Okay, I'm trying really hard to keep up with regular updates. I still don't have my computer back, so it's kinda hard. Thanks for the reviews. I really need the encouragement. This story is becoming more and more difficult to write as I go on for some reason. Anyways, here's the next chapter and hope to have the next one up next Tuesday. Tell me what you think!
Chapter 8
The Calm After the Storm
I can't sleep and it's becoming very frustrating. I've been laying here staring at the ceiling for about an hour now. This guest bed is really unsettling as well, it's much too big considering I'm used to sleeping in a twin bed at home. I wonder if Yami is asleep in his room. This room is very plain and it's kind of making me uncomfortable to be alone in here.
The glow of the street lights that has managed to filter through the blinds covering the window is casting an eerie white radiance over the entire room. It's not very bright or anything, but it's making me all the more restless. It is very surreal. I'm not sure if that's what is keeping me awake or if it is the fact that I am somewhat nervous about talking to Ryou tomorrow.
I roll over to the far side of the bed and hang my arm over and begin to pull at the carpet out of boredom. Even this is getting tiresome, so I abandon the carpet as a source of entertainment and just let my arm hang over the side while all the blood collects in my hand. It's such an odd feeling. I move my fingers after a while and relish in the tingly, almost painful sensation.
Suddenly, I sense movement outside the door. I realize that it is Yami because of the familiar aura of his Puzzle. The door opens slowly and quietly. I don't want him to worry that I am not sleeping, so I totally relax my body and close my eyes.
Cautious steps move around to the edge of the bed where I am laying on my side, my arm still dangling. After a momentary pause, he walks away, okay I can relax now, he is leaving.
I instantly tense up as I feel the covers lift slightly up from the other side of the bed. Guess I was wrong. Yami slides under the sheets and lies down without causing much of a disturbance at all. But what the hell does he think he is doing?!? I try with every ounce of control I have left to keep my breaths slow and steady, as well as re-relaxing my body, so he doesn't discover that I am awake.
Yami settles in and his breathing becomes slow and regular. Great, like this is going to get me to sleep any easier. I wait for what seems like an hour, but in reality is only 15 minutes by the clock on the dresser and decide to turn over, especially since I can't quite feel much of my arm anymore. I move smoothly trying not to wake Yami who I presume is sleeping. Hesitantly, I start to open my eyes, considering how awkward this is going to be if he is not asleep.
Good, he seems to be resting peacefully. He is lying on his side facing towards me with his one hand under the pillow and his other resting on the bed along his upper body. Why did he come in here anyway? Maybe he is used to sleeping with Yugi or something.
Yami almost looks like a totally different person sleeping here like this. He looks so fragile without that air of confidence he always has about his while he is conscious. The slight glow in the room is illuminating his normally rigid, now softened features.
It strikes me as odd, but just watching him has relaxed me. I focus on the rhythm of his breathing and it lulls me into a restful sleep. The last thought I have before I loose consciousness is how much more comfortable I feel now, with him here.
I open my eyes and the first thing I notice is that Yami is no longer in bed with me. It doesn't even look like he was there in the first place… it couldn't have been a dream, could it? Slightly disoriented, I get up out of bed and leave the room. As I walk down the stairs, there is a smell that I start to descend into. Curious, I continue into the kitchen and see Yami there… cooking. I never knew that he could cook.
"Oh, you're awake! I was hoping that I wouldn't have to drag you out of bed or anything." Yami says with a smile. He looks a lot better this morning and he seems to have more energy.
"Hi…" I greet him sleepily.
"You can go take a shower and your clothes are washed and on your dresser. I'm not quite done making breakfast yet." Okay then, I guess he just decided what I am going to do next, although, a shower does sound really nice right now anyways. I stare at him for a moment, still in slight disbelief that he is cooking and then choose to go take a shower.
"Okay… I'll be back in a few." I turn around and walk back to the bathroom I passed leaving the guest room upstairs. I flip on the lights and I am instantly compelled to look in the mirror. Wow, I still look like absolute shit. At least I'm not tired or anything.
I close the door and turn on the shower. After taking off my shirt, I glance back in the mirror and am stunned by the image I see. I realize that I have lost a substantial amount of weight. It wasn't too noticeable when I could just see my arms and legs, but my ribs are starting to show a bit and I have lost some of my muscle tone. I really look terrible. I think I am almost ashamed of my appearance. I look like some pathetic weakling.
