The Cat and the Crow

The Next Step

"The house is yours for the night. We'll see you late tomorrow morning. Dinner is warming in the kitchen. Congratulations, you two! Love you both!"

"Did you..." Kei started to ask, but when he looked at Tetsu, he knew it was a surprise for him as well. "Guess not."

"I can't say that the idea didn't cross my mind, but I never thought..." he gently took the paper from Kei. "You think maybe it was...?"

"Well, that is mom's handwriting, so yeah. Probably her idea."

Once Kei opened the door, they headed for the kitchen. Neither of them had eaten much after breakfast, although that might have also been by design. Kei went directly to the little oven, turned it off, and opened it. Inside, on a large serving platter covered in foil, was a pile of fried chicken. Tetsu found a second note, and went to get the rest of dinner from the fridge. There was shrimp gratin, and a tiramisu cake, too. But mom had also made a salad of pickled veggies to go with, and Kei was starting up the rice cooker.

"It's almost too much," Kei said quietly as he took in the sight of all the food, once everything was set out on the table.

"I mean, whatever's leftover can be part of breakfast, right?"

Kei looked up at Tetsu. The expression on his face, and the heated look in his eyes, said that food was not high on his list of priorities. In fact, it looked as if food wasn't what he intended to devour at all. Kei felt himself flush, and Tetsu's eyes and smile looked damned near predatory.

And then, the mood was rudely interrupted by a growling stomach.

"We gotta eat something," Kei said, laughing. "We haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Right. Food first," Tetsu replied slowly. His voice was practically a growl.

It turned out that they were hungrier than they thought, eating most of what was on the table. Yet, interspersed throughout the meal, they teased each other mercilessly with kisses and caresses. It was a wonder they didn't create a mess. Not that they would have cared, because Tetsu's next kiss, just under Kei's ear, with a little nibble on the lobe, sent a shiver so violently through him that he declared dinner over, grabbed Tetsu's hand, and nearly dragged him to their bedroom.

"I win," Tetsu growled against the back of Kei's neck, running his hands up under his shirt as he was taking it off. The cool metal of Tetsu's ring against his heated skin felt like ice.

"You think so, huh?" Kei replied, flipping the script and taking control. Tetsu lost all ability to think straight as Kei used his hands, mouth, and body to drive him insane. Kei then delivered the 'killing blow': he kissed just under Tetsu's ear, and nibbled on the lobe, which is what started everything in the first place.

They toppled over onto the bed, Kei landing on top of Tetsu. He moved so that their faces were but a breath apart, and he was straddling his hips.

"I win," Kei panted.

"You win," Tetsu repeated, caressing Kei's back, making him arch like a cat. "You've won my heart, my body, and my soul, and all you had to do was walk into the gym that day." He wrapped his arms tightly around Kei and turned so that he was on top. "I love being yours."

Kei was speechless, but before he could formulate any sort of reply, Tetsu claimed his mouth. Kei reached up and gently laid his left hand on Tetsu's face, letting the cool metal work its magic. Tetsu shivered as he trailed his hand back, over his ear, and tangled his fingers through his messy dark hair.

"You don't have to say anything," he whispered to Kei when they came up for air. "Everything is in your eyes. Did you know that? You speak with your eyes. I'm the one who talks. Sometimes incessantly."