• CHAPTER 84 - NAP TIME

    ...I'll never sleep normally again.

    So yeah, I was probably way too emotional when I gave Kai my offer. That's one thing I hate about being a girl; I'm always hormonal. Luckily Kai forgave me for my stupid act and we made up...not that we were in an argument in the first place. I was just so happy that he was willing to wait; he's not the kind of person to rush or push somebody.

    I swear my camisole has a mind of its own; it was rolled up my stomach halfway up and my left strap was down my arm and the top of my camisole managed to slip down low enough to reveal half of my bra to whoever would see me. It didn't make any sense; Kai and I weren't that rough during our kissing.

    Panic overcame me and I immediately adjusted my camisole after I jumped off of the bed. Kai slipped a collared shirt on over his tank top and sighed at my overreaction. I hated overreacting so much! Why can't I just be normal in one way?!

    "You're not the only one who wishes that," Kai chuckled.

    I chucked a dirty shirt at him that I found on the floor, "Shut up, I know that,"

    "Whatever," he smiled. "I'll be downstairs."

    He shut the door behind him to allow me some privacy. Privacy wasn't needed though since I wasn't changing my clothes. I opted to stay in my camisole and a pair of clean undies because they were way too comfortable. The only privacy needed was in my head.

    I just overreacted not too long ago because I was even closer to having sex with Kai. Either way, we weren't going to but it was closer than it was on prom night last night. I found it cruel that Kai tested me, but in a way I was thankful because it made me realize that I shouldn't give myself up for anybody. I love Kai dearly, but he just taught me not to do whatever he wants. I should respect my body...I shouldn't become a toy.

    Tripping down the stairs was a sure happening after I changed my undies and exited the bedroom. Luckily I caught myself on the railing halfway down and turned scarlet in the process. I stumbled down the rest of the stairs and groaned after noticing the half-inch splinter that jutted from the ball of my hand.

    "Owww," I complained and landed safely on the living room ground.

    Kai rose from the couch and grabbed my hand gently. He sighed after examining the damage and he chuckled quietly. Beaming at him and his sick humor didn't help the pain any and he lightly pressed his lips against the splinter. I flinched as I felt his teeth lightly grab the top of the splinter after a couple of tries. The pain worsened a little as he pulled back slowly, taking the splinter in his teeth with him. After placing the small splinter in his shirt pocket he pressed his thumbs around the tiny hole in my hand and sucked at the blood that oozed out. It was much deeper than I thought; more than a half-inch splinter.

    "I'm such a stupid klutz," I complained again, "but thank you."

    Kai's thumbs kept pressing around the small wound and Kai continued to drink the few drops of blood that continued to ooze out. I was off in a different world until I felt Kai's fangs stab the surface of my skin. I nudged my hand enough for him to notice and he pulled his mouth away from my hand.

    "Oh," he came into realization, "sorry."

    "It's okay," I sighed. "It just hurt a little."

    Kai came back with a band-aid after he teleported in and out of the bathroom downstairs. His hands pressed the band-aid onto the ball of my hand and he kissed the band-aid after he was finished. The squeak that came from the front door made me jump and I pulled my hand away from Kai's. Before I could run upstairs and get dressed--as I should have beforehand but never acknowledged they'd all be back--Kira popped into the living room with a huge grin on his face.

    "Hi, lovebirds!" Kira greeted.

    Kira took notice of my revealing attire and grinned wider. I hid behind Kai with a red face and Kai sighed deeply at Kira. Takeuchi came in with excitement, probably hearing what Kira had to say in his head.

    "It's about time!" Takeuchi cheered.

    "We didn't do anything," Kai sighed again.

    "Then what's with the skimpy attire and the crazy hair?" Kira laughed.

    I panicked and patted down my hair. No attempt could tame the knots from the sleep and the kissing so I let it be, "Nothing happened,"

    "Don't you love the smell of guilt, Kira?" Takeuchi wrapped an arm around Kira's shoulders.

    "My fave," Kira smiled.

    Guilt actually was overcoming me. Kai and I were so close...twice. If Kira and Takeuchi found out, I'd be done for. I wrapped my arms around myself and groaned a little.

    "I'm not feeling so good," I mumbled.

    "What's wrong?" Kai turned to me.

    "My stomach is a little upset,"

    Matsuda entered the living room with an armful of groceries and Orihime came in slowly, pushing Miku in her wheelchair, "Takeuchi, you butthead!" Miku shouted. "You forgot me and Toshihiro outside!"

    "Oh," Takeuchi frowned. "Sorry, babe."

    "Arisa, you might want to head to bed now," Matsuda suggested. "We can't have you missing anymore school."

    I nodded and headed up the stairs. Kai followed shortly behind and we both managed to ignore Kira and Takeuchi's encouraging cheers for something that never happened. I slid into bed with Kai's assistance and he sat himself down next to me on the edge of the bed. He pushed back my bangs a little and sighed with a mocking smile on his face.

    "Sick again, huh?" he chuckled. "And so suddenly."

    "I don't understand anything about me," I mumbled.

    "There has always been something different about you since I met you," Kai frowned. "I could never figure it out."

    "I've been queezy since our kissing," I frowned. "Does that mean something?"

    Kai laughed, "My kissing got you sick?"

    "Could be," I murmured.

    "I'm sure it's just nerves," Kai chuckled. "From prom, that stupid offer, and graduation."

