Let's Make it Last

I feel... warmth.

As I wake from my slumber, my brain slowly starts to spin up, processing exactly where I am and what's going on. The first thing I notice is intense warmth next to me. Next is... softness, I think. Yeah, soft. REALLY soft, in fact. My hand sinks into whatever this mass is next to me. I squeeze lightly, causing the thing - no, person - next to me to stir, cuddling up closer to me and making a contented sigh.

Oh. Well, that explains that.

I think back to last night. Misha's nightmare, her apprehensions, her fears. Everything she shared yesterday comes flooding back to me. I squeeze her again in a hug, grinning so huge that it actually hurts my cheeks. She stirs again and gives that cute, contented sigh. I'll never get tired of hearing that. She sounds like an angel, even when she's asleep.

I look over at the clock. 07:03. I'm surprised I woke up this early, to be honest. Usually I sleep in on Saturdays, but I guess I slept so well, my body just decided to get a head start. Oh well. I'm not complaining. Although, my arm is asleep, and even though I'm enjoying holding Misha, it's getting rather uncomfortable. I try my best to un-wedge my arm without waking her and I think I've actually suc-

"Mmh... Hicchan?" Well, fuck. There goes that.

Misha turns over to look at me, and the look on her face... without a doubt, the best thing I've ever seen. This look of utter contentment, of complete relaxation, this weak, loving smile of hers, knowing that I was there for her, and still am. It melts my heart, really. I hope I never forget that smile, as long as I live.

"Hicchan, why are we up so early~?" she says to me groggily, throwing her arms around my neck and pulling me into a light kiss. "Let's go back to slee~ep. I was having the nicest dream~." She pouts at me with those big eyes and hell, I can't resist her.

"In a few minutes. I'm enjoying this right now." I pull her into another kiss, smiling inside as she sighs into it and settles into my arms. We stay like this for a good few minutes, just enjoying the moment, neither of us wanting it to end. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, we separate. And... she goes right back in. Damn, that woman's energetic.

In between kisses, she sneaks in a word or two. "I just - can't stop - kissing you - Hicchan - I don't - know why - but it's - so much fun~". That... that might be the most adorable thing I've ever heard her say. Finally, we break again for breath and just hold each other. I look into her eyes and... she's crying. A tear or two rolls down her cheek. Nothing more. I kiss the edge of her eye and hold her closely. "I'm so happy, Hicchan~! I was starting to think no one could ever fall in love with me..."

"Well, you've got me now, right?" She nods furiously, smiling from ear to ear. God, I love that. "So, does this mean we're dating now?"

She gives me a playful little shove and looses a loud "WAHAHAHAHA!". "Hicchan, would you be here if we weren't dating? I'm not that kind of girl!" I can feel my face heating up. I simply shrug in response and rest my head on her shoulder.

Another glance at the clock. 07:30. Time flies, I guess. "Let's get some more sleep, Hicchan." I silently agree, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close to me, hugging her tightly as we once again slip off into our dreams.

---

*THUD THUD THUD*

The fuck?

I wake to the sound of a VERY loud thudding at Misha's door. Oh... oh crap, there's only one person that could be. And from the soun-

*THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD*

Yeah, she's angry. How the hell does Misha sleep through that? I shake her lightly and, once that proves to be futile, lean over and kiss her on the cheek. That one worked. She stirs from her sleep and bolts up at the next knock, right as things get deathly silent.

It takes me a few seconds to process everything that happens.

First, I suddenly realize, in a moment of great horror, that we forgot to lock the door.

Then, I remember that Shizune is deaf, and probably couldn't hear us waking up.

Finally, I put two and two together. Oh, CRAP.

The door flies open and there stands a very angry Shizune, whose expression quickly changes from anger, to shock, to surprise. Misha pulls the covers over the both of us and signs as quickly as she can. "Shicchan, I can explain! This, er, it's not... okay, it's TOTALLY what it looks like, but I'm sorry, he HAD to spend the night, I couldn't just let him walk out in that storm and catch a cold and I know it's against the rules but it was just this one time and it'll never ha-"

Shizune cuts her off with a blur of sign before stepping back through the door as quickly as she had come. Right before it swings closed, I see what could almost be a meloncholy smile cross her lips, but then she's gone.

Misha fails to notice her friend's expression, letting out another one of her trademark boisterous laughs. "She - wahaha - she said," Misha gasps, trying to regain her composure.

"She said, 'It's about damn time you two started dating!'"

I don't think I can laugh as hard as Misha can, but I certainly gave it my best shot.