I don't sleep. That dream haunts me. Though, how could you when you stare your own dead body in the face? I may have been dead once, but still, the thought of death scares me. Nothing is as permanent or as inevitable as death. It's a lonely few hours as I wait for visiting hours to start. I can't help but ponder what these dreams mean. I saw myself become a Dark Signer in my dreams once upon a time. Could this be happening again? Am I really witnessing the future in these dreams? No, I shake my head. I can't possible stare at my own dead body, and people just don't disappear into thin air.
The quiet gives me a chance to think, while my head doesn't hurt as much at least. There's only two gangs left, the Cross Syndicate and the Cardinal Dragons. If anyone attacked me, it would be them. Then again, it could be a revenge attack for taking down a gang. That leaves three culprits. None of those leaders seemed that bitter as to do something like that. Attack our base, sure. But attack me personally, no. The thought of our base is a curious one. Takumi told me that we use the old Onyx Slicers' base. Since, on a technical level, it was the first gang Team Liberation took over since that's the one Takumi was in charge of. I've never been to the base myself. Black Flag kept a very much neutral relationship with the Onyx Slicers. I suppose you could call it an alliance. Or Takumi and I refusing to fight each other. Even with Kenta as his right hand man, Takumi wouldn't have been able to defeat me in my prime.
To my surprise, Takumi and Kenta are ones who show up during the first part of visiting hours. Kenta hands me a takeaway cup before sitting down. I make out the scent of hot chocolate as I take it. I'm so taken aback that I can barely get my thanks out. Takumi looks like he's in a bad mood today. That's how I know that this visit isn't one of good will.
"How are you doing?" Takumi is the first to speak.
"Head hurts, but I've been worse." I tap my fingers against the coffee cup as I hold it in my hands.
"Yeah, that's why I got you the hot chocolate. All of the caffeine in an Americano would have been too much for you, probably." I thank Kenta again. I wouldn't have expected something that sweet coming from him. Then again, he has a sweet tooth.
"Was the attack deliberate?" Takumi asks me outright.
"Seems like it." I see Kenta glance at Takumi from the corner of his eye.
"Do you know who did it?" Takumi's brow furrows.
"No." I sigh.
"What do you mean no?" I notice that Takumi's body language is incredibly stiff.
"I can't remember."
"Why can't you remember? It happened yesterday."
"Takumi, she has a concussion." Kenta's voice is forceful, as if he hopes Takumi would shut up.
"But still, she's a psychic. Her healing factor should have kicked in. That's no excuse." Takumi's gritting his teeth. He doesn't even look at me.
"She was out for a week last time. I think it's fair to say that it doesn't apply here." Kenta starts to turn in his chair. Oh boy, I sense an argument coming. Takumi huffs.
"You should have been able to read their aura." Takumi stares right at me. "Wouldn't you have recognised them?"
"It wasn't an aura that I was familiar with." Takumi narrows his eyes at the response. He lowers his head, letting his yellow blond hair cover his right eye, so I can't look him in the eye.
"So, it was either Cross Syndicate or Cardinal Dragons." I flinch. "That's what you're saying."
"Not necessarily." Kenta answers for me. "It could be someone from the Jackals or the Phantom Riders. You never know."
"Why would they attack her directly? We have a base if they want their territory back." Kenta stays silent. Takumi runs his hand through his hair. "This whole thing is giving me a headache." Kenta looks at me and sighs. He shakes his head before standing up.
"I think it's best that we leave." He looks at Takumi, who seems confused by this. Takumi, reluctantly, stands up. "I hope you get out today, Sasaki. I know you hate hospitals." Kenta nods at me before he leaves. Takumi follows him out the door without saying anything.
I sit there for a while without doing anything. Kenta Morinaga sure is an enigma. Everything he does seems to do contradicts each other. He claims to hate me and my loud mouth. That he despises me and everything I've ever said and done. That he will never agree with me. But, then. He'll side with me over Takumi. He'll do little things for me like getting me a hot chocolate. He'll always ask if I'm okay during missions. Then, immediately turn around saying I'm doing everything wrong.
Why?
What's the point of all this? Why would he make me believe that he harbours anything more than contempt towards me? What does he get out of this? Does he want me to trust him? Kenta knows something. He warned me that something is wrong on the inside. No, not something. Someone. He obviously wants me on his side. Why? What does he gain? An ally, I suppose. What if it's Kenta who's doing all of this? Going behind of all our backs. Get me on his side, only to stab me in the back.
Am I wrong?
Or, is he getting me to trust him so we can figure out what's actually going on? I sigh. When will anything Kenta does make sense to me?
I get discharged in the afternoon. Yusei just happened to be there when I was officially discharged, so he helps me grab my things. Kaoru asks Yusei if I can stay at Poppo Time again. Something about him not wanting me to get attacked again. He says that with him, Jack and Crow around, I'll be safe. I know why he does this. He doesn't want me going back to the house and possibly putting Kasumi in danger. In case, the person who attacked me decides to finish the job. Yusei agrees. Though, from what Crow told me, he would never have said no anyway.
It's quite late by the time I get back to Poppo Time. I immediately take my seat back on my favourite couch. Jack and Crow ask me the same questions that everyone else has already asked. How much do I remember? Do I know who attacked me? I tell them the same thing I tell everyone else.
