Kyo was in a mood. This was nothing unusual. Kyo was often in a mood. Actually, he stayed in a mood, but today he was in a particularly dreadful one. Today he had been pestered, hounded, and annoyed more than he had ever been on any given day besides a day like today. Just thinking about it made his ears burn bright red, and he stomped even harder toward the house with only his notebook tucked under his arm. He was still wearing his white uniform shoes. He didn't have his backpack on. He wore a very nasty scowl on his face and, despite the fierceness of his stomping, was in dread of what he'd find waiting for him at home. No matter where he went on this day, he would see no peace.

It was Valentine's Day. And Kyo absolutely hated it.

Valentine's Day last year hadn't been this horrible. He hadn't been pursued by nearly as many girls. But this year he could barely shake them all off, opening his locker to find it overflowing with all sorts of sweets and gushy love letters wreaking of flowery perfume. It'd given him a headache and a toothache. Then, just after lunch, he'd come a hair's breadth of changing when he was unexpectedly pounced by an overexcited lovesick girl. He had responded by throwing her into a wall, which had caused everyone present to gasp, squeal in terror, burst into tears, run away, and tell him he was an awful, bad, mean person. Tohru almost fainted, and Yuki very nearly changed trying to catch her.

So Kyo had done the only other thing he knew to do – he ran away from school.

Without pause or hesitation, he opened up a window and leapt out. It wasn't nearly as exciting or amazing to witness after it had been performed a few times, and besides everybody hated him so it wasn't like they cared.

As he walked home, shaking off the icky feeling of a near hit and a miss, his skin still crawling with the near imminence of the change, he managed to cool off just a wee bit. The only thing that cooled him off was the thought of what awaited him at home, and instead of exciting or enticing him, it made him feel all the more irritated and horrible. The only good thing about this particular day was that Kagura wouldn't be showing up to beat him senseless while declaring her undying love for him. She had called the night before in tears over being unable to see Kyo on such an important day as Valentine's Day, and had promised to bring him his present on the weekend. Kyo wasn't sure whether to feel a smidgeon of relief or mortal fear.

Valentine's Day. Stupid holiday. Who the hell's idea was it anyway? I'll beat their ass. But they're probably already dead. Kyo grit his teeth, his right hand balling into a fist. I'll dig the bastard up and beat his ass anyway!

Suddenly the house came into view in front of him, and all over he felt his skin prickling with a different sensation, a different feeling of something he couldn't control. There was no way of telling if the oldest house member were home or not. Kyo remembered no mentions of meetings or visiting the main house or making an outing of any kind, even though he desperately wanted to remember something of the sort. He didn't want the stupid dog to be home. And now, faced with the front door, which he stood in front of with a mixed expression of disdain and hope, he began to rethink his leaving school early.

Argh! I can't let that idiot get me down! He steeled himself, squaring his shoulders, and proceeded to go inside, albeit on little cat's paws, removing his shoes with stealth before padding silently toward the stairs. He thought he'd made it, thought he was home free, was just getting ready to set foot on the first step when a loud, obnoxious voice made him freeze in his tracks.

"Kyo-chan!"

Kyo grimaced at the name, even though there was a tiny, hidden part inside his chest that always grew softer at being called that. Shigure stood in the study doorway, arms folded inside the sleeves of his dark blue kimono, grinning at him. Kyo could tell instantly from that grin that the older man had plans for him. He shuddered, both with ire and uncontainable anticipation.

"You came home early!" Shigure pointed out, not moving from where he stood. He didn't need to move; he could just stand there and look at Kyo and the teenager could feel his blood temperature rising from the hot coals of Shigure's eyes.

"I had to! It was too dangerous at school." Kyo turned away, somewhat sulkily, not about to admit that he'd hurt a girl with no intention of doing so.

He didn't need to admit it. Shigure's grin softened into a small, knowing smirk, and he tilted his chin down a little, his voice light and teasing as he said, "Kyo-chan . . . did you beat up a poor, defenseless little girl?"

"Shut up!!" Kyo snapped, whirling on him with fists clenched. "I didn't beat her up! And I had to get her off me – I almost changed!"

Shigure made a tsk-tsk noise with a few clicks of his tongue, shaking his head with mild disapproval. "Kyo-chan, how are you ever going to get along in the world if you keep mauling everyone who comes near you?"

