Chapter 22 - Bitter

-Yuki- -Dream-

The sun reflected off his sparkling blue eyes, like the glistening of a clear like, able to see her face in them. His blonde head against her shoulder as they sat on the bench behind the school, watching him sucking on a lollipop against the yellow light that rained down on them.

Perhaps she was deaf, no cicadas were buzzing or that pleasant warmth of sunlight against your skin. Wind blowing through their hair or perhaps the heavy feeling of his head which was leaning against her shoulder.

Looking up at her maybe he said something but she didn't know what, a sleazy expression on his face as he combed his hands through her short hair. Rolling the candy in his mouth with his tongue, teasing her as he pretended to go in for a kiss.

Grabbing hold of her hand with a sly smirk, faceless people rushing around the school grounds and corridors. Her sight blurring as his warm hands urged her along the stairs.

The rooftop.

She never really liked this place, but the one thing that made up for it was the plants that grew there. It made sense to make a little garden here because the white concrete was always the warmest here, small potted flowers and a large maple tree that had been planted in from when it first opened. It was a little messy, but it was a good place to hide from the teachers... everyone I suppose.

Resting against the back of the tree, she saw the blonde boy grab her hand tugging on a plastic red wristband. Pulling on her hand as she her eyes struggled to clear, she felt warm lips against her cheek, forehead and lips.

The joy in his eyes evident as he wrapped his arms around her waist, knocking his head against her own. Sitting on top of her with a smile on her face, looking into her face, she saw his mouth move slower than usual, being able to read his lips.

"Yukari."

Grabbing hold of her hand his fingers tracing the scar on her palm, suddenly her eyes looked down at the white concrete.

The warmth of his hands drifting away as she- almost as if the white concrete was the only thing she could see, Alex's figure seeming so far away from her. However she was able to see his face, expression everything clearly.

Looking back up to him with uncertainty as to take his hand, she looked back down and saw smudges of blood on the white floor. Her bare white feet, smothered in red as small footprints were made against the plastic white floor.

Faceless bodies behind her oozing with blood and unmoving, a little more certain to get away from it and holding out her hand to him. Blood drenched her hands, the scar on her hand opened up looking at him a little quickly as if desperate.

However, the look on his face was different. He was still smiling, his hand still reaching out for her but it didn't seem real. As if his face was peeling away or was wearing a mask... perhaps there was no love nor adoration. Joy.

Happiness that a person like her was suffering, getting what she deserved. He was just teasing her, playing with her- there was no reason why he would hold her hand. Like teasing a caged animal with dangling pieces of meat.

Unable to tell what he was trying to do-whether or not he was being sincere enough. Wouldn't it hurt more?

She suddenly felt a hand squeezing her neck as her hearing heightened.

"Yukari, father is sorry, it must hurt so much. But don't worry you'll be able to join mommy and daddy soon. We just need to get rid of all this dirty blood okay? Father promises to look after you forever especially when your too weak to do anything." The voice whispered in her ear, his icy cold hands squeezing her small fingers.

***

A series of low and repetitive beeps, against her ear made her flinch as blood shot eyes shot open. Pulling off the black circular clip-on earring, her hands tremblings as she forced herself to sit up on the bed.

Sliding out of the silk sheets, her hands still unconsciously trembling although her face showed no signs of trauma or upset. Hair messily wafting behind her as she sluggishly walked into the walk in wardrobe.

Directly to the back where she stopped in front of a large black dresser, the sound of light purring making her rapid heart rate calmer. Tugging one of the knobs, the illusion of the four dresser drawers folded upwards revealing a sliding door. Opening it up to reveal an empty space, she climbed in and following behind her so did the large Jaguar.

Pressing her head gently against his chest, nimble fingers felt around the side where a built in shelf stood. Grabbing a pillow with her eyes squeezed shut, not being able to look at it. She tightly grasped the red wristband in her clenched fist, neither able to throw the thing away.

The small dark space that she only knew about as well as the mixture of growls and purring in her ear helped her return to normal. Her hands caressing his ears gently with a tired smile, the nightmare-a thought completely tossed in the garbage at the back of her mind.

Narrowing slightly at how she thought the "alarm clock" worked. Not being able to explain the reason why she wakes up screaming or doesn't even sleep... that's something she doesn't want to even think about doing.

So she tampered around with the thought of making something that would not only help wake her up in the midst of a nightmare, but would also lessen the stress levels brought about from them.

"I got more than 99 problems but you ain't one", she said laughing bitterly. Moving her face side to side as his long tongue aimed for her face.