Hi everyone and welcome back! My sincere apologies for not updating any of my stories, but I haven't gotten into writing at all lately and I was getting a little bit tired of staring at a blank page after a few days turning into weeks and more. Still, I found this chapter hiding on my laptop when I was searching for some inspiration and somehow, I managed to finish this one so it could be posted.
Hopefully it's still readable as well as understandable and I hope you'll enjoy it too!
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Chapter 5
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Somehow, he had made it through the day... Somehow, he had followed all of his classes without going insane and, more importantly, he hadn't made any enemies yet either. That alone made Atemu feel slightly relieved while he hoisted his heavy book bag onto his shoulders, prior to grimacing as he was reminded of the amount of homework the teachers had given them. Was it normal to have this much or were there other reasons he didn't know of yet? Reasons he could guess at possibly, considering he had heard the math teacher say he was very far behind, but he didn't want to think about that right now. His head was already heavy with information and Atemu sighed as he wondered if he could even find any kind of answer in the mess that were his hurting brains.
Looking up when Yugi came up to him, rose-red eyes flashed in warning while the smaller teen nibbled his lip nervously. The tanned Neko merely gazed at him without saying a word and his triangular ears quickly disappeared inside his hair to show his discomfort effectively, but the other teen didn't seem to pick up on that. "Yes- Yesterday, when Yami was at the house he said you are his roommate and I- Well, you see... How is he?", was Yugi's small question putting the tanned Neko even more on guard and Atemu swayed his bushy tail from left to right while giving a soft hiss.
"Why do ask me? Yami is your brother, you should ask him this question instead of me", the tanned teen replied with a soft growl and amethyst eyes averted themselves slightly while Yugi seemed to shrink under his threatening gaze.
"W- Well, I did, but- but he said he was fine. He- He's not though, I saw his hands. When Yami is stressed he washes them excessively and they- they're raw right now. I- I was hoping you'd know more", Yugi stuttered, though Atemu had to admit there was a certain kind of bravery to him because his rose-red eyes were trying to glare the smaller teen into the ground. After all, his roommate and him had made a promise not to pry so why would a younger sibling do so? One that was still allowed to live at the home Yami had been taken from?
"I don't, so go ask your brother and not me about his well-being", Atemu answered with another swish of his tail, before he turned around to walk away from school. With his book bag filled to the brim, there were more important things to worry about than the twins. Math, for example, even though it would probably be hard without Shizuka offering them all some hints in order to solve the given homework.
Yet, he nearly jumped out of his skin as a hand touched him and Atemu snarled in warning as he swiftly turned around and ready to claw someone's eyes out at the same time Yugi uttered: "But you're his roommate!"
At the words, rose-red eyes were set ablaze with fury while their owner bared his teeth and the tanned Neko snapped them at Yugi with another deep growl forming in his chest. His bushy tail was thick with both fear and annoyance while his ears had completely vanished in his tri-coloured hair to give the smaller teen the sense how angry he really was. "I don't care", was his hiss while Atemu showed his fangs and flexed his fingers into a fist, because he would make the smaller twin see sense in leaving him alone the violent way if he had to.
"Don't you ever dare to tell me what to do or touch me again. Go ask your brother if you're so worried, considering this is about him, but don't come to me with your pitiful excuses", Atemu continued to hiss, before he turned around on his heel and stalked off. He could find the way back home by himself now, he didn't need for anyone to hold his hand and if they'd try, he'd probably lash out at them without a good reason. Yugi luckily didn't follow him again though and the tanned Neko didn't look back either to see what kind of trouble he had possibly thrown himself in this time. He was always blamed for something, after all, but for a moment Atemu didn't care as he stomped away from the school grounds.
He was glad everyone else veered around him and he grumbled softly as someone called his name from behind. Without listening, the tanned Neko growled softly with another threatening hiss leaving his lips, before he tensed as Yami came up to him slowly. Guarded, rose-red eyes were focused on the pale teen to see what he'd do for scaring his brother, but the other merely smiled with a sincere apology on his lips. "I'm sorry for calling out to you, but you're going the wrong way. We had to go left into that street", were the gently words accompanying the warm look in crimson eyes and Atemu perked his ears up as he realised his mistake.