"I said shut the hell up!!!" Kyo's voice was dangerously loud, at a volume that would've made most others cringe. Shigure just gazed at him casually as he leaned in the doorway, smirk never fading. It was absolutely maddening. What the hell did Shigure know anyway? What the hell did he care?

Kyo's ire quickly boiled over into rage. "Fuck you!" he blurted out, turning to run up the stairs. "Fuck the world! The world can go to hell! I don't give a shit!"

He dashed into his room and slammed the shoji door so hard it bounced off the door facing and slid back a few inches. Kyo didn't bother shutting it all the way. He was already across his room about to open the other screen to get out onto the balcony, prepared to clamber up to the roof where he would spend the rest of the day and evening and most of the night staring at the sky and wishing he were someone else, someone who wasn't so stupid and weak and insignificant. Someone who was normal and deserving of whatever affections were showed him. But before he could even reach for the door a firm grasp was on his shoulder, jerking him back off his feet. An arm coiled around his waist, steadying him as he fell back against Shigure's chest, into Shigure's arms.

"Not so fast, silly kitty," he breathed in the boy's ear, his voice now lilting as well as something close to apologetic. "Aren't you even going to let me wish you a happy Valentine's Day?"

"Fuck Valentine's Day," Kyo snarled, though he made no attempts to fight his way free. Shigure's body was soft from the added weight of his heavy robe, and so warm from trapped heat. He could smell him, smell the fresh laundry scent of his clothes and the cool, smoky smell of his breath. His heart was pounding, and inside he was relieved, made docile by Shigure's simple embrace.

"Well, that's rather the point of the holiday, you know," Shigure remarked matter-of-factly. "It is a holiday for lovers."

"Pervert," Kyo mumbled, his voice having finally died away into a soft murmur that matched the way his spirit felt – calmed and soothed by the closeness he could never refuse.

Shigure drew his arms tighter around Kyo's waist, leaning his chin down on the teen's thin shoulder. Now Kyo could smell the heavy scent of his hair, and he turned his face toward it, subconsciously craving more.

"I have a present for you."

At this the boy's eyes widened, but he tried smoothing over any shock he felt by downplaying the loftiness of any gift the dog could get him.

"What is it? Chocolate? I hate chocolate."

Shigure laughed and turned his head so that his cheek rested on Kyo's shoulder, and he smiled. "I know."

He didn't need to say, "Don't you think I know you better than that?" or "Of course I know you well enough to not get you something you don't like." Just with those two words, in that simple statement, he conveyed more about his intentions and feelings than even a five thousand word essay could. It was his gift, to be able to get his message across without putting forth any effort. The reason why he made such spectacles out of most things. The reason why he was a gifted writer. The reason why he was so enigmatic.

Kyo said nothing. He couldn't keep his expression from appearing somewhat taken aback. He had no idea what Shigure could've gotten him. Kyo didn't like most things. He didn't like sweets or flowers or gushy love letters. About the only thing he liked was martial arts, and even if Shigure had gotten him something related to that he wouldn't have the slightest clue as to how to appreciate it. On the whole Kyo detested gifts. He detested surprises. And above all else he detested Valentine's Day.

When he didn't say anything, Shigure prodded in a small, saccharine voice, "Aren't you gonna ask what it is?"

Kyo looked away. The only thing he knew to do was try berating him for it. "I don't care. It's probably something stupid anyway."

He crossed his arms over his chest, resting them over Shigure's in a way that was supposed to be nonchalant.

Shigure's hand was gentle, coaxing, the way his touches always were when they were alone. He turned Kyo's face back to his, murmuring, "Silly kitty," as he bent to close the space between their mouths. Kyo parted his lips for the kiss instinctively, allowing his mouth to melt against Shigure's and savoring every breath he stole that the older man stole back. They kissed rather delicately, Shigure drawing softly against his lips and barely tasting with his tongue, tickling the fragile skin so that Kyo was chilled and warmed by it at the same time. He shivered in the man's arms, turning his body to face Shigure's and holding on tight to the front of his robe, mewling quietly between kisses. Sometimes he thought he hated the way it made him feel, but others it was a relief to feel something other than despised, overlooked, or left out.

Shigure pulled away, gazing down into Kyo's misty eyes as the boy awaited his next move. Kyo had a forceful personality, but when they were alone together he was just a kitten, soaking up all the attention Shigure gave him and never once making any effort for anything. Shigure understood it was because Kyo was still self-conscious and a little afraid, and it pained him somewhat to know that after all this time he still didn't feel quite comfortable enough with Shigure to do anything besides submit. He was sure submitting felt good to Kyo; giving up control was what he needed, releasing frustrations so that they didn't build up and cause a catastrophe (or break Shigure's house) was beneficial to them all. But that wasn't Shigure's reason for being there.

