Sight the King
18/21
"in which - well. You know. Stuff happens."
at Nesisi, the island of fire.
He cooks the leftover gods into a bone soup.
It had not seemed like a long party, but it had been an obscenely long day, and even the other Yuugi felt their body's exhaustion. Making their excuses, the other Yuugi was finally able to slip away from the crowd, quickly making his way back up to Yuugi's bedroom. Once the door was locked behind him, Yuugi and his other self switched control again, and Yuugi allowed himself to collapse on his freshly made bed, and instantly too comfortable to get back up again, he kicked the clean clothes on the edge of the bed to the floor. It was good to be home.
The other Yuugi appeared to be sitting on the bed, facing Yuugi, his hip touching Yuugi's knee. Yuugi kicked off his house slippers and his socks as well, smiling at the dull thud they made against the floor and the clothing already constructing their little burial grounds.
"Hello ceiling, hello bed," Yuugi said quietly, smiling and stretching his arms under his pillow. "I never thought I'd be able to come back here."
"I remember," said the other Yuugi, his hand resting on Yuugi's leg and somehow, even though he was not a physical person, Yuugi felt the heat from that hand sink down into his marrow. "I'm glad we were wrong. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy."
Although it was not the other's intent, the words gave Yuugi a flash of guilt – for Jounouchi and his sister Shizuka, for Hebi and Hikari and their father Sasori, for Souzouji and, and, and – before he pushed it away. It was his first night home after weeks away: he could set aside those feelings for now.
"You know what would make me even happier?" Yuugi asked with a smile, shifting up onto his elbows. The other Yuugi gazed at him questioningly, though that melted into a small, answering smile.
"What would make you happier, aibou?" the other asked, but Yuugi just shifted over slightly and patted the empty mattress beside him.
"It's a secret," he said, looking away briefly as though it would hide the grin on his face, "you're too far away for me to tell you."
The other Yuugi rolled his eyes, but his lips were still quirked in amusement. "The trials I endure for you," he muttered darkly as he made a show of stretching himself out on the bed next to Yuugi, their equal height aligning them perfectly: toe to toe, nose to nose.
Though the other Yuugi had complied with the request, and was now as close to Yuugi as he could without lying atop him, Yuugi remained silent behind a painfully sincere grin.
The silence stretched, until finally the other Yuugi sighed. "This is the worst secret-telling I've ever been a part of."
"Oh, hush," said Yuugi, "you've never been part of a secret-telling."
"And that's how I know this is the worst," he answered back. If the other Yuugi had thought that such prodding would result in an answer, he quickly realized his mistake.
"Ai--bou," he wheedled, staring into Yuugi's eyes, "if there's no secret, why—"
"It's strange," Yuugi whispered suddenly, his grin receding, his eyes almost unfocused in the darkness; his voice seemed to trail off, the thought unfinished. The other Yuugi waited, but not even in their shared heart did an answer come forth.
Eventually, with a low grumble, he poked Yuugi gently in the stomach, hoping for a response. "Tell me—"
His question was cut off by a soft hand to his cheek, and a subdued and softer smile on Yuugi's lips. "We share the same body, and even when you're out like this you look mostly like me – my height, my hair, most of my scars…"
"Aibou?" The thumb swept across the other Yuugi's cheek, brushing through eyelashes as the lid fell closed. The other Yuugi tried scowling at the thumb moving over his eye, but Yuugi's small syllable of laughter made his expression melt away.
"But your face… even when you're hiding behind mine, it's so…" The hand on the other Yuugi's cheek stilled for a moment before sliding back, fingers combing into the base of his translucent hair.
"So?"
But what it was 'so,' Yuugi didn't say, for he had instead shifted forward and pulled and was using his lips to kiss the insubstantial mouth of his other self. Though they had kissed before, it was still a bit of a shock to the other Yuugi that Yuugi would want to kiss him in the first place, so even as his mind succumbed to the thrumming sense of feedback, he delayed. He was late to participate, but not unwilling, not unsure.
Lying on their sides to kiss limited their range of motion, and having two forms on a bed built for one didn't help, but it didn't matter; their lips had all the room they needed to purse and pull at one another, enough room for one tongue to cross over to give some heated moisture to the other's inherently arid mouth. The other Yuugi had no blood or tears in this form, and never ate – what use had a spirit for saliva?
The other Yuugi let his hand rest upon Yuugi's hip, but it was Yuugi who allowed the hand to stay, placing his own atop it, Yuugi who allowed that hand to pull them closer together. It only took a shifting of a leg before Yuugi pushed himself up, kissing the other Yuugi down onto the mattress, sliding his arms behind the other's back to prevent him from being pushed into the bed. In such a position, Yuugi could not explore the other's form as freely as the other Yuugi could the reverse, and the other Yuugi took shameless advantage to smooth his hands over the flat planes of Yuugi's sides through the increasingly distressed dress shirt, over Yuugi's back, and onto his shoulders.
The other Yuugi had no real effect on the world other than on Yuugi – his weight did not press into the bed, he cast no shadow of his own, and he could only feel solidity the bed abstractly; it was only real to him because Yuugi needed it to be so, and if the other Yuugi got too far lost he might very well fall through wherever Yuugi did not hold him, solid matter holding no resistance to him.
Similarly, though Yuugi had taken off none of his clothes save a jacket several hours earlier and socks mere minutes ago, when the other Yuugi ran a hand over Yuugi's clothed arms the material offered no resistance: his ghostly hand would pass through, straight to flesh. As the other Yuugi ran fingernails that did not physically exist through a material that surely did to rake lines down what should have been the inaccessible flesh of Yuugi's back, Yuugi gave a shudder and a sigh into the kiss, smiling, and both tightening his hold and spreading his arms beneath the other Yuugi, as though hearing his fear of falling away.