"Oh", he merely said as he was taken from his anger to take a good look at his surroundings, prior to feeling his cheeks heat up with a blush. Luckily his darker skin was able to hide it, but his eyes weren't, although the other Neko didn't judge him. He merely walked back a few paces while waiting for a moment to see if Atemu would follow and the tanned teen did, albeit carefully. It could still be a trick, after all, to get him alone and to then beat him up because Yami was protective of his twin. He wouldn't find that odd at all, although the tanned Neko would fight back no matter what.
Still, he recognised the road from earlier that morning and even though he glanced at Yami to see if the other would try to pull a stunt, none of that happened while the pale Neko seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. Crimson eyes were glazed over ever so slightly and they only seemed to become clear again when they arrived at the Youth Centre. Using one of their keys to get in, both Nekos noticed they were the first ones to arrive back, but neither cared much for that while they called out they had arrived whilst moving into the kitchen.
"Welcome back home. Was everything all right at school?", Mary asked and Atemu flattened his ears ever so slightly in distrust while Yami picked his laptop from its shelf after setting his bag filled with homework beside one of the chairs.
"It was all right, ma'am. Can I get something to drink for myself while doing homework?", the pale teen asked as he wasn't sure if he'd be allowed to do so, but the older woman nodded while Atemu followed Yami's example in an attempt to start on his own homework as well. He took the newly bought laptop from the cabinet it had been stored in and although he managed to turn it on, he hoped he could find the information needed for his history class.
"Atemu? Would you like something to drink as well?", was the soft question taking him from his reverie and the tanned Neko blinked owlishly, before he glanced at Yami who was holding up a glass and a bottle with cat-milk. It made furry ears perk up in interest while Atemu felt his throat go dry at the sight and he nodded slowly with a small smile on his lips.
"Yes please, I'd like some too", he answered and couldn't help but notice most of his anger was gone, especially as the pale Neko smiled at him and filled two glasses up with the white drink. It had a great taste after a full day at school and Atemu sighed softly in relief, before he sat down at the table to pile all of his books on top of it in order to decide with which one to start first. As he did, Kyle and Alexander walked into the kitchen as well with a greeting to everyone who wanted to hear it and they talked with Mary for a moment about school while also declaring that Luke and Cho had gone off to a couple of friends to make homework with.
"But Alexander and I have to finish a science essay together and I also have to cook tonight, so we decided to come home", Kyle concluded while he took something to drink from the fridge as well and even though the conversation didn't interest him, Atemu could still feel himself be on edge. His tail was thick as it swished from left to right and he grumbled softly in warning as they tried to sit down too close to his liking. Not that he had anything to say, considering they would also sit this close together during dinner, but that didn't mean he had to start to like it either.
Yet, his ears caught another sound which distracted him and Atemu slowly glanced at Yami from the corner of his rose-red eyes while the pale Neko purred ever so softly. Crimson irises were glazed over once again, however, and the tanned teen sighed as he wasn't sure what to do with the situation. Especially because he was feeling uncomfortable with the other teens so nearby, but he didn't feel like purring either. Instead, his bushy tail continued to sway back and forth while he tried to focus on his homework instead.
Which was chaos and it was confusing while he skipped history when he couldn't figure the laptop out at all, so he worked on the English assignment instead. He probably made more mistakes concerning his grammar than an elementary school kid, but at least he could look these things up in a decent manner. This didn't require technology and while working on the tasks, Atemu noticed some were getting easier the more he started to get into it. Math was next and it was something he could struggle through to a certain extend because of Shizuka having written down easier formulas to answer the questions, but at a certain point he was stuck and Atemu nibbled his lip as he tried to find his mistake.
Yet, he couldn't find it and even though he hated himself for it, the tanned Neko slowly glanced at Yami who was still typing on his own laptop. He actually didn't want to disturb the other man, but the others weren't an option either as they hadn't been in his class, which was why Atemu gave a soft grumble to catch his roommate's attention. It didn't even take a second for the other black triangular ears to hear him and crimson eyes immediately fell on the tanned teen with a curious expression while Yami stopped with his own work.
