Day 22: Spring has come to the city of Domino and with the new sights and food to come with the season, Yugi decided to allow the spirit to try a common snack of the springtime. But there was another topic Yugi wished to revisit with the spirit now that he had the whole winter to think it over.
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Spring has sprung and everything was swathed in pink. The soft color was a treat to Yugi's eyes, in particular for the blooming sakura trees planted around town for all to view. Since the personal moment shared between himself and the spirit of the puzzle, Yugi felt he understood the spirit more and was conscientious of what made the other react in certain ways and not do anything that would push him away. He was a sensitive entity and one still learning much of the modern world but Yugi had become a great teacher in showing him new things, even letting him enjoy momentary out of body experiences to try something such as the spicy tang of orange chicken or the sweet, creamy delight in a bowl of ice cream.
Now, with the chill of old man winter gone and the fresh blooms of spring making its rise from the once frozen earth, Yugi wanted to show the spirit more of the different seasons. Spring was a refreshing sort, the new budding of life all around as the wiry limbs of trees were slowly gaining their foliage back and flowers sprouting from the cold earth. Small streams and ponds were losing their coat of ice and small animals were coming out from their covers to bring life to the once bleak and quiet city. Yugi took a deep breath of the fresh outdoors, calling to his grandfather in the shop that he was going to take a walk for a bit and was out the door before hearing a reply. "Mou hitori no boku, isn't the spring weather charming?" Yugi asked aloud, stirring the spirit from his lazy slumber adrift in Yugi's mental space.
It was a compromise of innate fears of the spirit's own space, his half of the mind shrouded in darkness and mystery. He was accustomed to that space, sure, but there was just some days where it overwhelmed him in a sensory overload and one night proved to have been worse than normal. That night had drawn Yugi from his slumber and quickly urged the spirit into his space and to use it without argument when he needed it. The arrangement worked and the spirit was ever grateful for his infallible kindness. Such as now as he rose to gently inquire of Yugi's question. Yugi smiled as he opened his senses, a thing he took time into practicing after experiencing the same through the spirit. Through that connection, the spirit began to see the world from Yugi's eyes, in awe of the scenery that was a complete 180 of the winter time that he had seen once before.
Things were alive with color, the blossoms of the trees such a soothing aura just by viewing them. The joy reflected through the bond and Yugi smiled as he continued to walk down the street, viewing all the familiar sights he knew of just to share with the spirit of the puzzle. The spirit was grateful of the things that Yugi showed and expressed his happiness through the bond once more, making Yugi proud of one accomplishment but mentioned that he wasn't done yet. This had the spirit curious, wondering what else there was to show him.
"Like before, when I share the taste of winter with the hot cocoa, I want to share the taste of spring too. There's a place I know that has really good sakura mochi. It's something I'd love to treat myself to at the start of spring." The spirit was interested by the treat, eager to indulge in another gift of the season that Yugi was willing to treat him to. Running along, Yugi soon reached the spot, revealing it to be a modest little food stand, a sizable selection of snacks, drinks and treats. The spirit was a curious one, seeing all in view as Yugi was making his selection, the slender curvature of the ramune bottles sparking a curious delight. Yugi noted this and smiled, picking up one of the bottles, a melon flavor, and paid for everything.
"Ok, mou hitori no boku. Let's go find a place to sit then you can take over and try things for yourself like before." The spirit nodded in agreement, Yugi waving to the vendor before making his way towards a small ledge fence to sit, taking a moment to open the bottle of ramune to save the spirit the struggle with the bottle's design and nodded. All set, Yugi whispered, closing his eyes and the spirit did his part, slowly drawing Yugi into the mental space, the change so minor that no one on the road would catch it unless they were looking closely at him. Scarlet hues opened then looked down to the package of sakura mochi that Yugi bought special for him to try. Holding that same, close connection with his host to share the experience, the spirit picked up one of the delicate, rounded mochi and took a bite, rather shocked by its gooey texture.
Yugi giggled a little at the shock, smiling as the shock faded to delight at the treat. The sticky rice paired with the pickled leaf and sweet red bean paste was a symphony of flavor for the spirit. It was interesting, that was certain, but the spirit liked it and before he knew it, he had finished one and was moving onto the next. The spirit's joy made Yugi ever so happy to have this time to share the little things with him but knew there was at least one thing that would truly make the spirit happy. He had been thinking about it since it was subtly addressed back during the winter season. The spirit never vocalized his feelings since then, likely out of respect to Yugi's own young, turbulent emotions but during the time where the spirit had been quiet, Yugi was musing over the revelation of the spirit's desires.
