Beyond the Veil of Dreams

Mitsuba's words hung in the air like a challenge, as if daring Kou to understand the turmoil that had driven him to burst into his room in the dead of night. Kou's eyes narrowed slightly, his brow furrowing in concern, as he sat up in bed and wrapped a comforting arm around Mitsuba's shoulders. "What happened, Mitzu?" Kou's voice was low and soothing, a gentle counterpoint to the jagged edges of Mitsuba's fear. "You were so scared. What did you dream?" Mitsuba hesitated, unsure of how to put into words the jumbled images and emotions that had haunted him. But as he looked into Kou's eyes, he knew he had to try. He took a deep breath and began to describe the nightmare, the words spilling out in a rush as he recounted the vivid images of Kou's lifeless body and the sound of his laughter silenced forever. As Mitsuba spoke, Kou's expression changed from concern to alarm. His eyes darkened, and his grip on Mitsuba's shoulder tightened. When Mitsuba finally ran out of words, Kou pulled him into a tight hug, holding him close as if trying to absorb the fear and anxiety that still lingered in Mitsuba's body. "It's just a dream, Mitzu," Kou whispered, his voice a gentle murmur against Mitsuba's ear. "I'm here. I'm safe. You're safe." But Mitsuba couldn't shake off the feeling that the nightmare had been more than just a dream. He felt like it had been a warning, a glimpse into a possible future that he couldn't quite comprehend. He pulled back from Kou's hug, his eyes searching for answers. "Kou, I don't know what's going on," Mitsuba said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just have this feeling that something is wrong. That something is going to happen to you." Kou's expression softened, and he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair out of Mitsuba's face. "Mitzu, I'm fine," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here with you." But as Kou spoke, Mitsuba noticed something that made his heart skip a beat. Kou's eyes, usually bright and sparkling, seemed to hold a hint of sadness, a flicker of unease that he couldn't quite explain. And in that moment, Mitsuba felt a shiver run down his spine, a sense that there was more to Kou's words than met the eye.