Life After Love Chapter 6, a yu-gi-oh gx fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own YGO GX, any songs I put in here, or the characters other than my OCs. Characters may be OOC at times. Please R&R!

Chapter Six

Numb and Breaking

Sho crumpled up the letter that Ryo had written him. His silver eyes darkened as he sat on the metal stairs like Azura that previous evening. Very softly, Sho began to sing the songs that reflected his very heart when it came to his brother.

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be

Azura paused and watched Sho with her amethyst orbs. Her heart ached for him. She knew he was singing about Ryo. She just knew it. As quietly as she could, Azura stepped out of her dorm, and approached the blue haired boy. Sho closed his eyes as he began to sing again.

Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again

I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight

Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again

I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight

I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends

I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarity
To show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight…

"Sho-kun…"

Azura's voice sent the bluenette jumping. Sho whirled around to stare up and at her gentle face. He tried wiping away his tears but Azura stopped him as she knelt next to him. Her warm hands brushed them away as she stared into his eyes.

"You can still fight. You're strong." She whispered warmly.

Sho could feel his cheeks burning in her hands and felt his stomach doing flips. This was the closest he had ever gotten to someone of the opposite sex. Azura blinked in surprise when Sho suddenly pressed forward, his lips gently pressing against hers, and his eyes shut tightly. Her face burned intensely as she continued to feel Marufuji Sho's warm lips over hers. After a few more seconds, Sho fell back, shock in his silver eyes as his fingertips brushed across his mouth.

After staring at him in dead silence, Azura found her voice, "I… um…"

Sho let out a small, "I'm sorry…" Before scrambling to his feet and taking off.

"Wait! Sho!" Azura cried after him. He didn't stop. The raven-haired girl let her hand fall as she whispered, "Why did you apologize…?"

And then the rain fell as she hung her head.

-Teacher's Lounge-

"How are things with you, Ichikawa-sensei?" Ayukawa Emi asked.

Kelley looked up at the perky redhead and sighed, "Okay, I guess. I'm more worried about my students, Ayukawa-sensei."

Emi sighed as well, "Kelley… you know you can't meddle with their personal lives. That's not the role of a sensei."

"But it is a role of a friend." Kelley muttered under her breath.

"You aren't their friend," Emi reminded her. "Takami is the only acceptance when it comes to that because she's your family. But Kimana-san and the others aren't your friends. It's unethical for students and teachers to be friends."

"I guess you're right, Ayukawa-sensei."

"Samejima-sensei's goddaughter seems to be doing well." Emi commented, closing her dark grey eyes.

"Yes… Azura-san is…" Kelley looked out the window and at the storm before letting out a heavy sigh.

-Ra Gazebo-

Sho reached the gazebo drenched. His light blue locks hung limply around his face as rain and tears fell down it. His body shook as he clenched his fists at his sides. He should be happy for having his first kiss with Azura. But he couldn't feel it. All he felt was sadness.

"She's in love with Aniki." Sho hiccupped while rubbing his eyes. "She'll never love me."

"Sho!" the bluenette looked up to see a drenched Arisho enter the gazebo. "Sho-chan, are you okay? What's wrong?" Arisho placed both hands on Sho's shoulders, looking down at him. She saw tears streaming from his eyes and instantly pulled him into her bosom, holding him close, and coaxing him. "Hush… it's okay… Arisho-neechan's here…"

Hiccupping, Sho continued to cry, letting Arisho's warmth wash over him. His own arms wrapped around her waist and he locked his fingers together. The brunette girl jumped slightly at Sho's surprisingly strong embrace. Stroking his soft locks, Arisho began to rock gently back and forth, singing softly in his ear.

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah

Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da

Keep holding on
Keep holding on

There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through…

Sho held on tighter. Arisho sat down on the bench of the gazebo and pulled Sho into her lap. From there, she cupped his cheek, forcing him to stare into her ice green eyes that seemed to be glowing.

"Listen to me…" Her gentle voice sent a chill down his spine. "Whatever has hurt you, I won't let it hurt you ever again. I promise."

Sho jumped in her lap when Arisho bent down to capture his lips with her own. Eyes widening in shock, Sho's entire face turned bright red. But what shocked him the most was the fact his sadness was starting to fade away, along with his tears. Arisho kept her mouth on his, gently caressing his cheek, and feeling his sadness going into her.

"Finally, being empathic is a good thing." Arisho did feel guilty about kissing Judai's best friend though. "It's to help Sho. He's more important than your feelings right now. Just keep the kiss intact until his sadness is completely gone!"

Sho was getting used to feeling a pair of warm lips on his own. Soon, the bluenette found himself falling into the kiss, closing his eyes and kissing back softly. Arisho's eyes opened in surprise before they dropped back closed.

-Red Dorm-

"Judai-kun, Judai-kun, wake up!" Azura shook the Osiris boy harder. Letting out a groan of agony, she took one of the shoes, and whacked him in the shoulder. "Wake up, baka!"

Judai jerked awake to find his shoulder throbbing and Azura standing over him with one of his sneakers. Her raven hair stuck to her face and she was soaked. Rain water continued to drip onto the floor as Judai groggily got out of bed.

"What is it, Azura-chan?" He asked while rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Azura bit her lower lip and choked out, "Sho-kun's really upset and I don't know where he went."

Judai was at her side, his arm around her shoulder, and him giving her a hug in a heartbeat.

"It'll be okay. Wanna go look for him?" He suggested.

Weakly nodding, Azura waited for Judai to get an umbrella, before the two Osiris students went out into the storm to find their friend.

