Phantom Dream
Sora's eyes fluttered open to bright light. She squinted until her eyes adjusted. She tries to sit up, but feels pain instead, so sticks with lying down. "Ugh…" What happened?
"Glad to see you So-ra."
Sora freezes. She knows this voice. She turns her head to see Layla. "Or should I say Riku?" Layla has a frown on her face. Sora has no idea of how to respond. She just stares wide eyed at Layla. "Why didn't you tell me who you were?"
Sora finds her voice. "Boss ordered me not too. It was part of my next test as I told you before, to affect people without them knowing me."
"I see. You've become quite good at it."
"Does everyone else know who I am?"
"No. Yuri and I carried you off to a secluded room, so only we know." Sora sighs, relieved. "I always thought you and Riku were similar. Who knew you would actually one person?"
"Yeah…", Sora chuckles, but regrets when her chest. "Ugh…" She catches her breath.
"You had a really serious fall. You almost broke a rib, but on majorly bruised yourself. Your hand is also seriously cut up from rope burn." Sora looks at her left hand. She runs her right hand through her short hair. She groans. "You saved me that time, Sora."
Sora looks at Layla. "I had to. I made a promise to myself. I finally have you as my partner again; I refuse to lose you." A tear rolls down Sore's cheek. " Not again."
"Sora…" Kalos and Sarah bust in the door. More like Sarah busts in and Kalos walks behind her calmly.
"Sora!" Sora turns her head away and wipes her eyes. "Were we interrupting something?"
"Sarah-san…", Sora whines.
"Gladly to see you're up Sora. I just got through speaking to Kate. You should be fine by the performance, but you need lots of bed rest. Looks like you get that little vacation."
"Ha…" Sora sighs. "When can I leave?"
"You're very sore right now. You need to stay in the hospital tonight and leave in the morning. Someone will need to take care of you. I don't want you moving so you can heal as soon as possible."
"I'll take care of her."
"Layla-san…"
"Sora will stay at my home. It will probably be the most comfortable."
"Isn't that great Sora?" Sarah winks at Sora. Sora turns her head away from everyone and blushes.
"Ah…I seem to have gotten tired suddenly. Goodnight", Sora says quickly. Sarah laughs.
"Let's go before you cause any more damage, Sarah", Kalos suggests. "Are you coming Layla?"
"Later. I want to stay a little longer." Sora smiles. Layla-san wants to stay with me. She yawns. Guess I was more tired than I realized. Sora's breathing evens out and she falls asleep as Kalos and Sarah exit.
Layla looks over at Sora and can tell she is asleep. Sora… Layla reaches her hand out and gently pats Sora's hair. You've really been working hard. You were so strong as my partner, but now you seem so small and fragile. You've through so much Sora. I'll see you tomorrow. Layla kisses Sora's forehead and begins walking to the door. Midway there, she hears Sora sheets ruffling and her mumbling. She stops and looks back. Sora's eyes are still closed, but there are tears.
"Lay…la…" Layla's eyes widen her named being called. Not only that, but Sora left off the –san, that Layla has learned to be a sign of formality and respect. She blushes and wonders what Sora could be dreaming about to cause her such distress.
"I'll come back Sora." Sora seems to calm at her words. Layla walks out of the room, awaiting tomorrow will she will pick Sora up.
Sora's Dream…
"Layla-san!" Sora run to Layla in the darkness. Yuri suddenly appears at her side and hugs her around the waist. Sora stops.
"How can I be with you Sora? You can't even protect yourself. How do you expect to protect me?"
"I'll work harder. I can do it. Just give me a chance…"
"A chance is one too many. You're just the Phantom. How could I love someone like you?" Layla and Yuri begin passionately kissing in front of Sora, their hands roaming each other's bodies. Tears run down Sora's face.
"No…No."
Layla and Yuri stop. Layla kneels down in front of Sora. Her hand caresses Sora's cheek and she whispers, "You shouldn't run off with your silly dreams and fantasies. Didn't you know? The Phantom doesn't get the girl, especially with a face like that." Layla removes her hand and goes back to Yuri. Sora puts her hand where Layla's just left. She feels the gross unleveled skin on half of her face.
