A/N: Sorry for the delay, I kept getting distracted with more important things. Anyway, here's chapter nine just in time~ This story is actually based off a world I came up with (I have quite a few of them). You get a little snippet of information about Syaoron and Yuui in the current state of the world but there's still I lot more I thought up for it. If I ever decide to expand on any of these stories this would definitely be one I could use. This is also one of my favourite words.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy~
Disclaimer: All characters belong to CLAMP, I just came up with this world.
Story Nine
The sky was a dismal grey as always. Yuui hardly remembered a time when the sun shone brightly onto the hard earth. It was rather strange how the brilliant glow from the heavens seemed to flicker out when All Hell Broke Loose. That's what they called it these days - that apocalyptic month - because, truly, the world was Hell now. Not that it was ever bright and cheery before, it had been a world filled with corrupted cops and dirty slums, a place where crimes like taking a boy's sight and voice and leaving another with a horrid scar went unpunished. No, it had certainly not been a nice world but at least it wasn't complete chaos.
Yuui sighed heavily as he stared out the tiny broken window in the small room. He had been feeling quite weary recently. The world seemed to want to crush him at the moment, dragging his shoulders down and strangling hope.
The blind mute beside him heard the soft sound and reached out to grip his arm. It always amazed the blond how he could do that but supposed his hearing was so attuned now that he could hear many things. He didn't know the boy before the incident that cost him so much. He had never looked into those deep brown eyes that were so familiar in another face. Sometimes he wished he could have listened to his voice that he imagined would be a one deeper than his brother's.
He smiled faintly at the boy now. He couldn't see it but he could hear it. "Yes, Syaoron-kun?"
The boy's hand snaked up his arm and found his cheek, lying softly against it. A tiny frown danced on his lips.
The blond leaned into the touch and clasped a hand over the one on his face. Syaoron had difficulty communicating, only able to use vague hand gestures and tapping out letters like Morse Code. He had learned how to read him though and it was good that the brunet at least had someone who could hear his unspoken words.
"I'm fine," he replied to the question that couldn't be asked. Syaoron simply leaned forward, frowning sinking deeper.
He sighed again. "I'm just thinking."
The mute boy nodded in understanding. He could easily guess what Yuui was thinking about. He might no longer be able to see the harsh world around him but he could still feel its touch. He scooted over on the threadbare cot they shared and relaxed against the man. The former teacher responded, wrapping him in a warm embrace as he leaned against the wall under the poor excuse for a window.
There was a low boom that sounding from a fair distance away. The pair sat up straighter at the noise; Syaoron anxious, Yuui frowning. They weren't allowed out from the crumbling building that marked the front line; the first defense of their group's territory. There were many other buildings like this that they used, all protecting the broken life in the middle where those who could not fight stayed. Everything was about survival.
The young boy shifted, obviously wanting to know what was happening, and cuddled up closer to the blond. Yuui knew how he felt. They weren't allowed out into combat, forced to stay behind these crumbling walls where it was safe. The iron chains binding them together permanently clinked as he ran a soothing hand through Syaoron's soft brown hair. Images of an underground coliseum, a pole where a man and a boy were chained and the dangling bits of human-shaped flesh screaming in agony filled his mind before he shoved them away. There was no need for them, none at all. He knew why people didn't want them outside, it wasn't necessary to remember that horrible year.
"We wouldn't do much good out there," he whispered to the brunet. The former student simply nodded, already aware of it. Yuui continued, "We can go out later, okay? Just like always."
That seemed to cheer him up a bit; a tiny smile crossed his face. He tilted his head back and hugged the man tighter. The former teacher nearly chuckled in amusement. They both liked to be useful but there wasn't much they could do. So they snuck out on occasion, helping to eliminate any threats they were able to. Their situation left them with many disadvantages but they still had learned how to defend themselves.
The echoes of further explosions cut the air. The pair – teacher and student, blond and brunet – huddled on the ragged, narrow bed as they waited for night to fall. Neither knew if things were ever going to get better but at least they knew the world as it was now. At least they could survive and face the new day together.
