Subj: [KFFDISC] Nighttime [Sap ^_^X] Date: 4/30/00 7:38:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time From: prico3@yahoo.com (P. Rico) Hello, hello, Schools almost out so that means I'll have alot more time to write (beware). Anyways, I jotted down this little peice of sap last night. Enjoy. Standard disclaimers apply. ******************* Nighttime By P.Rico //-denotes thoughts. ---------- Misao stared up at the ceiling and sighed. She couldn't sleep, and she couldn't figure out why. She turned around and closed her eyes again. Nothing. She flipped over on her other side. Still nothing. With a frustrated groan she sat up. //What's wrong?// She thought. //It’s not as if I'm not tired. With all the work I did today, I should be fast asleep by now.// She groaned again. //And tomorrow's going to be another busy day. If I don't get to sleep…// She settled down into her futon again and, a few minutes later, sat back up. //Something is wrong. I don't know what…but something…// She closed here eyes and tried to concentrate. After a few moments, her eyes snapped open. "Aoshi-sama." She rose to here feet and slipped out of her room. Noiselessly, she made her way down the hallway to Aoshi's room. She stopped before the door, hesitating. Taking a deep breath, she slid the door open just wide enough for her to slip in. Aoshi was lying with his back to the door. He appeared to be sleeping. Misao stepped in a few more feet. //He seems fine,// she thought. //I guess I'm just being paranoid.// She turned to leave when she heard a sound. "What?" She heard it again. It sounded like a soft moan, a whimper, almost. "Aoshi-sama?" she whispered. "Beshimi…Shikijou…" came a muffled reply. Misao's eyes widened as realization dawned. He's having a dream "Hannya…no…" No…a nightmare. //Is this why I couldn't sleep? Is this why I felt something was wrong?// She jumped slightly when Aoshi abruptly tossed in his sleep, turning toward her. She could see his face in the moonlight. He looked like he was in pain, his eyes tightly shut, his teeth clenched. "Oh, Aoshi-sama," she began walking toward him. "Misao…don't…" She stopped in mid-stride. "Wha--?" "No, Kami-sama, not Misao, too." Misao sighed. He was still asleep. //And dreaming about me?// Misao didn’t know how to feel about this. Her Aoshi-sama, dreaming about her was something she never imagined. But this dream was causing him such grief. "Misao." She silently closed the distance between them and knelt down besides him. "Aoshi-sama," she whispered. "Nnn----" She reached out and brushed his hair out of his face. "Aoshi-sama," she repeated. "I'm here." "Misao." "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." Aoshi's features softened and his breath became less labored. Misao couldn't resist the urge to caress his face. She smiled and looked at him for a long while. //He looks so peaceful now,// she thought. //I guess it's okay to leave.// Reluctantly, she rose to her feet and turned to walk away. "Misao." She turned back at the sound of her name. Aoshi was still asleep. "Don't leave." Misao stared down at Aoshi. //What do I do? Should I go? Should I stay? What if he wakes up and finds me here? What would he think? What would I say?// "Misao," Aoshi repeated. His voice sounding almost…pleading. "Aoshi-sama," she knelt down beside him again. //What's the harm in staying with him? Just for a little while.// Making her decision, she laid down beside him and reached out to caress his face once again. "Aoshi-sama, I'm here, and I won't leave you." Her eyelids became heavy. She shivered slightly and instinctively moved closer to him for warmth. "I won't leave you," she murmured once again, before falling asleep. --- Aoshi woke up feeling a strange sort of warmth and peace he hadn't felt since…well, he couldn't remember when he last felt that way. His mind was still fogged with sleep, but he was aware it was still nighttime. He was also aware there was somebody else in his room. As his mind came into focus, he realized that somebody was right besides him. He quickly sat up and moved away. It only took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. "Misao?" What was she doing here? They hadn't…had they? Aoshi shook his head and scolded himself for thinking such a thing. But he still wanted to know what she was doing in his room. He remembered when they were both much younger, how she would sneak into his room at night and he would wake up to find her curled up beside him. Was she feeling nostalgic? Misao whimpered and Aoshi noticed she was shivering. He quickly covered her with the blanket. //What am I doing?// He asked himself. //I should wake her up and send her back to her room.// He reached forward to awaken her when he remembered the feeling he had when he woke up. And the nightmares, the nightmares that had plagued him since that fateful night, they had disappeared suddenly. This was the first time in such a long time he had had a peaceful sleep. //Is it because of you? Did you chase those nightmares away? Misao?// He watched her sleep a little while longer. //I guess there's not harm in letting her stay here tonight.// He hesitantly slipped under the covers and settled down beside her. "Hnn…Aoshi-sama…" murmured Misao contently. Aoshi couldn't help but smile. He laid his head down on his pillow and closed his eyes, certain the nightmares wouldn't return that night. Not while Misao was besides him. "Misao," he whispered, covering her hand with his. "Arigatou." ****************** Hey, I warned you it was sappy. Thanks for reading.