"No! Noooo!", Sora screams. Layla begins walking into the darkness with Yuri. "Laylaaaaa!" Sora wobbles to her feet and begins to chase after Layla. "Layla!" Sora's next step didn't hit solid ground ground. She was falling, watching Layla's back disappear from her sight. Layla takes one last look at the falling Sora, an evil grin upon her features. She tosses something over her shoulder. As Sora is engulfed by the darkness, a white mask falls towards her face. "Noooooo!"
Sora shoots up from her bed screaming. "Noooooo!" She's holding her face.
"Sora! Sora!" Sora flinches at the hand on her shoulder, and then winces for moving too much.
"Ah…" She grabs her side.
"Sora? Are you okay?"
"Lay..la..?" Sora sees Layla with her arm reaching towards her, but held midway and a disappointed mixed with hurt look on her face. More tears fall from Sora's eyes, dampening her already wet cheeks even more. Despite her body's disagreement, Sora lunged and pulled Layla into a tight hug. Her hands gripped the fabric of Layla's shirt, and she buried her face into Layla's chest. Layla was shocked, but Sora's actions were not unwelcomed. She wrapped her arms around Sora, patted her head, and shushed Sora's cries.
"It's okay. It was just dream. It's okay", Layla repeated trying to calm Sora down. Soon enough, Sora's cries turned into whimpers and then subsided and dissipated altogether. "Better?"
Sora pulled back from Layla and wiped her eyes, relieved she didn't feel any sort of disfigurement on her face. Her hands covered her eyes has she took deep calming breaths. Just a dream…Just a dream…
"Sora?" Sora removes her hands from her face and her bloodshot, red, puffy eyes meet a worried blue gaze.
"Layla-san…" Layla makes a disappointed face.
"I guess you only drop the –san unconsciously. You've called me just Layla twice so far." Sora blushes.
"I'm sorry Layla-san. I didn't mean to be disrespectful", Sora apologies.
Layla grabs Sora's hands. She caresses them with her thumbs. "Sora, we're partners. We are equal. We are on the same level. I owe you the same amount of respect. There's no need to keep this formality between us." Layla gives Sora a reassuring smile.
"L-l-layla…" Sora blushes and looks down. A bigger smile appears on Layla's face.
"Good. Now do you want to tell me about your dream?" Layla feels Sora's hands clench together in her own. Sora shakes her head no. "You know you can tell me, right?" Sora shakes her head yes, but still doesn't look at Layla. "Okay…I've brought you some clothes. Let's get you dressed. Afterwards, I'll call a nurse so we can check you out of the hospital and head home." Layla helps Sora put her clothes on. Layla mostly tells Sora to move her body, while she puts the clothes on. Once they are done, Layla calls up a nurse.
The nurse brings in a wheelchair for Sora. Standing hurts too much at this point. Layla and the nurse help Sora into the chair and wheel Sora out of the hospital and to Layla's car.
After a nice silent drive back to Layla's home, enjoying the comfort of the air blowing against their faces, they finally arrive at Layla's house. Layla helps Sora back into the wheelchair and wheels her into the house.
"It's empty", Sora comments.
"Yes, since I lived in New York, I told my father there was no point in keeping the staff here, and living in New York, helped me learn how to live independently."
Sora looks around the house. It's so big. "Does it get lonely?"
"It's not too bad. I'm used to it." A sad look shadows Sora's face. She acts so strong, but she must be lonely. They arrive in front of a door. "This will be your room, and I moved my room to be right next door." Layla pushes Sora into the room. She wheels the chair up to bed and slowly lifts Sora on to it and covers her up. "I'm going to go fix something to eat. If you need anything Sora, don't fail to ask me. I'm here to help you get better." Layla places a kiss on Sora's forehead. Sora blushes.
Layla begins towards the door. "T-t-thank you L-layla." Layla turns and looks at Sora. "Thank you for everything." Layla smiles and leaves the room.
Fool is seated upon the window sill, unseen. Hmmm…These next couple of days are going to be very interesting. Let's see how these two react to living with each other once again, but under more intimate circumstances.