I do not own Crescent Moon. I own Itsuki, Sarah, and all others.
Warnings: Death, self-injuring, swearing, violence.
Chapter Five: Cruel
The morning light was warm, flittering through the dark curtains like ethereal light through water. It was soft, rousing her to her conscious state. She found herself wrapped in someone's arms and looked to the face of their owner. A sigh. Delicate fingers moved through the blond locks swiftly yet gently. The figure by her stirred barely, shifting closer. Itsuki smiled at the slumbering form of Nozomu as she slipped away from him, wincing in pain for but a moment. She was sore from their love-making only hours before. Strangely though, she smiled and blushed in remembrance as she slipped into a pair of blue cargos, but was stopped by a pair of arms. She gasped, but was smiling at the contact.
"Come back to bed..." Nozomu muttered groggily. He wasn't much of a morning person.
"But I'm hungry..." She breathed into his ear as she nipped it lightly. "I'm too awake to go back to sleep."
She felt the sheet that was wrapped around her chest loosen slightly as he held her closer. He breathed in her scent deeply, it was always so clean and tantilizing. He nibbled at the mark on the nape of her neck lightly, causing a purr to resonate from her throat. This woman was finally his.
"Then we'll get breakfast and just lay in each other's arms," He suggested with a soft grin against her skin. She chuckled as she turned to face him. Her eyes were so full of emotion that she couldn't speak. He kissed her, releasing some of her tension visibly.
"I love you.." she whispered with such vigor that he could only watch her. "I love you so much...and I'm glad you saved me.." He saw tears welling up in those beautiful eyes of hers and he soothed her with gentle words as he kissed those droplets away. They were held captive in each other's embrace for what seemed like hours until a gentle knock tapped them back into reality.
Itsuki, throwing on her discarded button-down, pulled it on and buttoned it twice at the chest before going to the door while Nozomu dressed. Mitsuru was at the door. He looked a little embarrassed at speaking to her in such a state.
"Breakfast is ready...and I need to talk to you...later." He said with a detached air, though he was nervously rubbing the back of his head. Itsuki gave him a gentle smile before nodding and closing the door.
As his footsteps padded away and faded, Nozomu placed his hands on either side of her head as she was forced back against the closed door. His breath was on her skin as he softly nipped and bit her exposed throat where he had bit her previously. It was mind-numbing how good it felt.
"N-nozomu.." She barely managed as she finally mustered the will to push him away. "We have to go get breakfast and h-help with setting up the bar for tonight."
"All right. I'll just throw on a shirt and then meet you downstairs." the vampire said with a light smile as he kissed her forehead and turned from her. She smiled at his back as she escaped through the door silently. He grinned as she fled, shaking his head softly as he put on a plain, tight black shirt and followed shiftly after his lover.
As he came down the stairs, she was sitting there, drinking some milk as she spoke with Mitsuru. She was positively radiant. Akira suddenly was beside him with a wicked grin.
"She seems quite open this morning...I wonder why." His grin turned to a smile as his tail shook rapidly. "She's complete and so are you, right?" His question seemed vague yet proper.
"Yeah. We're complete." Nozomu responded, light-headed at the feeling of being Itsuki's only one. Akira giggled at the look on his friend's face.
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The day passed by swiftly, almost like an incredible dream. Itsuki and Nozomu were walking down the street, holding hands as they went to see Sarah since Itsuki missed her. The afternoon was bright, but clouds were moving in to take control. By five it was steadily raining, but it was warm and welcomed. They were almost to her old apartment when the vampire-fox paused, a tear suddenly making its way down her cheek. Her heart was aching so painfully that she had to stop and place her hand over the burning spot. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Nozomu was speaking to her, but he seemed so faraway, his voice just barely brushing her mind. He shook her shoulders, but her head was turned away from him, still clutching at her aching heart. Slipping out of his grasp, she grabbed his hand and ran hard down the street to where a lot of cars and people were, smoke wafting up from a rolled over car. It was Sarah's car.
Where is she? Where is she!
Was all Itsuki could think, trying to sense her mother's life force. She couldn't find it. Her breathing became shallow and drawn out, Nozomu not letting go of his grip upon her hand. She was sweating heavily and beginning to panic. The vampire-fox suddenly paused. She felt a light drop of life near her in one of the ambulances. Moving towards that, a mass of people blocked her way and her view. This wasn't happening. This wasn't real. It just had to be a dream. But the buzzing sirens and heavy voices drowning out all other sound could not be denied or changed. But still, maybe if she just believed it wasn't real it wouldn't be. That sounded too insane to be her actual thought process.
Nozomu told her he was going to come right back, but she wasn't really listening, just standing there and becoming more ghostlike by the second. Slowly letting go of her hand, he walked through the crowd to the where some police officers were shaking their heads and beginning to zip up a body bag. The vampire caught a glimpse of Sarah's face in the bag and almost choked himself. No way this was happening. Slowly walking up to the officer closing the bag, he spoke shakily:
"What happened here, officer?"
The man shook his head sadly as he sighed and finishing closing up the bag. He seemed like he had seen these things way too many times and it still broke his heart.
"This woman here, she was stopped at a red light like she was suppose to be and some speed demon trying to outrun us, crashed headlong into the driver's side. Another car was turning and was flipped right into the front of her car. This woman, name Sarah, was killed instantly. Her neck was broken in the collision. The drivers of the other two cars both survived. The one who crashed into Sarah first was taken to the prison. And the other driver is pretty banged up and in the ambulance being treated. Did you know the victim..?" The man looked extremely distraught and almost on the verge of tears.
Nozomu slowly nodded his head as he ran his hand through his hair. "She's my girlfriend's mother...She's going to go crazy.."
