"Are they up yet?"
"Not yet, Crow. Give them time."
Crow frowned and sighed. Martha didn't say anything and resumed cooking. She had temporarily moved in with the boys, just to keep an eye on Yusei. This was her worst nightmare: A traumatized Yusei who never spoke except for a few one word sentences, two or three if they were lucky, and would have a major breakdown if certain words were said. It broke her heart, but she never showed. They knew she was heartbroken, but didn't say anything.
"Hey guys."
Crow watched as Aki, Leo and Luna walked in. Aki looked horrible. Her hair was a mess and she had dark rings under her eyes. This was taking a heavy toll on her. Crow gulped at the thought of her snapping under the pressure at some point. "Nightmares?"
She nodded.
"Want to talk about it?" Martha asked.
Aki shook her head. "No...I'm not in the mood..."
"Is Yusei up? I have something for him." Ruka asked.
"Yeah... So am I."
Aki nearly shrieked and smacked Jack across the face, the sound resonating throughout the room. Everyone gasped loudly. Aki then saw why they gasped and looked horrified.
Yusei had those wide eyes and stared at her in fear. Jack rubbed his cheek and glared at Aki before turning his attention to the teen. "Yusei, calm down." he said sternly.
He didn't listen.
Yusei snarled and lashed out at the red-head, managing to scratch her cheek once again before Jack restrained him. "YUSEI! I SAID CALM DOWN!" he boomed, watching as Yusei calmed down and cling to him once more. He smiled. "Good, Yusei. No lashing out at others, ok?"
"...sorry..." the teen muttered in a voice so quiet, only Jack could hear. Martha tended to Aki's wound as the girl teared up. This was the second time Yusei lashed out at her like this. Did he hate her now? 'Y-Yusei...'
"Try and get him to eat again. We need to at least fatten him up!" Crow remarked.
"Yeah! I don't like seeing Yusei this bone-y..." Rua added. Ruka placed her backpack on the table and got out a Kuribon plush. She had the idea that maybe a doll could help Yusei a bit. "Jack, see if Yusei wants this. He can have it if he likes it. I have four of them." Jack took the doll from her and examined it. It looked like the real deal.
"Yusei, sit at the table." he whispered gently to Yusei. The male stared at him with those blank eyes and moved to sit at the table, staring at nothing. Jack sat next to him and put the dill in front of Yusei. "Here. Ruka brought this for you. If you want it, you can have it."
The Signer's attention then turned to the doll. All breaths were held as Yusei stared at the Kuribon plush. Yusei glanced at Jack, who smiled calmly. He motioned to him that it was ok. Ever so slowly, Yusei reached for the doll. Without warning he snagged it at an unusual speed and held it close. The fur was so soft, and he started playing with the ribbon on the tail. Everyone smiled and let their breaths out.
"So cute!" Martha said. Aki nodded in agreement. Same for Crow.
The twins cheered silently. "Success!"
"Do you like it?" asked Jack as he watched Yusei play with the plush. Yusei let out a quiet 'Mmhm' as he hugged it. His stomach growled, but he didn't react. Martha chuckled and brought over a plate of bacon and eggs: simple and sweet.
"Here, sweetie. You must be starving!"
Yusei flinched, clinging to Jack once more. The plush lay on his lap now. Jack whispered something to him, making Yusei slowly let go of him. He just stared at the food before him.
"C'mon, Yusei! You need to put on some weight. We don't want you to starve to death, man!" Crow prodded.
"Please?" the twins begged.
"Do it for us?" Aki added.
Yusei didn't react to any of them. Jack sighed. Yusei was starving himself. He hardly ate anything ever since he left the hospital. Was there no hope of helping him?
'Wait...'
Jack grabbed a knife and fork and cut off a small bit of bacon. He hoped this idea worked! He held it to Yusei's mouth. "Here. Eat up, Yusei." Yusei didn't react.
At least for thirty seconds.
He slowly opened his mouth and accepted the bacon strip, quietly eating.
Jack mentally cheered.
"Hes eating! Again!"
