There's happiness in the air, even after a long battle, war meeting and a so much needed bath, Kamui enters his personal quarters, with more than a trousers, a casual shirt and a towel in his head still drying his hair, a mischievous grin appears on his face, it´s been a while since they started doing that kind of thing, seeing each other behind everyone back´s, giving each other gifts and short kisses, but all in all it was still surprising how despite the fights she always found a way to move his world, and he loved to tease her, saying things as "sit cutely' or 'raging cutely', 'stare cutely or show her tongue cutely', this was beyond silly or naïve, under the blankets of his bed was a small bump moving from one side to another, it stopped just when he closed the door, rather panicked and in a way he knew it was looking at his direction, a wicked idea crossed his mind as he left the towel in the chair "Oh? It seems that, im alone for the night, what a shame" he faked a small depressed sigh "I wonder if the kitchen is still open, i want a little sweet" with that said the door opened and closed again, the little 'bump' on his bed panicked and after a few seconds a head pooped from the blankets with puffed cheeks, seeing that the towel was left behind and that it was silent, the girl just showed her tongue to the door as if her lover was still with her, suddenly she was pulled from behind in a warm embrace making a soft 'Eeek' sound as Kamui tenderly kissed her head "Look what i found in my bed, a treat for the night~" he continued as his lover chuckled as she kissed the arms around her.
"No fair, how did you know?" She asked while she kissed her hair and felt her hair on his face, it was nice to smell her sweet fragrance and her soft hair.
"Well, the last time i checked my bed, there wasn't this cute li-acck!" he was interrupted as she huffed with arms high with a shade of red on her cheeks.
"I´m not cute! Im the strongest person in this big army!"
"I know, just beaten for this dragon it seems" Even if she pretended to be mad she allowed him to embrace her again as both laid on the bed still feeling the warm between their bodies, even if they didnt said anything for a couple of minutes, it was all they needed, the intoxicating feeling of the other was something they needed, no words were spoken as she slowly turned to see his face.
"Say…do you love me?" This took him for surprise, widening his eyes for a moment he chuckled.
"Of course, otherwise, why i would be with you right now?"
"I dont know, is just, it feels like a dream come true…..what if is that? What if i´m dreaming? What if i wake up and you´re not with me anymore?"
"Then we´ll be having the same dream and the moment you woke up i´ll be there at your side" he replied moving her bangs that covered for a moment her eyes.
"Promise? Pinky promise?"
He chuckled as she showed her finger as she usually did "Yes, promise" he said as for the 19th time in their bedroom did the same promise, it was silly to think that even if what she said was true, she would be making a promise to a dream, perhaps that´s what Nohr needed? More dreamers? He sighed as she placed her head on his chest, seeing the dim light fade under the rays of the moon, she stared at the ceiling for a moment, feeling that his eyes were closing he felt her soft breath, it was until he closed his eyes she talked again "Hey, can i ask you something?"
"Uh? Sure, go ahead?"
"If you loved me so much, why you let me die?" His heart stopped with widened eyes, there was no darkness in that place but a grey sky and the feeling of his sore muscles, there was something he was holding but he refused to look down, there was that freezing air around him as his heart ached in remorse and pain "I didn´t loved you enough? It was my fault?" those words forced him to look down, in his arms were his lover who was pale and the light of her eyes were disappearing, with her hand on his cheek she just smiled as her weakened body allowed "I´m sorry….if i was…not enough….." his tears were falling from his face as he shook his head desperate to talk, to say something but images of their time together flashed through his eyes, until a final picture appeared, the image of a grave with flowers around it, with the name of her beloved in it.
Finally his voice appeared screaming in what felt an eternity, cold sweat fell from his forehead and neck, as his eyes adapted to the darkness of the place he felt the pain on his back and his heart that refused to slow down, he was still screaming but he couldn't heard his own voice, he couldn't stop trembling in that dark place, it was until a hand reached his shoulder that the world returned to him, breathing heavily and looking at his right, a small candle illuminated the room, he was back to his personal chambers, to his personal room "Kamui, it's okay! I´m here, it was just a nightmare" Oboro said as she struggled to see his pained face, he was back to his personal hell.