The police officer gulped heavily as he seemed to scan the ground to find the one he was talking about but with no such luck. He sighed as he motioned to the vampire. "She needs to come to identify the body and get arrangements made...please...bring her over..."
Nozomu nodded slowly once more as he made his way back to where Itsuki was trembling and clutching herself. The people around her were beginning to notice until Nozomu took her hand and led her away. Sitting her down and wiping her tears, he kneeled before her while placing his hands on her knees. A few tears rolled down his cheeks. Blood ran down her chin from biting her lip so hard to keep from screaming.
"Itsuki..." Nozomu began.
"She's not dead.." Itsuki whispered, closing her eyes tight. She started shaking her head.
"Itsuki," Nozomu's voice was more stern now. But grew soft when she finally looked at him. "I saw the person in the body bag...It was Sarah..."
"No!" She cried out wretchedly, wrapping her arms around the vampire's shoulders as she dug her face into his neck. Her body was shaking like a scared puppy. His arms wrapped around her.
He whispered softly into her ear. "The police need you to come identify her and make arrangements and things like that...Okay?"
She slowly moved her head, but she could hardly move other than that. Lifting her up, Nozomu carried her in his arms to where the police officer had been. Setting Itsuki down on the ground. She stared at the black bag with unfocused eyes. Shakily, she reached out her hand and pulled down the zipper. The whole world slowed as Sarah's beautiful face was revealed with some scratches and bruises. Itsuki's mouth went dry and her heart started to pound like it would explode. The tears flowed anew as a strangled cry escaped her lips. She touched Sarah's face, telling her to wake up and that this wasn't happening. She was frantic until Nozomu pulled her away, she hiding her face in his shirt. The officer was actually in tears at this point as he reclosed the bag.
Nozomu and the officer spoke for what seemed like an eternity as Itsuki wallowed in her grief. Soon, she exhausted herself into a half-sleep state. Clinging to Nozomu as though he was her last attachment to sanity, the vamp carried her back to the bar. The group looked at them with so many questions burning in their eyes and waiting to leap from their mouths, but Nozomu waved them off as he carried Itsuki to their room. Tucking her into bed, he watched her, feeling utterly useless. Feeling she needed to rest, he went to speak with the group.
Itsuki stared into the darkness of the room for hours, soon, the light outside died and the moon rose ever so slowly. As the fox-vamp stared, she noticed it had a blue shimmer to it. An ironic smile passed her lips as tears rolled down her cheeks. "So you're sad, too...huh? Well, I know very well how to end pain...and heartache...and...and...suffering.." Drawing deep breaths, an inner voice was telling her to end it all, just end it and it would all be over. But another voice was willing her not to do it, to live and love people more because of this. Sarah's cold, dead face was still filtering through her mind as she slipped out of the bed and found a pocket knife in one of Nozomu's drawers.
The first voice had won out.
Exposing her wrist, she flicked out the blade and dragged it across old scars. It hurt, like hell it hurt, and the blood flowed. But, it felt better than what she was feeling. So much better than the emotional agony she was in. She cut more, leaving three long marks on her left arm. Then she switched to the other, causing a dark stain to form on the carpet floor. She was completely enveloped by the sight of blood and the pain she was inflicting. She didn't hear the footsteps racing up the stairs. Taking the bloody knife she went to gash her throat until a strong force knocked the weapon right out of her hands. She blinked a few times, not really registering what happened until a hand slapped her hard across the face.
Placing a hand to her face where she had been hit, she heard a familiar voice screaming at her. "You stupid bitch! How can you defile your mother's love by attempting suicide!? Do you think she would really want this of you? To kill yourself after everything she has done for your sake?! Dumbass! Dumdass! DUMBASS!" Mitsuru cursed and screamed, fuming with anger.
"She was the only family I had!" Itsuki bit out, coming to stand and glare with such hatred that her eyes transformed into those lunar eclipse orbs. They beat down on Mitsuru, who was holding his ground rather well.
"She was the only person to love me for exactly who I was when I needed her to most! The only one to tell me that I was special and loved and wanted when everyone else turned their backs to me! All my life I was alone and hated. I never had friends. Everyone wanted to hurt me and see that I was punished for some stupid fucking reason! But when I came home to her, it was like the world had some good in it. AND NOW THAT'S GONE!!" She hissed out, more tears flowing from her hurt-filled eyes. Her whole body was tense as she clenched her fists, the cuts she inflicted on herself beginning to heal. Her eyes shut tight as she tried to erase Sarah's dead image, but couldn't.
Suddenly, strong arms embraced her, causing her to blink in alarm. A shiver went down her spine as Nozomu placed his forehead against her back. He was shaking and she knew he was crying by the damp feeling at the part between her shoulderblades. She closed her eyes once more. How could...how could she have been so cruel?
Nozomu spoke in muted tones, "Don't leave me alone...please. Don't say you are alone when I've been by your side the whole time...Don't tell me that there is no one left to love you when I'm right here...Please..."
Itsuki all but crumbled as she stayed in Nozomu's grasp, saying nothing, just letting him hold her. The others filed out to leave them alone, completely shaken by all they had heard and seen. Mahiru held tightly to Mitsuru as they went to just fall asleep in each other's embrace, the others also heading to their rooms. When Itsuki's body could no longer hold her and Nozomu's weight, she fell to her knees and was soon pulled against the vampire's chest as he held onto her with everything he had. Everything was starting to blur in her eyes as she felt herself slipping into the darkness of unconsciousness. Closing her tired eyes, she spoked softly.
"I miss her..."
Nozomu kissed her hair. "I know."
Very, very intense chapter right there. Sorry it took me soooooo long to type it up. Life gets in the way and so does laziness. I hope it was what you guys were waiting for. Good night. 3