Hopefully this wasn’t too long a wait.

I finished this at 2 in the morning, so there's a slight chance that I pull this and fix some things if I reread it and go 'wtf?'

Eyes mind had always worked on several levels. He could think about multiple ideas at once, like having six conversations going on at one time and being able to comprehend and contribute to all of them. At the moment, however, they were all in a uniform, stunned silence. That had never happened before, and he froze.

The most logical argument surfaced first, frantically trying to make sense of the situation. A kiss. A kiss alluded to love or lust. Love was a human creation meant to give meaning to the simple biological instinct to breed and pass on one’s genetic material. Therefore, love should only exist between a male and female, as two males or two females could produce no young and therefore love(i.e., procreation) was not possible between them. Logically speaking of course. That line of reasoning really didn’t help him at the moment, yet it continued to repeat itself over and over. It was then another voice spoke up breaking through all the rest. This was a part of himself Eyes was very disconnected with and surprised to be hearing from. And it was telling him to shut up and enjoy his first kiss.

Which, indeed, it was. And it was such a simple thing in theory, a kiss. Just flesh against flesh, the same idea as a handshake or a hug or any idle contact. Yet this felt different from any other touch, and Eyes recalled their conversation from before, realizing he had been right. This did perfectly express how Kanone felt, and, once again that long silent voice startled Eyes when it pointed out this was far from unpleasant.

For Kanone, the experience was breathtaking. The instant their lips touched it was like an immense burden had been lifted from him, and indeed he had just destroyed all the deception he had so carefully been keeping. With the relief came a completely conflicting sensation as adrenalin coursed through him. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears, fathomed Eyes could hear it as well, and was scared to open his eyes for fear of what he might see on Eyes’ face.

The kiss lasted longer then Kanone could have hoped, and, though simple and hesitant, was sweeter than any other Kanone had shared with lovers’ he’d had before. He was scared, reluctant to pull away, and Eyes . . . well, he might have been too startled, but Kanone dared hope it was something else that stopped him from pushing him away. When the kiss was finally broken, Kanone barely pulled away. Their faces were so close that their lips still faintly brushed together, and Kanone could feel Eyes’ breath on him. It was maddening. He waited, dreading and expecting Eyes to back away, to push him away, or voice some disapproval.

Through all the confusion, Eyes was feeling the same surge of excitement, though at the same time was very shaken. He was actually disappointed that Kanone had stopped, and he felt something very new awakening within himself. He wanted something, that one voice in the back of his mind was no longer content there, and it clamored for something more. The trouble was, even if Eyes managed to get over the fear, if he could quiet the other impulses and thought processes that had so far governed his life and cried out against this, this exhilarating moment, these new sensations . . . he didn’t even know exactly what it was he was suddenly yearning for. And he was scared, inexplicably, and undeniably frightened of what he did not quite understand.

“Rutherford!”

There was no answer.

“Where is he?”

Ryoko had been having a normal day, a horridly normal, uneventful day. One of those days that you feel you’ve had a million times before and all you want is something to change the routine. Ryoko had been feeling that all day as she moped around the house.

So she had seen no problem helping Rio out, she knew, as she opened the door to the living room.

“Rutherfor...”

Now, Ryoko didn’t consciously have a list of things she rather not bear witness to, but she was suddenly very sure that seeing Kanone on top of Eyes, their lips a hairsbreadth away from each other, was very high, if not topping, that list. She froze instantly, as did the two teens on the couch, and for several seconds they all sat as if carved from stone.

Eyes moved first. His face going bright red for perhaps the first time in his life, he shoved Kanone away and stood quickly. Refusing to face either of the other Blade Children, he instead busied himself with straightening his shirt. Equally embarrassed, Ryoko also made every effort to not make eye contact with anyone in the room. Remembering why she was here in the first place, she tried to act like nothing was out of the ordinary,

“Rutherford-san, Rio wanted...um...some help...packing.”

Eyes cleared his throat, desperately trying to compose himself. Running his fingers back through his hair, he hurried to leave. When he spoke he was relieved to hear his voice sounding as mellow and controlled as always,

“I’d be glad to.”

When he left, Ryoko hadn’t managed to move, and she suddenly regretted it now that she was alone with Kanone. He was still sitting on the couch where he had been pushed, and didn’t appear to realize she was still there. His hand rested lightly upon the spot where Eyes had pushed, his face crestfallen and almost blank. He felt hurt, betrayed, by the reaction. Of course, he couldn’t blame Eyes for being embarrassed, or a bit frightened even, but he had shoved him away.