"What's wrong?", was the soft whisper that did catch the attention of the other two teens seated at the table, but both Nekos ignored them as Atemu nibbled his lip and then showed him the math problem he had been working on.
"I'm not sure, but I'm stuck and I don't know how to solve it. I know it's not the right answer, but I can't seem to find where I went wrong", the tanned teen whispered back just as softly and he watched how Yami moved his chair away from his laptop to glance at the work sheet, before he took out his own which was still blank. Black tails swished gently from left to right as they both worked on the blank problem and furry ears perked up as their owner gave a soft sound of acknowledgement.
"Here, this is where I went wrong", he whispered while he picked up his own sheet again and compared it with the one they had just filled in almost to the end. Yami smiled encouragingly as his roommate fixed his mistake, before he asked Atemu softly to help him out with the others as well. "Why? You've had math for longer than I", the tanned Neko asked with confusion as he thought about the request and black ears slowly moved back in tri-coloured hair as Yami blushed slightly.
"Well, trust me, you're better at it than I. Math isn't easy for me, I'd rather do history, but it's a required class and I need it to pass all of my exams too", the pale teen whispered in return and rose-red eyes glanced at him; in which they couldn't help but notice how Yami's damaged ear wouldn't go as far back into the other Neko's hair as the undamaged one. Still, Atemu didn't know what to say while he glanced at the laptop his roommate had been working with.
"Maybe I'm just lucky. The math teacher himself said I'm running behind and to be fair, I don't even know how to operate half of these machines. Even the calculator has buttons I don't want to touch", Atemu admitted, but Yami continued to smile either way.
"That's fine and I can help you with those if you want. It's just, sometimes I can study with more ease if I do math with someone to help me through it. You don't have to do it, but will you think about it? No attachment, just a small way to help each other?", the pale Neko offered and his roommate fell silent as Atemu's gears were processing the gently spoken words. There was definitely some truth in them and a tanned lip was nibbled on gently while Yami let him be for a moment to think things through. Only when the tanned Neko gave another grumble did crimson eyes glance his way again and although they could see the hesitance deep within them, Atemu nodded his consent either way.
"But if this doesn't work, we'll have to stop", the tanned teen said as a compromise and Yami nodded he understood, before he let Atemu help him out with his work sheet on math so they could both finish it while Kyle was getting dinner ready. History would have to wait until they had had something to eat, but neither Neko minded the momentary break while helping out to set the table. As they did, both Cho and Luke returned home from a visit to their friends, although Atemu couldn't help but twitch his nose a little when they walked passed the table to get something to drink from the fridge. Yami's nose did quite the same while he even took a step back and the tanned teen couldn't blame him prior to the smell of Kyle's cooking filling his nostrils once more.
Not that either Neko said a word about what they smelled from the other teens as Harold came home as well and they were then forced to join the broken household at the table for dinner. Rice and green curry were distributed among them all, but Atemu didn't care while he guarded his own bowl with a threatening glare from his rose-red eyes while his tail swished daringly at the same time. The scent of their meal was at least enough to overcome the smell both Cho and Luke had brought into the house and both Nekos happily retreated to their shared bedroom with their book bags and laptop in order to finish their homework in peace.
"Disgusting", Atemu couldn't help but mutter as he climbed up the staircase behind Yami and black ears flicked towards the sound of his voice while the tanned Neko complained. "Seeing friends, sure. They smelled of weird things and sex, both of which I don't want to have anything to do with", were the continued words of complaint while the other teen shuddered and his roommate agreed with a grumble of his own, prior to depositing his book bag beside his desk.
"Do you think Mary knows?", Yami asked softy with a frown on his face while his crimson eyes gleamed with the same disgust Atemu had portrayed in his complaint, but the tanned Neko gave a small shrug as he put his laptop down atop his desk.
