Aww this was so cute. Maxie is so CUTE X3.
Tyson: Max. Tekas drooling over you again.
Me: *drools over Max picture*
Max: Man! Why did she have to love me of all people! Why not Kai..
Kai: Hey dont dump her on me!
Max: Or Ray..
Ray: That is not going to happen.
MAx: Tyson?
Tyson: No way.
Me: *sees Max* MAXIE!XD!
Max: Crap!
ME: *hugs max to death(almost)*
Kai: Anyway she loved your story. Teka let him go! We have a tornment and im not going to battle if i dont have too.

cutie
Moonlit Sea

aw, this is just plain fluffy...

Very nice fic~ ::shoujo bubbles::
(Red!! As your beta, it is my duty to correct your grammer and spelling!! 'erally' is NOT a word!! It's 'really', 'kay? Thanks~!)

Hey hunni! I never noticed this lol.
I erally like it. too bad you couldn't work it into the original plot. I like Max's statement at the end. It's one of those things that just fit. I get those some times. It's when inspiration strikes.
So, you know we like so I'm otta here. ^__^
Happy happy!
Red

Ah! I haven't reveiwed this! What's wrong with ME?!

Yeah, I know it's been up for a long time, but that's the thing with your fanfiction, if you just happen to be skimming through your favorite authors list (you're on mine) and choose you... You just HAVE to read the stuff again.

EVEN though you've read it over 16 times. (me)
It' STILL wonderful in EVERY way imaginable.

You know, it wasn't until a night ago that I realized that I had never reviewed this fic on Fanfiction.net. How sad is that?

*Sweatdrops*

So, having that said, I will review this lovely piece of fanfiction and praise the hell out of it because it deserves every piece of admiration it can receive. *Nods Firmly*

First off, can I just tell you once again, I *love* your charactization of Takao? And I love your Max for that matter, however, Takao just seems to stick into my brain quite strongly. I guess it's the fact that I can completely see him saying some of these lines in the series, more clearly, but then again, I'm reviewing this after writing from Takao's point of view, so that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I am staring at awe over your Takao. *Sighs*

And yes, he's /your/ Takao 'cause no one can do it just like you. Or better for that matter.

*Note: Don't read this fic while listening to "Gravity", Wolf's Rain depressing ending theme. It makes it just seem plain _sad_. o.o;

Right then.

One of the lines that particuarily stuck with me would have to be:

"Two-thirty. You know, it's late, you should go back to sleep."

Like Dew said, if it had come from anyone else it would have sounded about the same level as molester!Yuki, but with Takao, it's just too plain innocent to corrupt and take wrong. Part of which, that makes this line just so lovely and adorible at the same time.

I think I'm the first person to fall in love with a line, what do you think? =_=

Another, which makes me pull my hair in frustration, for different reasons is:

But he shook his head, slowly so as not to dislodge my fingers. "No, you look like you."

First I start writing about Spring for a Naruto fic, now I base a one-shot on a similar line. I think my brain somehow has every single aspect of your writing forever engraved on my plot bunnies and want me to be unoriginal for the rest of my life, wouldn't you agree more? x_x

But, besides that, it is yet another memoriable line that just screams "Takao" since the reasoning is just so straight forward and clear. I would imagine Takao doesn't send many mixed signals when he says lines like that, but hey, it could just be me.

And finally, on the Takao side of things, I love how you made him a vulnerable at night. It just seems to fitting, seeing how he is so strong and willed in the day. It's a beautiful contrast if you want me to be blunt, and I can't really say anything else with it.

(Ishshi is still typing with one eye closed. =_=;; You don't need to know that, but it's strange.)

On the Max side of things, I love how you ended it. I'll say that from the beginning. It is just a lovely, simple way to end it all, and yet, it brings such nice images to my head at the same time. I can easily see Max doing that after finding Takao watching *him*.

The point where Max snaps at him in the beginning is just priceless as well. I never really thought of Max being cranky at that time of night, but then again, like most things, it makes complete and perfect sense.

Besides that, I don't think anything else really glares out at me, but then again, my brain isn't function.

This is a lovely, lovely piece of writing though, and I think it compliments your other Takao/Max pieces beautifully. I can't wait to see what other pieces you come up with in the future, Akai-*sama*. ~_^

Well then, I'll be speaking with you soon!

*Flying Tackle Glomps*

Until next time,
Ishshi

Maybe I should start working on ChinaTown again... *muses*

this is so (and i've never said this before) Kawii!
Your so good at this, you have to do senses! you have to! please continue that one! look at how good this is!

This was such a great fic. It was exactly the way I've always imagined Tyson's and Max's relationship should be. It's also exactly the way I've always wanted my relationships to be, so this fic kind of hits a soft spot in me. I'm adding it to my favorites (and you to my favorite authors), because I just love your writing style so much. It's just so nearly perfect the way you make them interact. I love to read your Tyson/Max stories...though that Rei/Kai story you wrote was also awesome (I'd love to read another one by you! Hint, hint). I'll be looking out for your stories.

