VISION ||ONE-SHOT BOOK||

Nightmares

Eizan's eyes shot open as he tried to catch his breath, jolting up in a sitting position. He breathed out harshly as his hands went to hold his chest for his heart was beating heavily, with cold sweat forming on his forehead. His grey eyes quickly scanned his surroundings, quickly clocking in the fact that he wasn't in any debris filled area nor in any battlefield but in a comfortable bedroom. 

The air was silent for it was the dead of night. Eizan sighed out, his hands running down his snow white hair. 'A nightmare. It was just a nightmare..'

Eizan had come to realize that there were certain emotions, he couldn't care less for and guilt was one of them. It was only during the years of his emotional reawakening had the Ice-user begin to feel guilt. The source of which came from his past actions during his days under Silvester. He had done unspeakable things and the people he had killed were now coming back t haunt him. This was one of those nights where his memories caused the guilt to resurface and let the guilt seep into his subconscious, making Eizan wonder what happened during the day to trigger these memories he tries so hard to forget.

He expelled a sigh before getting up from the bed, making sure not to make any sound or create disturbance which would wake up the other occupant of the bed who was sound asleep and Eizan definitely didn't wish to get punched in the middle of the night. Smiling at her sleeping figure, he tiptoed out of the bedroom, heading straight for the kitchen.

Going near the sink, he splashed a handful of water on his face, giving him a cool relief almost instantly. Then he proceeded to grab a glass and fill it with water. He then took to sitting at the table and staring out of the window. The world was asleep and the only soft glow of the streetlamps illuminated the world outside. 

"Eizan?" Said a voice that he come to known as life itself. It was surprisingly gentle and not the characteristically strong-willed or bossy. Yet, it still managed to draw him out of his brooding state.

Instinctively Eizan turned to the direction of the sound, and there stood Yasha. She was trying to stifle her yawn as she reached for the switch. Eizan had to adjust with the sudden brightness of the room.

"What are you doing up this late?" The Ice-user inquired.

"I think it should be who would be asking that question." Yasha responded with a soft laugh.

Yasha moved to stand behind her husband, snaking her arms around his neck and brought them to rest against his chest. Eizan felt the familiar beat as Yasha's chest met his back and her chin settled on top of his head. 

His hands moved on their own accord and he was soon reaching for hers. Yasha opened them up to him so that they could intervene their fingers. Yasha leaned into Eizan but didn't ask any question, for she knew why he was awake. This wasn't something new to the couple.

"You weren't there to stop me from falling off the bed." The Shadow-user joked.

Changing the subject had always been her tactic as the years had taught her that Eizan didn't like to share particular parts of his past with her. Even though the past was the past, Eizan was still worried that if Yasha knew certain things, she would start seeing him differently. This was a notion he had created in his head and it was ridiculous to Yasha, but after many arguments after yearning to help, she had learned to accept his stance on the matter.

"You do move around a lot when you are on your own." Eizan acknowledged.

Yasha caught the hint of humor in his voice and giggled. However, before she could come up with a proper response to that she turned her head to spot a little boy of three who's looks were a marriage of her own and Eizan.

"Araysh?" Yasha asked in surprise, prompting Eizan to face his son as well. "What are you doing awake?"

Araysh's lower lips wobbled as he stood by the doorway, rubbing his eyes. "I can't sleep."

Eizan took a backseat then, for he had no idea how to deal with child-rearing situations. Fatherhood hadn't come to him naturally like motherhood had come for Yasha. 

Yasha, however was quick to pick up Araysh. "Come on, we should be asleep." She said before turning to Eizan and nodding. "All of us should."

Nodding Eizan and Yasha made way for the stairs that would lead them to their bedroom. As soon as she reached the top of the stairs, Yasha felt Araysh's grip on her tighten. She found herself frowning at her son's reaction, yet the situation resolved itself when she walked through Araysh's room. The boy soon relaxed in his mother's arms and Yasha found herself smiling at her son's relief. 

Laying him on the bed and pulling the blanket over him, Yasha and Eizan soon joined after their son. Araysh then settled for keeping hold of Eizan's arm by hugging it to his chest. The little boy sighed in content as he lay safely and tightly between his parents and soon enough his eyes drifted shut. Within a few minutes the boy was sleeping soundly.

Eizan then faced his face and spoke in whispers. "He said he couldn't sleep."

Yasha merely smiled before kissing her son's forehead. "He said he couldn't sleep on his own."

"Why?"

"Well let's just say you aren't the only one experiencing nightmares."

"Why would he? What could possibly haunt him? He is only three" Eizan asked as he watched Yasha tenderly brush away the strands of hair on Araysh's face. 

"You can still have fears for the future." Yasha whispered.

Still confused, Eizan prodded further. "What could he be afraid of?"

A look of past pain covered Yasha's features. "A thing that any child fears." She answered. "The loss of a parent."

She then lifted her eyes for a moment to ask. "Remember when you arrived two days late from your bodyguard mission?"

Eizan felt his heart freeze as Yasha's words finally struck him. 'Could it be?'

He quickly looked down at Araysh. It all made sense now. The reason why Araysh was holding onto him so tight. His son had been afraid for his life.

With shaky fingers, Eizan reached out to stroke his son's cheek, albeit awkwardly. It had taken hi years to develop the ability to express himself to Yasha, and even to this day he sometimes fall short of it. 

"I am here." He said earnestly before adding. "I am here and I will do better for you."

The corners of Araysh's lips curved up slightly then and Eizan's eyes widened as his heart ceased to beat. He wasn't sure whether Araysh was dreaming or he heard him but the effects were the same.

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