Chapter 17

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When Astral could again focus on his surroundings, he felt relieved and weak. But the weakness was a good thing, because it meant that the energy he'd build up, had been transferred safely.

He was no longer shining, though he was back to being semi-transparent.

With this, he was certain that his time had passed, and as all returned to normal once more, he'd slowly return to the state in which no one but Yuma, and most likely also Tori, would be able to see him. And then he could return to the key when Yuma was at school and everything would become as it had been before. That was his expectation.

The alien sighed, then opened his eyes and as soon as he did, they locked with Yumas and the two send eachother a smile, as Astral slowly became aware that Yuma was no longer moving inside him and that the water which had washed down over them doing their unification, had been turned off.

Moments later, Yuma moved away and Astral slowly slid to the floor with a soft sigh, closing his eyes and resting his head against the tiles behind him.

When Yuma returned, a warm towel was wrapped around Astral, as his partner helped him to his feet and then started drying him gently.

After a bit, Yuma found a towel for himself as well, and with Astrals half-lidded eyes resting in him, the human started drying his hair and then his body.

When he was done, he looked at Astral. "Need any help?" he asked softly, and startled, Astral quickly shook his head.

"No, I am fine. I can do this myself, do not worry" he replied, and Yuma nodded.

"Alright then" he said and then, wrapping the large towel around his waist, he grabbed the t-shirt and boxers he'd worn to the bathroom earlier and placed them over one of his arms, before he unlocked the door and opened it, letting out a cloud of steam as he did.

Then he left, expecting Astral to follow him. Astral took Yumas lead and wrapped his own towel around his waist as well, though he didn't really feel shy about his body, before moving after his other half.

Back in his bedroom, Yuma dried his hair before discarding his towel over a chair and getting dressed, in casual clothes, as they had the day off. Astral also dried his own hair and placed his towel on top of Yumas, before he moved to the window and looked outside, back turned to his partner.

The weather was sunny. The sky seemed blue, though the trees were naked, as per the season. He was lost in thought, until a hand on his arm suddenly brought him out of them and he turned his head to see Yuma standing beside him, looking slightly worried.

"Are you… okay there, Astral?" he asked gently "you seemed really far away… Didn't you hear me?".

"My apologies Yuma. I seem to have been lost in thought for a moment. What did you say?" he asked, and Yuma frowned.

"No kidding" he mumbled, then he let go of Astrals arm again, though their eyes remained locked. Taking a deep breath, Yuma then spoke again.

"I was asking, what will happen from now on? Do things go back to the way they were before?" he said. Astral nodded in affirmation.

"Yes, it should. It will take a few days, but before too long, I should be back in my natural state. So, you do not have to be distracted by me at school anymore. I will be able to return to the key as usual and then you can go back to paying proper attention to your teachers, instead of worrying about me" the alien replied.

"Well, that's… good. I guess" Yuma responded, then sighed as he turned away from Astral again, moving to the ladder that lead to the attic and climbing it, before he disappeared into his preferred room.

Astral frowned. He could have sworn something was off with the other, but he couldn't put his finger on exactly what.

Then out of no-where, an overpowering sense of sadness struck him, making him gasp quietly as he quickly moved a hand to his chest. This wasn't his own feeling. It came from Yuma.

"Yu… Yuma…" he mumbled, wondering what had caused this.

Deciding that he couldn't let his beloved suffer like this alone, he hovered through the hatch to the attic, glancing around as he got up there and spotting Yuma in the hammock, lying on his side, back turned to him.

"Yuma?" Astral said softly, as he hovered over to him though he did not reach out to touch him. Not at first.

When he saw Yumas shoulders moving though, he couldn't help himself and moments later, he was hovering over the edge of the hammock, half-turned to Yuma, a hand on the others shoulder.

"Yuma, look at me. Please" he said, and Yuma slowly turned his head to do as he was asked.

Then Astral gasped quietly. Yuma was indeed crying, just as the alien had suspected.

"Oh Yuma, what is wrong? Tell me. Is it something I said?" he asked anxiously.

Yuma moved a hand to wipe away his tears, but as he spoke, more came and he couldn't hold them back. "I… It's just… I knew things would return to normal eventually, once you were safe again.

And I am so happy that you won't disappear. But… I had gotten used to you always being with me and I… I'm gonna miss that" he replied.

Astral smiled softly. "It's not like I am leaving, Yuma… I will still be right here with you, always. Even if I am inside the key, you know all you have to do is call for me and I will come, do you not?" he said, hand still on Yumas shoulder.

