You Saved Me

Chapter 2 - Nightmare

Kurenai awoke to the sensation of being moved, and pulled herself out of her sleep with a little groan. Seijuro was bringing her back inside the house; the sun was just now beginning to set. He set her down on the futon as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Thanks, I guess I fell asleep again."

"It's fine, are you hungry?"

"Um, I don't think so, I had more soup just a couple hours ago."

He set about lighting the fire so he could heat the remainder of it for himself. When he had finished, he came and sat down next to her. Kurenai could tell it was going to be story telling time.

"I guess you're wondering why I'm here," it wasn't really a question.

"The thought crossed my mind. I assumed you had gotten lost on your way to Kyoto."

"You're partly correct, I was lost. I was trying to find the village I was born in, but I have not been here since I was a little girl and everything has changed. My parents passed away in a cholera epidemic when I was six years old. I went to live with my aunt and uncle in Edo, but they were very cruel to me. I left them when I was sixteen and I've been wandering for two years trying to get back here."

"What is the name of your village?"

"Sokari Village."

"It's about fifteen miles south of here," he said, pondering. "When you are well, I'll show you the way."

"Again, I thank you. I expect I'll be ready in a day, perhaps two."

He raised an eyebrow at her, glancing at her bound sides.

"I'm a quick healer," she assured him.

"That's a relief," he said, the dryness back in his voice.

Kurenai decided to change the subject instead of being angered by his apparent impatience to be rid of her.

"What about you? You're a potter right?" she asked, gesturing to the vases, bowls and the like stacked around his home on shelves. "Why live so far away from Kyoto and the villages?"

"I like my solitude," he answered after a brief pause.

"Don't you get lonely up here all alone? I mean, you can't be more than thirty-five, and most men would be with a family, or at least be out doing their own thing. I saw your sword, so I assume you're a samurai; did you fight in the wars?"

Seijuro blinked at her a moment, waiting for her to catch her breath after he onslaught of questions.

"First of all," he began, "No, I'm not lonely, and I like the quiet. I'm forty-four, and no I did not fight in the wars. My sword is not for the service of the government, only the weak who need protection."

Her mouth formed an "o" shape as she reflected on his words.

"I have another question."

"Naturally."

Ignoring him, she continued, "Why do you have enough sake here to start a bar?"

"I like the taste," he said simply.

"Hn," she answered, furrowing her eyebrows at something.

"Why, you want some?" he asked.

"No thank you, I don't drink often...though I don't mind the taste."

"Well," he said, standing up and stretching, "I'm going to sleep. If you need anything, call me."

"Okay, um...goodnight," she said, smiling at him before scooting down under the blankets.

He gave her a curious look before disappearing into his "room" behind the curtain. Kurenai finally fell asleep after thinking of the strange samurai for a long time. She couldn't figure him out, and she was usually very good and figuring people out. He came across as gruff and arrogant one moment, then compassionate the next. She could tell that he was a powerful man, dangerous to those who opposed him. But his ideals were his own, he seemed to be the type to call it as he saw it. As dreams took over her thoughts, her mind wandered back to her life with her aunt's family...as it did almost every night. She dreamt of the night she ran away.

"Hey Kurenai, where you off to in such a hurry?" Riku taunted. "Hey Dokuya, I think our little step-sister is getting awfully full of herself. She seems to think she can say no to us or something."

Kurenai backed up against the shed in the rear of the manor, searching for a way out.

"You can tell step-mother I'm almost finished with my chores," she said, trying to sound calm as they advanced on her.

"Who said anything about chores?"

"Yeah, when were we talking about that?"

"If you need me for something, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for me to finish here," she said, the defiance in her voice contrasting with the fear in her eyes.

She didn't fool them. They pushed her back behind the shed, the younger of the two covering her mouth and pining her against him. She kicked and struggled, but the elder brother grabbed her legs, bracing them against his sides, as he assaulted her lips and throat with his mouth. Kurenai, summoning the last of her strength, pulled Dokuya's dagger from his belt and plunged it into his older brother's side. He dropped her legs and howled in pain, Dokuya releasing her to aide his brother.

She ran.

For days it seemed, she dodged the police. She caught a break and managed to escape Edo and began her journey home. Kurenai fidgeted on her futon as her mind replayed that night over and over. Her dreams played tricks on her, changing what was already a nightmare into an even more horrific scene. She screamed, trying to get away from them. No matter how fast she ran, they always caught her. They beat her and she cried in pain, trying to escape their eyes and hands. They were everywhere, surrounding her, beating her, forcing her to do things. She couldn't stop them. She cried out for someone to help her...anyone. Would no one save her from this hell? Powerful arms pushed her to the ground and she screamed again. A rough hand covered her mouth as she struggled.

"Kurenai!" a familiar voice called her name.

Oddly, it was not the voice of either of the brothers. Her struggling slowed as the voice grew louder and more insistent.

