Title: 34. But it is hardly suitable for delicate boys

Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi, Kyo

Word Count: 704 words

Summary: Yuki gets facial hair. Machi explodes. Enough said.

A/N: I know; it's like I'm pulling these ideas out of my butt or something. I hope this one is good. Castella is a traditional Japanese sponge cake.

It began on one of those mornings. The alarm clock was broken and rang twenty minutes late. Yuki tumbles out of bed, mumbling something about them both being late for classes. Machi follows half-heartedly. They run around the house eating some dry castella and getting dressed.

"Alright, bye, I have to catch the bus. Have fun at school," Yuki whispers quickly, cupping her cheeks as he kisses her good-bye. Her chin brushes against his rough, unshaven stubble; the hair he usually shaves every morning except today. It must have turned her on because the next thing he knows, she's kissing him back.

He opens his eyes, sees the clock and realizes they're now five minutes later. Mumbling about being late, he finally pulls away.

An imaginary note is marked in his head: Machi really likes facial hair.

So when Yuki catches his reflection in a store window, he decides he might look cool with a beard. It might be fun. With that decided, the disaster begins.

Now they're late every morning, too busy making out to run out the door. At first Machi complains about being punished for her lateness. He shuts her up rather quickly with a kiss. He's having the time of his life, letting Machi push him against the wall and dominate him.

A few days later, Yuki wakes up earlier than Machi to go for a run. His eyes are bleary. He's been staying up an extra half hour most nights fooling around with his girlfriend. Sighing with satisfaction, Yuki brushes his teeth and washes his face. He returns to his room to change into something better than a dress shirt. When he's finished, he feels a soft form against his back.

"Morning," he mutters.

She groans, pressing her face into his back. "You going for a run?" she asks, hands trailing up from his flat stomach to his muscled chest.

"Yeah. Do you want to come along?"

Machi doesn't answer. Yuki vaguely wonders if she's fallen asleep and turns around. She's closed her eyes, so he shakes her awake.

"Machi. Machi, wake up." He pats her cheeks, noticing several cuts along her chin. When he touches one, she winces and opens her eyes.

"Ow. I'm going back to sleep." He pulls on her arm, not letting her go.

"Where did you get those cuts?"

Machi pulls away with super-strength, crawling back into bed. "It's nothing," she mutters. "See you later." She lies on her stomach, stretching our her tired limbs.

"Machi-" She snores loudly so he can't get any words in.

Sighing, Yuki leaves for his run. He resolves to get the truth out of her after he beats the morning rush of runners. Around the third or fourth lap in the park, someone interrupts him.

"Well, well. The rat gets a beard."

Kyo is standing to the side with a smug grin. His hair is tousled from a finished run. Yuki speeds up, going past him.

"Oi, Yuki! Did you cut your girlfriend with that rat nest?" Kyo continues, pleased with his cleverness. Yuki slows to a stop, suddenly realizing why Machi wouldn't tell him how she got hurt, because he would only shave it off and she... Did it really turn her on that much?

"Thanks!" Yuki shouts, turning around.

"For what?" Kyo panics, realizing he may have helped his enemy. "Come back here-"

When Yuki gets back he shaves off the curiously coarse beard. He runs his fingers along his now smooth skin, happy with the result. His face actually feels lighter. He goes to the kitchen where Machi is making breakfast, completely focused on the pancake batter in the pan."Machi," he whispers, kissing the side of her face until she kisses him back with a moan of annoyance.

She pulls away first to tend to her pancakes. Yuki briefly wonders if she doesn't find him attractive anymore, so he kisses her again, surprised by the feel of her smooth skin against his chin.

"Why did you shave it off today?" Machi asks as they pause to regain their breath.

"So you really liked the beard?"

She chuckles, the sound ringing in his ears. "I love you," she says simply, hugging him.

"The pancakes are burning."

A/N: No one wants to hear this, but something happened to my computer, so this is kind of late. This one is a long drabble, too. Are the shorter ones better or the long ones?

See you all soon!