"Honestly, I don't care. It's just disgusting we have to smell their 'activities' too, although it's good to know because starting tomorrow, I'm doing my homework up here", Atemu muttered, before he sighed deeply while glancing at his new laptop again. Still, he allowed for Yami to come closer with his own device and he smiled as the latter didn't judge him. The pale Neko was merely calm while he explained how certain applications worked and he wasn't bothered by the fact Atemu couldn't type as fast as he could. It gave him the chance to finish his English homework; a thing to show Mary they hadn't been doing nothing whilst being up in their bedroom when they went back downstairs to return their laptops back into the cabinet.
"You don't need to print anything?", she asked, but Yami shook his head while he explained they had to hand their small essay in through the school's E-learning network and Mary nodded as she understood. He was then to leave Atemu with her for a moment so they could discuss something and Yami left the dining area to take a shower upstairs. Reaching the first floor, he could hear a whispered argument from behind one of the other bedroom doors and he flattened his ears slightly as he didn't want to listen to it. Not that he had a choice, as his hearing was much better than of any human, but as he took a step towards the staircase leading towards the attic, he could still hear Cho and Kyle arguing.
Apparently, Atemu and him hadn't been the only ones to smell the odd scents Cho and Luke had brought in, but at least he didn't feel the need to confront anyone about it like Kyle did. During it, the other teens voice was getting louder too and Yami swished his tail as he could hear concern while Kyle asked if Cho wasn't in any pain. The pale Neko shuddered as he was shaken from his reverie when another door opened up downstairs and he silently moved up the staircase to take a deep, calming breath as he reached the bedroom he shared with Atemu.
Nibbling his lip, he gathered his towel and other shower supplies as well as his pyjamas, before he locked the bathroom door behind himself with another swish of his tail. Why was he here? He shouldn't be in this house, he should be at home. Yugi needed him, his brother couldn't even bake an egg without setting the kitchen on fire and Yami leaned his head against the door for a moment as he tried to still his raging thoughts. Was he even safe here? What had all he arguing been about? The smells, the noises... They were too different and the pale Neko trembled again with a thick swallow. Everything, he had to wash it off his skin because then he'd feel clean again. Then he would be able to try and brave the dark night with all of its monsters and Yami slowly stripped out of his uniform while he let the shower heat up.
Stepping underneath the warm stream, he flattened his ears against his head as far as they would go so water wouldn't run into them, before he grasped his soap and sponge. All he had to do was rub it off, then he'd feel clean again... Then it would be possible to forget the thought of wrinkled skin against his hands or the whispered orders in his triangular ears. Perhaps then, he'd be able to ignore the argument that brought him feelings, images and memories he didn't want to experience all over again. He didn't want to listen to the mental voice haunting him with disgusting words of what he was and of what he should do.
It was why he scrubbed his skin as he tried to wash the thoughts away. As he closed that part of his mind up as far as it would possibly go with each rub of the sponge against his red skin and it was why he huddled himself up in his nest of blankets, pillows and toys with the lights burning brightly as soon as he had finished his shower. It wasn't even time yet to head to bed and he could hear the other teens gaming downstairs, but Yami didn't care. Atemu had been grumbling before he had disappeared to take a shower as well, but the pale Neko hadn't had the heart to ask what Mary had wanted to discuss with his roommate. It probably wasn't anything the other teen could agree with and Yami sighed again while his ears tried to catch every possible sound the house could hold.
It was how he caught the rumble he had heard Atemu create before and crimson eyes focused upon the door to see the tanned Neko return from his shower. He seemed to have calmed down a little and Yami gave a small smile of gratitude for the soft sound his roommate had made. "Thanks", he whispered as he let his nails scratch the canvas of his toy to keep his mind busy and rose-red eyes gleamed slightly while Atemu acknowledge his appreciation.
"You chirrup to make me feel at ease and I can do the same for you", the tanned Neko responded gently, although he watched Yami for a moment longer to see the red skin of his hands while his roommate was literally trying to hide himself. As if he was currently hunted by a monster and Atemu couldn't help but relate while he tried to stay calm and not let the pale teens emotions affect him. He didn't want to have another nightmare and hurt Yami again if the latter would once more be brave enough to wake him up, but it was difficult. The high run of emotions were making him nibble his lip while he tried to get his lasts bits of homework done, prior to packing his bag in accordance to his schedule for tomorrow. His tail wouldn't stop swishing either and Atemu sighed as he flicked his ear to another sound deep within the house, but he couldn't decipher what it was.
