Wow, it's been a while. This was written mostly during the Mitarai vs. Kuwabara episodes (forget the numbers.) Started just as a snapshot idea, then expanded on it a little. It's kind of short, and I dislike the ending-feels a bit too abrupt- but I felt it fit with the "storyline" of sorts for Affection, and decided to post it to the story.


He had to make a monster. A big one, a powerful one. Sensui had asked him to, and he had to do it.

But it wasn't getting big enough. He scratched the cut, patiently at first, then a little more desperately. Why wasn't it bleeding more? He had to bleed!

The monster was forming next to him, changing shape with every few drops of blood. But it wasn't big enough yet… He took the knife again from where it sat next to him on the cold cave floor, and sliced into the cut again. Blood started to trickle out in a stronger flow.

Not enough, not enough! It had to be better! Tears started forming in his frustration. Desperately, he started scratching at the cut again, willing it to bleed more. He was consumed by the desire to bleed, more and more, not caring that he was starting to feel weaker. His vision was dimming, but he still urged himself to bleed.

He couldn't keep himself upright anymore. He fell to his knees, then to his side, wrist still over the water.

Now he was starting to feel scared. He was going to bleed out, and he couldn't stop. He couldn't pull his hand back.

No! He didn't want to die!

The black grew, and grew, and was almost covering everything--

"No!"

Mitarai shot up, breathing hard. His heart was pounding, his skin covered in sweat. The air of the room felt frigid on his skin, and he shivered, both from the temperature and from fright.

"Mitarai?"

He turned, startled, to see Kuwabara on the floor, half risen from the makeshift bed.

"What's wrong?"

He couldn't speak; only shake his head and swallow against tears that would only serve to embarrass him. Kuwabara rose and came over to sit at the foot of the bed.

"You had a bad dream." A statement, not a question. Mitarai nodded.

"I'm sorry. What was it about?"

Slowly, the blonde teen explained what had happened, Kuwabara listening patiently.

"I was so scared," Mitarai almost whispered. "I didn't want to die, and I thought I was going to…"

Kuwabara moved to sit closer to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"I'm really sorry," he said quietly. "I can't keep them away, but do you want to sleep down there with me? I can hold you."

Mitarai only spent a moment in hesitation, and nodded.

That night, for the first time in a long while, he felt protected, and no nightmares came to plague him.