Title: Wings of the Soul
Ship: Ryou x Yuusuke
Chapters: 2-2||Words: 750||Total: 1,500
Genre: Angst, Romance||Rated: G
Challenges: Diversity Writing: YGO: soulmates: C5, 2-shot w/750 wpc; Include The Word Boot Camp, YGO, #29, illustrious; One Ship Boot Camp, Ryou x Yuusuke, #35, wings; GX Month 2021, day #30, Free Day
Notes: This takes place in the same AU as Your Touch. This chapter is set post-canon.
Summary: Ryou developed wings when he was fifteen. But now they're shriveled and useless. Did something happen to his soulmate? And if so, what happens when Yuusuke returns?
Yuusuke kept his wings folded as tightly against his back as he could. He didn't like to look at them or think about them. As far as he was concerned, they were a sign of everything that he'd given up, and for what? For nothing at all - because he'd been wrong about it all. He'd thought that he'd be forgotten and that no one would want him back, not even Ryou.
Not even his soulmate.
But the moment their eyes met again at the graduation party, both of them froze in their tracks. Ryou, still seated in that wheelchair, slowly leaned forward to shed the black cape that covered his back, and spread out his wings. When he first did, they'd been nothing but a shriveled, pathetic mess. Then they filled out, becoming stronger, wider, and fuller. Sleek black feathers grew in, and from the expression on Ryou's face, it wasn't a lovely feeling.
He knew very well it wasn't. Because his own wings did the same thing. His feathers were now a deeper shade of green than they'd been before, not quite matching his hair so well, but far better than they'd been. He'd stared at Ryou, words choking in his throat, and yet not a single word had come out.
He'd left. He wanted so much to say something, to say how sorry he was for everything, but not a single word had formed. Perhaps he'd figure out a way at some point in the future. But just then, he said nothing at all.
What would I even tell him? He could have at least had faith that Ryou wouldn't forget him. They'd been aware of their soulmate nature since the moment they'd met. But he'd not done so. He wasn't going to blame Darkness for that - it was all on him.
Even if Ryou hadn't forgotten him willingly before, he would clearly do so now. Being soulmates didn't mean endless true love. Soulmate required as much work as non-soulmate relationships. Some people even thought they needed more. After what Yuusuke did, he suspected Ryou would happily choose anyone else, soulmate or not. He'd forced Ryou to live with broken wings for five years. Being left alone like this was what he deserved.
But he was staying at Duel Academia until he could get his education properly finished and graduate himself. Ryou also stayed there, for health reasons. Yuusuke wanted more details on that, and told himself he didn't deserve them. That in no way stopped him from wanting them.
So he would have to figure out a way for them both to stay there without him running into Ryou. Surely it couldn't be that difficult. Ryou spent most of his time in the medical area. Yuusuke would attend classes once the new year began. He could spend his spare time in the library or even in the forest or on the beach. Ryou wasn't one for either of the last two, though the library might give a risk of them crossing paths.
Though, what would make this even more difficult would be Fubuki. Fubuki would insist on them meeting to talk matters out. He'd always supported their relationship. Back when they'd first met and their wings developed, he'd actually given a cheer! Some things simply did not change. But he would encourage them to talk, no matter what. Even if neither one of them wanted to.
But he would figure something out. Even if he just had to explain to Fubuki that he and Ryou needed to manage this on their own - by which he meant never speaking to Ryou about it at all. Ryou had his own issues now anyway. He didn't need someone like Yuusuke getting in his way and bringing him down.
Not that he didn't look fantastic in that black outfit. The first time Yuusuke saw it it, when he'd lured Ryou into the shadows at Darkness's desire, he'd not quite believed how good the other man looked. Most of his emotions then had been blunted thanks to Darkness's effect on him. But seeing Ryou like that - seeing Ryou with his wings so battered and broken, the illustrious Kaiser reduced to bed rest and barely even capable of dueling - for the first time in five years he'd felt something. He still wasn't sure what to call it.
Maybe it was just guilt. Guilt for all that he'd done. Guilt he couldn't get rid of. At least not yet.
The End
Notes: There will eventually be something to wrap up the storyline. But not right now. Now I have ended GX Month 2021!