30 Kisses theme #6: the space between dream and reality.
Morning sunlight filtered through Nokoru's bedroom window. He never needed an alarm clock these days. The dreams always made sure he didn't sleep too long. He lay silently and watched the leaves cast dancing shadows across the wall. This was the only time of day he felt truly content anymore, these early mornings in bed with Suoh pressed up against his back, one arm draped protectively over him. Every night he had the same terrible dreams, and every day was filled with meetings and plannings and preparations to keep those dreams from coming true. But here, for those few moments between the two worlds, he felt at peace, and safe, and loved. Here, he felt almost normal.
Beside him, Suoh stirred. That was the trouble with sharing a bed with a ninja; they were always such light sleepers. Nokoru rolled over so he could see those golden eyes open. It was better than watching the sun rise.
"Morning," Nokoru whispered.
"Awake already?"
Nokoru nodded.
Suoh gently stroked the blond's cheek with the back of a calloused forefinger. "Dreams again?" he asked.
Nokoru pressed a hand to his eyes as if to shut out the images, but that only made them clearer. "It's always... everything's so wrong. The two Towers.... The campus... everything, and everyone, I love...." He didn't want to have to say the word destroyed.
Suoh pulled the hand away from Nokoru's eyes and kissed the fingertips. "I wish I could tell you that everything will be all right," he said eventually. "But I can promise you that I will be by your side to protect you, as I always have been."
"And who's going to protect you?" Nokoru knew he was not supposed to bring up this topic, because it started a circular argument that usually ended with both of them exasperated at each other. But every now and then, he couldn't help voicing his fear.
Suoh was silent for a moment. A small frown creased his mouth and forehead. "Ijyuin," he finally said, voice as serious as ever, but with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Nokoru smiled in spite of himself. "And Utako-san will protect him," Suoh continued, "and no one's brave enough to stand up to her."
Nokoru chuckled. "I'm certainly not."
"Nor I," Suoh grinned. He reached up to trace Nokoru's mouth with his thumb. "I don't see that smile often enough anymore," he whispered.
"Sorry."
Suoh shook his head. "Don't. We both do what we must."
Nokoru nipped at Suoh's finger and snuggled down under the blankets until just his mane of tousled golden hair showed. He wrapped his arms around his bodyguard. "Do you suppose anyone would notice if we just stayed here forever?" he asked.
"Mm, I think one or two hundred thousand people might miss you."
Nokoru sighed. "Yeah." He remained burrowed under the covers, his cheek resting against Suoh's warm shoulder. They listened to each other's breathing. Then Nokoru squeezed Suoh's hand tightly and sat up, stretching like a cat. "Well, come on," he said, "we've got work to do."