In a daze, Kanone finally stood, now clutching at the fabric of his shirt without realizing he was doing so. Ryoko still watched, wondering if she should leave him be, or if now was the time to offer some kind of encouragement, comfort even. She wasn’t sure what Kanone would be willing to accept from her at the moment, all things considered.

Kanone tried to sort through what had just happened and what it all meant. Had Eyes been too surprised to react before Ryoko had entered the room? Perhaps, as he had so feared, he had just overstepped his bounds with Eyes. He recalled the embarrassed, maybe even horrified look in Eyes face, and bit his lip, his face contorting as if he could expel the memory through sheer will. It refused to go away, and, as with all bad memories, only hurt more the longer it lingered in his mind’s eye.

He looked up, focusing on Ryoko for a moment. Irrational anger, born of his own embarrassment and frustration hit him, and Ryoko was the only target. Whatever she saw on his face in that moment scared her, for she backed up a step without realizing she had. Looks couldn’t kill, but Kanone certainly could. But he said nothing, as did she. A strange calm descended over his features, more chilling than the outright rage she had seen before, and still without speaking Kanone left the room.

Alone, Ryoko let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Well, that was about the most unexpected thing ever. It seemed even stranger, considering the amount of friendly jabs Kousuke had made concerning his opinion of Eyes’ sexual orientation. Shaking her head, Ryoko let out a long breath, and resolved to stay as far out of whatever was going on as possible.

Rio looked up happily as Eyes entered the room, blissfully unaware of what had just happened. Her normally immaculate room was showing heavy signs of the early stages of packing; everything was scattered about, every flat surface supporting piles of yet to be sorted items and clothing.

“There’s so much stuff in here I thought I could use some help getting it sorted. You don’t mind, right? I told Ryoko not to bother if you were busy.”

“No, it’s perfectly all right.”

Was it? There was something he was feeling, but Eyes wasn’t sure if it was relief for this reprieve or irritation. Certainly Kousuke or Ryoko would have been just as willing to help Rio, but then...had he wanted to stay with Kanone? Was he ready to deal with all this, or even accept it?

Rio had knelt in front of pile on the floor, and now held a few books in her hands. Mechanically, barely registering the movement, Eyes had joined her, pulling an empty box to them. Rio dropped the books she held into the box, leaving Eyes to arrange them nicely, and sifted through the pile. With an amused and somewhat amazed laugh, Rio beheld a battered, tiny book.

“Can you believe I still have this? Ryoko gave this to me on my, what?...sixth birthday?”

He actually could remember Rio receiving the paperback, remembered how happy the gift had made her. Watching the young girl set the book aside in the trash pile was, for some reason, very sad in Eyes’ mind. Happiness was so fleeting. Should one enjoy something knowing the risk that one day it may fade, or was it better to bypass that possibility by distancing ones self?

Thoughtfully, he brought his fingertips to his lips, droning out his current surroundings.

“Eyes-kun? Eyes?”

“....?”

Rio’s face came into focus, jolting him back to reality. She cocked an eyebrow, pursing her lips as she regarded him,

“Are you feeling well?” Perhaps as a joke, or perhaps to emphasize her concern, Rio pressed her hand to his forehead, finding it cool as always, “It’s not like you to be quite so detached.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. There’s...a lot on my mind right now.”

Leaning back on her legs, Rio spread her hands, continuing with a gusto unique to her. It was very endearing, and Eyes smiled despite himself,

“Tell me about it, I mean, this is the biggest move we’ve ever done, and the first with all of us, right? Can you imagine this plane ride? Ugh.” She laughed to herself more than anyone else. Setting her hand on her lap, one on top of the other, her face fell, and when she spoke again the enthusiasm was gone from her voice, and in its place was a softer, colder sound.

“Do you think we might have to split up when we get to Japan?”

Her worries had suddenly spilled out, and Eyes was grateful to put his aside and face hers.

“There would be benefits to staying in smaller groups, but I believe we work best as we are. Splitting up too much could make us just as vulnerable as having too many Blade children in one place.”

“I know, but Kanone was saying we might have to....”

Kanone. Why did she have to mention that name right now? Eyes closed his eyes, the set of his shoulders betraying the sudden discomfort that had set in. He continued to speak as if nothing was out of the norm,

“I doubt we will.”

Rio looked up at him, her grey eyes hiding none of the worry that the thought of separation gave her. Rio, among them, had been orphaned the youngest, and alone the longest before finding the others. The very chance that she might have to leave the comfort of her friends was one of the only things that truly scared the young Blade Child.

“Eyes...if...if we do get separated....”

She intertwined her hands, pausing like she couldn’t quite find the words to continue. Eyes prompted her,

“Yes?”

