Seiichi lay in the bedroom Iris had shown him, the soft mattress doing little to ease the restless tension in his body. Iris sat primly on the edge of the bed near his legs, her hands folded in her lap.
His right arm was draped over his eyes, and though his breathing was slow and measured, a vague, unnameable unease churned within him.
"Master," Iris spoke, her voice a gentle murmur in the quiet room. "I don't believe you should have spoken to your mother that way. She was only trying to comfort you." She looked at his prone form, concern evident in her gaze.
"I know that," Seiichi said, his voice low. He moved his arm from his eyes and met her look. Her expression was soft, a small, understanding smile on her lips.
Seiichi slowly pushed himself up, wincing as he grabbed his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Is something wrong, Master?" Iris leaned closer, her voice laced with worry. "You look like you're in pain."
He opened his eyes to find her face mere inches from his, so close he could feel the gentle whisper of her breath. "I'm alright. You don't need to worry." He dropped his hand from his head and stood up, his movements deliberate. After a moment, he sat back down on the edge of the bed, his back to her. I don't feel like doing anything, for some reason.
"Massage my shoulders," he said, the command cutting through the silence.
"Pardon me?" Iris's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry, but could you repeat that?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Are you deaf?" he sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. "I told you to massage my shoulders. Do you understand now?"
"I understood, Master." Iris moved to kneel on the bed behind him. She slowly extended her hands and placed them on his shoulders, feeling the tight, corded muscle beneath the fabric of his clothes.
"Your shoulders are as stiff as rock," she observed softly. She began to knead the knotted tension, her thumbs applying firm, circular pressure. A soft, white light began to emanate from her palms.
"What is that?" Seiichi asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"It's nothing. I'm just using a little magic to help you relax," Iris explained as the soothing glow continued to pulse from her hands. "How does it feel? Is it helping?"
"It's alright," he replied flatly.
"Would you like me to apply more pressure?" she asked, trying to gauge his expression from behind.
"Do what you think is right." His voice was low and calm, already beginning to grow distant.
His eyelids grew heavy, his body slowly succumbing to a pleasant numbness under her ministrations. Iris continued without another word, her hands working in a steady, hypnotic rhythm.
Several minutes passed in silence. "How does it feel now?" Iris whispered.
But Seiichi didn't answer. She leaned slightly to the side to see his face and her eyes widened. His features were smooth and peaceful in sleep.
Iris fell still, uncertain what to do. Then, her own expression softened, a small, tender smile spreading across her face. She slowly wrapped her arms around him from behind in a gentle hug. Moving her right hand, she began to stroke his hair, her touch feather-light.
"You look just like a child when you're sleeping," she murmured, her voice a gentle caress. She continued stroking his hair, her own eyes fluttering closed as a sense of peace settled over her.
Slowly, she shifted her weight, pulling Seiichi back until his head rested against her chest. Cradling him, Iris felt her own body relax, her breathing slowing to match his as she, too, drifted into a peaceful slumber.
---
Seiichi's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry at first before slowly clearing. He found himself standing in a dense, shadowy forest, surrounded by ancient trees and thick, grasping bushes.
"Where am I?" he whispered to the oppressive silence.
He turned in a slow circle, searching for a path, an exit, anything. Suddenly, a flash of crimson light flickered between the trees and vanished. Driven by an unseen impulse, Seiichi began to walk toward where the light had been.
He looked up. The sky was a vast, empty void, devoid of stars, moon, or any source of light.
He pressed on, and after a few moments, the faint sound of dripping water reached his ears, growing steadily into the roar of a waterfall. He broke into a run, his heart beginning to pound a frantic rhythm against his ribs the closer he got. The ground beneath his feet grew damp and slick.
The forest itself seemed to react, growing colder and more dense, the branches closing in like clutching fingers. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, louder than the sound of his own footfalls and the rushing water combined.
It was as if an invisible force was pulling him forward, a primal tug on his soul toward something he knew, yet could not name.
He quickened his pace, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Suddenly, his foot caught on a hidden root. He stumbled, his baasked, faltering, but his hand shot out and grabbed a hanging vine, saving him from a fall. He righted himself and ran on.
As he ran, the red light ahead grew brighter, a blazing beacon promising an end to the claustrophobic woods. With a final burst of speed, he broke through the tree line and stumbled into a clearing.
Seiichi's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
Before him, a magnificent waterfall cascaded into a vast, serene lake. The scene was so beautiful it felt like a dream. A canopy of brilliant stars glittered above the water. He spun around, looking back at the forest he had emerged from, and saw only the endless black void.
But the sight that shocked him most was the lake itself. The water was a pure, vivid crimson, even as the waterfall feeding it flowed a crystal blue. And in the center of the blood-red lake was the giant, perfect reflection of a red moon, though when he looked up, the sky above the lake was starry, but empty of any moon.
The sound of water splashing drew his attention. He turned his head and saw a woman dancing upon the reflection of the moon. Her bare feet skimmed the surface of the water without sinking, each step creating a delicate ripple. Seiichi strained to see her, but her form was shrouded in deep, impenetrable shadows, even under the brilliant starlight.
A/N
(Sorry, but I forgot to schedule the chapter last night, that's why it was late)