Seishu can no longer fight off sleep. As the little minion darts out of the room his consciousness floats away from him and he drops into the darkness. Unlike dreams, or so he assumes, what his kind experience when sleeping is not something that anyone would want to go through. No thoughts, no memories, not even any nightmares. It is simply, nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. There is the darkness. Everything around is black, formless, unseen, and unfelt. There is no sense of self in the pitch darkness of a nightmare realm's unconscious mind. There's simply the dark, and nothing that comes from being unable to hope, or dream. Seishu has spent more time awake than any other being he knows of, just to avoid the nothing. He hates it, more than any dream or good feeling that may cross his path, the darkness inside his own mind is his worst enemy.

Luckily he doesn't have to suffer it long st a small glimmer of light shocks him out of his sleep. His eyes peel open as the Little Bite comes darting right up to the bed. Drawing back what littler energy he's managed to gather while Rue was away he smirks at the little one. [i]'Well, things must be alright with the world for his to be this happy. Let his stay huh? Guess I'm stuck with it now, heheh'[/i] Pushing himself up carefully, a hand on his stomach over the newly stitched stitches, Seishu rolls his eyes his smirk turning into a half smile. “I'm fine Little Bite, not that I can really tell with all these pain killers pumping through my veins.” He pauses for a moment, feeling about gently with his senses. Feeling a generally high level of positive energy pressing in around him the Nightmare Guardian shudders and sticks out his tongue. “Yeah, he's feeling better. You told his what I told you to right?”

Rue nods his head vigorously and bounces a few more times. “Yep, I told his what you said after I apologized. He Looked happier and even laughed, and he agreed that my scar makes me look cool!” Quieting down Rue smiles widely, a faint blush coming to his cheeks. Turning away from Seishu he stays quiet for a few seconds. The white haired man tilts his head in confusion and is about to ask what's wrong when the boy speaks again. “He told me I'm a perfect dream.” He hangs his head a bit, smiling gently. “I don't think I'm perfect. I mean, I make mistakes all the time, and I don't always look where I'm going, and I forget stuff a lot. But even so,” he turns to look over at Seishu over his shoulder, his face busting out into a wide grin, “it makes me really happy that he said it, even if he's totally wrong, heh!” Seishu smiles back and shakes his head. Just then Rue lets out a huge yawn.

