[FIC] 'A Little Bit of Warmth'
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:55 pm
(A/N: Hmm, the fic section's been a little quiet lately. Wonder why. Well, here's a little vignette to help liven things up again. I hope. 
It takes place during the bulk of the last chapter of the fifth volume of the manga and is pretty much pure, unadulterated mush. If that's not your thing, I suggest you steer clear. 
)
A Little Bit of Warmth
Baka.
So running around in the middle of a forest while being chased by hostile former bodyguards is your idea of a game, huh? Do I LOOK like I'm laughing, Sousuke?
Masatami must have some huge grudge against us or something. I can't even IMAGINE what you did while you were "rescuing me" from his "evil clutches".
AHH! Where the hell did that knife come from?! Dammit, EVERY SINGLE TIME, Sousuke...
Can't have a single quiet afternoon. That would be too boring, apparently.
And now the nets. Six million people in the world and I get you. Don't I just have the devil's luck?
I want out of here, Sousuke!
And I am NOT being violent! The harisen is perfectly justified.
Dammit, now there are snakes! What the hell is this, Indiana Jones?!
FOOD!? Yeah, sure, what a great lunch. What planet are you FROM, seriously?
AH! Falling, falling, falling, goddammit, I need some kind of hold on--
Oh. Well, fine, if you want to be all chivalrous and pull me up like that, that's okay, too.
And now it's raining. Great. Just great. Dammit, Kyoko and the others could be in trouble! We don't have time for this!
Thank God, a cave! Shelter! Cold, musty, and echo-y shelter, but shelter nonetheless.
Ugh. And now I'm all cold and wet and I'm TIRED. I've been running around this damn forest all afternoon and--
A sleeping bag? You brought a sleeping bag with you? Where the hell do you hide all this equipment?
Hmm...at least it's cozy. I hope you won't be cold now...nah, otakus don't get cold.
You know, sometimes I'm actually not sure if you're human, Sousuke.
Oh, shut up. I am NOT cranky.
Though God, I AM tired. I need a pillow.
I guess I could lean against the side of the cave...
What?
Oh. Okay, this works. You're very warm, you know that? Don't tell me you've got some portable heater hidden under that camoflauge getup.
No, it was a joke, Sousuke.
Yes, I'm sure joking can be fatal on the battlefield. But we're not ON a battlefield. We're in a cave. And I'm cold and tired and I wish you'd be quiet now.
...and thanks for the sleeping bag, by the way.
Yes, it's quite comfortable. Cozy, too.
Hm? No, I'm not mad.
Really.
You're just frustrating, is all.
And I'm glad you're always protecting me.
...you know, it's times like these that make me glad you're the one with me.
Tired...so tired...did I tell you you're comfortable?
It's not a bad thing; you're not letting your guard down. And...you know, it's okay if you let your guard down around me every once in awhile.
NO, because we're friends, Sousuke.
O...h. I mean, y-yes, that means a lot to me, too.
So warm...
What? Oh, no, no, it's just--I'm the class rep. I look out for everybody the same way.
I do NOT seem to "center my attentions solely upon you". What the hell does THAT mean?
Well, I mean, come on! You're constantly causing trouble! Blowing things up, shooting things...I swear, you're a walking time-bomb, Sousuke! It's my responsibility to keep you from getting into trouble.
I know. I know it's your duty to protect me. But you know, sometimes I wish...well, can't you be normal?
Someone is NOT going to sneak in and "violate me against my wishes" if you let down your guard for five seconds, Sousuke.
I'm NOT being naive.
Don’t give me that look! I’m not being naïve, dammit! I just...I know that when you’re with me, I’ll be safe. You make me feel safe.
Mm...so warm. I told you you’re warm, right?
Oh...I did? Mm...guess I’m more tired than I thought.
You’re sure you don’t mind staying up and keeping guard?
You’ll watch over me, huh? I appreciate that, you know.
Mm...sleepy...very sleepy...
What was that?
Sousuke? Did you say something?
That wasn’t just what I thought it was, was it?
Oh. Okay. Well, “goodnight” to you, too.