Truly, he asked for nothing as his goal was seemingly to keep Yugi safe and happy. The notion of that alone was enough of a reward but Yugi thought with time, that the spirit deserved more. The teen didn't know exactly how pursuing a romantic relationship would work with an ancient spirit but with the things he and the spirit had achieved thus far in regard to sharing physical contact through the five senses, he felt there was more they could explore with this bond they had. All it took was just some time to sit down and converse with the spirit with words over curious emotional pulses. When Yugi took the moment to see through the spirit's eyes, he saw that he had finished the tray of mochi and had picked up the bottle of ramune, perturbed by the marble inside and giggled.
"Don't worry, mou hitori no boku, the marble won't come out or anything. Go ahead and take a sip." Eased by Yugi's admission, the spirit lifted the bottle and took a sip, the carbonated drink bubbling fierce on his tongue, the pleasant sweetness of the melon-flavored drink yet another tic on the mental list of things he liked. Yugi smiled, glad that both were received so well for a first try before laying down in the bed, "Hey, mou hitori no boku..." he began softly, raising a small flicker of alarm in the spirit and once more, Yugi soothed him from panicking as he did nothing wrong. When he settled, Yugi began to speak with a calm, gentle tone. He spoke of how happy he was to see the spirit enjoying the simple things in life that Yugi was able to show to him but wanted to give more to him.
The spirit protested that he needed nothing more, that just these moments were enough and didn't want to take away from the small male's life. "But that's just it. You are a part of my life. I could show you the world if I could but I can't do that so easily. However, there is more that I can do, more than you yourself hadn't spoken of with me since I noticed a hint of it." Fingers gripped tight around the glass bottle as the spirit went quiet, making Yugi frown. "Please...mou hitori no boku...tell me what you feel. What you feel...about me." The spirit was too quiet, alarmingly so that Yugi feared that he would be slingshotted back into his body and the spirit gone into hiding for pressing but that wasn't the case. There was a whisper, a reminder that Yugi knew but to be properly reminded as per the request given, the bond flickered with a well of emotions.
Devotion. Love. Gratitude. All of it swirled into a tender, sweet fog that wrapped around Yugi like a warm woolen blanket. The smallest shudder crawled up his spine but not of fear. It was a tingling sensation, a sweet and warm one like that he was sure one would feel for a crush. With the knowledge of that made Yugi come to the realization that perhaps they can work. It would take time as he was sure the spirit still had a few self-confidence issues to be worked on but as long as Yugi was there to guide and help him, they will work. Yugi wanted them to work. Sure, it was putting all the thoughts he had of Anzu aside, of all the confidence he built up to ask her himself, but somewhere deep inside after learning so much of the spirit told him that to toss aside such genuine feelings would be a waste. Mou hitori no boku cared so much for him, cared for him on such a deep plane just on the precipice of worship but Yugi didn't want to be placed on that pedestal.
He wanted to treat the spirit equally, treat him with just as much respect, care and devotion the spirit gave to him. With a small smile and a gentle nudge to bring the spirit onto his feet so he could walk back home after throwing away the mochi container, Yugi began to speak once more to the spirit and what he had to say had completely halted the other. "I've thought about it just as I said I would...and I want this. Want whatever we can make between us. It will be hard to imagine, I'm sure, but it feels right. Feels like we belong together deeper than just host and spirit. I was just too oblivious and perhaps a bit blind to see that, mou hitori no boku. I'm sorry."
The spirit smiled, whispering that Yugi had no need to apologize as he was just grateful on one too many levels for this chance. "Thank you, aibou. Truly...thank you." he murmured softly as he went about holding himself tightly, an action that to the unknown eye would seem as if the spirit was trying to block the mildest chill from reaching him but the truth was really seen by Yugi. The warm hug was an absolute delight, Yugi mimicking the action as he sat on the small twin in his soul room, a bright smile across his face as the two silently exchanged the gentle notes of love and care through the bond, the spirit walking home with a renewed outlook on his very existence and the hopeful future that he will be able to share now with his partner.