To Hold a Dove

Nightmares

Note* Sorry this chapter is really short, but it does have meaning. Take a look ;)

Chapter nine:

Nightmares

SHINARA POV

It was the middle of the night when Kudo woke up in a cold sweat. For the past several weeks she had been having the reoccurring nightmare of meeting the boss of BO and him shooting everyone she cared about before turning to her and shooting her. She knew they weren't real, but she couldn't help but feel like perhaps it was a warning to her to be on the lookout.

"Kudo?" asked a tired voice from the door.

Harley stepped inside. She had been staying over regularly every weekend to make sure that Kudo ate and exercised properly while giving Ai and Agasa a chance to take a break from "baby sitting duty" as Kudo had called it. Something she adamantly argued against, saying she was not a child and that she was in fact, an independent adult who has raised herself since she was four years old. To which of course, Agasa, Ai, and Harley all ignored her ranting and raving and watched over her anyways.

"You alright Kudo?" Harley asked again after she got close enough to see the sweat perspiring on Shinara's forehead and the short breaths she was taking as though having had a fright of some sort.

"Y-yeah Harley, just a nightmare. Sorry if I woke you."

"Nah", muttered Harley sitting beside Kudo on her bed, "I was awake. Had to go to the bathroom but when I heard a startled yell I wanted to come check."

Shinara didn't say anything to that and Harley just watched her a moment before slowly reaching out and rubbing her back gently.

"Care to let me know what you dreamt about?" she asked.

Shinara sighed as she turned to Harley.

"The night we took down the black organization, you know how the boss, Vermouth, Bourbon, Chianti, and a few others got away?"

Harley nodded, seeing where this was going.

"I dreamt they came and killed everyone and then they killed me last after making me watch my friends and family die."

Shinara tucked her head into her knees as she curled in on herself, shivering as she tried to control the sobs that wanted to come out.

"Hey, hey", whispered Harley in concern when she noticed the shaking. She wrapped her arms around her best friend and held her close to her chest as Shinara felt some tears escape down her face.

"S-sorry", whispered Shinara.

Harley shook her head and smiled.

"You have nothing to be sorry about Kudo. We all are to blame for letting those guys go and after all you have been through, you have a right to cry a little."

Shinara laughed but it quickly turned into a sob as she worried about what the future might hold for herself and those around her. It was a rare moment, but it was a moment Shinara needed to help regain herself. She hadn't grieved at all, no matter what happened to her after she had been turned into Christie, but now that she was herself again...she couldn't help but want to mourn the past and all she had lost to get to where she was now. She didn't know what the future held, but she sure as God is her witness, was going to do her upmost to make sure it was nothing like the nightmare she had just had. No one! Will die on her watch.