Though Yuugi's body was already slick with sweat, the other Yuugi was still as dry as bones, as dice. Yuugi shifted his legs to lay around the other's, their bodies aligned perfectly, and the heat of Yuugi's legs against his own was so inviting and pulling that the other Yuugi could not have stopped the upward thrust of his hips if he'd tried, couldn't help that even though there were several layers of cloth between them it only felt like half, could not stop the clenching of his hands or the groan that passed from his lips into Yuugi's. Similarly, he couldn't help but accept the returning noise from Yuugi's mouth, and the way Yuugi easily crushed his hips back down, feeling the hands under him clench against his back.
Yuugi pulled away from the kiss, obviously disoriented even past the flush on his cheeks and the darker turn of his eyes, relishing in the feedback and the bloodless flush on the other Yuugi's face.
"So perfect," he whispered, pulling one arm out from under the other Yuugi, then both, so he could strip himself of his shirt. The other Yuugi's hands fell away as Yuugi sat up, but the expression of rapt attention and lust made Yuugi grin as he began unfastening the column of buttons. Tossing the shirt aside, Yuugi slipped the lanyard of the Puzzle free of his neck and gently lowered it off the side of the bed, letting it rest on the floor, out of the way. Sitting back up full, Yuugi spread his arms in a gesture of display for the other's dazed and covetous eyes.
"So perfect," whispered the other Yuugi, shifting himself up to sitting, though it was difficult what with being pinned at the waist and not truly having real leverage beneath him. Once up, the other Yuugi's hands fastened on Yuugi's hips and he began trailing hot kisses over Yuugi's chest, taking Yuugi completely by surprise: Yuugi had expected the other Yuugi to strip, too. But then again, he really wasn't another Yuugi at all – he was a spirit, a Pharaoh, not Yuugi, never really Yuugi—
"Ah!" --¦ --¦-- – --¦ --¦--¦ – --¦ --¦--¦- – --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--'- --¦ --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦-- --¦-- -- --¦- (--¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --, --¦). --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦ -- --¦ --¦--, --¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦ --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦- - --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦-, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦, --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦, --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦.
--¦--'- --¦- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- - --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦.
"Aibou," --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦--'- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--, --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦-.
"Always," --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-. --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦ -- --¦ --¦--. --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦, --¦ --¦--¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦-'- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-.
--¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--, --¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--'- --¦, --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- - --¦--¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦'- --¦-. --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--, --¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦- -- --¦- --¦- - --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- – -- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦- --.
-- --¦ --¦--¦-- -- --¦--¦- --¦-, -- --¦ -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦-'- --¦--, --¦-'- --¦--¦, --¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦. --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--; --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--.
--¦- --¦ --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦--; --'- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--.
--¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦, --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦-- -- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--. --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--, --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ -- --¦-- --¦-- --¦.
"Ai-aibou?" --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- - --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ -- -- --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦. --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- - --¦-- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦-- -- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦-. --¦--¦-- --, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦ --¦ -- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦-. --¦- - --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦-- -- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦- -- --¦--.
--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--'- --¦- --¦-, --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--. --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- (--¦-- --¦, --¦- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦ --¦-, --¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--?), --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦, --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦-. --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --, --¦-- -- --¦-- -- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- -- --¦--¦-, --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦-- -- -- -- --¦ --¦- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦-. --¦-- --¦--¦- - --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ -- -- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦.
"Ai-ai-aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦. --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦- -- - --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦-- (--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --).
"Always," -- --¦--¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦-- -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--'- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦--. --¦--'- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦ -- --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦.
"Please," --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦--. --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦-.
--¦- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦- -- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦ - --¦--¦, --¦ -- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦-- -- --¦-- – --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦-- --¦- – --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- -- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--. --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ - --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--'- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦, --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦ - --¦-- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦ --¦-- -- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- - --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-. --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-.
--¦--¦- --¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦-, --¦--, --¦--¦-, --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦. -- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦-, --¦--'- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦.
-- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦-- -- --¦, -- --¦ -- --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- -- -- --¦ --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦. --¦-- --¦--¦'- --¦- --¦ --¦--, -- --¦-- --¦- --¦; -- --¦ - --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦--, --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- -- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-.
--¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--, --¦--'- --¦ --¦--¦--¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--.
"Ahhhh, aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦, --¦--¦, --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--, (--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦-- --¦--), --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- -- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--.
--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦- – --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- -- -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦- – --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦ - --¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦. --¦- - --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦-, --¦--'- --¦-- --¦--¦-- - --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦-- --¦ -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--'- --¦--.
--¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦ -- --¦-- --¦--. --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--, --¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦--'- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-. --¦-- --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--. --'- --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-; -- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--, -- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--! --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--. --¦- --¦ --¦ - --¦- --¦--, --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦--.
--¦-- --¦- - --¦--¦ -- --, --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦, --¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦--. --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- -- -- --¦--. --¦-- --¦--¦ --, --¦-- --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦.
"All right?" Yuugi asked in a whisper, brushing a hand over the other Yuugi's exposed torso. The other Yuugi trapped Yuugi's hand beneath his own.
"Aibou," he whispered, a low undertone of confusion and awe evident in his voice. Yuugi's eyes were drifting shut, but he made an effort to focus on the other Yuugi beside him.
"Mm?" The other Yuugi's hold on Yuugi's hand tightened briefly, and Yuugi gave a comforting squeeze back.
"You… you didn't have to do this," he whispered, letting his hand slide from Yuugi's and gesturing to the bed, "I mean… instead of… I could have—" Yuugi smiled, fatigued, at the other Yuugi's hazed fluster.
"I know," said Yuugi, closing his eyes, too sleepy to keep them open. "But it's not like I didn't enjoy it, other me."
Yuugi shifted, his arm shaking and heavy as he pulled the kicked-aside blanket to cover his and the other Yuugi's naked forms, although of course the blanket simply passed through the latter.
"But why?" asked the other Yuugi, leaning closer to Yuugi, hoping he would not yet fall asleep. Yuugi opened one bleary eye to the curious face, and couldn't help but smile.
"There is nothing and no one more precious to me than you," whispered Yuugi, closing his eye once more, "and I wanted to show you that."
