Chapter 15

(Yay! New chapter! :D And this one is a bit longer than the others have been 😉

I hope you enjoy and please, if you feel like it, leave a review! :D )

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"Can I eat in my room Kari?" Yuma asked, eyes determined and dark as he looked at her, hands clenched at his sides. Kari looked at him, instantly worried.

"It's Astral, isn't it?" she asked, as she turned back to the table and started arranging a tray with food. Yuma could only nod.

"Is he that bad?" she asked softly, and again Yuma nodded.

"He's really weak Kari… He needs me right now. And I need to be with him" he replied.

"I knew it" Kari stated, as she found a large glass of milk as well as another with water "I knew something was wrong the moment I saw him up there. He's the reason why you didn't go to check if Grandma had heard you, isn't he?".

"Yes" Yuma answered, voice faint.

Kari sighed, then took a deep breath, before turning back to him and handing him the tray. "If there is anything any of us can do, call for us, alright Yuma?" she then said, locking their eyes.

Yuma couldn't even send her a smile, just nodded and said "I will" voice far more serious than Kari had heard for years, before he turned around and quickly headed back upstairs again…

Once he was back in his room, he placed the food on the floor and then moved back to Astral, who was sitting in the bed, wrapped in the duvet, his eyes focusing on nothing in particular.

"I'm back" Yuma said softly as he sat down beside the other. Then he leaned over and placed a tender kiss on Astrals cheek.

"I'm sorry I had to go, but you heard Kari earlier… She was really upset, so I couldn't hurt her again. I think I've done more than enough hurting to last a lifetime" he added.

"Will you eat now?" Astral asked, turning his head to look at him with wide eyes.

"No, I'm not hungry… I think I'll eat later" Yuma replied, but Astral shook his head.

"No Yuma, you have to eat now, whilst it's warm. Kari went through the trouble of making it for you and you haven't eaten since breakfast… I… will be alright" the alien replied.

"I don't want to leave your side Astral" Yuma responded, leaning his head against the others neck. "You're still so weak".

"My energy is rebuilding itself slowly" Astral responded "but with the huge amount I lost before… It will take a while before I become fully solid again".

"At least I can still touch you, despite everything" Yuma said quietly.

"Yuma… I want you to eat" Astral said "please". Yuma sighed, then rose to collect the tray, before returning to the bed with it.

"Is it okay if I eat it here, beside you?" he asked the alien and Astral nodded.

As Yuma started eating, Astral leaned against him, head on the others shoulder and eyes closed as he dozed off. Yuma could feel across their bond, that Astral was very tired.

He himself also felt completely drained and his migraine from this morning had returned, but he ignored it.

Astral needed him to be strong for the both of them right now, and Yuma was determined not to disappoint him again.

Once he finished eating, Yuma pushed the tray away from himself, trying not to wake Astral, though he did not succeed.

Tired eyes locked on him from the alien, and Yuma send him a soft smile.

"I'm all finished now" he said. "See?" and he moved an arm towards the tray, showing Astral that he had eaten every last bite of food there.

"Good" Astral replied, then he moved slightly so Yuma could rise and move the tray to beside the door, before he returned to the blue being once more.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, placing his legs on either side of the alien still wrapped in the duvet, his red eyes meeting the gold and silver of his partners.

Astral raised a hand, placing it on Yumas cheek, as he sent him a small smile. "Better" he replied "but I am still quite drained".

"I know" Yuma said "I can feel it. Despite what I did to you, the bond is still wide open between us… But… it's weaker than it was before. Almost like my actions stretched it, to the point where it nearly snapped entirely…

I'm so sorry Astral. I didn't mean to do that. I will never knowingly break us apart. I can't. The thought of it alone, makes my heart ache".

"They did" Astral replied "our bond is of such a special nature, that things like this, like one of us wanting it gone, even for the briefest of moments, can cause serious damage to it.

I'm afraid you learned that the hard way…".

Yuma swallowed.

"Forgive me" he whispered and leaned closer, so that their foreheads were touching.

"I will try, Yuma" Astral responded, which made Yumas heart skip a beat, resulting in a low moan escaping him.

Try. He would try.

So, he couldn't be certain he'd be able to do so.

"Yuma, I can no longer trust you, as I did before".

The words struck him like lightning from a bright sky. Was this really like back then?

"Oh no, please" he whispered, forgetting for a second that Astral was right there.

"Yuma?" the alien said, curious.

Yuma swallowed. But he couldn't speak.

So instead, he used their bond, to communicate his current thoughts, remembering the promise he had made, never to lie to Astral again.

"Oh, Yuma" the alien responded, also through their bond, but he couldn't deny the truth in the others worries.

