Me: Hello everyone….
Hikari: Sorry for the lack of updates…..
Me: We were lacking inspiration most of the time and…..
Hikari: Lacking? Lacking isn't the word it's called lazy….
Me: Ok I was lazy…I didn't have time to update or post anything but now I have time to do so….
Hikari: *sighs*
Me: *chuckles and pats Hikari on the head* Anyways, I hope the last names of Sennen and Ishigami don't belong to anyone, for I've been reading stories with these as last names for Yami and thought it would be cool to use them. Either way if they do belong to anyone please let me know so I may fix the problem.
Disclaimer: Anyways, we DON'T own Yu-Gi-Oh! And never will, the only person I own is Arainaina for she's my character as well as Joesaika and anyone else I may or might list inside. This story also contains Yaoi so if you don't like it then please don't read it. Also major to mild Tea bashing along with my very own bashing for my own character.
Title: Once bitten, Twice shy
By: Shadowcat22/Yamishadowcat22
Chapter 4: Are You Ok?
ATEMU'S POV
'ARAI?' is all my mind can say as I'm listening in on Yami's conversation with Kaiba. It's hard to grasp anything else around me as I feel my heart beating within my chest and ears. I mean I knew today was gonna be crazy but I didn't imagine Arai being at Kaiba Corp, from my understanding she was supposed to be on a date with Joesaika and wouldn't be home till later when hopefully I would have a chance to explain myself.
My heart continues to beat faster and faster as I continue to listen. Part of me wants to know what happened and part of me wants to get to Kaiba Corp fast. I know Yami feels the same way as I do, I can tell just by watching his face.
Suddenly I see Yami hang up the phone with a mixture of guilt and pain before turning to look at us. I know I shouldn't interfere with this but I can feel my mouth moving before I start to register what's going on.
"Let's move" I hear myself say as I look Yami directly in the eyes who all but nods as does Yugi as we all make a dash from the Turtle Game Shop and over to Kaiba Corporation where Arai sat waiting for us.
Meanwhile, as Yami, Atemu and Yugi continue to run towards Kaiba Corp, Seto on the other hand had to step away from his desk when an issue began to happen within Kaiba Corp Labs during one of the many tests being done for the latest Duel Monsters Hologram for the new Duel Disks.
'Boy does Seto have his hands full today...first the hologram system for the latest Duel Disks and then there's…..' thinks Mokuba as he turns to look over at the sleeping girl who was laying on the couch within Seto's office.
'Arai' sighs Mokuba only to be torn from his thoughts with a tiny beep from Seto's computer which alerts him of an incoming message. "Hello? Seto?" asks Mokuba as he answers the call.
"Mokuba? How's Arai" comes the soft reply of Seto Kaiba.
"Good, she appears to still be sleeping after what happened earlier" answers Mokuba as he looks at the girl in general.
"Good let her sleep I'll be up shortly hopefully by then Yami should be here" and with that Seto ended the call as Mokuba sighs before slouching within Kaiba's Chair before turning to look over at Arai's sleeping form.
'It's hard to imagine what she just went through but if anyone can help her it's Seto and Yami' thinks a determined Mokuba as he turns to look out the window of Seto's Office and wait for them all to arrive.
Soon shortly Yami and the others begin to approach the Kaiba Corp building as it begins to make itself present in the ever growing distance. "HEY! LOOK! WERE ALMOST THERE" shouts Yugi who was only a few feet behind Yami and Atemu.
"Good, the sooner we get there the sooner we can figure out what's going on" remarks Yami as they slowly begin to descend on Kaiba Corp.
"Right" agree both Yugi and Atemu as they start to dash up the stairs of Kaiba Corp.
Upon entering the building they are quickly greeted by the lady sitting at the front desk of Kaiba Corp. "Hi and welcome to Kaiba Corp how may I assist you today?" asks the Lady at the desk.
"We need to get to Seto's Office, STAT" exclaims Yami who had very little patients at the moment as his thoughts began racing to Arai.
"I'm sorry but only scheduled people are allowed up to Mr. Kaiba's office" begins the girl only to be cut off by Atemu.
"DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE?" shouts Atemu only to halt when Yami lays a gentle hand on his arm.
