Nocturnal revelations
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Nocturnal revelations
A RahXephon fanfiction by regie27
Standard Disclaimers apply
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Haruka sneezed, as the distant cracking of the
thunder served as clear sign of the stormy weather she could expect for the
rest of the evening. The TERRA officer had been caught halfway through her
customary three mile run around Nirai by the unexpected rain. The squishing
sound her tennis shoes made upon her arrival home evidenced the very drenched
and cold state she was at that precise instant. Leaving her shoes out to dry,
she hurried inside trying in vain not to leave a wet trail behind over the
carefully maintained wooden floor.
"Megumi, hand me a towel. I'm drowning in
here!" No response came from the house. The short-haired woman slapped the
heel of her hand against her forehead. Of course, it was Megu's turn to take
the night shift at HQ. On the other hand, she supposed her uncle must have left
to visit one of his Shogi's partners. Most likely, they would end up sharing
some miso and warm sake to fend off the cool weather, so she didn't expect him
to return until later in the evening.
“Guess I have to get that towel myself” she
concluded to herself. The soaked clothes clung uncomfortably to her body and
the storm kept roaring incessantly outside, yet neither of those facts
alleviated the strange brew of emotions that had lodged and kept taking deep
root inside since last week.
It had been a normal afternoon. She had been on her
way to check on Quon when she entered the same elevator Ayato was riding. She
couldn't remember exactly what she had told him, perhaps some sort of innocuous
small talk with the only purpose to break the ice and pierce the ominous
silence when all of a sudden, he stopped the elevator and dashed out. “I'm
sorry” he had mumbled before he began his frantic run. She stood there mouth
agape as she observed the boy's escape and her mind and heart sank into a state
of confusion. From that incident on, Ayato seemed to had
put his utmost efforts into avoiding her. She glanced at the surface of her
watch streaked by droplets of rain. He should be at TERRA finishing his
physical, and from there would wander around until it was supper time. As he
had done the past evenings, she expected him to remain aloof and distant while
the four inhabitants of the house shared a dinner suffused in silence.
With the mixture of body ache and heartache
combining, Haruka felt the throbbing of an incipient migraine pulling at her
temples. The sudden cold that befell her warm body in the middle of her
exertion was already provoking initial pangs of cramps to her legs since the
storm had deprived her of a proper cool down routine. She sensed a pull on the
muscles of her thighs, so she grabbed a fluffy, warm towel and headed towards
the bathroom, removing the rain soaked sweatsuit in the way. A good, relaxing
bath was just what she needed to feel better.
The rising vapor welcomed her. One leg, then the
other sank into the tub, as the warm water soothingly greeted her. As she
submerged up to the shoulders, she closed her eyes. The pleasant caress of the
liquid against her aching muscles brought a sight of pleasure from her lips as
her eyes closed. She allowed herself to sink into a state of comforting
relaxation as the water coaxed her to unwind body and mind. However, the ache
at her heart was a more complicated matter to soothe. Old apprehensions had
come to oppress her soul with an almost suffocating weight since that day; the
fear that what she wished for the most was unattainable came knocking at her
door once more. Her logical mind and her heart had been relentlessly clashing,
waging an exhausting war each night that made her thrash and turn under the
covers until her eyes flung open brimming with tears.
Haruka drew a deep breath. Her muscles were already
starting to receive the benefits of the therapy but her heart ached and bled.
Why this had to be so confusing? Why his distance hurt her more than the
physical agony of summiting her body to the punishment she inflicted upon
herself in the hopes that it would somehow ease the pain inside? The dull,
constant anguish menaced to surface and Haruka bit her lip, forcing the lump on
her throat to remain trapped, constricted within the boundaries of self-control,
or perhaps self denial. She thought she had steeled herself for his reactions
towards the truth of the world he had been brought to against his will, to the
travails of helping him adapt to this new reality, yet she realized her heart
wasn't prepared to deal with his distance and his spurn.
"So close, Kami-sama, mere walls separate us
but he's so far away from me!" The lump found its way out of its prison
and it came out in loud sobs that made her shudder. Her arms linked around her
legs and her knees came to touch her forehead. Salty tears fell silently to
join the water that cloaked her in an attempt to provide comfort with its
warmth.
