The Cat and the Crow

New Year's Day

"Think you can stay awake, Kei?" Tetsu asked as he followed him up onto the roof. "We didn't really get a chance to rest earlier."

"And we barely slept the night before. But, I'm going to try," Kei replied. "Can't miss out watching the sun rise on New Year's Day."

He reached up and Akaashi helped him onto the roof. Bokuto was already seated and looking to the east. Once Kei gained his footing and thanked Akaashi, he turned and helped Tetsu up onto the roof.

Since the day after Christmas, when the family returned from Sendai, they spent most of their time cleaning everything in preparation for the New Year. No room, no corner, went untouched, and they did their best to keep everything tidy. Furniture was moved to get under and around each piece. Everyone's laundry was done, including all bedsheets, blankets and towels. Every last dish in the house was also washed and put away. Mom even had them clearing the front and back yards of leaves and fallen branches.

Tetsu had joked that everything would be sparkling, if they were in an anime.

Now, they were all huddled together under blankets on the roof, waiting for the sun rise. Already, the sky was changing from black to grey. It wasn't long now.

"Are we all going to make a wish?" Bokuto asked everyone. "We should have one ready for first light."

"Other than the standard wishes for a happy, healthy, new year?" Tetsu returned with a question.

"I think those are equally important," Kei said, trying not to yawn.

Akaashi was thoughtful, and finally added, "Well, why not wish for a happy, healthy new year? Also, let's wish good fortune for our teams to make it as far as we can at Nationals."

"I like that," Kei replied, and yawned again. He snuggled deeper into the blankets and into Tetsu's arms.

"Thought you were going to try and stay awake," Tetsu chided gently, though he tightened his hold a bit and smiled at his fiance. "Come on. It's almost time. Just a little longer."

"Fine. But we're going to bed right after this."

"No arguments here," Tetsu chuckled.

"To sleep," Kei stressed with a glare back at Tetsu. "Only sleep."

"I now have an argument," Tetsu replied slyly. "Do you really think I could sleep with your body so temptingly close to mine?"

"I don't know. Give it a try."

"Same goes for us," Akaashi told Bokuto in an equally tired voice. "Watch the sun rise, make our wishes, get back inside where it's warm, and go straight to sleep."

"I think two of us are getting crankier the longer they're awake," Tetsu said to Bokuto, winking.

His best friend picked up on the joke. "I can think of several ways to help them get to sleep faster."

"Yeah, same."

"Good grief," Akaashi groaned.

"Seriously?" Kei complained at the same time.

"It's probably a good thing we're not going to the shrine until later," Tetsu reflected. "Even though going this early would mean it's a lot less crowded."

Both Kei and Akaashi snorted at that, but said nothing. Tetsu and Bokuto smiled at each other and snuggled their lovers. As the sky lightened a little more, fading from grey to pink, the sun crested the horizon.

"Happy New Year, Kei," Tetsu murmured into his ear. "I love you more."

"I love you most," Kei replied quietly.