"I mean, why waste time being asleep when I could be watching you sleep instead?"

That was priceless. XD That little quote just made me suddenly snort. (sort of hurt too, but it was funny none-the-less, hee.)

This was a fun one-shot. ^_^ Nice to read after reading Senses you know? Just when you get really worked up about Max and Tyson, you run off and read this and sigh like everything's all right again. ^^;

~Kanpei!
Kitzaku-san

Gah! Stupid ff.net! I was just checking my review history and it seems that for some bizarre reason they cut out all the quotes I put in, which has just made my review completely meaningless! >__< My apologies for leaving you TWO rambling reviews, but it really makes no sense without the quotes to back it up! If by some amazing miracle the first review comes out okay, you can delete this one. Anyway, here goes again...

'I'm pretty sure I was dreaming at the time, but I have no idea of what. All I know is that whether they were good dreams or bad dreams, fantastic or mundane, they all drained away in a moment like water swirling down a plughole.'

This is an excellent piece of description to start the fic off. The simple first line sets up nicely for the lovely imagery of the second, and really guides the reader into the scene.

'"Hey," I returned, my voice scratchy and as full of sleep as a sponge.'

Nice descriptive writing again! I know the EXACT kind of sleep-filled voice you’re talking about, when you’ve just woken up and you can hardly force the words out of your throat, and you describe it perfectly (and concisely!) here.

'"Two-thirty. You know, it's late, you should go back to sleep."'

*laughs* Is it just me, or would it be incredibly funny to wake up in the middle of the night with someone watching you, who then tells you to go back to sleep? If it wasn’t someone I knew as well as Max knows Tyson, I’d find it pretty creepy!

'When he looked away without a word, I was instantly wracked with guilt. My tongue's a lot sharper when I need sleep, while Tyson's tiredness tends to beat down his defences, increasing his sensitivity levels. I always regret any sharp comments I make, but especially when they're directed at him. He'd looked nervous enough when he noticed that I was awake, and I'd just made it a lot worse for him.'

I LOVE the protective side of Max’s personality! The way he’s so careful of unintentionally hurting Tyson’s feelings, and then feels horribly guilty when he does. The fact that Tyson isn’t quite so sure of himself in private with Max as he is in public is a nice touch too – it’s as if Max gets to see a side of him that other people rarely/never do. Lovely!

'"Oh, I just couldn't sleep," he said vaguely... "I don't know, I saw you asleep, and I was going to go to sleep as well, then I just… didn't want to." He tugged at a thread on the sheets. "I mean, why waste time being asleep when I could be watching you sleep instead?"'

It’s interesting that – while you mention later that Tyson’s open and somewhat guileless – he’s still not completely comfortable with the idea of telling Max how he feels. It brings into focus the fact that their relationship IS quite new and awkward for both of them, and that they’re trying to adjust to the new boundaries – very different boundaries to the ones they had as just friends.

'For every scrap of emotional information he gives me and no one else, my own feelings run a little bit deeper. Ironically enough, if I told him that, he'd probably feel too awkward to ever tell me anything again, but hey, that's life, and I have to compromise just like everyone else.'

This is where I start to melt – especially at the first line. This fits in very well with the next part, where you mention that Tyson doesn’t play emotional games and that Max has to accept that. It shows his greater maturity, and the fact that he’s willing to compromise like this expresses just how much he cares for Tyson.

'"You shouldn't watch me sleep," I said with a smile, tracing figure eights over his cheek. "I bet I look horrible."

But he shook his head, slowly so as not to dislodge my fingers. "No, you look like you.”'

And it’s at THIS point that the melting is complete, and I’ve become a little puddle on the top of my keyboard! This is exactly the sort of guileless, almost naïve comment I could see Tyson coming out with, without even realising – as Max says after – that it’s a compliment. The fact that he says it without any flattering intent just makes a remark like this all the more precious...but you say this in the next paragraph far better than I just did! ^^;

'He's not one of those people who understands arguing with compliments for the sake of modesty, and he wouldn't be impressed it if I started that little game.

That's the thing: there are no games with Tyson. If you want to say something, just say it straight out and he'll appreciate it much more than any dancing around you do.'

