Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own them Cyborgs.
Bullet in the Dark
Chapter 7: Prisoner of Dreams
Author's Note:
YAY! Finally a little bit of fluff. Courtesy of Wicked Enough, thank you very much! JK… Unfortunately, it's not major love (not like a proposal, at least), but it's going to start to develop… Then I'm going to mess them up. Oh well! Enjoy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARIA ZEPHYR! THIS CHAPTER IS FOR YOU!
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No guilt.
Never regret.
But then what was this feeling filling him?
He jumped to the roof, face tilted towards the night sky.
His mission was completed, and he had had his fun.
It was time to go home.
What would the girl say?
He ran down the roof, thinking of the mystical woman living with him.
What about her intrigued him so?
Was it her laughter?
Yes, but that wasn't just it.
What about her feelings, her way of life?
Yes, that too.
Was it her whole being, the aura so pure it made him want to weep of shame at his own tainted one?
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Everything about her made him want to crawl at her feet, begging for mercy.
He scoffed at those pathetic feelings.
Only the weak would --what word is it, now?-- love.
Love.
Ah… The word oh-so-many heroes fought for.
A hero.
Was he one of them?
Maybe if the world was turned upside-down.
He stared up at the stars. They seemed so close, he did not even notice his hand extending, as if to touch them.
He withdrew the hand, eyes at his feet.
With a great sigh he jumped down, landing on his feet as he always had, silently.
He ran towards his condo, cape flapping noiselessly against the wind.
He would have to face his fears.
His fears…?
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The girl was asleep, her form ragged, her head cradled in her arms as she supported herself on the bed.
Good.
He could see where rivers of tears had ran down her cheeks.
He longed to touch those cheeks, the hair… the face that captured his every thought and twisted it.
The assassin walked into the hallway, into the bathroom.
He stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower.
Hot water was turned on.
It streamed down his body, burning his skin, washing every little bit of the kill away.
It was like a ritual now, like he could actually wash away the guilt.
His eyes closed as he let it pour over him like an everlasting spring.
Finally, when his mind was as numb as his skin, he turned off the water.
Drying and dressing himself, he walked into the living room.
He was totally awake, but his heart told him, 'Sleep. Sleep so you won't have to say anything, to do anything, except to have dreams.'
Dreams…
He knew that even in his dreams he was haunted, but what did it matter?
At least it wasn't real.
He lay on the couch, eyes open.
He stared at the ceiling, trying to sleep, trying to forget.
A breeze blew into his hair, cooling him off.
Why?
A question he asked so often to himself that it became a religion, a chant.
His eyes closed.
He was ready to die.
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Françoise quietly crept into the living room.
Her eyes, now used to the dark, could make out the assassin on the couch, writhing as if being attacked.
"Hello…?" she whispered.
He didn't respond, only turned, burying his face into the sofa.
Was he asleep?
She walked, dragging her feet, to the couch-side.
In the faint light, she could see that he was really asleep.
He tossed around again, this time facing her.
His face was contorted in fear, sadness… innocence.
Innocence?
The cruel irony in the word, a mixed feeling of anger and sadness filled her system.
Without thinking, she touched his face, gently running her forefinger down his cheek.
He whimpered, sounding like a lost child.
Somehow, that sound brought tears to her eyes.
He wasn't so different from her at all.
They were both lost, away from home, their souls somewhere else…
He tossed again, curling into a ball, trying to make himself --unconsciously-- smaller.
Françoise carefully sat on where he head was.
Cautiously, she dragged his head to her lap.
Stroking his forehead and hair, he relaxed.
They both did.
Slowly, she fell back into asleep.
This time, however, it was different.
For this time, they were both in peace.
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He woke up, his eyes still heavy.
He was warm, so warm, and the day was so long…
How he longed to remain there, still sleeping.
He breathed in deeply, his chest swelling, then falling down again.
Opening his eyes again, he found it nearing dawn.
He closed his eyes again, relaxing his body as it let him do so.
He tried to remember what had happened the night before.
The night before…
He jolted.
Why didn't he remember any of his nightmares?
Why did wake up so… calmly?
Something was wrong.
He looked up to see the ceiling he had memorized by staring at for so many sleepless nights.
The girl…
He had been sleeping on her the whole night?
No, not the whole night…
How did she…?
An assassin, a killer, is known for his gift --or curse-- of being extremely light sleepers.
So how did she, a mere girl, be gentle enough not to wake him?
He needed to get out of here. Fast.
He got up as quietly as a shadow, eyes sweeping to the floor, never looking at the girl.
The door closed inaudibly.
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His eyes ran over the ocean, the sunset drenching him in warm sunlight.
