Walk Through Hell with me [Shinsaku Takasugi]

Chapter 4

It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Ai lay in the futon, wide awake. Takasugi lay beside her, his back turned and his shoulder gently rising and falling.

Ai had sat on the floor, shuffling away from the futon.

"You plan on staying there all night?" Takasugi asked.

"Go. Away." Ai flopped down on her side on the tatami matt, turning her back to him.

"Alright, here we go." He got up and made his way over to her. Before she could even blink, he had her slung over his shoulder.

"Let go of me!" Ai kicked her legs.

"Don't move. You don't want me to drop you, do you?" He then flopped her down on the futon and threw a blanket over her. Ai immediately pushed herself up by her elbows. "If you would just learn to cooperate, I wouldn't have to act like such a brute." As he said it, Takasugi got into the futon next to her and turned his back to her. "It gets chilly here at night. I don't want you catching a cold."

Ai sighed. "I've never had a cold in my life." With that she pulled the blanket over her head and turned her back to him.

Ai didn't know how much time had passed since then. Takasugi lightly stirred in his sleep. Or rather, his pretend-sleep. He was awake and she knew that. She felt his body brush hers. Was he doing that on purpose? Ai turned over to her other side so she could see him. Ai took in his form, his features, his breathing. Her eyes locked onto Takasugi's short sword, lying next to his pillow. She quietly reached for it and pulled it from its scabbard. It caught the pale moonlight spilling into the room. Ai moved it so she could see her own reflection in the blade.

"What kind of idiot leaves his sword so open in reach of a potential enemy? For all you know I could really be a spy for the Shinsengumi and my entire story could be a lie." Ai casually held the sword close to his throat.

"What's wrong...? Aren't you going to kill me?" Takasugi rolled over and reached towards her.

"What? So you were awake all along."

Takasugi took the blade in his hands and pulled it closer, Ai along with it. She was straddling him. His fists, coiled around the sword, dripped blood onto his throat, where Ai watched it pool on his throat. Ai swallowed with difficulty, the scent of his blood so intoxicating she could barely stand it. The tip of the blade touched his throat, where another think red line appeared.

"You were so close." He grinned wickedly. Ai looked away, letting her bangs cover her eyes as she felt heat spread through her body. "I've never been terribly attached to this life of mine, anyway. So, you're willing to take a life? That's how dedicated you are to your man?" Takasugi gave a throaty laugh before pushing Ai down. He pinned her hand - the one holding the sword - down to the floor. "But unlike that man of yours, you have no idea how to seize the moment, do you?" Ai didn't respond. "When you're given a chance like the one you just had, you take it. Or else live with the regret." His mouth was close to her ear, his purring whisper ticking her skin. "You could've taken me out just now, but you didn't. You'll regret that, I assure you."

Ai couldn't take any more. "Get off me!" She snarled and violently kicked the man off her. She slowly rose, her back turned to him. When she finally turned around, she looked different. Takasugi's eyes widened at the sight of her face, illuminated by the full moon peeling in from between the curtains. Her hair was white as snow, her eyes the colour of blood, and her forehead... On her forehead, between her bangs, two small horns peeked out. Ai clenched her hands into fists, her claws digging into her flesh. "Get out," she spat before she retreated to the window. She clutched her throat until she heard Takasugi leave the room. She finally loosed the breath she'd been holding.