From reading this, it occurred to me just how many games people DO play in their relationships, whether romantic or otherwise. It’s second nature to most people to brush off a compliment just, as you say, for the sake of modesty. It reminds me of something a friend of mine was telling me: in Ireland (I don’t know what it’s like in England or France!) if you’re in someone’s house and they offer you tea or coffee, it’s automatic that you refuse the first time, then they offer again more insistently, and you accept the second (or third!) offer. My friend was in a different country (can’t remember where, which kind of ruins the story!) and when she was offered tea she refused politely. At which point her host shrugged and didn’t offer again. “And,” she said, “I was DYING for a cup of tea!” Err...it’s just occurred to me that this really has nothing to do with the comment I was making, except that it’s funny how we perform these little rituals as if they’re second nature – and when we come across someone who doesn’t play the games we either have to adapt or miss out on tea. Or something... *looks slightly embarrassed for her ramblings*

'I don't mean a grin - Tyson gives those out like rain - but a genuine smile right across his face that says, "I'm glad to be here with you."'

Melting again... The distinction you draw here between Tyson’s regular grin and the smile he reserves for special occasions is very interesting. It occurs to me that all we ever see in the series is that cocky, million gigawatt grin, and I’m now intrigued with trying to visualise what his “genuine smile” would look like. And the fact is that most people probably don’t realise it even exists – which makes it all the more special for Max to see it. Of course I’m fond of the real/public smile device myself, and I’ve used it (probably too much!) in regards to Kai and his arrogant smirk. But Kai’s a very introverted character anyway, and it’s absolutely fascinating to see this idea applied to an extrovert, open character like Tyson.

'He took my hand in his and moved it from his face, leaning in to kiss me. It was a short, uncomplicated kiss, just perfect for the middle of the night. The hand Tyson wasn't holding drifted upwards, and I gently touched my fingertips to his neck.

The moment was lost slightly when he snapped his head to one side and trapped my fingers between his jaw and collarbone, giggling helplessly and begging me to stop tickling him. Well, like my grandma always said, that's just like asking a river not to run! I mean, I didn't realise I was tickling him at first, obviously, but why pass up a good opportunity? So I attacked him, he fought back, and we ended up in a full-scale pillow fight.'

I just adore this section! The first bit is so sweet and romantic – I love the way Max mentions even the slightest touch between him and Tyson, as if every little thing is incredibly important. And then the next section shows the two of them as kids and best friends, whatever else they might be. I’m so glad that you manage to portray the fact that, while their relationship has changed, they haven’t lost the friendship part of it. And the fact that they are still very young – and probably not inclined to be serious for long periods of time!

'We lay side by side once again, and I was taken by surprise when I felt Tyson's hand on my chest. I love touching Tyson, and do it all the time, but for him to touch me first… let's just say it's rare, and very nice.'

This ties in very well with the way he mentions touching Tyson’s neck, the fact that touching people (and especially Tyson) is so important to him (a fact that you explore very nicely in “Touch”!). It’s not really surprising that he’d be the one to initiate most of the physical contact – since throughout this arc you’ve shown him to be more mature and comfortable with their relationship – and obviously the fact of Tyson touching him first means a lot to him.

'He moved his hand across until he located my heart, then pressed down gently. We could both feel my heart beating erratically beneath his fingers, speeding up and slowing down as I caught my breath after the pillow fight. I said nothing, feeling warm, excited and keen to see where he was taking this.'

I don’t really have any comments to make here, but I just wanted to say that this is a gorgeous moment. Really lovely. And the fact that you follow it again a moment later with some typically “teenage boy” interaction between the two of them makes it stand out all the more.

'Tyson has the unfortunate combination of sleeping like a log and fidgeting like a puppy.'

*lol* That sounds just like me! My sister complains every time she has to share a bed with me, because I spend the whole night kicking her in my sleep! :D

'Not that I'm complaining or anything, especially not the nights when he falls asleep first and I'm the one left sitting cross-legged on the bed watching him dream. After all, I wouldn't want him to wake up and see me now, would I?'

*sighs* An absolutely lovely ending! It ties in perfectly with the start, bringing everything around in a neat circle – which is an excellent way to end a fic. All in all, a delicious fic! I’m a BIG sucker for little snapshot views of relationships etc. *glances at her own fics, then sweatdrops* and I found this immensely satisfying. As always, a job well done.

Now, where’s the rest of the arc? *tries to look demanding and fails miserably*

I love this fic even more now than I did when I read it on the ML! I can’t remember what comments I made on it at the time, but I know they were fairly short and general (despite what you said in your author notes) so I decided to make up for it by leaving a nice rambly review with plenty of quotes. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me! ;P



This is an excellent piece of description to start the fic off. The simple first line sets up nicely for the lovely imagery of the second, and really guides the reader into the scene.



Nice descriptive writing again! I know the EXACT kind of sleep-filled voice you’re talking about, when you’ve just woken up and you can hardly force the words out of your throat, and you describe it perfectly (and concisely!) here.



*laughs* Is it just me, or would it be incredibly funny to wake up in the middle of the night with someone watching you, who then tells you to go back to sleep? If it wasn’t someone I knew as well as Max knows Tyson, I’d find it pretty creepy!



