I'm so incredibly sorry!!!! I really, truly am! I honestly meant to have this chapter out earlier, but things just kept getting in the way! I blame sleep deprivation and really high fevers!!!

NinthFeather: You know, maybe you wouldn't be so sleep deprived if you actually, I don't know, slept at night!

Me: But that's no fun! And besides, if I did that, when would I study and update my fanfics?

NinthFeather: You know, most people do that during that day! You know, when the sun's out.

Me: Well, you should know by now that I'm not most people.

NinthFeather: Yes, I should know that. Oh well, it is still my goal on life to get you to sleep for eight hours straight at least once!

Me: I'd wish you luck with that, but honestly I think we both know it's never gonna happen, so why bother?

NinthFeather: I retain my cock-eyed optimism.

Me: You know, there's a fine line between optimism and denial.

NinthFeather: And I have erased that line.

Me: Yes, yes you have. I'm glad to see you've finally excepted this.

NinthFeather: Just shut up and get on with your fic.

Me: Ok! ^-^

Warning: Once again, there is quite a bit of bishie x bishie romance in here. If you don't like it--

NinthFeather: Then I suggest you hit that back arrow as fast as you possibly can.

Disclaimer:...

NinthFeather: Oh, just say it!

Me: No!

NinthFeather: You're being incredibly immature about this.

Me: I never claimed to be mature. Infact, I seem to remember denying it on several occasions.

NinthFeather: Ugh! Fine! I'll do it. KuroNekoShoujo does not own Saint Beast, and she never will, no matter how much she may try to avoid it!

Me: *cries*

********

The first thing Rei became aware of after he woke up was how incredibly comfortable and content he felt. A small smile came came over his face as he tried to remember the last time he'd felt this good. Sighing the violet-haired angel decided it didn't matter and snuggled closer to the warm body sleeping next to him.

Of course it came as no surprise to him that the reason for his comfort was that he was wrapped in a sleeping Ruka's arms. Lately, the only times he could feel even remotely relaxed was when he was close to or touching Ruka. After what happened with Stheno, just seeing him wsoasn't enough. Rei needed to feel the older angel's presence. And no matter how many times Rei woke up in Ruka's arms, the feeling of loving protection, the feeling of being truly safe, never changed.

Rei was surprised, however, to find that, while Ruka was still dressed in his angelic robes from the previous day, Rei himself was not wearing anything at all.

Rei felt his face heat up as he remembered the events of the night before. While nothing truly...intimate had happened between them last night, the two had certainly done quite a bit more than just share a bed.

As silently as possible, Rei disentangled himself from Ruka's arms and got up from the bed, careful not to disturb his sleeping love. One thing Rei was quite grateful for was that, though the both of them had definitely not been paying any amount of attention to their surroundings last night, they had ended up in Rei's room, which meant he wouldn't have to leave in order to change.

Rei had just finished securing the last fastener on his angelic robes, when he felt two arms encircle his slender waist from behind. Rei let out a startled yelp as he was pulled against the lean, muscled chest of the angel behind him, but quickly recovered and relaxed against the warm body. "G-Good morning, Ruka," he stammered, a renewed blush coloring his cheeks.

"Mm, good morning, Rei," Ruka murmured as he softly pressed his lips against Rei's pale throat, causing the smaller angel's blush to worsen. "You weren't planning to sneak away again, were you, love?"

Rei smiled. He would never tire of hearing Ruka call him that. "Of course not. What reason would I have to sneak away from you?" he replied, turning in Ruka's arms so he was facing the silver-haired angel.

Ruka smiled lovingly down at his beautiful angel. "Good," he said softly, leaning down to capture Rei's soft lips with his.

"Oi! Rei, you awake? Have you seen Ruka? He wasn't in his room this morning and we thought he might be with—," Gai shouted as he loudly slammed open the door to Rei's chamber, not bothering to knock. Gai smirked when he saw the two angels together. "Gou! I found Ruka!" Gai called over his shoulder.

Rei's entire face turned a deep crimson and he tried to pull away from Ruka, but the taller angel kept his arms lightly locked around the delicate angel's waist, so all Rei could do was turn in Ruka's arms to glare at the small blonde angel in the doorway. "G-Gai! Don't just barge into people's private rooms without permission!"

The cat-like angel's smirk merely grew, and he looked about to say something that Rei was sure would manage to turn him an even deeper shade of red, when a large, tan hand came and smacked the blonde angel over the head, effectively cutting off whatever he had been about to say.