"Look….. Seto Kaiba is my cousin….he literally just called me in regards to an urgent message" tries Yami again as he tries to hold back his anger at the lady before him.
"I'm sorry but Mr. Kaiba is busy….." starts the lady again only to be interrupted by Seto this time.
"There with me, let them threw" remarks Seto who was on his way back to his office when he caught sight of Yami and the others being detained at the front entrance.
"But sir…." exclaims the lady at the desk who didn't understand what was happening.
"I said let them threw" growls Seto this time as he glares his icy stare at the lady at the desk who all but shudders at the look.
"Of course….sir"
And with that said the lady quickly ushers them by before Seto decided to fire her for not listening to simple instructions. "Thank you" is all Yami can muster before striding over to Seto.
"Where is she?" asks Yami as he looks to Seto for answers.
"Upstairs in my office asleep" is the only indication from Seto as he motions them to follow him as they move to get on the elevator before taking it up to the top floor.
"But I don't understand….I thought she was going with Joesaika on a date?" questions Yugi who was trying to follow along as they continued up towards Seto's office.
"She was…. That was until I decided to follow her" answers Seto who never turned to Yugi. "I saw them pass by the Kaiba Corp building this morning and suddenly felt as if something was wrong and decided to follow suite"
"If I hadn't Arai would have been in the hospital instead"
"What do you mean?" asks Atemu this time as he looks to Seto for answers.
"What I mean is if I hadn't shown up Arai would have been seriously hurt in the process…. In her haste to flee Arai ran into direct traffic and froze, had I not yanked her back the vehicle in question would have hit her head on"
At Seto's confession Yami, Yugi and Atemu all but stare as they slowly begin to process that bit of information. But just before anyone else can utter another word the door of the elevator swings open only to reveal Seto's wide open office.
"Come, she's over here" is the only thing Seto says as he motions for them to follow as he leads them inside and over to a couch not too far from the desk and to where Arai laid sleeping.
Upon approaching the couch, Yami and Atemu can't help but notice the tear streaks that had fallen down her face during one of her cries. At the site that laid before them, Yami can't help but drop to his knees as he begins to run swift fingers through her hair, careful not to wake her in the process as he gently brushes her bangs from her face.
"Y-Yami" murmurs Arai as she begins to nuzzle into Yami's touch.
"Shhhh….it's me just rest it's ok" murmurs Yami in return as he continues to run fingers through her hair as Yugi slowly approaches from the other side.
"Has anyone tried to reach out to Joesaika?" asks Yugi as he looks down to the sleeping girl before him, eyes shining with sympathy for the girl.
"No….we figured maybe she tried reaching out to you" remarks Mokuba who decided to join the group before him.
"WHY?" growls Atemu as he tries to keep his anger in check, fists bawling at his side as he looks to the girl before him, the girl who had captured his heart and the hearts of many others as he tries to understand who would want to hurt her in the process.
But as the answer to Atemu's question goes unanswered, Atemu can't help but look away as tears begin to prick at the corners of his eyes causing him to tilt his head down as he tries to hide his tears.
"A-Atemu…." whispers a voice causing Atemu to turn and look at the source only to see it come from Arai who was looking at him threw half lidded eyes as she tries to reach out to him.
"ARAI" exclaims Atemu as he moves to look at her.
"Don't be mad… P-Please…." whispers Arai as she fights back tears of her own.
Even as Atemu struggles with his emotions, Atemu can't help but nod his head before replying. "I Promise...just get some rest, well be here when you wake up". And just like that Arai slowly nods her head once more before closing her eyes and falling back to sleep.
ARAI'S POV
I hear voices all around me. It's dark but I can still make out the voices that are all around me. Seto, Mokuba, Yami, Yugi and another's. I know this voice but it's hard to focus. My head and my heart are in battle with one another as we try to sort thru today's event regarding Joesaika. The one behind my current lack of pain.
I still don't understand why she would break my heart… I thought she loved me… I thought she cared for me… I thought…. But as my mind continues to rant I suddenly feel a soft yet gentle hand running through my hair.
I know that feeling just about anywhere…. The hand in question belongs to Yami, my brother. Only he would run his fingers through my hair while I slept, to help sooth my mind as it continues to race.
