A/N:

My chapters keep getting longer and longer. I wanted to do this as drabbles. But I couldn't make the 100 word count that I set my goal on.

Thanks for the reviews and follows. Happy New Year everyone.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my ramblings here.

Raindrops on Eyelashes

I can't help but feel like an overprotective parent. After I treated her scalding wound, the restaurant's manager came to the room and apologizes profusely on behalf of the staff.

He offered to pay for medical bill cost should she require further treatment, giving out his own personal business card so we know where we can send the bill claim.

In addition he offered us another free dinner next week to compensate for what happened.

I wanted to scold them all, but seeing that their concerns are sincere, I relented and thanked them instead. Afterwhich, we went back to our table where Yuki fussed about her friend's injured state.

All throughout our dinner, I subtly tried to make things easier for Kyoko. I knew she wouldn't like being mollycoddled. She's fiercely independent. Though her expression earlier before the manager barged into the room was nothing but gentle.

What is this feeling?

Why was I overwhelmed with such longing? I wanted to kiss those lips, touched the silkiness of her hair. I will never get tired of listening to her talk about random stuff all day.

I clamped down my desire for her and concentrated in watching her instead. Trying to anticipate her needs, I called for a soda refill when her glass is almost finished; crushed chili peppers for her pizza topping [because I know she liked her pizza with a kick]; and even requested for more crushed peanuts for her molten lava cake dessert.

Yuki seemed to be watching me curiously, although Toru seemed oblivious to my actions except polishing the last of the pizza slices. I decided to ignore her friend's questioning looks. Sooner or later, I know she will confront me about her friend. Inevitable as it seems.

When we finally decided to leave, Toru seemed a little tipsy from all the beer he drank.

"I'll bring him home." Yuki offered. "He lives near my dorm anyway.

I raised my eyebrows in suspicion. Toru can be a handful when he's a little drunk and all. "You sure?" I asked a little uncertainly.

"Positive." She nodded towards Kyoko, who is having a little difficulty tying her scarf around her neck. We could both see her wincing slightly from the pain on her arm.

"You better make sure you bring her to the hospital tomorrow to check on that wound. At least it would alleviate our worries." She muttered under her breath, pivoting on her heel and patting Toru on the shoulders. "C'mon you git, I can't believe you get drunk so easily." And with that, they began to walk towards the train station.

I moved closer to Kyoko, snagging her scarf and wrapping it securely around her delicate neck. "Better?" I asked.

She smiled, before nodding. "Better." She strained her neck to peer at the small figures of our friends. "Yuki offered to bring him home?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Don't worry about your friend, Yuki can handle him."

I tilted my head in surprise. "Okay." If she says so. I let my worry slid at the back of my mind.

Kyoko placed her hand on my elbow and we turned the opposite direction. "Let's go home."

We walked along the sidewalk for a few minutes in silence. My own apartment is near her dorm, and is about fifteen minutes away from the restaurant. Still, I wanted our walk to prolong. I don't mind the silence as we enjoyed the night breeze and the blinking lights of other bars and cafes opened for late night revelers like us.

But as they all say, such walks all come to an end. I can practically see the rooftop walls of her dorm. Another five minutes and I would be saying goodnight to her.

A drop of water fell on the tops of my hair.

I looked up to see the sky had darkened considerably, and was covered with dark, thick clouds.

I gripped her hand, holding onto my elbow. "Let's hurry. Or you'll get wet." I began to prepare myself to walk faster. We're almost there anyway.

She surprised me by pulling back.

"Let's stay under that." Kyoko Hori's eyes looked dark like molten chocolate as she pointed to a closed jewelry shop, whose front windows were installed with green and blue circular canopies.

And before I knew it, the rain began to pour a little heavier, and we stood silently side-by-side under the shelter provided.

The rain made a rhythmic pitter patter on the concrete ground and on the roof shelter above us. For just that moment, the street was devoid of pedestrians other than us.

I sneaked a glance at Kyoko, standing beside me in silence. I'm still worried she might still be in pain, wanting to suggest we hail the first cab we see so I can bring her to the emergency room; but when she looked up at the same time as I leaned down slightly to check on her arm, her pupils are wide and gleaming.

"Kyoko, I" I hesitated.

"Thanks for taking care of me, Izumi." She seemed breathless, standing on tiptoes.

Kyoko's face is so close; I can see the raindrops clinging on her eyelashes.

Our mouths moved at their own volition. My lips sealing hers for an earth-shattering kiss that made my toes curl.

I just hope it made her toes curl too.

A/N: Cue another squealing. OMG!