Yuugi did not see the smile that plastered itself across the other Yuugi's face, one of surprise and wonder and love. Had he seen it, Yuugi would have cherished the memory of it for the rest of his life.
"I think that about you too, aibou," the other whispered sincerely into Yuugi's ear, hoping that Yuugi would carry those words with him into sleep. The other Yuugi then lay down flat beside Yuugi, pushing his semitransparent form as close to Yuugi as he could, giving the illusion that he, too, lay under the covers. He wrapped an arm over Yuugi, kissing his brow, and prepared for the sleep that would claim his insubstantial form back to the Puzzle. It was as his eyes closed that he heard Yuugi murmur softly as the latter began to drift off.
"Of course you do," whispered Yuugi, not knowing that he was heard, or even that he spoke, "you don't know any better."
The other Yuugi's eyes opened, confused, but Yuugi was asleep before the other Yuugi even had a chance to think on the words. Had Yuugi been awake, he would have heard the quiet stream of curses, and would have been forced to stifle inappropriate laughter at the way the other Yuugi tried slamming his fist against the mattress in anger. The air of frustration around the other Yuugi was palpable, his whole body wound tight.
That someone as brilliant and wonderful and giving and loving and perfect as Yuugi could see no problem with sharing his very life with anyone as freely as he did with the spirit of the God Pyramid, and to love him and protect him and save him and all – that Yuugi was so blind as to not see his own virtue! It infuriated him; how had the other Yuugi managed to fail Yuugi so completely, that Yuugi would doubt the other Yuugi's heart? Doubt his want to be with Yuugi? Unable to do anything else, the other Yuugi instead slammed his fist into his own leg, his features contorted in a bitter scowl, and even then the contact made no sound no matter how many times he repeated the gesture.
Receding to shadow, the other Yuugi raged at his own failure – even after all they had done, all they had been through, the other Yuugi had never once been able to convince Yuugi that he was truly worth something – had failed to prove his own devotion to Yuugi, failed to prove that Yuugi was appreciated and wanted and loved for who he was in return, that of all possible people the other Yuugi could never imagine anyone better to entrust his heart.
Shadows of vases and statues and skulls flew and shattered across Yuugi's dimly lit walls, the darkness playing a show of silhouetted destruction, but eventually it scaled back down to the shaking and weary form of Yuugi's shadow, locked in his own impotent range.
Again, again, he had failed his most precious partner, who slept on, undisturbed.
--
The other Yuugi was quiet the next day. Yuugi hadn't noticed at first, what with grandfather's huge announcement at breakfast about how, by the way, not only was his long-dead wife not actually dead, but that because they had so much catching up to do they were going to go on a short trip to Jenga, where Yuugi's grandfather and father had lived before they'd finally moved to Domino.
Yuugi continued to not notice the uncharacteristic isolation when he had to go to school a whole hour early in order to speak with a couple councilors about what he would need to do in order to catch up, they scolding him for not maintaining his study habits while evading police custody, (as if Yuugi had study habits to begin with). He did not even notice when he sat through several classes with everyone staring at him and whispering behind their hands and his back. Even when Yuugi went out to eat his lunch on the school roof with his friends – to avoid the blaming and distrusting stares of his classmates, though Yuugi was surprised by the fact no one tried to actively steal his lunch, and he spent nearly half the period trying to assure Anzu and Honda and Hanasaki that really, he forgave them, just help him catch up in his schoolwork! – the silence of the other Yuugi did not weigh heavily on his mind.
This is not to say that Yuugi is a cruel person, or heartless, or cares not for others who suffer. If the other Yuugi knew that anyone would accuse Yuugi of such, that person would be shown their error when it would be Yuugi that would spare that person's heart from destruction. Of the two, Yuugi is the more compassionate, more merciful, and the one who is much more likely to seek out the reason for someone's sudden emotional distance.
That Yuugi did not notice the other's significant presence-yet-silence is only pointed out to illustrate these few things: Yuugi was still quite used to being alone in his head, as is the natural state for almost all inhabitants of the Earth, so a few hours of Yuugi engaged in his own thoughts is much more common for him – and everyone else, at that – than sporadic pseudo-telepathy. Even after assembling the Puzzle and becoming aware of the denizen within, communication with the other Yuugi was not as frequent as one would initially assume, and upon all this was Yuugi's rather unfortunate tendency of being separated from the other Yuugi by means both physical and inexplicably magical. For another, this was the first true day of reacquainting himself with his old life, and as busy and as stressful as it was, Yuugi barely had a chance to have a thought with himself, let alone his other self.
On top of this, even though the other Yuugi was in a state of emotional turmoil and suffering from feelings of inadequacies, Yuugi had thus far been given no indication or even a hinting of such; it should be pointed out that Yuugi would have stopped everything at the shortest sign of such turmoil. It should not be expected that Yuugi would notice this situation for quite a bit of time, considering also how well the other Yuugi was intentionally hiding from Yuugi, and considering how skilled the other was at doing so.
Therefore, the fact that it was not until Yuugi was walking home from school that afternoon that he noticed this silence should be taken to show that Yuugi is an observant individual, and that only taking ten stressful and busy hours to notice is, in fact, a good thing.
(Had it been any of Yuugi's friends or classmates in a similar situation, notice probably wouldn't have been taken until the next morning at the earliest.)
Or, to put it another way: when Yuugi internally called to his other self with a touch of worry, even the other Yuugi was surprised.
Aibou? Is there something wrong? He asked, hesitant to manifest visually when Yuugi was in such a public place. Yuugi shifted his rucksack-cum-backpack, full now of textbooks and small wooden puzzles instead of the clothing and medical supplies it had housed before, and he exhaled slowly.
Not with me, no, but… replied Yuugi, dodging the other people on the street with ease, you have me worried, a little. You haven't said anything all day.
By second nature Yuugi glanced at his shadow, cast upon the store walls he passed, even if it was only the result of his eclipsing of the sun.
I didn't want to intrude, replied the other Yuugi. I thought it would be better if I did not distract you today. Although the words and the reason seemed simple enough, Yuugi could not but feel his own insecurity increase.
