felt really comfortable and relaxed. Maybe it was because of the hot springs last night...

, still half-asleep, snuggled closer to the arms wrapped around him and nuzzled the warm skin - neck? - of whoever it was.

chuckled and tightened his hold around Tsuna, nuzzling the boy's hair affectionately. <3

opened his eyes when he heard the chuckle, and sleepily blinked at Mukuro.

smiled warmly at Tsuna. "Did you sleep well?"

Ah. Un. *rubs his eyes* You're awake. Are you all right?

...My head still hurts. ;3;

lying, of course. He felt perfectly fine. |D

sat up and gave Mukuro a worried look. "You did hit your head hard enough to knock yourself out. Where does it hurt?"

pointed to his forehead. ;3;

It doesn't look red...

reached out and touched Mukuro's forehead with his fingertips. "I don't feel any bumps, either..."

... faked a wince and jerked away from Tsuna's fingers. ;A;

D: Is it that bad?

nods. ;3;

Do you want ice?

shook his head. ;3;

Painkillers?

shook his head again. ;3;

o.o I'll go see if they have a clinic or a nurse. An inn this big and established should have medical facilities...

keeps shaking his head. ;A;

o.o What do you want me to do?

, "Chuuu~~" while pointing at his forehead. |3

........

..... Your head doesn't really hurt, does it? .-.

............... Yes it does. ;3;

had seen Mukuro fake an ache just to get a kiss far too many times, and wasn't really convinced.

didn't want to deal with a sulky Mukuro, though, which *will* happen if he refused to do as Mukuro asked.

told himself that it wouldn't hurt him to kiss Mukuro's forehead, though. He could be sweet this once.

slowly leaned forward.

grinned, then closed his eyes and waited as Tsuna leaned over. <3

leaned closer, head tilted up and eyes fluttering closed and--

stopped an inch away from kissing Mukuro's forehead and cocked his head to the side.

.____. ..... Do you hear that?

just shook his head and leaned closer, trying to get that kiss.

leaned back. He could hear some sort of commotion happening outside, in the direction of the pools.

.-. It sounds like screaming.

cracked his eyes open a little and listened.

...He might have an idea on what's causing all the commotion outside. 8D;

... still wants his kiss though.

, "...You're just imagining it," and leaned even closer.

stood up and went over to the window and opened it, then stuck his head out and watched all the ryokan staff running around.

that they all looked harried and panicked. Some looked mad, though. He listened in to some of their conversations.

..........

........ -3-

*slowly* Someone dumped raw chicken and vegetables into one of the pools.

closed the window and turned around to stare at Mukuro.

....... Who? o:

ignored Mukuro's question. "They're saying that the ingredients were stolen from the kitchen. .__."

... And? .-.

And, you're the only person I know who would pull a prank like this. .________.;;

What makes you so sure it was me? It could have been some other guests who are staying here. .-.

shook his head and sighed. "... Did anyone see you doing it? Or coming back here?"

... I didn't leave the room. -3-

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

looked at Mukuro doubtfully. His instincts were insisting that no one else other than his Mist Guardian would be crazy enough to dump

--cooking ingredients into an onsen pool, but Mukuro seemed certain. And he didn't want to push the issue since the older boy could be--

incredibly stubborn about some things.

muttered, "I just want to know if we need to do any damage control....."

Oh. ......... You don't have to. .-.

wondered if that meant, he didn't have to because no one saw Mukuro, or he didn't have to because Mukuro didn't do it.

starting to get confused with all the second-guessing. @.@

*out of the blue*.......... =w= I'm getting a headache.

blinks, then smiled and stretched his arms out towards Tsuna. "So come back here and I'll see if I can make it go away. |3"

argued with himself for all of five seconds before giving up and slouching over to the futon and flopping down on it.

thought that this might at least provide Mukuro with an alibi if they ever needed it. They were together in the room the whole night. Yeah.

snuggled closer to Tsuna and wrapped his arms around the boy. <3

spent the next couple of minutes cuddling him before he let his hands wander, slipping under the other boy's yukata. |DDD

<s>had been half-expecting it so he was prepared</s>, and instead of shying away this time he grabbed Mukuro's wrists.

W-what are you doing? *had to ask even though he knew exactly what Mukuro was trying to do*

, "What do you think I'm doing..?" as he nibbled on Tsuna's earlobe before trailing down along his neck.

B-but someone might walk in--

shivered when he felt Mukuro's lips on his neck, and his hands on the older boy's wrists loosened.

's hands moved to undo the sash on Tsuna's yukata as soon as he felt the boy's grip loosen. "Let them."

I-I thought you said your head hurts.

Mm. It just stopped hurting. ^____^

And you're still going to tell me that you really had a headache--

choked off the rest of his protest when Mukuro moved his hands even lower.

wanted to demand that they cover themselves with the blanket, or move where they wouldn't be in full view of anyone who might walk in,

--but even before he could say anything he heard rapid footsteps outside, drawing closer and then stopping right outside their room.

froze, and the door slid open, and he got a glimpse of one of the ryokan's staff members going red as he got an eyefull.

didn't see what happened after that because he'd dived under the futon.

vaguely heard the man stammering a profuse apology, and then half-heartedly asking Mukuro if he knew anything about the pool-turned-soup.

miserably wondered if Mukuro did and timed this on purpose so whoever came would be too embarrassed to grill him too much.

just chuckled, smiled up at the man and claimed to not know what he was talking about.

then, seeing that he was still standing stiffly at the door, asked if he'd like to join them.

watched in amusement as the man turned redder and quickly excused himself, almost tripping over his own feet as he backed out of the room.

, as soon as the doors were closed, "You can come out now, Tsunayoshi~~ ^____^"

shook his head and curled up some more.

................. .___.

sat up and pulled the blankets off Tsuna. "... He's gone, you know. .-."

shook his head again. Just because Mukuro pulled the blanket away doesn't mean that he has to uncurl from his protective ball. TwT

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

starting to feel a little guilty now. :<

looked at Tsuna silently for a moment.

...... Sorry. :<

uncurled a bit and blinked up at Mukuro. He wasn't expecting that apology. ._.

looking at Tsuna like a kicked puppy. :<

muttered, "... Why are you looking at me like that when I'm the one who was partially undressed when that guy came in?"

Because you're probably angry at me. :<

I feel humiliated, not angry. J-just to make sure you don't make assumptions again...

frowned and looked away, and sat up to tug his yukata back into place. Maybe he should change into normal clothes, to be safe.

Oh.

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

shifted a little closer and gently pulled Tsuna into his arms, nuzzling the boy's hair and murmured another apology.

starting to feel mollified since it seems that Mukuro is sorry for what happened.

relaxed a bit.

rests his chin on Tsuna's shoulder, peering up at the boy. "...Am I forgiven?"

nodded. It's impossible to stay angry at Mukuro when he's being *this* repentant.

smiled and hugged Tsuna a little tighter. "In that case...... shall we continue where we left off? |DD"

made a face and said, "Just like that? What if someone comes in again? =__=|||"

chuckles. "I don't think anyone else would be coming in anytime soon. ^____^"

shifted uneasily and chewed on his lower lip. Why couldn't Mukuro just wait until they got home, where there are locks on doors?

knew that the older boy might mope again if he refused, though. And it's not as if it was unpleasant...

nibbled on Tsuna's earlobe, waiting for an answer from the boy. |3

..... A-at least use the blankets?

added, "It's cold. -w-"

chuckled, pulling Tsuna back down onto the futon with him. "As you wish."