"I'm sorry", was the soft whisper catching him from his train of thoughts and Atemu glanced at Yami who had stopped scratching his toy as soon as he had noticed he was bothering his roommate with his behaviour. Who wouldn't be bothered by it? He was seventeen, he shouldn't be hiding in self-made nests of blankets and pillows. He shouldn't be worrying himself about sounds and he shouldn't be afraid of the dark. The fact he was, was just pathetic, but Yami trembled as he couldn't help himself.
"No, don't be. Something frightened you and you're allowed to feel that way. Fear keeps us on our toes and makes it able for us to survive. Even run faster than we would normally be able to if we get the chance", Atemu answered as he glanced at his roommate and he sighed as he could read the crimson eyes like an open book. Something had happened to Yami's stable mind between him leaving the dining room and getting into bed, but the tanned Neko knew he had promised not to pry. He couldn't get attached, he had learned that lesson... even though he already knew it was too late or else he wouldn't be worried right now. Then he'd be able to shake it off like he had been able to with others over the past, but he couldn't with Yami. Not as he glanced at the torn expression, before the pale Neko flattened his ears against his head some more at the same time he hid himself deeper into his self-made nest.
"But I'm bothering you and I shouldn't. I'm sorry, it won't happen again", the teen whispered and Atemu recognised the tune upon Yami's voice immediately. He had said something quite similar in the same tone when he had been younger, after all, but that was before he had learned it wouldn't make the situation any better. It was a tone he had carried before he had learned to just take the beating and fight back whenever he was given the chance. It made his confusion grow, as he wondered why his roommate hadn't learned that fact of life yet, but perhaps that had to do with the fact his younger brother was still allowed to live at home and Atemu sighed again as wished he could stop thinking about it while he wanted the answer as well.
"Yami, really, you don't have to apologise for having feelings. We all have them, but we express them differently. I was already amazed by how calm you reacted to everything while I literally blew up and tried to behead everyone who came close. React how your instinct tell you to, because that'll make you feel a whole lot better than when you try to hide them away. I don't mind, honest", were therefore Atemu's soft words, because he truly didn't mind as a part of him could understand. He wasn't bothered by his roommate either, just afraid it would affect him too much, but he would just have to deal with that later. It wasn't as if he hadn't done that before, so he shouldn't complain and the tanned Neko swished his tail resolutely to confirm that thought to himself.
"Instincts... I wish I had learned to listen to them like you have. Sometimes I don't even recognise them for belonging to me. As if they're buried", Yami whispered and Atemu sighed softly as he glanced at his roommate once more whilst leaning against their shared bookcase gently, before he tilted his head slightly.
"Yeah well, you shouldn't always listen to them like I do. Your way is better most of the time, because it will get you further than me. I explode and people hate me or want to reprimand me for it. I haven't found the 'fine line' yet so to speak and maybe you haven't either, but your calm demeanour will get other things done. That doesn't mean you have to stop feeling entirely, so really, scratch your toy if that makes you feel better and don't be ashamed of having emotions. Everyone has them and they need to be let out", Atemu tried, even though he usually wasn't one to give pep-talks. He didn't even know if he could... What if he would make things worse? Still, Yami continued to glance at him with a certain expression in his eyes and upon his face that almost made the tanned Neko realise he had succeeded.
"Thank you, Atemu and I'll try to let the emotions out more often. If only a little", Yami whispered back and he sighed softly as he could feel a certain warmth inside his being which made him calm down. He wasn't at home and even though he was situated in a new house, he could get used to this. He had an understanding roommate who tried to be nice, even though he didn't want to get attached, and that made the pale Neko purr softly in gratitude.
Furry black ears perked up at the sound escaping Yami's throat, before Atemu gave a warm smile and returned the purr with an equal gentleness. "You're welcome", he whispered in return and the pale teen smiled while snuggling his pillow and even though it was still a little too early, the tanned Neko followed his roommate's example to crawl underneath the blankets after turning most of the lights off. The single one atop the pale teens night stand was the only one still lit, but Atemu had to admit he wasn't bothered by it at all. "Leave it on, it's fine", he whispered softly and he smiled while a sudden tiredness fell over him. He would try not to get attached again tomorrow, today was just a fault in the system and would be fixed tomorrow after some decent sleep.
