Fear

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*Fear*~

~Chapter Two~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yaten woke to the morning sun streaming through her window. She moaned softly, taking in the warmth and using it to warm her chilled body. Sitting up, she brushed hair and sleep out of her eyes with a careless wave. Her peridot eyes looked over at the sleeping figure in the chair beside her bed. She smiled. Taiki always looked so peaceful while he slept...

The grin suddenly dropped from her face as he turned his head and his eyes opened. His normally-bright violet eyes were dull and faded, more of a greyish-lavender than the deep colour she was used to. She didn't need her powers for this: she knew in her heart that this was completely unnatural.

"Taiki?" Her voice was strangled with fear. Leaning forward, Yaten took his hand. "Taiki, please. Wake up. You're scaring me."

Her voice did nothing to help; in fact, his eyes paled even more in colour. Soon they were deep grey, and steadily turning black. Yaten's throat constricted. She had to wake him before that happened. She had to. It was just something she had to keep from happening.

She sat up straight and shifted until she sat in front of him. Reaching out, she put her hands on both his shoulders. "Taiki, please. Come on. Wake up. You have to." When he didn't respond, she shook him.

Nothing changed. She did it again, trying to shake him awake. This time, he blinked. When he opened his eyes again, they were back to normal. He looked around, looking rather confused. "What happened?" He asked her. She shook her head. "I don't know. You were, like, dazed, I think. It was scary."

"Oh...I'm sorry, Yaten." He smiled sheepishly. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay." Yaten ruffled the teen's auburn hair. "I know you didn't."
Hugging him, she buried her face in his shoulder. As nonchalant as she was acting, she really had been worried sick about him. He was one of her best friends...just the thought that something might be trying to hurt him sent shivers up and down her spine.

Taiki held her close, feeling her shake. Making soft shushing noises out of habit, he gently ruffled her silver hair. "It's okay, Yaten. I'm fine." He kissed the top of her head gently.

As she felt his hands gently slide through her hair, Yaten relaxed. Her hold on him loosened, her eyelids drooped. There was nothing unnatural about this; this happened every time anyone Yaten trusted played with her hair. Soon she was asleep, dozing against him, her head tucked under his chin. Her sparkling green eyes were closed, her arms around his waist. Her head rested against his chest, rising and falling slowly to the rhythm of his breathing. Unconsciously, her hand moved until it rested on his chest next to her head.

Taiki gently held that hand with one of his own. His other hand was still sliding through the liquid silver of Yaten's hair. She was so beautiful. He nuzzled the top of her head affectionately, wishing that he could do more.

But you can...

"Wha-?" Taiki looked around, stunned. No one answered, but the hairs on the back of his neck rose as he realized he felt like he was being watched. When he turned around to check, Yaten stirred restlessly in his arms. He turned back to sit properly in the chair, but still looked around uneasily. Holding her close, he tried to use her Presence, her scent, to chase off the feelings.

"Taiki?" Yaten's soft, sleepy voice drifted into his ears. He glanced down to see that she was looking up at him, a worried and concerned look in her eyes. He smiled, "Don't worry, Yaten. I'm fine."

She pulled away from him, yawning. Slipping her arm around his, she clung to him a little. "I love how safe I feel with you..."

Taiki blinked, blushing a soft pink. Yaten, not noticing this, continued. "Whenever I feel insecure, or like I'm in danger, it always takes one hug from you to make me feel safe again." She looked up at him, confusion on her sleep-softened features. "Why is that?"

The auburn-haired teen sighed a little. "I would never, ever hurt you, Yaten. I think that's why." He smiled slightly, ruffling her hair. Before she could slip back into dreamland, Yaten stood, pulling away from her taller friend and stretching.

She turned back to face him, smiling. "That's good."

With that, Yaten left him. Taiki stood as well, looking around one more time. Satisfied that no one was there, he left the room as well. But chills swept up and down his spine when, as he was leaving the room, he thought he caught the sound of some cold, menacing voice laughing. He shivered. Shaking his head to rid it of the sound, he turned to leave the room.

~*That night*~

Taiki stirred restlessly in his sleep. His face, normally calm and serene while he slept, was twisted into a mask of what could only be described as distress. He moaned softly, sounding upset. His body suddenly jerked and threw him back into consciousness. Breathing hard, he sat up, clutching at the blankets wrapped around his lean form.

Trying to stop himself from hyperventilating, he forcibly slowed his breathing. Everything was fine. It had only been a dream. Now that he was awake, he couldn't even remember what he'd been dreaming about. Dreams were funny like that. Goosebumps slithered over all his exposed flesh as he remembered a single thing, a voice, not so different from his own, saying Isn't this what you wished for?

"No." Taiki said aloud, although what he was denying, he wasn't sure. Was it the voice itself? What the voice was saying? Or something else?

Are you sure you know what you want?

Every hair on the auburn-haired teen's arms and neck stood straight out from his skin. Eyes wide, he searched the room for any sign that someone was there. "Hello?" He called.

I thought you were the smart one...guess I was wrong...

Taiki opened his mouth to answer, paused in thought, then shut it again. Pressing two fingers to his left temple, he tried again, only calling with his mind rather than his voice. *Hello?*

Good boy. I guess you're smarter than I thought.

The auburn-haired teen blushed hotly at the insult. *Who are you? What are you doing in my head?!*

I'm here to help you.

*With what? Assuring me of the fact that I'm crazy?*

I'm here to get you what you want. You're a fairly shy person. I'm here to break you of that.

Taiki began to shake a little. What was he saying? *What do you mean?*

You have someone you care about, don't you? Someone you want to know how you feel? You just don't want to scare her...right?

Taiki's blood turned to ice. *How do you know about Yaten?!* He cried silently, feeling himself blush again. Damn it all, why was this happening now?!

I can help you tell her. In fact, I can tell her for you.

*How?*

Oh, don't worry. You just have to trust me.

The world suddenly began to whirl. Taiki's eyelids drooped; he was suddenly really tired. He leaned back, lying against the pllows on his bed and as he fell asleep, a soft, ringing laughter broke out. If the auburn-haired teen had been awake, it would have chilled him to the bone.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I'm being terrible, I know. But don't worry...next chapter is longer, I promise!