Pairing: KaonxHimiko

Warning: Shoujo-ai

Word Count: 469

Disclaimer: I own nothing in connection with the characters used within this non-profit fanfiction.

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Charcoal Graze

Kaon was so patient. Always so willing to take Himiko to places of intense natural beauty. Then just sit all day as pencils and charcoal sticks scratched across page after sketchbook page, trying to capture even the tiniest shred of beauty around them. Kaon was happy to sit, watch and wait.

At least Himiko hoped that was the case. Her eyes would be constantly flitting from the page to Kaon's passive form watching the nature around them. Such a relaxed expression as she watched a butterfly flex its wings upon the petals of a flower or a mother bird care for her chicks reassured her. Because such a small, yet satisfied, smile and a dreamy, content look in her eyes could never be a lie.

And so in thanks Himiko would always draw a little crescent moon on her landscape sketches. Sometimes it was within the sky and others in a bottom corner acting as a signature. To her, it made the pictures perfect.

As she completed a charcoal sketch of the view they had whilst sat upon a hill of the trees, the mountains beyond and the lake which stretched itself between them, Himiko felt something press down upon her leg. Glancing down, she felt a pleasant swell within her chest to discover Kaon resting her head upon her lap, her eyes closed. Small rays of sunlight which were able to burst through the foliage of the tree they sat beneath played over her face.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" she said.

"Yes." It could have been a day filled with wind, sleet and hail for all Himiko cared at that moment. She would have given the same reply. Upon impulse, she reached out to touch Kaon's hair. But then her hand came to a stop half an inch away.

Her fingers were covered with charcoal smudges. It wouldn't do at all to touch Kaon like that and ruin such perfection.

For a moment she battled between that thought and the pulling within her chest. Then the internal argument was settled for her as Kaon reached up, took her hand and dragged it down to press it to her cheek. At first Himiko tried to flinch away, not once but twice as she saw the charcoal graze on Kaon's perfect skin. But Kaon held onto her firmly, speaking once she felt Himiko relax her efforts.

"I'm not perfect, Himiko," she said, her voice remaining completely passive and calm. "It's okay."

To Himiko it was a lie. Kaon, as she saw her, was an artists dream. And an artists dream couldn't possibly be anything less than perfection.

But because the words had come from Kaon's own mouth they were also truth. Which was why she dozed with Kaon within the shade, keeping her hand resting upon her cheek.

END