasn't going to just sit there and wait for it. No, he knew him well enough by now to know that that was a bad idea. "Akira-kun..." Hands reached out to slid up Akira's arms to his shoulders. "You've grown..."

"Well no shit." Akira snapped back, though he didn't move to swat Shirogane away immediately. Maybe... Maybe if he reciprocated a little they wouldn't have that issue of the older Shin fading away again. Besides, he felt like a bit of a jackass, all Shirogane ever did was try to please him, and he had fought him every step of the way.

Shirogane felt his heart rate pick up as Akira let him touch him, even if it was just simply resting his hands on his shoulders. It was progress, right? He worried his lower lip between his teeth as he pushed his limits again, wondering how much Akira would allow him. He started to lean in, his eyes falling closed as he did so.

Akira tensed up as Shirogane went in for a kiss, and he squeezed his eyes shut. This whole situation was making him jumpy, and he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to shove Shirogane away and snap at him for being a pervert or pull him down and just kiss him already. His breath hitched slightly as the Shadow King's lips barely brushed his, and his nerves won out. He pushed Shirogane back suddenly. "Don't do weird things at this time of night..." He grumbled, his cheeks lightly flushed.

Shirogane blinked his blue eyes at him before a smile tilted his pink lips upward. Akira had even let him steal a tiny kiss... maybe he didn't have to worry about his affections being so harshly reprimanded this time. Oooh he hoped so.

Akira sighed and shook his head at the obscenely happy look on Shirogane's face, though it made his heart flutter in his chest to see him so elated. Ugh... if he had to put up with things like that to make him happy, maybe he could do it... after all, Shirogane did his best to please him. He was a little hesitant, and maybe a little nervous about returning the favor, but the idea was starting to look almost appealing in a way. "I'm going to bed." He mumbled again, turning to stalk up the stairs to his bedroom. He didn't have a doubt Shirogane would follow him.

And Shirogane followed him up the stairs, just as Akira thought he would. He considered trying to crawl into bed with the young Rei as per usual, however he'd already pushed his luck quite a bit. He was content just being in the same room as Akira... for now anyway. More likely sooner than later he'd make a move on him again.

Akira watched Shirogane warily as he pulled off his shirt and changed into a pair of loose pajama pants. The Shin's eyes never left him, and he tried not to let it show how unnerving it was, having his almost hungry gaze on him. But in a way, it felt nice knowing that Shirogane was still interested... he heaved a mental sigh of defeat at his thoughts. He'd figured out the moment he'd kissed the Shin to give him back his energy when he disappeared that Shirogane wasn't the only one harboring feelings, but it was actually acknowledging those feelings and acting on them that was the hard part. He knew Shirogane liked him, and he knew that the Shin would take him just the way he was, but still the thought of maybe returning the favor and making a move made his heart jump up into his throat and his chest tighten up. He hated that the silver haired Shin could get under his skin so easily...

"Akira-kun? Are you feeling alright? You look a little pale..." Came Shirogane's soft and concerned voice. Akira tensed a bit, was he really being that obvious?

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired..." He picked one of the pillows up off his bed and threw it at the older man before crawling under the covers. He buried his face in the pillow and tried to bury his thoughts along with it.

Shirogane watched him burrow into his bed before settling down on the floor as he always used to and getting as comfortable as he could. After a while he heard Akira's breathing even out as he fell asleep, and he sighed restlessly, rolling over to stare at the side of his bed. He ached to crawl up along side him and hold him close. The Rei hadn't been smacking him away and reprimanding him as much as he used to, and that gave him hope that with a little time Akira would let him crawl into bed with him, maybe even kiss him. He gave a little shiver at the thought. Oh how nice it would be to snuggle up with Akira in his bed, to kiss and touch... Shirogane flushed and rolled over to look at the wall instead, trying to clear his head of the inappropriate thoughts starting to fill his mind. He knew Akira wouldn't allow him that for a long time to come yet... and that left him with a little bit of a problem. He sighed and ran a hand through his bangs, he was in for a long night...

TBC~ Chapter 3 is already in progress...