A sense of defeat and exhaustion overcame her.
Moving like an automaton, the officer rose up from the bathtub, bringing the
white towel to envelop her as her feet initiated the path outside the bathroom.
She caught with the corner of her eye the flash of lightning that broke the
oppressive darkness outside, followed by the strident roar of the thunder. The
storm intensified and the wind howled just as loud as the despair and
hopelessness that abated her soul. So absorbed she was by her own thoughts that
she missed to notice the figure that was approaching her.
"Haruka-san?" The startled voice of
Kamina unhinged Haruka from her introspection. As she lifted her glance, she
realized he had stopped dead on his tracks, drops slipping down his damp hair.
It seemed he had also been caught by the tempest.
"Ayato-kun..."
"I-I'm sorry…I didn't mean to interrupt."
Kamina's face reflected a shadow of crimson. Save for the large, white towel,
it seemed she was quite naked underneath. The boy gulped. Haruka blushed
realizing her current state of undress as she slipped inside the bathroom,
leaving Ayato outside.
"It's ok. I'm done already. I'll be in my room
if you need anything" Haruka replied, glad her voice sounded calm and
even. She had managed to notice that the dampened shirt he still wore clung
over his shoulders and torso, emphasizing his muscles and lean physique. The temperature
on the small room rose.
"Thank-thank you. I will cook supper later. I
guess portions for today will be smaller" he stuttered struggling to keep
his voice neutral. The sight of her supple shoulders and svelte
figure did not aid too much in his purpose.
"I suppose so. Uncle Rikudoh is playing shogi
with his friends and Megu has night shift duty at TERRA, but you don't have to
bother if you don't want to. I'm not too hungry."
"Actually, I would like to fix dinner for you.
I owe you an apology for my behavior lately."
Haruka smiled, sensing the honesty in his words. It
had taken just that small gesture from him to raise her downcast spirits. She
leaned against the wall, a small opening at the door allowing her to see his
face. "You don't have to apologize Ayato-kun. It
must not be easy to be on your shoes right now. I just wish I could be able to
help you cope with all this."
"Thank you Haruka-san. You have done a lot
already, allowing me to intrude in your home and helping me around."
“About intruding in the house, it's
uncle you should thank. About the other, I don't mind at all helping those who
I care for.” Haruka couldn't help the vehement tone that engulfed her words.
Sighing, she added:
“Now if you don't mind, I'll get something more decent
to wear while you get your bath and fix dinner. You must be shivering with
those wet clothes on.”
“Actually, yes. Rain caught me while I was
still halfway here. I'll see you at dinner!” Ayato exclaimed as he moved away
from the door allowing her to pass through. As he maneuvered towards a closet,
he couldn't help his head from glancing back, catching a passing view of the
captain as she cornered towards her room. The towel seemed to hug her tightly
emphasizing her curves. A scent of her trademark shampoo and soap lingered in
the air. His mind snapped back to the MU induced dreamland he had experienced
about a week ago and the Shitow Haruka he was faced with, the one that his
unconscious mind created, product of his innermost desires. Air escaped his lungs
as he could still feel her weight over him as she pinned him down at the Tokyo
café, staring at him as he felt about to sink in the ardent yet vacuous gaze,
realizing grimly that this being was a mere shell, a poor imitation of what the
real person truly was.
“Don't be afraid. It is yours for the taking” Kamina
heard her whisper in an overtly sensuous cadence. The phrase repeated itself
over and over in his mind. He wondered how much truth this could hold in this
world, but he silently hoped that someday it could translate into reality. He
chided himself mentally; surely it wasn't appropriate for him to be having such
thoughts about Haruka. But it wasn't only the almost expected attraction he
felt towards the beautiful woman with whom he shared the same roof. It wasn't
just the fact that he wanted her; he had already come to terms with that fact.
