Nothing Else Matters

By: Dark Mousy

Chapter Twenty-three

"You Don't"

Pre-story Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updateage. I've been busy. @_@ And plus, ff.net has been being such a butt.

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                The first thing he came to know was the warmth and sound of the crackling fire somewhere next to him. It danced on his pale skin, his bare skin, as he came to know from the way his skin remained heated. He wanted to remain this way, with this familiar warmth, but he forced his eyes open.

                His senses seemed to faintly return from their sleeping state, and the second thing he became aware of was the sound of the rain against the thick glass that made the windows. The sky was even darker outside, signifying to him that it was finally night. That was the only way he could sense how much time had passed. His head still felt unusually light, meaning that he had not slept until the next night, which should have been enough to regain his blood loss.

                A low groan escaped from his throat as he leaned up on his elbows. With one hand, he pulled down the sheet to rest at his waist, where the wound was bandaged. When he touched the white fabric, he could feel the stitches from underneath. He left it alone after that.

                Thoughts and memories swam through his head, memories that he did not want to surface and thoughts that made his blood boil and then cool. He remembered hitting the floor, and Suzuka picking him up with him helping her with his own weight. He remembered something on his lips… Was it her finger, or a kiss?

                Zechs' eyes quickly moved to look for his clothes and he found them, however bloodied, folded on a chair nearby. The vial for her cure was there, somewhere. The choice of his death and her life rested in that fluid. He had nothing to miss in life, except her…

                His eyes finally rested on her, who seemed to have just been standing by the bed without him noticing. Her dress was clean, and hair once again neatly tied behind her. The few things that were missing, was her gloves, sandals, and the red tie around her forehead. She only stood there, studying him as he studied her.

                The calm expression he gave her could only hold for so long. The wound on his side announced its pain loudly and clearly, thus forcing him to break eye contact with her and wince. He did not hear Suzuka approach as she knelt by the side of his bed, which he also noticed was placed on the floor.

                "Rest now." Her words were a whisper, a sweet, tantalizing reality. He could only watch her soft expression, as it was hidden under silken ebony locks. He barely had a chance to open his mouth in protest, before she silenced him, by placing a hand on his chest and pushing him to lie down. She was so beautiful. Everything he had dreamed of, hoped for, longed for was in her, on her, around her. She carried an aura of strength, yet he knew that he was the only one to see her vulnerable side.

                He watched, as her slender hands slowly removed the Japanese-styled sash from around her waist, revealing the front of her body for a brief moment before she folded the fabric over it. Silently, he wondered why she always had white fabric wrapped around her chest, and yet normal underwear. He had no time to inquire further, however, as she slid into the bed next to him.

                Wordlessly, he took the comforter and pulled it to cover them both. She had not the slightest trace of a blush on her cheeks, and it was only after he had lied down that he began to feel her effects on him. He lay flat on his back, while she turned on her side toward him, and pressed her body against his own. Her head rested on his chest, and her arm rested on his abdomen, while one of her legs, which was free of the constricting fabric, bent over both of his.

               All Zechs could do was let out a shaking sigh, as he made himself refrain from touching her. She felt like the air to him, her scent so close to him was torturing his insides.

                "What changed you?"

                There was a long silence, before she pulled herself closer to him. "Rest." Zechs could only do his best to relax his muscles and his mind. The full effect of where he was and ho he was with was hitting him full, and he finally allowed the pleasantly tantalizing thoughts to wash over his body like a cooling air.

                Slowly, he moved his hand to rest on her lower back, and closed his eyes. It seemed that his only choice at the time was to sleep, and he desperately hoped that what was happening wasn't a dream. If it was, he never wanted to awaken.

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Post-story author's notes: Originally this takes up five pages, but I decided to split it into two chapters. Bai bai for now, hope I didn't bore you.