Lights of Addiction
Chapter II: Interesting Events (Especially for the First Day)
A knock came at Jack and Yusei's door. Kris, Aurora and Inari had left by this point, leaving Jack and Yusei alone.
"What?" Jack called, rather irritated.
"It's Bruno. I'm here for Yusei," called a voice from behind the door.
"Sure." Jack waved a hand and turned back to his trading card collection.
The door opened and a man walked in. He had bluer hair and dull purple eyes. Yusei was a little unsure if he was fit to be a councilor – just based on appearance.
"Yusei I presume," Bruno said, looking at Yusei with a critical glare.
For some reason, Yusei felt like he knew this man… "Yes?"
"Please come with me. We must discuss your treatment plan."
Yusei stood. "What for? This is a permanent residence. I won't be able to get out."
Bruno chuckled. "Not true. You might be able to leave… might; depending on your behavior."
Sighing, Yusei nodded and followed Bruno to the counseling cubicles. There, Bruno sat behind a computer and his fingers clicked away at the keyboard.
"Fudo Yusei. No related family – they were killed in an accident. Lived in Satellite; broke into Neo Domino City. Brought in for abuse of street hallucinogens." He looked up from the screen. "Sounds like you had a rough life."
"I don't need your sympathy," Yusei spat. He was getting edgy. He hadn't had a good dose in a few days; he'd been in transportation vehicles since his "capture" and they took away his medicine. "I-I need a dose," Yusei muttered after moment of contemplation, rubbing his arm, trying to take his mind off his need.
"A dose?" Bruno chuckled again. "You can't have hallucinogens here, but we do have substitutes." He stood and walked out of his cubicle to the front desk. Yusei could hear voices but couldn't make out what was said. A few moments later, Bruno was back and he handed Yusei a pill that was wrapped in a sealed package and a bottle of water. "Take this with some water. It should help you feel better."
Yusei tore open the packed, popped the pill into his mouth and downed the bottle of liquid. He exhaled and looked back at Bruno.
"The effects may take a bit to set in. Why don't you go back to your room until they do? It'll be about thirty minutes."
Yusei stood, but was blocked by a group of people struggling to sedate one of the other occupants.
"No! Stappit! Get AWAY from HER! Get your FILTHY hands off! GRIMEY! ROTTEN! DISGUSTING!"
Aurora was being pinned down by several people in gray coats. She was writhing and squirming under their hands. But, the thing that took Yusei's interest was her eyes were a very beautiful goldenrod.
"Aurora, please!" One of the people in gray coats tried to calm the girl down, but to no avail.
"Get AWAY from her, you DIRTY BITCH!" Aurora screamed. "ALL'A YA! Get AWAY! All you want to do is bring her in for testing! I WON'T let that happen!"
"Testing? Aurora! That won't happen. We just want you to take your medicine."
"How many times must I tell you to KEEP AWAY from Aurora, you greedy monster?!"
Yusei noticed the other occupants had crept out of their rooms and were also watching the commotion. Kris looked ready to jump in at any point, as did Inari; their expressions said they knew more than they were letting on.
Finally, after a few more moments of listening to the arguing, Kris sighed and walked over to Aurora. When Aurora looked at Kris as she approached, her goldenrod eyes softened.
"Ms. Kris, please tell these people…"
"Aara, how many times must I tell you?" Kris' voice was stern and hard. "Do NOT take over Aurora's body without consent!"
"They're going to do tests on her! I will NOT let that happen!" Kris opened her mouth to speak, but Aurora cut her off. "Not even if you tell me to let it happen!" Her eyes had returned to their angry, glaring tone.
Sighing, Kris shrugged. "I guess there's nothing I can do." She looked at the GrayCoats. "You may test on her."
"KRIS!" Aurora shouted, resuming her struggling. "REMIND ME TO STRANGLE YOU WHEN I GET BACK!"
Aurora's motions were filled with such ferocity and hatred Yusei didn't know what to think. He really wanted to just give her a hug. And before he knew it, he was embracing the girl. He stood a good head above her and he wrapped his arms around her back and squeezed her close.
The GrayCoats backed away as Aurora quit struggling. She quit moving all together; she was silent and stunned.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Aurora began to cry. First it was barely audible; all Yusei could feel were her shoulders shaking. Then the soft sobs came next, then the slight hiccupped breathing. Aurora clenched the back of Yusei's jacket in her hands, and cried into his chest.
"Looks like we found our antidote," Kris said, smiling to the GrayCoats.
"What happened?" Inari asked, walking up to Kris, followed by Jack and a boy with lightly-blued silver hair.
"Aara was making a scene again," sighed Kris.
"Aara?" Jack asked in unison with Yusei.
"Yes. Aurora has a personality disorder; she has multiple personas and Aara is one of them."
Yusei looked down at Aurora's head. She had multiple personalities? Great.
"Who is the other?" Inari asked. "I assume she has three…"
Kris shrugged. "I don't know. Aurora never gave a name, but I have heard about her from Aurora... the third personality."
"What have you heard?" asked Jack.
"Aurora is the kind, gentle and caring persona. Aara is more brutal and looks out for Aurora's safety as Aurora is Aara's host; Aurora created Aara and so Aara must return the favor by pretecting Aurora. And the third is… well, as Aurora has put it, 'more ruthless and detestable than Aara' and I don't doubt that's possible."
"What do you mean?" Yusei asked.
"Aara has the goldenrod eyes. Aurora has sapphire. I've seen a ruby tint appear in Aara's golden eyes and when that happens, Aara gets really mean and bitchy." As Kris explained, Yusei felt Aurora move in his embrace. She shifted, her head resting against his chest. She'd fallen asleep!
"Well now," Inari smirked. "I see she's opened up to you."
"Aurora has an interesting talent," Kris continued. "She can tell a lot about a person based on their heartbeat and breathing patterns." She smiled at Yusei. "I'd say she feels pretty content with you around. You probably have a very soothing and confident heartbeat for Aurora."
"What kind of heartbeat does Aurora have?" asked Yusei, glancing from Kris to the top of Aurora's head.
"Depends on which personality is out." Kris contemplated for a moment, and then shrugged. "I have no idea to be perfectly honest with you. Only Aurora could answer that question."
"Well then, I'll have to ask her when she wakes up," answered Yusei, his gaze returning to Aurora's head. Picking her up bridal-style, he walked to her and Inari's room and placed her on the bed.