Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei and all it's characters belong to Matsushita Yoko and Hakusensha

Words: 4 x 100
Pairing: Touda-centric, possibly Souryuu/Touda later on
Rating: PG

Nightmares

Touda spends his days in a state of confusion, sitting in his rooms and staring into space. There's nothing left to do, no purpose in his life. Touda's mind and heart are empty again save for painful memories.

At night Touda dreams of Tsuzuki smiling sadly at him, turning away, leaving him behind. In his dreams Touda runs after Tsuzuki, calling his name. But he is never fast enough to catch up with him, and his voice never reaches Tsuzuki's ears.

Waking up doesn't make things better, though. Because it's not just a nightmare, it's the truth. Tsuzuki is gone.

Touda wakes up screaming for Tsuzuki. Someone has a hard grip on his shoulders, shakes him into consciousness. The serpent struggles for awareness, but the last strands of the nightmare cling to his mind like cobwebs.

He throws himself at the man, crushes him into a desperate embrace. It takes a moment - too long, too long - then arms come around him, press him into a warm, solid chest.

"Tsuzuki."

Touda draws a shuddering breath. Soft lips barely touch his ear as the other man begins to speak, voice filled with pain and longing.

"I'm sorry. I'm not Tsuzuki."

Realisation hits Touda.

The body in his embrace is slender but tall - taller than Tsuzuki, even taller than Touda - and his hands are tangled in strands of really long hair. Souryuu!

For a moment Touda tenses in shock and fear, then he starts shaking.

His arms drop and he tries to scramble away. The dragon holds him close, though, one strong arm around Touda's shoulders. The other reaches out for something beside him.

"Calm down. Here, drink this."

A cup is pressed against his lips. Touda obeys and takes a sip. Hot chocolate?

"Tenkou had a nightmare, too."

When his head sags to Souryuu's shoulder, Touda knows something is wrong. Soon he isn't able to keep himself upright any more and leans heavily against the dragon.

"…drugged…your daughter?"

The words come out in a slur. Speaking takes too much effort, though.

"She needs the rest. As do you."

Touda's world tilts as Souryuu lowers him back to the bed and tucks him in like one of his children. His eyes fall shut and the last things he knows before consciousness leaves him are warm hands and the dragon's voice.

"I apologise for ever doubting your devotion to Tsuzuki."

tbc...