Chuckling the guardian murmurs, “Well, he said you can stay, but if you're tired, you should probably go get some sleep Little Bite.” Rue covers his moth with his hand and shakes his head. With a look very much like a pleading puppy he grabs one of the spare pillows on the bed and curls up on the edge. Seishu raises a hand to protest but the little minion is out in an instant. A faint strangled 'Argh' makes it's way out of his throat before Seishu drops his hand in defeat. [i]'Man, there is no arguing with this brat, is there?'[/i] With a low growl he pulls up the covers so he can throw some over the kid. [i]'Not that he'll catch cold or anything, but it just doesn't look right to lay over the sheet like that'[/i] Rolling his eyes Seishu settles back against his pillows, his fingers steepled in front of him while he concentrates on conserving energy and healing his body.

~~~~*~~~~

“Could you believe that minion? Being all buddy buddy with, of all things, the Guardian of Nightmares?!” 

“I know, and what was that about scaring on purpose? How foolish!”

“Lord Enasi should really do something about that minion. It can't be good for one so small to be so close to that thing so much.”

“Yeah. Hey, maybe that thing brainwashed him or something? I mean, we have no idea what it's capable of! What do you think Crios?” 

Most of the heads in the room turn to look at the fox tailed man bent over his desk. Crios ignores the question and waves his hand, signaling that they should all go back to doing their jobs. A few of them grumble, but do as they are told. The theories and gossip continues to flow like quicksilver through the medical staff and out into the palace proper, but Crios will have no part of it. His tail swishes back and forth every so often as he fills out all the paperwork from the battle casualties from this morning. Documenting injuries, taking down names of those who didn't make it and those who are still in critical condition. [i]'You would think they'd have better things to do with their time. I don't care if this has never happened before, or what kind of patient he makes. As long as Lord Enasi wants his treated, that's all they should focus on'[/i] His tail audibly snaps as he whips it to the side. The sound disbands another group of medics that had stopped to prattle.

After another hour his ears begin twitching at the sound of whispering just outside the door to the main medical area. With a deep sigh he drops his head in exasperation. After a few seconds he looks up at the giant wall clock. [i]'It's been a few hours since the new bandages were put on our nightmare patient'[/i] Glancing at the door where several of his staff stand discussing matters just out of sight Crios rolls his eyes and gets to his feet. [i]'I could use the break'[/i] He reasons with himself before stepping into the storage room to pick up the supplies he'll need. Tucking his load into one sleeve he snaps open the door to the main hall, scattering his staff. He ignores their stammered apologies and placations and instead marches right past them towards the softly pulsating darkness down the hall. Not bothering to knock he pushes the door open, turning to shut it gently behind him before bringing his attention to the patient on the bed.

He raises a single eyebrow at the sight of the minion curled up on the edge of the bed next to the white haired man. Seishu returns the look in kind before bringing a finger to his lips to signal that the doctor should be quiet. Crios can feel the unease in his stomach twisting and writhing so close to the Nightmare Guardian but he pushes it back along with his own positive energies as he approaches the bed quietly. He had been with the first group of doctors assigned to patch up Seishu when he first arrived, but he had been called away in the middle of treatment by one of the other patients going into critical condition. He had almost rushed back when he felt the pulse of negative energy not five minute later, but the pule caused a series of minor emergencies throughout the entire medical wing so he stayed, being needed there more than at the nightmare's side.

Seishu watches the tailed male walk around his bed so he can reach him unhindered by the sleeping boy. [i]'He doesn't seem to be afraid or on edge like the other docs. I guess he's probably high up on the food chain than the rest I've seen. Like Hops'[/i] His eyes follow Crios's movements as he unpacks his long sleeve, setting the bandages and other stuff on the small table beside the bed. Without a word the man puts a knee on the bed so he can lean closer to the guardian. Before he can reach him though he pauses, a sick look on his face. Seishu blinks lets out a little sigh. Closing his eyes he focuses for a moment and after a few seconds he seals his negetive energy deep inside so the doctor can work. Opening his eyes again Crios gives him a little nod before cutting away the bandages over his shoulder wound.

Keeping his voice low the fox eared man murmurs, “I suppose the little one has gotten use to that level of energy.” More of a statement than a question he doesn't really expect an answer. However his movements stop as he watches the nightmare smile and turn to look at the dream minion curled up on the bed. Seishu nods slightly but remains silent, his attention on Rue. [i]'Well, there's something I never thought I'd see. Seems a few of those rumors are true. He like the kid'[/i] Crios finishes his work on the shoulder and moves a little further on to the bed to begin on the stomach bandages. He feels a creeping sensation run up his neck and glances up to see Seishu staring at him. His fingers falter for a moment and he turns his gaze back to his hands. He's usually quite good with patients, if a little curt, but he can't really think of anything to say to the guardian. 

When the wound is exposed he glances one again up at Seishu's face as the guardian lets out a gasp of pain. The sound is followed by a low rumble from deep within his chest and Crios feels a faint flicker of fear. He quickly squashes it and reaches over for the pain killers. [i]'From his chart, he's had too much as it is, but if he's still feeling pain at this point, it's obvious we've been using the wrong baseline for him'[/i] Once the pain meds start pumping through his system the rumbling subsides and Crios visibly relaxes. His stomach tenses however when the nightmare chuckles slightly.

“I see you not exactly as impervious as you look, Doc.” Seishu mutters, a faint smirk on his lips. Crios's eyes narrow for a second before he rolls his eyes.

“Anyone would feel nervous if a wild animal was less that an inch away and suddenly sounded like it wanted to eat them.” He hisses back, meeting Seishu's gaze. The nightmare glares back for several seconds before breaking out in a grin. Before he can move Seishu reaches out and ruffles his hair like an old man telling a kid he was a “good boy”. Crios shakes his head, flipping his hair back into place, and lets out a growl of his own.

Seishu holds up a hand before Crios can snap at him. “I like you, you're honest. It's a good quality no matter where you come from Doc.” His attentions snaps over to Rue for a few seconds as the little minion groans in his sleep. 

Crios meanwhile rolls his eyes and goes back to work. However his stomach feels a little lighter now. [i]'Somehow I feel a little safer now that he's said that. Not that I want to be liked by the sworn enemy of every living creature in this realm, but at least now I have the feeling I don't have to worry so much when I'm treating him'[/i] His gaze softens a bit as Seishu sits up a bit, making his job easier. [i]'I should probably take over doing this. If he's this cooperative with me, his treatment should go a lot faster from now on'[/i] Behind him his tail sways slowly back and forth as he works carefully to cover the nightmare's most troublesome wound.