"Aren't you going to unwrap your present?" Shigure slyly asked, lightly rubbing his nose against Kyo's in a tender Eskimo kiss. The boy blinked in confusion and pulled away a little.

"Where is it?"

"In your hands, silly Kyo-chan."

Kyo appeared momentarily startled, his eyes darting down to where his hands clutched the dark fabric of Shigure's robe. His expression darkened slightly as he murmured, "Dirty old man."

"Mnn... you like it." He dipped his head and kissed Kyo again before he could ask any questions, placing his hands over Kyo's slightly smaller ones to urge him on. He was readily accepted into Kyo's sweet mouth, blazing warm and eager to please and be pleased, tongue coiling and swirling around his own as Kyo's hands worked his obi free and hastily discarded Shigure's clothing. Shigure went down to his knees, pulling Kyo down with him, and as he worked Kyo's uniform shirt off he laid back on the floor. Kyo followed him down without hesitation, not thinking and simply reacting, the thing he was best at. His hands quested over Shigure's skin, but as always he was too fleeting in his touches, never caressing long enough or hard enough for Shigure's liking.

His fingers already playing with the button of Kyo's pants, he pulled one hand away to cover Kyo's again, directing him in his touches. Kyo broke their kiss, confused about what Shigure was doing.

"Like this," he murmured, sliding Kyo's right hand over his chest in a lingering caress, across the left nipple and down his ribs then back again. "Touch me like this . . ."

Kyo was hesitant to respond. Shigure usually told him to touch him, and he always told him when it felt good, but he'd never actually directed Kyo in where and how to touch him. For a moment his heart stung, thinking maybe all this time he hadn't been pleasing him at all, but Shigure's gentle smile and contented eyes gave him some measure of relief. He let Kyo's hand go, and the boy tentatively traced the path Shigure had showed him, biting his lip as he felt himself blushing with more than just desire. He didn't like being on top like this. He felt too exposed. When Shigure was over him he felt safe. But not like this. Something about it embarrassed him.

"Shigure . . ." he muttered, his voice ringing with insecurity. Shigure had just pushed Kyo's pants past his hips, but he stopped and gave Kyo his full attention when he was called to. He smiled again, reassuring and attentive despite the position.

"It's just you and me. Haven't you ever wanted to be on top, Kyo?"

"I . . . I don't feel right."

Shigure put his hands on either side of Kyo's face and kissed him with gentle passion, the kiss itself even more reassuring than words. "Don't be afraid. It would be rude if you didn't accept my present."

Like Kyo had ever worried about being rude, especially to the dumb dog. But it slowly started to sink in, just what it was he was saying. The confusion that had riddled his face was now replaced with shock, and his blood didn't know whether to heat or to freeze. Shigure's eyes sparkled like smoked quartz as his smile began to take on the semblance of a smirk once again.

"You just figure it out?"

"Shut up," Kyo muttered hoarsely, his voice not knowing where to go either – up or down.

"Kyo . . ." Shigure pulled him down against him, managing to work his pants off just enough so that Kyo could wriggle out of them easily. "I want you inside me this time."

His mouth went inexplicably dry. He held onto Shigure's chest for dear life, now afraid to look up or even to move. The man's heartbeat was pounding loudly in his left ear, his pulse even palpable through his skin. Kyo could not believe what he was hearing.

There was a long moment of silence. Shigure, with his arms firmly locked around Kyo's thin back, finally said in a voice that was both far away and too loud, "Don't you want to? Have you never thought about it? What it would be like the other way around?"

Kyo would've laughed if he weren't in shock still. Of course he'd thought about it. But even just thinking about it terrified him. It terrified him as much as the thought of letting Shigure inside him had terrified him, but then he'd let Shigure do it, and it wasn't so bad. He really liked it, as a matter of fact; he loved the feeling of him, the physical feeling and the strange, rather frightening emotional feeling every time they had sex. But the thought of switching things around, the thought of entering Shigure was just something he wasn't sure he knew how to deal with.

Shigure's hands were stroking his back now, and had they laid there much longer in this peaceful quietude he would've drifted to sleep. "Are you frightened?"

