I gasp, suddenly waking up in a cold sweat.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I look over at Neph, and to my relief, he's still asleep.
I didn't wake him, good.
I gently disentangle myself from him and get up, silently padding nude to the bathroom.
I turn on the light and look in the mirror, looking at the long, silky black and red hair falling just below the delicate looking shoulders in soft waves, the well shaped lips, the graceful neck, and the gentle swell of the breasts of the girl staring back at me.
I guess I can see what Neph sees...
Then I look at my freakish black eyes. Black, that is, except for the neon green pupils.
...ah...well, never mind.
I turn on the faucet and lean down, splashing cold water on my face and neck.
When I stand up strait, I see in the mirror, a shadow behind my shoulder.
I twirl, claws unsheathed as the shadow envelopes me in icy cold darkness.
From all around, a
voice echoes, "You are mine."
I shriek, curling into a ball next to Neph, not even noticing as he jerks awake at my shriek.
"M-chan...?"
He takes my shoulders and shakes me gently. I slowly uncurl and press up against his chest, shuddering.
"What a horrible dream... I'm sorry I woke you up like that, koibito," I apologize.
"It's all right, what was the dream about?"
I tell him. When I notice his concerned look, I gently caress his cheek.
"It was just a dream, I don't think it bears anything to be very worried over."
I stretch, giving him a rather good view of my body.
"Oh, Great Stars, beloved, if we continue on with this train of thought, we'll never get out of bed," he says in a breathless voice.
"And that's a BAD thing?" I ask, grinning wickedly.
"Not unless you would like to accompany me to that business banquet tonight," he answers, giving me one of those heart melting smiles.
I just lie there in silence for a stunned second.
"Well...sure I'll go!"
He chuckles, pulling me close and kissing me.
After a few more minutes of making out, we both figure it's time to get up.
I slip my arms around his middle while he's straitening his tie, and stand on tiptoes to rest my chin on his shoulder, looking at him in the mirror.
He rests his hands over mine, meeting my eyes in the mirror.
How did I get so lucky?
I smile gently, "Do you know when you're coming home from these meetings?"
"I should be back at around four, but we can have lunch together," he answers, turning to face me and slide his arms around my waist.
I smile, gazing up into his eyes.
"Sounds good," I lean up and kiss him.
He pulls me close, sliding his tongue into my mouth, passion in his touch.
He pulls back after a few minutes of tonsil hockey, and gazes down at me again, tracing my lips with a graceful index finger.
"A promise," he whispers softly.
"A promise?" I echo.
"Hai...for after the banquet."
I grin, running my fingers through his hair, whispering, "Better make good on that."
He chuckles softly, "I will."
After one last kiss, we
have breakfast, and he leaves the mansion with another kiss for the road.
Leaving me to an internal battle that I don't even know is starting.
Noon finds me doing Tai Chi (for the THIRD hour, trying to get rid of one HELL of a headache) in the garden, as does Nephrite.
As I finish off the part I was doing, he stands there, watching me go through the graceful movements.
Once he sees me bring my routine to a graceful close, he says in a soft voice, "That was beautiful, M-chan."
I blush a little and run over to him, smiling as I hug and kiss him, headache forgotten for the moment.
"Ready for lunch?" he asks.
"Hai...how long have you got?"
"Two hours."
I smile. "Great! have anywhere in particular in mind?"
"Hai, in fact."
I smile, taking his hand in mine.
"Let's go then."
"We can walk there. It's such a lovely day, and the resteraunt isn't too far away."
I grin as we start for a romantic little out-door cafe.
"This is so sweet!" I exclaim, sitting by him.
"Hai, I thought you'd like it," he tells me with a smile.
We spend a wonderful half hour eating together.
After we finish our meal, we go out for a walk, hand in hand.
Suddenly Neph stiffens.
"Huh? Are you ok, love?" I ask, worried.
"The stars...just spoke to me," he whispers, "run, M-chan. There are people hunting you, and they're about to attack!"
"But...what about you??"
"I will be fine, and I will fight off as many as I can, now GO!"
With that he shoves me forward, immediately twirling and countering three black clad men with very odd but strangely familiar energy patterns who were about to attack me.
Crap...those goons look sort of like FOH, but Neph's doing pretty well against them...
Two more step out of the ally.
SHIMATTA! They're worse than cockroaches!
I double, then triple my speed, losing the goons who were chasing me on foot.
I duck into an alley and lean my back on one of the grimy walls, gasping for breath.
I hope Neph's all right...
In the blink of an eye, I am suddenly bathed in the blinding light of truck hi-beams from the alley.
I believe the
expression "Oh shit" would apply here, I think to myself as I hear
the distinctive CLICK of guns being cocked.
Part XI
Part XIII
Meetings Index