CHAPTER NINE

Blood.

Screaming.

A warehouse.

The smell of salt water hanging in the air.

Blood.

Hokuto saying, "Your time has come to an end."

A waning crescent moon swimming silently across the black sky.

Blood.

Screaming.

A bow string being pulled back.

Mutsura's sadistic smile.

Screaming.

Wind.

Lightning.

A twang as an arrow is released into the air.

The sickening sound of tearing as the arrow pierces flesh, tendon, and muscle.

Blood.

Screaming.

Death.

Mahiru's eyes fly open, adrenalin coursing through her veins. She sits up in bed slowly. A cold sweat coats her skin and she's shaking uncontrollably. It was that same dream again, only this time I saw more. It was still all only flashes of images and sounds, but more vivid this time. Mahiru glances at the clock. 5:31. The exact same time as the night before. Her stomach tightens with unease. Having the same dream twice in as many nights, that could be a coincidence, but having it at exactly the same time? Mahiru shakes her head and sighs as she puts on her slippers, grabs the blanket from her bed, and heads up to the roof. Maybe I'll feel better after some fresh air.

Thinking everyone still asleep, Mahiru is surprised to see Mitsuru already on the roof, sitting on the ground with his back leaning against the parapet, gazing up at the stars. Her stomach tightens again, but for entirely different reasons.

He doesn't have to look to know it's her. Mitsuru would know Mahiru's presence even with his eyes closed. He refuses to look at her as she steps closer, refuses to acknowledge the fact that his heart is beating faster with each step she takes.

"Hey," she says as she sits next to him with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Obviously. I'm not normally up this early in the morning, am I?" Mahiru doesn't even flinch at his biting words. Either she is getting used to his constant anger or he's losing his touch. Mitsuru figures it's the former. No way am I turning soft. Although, the reason he can't sleep is because he can't stop thinking about Mahiru. He turns back to looking at the stars, silently cursing the stupid human.

"No, I suppose you're not," she says with a giggle. "Did you have a nightmare, too?"

He snorts. "Like I would do something that stupid. Having nightmares requires being afraid of something and I'm not afraid of anything." Mahiru laughs again, louder this time, and Mitsuru actually smirks a little. Then something sinks in and he looks at her. "Wait, what did you mean, 'Did you have a nightmare, too?' You have one or something?"

Mahiru wraps the blanket tighter around her shoulders and rests her head on her knees. "Yeah. I'm not as brave as you and the others. A lot of things scare me."

Mitsuru raises an eyebrow, surprised. "That's stupid. You're plenty brave. You've gone on all of the missions to retrieve the Teardrops of the Moon. You went after those other idiots when they were in trouble at the WPF when we first fought Dawn's Venus. You're terrified of flying, and yet you fly with me to and from school. You were terrified of our true forms as members of the Lunar Race, and yet you moved in with this bunch of crazy demons. You were terrified of me when we first met, and yet here you are, sitting right next to me." Mitsuru gulps and blushes. He had said a lot more than he meant to. He waits for her response, expecting her to tease him or something, but she stays silent. He starts to think that he said something wrong when she suddenly leans against him her head resting on his shoulder. Mitsuru blushes intensely. "H-hey! What are you…." he stops, realizing her eyes are closed and her breath is deep and even. "Hey, did you fall asleep?" He shakes her shoulder but no response.

Mitsuru laughs a little under his breath, shaking his head. "Stupid girl." He picks her up, bridal style, careful not to jostle her too much so she doesn't wake up. He carries her downstairs and into her room. After tucking Mahiru into bed he brushes a lock of hair away from her face and whispers, "Sweet dreams, princess."


Author's Note

A small chapter, I know. I always feel kind of bad when my chapters turn out small, like I did something wrong or something. But then I think of how small some of James Patterson's chapters are, like in his Maximum Ride series, and then I don't feel so bad. XD