My Only One
Chapter 7
By: Light of the Firefly
OOOOO
At the end of the hallway, we come to a flight of stairs and quickly start climbing. It's dark in the stairwell, no candles to light our way. I stumble halfway up, only saved from a fall by Captain Kyouraku pulling my hand up to straighten me out.
He snickered quietly, resuming our quick pace.
"Thanks." I whisper, rolling my eyes in the dark.
At the top, the candle light is brighter, our surroundings are surprising. We emerged out of a service door into a polished marble hall. It seems like the first floor of some sort of residence. It's so quiet, it's unsettling. Our light footsteps echo softly down the hall.
We continue down, passing several oak doors with fancy carvings. Expensive paintings line the walls, spotless items of furniture dot the area.
There is a brightly lit doorway at the end of the hall, the clattering sounds of a kitchen and wonderful smells of food wafting around.
"There must be an exit close." I whisper, "I can feel a draft."
"These old palaces always have a door that leads outside from their kitchens." He agrees, tugging my hand as we approach the doorway slowly. At the threshold, we peek inside.
"You think this is those two's residence? Would they really keep us at their own home?" I ask in a hushed voice, watching the flurry of activity in the kitchen.
"Apparently so, Nanao-chan."
The large white room is positively alive, several women bustling about with aprons, some carrying trays of food, some working on preparations. One heavy set woman pounds out dough, flour covering both hands. She's facing us, but her head is lowered, concentrating on her work. If she looks up, we will be spotted.
"There." He nods; at the far corner of the wall is the exit, the door open wide to let the heat of the ovens out.
"Great." I mutter. How will we get to it without being noticed?
The noise of the kitchen is quite loud; I can feel a headache coming on. My previous thump on the head making its self known at the back of my skull. He squeezes my hand reassuringly; probably saw the look of discomfort. He can be more observative than I'd like to admit sometimes.
"We need a distraction." Turning his head, his eyes scan the hall behind us. I can practically see the light bulb brighten up in his head. "Go throw a candle on one of those chairs!"
I resist the urge to smile. Any other time I would think he was insane for asking me to willingly light anything on fire in someone's home.
In this case however, I gladly comply.
Hurriedly trotting back the way we came, I took a candle and brought it to a particularly expensive looking chair. I hold the candle sideways to the cushion. I don't have to wait long. The fine needle point cushion catches quickly and I rush back to his side.
He grins at me and nudges me to the side of the door out of sight. We stand with our backs to the wall, watching the flame catch hold of the dainty chair, thick smoke rolling up to the ceiling.
I'm sickly happy with the fact that I destroyed a piece of the twin's property. However small of a victory it may be.
The heavy maid must have been the first to notice, as her deep voice yelped loudly.
"Fire!" Someone shouted, the splash of water and hurried movement followed soon after.
"Fire!"
"Get some water!"
We pressed back further as several woman ran out, running to the chair with pots and pans filled with water. They started fussing over the chair as we slipped easily into the kitchen.
The few maids we passed in the kitchen were much too concerned with the fire to take much notice of us.
We ran to the door and slipped out into what looked like a garden. The sun was setting, it must be supper time. The air had a cool bite to it, but nothing was quite as sweet as the breath I took after so long in the stuffy cell.
We trampled over several vegetable patches and herb groups, coming to a high wooden fence.
Wasting no time, Captain Kyouraku cupped his hands low for me. I slid my foot into it and he hoisted me to the top easily. Scanning for any guards over the edge quickly, I found none. Thick woods and the smell of wildness lay beyond.
I threw a leg over, straddling the fence easily and reaching a hand down to him.
Catching a notch with his foot, he jumped easily and grabbed my outstretched hand. I pulled with all I had as he cleared the top. Large man that he was, he was quite nimble at this.
That is until his foot slipped…throwing him off balance. I see the widening of his eyes in the dim light as he falls forward with too much momentum.
I try to catch him, but the bottom line is he is too heavy for me at our awkward positions on top the fence. He slams into me, sending us both over the edge.
I gasp as we fall; only slightly noticing he twists us in midair. Landing soundly on his back, with me on top.
We both let out a painful 'oof' at the impact.
We're both still for a moment, trying to catch the breath that was knocked out of us.
"Graceful exit, sir…" I moaned, forehead pressed to his sternum. I feel yet another bump starting and the sinus pain of being hit in the nose from the impact with his solid bone.
"As usual." He groaned in response, I realize his arm is wrapped around my waist when he relaxes his hold on me. "Ow."
"I'm inclined to agree." I muttered, rubbing my nose and sitting up. His arm starts to slide away from me before he freezes, his eyes widen slightly.
Alarmed, I meet his gaze. I watch as a slow smile spreads across his face.
"What in the world could you be smiling about?" I ask in a hushed voice, stunned. He is truly unshakable.
"If circumstances were different, my lovely Nanao-chan," He started, looking pointedly down our bodies. "I would certainly be enjoying this new development immensely."
I blinked in confusion, before understanding hit me.
Captain Kyouraku was flat on his back, with me straddling him. Not to mention bare from the waist up. One of my hands laying against his abdomen for support. My fingertips landed in various grooves in his muscles. For all his laziness he was certainly well defined.
Heat rose to my cheeks so fast it made me wince. I scrambled to my feet quickly, and started walking toward the tree line. How can he embarrass me so easily, anyhow?
