Yugi nearly sprinted down the stairs at the sound of a knock at the door. And then, he hesitated as his hand reached for the doorknob.
What if it wasn't Rae? What if it was some stranger? Would they try to hurt him? Would they try to rob the place? Would he be killed? Would anyone hear his cry?
What if it was Rae? What would she look like now? Would she still be the Rae he knew? How would he react? How would she react? How would he feel? What would he do? What would she do?
Slowly, Yugi grasped the doorknob and turned it and slowly he eased open the door. He peeked out to see a tall woman, no older than twenty-three looking back at him. Her eyes were a calm blue-purple and her long shimmering hair was a brilliant mix of red and black. She could've easily rivaled Joey in height, though she was just an inch or two shorter than the blonde. Her face was fair and she smiled wide when she saw Yugi, who tried to smile back when he saw her.
"R-Rae!" Yugi cried as he flung the door open and rushed into her open arms.
"Well now Yugi, it's been a while hasn't it?" Rae chuckled.
"I've missed you so much," Yugi choked, trying not to cry. "I've missed you so, so much," he sniffed. "I thought I'd never see you again, ever," he looked up at her face and in a small voice added, "You said you were never coming back."
"Guess I lied, huh?" Rae smiled, tears starting to glisten in her eyes too. "But that doesn't matter now, huh?" Rae pulled Yugi back to look at him.
"Why did you come back? Why, even after you said you never where, even if fate said so?" Yugi inquired, brushing unshed tears away.
"Just had this feeling that I was needed," Rae replied. "Guess I was right. Now, let's get inside, huh? It's kind of cold out here."
Yugi, however, didn't move. He was in a daze. All of this was happening too fast and his brain couldn't process it all. Rae just smiled gently and scooped Yugi up in her arms with ease and carried Yugi back into the house.
"So, Grandpa tells me you're not feeling well," Rae stated to make conversation as she closed the door and walked over to the couch.
"Maybe a little, but it's nothing, really," Yugi looked up at her, snapping out of his daze.
"Yugi, you're lying," Rae told him as she set him down on the couch.
"No I'm-" Yugi started to protest in a scratchy voice.
"Yugi, you're my little brother, I know when you're lying," Rae stated. "How long have you been feeling bad, and tell the truth."
"It just started today," Yugi answered. "I woke up with it."
Rae pressed her hand on Yugi's forehead.
"You've got a fever," she mused.
"Yeah, that's why Grandpa was going to stay home," Yugi informed.
"I see," Rae nodded. "Does anything else hurt?"
"Yeah," Yugi nodded. "My throat hurts."
"Sore throat?" Rae raised an eyebrow.
Yugi nodded. Rae reached over and gently examined the outer portion of Yugi's throat. She rubbed it gently with her fingers, Yugi winching under her touch. Rae watched his reactions.
"Does that hurt?" she asked merely to verify.
"Yeah," Yugi nodded.
"You been hungry at all today?" Rae lowered her hand.
"Not really," Yugi shook his head. "I don't know Rae. I just feel sick. Not nauseas or anything, just sick. Tried, draggy. It's like I've got no energy," he laid his head on Rae's shoulder.
"Well, Yugi, I'm by no means a doctor, but if I had to take a guess, I'd say you have strep," Rae stated. "That means you have to go to a doctor."
"What?" Yugi sat up. "No, you don't have to take me. Strep's not serious. I don't need to go now. I can wait until Grandpa gets back, at least."
"Yugi, strep can turn serious and the sooner we get you to a doctor, the sooner you'll be feeling like Yugi again," Rae stated, standing up. "Now, what's your doctor's name?"
"I…I don't know," Yugi lied, his eyes shifting a little nervously.
"Yugi," Rae drawled, telling him she knew he was lying.
"Okay, it's Dr. Perry, but I don't know his number," Yugi confessed. "Grandpa keeps it on the fridge incase he forgets it."
Rae grabbed the cordless phone from its cradle and dailed the number on the fridge. Yugi sat back, defeated. Rae never did take his lying. Some people did, assuming he had a good reason to lie. But Rae wasn't one of them. Yugi half hated, half loved the fact that Rae was his big sister. She was always seeing through him, and he didn't want her any other way.
Rae reemerged in the living room and sat down beside Yugi.
"You have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at two," she informed him.
Yugi sighed and nodded.
"Look, I know you don't like going to the doctor, and I know you don't like imposing on someone, but you have to to get better and it's not imposing if it's your sis taking you," Rae stated.
Yugi sighed again and looked up at Rae. Her eyes were kind as they met his. She smiled and drew him close, cuddling him. Yugi's expression changed slightly as he lowered his head to his chest again. He was the only boy his age that Rae had ever met that liked being cuddled by his older sister. But then, Yugi had always been sensitive. He liked being held. If he had been born a dog, he would be a lap dog.
"So, Yugi, where does it hurt?" Rae asked.
Yugi looked up at her, puzzled.
"Well," he started slowly. "My throat hurts…"
Rae smiled and leaned down and kissed Yugi's throat.
"What'd you do that for?" Yugi asked.
"To make it feel better," Rae grinned impishly.
Then, Rae leaned over and kissed Yugi's forehead, explaining it was to help put his mind at ease, getting Yugi to chuckled a little. And then, she leaned down and kissed Yugi's heart. Yugi was silent after this. She did that to heal the hurt in his heart. The hurt he felt from her leaving. The hurt he felt from her just leaving him. And the hurt of confusion how to feel.