Title: Love is Blind
Genre: romance, hurt/comfort
Rating: T for language, mild violence, and suggested themes
Pairings: JohanXJudai (hinted other pairings)
Summary: When Johan goes back to North Academy, he confesses to Judai just before he leaves. He then gets word at North Academy that Judai has fallen into a coma. Johan rushes to Duel Academy in hopes that Judai will awaken. Judai does, but when he awakens from his coma, he's blind! Is his blindness permanent or temporary? Can Johan cure it? And is it just blindness, or is Judai's life in jeopardy?
Me: The next chapter is ready, guys!
Lucy: Duldum gave the bell back to Johan, and now Johan will be able to go in and get Judai! Provided there aren't any hazards to him that will prevent him from finding Judai!
Me: So, please enjoy!
Chapter Seven: Inside the Bell
"All right, Johan. Now.. concentrate."
Johan heard Yubel say that for what must have been the hundredth time. He held the bell that Duldum had left for him in his left hand. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on Judai's soul, deep within the bell.
He could practically feel it pulsating, ever so softly. Judai. The name wafted through his mind. His fingers curled around the bell, cradling it in the palm of his hand for the longest time. Judai was right there. He was so close, but so far. Johan didn't know how much longer the poor boy could be by himself in the darkness.
Judai is like a rabbit, in a way.
Johan found himself thinking this. He had thought it silently to himself when he had been taken to the Dark World. He had thought he was doing everyone a favor by sacrificing himself, but all he had done was wound Judai's heart and make him turn to the darkness. Johan had found himself thinking about how dumb he had been in doing such a thing.
Judai's exactly like a rabbit. He needs companion ship. After all...
Johan closed his eyes as the image of the poor young Osiris laying comatose in the infirmary flashed through his mind.
Rabbits can die from loneliness.
The bluenette opened his eyes and saw Yubel staring at him, her arms draped across her chest. She looked angry, in a way. Johan didn't know if it was because she was worried, or if she was angry that he wasn't concentrating enough to enter the bell and rescue the poor, trapped brunette.
"I'll try again," Johan reassured.
"You better," Yubel spat bitterly. "Judai must be so lonely right now."
Johan felt his heart constrict in his rib cage. "I know that!" he snapped. He closed his fist and squeezed the bell. A small jingle came from it, but it went ignored.
Johan closed his eyes tightly and grit his teeth. He had to focus. Judai was in there. Judai was probably crying his eyes out, slowly being eaten away by his own loneliness.
The bell jingled gently, the ding starting to sound like a small voice...
Johan's eyes opened wide. "Ju...dai?" he whispered. He gently shook the bell again, and this time, the ringing seemed to echo in his ears. It was a voice clear as day. A voice that he had fallen in love with. He closed his eyes again and listened to the ringing from the bell. He was certain that only he could hear the voice.
"I'm scared..."
Why? Why are you scared, Judai? Johan let his voice seep into his mind. He was certain Judai would hear it.
"I'm scared of the darkness. Because it's all around me. And... most of all..."
Johan's heart constricted.
"I'm afraid to be alone-!"
I'm coming, Judai! I'm coming! He yelled it through his mind. His heart was pounding. Judai... His Judai needed him. His Judai was probably crying right now. His Judai needed to be rescued from the darkness.
He felt a light errupt from his hand. His gaze was shifted downward, to the little bell in his fist.
Which was now glowing bright gold.
"It's opening!" Yubel's voice rang out. Johan heard the bell dinging faster and faster. He couldn't hear Judai's voice anymore. He couldn't hear Sapphire Pegasus or Amethyst Cat shouting for him. He couldn't hear anything except for the ringing of the bell.
Soon, the light absorbed him, and drew Johan into the bell.
"Sniff... Urgh..."
Johan's eyes fluttered gently, only to find himself right near the darkness. He seemed to be laying right on top of some glass or crystal surface, but he didn't seem to be moving at all.
"U-ugh..." Johan's hand flew to his head. "Ooh, feels like I was hit with a truck," he moaned.
He rubbed his head a bit and glanced around. It was dark. He couldn't feel anything, but for some reason, he knew it was cold. Even if he couldn't feel it anywhere. He felt perfectly fine.
