A/N This is my first Yu-gi-oh Zexal story and I am writing this without a computer, which means it will likely contain errors and although I do my best to catch them, I don't usually get them all. I apologize.

Yuma woke to the sound of thunder and heavy rain pounding against the house he shared with his sister and grandmother. He turned away from the window and closed his eyes, hoping to drift back into the dream he had been having. He realized it wasn't to be. He sighed heavily, sat up and glancing around the room.

"Astral?' He called out, only to be met with silence. Yuma couldn't help feeling concerned, upon waking, he would usually find his friend watching television beside the hammock. Tonight, the device had not been touched.

Yuma grasped the key around his neck.

" Hey, are you okay in there, can you come out?" He called but Astral didn't appear before him.

"Astral, what's-" The blue figure materialized on the floor beside him. Astral lay on his side, his back turned to Yuma.

"Yes, Yuma?" Yuma picked up on the change in his friend's tone immediately.

"Are you okay, you're-"

"I am all right." Astral replied.

"It took you a long time to get here, are sure?" Yuma left his hammock and walked toward the being slowly.

"I am sure. I was trying to rest." It was clear to Yuma that Astral was in pain.

"what's wrong?" He knelt down beside Astral.

"It is nothing to concern yourself with."

"I can't make you tell me, but I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."Yuma shifted off of his knees.

Astral moaned painfully but remained still. Yuma was at a loss, he hated to see his friends suffer.

" If you decide you wanna tell me, I'd like to be able to help you feel better. " he said, standing up.

"There is not to be done, it will pass on its own eventually. I simply have to wait."

"It sounds really painful." Yuma commented.

"It can be, yes."

"This happened to you before?"

"Yes,Yuma. I experience this once in a great while. I feel this discomfort nearly constantly over the course of several days during this time. The severity depends on each day. Sometimes the pain worsens through the day. As I said, I Will be all right." Yuma sat back down.

"What hurts?"

"You should try to sleep now, there is school tomorrow. There will be much to be done.I would advise you to avoid situations in which you would need me if you can. I will be resting."

"Astral, I don't know how you deal with this in your world, but here, we look after our friends when they're sick. You don't have to go through it by yourself, you know.

" There is nothing you can do for me except allow me to rest when I need it. That will help me greatly. "

"I'll do anything you need me to." Yuma vowed feeling bad for Astral.

"Thank you, I am going to go back inside, unless you need something."

"You don't have to go, if you want you can lie down out here and we'll watch some TV." Yuma offered, he wouldn't admit his concern directly, Astral seemed to pick up on the feeling.

"Are you sure, where will you-"

"I'll be fine down here. Someone has to change the channels anyway." Yuma said casually. After a moment of hesitation, Astral pushed himself into a sitting position, his arms wrapped around his belly.

Yuma rose to his feet, helping Astral up. The blue figure swayed slightly prompting Yuma to reach out to him.

"I've got you. If you need to lean on me, it's okay." Soon, Astral was lying in the hammock.

"Just relax. What should we watch?"

"Anything would be a good distraction at the moment." Astral gently rubbed his abdomen. Yuma took note but said nothing. The only thing he could do was be there for Astral and provide comfort.

I'll take care of you, I'll find a way to help you, Astral. I promise. Yuma thought to himself. He made up his mind to try to convince his sister and grandmother to stay home from school the following day to allow his friend some quiet time. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had to try, and he would give it his best.