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Out of the Ashes Chapter 4 - Realisation
"Touya!" Tomoyo croaked in fear.
"It's ok. No-one will hurt you." Touya hushed her.
"No…"she muttered. At that minute Tomoyo's "dad" let out his breath. In a flash Touya spun 'round. The shock made the startled male drop the rock. It landed on Touya's foot. Unbelievable pain shot through him. The bigger man was already looking for a new weapon seeing none to hand he jumped on Touya pulling his head and slamming it hard on the ground. Then he drew a knife from Touya's belt. The last thing Touya saw was a wicked grin crossing the evil man's face.
Tomoyo came to. Her hands were tied behind her back. Her father was standing over someone poring what looked like alcohol on him.. She couldn't stop herself groaning as the pain within her awoke. The odious villain turned to her. He had a knife and was smiling as if he'd just discovered golden eggs. He moved towards her and she could finally see the person on the ground. "Touya!"
"Sssh, Princess. You don't wanna wake the lad, do ya?"
"What's going on?"
"Well your hero there ain't gonna be a hero at all."
"What?"
The man affected a grieving air. "My poor daughter was kidnapped by an obvious lunatic. He beat her fragile body. Then plainly drunk he burnt himself and her alive. I can't help but wonder what awful thoughts went through poor Tomoyo's head as she lived her last minutes with a man not fit for hell. Now as-"
"Shut up!"
"I'm sorry? Did I hear right? Only now when it's too late you discover a fighting spirit."
"You've no right to talk about anybody. You disgust me."
" Like I care." He spat in her face. With her hands tied, Tomoyo had to let the moist spit slide down her face.
Touya began to stir behind them, "Whas hap'ning?"
"So you're awake. Let's finish this off then." Tomoyo was hauled to her feet and thrown next to Touya. Her feet were then manacled. "So the cops know you were here when the fire was going on." and her hand, still tied, were attached to her fellow captive's hands. She was shivering hard when Touya's fingers closed on hers. She tried to draw all the comfort she could from that little grasp.
"I need more alcohol if I'm gonna make sure you guys go quick. Total certainty is worth any price after all. Wait there, I'll be right back."
"Like we could move." muttered Touya bitterly.
"I tried to warn you, Touya-san. I should've been faster. I should- "
"It doesn't matter anymore. We'll probably not see the end of this hour."
Silent tears fell down Tomoyo's cheeks. She shook her head unable to rid herself of them.
"Tomoyo-chan. Don't cry."
"You don't deserve this. He wanted me to suffer. He would never have met you. You would have been happy."
"I don't mind." His surprised voice rang out. He looked at the beautiful women sitting next to him. She was worn out, covered in dirt, bruised, tear stained, covered in spit and her young face was twisted in self-hatred but his heart responded flooding his body with warm fuzz. At this moment, he didn't care about the limited future just being with this fairytale beauty was enough. "I'm glad I came after you. I'm glad I'm with you now."
"But I don't want to die. I am sorry for you but I can't help but feel sorry for me. I mean we're gonna be burnt alive for God's sake. I just want to go home."
"Well we'd better get moving then."
"huh?"
"Well. I don't much want to die either and he seems to have moved on. We better hurry up if we want to leave before he comes back."
"You really think we can."
"Well…of course we can. Who tries wins, right?"
"Well how. I can't move."
"Look your hand is near my belt. There's a knife in it. Can you reach it?"
"You'll have to twist around a bit more. That's better." Tomoyo grabbed for the knife and missed. She let go her face bright red. "I'm so sorry."
"Tomoyo it doesn't matter. We need the knife. remember the knife."
" I grabbed his…oh my god. I'll never be able to look at him again."
"The knife Tomoyo."
"Ok. I got it."
"Now pass it carefully into my hands. There, I got." he quickly cut his and Tomoyo's hands free. He sat up the blood rushing to his head. The world span but he forced himself to stay awake. Not to be lost in the swirling colours. "Let's get out of here. Quick before he comes back."
"I can't get them off." Touya looked down. Dammit, he'd forgotten her feet were manacled. "And that pyromaniac has the keys," he thought.
"I'll have to carry you then." He picked her up as gently as possible. She didn't want to lie against him. Who knew what feelings it might spark. "Lie back. Otherwise I can't run," he commanded. And before she knew it she was pushed against his chest. "I can hear his heartbeat. Mine goes in time with his." They were one united being running for their lives.
"I suppose I stink of alcohol. I know it can't be pleasant to smell but we'll be able to reach safety soon, " he promised. She tried to shake her head. Now she thought about he did stink of alcohol but under that still lay his true essence. Touya. She felt safe. She knew of the danger they were still in but she couldn't care. Her whole body was responding to him. No fear could touch her. She fell asleep.
Touya was struggling now. For however thin she was Tomoyo was still heavy and he guessed he had slight concussion. They couldn't go on forever. Town must be near. It must be. His breath was ragged and Tomoyo had an unhealthy pallor that nagged at him. He put her down, placing her head carefully on the ground. He checked her pulse. Was it irregular? He wasn't sire. He deftly checked his own. They were moving in time. He looked at her. He'd never seen anyone like this. He'd never felt this way about anyone. Kaho had aroused him. For a while he thought he'd love Yukito but he'd never loved him what they had was friendship at it's strongest but friendship none the less. His head hurt with all these confused thoughts. He lay in the dirt and slept a dreamless sleep.
Tomoyo woke up. She was lying in her own bed with her own things. "Was last week a dream?"
"Tomoyo-chan?"
"Doctor?"
"How are you feeling?"
"I guess I'm ok. I don't understand what happened though."
"We don't know either. A person from town found you and the young man who helped you before lying by the roadside.
"Is Touya-san alright?"
"He's suffering mild concussion but he should be fine once he wakens. Now can you tell me what happened."
"I want to see Touya."
"Maybe once I know what happened to the pair of you. Where is your father?"
"That pig is no more my father than you are. I hope he's dead."
The doctor was shocked at such violent words from the quiet composed Tomoyo.
"I want the full story now." So she told him, every last bitter detail. She didn't she a tear. She wouldn't cry. That horrible man hadn't one. "but he could've. He came so close." her brain whispered. "he almost killed you and Touya."
"May I see Touya, now?"
"Ok but don't wake him up. He'll sleep off the worst of his concussion." He led her into one of the many guest rooms of the mansion. The curtains were open letting the sun stream on to the bed. The radio was playing quietly.
Touya was lying there very still. He looked worn out but not ill. Urgently she ran to him pulling him into a hug. The tears flowed furiously down her still pale voice. "Touya. Be all right. Be all right."
"I'll be alright for sure Tomoyo-chan." Touya had opened his eyes and was grinning up at the crying girl. He pushed himself up and lowered her so he was holding her against his chest. The doctor quietly left them to it. They held each other for what seemed like hours of bliss. Just enjoying knowing each other was there.
Finally Tomoyo looked at him. "Touya-san?"
"Yes."
"I want you to protect me for ever. I don't ever want to be scared again?"
"I don't want you to have to be scared again." They lay against each other. One heart beat. One pulse. One soul rejoicing in the discovery of it's other help. Basking in the glow of the emotion they shared.
Tomoyo and Touya both recognised the song on the radio.
It's just a little crush
Not like I faint every time we touch
It's just some little thing. Crush
Not like everything I do depends on you
Sha la la la, sha la la la
"It's not a crush." They both though into themselves. "It's love."
A/N: There's a short epilogue coming up and that'll be this story finished. Please continue to r+r.
P.S If there's any weird links in this, I don't know what's causing it but anyone who knows how to get rid of them can you tell me how?