He continued walking in silence, not quite brooding, but the fact that the other Yuugi made no move to dispel the silence did not alleviate Yuugi's distress. If anything, it made him feel worse.
Yuugi was more than halfway to the Game Shop before he spoke again. Other me? Do you… do you regret what we did last night? I know it was—
No, aibou, of course not! I— the answer was swift, but there was an undercurrent of sorrow, and Yuugi caught that more than he caught the words. He had to clench his eyes shut as he walked.
Of course he does. Stupid, idiot Yuugi, Yuugi thought to himself where the other could not see or hear or know the words, but he's not going to tell you because… well, he shares your brain. What's more awkward than… than regretting that between two people in one head? It's not like he could say anything anyway – he probably thinks you'd just lock him away if he did! Aaahhh, I've screwed it all up.
Yuugi was close enough to the Game Shop that he didn't even need to think for his feet to find the familiar path. Grandfather said that he and Grandmother Kameyo would have already left by the time Yuugi would get back from school, so Yuugi had to fumble with the key to the front house door. Mother would still be at work, too, so the house would be empty save for Yuugi and his other self.
Finally getting the door open, Yuugi kicked off his shoes once inside, not even bothering to put on house slippers. The door, too, he kicked closed, and his rucksack dropped to the floor without care. God, where had that confident, delusional Yuugi from the night before – hell, from the whole month before – gone? Simply a brave front, and now that he was back home, everything would go back to the way it was before, only with more angry fangirls with their projectile ballet slippers and fewer friends. Again. Dammit. How bad of a lay did Yuugi have to be to fail to do well with someone who received no other external stimuli ever?
He headed for the kitchen to do something to get over this (a good solid puzzle to build would be nice, or if he still had cards he could play some solitaire varieties he hadn't touched in ages), and the force that pushed him into the kitchen counter was unexpected and unrelenting. Yuugi cried out, twisting, wishing he were closer to the jar of cooking utensils so he could at least attempt to fight off his attacker until he saw who it was.
The other Yuugi pinned both of Yuugi's hands to the kitchen counter, leaving Yuugi trapped between it and his other self.
"Why is it," whispered the other, "that I can never do anything right by you?"
Shocked, Yuugi pulled at his wrists, but the other had the leverage. "Oth—"
The kiss was not gentle, or soft, or loving – the other's perpetually dry mouth moved hard and fast against Yuugi's, their teeth jarring together painfully, the other's tongue dominating Yuugi's own – and it ended as suddenly as it began. When the other Yuugi pulled away, Yuugi attempted to follow, but the other's face was turned down, away.
"No matter what I do, it's wrong, and you suffer," said the other, his grip tight but not bruising. "I try to be your friend, you hate me, and when I try leaving, you won't let me. Any time I try to help you, you get hurt. Any time I try making you feel better, you feel worse. It always backfires. Aibou," again the other moved to kiss Yuugi, but this was desperate and angry and pained and Yuugi wanted so badly to embrace the raging spirit— "Everything I do pains you, and yet you hold me in such high regard – aibou, aibou, everything you do is so wonderful, and I've never been happier than I was last night, with you – you were so, ahhh, absolutely, nnng, perfect in every possible way and somehow, somehow! I ruined that too! I don't even know how, but I must have done something wrong, because after all of it you're hurting because obviously I'm so much better than you, that I'd want to leave you even though you know how much I hate when we're separated—"
"Wait, what?" Yuugi interrupted, completely confused by this whole diatribe. The other Yuugi ignored the interjection.
"And what is so wrong with me," he shouted, a catch in his voice like someone on the verge of crying, but of course the other Yuugi had no tears beneath all his rage, "that I can never make you as happy as you make me?"
The other Yuugi released Yuugi's wrists and pushed himself away, but he did not flee from the room or to the Puzzle. Yuugi was shaking from the emotional backwash, but he consciously did not rub his sore wrists. Yuugi did not know what to say; they'd had a similar fight before, and still the miracle answer eluded him. Maybe there wasn't one.
"… You thought I was perfect? Seriously?"
The other Yuugi choked out a noise, like a laugh and a sob and a scowl all blended together, and shook his head in a motion not to be taken for negation. "Everything you do is a hundred thousand times better than what I can do," he whispered, his eyes completely dry, though he did not look at Yuugi. "And unless there's something better than what you did, that I can give you, then yes."
About a dozen different images and memories flitted through Yuugi's mind, many of them heavily digitized from videotapes, but he pushed them away and tried to hide his flush.
"Well, there's more to it than what we did, for sure," Yuugi muttered softly, leaning back against the kitchen counter; the surrealistic nature of talking about sex and self-worth with a spirit in his family's kitchen struck Yuugi with only a glancing blow, and he pushed it off as one of the least strange things about this whole adventure. The other Yuugi, though, was now standing with a stillness living humans could never hope to imitate. "And it's not like… other me? Are you all right?"
The other Yuugi's gaze turned to Yuugi, his eyes half-closed and dark, the rest of his body perfectly still.
"Other—"
"Aibou," whispered the other, his eyes fixed so forcefully on Yuugi that Yuugi felt more pinned by that stare than he had by the other's hands moments earlier. "I… I need you to know how precious you are to me." The movement was slow and silent, and though it screamed 'ghost!' Yuugi did not care. The other Yuugi laid his hands lightly on Yuugi's hips, and through their shared heart Yuugi felt and saw both his other self's determination and his fear, and at the latter Yuugi was confused. Why should the other fear Yuugi? Yuugi was nothing—
"That!" exclaimed the other, suddenly, quietly, his hands tightening on Yuugi's hips. "How do I show you, prove to you, that you're anything but?"
The hands on Yuugi's hips kept adjusting their grips, the strong fingers pressing on his flesh, almost massaging him, and Yuugi's eyes slid closed as his pelvis twisted minutely under the seemingly negligible attention. The other Yuugi inched forward at the reaction, his eyes focused downwards as the fingers on Yuugi's hips shifted toward a much more deliberate rolling of pressure, like fingernails drumming on a desk, and Yuugi's hips jerked with approval, memories of the night previous bubbling gently into Yuugi's mind and into his blood.
