[Er… here I am, once again, randomly posting a chap. I wont post another for awhile, so be grateful for this one]

[Again, re-uploaded cuz of Tiet's accent XD]

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Dance the Forbidden Dance

Chapter Three

"Intoxicated"

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Yami caught her as she fell into his arms, both of them pitching forward to the ground. They both laughed, Yami nearly drunk and Teana giddy with excitement.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Teana said, kneeling, blushing deeply. Yami sat up, still laughing, shaking his head.

"No, no, it's okay," he said. He opened his eyes to look at her.

It happened again. They're eyes locked, and they just stared into each others eyes, for about ten seconds. Like the day before. They recognized each other.

Yami snapped out of it first.

"Whoa... You okay?" he asked, trying to stand. He wobbled and fell back down, giggling. Teana smiled and reached down, grabbing his arm and pulling him up.

"I should be asking you that question," she said, linking arms with him. He slipped as they made their way back to the front of the crowd, Teana holding him up. He leaned on her for support, the scene swimming around him.

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright?" Teana asked tentatively. Yami nodded, then almost fell once more. Teana tightened her grip.

"Maybe I should keep hold of you," she said, smiling. Yami smiled back, once again leaning on her. Jono, who was near to them with Maia, glanced over at them. He smiled, then turned to Maia. Maia, who was cheering for the next dancers, looked at him, then at Yami. She smiled.

"I doubt she recognizes him for who he really is," Maia whispered to Jono. Jono, who was, of course, drunk, pointed his finger at her.

"Yeah... Hey!" he called to Yami. "Hey, A-" Maia clapped her hand over his mouth.

"Shh!" she hissed. "You wanna get him caught?"

"Sorry," Jono said, pouting. Maia laughed. She kissed his cheek, then looked back over. Teana was standing before him, her arm still linked with his. She was cheering someone on, Yami following her motions. He looked sick, however, and his face was pale. Maia bit her lower lip. She knew that Jono, who drank often, had a lot of tolerance, but Yami, who only drank wine and water in the palace, didn't.

"Jono," Maia hissed, tugging on Jono's arm. He turned to her, wiping the sweat from his dark face.

"Yes?"

"I think Yami is sick," she said, nodding towards him. Jono turned to look at him, trying to focus long enough to see if she was right. He was leaning on Teana's shoulder, eyes half-open, his body stiff, his chest heaving up and down at an alarming rate. Jono, who was probably legally drunk a that point, still noticed something was wrong. Yami looked as if he might pass out at any minute.

Oh, shit, Jono's mind thought. Yami would get into so much trouble if he got sick out here... But Jono couldn't do much about it. All he could do was watch, his mind swimming, losing sense of reality.

Is he really sick? Jono wondered. Or am I seeing things....? He shrugged to himself. Maia, however, was becoming concerned. She hadn't had anything to drink - luckily - and knew what she was seeing. She was seeing someone succumb to the effects of too much to drink. And this was someone who had almost never drank ale in his life.

"Jono, you should..." Maia trailed off, sighing. Even if he was paying attention, there was no way Jono could help in this state. "Fine, I'll go over there." Maia stormed over, wedging through the crowds, trying to get the Yami. The pitch-black sky mixed with many bodies pressed together made it hard for Maia to navigate.

"Where... Ah!" He saw Teana's long hair, her foreign costume, Yami leaning against her shoulder. Maia sighed in relief, pushing through to the front.

"Teana," Maia sputtered, coming up beside Teana. She turned, surprised to see her.

"Oh, Maia," she said, her arms around Yami's waist. His eyes were closed, sweat dripping down his cheek, the bright light from the fire making him look pale. He looked extremely sick. "Is he alright?"

"I don't think so," Maia said, her blonde hair sticking to her cheeks from her sweat. She ripped a piece of cloth from her tunic, tying her hair back with it. She tore another sallow-colored piece, gently dabbing Yami's face with it. He moaned, scrunching his eyes up. Maia frowned, pushing his hair softly off his face.

"We should get him to his home," she said, putting her arm around his shoulders. She could feel his clammy skin, his sweat coming in bucket fulls. Maia gently laid his head on her shoulder, backing up into the crowd. Teana followed, still half hanging onto him. They eventually came to the edge of the crowd, the warm night air mingling with the heat of many bodies in one area.

