Nothing Else Matters

Chapter Sixteen

"Blaze My Trail"

By: Dark Mousy

They blazed the trail I dared to run,

They built this world and I have come.

I need another,

Like a brother,

For a crying shoulder.

This could be the last time,

You will stand by my side.

I can feel my soul,

It's bleeding.

Will you fly with me this evening?

            Her face was pale, and her eyes were painfully closed in a weak and exhausted slumber. Her hair, which had fallen from her usual tie, now rested in disheveled strands that clung to her sweat-beaded forehead. Caked and dried blood left trails like an intricate spider's web down her arms and onto the virtually bare skin of her chest.

            It was well apparent to his narrowed eyes that she had been stripped of all modesty she had hoped to preserve. He took a step forward, examining her, his eyes trailing over every wound. He was somewhat relieved to see that Treize had not hurt her in such a way.

            The silence lasted for a moment, and Zechs now stood in front of Suzuka. He could not hear her breathing, and he felt his hands lightly tremble at the thought of putting a finger to her throat and finding no pulse. As he reached forward with his hand, he saw her long lashes flutter, before they opened only slightly. He could still see the fire hidden deep within her ebony orbs, and a silent sigh of relief was released through his partially open mouth.

            Zechs was only aware of his breathing and her own within the quiet confines of the padded, purely white room. His eyes had radiated anger at first… For himself, for Treize, and for everything he could have said or done that he did not. But when Suzuka's eyes caught his, he felt it all fall away, like ornate sand between his fingers that brought a calming effect to his soul.

            She had such power, such beauty, such grace, that every single movement she made was enchanting; like a dance of time that was never ending. A wounded, yet beautifully haunting dance that captivated him like nothing else could. Even when she remained still and even though she was wounded, it was still like a constant dance…

            Zechs quickly broke himself from the captivating trance, and moved forward to where Suzuka was hung from the ceiling.

            It was as if the silence could be cut with a knife. No words were spoken between the two, and it was as if they both knew that none were needed. The silence was strange, yet welcome between the two. All they did was simply look at each other, yet the look that she gave him melted his vicious spirit away, and it would have, had he not the resolve to put an end to Treize's madness.

            The lock to Suzuka's shackles gave only a small amount of resistance, as Zechs' skilled hands worked the two thin metal pieces into the keyhole. A few clicking sounds were heard, which were painful to Suzuka's ears since she had been locked in the silence, and the darkness, for endless hours.

            Finally, the lock that connected the titanium shackles was opened, and Suzuka's wrists were set free. Her feet hit the ground lightly, but her knees immediately buckled before, and she fell into Zechs. He lost his balance, and fell onto his back, his body doing a rebound effect off the padded surface, but he kept his arms firmly wrapped around her waist to prevent her from getting hurt.

            Zechs lied still, with her limp and thin form wrapped in his arms. Her head lolled, and rested on his shoulder, as her ebony strands fell onto his neck. He felt oddly calm, despite the circumstances, as he held her unconscious body closer to his as if in a protective embrace.

            "Even though I can only hold you in my arms just this once, Suzuka…" He trailed off, as he closed his eyes.

            "…I can die in peace."

All my work and,

Endless measures,

Never seem to get me very far.

Walk a mile just to,

Move an inch now,

Even though I'm trying so damn hard.

Trying so hard…