I Can't Sleep

Yin's high-pitched scream rings through the house with the force of a banshee. It's kinda of cute, if you ignore the fact that the sun hasn't even risen. The two would-be thieves raise their heads to see her and panic.

"Why are you awake!"

"Crap! Run!"

They turn around and blindly turn around to leave. However, as they get to the exit, I shove the door as hard as I can and it smashes into their faces. Both of them go tumbling down to the floor. Pulling the door off one of their heads, I raise my cleaver on high, prepared to do some early morning chopping!

"Wait Lin!" Yin cries out, seeing me prepared to commit murder. She exits her room completely and holds her hands up. "Don't kill them!"

"You sure? I heard these guys outside talking about robbing us…and other things…" I let my cleaver slam down viciously into the floorboard next to one of their heads. The man whose neck has narrowly avoided being chopped gulps nervously. They begin to beg piteously.

"Don't kill us! We were just hoping for some money! We definitely had no ulterior motive!"

"Yup yup! What he said! We definitely had no thoughts about doing anything else!"

"Uhuh…" I murmur quietly while yanking my cleaver out of the floorboards. These guys are fast, and immediately get to their feet when I don't finish them off. Before I can get another shot off, they disappear into the night. All I catch is a fading glimpse of bright yellow hair before they go. Shaking my head, I slam the door, making sure the deadbolt is secure and turn back to Yin. Surprisingly, she's not petrified with fear and has come out to meet me.

"Thanks for letting them go." She whispers to me.

"If that's what you want…" I start to say, but then gulp as I realize she's just wearing an extremely thin and small t-shirt. It barely manages to go past her waist and cover the top of her thighs. Seeing where my gaze is going, her face goes scarlet, and even without a Hunter's nightvision skill I can still see how red she is. Fortunately, I have the willpower of the lost god and manage to look away.

"Eke!" She squeaks a bit and pulls the t-shirt down. However, instead of running back to her room, she stays in front of me. After a moment, I realize she's not going to leave. "Uhm, I mean it. Even though you're the kind of person to just cut off trouble before it comes, I don't want to hurt people. This world has enough dead already." Her face grows downcast, and she trembles slightly. Suddenly, I can think about more than just her scantily clad body. Well, just a little bit more, but it's something. "To be honest, I couldn't sleep. I haven't been alone since this all started. Rui and I would always stay together and keep each other company in the night. My room feels so dark and big, even though I know it's perfectly safe, I don't want to close my eyes. Silly right?"

"N-No, not at all." I cough. If I show how much effect seeing just a little bit of her skin has on me, it'll ruin her image of me! Resolving myself to play it cool, I force myself to stop looking away and stare into her eyes. Damn this is hard! "I'm sorry, I didn't think of that. Maybe I can sleep in the living room, you could keep the door open so you know I'm nearby?"

What are doing Lin! This is a perfect chance to get closer to her. Ugh, damnit, grow a pair, even with two lifetimes you can't make a move!

"Oh! Well that's very nice of you to offer. But to be honest, that couch looks really uncomfortable." Yin nods at the dusty thing which has mothballs and holes everywhere. "I mean, didn't we technically already sleep together for warmth after…after you saved me? I know I'm a stranger, and maybe not your type, but since we're spending so much time together and it's the end of the world and all…" She trails off awkwardly, staring into my eyes nervously. My heart is beating fast. Way faster than when I killed those zombies. Hell, it feels like someone has lit a fire in my stomach. I'm hungrier than the Gray right now. Damnit, why does it feel like we're arguing the wrong sides? Why is being a man so hard?

"If you put it that way…I guess we'll be spending a lot of time sleeping together to conserve warmth while hunting. So I mean, uh yea." I'm having trouble saying the words without sounding lecherous. Yin looks at me strangely as I try to get my head together. "Uhm yea, YEA! I'll just uhm…" Unsure of how to precede because I've never gone in a girl's room before, I lose all momentum. My ears burn, but fortunately the supposedly shy girl in front of me takes action.

"Cool! Yup, thanks. Uhm, okay that sounds weird, but uhm yea I know I can trust you, Lin. You did save me after all!" A glorious smile stretches her lips as she grabs my forearm and pulls me to her room. I'm not sure if it would feel creepy if I shut the door, but she slams it for me. Looking me over, her smile grows a bit confused. "You go to sleep with all your clothes on? I won't mind if you want to take them off."

"I just…learned to be prepared in case I need to leave quickly at night. I'm used to sleeping with them on." Shivering at the thought of stripping in front of her in the same room, I just stand there stupidly. The unabashed girl finally turns a bit shy and hops under the blankets, patting the bedside next to her.

"Oh, okay! If that makes you comfortable. But I'm not going to get dressed, it's okay in the wild, but I'd prefer to be comfortable while we have the chance. Besides, I have Mr. Thiefcatcher here to protect me!" Her smile lets me get on top of the blankets with her. Suddenly I'm intensely aware that her bare legs are underneath the blanket, and it didn't seem like she was wearing shorts underneath that t-shirt. Trying to avoid looking directly at the girl's face, I just stare up at the ceiling. Oh my god. This girl…is a natural born killer! In the wild, she acted so helpless, but now I'm getting led along like a puppy on a chain! Can I even call myself a man after this? Wait, don't think about manhood. This is just too friends sleeping together to keep each other company. A sleepover right? Totally normal…

"Huh?" This time it's my turn to let out a little squeak as Yin rolls over under the blankets. Her leg goes over the top of mine as she puts her arm over me. I freeze, completely still. The blanket is in-between our bodies, but I can feel…everything through it. She's so soft! Trying desperately to keep my mind clear of any deviant thoughts, I start thinking of Buddhist scriptures. Let go of your tether…

"Did you say something Lin? I just thought you might be cold since you're not taking any of the blankets. Am I too hot?" Her sleepy voice whispers in my ear. This is the moment where if I was an experienced man I'd say something witty and seal the deal I think. The devilish girl beside me almost seems to be waiting for me to make a move. But I have no idea what to do. After a moment, her breath begins to slow and I realize she's falling asleep. This woman! Are you serious? Can she really just climb on top of me and fall asleep like this?

"…" Raging, I can feel each of her breaths tickling my ear, and to be honest, I am getting way too hot underneath the blanket and her body, but I'm not going to say anything and wake her up. Comeon, Lin! You've lived life and death situations! We can survive this night! We will not fall here and do something that might ruin our cold and uncaring image as a man!

For the rest of the night, I chant motivational speeches to myself while staring at the ceiling. It's pretty much impossible to sleep, though somehow Yin seems to be completely at peace against me. As the sun begins to come up, at least there's one good thing.

She's…so soft.