♥♠Ace of hearts【Nichu】♠♥

♠Chapter 4♥

'"You did what?!" He glares at me. I cringe and start shaking. He had never glared at me that fiercely. "I-I told Alfred... H-He saw the bruises! I-I had to!"

He gets up. I want to quickly run away, but both my fear and my pride are paralyzing me. My pride. I miss having something to be proud of. In the next seconds, he approaches me and a stinging pain rakes across my cheek once more.

I start crying, covering myself in a hopeless attempt to protect myself from another slap. I can still feel his glare on me, hear his growls.

"I should kill you." I can hear him clearly through my sobs. Would he? Would he really kill me? I know he can, but would he kill his boyfriend? The fear has started to numb my toes. My feet and hands feel cold.

I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him.

Stop!! It hurts! It hurts so much! Let go!

I thought he loved me back. I really, really thought so. He's just hurting you, Yao. Stop loving him. Can't you see what he has done to you?

Blood. Pain. Sweat. Cries and pleads for mercy, fists and feet hitting a bruised, bloodied and shakey sandbag called Yao.

My punishment. I hate you, Alfred. I shouldn't have told you. I told you not to call out on him. I. Told. You.

"STOP!! STOP PLEASE!!" I'm crying, feeling how my tears mix from the blood that my lip pours, numb but still in pain.

"I'm leaving you. Be grateful I didn't kill you."

Somehow, I feel relief on my chest as I hear him slamming the door shut. This has finally ended...'

Yao shot up on the bed, hugging the blankets tightly and holding back a scream.

His little frame trembled violently, shaking after each sob. Tears flow, thick and painful, down his damp cheeks. He realised that he was sweating, feeling how his long, silky hair sticked to his skin.

To his horror, he could check that he still had nightmares. It had only been something more than a week since it happened, but he really wanted to get it off his mind.

It was scary, how a dream can bring a exact moment back to you, as distorted from what really happen it may be. In fact, he had never been beaten up by his ex. At least, not physically. Only emotionally.

But the feelings were exactly the same. The physical injuries in his dream had been nothing but insults; the blood had only been tears.

Alfred had never found Yao's bruises, because he didn't have bruises at all. He had only find Yao's internal damage and pain, his broken heart.

Maybe, the only real part of his dream was the relief as the door shut, taking that man away.

It was curious how Yao related his emotions and feelings during that relationship to being brutally beaten up.

It was five in the morning. Yao had curled up, hugging his knees and curling his toes. He had wiped his eyes and sweat, unable to stop the sobs. His breathing was agitated, almost like he needles to take a breath with every beat of his racing heart.

'Yao. Calm down. It was only a nightmare.'

The Chinese man clenched his teeth, slowly calming himself as the bloody images from his dream faded, making his chest stop aching.

He got up and slowly stopped shaking. The dark circles under his amberish eyes were a little more evident than they were the previous day.
Yao made himself a green tea, which quickly helped him to relax. He didn't care if green tea wasn't supposed to be a calming tea. It was Yao's favorite, and that was enough.

He clutched his phone close, turning it on. He felt much better, thanks to the tea and the lights he had turned on. As quickly as he could, he opened his Skype and messaged Kiku.

<<I hope I'm not waking you up... I need help, Kiku. I've had a horrible nightmare. I feel like I need to tell you why Alfred introduced me to you. Please tell me when you read this, I want to see you today.>>

Sighing shakily, he tied his hair up into a high ponytail and ran a hand through his flowing bangs, drying off the sweat.

It was nothing wrong to start his day at five in the morning, he only had to go to sleep early that night and his sleeping schedule would be fixed again.

At least, until the next nightmare.

♠~·~♥~·~♠

Kiku woke up three hours after Yao had sent him that message. Eight in the morning felt like a nice time to wake up for the Japanese man.

He fed Pochi and stroked him, smiling at his happy barks, and made a green tea for himself.

He could have made coffee to fill his spirit with energy, but a warm green tea was too tempting for Kiku that morning. His favourite kind of tea.

He widened his eyes as he read Yao's message, instantly -and irrationally- feeling guilty for being asleep by the time Yao had woken up. He quickly texted back.

<<Oh my, what happened? I'm sorry, I'm here. And of course, I'll pick you up when I finish breakfast. Where do you live?>>

After a few minutes, Yao replied. Kiku would never know about the little smile that formed in the Chinese's lips when he got his message.

<<No no, don't be sorry! I'm better now. And thanks! I live in the block next to Alfred, in the eleventh floor. My name's on the door.>>
<<I see, well, see you in around fifteen minutes!>>
<<See you!>>

Kiku got dressed quickly. It was still very hot outside, he just needed a loose tank top and his khaki shorts.

He pet Pochi gently and mumbled a few sweet words to him, before quickly walking out of his block, picking his pace up to walk fast, yet not to run.