Sorry for the wait, school just started and I've been so tired. I really should be finishing my History homework but there's always later! I tried to make this chapter as long possible, it was actually meant to be two chapters but I decided to merge them into one.
PLEASE READ. To anyone who has read 'Game On' and probably hating me right now, I am so sorry for deleting it but I had doubts before and after posting it, and I felt really... uncomfortable writing any more. I know it is really bad for an author to post a story and delete it when there is only one chapter, but when I read it back, I felt weird and how can I improve my writing skills if I can't even read my work. Again, I apoligise to everyone, I can't explain how bad I feel letting not only you down but myself.
Anyway, on that note, enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer- I own nothing.
Her body shivered in the darkened room. The bare walls and lack of comfort reminded her of why she there, why they put her there. She lay on the thin mattress, her naked form highlighted by the soft moonlight.
Hearing the door creak and slam shut, silent tears fell from her swollen eyes. They were here. He was here.
She heard his heavy footsteps draw closer to her vulnerable state. He was ready and she was helpless, weak.
Goosebumps rose to her skin as he trailed his rough fingers up her bare leg, making scratchy circles on her thigh.
"Please," her voice was dry, the last once of strength she had put into it, "Please don't."
His laugh filled the room, echoing off the dirty walls, "Didn't anyone tell you little girl, you can't get everything you want," he lay a hard kiss to her neck, "even if you say please."
She heard him undress, the sound of his belt hitting the wooden floor and his zipper coming undone made her cry harder. She could do nothing, no one could do anything, no one could save her.
Hovering over her, she closed her eyes tight, not wanting to see his naked body above, not wanting to see what he was about to do to her.
She felt sick as he trailed kisses down her cheek, neck and collarbone. She became dizzy, her vision blurred and blackness taking over. As he roughly connected his lips to hers, she felt her world disappear, the darkness overcoming her.
Yumi shot up, screaming and crying. Darting her eyes around her, her body trembled as she didn't recognise her surroundings. Crying harder and trying to take breaths, Yumi curled herself into the foetal position. Rocking back and forth, Yumi jumped and screamed when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.
"It's okay, Yumes. It's only me. It's Ulrich."
Yumi froze when she heard his name, lifting her head, she met the eyes of a very concerned and worried Ulrich. Reaching up and placing her hand against his cheek, she saw something else hidden behind his wide orbs. Fear? Was he scared?
"Ulrich?" her voice was shaky, still trembling in fear.
Ulrich smiled softly down at her, "Yeah, it's me."
Letting more tears fall, Yumi wrapped her arms around him, holding on as tight as she could. Just being in his arms and breathing in his unique sent, she felt her body and mind becoming calm, comforted. Ulrich tighten his grip as well, almost trying to protect her from her nightmare.
After Yumi stopped her tears and soften her grip, Ulrich lifted her head from his neck and lovingly stroked her sweat covered hair. "It was just a nightmare, Yumes. It can't hurt you."
Yumi shook her head, "It wasn't just a nightmare. It was real. Too real."
Ulrich felt his heartbreak, she didn't have a nightmare. She had a memory. And those were worse than any nightmare you can have. "Yumi." he mumbled, feeling pain for her, knowing that no matter what he did, he couldn't protect her from her remembering her past. "It's going to be okay. Do you want to go back home?"
Yumi frowned at him. "What?"
"Do you want to go back home?" Yumi still frowned at him, still dazed from her nightmare, "You're still at my house. You feel asleep when we were watching a movie. And may I add, a movie that you made me watch and to be honest, I don't really see how a guy reading his notebook to his wife who can't even remember who he is, can be a movie." he joked, trying to make her smile.
It worked. A small smile lay upon her lips and a soft laugh came from her mouth at his view of The Notebook, a movie she adored. "It's romantic."
"It's a chick flick." he stated back.
"So your ideal movie it guys beating up other guys, driving fast cars and having loads of girls drooling over them?"
Ulrich raised an eyebrow, "And your point is...?"
Yumi laughed again, louder this time, making Ulrich feel pride that he was the one who caused her too. Ulrich slowly leaned down and pressed his lips against her cheek. Yumi turned her head away from him, smiling when she turned back and saw his confused expression.
"Sorry, too fast after your nightmare?"
Yumi didn't reply. Instead she leaned up and connected their lips. She had to feel his soft, gently lips after remembering how rough he was. She needed to feel the safety Ulrich gave her when she was in his arms, the comfort when his lips made contact with hers.
Pulling away, Yumi took another look around the room. It was large, a soft cream cream paint covered the walls, with a light brown carpet on the floor. A couch lay opposite her, she was lay on the other, a large television rested in the corner, a stack of films sat beside it. "Where are we?"
Ulrich chuckled quietly at her, "In the 'other room'."
"The 'other room'?"
Ulrich smiled and pressed a quick kiss on her lips, "Yes the 'other room'. All the rooms in a house have names. The kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom and so on. But this one, well... it doesn't have name, so we call it the 'other room'."
Yumi rolled her eyes at his logic but went along with it anyway. "What time is it?" she questioned, looking around the room in her search for a clock.
"Um.." he glanced down at his watch, "ten past six."