"Shh! Don't startle him, dammit!" Jack snapped as he fed Yusei. Whatever he put un front of the teen, he ate. Everyone watched, smiling more. After a few, Yusei had eaten everything on his plate and resumed playing with the Kuribon plush. Jack gave him a one arm hug, noticing Yusei relax more.
"I'm so happy... He actually ate everything!" Martha was crying tears of joy.
"If you keep feeding him like that, he'll gain back all the weight he lost!" Crow stated proudly.
Everyone started coming up with ideas to help Yusei get back to his normal weight, not noticing the familiar glint that came and gone within a split second...
The day progressed "normally." Save for the fact everyone had to be careful what it did, lest they want Yusei to revert again. The twins and Aki went to school, leaving Crow, Jack and Martha to keep watchful eyes on the teen. At the moment, Yusei was sound asleep on the couch, hugging the plush close and breathing softly. Jack and Crow were doing some cleaning with Martha, leaving him unattended. The tv was left on, just in case he woke up. He shifted his position, dropping the doll. After noticing the plush was gone, he opened his eyes and sat up to find it.
'Yusei!'
That voice... It sounded familiar to him. He flinched and resumed looking for the plush, finding it had rolled under the table.
'Yusei! It's me! Rift!'
"...!" He froze, the doll now in a bear hug. Who was there!? Was it...
'Yusei!'
He screamed. That voice haunted him, taunted him. It wouldn't leave him alone!
"SHUT UP! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
He felt himself suffocating. His neck felt like it was being squeezed, a sharp gasp escaping his mouth. He clutched at his neck as a figure started appearing before him.
"Oh Yusei... Why won't they learn?"
HE was getting closer. Yusei tried to move, but was frozen in place. Wide eyes stare on, unable to look away. He was struggling to breathe, his breaths in sharp gasps. HE now stood in front of him, staring down with a twisted grin.
"You are MY toy." HE bent down to face Yusei, the Signer desperately trying to scream, but couldn't.
"MY little slut to fuck." A small knife was brought out, and Yusei felt the blade being trailed against his cheek, jaw, and neck.
"MINE to shower with such twisted love." Yusei didn't know what would kill him first: exploding lungs, the lack of air, or a slit throat. He struggled to move, speak or scream.
Nothing worked. HE held the knife up, his expression twisted to form such a sick and revolting smile.
"MINE..."
Yusei could feel his heart stop, eyes locked on the knife.
"TO..."
This was it.
No one could save him now.
"KILL."
With one loud, bloodcurdling, and mortifying scream, A loud slicing sound was heard.
"YUSEI! WAKE UP!"
Yusei's eyes snapped open, filled with tears and screaming in fear. He couldn't move his legs or arms. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" he screamed desperately. Crow could barely hold down his kicking legs. Jack held down Yusei's arms, making sure he couldn't claw at himself.
"I TOLD YOU WE SHOULDN'T LEAVE YUSEI UNATTENDED!" Jack shouted in anger, barely able to restrain the black haired teen.
"STOP! STOP! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Yusei begged, sobbing non-stop. He was trapped in his nightmare, unable to escape. All he saw was Paradox, no one else. He saw him staring at him with that twisted grin, taunting him.
Jack snarled. He had no other choice. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
SMACK!
Crow winced at the force of the smack, the sound resonating throughout the room. Yusei's head had snapped to the side, and he had stopped crying and struggling. Yusei's eyes were still wide. A red mark formed where Jack had smacked him. Jack stared at Yusei, easing his grip. " ...did you have a bad dream?"
"...mmhm..."
"Was it scary?"
"...yes...m'scared..."
Crow let go of Yusei, saddened that he had a nightmare involving that bastard. Jack sat down and pulled Yusei onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him. "It's ok, Yusei... He can't get you... He won't hurt you anymore..." he whispered gently.
Yusei teared up and buried hid face into Jack's shoulder, shaking in fear. Jack frowned sadly and simply stroked Yusei's back, hoping to calm him down.
It was a never rending nightmare that would never end...
NYAAAAAAAAAAAA! Sorry!
I've been sooooo busy lately!
I'll try and update more!