A/N: My favorite chapter so far. It's finally here for you guys to enjoy.
Touya let the door shut behind him gently as he moved through the darkened infirmary like a shadow. That red-eyed ninja, Kurogane had been watching the boy like a hawk, not giving the young king any chance to speak with the boy alone. Now that the exhausted ninja had gone off to get some sleep before the trio's departure the next afternoon, he knew he had finally gotten his chance. The brunette's arms were strapped to the frame of the bed, in an attempt to stop him from trying to take his own life. His once healthy body was scarred and skeletal thin, his skin sallow and pale, his hair long and unkempt. All in all, he looked pathetic. He lay there, completely motionless but judging from the barley controlled rise and fall of his chest, the boy was clearly awake, and more importantly aware of his presence in the infirmary.
The jealous and over-protective irritation that he felt at the sight of the boy once upon a time was now replaced with a blinding fury. This… This brat had been the reason Sakura had tried to kill herself! How dare he just lay there, pretending to be the victim when it was his beloved monster of a sister that was suffering? Gritting his teeth, Touya stalked over to the teen, relishing the way he noticed boy's body tense up in fright. His breathing was rapid and way too erratic though the brat kept his eyes clenched shut pretending to be asleep.
"I know you're awake brat." He growled as he stopped at the foot of his bed.
"…" the brunette did not give up on his act though.
"I'm not going away until you answer me."
"Did she send you to hurt me in her stead?" the dejection in his tone only served to fuel Touya's anger. He had the guts to imply that his baby sister wanted to hurt the brat when all she had done so far was try and heal him. He had heard the ninja's tale about the suffering this brat had endured at the hands of those hunters in that other world and deep down, somewhere buried beneath all his anger was a spark of pity for the boy. It wasn't his fault he was so messed up in the head. But crazy or not, the kid had still provoked Sakura to hurt herself. And that was something unforgivable in Touya's book.
"You wish." He snorted in contempt, glaring hard at the boy who had finally opened his eyes to look at him. He did not miss the way the boy seemingly shrunk in on himself at seeing his frowning face, though a spark of that annoying defiance was still present in his amber-eyed gaze.
"Do it." The brat dared him, though his breathing sped up a bit more. "I can see it in your eyes. You want to kill me too. Just go ahead and do it."
"You're right." Touya said as he reached for the sword strapped at his side and drew the gleaming blade as he walked around the bed towards the right to stand near the head, "I want to kill you before you're able to draw another breath." He said as he lowered the sword rest inches above the brunette's jugular, "but I'm not going to." The boy's eyes widened slightly, fear overtaking the defiance completely. He heard rather than saw the teen struggle against the straps that had his arms pinned down.
"I want to make you feel hurt." He moved the point of his sword a little lower to rest in the middle of the pinned boy's ribcage. "I want to make you suffer."
"N-No…" the brat gasped, pulling frantically at his bonds, his body radiating his fear like a thick, intoxicating drug.
"I want to make you feel the pain that she has been feeling ever since that ninja brought your broken body here." He let the sword move a little lower to rest above the boy's navel. "I want to make you hurt you so bad that you lose your voice from all the screaming."
"No," the brat whimpered this time, his eyes frantically darting all around him. Touya grinned.
"I want to string you up by your hands and flay you until all the flesh peels off of your bones," he hissed, moving his weapon away from the boy as he bent to loom over the brat until the only thing the teen could see was the enraged king's face. "Then I want to drag you to most distant part of the desert," he promised softly, watching in satisfaction as the boy cowered in fear, "and I want to leave your bleeding body there for the beasts to tear apart and feed on."
"N-no…" the boy begged and the raw helplessness in his voice made Touya reign in his anger a little, but only just a little, "please."
"Please what?" he scoffed, "Please let you go? Please let you live? Please leave you alone?" he spat, not really noticing the way the other's body began to relax, or the way the brat's eyes began to lose focus. "Please what?"
"Please…" the brunette breathed weakly, "just… kill me already." The boy's whispered plead made Touya take a step back in surprise and shock. All those other times he had overheard the brat asking for death, it had been in defiance, thrown at the brunette's audience as a challenge. But this? This made the king reel in disgust and pity. Just what had those bastards done to the brat? This shell, this joke of a human being… it was nothing like the brave teen that had fiercely sworn to lay down his own life for Sakura's safety. This was not even a broken reflection of that annoying brat. This pathetic child was even worse than a shattered copy of the former.
