Title: Seeing the Stars

Character(s): Ryouga "Shark" Kamishiro, Yumi Tsukumo (China's OC)

Rating: T

Warning(s): Character Death, kinda gory I guess...?

A/Ns: This is a little plotbunny that's been bugging me lately. Hope you like it, China-san! :)

I was flung back so hard that I flew into a wall a good thirty feet behind me. I felt my shoulder blades snap at the impact, a scream ripping from my throat before I could hold it back.

Shark yelled my name, running over to me as I flopped down to the ground. So much blood... It got all over his pants as he knelt next to me.

I heard Astrid screaming. Was it really that bad...? I can't... feel anything below my waist...

"Yumi! Stay with me!" Shark yelled, pulling my limp body against him. My head lolled limply against his shoulder; I was too weak to hold it up anymore.

"...Ryougaaaaa..." I groaned, feeling blood well up in my mouth. I threw up, getting it all down Shark's back and shoulder, but he didn't seem to care.

His cobalt blue eyes were filled with horror as he called Yuma on his D-Gazer, staring down at me the entire time. Astrid was freaking out behind him, fading in and out; if I went, she did, too.

Shark shook me, trying to keep me awake. "C'mon Yumi! Please... Your brother's on the way... Please stay alive long enough to see him..." He was frantic now; I didn't realize he cared so much about me.

"...Silly..." I whispered, smiling slightly. "You know... I can't wait that... long..." I'd come to accept my fate; I mean, if I lost a Number Duel I was screwed. So I had to deal with it.

Shark let his eyes widen as he saw the truth in my words. "No...no, no, no, no!" he yelled.

I coughed weakly. I was bleeding from practically every duct I had; tears of blood slid down my cheeks, blood streamed from my nose, blood filled my mouth.

Over his shoulder I could see the stars. They twinkled, making me smile wider. They were welcoming me, to fly with them and be a pretty sparkling pinprick in the sky.

"Shark..." I whispered, even quieter than before. "Can you see the stars...?"

"Yumi?" he asked. "What are you talking about? It's day right now."

I reached up, my hand open as I tried to touch the glowing specks. "They're so...pretty..."

It was quiet for a moment, just me and the stars. One brushed my fingers, and I held on to the feeling, the warmth of it against my cold skin.

There was a lot of yelling then. Shark was shaking me, telling me to wake up. I was awake, wasn't I...?

"Yumi! No! Come back!" Yuma's voice joined in. He was sitting at Shark's side, crying and holding my hand.

Ryouga yelled my name to the sky, his own tears sliding from his eyes. "No!" he yelled, punching the ground next to my shoulder. Astrid was nowhere to be seen.

What's wrong? I'm still here, aren't I? Can't you see the stars?

FINISH