I LOVE the protective side of Max’s personality! The way he’s so careful of unintentionally hurting Tyson’s feelings, and then feels horribly guilty when he does. The fact that Tyson isn’t quite so sure of himself in private with Max as he is in public is a nice touch too – it’s as if Max gets to see a side of him that other people rarely/never do. Lovely!



It’s interesting that – while you mention later that Tyson’s open and somewhat guileless – he’s still not completely comfortable with the idea of telling Max how he feels, and it takes him a while to get the words out properly. It brings into focus the fact that their relationship is quite new and awkward for both of them, and that they’re trying to adjust to the new boundaries – very different boundaries to the ones they had as just friends.



This is where I start to melt – especially at the first line. This fits in very well with the next part, where you mention that Tyson doesn’t play emotional games and that Max has to accept that. It shows his greater maturity, and the fact that he’s willing to compromise like this expresses just how much he cares for Tyson.



And it’s at THIS point that the melting is complete, and I’ve become a little puddle on the top of my keyboard! This is exactly the sort of guileless, almost naive comment I could see Tyson coming out with, without even realising – as Max says after – that it’s a compliment. The fact that he says it without any flattering intent just makes a remark like this all the more precious...but you say this in the next paragraph far better than I just did! ^^;



From reading this, it occurred to me just how many games people DO play in their relationships, whether romantic or otherwise. It’s second nature to most people to brush off a compliment just, as you say, for the sake of modesty. It reminds me of something a friend of mine was telling me: in Ireland (I don’t know what it’s like in England or France!) if you’re in someone’s house and they offer you tea or coffee, it’s automatic that you refuse the first time, then they offer again more insistently, and you accept the second (or third!) offer. My friend was in a different country (can’t remember where, which kind of ruins the story!) and when she was offered tea she refused politely. At which point her host shrugged and didn’t offer again. “And,” she said, “I was DYING for a cup of tea!” Err...it’s just occurred to me that this really has nothing to do with the comment I was making, except that it’s funny how we perform these little rituals as if they’re second nature – and when we come across someone who doesn’t play the games we either have to adapt or miss out on tea. Or something... *looks slightly embarrassed for her ramblings*



Melting again... The distinction you draw here between Tyson’s regular grin and the smile he reserves for special occasions is very interesting. It occurs to me that all we ever see in the series is that cocky, million gigawatt grin, and I’m now intrigued with trying to visualise what his “genuine smile” would look like. And the fact is that most people probably don’t realise it even exists – which makes it all the more special for Max to see it. Of course I’m fond of the real/public smile device myself, and I’ve used it (probably too much!) in regards to Kai and his arrogant smirk. But Kai’s a very introverted character anyway, and it’s absolutely fascinating to see this idea applied to an extrovert, open character like Tyson.



I just adore this section! The first bit is so sweet and romantic – I love the way Max mentions even the slightest touch between him and Tyson, as if every little thing is incredibly important. And then the next section shows the two of them as kids and best friends, whatever else they might be. I’m so glad that you manage to portray the fact that, while their relationship has changed, they haven’t lost the friendship part of it. And the fact that they ARE still very young – and probably not inclined to be serious for long periods of time! ^_^



This ties in very well with the way he mentions touching Tyson’s neck, the fact that touching people (and especially Tyson) is so important to him (a fact that you explore very nicely in “Touch”!). It’s not really surprising that he’d be the one to initiate most of the physical contact – since throughout this arc you’ve shown him to be more mature and comfortable with their relationship – and obviously the fact of Tyson touching him first means a lot to him.



I don’t really have any comments to make here, but I just wanted to say that this is a gorgeous moment. Really lovely. And the fact that you follow it again a moment later with some typically “teenage boy” interaction between the two of them makes it stand out all the more.



*lol* That sounds just like me! My sister complains every time she has to share a bed with me, because I spend the whole night kicking her in my sleep! :D



*sighs* An absolutely lovely ending! It ties in perfectly with the start, bringing everything around in a neat circle – which is an excellent way to end a fic. All in all, a delicious fic! I’m a BIG sucker for little snapshot views of relationships etc. *glances at her own fics, then sweatdrops* and I found this immensely satisfying. As always, a job well done! ^_^

Now, where’s the rest of the arc? *tries to look demanding and fails miserably*

i havent read any BB fic for ages now, but you just woke me up! that was beautifully written, it really was, i just hope u'll be updating it regularly. *grins* wouldnt want to keep me waiting now, would ya?
lovely insight to max's and tyson's relationship, and i bet if u ask nicely enough, tv toyko will make it happen *grins stupidly* well, worth asking innit?

kk

Wonderful! I love your stories; you make them so sweet and endearing, and human, too. You're one of the best Takao/Max writers out there. Thank you.

Aww... kawaii desu ne!!

This is simply a great work of a genius! ^-^ *claps* AND YOU BETTER DO MORE! Tee Hee... ^^