His deep rumbling chuckle behind me, I walked on. He would catch up, and by then hopefully my face would be a normal shade again. But maybe not.
The woods are much darker than the compound. Especially with the sun setting. I hear his footsteps quickening their pace to get to my side.
He grins down at me once he is at my side again. I pointedly ignore him and continue walking.
"Aw, don't get so huffy!" His voice was ridiculously cheerful for our situation.
"Sir, we need to get away from here quickly, and probably find some shelter." I suggested, not bothering to look over at his large, and comforting, figure next to me. Even at close proximity, though he is blurry now. My vision is getting worse with the last rays of light fading.
"Yare, yare." He said, looking around our surroundings. His moods could shift so quickly it was hard to keep up at times. "I know, just trying to lighten your spirits. We will walk for a while before settling down, though. I'm sure they'll notice we are gone soon enough."
"What are we going to do about these collars?" I ask, stumbling for the third time on tree roots. I would give a year's salary for my glasses back right now. Hardly capable to make a hasty retreat when you can't see your footing. It's all blended together as far as my vision is concerned.
"Probably have to wait till we get back to the compound." He said thoughtfully. "I don't want to risk trying to take them off ourselves with whatever crude tools we can come up with."
I nod, remembering Uzaki's warning about trying to remove them.
We trudge on in silence for a while, getting snagged by various branches and stubbing our toes on ground laying obstacles.
I'm starting to think we were better off in confinement at this rate.
"How did they capture you, anyhow?" I asked, not meaning it to sound accusing but that's how it came out anyhow.
"Probably the same way they did you." He sighed. "An illusion."
"Of what?"
"You, of course." He said, looking down at me. "What else would make me let my guard down other than my Nanao-chan lying lifeless on the ground?"
I stared at him, surprised. "I saw you lying there, too."
"I figured as much. Clever of them, really."
"Stupid of us, you mean."
"That too." He chuckled. "But it couldn't be helped."
OOOOO
We continued on in comfortable silence, both lost to our own thoughts for a while. My feet are aching and I feel the chill of soggy socks. I'm pretty sure at this point I've managed to get muddy from the knees down.
The air is colder now too, the smell of the forest stronger. We've been walking away from civilization, deeper into the woods. The terrain is uneven, hills rising all around us. We have done a lot of climbing and hiking already.
It was almost completely black around us now, and I stumbled yet again.
"Having trouble seeing?" He asked, steadying me with a hand on my elbow.
"Yes." I admitted.
"It's been hours. We could stop now." He said, looking over his shoulder, then up into the dark sky.
"We probably have to." I agreed, losing a little pride with the admittance.
OOOOO
After probably another hour of walking, Captain Kyouraku found a wedged out area in the rocks. It hardly passed for a cave, but it was big enough for us to get into for the night.
We both squeeze through the opening, feeling around in the blackness with our hands. The roof isn't big enough for him to stand, although is fine for me.
"This will have to do." I sigh, looking forward to an uncomfortable night.
I sit down, peeling the wet socks and sandals from my feet. The chill of the rock floor below my bare feet was still warmer than the cold wetness of the materials.
"We can't risk a fire tonight." He said, sounding apologetic as he sits next to me.
"I know." I said, goose bumps rising at the thought of sleeping in this cold, half hearted cave with wet pants and no fire. I have no doubt he will be colder than me, however.
I glance over at him, sitting next to me in the dark.
He leans himself back against the wall, I can see his form shifting around to find a decent position. Trying to angle so that his shoulder is against the rocks, relieving his back from the pressure I realize. It reminds me suddenly of what we have been through.
"How is your back, Captain?" I ask, now that we have a moment to talk. I wince remembering that he had also landed on his injuries when we fell.
"I'm fine, Nanao-chan." His voice drifts in the silence. He sounds as exhausted as I feel.
We sit for a while no saying anything. The wind is picking up outside, causing a frigid draft to breeze through the opening. I clench my jaw to keep my teeth from chattering. There's no way I'll be able to sleep sitting like this and as cold as I feel.
A warm hand lands on my wrist, pulling me insistently towards him. I resist automatically, trying to twist my arm from his grip.
"Come closer. We'll both be warmer." He says, a serious tone in his voice for once. I waited for an added perverted comment, but none followed.
He tugs on my wrist again, and I scoot next to him reluctantly, hip to hip.
"S-sir?" I stammer, as his other arm wraps around my shoulders. He pulls me to his chest, resting his chin on top of my head. I shift around a moment, trying to relax into his hold.
"Shh…rest Nanao-chan." He whispers softly, his hand rubs my shoulder in slow lazy movements.
I'm suddenly more uncomfortable than I was a foot away from him. But for different reasons.
I can't help my body's response to his warmth though, and I sink into his hold unconsciencely. Pressing my cheek into his chest, I'm further calmed by the steady thump of his heartbeat.
His other hand comes up, stroking my hair away from my face before claiming one of my hands again. I'm glad it's so dark; I can feel my face is on fire. I really shouldn't be letting him get away with this much physical contact.
I'm finally warm and comfortable, surrounded by his scent and the steady movement of his deep breathing lulling me to sleep easily. I'm having trouble caring at the moment.
OOOOO
Couldn't help a little of the blanket fic in this scene ^_^
