Coming out of the Dark

By: Meleney Layne aka, TrinityLayne

AN: This started out as a one shot I wrote for Dragonfire10 aka Ravenesque… but it has bloomed into a full blown story. Enjoy!

Prologue

Moonlight Musings

The large room would have been completely dark if it were not for a single undraped window. Moonlight poured into the room as if it was in a battle with the darkness. The bed in the center of the room was the only thing completely illuminated by the moonlight. A silent figure sat on the edge of the bed watching the peaceful face of the sleeping young woman. She was laying on her side facing him, as he was listening to her soft rhythmic breathing. He reached out and gently cupped the side of her cheek lightly, caressing her brow with his thumb. Then he brushed an errant tendril of her dark hair off of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"Yuki," he whispered, not really believing what he could see or feel.

'After all that is happening,' a weary smile, flashed briefly at his thoughts. 'After all that we have been through, you of all people are here. -In my bed- -in my heart- -in my soul.-'

He gracefully rose from the bed, ignoring his black silk robe laid discarded at the foot of the bed, uncaring of his nudity as he walked over to the open window. He leaned against the frame of the window, basking in the moonlight watching the trees in the garden sway gently in the night breeze.

'Two years ago, I found her at the darkest point of her life,' he thought sadly of the past. 'Before that moment, she was but a small blip on my radar; she was nothing but Makino's quiet friend, who spent most of her time chasing after Soujiroh. But one single act of horrific violence and my stumbling across the aftermath pushed her to the foremost of my world. Once there, she became one of the most important people here in my life.'

He silently turned to the bed when he heard the sound of rustling sheets and watched her as she rolled onto her back and sighed softly. Only when she was once again still did he release the breath that he was unaware he had been holding and turned back to the window. 'But she is here and this is where shall stay,' he lifted his left hand and looked the simple platinum band adorning it. His was plain compared to the ornate emerald one Yuki now wore. 'Till death do you part, as the vows are spoken.' He rubbed the band with a pad of his thumb; the ring seemed to glow brightly in the moonlight.

'Vows when spoken are set in stone was how I was raised. A few simple words can define one's life, for good or bad. One simple promise caused me to pursue her halfway across the world to bring her home, with nothing but a few words given to her closest friend; were what drove me. Or so I kept telling myself.'

He turned from the window and returned to the bed. 'I didn't admit my own true feelings for her till just a few hours ago.'

'But I went to the courtship, engagement and wedding; not letting my self admit, that my feelings for her were more than my desire to fulfill my promise to Makino. My vow to protect Yuki,' he laid down beside her placing his hand on her exposed stomach.

'One day,' he whispered softly as he nuzzled her neck. Thinking of what may happen in the future. His hand moved up to her face. 'She gave me the greatest gift. She gave me her heart, and I have given her mine.' His lips brushed hers, and she moaned instinctively in her sleep. He was about to wake her to show her what it was in his heart, when a soft but persistent knock at the door halted his actions. He quickly rose, donning his robe as he went to answer the door.

"Sir, I'm sorry to disturb you. But your father requests your presence immediately."

"It is all right; tell him I will be down momentarily." He quickly closed the door before receiving a reply from his assistant. He strode into the bathroom and returned a few moments later, fully dressed. He walked to the bed and sat down on the edge, looking once more at her peaceful face. Leaning down, he gently kissed her brow as he tucked the covers around her.

"I love you Yuki." He whispered softly. "I will love and cherish you till I breathe my last breath." He rose from the bed and left as the soft click of the door shutting echoed in the room. Unheard by her husband, a soft female voice replied.

"I love you too… Rui"

Comments and feedback appreciated. (darnit they are required!) The more feedback; the faster I type! XD

Ja ne!