placed Hayato on top of the table, and spent some time gently petting and grooming the rabbit.

could see that Hayato liked the heat coming up through the table. The rabbit had flopped onto his belly and closed his eyes.

... wondered if rabbits could smile. o:

lowered his head and rested his chin on the table, the better to see the rabbit's contented expression at eye level.

bounding down the stairs in search of Tsuna. :33

found the boy sitting at the kotatsu in the living room and made his way over. |D

Tsu~ na~ yo~ shi-- ..... .___.

stopped as soon as the rabbit came into view.

... Tsuna has been spending more time with Hayato than with him lately. -3-

............... =3=

went up behind the smaller boy and glomped him.

didn't move from his place, but acknowledged the other boy by murmuring his name.

Naa, if you want to use the kotatsu you should get a place now before Bianchi and the kids take over.

added, "Keep quiet, though. Hayato's sleeping."

............... =3=

, as he moved to sit beside Tsuna, "It could always just go back to sleep if it woke up. =3="

adds, "... What's it doing sleeping on a table anyway. >3>"

I took him inside. I'm afraid he'll catch a cold in the snow.

.................................... -3-

I'm sure he wouldn't.

._. But he likes the heat of the kotatsu. See? *lightly nudges Hayato's nose*

... And how do you know that he's not just feeling drowsy because it's too warm? =3=

Too warm? .__. It doesn't look like he's uncomfortable.

... suck his lower lip out into a small pout and flopped onto the table, thumping it loudly in an attempt to scare the rabbit.

frowned when the rabbit started and opened his eyes. He hurriedly petted Hayato again to calm him down.

didn't say anything to reprimand Mukuro, though.

lifted his head and stared at Hayato, waiting for the rabbit to go back to sleep before dropping it back on the table, harder this time. -3-

"What are you doing?" as Hayato woke up again, and he pulled the rabbit onto his lap and soothed him back to sleep.

Nothing. -3-

eyed Mukuro suspiciously.

that the other boy is acting oddly.

after a moment, with his forehead still resting on the table, "... Aren't you going to put him back in the cage? It's getting late."

looked at the clock. True; it *was* getting late. An hour more or so and it would be the new year.

stood up and went to the garden to return Hayato to his cage. He'd spent time bonding with the rabbit, just as the books said.

..... still ended up spending a lot of time outside, cleaning the cage, making sure the food and water is enough, generally just fussing.

didn't mean to take a long time going back - he was just really worried that the baby rabbit couldn't handle the cold temperature outside.

had wanted to count down to the new year with Tsuna, but he eventually got tired of waiting for the boy and went back up to his room. =3=

... if the rabbit was more important to Tsuna than he was now. ;3;

....................

starting to wonder if he was even important to Tsuna to begin with.

slammed the door shut and crawled under the covers, pulling it over his head.

came back inside after a while, thinking that he'd find Mukuro still at the kotatsu, but the other boy wasn't there anymore. .___.

wondered if he went back up to his room.

looked at the clock. a few more minutes left.

went upstairs and knocked at the door of Mukuro's room.

... curled up under the covers, ignoring the knock on the door.

frowned when he didn't get an answer.

decided to just go in, and found Mukuro curled up under the covers.

....... .___.

made his way over to the bed and knelt down beside it, and poked at the Mukuro-shaped lump.

..... Hey. Are you all right? Do you have a stomachache?

shifted a little, moving away from Tsuna.

.-. Mukuro?

doesn't answer. =3=

.___. Hey, you're not asleep on New Year's Eve, are you?

............ Yes I am. =3=

.-. But you just talked to me. You're not asleep at all.

I'm talking in my sleep. =3=

.... Right. What are you doing? It's almost New Year.

Like I said, I'm sleeping. =3=

tilted his head.

slowly, "..... You mean you don't want my new year kiss?"

........... No. =3=

isn't going to give in so easily, not this time. -3-

frowned, and thought for a bit before grabbing the edge of the blanket and flipping it up.

ducked under the blanket before Mukuro could react, and crawled on top of the other boy, straddling his waist.

blinked, looking up at Tsuna in surprise. "...What are you doing? o_o"

fired back, "What are *you* doing?"

........................ sleeping..? o.o

On new year's eve??

Why not? .-.

..... You're not afraid of fireworks, are you?

stares. "...... Obviously not. .-."

Then why are you hiding under the bed covers?

Must I have a reason for everything I do? =3=

sat back, but kept his hands on Mukuro's tummy. ".... N-no, I guess, but......"

getting that feeling that he'd done something wrong again. That was the only reason why Mukuro would act like this.

with a bit less confidence than before, "..... Don't you want to spend new year's eve together?"

......... Of course I do.

couldn't stay mad at Tsuna when he's looking at him like that. ;A;

having enough trouble resisting the urge to pull the boy into his arms and cuddle him. ;3;

Then why are you hiding up here? >:

Because it didn't seem like you wanted to spend it with me. ;3;

D: What made you think that?

DDD: Was it something I did?

silent for a moment before shaking his head. "...No, it's nothing."

eyed Mukuro dubiously. Clamming up. It was such a typical response that he was actually starting to get used to it somewhat.

slowly leaned down so their faces were just a foot apart; Mukuro wouldn't be able to look away.

If you don't want to tell me..... Is there anything I should do about it?

I-I mean, I was going to ask you if there's anything you want to do, but you're obviously not in the mood.....

sat up again and looked away. Maybe this was a bad idea. He didn't want to annoy the other boy first thing in the new year...

's lips slowly curved up at the corners into a small smile and tugged Tsuna back down into his arms.

softly, rubbing his cheek against the boy's hair, "Then... let me cuddle you to sleep. <3"

raised his head and blinked at Mukuro. "T-that's it?"

nodded. "Mm. And stay till morning. ......... Do you not want to?"

I don't mind, but...

... But?

fidgeted. He was lying on top of the other boy; surely it wouldn't be comfortable...?

You mean stay like this? Aren't I heavy?

blinks. "... You mean you were supposed to be heavy? .-."

I dunno. Am I?

... You feel like a pillow. |3 *snuggles*

A-ah. o.O

A-all right.....

made himself relax and tried not to move around too much. Maybe if he thought of Mukuro as a weirdly-shaped cushion...

Are you feeling uncomfortable, though? .-.

shook his head. It was actually quite nice as long as he didn't worry that he'd be causing Mukuro discomfort. It was warm, for one thing.

smiled and planted a kiss on the top of Tsuna's head. "Good."

, after a short period of silence, "...Happy New Year, Tsunayoshi-kun."

softly, "Happy New Year."

, let Mukuro cuddle him to sleep. ._. He didn't really know what he was supposed to do. Just... go to sleep like this...?

wasn't sure if he could go to sleep that easily, and, for a while, thought that he might have to stay awake and focus on not moving.

wasn't expecting to fall asleep barely five minutes after Mukuro greeted him.