"So, it is just like back then?" Yuma asked anxiously.

Astral shook his head. "Not just like" he replied, "but it is equally as serious".

Yuma groaned inwardly. "I will fix this Astral" he said in their thoughts "I will undo, what I have done. I will prove to you that I am not lying. I will".

"Please, Yuma" Astral responded, though he didn't say anything else.

And Yuma made his move.

Slowly, he pushed Astral back in the bed, treating him with only gentleness. Yumas' eyes were wet and shining. Astrals, huge and vulnerable.

But the alien didn't fight him.

Instead, he loosened his grip on the duvet around him, so that it was opened easily as Yuma worked to get closer to him, to touch his skin and the gems on his body, that the human knew would send his lover into a state of bliss.

Yuma understood, by Astrals words and actions, spoken and unspoken, that what the alien meant with his previous statement of "show me that you are being honest… Show me… that you understand", was that the young, human man, had to make it clear that he realized which parts of Astrals being, he represented.

The part that acted, that didn't overthink things, but went with his instinct.

And this was one of the ways he could prove that.

The way that it seemed Astral wanted him to do so.

By acting.

By taking charge and controlling what happened between them.

By proving that he had, by now, understood what could help re-affirm their bond and strengthen it once more, to a level that was hopefully equally as, if not even more so, powerful than what their bond had been, before he so hurt his beloved.

And Yuma would do it. He would take the lead and mend the bond, which he had all but broken.

He was gentle and tender as he slowly slid the duvet off Astrals shoulder, giving him room to kiss Astrals neck, and then his chest.

Astral moaned quietly as he did and moved an arm around Yumas waist, placing his other hand on his partners shoulder.

He exposed his body to Yuma, showing that he was willing to take a chance on Yuma not taking advantage of him.

Like this, he was extremely vulnerable, and he trusted Yuma not to hurt him, again.

"I will protect you" Yuma vowed across their bond.

"I will heal you. I will care for you. I will keep you alive and I will keep you safe. I will love you until the day I die and beyond.

I will never lie to you. I will never keep anything from you. I will open myself to you and I will share my heart and my very breath with you.

I will keep you warm, when you are cold.

I will be at your side, when you go through life and I will carry you, when you are weak. I will be your strength, when you have none.

I will teach you all that I know, and I will let you teach me, in return.

I will listen to you.

I will be your will and your fighter.

I will be your partner, in any and all things.

I will be the winds of change in your life and I will push your limits.

I will bring you on thin ice and I will force you to think differently.

But I will, forever and always, be right there with you, so you do not drown.

I will take you in my arms when you are frightened, and I will make you shiver with passion.

I will never, ever, let you go.

And I will never, fail you".

He made sure his promises, his vows, were sealed between them with a deep, reverent kiss to his partners pale lips and as he did, he felt Astral growing warm and noticed the blueish blush in his lovers' cheeks that told him the other was very much reacting to what he was doing.

These words had come to him out of no-where, but once they did, he had known that they were for Astral and Astral alone.

That they were an important part of mending that which tied them together and that the alien needed to hear them, and on the same time feel that his human partner was being more sincere and serious, than ever before.

And then his hands moved down Astrals body, still with slow, thoughtful motions, attentive to every little sign from his partner, that he might want him to stop or change one thing or another.

But Astral didn't show any discomfort or hesitance. He just groaned softly once in a while, as Yuma gave him his full attention.

After a while, Yuma moved away from Astral, though without leaving the bed, in order to undress himself.

His head was lowered as he did, as though he was ashamed, but Astrals eyes were glued to him none the less.

He watched Yuma open his shirt and remove it.

Then he watched him undo his pants and throw them to the floor beside the bed.

And once he was naked, he crawled back to Astral once more, moving in so that he had a leg between those of the alien, and the other on the outside of Astrals right one.

Then he moved a hand to Astrals cheek, his other hand running tenderly through his partners hair, as he kissed him.

"My heart and all of my spirit belongs to you, and you alone, Astral" he whispered, both across their bond, and orally, against the others' lips.

Then he kissed him once more, and as he did, he let two fingers move to Astrals right shoulder, where he let them caress the blue gem there, eliciting a whimper of pleasure from the other.

Now he moved his head to kiss the gem on Astrals temple, and the alien twisted in his grip.

"More, Yuma" he breathed "please… more". And Yuma followed his pleading and took further charge of what was happening

Locking Astrals arms above the others' head, exposing him further so that the duvet was now only serving the purpose of substratum to them, Yuma moved his hand from Astrals hair, down his body, brushing his fingers against every gem they passed on their way to his lovers' groin.

