I was tied up, hanging from my wrists on the rope...it hurt, the skin hurt so much there. But I was used to it. My head hung low, wondering when I'd be released this time.
I felt him come closer, his dark chuckle sending spikes of fear into my heart as he tilted my head up. I kept my eyes shut, not wanting to see the demented smile at my pain I knew was there on his face...that face I once thought so handsome, now so twisted...
"What's wrong, my sweet? Are you tired already?" he murmured, almost sweetly. I barely stopped myself from flinching, knowing that any movement away would just result in more pain. "Come now, I want to have some more fun with you."
I felt his hand move away, and for a second I thought I'd be set free. Maybe this time, I could run, run and find help...
A sharp slap to the face knocked the thought from me, and I couldn't surpress the cry of pain this time. It stung, like a bee had decided to attack me. At least he was only using his hands this time, instead of wood. Or a rock.
"Ah, did I say you could make noise?" he sing songed, clearly pleased that I had made a mistake. A shudder ran through my body as he grabbed the collar of my torn and bloody shirt, pulling me up. My eyes opened in voleentarily, staring into those demented brown eyes.
"Time for some punishment, I guess..."
I bolted upright with a terrified scream, gasping for breath as I felt the cold sweat clinging to my body as it trembled. I whimpered into the darkness around me, hugging myself as I pulled my legs up to my chest.
Every night. Every single night these nightmares plagued me. Reminded me that for so long, I was at his mercy, his plaything until he got tired and left me, sometimes hanging from those damn ropes all night...covering up the burns and scars was a bitch, but I'd had to put on like nothing was wrong, or I'd have more hell to pay.
I heard the door to my room open, but I didn't look in the direction of it. I knew who it was by the almost silent rustle of fabric along the floor as they came to me and kneeled down beside me. His gold eyes peered at my terrified face, his expression worried.
"Nayomi..." he murmured soothingly, reaching up to brush some hair out of my face. A move he said he learned from reading magazines when he was in school, he once told me. Even so, I leaned towards him, his calm aura comforting me a little as my heart started to slow down.
"I c-can't take it anymore," I stammered, my arms tightening around myself. "Why do I still have these nightmares? Why is he still haunting me, making me look over my shoulder all the time?"
Tsukito sighed, and in the next instant he was pulling me towards him. I squeaked a little as I was tugged into his lap, my head being tucked under his chin a little awkwardly as his long sleeves covered my body as he hugged me tightly, like a protective barrier from the world.
It had become a nightly thing, this cuddling. It was the only thing that calmed me down, even if it took a little while. Otherwise I would be up all night, unable to sleep and constantly jumping at the little noises from the night, thinking that Fujiwara Kouta had found his way to the god's realm, and was torturing me before coming in for the kill...
"Shh...you'll be fine," the Moon god murmured, his hair tickling my nose a little as he stroked the back of my head. Most of what he did was from books and magazines he'd read, but as long as he was here, comforting me, I found that I couldn't care if he did it with a slightly emotionless voice. I just wanted the closeness, the illusion of safety he offered me each night.
After a while, the trembles subsided, and I found myself breathing easier as my body relaxed against him. I shifted in his lap a little to get more comfortable, finding myself unwilling to leave them just yet. My eyes opened a little to watch the pale moonlight come in from the window, little dust particles glinting within as they slowl drifted down to earth.
"...Are you okay now?" he asked, looking down at me as his hand stopped moving. Strangely, I wanted him to keep petting me.
No. You're still on edge. You can't have those kinds of thoughts ever again, look where it got you last time.
"Y-yeah...thank you, Tsukito-san," I murmured, nuzzling into his neck a little bit. I felt him stiffen ever so slightly before relaxing again with a sigh.
"What is there to help you get over this?" he wondered aloud, and I had to sigh myself this time.
"I don't know...they're not as bad, but I still have them..." I mumbled, my eyes feeling heavy from the lack of sleep that always came from waking up each night.
His hand started moving again, and I couldn't help but smile a little bit. "Maybe if we...stay like...this," I murmured quietly, feeling myself drift back into dreams despite my will to stay awake.
Tsukito realized that she had fallen asleep in his arms when her breathing evened out and her body relaxed against him. He shook his head ever so slightly as he moved his body to be more comfortable, unwilling to let his human charge go just yet.
The Moon god turned his head up to see the moonlight filtering in through the window, narrowing his eyes at what the dancing light was saying. It was a warning in the light, warning him against some future endevor, but he couldn't read what it was without looking directly at the moon itself. Maybe he could lay Nayomi down for a minute...
She shifted in his grip, drawing his attention back to her as she whimpered, the nightmares threatening to return. His hand moved automatically, stroking her hair to calm her. It worked, and she settled down with a tired mumble of nonsense, at ease within the man's arms.
When he had first tried to hold her after the nightmares, the girl had freaked out, refusing to be held after her nightmares had waken her. It was only by catching her off guard and holding her for a few minutes as she struggled did she calm down, realizing that he meant her no ill will. After that, Nayomi had willingly come to him for comfort, eager to chase away the terrors that still plagued her.
This was the first time she'd fallen asleep in his arms, though, and Tsukito had an odd feeling of content settle over him as he watched her sleeping form. Carefully, he shifted back so that he could lean against the wall and watch the moonlight, all the while petting her soft black hair as he mused over many things.
Now that the fiasco with his brother was resolved, Tsukito could focus on help Nayomi heal enough to go back to her own world. Yukino had relayed the message that their assailant had been detained by what she had called the 'police,' and was currently in 'jail,' whatever those terms ment. But it had made Nayomi stress less, and the look of relief that she'd had put the Moon god's fears at ease for a time.
Yet the nightmares still insisted. What could make them still haunt her, even though she was perfectly safe?
His eyelids slowly started to drop, and the god realized how tired he was himself. He settled against the wall, holding Nayomi close as he felt himself drift off with a small sigh.
He's worry about it later. For now, he'd just hold her as they slept, hoping that being close to him would help keep her mind at ease.
And this marks the end of Beneath the Surface my dear readers...and yet, also the start of another. I hope you will all keep an eye out for the next book in my planned series, Under the Moonlight! Cheesy title, yes, but I couldn't think of anything better... -sighs-
I want to thank my beta reader, LilweenGalatrass for patiently reviewing my works even without internet and using her phone! For those who read her stories, that is why she hasn't updated, she moved and her internet has been unavailable. But hopefully she will be back within the week! And she has a lot for you, I promise...
Also a thank you to all my story faves, followers and reviewers, as well as my silent supporters! Without you, I would not have had the ability to have made it to the end. This is THE first story I have ever completed, and it's all because of your lovely reviews and support through it all! I hope you stick with me through the next book as well!
Arigato, and ja ne for now!~