Chapter 6: The Lost light
Oboro sighed as she was waiting outside the bathroom of the floor, taping her fingers and feeling a dreading and disgusting pain in her stomach, it was the third night in a row that someone of the castle had to stay with Kamui the full night just because he refused to fall asleep again, Subaki was with him in the bathroom just making sure that he was not trying anything in her absence, not that he minded seeing him naked, but she couldn't stand seeing those marks on his back, it felt so wrong looking at it, she felt guilty in a way, always wanted to see justice for what happened in her childhood, but that so called 'justice' was now falling in someone who face wasn't so far better than her´s, and all what she could do is just look and hope for the best, in a way, it was worse to see how far they took vengeance to someone unrelated to atrocities of Nohr.
"Oboro! What happened?!" Oboro looked at her right to see Hinoka running to her side, not even her Pegasi yukata but casual clothes the princess was wearing, the cowlick´s on her head were evidence that she just woke up, the worry in her face was a good signal that she already knew what was happening.
"Another nightmare" Oboro sighed as she straightened her posture "Worse that the last time, this one woke up the whole left wing with his shouts, i tried to wake him up but it was until he opened his eyes that he stopped" she added scratching the back of her head.
"Dammit" Hinoka gritted her teeth's, it has been a week since she returned and tried to help him, but now she felt useless, every time she tried to talk with him it was just and awkward silence followed for more awkward moments when he just ignored her presence "We need to do something"
"Im drawing a blank here Lady Hinoka, even if he mumble in his sleep, i can't understand what he´s saying, any idea?" Hinoka bit her lip as Oboro sighed seeing her, leaning again against the wall and crossing her arms, there weren´t making any kind of progress, Yukimura was making their life hard, Oboro was the only one allowed to be at Kamui´s side for the time being, Orochi was discussing those stupid ideas with Hayato who was a genius if they were talking about magic and charms, but had a lack of common sense if they tried to have a normal conversation, lastly Kagero was trying to elude the guards and ninjas in the castle, perhaps she was the former retainer of Ryoma, but it was hard to see who was with them and who with Yukimura, they were stuck right now "If we cant improve his situation, i don't know how much his mind or heart can stand" Hinoka was about to say something when they heard shouting from inside the bathroom, then noises that they were throwing something inside and finally the apologies and screams of the two maids that were there with Subaki.
"I don´t think his mind can stand it for too long" Hinoka said as she was about to open the door, it opened violently as Kamui was there with just the lower half of his kimono, the red eyes were evident as the dry tears on his cheek´s he just passed aside of her as Subaki and the maids tried to follow him.
"Wait! Kamui! We´re not done yet!" Subaki screamed as he walked away.
"I AM! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE GODAMMIT!" He screamed as he stumbled on his step´s using the wall to support him, the maids bowed and followed the red haired man who tried to stop the albino without success, Hinoka was about to follow them until Oboro said a small 'wow' behind her, she looked at the bathroom and was surprised to see the state of it.
The walls were damaged for what looked single cut´s from side to side, the bathroom furniture was gone for good beyond repair and the stained clothes on the floor, water on the floor that was mixed with fresh blood and what Hinoka recognized as the bandages that Kamui had on his wrists, the mirror was broken and its little shreds were floating, Hinoka was surprised to see a maid sit on the edge of the bathtub they brought from one of the border cities, the poor maid wasn't stressed but pained to see all the room, she just took the clothes that were drenching in that strange mixture and with a bow left them "…..Yukimura will be mad that we have to repair the bathroom again" Oboro commented
"Do you really care about what Yukimura will think or say about this?" Hinoka looked at her who just thought for a moment.
"….not much, im a little sad that i wasn't here to help him out"
"I hope you´re jesting Oboro" Both of them turned to see Ryoma who was standing behind them with crossed arms.
"Big brother! How did you know we were here?" Hinoka asked as Oboro bowed.
"Is not that hard, the butlers and maids on the ground floor are quite shaken for the screams of this morning and after seeing this…bathroom, i find kind of hard to not agree with them when they´re saying there´s a ghost here"
"Not a ghost, just a really mad dragon" Oboro pointed out "I´ll leave you alone, i think Subaki needs me for whatever reason Kamui has to walk half naked on the hallways" with a final bow, Oboro left them as she ran calling them.