He was stimulating Astral gently and slowly, not wanting him to feel like Yuma was rushing something on him.

And Astral appreciated it.

He appreciated that Yuma wanted to please him, but on the same time had the mind to know, that overstimulating the alien at a time like this, might have the opposite effect of what he was looking for, on both of them.

And Astrals body wasn't late in making his appreciation known.

Once Yumas fingers started rubbing the slit between his legs gently, it was already moist and Astral relaxed in Yumas arms, which made it easier for his body to prepare itself for his partner.

Yuma felt Astrals willingness and his temperature rose as he sensed the wetness between his thighs.

Perhaps Astral wanted the same as he himself did. But did he dare risk it?

What if he was reading his partner wrong, and he didn't want a full union, despite his body's reaction?

He had to know, because his own glory had risen fully as he caressed and rubbed Astral and it was very visible to the other, if he wanted to look.

Suddenly, he felt Astral push himself closer to Yumas body, forcing one of his lovers' fingers into him and responding to it with a passionate gasp.

Yuma was so startled by his actions, that for a second he didn't move even an inch of his body.

But then he smiled and kissed Astrals lips, feeling heat on his partners face.

When he looked at him, Astrals eyes were half-lidded and his cheeks were flushed in a brighter blue than ever before.

The alien was groaning quietly, as he tried to ride Yumas finger which was still inside him.

He was very wet and with a smirk at the sight of his super aroused lover, Yuma claimed his lips once more, though this time the kiss was feverishly passionate, and he led their tongues play with one another, as he pushed a secondary finger inside Astral, moving that and the other in an out slowly, eliciting whimpers mixed with low moans from the blue-skinned being in his arms.

"I want us… to be one, Astral" Yuma whispered passionately.

"But I won't do anything… unless you want it too… I love you, so much…".

He underlined his words with further gentle rubbing of his partners slit, as he let go of the aliens' wrists to let his other hand move around his waist and press Astral closer to his body, making certain the other felt the obvious manifestation of his words.

"Oh, Yuma!" Astral whispered "please… I feel so… warm!".

And now that his hands were free once more, he quickly wrapped them around Yumas neck, clinging on to him as if for dear life, not wanting the other to separate them for even a second, shivering as he tried pleading with Yuma across their bond, to unify them and heal what had been broken.

And Yuma understood what his next move had to be.

"I will help you" he said tenderly in return and with that he got to maneuvering himself and Astral, into his favorite position for intercourse.

It was one where Yuma was on his knees, Astrals legs over his shoulders, which allowed their bodies to be pushed tightly together, whilst still allowing them the possibility of seeing one another, as their bodies and spirits merged in a fashion similar to ZEXAL and yet so very different from it.

In ZEXAL, they would be only one being, one body, though still with two minds.

But in this, each would still be in their own body, even as it often felt as though they were in truth merged into one.

It was an amazingly arousing sensation, and one which made Yumas mind reel with passion and lust.

And he was aiming for recreating that, if he could.

Once he had moved them into his own preferred position, he leaned down over Astral and asked in a gentle voice "will this position be okay for you, my love? Or would you prefer another?".

Astrals breathing was already panting when he replied, as his thoughts circled around what was to happen in mere moments.

"Yes… it's fine! Please, just… don't keep us apart for a second longer! I need you, Yuma… I need you so much it hurts! Please, show me you understand!" he responded, and Yuma felt his partners thoughts rush at him across their bond, trying to pull the two halves of a whole, together once more.

It made heat rush to his groin, to sense the desperate need in the other, but on the same time he was acutely aware of the tendrils of doubt and fear, he also felt across their link.

Astral still needed reassurance and Yuma would pour his whole being, mind, body and spirit, into making sure he got just that.

And thus, he kissed his lovers' earlobe, placing a kiss on the most sensitive gem on his shoulder, before adjusting himself one last time and then pushing his fully erect glory inside his partners warm wetness.

Astral moaned as he did so, grasping the duvet beneath him so hard his knuckles went pale, as he closed his eyes and threw his head back, his panting becoming more rapid and as such, Yuma understood, more urgent.

Glancing down at his sweaty, hot lover, he saw himself sheathed inside him, hands on Astrals outer thighs.

Then he moved his eyes up over the blue skinned aliens body, until they came to rest on Astrals face.

His partner was visibly aroused and his constant moaning and panting, was driving Yuma insane!

But he HAD to focus on their unification. He had to hone his whole being in on it, so that Astral could be convinced he was telling the truth.

So, as he started moving inside the alien, he did it slowly and rhythmically, keeping his eyes on the other to make sure he showed no signs of discomfort.