The other Yuugi was nearly atop him now, only a few inches separating their forms from contact, and Yuugi could feel the body heat of the other layering atop his own, even though the other Yuugi had no true body and thus should not produce heat. The other Yuugi's face came forward, his lips not touching Yuugi's, and Yuugi gave a short gasp when the hands slid down, kneading at the small of his back and the top curvature of his buttocks.
"What do I have to give you," whispered the other Yuugi into his ear, "what can I possibly give you to show you how much I—"
A low groan rolled from Yuugi's mouth when the other Yuugi's teeth and lips began assaulting what was easily becoming the other Yuugi's preferred earlobe, and Yuugi's hips arched forward, allowing one of the hands to slide down further along the shallow curve.
"What do you want, aibou?" said the other Yuugi on a breath, warm and dry like a breeze passing through fire. The hand that was not massaging and groping Yuugi's ass had instead glided upward, raking nails across Yuugi's sensitive back, even though Yuugi was fully clothed. "Anything you want, it's yours." This wind was a comforting one, exhaled before a kiss over his inner ear, "but you have to tell me what you want."
The heated mouth descended to Yuugi's neck, nipping at the exposed flesh above his choker, and Yuugi's hands instantly went up to begin unfastening the garment.
"Please," moaned the other Yuugi against his jaw and newly exposed neck, the buckle falling carelessly to the floor, "please, tell me what you want."
Yuugi wasn't sure if he was lifted or if he jumped, but he was on the kitchen counter, and the other Yuugi still held tight to him, trailing hot, dry kisses over his neck and jaw and chin, and it was as though he were being caressed by fire, or the sun, or a desert wind. Although the counter gave him the height advantage, Yuugi was still at the mercy of the other Yuugi's assault, and even with free hands all Yuugi could do was wrap his arms around the other's shoulders and hold on. The attack on Yuugi's neck had not yet ceased, and Yuugi's head was so far rocked back that he nearly gave himself a concussion against the edge of the dish cupboard.
Hands slid back down to Yuugi's waist and stilled, and the other Yuugi's hearth of a mouth was whispering up into Yuugi's ear, the warmth of it giving the rest of him shivers. "What do you want?"
"I… I want," Yuugi panted, the crown of the other Yuugi's hair tickling his face while the libidinous mouth continued robbing him of coherent thought, now by nipping softly at the skin below Yuugi's ear. "I want—" Yuugi's words were cut off with a groan, the other Yuugi's hands having pulled Yuugi forward, Yuugi's groin pressed tightly against the other's flat, warm stomach. Yuugi's head did hit the cupboard this time, though thankfully it was the flat of the door. Even the throb of that contact could not detract from the feel of solid heat against his trapped erection, and with the newfound (though stinging) leverage of the cabinet, Yuugi pushed back to roll his hips up and pressed them tighter together.
The hands on Yuugi's hips gave a spasm, and the other Yuugi pressed closer, panting heavily on Yuugi's skin. "Tell me," he murmured, rocking against Yuugi and possibly passing through the counter itself in the motion. "Tell me…"
Words were beyond Yuugi, his muscles jerking in awkward places, but the answer jumbled and bounced around in Yuugi's mind and their shared heart: want burning aching fire yes want this want more more heat want want you.
The hands held still Yuugi's hips, preventing him from pressing forward into the warm stomach that was now pulling away; Yuugi nearly cried out at the loss, but the other Yuugi's face had finally realigned with Yuugi's own, their breaths mingling between them.
"You have to tell me what you want, aibou," The other Yuugi's eyes were not opaque, but they were dark and full of desire all the same, fixed on Yuugi's own.
Yuugi did not wonder as to the picture he made, ravaged, fully clothed and, to an intruder's gaze, completely alone; Yuugi merely leaned forward, whispering the words into the other Yuugi's bruised lips and open mouth, "I want you," he whispered, "I want you, you, only you…"
The other Yuugi only nipped quickly at Yuugi's lips, pulling away before the contact had even registered. "But that doesn't tell me anything," murmured the other, frowning, "I still don't know what to do."
Yuugi released a short, exasperated sigh. "Jerk." The insult was an endearment, and the other Yuugi pressed forward, kissing Yuugi fully once more. When Yuugi opened his eyes, he was struck by the surreal nature of this encounter with his other self – Yuugi could see the palm of his own hand, cupping the back of the other Yuugi's head. Yuugi could accept such oddities now, and he let his eyes slide closed once more.
"What do you want," the other exhaled between kisses, pulling Yuugi's hips to grind his crotch up against the other's stomach again; Yuugi gasped at the pressure, tightening his hold and kissing harder.
After a moment, Yuugi pulled away with a grin. "I want to have sex with you, other me," he whispered, kissing up the other Yuugi's jawbone to continue quietly, directly into the other's ear, "I want to feel you… I want to see your face when you climax, calling out to me, 'aibou',"
"Aibou," the other Yuugi echoed, bowing his head forward, his hands roaming over Yuugi's back.
"And to know… that no one else can ever hear you, touch you, love you the way I can, the way I do," Yuugi continued, his hands sliding down to the other's shoulders, "to feel you, and me…"
Yuugi pulled away, turning his gaze to the other Yuugi's down turned face, and he tipped up that chin so he could gaze directly into the other's eyes.
"I want to fuck you, other me," he said with a smirk, pulling the other Yuugi into another fervent kiss.
Yuugi couldn't get off the counter fast enough – the other Yuugi nearly yanked him down as they tried navigating through the house while still firmly attached to one another, mouths and hands and minds more concerned with one another than the route to Yuugi's bedroom. The trip was mostly successful – Yuugi only kicked the corner of one table, as the other Yuugi had accidentally walked straight through it. Their school jackets were discarded in the hallway, and Yuugi laughed into the kiss when he saw that the other Yuugi's jacket fell completely through the floor itself. Whether it disintegrated thereafter, or continued falling to the center of the earth, neither cared.