His adolescent hormones could be easily pointed out as the culprit for that
reaction. No, it was beginning to evolve in something far more complicated than
mere lust. Ayato feared he had begun to need her, but how could he ever aspire
for a chance when he was only a mere kid pining for a woman who was obviously
out of his league. Still, none of that alleviated the fact that the mere sight
of her could rouse his emotions, not to mention his body, to a point of
discomfort. This had made him retort into purposely avoiding her but in the
end, the solution had brought even more desperation and restlessness. He
surrendered to the truth: he needed her like he needed to breath, he languished
if he didn’t see her smile, her worried glance when he was about to face the
enemy, her goofy faces and her childish laughter. He needed to behold all that she
was if he wanted his sanity to remain.
Ayato removed the last of the soaked clothes and
sunk into the water. Steam rose as his mind clouded in a haze, swayed by the
relaxing effect of the hot water against his skin. Again, the mental pictures
that delighted in torturing him returned, stirring from within the sensations
he wanted to dull. He brought his head back and his eyes closed as he allowed
his imagination to take the best of him. Slender fingers played with his hair;
a warm breath caressed his ear. Soft hands ran down his chest stopping at his
navel, tracing his reddish marking. He suddenly realized how sensible was that
particular area to touch, her touch,
as a moan escaped his lips. He feared to open his eyes and find utter
disillusion, to realize the mirage had turned into dust but this instance of
the recurring fantasy felt far too vivid to be just a figment of his feverish
imagination. His ears caught a loud clap of thunder and his lids opened.
“That one landed close, huh?”
Ayato glanced back, aghast, his body springing into
an upward position. He could hear the water splashing about him. Behind him,
with a smirk unbidden on her lips, Haruka observed him amused. The towel had
been replaced by a bathrobe. Damp strands of hair still clung to her cheeks and
neck.
“Haruka-san!”
“I'm sorry to startle you this way. I just wanted to
make sure you were fine. You looked so miserable with those wet clothes that I
worried you could catch a cold or something and the least we need is to have
you sick while the MU launch an attack.”
“So, that's you're only concern captain. You don't
want your prized weapon to get sick and out of commission” the words came
bitter, unable to mask his disappointment. Not only she saw him as just a kid,
but worse; she also regarded him as a tool just like the others did, the weapon
that enabled TERRA to finally defeat their abhorred enemy.
“Actually, what you just heard was the official
statement, but in reality I just wanted to see you.”
“Why do concern yourself about me?"
“Do you really need an answer for that?” she replied
as her tone of her voice lowered, acquiring a subtle yet noticeable throaty
quality. He felt her gaze upon him admiring him almost ravenously. The look in
her eyes made his pulse quicken.
“Haruka-san, I…”
“Shh, it's alright Ayato. Come.”
“Where?”
“Just follow me. I want to make sure we get you
warm.”
He took her hand and came out of the tub. She handed
him a towel as she grinned at his mortified look while she feigned looking
away, which she actually didn't.
“Where are we going?”
“To my room.”
“Haruka-san. I don't think…”
“I don't think sleeping in the futon would be the
most appropriate tonight with this miserable weather. A real bed, which I
happen to have, is more comfortable for the occasion.”
“I don't mind sleeping on the floor…”
“But I do.”
The blunt statement made the hairs on his arms stand
on end.
“Here, make yourself comfortable” the woman said as
she turned to close the door as he entered. Ayato had to remind himself to
breathe.
“But, what about dinner?”
“I told you I wasn't hungry, at least not of what
you had planned.” Haruka came to sit very close to him. Ayato gulped. He almost
jumped when her fingers graced the sensible skin of his abdomen over his
instrumentalist's mark.
“This is really a strange marking. Is this related
in any way to the RahXephon?”
“I…I guess.” The feather touch of her fingertips
against the sensitive flesh was maddening. He drew in a sharp breath. His eyes
rose as the lids closed letting her touch slowly drive him insane with pent-up desire.