-Ra Gazebo-

Arisho finally pulled away when a sudden amount of joy exploded from within Sho. His cheeks were a faint pink from the chibi-blushing and he looked at her with curious eyes.

"Sho-chan is happy now, yes?" She asked softly.

"Yes, Arisho-neechan…" sighed Sho just as softly.

Her recently kissed lips formed a smile, "Good."

Arisho wrapped her arms loosely and protectively around him, her cheek resting against the top of his head, and she began to rock Sho slowly. He closed his eyes after a few seconds and inhaled her scent. The Osiris girl smelled like black cherries and rain. Ever since that kiss, he could now feel the joy he wanted to feel earlier.

Sho spoke after a few minutes of listening to the rain, "Arisho?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you… do you love me?" He asked quietly.

Without hesitation, Arisho nodded and replied, "I love you like I would a child. I just want to protect you. Be the older sibling you never had. Even if we aren't related by blood, we are by spirit, Sho-chan. You're like a baby brother to me and I'd do anything to see you happy. So yes, I do love you…"

"I love you too, Arisho-neechan." Sho snuggled up to her, gripping her blazer, as she continued to rock him gently. "You make up for what my Oniisan never did for me while growing up." His silver eyes looked up at Arisho's face, "But why did you kiss me?"

"Do you know what an empath is?" She replied.

"Don't they feel other people's emotions?" He asked.

Arisho nodded and answered, "I'm an empath and could feel your sadness. By kissing you, I took all of your sadness away." Sho's lips made an "o" before he smiled shyly at her. "Did you like my kiss?"

Sho nodded himself and whispered, "It was warm and felt really nice… so did Azura-chan's…"

"You kissed her?" Arisho asked in surprise.

"Stupidly." Sho said shortly. "I dunno why I did it. But I ran away as soon as I did."

"I'm proud of you, Sho-chan." Arisho nuzzled her face into said boy's light blue locks.

-Campus-

A/N: Insert "My Love, So Sweet" and "Leave Me Cold" by Yuki Kajiura from the Le Portrait de Petite Cossette Soundtrack!

Judai and Azura walked closely underneath the umbrella, looking for their bluenette friend. Azura stepped over puddles cautiously. Judai chuckled when she stumbled and grabbed onto him to keep herself standing. She giggled and blushed cutely at him. Judai and Azura stopped near the Ra Dorms and just stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Azura… can I ask you something?" Judai sighed softly.

"Of course, Judai-kun."

Amethyst stared into chocolate brown.

Judai slipped his arm through hers as they started walking and talking, "What do you do when you begin to fall in love with your friend? How can you tell that person how you feel when you barely understand these feelings in the first place? How can you even tell them if they've been your friend for so long?"

Azura thought about it and said in her quiet voice, "You listen to what your heart is saying, even if it seems scary at first. You try to understand your feelings but deep down you know you never will." They stopped and Azura looked up with her wide eyes. "You just look at them, Judai, and say "I care for you more than I should but I don't care anymore. Because I love you." That's what you do."

"Thank you, Azura." Judai reached out and patted her gently on the head. "You just helped a lot."

"You're welcome." Azura whispered, smiling at him.

-Main Building Roof-

Takami sat next to Fubuki as they watched the night tide. Her long locks were teased by the ocean breeze. Fubuki closed his dark chocolate brown eyes partway as he inhaled deeply. His hand only rested a few centimeters away from Takami's.

"Fubuki… I worry about Asuka. Especially when it concerns Ryo." Takami's lavender gaze saddened.

"My sister is falling in love is all. No need to worry." Fubuki replied nonchalantly.

Takami looked at him in surprise, "But Fubuki!"

He gave her a look, "Takami, listen to me. I trust my little sister and have good faith in her decisions. You should too." Fubuki said with a smile.

Her cheeks turned a pale pink, especially when Fubuki decided to take her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. He didn't say anything, just smiled even more, and they stared at the full moon rising above them. Takami blushed and her eyes shifted to the side. The stars sparkled overhead.

"Takami… can you feel the connection we have?" His warm, soothing voice whispered.

"Yes, Fubuki…" Her voice was gentle like the wind.

Fubuki turned to look at her. Takami turned as well. Slowly, Fubuki began to lean in.

"I probably should've told you this sooner but… I love you, Takami."

"I… I love you too, Fubuki…"

Takami and Fubuki's lips barely touched when Kelley popped out of no where.

"There you are, Takami! Boy am I glad I found you! Sesuna-san needs you right now!" Kelley raised an eyebrow at the two of them doubled over in shock. "Uh… did I interrupt something?"

"No, of course not, Ichikawa-sensei!" laughed Fubuki, ruffling his dark chocolate brown locks. "Well, I'll be on my way." He stopped heading for the exit to turn and lock eyes with Takami. He then mouthed, "I'll see you later, love." Before disappearing at the exit.

Kelley wiggled her eyebrows playfully at her younger cousin, "Didn't interrupt anything, huh? Me thinks you're trying to hide this wonderful scoop from me, Takami!"

Takami crossed her arms over her bosom and shook her head fiercely.

"Where is Suna-chan?" Takami then asked.

"Huh? Oh! Yeah! She's at Daichi-san's dorm!" Kelley backtracked to why she interrupted in the first place. "Let's go!"

SF4E: "Haha. Reversed fluff."

Sho: "I-I was kissed? Twice? In one night?"

SF4E: "Yup!"

Sho: face bright red/faints

SF4E: sweatdrop "Please R&R!"