"Why were you driving around at 4am anyway?" Crow asks.
"Couldn't sleep, I was having some weird ass dreams." He seems to take that as a reasonable explanation. "Right, I'm going to get a glass of water." I try to sit up, only to get the situation of wanting to faint, vomit and die at the same time.
"Sit your ass back down. I'mma get you your glass of water." I sink back into the chair, holding my head as Crow goes into the kitchen.
Jack and Crow eventually head upstairs for the night. Yusei continues on the new model of the D-Wheel. He's built the start of a frame with the engine inside. I'm not the most gifted person when it comes to mechanics so I don't really pay attention to it. Yusei glances at the stairs every once in awhile, as if he's waiting for something.
"You can stay in my bed tonight, Yuuka." He says after a while.
"I think we've already established that I'm perfectly fine on the couch." I sigh.
"I'm just saying." He looks up at me. "It'll be safer upstairs." He's got me there. I cross my arms. He smiles, he knows he's won.
"I guess, just for tonight." It's then that it sinks in, that I'll be sleeping in Yusei's bed, in Yusei's room, where everything smells like Yusei. I cover the lower half of my face in a vague attempt to hide the strange giddiness bubbling up inside me.
"Are you okay?" Yusei takes a seat beside me on the couch, which only makes me more embarrassed.
"I'm fine, it's nothing." I move my hands into my lap, and take a deep breath. Yusei doesn't seem to believe me but says nothing. In fact, he doesn't say anything for a while. We just sit there in a comfortable silence.
"You had me worried then. You really have a knack for trouble, don't you?" There's a small nostalgic smile on his face.
"I mean, if the entirety of our childhoods didn't tell you that, I don't know what to tell you."
"That's true." He laughs. I think of all the times I got in trouble while at Martha's. Too many to remember. I don't think I can put off going back to visit Martha for much longer.
"I think you worry too much." Yusei's eyes widen slightly. "I mean, it's me."
"I don't want anything to happen to you." Something in Yusei's eyes flicker. "I care a lot about you, Yuuka." His words drift off into nothing as we look into each other's eyes. I'm suddenly aware of how close he is to me. We're close enough that our shoulders graze off each other. I bite my lip. Yusei's gaze drops to my lips, then it slowly moves back to my eyes. I swallow. My heart starts beating faster. I don't know what compels me, but I kiss him. So many feelings bloom in my chest. For a second, I almost lose myself. I pull away.
It hits me all at once, what I've done. My hands start shaking. My body trembles with every exhale. Yusei's eyes and aura dart and flicker with so many emotions that I can barely keep track of them all. I go to speak. Say something, anything. An apology, a confession, anything. But, all that comes out is a mess of letters jumbled together.
"Do you remember?" Yusei speaks slowly as if he can barely get the words out. "After our duel, do you remember what you said?" Here we go. Lie, or tell him the truth? At this exact moment, right here, there's only one answer for me.
"I told you that I loved you." Yusei's eyes widen. He didn't expect me to say that. My hands still shake, but I keep going. "I remembered. I was so scared. All I thought about was how you felt." The words keep falling from my mouth. But I have to stop. My hands start shaking to the point that I can't control them. Yusei takes my hands, holding together in his. His shoulder shake ever so slightly as he exhales.
"I'm glad you remembered. Because, what if I told you I felt the same way?" Yusei looks up from our hands to my face. My heart stops. I just sit there, staring at him for a few seconds. I can't believe it. I feel someone's going to jump out with a camera, telling me this was just some cruel prank.
"I would be very happy." The thought of those feelings being mutual brings a smile to my face. Yusei smiles too. And if that isn't the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, then I don't know what is. I don't know what compels me, but I start giggling. I put my hand on my chest in an effort to stop it, but it continues. The look in Yusei's eyes is so warm, so much that I feel my heart skip my beat. I finally pinpoint that one emotion in his eyes. That one that I could never quite place. Love.
"It's getting pretty late." Yusei says once my giggles start to calm down.
"Yeah, it must be." I sigh.
"You were told to get plenty of rest."
"I was also told not to drink alcohol or drive, let me have something please." Yusei shakes his head, but I can tell that he's trying not to chuckle. He looks back at me, eyebrow raised. "Ugh, fine." I roll my eyes.
It takes me a few minutes to stand, with my constant headache trying to murder me. I notice that my bad ankle twinges every few steps. Yusei insists that I go up backwards on the ladder going upstairs. How is he able to tell that my ankle is still bothering me? Going up is very uncomfortable. The rungs of the ladder hurt my back, and my bad arm aches as I hoist myself up. Eventually, I get to the top. Yusei barely takes a second to get up, making me feel a little embarrassed.
Yusei opens the door to his room for me. It occurs to me that I've never seen his room before. It's pretty empty, which I expected. I think it's the poverty in early childhood if you ask me. He gets me out an old shirt and sweatpants for me to sleep in. I readily take it. I place the pile of clothes on the bed before pulling Yusei into a hug. He pulls me in even tighter. In the moment, I feel safe. Like nothing can touch me. I love, and I am loved. There isn't a better feeling in the world. I bury my head into Yusei's shoulder. It's such a nice feeling. Nothing will ever top this.
"Can you kiss you again?" Yusei pulls back to ask me. My smile is so big, I can't contain it.
"Of course."