It was much easier to admit things to the man when they were alone and close like this. "Yeah."

"You don't have to be frightened. Just do it."

"How?"

Shigure chuckled. "Have you learned nothing from all the times we've made love?"

Kyo didn't know how to accept it put into those terms. "Made love" was . . . odd to him. But instead of dwelling on that for even an instant he snapped, "I know what to do, dammit! I just . . . I just don't know how to go about it."

"My poor Kyo-chan, hopelessly shy and adorable because of it." Shigure's hands slithered sneakily across Kyo's backside, cupping the firm, young butt cheeks in each hand. Kyo arched his back ever so slightly, taking a sharp breath. "You go about it how ever you feel moved to. You don't have to be afraid and you don't have to feel ashamed. It's only me. And I want you to do it."

Finally Kyo lifted his head and looked into Shigure's face with large, bewildered eyes, and even though he was blushing there was nothing about it that made Shigure feel anything at this moment. He couldn't stop looking into those eyes, and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he wanted this.

"It's been a long time since I've done it this way," Shigure told him, brushing his knuckles across Kyo's burning cheekbone. "Don't you think I miss it sometimes?"

"You could always go to Hatori if you want it that bad." Kyo's voice wasn't bitter when he spoke, but he tore his eyes away and gave the impression that what he was saying he wasn't completely comfortable with.

"I could," Shigure agreed amicably, unfolding his fingers against Kyo's cheek. "But I want you."

Kyo stared at him, mouth slightly open and brows knitted with complete consternation. He really couldn't believe what Shigure was asking him to do. He didn't know why Shigure would want Kyo to do that to him. He didn't know why he thought Kyo was worth giving himself to in that way. But then again, he'd never known why Shigure seemed to think he was worth taking either. It could've been because it was an easy piece of ass, but this request obviously meant that he meant more to the dog.

"Kyo . . .?" Shigure started in a tiny voice that sounded almost childish and broken, brow wrinkling as he started to worry. Kyo blinked his bewilderment away and grumbled out something that sounded like, "Fine," before descending on Shigure's mouth. He forced into him greedily, much like the way he'd done that first time before he'd learned the fine art of kissing with extended practice. Shigure was just as greedy in response, opening his mouth wide and pulling against Kyo's ass, pressing his hips into Shigure's. It was easy enough for Kyo to reach down and take hold of Shigure's flaccid member, easy enough to work the blood into him, into Kyo's hand, because he knew how to touch Shigure this way. Shigure, in response, reached between them and took hold of Kyo, stroking him lightly with his open hand, using pressure with his fingers splayed over delicate, velveteen skin.

It took Kyo a good while to work up the courage to move past Shigure's mouth. They were both fully hard and aching by the time he did so, Kyo almost perfectly willing to come in his partner's hand rather than where he had requested. With tentative, moist kisses he moved down Shigure's neck, kissing him just beneath his jaw bone, then over the flutter of his pulse. Shigure sighed, undulating his body beneath him, both as an adjustment of his position and to show it felt good. Kyo had lodged safely in the back of his mind all the ways Shigure touched and teased him, ways he himself had never fully employed as he had never been given dominance to this degree. No, not given dominance, but requested. He sucked on Shigure's skin, nipped lightly at his collarbone, and Shigure breathed appreciation into his hair, his hand having gone still on Kyo's sex. With a bit more confidence he let go of Shigure and drew his hand up the man's abdomen, Shigure's belly withdrawing sharply from the tickling touch. Kyo had never realized he was so sensitive before, and at that moment he understood that he had been missing a lot by not taking more control. His hand slid up over Shigure's right pectoral, fingers brushing against his nipple as his mouth followed suit on the left side of his chest, tongue barely flickering out to tease the left nipple. Shigure's chest rose sharply with breath, and he let go of Kyo's erection to put both hands on the boy's head, weaving his fingers into the bright silk flame of his hair.

He likes this, Kyo found himself thinking, both amazed and even a little smug as he raked his teeth over the stiffening flesh. He laved his tongue against Shigure's nipple and pinched the other between his thumb, fore, and middle fingers, twisting until Shigure cried out.