His body tensed as she leaned closer, the curve of her breasts brushing against
his arm. His mind clouded with a red haze and before he could think, he
captured her face and joined her lips with his own. While they kissed, he felt
being pulled downwards as she fell on her back with him on top. Her arms came
around his waist and her legs came around his, trapping him. His head rose to
fill his lungs with air, just to have it escape again at the sight of the
valley between her breasts still cloaked by the robe. Feeling the need to see
more, he took the outer edges of the bathrobe and parted them, revealing her
exposed body to his admiring eyes. If he hadn't been so overcome by sheer need,
he would have paused to trace her. Just as he had imagined, her skin was soft
to the touch yet the muscle lines were defined in a subtle, pleasant way,
veiling the physical strength and grace she possessed and did not hesitate to
use when needed. For a moment, the combination of beauty, grace and strength
reminded him of a feline, elegant and beautiful and so utterly sensual. He dove
down for another kiss, more intense and involved than the previous, delighting
on the skin on skin contact their state of undress allowed him to savor. He
felt delirious, feverish but couldn't make himself stop; her welcoming arms and
soft body enticed him to seek more, admire more, touch
more.
"Oh Haruka…" he managed to whisper, his
voice hoarse by lust "I want you so much…"
"I know Ayato" she replied as she held him
closer, offering all she was and all she had.
Ayato sank into her body as eagerly as he had into
the water that had brought warmth amidst the coldness. He felt the temperature
of his own body rise to scorching levels, feeling the air thinning around him,
hearing her voice calling his name as he sank deeper and deeper in sheer
ecstasy, in delirium.
"Don't let me go, Haruka" he pleaded.
"Don't ever let me go" he murmured to her ear as his body convulsed,
rose to the heavens and descended in a spiral, spent and satiated.
"I will never let you go" Ayato heard her
reply solemnly as exhaustion beckoned him to sleep, feeling secure and warm in
her arms.
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Haruka observed Ayato, her thoughts in complete
disarray. His health seemed to have improved over the course of the night and
the high temperature was finally abating, but it wasn't only the horrible fever
he had been fighting since she found him unconscious on the bathtub what had
her engulfed in thought.
"Don't let me go Haruka" he had said under
the spell of the fever. She told herself over and over that it was only the
musings of sickness-induced delirium but the fact was that he had whispered her
name repeatedly, pleading her not to leave him. The TERRA captain wasn't sure
what to make of it, but it was making her head spin. Thankfully, after hours of
worry and sleeplessness on her part, Ayato seemed to have finally beaten down
the worst of the illness.
After noticing he had not come out of his bath for
more than an hour, she had gone and knocked on the door insistently, but no
answer came from inside. Bracing for a barrage of insults and cold stares
because of the invasion of privacy, she had found instead his body almost limp
sunk into the water save for his head. His breathing had been shallow. His face
was pale and his lips were dry. Still hesitantly, she placed her hand over his
forehead, feeling the high temperature, as if he were boiling from the inside
out. Brushing out modesty for the emergency at hand, Haruka brought Ayato out
of the water and not without difficulty, managed to wrap a towel around him and
roused him to walk laboriously in a state of semi-consciousness until they made
it into her room, since her bed seemed more comfortable than the plain futon on
his room. She managed to get a hold of her uncle, who had decided to stay until
the next day at his friend's house because of the foul weather. Itsuki’s
medical prowess also proved of a great aid, advising her of the correct
treatment while he made it the next day for a complete auscultation. She
couldn't help but notice the sharp, cold edge his voice had on their brief
conversation but she had brushed it off to a figment of her worried
imagination. However, her mental alarms went off as her instinct matched his
behavior with a previous event. She suspected that there had been more to it
than just a friendly jest when he had commented that he might be getting
jealous back at the Christmas Eve party. The rest of her analysis though, had
vanished into a haze of cold compresses and medicines as she tried her best to
bring Ayato back to health.
Long hours later, she had almost dozed off on a
chair beside the bed when she felt Ayato was talking in his sleep again.
Fearing the fever had risen while she slept, she rushed to check him. To her
utmost surprise, he was murmuring her name and for a moment she believed she
was also beginning to suffer of delirium. She sat down at his side as she
applied another cold compress on his forehead. It was then that he had pleaded
her not to leave. He had seem so distraught and desperate that before she could
think it through, she lay down beside him and gathered him in a embrace,
wishing with all her strength she could make his pain her own. "I will
never let you go" she had answered in earnest to his plea, for it was the
truth that remained always the same, always constant in her life. It was then
that he had finally calmed down and his sleep had finally become serene and
peaceful.
