Author Note

My exams are about to start so I won't be able to update for a month and maybe more. I am not entirely sure myself... A break sounds good, you know. Thanks for everything guys. I will miss you ^^

Till I come back then (in case I did...)

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Title: Gasps

Point of View: Kouji's Perspective\3rd Person narrator.

Main characters: Minamoto Kouji & Kimura Kouichi

Genre: Hurt\Comfort & Drama

Word Count: 950

Summary: Feeling his brother's pain, caused by his nightmarish sleep, ached his heart but he was there to comfort him...At least he was able to do something.

Notes: I didn't intend to put it now but there is no point in keeping it in my Doc Manager any longer. Not completely random, I guess. Kouichi's nightmares is quite cliche. I know yet I wanted to write about that even if in a short shot form. The shortest chapter for me till now XD. BTW, this is the first shot that isn't basically described as*cute*. Even though, it is cute...somehow. And, I'd really like to know your reactions towards it, guys!

Gasps

Kouji was suddenly awake. Logic did not help him to figure out the reason, giving him no other choice but to stare suspiciously at the darkness around him. The blinking clock beside his bed announced silently the time: 2:15 A.M.

Someone was struggling to breathe as if the blessed normal breathing had abandoned him. The logic that preferred to stay asleep when the younger twin opened his eyes, started to work again by sending a quick message to his half-asleep mind, explaining briefly that those gasps were what prevented him from his peaceful slumber.

It wasn't difficult to determine the source of the faint, scared gasps. Beside him. Kouji felt like hitting himself for not realizing that earlier.

His worried dark blue eyes scanned his brother's restlessly sleeping body. The blanket was tangled under him. Another series of frantic gasps alarmed Kouji as he moved closer to his elder brother side.

The only thing that had always managed to bother Kouji when they had a sleep over was Kouichi's nightmares. Simply because Kouji felt so powerless. Utterly helpless. And completely unable to stop them from torturing his twin. The feeling that he could do nothing to ease his pain or even to understand the reasons behind it was killing him. He just couldn't bear seeing Kouichi struggling and hurting in whatever hell those nightmares take him to.

He sighed sympathetically before touching Kouichi's shoulders gently, shaking him. 'Come on Nii-san. Wake up.'

His soft voice turned gradually into panicked cries when Kouichi refused to open his eyes.

'Kouichi!'

He shook harder this time.

A terrified scream escaped Kouichi, causing Kouji's heart to sink further. He continued shaking him frantically. 'Kouichi! Wake up!'

Kouji's raised voice managed eventually to break the sleeping spell that the elder twin was affected by. The tearful blue eyes were opened to greet the darkness miserably and the image of Kouji's figure leaning over him in unmatched fear organized itself slowly in his foggy mind.

'Kouji?'Kouichi asked in uncertainty, weakly shaking the nightmare's horrible effect.

Kouji sighed in relief and nodded. Kouichi's pain was about to cause him a heart attack. Strangely, he had become too used to his brother's nightmare to the extent that they weren't supposed to scare him that much. Yet they drove him crazy with worry.

'You…okay, Kouichi?'

A stupid question.

Receiving no answer, Kouji sighed again before helping his brother to sit beside him. Kouji could feel his brother's gratefulness to the darkness. At least it partially managed to hide his pale face at that moment. But not from the twin who was familiar enough with his features in the darkness.

Kouichi heaved a deep sigh and murmured softly seconds later in attempt to ease his brother's worries. 'I am…fine. Don't…worry.'

'Nii-san…'

'I am sorry for waking you…'Kouichi murmured meekly, avoiding his brother's eyes and staring into the messy covers instead.

'How many times should I ask you not to say that?'Kouji snapped slightly before looking at the floor in shame for raising his voice.

The question was rhetorical so it didn't get an answer. They sat in the darkness, shoulder by shoulder, gazing at nothing in particular.

'What was it about this time?'Kouji's question was like a knife to the silent darkness. Few minutes passed and no answer came.

'Nothing.'

The monotonous hopelessness scared Kouji even more than the sight of his brother's fitfully struggling body few minutes ago.

Kouji's hand traveled hesitantly towards the other's clenched hand and squeezed it gently.

'You can tell me, Nii-san. I want to help.' He was almost begging.

'I told you. It was nothing. Literally. Just nothing.' Kouichi embraced his knees, trembling.'…and I was…t-terrified. I couldn't feel anything except the darkness. The tainted darkness. No one was there and that nothingness was swallowing me...I screamed but no one answered...Shadows were strangling me…' Tears streamed on his cheeks against his will and his voice turned into a strangled whisper as he released his knees from his embrace. 'I-I couldn't do anything. I felt so powerless…I-I don't even know what…it was.'

Kouji didn't need to hear anything anymore. His arms encircled Kouichi's shivering form protectively, pulling him to his chest, and allowed him to continue crying. He gently whispered in the other's ear, rubbing his back affectionately. 'It was a…nightmare. '

There was no need for Kouji's reminder. They both knew what it was. He just felt the urge to say something. Anything at all. The comfortable silence stretched lazily between them and Kouichi's sobs eased.

Kouji had to wonder about the strangeness of the situation now. His brother wasn't that kind of person who would simply tell others his pain. However, his elder twin abandoned his normal strategy of dealing with nightmares this time. Usually, Kouichi would simply smile to him and mutter softly that it was nothing. Just a normal nightmare. Actually, Kouichi would be the one who assure the other that nothing was wrong. Part of Kouji was glad that his brother told him about his pain even if he couldn't completely understand what he had said.

Nothing was said and they allowed the darkness to envelop them. Kouichi drifted into sleep between his arms few minutes later. He had to admit how weird it was for his brother to sleep soundly after such experience. One of the nightmare's definitions includes the disability to sleep after having one. Kouji had to laugh humorlessly, once he thought about it. Kouichi's reaction was similar to some people who are unable to sleep unless they cried.

He really did not mind sitting like this all night if his brother was comfortable enough in his sleep against his chest. Kouji sighed to himself then stared at the nothing particular in the room.

At least he was there for him…

Owari~!