Hiiii! Whew! I didn't think I'd be able to write this time around because my writer's block suddenly latched on me again last week. But hey, thank goodness I overcame it! I sure hope it won't come back anytime soon.

And now here's your weekly update. Enjoy reading!

A crush. A childlike crush. Nothing more.

He's obviously much older than me, and older guys aren't exactly my type.

Besides, I can't possibly fall in love with a fictional character from the books who, for some reason I couldn't really understand, I got to meet personally and live with for a few days now.

I sighed. My mind is telling me weird things again as I watched him. "Say, Kurama…" I finally said.

"Hm?" the handsome fox glanced at me through the mirror as he brushed his silver hair, a part of his vain ritual every night.

We were at my room now, having finished dinner with his comrades. Apparently, I've had about three hours left after today's training. "I've read before that river kitsune have healing abilities. Is that true?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Well, all kitsune have healing abilities, that's why they could heal themselves."

I frowned slightly; does he really think I'm that ignorant?

"But if you are referring to healing others," he continued, "it is true. And so what?"

I brightened, "Well, I was actually wondering if I could be of real use here."

Kurama raised an eyebrow as he set the brush on the dresser. He was still looking at me through the mirror. "What are you getting at?"

"You know for a fact that it's not every time you guys get home from a raid unharmed. Of course you get injuries too," I smiled. "And with this 'special power' I have, I could help a lot by being a healer, don't you think?"

Kurama finally turned to stare at me intently as he thought it over.

I had to look away. Oh, if he only knew how his stare could stir up weird emotions.

"That'd be nice, indeed. I actually needed a hand," he said at last, distracting me from my musings.

"You do?"

He walked over to sit beside me. I moved away a bit. He looked at me strangely for a brief moment before he spoke, "You see, plants are also used for healing, so I have knowledge with regards to that matter." He then sighed, "I do heal my comrades from their injuries, but it's tough to do all the work alone. So having someone around to help me would be better."

"So you're letting me?" I asked expectantly.

"It needs a lot of practice. And the discipline to broaden your knowledge. New techniques are being discovered to make healing much more effective, so it's important that you learn them as well." Kurama then reached over for a certain book from the new stack he brought in. "So is that what you want us to study tonight?"

I nodded excitedly. "Yes, please."

BAM! I got tossed onto a wall again. I stood up, desperately trying to catch my breath as I shot Kurama a glare. He was still standing in the middle of the room, unfazed by my attacks.

"Could you still go on?" he asked, his eyes full of concern. Kind of surprising though, considering he's my opponent. "Is the sword too heavy for you?"

I shook my head, tightening my grip on the white sword. "I'd like to continue."

He smirked. "Alright then. But we'd have to stop after an hour, whether or not you made me move from this spot."

"You don't have to wait for another hour though," I said. Without another word, I ran towards him, preparing to lunge with my sword.

A week had passed since we first started training.

Physical training has gotten more challenging, now that Kurama started training me with a sword. Though I'm not as fast as him yet, he says my current speed is enough to move on to training with weapons. Since training with weapons is quite more dangerous, Kurama says he'd hold back his strength to match mine so I won't get broken or displaced bones.

As for my water manipulation training, he also decided to take things further once he saw I'm getting the hang of controlling the lake near the castle.

He took me to the forest early in the morning one day.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I tagged along with him.

"To somewhere without water," he took my hand as we sped up.

Getting deep into the forest, we stopped in an area surrounded by huge trees. Without Kurama, who knows his way around the woods, I would've been worried sick as I thought of being completely lost. "What are we doing here?" I looked around. The lake was nowhere to be seen anymore, much less heard crashing into the rocks.

"It's not everytime you get to be near a body of water. You have to learn not to rely on them too much as a power source," the fox started. "Since you've only been training by the lake, now I want you to produce water in a place far away from it."

He had a point. This place isn't full of oceans and lakes to begin with anyway.

But this training proved to be more difficult than it seems though. It took up a lot of energy, but Kurama assured me that I'd be able to perfect it with practice. So far, I was able to produce bubbles of different sizes from my fingertips.

While the training got tougher, the nightly study sessions have become more interesting. Healing with plants is different from healing with water, so Kurama was also intrigued to learn something new. We'd read lots of books together all night on the floor. Sometimes we even end up sleeping there.

He took me to the infirmary a few days later. "You have to be familiarized with the way things work around here by the time we go to our next raid," he said. "Besides, the medicine bottles have to be refilled. They're almost empty."

Opening the wide medicine cabinet, Kurama pulled out a box full of bottles and set it on the long table where all sorts of chemicals are also placed on one side.

