Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Everything belongs to Midway. Curse you Midway.
Behold Ch. 2. Is it just me, or does everybody else get more reviews than I do?
As a man who had slept for such a long time was bound to do, he attempted to raise himself from his reclining position, propping himself up on his elbows when his exhausted muscles didn't support him. Saki had only to place a hand on his chest to stop him.
"You're not well enough to walk," she told him gently, and with minimal effort, pushed him back down.
Saki's nephew was Yuri Hyuga, and he had indeed told her horror stories about the man named Nicolai Conrad. Her premonitions and her natural sense for the present and future had told her everything about him, even without Yuri's colorful embellishments, and she had to admit that he was deserving of his infamy among Yuri's friends. However, the way his eyes searched the room, quick and alarmed as if he had just woken from a terrible nightmare, caused her heart to soften to him.
Most affecting was when his voice caught in his throat and he began coughing just as vulnerably as a child, in no way the deceiving and evil man his reputation spoke of. Saki looked on sympathetically, saying nothing as she waited for the long months of sleep to leave his body. As the convulsions slowed, Nicolai settled back into the pillow, allowing a pause before he attempted to speak.
"Wh-where am I?" Though it was weak and shaky, his voice was extraordinarily light and well preserved for his two months of inactivity.
"The Inugami Village of Japan," Saki replied, and then, smiling, "You are a wonderfully lucky man."
Nicolai didn't respond, but instead closed his eyes.
"My name is Saki Inugami," Saki continued, "I and a guardian salvaged your body two months ago, just moments before the collapse of the Immortal Mountain."
She watched his eyes as he frowned, and they became shadowed, as if a myriad of terrible memories had returned in a flood. When he looked at her she was struck by the many glimmering facets of his beautiful emerald eyes, and how right that redheaded girl had been in describing them.
"…thank you," he said quietly, "I can't begin to express my gratitude."
"You may begin by resting and regaining your health," Saki replied as she smiled.
Nicolai closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. "How can I? I've done nothing but sleep for the past two months."
He regarded her once again, his expression troubled. "What's happened in that time? How much has changed?"
Suddenly, a surprising change came over him, and his eyes widened for a moment as he blurted out, "Where is – "
Saki tilted her head as his words caught in his throat, and he settled back into the pillow. "I'm sorry… never mind that."
The Inugami leader nodded, knowing fairly well his meaning and not pressing him for more. But after a moment of silence as Nicolai turned his face away, there came a shout from outside the door. It was the old woman, Saki's elderly relative.
"Saki! They're here!"
As Saki stood from the bed, Nicolai looked once again at her, as if alarmed at her leaving. "Wait - !"
Saki smiled once again down at him. "I will return in a short while. Rest."
Nicolai was obviously confused, but he said nothing as she gathered her long kimono and left the room.
A/N: Yeah, it was short, but I had writer's block. It gets better, I swear!
MikoNoNyte -Your kind words made my day, thank you! You are officially my first reviewer on FFnet, and it means a lot to me.