A Token of Affection

by Moriyasha Neko-hime

Returned from Hell, Neuro must now set about ensuring his freedom by capturing Yako and making her his bride. Little does the Demon suspect just how much of a challenge this will be. /SEQUEL TO Anatomy of Affection./

12. Slipping - Between the Lines

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A TOKEN OF AFFECTION

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12 -

"Slipping" [Between the Lines]

There was nothing.

It was emptiness so deep that nothing could invade it.

No light, thus there was no darkness.

It was all silence and stillness.

Nothing existed.

Then, Yako existed. And with her 'self' came sensations and thoughts.

Her eyes felt heavy, but her body felt strangely light. The bed under her back was soft, but strangely cool. She felt cold but not freezing. She was exhausted. She wanted to fade away, slip away from thought and 'self' and rest in nonexistence.

"Katsuragi Yako… Katsuragi Yako…"

She somehow opened her eyes, but she could barely make out the darker-than-black shape of the doctor(?) standing over her. Everything was a blur; she couldn't even make out the colors of the room.

"There's someone here to see you, Katsuragi Yako…"

Not wanting to see anyone right now, Yako let her eyes fall shut again, but she couldn't drift off like she wanted to. A weight sitting down beside her on the bed made her flinch and remain aware. The presence was strangely familiar, the smell of cigarette smoke or the sound of the person breathing tugged at her memory and urging her to stay awake. Opening her eyes again, this time she could clearly see the silvery man dressed in black seated beside her. His tired eyes and comforting smile still so fresh in her memory, she couldn't help but smile in relief at his being there.

"Sasazuka-san…" She struggled a bit to breathe his name.

"Hey, Yako-chan," the Officer's mellow smile brightened. "Heard you were having a rough time."

"You…could say…that again…!" Yako sighed as she tried to chuckle. The cold retreated long enough for pain to shoot through her chest. "Getting shot…sucks…"

The man chuckled for her. "Yeah, it's never been a favorite experience of mine either."

Yako struggled to keep her eyes open, his words stirring something in her clouded memories. "I was…late… I wasn't…I should've…" She struggled to grasp the fleeting thought that made her simply say, "…I'm so sorry…"

"I shouldn't have gone and done what I did," he sighed. "You have nothing to apologize for. Especially to me. But that's not important now. I need y0u to get up."

"Sasazuka-san...?"

"You need to get up now, Yako-chan," he told her, more firmly than before, moving close to lean over her. "Open your eyes."

Yako blinked, her vision and memories becoming clear. "Sasazuka-san… You're dead."

"Get up, Yako," he commanded her, his face so close she could see his pale eyelashes. So close, she almost didn't see the trail of blood moving down his brow. From where he had been shot. "Get. Up."

She reached out to him, and that was all he needed to catch her hand and pull her all the way out of the bed. As the covers fell away, Yako couldn't find walls or a ceiling or a floor. There was simply space.

"Good girl…" Sasazuka Eishi smiled gently and let go of her hand.

Yako was flooded with exhaustion. She felt so heavy, she sank. Then she plummeted…

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…and slammed into her body with a gasp.

"Got her! Normal sinus rhythm!"

More voices filled the air, but felt too far away to fully understand. Light and dark returned to the back of her eyes. She was exhausted beyond compare, but struggled to keep herself awake. Just a little longer, then she could sleep again. She just had to make sure…

After a long while, Yako felt someone take her hand.

A warm, comforting touch. A familiar, spicy-sweet smell; like cinnamon and brown sugar. Forcing her eyes open, the world around her was a bright-dark blur. But she knew it was her mother's dark head that came in and out of focus.

"Momma…?" Was what Yako tried to say, but there was something in her mouth that made it come out, "Om-wah…?"

"Yako! Oh, thank God!" Her mother's hold on her hand tighten until it almost hurt, before she suddenly let go. Kissing her cheek, the woman stepped back. "I'll be right back! Sensei! Sensei, come back!"

Exhausted, Yako let her eyes fall shut and her body sank back into the mattress. She would have been happy to just drift off again, but a strangely cool hand took hers and held it tight, as if to confirm she was there. The scent of brimstone and spice filled the air. Opening her eyes, she met the familiar emerald-obsidian ones of her Demon. He was so close, she could make out the faint green tint to his eyelashes.

And then, Neuro surprised her. He brought her hand up and tenderly kissed her knuckles.

The intense weight of her body lightened somewhat under the warmth she felt flood her heart at her Demon's uncommonly gentle touch. Yako tried to smile, but whatever was in her mouth prevented even that much. Though she couldn't help the weak, choking laugh at Neuro's next words.

"If you ever have the audacity to die before me, I'll wake you up and slap you."

It hurt to laugh, but she managed.

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Too many months between updates. Hoped to have this up before Christmas, but I dropped the ball a little bit.

Thank you all for your patience and kindness all this time!