PoT Ryosaku (PG-13)

Consequences (Sequel to Finding Me Finding You)

By angelhazel

Disclaimer: I asked, very nicely, but they refused to send me the legal rights. Damn!


Sakuno stood still under the warm shower for a while then abruptly snapped into action. Picking up her favorite scented shower foam, she scrubbed and scrubbed all over herself until her tender skin glowed an angry red.

But she still felt soiled. The dream was worse again than the day before, she remember invisible hands running up and down her body while the disembodied voice whispered her name and made her cringe. And the lips, and the tongue ……

Turning off the shower, she rushed to the washbasin and grabbed the mouthwash. That bottle of green liquid had been diminishing at an alarming rate since two days ago. But she had gotten no further in solving her problem.

Shoulders slumped in defeat, she slowly dried herself off and wrapped up in the plain cotton yukata lit. bathrobe hanging behind the door. She meant to go across the landing to her room and get her undies and pyjamas, but when she opened the bathroom door, she found Ryoma waiting in the corridor.

She was taking rather long, and there hadn't been any sound coming from the bathroom since he came up to look for her. He was worried she had fainted or something and had just made up his mind to kick in the bathroom door when she finally reappeared.

Vastly relieved, he immediately herded her downstairs, fully intent on getting some food into her. When they were seated at the kitchen table, he made sure she was eating before starting on his own food.

"I will be using the guestroom tonight. Find me a clean towel, and something to change into." Ryoma exercised the authority of an assertive voice, a technique he picked up from his favorite Buchou. Inwardly, he prayed she wouldn't object violently to him staying the night, because no way was he leaving her alone when she was looking like that.

Sakuno merely nodded docilely. She didn't mind what he did as long as he didn't try to question her about the dream again, and she would rather have someone in the house with her than not.

They moved upstairs after cleaning up in the kitchen, Ryoma switched off the downstairs lights and checked the door and windows were secured before going up. Sakuno had brought out towels and the heavy blue kimono they kept for unexpected guests. She then retreated to her room and dressed properly while Ryoma went to shower.

When she was done, she left her bedroom door open and settled down at her desk. She was flipping through her schoolbooks dejectedly, wondering how much practice she would need to be able to command the Mind Seal spell when she was trapped in the dream, when he knocked gently and asked to come in.

"Douzo." Turning, Sakuno fought the urge to hide even as he walked in and settled down on the edge of her bed, the cat-like eyes spearing her like she would soon be fresh meat. She had a good idea what he wanted to see her about.

"Ready to tell me yet?" Ah, just as she suspected. And, no, she still didn't want to tell him about it. She started shaking her head, but stopped when Ryoma gave an exasperated sigh.

"Sakuno, I can't help you if I don't know what is going on," he complained.

"Gomen, for making you worried. I don't really know what is going on either, so I can't tell you much," Too bad I am bound by oath not to lie, I would rather you never found out about the demeaning dreams, Sakuno thought to herself.

Swallowing his sudden impatience, he glanced at the clock on her desk. It was not yet nine, rather early to go to bed, especially since both of them had taken naps earlier on. Although he couldn't say how restful Sakuno's nap was. Glancing at her opened books, he figured she was getting ready to do some homework.

"Fine, but I will find out sooner or later," he tried to sound stern, as if he was reprimanding a kouhai as a Buchou. Then he suddenly changed the topic, "Doing homework?"

She looked at him helplessly for a moment then turned back to her books, "Un, the English assignment looks difficult. I wanted to get an early start on it."

Sakuno's English was still miserably poor, he knew. With an inner sigh, he stood up and said, "Matte, I'll fetch mine and we can work on it together."

She looked up and gave him a brilliant smile, nodding happily at his offer. They spent the next two hours going through the paper, Sakuno seated at her desk while Ryoma sprawled on the bed, which was his usual position for doing homework.

At eleven, Ryoma caught Sakuno stifling a yawn and decided to end their study session. He gathered his books and ordered her to go to sleep, before he trudged back to the guestroom and settled in for the night.

Although a little apprehensive about falling into dreams again, Sakuno obeyed. Turning out the light, she laid down, wrapped in the comfortable warmth Ryoma left on her sheets. She fell asleep quickly, the exhaustion of the last two days catching up with her.