"Oww! What the hell, Gou?" Gai growled, glaring up at the taller angel.

Gou was completely unfazed by the smaller angel's anger, "You should know to knock before entering someone else's chamber, Gai. Now come, leave those two alone," he said, grabbing Gai by the collar of his robe and dragging him from the room. "Oh, and by the way," Gou called casually to Rei and Ruka over his shoulder, "When you tow are finished, come down to breakfast. We're planning on having a training session as soon as it's finished, so don't take too long." Gou then proceeded to drag the struggling blonde angel out to the courtyard for breakfast.

When they were both finally gone, there was a moment of dead silence in the room, as both angels thought over what had just transpired.

Rei could not remember a time when he had been more embarrassed! Gai, Gai of all people, had seen him and Ruka...Oh Rei would never hear the end of it! And then Gou came in too! After all that, Rei wasn't sure his face would ever regain its normal color.

The silence was eventually broken when Ruka, unable to control himself any longer, started laughing uncontrollably, his arms that were still around Rei's waist shaking with the force of his laughter.

Rei looked back at him in shock, wondering how he could possibly be laughing at a time like this. There was nothing about this situation that was even remotely funny! But seeing the confused and outraged expression on the petite angel's face only seemed to send the taller angel into fresh peels of laughter.

"I-I'm sorry...Rei...but the...the look on your face...when Gai came in...was just so..." Ruka could barely manage to form words, he was laughing so hard.

At first, Rei was outraged and slightly offended at Ruka's apparent disregard for the seriousness of the situation. Rei was never going to live this down! But, after seeing the completely unguarded on Ruka's face as he laughed, Rei couldn't help but smile and chuckle a bit himself. He still didn't find anything about the situation funny in the least, but it had been a long time since he had seen that look on Ruka's face. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since Rei had heard Ruka's laugh! Well, if this is what it takes to make him laugh like that, Rei thought to himself, then I suppose I can deal with a few taunts from Gai.

When they both had finally stopped laughing, Ruka reached up a hand and gently brushed some of Rei's violet hair out of his face. "You're so beautiful, Rei," he said softly, almost reverently, his unguarded smile still on his face. "I don't know what I could have possibly done to deserve you, but I love you, so very much."

Rei smiled up at his silver-haired lover, "Ruka, it's not a matter of whether one of us deserves the other. We belong together. You're my other half, my only one. Not being with you would be like never being able to fly again. It wouldn't be a life, just an empty existence."

Ruka seemed almost speechless at Rei's declaration, so Rei took the initiative and reached up to close the gap between their faces, "I love you," he whispered to Ruka, before connecting their lips in a soft, hesitant kiss.

Ruka quickly recovered from his shock and closed his eyes, pulling Rei closer to deepen the kiss. Rei pressed himself as close to Ruka as he possibly could, never wishing to part from his love. Yes, they would, unfortunately, have to break apart and face deal Gai's smirks and taunts, in addition to the knowing looks from the other Saint Beasts but for right now, Rei wanted to forget everything. Everything, except the warmth of Ruka's body, and the feel of Ruka's lips against his own.

********

Well, there you have it! Chapter 5! I hoped you all enjoyed it!

NinthFeather: Wow, I'm impressed.

Me: Why?

NinthFeather: You actually managed to end a chapter without a cliffhanger.

Me: Hey! Not all my chapters end in cliffhangers!

NinthFeather: Yes, they do.

Me: Ok, yes they do. But I am capable of some compassion towards my readers!

NinthFeather:...Really?

Me: It hurts me how surprised you sound.

NinthFeather: You'll get over it. Now, get on with your shameless review begging.

Me: Fine. *turns to readers* Please please PLEASE give me reviews!!! I really want to know what ya'll think, good or bad! Even if you just want to yell at me for being late, I really want to hear from you!

NinthFeather:...You're really desperate, aren't you?

Me: Yes, yes I am. But like I said before, I'm a review junkie, and I NEED my fix!!!

NinthFeather: *sigh* What am I going to do with you?

Me: You've been asking that question since the day you met me. If you don't have an answer by now, I don't think you're going to get one.

NinthFeather: Remind me again why I put up with you?

Me: Because you love me!! ^-^

NinthFeather:...still don't know why

Me: *ignores NinthFeather* Anyway, I should have the next chapter out by Friday at the latest, so cross your fingers that I actually finish on time!!

NinthFeather: You? On time? That'd be a first.

Me: Shut up.

Ta ta for now, my lovlies!

Neko-chan (and NinthFeather)