"Y-Yami…." I whisper as I feel myself nuzzle into his touch, a touch I've grown to know since we were little. A touch I hope that never leaves. But while I continue to nuzzle against the hand I hear Yami speak softly beside me.
"Shhhh….it's me, just rest, it's ok"
A voice so soft yet powerful, a voice I trust more than anything. I know this because I can feel my body start to relax as he continues to run fingers through my hair in a soothing sort of way.
I'm beginning to relax even when I hear Mokuba and Yugi beside me as well, exchanging small simple words. I'm almost totally relaxed until I hear it. Another voice so rich, so commanding that it's almost like my brother's voice but not.
Only one person holds a voice like that but why would he be here… it's not like he cares for me, at least I don't think he does….. Oh why must my heart and my head battle over this… I just want someone to love me.
I'm beginning to dooze, but suddenly I hear it, a simple question but one full of anger and regret… a voice I'm beginning to put the pieces to. I'm realizing the more I focus on the voice the more I know this voice.
I'm just about to put the pieces together when I hear it. That one simple question, the one I'm still trying to figure out in the process.
"WHY?"
I'm waiting but no one seems to have an answer, not even me… but my heart is racing as I try to think of the voice. I'm beginning to stir, not completely awake but I can tell my eyes are beginning to flutter open because I'm beginning to see shapes just below my lash line.
I want to sleep some more so I can go back to figuring out my emotions but for some reason I can't. I'm looking for that voice, one that I should know. Suddenly I see him, threw my half lidded eyes. He looks sad, like he's trying to hold back tears and I feel the urge to reach out to him.
"A-Atemu…" I whisper but loud enough for him to hear me as he turns to look at me.
Yep. Definitely trying to hold it together but why… I want to ask him but I'm so tired. So the only thing I manage to muster up is a plea. "Don't be mad...P-Please…"
Okay so not exactly what I had in mind but I can feel tears begin to rise again as I try to will them away as I look at him, Atemu. But even at my simple plea I can see I've caught him off guard like he's trying to get his emotions under control before giving me a reply.
"I Promise...just get some rest, well be here when you wake up".
And with that I slowly close my eyes and I feel myself drift off into deep slumber, emotions still running on high but not to the point that I can't get myself to sleep once more at least for now.
ATEMU'S POV
Anger. Anger is everything that I'm currently feeling. Anger at myself but more so Anger towards Joesaika. I can't believe she would go as far as to break her heart. Upon entering Seto's office I wasn't ready to brace myself for the site that laid before me.
For there laying on the couch in front of us is no other than Arai. I can feel myself slowly approach the couch and as I do I happen to look at her sleeping form and the first thing I notice are tear stains. Of course I'm not the only one who notices as well, Yami also noticed them too.
And of course I want nothing more than to approach her and wipe away the tears but Yami beats me to it first. I feel a twinge of guilt and jealousy but I have to remind myself that she isn't mine to care for… she's Yami's sister and above all else I will respect that even if my heart hurts in the process.
But when processing everything in my head, with trying to understand, and trying to figure out why Joesaika did this. I'm battling with myself to keep myself in check to keep from hunting her down and demanding answers.
But that's when I hear movement from the couch and briefly glance over to see Yami running his fingers through her hair as if calming her down, something I hope I'll be able to do suddenly I'm too caught up in my thoughts to pay much attention to my surroundings and I'm not sure if I totally care. I'm lost in my own thoughts, trying to understand what happened. My heart is battling with my head as if telling me to fight for the woman I love when suddenly I hear myself growl out WHY? As if magically I'll have an answer to it.
But what surprises me most is Arainaina and the look she gives me as she looks at me threw half lidded eyes. As if trying to look at me but too tired to do much of anything else. I think she sees it too, because I've always been terrible at hiding emotions from people because the next thing I hear from her is a plea.
Asking me to not be mad, which is throwing me for a loop and before I can stop myself I hear myself answer back with a promise and telling her to get some rest in which she does as her eyes slowly begin to close.
Sighing I move towards the window hoping to divert my thoughts until Arai wakes up once more.
