by Kiri
Pureerudo
He was in his dreams again.
It was, really, the only way he could be with him, since he was dead.
He pulled away from the dream slowly, letting the beautiful young man continue his light sleep. He reached out a small hand, letting an ephemeral finger brush a soft cheek. It did no good- he was dead while the one he loved still breathed.
He moved over to the young woman sleeping beside the one he loved. Her dreams were always so open and free, so warm, gentle. He rested a hand on her head, trying to smooth the hair that so resembled his, entering her thoughts.
“Tomorrow I may?” he asked her quietly, standing with the void of death between them in the dream.
She smiled at him gently, her understanding of his heart nearly overwhelming him. “Of course, Nuriko-sama. I owe so much to you.”
He looked away, unable to meet her eyes, even the illusion eyes of the dream. “It’s your last night with him before the battle starts…”
Her laughter danced across the plain on which they were standing, splashing across the black of death. “Nuriko-sama… I’ll have him the rest of my life.” Suddenly she was beside him, tangible, and she reached out a hand to his cheek, cupping it gently. “Please.”
His hand lifted and covered hers, shocked at her willingness to share her husband. Silently, unable to speak, he simply nodded. She smiled slightly, but before she could say anything, he pulled himself out of her dreams. She stirred slightly, but did not awaken.
He raised a hand to touch his cheek. How long had it been since someone touched him? Since that day…
He sighed quietly, futilely trying to brush a hair out of the young man’s face, achieving nothing. His smile was trace as he moved to exit the room, waiting for the night that he knew would be his alone.