She blurted suddenly, getting it all out at once.

“Will you promise not to leave me alone?”

She didn’t know what she had expected him to answer, but was grateful when she felt his hand rest on her shoulder and heard the quiet, smooth voice that she so loved hearing say,

“Of course.”

But it wasn’t as comforting as she had hoped it would be to hear. The hand on her shoulder didn’t feel like she wanted it to. For when Eyes spoke to her, it was with a kind of love, yes. But the hand on her shoulder was the hand of a friend, as was the comfort. A friend, and nothing more.

Eyes managed to keep himself busy helping Rio, he let the manual work distract him from his rampaging thoughts, and did not relish the idea of trying to get to sleep tonight, or facing Kanone in the morning.

Kousuke didn’t hear the door open or realize someone had entered his room until Ryoko pulled the pillow from underneath his head and flopped with it the thick carpeting, making herself completely at home. A bit miffed, Kousuke turned down his music and silently lamented the loss of his pillow. Ryoko smirked up at him, but the smirk seemed distracted.

“Something wrong?”

Ryoko kept her face clean of any worrisome emotions and grinned broadly,

“No, just wanted some company.”

Ok, he could deal with that. If there was anything serious she would tell him. So Kousuke let the matter drop, moving onto more important things, such as the retrieval of property.

“...you stole my pillow.”

“Yup.”

“...and I’m not getting it back?”

“Nope.”

He chuckled,

“So...are you planning on sleeping down there then? ‘Cause I wholeheartedly approve.”

Ryoko managed to shrug even though she was flat on her back,

“If I don’t feel like getting up, which I don’t.”

Kousuke lay on his stomach, his crossed arms hanging over the edge of the bed so he could look down at Ryoko. He groped the bed stand blindly for a moment before finding his glasses, and replaced them on his nose, hating his handicap as it was again shown to him. Ryoko was so much better looking when in focus, he wished he didn’t need glasses to see her.

“So, any word on where exactly we’re moving?”

“Not really, Kanone doesn’t like giving out specifics does he? I was going to talk to him tomorrow about it though.”

Now she wasn’t sure she could talk to Kanone or Eyes and think about anything other than what she had seen tonight. Part of her desperately wanted to tell Kousuke, but she knew better. Eyes and Kanone wouldn’t want her telling people.

“That’s so annoying. I mean, ‘Japan’ is not an acceptable answer!”

She could tell Kousuke wasn’t really mad, just being exasperated for the sake of being so. It was refreshing, talking to him, it always was. Everyone else tried so hard to be serious and in control. It was nice to be around someone who acted more like a normal human being sometimes. Ryoko folded her hands behind her head, lounging on the carpet and humming along with the chorus of the song playing.

Eyes couldn’t sleep.

He’d known this was going to happen. How could he sleep with his mind still going a mile a minute and confusing him more and more as it did so?

Eyes finally admitted to himself that he wasn’t getting any sleep this night and left his bed. Going to the window, he lifted the glass and stuck his head outside. It was pleasantly cool and clear, just what he needed right now. Maybe his brain would take a hint from the night air.

With surprising agility, he climbed out the open window and onto the small section of roof below it. Hooking his hands above the window now, he swung his leg up onto the highest part of the roof where he lay on the shingles. They were uncomfortably scratchy against his almost bare back, but he barely noticed tonight. Usually he would bring a blanket up if he intended to stay for a while, but he hadn’t remembered, and now he didn’t feel like getting back up.

Usually he could find some solace when he came to the roof, but tonight it wasn’t helping much, and after several hours of waiting for an epiphany, something that would tell him what he needed to do, what he needed to say or realize that would make everything make sense again, Eyes conceded that it wouldn’t come. Feeling no great urge to return to the interior of the house, Eyes instead welcomed sleep in the early hours of morning where he lay on the slanting rooftop.

Yeah, Eyes is just a little repressed . . . you figure this is sixteen years of having had no one he loved in his life except Kanone suddenly being mixed with hormones(not even the Blade Children are above such things . . . )Eyes is definitely freaking out.

I figure Kanone is very ahem ‘experienced’ where Eyes is clueless. As for where he went for the last half of the chapter, probably taking a cold shower.

Gasp! Other Blade Children interactions! Actually, there’s more of them as the story goes, I’ve realized, Kousuke is pretty active the next few chapters, and of course Ryoko is in on this because of what happened in this chapter. Poor Ryoko . . . no, wait, she got to see Eyes and Kanone kiss . . . I’m jealous.

And at some point in this story Kanone will be nice to Ryoko, because they had to have at least a pretense of companionship for them to act the way they did to each other in the anime.