He had another job tonight, but he wasn't thinking about it.
He didn't care about anything.
Liar, he called himself.
He cared for the girl.
No matter what he said to himself, whatever he believed, he knew he did.
He gave up lying to himself years ago.
What was the point?
It was like religion.
You believed in something that wasn't real.
It was like life.
You believed you could do anything, everything, then one day, you die.
What was it like?
To die?
To have your soul, or whatever inside of you, just slip from your body?
Or did you just die, to be forgotten in a decade or so?
The glowing red sun sunk into the sea, like it was drowning.
He stood up, knowing he had a job to do.
And still thinking of this, he killed a man, one who was sleeping.
How he wished he could ask the man how it felt?
However it felt like, it must have felt like nothing compared to the assassin's thoughts as he traveled, and made way for the door --the room-- where the one thing in the world that he didn't understand --and needed to-- was waiting.
Waiting…
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Upcoming fluff! Or at least I think it's going to… Anyway, thanks for all your support and everything! I tried making this chapter a little longer… I tried being the key words. Sorry if it doesn't satisfy!
Responses to Reviews:
Battousia-crazy64: You're welcome! I hope you had the best of birthdays! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter!
Trinity Star And Her Muses: Thanks for supporting me… You're great! Also, thank you so much for joining the Yahoo group. I hope you enjoy your time there! You're exactly right for the reasons to write fanfiction! Great thinking!
Black Rose Elise: Good question… When will they kiss? I haven't thought about it much yet, but it will be at least 3 chapters away. You're right about the genres. Maybe I should change it? Yeah… Thanks for pointing it out!
Tomoe2Kenshin: SUGAR CUBES! Thanks so much! I love sugar cubes! I haven't had any since… last hour! *runs to kitchen* Thanks!
Sesshomaruwuxhere: Yes, it was sad… Okay, first of all, thanks for all the help and support you've given me! If not for you, I wouldn't be writing so fast! Second of all, the boot camp instructions you gave me in the review shook me up a bit. THANK YOU! *gives you big huggles*
TFRiD Queen: School, boot camp, what's the difference? Oh yeah, that's right… School gives more homework! Grr is the perfect term for this! Thanks for reviewing!
Queen of Duels: I'm glad it was passionate enough to make your heart hurt! I wanted more feeling, and I wasn't sure I captured it. Thanks for reassuring me! You are the very best!
GoldAngel2: Unfortunately --or maybe fortunately--, Joe is very unfeeling and OOC. I'm glad it's believable and isn't so crazy. As for the bad review for your first posting, I can relate to that. First Inu Yasha story (first story ever posted online). Title is Camp of the Chaotic. EXTREMELY good writer. Saw the title and thought it related to her friend's story, Chaos at Camp. Flamed me horribly, with probably the worst curses in the world. Totally shattered me. Thankfully, at the time I had a really good internet friend. She coaxed me to write more, assured me that I was not a biter, and I posted the next chapter in two days. As for the flaming writer, her account has been frozen. And to this I say HA! Also, I have a Yahoo group that is called Cyborg Fanfictions. I would be honored if you joined it. You don't have to give your e-mail, but I would love to have any input you give. Sorry for the insanely long response… Thanks for everything!
Kuramie and Kaiaramith: Thanks so much for the support… You are a very nice person, and I wish you the best of luck writing!
Aria Zephyr: No, I don't live in a hole… Well, I hope I don't… ^-^' I'm glad that you like this story, and I totally agree with you when you say, 'if someone doesn't like it, then why the hell are they reading it?'. Perfect, and that's exactly how I think. If you don't like a story, then STOP reading it! Why finish the rest of the chapters when you already hate it? Right? Anyway, thanks for the great review, and I hope you the best birthday. This chapter is dedicated to you!
Wolfgirl333: Thanks for thinking this chapter was good. I hoped it would be sad… I'll keep on writing!
Sweet Dark Angel 009: I'm better than J.K.? Okay, I know I'm dreaming. *pinches self* OW! Pain! I'm glad you think this story is acceptable, and that I'm doing well… You're awesome! Keep on writing yourself!
Rinoa Lockheart: Thanks for thinking so! Here's the next chapter!
Inuyasha fanatic: Thanks! I love Inu Yasha too… He's so cool! I have an account for Inu Yasha stories, too… It's called Totally Wicked. I have some pretty good stories, if you want to read them!
MagicianCyborg: I will continue! I'm glad I'm keeping you in suspense and that it isn't boring! Thanks for the supportive review!
Serene Faerie: Poor you, grounded! I was, too… But I sneak on. I'm still so happy that you like this story! A writer as good as you makes me feel so tiny… But you like it! Thanks for everything!