Holy crap, it's been a month. How did that happen?
Sorry about that, everybody. School has been murder, and I've been doing the challenge, too, and then blowing off steam with sentence drabbles, and so stuff just kind of got away from me… Not to mention the beginning and end of this chapter gave me serious fits. The middle part wasn't too bad…
BIG THANKS to ColourPearl for this chapter's opening lyrics. I had some others picked out, but these just rocked. I haven't heard this song, but I'll look it up sometime soon! XD
You'll notice a lack of author's notes and reader review corner this time around. It was either add those in and get it out sometime later this week, or skip it for now and get it out today. I went with the latter option. I'll be adding them in later, so if you REALLY want to read my blathering, come back then. Also, I was half dead when I wrote a lot of this, so since I'll have to be coming back anyway, shout out any mistakes you notice. I'd appreciate it. ^^
I have to say this, though: Those of you caught up with the manga, OMG!!! Was anyone else screaming and running around their house for joy? XD XD XD I could fly to Japan and hug Odachi right now. ^^
Kay, story time.
Kiss Kiss
By Dandy Wonderous
Chapter 6: True Love's Kiss
This little pill in my hand or this secret, I am alone in this kiss…
-"The Power of Orange Knickers," Damien Rice
Zoro had a sword aimed at Sanji's blond head just as the taunt was leaving the possessed cook's lips. The attack was blocked, but the force sent him spinning back, just barely managing to regain his balance.
"O-oi, Zoro!" cried Usopp in alarm. "Do you really think you should-"
"What else am I supposed to do!?!" the swordsman retorted. "I have to knock him out again!"
"Why not just kill him?" mocked Sanji's body. "It's not like he's your nakama anymore." He ran to attack Zoro once more.
Several hands sprouted from the deck and grabbed his ankles, tripping him. "Cook-san will always be our nakama," she snapped, sounding more furious than the crew had ever heard her.
Zoro arched the back of his blade toward Sanji's head, but a slender hand reached up quickly and caught it. The other snared his ankle and yanked, and Zoro was caught so off guard by the movement that he was brought to a similarly compromising position on the deck.
The two men scrambled for a moment before finally getting to their feet and circling each other cautiously. "Don't use his hands to fight with, asshole," Zoro snarled.
"Aww, is Zoro worried?" Sanji's face smiled condescendingly. "How precious!"
"You dare do a damn thing to him, I swear-"
"I get it, I get it; you're a real tough guy." A dress shoe came swinging down toward his shoulder, and he quickly blocked with Kitetsu.
"Yeah, and I'm taking you down and getting our cook back."
"Try all you like, but he's dead. It's just me now."
"You're lying!" yelled Luffy angrily, looking ready to punch the one hurt his nakama but holding back to keep from injuring Sanji. "He's not dead! Sanji!"
"Yeah! He'd never go down that easy!" yelled Usopp.
"He's really, really strong!" cheered Chopper.
"And Curly's a good guy, too!" added Franky.
"Hah! He's a weak, sniveling fool," Sanji's possessor sneered. So saying, she shot another foot Zoro's way.
Zoro jumped out of the way and gritted his teeth. "You're going to release him, damn it! If you don't do it now… I'll make you!"
Luffy watched his swordsman and cook fight. It was normally a typical sight, but tonight it wasn't right at all. He bounced on the balls of his feet, wanting to help but not knowing exactly how to.
Then he noticed a movement on the deck.
Nami was awake.
She lifted her head and watched the fight, then grimaced as she forced herself to her feet. She met his eyes, and they had a silent conversation.
Then Luffy nodded at her. Nami had a plan, and he didn't get what it was, but he trusted her completely.
She pointed at the fighting blond and then looked at him again.
Luffy smiled and then laughed. "Sure, I can do that!"
"Luffy? What are you talking abo-"
Usopp didn't get to finish his question. Luffy bounded forward, behind Sanji, and wrapped his arms and legs around him, holding him still. "Like this, Nami?"
The navigator rushed forward. "Yeah, that's perfect, Luffy!"
"What the hell!?! Let me go, shitty gomu!" yelled the Sanji imposter, thrashing wildly. Luffy laughed and kept his hold.
"Navigator-san, what are you doing?" asked Robin, watching the younger girl rush forward.
She didn't answer. Instead, she ran around in front of Sanji and grabbed his face in her hands, yanking him down.