"Hand me a bottle, and I'll give you the medicine you need to refill it with," he instructed.

I picked a little bottle from the box, and Kurama proceeded to watch me as I prepared to pour the green liquid he gave me.

As if his heart-stopping stare isn't enough, he just had to speak with such a gentle and pleasant voice. "Be careful, alright?" I got easily distracted, resulting to a few spills on the table.

He then showed me the other machines and devices in the infirmary afterwards, letting me succumb to my curiosity as I tested each.

We slept on the stretchers that night. No one else ever goes down the infirmary, so it's safe to stay in even after my twelve-hour time limit.

Little by little, I started to like spending time with Kurama every day. I don't understand, but his smile never fails to make me feel something flutter in my chest. Quite often, I'd catch myself staring at him as he talked, barely paying attention to what he says. And so I had to stifle a laugh as he frustratingly repeats himself. Despite the harsh training, Kurama's been really gentle and sweet lately, and even goes out of his way just to let me improve.

However, as days passed by, I find it hard to relax when he's so close to me. And man, the fox really likes to get too close.

His presence calms me when we're with other people, but it's the other way around when it's just the two of us. I become too jumpy and end up flinching at his slightest touch.

Denial. Yes, I guess that's it.

No wait. What am I denying in the first place? He's not even real. But then… ugh. See? There I go again.

I can't believe I have serious feelings for a character from my favorite books.

One night after dinner, Kurama went on a meeting again for a huge raid the following day, so he told me to rest early. But just when I was about to enter my room, a familiar voice called after me, "Yana."

Taking a deep breath, I turned to face someone I had been dreading to talk to all this time. Yomi. I've been deliberately avoiding conversation with him for the whole week, much less eye contact. Did he notice?

I gulped. "Um, hi…" I looked away when I saw him smirk. "Aren't you supposed to be in the meeting?"

"It won't start without me," he said confidently. "I just want to know what you'd like me to do."

"Huh?"

"Don't tell me you forgot our little game," he raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure you've thought about your winner's request after a whole week of avoiding me."

My eyes widened. Shoot. Of course he'd notice. Why else would he talk to me now? "Um, actually…" I blushed in embarrassment. I did forget all about it. I didn't really think he was serious, so I wasn't able to come up with anything. Besides, I wasn't planning to talk to him again unless it's necessary.

"Well?" Yomi prompted. I must have been quiet for a while.

"Do you really need to know now? As in right now?" I asked. He nodded, so I sighed, "Can I ask for others' sake?"

He suddenly looked annoyed. "Alright…"

I smiled,"Just… make sure Kurama's safe tomorrow."

He flustered. "Y-you want me to babysit him?"

I almost laughed at his reaction. "I didn't say that. I just don't want him getting into any harm."

"Hmph. As you wish," he turned to walk away. "I'll make sure he won't be harmed too much," he added, the tone of hatred evident in his voice.

"Yomi," we heard someone else speak. I turned to see Kuronue leaning against a wall. "Kurama will start the meeting in ten seconds."

Yomi grunted as he took off. Kuronue just chuckled, walking over to me.

"How about you?" I asked the bat demon. "Aren't you going to the meeting too?"

"I'm not joining the raid," he smiled. "I'm your trainer tomorrow."

Well that was a relief. Somehow I see Kuronue as a big brother I never had. No creepy feeling around him. He'd watch our training sessions sometimes, and especially likes the physical training. Mostly because he enjoyed watching me get thrown on the walls.

I smiled. "Nice. I'm looking forward to it."

Kuronue smirked. "We'll see about that," he ruffled my hair. He then opened my bedroom door. "Get in. Your fiancee's orders."

Even if Kurama sends me to bed before him, I still wait for him before I really go to sleep. At first he complained against my stubbornness, but then he figured he couldn't do anything about it. Part of a fox' nature is stubbornness anyway, he says. But actually, I just like to watch him sleep.

Usually he'd say something like, 'Waiting for me again?' or 'You really can't sleep without me by your side, can't you?' when he finally arrives at the room.

But tonight he just climbed onto the bed without even looking at me. "Lights out," was all he said, as he lay on his back and immediately closed his eyes.

"Are you alright?" I peered at him in the dark.

"I'm just tired," he replied flatly, his eyes still closed.

I panicked. Did I just do something wrong?

I opened my mouth to say something, but then he spoke again, "The raid will be at a quite dangerous place. We might have casualties, so be ready."

I still don't know if I should reply, until he opened his eyes and glanced sideways at me. "Oh, yes I will," I looked away.

Sighing heavily, Kurama then turned to face me. "Would you be willing to heal me if ever I'm one of the casualties?"