His anger had dissipated by now, his gaze somehow softening as he looked down at the unconscious boy. When had he passed out? His chest rose and fell with each breath, the corners of his closed eyes moist with unshed tears, his cracked lips slightly parted, and soft moans of pain spilling from his mouth ever now and then. Dark blue veins were visible across his pale neck, beneath the paper thin skin, pulsing like a snake, dulating and undulating as it slithered across the desert sand. For a fraction of a second, Touya's hands twitched to reach out and snap that slender neck. After all, it wasn't like the boy would put up any struggle in his bound and unconscious state. But the moment passed and Touya kept his hands by his side, merely observing the boy as he slept. He wondered briefly what it was that the brunette might be dreaming about but judging from the quiet whimpers, he could tell whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant. He still wasn't clear on why the brat thought it had been his own companions that had tormented him so greatly but from what he had gathered from Sakura's explanation a while back, it had something to do with a hallucinatory drug of some sort. But he had never heard of anything that could make someone see his loved ones in place of his tormentors.
"I would have killed you without a thought," Touya admitted quietly as he found himself placing the palm of his hand atop the unruly mop on the brunette's head. The hair felt thin and coarse beneath his fingers, almost brittle like fragile glass. "Had I not known that it would kill Sakura as well… And… I know that you've been through a lot as well but she's not who you think she is. Give her a chance to prove it to you." He stepped away, letting his hand fall to his side as he began making his way towards the exit of the infirmary, "I hope you'll be able to trust her again brat."
The dark-haired king stopped outside the double doors, letting his eyes come to rest at the small, dimension hopper that stood patiently waiting for the king's return.
"What are you doing out here, meat bun?" Touya questioned the rabbit, "you were supposed to stay with the brat and look after him while the ninja isn't around."
Touya expected the bunny to huff and slip through the partially open doors into the room but what he did not expect was for the white creature to hop onto his shoulder and snuggle up to him.
"Mokona wants to thank Touya for forgiving Syaoran."
"I haven't forgiven him." Touya huffed as he looked away, subconsciously clenching his hands into fists, "I've just given him another chance. After all, the brat isn't himself right now."
-0-
The night was not that cold but she was still shivering from having spent such a long time at the pyramid roof, crying her heart out in the arms of the man that walked beside her. They had not spoken any words after she had confessed to being tortured and violated when in the hands of the hunters and he had whispered sweet reassurances to her. She shivered again as another chill travelled up her spine. Something warm and soft was wrapped around her bare shoulders and she looked up at the blond in surprise.
"You were cold." Fai said by way of explanation as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants.
"Thank you." She responded softly, pulling it closer to herself to breath in his familiar scent of vanilla and chocolate. "I-I… I think we should head off to bed now." She added as she hurried her footsteps in the direction of her living quarters. She still felt greatly shaken up by having have had to relive those horrible memories.
"… Masooma." She hear him call her name and felt herself halt in her steps, her spine going rigid though she did not turn around to face him. A firm yet gentle grip on her arm made her spin back before a pair of soft, warm lips attacked her mouth. A whimper of fear and disgust formed in her throat as memories of that time rose to the surface of her mind and she tried to step away from him. The blond however, refused to relent as he moved along with her, pushing her gently to the wall of the small hallway as he trapped her between himself and the brickwork. Her body shuddered in panic and fright at the action but the blond kept a firm grip on her, his right hand holding her arm while his left one shielded the back of her head from the rough stone. His hands never left those spots but Masooma could feel giant phantom hands roaming all over her body, increasing the feeling of disgust tenfold. She let out another whimper, unable to make her body obey her command as it remained frozen in its place. She felt him draw away from her, stroking her hair lovingly but she kept her eyes clenched, incapable of even bringing herself to open them and see his face.
"Masooma," he breather tenderly as he cupped her cheeks in his hands, "I'd never ever hurt you." She could almost picture the look on his face as he stared at her but she didn't open her eyes to confirm it. A soft sob spilled through her lips as the memory of those phantom hands grabbing her cheeks to part her lips rose to the surface.
"N-No…" she moaned, clenching her eyes shut even tighter in an attempt to make the feeling go away. It had been a long time since that had happened and she had come a long, long way but despite the passage of time, she had never even allowed Nixon to hold her for long. And the blind man had paid a major role in her recovery. She knew she was damaged though. She could never really turn back into the girl she was before and even the Oracle was aware of that.
She felt the warm pad of one of Fai's fingers wipe something wet away from her cheek before cupping her face again.
"You're strong." He told her gently, "despite everything that has happened to you, despite all you have been put through. Despite it all, you're strong Masooma, really strong." He kissed her again, tenderly, almost cautiously as though afraid she might break at the slightest bit of pressure. "You may believe it to be the case but believe me when I say this, you haven't broken yet. You're a persistent witch, Masooma." Slowly, she opened her eyes to see the earnest look on his face, "You always manage to pull yourself together when the time calls for it and that is what I admire about you so much. You never, ever give up and I love you for that."
Masooma was the one that initiated the next kiss as she desperately hung on to him, parting her lips as her fingers dug through the material of his thin shirt. The blond responded immediately as his arm wrapped possessively around her waist, pulling her close to him. Several minutes later, the two parted gasping for breath.
