I ran so fast. So fast and quick away from that place. I was falling apart. How is this possible? My mind was screaming, splitting, breaking. No no no no no no no go away….
High above me I could hear church bells starting to ring as I made my way downtown, up the stairs, to my apartment, into my bed, covers over my head, drapes drawn, dark dark dark, alone…
Jeanne was turning into a nutcase. Like me. Was I crazy? I blinked, my face sweaty and tear-streaked. The air beneath the sheets of my bed was stuffy and unmoving. I breathed it in deep gulps, allowing the hot, arid air hang in my lungs. Crazy. I was being driven to insanity.
A knock on my door grabbed my attention. I slipped my head out of my temporary sanctuary. Another knock on my door. Sliding out of my bed, I crept to my door. Twilight flooded my dark apartment as I opened it and was faced with the figure of Ryo.
He was holding a red rose and staring somberly into my eyes. Blonde hair, blue eyes, porcelain skin. I gasped, my eyes growing large. My hands groped for the side of the door and I shut it, shaking. His gaze, the intensity of his eyes…my body was shaking from head to toe…
I slid my fingers down the doorframe, trembling. I closed my eyes, breathing deep, shallow breaths. He had a sort of gravity about him, I felt. My back prickled when I felt cool, slow breath on my neck. I opened my eyes slowly, catching an eyeful of silvery hair. Ryo was pressed up against me, his hand traveling down the length of my arm.
So many things irrational raced through my head at that moment. His skin was whiter than paper, and he simply stared up at me with that china blue gaze, pulling me up. He couldn't have gotten in…how…
Gently pushing me up into his arms, I felt familiarity. The warmth, security, of all my comatose apparitions was enveloping me, here in reality. Why was I so dizzy, so light? He was simply just another person in my life…why was I so…obsessed…
Ryo's lips trailed across the side of my cheek, cool and comforting. I sighed, relaxed, and dived into this ethereal dream. My eyelashes fluttered against my skin at his touch. He tilted his mouth to my ear and whispered.
"Sleep…please…sleep soundly…and without anguish…"
I licked my lips and began to answer him before he put a finger to my mouth and silenced me gently. In the darkness of my small apartment, he laid me across my rumpled bed. I muttered under my breath slightly, lost, dreamy. I felt the sheets running across my arms, the presence of Ryo at my side. I opened my eyes slightly, looked over at him. He smiled faintly, lovingly, his eyes full of uncharted pain. I reached my hand out to him, and he took it, stroking my fingers slowly. I prayed to God that he wouldn't leave me so soon, leave me alone. I felt a wave of exhaustion come over me, sweet sleep searching for me. Ryo moved in closer, pressed his lips to mine.
In those final, wavery moments in between sleep and reality, I was happiest. Happy because I didn't feel alone.
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A/N: Ugh, my poor, neglected fic! This is one of the stories that I really grew fond of, too. Getting busy doesn't help, and nor does procrastination! The next chapter should be out fairly soon, and expect new stories sometime this month.