I can feel you breathing next to me. Each breath you take is deep and even as you sleep. My heart races and it becomes difficult to breathe. I lay back and stare at the ceiling.

"I don't have time to teach you how to breathe, little one."

How many times have I heard that? More than I would care to admit. Each time I am faced again with my own weakness. I was never good enough, never strong enough to survive in our world. It was through perseverance alone that I remained. No one had time for me. No one had time to teach me how to breathe. But you were different. You took the time to notice me, to train me, to love me. You were the only one who had time to care.

I roll over and wrap my arms around your strong chest. "Thank you," I whisper. At my words you rouse slightly and I wonder if you heard. You run your fingers through my hair absent mindedly. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You wanna hear a secret?" you ask quietly. I nod once. "I love you my lovely, lovely Nanao-chan," you mutter with a smile. A silly grin spreads across my face as I hear the words that send shivers down my spine.

"I love you too." The words earn me a kiss on the top of the head. I see your eyes droop as your fingers continue making that journey, up and down through my hair. I listen to you breathe as you drift back to sleep. As each of your breaths becomes deeper, mine become more and more shallow.

You were the only one who taught me how to breathe but around you I find myself breathless.

A/N: HI! This is Misao's story. I wrote this in the dead of writer's block but I think it's alright. Let me know what you think because I'm biased and I really like the idea. I couldn't remember the exact quote from the show but I thought this was close enough.