Yuugi kicked the bedroom door shut behind him as they crossed the threshold, more out of habit than worry of being caught. It was a different door entirely that Yuugi should have worried about, but it would be hours before the matter would come to his attention, and by then – by then, the door would be the least of his concerns.
--
Being unable to directly manipulate one another's attire made it surprisingly easier to undress while kissing – Yuugi's uniform shirt and leather bracer easily passed through the other Yuugi's body entirely, and the same was true for the reverse. In that manner they didn't technically need to undress in places, but it was so much more appealing to feel the thing one was actually seeing. Finally bare save the Puzzle, Yuugi's chest was swiftly claimed by the other Yuugi's mouth, the force of his exploration pushing Yuugi back flat against the closed bedroom door with a thud. Yuugi hissed in pain as his head once again knocked on a solid wood door, but the throb of the impending bruise was pushed from his mind when the other Yuugi's warm tongue began tracing circles around his nipple, his hot breath tickling Yuugi's chest hair.
"Are you all right?" --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦--. --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦- - --¦--.
"Of course," -- --¦-, --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--, "why'd you stop?"
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦--. "I… pushed you a bit hard there. Are you sure—"
"I'm fine, other me," --¦-- --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦-, "and the fact that you're talking when you could be doing other things displeases me."
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦--¦-- - --¦-- --¦ --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--'- --¦--. "How remiss of me," -- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- --¦-.
--¦--'- --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--. --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦, --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- -- --¦--'- --¦, --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--'-.
--¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦.
--¦--¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- -- --¦ --¦--, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦ --¦-. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦, --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ -- --¦ --¦--.
"Yes," --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦, --¦ --¦--¦ – --¦--¦ – --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦. --¦--¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦- --¦-, --¦, --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--. --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦- --¦- --¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦-- -- - --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--.
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦-.
"You're back," --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- - --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦-- -- --¦- - --¦--.
"For you, aibou? I will always come back," -- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦--¦-, --¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦-, --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--. --¦ --¦ --¦-- -- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--, -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--. --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-, --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦--, -- --¦--¦. --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--. --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-.
"Aibou?" -- --¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm… I'm okay," -- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦-- -- -- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦--, "it's just – ah… a bit much." --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- -- -- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-. "I'm okay now."
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-'- --¦- --¦--¦--¦. "You were biting your hand," -- --¦-, --¦--¦--¦ – --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦--¦, --¦- -- --¦- -- - --¦--¦- -- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦, --'- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦- –
"It's nothing, other me," -- --¦--¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦--¦.
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-'- --¦- --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦.
"But this is the point where you let me up," --¦--¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦--¦, "so I can pound you into the mattress."
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦-. --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- -- -- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦--, --¦--, --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦ - --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-.
"Of course, if I tried that," --¦-- --¦--¦--, "I might wind up losing you to the mattress—" --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦- - --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦; --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦-- -- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦-- (--¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦--, --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--).
-- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦- -- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--, -- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦-- -- --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --, --¦—
"I want," --¦--¦ --¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--, --¦— "I want—want you— nnngh," --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--.
"Aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦- -- -- --¦-- -- -- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --, --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦--¦--¦-. --¦!, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--'- --¦--, --¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- - --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦--, --¦--¦ --¦: - --¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦--¦--, --¦-- -- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦-- -- --¦--¦--¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦. --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦; --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-.
"Wait," --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦-, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦-- -- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦.
"Wait?" --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦-.
--¦ --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦-- --¦ --, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦-- -- --¦ -- -- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦ - --¦--¦. --¦- --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦, --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- -- --¦--¦.
"Aibou?" --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- -- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦. "Is–"
"I just needed to grab something," --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦.
--¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦, --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ (--¦- -- --¦, --¦--¦--¦--¦--, --¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- -- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦ – -- --¦--¦ -- --¦-- --¦--¦!). --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦.
--¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦--. "… what is this?"
"It's a condom," --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- -- --¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦--¦--¦--.
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ - --¦--¦. "It's for protection," --¦-- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- - --¦--¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦-- -- -- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦--. --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦, --¦--¦ -- -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦ -- --¦-, --¦ -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--.
"Protection? From what?"
"Pregnancy—"
"Aibou!"
"—and diseases."
--¦--'- --¦--, --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦--, --¦- --¦--¦- -- - --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--.
"Aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦, "I'm not a woman."
"I know that, other me, but condoms–"
"Aibou," -- --¦-, --¦- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- -- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦-. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦--'- --¦-, --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- - --¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦. --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--. --¦-- --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦--¦--¦-.
"I don't have semen, or blood, in this form," --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦--, "nor an immune system. What disease could I possibly carry? What could you have that could hurt someone who does not actually have a body?"
--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦, --¦ -- --¦--¦-. "Would you believe me if I told you I forgot?"
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦, --¦--¦--; --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦-- -- --¦--¦-- -- --¦. "You were just concerned," --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦--'- --¦--¦; --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-, "and were our situation different, then I would—"
"Other me?" --¦-- --¦--¦--¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦-. "Stop talking."
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦-- --¦- - --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦--. "Gladly," -- --¦-, --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦-- -- --¦--'- --¦-.
--¦-- --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦. --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ -- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--; --¦-- --¦ - --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦-, --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--, --¦--¦ --¦- -- --¦-- --¦- --¦- -- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦--¦--¦--¦ -- -- --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦- -- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--¦--.
--¦--'- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦-.
"Please," --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦, --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦--, "Please."
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦--¦. "I love you so much, aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --, --¦--¦- --¦--. --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦-- -- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦, --¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦--¦--.
--¦--¦, -- --¦--¦, -- --¦-- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦--¦ --¦- - --¦-- --¦-. --¦-- --¦-'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦-, -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ -- - --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦ -- -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦-. -- --¦-'- --— --. --¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦--¦- --¦--.
--¦- --¦-- -- --¦--¦--, -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-, --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦-- – --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦. -- --¦-- -- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦- (--¦-- --¦--¦'- -- --¦- --¦- --¦-, --¦-- --¦--?), --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦, -- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦-.