"Uhn! Hnn, Kyo! That's – !" He was cut off abruptly when his lover switched sides, sucking the abused nipple into his mouth and caressing it with his tongue until the sharp, delightful pain had dissipated into a sweet ache. He rolled the damp left nipple with his thumb, pinched it then palmed his chest, sighing against Shigure's skin as he finally moved on. He went past Shigure's stomach and took his cock into his mouth without warning, pushing the foreskin back with his lips as he lightly sucked on the slick shaft beneath. Shigure keened loudly, arching his back and tossing his head sharply to one side. Usually when Kyo sucked him off he used both hands to aid him by playing with his balls or holding the base of his penis. But this time, with memories of how Shigure touched him when he was in the dog's position, he pushed against the inside of his right thigh, making him spread. The other hand sneaked up the seam of his left thigh and splayed across his belly, rubbing and tickling this sensitive area and making Shigure writhe uncontrollably beneath him.

At this point Kyo wasn't sure he could go on. He'd shown some dominance, but now that he was in the role of something he'd played before he couldn't make himself stop. It was both conscious and subconscious, and there was a little nagging voice in the back of his head that told him if he made Shigure come in his mouth he would be disappointed that he hadn't done what his lover had wanted him to. The one thing that Kyo had been most intrigued about when considering what it would be like to fuck Shigure instead of the other way around was what it would feel like when he came between them. It fascinated Kyo when Shigure bent him nearly double to kiss him while they fucked, or when they were both sitting up and Kyo's cock was rubbing hard between their bodies. When he came it always made Shigure's eyes get glassier, his voice get lower, his kisses get deeper, until the moment when he reached orgasm. Kyo wondered what it must feel like, and what Shigure's come would feel like, spurting against his belly hot and thick with Kyo buried inside him. These thoughts had Kyo unknowingly rubbing his own erection with his tight hand, his mouth demolishing Shigure's resolve.

"Kyo! Stop! Stop, please!"

Hesitantly, the boy pulled away, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he peered up into Shigure's dark eyes from between his legs.

"Do it now," he instructed breathlessly. "Hurry. The lubricant's in my kimono."

Kyo sat up on his knees, shaking now and not from pleasure, and pulled the kimono out from under where Shigure had laid on it. The bottle of lubricant fell out and hit the floor, and Kyo picked it up in trembling fingers, staring at it stupidly until Shigure murmured his name and reminded him what to do.

"Don't worry about taking your time. I can handle it," Shigure informed him, but even as Kyo rubbed the lube on his hands he wasn't quite so sure about it. Only one finger inside that desperate grip of heat and he started to feel afraid again. It was irrational fear. A fear that made him wonder how he could put anything bigger than one finger in there and not have it pinched off.

Shigure was trying to move his hips against him, eyes closed and lips moist as he grunted and ground down onto Kyo's hand. Kyo added another finger, his heart quelling even more. Shigure gasped sharply and lifted his hips, his erection bobbing and his balls rolling back on either side. Kyo bit his lip, scared to death all of a sudden and not quite sure why.

"Shigure . . ." he started once again with that fearful little voice, painfully uncertain. Shigure's response was, "Do it. Just do it. Hurry. Do it!"

Just as afraid not to as he was afraid to do it, he quickly withdrew his hand and put what he considered a generous amount of lubrication on his hard-on, which had him in fact dripping silvery drops of it on the floor. Shigure lifted his hips for him, spreading his legs wide, and told Kyo to push it in and not be afraid. Kyo stared at the tiny opening, slick and shiny with lube, then looked at his cock in his hand, and his heart started to pound in his throat with painful force. But he did as he was told, because it was what Shigure wanted . . . right? He steadied the tip of his penis against the crease of muscle, then angling himself over Shigure and leaning on one hand, he pushed in.

A shudder of pure ecstasy went zinging up his frame as foreskin was pushed away and then suddenly accepted inside, where nothing could describe the exquisite feeling of being squeezed by such a hot, greedy grip. There was a moment where peristalsis worked against him, sending wave after wave of pleasure through Kyo's groin.

He couldn't form words, just whimpers and sobs. He squeezed his eyes shut and didn't move. One hand still gripped the exposed part of his shaft, the other was trembling from holding up his weight. Shigure opened his eyes and looked up at his beautiful young lover, who'd barely managed to get much more than the head inside him before stopping. Kyo was just above him, eyes closed tight as tiny, desperate pants escaped his mouth. His body was flushed bright crimson, and Shigure reached up with both hands to touch his chest, stroking with comfort and reassurance.

"Think of something else," he tried telling him, so it would be better for both of them.

"I can't," Kyo cried, voice strained.