"Kurenai!"

Her eyes snapped open as she entered consciousness once more. She felt paralyzed, nothing was moving. Panic began to set in. She soon discovered her inability to move was due to a two hundred plus pound man sitting on her. Seijuro had some of his weight rested on her upper legs, being careful not to put all of it on her. His hands pinned her arms over her head, and he was breathing more heavily than normal.

"Seijuro?" she whispered, still panting from her dream. "What happened?" her voice still had a slight frantic tone to it.

"You were dreaming, you started to kick and scream in your sleep," he said, loosening his hold on her, but not letting her up yet.

"I'm sorry, I thought that..." her voice trailed off.

Sweat beaded down her face, mingling with the tears that were now running freely. He released her, leaning back and taking the weight off her legs, though he still straddled her body. Through her tears she noticed bloody scratch marks on his bare chest. She gasped, ignoring the pain in her side as she sat up part way to closer inspect his injury.

"Did I do that?" she choked out.

"It's fine,' he said, catching her hand as she reached for the wound.

She cried even harder now, realizing she had hurt the one person who had helped her...saved her from the very fate that plagued her dreams. He took the hand he held, pulling her to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

"I'm sorry," she cried, her voice muffled by her tears and his skin.

He fisted his hand in her hair, rubbing her back in small circles, "Shh, it's okay Kurenai. You didn't hurt me," he soothed.

She finally stopped crying, her body trembling slightly. She used her sleeve to wipe the tears from his chest, apologizing again.

"I had hoped that this wouldn't happen," she said, hanging her head.

"You have these nightmares often?" he asked, his voice deeper than normal.

"Most nights," she mumbled.

"Who?" he asked, voice deadly low now.

"My step-brothers," she answered after a pause.

"I thought you said you lived with your aunt and uncle."

"Yes, my step-brothers were my cousins. They beat me when I was small, but when I got older they tried other things. That's why I ran away - before they could..." she fought back the tears again.

She couldn't tell him she had murdered one of them. What would he think of her?

"Lie down," he commanded gently.

She obeyed, dropping back down to the futon. He pulled the blanket up to cover her, brushing her sweat dampened hair back from her face. He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, holding her face between his hands for a moment. She closed her eyes, willing herself to breath calmly.

"I will stay here until you fall asleep," he said, his voice softer than she had ever heard it.

"You don't have to," she protested, even though she wished he would stay with her the whole night.

"I would prefer to not be woken up out of a sound sleep thinking that you're being murdered not twelve feet from me, if it's all the same to you," he said, stretching out beside her on the floor, propping his head on his hand.

She rolled on her side, even though it was somewhat uncomfortable, to face him. She forced her eyes closed under his watchful gaze, waiting for sleep to claim her again and praying to be free from her nightmares. But every time she came close to sleep, she could feel his eyes on her. It did not make her feel uncomfortable, but she wanted to meet his gaze. She cracked an eye open, meeting his gray-green eyes evenly. For a long moment, they just looked at one another. Kurenai felt unbidden emotions welling up inside her. She barely knew this man, but he was holding her gaze with an intensity she had never experienced. Her chest felt tight and her breath came in short intakes. She wanted so badly to tear away from the heat of his eyes, which held a flicker of something she had not seen before. She squirmed a little, freezing when he reached out to cup her face with his hand. He leaned forward till his lips were next to her ear, his deep gravelly voice stilling every muscle in her body.

"Sleep Kurenai, I will be right here."

Didn't he realize that was the problem? How could she sleep when he was right next to her but just out of reach, How could she tell him that she wanted to sleep in the safety of his arms? How could she justify those desires to herself? He seemed to sense her turmoil, for he pulled back waiting for her response. She could only nod her head dumbly, and turn away from him, afraid that the disappointment at his withdrawal would show on her face. She curled up, hugging herself tightly. She heard him shift behind her; she momentarily felt bad that he was on the hard wood floor while she lay on the soft futon.

But all feeling dissipated when she felt his heavy arm wrap around her waist. Her breath hitched, but her body moved on its own accord as she pressed her back to his chest. He snaked his other arm beneath her head, nuzzling his face into her hair. The intimacy and comfort of the moment filled Kurenai with many foreign emotions. But as quickly as they came, they vanished as her mind became contented and peaceful. His deep even breaths steadied her own, and it wasn't long before she had fallen into the deepest, easiest slumber she had experienced in years. Was this what it felt like to be lulled by the presence of a partner? Someone to share your bed and chase away all nightmares? Someone to face the joys and sorrows of life with? Someone to...love? If only she knew how closely her thought patterned those of the one next to her.

Oh my goodness...I'm drowning in fluff and cheap plot devices. But wait - it gets better - just wait till you find out what else I have in mind for these two.

Lemme know if you think Hotness...er...Hiko is too OOC. I know he's been kinda soft towards her but hey...he likes her right?