--¦--'- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ – --? --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦--'- --¦-.
--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--'-.
"Stop, stop, god," --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--. "How could you do that to yourself?" --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦, --¦--¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦--.
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--; --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦--¦. --¦ --¦-- (--¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦--¦--, -- --¦- --¦-) --¦- -- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- - --¦-: -- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦.
Yet again! -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦, Yet again I fail you, aibou…
"It's okay," --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦, "that was obviously a bad idea." -- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦, "we can try something else."
--¦--¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--'-, --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- -- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦-. --¦-- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦ -- --¦- -- --¦--¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦--, --¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦. --¦-- --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦, --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦--¦: --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --? -- --¦-— -- --¦-— --¦-. --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ -- --¦--¦-!
"Aibou, do you trust me?" -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦-- --¦--¦.
"I'm not going to–"
"No, not that," --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--, "but do you trust me?" --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦--.
"Always,"
"Close your eyes," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦--¦-, "and let me guide you." --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--'- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦, --¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦. --¦--¦- -- -- --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦-- --¦ --¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦-, -- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- - --¦--¦- -- --¦--¦--¦. --¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦--'- --¦-, -- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--'- --¦- --¦- --¦.
-- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦ -- --¦ -- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--. --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-'- --¦- --¦-- --'- --¦ - --¦--'- --¦- --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦- – --¦--'- --¦ --¦- - --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- - --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦. -- --¦ -- --¦--'- --¦-- -- --¦--¦ --¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦-- --¦- -- --¦- --¦- -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦.
--¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, -- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦- -- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦- -- --¦--'- --¦--, --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦-- -- --¦. --¦- --¦ -- - --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-.
-- --¦--¦. "You can open your eyes now," -- --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦ -- --¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦- -- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--.
"This… my heart's room? Other—" --¦-- --¦ --, --¦--¦--. "Don't tell me you brought us here for card games," -- --¦--¦- --¦- - --¦-- --¦- -- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦-.
"There's only one card I want," -- --¦- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-, "and I didn't want to send you downstairs to get it. Here!" --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦. --¦-- – --¦-- --¦--¦--¦- – --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--.
"We are never doing this again," -- --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--.
"I told you that you were the woman," -- --¦--¦ --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦--¦ - --¦-- --¦--¦.
--¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦ -- --¦--¦--¦. "Wait—"
"I have dominion over all games," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦--¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-. "I could've done this outside, but your deck—"
--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦-. "You pulled a lubricant out of Duel Monsters?!"
--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦- -- --¦-- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-. --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦--, --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-.
"… huh. I never would have made the connect—Ah!" --¦-- --¦- - --¦--, --¦--¦-, --¦ -- --¦--¦. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ (--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦-). --¦--¦- --¦, --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦ -- -- -- --¦-. "Nnnn,… other me…" --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦- -- --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--.
"Look at me, aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦-- -- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- - --¦- --¦-. --¦--! --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--'- --¦-. -- --¦-- -- -- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦-, --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦- -- --¦--. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦ --¦-. "You said you wanted to see me climax," -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--.
--¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦- - --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦- --¦--¦-. --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦.
"Watch, aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦--¦--, --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦-- (--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-), "watch as I bury you within me."
--¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦ -- --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦-, --¦-, --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦- -- --¦-- -- --¦ --¦, --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦-.
"Look, aibou," -- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦, -- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦, --¦- --¦-- --¦ -- --¦- -- --¦- --, "at what no one else can ever touch, no one else can ever know—" --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --, --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- --¦-- -- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦; --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦- - --¦-- -- --¦--¦. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦-- -- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦-; --¦-- --¦-- --¦, --¦--¦--¦ -- -- --¦-- -- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--, - --¦-- -- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦-.
"Let me— let me—" --¦-- --¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦- - --¦--¦--¦- --¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦. "Yes!" --¦-- --¦--, "show me—"
--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦-- --¦- --¦--¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- - --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --, --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--'- --¦--¦-- -- --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦-- (--¦- --¦--¦--, --¦- --¦- --¦-) --¦ --¦- --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦. --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦- -- --¦--, --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦- -- -- --¦--, --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦-.
--¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦-, --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦-- --¦- -- --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦--¦--¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦-- --¦--. --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦, --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦--¦-.
"Aibou," --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦- -- --¦-- -- -- --¦--¦-, --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--¦. --¦--'- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦-, --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦-. "Ai-aibou." --¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦--¦, --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦, --¦--¦-- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦, --¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ -- --¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--¦-.
"Yes," --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦--'- --¦- -- --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦, "show me."
--¦--¦-- -- --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦-- --¦--¦, --¦-- --¦--¦ -- --¦- -- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦ --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦, --¦--, --¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--, --¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦ --¦ – --¦ --¦-- --¦ --¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦, --¦--¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--'- --¦- --¦-, --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦, --¦--¦ --¦, --¦--¦- --¦, --¦--¦ --¦--¦-- --¦--¦--¦- --¦—
"Ai--bou!"
-- --¦ --¦ --¦-- -- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦- --¦, --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦-, --¦-- -- --¦--, --¦ -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- -- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦-, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦--¦- --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦, --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- --¦--. -- --¦--¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦ --¦ --¦ --¦--¦-, --¦-- --¦--¦ --¦--¦- --¦--¦ --¦ --¦--¦-- --¦- -- -- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦- --¦-, --¦ --¦--¦ -- --¦--¦- --¦- --¦- --¦--¦-- --¦ --¦ --¦-- --¦ -- --¦-'- --¦-, --¦--¦-, --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦--. --¦-, -- --¦--¦ --¦- --¦- --¦--'- --¦--¦--¦ --¦--¦--, --¦ --¦-- --¦- --¦--, --¦-- --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦--.
"Aibou, aibou," -- --¦--¦--¦, - --¦--¦ -- --¦ -- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦--¦--, --¦- --¦ --¦- --¦ --¦--.
