Hi everyone! I'm going to be doing something a little different with the introduction to this chapter. I decided to, uh...invite my BFF, who also happens to have an account here, to help me out. So without further ado, here is my best friend, NinthFeather!

NinthFeather: *turns to readers* Hi, everybody! *turns to me*...I still have no idea what I'm doing here. And what do you mean invite?? You forcefully dragged me here!!

Me: Invite, force, these are relatively minor details. And I told you, you're here because you helped me plan out some of the plot for this sequel, so it's only fair that the readers get to meet you! Also, I was running out of funny things to do for my introduction.

NinthFeather: But I've never even seen Saint Beast!! I just helped you with a very general plot outline! And besides, I don't like Shounen-ai. I still don't understand why you like it.

Me: Dude, it's two amazingly gorgeous and somewhat angsty bishies loving one another. What's not to like?

NinthFeather:...Thank you for the incredibly disturbing mental images that statement conjured up for me.

Me: You know you love me! ^-^

NinthFeather: Yes, I do. It's the 'why' that I can't seem to figure out.

Me: Well, while you're thinking about that, let's get on with the fic!!

Warning: This chapter contains more bishie x bishie romance. If you're like NinthFeather and not into that sort of thing, leave now.

NinthFeather: I wish I could!! T.T

Me: I never said you had to read the fanfic. But yes, you are stuck here.

Disclaimer: I'm still broke, and I still don't own the bishies, so don't sue me!!

NinthFeather: Yes, she really is broke...and unemployed

Me: Shut up!!

NinthFeather: That was my revenge.

********

Rei sighed as he enjoyed the feel of the cool water against his skin. Much as he wished he could stay like this, he knew he had to get out soon, otherwise he'd probably catch cold. And he did not exactly relish the notion of explaining to Ruka and the others how he had suddenly gotten sick, so it was best to avoid it all together.

Sighing again, this time in disappointment rather than pleasure, Rei stood up in the waist-deep water and started walking towards the bank.

He had barely walked two feet when Rei heard the sound of footsteps coming towards. The slender angel wrapped his arms around himself and ducked down in the water, trying to keep his voice steady as he shouted, "W-Who's there?"

Rei heard the sound again, this time close enough that he could discern that it was coming from behind him. He quickly turned around to face his spectator, only to let out a sound that seemed like a cross between a sigh of relief and a squeak of surprise when he saw who it was.

Ruka slowly walked toward the bathing angel, a bemused, and slightly awed, look on his face. "You know, Rei, most angels prefer to bath in the evening before they prepare for sleep, not in the middle of the night when they should be sleeping."

Rei flushed in embarrassment, looking down, "W-Well, I, um...I couldn't sleep, and it was such a beautiful night out, so I thought..." Rei trailed off, praying that Ruka would not detect the tremor in his voice. He still was not a very good liar.

There was silence between the two of them for a moment, then suddenly Rei heard a soft splash. Looking up, he saw Ruka, still fully clothed, had waded himself in the waist-deep water and was slowly walking towards the smaller angel.

Ruka stopped and stood in front of Rei, their bodies mere inches apart. Rei ducked his head down again, a slight flush on his face. He knew Ruka had probably caught his lie, but Rei did not want him to catch exactly how much Rei was effected by their close proximity. His own current state of undress did nothing to help his embarrassment.

"Rei, look at me," Ruka said softly. Rei was completely helpless against that voice, and Ruka knew this, so the delicate had no choice but to lift his head. Ruka's crimson eyes met Rei's golden ones, and he smiled that loving smile that never ceased to make Rei's heart skip a beat, no matter how many times he saw it.

Ruka gently laid a hand on Rei's soft cheek, "Didn't I tell you never to look away from me again?" He said, stroking his thumb across Rei's cheek bone. "It fills me with dread every moment I can't see those beautiful, expressive golden eyes of yours, so please...please keep your eyes only on me."

"And Rei..." Ruka continued, his hand leaving Rei's cheek and instead lightly grasping the now trembling angel's chin and tilting his delicate face up towards his, "Those eyes of yours cannot lie to me. So please, let me see the truth."

Rei didn't trust himself to speak. Really, it was taking all his concentration to remember how to breath in this situation, so he merely nodded and, with a little bit of reluctance, slowly let his mental shields collapse, allowing Ruka access to all his thoughts...

...and his nightmares.

********

Ruka felt Rei's mental barriers go down, and immediately he was flooded with the scenes from Rei's nightmare.

The whole thing made Ruka feel nauseated. Watching Rei tortured and terrified face as Stheno ran his filthy hands roughly over Rei's body, hearing his tear-filled voice begging and pleading for him to stop.

But the worst part by far was the end. When Rei cried out to him, to Ruka, for help, and Ruka...did nothing. No, he did worse than nothing. He actually refused to help Rei. He called him a worthless, sullied angel. And the look of despair and hopelessness in his beautiful angel's eyes as Ruka turned his back on him...it took everything Ruka had not to start sobbing.

Of course he had known Rei still had nightmares, much as Rei tried to hide that fact from him. But he had no idea they were still this bad. It made Ruka burn with hatred all the more, knowing that that bastard Stheno still caused his angel so much suffering. Just you wait, Ruka thought to himself as he pulled out of Rei's mind. Just you wait. I'll find you, Stheno. If it's the last thing I do, I'll find you, you son of a bitch.

********

Rei looked up as he felt Ruka pull out of his mind. Even though he knew it was foolish, Rei felt very anxious for some reason. He thought he'd been doing a fairly decent job at hiding the fact that he still had nightmares from Ruka, but this one had been one of the worst yet. How would Ruka react? Would he be angry at Rei for hiding this from him? Would he think Rei weak for still being so affected by this, after almost half a year? Rei could only wait nervously as Ruka's eyes slowly came back into focus.

********

And we have yet another cliffhanger! Really, it's kinda sad how much enjoyment I derive from this.

NinthFeather: You really are a sadist, aren't you?

Me: Yes, yes I am. But I'm your sadist!!! ^-^

NinthFeather:...Does that make me a masochist?

Me:...You know, I really don't know. I'll leave you to ponder that one. ^_~

NinthFeather: *sigh* Don't you have some shameless review begging to do?

Me: Oh yeah! I almost forgot! Thanks for reminding me! *turns to readers* Ahem...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!! I need reviews!!! I NEED them!!! Please!!!!!

NinthFeather:...Wow, that really was shameless.

Me: *smiles proudly* Yep! Now, I should hopefully have the next chapter up this weekend, possibly sooner. It all depends.

NinthFeather: Yeah, on how many times you nearly kill yourself between now and then.

Me: But that's why I have you, Feather-chan! You keep me alive, and in a relatively undamaged condition!

NinthFeather: Ugh! Why do I even...wait, did you just call me Feather-chan?

Me: Yep! ^-^

See you next time!

~Neko-chan~ (and NinthFeather)