"Don't…" she pleaded, her amber-eyes desperately searching his azure-eyed gaze, "please, don't leave me again. I don't want to be alone." She knew it had been her that had done the leaving the last time but that had not been of her own free will. So to her, it had been Fai that had gone away and not the other way around.
"Ssh… Ssh…" he hushed, pulling her close in a crushing hug that she welcomed, "I promise. I won't ever leave you again. You won't have to go through anything alone again. I promise… God, I have missed you so much."
"Please Fai, I-" her words were cut off by another kiss from the blond as he poured his heart into the action in hopes of assuaging her fears. She responded in like, feeling his aura caress hers cautiously, the warmth and familiarity of the blonde's magic soothing her somewhat.
"Everything will be alright." He whispered as his fingers traced light patterns over her bare stomach though they did not move any further when she tensed at his touch. The scars she had received from that time were not visible to the naked eye but the small bumps caused by the skin scabbing and healing over the stab wounds still could be felt. Ashamed, she turned her head away, her grip loosening on him as she made to leave.
Fai tightened his hold on her again, refusing to let go off her, even as her body shuddered to fight of the memories of another time when she had been struggling against a force that refused to let her go. The palm of his hand settled on top of her scarred stomach and she whimpered in agony.
"This, right here, this is the proof of your strength, Masooma." The blond murmured as his thumb gently rubbed against the scarred tissue. "I won't ever willingly leave you alone, you know that, right? And nothing short of death will be able to keep me away for long even if I were to leave your side for a while." She couldn't recall how exactly but they had ended up kissing again, things advancing quite a bit from there on but fortunately or unfortunately, before something could have happened, they had been stumbled upon by Syaoran. The brunette's face had taken on the color of a tomato as he had realized just what exactly he had walked in on and had apologized profusely as he refused to meet their eyes, Masooma felt an embarrassed blush rising up her own tear-stained cheeks as she looked at the boy. Fai however had only grinned cheekily at the boy before bidding him a goodnight as he had proceeded to lead Masooma away from the corridor.
A prickling sensation down her spine brought her out of her memories as she became aware of her surroundings. The forest was still as quiet and still as before but she could almost feel the wrongness of it all. Something was amiss. She cursed softly under her breath as she climbed to her feet, warily examining her surroundings. She stilled upon hearing the barely audible snap of a twig. Letting her hold on her magic slip a little, she felt it hum in anticipation beneath her skin as she narrowed her bloodshot eyes and looked around. She heard the sharp whistle of something metallic shoot through the air in her direction but she managed to erect a translucent crimson dome around her to protect herself from the barrage that came next.
-0-
"Captain Neumro," the Oracle called out as he raced into the living quarters of squad one. "A quick word please." He turned around without even waiting for a reply as he hurried outside, knowing that the captain would follow without a word.
"I need you to pick four of your best men. I will be transporting you to the western edge of the forest." He informed the man in a controlled tone but an edge of anxiety had crept into his tone. "Healer Masooma has been cornered by a group of hunters. Do whatever you have to but make sure she gets back here safely."
"Sir!" the Captain saluted before swiftly making his way back to the quarters. Three minutes later, the group of five men, armed and ready to head out stood before the Oracle.
"It is of utmost importance that she gets back safely but do not let the hunters capture any of you." He said, feeling anxiety grip hold of his heart as Masooma's fate, should she end up getting captured again, began unfolding before his sightless eyes, "I need not remind you of the rules that are in place for the ones that are captured. Good luck." And then with the swish of his hands and a flicker of his aura the group of men departed.
He barely even felt his magic lash out at his surroundings as he paced around his room feeling restless and helpless. Things had just taken a turn for the worst again. And he was not even able to leave the city to help protect the one he cared for. Not for the first time, he cursed the damn Shaman to the deepest pits of hell for pulling him into this mess.
-0-
"I never thought I'd end up running into you again." A lazy voice drawled as a dark –skinned man stepped out of the cover of the trees and into her line of sight. A single golden fang hung from his left ear, glinting in the weak sunlight of the winter sun.
"B-Bauld…" her careful hold over her magic began to slip, the crimson dome beginning to fluctuate erratically with the change in its caster's emotions.
"I'm so glad you remember me, Witch." The man grinned ferally as he brought up the small handgun he had lazily hanging from his right hand. "I hear you're one of the guardians now. We're going to have so much fun together." He took aim at her heart just as her erected shield began to falter. "Or perhaps this time, Fai can join in on the fun."
"No!"
The single gunshot could be heard for miles.
-0-
A/N: Touya is definitely not happy with what Syaoran almost made Sakura do. But he still left him alive. Can anyone guess what Sakura will be like now? I left you all hanging on a cliffie but I might update once more before my Eid holidays start next week. Keep your fingers crossed. ;) ;)