There were none, so after a while, Yuma quickened the pace slightly, which caused Astral to let out a loud groan and arch himself off the bed.

"Ah, YUMA!" he gasped, clasping the duvet impossibly tight beneath him and writhing as if he just couldn't handle all this passion, arousal and lust at once.

"You… alright?" Yuma asked across their bond, though it was hard to focus, and Astral bit his lip in response and nodded eagerly.

"Fine!" he replied, opening his eyes and locking his gold and silver gaze on Yumas red one.

Their minds were one, as were their bodies, yet he needed one more thing before their bond could be mended fully, and his doubts finally crushed completely.

"Yuma, my beloved… My Partner… Please, open your heart to me. Let me see all of your being, every bit of it" he communicated across their bond, moving a hand from the duvet to Yumas chest, where he knew the others heart was, and where he could touch the golden key, which was ever-present around his other halves neck.

"Please… I need… everything".

Yumas motions halted then, for a few long moments, as their eyes remained locked on one another.

He was scared.

Afraid of what Astral might find, if he truly searched every fibre of his being.

Afraid it might hurt him.

But on the same time, he wanted nothing more than to let Astral in.

"Yu… Yuma?" Astrals voice sounded, shaking now as though it was about to break, but then Yuma lowered his head for a moment and took a deep breath.

When he lifted it once more, one of the smiles which Astral had always cherished more than anything about his partner, was beaming down at the alien as Yuma said, utilizing their bond still "all that I am, is yours, partner".

So confident was his voice now, so strong did his presence feel in the void which still remained inside Astral, that the fear which he'd felt at the feelings coming to him from Yuma mere moments ago, seemed to disappear into thin air.

Then the aliens' breath hitched for a long second, before he closed his eyes, focusing on following the thread which was their bond, into the very essence of the young human man.

And as he did, Yuma remained inside him physically, though he didn't move, just kept his eyes on the blue alien beneath him, trying to keep his mind and heart as clear as possible, so that it would be easier for his partner to find that, which he was searching for.

Astral did not have to search long, before he found just that.

The thread between them, guided him like a bright light in the darkness and at the end of it, was Yumas heart, all of its contents, open for him to behold.

And the alien stretched out a hand and touched it, and as he did, the world around him exploded in images, scenes from his and Yumas years together, from the very beginning, until just a second ago.

And each scene was accompanied by emotions, some more than others.

But through all of them, one thing became clear to the blue-skinned being: Yuma, loved him.

More than he loved anyone else, even his family and life itself.

And the warmth of honesty, loyalty and the fierce spirit to fight for everything he believed in and held dear, surrounded Astral like a warm, snuggly blanket.

"Oh, Yuma…" Astral said to himself, voice tender and full of love, as he placed his hands on his own chest, feeling his own heart beat steadily away beneath the skin, in tune with Yumas.

Completely in tune, like only the hearts of two, who were one, could ever be.

Yes, there had been regret. Doubt and fears still lingered, but they were all based in a deepfelt and all-consuming love.

And Yuma was human.

He was not of Astral world, nor of Barian.

He was of Earth, and humans, Astrals had learned, felt everything so much keener, than Astralians or Barians ever could.

No one was flawless. Not Astral and not Yuma. And the alien accepted that these dark emotions, would never go away.

Instead, he acknowledged that they would remain and through them, he realized, their bond would only grow stronger.

And thus, as Astral returned to the bedroom, he was smiling, and his thoughts were brightly lit, and at ease, with the shine that was his partners constant presence.

Tears were in his eyes again, but now they were tears of happiness and of relief.

Yuma was looking at him, his heart pounding in his ears, as he awaited the others judgement.

And then it came, in the form of words spoken with such honesty, severity and reverence, that they made another situation just like this spring back to life before Yumas inner eye so vividly, that it left no doubt in his mind of their truthfulness.

"Yuma… I believe in you"…

The moment the words had been spoken, tears started streaming down Yumas cheeks, as he leaned close enough to his partner, to lock their lips.

"Please" Astral then requested across their bond, now flaring vividly within them both "complete me".

And Yuma wasn't late in answering, even as he blushed crimson at the implication of that plea.

Still inside the alien, and still with tears running down both his and Astrals cheeks, the young human male started moving once more.

Passionately, feverishly and the blue being moved with him, as their panting became as one, along with their bodies, hearts and minds.

And then, just when Astral thought he couldn't take in any more of even the tiniest amount of pleasure, Yuma cried out his name and the alien felt how his partners very essence was spilled inside him, to the very last drop.

And as Yuma peaked, so did he.

His own liquids sprayed out over his lovers' groin, making him glisten with its wetness, and Yuma moaned with pleasure at the sensation…