Gently, Maia and Teana laid Yami's burning body on the cool, soft grass near to them, Teana fanning his face. Yami turned his head, making small moaning sounds, breathing quickly.

"Oh, he looks so sickly," Teana muttered, her hand over her mouth. Maia wiped his face, wishing there was some cool water nearby.

"We should really get him home," Maia said, beginning to lift his body from the soft bed they made for him. Teana also tried to help, squeezing his hand tightly.

Yami's crimson eyes flickered open momentarily, meeting with Teana's. They were half open, and he looked barely semi-conscious, breathing loudly.

"Yami," Teana said softly, assuming it was his name. "You'll be alright." Maia laid his back down, defeated. There was no way they would be able to carry him all the way to the palace; it was much too far. And besides, even if they could... It would blow his cover for Teana.

Oh, Ra, Maia thought, trying to conceal her anger. How are we... Oh! Her thoughts landed on her brother, still at home with his new baby. He and his son could help, if they could just get Yami back to her home... Yami's eyes closed, his body relaxing. His breathing came less apparent.

"Shit," Teana muttered, lowering her ear to his chest. She closed her eyes, listening closely. She couldn't hear anything. No beating, no sound at all emitting from his body.

Ba-bump

She heard it. It was small, it was soft, she could hardly feel it, but his heart was still beating, although dangerously slowly. Maia watched the girl as she applied slight pressure to his chest, trying to feel a harder beat.

Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

There it was.

"Gotcha," Teana whispered, sighing in relief. Yami's eyes opened a bit once more, his eyes locked to Teana. Teana gasped as she noticed him watching her. Maia looked from Teana to Yami, and raised her eyebrows. She shook her head vigorously, trying to refocus her thoughts.

"C'mon, let's get him back to his home..." A soft pitter-patter came from far away, slowly getting louder, finally breaking into loud stomps. Tiet was running towards them, dropping down beside Maia.

"Hey! Hey, Maia! Yami!" he cried, waving his hand. Maia smiled gratefully. Tiet was much stronger then she, and surely they could get Yami to Maia's home much faster with his help.

"Tiet, thank the gods someone noticed," Maia said, a smile of relief playing on her face. Teana smiled at Tiet, not quite sure what status he was.

"Took me awhiles to notice yer absence, though," Tiet said regretfully. He placed a large hand on Yami's chest right above his heart. After a few seconds of reassuring beats, he withdrew his hand. "What happened to 'im?" Maia opened her mouth, about to comment, when,

"He had too much to drink, I think," Teana said quietly. "And I don't think he has much tolerance for something so powerful."

"Aha," Tiet said, putting his hands on either side of Yami's body. "Now we're gettin' somewheres. Maia, lift up his torso, will ya'?" Maia nodded, obeying. Yami's lifeless eyes slid closed, his shoulders relaxing. Tiet let go of Yami, then turned around, crouching on the ground.

"Lift him onto my back," he ordered, Maia doing so. Yami's arms hung down in front of Tiet's chest, and her cupped his arms under his knees, keeping him on his back. Teana watched, her hands folded over her chest, her eyes wide and frightened.

"Don'tcha worry, miss Teana," Tiet reassured. "He'll be alright." Teana smiled. "You should go back before youse get into trouble." Teana nodded, then cast her eyes upward.

"Could I at least see that he gets home... alive?" she asked carefully. Maia looked at Tiet. Tiet shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Teana, but there're many reasons why ya can't come. One being, I doubt he would wan' someone who helped hims to get into trouble, ne?" Teana sighed and turned to go back. She turned her head, watching Tiet and Maia run into the darkened city. Beyond the dark streets was the vast palace, lit up in time for occasion. Teana turned back to the city, tears in her eyes. Her heart twanged as he became smaller and smaller, eventually out of sight. Her heart ached, her tears fell, and she didn't know why.

She barely even knew his name.

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[poor yami almost died from being drunk…. Then again he IS a yutz… he almost dies again later on! Well, im posting another chap… im trying to update Company so tata]

Shibby-One