Still holding on to him tightly, Haruka caressed his
grayish hair in a soothing motion until his breathing was even and deep and his
skin felt cooler and not scorching under her touch. Blushing slightly, she
wondered what kind of dream he might have been experiencing since even with the
sickness that overtook him, his body reacted in, well, a very aroused manner
that because of their momentary closeness she couldn't avoid but detect. In
fact, she might had not noticed if Ayato hadn't turned around to face her,
bringing his own arms around her as his face burrowed against her chest. The
short-haired captain was still trying to gather her wits due to the much
unexpected reaction when his body revealed all too clearly that whatever was on
his mind at that precise moment it was of a very carnal nature. Haruka closed
her eyes, jaw clenched tightly as she sensed her own body responding at an
alarming rate to the unconscious response but it was already too late, as her
senses took in all the stimuli her nerve endings were receiving. In the almost
torturing manner the senses sharpen when aroused, Haruka became all too
conscious of his naked body pressed against hers, his breathing hot against the
sensible skin, his hands tightly around her waist. Not even the fabric of her
log sleeved shirt and pant pajama ensemble served to block the obvious. She had
fantasized so much about this moment it was almost like watching it from her
mind's eye, but what she perceived was far more vivid than any of her most
intense daydreams she could have ever experience. It was so easy to let go of the
iron-fisted control she was exerting at that moment, forcing to push away what
her body felt. She attempted to vacate her attention off the sensual thoughts
muttering a mantra in an effort to gain composure through meditation, but the
insidious tingle that went down her spine and the liquid heat that kept running
through her veins made her head dizzy. Her breath came out in shuddering gasps
and she felt cornered to the threshold of sheer insanity as the longing of
years came rushing in seeking to be sated.
"It's not fair, this is not fair…" she
whimpered. Her legs tensed as she fought with all might the impulse of snaking
them around his strong ones. She bit her lower lip, forcing her breathing to
even but it only made her more acutely aware of the fact that she was almost
panting and each forced deep inhalation just brought his face closer to her
bosom. By now, her body was screaming to be set free, it demanded to be
satisfied, it begged for release or for the torture to stop. Unable to stand
the madness any longer, she tried to move away but the grip of his hands
tightened around her waist as he pulled them closer. It was more that she could
take and her own arms went around his firm back tightly. Suddenly, he saw his
head rise and blue eyes the hue of midnight opened and now were staring right
at her, a smile curving on soft, warm lips.
“Ayato-kun…”
“Haruka, why do you hesitate so much to take what is
rightfully yours?”
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know too well what I’m talking about. I’m here
right beside you. All you need to do is reach out.”
“But…”
“Hush my dear. I want to feel you close to me.”
Haruka felt she was about to die when his lips
touched hers in a gentle kiss, as his hands took hers and lifted them over her
head, maneuvering them so he ended on top. His mouth moved away from hers and towards
her cheeks, then descended to savor her neck. Her hands escaped his grip and
brought his head back to face her. He was smiling, a silent invitation
beckoning her to give in to her passion. Closing her eyes, her mouth invaded
his in a deep, probing kiss that menaced to render both breathless. Her feet
went to rest over his calves as she marveled on how right it felt to be holding
him this way. The surge of fire that ran all over her flesh made her aware of
the fact he had already disposed of her pajamas and now she was instead covered
by his body like a living blanket. Her conscience and self control melted away.
Her only concern was to hold and touch the one she had wanted from so long, to
ease the pain of his absence, to fill the void that was put into evidence now
more than ever before. Their fierce, shared passion collided,
merging in an alchemy of bodies in motion as old as mankind itself that
transformed two beings into one. As she lay down relieved, elated, exhausted,
she reached for his hand and his firm grip answered her. Before allowing
herself to be swept away by sleep, she whispered the truth that had been said
only in the confines of her heart:
“I love you Ayato. I've always loved you.”
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Rikudoh Shougo arrived to his house as soon as the
weather had allowed him. The alarmed tone of his elder niece had left him
worried about the state of his grandson. “Grandson.”