Johan slowly rose to his feet and glanced around. "Judai?" he called.
His voice echoed around and came back to him after a moment. Johan cupped his hand over his mouth. "JUDAI-!" he shouted. Once again, the voice echoed through the darkness and came back to him. "Dammit!" Johan hissed silently. He stepped forward and slowly broke into a run. He just had to find Judai! He had to!
"Judai! Answer if you can hear me!" he shouted. Judai's voice, if he could even call, wasn't heard. Johan was getting worried with each and every second. Each second away from Judai was making him more and more discouraged.
Drip.
Johan paused and halted his movements.
His eyes moved upwards towards the source of the dripping. He saw a few drops of water coming from a source that seemed to be hanging midair in the darkness by a thick amount of metal chains. He moved a bit closer to the figure so that he was a good several meters away from him.
His heart raced.
The figure was a beautiful young brunette, long, shaggy hair hanging down in front of his closed eyes. His porcelain face, pale as snow, was streaked with tears, the source of the dripping. His arms were tied above his head, chains wrapping around his wrists, forearms, chest, stomach, waist, and legs. His Osiris red jacket was torn slightly, and his white jeans were covered with some dirt and what appeared to be a few flecks of blood.
"Judai-!" Johan cried out.
He rushed forward, and instantly, the glass surface broke open, and chains went after him.
Johan smacked them out of his way and rushed for Judai. He threw away the chains that lunged at him, cutting and tearing into his hands and arms as he smacked them away. He ignored any pain. Judai was in much more pain than he was. He could bear this. He reached out towards the brunette.
"Judai-!" he cried out for a second time.
The boy's closed eyelids seemed to twitch.
"W-who is it?"
"Judai, I'm right here!" Johan called. He could hear Judai's voice, softly, as if it were a mere thought. He grabbed a chain and hurled it away from his face, sending it back to the crystal ground. Pale hands reached to the lonely brunette.
"Go away... I just want to keep sleeping here, with my memories..."
Johan shook his head. "No, Judai, no-! Don't let the darkness take you! Come back! Wake up!"
His foot kicked himself off the ground and used one of the chains as a pole vault. He used it to leap up and over a string of more chains. Judai was so close to him. Judai was high up, Johan would have to jump if he wanted to get to him.
Closed eyelids twitched slightly.
"Who's calling me? Who are you..?"
His eyelids slowly fluttered open, dull brown orbs slowly getting their color back.
He felt warm starting to fill his body.
A blurred figure was right in front of him. He couldn't make it out, but he could see blue. Blue, white, and black. He didn't know who it was. But there was something about it that seemed familiar.
"Who..."
Johan gripped the chains that clamped around his wrists and used them to thrown himself into the air. Once he was high up, right level with Judai, he tore the chains from his wrists and reached for Judai.
Judai's eyes started to focus.
"Judai-!" Johan hollered.
Judai's bright brown eyes widened. Tears filled them almost instantly, and he could feel the chains around his body start to crumble. His body started shaking gently. Soft sobs came up in his throat, but they came out as a gentle chuckle rather than a sob. Lips drew back into a tiny smile, filled with relief and joy.
His face then twisted into a look of sorrow, though Johan could tell that it was a happy kind of sorrow. It was the type of sorrow you felt when you finally saw someone you cared about, after worrying that they weren't going to come.
"Johan-!" Judai cried out. He closed his eyes and let a few tears fall from his eyes as he collapsed forward. His arms reached forward. "What took you so long, Johan?"
Johan finally touched Judai. He wrapped his arms around the brunette and clutched him close.
It had been so long.
Judai felt extremely light in his arms, but Johan didn't care. A soft, relieved laugh escaped his lips. He was aware that they were still falling, but none of it mattered to him. He just held Judai, feeling the warmth that resonated off his body, enjoying the familiar scents of the brunette that had captured his heart.
Judai...
An image of the Twisted Memories flashed through his mind. Johan smiled gently.
This is the true Judai. This is not one of those Twisted Memories. Those cold Judai impersonators. This is the true Judai. The one that I have fallen so deeply in love with.