"It's not the same. The others were finally able to see you. They're gonna miss you. And what about the duels you promised them? I was kind of looking forward to watching you just enjoy dueling for once, without worlds being on the line. I mean, I still get to duel every day, but it would be different if you could get to do it too…

And like this, sleeping with you beside me, sharing my duvet with you and feeling you physically right beside me when I fell asleep and again when I woke up…

I had really started to… to enjoy that. And now…" the young human said, as more tears ran silently down his cheeks.

"Oh Yuma… My love… Please, do not cry. We were together before my time and we made it work. We can do so again. And things are different now, even as they remain the same. Our bond has become stronger than ever before.

We will never be apart for real. Not ever again. At least, that is what I believe.

And… I can make myself solid sometimes, if you'd like me too.

Granted, it requires a lot of will, but it is nothing I cannot handle. And remember, you will still be able to touch me, even as others will not.

You could before, and you still can. Always" Astral responded, sending Yuma a small smile and moving a hand to wipe away the others' tears.

"Promise?" Yuma asked and Astral nodded. "Yes. I promise" he replied, and Yuma moved his head just enough to kiss the palm of the aliens' hand tenderly, reverently.

For a long while, they remained like that, Yuma on his side in the hammock, Astral behind him, hovering just above it, a hand on his partners shoulders. But then a voice called from below and both were startled.

As Yuma sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the hammock, the voice called again. "Yuma, is everything alright? Are you gonna come down today or should I just bring some food up here?".

It was Kari. Yuma swallowed, then he rose and, accessing himself in an antique mirror, he wiped away the last traces of tears, before climbing down the ladder, to his actual bedroom.

"Hey Kari" he said, proud to notice that his voice sounded like usually and wasn't marked by his earlier crying.

"Oh great, you're up" Kari said as she saw him "you missed breakfast, but lunch is ready if you'd like any. Where's Astral?".

"Astral? He's" Yuma started replying, but then Astral appeared through the hatch to the attic as he said, "greetings Kari".

"Astral! Good to see you again… Are you feeling better?" she asked as she saw him and Astral nodded.

"Yes, thank you. I am quite alright now. Though, I'm afraid this means you will not be able to see me much longer… In just a few days' time, I should be back to my normal self once more" he replied. Kari sighed quietly.

"Oh well. I guess that isn't a surprise. You did say this was only temporary, after all. But it has been nice to finally have it confirmed, that Yuma isn't schizophrenic or anything. What I mean to say is, it has been nice to meet you, properly. I trust that you're still gonna be with us, even if we can't see you?" she said and again, Astral nodded.

"As long as Yuma has the key, that is as long as I shall be here, with him. And all of you, too" he replied, and Kari smiled. "Good to know. He could sure use the support!" she commented, before moving to the door. As she was about to leave, she turned around and looked at them.

"Well, as I mentioned, there's lunch if you'd like any" she said and then she was gone, the door closing behind her.

Yuma sighed, lowering his head, as he let his hand close around the golden key that hung against his chest.

"Yuma?" Astral said questioningly and Yuma swallowed.

"I'm fine Astral. Don't worry" he replied and Astral shook his head softly. He most certainly was not. But if Yuma did not want to talk about it, Astral would not push him.

"You should get something to eat Yuma. You must be hungry by now" the alien said instead, and Yuma nodded, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, I guess" he replied.

"Let's go then" he added and as Astral nodded, Yuma let go of the key again and the two, moved downstairs…

He heard the sirens from far away.

They were distant and yet, it felt like they were very close by as well.

He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't.

He could feel that his pants were wet and that his whole body felt like it was on fire. He felt himself shaking and his head was aching. Then came the nausea, rising through him so fast, he had no time to even think of why.

He rolled onto his side and felt the vomit shooting out of him. Heard it splashing against the floor.

As he moved onto his back again, he attempted to move a hand to wipe the bile from his mouth, but found that he couldn't.

Then he heard voices, faint, but professional.

"Floor it Dylin. He's bleeding internally!" a male voice said, and another responded, "blood in his emesis?".

"Affirmative. And he's still seizuring as well. I already gave him two dosages to attempt to stop it, but it isn't working much! I'm afraid we could be losing him".

Then he felt hands touching him.

Pressure around one of his arms.

Pain, all over.

"I'd give him more morphine, but with how sick he is already, and considering the blood, I'm not going to. Let the hospital know of the change in his condition".

It was the first voice again.

He heard what sounded like a radio, followed by another voice.

Then everything went black and he heard no more…