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[babyviper]

She couldn't remember the last time she'd allowed herself to sleep in the presence of another living, breathing person. It had been hard to fall asleep, imagining she could hear a pulse in the room that wasn't her own. That there was an open patch in her new home's room helped; she could see the stars

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[neededproof]

Even knowing O-Ren could protect herself - hell, the big sword alone would keep her safe -, Ryan couldn't help wanting to make sure she was safe. He'd spent the night with girls before, but the situation had been a far cry from this one. Even with Theresa, as platonic as they'd become in the last few months, there'd been a history of something else. Here, now, it was nothing but the urge to make sure O-Ren was okay, or as okay as she could be.

There wasn't much he could do about that, though, even staying the night. Startled awake by her screams, he sat up where he'd been sleeping on the floor and pushed to his feet, not fully awake, but instinctively looking for an intruder and seeing no one. "O-Ren," he called, moving to her side. "What happened? O-Ren?"

[babyviper]

She couldn't see him at first, only blood and fire, so by the time O-Ren really woke up, she had the katana at his throat and a shrill killing cry in her own. Her eyes flickered, the murderous light dying.

With more trembling than she wanted to admit, O-Ren climbed off of him and sank to the floor.

"Sumimasen," she gasped. "Sorry."

[neededproof]

She'd moved so quickly. Ryan hadn't expected that, and he was pretty sure that he wouldn't have been able to do a thing about it even if he had. Still stunned by what had just happened, he took a few moments to sit in silence and catch his breath. Something had shaken her up badly. "It's..." He raised a hand to his throat, feeling gingerly along where the blade had been. "Are you alright? What happened?"

[babyviper]

"I was dreaming," she said quietly. Dreams were something she took every measure against, sleeping lightly, only indulging in deep sleep when she had access to a safe, locked place and a pill to keep the REM away.

"I'm sorry," O-Ren repeated, and lifted a hand, the sword clattering to the floor.