Chapter 2- A fading soul

'In the forest of your dreams there's a pool of red, red water. There's only silence.'

Tala clenched the sheets in his fists stirring from his sleep. He opened his eyes slowly, the darkness of the room gentle and welcoming, warmth engulfing him. He turned his head slightly, fighting the dazed feeling he had.

A girl sat beside his bed, head resting beside his hand on the bed. He blinked a few times before his world fully focused. The shades on the window glimmered slightly telling him it was day. He tried to lift his hand only to find that his body wouldn't move.

He looked at his wrist, his eyes widening slightly. The very cuts he'd made to end his own life were stitched shut, the skin a translucent white. His veins looked dark against the paleness of his skin.

"No," he whispered, his voice horse and soft. The girl on the bed stirred. Her eyes fluttering open. She lifted her head, her eyes half lidded with sleep and worry. She looked at him locking turquoise eyes with his sapphire ones. A surprised gasp escaped her as she shot up.

"OH! Your awake!" she cried, both shocked and overjoyed at the same time. He winced at the sound of her voice, feeling queasy from the sudden pounding in his head. "Hold on. I'll get Hatori!"

He watched, unable to move as the girl ran out of the room. But it wasn't a long wait as a few moments later a group of people returned to the room. One walked over to his side.

The new stranger was a tall male, his face harsh and sculpted. He reached over to a bag lying on the floor beside the bed. A stethoscope hung around his neck, a metallic glimmering necklace.

"I'm surprised you're awake," he said, his voice void of most emotion as he stared down at him with harsh eyes. "Those drugs should have kept you out for at least another day."

"Drugs?" Tala asked, his voice barely audible.

The man, who Tala could only assume was Hatori, nodded. He looked at Talas wrist and picked it up, examining the stitches.

Normally Tala would have wrenched away from anyone who tried to touch him, but he had no way of getting away. Only to endure the floods of memories that bombarded him.

He let out a whimper bringing Hatoris eyes to rest on his face. He looked surprised seeing the boys sapphire eyes filled with disgust, and self loathing but most powerful of all, was the fear swimming in those jeweled depths.

"No one's going to hurt you," he said as he moved back from Tala, watching as the boys labored breathing returned to normal. It was as if his touch had sent the boy into a sort of attack.

"Why…?" he whispered, struggling to keep his eyes open to ask his question. "Why am I here?"

"You're safe now," the girl said stepping forward, her hand moving to sweep the bangs from his forehead.

"Don't touch me!" he managed to growl, a fearful growl, sounding more animal than human. "Why did you stop it!"

Tohru stared in shock at the boy. He was injured and heavy intoxicated with painkiller and sleeping aids Hatori had supplied but he was still able to stay awake but the oddest thing of all was that her was angry.

She could see it in his eyes, he was angry about being with them. About being alive.

"St...stop what?" she managed to ask, though she was afraid she'd already come to a conclusion.

The boy turned his face away from them clenching his eyes shut and then reopened them, the ocean of emotions no longer full of anger but despair and pain.

"Why did you save me?" he whispered, his voice cracking as if he wanted to cry but was unable. "Why?"

Tohru felt her heart clench at the grief in the boys voice, and tears welled in her eyes.

A small growl was heard from behind her and Kyo pushed through to stand next to Tohru glaring at the boy, but even Kyo couldn't stand to look too long. It was as if everyone in the room could feel the intensity of the boys' scattered emotions.

Yuki could only stare, confusion welling up in him as well as curiosity. He could only ask 'why' as well. 'Why' would someone so young wish to die?

Hatori stepped forward, a needle in his hand. Yuki watched as the boys sapphire eyes locked onto him so quickly and so sharply it looked painful.

Tala tried to move his hand away from Hatori, not wanting to see anymore of the doctors' memories. Not wanting to know the mans pain. He found his arm just as heavy and deadened as before.

Hatori glanced at the boy watching him and gently drew his arm out, pulling on the sheet it rested on, careful to avoid an unwanted touch. He smiled slightly seeing the boys' sudden look of shock at his actions. Quickly her inserted the needle into the boys arm and injected the drug.

He rose up throwing the needle into the trash and turned to the others.

"Tohru, you need to get some rest, Have Yuki or Kyo watch him for now," Hatori said to the girl and looked at the two boys with a serious stare. With those final words he left the room only to have one of the others follow him.

The girl, now Tohru, looked at the two boys with a small smile and shook her head. "You don't need to stay, I can watch him."

The one with orange hair snorted and shrugged uncaringly and left the room leaving the other boy to glare after him.

"Stupid Cat," he muttered and turned to Tohru. "Hatori wants you to rest Ms. Honda, I can watch him for now."

"Are you sure, Yuki?" she asked, sounding almost as worried as she had about him. The dark haired boy, Yuki, nodded and shooed her gently from the room and closed the door, only to take the seat that Tohru had once had.

Colors swirled in front of Talas eyes as he glanced over at Yuki. Sapphire eyes met Violet and he realized something. Once again he was seeing his angel. The edges of his world went dark and slowly began to fade in.

Yuki looked at Talas hand and covered it with his gently, surprising himself at the uncommon gesture, but was even more surprised as it brought a faint smile to the boys face.

'My Tenshi,' Tala thought smiling. 'You are real…'

His world faded black, as he lost sight of his tenshi and for the first time, fell into a dreamless sleep.

There you are…GAH! Gotta go the bell rinsg in like 2 minutes. Read and review. I'll update when I find some spare time…preferably outside computer class.

Laters