"Any progress?" Ryoma asked with worry on his face.
"Not so far" She leaned against the wall closing her eyes "Is hard to say what's in his mind, all what he does is just stare at the horizon and sleep, i don't know what to do"
Ryoma sighed as he leaned aside of her deep in though "I see…well, i wasn't expecting that you could fix this right away….im sorry for asking this"
"Don't be, i want to do this, is just…." She sighed "Is so hard to do something, i feel so useless and stupid! Saying things as 'good weather we have' or 'how are you?' is just, I can't help him if we don't have something in common to talk about"
"Well, good think im here" He stretched his hand to her, she just set her hands together expecting something, feeling something cold in her palms she widened her eyes as she tried to figure out what was the meaning of such object in her palms.
"W-What? What is this? Wh-Where d-did y-"
"Saizo just returned it today, after checking it and making sure that there was no hidden dangers on it, he was 'forced' to return it, even if it has no meaning"
"B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BUT HOW HE CAN SAY THAT?! TH-THIS I-"
"I know, and now is up to you how to use it, now if you excuse me, i have to see the council, Kagero said that Yukimura is plotting something 'fishy' so I have to make sure that is not something bad"
"Seeing what he has done, i doubt it….." she looked at the strange object in her palm, it felt weird to hold such thing, she didn´t want to go that far, but now she was without options and Kamui refusing to take the so much needed sleep, it was a hell of a gamble, but at that point there was no other choice, closing her palm she prepared herself.
"C´mon Kamui, let me just finish" Subaki complained as he hold the fresh bandages, but Kamui remained silent leaned on his arms hiding his face behind them "You know that if we don't do it Lady Sakura will be sad, don't you?" Kamui just slightly moved his head as he refused to move from his place, Subaki and Oboro sighed, it has been nearly ten minutes since they reached the bedroom but now he was acting like a spoiled brat, not that Oboro blamed him, after having a face like that she hardly would be willing to deal with the others, Oboro was about to say something when they heard the door opening and Hinoka entering with a serious face.
"…..wait outside, i´ll take it from here" she said as she grabbed the bandages on the table.
"Are you sure Lady Hinoka? We can be h-"
"Yes, i´ll be fine, i´ll handle this" Subaki sighed again leaving what the princess would need, bandages, new clothes and of course some food was left on the desk near the bed, with a final bow he left the place, leaving the three alone, Hinoka looked at Oboro who just shook her head.
"You know i can't leave you alone" Hinoka stared at her for a few moments and sighed scratching her head.
"Fine" she said taking seat in front of the albino who didnt looked her, just moved his head to the other direction, the small round table was something that belonged to Mikoto, so for now there was no danger that he could do any harm to it or anything in the room, unlike the bathroom he wouldnt dare to break something "Now, Kamui, can you lend me your arm please?" she asked as she started unfolding the bandages and cleaning her hands in the small bowl aside of her, Kamui didnt replied "We need to clean your scar Kamui, please, lend me your hand…" again no answer as the room remained silent for a while.
"Lady Hinoka, if you don't hurry up, we´ll be force to use the chair, you know…." Oboro commented as Hinoka flinched for those words, looking for a moment behind her she saw the chair the spear master referred to, a wooden chair that was designed to restrain the movements of anyone who sat there, it was of course Yukimura idea if the so called 'hero' refused to cooperate, and according to what Sakura said, if his wounds weren't cleaned they might get infected with the time, she refused to force him again, looking at him again she sighed as she searched for the small object in her pockets "Kamui…we don't have much time, the maids are waiting outside, its rude to leave a lady waiting…" again no response, after a minute she set the small object on the table, of course the small sound wouldn't attract his attention, so against all it represented, she started to make it spin on the table, Oboro with curiosity observed how the object moved, after some seconds Kamui looked up to see the object, his vision was blurry for being pressing his eyes against his arms, but after a few seconds he recognized it, after one, two and a third blink he widened his eyes, his mind was tired but his eyes weren't lying to him, he quickly tried to grab the object but Hinoka was faster than him "Ah-ah-aaah! Not so fast sir! Let's make a deal, you´ll let me heal your injuries and i´ll will give it back, deal?" he grumbled and hid his face again behind his arms, Hinoka sighed and for a moment she thought that she failed, but after some seconds he stretched his arm, enough for her to heal him, with a small chuckle she took the bandages and alcohol and started cleaning the injured skin "it may sting a little, so sorry"
Unlike she thought, the scars on his wrist weren't just cut´s or long line across his skins, they were bite marks and a good part of his skin was damaged for his own fangs, having the guts to do something like that was bad, but doing it with your bare teeth's? Feeling the blood in your tongue and the sore feeling in the skin was beyond what Hinoka could think, as she finished he extended his other arm pressing his forehead against the table, it took her a couple of minutes and even if she could smell how potent the medicine was, Kamui didn't flinched when she poured it in his wrists, after bandaging him and finish cleaning the desk she heard a small huff, looking at her was Kamui who gaze was expecting something, she just handed the object as he looked at him.