When they finally landed on the crystalline ground, Johan didn't even notice. He just held Judai for what felt like an eternity. He couldn't let go of the brunette even if he wanted to. He was here. Judai was safe. Johan could feel Judai trembling in his arms, but he knew that it was because Judai was too happy for words.
Judai... Judai...
Johan could have sworn that he felt tears in his eyes. He was afraid that he was going to wake up and find out that this was all a dream. If that was the case, he could probably collapse and start crying.
But no.
This was real.
Judai was safe!
Johan finally worked up enough strength to glance down. Judai was laying on top of him, his head buried into the bluenette's chest. He was smiling, and for the first time in a while, he looked like he was truly happy. Johan smiled and placed a hand on Judai's head. This shook Judai from his little trance.
The brunette looked up and locked eyes with the bluenette. Green held brown for the longest time. Smiles played with both of the boy's lips. No words were exchanged for a long time. There wasn't a need for any. The looks that they gave each other was more than enough to let each other know that it was all well and good.
Johan couldn't even bring himself to utter the boy's name. He was just too happy to do anything. He smiled and gripped Judai's pale hand in his own and locked eyes with him again. Judai looked like an angel to him.
Johan could feel something tugging at his body. He looked around and couldn't see anything at first. It was only when he saw Judai's wide eyes that he noticed that he was becoming transparent.
"You've done well, Johan. You're waking up now. Your Duel spirits left a short while ago. They are back in the real world, waiting for you."
Yubel's voice rang through the darkness. Johan glanced around and looked back to Judai. Judai was smiling, not seeming upset that Johan was leaving. Judai knew he would awaken shortly, and they would see each other again.
Johan chuckled softly. "See you soon... Judai."
Judai nodded. "Likewise... Johan."
The last thing Johan heard was Judai's soft chuckle before he became totally transparent. He was swallowed by darkness, and was dragged back to his body, out of Judai's mind and soul.
When Johan's eyelids fluttered open, he found that his lips were still gently over Judai's. He gently disconnected their kiss and locked eyes with the young brunette.
Judai was still asleep, but Johan could see his eyelids fluttering gently.
Johan smiled gently and climbed off the brunette. He glanced around and noticed that he was all alone in the infirmary with the brunette that he had a crush on. Johan's fingers gently brushed over Judai's slightly parted lips. He chuckled softly when a faint moan escaped the boy's throat. He backed up and noticed that Judai's eye lids were slowly opening.
Judai moaned weakly as his consciousness slowly returned to him. He let his eyes flutter gently, and he drew in a deep breath of oxygen. He could feel someone holding his hand, but he knew who it was.
"Johan..." he breathed with a weak smile.
Johan smiled and brushed his fingers over Judai's cheek. "Judai..." he whispered. He couldn't bring himself to speak any louder. If he did, then he might find out that it was a dream.
Judai looked towards Johan, but he didn't smile. Johan felt his heart skip in terror as a look of confusion flashed across the boy's face. Judai started to frantically look around. He looked like he had just seen a ghost, or had lost something that he desperately needed.
"Johan?" Judai whispered softly, looking around frantically. His free hand moved and landed a top Johan's, which was wrapped gently around Judai's left hand.
"Judai?" Johan whispered. Judai looked towards him, eyes wide.
"Johan, where are you!" the brunette asked.
Johan's green eyes grew considerably. Where... am I?he thought in horror. His hands reached forward and latched onto Judai's shoulders. He forced the brunette to look right at him. Judai was glancing around at his shoulders, obviously able to feel Johan holding him.
"Judai!" Johan gave the brunette a gentle shake. "Judai, can you see me? Can you see anything!"
A soft, horrified breath escaped Judai's lips. "N-no, Johan. Everything's pitch black..." he whispered. Johan gasped. Judai couldn't see anything. He looked around and told Judai to look to the foot of the bed. Judai answered that he couldn't see anything. He told Johan that he couldn't see it, that he couldn't even tell where he was.
While Johan sat trembling in horror, a single thought crossed through Judai's mind.
I'm blind!
Me: Noooo! Judai's blind!
Lucy: But why is he blind? Does it have to do with his coma, or does it have to do with something else? If you all want to find out, please read on and we shall update shortly!
Me: Review! We update when we gets lots and lots of nice reviews!