Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
GAH! I've been working on an idea for this story for a few weeks and I think I may have actually turned it into a decent story. =P My first attempt at Kyoru so please be gentle. *bows* This part is told from Tohru's POV.

Part Two - Only a Dream

Toss right.

Toss left.

Bury my face in my pillow.

Pull the covers over my head.

No matter what I do, or how many times I do it, I can not go to sleep.

Today wasn't much different from any other day. I woke up, went to school, did my chores. Oh! Maybe it's because I forgot to finish my math homework. I was stuck on a difficult question. Even Yuki-kun couldn't help me with it in class. I was too confused.

Perhaps it's because I forgot to take the wash out of the washer. Oh no! All those clothes would be musty by morning! I should go downstairs and...no wait, I have already done that. Silly me. Never mind.

The only other thing I can think of is the kiss I shared with Kyo in the kitchen after dinner this evening. I can feel myself blush just thinking about it. I bury my face deeper into the pillow to withhold a confused groan that escapes my throat.

A kiss.

It's something that I've only dreamed about before. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've snuck a peak at a few of Shigure-san's books. Not that I don't have my own fantasies mind you. EEP! That sounded bad, didn't it?

Still, a first kiss is special to a girl. I had always dreamed I'd be in love when I gave away my first kiss. Not so strung out and confused that I would want to hit myself over the head later! I feel myself sigh and throw the covers away from me.

It wasn't a bad kiss, at least not as bad as I had thought. It just...well, it took me by surprise. I didn't think Kyo-kun could be so...wild? Untamable? Passionate? Sexy?

No, I believe the word is forward.

But the others are nice too.

What happened up to that point is still something of a blur. We had eaten dinner in relative silence, since everyone seemed relaxed and tired from the long day. There was the usual small talk, followed by the usual arguments between Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun. It bothers me sometimes, but I've actually grown accustomed to their light bickering at the table.

And it's been months since Kyo-kun's split the table in two during a meal. I'm very proud of him.

Shigure-san left the table first, followed by Yuki-kun. He'd gotten home late and had some homework to finish. I insisted he go up to his room and finish it. He smiled at me like he usually does -- strange that I never see him smile that way at anyone else -- and bowed before heading up the stairs to his room.

That left Kyo. I turned to ask if he needed to finish any homework and was stunned into speechlessness. He was standing, piling dirty dishes into his folded arm.

He was cleaning off the table!

He never cleans the table unless I ask.

For a moment I thought something was wrong, but he muttered as we walked into the kitchen, "There's a lot here. I don't mind helping."

I wanted to ask him if something was the matter. I didn't need his help, really. But once I was in the kitchen I was grateful for it. I'd gone all out for dinner tonight and the pile of dishes needing to be washed proved it. Without a second thought, I began my usual cleanup.

Washing and drying the dishes went much faster with Kyo-kun's help. I washed, scrubbing the last bits of dirt from the plates and rinsing them before handing them to Kyo-kun to dry. I waited for the first plate to be dropped. After the fourth and final plate, I relaxed a little. He was doing better at this than last time!

Handing him a small pot to towel off, I reached into dishwater for some of the cutlery I'd used earlier. Much to my own surprise my finger slid across something sharp. I let out a tiny "yip", yanking my hand from the dishwater. Without thinking I placed the finger in my mouth and winced. Not only did the cut hurt, but the taste was horrible!

"Nani?"

My surprise must've showed in my eyes because Kyo-kun looked very concerned. Pulling the injured finger from my mouth, I examined it quickly before holding it up for him to see. It wasn't bleeding profusely. Perhaps I didn't cut it all that deep.

"I think I cut myself."

I watched him as he examined my finger carefully. His eyes shown with deep concentration. I was so in awe of his careful attentiveness that I got goosebumps. Those were intensified by the touch of his hand on mine as he pulled it closer for a better examination.

I was mystified. It felt as if time had stopped, but instead it was moving in slow motion. Especially when he leaned over and pulled my injured finger into his mouth. I gasped as his moist lips closed over the tip of the digit. There was a flash of something behind his eyes, but it passed too quickly for me to recognize it. Apparently something in me knew what it was, because I couldn't stop myself from moaning.

He looks up at me, a bit surprised and I see that flash once again. I still don't know what it is, but my body is reacting in strange ways to Kyo-kun's closeness. My skin feels like it's burning, my face most assuredly. I can feel my heart pound against my chest. There's also another throbbing, something very low in my body. It's faint, but I can still feel it.

Everything came to an end when I pulled my finger from his mouth and he leaned over to kiss me.

Should I stand on tiptoe so he can reach me better? Tilt my head upward just a little more? It matters little when his lips sweep across mine lightly before pressing a tender kiss on their target. I felt as if the world had disappeared and it was just the two of us. Just the joyous sensation of his lips caressing mine. Again, I moaned, my body seemingly knowing just what it needs to do in response to Kyo-kun's actions.

Then as suddenly as it began, it stopped. I was left breathless, totally in shock and unsure if it was the need for air or something I had done wrong that caused us to part. With wide eyes I look at Kyo-kun across from me, watching as he watches back, his chest heaving from the lack of air.

"Kyo-kun?" I was curious, yes, but I wasn't looking for an explanation. I just wanted to be sure that I didn't do anything wrong. That he was all right. I'm startled by the depth of his voice when he speaks.

"You should bandage the cut." Such a simple phrase, but spoken with such emotion that my heart swells. I'm still confused, but I suppose that's nothing new. I nod in response and hurry up to the bathroom to do as I was told.

When I returned to the kitchen, Kyo-kun was gone.

It was surprisingly painful.

But that still doesn't explain why I'm awake so early in the morning.

Sighing, I reach for the lamp beside my bed. As soon as the light comes on, I'm face to face with the smiling image of my mother. Carefully I pick up the picture.

'Mother, I don't know what to do,' I think, clutching the photo of my mother close to my chest. I can feel tears stinging my eyes, but they don't fall just yet. 'Why did he kiss me? Why did I react the way I did? I care about Kyo-kun. I DO! But...but I don't know if he really cares about me.'

The tears start to fall and I bow my head, my hair forming a curtain around my face and I hug my mothers picture tightly. 'What if he doesn't care about me the way I care about him, mother? What will I do?' The tears fall faster, and I can't contain the sobs that shake my body.

'I want him to kiss me again. Is that wrong?'

"Tohru?"

I'm shocked to hear Kyo-kun's voice and even more shocked to see him climbing into my room through my window. He looks at me with the same concentrated glance as he had earlier, full of questioning concern. Was he on the roof? Was he watching me this entire time?!

"Daijobu desu ka?"

~TO BE CONTINUED~