Black Steel and Worldly Wisdom

Nothing

By Mystic Dawn

Summary: (AU) He knew better than to trust those smiles. Whenever Tomoyo smiled at him like that, she was bound to be up to something or other.

Tomoyo drew a deep breath and sighed contentedly as she gazed at the black star-studded canopy above. The cool breeze wafted through the midnight air, tousling her long hair about her face.

"Isn't this wonderful?" she asked the still form stretched out on the grass beside her.

Her companion grunted indifferently.

"You could at least put a conscious effort into trying to stargaze, Kurogane," she chided him gently. "Maybe then you might actually appreciate it."

"It's a waste of time," Kurogane growled.

"So that's it?" Tomoyo rolled onto her side, propping her chin on one hand. "You're just going to give up?"

He looked at her incredulously. "Give up on what?"

She began to lightly trace her fingers along his chest. "On this challenge."

"When was this ever a challenge?"

"Oh…" She pretended to think about it for a moment, then her lips formed a small, mischievous smile. "Since now."

He knew better than to trust those smiles. Whenever Tomoyo smiled at him like that, she was bound to be up to something or other.

"You don't need to be knowledgeable about constellations to complete this challenge," she went on as if she hadn't noticed the scowl spreading upon his face. "All you need to do is spot the shapes the stars form. It's like playing connect-the-dot, only with stars."

"And why should I do this?"

"You're actually going to turn down a challenge?" Tomoyo asked him in mock shock. "Oh dear… Kurogane, I never knew you were such a…" She giggled and left it hanging.

"A what?" he demanded sourly.

"A scaredy cat," Tomoyo breathed, flipping down onto her back again, trying to stifle her giggling.

"I'm not a—" he began indignantly, then realized he was just falling into her trap. Dammit.

"Oh, but you are," she continued breathlessly. "You're afraid of making a fool of yourself, aren't you?"

Well, she did kind of have a point, but she didn't have to say it like that. Nor did she need to know it. "No, I'm not," he said instead.

"Yes, you are," she giggled again.

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm—oh, fine!" he practically hissed through clenched teeth. "Whatever! I'll play your damn stupid game. Just tell me what I have to do."

She smiled smugly, then raised a slender arm above her head, pointing at a cluster of stars above their heads. "Tell me what you see."

Kurogane exhaled in frustration, lifting his gaze to the stars above. "A baseball glove," he said after a long pause.

Tomoyo nearly snorted in a very unladylike fashion. "I'm sorry?" she asked.

"I see a baseball glove," he repeated. "And a tea kettle. And a windmill."

Tomoyo pursed her lips together thoughtfully. She probably hadn't been expecting him to be so damn laconic about his observations. He allowed himself a satisfied smirk. He loved it when he caught her off-guard like this.

But after she had been silent long enough to make even him uncomfortable, he decided to break the silence by asking, "What do you see that's gotten you so hyped up about making me notice it?" Not the most gentleman-like way to go about his query, he realized in retrospect, but at the time he had been getting impatient at her lack of response.

She moved closer to him, snuggling against him in such a way that he had to lift his right arm to put it around her shoulders so they could both have some space. She laid her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.

"So?" he persisted.

Another long silence followed until she allowed herself to answer.

"Nothing," she whispered. "I see nothing."