Then she kissed him.
The man's eyes widened in surprise, and then faded suddenly, as though all the light had been sucked out of them, or a switch turned off. He sagged in Luffy's arms.
"Nami, what did you-Oi, Nami!"
Nami's eyes rolled up in the back of her head, and then she fell to the deck, once more unconscious.
'Wh…where am I?'
Nami sat up slowly, looking around. It was completely dark, she realized, not a speck of light anywhere.
She shivered. It was incredibly cold, too, and deathly quiet.
"Hello?" she called hesitantly.
A sudden light appeared, blinding her. She held an arm up to her face, shielding her eyes.
Once her pupils adjusted, she lowered her arm and looked.
Sanji was before her, only a few yards away, suspended in midair with arms outstretched, as though on some invisible cross. She noticed that the front of his dress shirt had a dark stain on the left side, and she shuddered.
"Sanji-kun!" She tried to run toward him, but a strange force held her back.
"Ah, ah, ah! Not so fast, little girl."
Smack!
The sudden slap sent Nami reeling, skidding back a little across the shadowy floor. She raised a hand to her cheek instinctively, glaring at her attacker.
The woman from the restaurant stood before her, smirking condescendingly. "I'm impressed that you were able to make it this far," she said, taking a few steps around her as though examining her. "But this is where your journey ends, I'm afraid."
"What have you done to him?" Nami demanded, turning to keep herself face to face with her adversary.
"Me? I haven't done a thing!" She waved her hand in dismissal. "It was he who stabbed himself."
Nami's blood ran cold. She glanced back at Sanji, at the dark stain. "Because of you," she countered.
"I merely offered him an escape from his pain, and he took it. This way, he won't have to watch your destruction."
"How generous," Nami spat sarcastically.
"On the contrary," she replied with a smile. "It's perhaps the cruelest thing I can do."
She raised an eyebrow. "How, exactly?"
The woman grinned maliciously and ceased her examination. "Well, he's not really dead, of course; he hasn't stabbed his actual heart, he just thinks he has. As far as he knows right now, he's dead, and therefore unable to harm any of you. This, of course, couldn't be further from the truth." She turned her back on Nami and took a few steps toward Sanji, then turned back and sat in an invisible chair. "I am still very much in control of his body, which is more than capable of killing all of your precious nakama."
"And then what; you kill him, too?"
"Oh, no! Where would the fun in that be?" She waved a hand, and a floating tea tray appeared beside her. She took a teacup and stirred in some sugar. "You see, Sanji dear has been particularly annoying. Much more so than any host I've ever had before. Your crew has an amazingly strong bond, stronger than any I've encountered, and so he is able to hold me off far more effectively than he should. He deserves the worst punishment I can devise."
"And that is?"
"To let him live in a world without any of you. I'll kill you, in his body. I'll make sure the memories of your deaths are firmly branded in his memory. I'll make every scream echo in his ears for all eternity. And then I shall stop inhabiting his body and take him back to my ship. I'll put all your bodies in the hold to take to the marines, and I'll lock him in there with you, so that he can see, constantly, in every waking moment, the result of his crimes. Oh, how delicious his despair will be, to see your cold, pale bodies every minute, seemingly asking, 'Oh why, Sanji, why?' In no time at all he'll be begging me for death, but I won't grant it, oh no."
Nami was struck by the absolute cruelty of it all. "You're sick. A sick, twisted bitch."
The woman stiffened, glaring over her cup brim at her. "I am merely looking for entertainment." She took a sip of the tea. "I admit, the food I've had in his head has been better than any I've ever had before. No wonder your crew goes to such links to save your cook."
"It has nothing to do with his cooking," Nami replied. "It's because he's our nakama, and we'll never abandon him."
"How noble. How disgusting. I daresay you've ruined my appetite." She waved her hand, and the tea disappeared.
The navigator had had enough of this woman. She reached for her Clima-Tact, eyes on Sanji. 'I'm going to save you, just wait.'
"It's not there."
Nami blinked in surprise and horror. Her weapon was, in fact, missing.
"…Crap."
The woman rose from her invisible chair and took a few steps toward Nami, grinning. "I commend you for figuring out how to get into his head. However, that doesn't mean you have any power here. This is Sanji's mind, and right now it belongs to me."
"Then I'll just have to take it back."
"How? You have no weapon."
