haiz i dunno what to say...this chapter is longer! yay!

ano...eeto...if the characters are OOC or something, don't blame me! blame the evil plot bunnies! and uh...if there's any mistakes on the anime info or stuff like that, do inform me. however, it is not likely that i will correct it though...yeap, many factors to ponder. eg: laziness, no time...you get the picture...

By the way, thanks for those who reviewed!

ok! on to the fic!

Would You Please Say You Need Me

Chapter 3:Nightmare

"I can't believe it! Why didn't he tell me all this?" Yuki collapsed weakly onto the chair. "If I had known, I would never have misunderstood him in the first place."

"He didn't want to dwell on the past, or so he said." Hatori said quietly. "Also he is not the type of person who search for excuses, no matter how he may look it."

Everyone had listened quietly, each in silent thoughts mingled with guilt.

"What do you mean?" Yuki's eyes clouded with guilt and confusion.

"He really thinks that he failed you as a brother," Shigure said, in a soft pain-filled voice. "Indirectly and unknowingly, he seeks punishment in futile redemption."

Before Yuki or anyone could reply, they heard a gasp and a weak moan.

Ayame thrashed slightly in the futon, seemingly caught in the throes of a nightmare.

What the…what is this place? I thought…oh no….i know where this is…but it can't be…the pathway to the room.

Drawn by some unknown force, I find myself walking towards the room. Dread filled my stomach with a lead weight, my heart felt as if the artic winds have blown through it. Whispers of past 'visits' rang ever so clearly through my ears, filling me with such trepidation.

The first time I saw, through the eyes of an unknown audience.

It had been one of the earlier Jyuunishi members. He was the Rat, before Yuki. At that time, I was so young and he had been the one to comfort me when Kaasan and Tousan had flat out rejected me. I hadn't really known Tori-san and Gure-san beyond their names then, as I had been confined and forbidden to venture outside our corner of the Main House. Strange now, that I had known many things about him except his name. I had known that he was an emotionally strong person. Yet seeing him break down after a few words from him broken the rose-coloured glass behind which I had withheld him.

He had died a month later, from 'unknown causes', but I knew better.

The second time had struck closer; much much closer.

I shook my head, trying to clear it of those unpleasant thoughts, only to find that I had the door. It beckons eerily at me to open it, and uncontrollably I succumbed.

"You're the snake…reptile…cold-blooded...disgusting creature…

"Don't bother, Hatori, it'll heal by itself…"

Scrunching my eyes shut against the onslaught of memories, I braced myself and slid the door open.

Silence.

Hesitantly, I opened my eyes and sighed in relief. He is not here.

I stepped into the room. It smelt of pain and fear, laced with blood. Tori-san, mine, and so many others before and after us. Instinctively, my hands reached up to my forehead.

I shivered. The room is dank, dark and cold, as it has always been. Suddenly, I felt a strong urge to get out. Before I could even turn around, I heard the door slid shut. My heart filled with dread. The smell. It's him.

My animal instincts screamed for release.

"Well, you're back."

"I'm going now." My voice wavered, betraying my mask of self confidence.

"No, you're not going anywhere. Not till you remember why you're here in the first place. Not till you hear them call for you."

The last coherent thought before panic overwhelm me was "Gods, save me!"

"His fever is worsening," Hatori muttered,

There Ayame lay, drenched in sweat. His eyebrows were scrunched together, lips muttering unheard words.

"Will he…" Yuki half-asked the dreaded question.

The atmosphere seemed to tense almost immediately as everyone strained their ears.

Hatori shook his head. "A possibility of both. It's all up to him now. We can't do much, save watch over him."

"Save me…" A soft heart-wrenching whimper was torn from the broken fram thrashing weakly against the futon.

How could they, when they did not know what to save him from?

All they could do was watch in silence, intruders over his private suffering.

review, please? after two chapters in 2 days! repay my kindness and sacrifice! joking joking...(sweat)

off i go to read fics!