I gasped in bewilderment. "W-what are you talking about?"

His expression hardened. "I know you're not happy with me. I could see it in your eyes."

"You…"

"Am I not doing enough? What can I do to make you like me back?" his features now clearly showed pain and struggle. "Am I really that forceful?" Kurama reached over to touch my face, and as an initial reaction, I flinched and moved back slightly, much to his frustration. "Oh. You don't like that too," he immediately withdrew his hand.

My eyes widened as I realized what it had done to him. "Oh no Kurama, it's not like that. I didn't mean—"

"It's alright, Yana," he closed his eyes again. "If that's how it is, then I'll just—"

Suddenly I leaned over and hugged him. There was a long silence as both of us froze. All I could hear is my heavy breathing and the wild beating of my heart. This isn't the way things are supposed to be going. "I'm sorry. I didn't know, Kurama. I didn't know I was already hurting you. But I'm telling you, you're getting the exact opposite idea!"

"What do you mean?" he asked in confusion.

"Uh, w-well," I pulled back to look at his face. Sure enough, he doesn't understand anything. "I-It's not that I'm resisting you. It's just—"I paused, thinking over my next words. I looked away. What should I say? I certainly couldn't tell him that his touch was too electric, that I feel restless by just being close to him. It's way too embarrassing.

I looked up at him. He needs to know, or else it would hurt him even more. And that's the last thing I'd want him to feel. Feeling my face rapidly heating up, I buried my face into his chest, getting to inhale his sweet scent of roses.

"I… I actually like being with you, Kurama," I blurted. "You are so kind and patient with me and you always make sure I'm safe and happy. At first I thought your ways are just too much, but there's no way I can hate you! Because… I… I…" I hesitated. I didn't plan to say this much, but now that it's out, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I continued, "I like you."

Suddenly I felt his arms slowly wrap around me. He's hugging me back.

I looked up at his face, and saw him smiling again. "Say it again."

"Huh?"

"Say it again. Look at me this time," he grinned.

I fought back a giggle as I realized what he meant. "I… I like you."

And then the world around me seemed to have stopped, as I felt his lips immediately meet mine. And this time, I know and feel it was sincere. It was not like the short kisses he stole from me before. His lips moved gently, slowly, carefully, as his hand traveled up and down my back. I could only hold onto him, immersing myself in the moment, until he pulled away and touched his forehead to mine.

"That was the best goodnight kiss I ever gave you, don't you think?" he whispered.

I smiled and nodded. "But I never thought you'd be so sensitive."

"Sensitive?" he repeated.

I pulled away, grinning. "I bet you probably thought I didn't like you because I avoid eye contact with you. And move away when you try to get close."

He smiled sheepishly. "Well, I didn't know how much my actions are already affecting you that much," he moved closer to kiss me again.

I turned away, but remembering how he reacted earlier, I immediately faced him. I laughed nervously, "S-sorry. I didn't really mean that."

He chuckled as started kissing my neck. "No need to be shy now, Yana~" he cooed, suddenly pressing my shoulders down as he got on top of me.

"But…" I held his head to make him stop and look at me, "look, you really need to rest. It's a big day tomorrow."

He smirked as he sat up. "You've got a point." Kurama looked over at the huge pillow beside me, which used to be placed between us every night. "I'm sure we won't need this anymore, won't we?"

I nodded, and he threw the pillow away. I think it hit something because I just heard something crash. I laughed. "You could've just put it under our feet," I pulled him towards the center of the bed, because he's too close to the edge that he might fall with just one wrong move.

"I'm sick of not having to maximize the space on the bed," he replied. Kurama then brushed my hair away from my face and kissed me on the forehead. "Besides, I want to be close as I could get."

I giggled as I snuggled close to him."But Kurama, please don't ask something like that again. You're… seriously scaring me."

"I promise," he pulled me closer, resting my head on his outstretched arm.

Mumbling our good nights, I closed my eyes. It didn't take long before I fell asleep in his arms.

Oh, this moment, this feeling, this sensation. His kiss, his words, his warm hug, his very presence. Our relationship.

Suddenly I felt I wasn't just dreaming. No, I don't even want this to be just a dream anymore.

I suddenly wanted to believe the one theory that's been lingering in the back of my mind all this time.

That wherever and whoever I am right now, all of this...

Is real.

There you go! Fluff. Haha. I love fluff. xD Anyway, what do you guys think? Tell me in your reviews!

By the way, I'm not sure if I'd be able to keep up with my set update schedule next week, because I've got something to attend on Tuesday. But don't worry, I know God will provide me enough time to post it on time. I'm just giving you guys a warning. Hehe.

So, until next week! Ja'ne!