--¦--¦- --¦-- --¦--¦, -- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦--¦- -- --¦- --¦--¦ --¦-- --¦-- --¦ --¦- -- --¦--, --¦--¦--¦ --¦- --¦- -- --¦-- --¦-- --¦--¦'- --¦- --¦--¦- --¦ --¦--¦- --¦- -- --¦ --¦- --¦-- --¦- --¦ --¦--¦--¦-- -- --¦- --¦-- - --¦--¦- --¦-.
--
The nameless spirit of the Millennium Puzzle – a Pharaoh, if the book Yuugi had received from his grandmother was at least somewhat accurate – awoke slowly, drifting lazily from a land he would not refer to as the land of dreams (for, like many things, he had no memory of what dreams he might have dreamed). He was unaccustomed to sleeping, even less accustomed to waking, and as far back as his memory went (which, granted, was only a few months), he had not frequently woken up in a bed, arms wrapped around another person. Then again, the only time he'd ever awoken in a bed before had been in this fashion, and had been in Yuugi's arms after his apparent resealing within the Puzzle, bound by a false name. Yuugi had told him all of the rescue itself, but had not yet gone into the details of what else that transpired in his absence. It did not matter; they had time yet.
The spirit – the broken half-heart of a king, it seemed – stared upward, his hand drifting slowly across the naked arm of Yuugi, brushing through the dusting of blond hair, pondering. Since he had been unsealed (the first time, many months ago), he and Yuugi had only been separated twice: once by the strange magic wrought by Kaiba Seto that neither he nor Yuugi truly understood, and once by physical necessity. Yet, in all that time since the first unsealing, from when he protected Yuugi from the petty scum of Domino, to their initial and terribly triggered first interaction, through all that time spent playing games for useless money in Titan – even though they had always been together save those two occasions, the other Yuugi had never felt closer to Yuugi than he did now.
He knew – because Yuugi knew – that sex usually altered one's perceptions of one's partner (he shivered in delight at the word, how utterly perfect a word it was now), but there was no way that he could not love Yuugi. Yuugi, still asleep beside him, was perhaps the most perfect person he'd ever met. Sure, he didn't have experience with many people, and with fewer still that weren't trying to hurt Yuugi, but… it was frightening, how balanced they were. Where the spirit was cold, and distant, unfeeling, Yuugi was anything but, and where Yuugi had been lacking in self-preservation and cunning the other Yuugi made up the difference. Yuugi said this was because he was only half a heart, too – something Yuugi had privately suspected, but had not known for sure until the man with the Balance of God had tried to weigh it during their separation.
How wonderful was it, then, that the Millennium Puzzle should be assembled by someone who was fragmented too? The other Yuugi (who was really quite different than Yuugi, beyond the superficial things) closed his eyes briefly, not bothering to hide the smile on his face even if it did hurt his cheeks to wear. He turned slightly to watch his Yuugi (and no one else's!) sleep. They were light and dark, in a sense, but not quite – he was not completely devoid of goodness, nor was Yuugi free from dark thoughts and deeds, but – he didn't know the right words.
If they needed words, he thought, Yuugi would know them, but he wasn't going to wake him for something like that. Not yet, anyway.
The spirit – who had, for a while, carried the name 'Saikoro,' but no longer – wanted to curl back into the peace of sleep, but something kept him awake. Somewhere important, something was greatly amiss. It was not here, with Yuugi, who slept more soundly than he had in ages (the spirit knew, he kept tabs on that sort of thing), but… somewhere.
The other Yuugi figured it was out in the real world, where Yuugi's body was probably lying asleep, mostly naked (everything except the Puzzle, which he'd looped around Yuugi's neck before they came here), in a sex-smelling bed. Perhaps Yuugi's mother, or grandfather (and the sudden grandmother about whom he still knew very little) had come home? The other Yuugi carefully untangled his limbs from his Yuugi (his! If Anzu or Kaiba or anyone else tried to take him away with false promises and callous words and insincere hearts, there would be no end to their suffering!), watching fondly as Yuugi tried to pull him back. Very softly, he kissed Yuugi's brow, still tasting of cool sweat.
"Sleep, aibou," he murmured, unable still to cease smiling, "I will see to this unease. Sleep."
Yuugi shifted, one eye cracking open at him slowly, still mostly asleep. " 'kay," he muttered, burying himself under the covers and releasing his hold on the spirit. "Be fast. 'S cold without you."
The spirit laughed, smothering his face in Yuugi's hair playfully. "You won't even notice my absence," he swore, the words slightly muffled, finally pulling himself away and allowing his consciousness to reconnect with Yuugi's body.
His eyes still closed, the other Yuugi became aware of two things very quickly. The first was that he – Yuugi's body – was vertical. Although the other Yuugi was used to taking over a standing body, it was always because Yuugi had been awake before that moment. That an unconscious body was standing was not a good sign. The second he noticed came in multiple parts, none of which were good: he was wearing more than Yuugi had been when they'd gone into Yuugi's heart's room. There felt like loose boxers clinging to his hips in the familiar grip of elastic, and an unbuttoned dress shirt covered most of his arms and part of his torso, though it being unbuttoned seemed to defeat the purpose of wearing it in the first place.
There also seemed to be something wrapped around his legs, and what felt like metal bracelets tightly secured to his wrists and also to something else; the latter (handcuffs, he realized) was chaining him to something above his head, and was probably the cause of his standing. He was also blindfolded, which was why he could only guess as to his garments, his wrists hurt from holding his weight like this, and there was a bruise the size of Mt. Fuji on the back of his skull throbbing painfully.
These things in combination led him to the conclusion that he was not, in fact, in Yuugi's bedroom – he could not recall there being anything both high and sturdy enough to support handcuffs and his weight like this, as well as the fact he could think of no possible reason why he should wake up in such a fashion at the Game Shop.
The other Yuugi, hearing no one around him, seeing no lights filtering through his blindfold, did the only thing he could think to do: he quietly closed the barrier to Yuugi's mind, and with a very deep breath muttered, very loudly,
"Well, fuck."