"I don't need one."
"Hmm… Brave girl. Too bad I have to destroy you now."
She held out her hand, and a sword appeared in it. Nami took a few steps backwards, flight instincts activating. But she couldn't run; Sanji needed her.
She braced herself, and the woman lunged toward her, swinging the sword. Nami dodged, and dodged, and dodged. It wasn't long before she was beginning to wear out, and it was obvious that she was getting nowhere.
'Sanji-kun, I could really use some help.'
"He can't help you. As far as he knows, he's dead."
Nami dodged another few blade strokes. She was really in trouble if she didn't get a weapon or something to fight back with.
"Sanji-kun!" she cried out, hoping with all her heart that he could hear her. "I need you! Help!"
"I already told you," said the woman in exasperation, "he can't hear you!"
"Sanji-kun!" She danced back, her eyes darting between he and her attacker. "I know you're still in here! I know you can hear me!"
"He can't!" The woman hissed, became more furious with her thrusts.
"Sanji, listen to my voice!" Nami pleaded. "I know you blame yourself for this. But you shouldn't! It's not your fault, it's not-AUGH!"
The blade bit into her arm, leaving her a nasty tear below her shoulder. She gripped it and ran.
"Sanji, help! I know you can; fight it! Fight her!"
She tripped and fell, skidding across the dark floor. She twisted and saw the woman looming above her, sword aloft.
She brought it down with terrifying speed. Nami held up her empty hands in defense.
"SANJI!!!"
CLANK!
Nami hesitantly opened her eyes, then widened them in relief. In her hands she now held the Perfect Clima-Tact, the woman's sword pressing against it.
"Sanji!" she cried in joy, but when she looked over she saw that he was still unconscious, dangling in the air.
'But he gave me something to work with.'
Nami scrambled to her feet and backed up, holding the weapon and smirking. "Well, would you look at that?"
The woman scowled. "So he gave you your toy back; big deal."
"This is more than enough to get rid of you," she said confidently. "Besides, I broke the spell, didn't I?"
She stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"The way all good curses are broken? Didn't you tell Usopp that?"
"Oh, that!" She laughed mockingly. "Well, it wouldn't be fun for me if I didn't give you pathetic children a fighting chance. It is correct that if you kiss someone I'm possessing while I am in their body, you will enter as well, as you can see. But all that true love nonsense? Absolute rubbish."
"You're lying."
"Ah? Am I?" She smiled cruelly. "Even if I was, it wouldn't matter. You don't really love this man."
Nami gritted her teeth. "What do you mean, I don't love him?"
"I mean, you don't." She clapped her hands, and suddenly Nami's voice started echoing around the darkness.
"Really, Sanji-kun, don't you get it? There's a reason I'm dismissing you now…"
Nami paled in horror. "Stop."
"He's such a disgusting pig. Does he have to fall all over every girl in sight?"
"Stop it!"
"Damn, here he comes again. He's so annoyingly persistent."
"STOP IT!"
"Do you hear it, Sanji?" the woman crowed. "These are her innermost thoughts about you! She hates you! She isn't your true love! You probably don't even have one!"
"Thunder Charge!"
The electricity found its mark, striking the woman through. She shrieked and fell back, clutching her side and glaring at Nami in fury. The navigator whirled the Clima-Tact and met her gaze evenly.
"Why, you little-"
"Cyclone Tempo!"
The pole hit the woman square in her chest. She was flung across the room, and Nami ran through the void to grab her weapon back.
"Listen to me, Sanji-kun!" she cried. "I didn't mean any of those things the way they sounded! I'm sorry!"
Still Sanji didn't move.
"Sanji, I know you can hear me!" She was practically begging. "You can't keep blaming yourself for everything! None of us blame you!"
"She's lying, Sanji!" screeched the woman as she got unsteadily to her feet.
"No I'm not! We all care about you! We all love you!"
She was back up and coming at Nami. The navigator dodged away and spun her weapon to give the air moisture. "Black Cloud Tempo."
This gave the woman pause. "What's-"
"Thunder Lance!"
She shrieked in pain as the lightning shot through her body like a spear. Nami watched in satisfaction as she fell to the ground yet again. This time she didn't get back up.
Nami stepped over her body and walked up to Sanji. She reached out to touch him, but he was floating just high enough that she couldn't.
