Beast

Chapter 18

That night Ash didn't say a word, instead she took a shower then went to bed. Sakura also exhausted did the same and drifted off to sleep. That night Ash woke her up, panting loudly like she was trying to catch her breath. Sakura then rolled over pretending to settle into her bed but instead secretly spying on the woman. Ash looked, to say the least, like sh*t. Her face and light blue shirt were soaked in sweat, her hair was messier and her face was pale almost looking like she was going to vomit. Once she caught her breath she walked out of the room, grabbing her jacket that sat on the edge of the bed and slipped it on the headed out, and Sakura heard the front door shut. Sakura quickly got out of bed, and grabbed a jacket then also headed out to see what she was doing. Was it prying? Yes. Did she care? No,... Well maybe. She watched as Ash made her way up the stairs and to the roof where she soon followed. When Ash reached the roof she sat on the edge of the building and watched the stars while she played music from a small portable radio. Sakura watched as Ash relaxed and began to loosen all the tensions that had bound her. That was something that Sakura had noticed about Ash, she always seemed free spirited. Always acting as if nothing and no one could stop her. Sakura used to just  think of Ash like this and leave it at that but she soon noticed the shackles attached to her wrists ankles and neck, with long sturdy chains attached to the ground. Ash acted like she had no idea that these shackles existed trying to have people see her as a non broken soul full of life the over fulled her cup. Ash tried to divert everyone's attention from the large crack in her cup. That poor girl. Sakura had to be reminded that Ash was only eighteen years old, such a sad life that she lived. Taken from her family at five, sold in human trafficking, raised to be a murderer, then went to war, then picked up a young boy who she gave her heart and soul to, then having him die. What a tragedy. Sakura had once thought that her life was garbage, that her life with her mom and friends was garbage, that a roof over her head, heat, food, and open arms, was trash. That all changed when she learned about the broken woman who sat their on the edge of a building looking at the stars, playing old melancholy songs from a radio, right after having a mental breakdown. This woman who had no reason to accept helping Sakura opened her arms widely and beckoned Sakura to come and embrace her in a hug, like Sakura was the hurting one. Sakura sat their on the stairwell just fuming at her one stupidity to a point where she almost missed it. The soft melody that flowed from the lips that could only be perceived as an angle. Sakura looked for who could possibly be making this noise when she noticed Ash smiling and her lips moving to form the words. So Sakura relaxed and let herself this pleasure of hearing one of the woman's most kept secrets.

"Fly me to the moon

Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and MarsIn other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss meFill my heart with song
and let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adoreIn other words, please be true
In other words, I love youFill my heart with song
Let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adoreIn other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
In other words, I love you."

Frank Sinatra

When the song reached its end and the speaker began his announcements, Sakura had fallen asleep. Ash turned off the radio when her senses finally came back and warned her of danger. She quickly scoured the area before her searching for any trouble, when she noticed Sakura sitting on the stairwell knees tucked into her chest jacket pulled tightly around her asleep. Ash smiled and went to grab the girl and carried her back bridal style. When they reached the house, Ash put Sakura to bed and she headed to the living room where she spent the rest of the night reading. Her mind began to wonder when she thought of Sakura hearing her sing. Singing was a talent of her's that she rarely used. She liked to sing and enjoyed allowing her voice to create something beautiful, but she didn't like sharing it. Well until she met Aki who made her want to sing all day and night allowing everyone to hear it. It was one of her favorite things, but when he left her she stopped singing and allowed her voice to once more be hidden down deep where no one would hear it. Nightmares were the only thing that had led to her allowing her voice to show once more. Whenever and old melody she once listened to when the old geezer turned on the radio, she had to sing allowing herself happiness. That was another reason, she never thought that she was allowed happiness and made sure to remind herself of her sinful acts and deeds that in no way could be justified. That was unless well nightmares. So Ash allowed herself this guilty pleasure and didn't care to stop it. Ash's eyes began to droop, thinking about this and her senses once more turned off as she was slowly lulled to sleep. Then she went off to a whole new world of dreams where she wouldn't wake up until twelve to be met with a not from Sakura.

'I called your boss and told him that you wouldn't be coming in due to much needed rest and he gladly replied with 'Of Course. The d*mned brat needed it' So make sure you rest well, I tried to make breakfast but it didn't work out so I quickly ran to the cafe and snagged a few donuts so enjoy those. Well any how sleep well and I will see you later.'

Signed Sakura Nanase :) 

Ash smirked. Then she let her head fall back once more and allowed sleep to embrace her.