"Yes, you can. Think of Yuki-kun and how bad you want to beat his ass."

Kyo's eyes opened immediately and he glared. Shigure couldn't help but respond by thrusting his hips so that he slid inside more, that glare was so goddamn sexy, his eyes blood-colored and covered in a lusty lacquer. Kyo's head fell back on his shoulders and he cried out, letting go of himself so that he could catch his weight on both hands.

"Think of Tohru-kun," Shigure tried again, but his joke was taken not very well at all as Kyo wrapped his hands around his throat and threatened to kill him if he ever brought up Tohru's name in the middle of sex again.

"Sorry! I'm – uck! - sorry! Kyo-chan!" Shigure rasped, coughing hoarsely when Kyo finally released him. Even being choked didn't put a damper on his sex drive though. It had, however, seemed to have the right effect on Kyo, as he didn't seem quite so eager to climax now. They stared at each other in silence, both breathing raggedly and slowly settling into this new feeling. Kyo had never been inside anyone before, and he felt different than anyone else that had been inside Shigure. It was . . . quite simply . . . one of the most beautiful feeling ever.

Kyo's expression had softened considerably from his glare of death. It was a look that Shigure had never seen on his face before, something between an epiphany and acceptance thereof. He reached up to touch that face, and Kyo's eyes slid closed, his hips moving forward, pushing him deeper inside with a tremor that made the breath stammer from his lips.

I love you.

He wanted to say it out loud, but Shigure was afraid to. Afraid it would scare the skittish cat away, afraid it was too much for him to hear or just too much for him to say. Even though he was absolutely sure of it, just as he'd been sure of wanting this. He was also afraid because Kyo was young, and he didn't want to confuse him. If Kyo didn't feel the same way, telling him that would only complicate matters.

It was very painful, holding the words inside. They were barbed and demanded freedom, tearing at his chest and throat, knotting up his vocal chords, making his nostrils burn as he felt tears forming in his eyes. He had to not think about it. And looking at Kyo didn't help, so he closed his eyes. Shigure, who liked to keep his eyes open so he could see his lover, so he could feel closer and connected to them, no matter who it was, closed his eyes.

Kyo was moving slowly, withdrawing with agonizing slowness, pausing for two heartbeats and then pushing in again. It felt so good, it felt too good, it felt like something he didn't deserve to be doing. It didn't feel dirty and he didn't feel exposed or vulnerable. He felt something he had no idea how to explain, something very deep inside his body, maybe even deeper than that, and no matter who else he may have let himself think of for whatever reasons, he would want this with no one but the stupid dog. The stupid dog who had held him when he asked, the stupid dog who came when called, the stupid dog who did stupid things and called him stupid names, the stupid dog who let him be himself and only wanted him to get along in the world. The stupid dog who made him feel like he truly belonged somewhere, with someone. The stupid dog who made him feel beautiful. The one person who gave him more than enough reasons to feel this way.

The two-heartbeat pause became one heartbeat, but even with the pause it was hard for Kyo to hold back. He could feel himself on the edge, dying to slip over. Shigure gave him no cause to hold back, whispering that he was beautiful and he felt good, that he wanted this with him. And Kyo gave in to it, thrusting harder and with abandon, his nails scraping the floor as his fingers tensed. Shigure had taken hold of his own dick and was pumping hard, knowing he probably wouldn't come before Kyo and would probably still be hard after Kyo climaxed, but he didn't mind. This was more than enough, all he needed, and he let himself open his eyes again to look at Kyo's face in unbelievable ecstasy, his hips slamming against him as the boy finally lost control.

Kyo had never had such an orgasm as this, an orgasm where every spasm was intensified by the wet muscle gripping him, and he had the strange and absolute knowledge that he was giving a part of himself to someone else. Even if it wasn't to be used, it was still going inside him, and there was something so powerful about that thought that he feared maybe his heart would burst. He sobbed, not understanding the feeling – the sheer emotional feeling – that accompanied the physical sensation, but there was only word that would justify it.

"Shigure!"

And the only thing Shigure could say in reply, as Kyo's orgasm rocked his body against the floor, was, "I'm here, love . . . I'm here."

