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Something was itching at Takina's mind. Something she had to resolve before she could let herself fall asleep.
She sat up, grabbed her phone from where it was charging on the headboard, and hit speed dial number one. She put the phone to her ear and waited patiently for the call to connect.
Seven, eight, nine rings. Takina was about to start worrying when the call finally went through.
"Who is it?" Chisato's voice was muffled, like she had her face in a pillow, and raspy as if she had been woken up.
"Um, it's me. I'm sorry to call so late at night. I was just wondering... Uh, I just wanted to check if you were safe. Because of the current situation. The Lycoris murders and all."
"Aw, Takina!" Chisato sounded more awake now. "You know I can take care of myself, and you still thought to call!"
"That's not it. As your partner, it's my responsibility to make sure you're safe, no matter how skilled you are."
"Yes, yes. Well, I'm a-okay, so you don't need to worry tonight, Takina!" Chisato's normal cheery voice sounded a bit off. Takina listened carefully. Maybe it was simply her just-woken-up voice? No, that couldn't be it. It was hard to pick up over the phone, but it sounded like Chisato had her mouth full...?
"Chisato." She interrupted the tangent her partner had gone off on. "Are you eating in bed?"
Chisato paused. A telltale gulp. A suspicious rustling sound that told Takina all she needed to know. "Um... no! How could you accuse me of such a thing—"
Takina cut her off. "It sounded like you had your mouth full. And don't even try to hide the rustling I heard just now."
Chisato was silent for a moment, probably trying to come up with a counterpoint, then sighed in defeat, right in Takina's ear. "Aw, you didn't have to find out... How did you even pick up on that? Do you have some kind of supernatural hearing that you kept from me?"
Takina suppressed a smile. "No, of course not. But I am a trained Lycoris, after all, or did you forget, Miss Supernatural Eyesight?"
Chisato giggled into the phone and it was music to Takina's ears. "Okay, okay. I get it!"
"Don't forget to brush your teeth. And eating before bed is detrimental to your health. Not to mention your teeth."
The pout was back in Chisato's voice. "I wasn't eating before bed. I was eating in bed."
"Chisato."
"Okay, okay, Miss Takina!"
The next day, Takina was up bright and early, even earlier than her usual time. The call with Chisato last night had left her thinking. With all the attacks on Lycoris recently, it was paramount they stayed together at all times to ensure each other's safety. And since it wasn't ideal to call the other every single night, the most logical solution was for them to live together. Just for the time being, until the current situation was resolved.
That was what Takina went to sleep thinking about, and her reasoning the next morning as she located all the things she needed and packed them into a duffel bag.
The streets were just starting to stir as she left her apartment and locked the door behind her. Birds sang in the trees and she caught sight of a black cat zipping around the corner just ahead of her.
She had never been to Chisato's apartment, but they had exchanged addresses early on as a precaution. Takina hefted the duffel bag higher onto her shoulder and fished in her pocket for her phone.
Seven, eight, nine rings. Same as last night, even though the sun was already up...? Takina shook her head to herself as the call finally went through.
"Hello, Takina?" Chisato's voice was still sleepy, same as it was last night. "Guess what, I set your number up with a custom ringtone, so now I'll know it's you without even having to look at my phone~"
Takina ignored the unfamiliar warmth that spread across her cheeks at those words. It was obviously because she was carrying a heavy duffel bag and walking at such a brisk pace. "I see. Can you open the door in about two minutes?"
"Huh? For who?"
"Never mind, forget that. I'm here now, please open the door right away."
"Huh?" There was some scuffling on the line, then the door in front of Takina opened, revealing Chisato still in adorable pajamas even at this time of day, with her phone held to her ear and a surprised expression on her face.
"Sorry to show up without warning. This is just until the current situation is resolved." Takina stepped inside and let her duffel bag drop to the floor. The various weapons and other emergency supplies inside rattled against each other.
Chisato's face lit up. "You're coming to live with me?"
Takina had insisted on sleeping on the couch. As this was a safe house, Chisato hadn't prepared for any guests to sleep over, so there was only the one bedroom.
"But, Takina! That's so unbecoming of me to make my guest sleep on the couch!"
"First of all, I'm not your guest. I'm your partner. Second of all, I’m not letting you sleep on the couch. I know you already do that too often. It's not good for you."
Chisato had complained, saying she had never slept on the couch overnight, it just so happened she'd take a nap there after binging movies, and it wasn't her fault if she ended up "napping" there the whole night and most of the morning...
Takina ignored her, instead busying herself with unpacking the duffel bag and reorganizing her supplies.
"...so we can sleep together in the bed instead. It's perfect!"
"Absolutely not."
"Aw, what do you mean~ How come?"
"That wouldn't be... appropriate." Takina felt her face heat up.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Chisato stomped her foot on the floor. "Do you have a better idea, then?"
Takina had to admit she in fact did not.
And that was how they had come to this. Chisato's bed was large and admittedly quite comfortable, so the arrangement wasn't as awkward as Takina had originally feared.