"Sanji, listen," she pleaded. "I wasn't lying. None of us hate you. None of us are even mad at you. We don't blame you for anything."
Still Sanji didn't move.
"Sanji, please! I know you can fight this, you just have to believe you can! We believe in you, we do, so please fight!"
Still Sanji didn't move.
"San…" Nami choked. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she bowed her head. "You can't let yourself die here. We all care about you too much. We love you.
"…I love you."
She felt a sudden rush of something unidentifiable, like a warm sea wind. It curled around her like comfort, and the air was filled with voices.
"She's the most courageous girl I've ever met. I'm glad she's our nakama."
"He's so self-sacrificing… is he crazy? Keep giving your life for others, and you'll have none left for yourself."
"She's strong-willed, too. It's a little intimidating. But I like it."
"It's good that he's so loyal, though. We'll be needing it."
"I wonder if she noticed that I gave her the best pieces of beef…"
"He shouldn't be in the rigging after that last fight… I'll send him to the helm instead."
"Oh good, she's in her bikini today… whoa, reel it in; can't let her catch you staring!"
"There's a reason I'm dismissing you, idiot; get out of here before I go against my better judgment and ask you to hang around for awhile."
"That girl's cute, but I bet she's not half as interesting as her…"
"Does he have to fall for every girl in sight? I'm right here, you know."
"All these girls, and she's the only one I can think about again… shit."
"He's so annoyingly persistent. How am I supposed to pretend I don't want you around when you're always in my face?"
"Shit… I think I just realized something…"
"Oh no… this cannot be happening…"
"But she'll never go for a guy like me; I'll always just be a pawn to her."
"But I'll never have him to myself; he'll be after a new one before I know what happened."
"But still…"
"Even so…"
Behind Nami, the woman was on her feet. She crept forward, unnoticed. She raised her sword slowly, grinning in malice.
"I love Nami."
"I love Sanji."
"It's over!" She screamed in triumph.
CLUNK!
The sensation of floating. It was dark and cold again, no air, no light, no sound.
This is it. Death.
He had asked for it, and now he had it. He was so relieved.
Then why am I so… sad.
He thought of his nakama. All the things he would miss. All the dreams he wouldn't see accomplished.
It's for the best. They're better off without me.
Still… I wish I could see Luffy become Pirate King.
And Nami…
"Sanji-kun!"
He gasped, despite the absence of air. Nami-san?
She wanted him to live. She was begging him. Saying all kinds of sweet things about how the crew cared about him. About how he was strong enough to fight her off.
I want to believe, I really do, but…
"You can't let yourself die here. We all care about you too much. We love you."
Oh, how I wish…
"I love you."
He opened his eye, and suddenly there was light everywhere.
He saw Nami. He saw her lovely bowed head, her tears falling to her clasped hands, her shaking shoulders as she cried, cried for him…
And he saw Georgia rise behind her and raise her sword.
He felt a surge of sudden power. With a shout he broke free of the bonds of weightlessness.
He was free.
Free.
Sanji blocked the sword with ease. It was too simple; no where near marimo level.
"You!" Georgia shrieked in shock and fury. "But you… you can't possibly-"
Sanji wasn't sure where a cigarette had come from, but he took a drag on it anyway and lowered his foot. "Get out of my head, bitch."
"No way," Georgia snarled. "You can't get rid of me that easily, you weak-"
"Get out of my head."
The words were lower, calmer, and more dangerous. Georgia flinched and took a step back, but she was still sneering. "Don't get your hopes up. I'm still in control here-"
"Get. Out. Of. My. Head."
He felt a sudden rush of energy pour from him, headed straight for Georgia. She gasped and jerked as though she had been kicked, though he was still in the same spot. "No. This is impossible! No one has ever-"
"GET OUT!" He roared, and she screamed in pain and fell onto her back. He took a step forward and yelled again, "GET OUT, GET OUT!"
She was trembling in terror, the calm, superior manner she had held over him this whole time vanished. She crawled away on her hands, screaming in fear when he roared the command again, and again, and again.
"GET OUT!"
And with that final yell, a burst of energy flowed from Sanji and slammed into her so hard she screamed in agony and faded away like sand blown by a gale.
"Sanji," whispered Nami in awe behind him. "You did it."
Then everything went black.Nami gasped and sat up, looking around wildly. She half expected to be back in the dark void, Sanji suspended above her, but instead she found herself laying on the lawn of the Sunny.
