Akira

I come home—to the safe house after a few hours. I don't acknowledge anyone. Can't hear them, see them. I want one thing.

She looks up when I open the door, shutting and locking it behind me. She stumbled to her feet.

"Your hand," she murmurs, pulling a roll of gauze from the sheets. I set my sword aside, blood drenching me.

She pays no mind. I sit at the edge of the bed, glancing out the window, as she grabs my hand, wrapping it up.

I want her. But I sit still. Her hands shake, taking mine between them gingerly.

"I'm sorry." She whispers.

I let her apology float between us for a moment. It isn't needed. I'm proud of her.

"You protected yourself. There's no need to apologize."

She glanced up at me, her lashes fluttering as she raised my wrapped hand to her lips, placing a kiss.

And like that I'm released from my self control. I push her back on the bed, her back hitting the soft comforter with a quiet thud.

Her lips part. I want her so badly I could combust. Still, I look over her face. Her breath shudders her arms wrapping around my neck.

"Akira..." she whispers, softly, her hands reaching into my hair.

"Flower. I...was so worried about you," I brush a stray curl back. "I thought I would die I was so worried."

Dahlia trembles under me, I'm not sure if it's fear. Maybe the shock is wearing off. Dahlia pulls me closer, pressed herself against me.

"Are you alright," I ask her once more. She shaking. I didn't imagine I would ever get caught in the cross fires.

I don't know why. Why I didn't think anything would happen. I kiss her head.

She is strong. She always has been. Still...

"I brought them to justice," I promise her.

She frowns a bit. I smooth her brow.

"No one hurt me." She whispers, cupping my cheek as if she were soothing me, trying to help me. Calming me.

Why? Why is she like this? Why isn't she more afraid? She never has been. Since I met her. They tried to smoke her out the house. Burn her house down with her in it.

They threatened her every day. And she worried about me instead.

"Don't you care?"

She looks between my eyes. "Of course about you—"

"About your life."

She's quiet now, looking for the answer I want to hear in my gaze.

"Everyone cares about their life, Akira." Is her soft, non-answer.

"Hm. Do they now?"

She looks away. "Are you angry at me?"

I purse my lips. "I just wished you cared more."

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. I watch her. She is gorgeous. Stunning. I love her. Deeply, truly and with everything I have.

I stroke her cheek. Her eyes close. She holds my hand to her cheek. She shudders once more. I worry for her. Not because of this. Or because of the danger she can handle the danger.

She always has.

It worry that her life is not a high as a priory as she pretends. I don't think it ever has been. And this is not a life for someone who does not want to live.

"I..." she trials off. It's her honesty. She won't promise that she will. Maybe she can't. Maybe that's why she doesn't run. Maybe that's why whenever I get a plane ticket she gets a stomach ache.

"Do you want to stay here with me. Or do you just want an excuse to die,"

Her eyes fly open. There's a shattered look in them. I pull away.

"Akira," she pulls me back, clawing at me softly. "Akira please wait."

"I am not going to be the death of you, I love you too much for that," my chest feels likes it's filling with blood.

I wonder if it's this. This feeling. Being the sword in her back if I got wounded and it actually is...filling with blood.

I think I prefer the latter.

"Akira calm down you're...you're jumping to conclusions. Come here," she whispers in my ear, pulling me toward her, into her arms. She pulls up my hair, taking a hair tie from her hair, pulling mine up.

"Everything is okay," she assures me, rubbing my shoulders.

She kisses my shoulder. I shake. I feel no fear. There is nothing to fear. Not death. Not war. Not conflict. Not betray.

These will happen to me sooner or later so to fear it is foolish.

But...I fear losing her. And that's just as stupid. Ether she leaves. Runs away. Hates me. Or even if we spend an eternity together...one day..she will die.

All humans will die. So I shouldn't...be afraid but I can't help it.

I'm terrified.

"I have a plane ticket."

"I have a stomachache."

And that's that.