I Own You CHAPTER 11

They both just stood there in the bathroom, entertwined, for what seemed like an enternity. They both cried, tears running down their cheeks. Ayame was crying because of the horrors she had endured. A baby bird who breaks its wing inside its cage heals, but when set free still feels the pain and is helpless in the cruel world surrounding it.   

Sasori didn't really honestly know why HE was crying. He knew it had something to do with the fact that he had just seen Ayame's beautiful battered body; it probably had something to do with the fact that he couldn't understand how something so pure, so innocent as her should be condemned with eternal undeserved pain that lived on in her memories and be decorated on her body iin the form of ugly scars.

It was a lie to say he hadn't seen this before, he had been on this earth for 118 years. But it still wrenched his heart to see it, especially to someone he cared about...

He sniffed, drying his tears with the sleeve of his arm. He looked down at his shoulder and stared at the top of Ayame's head, who was still crying on him.

"There, there, child." he soothed, though his voice sounded a little throaty. He lifted her face up to his with his hands to look into her beautiful teary eyes. She sniffed and scrunched her face up, trying desperately to keep the tears from falling.

"Ayame." Sasori whispered.

Ayame unscrunched her face and stared at Sasori. Despite her attempts, a stray tear escaped her eyes, traveling down her cheek; Sasori gently wiped it away.

"Ayame, my dear child," he began, "you do not have to carry this burden alone. I am here to take care of you so long as you remain mine. You are not here just for my selfish desires; I am now your loving guardian and promise to take care of you and listen to any of your hopes, dreams, and secrets you wish to reveal to me. You just have to tell me these kinds of things." he finished, nodding at her scarred body. Ayame nodded her head in understanding.

"I understand...chichi." Ayame replied, smiling a little at the nickname she had given her master. He smiled back, kissed her on the cheek, and hugged her again.

"C'mon, let's get some clothes on you." He put an arm around her waist, which still had a towel around it, and lead her out the bathroom. Ayame walked to her bag and picked out a new clean bra and a pair of underwear. She heard Sasori opening his dresser drawers, searching for something.

"Aha! this should fit nicely." he announced, holding up a black T-shirt with the letters 'AC/DC' on it in white lettering.

"You like AC/DC?" Ayame asked.

"Of course. Loved the 80's, best era of music in my opinion."

"Wow, I didn't know vampires could be rock n' roll lovers." Ayame joked. Sasori turned to her and mock pouted.

"Just because we're undead does not mean we have to become detached from the world around us and it's fads." he lectured, throwing the shirt at her. Ayame giggled and caught it, slipping it on after putting on her bra. "Let's see...what else...Yes, here we go!" Sasori held up a pair of matching black shorts, the 'AC' on the left pants leg, the 'DC' on the right. He threw that at her too.

Ayame was now faced with a dilemma: She needed to put on her underwear, but she couldn't do it in front of Sasori! Exposed breasts were no problem, but she didn't think she could handle him seeing the rest of her body!

"Umm, Sasori?" Ayame asked nervously, turning her back to the redhead. "I need to put on my underwear."

"Then do it, be my guest." he said, waving his hand in her direction.

"Uh, I can't do it with you seeing me." Ayame replied.

"Hmm... I have an idea." He crossed over to her and snaked his arms around her waist, grabbing at the tucked in corner of the towel and tugged at it gently. Ayame's jaw dropped a little as the towel came undone. He grabbed both ends of the towel and held it up like a curtain and looked away from Ayame's half-naked body.

"Okay, you can dress now." he annunced, not daring to look at her to confirm if she understood. Ayame stood still for a moment, not comprehending what had just happened.

"Just like that?" she asked.

"Just like that." he confirmed.

"Well, it's not what I had in mind." Ayame thought as she slipped on her underwear, "but it's effective." She quickly threw on the nearby shorts that Sasori had so generously provided.

"Okay, I'm done." she announced to the loyally-eye averted Sasori. He dropped the towel and snaked his arms around her waist from behind, kissing her affectionately on the cheek.

"You do not need to be so shy around me, child." he said, "I am not a pervert, unlike some people living here." he grinned and rested his head on her shoulder.

"I know, I trust you, chichi. It's just a habit." Ayame answered, exhaling. Sasori started rocking her on the spot slightly, humming a little. Ayame crossed her arms over her waist and closed her eyes, enjoyig the perfect moment while it still lasted.

Her growling stomach ruined it.

Sasori chuckled lightly and stopped rocking. "I'm guessing you're hungry." he glanced at the clock. 12:05 P.M.

"Well, it's too late for breakfast, how about some lunch?" Ayame nodded and her stomach growled again in agreement, approving of her choice. Sasori grinned.

"Wait right here, I'll bring you something to eat." He then released her, walking out the door. The only thing running through Ayame's mind as she watched him walk out was:

"Wow. Cute butt."