"Nami!" cried Luffy. He was still holding Sanji, who was slowly coming to, moaning in pain.
"Luffy!" Nami looked up at her captain and smiled. "It's okay now. Let him go."
Luffy split into a huge grin, letting Sanji flop unceremoniously to his knees. "Good job, Nami!"
Everyone watched in a hush as Sanji slowly opened his eye, blinking in the faint light of approaching dawn. Nami was kneeling in front of him, watching him anxiously.
"Nami-san?" he asked in confusion. "What are you…"
Then everything seemed to hit him, and he gasped in horror, eye wide. He shrank back and away from her, clasping his shoulders with his hands as though to hold himself back. "Nami-san, you shouldn't be this close to me, what if I-"
He didn't get any further. Nami lunged forward, wrapping him into a tight embrace. "It's okay, Sanji-kun," she cried into his shoulder. "She's gone now. She can't hurt you again."
He was trembling violently, trying to pull away from her arms. "No, Nami-san, what if she possesses me again, what if I hurt you again, I can't-" He choked off in a sob, unable to continue.
"It's okay, Sanji," she repeated, squeezing him tighter. "You did it. You got her out of your head."
"I…"
"It's over, Sanji. It's all over."
Sanji's disbelief steadily turned to realization, and then he collapsed against her shoulder, sobbing. He was talking furiously, saying he didn't deserve to be on the crew anymore, that he wouldn't blame them if they killed him now, that he would never forgive himself, that he would understand if they never forgave him either, and on and on. Nami could feel him trying to pull away even as his head stayed firmly on her shoulder, wanting to get away from her in shame and yet craving her touch too much to leave. She disputed every claim he made, "Yes, you deserve to be on this crew, no, we'd never kill you, we don't think you're to blame for anything, and of course you're going to forgive yourself, if I have to make you." Finally, Sanji's hands released his shoulders and went around her waist, returning the hug, and he stopped speaking, only crying with relief against her nightshirt.
The crew watched the proceedings with quiet reverence. Zoro was the first to move, looking up at Luffy. Soon, the others were all looking at their captain as well.
Luffy met Zoro's eyes and nodded solemnly. Zoro nodded back and led the rest of the crew to the railing, where the bounty hunters' ship was just visible in the early dawn light.
Luffy took off his precious straw hat and placed it on Sanji's head. The cook jerked up to look at him in shock.
"Take care of this for me, okay?" Luffy asked, smiling from ear to ear.
Sanji stared back into his eyes for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. He sniffed and nodded. "Aye, captain."
Luffy nodded back, then turned to the rest of his crew. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. They were ready.
The deck was eerily quiet, each and every crewmember frozen in their various tasks. They had all heard it; an unearthly screech, like some demon of hell that had been stabbed through the heart.
They were drawing closer to the Thousand Sunny, having been ordered to attack it soon. Now they shuffled uncertainly, like nervous, rider-less horses. They couldn't see a single soul on the deck of the enemy ship, save a small huddled mass in the center.
They waited for orders from their captain, but the door to her chamber stayed closed, ominously, and no one desired to knock on it and ask for her. Instead, they waited, looking at each other for resolve and, finding none in others' eyes, looking back at the deck or the door or the ship.
There was a sudden cracking noise somewhere near the railing, and a man fell, head twisted at an odd angle. Before anyone could locate an attacker, several others fell in similar positions.
There was the soft hiss of a projectile flying past, and it with a pop a man's head burst into flames. More pops, and soon the deck was covered in writhing, burning masses of agony, intermingled with the broken, sprawled bodies.
There was the metallic sound of swords being unsheathed, and then four crewmen screamed and fell, chests dripping crimson onto the boards.
Their attackers were suddenly visible as the swordsman drew out of his crouch, three blades catching the glimmer of dawn and bandanna shadowing his eyes. A larger man jumped onto the deck and held out one of his hands. There was the click of a machine gun and the air filled with smoke and the terrified shouts of those still standing. A hulking, furry monster appeared, flinging those who fled the bullets into the sea easily like so many pieces of trash.
The mysterious arms appeared again to break necks, and now they could see the sorceress who conjured them, standing demurely on the deck amidst the carnage. Next to her, a slender boy stood tall, aiming his weapon with deadly precision.
