Okay, here is yet another wonderful chapter. I will do my best to try and make chapters longer from now on, but I make no guarantees. Thanks again for the reviews.
Tamahome stared down at Miaka, unsure of what to say to her. If they did talk, would she run again? Would she forgive him for hitting her? As he thought this a part of him ached. He had never meant to hurt her, not when it was so obvious that someone else had hurt her before. Why else would she retreat from people the way she did?
"Alright"
He settled himself on the edge of the bed, giving Miaka plenty of room to leave if she felt the need. He wouldn't do anything to make her uncomfortable or afraid. Tamahome noticed how small she appeared, huddled in the blankets. Miaka sat up against the headboard and took a deep breath. Maybe, just maybe Tamahome would understand why she was so afraid to let anyone touch her.
"I want to tell you something," she began," Something I've never told anyone before now. For a long time I've tried to hide it, but I can't…I've kept quiet for far too long…I've been quiet so long it's destroyed what I once was, and I don't know how to get that back…"
Tamahome listened intently, not interrupting, afraid that if he did or if he pressed her to continue that she would pull away and not tell him what had eaten away at her.
"I wasn't always like this you know…I used to be different. I didn't have a care in the world. I used to do everything all the normal girls did until that night…it hurt…oh God…it hurt so much…" Miaka said, her voice breaking and tears sliding down her cheeks in scalding lines.
"What did?" Tamahome asked hesitantly.
"I was on my way home from Yui's…she's my best friend…was, my best friend…We were out shopping all day…I was almost home…"
Tamahome dared not speak, and he knew as he listened that Miaka's eyes were seeing something other than the room they were in. As she told him what happened she was seeing the events unravel in her mind.
"A man stepped out of the alley, said he needed help, that he was lost…I would have helped him but then I saw the knife…my arm…he nearly broke it…I tried to get away but I couldn't!," the tears were coming faster now, unheeded," he pulled me into the alley…there was another man waiting…I tried to scream but I was scared…so scared…the other man…he had a gun…I thought they would kill me…"
Tamahome's mind was screaming at him now. "Please don't say it. Don't tell me they-"
"They raped me…both of them…for three, maybe four hours…who knows? I kept begging them to stop…but…but they wouldn't stop! They just kept hurting me! When they were done…they left me there….in that alley…it got cold…got dark…I went home, cleaned up, and went to bed…no one knew…no one ever knew…all this time…"
"Miaka."
Tamahome grabbed the sobbing girl and held her tightly in his arms. He didn't know who the cruel and heartless men who had tortured her were, but if he ever found out, they would pay dearly.
"It's alright now Miaka…everything will be alright."
"Why? Because you said you'd protect me?"
"No, because I love you."
In Tamahome's mind, his love would shield Miaka from any pain and suffering that might come her way. Sometimes love was all you had, and it had to be enough, but would it be enough to save Miaka from herself?
"Now I understand…why you got upset and ran when I kissed you…I'm sorry Miaka…I'm so sorry…I shouldn't have hit you…but it hurt to see you there, with the emperor…I'll understand if you hate me…"
Miaka quieted her sobs and listened to the gentle rhythm of Tamahome's heart beat. He still loved her. He wanted to protect her, and she had hurt him. She understood why he had tried to hurt her back, and even so she could not find it in her heart to hate him for it.
"Tamahome…I don't hate you," she replied gazing deeply into his eyes," When Hotohori…when I was with the emperor…all I could think of was you. I know how he feels, and I can't deny I feel something for him as well, but it is nothing in comparison to the way I feel when I'm with you…I don't even know why I feel this way. We've only just met and yet…I feel as if I've known you all my life."
"Miaka I…"
But Tamahome didn't know what to say. All he knew was that he did not want this moment to end. Tamahome gently tilted Miaka's face toward his and kissed her deeply. All that mattered was the feel of her lips, the warmth of her body, and the sound of two hearts beating as one.
Suddenly the door to the room burst open in a flash of flames.
"I've come for the Priestess of Suzaku."
To be continued…PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
