Neko loved the dream she was having. She and Tenshi were together and their hearts were beating to a single rhythm. It set the beat to the music playing as their souls connected.
*I missed you* one whispered to the other.
*I�m sorry. I�ll never push you away again.*
*Then don�t push me away now.* They reached for each other.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Koneko...,� a quiet tenor voice sang. �Come join me in the real world.�
Neko slowly opened her eyes to the soothing sound. She smiled sleepily at the beautiful blonde who sat by her side, waiting for her to wake up. �Tenshi�.� Then realizing that she hadn�t gotten here in Tenshi�s bed on her own accord, she asked, �What happened?�
�You passed out. And your wrist was seriously smashed, but I fixed that� mostly.�
Neko looked at her left hand, moved the wrist a bit. Sure enough, it felt a little as if it had been badly bruised, but it was a far cry from how it felt before. She sat up and looked at Tenshi adoringly. �Thank you.�
But Tenshi frowned, and this time Neko knew why. As Neko�s thoughts focused on Tenshi, it seemed to pull her psychic link from Mi-chan to Tenshi. Mi-chan had been right � Neko hadn�t developed a mind shield of her own. Instead, she had gotten something that she felt was far superior. Instead of focusing a more advanced telepathic ability inward, as Mi-chan had with her mind shield, Neko had focused hers outward, just as she often did with her feelings. Mi-chan was used to hiding thoughts and feelings, and thus it made sense that she would develop a way to block herself from broadcasting them, while Neko developed something that allowed her to share her feelings with the only person she trusted as much as she trusted Mi-chan. She must have had the potential all along, but had never been willing, even subconsciously, to open up to anyone else in that way.
It worried her, though, that Tenshi seemed to find it unbearable. �Tenshi? Tenshi, don�t you understand. It�s just a psychic link between us,� she pleaded, hoping that Tenshi was merely confused by what was happening.
But in reality, she knew that Tenshi understood that. �I know,� Tenshi confirmed quietly, �but I- Koneko, I�m not ready.� Tenshi hid her face in her hands. She wasn�t eager to let Neko overtake her mind, and Neko was beginning to realize that that was what it felt like for her. �Your feelings, and sometimes even thoughts, overlap mine. I can�t distinguish them. I�m not you and Mi-chan; I didn�t grow up with it. I can�t- I can�t take this.�
Neko�s eyes widened. Having another person�s presence in her mind had always been a full-time condition for her. It was second nature. She hadn�t ever wondered what it would be like to be an abrupt force. She supposed it might be like an invasion of your mind even if it was unintentional.
�Tenshi, I don�t know how to control it yet. But I will get control of it, I promise. Mi-chan eventually learned to use her mind shield, and I promise I�ll learn to regulate when I�m with you and when I�m with her.� Tenshi�s distress wasn�t lessening any, and Neko was beginning to feel it within her own emotions. She forced herself to calm down. This was no different from having a connection with Mi-chan! There had to be a way for Tenshi to accept it.
Because the truth was, Neko didn�t want to decline this gift they had been given. It could make them closer in ways that Tenshi couldn�t possibly understand. In ways, Neko knew she probably couldn�t even understand. Hadn�t they been building to this all along? Every time Tenshi healed her, Neko thought she could feel a piece of Tenshi flow through her. The only times Jasper had healed her, Neko hadn�t been in a state to know the difference, but now she could remember, and Jasper had never invoked the same response Tenshi had when she healed Neko. This flow of Tenshi�s lifeforce had always seemed so magical to Neko. This should have felt the same way to Tenshi.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Focused on controlling her own thoughts, Tenshi almost jumped with surprise when Neko lifted her face so that their eyes met. But Neko�s voice was soft and comforting as she hushed her lover�s concerns. �Shh, Tenshi. It�s just magic, you see. Something magical to take our love to the next level. You just have to be willing to accept the invitation.�
Tenshi�s eyes shone with tears that she refused to release. �I�m supposed to be the strong one,� she whispered, unable to give in totally to this thing she couldn�t yet comprehend.
�I know, sweetie,� Neko answered compassionately. �But this isn�t something to fight. It�s something to embrace.� She smiled gently, reassuringly, at Tenshi. �It�s okay, I promise. Just listen to my voice.� She leaned into Tenshi, breathing, �Tenshi�,� as her lips touched Tenshi�s lips. *�aishiteru* drifted through Tenshi�s mind in Neko�s voice.
Tenshi closed her eyes and accepted Neko�s kiss and her gift. *I love you too* she thought weakly back to Neko. Then, suddenly, she felt her ability to communicate this way strengthen. She let herself go as the souls of both she and Neko called out to each other to join as one. *I want to make love to you* her soul cried.
*Then take me, my Tenshi. Take me to Heaven.*
Home
Songs used for titles in this story go as follow:
"Unsung" by Vanessa Carlton
"(You've Lost) That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers
"Iris" by Goo Dolls [Chapter 4]
"Something to Sleep To" by Michelle Branch
"Wandering Eyes" by Nuttin' Nyce
"Inside Out" by Vonray
These songs plus others can be found on the "For Better or For Worse" & Our Hearts As One soundtrack... which will someday be posted with the rest of the soundtracks that will someday be posted.
The next story in line is "Scarier Than a Burglar," which is short & thus should be up soon. Thanks!