But even though all of that was true, she couldn't understand why she was still lying awake, staring at the ceiling while Chisato breathed regularly next to her, deep in sleep, occasionally snuffling into the pillow.
Usually sleep, albeit shallow, came easy to Takina. She was the type of person to fall asleep quickly and wake easily. It was uncommon for her to be stuck on the first step and not even be able to fall asleep, though.
It was just too... unfamiliar. (That's not an excuse, she told herself. We Lycoris are trained to make the most of unfamiliar environments.) Yes, she had lived her whole life in the DA dorms. Letting down her guard and falling asleep in the same room as someone else was what she'd been doing her whole life. But it was completely different when that someone was less than an arm's reach away, in the same bed. It was completely different when that someone was... Chisato.
Takina grimaced in annoyance and turned over, doing so carefully to avoid shaking the bed and waking Chisato. It wouldn't do at all to have both her and her partner be deprived of sleep the next morning; that would be a recipe for disaster.
She realized suddenly that Chisato's deep breathing had stopped, and she panicked and turned around to see Chisato's eyes were open and she was watching her.
"Um, sorry. Did I wake you? I was just about to... get some water." The bedframe protested as she swung her feet out of bed and stood up. The floor was cold.
"Oh, okay." Chisato didn't stop her as she quickly excused herself and headed for the kitchen, where she fumbled for a clean glass in the dark and sipped some water. Unfortunately, the cold aftertaste erased any form of sleepiness she might have been harboring.
As Takina padded softly back into the bedroom, Chisato shifted again and sat up.
"S-Sorry, go back to sleep..."
"How about you? Can't sleep?"
"Um, no, I just wanted some water..." Takina wasn't sure why she was lying.
"Liar. I know you haven't slept all night."
"Huh? How'd you know that—wait a second!”
Chisato grinned smugly. "Hey, Chisato Nishikigi never reveals her methods." She pulled Takina closer with one hand and dug around for something in the other. It was too dark to see. Then the next thing Takina knew was the crinkling sound of something, and the sweet taste of artificial strawberry filled her mouth.
"Here, take this! I found that something sweet helps me fall asleep sometimes. Maybe it's the same for you?" Chisato popped another piece of candy into her own mouth and smiled winningly at her partner.
Takina shook her head in disbelief. "Chisato, what did I say about eating before bed?"
Chisato's face turned sheepish. "I know! But you can't sleep, right? And it's just once, it'll be fine!"
"I'll have to brush my teeth again."
"No, don't leave me, Takina!" Chisato lunged across the bed and threw her arms around her, whining and rubbing her face into her neck with great fanfare. Takina felt her cheeks warm at the sensation.
"Get off of me. I'll be right back. Matter of fact, you come with me too; you need to brush your teeth as well."
"Takina, you're no fun..." Chisato grumbled, but didn't resist as Takina pulled her off the bed and headed to the bathroom. They both squinted in the sudden harsh glare as Takina snapped on the light.
It's way too unfamiliar, Takina thought to herself as she grabbed her toothbrush, scrutinizing their reflection in the mirror as she began brushing. Brushing her teeth in Chisato's unfamiliar bathroom in the middle of the night, when they should both be getting their rest.
Her eyes flicked to Chisato, who was still blinking in the bright light and not doing anything remotely close to brushing her teeth.
"Hey." She held out Chisato's toothbrush and nudged her gently with a shoulder. "Get going, then we can go back to bed."
Chisato made a noise of discontent, but started brushing without a complaint.
"Hey, Takina."
"Mm, what is it?" Takina kept her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"There's something else I've heard of that’s supposed to help people fall asleep."
"Hm?"
The bedframe creaked as Chisato scooted closer. A rustle of blankets, then Takina was enveloped by Chisato's arms and the warm scent of her shampoo.
"Hey, what're you doing—" she tried to protest, but cut herself off as she felt Chisato's lips brush her ear.
"I read that cuddling with your partner improves sleep. Obviously I've never done this with anyone else, but don't you want to give it a try?"
Takina felt her face heat up at the sensation of Chisato pressed so completely against her. "Um, that might be so, but are you sure about this?"
"Do you not want to?" It was too dim to see, but there was something flat in Chisato's tone. Disappointment, perhaps.
"Well, I don't hate it..." Takina mumbled.
"Perfect!" Chisato nuzzled into Takina's nape, and she felt a smile against her skin. "I have high hopes for this method~"
"R-Right." Takina adjusted her position. It was unfamiliar. Extremely so. To have someone holding her like this as she prepared to fall asleep. Arguably her most intimate, defenseless state. Everything about this was irrational, and yet her body still melted into Chisato's. The warm scent of her shampoo filled her senses. The way Chisato's legs tangled with hers under the covers, and the way her arms wrapped around her torso securely. Chisato's breathing was already growing deep and regular, fluttering against her bare shoulder.
Takina closed her eyes, timed her breathing to Chisato's, and let sleep overtake her.