He rolled the word in his tongue. He lamented he could not call him that way
out loud. His own actions and his father's had barred him that privilege. He
was also preoccupied that the feelings his niece kept for the boy might have
made the situation somewhat more dramatic than it really was, but he couldn't
blame her. After so long, the mere notion of something happening to him could
render the collected officer to a nervous wreck. However, from what he had
talked with Dr. Kisaragi, Haruka's assessment had been accurate and her prompt
action had spared them a worse scenario.
As he leaned against the door's frame, he couldn't
help a smile to surface. His poor niece was practically hovering between the
bed and empty air and if would only take the slightest movement for her to fall
to the floor. He was glad her pajamas seemed to at least give her some comfort
from the cold since her patient had claimed sole ownership of the sheets.
Ayato, on the other hand, was deeply sleeping covered neck to toe. Always self
conscious when around the boy even in her sleep, the TERRA captain had allowed
a discreet space between both of them. Snuggled between the pair, Buchi the cat
had taken advantage of the situation and was pleasantly sleeping too. His smile
widened. It was barely noticeable between the mess of sheets and the cat but with
a second glance he noticed that their hands were firmly interlocked.
“My dear Haruka-chan, you are not willing to give up
on him even if death itself were to claim him. I just hope you can prevail in
the end.”
“How our sleeping beauties are doing Rikudoh-san?”
“Well, you should see for yourself Dr. Kisaragi.”
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“Haruka, wake up.”
Haruka stirred off her sleep. The voice of her uncle
was gentle. She was glad for it because she felt everything but rested. Buchi
also woke up and after looking with amused eyes the human who had provided him
with a comfortable place to rest, in two leaps he was off the bed and scurrying
outside the room.
“So you too invaded my bed huh? Uncle Rikudoh…”
Suddenly the distant mesh of her thoughts became clearer as she sensed the
first rays of daylight filtering through her window. Her eyes opened wide. His
curious glance replied to her alarmed one.
“I’m sorry to have startled you. It seemed our
patient here gave you quite an interesting night.”
Haruka’s face became crimson. “Uncle I…”
“Don’t apologize. It is still a mystery to me how
you managed to sleep over your covers without freezing. Ayato on the other hand
looks that he's on the right way to get better soon. I’m still amazed you
didn’t fell down, sleeping right on the edge of the bed.”
Haruka glanced down carefully as she was acutely
aware that gravity had almost taken its toll with her. She silently prayed to
the kamis for the fact that she was still dressed instead of finding herself
embarrassingly nude as her muddled memories seemed to suggest. “So, I guess it
was all a dream” she thought to herself alleviated yet paradoxically sad. As
she sat down, he glanced towards the center of the bed. Ayato was soundly
asleep, snoring a little, still hogging her sheets and comforter. The strange
balancing act she had performed had left a not so pleasant ache on her
shoulders and legs, but at least she was glad his cheeks had a healthy color
instead of the pasty shade she had seen during the night. While he looked very
comfortable and rested, she looked exhausted. Dark lines had lodged beneath her
eyes and her hair was a mess. It was quite evident her night had been eventful
to say the least.
“Frankly, you look terrible, but it seems your
effort paid off. Dr Kisaragi already checked him and most of the fever has worn
off. The boy just needs to rest.”
“And that advice also
extends to you too captain.”
“Itsuki-kun.”
“Dr. Kisaragi, you shouldn’t intrude like this
unannounced. “
“It’s not that I was to see something I haven't
already seen half an hour ago.” Upon saying this, he gave Haruka a knowing
look. His blue eyes seemed to probe her chestnut hued ones, looking for answers
for the questions that remained hanging in the air yet to be asked. She felt a
silent accusation as the gentle blue became icy. She still remembered she had
let go of Ayato's hand when she woke up. She wondered if Itsuki had also
noticed it. His remark at the party echoed again on her mind. However, his
voice didn’t hint of any disturbing emotions as he added:
“Besides, I come as a professional. Lend me your
hand Haruka. That pale color in your complexion just doesn’t suit you. I think
you are working too much.” Sighing, she extended her right arm as he assessed
her pulse.
“I don’t think I can avoid that doctor with the MU
attacking and all” she replied in an exacerbated tone.