"…why?" he asked
"…is yours, isnt it? But i have to say…im shocked to k-"
"Why did you have it?!" he frowned as tears started to appear again "After so many weeks, this…..this…" he just placed his hands on his chest 'hugging' it as if the world depended on it "Why?! This is…is not enough?"
"Uh?"
"You´re torturing me! The tattoo is not enough?! Nor the nightmares of my guilt?! WHY?!"
"Because i care!" She shouted as he closed his eyes again looking down "I never wanted this…..i wanted to talk with you….to hear your story…but after hearing what Yukimura and Takumi did…..i thought it would be the right thing to do if i gave it back"
"…..give it back uh? After blackmailing me?"
"Even if you refused i would have" Hinoka said with a saddened voice "There are a lot of things i don't understand, please help me understand, i want to"
"….how can you ask me that?" he looked at her with a blank expression, even if he didn't showed any emotion the dry tears were enough to understand his mental state "after all what happened, do you really think I will ever trust you? Or Ryoma? Or anyone in this place?!"
"I don't expect it! And i´ll understand if you don't, but you need to know that even if you´re feeling down, you can count in me! Because i care! I really do!" she yelled as there were small tears on her face too "i said it before and i wasn't lying, the happiest day in my life was when i hugged you in that forest when you saved us! Let me be there for you…..please…." Kamui looked down again, this time there were small sniff´s from him as he looked at the object in his palm, after some minutes Hinoka stood and walked to Oboro who just shook her head 'perhaps it was too much' she thought, when she was about to talk however he spoke again
"….if you want to talk, maybe this afternoon….for now please leave me alone….." it was all he said, with a small sigh Oboro and Hinoka left the room, of course the maids entered before leaving that place, he wouldn't be alone but also not left behind for now.
As another tear fell and hit the golden ring in his palm, even if it was singed and lost a little his round form, the meaning was still clear, and as he started to cry again he hold it tight in his hand while the maids just remained silent at the scene 'Im so sorry Elise' he thought as his heart ached for his words "im sorry i couldn't protect you"
Update* Update* Update* Update* Update* Update* (insert loud wingulls noises here)
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! HERE! CAN YOU LEAVE ME EAT NOW?!
(Reading for a moment) Update* Update* Update* Update* Update* Update* (insert loud wingulls crying noises here)
….Figures….
Anyway, sorry for that bad joke :v i was writing peacefully in this morning when after sending some PM´s I accidentally wrote that this chapter was ready but was waiting for the other and the approval of the beta readers when one after another was sending PM´s with "update?" every 30 minutes, sigh*
I hope you enjoyed the chapter and CAN WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE IS READY NOT LIKE CERTAIN SOMEONE (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE)
Ejem* sorry, thanks again for your pm´s and your ideas i have to thank temporal King for his ideas and supporting this work so much, thanks dude, this won't be the same without you.
Perhaps the next chapter will be ready this Friday and i won´t definitely update it even if you spam my PM or my personal mail :v
Any idea, suggestion or support is welcome (I know that the start of the chapter was a little different, but what do you think about it? Good or bad?), i´m still looking for beta readers, so if you want to help me be free to send me a pm, have a good day!
