CHAPTER TEN

Kade was still out cold on the couch as Shiro came out around the twilight hour to check on him.

"I kinda wish Nixi could just watch him but I can't do that to her" Shiro thought to himself

A loud snore from Kade's direction interrupted Shiro's thoughts. He gritted his teeth in annoyance.

Shiro plugged his ears as he began to walk back to his room but stopped as he saw the sliding door to Kurosu's room was half open.

"....is he still awake too?"

Shiro cautiously stepped closer to peak in from the door

Kurosu wasn't in his bed. It was obvious to Shiro as the room itself was barren. A small writing table in the far left corner and a zabuton mat in the middle of the room that Kurosu uses for meditation.

"Just as drabby as the living room..." Shiro thought aloud

"You making fun of my decorating again"

Kurosu spoke abruptly from the window.

"You're good at showing yourself at the worst times, you know."

Kurosu perched himself on the windowsill, the light of the moon had made a halo around the outline of his body.

"Do you have a particular reason for being in my space? I thought the agreement was we stayed away from the other's room" Kurosu inquired with a cocky grin

"I'm breaking that agreement because…I was checking on you…I couldn't sleep!"

Shiro pouted as he spoke in a low whisper. Shiro felt embarrassed by his childish actions.

"...I can't either"

"!?!"

"...I don't sleep, you know. At least not enough"

"I'm aware of that from our talks on tea"

"I've tried everything"

"Not everything"

Shiro walked closer to Kurosu.

"If you weren't such a jerk the other day, I could have told you I can help"

"Your Alchemy isn't going to help. I've tried"

"It's not Alchemy"

"Death? It's sounds preferable"

"Kurosu, just lie down and I'll show you."

"..."

Shiro could tell Kurosu was doubting him on his miracle cure for his insomnia.

"The first step to a friendship is trusting me~" Shiro chimed, trying to entice the other male.

"...fine, I'll indulge you. But I already know it won't work" Kurosu relented as he hopped down from the windowsill.

Kurosu lay back on his bed, not bothering to take off his clothes or armor as he felt confident that Shiro's weird magic won't help him.

Shiro put his hand over Kurosu's hand

SWIPE!

Kurosu pulled his hand away swiftly.

"I'm not a small child. I don't need my hand held" Kurosu indigently stated to the shorter dragon.

Shiro just huffed in annoyance, "I need to have some physical contact with you so my mana can flow through you like last time."

"...fine"

Kurosu extended his clawed hand out to Shiro; He felt Shiro softly clasp his hands over his own. It felt much warmer than his own.

"OK just close your eyes. It won't be long" Shiro said softly as he started to concentrate his mana on flowing through Kurosu with ease.

Shiro had to stay focused for this as passing his mana through Kurosu's is like a river current. Each dragon's mana will clash if you force it too much, creating discomfort for both people.

Shiro was grateful he never had such an issue when he did such things.

A soft teal light slowly emanated from Shiro's hands and a strand of the green light snaked its way down on Kurosus' skin. It slithered all the way past his shoulder, passed his neck, until it stopped at Kurosu temple.

Kurosu felt nothing.

Even as his world went black.

He dreamt of nothing.

Like his mind was just empty.

No nightmares plagued him that night.

It was just…nothing.

And then he woke up.

The sunlight shone through his window as morning came and went.

A blanket was placed over him which he hadn't done last he recalled.

"...when did I?" Kurosu paused and sat upright, examining his surroundings.

It was really daytime.

"I don't…remember falling asleep."

Various emotions came over Kurosu. Confusion, shock, and a sense of relief.

It was the best sleep he has had since he could remember.

He felt…good. Revitalized. Even a tad bit relaxed.

"Did he really…?"

SLIP!

A loud sliding sound came from his door.

It was Shiro.

"Hey, you're finally awake!" Shiro laughed as he stepped inside Kurosu's room.

"When did you-!?"

"You were out cold not even seconds after I used my mana. I told you I could do it!"

He smirked, all proud of himself.

"You gonna get up now? I made pancakes and Kade is on his fifths so you might want to grab some before he takes them all" Shiro mentioned off-hand as he goes to leave.

"W-wait! It's really morning!?!" Kurosu yelled aloud as he rolled out of bed. He was still in his armor so they weighed heavily on him as he tried to get up.

"Why did I not change out of these…."

"Because you're an idiot and yes, it's actually half past nine. So if you want to eat, you better hurry"

Shiro yelled as he ran down the hall back to the kitchen.

"..."