2 August 2014 - 05.54

Starting school in a couple of weeks. Let's see how much I can get done of this for (at least) regular updates. Maybe once a week? Is that okay with you guys? Trading every week with another story update, probably.

Kapitel Neun

Jonouchi followed Yugi inside, looking to Yami when he reached the door. Silent, he slipped inside.

He heard Yugi walking upstairs. Jonouchi almost felt like going home, just to stay in his room.

I don't get a choice... Just like Yami's not letting Yugi have a choice.

It wasn't right at all. He didn't belong to anyone, he thought as he settled on the couch, grabbing the remote from nearby on the coffee table. As he turned on the television, he stopped when seeing a familiar scene.

It was a film that he and his sister had seen, back when his mum and dad were still okay, and the cost of Shizuka's hospital bills was the only problem that they were facing as a family.

"Fireflies..." he mumbled, as he recognized a scene. Fireflies flying in the night, little stars that he and Shizuka could catch in their hands. Stars that she could see up close...

Fireflies that would die, eventually.

As Jonouchi watched the screen, he felt a sense of finality wash over him. He understood Yugi, how he had no choice in the matter. Yami had kept him trapped for three days in his room. There was just one problem...

Yami's behavior wasn't making sense. He shouldn't be looking so remorseful if he was just a bad guy; crazy, with all of the vines, but not bad. He seemed more paranoid than anything else, like Jonouchi would make sure that Yami and Yugi wouldn't meet again.

"I told you before, we've met before. It's not the first time that I've... frightened you," Yami had said, and he had sounded so sad. He was frightened, and he was lonely.

The problem is that there isn't a choice.

He thought of Shizuka, her waning health and eyes. Was this how she felt? Yami's existence and words - "He's given you time." - made this new reality seem so surreal, he couldn't help believing it now.

I've dealt with time I didn't know I had. Shizuka, you've had years... and I still can't take good care of you.

The back door opened. Yami spotted Jonouchi, who had moved to sit, on the couch and nodded slowly, just once.

"Jonouchi-kun-"

"What happens when I meet him?"

Yami walked around to sit on the farther end of the couch. Seeing him now, without those vines that moved under his skin and the way that Yami kept avoiding his eyes, Jonouchi felt less threatened. Daringly, he could say he felt safe!

"If he's made a claim of you, a Scent-Mark, you've met before. It's faint, but there, so you've even accepted the claim before." Yami turned to him and Jonouchi got lost in those blood-red eyes that reflected everything and revealed nothing but a calculated prudence. "I understand you're not the same as before. Yugi isn't either, but that's why we must meet young, to have time to develop relationships."

"Then why did you hold Yugi hostage?"

The air was thick, the heat that the spring had brought making it harder to breathe as it carried a heavy humidity in through the open windows.

"... He dies early, every time." Jou watched Yami draw his legs up to his chest, arms wrapping around his knees. He gazed at something that didn't exist, lost in memories. "He died in an automobile accident last time. Before, a mugging. Before that, a great bomb that would even kill the Aequorea that has bonded with you. It probably did.

"We never have the time."

The television had a little girl screaming on screen. Jou and Yami looked up.

For a few moments, Jonouchi felt his heart being squeezed, watching as Setsuko cry out for her older brother. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Yami curl up a bit more.

"Do you think your brothers and sisters blamed you, for your plan..?"

"Planula?" Yami looked thoughtful for a moment, and Setsuko was reunited with her brother in the time that he took to answer.

"I hope not." Yami didn't dare turn away from the screen, engrossed by the film. "... They took care of me like Seita is trying to take care of his sister."

They watched the film in silence, Jonouchi trying to stop his chest from hurting by curling up a bit on himself as well.

"Jonouchi-kun, I lied."

"About what?"

Yami uncurled a bit.

"For the past 3000 years, I have been the last of mine." He set his feet on the floor, the old carpet probably rough against his feet. "It hasn't been 10000 years; it certainly feels like it...

"One thing I learn every lifetime, Jonouchi-kun, is that life is too short, but it feels so long."

Jou nodded. "Anything else you lied about?"

He swallowed the lump in his throat as Seita carried a candy tin.

"I think I know who your mate is. You've nothing to fear of him." Yami let out what seemed to be a long-held breath, a slow sigh. "I can remember, from his scent, a few things. I think I passed his place of work when I came to get Yugi... The scent is the same."

Jonouchi turned away from the screen. "Where?"

A knock came at the door.

"He's here." Yami's voice held an air of certainty that dissipated the tension in the air, replacing it with a raw terror.

"Don't let him in." Jonouchi and Yami both stood, seeing Yugi on the stairs.

"Yugi," Jonouchi said, voice softer than his friend had ever heard it. "I told you about my sister, right? If she can face her problems with a smile, like in the video she sent me a few weeks ago, I can face this."

"Should we stay here?" Yami kept his voice to the same muted tone that Jonouchi had his at.

"It's fine." Jou looked to Yami and then to Yugi. "How about you two go upstairs and talk? I think you need to."

Yugi nodded. "Just because you asked."

Yami followed silently.

Jonouchi looked to the front door.

There was a knock.

The film credits were rolling.

"Here we go."

6 August 2014 - 19.57

They are watching Grave of the Fireflies (1988) from Studio Ghibli.

Aequorea - These are sea-jellies that go through a cycle of returning to a "more-youthful" state at some point in their lifetime. They go through this cycle of age reversal so many times, that they have earned the reputation of "immortal sea-jellies."

Significance of 9 (neun) - In Ancient Egypt, the Nine Bows referred to the traditional enemies of Egypt. In Japan, it is considered to be unlucky because of its pronunciation, sounding like the word for "pain" or "distress" (kyu).

Grave of the Fireflies centers on Seita and his little sister Setsuko. The novel author, Akiyuki Nosaka, called it a "double-suicide" story, or a Shinjū. Shinjū is written with the characters for "mind" and "center," Shizuka being the center for Jonouchi's strength.

Note: I have not seen this film. I was researching films for Jonouchi to watch and I recognized Grave of the Fireflies as a Studio Ghibli film. I watched about six minutes of the film. I have not stopped crying (19.54).