Let Me Dry Your Tears I

Characters are my friend Jessica's.

On the second floor, another man, named Kyou, stirs, scowling. He could hear it again, Akihiko...And that woman. Hana? She was supposed to be cleaning up the place. The rage grew, his heart burning in his chest. Just a bit more, he thought to himself. The anger was starting to cut into him, as the woman's screams infiltrated his covered ears.

We were supposed to be one. Just me and him. And now...I'm nothing to him. The thoughts flew through his mind, as the woman, Hana let out a final scream.

☼☼☼

Akihiko growled, as he forced himself in and out of Hana, pushing the back of her head into the bed. Her screams were growing less and less, as time went on. Soon, she'd be just like others before her. He let go of her head, his other hand leaving a deep welt on her shoulder.

Hana squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the floes of pleasure thrusting through her. Her tears were drying, but the unshakable hurt remained, leaving her bitter.

Master...Master...F**k you, Master.

He pulled out of her, smiling. “It's been a long day, Hana. How's about a cleanup, and you can take your leave.” He frowned, as he stared at her. She was bowed, her head in her arms. “I said MOVE!” He turned, and left, slamming the door behind him.

Hana stretched, her sore body rolling off the mattress. She stood up, her face contorting as she felt his semen leak out of her. It had been a week since that first time. That first time. The day he showed what kind of person he really was. She yanked the sheets off of the bed, the tears coming quickly, as she turned and stared back at the door.

No more, Master. I can't take it. She lifted the mattress, slipping the knife from Akihiko's beloved set. It had been there all day...But she couldn't bring herself to do it. The tears welled up in her eyes, as she slipped into a robe, sliding the knife into her side pocket.

It's over, Master. No more.

☼☼☼

It was time. Kyou had his own castle, yeah. He stalked down the path, his heart bitter, his fists balled. He shook his head, letting out a large cloud from his warm breath. And Hana...

She may have been the end of what we had...But it wasn't her.

He shook his head, his teeth biting into his lip. As much as he wanted to hate her for ruining what he had, he couldn't. It wasn't her, wasn't her at all. She was always kind, and gracious, even with the nasty job of cleaning up after everything. And...He could look into her eyes, and see the innocence within. That sweet innocence. So unassuming, and sweet.

Until about a week ago. Something in her died. The bright youth in her eyes vanished, as did the spark of life. That first night he heard the screams and moans from below. The very evening, when he had risen, furious, and was stopped by her dead gaze.

He couldn't live like this anymore. He walked the path into the forest, a deep frown emblazoned on his features. No more of that poor, but now vacuous woman. No more of that unfeeling vampire. A small plan started to work it's way into the back of his skull, and he smiled. Akihiko's head would be his. For the heartache. For the hate. For the life of that young woman...

Your death is imminent, Akihiko. And it will be my pleasure.

He stopped for a second, his thoughts interrupted by the pattering of feet near the path. He frowned, and looked around him, the darkness covering up most of the foliage. The steps were close, but he couldn't see who had made them. Following his ears, he broke through the branches off the path, following close behind.

☼☼☼

Hana stalked through the forest, her steely gaze fixed on the blade. Well made out of carbon steel, it was a beautiful weapon. And the perfect weapon...Her eyes welled up again, her heart pounding hard. Away from the lights, away from everything. Where nobody would have to see her again.

She stopped, looking around her. The forest was eerily silent, the lights from the city now out of sight. She had gone off the path that so many had taken before...Even herself when Akihiko had send her out. Aided by only the light of the moon, she knelt, slipping out of her robe, the sharp knife in her hand. Staring closely at the blade, she let out a long breath, staring at her wrist.

The first slice didn't hurt much. The dark blood pooled on the ground, as she stared silently. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting the blade dig deeper into her wrist, the arteries and the veins both exploding, and she let out a scream, her vision growing faint.

Not long, now.

She dropped the blade, her arm going slack, as blood poured in rivulets down her hand, pooling on the ground. She fell to the ground, smiling in spite of herself, as the night sky slowly turned white, her vision slowly leaving her.

It's over, Master.

She let out a gasp, as she was scooped up suddenly, her muddy, naked body limp in the unknown stranger's arms. She let out an astonished cry, as the stranger tore a length off of his own shirt, tying it around her wrist. She blinked, her eyes still blind to the world, as the stranger spoke.

“I saw the bloody knife! What the f**k were you trying to do?!” It was Kyou...The submissive. She blinked, her vision coming back to her, as he laid her on the ground. “I know we both have problems, but this is anything but.” He stared down at her, his mouth arching downwards. It was almost too late, she was already too weak to speak. He hugged her, her bloody resting limply on the back of his neck. “It'll be alright...For the both of us.” The tears came quickly, as the realization came to him.

Akihiko. She didn't deserve this. He could see it in her tortured eyes now.

☼☼☼

The night was agonizingly long, as he sat by her side, his own face downcast. Staring at the moon...It would still be three more hours until the sun rose. The life had returned slowly to Hana's eyes, as her body slowly healed itself. He sat, his eyes closed, as she stirred.

“Hana?”

Her voice was weak. “Kyou...I don't know why you saved me.” She wiped the spittle from her mouth, her eyes glancing on the rag tied around her wrist. “I can't take it anymore...I couldn't bear to look at him again.”

He shook his head, fiercely. “And you won't. I'd be happy if his existence was wiped from this earth.” His eyes watered, as he stared down at her thin form. “You...And I both.” He parted the hair from her eyes, smiling slightly at the faint signs of life coming back to her. “I won't let you live like that, ever again.” He sighed, staring at the moon. It would be dawn soon.

He got to his feet, kneeling down to Hana. “Let me take you to my own castle.” He scooped her up, her slender body nearly as light as air. Her eyes were still weak...But the wounds had scabbed over, the bloody knife lying in the dirt some distance away.

He moved quickly through the night, sliding into his own door, lying Hana on his neat bed, her body still limp. He stared into her eyes, and left her, as the day turned.

☼☼☼

It had been a couple of weeks. With not a single sign from Akihiko, Hana had recovered well, the scars the only trace of her injury. She had volunteered to work for him, despite his arguments to the contrary, insisting that he saved her. In her own mind, her heart fluttered as she stared at Kyou, knowing how close she had been to the end.

“Hana.” Kyou stared at her from his bed, as she bustled around, cleaning up as usual.

“Yes?” She bent over the table, and his face flushed, feeling somewhat filthy, as he stared at her milky white thighs.

“Do...Do you think you could ever love again?” He took a long breath, letting out a long sigh, as she stood up, quickly.

“What do you mean?” She turned, staring at his slowly reddening face. For being who he was, he had been so sweet...Tending to her, demanding that she not do all the housework...In her own mind, he had more then replaced Akihiko...Ugh, Akihiko. She couldn't even think of that name without her stomach turning. Her heart swelled, as she stared into the pools of his eyes.

She was there...All of her again. The poise, the innocence. Even the spark of beautiful life she had, had come back to her. She was even beautiful, and now, for the moment, he couldn't even remember that night. The look in her eyes was bright, as he looked down, afraid of hurting her...But never wanting anyone so much, ever in his life. “Hana...” His voice broke, and the tears came, sliding down his cheeks. “I don't want you to ever be hurt like that, ever again.” He stood, taking her in his arms.

“I wouldn't want to hurt you either.” Her voice was short, as she took the back of his head in her hands, his back trembling. Her heart swelled at the same time, an enormous lump forming in her throat. “And we won't hurt each other...”