Baka.
--FIN--
It takes place during the bulk of the last chapter of the fifth volume of the manga and is pretty much pure, unadulterated mush. If that's not your thing, I suggest you steer clear. )A Little Bit of Warmth
Baka.
So running around in the middle of a forest while being chased by hostile former bodyguards is your idea of a game, huh? Do I LOOK like I'm laughing, Sousuke?
Masatami must have some huge grudge against us or something. I can't even IMAGINE what you did while you were "rescuing me" from his "evil clutches".
AHH! Where the hell did that knife come from?! Dammit, EVERY SINGLE TIME, Sousuke...
Can't have a single quiet afternoon. That would be too boring, apparently.
And now the nets. Six million people in the world and I get you. Don't I just have the devil's luck?
I want out of here, Sousuke!
And I am NOT being violent! The harisen is perfectly justified.
Dammit, now there are snakes! What the hell is this, Indiana Jones?!
FOOD!? Yeah, sure, what a great lunch. What planet are you FROM, seriously?
AH! Falling, falling, falling, goddammit, I need some kind of hold on--
Oh. Well, fine, if you want to be all chivalrous and pull me up like that, that's okay, too.
And now it's raining. Great. Just great. Dammit, Kyoko and the others could be in trouble! We don't have time for this!
Thank God, a cave! Shelter! Cold, musty, and echo-y shelter, but shelter nonetheless.
Ugh. And now I'm all cold and wet and I'm TIRED. I've been running around this damn forest all afternoon and--
A sleeping bag? You brought a sleeping bag with you? Where the hell do you hide all this equipment?
Hmm...at least it's cozy. I hope you won't be cold now...nah, otakus don't get cold.
You know, sometimes I'm actually not sure if you're human, Sousuke.
Oh, shut up. I am NOT cranky.
Though God, I AM tired. I need a pillow.
I guess I could lean against the side of the cave...
What?
Oh. Okay, this works. You're very warm, you know that? Don't tell me you've got some portable heater hidden under that camoflauge getup.
No, it was a joke, Sousuke.
Yes, I'm sure joking can be fatal on the battlefield. But we're not ON a battlefield. We're in a cave. And I'm cold and tired and I wish you'd be quiet now.
...and thanks for the sleeping bag, by the way.
Yes, it's quite comfortable. Cozy, too.
Hm? No, I'm not mad.
Really.
You're just frustrating, is all.
And I'm glad you're always protecting me.
...you know, it's times like these that make me glad you're the one with me.
Tired...so tired...did I tell you you're comfortable?
It's not a bad thing; you're not letting your guard down. And...you know, it's okay if you let your guard down around me every once in awhile.
NO, because we're friends, Sousuke.
O...h. I mean, y-yes, that means a lot to me, too.
So warm...
What? Oh, no, no, it's just--I'm the class rep. I look out for everybody the same way.
I do NOT seem to "center my attentions solely upon you". What the hell does THAT mean?
Well, I mean, come on! You're constantly causing trouble! Blowing things up, shooting things...I swear, you're a walking time-bomb, Sousuke! It's my responsibility to keep you from getting into trouble.
I know. I know it's your duty to protect me. But you know, sometimes I wish...well, can't you be normal?
Someone is NOT going to sneak in and "violate me against my wishes" if you let down your guard for five seconds, Sousuke.
I'm NOT being naive.
Don’t give me that look! I’m not being naïve, dammit! I just...I know that when you’re with me, I’ll be safe. You make me feel safe.
Mm...so warm. I told you you’re warm, right?
Oh...I did? Mm...guess I’m more tired than I thought.
You’re sure you don’t mind staying up and keeping guard?
You’ll watch over me, huh? I appreciate that, you know.
Mm...sleepy...very sleepy...
What was that?
Sousuke? Did you say something?
That wasn’t just what I thought it was, was it?
Oh. Okay. Well, “goodnight” to you, too.
Baka.
--FIN--
This was completely new territory for me (I haven't dealt with stream-of-conscious since I read James Joyce), so I was terrified. Glad to know people liked it.