Yumi's eyes widened. "I was meant to be back home at six!" Jumping off the couch, she quickly slipped her shoes back onto her feet and headed towards the door. Stopping at the doorway, she turned around and faced Ulrich, "Can you walk me home?" she asked, embarrassed.
Ulrich stood up and came by her side, taking her hand in his, "Of course."
Yumi flashed him a small smile before letting him take the lead towards the front door. As they stepped outside and into the chilly air, Yumi shivered and wrapped her free arm around herself. Noticing her discomfort, Ulrich let go of her hand to pull off his jacket, handing it to Yumi.
"You don't have to give me this, Ulrich." she attempted to hand back the clothing.
Ulrich pushed it back to her, "Yes I do. You're cold."
"You'll get cold." she argued back.
"I'll be fine. Take it."
Finally, Yumi gave up and slipped her arms inside the sleeves, zipping it up to her neck. She felt the immediate warmth encase her, and she had a feeling that it wasn't just the fact that he had been wearing it all day. The was something about wearing his jacket that made Yumi feel safe, like nothing could hurt her.
They walked back in silence, their fingers laced. When they reached Yumi's house, she stared at the building, tightening her hand around Ulrich's.
"What's wrong?" he softly asked.
Yumi sighed and looked down at her shoes, "I don't want to leave you." It wasn't a sappy, overused line from movies, it was a plea. Her voice was scared, fear making it tremble and shake as she thought about the night ahead.
"Why, Yumes?" Ulrich slowly lifted his free hand and traced her beautiful features.
Yumi leaned into his soft touch and looked up at him, "What if I get another nightmare and you're not there?"
Tears started to brim in her eyes, making his heart ache for her, "Then you'll have your family to help you."
Letting a lone tear fall, Yumi allowed herself to be embraced by Ulrich, wrapping her arms around his waist, "But I'd want you."
Ulrich lay a lingering kiss to her forehead, "I'm always here for you, Yumi. If you do have another nightmare and you feel that you need me, just ring and I'll answer, I promise."
Yumi stared at him with watery eyes, "Promise?"
"Promise."
Ulrich pressed a tender kiss to her lips before letting her go and watching her walk up the steps, entering her home, the door shutting behind her. Smiling to himself, not truly believing that she was his girlfriend and now he could help her even more, he began to walk back home.
It was getting darker, the dull evening slowly turning into a bitter night. Ulrich felt goosebumps rise to his arms, a shiver running down his back. Rubbing his bare arms he remember that Yumi didn't return his jacket but smiled anyway, knowing that she needed it more than he did. Finally reaching his house, Ulrich was glad to step into the warmth.
"Where have you been?"
Ulrich jumped at the feminine voice. Snapping his eyes up, he met Clarita's soft smile. "Uh... I was just..."
Clarita laughed and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I was only joking! By the way, your parents are in the kitchen and want to talk to you."
Ulrich frowned at the young women, "About?"
She shrugged, picking up the cleaning equipment she had placed on the floor, "No idea but they look very stressed. So, don't annoy them" she warned.
Ulrich rolled his eyes and began walking to the large kitchen. When he stepped through the doorway, he was met by two hard faces. His father was sat down at the island, hands gripping a piece of paper and jaw locked. His mother was leaning on the counters, arms crossed and Ulrich could see the worry swimming in her eyes. With caution, he came to stand in front of the island, enough distance for him to talk to his parents politely but leaving enough so that he could run if he was in too much trouble.
"You wanted to talk to me?"
His father sighed and handed him the piece of paper. Ulrich frowned at his parents before looking down at the paper. His eyes widened at the words written upon it. "What!?" he looked up at his father in shock. "You're not going to do what this implies are you?
His mother sighed, "We haven't decided yet." her tone was harsh and snappy, but it was something Ulrich had grown used to.
His father stood up and walked up beside Ulrich, "It's for the business. It's for us." He then turned and left the kitchen, his wife following in his footsteps, leaving Ulrich all alone with the paper that would change his life.
'For us? No Dad. For you'
Yumi jolted up her her bed, the sweat covered sheets sticking to her shaking body. She jumped back in surprise and fear as her door opened up wide.
"Yumi?" her father asked, out of breath, "Are you okay?"
Yumi stared at her father through her tears and shook her head. Wrapping his arms around his trembling daughter, Takeo tried to calm her, wishing there was a way to cure her of the horrific flashbacks that plagued her sleep.
After more than half an hour, Yumi finally stopped shaking and felt her body begin to lull itself back into sleep. Kissing his daughter on the head, Takeo laid her down and smiled when he saw he eyes flutter closed. Quietly shutting the door behind him, Yumi was left alone in her bedroom once more.
Even with her eyes closed and her body trying to drift into slumber, Yumi knew that if she went back to sleep, the memories would come back to her. Pushing herself to a sitting position, she looked around her room, trying to find something, anything that would help her. Her eyes stopped at the garment thrown over her desk chair. Standing up and slowly approaching it, she smiled when she fully recognised it. Ulrich's jacket. The same one he gave to her out of kindness.
Slipping it on, Yumi smelt the lingering scent of him wrap around her. Climbing back into bed, Yumi gripped onto the jacket and prepared for sleep to come.
That night, she had her first peaceful sleep in a long time. No nightmares. No flashbacks. No memories. Just a jacket and a magical scent.