“Keep your voice low, you’re going to awake your
patient.”
Haruka bestowed upon him a glare, as Itsuki chuckled
at himself at the angry twitching of her eyebrows. He really enjoyed getting a
raise out of her. He also planned to stimulate deeper emotions, but not yet. He
would have her enjoy this little happiness for a little longer.
“Are we finished doctor?”
“Such an impatient patient! Well, aside from a case of
lack of sleep and fatigue, you look ready to save the world from the MU menace.
Just make sure you try to get some rest before you bury yourself in paperwork.”
“Thank you Dr. Kisaragi, now if you excuse me, I
would like to do something about my dreadful paleness and puffy eyes.” And
without even glancing back, she left unceremoniously towards the bathroom.
“Hmm, temper, temper Haruka dear. You’re going to
get premature wrinkles in that adorable face of yours.”
“Hmph!” was all she dignified herself to reply. The
bathroom's door slammed so hard it could be felt on virtually every room.
“Good grief! I better get some coffee ready “Rikudoh
murmured as he was about to escort Itsuki out of the room but the muffled voice
of Ayato stopped them. His head popped out of the mound of covers. He was about
to stand up but froze in place. He became acutely aware of two facts: he was
naked and in Haruka's bed, and now both uncle Rikudoh and Dr. Kisaragi were
staring at him expectantly. His mouth went dry as color drained from his face.
“Where am I? What I'm doing here?” he ventured to
mumble, wishing for the heavens to provide an answer or for the bed to engulf
him. A flash illuminated his mind with a scene of himself and the owner of the
room in a rather compromising situation. His eyes locked with Itsuki's and he
could swear the doctor had read his thoughts since his expression was almost
livid. He swallowed hard, his mind racing to try to find a proper justification
for his presence here. The fact that he was stark naked under
the covers only made him feel more miserable and guilty.
“You caught a terrible fever.” Rikudoh's words made
him blink twice.
“A fever?”
“Yes. Haruka found you almost unconscious and
delirious in the bathroom. She brought you here and treated you. The doctor
said that it must have been a dangerous fever for you to faint that way.”
“Yes, and as a matter of fact, you should be glad
your guardian angel came to the rescue once again” added Itsuki.
The horrible tension that had tied Ayato's stomach
in knots began to loosen. Color returned to his cheeks. So it all had been a
fever dream. He felt relieved but deep inside he also felt somewhat disappointed.
It had seemed so real…
“I can't remember anything after I went to get my
bath. Where's is Haruka-san?'
“Must be roaming the kitchen
for some black coffee now. The lack of sleep has her in a cranky mode so you
better be careful not to trigger her temper” Rikudoh quipped while scratching
his head. “Stay there while I get you some clothes. Besides, you can stay home
today. HQ has already been notified so you don't have to report today.”
“Thank you. I must admit I feel a bit weak. If you
don't mind, I think I'll dose off a little more.”
“Take your time Ayato. After all we need you healthy
to pilot RahXephon.”
Again, the cold bite in the doctor's words startled
Ayato, as well as a vibe he could easily consider as hostile towards him. What
was up with him today?
“Yes, I guess…”
Ayato buried his head on the pillow as he heard
Itsuki's and Rikudoh's steps fade away. He brought the covers over his head as
he tried to make sense out of the events. At least a fever was much better
alternative than trying to explain how he ended in the present circumstances.
As he shifted to his side, he realized he had wanted to stay in bed because he
felt safe and serene with Haruka's presence imprinted throughout the room and
her essence embracing him through the sheets. He luxuriated in the overall
sense of peace and contentment that filled his soul and calmed the restlessness
within. He was being lulled back to sleep when soft knocks captured his
momentary attention.
“Yes?”
“Ayato-kun, it's me. Can I come in?” asked Haruka
through the door.
“It's your room, why you need to ask” he almost said
when he understood it was because she did not want to intrude. That and the
fact he was still undressed were more than good reasons to knock.
“Of course Haruka-san. I really want to thank you
for what you did for me. I'm really sorry I haven't left yet your room yet. As
soon as I get some clothes, I'll be on my way out. You’ll never notice I was
here after I clean it.”