Ripping myself away from the mirror, before I stare in horror at myself any longer, I strip the rest of the way and step into the now hot shower. This is wonderful. I needed a hot shower after I was drenched in cold rain last night. I want to stay in here forever, but I should finish quickly because Yami is expecting me to be back soon.
I turn off the shower and grab a towel, drying off briefly. I wrap the towel around my waist and go back to the guest room. My clothes are right where Yami said they'd be and I get dressed in a hurry. I try to straighten out my hair by running my fingers through it, considering I don't have a brush, but I don't think it was very effective.
Going back downstairs, I find Yami setting the table. I can't help but smile slightly. I never once imagined that I would see him doing something like this. I approach him and he finally notices my presence.
"Do you feel a little better now? I thought a shower would do you some good."
"Yeah, I definitely needed it."
"Are you hungry?"
"Very."
"I made a variety of things, since I didn't know exactly what you like." I look at the table and I am rather impressed. There are various fruits, some fresh bread, French toast, scrambled eggs, and juice. And it actually all looks edible, not like my cooking at all, considering most of it turns out black.
"Sit down and eat all you want, I can make more if needed. Do you want anything else to drink besides juice?"
"Uhh, coffee if you have some."
"Yeah, I actually wanted some myself so I started making some a little bit ago."
I sit down as he goes back into the kitchen and am overwhelmed by the fantastic smells. I haven't had a good meal like this in such a long time. Ryou cooks when he can, but that is not very often, and any other time, I just eat whatever instant food I can find.
Yami walks over to my side, two cups in hand, and sets one down to the side of my plate.
"There you go."
"Thanks… You didn't have to go to all this trouble for me."
"No, it's okay. Yugi usually cooks, so I haven't had a chance to in a while and I figured now was as good a time as any. And besides, I wanted to." I have no idea what to say. Usually people aren't this nice to me, so this is kind of strange.
"Thanks." He smiles back at me, then sits down at the other side of the table and starts taking some food. I sit for a moment and then realize that I haven't taken any food myself. I put some on my plate and start eating. When I start to eat, I feel a bit sick at first, but it the more I eat, the more I realize how incredibly hungry I actually am.
We finish eating in a comfortable silence; probably due to the fact that I am too busy eating to actually talk. I was considering asking him about last night, but in the end I decided it was best to let it be. No use in creating more awkward situations.
Yami starts to clear the table and I follow him into the kitchen with my own plate. He puts everything in the sink and turns back to me.
"So, do you think that you are ready to talk to Ryou today?" The damn question I have been dreading.
"I don't know… I guess I have to be." Yami's expression changes a bit to one of compassion.
"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll understand. He is the other half of your soul after all."
"Yeah, I hope you're right. Anyways, I really hate to eat and run, but I really should get back to Ryou and try to straighten all of this out."
"It's okay, I understand." He walks with me to the door where I find my shoes, which unfortunately, are still somewhat wet. It feels so disgusting to put them on, but it's not like I have anything else to wear. Yami laughs a bit while watching me. Damn, I must've made a funny face or something when I put on my shoes.
He opens the door and before I leave, I meet his eyes and try to be as sincere as possible, with my limited experience.
"Thank you… for everything, really."
"It was no problem." He replies, as he takes hold of one of my hands. Before I let him see that I've turned red, I walk out the door and head back to my house. Why can't I control that reaction? Baka…
It must be around ten in the morning and everything smells cool and fresh after the heavy rain last night. I get closer to my house and a knot starts to grow in my stomach. I consider turning back, but I can't, I have to do this. I finally get to my house and everything looks so peaceful, but my apprehension is almost overpowering. I walk onto the porch and grab my key from out of my pocket. Before I turn the handle though, I can't help but hesitate. What if he hates me now? What will I do if my nightmare comes true because of what I have done to him?
I take a deep breath and push aside all of my doubts and fears. I turn the doorknob and walk through the door, into my house.
To be continued-
Oh, I feel so bad… sorry for the cliffhanger, please don't kill me!! I had no time to finish the rest of this, but I promise I will update next Tuesday if I have time to write after all of my tests. This chapter and my ideas for following chapter are taking me a lot longer to come up with… I don't know if I am slowly hitting a writer's block or what. Anyways, please review and I assure you the next chapter won't have a cliffhanger.