Manga: Barajou no Kiss

Genre: Romance/Drama

Pairing: Mutsuki/Anis

Spoiler: During/After Chapter 17

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I don't own Barajou no Kiss, nor any characters or related content.

Note from the Author: Trying to keep as close to character as possible during the main text, might get a tad out of character towards the end. Please enjoy.

XXXX = change of character view (i.e. Mutsuki to Anis, Anis to Mutsuki)

Anis calls Mutsuki later on that night just to talk. This is what follows.

Late Nights

'I should've just called Tenjou-senpai for a ride. I'm going to catch a cold at this rate.' Anis thought, walking into her lonely apartment soaking the carpet to the foundation. Pouting, she stomped all the way to the kitchen and almost slipped. Slamming herself on the floor, she violently removed her shoes and threw them lightly against the cabinets. Even at her angriest, she didn't want to damage anything.

The rain pounded against the roof. It didn't sound like it was letting up soon, so she made herself a cup of tea and set her homework in front of her, promptly forgetting about it and moving on to daydreams.

'Mutsuki has been acting very odd, hasn't he? Not only had his threads seemed to have been a little less controllable, but he had willingly touched me. Maybe he's becoming more human? Or he's letting his guard down around the group?' Shaking the embarrassing feeling of the encounter earlier, Anis blushed. She brushed it off. In any case, Mutsuki seemed…gentler.

"DANG IT!" The sinking feeling of heat rushed over Anis' hand. Her warm chamomile tea felt so much hotter on her hand. Remaining calm, she cleansed it and wrapped it in gauze. Tenjou was going to be extra disgusting about this tomorrow. It wasn't really like her to just shrug off pain if there was no one else in trouble. Maybe the guys were changing her too?

'I feel guilty about setting Kaede up with Mikage.' Her guilt turned into anger. 'Then again, he was going to make both of us do all the work anyway.' Anis stared blankly at her homework for a few minutes. Her eyes started to glaze over. 'Maybe I should call Mutsuki and ask him for help?' She didn't know why, but her face turned pink and got hot, almost as hot as the place where her new burn was.

"It can't hurt, can it?" She spoke out loud, asking no one except herself. Anis laid a gentle kiss on the card. Black roses exploded all around her, making her blind for a moment. Wind rushed through her long hair and she felt the pin-prickle of tiny needle-like tentacles gently brush her face for the slightest moment. Her eyes remained closed, and she didn't know whether it was in amazement or fear. What seemed like a lifetime later, Mutsuki's deep, distant voice rang out.

"You wanted something?" Anis' eyes flicked open. Mutsuki didn't seem angry. Irritated yes, but less than usual. Or did she just want it to be that way? She paused a moment longer and stuttered something like a sorry. The dark stalker was so much more intimidating in this lonely little apartment, dim from the lone lamp in the far corner and the rain pounding on the large window.

"Listen, Missy. I was just about to sit down for dinner, so unless you have some request for me, I'll be taking my leave." So she had just imagined that inkling of kindness. And earlier today must have just been to see her freak. Anis choked back some angry and hurt comments and swallowed her pride.

XXXX Mutsuki

"If you're so upset, just go. I'm not going to order you to do anything." Her voice seemed angry, yet calm. It seemed off to him. Maybe he had really bothered her earlier? And why did he suddenly feel concerned? Perhaps the dominion naturally has increasing power over all in the contracts? Then again, it could be that he was spending too much time and in turn becoming too soft-hearted. This bothered him. In fact, it made him really, really upset. Beyond upset. He was absolutely furious.

The dominion had turned her back to him, struggling to remain focused on material she was obviously frustrated by. Was he feeling guilty? Is that what they called it?

Silently approaching the small coffee table where she sat, he stood behind her in the dim light. Suddenly he felt angry with Anis. How dare she call me here and then say she wouldn't order me? And what does that even mean? In two long strides Mutsuki crossed to the other side of the coffee table and sat gracefully.

"Dominion, I hope you realize I can tell that you're struggling with that and the only reason you're attempting it is to avoid my presence." Her face slumped. He defeated her, and it was obvious on her face. She looked up at him, her eyes somewhat troubled and yet everlastingly happy, innocent. Mutsuki's 'guilt' swelled. "Do you need help with this?"

She didn't answer, but slightly nodded her head while studying the print intensely. He pointed towards several points in the text and after a while her face began to light with understanding. When the rain started to dim ever so slightly and the clock hand got ever closer to Mutsuki's prime hour, Anis lifted her head and turned directly towards him. Her bright eyes met his and she smiled with a great thank you. They said nothing else the rest of the study session, simply the constant sound of rain on the window and roof and the faint scratch of pencil marks on paper.

It was the most comfortable either of them had felt since this whole ordeal started.