Kiri to Shinkirō | Mist and Mirage

Pandas and butterflies.

They were woken by Hikaru's phone. When she reluctantly extricated herself from their warm tangle and stood up to go answer it, she fell back into the bed with a gasp.

Kiri was holding her an instant later. "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

Hikaru pulled away from him and stood more slowly. She winced, but remained standing. "It didn't hurt last night," she said reluctantly, "but today it feels kind of like a skinned knee, only inside. Which makes sense I guess?"

Kiri placed his hand against her belly and asked, "Would a bath help?"

Hikaru's phone had stopped ringing, but it rang again and she shrugged and stepped away from him to pick it up. "I'm late," she said unhappily.

Kiri looked at her blankly and she answered the phone.

Ryuske demanded, "Where are you? Is everything alright."

Hikaru blinked and told him, "I'm fine, but I'll be a bit longer. Sorry I'm late."

Ryuske said, "Rin wants to know if he should come pick you up?"

Hikaru replied, "No. I decided to move out and I'm," she hesitated. "I'm not at my mother's house."

When Ryuske tried to ask more, she said she'd explain the rest when she got there.

Kiri had gotten up and started pulling out clean clothes while she talked. When she hung up he asked, "Rehearsal?"

She nodded.

"Hikaru," he asked uncertainly, "are you up to it? I'm sorry, I didn't think ahead to today, or think that it might cause pain after the fact."

"I'll manage," she said. Kiri was still naked and she looked away with embarrassment.

He winced. "I'll start a shower, faster than a bath?"

Hikaru nodded and he handed her a T-shirt and a pair of stretchy exercise pants.

"Will these work?" He asked, and when she nodded again he added, "And I'll drive you."

"OK," she agreed.

They showered and dressed quickly. Kiri offered her an anti inflammatory with the quick breakfast he assembled for her to eat on the way.

When she asked what about his breakfast, he said, "I'll eat after I've dropped you off. I've got a lot of work to catch up on, but call me if you need me, or when you're ready to be picked up?"

She gave him the address and they drove to it without mishap. She clung to him for a minute before getting out. He kissed her, and kissed her again.

"Are you sure you'll be OK?" he asked.

Hikaru nodded and said, "Yeah, it doesn't hurt if I'm not moving, so if it gets too bad, I can just sit awhile."

Kiri sighed and reluctantly let her go.

--

"What do you mean you moved out?" Ryuske demanded as soon as he let her in.

Hikaru replied with a quick confusing summary, "Izumi had Kiri arrested. It was the last straw, I was so freaking angry with him this time. I moved out, but my mom didn't want me to live alone, so she allowed me to move in with Kiri, after we set up a prenuptial agreement."

"Kiri?" echoed Rin.

Hikaru couldn't remember if she'd told them her boyfriend's name. She opened her mouth and Ryuske grabbed her shoulders and said, "You can't!"

"What?" Hikaru asked, confused.

Rin said calmly, "I warned you."

"Shut up," Ryuske told him, "this has nothing to do with that."