The Job

Yuugi awoke suddenly and almost fell off the chair he was occupying. Thoughts of yesterday flashed through his mind and he wearily rubbed at his tired eyes. His sleepy gaze fell to the puzzle lying in a patch of sunlight in front of him and an open text book.

Yawning he closed the book and picked up the puzzle, the metal was cool against his skin and he shivered involuntarily. He yawned once more, realising that he was already dressed. Someone lightly knocked on the bedroom door, a low voice whispered through the wood.

"Yuugi? Are you awake yet?"

Somewhat confused as to why the person was whispering he opened the door, startling his grandfather who had pressed up against it.

"Grandpa, why didn't my alarm go off? I'm late for school."

"Yuugi, I thought it would be best if you spent today at home, just relax for the day. After what you say yesterday I'm surprised you'd even want to go to school."

Yuugi nodded and returned to his room, puzzle still in hand. He froze, staring at the desk; the text book he had used as a pillow was lying open. Even though he had closed it just two minutes before. He moved closer and realised it wasn't the same page he had been reading; there were some translations of artefacts and pictures of archaeological excavations.

Confused he closed the book again and made sure his windows were all closed tightly before wandering downstairs for breakfast. He decided to leave the puzzle on his desk.

As soon as the door was shut a ghostly figure appeared shaking his head. A hand gently caressed the text book and re-opened it, sighing softly as he began to read the printed words.

-

Staring into the bowl the cornflakes that had, thirty minutes ago, looked appetising now just looked like a cornflakey mess. To be fair to them they had endured being pushed around a bowl for the last half and hour. Yuugi sighed again and caught sight of his Grandpa by the door.

"I'm leaving now, Yuugi. I'll be home by five, six at the latest, you know the number anyway."

"I'll be fine." His grandfather nodded and pulled on a jacket, taking one last glance at his grandson he left.

Yuugi finally decided that he didn't want the breakfast; a quick glance at the clock informed him that the crushed cornflakes had turned into a late lunch, and that school would soon be ending. He turned and lay down on the sofa closing his suddenly very tired eyes.

"How could I sleep for that long last night? I'm still so tired..."

He felt warmth next to him, but his eyes were too heavy to open. He felt the warmth move and nuzzle his cheek, then his forehead. It overpowered his thoughts, and he felt darkness claim his mind. As he drifted off he thought he heard someone speaking; but he was the only one there wasn't he?

"Sleep well, aibou."

-

"Yuug? Yuugi, come on, wake up."

"Uh?"

Yuugi felt his body being shaken gently, finally he was able to open his eyes and he gazed upwards into a pair of honey, worried orbs. He blinked a few times to clear his vision (which didn't work), and tried to sit up.

Jou helped him, supporting his weight and propping him against the side of the sofa. Honda appeared with a blanket which somehow managed to wrap itself around his shivering form. Jou sat down next to Yuugi and felt the smaller teen slide into him.

"What did you do bud, pull an all-nighter?"

"No, I went to sleep earlier than normal and woke up really late. I just feel so…sleepy…"

Jou frowned and gently brushed a hand against his friend's forehead.

"You're warm, but I don't think it's a fever. Just take it easy and rest." Yuugi nodded, there was a warm weight in his chest…the sennen puzzle was hanging around his neck for some reason. Hadn't he left it on his desk? Honda knelt down by the sofa sipping from a can of coke.

"You got off easy today, Yuug. No PE, must've been a godsend. Hibiya-san was in such a bad mood today, he wanted to know where you were because we all had to run the track so he could record the times. He was really pissed at you, I'd skive next lesson if I were you."

Yuugi nodded hazily, though he had never intentionally missed a lesson in his life. He felt the warmth in his chest get hotter, almost an unbearable heat. He discreetly ran a hand over the metal, instantly pulling his scorched skin away. Something was wrong, metal was supposed to be cold. He felt darkness tugging at his mind again, and distantly heard Jou's voice informing Honda that he was falling asleep. He tried to answer but his voice just wasn't working.

"I'm not asleep…"

To be Continued

Sorry there's not much action; there are a few clues here to upcoming events, but for now I want to keep them as secret as possible. I'm working on making this story into a doujinshi too. As usual sorry for lack of updates as such, but at the moment I'm having boy-troubles. Stupid men, breaking my heart…

-Completed: 4th October 2004

-Dagger