Kyo's arms were weak and his muscles were sore, and just as he thought he might let himself fall onto the dog's chest and rest for a minute, he opened his eyes and saw through an afterglow haze the way Shigure was looking at him, with big eyes that were full of that. And he almost smiled, until he saw that he was still hard, pulling on his stiff erection weakly and thoughtlessly, distracted by something in Kyo's face. Without warning he pulled out and slithered down his body, gripping Shigure's shaft and plunging his mouth over it, taking him into his throat and sucking with no other intention than to get him off as quickly as possible. Shigure gasped, wriggled, moaned, called his name, then came in a viscous blast in Kyo's mouth.

Now thoroughly sated, Shigure relaxed completely, barely aware when Kyo pulled away and loomed up over him, bending to kiss him. His mouth was worked open and Shigure was momentarily startled to taste his own release as it entered his mouth, sliding over his tongue in a delicious surprise greeting. He moaned sensuously, pressing forward into Kyo's kiss, passing the substance between them for a moment before each pulled away with equal swallows.

Kyo looked down at him with dazed eyes, sloppily wiping his mouth and muttering, "Happy Valentine's Day, sick bastard." He then fell forward, face pressed to the crook of Shigure's neck.

Shigure thought no better present than something so lascivious could have been had. He smiled contentedly and wrapped his arms around his exhausted lover.

"I'm kinda disappointed," Kyo muttered against Shigure's throat. "I wanted to feel you come against me."

Shigure chuckled, pleased with the subtle change in Kyo's attitude. "There's plenty of time for that."

They lay there for a long time in silence, the sunlight slowly creeping across the floor toward them as the sun moved across the sky. Shigure was contemplating ways to bring up what was left on his mind, and hoping Kyo hadn't fallen asleep. At last he nudged the boy by moving his left shoulder, and Kyo groaned in response, not moving.

With a sly smile, Shigure reached for his kimono, glad the other thing hidden in his sleeve hadn't fallen out with the lube. Pulling it out, he placed the small item on Kyo's shoulder, which immediately got the boy's attention.

Kyo lifted his head when he felt something cold with a definite weight against his skin, and he saw setting on his shoulder a small, black box. He stared at it a minute before plucking it off, raising up a little to give Shigure a questionable look.

Shigure's smile was a bit sheepish. "You didn't think I wouldn't get you a real present on Valentine's Day, did you?"

Kyo didn't know what to say. He sat up and just looked at the box, almost afraid to open it. Shigure waited, not about to coax him into it. It was something he wanted him to do on his own.

At last Kyo flipped the lid back to reveal what was inside. Nestled in black velvet was a wide silver band carved with an elaborate braid and four strange symbols. Kyo blinked, confused and relieved and a little lost as to what to say. Finally he turned to Shigure for explanation.

"I hope it's okay," he started nervously, startling Kyo with his out-of-character lack of confidence. "It's a western ring, a Celtic design."

He sat up and took the ring out of the box, pointing out the different symbols. "These are called 'runes' and they each stand for something different. The K stands for passion, the M stands for trust, the P stands for joy, and the X stands for love."

He took Kyo's left hand and slipped the ring onto his ring finger. It fit perfectly. Still, Kyo just stared, speechless. Shigure went on in his nervous, coy voice, "I took your ring size while you were asleep." His grin was devious, but there was a light blush staining his cheeks.

For the longest time Kyo said nothing. He traced over the intricate Celtic knotwork with his finger, examining the runes and running over and over in his head what they stood for. Passion, trust, joy, love.

Passion, trust, joy, love.

"Do . . . you like it?"

Kyo looked over at his lover, who was wringing his hands. "I mean, you don't have to wear it all the time and you don't even have to wear it on your hand, if you don't want to. You could put it on a chain or just keep it in the box in your room or whatever. I just thought – "

Kyo cut him off with a deep kiss. Shigure instantly melted, relieved and overjoyed by this sign of acceptance.

"I'll wear it when we're alone," Kyo finally said, his voice so quiet it hardly even sounded like his voice.

"Okay," Shigure agreed. That was more than enough for him.

Kyo went back to staring at the silver band with its ornate design, a design that was neither girly nor manly. It just was, as love just is. And Kyo didn't bother to question it, because it was pointless.

"Shigure."

"Yes?"

" . . . Thank you."

Shigure grinned like a big idiot. "You're welcome, my silly Kyo-chan." And he took the boy in his arms, cradling him close.

---

And when I watch you move
And I can't think straight
And I am silenced
And I can't think straight
It's the best thing
Such a beautiful feeling
-"Beautiful Feeling," PJ Harvey

 

For a picture of Kyo's ring, go here.
For the actual page the ring is sold on, go here.