AN: Hi there. Well, to those who know me, I'm glad to see you again. To those who don't, it's nice to meet you.

My usual readers are probably wondering, "KL, why the hell are you posting a new fic? When are you gonna update Push Back? Where the hell have you been?" Well, to sum it all up... I was busy. Working 10 hours, 6 days a week at a construction site leaves me no time or the mental capacity to even think of writing Push Back. But just because I don't have the time doesn't mean I don't have the urge to write.

So that gave birth to this little fic.

I'm gonna say this here in the beginning, I'm not going to fully invest in this thing. This fic is just meant for me to dump simple fluffy ideas that I've been meaning to write at random moments in my life. Updates may be rapid or can even take months or years. The chapters are all loosely connected and are based on after the "End" of Yukino's request, meaning that these events happen after all the drama and in their third year.

This story is also marginally unedited by my partner, Editor-san. I'm trying my best to make less mistakes in my drafts to make his life easier. Also I want you guys to note the difference in my other more focused works.

This story is meant for feels and fluff. Nothing more.

With that said, enjoy!

Chapter 1: Complicated Sensitivity

"Remind me again why we're here?"

I did my best to suppress the sigh threatening to leave my lips. But like with any situation involving the devolved specimen beside me, the act was futile.

"Sigh… Hikigaya-kun, it truly fascinates me how you can forget such simple information. It is amazing how some species of fish have evolved to not need a brain."

"I can move and talk, that's proof enough I have one."

"True. Perhaps the rot in your eyes has finally traveled to the recesses of your skull, Hikizombie-kun."

"Straight for the eyes again. Your quips are getting stale, Yukinoshita."

"Not as stale as your memory."

From the grimace he was showing I knew I had won another of our verbal spats. As always, the score between us leaned heavily in my favor.

"Sigh… can we just get to the point as to why you dragged me out of my house?"

His inquiry had me turn to face our current whereabouts, an old book store hidden among the many shop lots littering the street we stood. The words "Letter Bee" on the sign out front was quite faded, a testament to the age of this establishment.

"It is part of our current request. The literature club will be hosting a gallery displaying an assortment of books to the student body, come the following weeks. The theme of their gallery is "Old but Gold"."

"Let me guess; they requested us to do their dirty work in finding a sponsor for the books they want to show off."

"Your words are as uncouth as always but not entirely far from the truth. The president of the literature club requested our help in broadening their search for potential sponsors. That's why we're here."

"And if it's a request for the club, why isn't Yuigahama here too?"

"Yuigahama-san went to visit a relative who has taken ill."

As soon as I was done explaining, Hikigaya-kun sagged his shoulders and audibly groaned in complaint.

"Let's just get this over with. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can go home."

"Your laziness knows no bounds, Hikigaya-kun."

"It's a gift."

Explaining to the owner about our request was simple. The kindly old man was more than generous enough to, not lend, but donate us several old texts that have gone out of print. I rejected the offer out of respect for the worth of those books but he strongly insisted. Hikigaya-kun, as quick witted as always, suggested offhandedly to just put the books up in our school's library. With such a path open to us it would have been needless to refuse any further. I accepted the kind gesture with a promise to house them for the benefit of the public.

Of course I had Hikigaya-kun help the owner search and carry the books. He complained as expected, but as the one who suggested such a course of action so too must he help fulfill it.

You are your own undoing as the saying goes.

Seeing as I was currently alone, I let my curiosity guide me as I browsed the assorted books available. As stated before, the store was old and it showed externally and internally. The shelves were made of hard oak that gave of a very antique feel. The books were very dated, some having turned yellow over the years. The subtle smell of old parchment and wooden material was oddly soothing.

As I walked along the small paths between the tall shelves, a book nestled on the top most row caught my interest. There weren't any words on the spine that would indicate a title. Instead, there was only a small silhouette of a gold cat etched to it.

Curiosity led me here; now I must be satisfied.

I reached up to take it but unfortunately my average stature impedes me from doing so. Even standing on the tips of my toes did nothing to breach the gap.