Haruka observed him with a tender glance. Silently,
she lamented that what she had imagined had been just a figment of her
exhausted mind and body. However, the way he had held her hand and how he had
called for her had been very much real. Perhaps there was still a place for her
in his heart.
“It's ok, you don't have to hurry. I'm just glad
you're feeling better. Go ahead and sleep the rest of the day there if you want
to. I'm off to work anyway. Now where did I put my ranks?”
Ayato couldn't help but smile as Haruka frantically
roamed every drawer for the missing ranks. A curious feeling arose inside him,
the certainty that his life should have been similar to this curious scene;
that the notion of waking up beside her, of sharing small moments like this as
well as unbridled passion felt right in his heart and that it shouldn't be any
other way. He had expected to feel apprehension and nervousness for hanging
around her private space for so long. Instead, he had the intriguing sensation
that it was the most natural and logical thing for him to be there, to be with her, to be part of her life.
“Haruka-san, beside the lamp” Ayato pointed. Haruka
lifted her head and sighted in relief as she picked up the ranks and pinned
them to her uniform.
“Thanks Ayato-kun, you're a lifesaver. See ya!
Goodness, I'm so late! Colonel Kunugi will surely have a fit today!” she yelled
as she dashed away.
“No Haruka” Ayato whispered as he saw her off, basking
in the discovery of these new facts that gave him a new hope. “You're the one
who's a lifesaver.”
~Fin~
Glossary:
Shogi – Japanese game similar to chess
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Omake:
(Sayoko Nanamori, Haruka, Dr. Itsuki Kisaragi, Ayato
and Megumi are drinking coffee in front of the vending machines while taking a
break.)
Megumi: So you got sick as a dog last night? At
least you have something worth telling. Kim and I were as bored as you can get
last night. I hate the night shift!
Ayato: I don’t think passing out and been eaten up
by a high fever qualifies as excitement Megumi!
Megumi: Jerk, because of that onee-chan had to stay
up to take care of you.
Haruka: Okay, cut it out you two!
Itsuki: (Coughs dramatically) I think I’m going to
get sick too.
(Itsuki winks at Haruka. Haruka raises an eyebrow
while glaring at Itsuki. Nanamori’s car wiper sways loudly.)
Ayato: You should take care of that cold
Kisaragi-san. I was lucky enough Haruka-san was around to help me. (Ayato
smiles at Haruka and she goes all dovey eyed.)
Itsuki: (whispering to himself while staring coldly
at Ayato) You are indeed a lucky brat. (Leaning
towards Haruka) Say Haruka, if I was to be bedridden, would you have the
hospitality and good heart of taking care of me like you did with Ayato?
Haruka: I think Nanamori can do that. In fact she
would gladly volunteer for the duty.
(Sayoko nods emphatically)
Itsuki: (In a whispering tone so Haruka is the only
one who can hear him) Yes, but I think this will suit you better. (Shows Haruka a very small and revealing nurse outfit.)
-SLAP!-
Major Yagumo walks into the group. He sees Haruka
stomping away fuming while mumbling something that would make a pirate blush,
Nanamori glaring at Haruka, Megumi and Ayato sweatdropping and Itsuki holding
an ice pack to his eye.)
Well, I’m glad to see things are back to normal
around here. Shall we start the day?
(An alarm goes off)
Supporting cast: A D-1 signature located on Foxtrot
Sierra 2 perimeter!
Ayato sighs: Thanks goodness! I rather fight the Mu
than endure more of this!
~End~
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Author's notes:
So, what started as a sort of limey comedy of errors
and a conscious effort to write something along the M rating (triggered by a
really awful lemonfic I’d rather forget) ended up reading as a sort of pseudo
episode between 11 and 13. Inspiration can really do some weird things, but I
really like the end result. It almost feels like a prelude to my other story
“Reflections in D minor.” I especially enjoyed following and threading Itsuki's
growing jealousy from the Xmas Eve party up to Ep 13, not that torturing Ayato
and Haruka with their naughty dreams wasn't fun, mind you! ^^;
Well, I hope you've enjoyed this story. Reviews,
rants or any opinion you might wish to share are more than welcome. ‘Till the next one.