"Again, thank you Atemu", Yami whispered into the now darker room and his crimson eyes gleamed in the single offered light, but he happily basked in it. This way, he would be able to see the intruder if they'd even manage to open the door without his roommate beheading them, but the pale Neko purred softly in a way to comfort himself while the other teen mimicked him sleepily.
Yet, as he laid in the shade provided by the bookcase, Atemu felt his mind nagging at him while he actually wanted to sleep. The memory of Yugi speaking with him resurfaced and the tanned Neko frowned as he blinked awake in order to figure out why he was thinking about it suddenly. Was this another fault in his systematic attempt to not get attached to anyone? Yami hadn't mentioned it, so why should he? The thought made him nibble his lip and Atemu sighed once more, before he rolled over to face the bookcase and, technically, the pale Neko who laid behind it.
"Yami?", he asked sleepily and he nibbled his lip when silence reigned their bedroom for a moment.
"Yes? What's wrong?", the pale Neko asked in return, however, while crimson eyes were gleaming in worry. Had he done something? Had his purring bothered Atemu? Was there something else he had done and shouldn't have? It made Yami's pace of breathing rise as he felt a sense of panic emerge within him, but Atemu purred softly in apology as that hadn't been his intentions.
"Nothing, really... it's just, well... When I was about to leave the school grounds your brother came up to me to ask how you were doing. I- ah... I might not have been the nicest when responding to his question. As I said before, I explode easily and that happened this afternoon, because I felt his question was misplaced", the tanned Neko said in between his soft purrs and he felt how his nerves grew while Yami remained silent.
"That's fine, don't worry about it and I'll speak with Yugi tomorrow to tell him he shouldn't bother you. I respect your wishes to not get attached and I'm sorry my brother asked you this weird question. He knows he can just ask me instead, so please, accept my apology and I promise it won't happen again", were the soft words suddenly coming from the other bed and Atemu felt how his furry ears flattened themselves against his head because he hadn't want to upset his roommate at all. Then again, this would get Yugi off his back and he nodded slowly to himself while nuzzling his pillow.
"It's all right, he didn't know and I didn't need to fly off the handle like I did. I'm not one for apologies, but if he wants one... I can always try", he whispered in return and Yami purred softly in gratitude while snuggling deeper underneath the blankets.
"I'll tell him, don't worry. Yugi shouldn't have tried to pry, but he doesn't know better. Home isn't school, after all, but I promise to speak with him. He has no reason to bother you about me", Yami repeated, but his words were like a small lingering fire inside Atemu's mind that the tanned Neko couldn't extinguish as easily as he wanted to. Did the smaller twin pry often? Why? Was that the reason as to why his roommate was moved away from his family while his twin was allowed to remain? Or was there something else? Something far more related to Yami's red hands and excessive washing? Was there another trigger than stress? Moving did give stress, but his roommate's hands looked worse than earlier that day. What had caused for that to happen?
"It's all right, I just wanted you to know", Atemu whispered in return when he felt like his silence was stretching for too long, but his roommate continued to purr and he returned the sound in order to calm his own mind. "Good night Yami", were his next soft words and he smiled as his greeting was given a small tired hum.
"Good night, Atemu. Hopefully you can sleep well", Yami managed to whisper while his eyes were falling shut as he had gotten himself into a very comfortable position and he was safe. His roommate was here who had sensitive ears like him and would therefore be awake too in case a monster would show up. A monster which currently lurked unseen in his roommate's mind as puzzle pieces were slowly falling into their place. Not all of them yet, and he really shouldn't care about it, but the tanned Neko couldn't let it go either. Something was bothering Atemu, because something wasn't right and it was probably his tired mind that made the worry linger well into his dreams.
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Thank you all for reading and if you have the time, please leave a review. I am not going to promise an update any time soon, but if someone could send over a muse or two it would be very much appreciated. :)