Goodnight Kiss

Tohru stretched out her legs, flexing her toes and arching her back as she did so.

What time was it? A quick glance at the grandfather clock in the corner assured her that she hadn't been asleep for more than half an hour. Kyo was flipping through channels in the same spot that she remembered him in from before she fell asleep.

Yawning, she hesitantly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Kyo instantly froze without so much as a twitch. "Kyo?" Tohru murmured, tiredly rubbing her eyes.

"Did I wake you up?" he asked.

The grogginess made her reaction slower. "No, no," she shook her head slowly, curling her arms around her knees. It was hard to keep her eyes open and on him. "Are Shigure and Yuki home yet?"

"No," Kyo said gruffly. "I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they didn't come back until tomorrow morning."

Tohru rested her elbow on the table, doing her best to prop her head up. "They might still come in late. You should go to bed, Kyo," she tried to stifle the oncoming yawn but with little success. "I can wait up for the others a little longer."

"Did you not hear what I just said?" the cat snapped, instantly regretting it. He lowered his voice to what he hoped was a comforting tone. "It's not even likely that they'll be back tonight so there's no point in you staying up any later."

Tohru perked up the best she could, the familiar shine slightly returning to her fatigue clouded eyes. "But they—"

" —listen." Kyo stood up, reaching his hand down to Tohru who stared up at him hesitantly. "It's already past midnight. You need to get some rest. If it makes you rest easy...I'll stay up and wait for Shigure and that damn rat."

"No," Tohru murmured sleepily. Kyo grabbed her wrist, hauling her to her feet gently and steadied her when she swayed precariously to the side. "You don't have too, Kyo...I can h-handle…" she stopped mid-sentence to rest her forehead against Kyo's shoulder.

"H-hey, hey!" He was grateful that Tohru was too tired to notice the crimson shade of his cheeks, but he remained consciously aware of their now entwined hands. "Be careful. I don't feel like being a cat right now."

"I'm sorry, Kyo." Tohru tried to pull away from his body to give him more space, but Kyo just guided her in front of him towards the staircase.

"Don't apologize, Tohru. Now watch out for the first step." Kyo nodded when she cleared the step despite her zombie-like movements. "I would've just carried you up if I could but that wouldn't work for obvious reasons."

"Oh, I'm sorry to be so much trouble. I promise I don't mean to be." Upon reaching the top floor, Tohru glided toward her bedroom door automatically. Stopping in front, she tried looking up at him through hooded eyelids. "I'll make a good breakfast tomorrow morning."

Kyo rolled his eyes. "Stop worrying about tomorrow already, you idiot. Just go to sleep."

Tohru nodded slightly, moving closer to him again. He thought she may have started to lose her balance again and moved in to help her, but instead Tohru planted a soft, gentle kiss on his lips. He clamped a hand over his mouth, unsure of what to make of the situation.

"What was that?" He demanded angrily.

Tohru shrugged though her tired stupor. "It was a goodnight kiss. Goodnight, Kyo."

Kyo watched as she slipped into her bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar. He waited until she was in bed before slinking back downstairs. When he was back on the floor in front of the TV, he lost a majority of the interest that he had invested in the program.

The kiss was still fresh in his head and he wanted to remember every second of it.

Cat, one. Rat, zero.

...

2/7/17