2 Hours Later
It's now late into the afternoon since the arrival of Yami, Yugi and Atemu and everyone was still hanging around Seto's Office, some making small talk while others like Atemu and Yami hung close to the couch while waiting for Arain to awaken or at least show signs of moving.
"Do you think we should wake her?" asks Mokuba which catches Yami's attention.
"No… let her wake on her own" answers Yami with a sigh as he moves to stretch his limbs for staying still for so long was beginning to take a toll on his body and he needed to move.
"Yami… I'm getting kind of hungry" replies Yugi who realized they never ate lunch, only breakfast this morning before being interrupted by Seto and the scenario with Arai.
"I'm sorry Koi, as soon as Arai awakens well go eat ok?" answers Yami as he looks at Yugi fondly as if to apologize for missing lunch.
"It's o-..." begins Yugi only to be caught off by movement from the couch as everyone turns to look at Arai who was slowly waking up from her nap as she begins to sit up while rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"ARAI" exclaims everyone, careful not to startle her as they move to stand near the couch.
At the sound of her name, Arai slowly turns to look at everyone, carefully swinging her legs back to the ground as she positions herself into a sitting position.
"Ummm...Hi" replies Arai with a sheepish smile as she looks to everyone in the room, unsure of how to answer their questions.
"Are you Ok? What happened? Why isn't Joesaika here?"
As everyone begins the onslaught of questions Arai begins to panic, unsure of how to answer without making Joesaika the bad guy. "Ummmm….." starts Arai as she begins to fiddle with her fingers.
"GUYS!" shouts Atemu when he notices the way Arai is behaving. "Give her a second would you".
Glance towards Atemu, Arai gives him a small smile before turning eyes to everyone else before sighing. "Where do I even start?" murmurs Arai as she thinks back to events of the day and how she went from in a relationship to single in a matter of minutes.
"I guess it all started after I left the house this morning, after Joesaika picked me up", "We were walking in which I thought was our date but turned into us going to the park where we sat down and spoke".
"Eventually we got to the point where she confessed to not loving me anymore and ultimately breaking my heart in which I stood up and made a mad dash for the entrance of the park in my blind haste to flee", "That's where I eventually ran into Seto" finishes Arai as she looks to her lap, trying her hardest to blink back the onslaught of tears that were threatening to spill once more.
"Arai…. I'm so so sorry" whispers Yugi whose heart was breaking for the young girl.
"Don't be… I was foolish to think it could last forever" remarks Arai as she shakes her head, tears starting to fall from her eyes as she quickly stands ready to make a quick dash if need be but before she can even move an inch a hand clasps gently around her wrist causing her to look to the hand then to the owner of the hand only to come face to face with Ruby hues.
"A-Ate…." is all she can say before being pulled into strong yet gentle arms as Atemu pulls her into a warm embrace to keep her from running again.
"It's okay" whispers Atemu to the top of her head as he moves to cradle her against his warm chest, tucking her head just under his chin as he tries to protect her from the outside world as suddenly she begins to sob uncontrollably.
As Arai continues to sob her eyes out, Yami finds himself struggling to keep his anger in check, thankful that Atemu had reached for her first for Yami wasn't sure if he'd be able to comfort her while trying to ease his rage.
'HOW DARE SHE?' screams Yami's mind as he continues to keep his anger under control.
"YAMI?" calls Yugi as he lays a gentle hand on his arm, well aware of Yami's emotions because of the Millennium Puzzle. "I know you're angry but going after Joesaika won't help matters… Arai needs us first and foremost"
"Your right Yugi" whispers Yami as he turns to look at Yugi in the eyes, anger slowly fading for the time being as he remembers that Arai needs him right now.
Meanwhile, as Yami slowly gets his emotions under control Arai on the other hand had managed to get her own emotions in check for a second time that day before looking up Atemu who was carefully looking at her once he knew she was ok.
"Are you ok?" asks Atemu faintly, afraid to speak louder than necessary.
"I think so….", "Thank you Atemu" whispers Arai with a sad watery smile before pulling away from Atemu's embrace only to reach for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze in return.
"No problem" whispers Atemu as he places a small yet gentle kiss upon her forehead knowing it would be too soon to give a proper kiss after being told your relationship was over.
TBC
A/N: How was this Chapter? Good? Bad? Please R&R