    "What time is it?"

    Kai glanced over at the clock, "Three,"

    "In the afternoon?"

    "Yeah,"

    I sighed and played with my hair, "I guess I could take a little nap,"

    "That should be good,"

    I sighed again, "Wake me up when dinner is ready?"

    Kai nodded, "Of course," he leaned over and pecked my forehead. "Now sleep."

    My head nodded on its own and I fell asleep immediately, not expecting such a rude awakening.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    .:{{Dream in Arisa's Perspective}}:.

    "Has anybody else seem the stars this bright?" I mumbled to myself in curiosity.

    I sighed while I placed my hands behind my head and lay down on the long grass on a random hill. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and surprisingly, the moon wasn't even visible. The only noise there was, was my sighing and the occasional breeze that blew through the grass and through the leaves of the giant tree that hovered above me. Ironically, I wasn't afraid although I was alone. I didn't know where Kai was.

    My left hand hovered above my face and my engagement ring gleamed. The promise that wrapped around my ring finger was mine forever, no matter the degree. Kai and I belonged together, even when we were apart as we are on a night like this. Not only does the ring signify he's always with me, but he left an imprint right in my heart.

    A rustle in the grass caused me to shot upright but I frowned after realizing it was only the breeze again. I checked the time on my cell phone and it read one in the morning. I've never really been up so late before; very seldom.

    The house was too far away so I opted to take a nap until Kai came back to get me. Even though I was sure Kai didn't know where I was, I was sure he would track me down. I lie myself down on my back and folded my hands against my stomach.

    There was a silhouette hovering above me but I didn't take notice until it was too late. I had figured it was a tree but it was in the shape of a man. A large hand clasped against my throat and my air supply was instantly cut off. My eyes snapped open and I tried to gasp for air. I started punching the arm of whoever was choking me. My eyes started adjusting a little and I freaked out as soon as I realized it was still the same Vampire from all of my other nightglares; I was having another nightglare?

    "What a shame," the Vampire seethed, "that a guy like Kai would fall for a worm like you."

    "Ah..." I squeaked and moved my head back to look behind me and sure enough, Kai was standing against the tree.

    "That's it, look into his eyes as you die," the nomad chuckled darkly.

    Kai's face was the same as any other nightglare; ashamed. He kept clenching his fists on and off and would look away for a couple of seconds at a time. He looked as though he wanted to stop this Vampire, to destroy him. I wanted to cry out Kai's name and escape from this Vampire. But of course, this nightglare will end like all the others with--

    "This," the Vampire finished my sentence before he brutally drug the talons of his right hand across my jugular veins and my airway.

    I was unable to scream; his left hand was still clasped to my throat. I started kicking around and continued to punch the nomad's arm. My vision was blurred from the tears from my fear and from the choking. The feeling of my blood running down my neck made me want to get sick. My kicking and punching was slowing down dramatically and my vision was blurring.

    "K...Kai..." I managed to squeak out.

    The nomad squeezed my throat harder and I was fearing the worst, next to dying. The fear came true and he snapped my neck right in half. My screaming and shrieking was absent as was my movement. The tears were unstoppable now and I could feel my life slipping even faster. I wanted to glance back at Kai once more and tel him I loved him.

    The nomad only smirked and leaned over to lick the blood off of the right side of my neck. I was in so much pain from my neck and my throat and my blood draining. Once more, Kai is unable to save me.

    My jaw was gripped roughly by the Vampire and I squeezed my eyes shut before he could snap it in half...

    "Kai!!" I shouted and shot upright in the bed.

    After half a second of waking up, Kai was already in the bedroom and at my side. I gripped my hair and curled up in a tight ball, hoping to cut off the rest of the world of Vampires away from me. I wiped some sweat off of my forehead and kept myself in the ball. Kai climbed onto the bed and wrapped his secure arms around me.

    "Arisa, Arisa, calm down," he whispered to me.

    "Oh God, Kai..." I groaned and cupped my hands against my throat.

    A long pause occupied the room until Matsuda opened the door and came in, "What happened?"

    "A moment, please," Kai asked Matsuda.

    Matsuda left the room hesitantly and Kai kissed my head. He leaned me against my torso while I stayed curled up in my secure ball. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply after feeling the shadow pain of the bite and the gashes and the snapping of my neck.

    "Arisa..." Kai whispered, "it was another nightglare, wasn't it?"

    I didn't want to lie, so I nodded my head, "Yeah..."

    "It's okay, Arisa, it's okay," he whispered in my ear. "It's just a dream."

    I pushed myself away from Kai, infuriated, "What?!"

    Before Kai could answer, I cut him off, "That's not just a dream, Kai, that's a nightmare that's predicting my death!" tears started building up. "How could you tell me it's just a dream?!"

    I didn't want Kai to answer; I leaned against his torso again and continued my deep breathing. how could Kai just say it's a dream? I want that to be as true as he wants it to be, but it's something I can't escape; it's predicting my death for crying out loud!

    "I'm sorry, Arisa," Kai stroked my head.

    "It's okay," I mumbled. "I understand what you're trying to say."

    Kai held me a little closer, "I'm trying all I can,"

    "I know, I know," I answered a little too rude.

    If I've had three or four nightglares within two and a half months...when will I die? It's something I need to know, but it's impossible to find out. When it happens, it happens...

    ...But how much longer until I say goodbye to Kai?