The situation was oddly poetic. Be it a living feline or a feline themed book, both seemed to be equally elusive in nature to my wanting grasp.

Poetic, yet extremely infuriating.

Even so, I did not give up. Grunting in exertion I stretched as far up as I can physically go. I even leaned onto the shelf for leverage, supporting myself with one hand on a lower shelf.

I was almost there.

I could reach it.

Just.

A little.

Further…

"What are you doing?"

Eh?

The sudden laps of concentration made me slip. My grip on the shelf faltered. My feet landed haphazardly and jolts of pain ran up my ankles and calves. I failed to right myself on unsteady legs.

I, Yukinoshita Yukino, am falling.

I expected cold hard wooden flooring to greet me.

I didn't expect a warm, solid body.

Thin yet firm arms coiled around my waist, hoisting me up and preventing further decent. I could feel a heart beating rapidly. I thought it was my own but this beating came from behind me. Specifically, the person holding me in his arms.

I slowly and tentatively looked up towards my savior. A pair of familiar rotten eyes greeted me.

When had he grown so tall?

"Oi, Yukinoshita, you ok?"

His words were said rudely, but his eyes conveyed nothing but concern.

It made my body grow uncomfortably warm.

"Y-Yes… y-you can let me go now, Hikigaya-kun."

Words were said. Mind agrees. Heart didn't.

Slowly, he loosened his grip and I was left albeit unsteadily on my own two feet. I didn't immediately turn back to face him. There was no possible way I would let him see the crimson flush spread across my face.

Why? Why did he have to make me lose concentration? If he hadn't surprised me I wouldn't have slipped. I wouldn't have needed to be saved and be so flustered right now.

And I would have gotten that book!

"Is that what you almost killed yourself for?"

I looked up to that elusive bundle of parchment, still so far out of reach. I watched in wonder as his hand reached out towards it. In doing so he involuntarily moved closer as he stretched forward. If I leaned back by just a little I would be against him again. The thought made calming my redden cheeks even harder.

"Yosh… Got it."

He did it. He did it with such little effort. It really hammered in the difference in physiology between a man and a woman.

"Hey, Yukinoshita. I know being close to me must have felt like the end of the world but do you have to keep ignoring me? Look, I even helped you get your stupid book."

Why was he acting so haughty? There wasn't even a hint of waver in his voice. Did t-touching me do nothing to him?! How shameless!

I turned to give him the coldest stare I could muster. He visibly flinched the moment we locked gazes.

"What's with the death glare?"

"For your information, I didn't need your help."

"Hah?"

"It was already within reach by the time you appeared. I would have gotten it myself."

"You were barely even touching it. And you lost your grip and tripped."

"Only because you surprised me! Suddenly voicing out your presence almost led me to an unfortunate end."

"Well sorry for startling you but I did save you."

"Which didn't have to happen. I wouldn't have been caught in such a vulnerable state if you had just been quiet. I bet you loved every second of it."

"And why would you believe that?"

"Finding me struggling. Acting the hero. Touching me so carelessly. You're as deprived and perverted as I expected, you lech."

I regretted those words the second they left my lips. They were meant to mask my embarrassment. Empty insults, like always.

Berating him. Calling him names. Back handed comments.

Most of the time I never took stock to how my words affect him. He always seemed so nonchalant whenever he heard them. He would even revel in those insults, as if they were some kind of trophy.

I always said them from a distance.

Now that we were just barely a foot away from each other, I can see clearly what my words really do.

There was pain in his eyes. Pain I caused.

I always say that his eyes were reminiscent of dead fish. I never realized they were actually the most expressive feature on his face. His lips were in a neutral line and cheek muscles looked slack. A practiced poker face.

But his eyes couldn't lie.

Now that I actually look at them, really look at them…

They reminded me of a wounded animal.

"Whatever you say, Yukinoshita. Here, your book."

He placed it in my hands and turned away from me. The moment we broke eye contact it felt like a haze was lifted from my mind.

"I'll be waiting at the front desk with the old man. Take your time."