Their screams of horror turned to cries of pain and despair and eventually faded completely as they succumbed to darkness, the image of a young boy with dark, powerful eyes walking across the deck to lead the five avengers to the closed chamber door burned into their eyelids forever.
"Mistress Georgia! Mistress Georgia, what's wrong?"
Georgia sat straight up, sweat dripping from the bridge of her nose and off her chin. She flung herself out of the bed in a panic, pushing aside the robe offered her by Annette, running to the door and slamming the lock shut.
"Annette, help me barricade the door!" she commanded, already pushing a dresser that way.
"Why?"
"Don't ask questions!" Georgia shrieked. "They'll be here any second!"
"Who?"
"HELP ME!"
Annette hastened to do her lady's bidding, helping her drag the dresser in front of the door, then moving a sofa and several chairs.
"Mistress Georgia, I don't understand-"
"Be quiet, Annette!" Georgia was pushing her bed toward the door. "We don't have time for-"
Outside, the screaming started. Georgia yelped and pushed harder.
Now Annette was truly afraid. She, too, became frantic in her attempts to block the door.
Then, as abruptly as they'd started, the cries stopped.
Georgia froze in place, her eyes going blank in fear. "They're here," she whispered.
The furniture rumbled as a strong fist slammed against the door. Georgia screamed in terror and shrank back against the far wall, trembling. "The barricade will hold," she said hysterically to herself.
There was a far louder boom, and the door splintered open. The furniture in front of it was destroyed with the same punch, and Annette screamed as she was flung through the cabin's wall from the force.
Georgia's throat constricted, and she stared at the door, shaking violently.
Luffy stepped through the dust and debris, eyes dark under the shadow of his bangs. Behind him appeared the fuzzy silhouettes of his nakama, each menacing in their own way.
The boy took a few steps toward her. Georgia held up her hands in surrender.
"Please, don't," she begged. "I didn't mean it, really. I was just… I mean, I have to make a living somehow, don't I?"
The swordsman held his swords up in an offensive stance.
"I'm just a girl trying to make an honest living," she pleaded. "Nothing personal."
The sniper aimed his slingshot.
"I never actually intended to kill any of you!" she cried. "I just would have turned you in…"
The reindeer put a strange medicine in his mouth.
"I'll let you go now, I promise! And I'll give you anything you want!"
The woman crossed her arms.
"Name your price. I have gold. I have jewels. I have fine clothes…" she whimpered.
The shipwright held up his fist and it transformed into a gun.
Georgia's fear turned to a disbelieving anger. "No! This is impossible! I never lose! I always win! I ALWAYS WIN!!!"
The captain cracked his knuckles, and then they were on her.
"It's really over, isn't it?"
Nami rubbed his back and nodded. "It's over."
He sniffed, still curled in her arms. "What will they do?"
"Just don't think about it."
He nodded into her shoulder. "…I'm sorry I kicked you. So sorry…"
She rocked him gently. "You didn't kick me. She did."
"What I did to you… to Robin-chan… to everybody…"
"Shh. You didn't do anything to us."
"I don't deserve this, Nami-san."
"Stop saying that." She forced him to look up into her eyes. "You haven't done anything wrong. You're our nakama and we love you."
He blinked, then suddenly relaxed against her, as though all the tension from the last day and a half had physically rushed from his body. "Thank you."
She grinned. "You're welcome."
"Did you mean it?" he whispered suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"What you said… about loving me?"
"Yes." No hesitation.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I love you, too."
"I know." She kissed the top of his head gently and felt a shiver run down his spine.
He hesitated, then slowly moved toward her. She allowed him in, and he brushed lightly against her lips with his, then pressed a little harder, scared. She encouraged him, and he got a little braver, moving a hand up to cup the back of her head.
Nami had never felt anything so wonderful.
When they parted, he fought back a yawn and blinked a heavy eyelid. She turned him around in her arms and leaned his head back on her chest.
"You must be tired. Go to sleep, Sanji-kun."
He looked up at her uncertainly, and she smiled at him. "I'll be here when you wake up," she promised.
So he slept.
Chapter 6 End
A/N: Yes, I left her (possible) demise to your imagination. This was mostly for rating. If enough people beg, I MIGHT be persuaded to write a gory version. Or you could all come up with your own preferred method of death/maiming. Whatever.
I'll think of something witty to sign out with later. For now, see ya! ^^