~ We regret to inform you that today's scheduled plot has been canceled due to the author's obsession with other KuroFai fanfics. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you enjoy this fluff instead. ^^ ~

Not that Kurogane noticed or cared, but he hadn't seen Fai in almost a week. Of course he wasn't worried, but he was bored, so he figured he might as well check up on the idiot. He was always getting into trouble that Kurogane had to pull him out of- not because he cared about Fai, obviously, but because if he didn't then Fai would get himself hurt and the whole crew would never forgive him.

No, he definitely didn't care and he certainly wasn't worried, he thought to himself as he knocked on Fai's door, just bored. There was nothing to do on this stupid ship anyway.

There was a two- or three-minute wait, during which Kurogane attempted to further convince himself that he was only there because he was bored. He was just starting to elaborate on all the many things The Dragon had to keep one entertained that The Phoenix lacked when the door slid open, and out the window flew every argument to himself he had spent the last twenty minutes trying to formulate. His cheeks burned bright red and he tried to force the color to go away, but of course it didn't.

Fai tugged on his gloves, staring at Kurogane through a half-lidded eye. His hair was a bit more messy than usual, like he had just crawled out of bed- which was probably the case, because aside from the gloves he was wearing jeans and nothing else.

No shirt.

Fai wasn't as heavily-muscled as Kurogane was, but he was thin and lithe, with a slightly feminine curve to his body that made Kurogane itch to run his hands over his milky-white bare skin. No, it didn't. Yes, it did. NO, it freaking did NOT. Kurogane opened his mouth to say something.

"Kurogane," said Fai, stifling a yawn. "What are you doing here?"

"I was- I just…"

"Come in," said Fai, and before Kurogane could protest he found himself following Fai into his quarters. Fai motioned to a small couch against the wall. "Have a seat."

The door slid closed. Kurogane sat down uncomfortably while Fai rooted through a pile of clothes on the floor before settling on a white T-shirt and pulling it on over his head. He flopped down on his bed across from Kurogane. "What did you want to talk about?"

Kurogane had regained most of his sense now that Fai had a shirt on.

"Nothing," he said, frowning. "Just wondering where the hell you've been the past week."

"I've been right here, on my own little vacation," Fai said, smiling a little now that he was more awake. "You Starfleet captains get two months off every year while you dock, but there's not many places us pirates can dock for more than a day or two. We take our vacations on board, if we can."

Interesting. Kurogane had never thought of that before. "I thought we were looking for that Pasillo de Muerta thing."

"We are, of course, but right now we're simply traveling. I'm always on call for emergency. Yui can handle everything else."

"Fai, we're not even headed towards those three solar systems you pointed out," Kurogane snapped. Fai laughed.

"There's just something we need to pick up first," he said, standing up. "Speaking of which, there's some business I need to attend to while I'm awake." He took a step to leave, then paused, considering something. "You know… that's the second time you've called me Fai."

Kurogane grunted. "Don't get used to it," he growled, standing up and wondering quietly to himself why this was true. Fai smiled. Suddenly, something dawned on Kurogane. "You- you called me Kurogane earlier!"

Fai blinked slowly, surprised. "Did I?"

Kurogane took a threatening step closer, glaring. He wasn't sure why this bothered him. "Yes," he growled. "You did. Why?"

"I don't know," said Fai, smiling. He leaned forward and kissed Kurogane on the cheek. "I'm sure… it won't happen again," he whispered, then turned and left.

For a moment, Kurogane just stood there, frozen in shock. When he finally processed what had just happened, his eyes bulged.

"YOU SONUVA BITCH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Fai laughed and started to sprint down the hall.

"Have to catch me first!"

~ *giggles* Don't you just love fluff?

Thanks to: Tameny (who was ultra-nice), Kinibop (who always has cute reviews), Mashiara91 (who is specific and constructive, which I always like), walkthedead (who reviewed only when I complained s/he hadn't, but hey, I'll take it!), ShingetsuXMangetsu (who asked for- and received- more obvious KuroFai. ^^ Also she has a really awesome KuroFai in the making- check it out!), and emeraldgeminideathboar (who shares my hatred of Twilight and has the coolest username ever!)

Scribbled Thoughts that I forgot to put in the last chapter! (For those of you who don't know, I handwrite everything first because I feel more creative that way. Scribbled Thoughts are what I scribble in the margins, usually at around 2 or 3 in the morning XD)

'I say Syaoran and Sakura used to be engaged (I said that in Captive), but they would have been, like, fourteen... Plot hole? What? Where? 0.o'

'The reason The Dragon and The Phoenix are so similar is because they were both built by Yuko. I wanted to address this but, sadly, I don't think I ever will T.T The reason Kurogane still gets lost is because he's too stubborn to learn the layout, even though it's only slightly different. XD'

'Tattoo?'

Hmm, that's all, it seems. Until next chapter, muahahaha! I don't do this nearly as often as I used to... *sigh*

Another five reviews for a new chappie? ~