Ah, he's putting his shield up. Walking away while ignoring his wounds. Wounds I inflicted. Ever the proud martyr.

I couldn't stand it.

"Wait."

I gripped his arm tightly with both hands. The dull thump of the book hitting the floor echoed between us. He stood rigid for a moment before slowly turning back to face me. His eyes were now guarded, lips pulled into an uncomfortable frown.

"What?"

His voice was rough, almost like a growl. It sent a shiver through my body.

He was angry. No, not angry. Frustrated.

Frustrated at me.

I needed to calm him down.

"I… I-I'm sorry."

When acknowledging a mistake, the first thing you have to do is apologize.

His eyes went wide. Surprised? Well you should be. It was rare for me to say such words. Make sure to cherish them.

"… There's no need."

A deflect. I expected that. It's so like you to push away peoples gratitude and regrets, even when you rightfully deserve it.

I gently pulled him back. He reluctantly obliged. We stood face to face again, now even closer. I had to crane my head upwards. He really has grown. Since when did I only reach up to his chest?

"I'm sorry."

If once was not enough then another is needed. If even that is not enough then you keep trying.

"Again, there's no need."

"Yes, there is."

I'll wear down your walls if I have to. Just like you have done to me these past months.

"I'm sorry."

I can see it. His guard is slipping away. What was hidden was… amusement?

"Heh… heheh."

He's chuckling. It was deep and mellow. It sent a pleasant rumble through my chest. I-I can already feel my cheeks warming.

"W-Why are you laughing?"

"Eheh… you… you're taking this way too seriously."

"I-I was in the wrong. Anything less and it wouldn't mean anything. A-And you were being quite stubborn."

"Stubborn, huh? Would you like to be the pot or the kettle?"

Oh, this boy is so infuriating!

Stupid, nincompoop, Hachiman!

"Finding amusement in a situation like this… I take it back, you really are deplorable."

Somewhere between our exchange our hands had found each other. Our fingers subtly moved and caressed one another in a small and intimate dance. The contact sent little jolts of electricity from the tips of my fingers all the way up my spine.

His eyes were so warm now. To my delight, there was even a hint of affection in his gaze. My face was probably reminiscent of a ripe tomato by now. I didn't want him to indulge in my flustered visage any further. I was afraid that if I stayed under such a warm gaze for long I would eventually lose myself. I needed to find a way to separate from him.

But…

"Ehem."

We instantly froze. Slowly, almost mechanically, we turned to the sudden disturbance.

"While it warms my old heart to see young love, I'm afraid my little store isn't an appropriate place to be getting intimate."

As if being burnt by each other, we quickly separated less we further embarrassed ourselves in front of the owner. We quickly apologized and decided it was best to make our leave of the establishment. We thank the owner for his gracious donation once again, albeit more hastily than the first time before disappearing out the front door.

The second we were outside we both let out long an exasperated sighs. The awkward tension suffocating us in the store the moment we were caught was finally lifted.

I took this moment to steal a glance at him. He did the same to me.

We smiled.

Soon, we laughed.

The walk following our escape was spent in silence. We didn't talk, not because we couldn't, but because we were simply enjoying the others presence.

The distance between us was smaller than when we first came earlier in the day. Our shoulders and the back of ours hands would occasionally brush against the other.

I glanced at him, my friend.

No, not friend. We were too close. These small intimate moments denied us the right to label our relationship to be anything as simple as friends. But we weren't close enough to be called lovers.

It was complicated.

Yes, a perfect word to sum it all up.

He was uncouth and lazy, but also empathetic and responsible.

He was unnerving and creepy, yet oddly charming and kind.

Stoic and aloof.

Sensitive and endearing.

He was just so complicated.

Yet I couldn't help but fall in love with him.

… There was just one problem.

I wasn't the only one.

AN: So how was my first attempt at fluff? It's not my best work or the best quality so I'm sure there's going to be a lot of complaints here and there. The next chapter will be will focus on Yui. It's gonna be diabetes inducing XD.

Well, have a nice day my lovely readers! This is kitsunelovers, signing off.