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Chapter twenty four

They stayed together like that until they heard the door opening.

Kurogane was the first to enter as there was a slight blush to his face. He took off his shoes and his jacket; careful of his injury.

"Hello Yuui~" Fai grinned as he hung up his and Kurogane jacket by the door.

"Hey brother." Yuui called back; not getting up from the couch. He was too comfortable next to Syaoron.

"How was your day?" He smiled as he headed into the living room with Kurogane in tow.

"Decent." Yuui smiled a bit. "And yours?"

"Wonderful~" He smiled broadly. "Tsumebe gave me a couple of recipes I want to try sometime."

Kurogane who then sat on an armchair crossed his arms and tried to watch TV as his face refused to cool down.

"Oh? That's good." Yuui nodded with a smile. "Oh and your dinner's on the table."

"Wonderful, we haven't eaten all day." Venturing into the kitchen he grabbed the bag and a couple of plates before he returned and sat on the floor before getting things out.

Wanting to be helpful, Kurogane went to the floor and helped taking the food out.

Yuui watched the dragon's movement and smirked. "So...how's your mother?"

"Fine." Kurogane shortly answered. "She's doing fine. Happy even."

"The rebuilding on her home is coming along too. Not that there was a lot of damage to begin with." Fai added as he handed Kurogane his food.

"That's wonderful." Yuui smiled.

"It's alright. Good thing mother's covered or I'd wouldn't be here relaxing." Even with someone else, Kurogane always thought about his mother before himself.

"You should see her more often Yuui. She likes you." Fai grinned before eating some fries.

"Really?" Yuui blinked.

"Yeah. Was asking about how you've been, your boyfriend, and hope that you're better with that injury of yours." Kurogane added as he took a bite. "Plus she wants to cook with you if you got the time."

"..." Yuui blinked before he blushed. "Ah...I see..."

"I think she's a bit of a fan." He grinned glad Kurogane at least had an appetite.

"I have a fan?" Yuui asked with awe.

The dragon had to look at Fai as if asking if his twin was serious.

"Well I think so. If you weren't with Syaoron I would almost suggest asking her out, but then that would be odd."

Then it was Yuui and Kurogane that made a face. But for two different reasons.

"...Yeah, that would be." Yuui agreed after a few seconds of silence.

Kurogane just ate some more.

Fai laughed and patted Kurogane's shoulder. "Don't look so sour, I was joking."

"After what my damn boss told me some days ago, I'm a bit iffy of anyone trying to date mother." Kurogane admitted with a shudder.

Yuui chuckled a bit. "You mean...he wants to...?"

"Stupid Ioryogi." Kurogane muttered as he chewed.

"Well your mother is very pretty." Fai added.

"Brother, that's not helping." Yuui smiled. "Remember who Kurogane's talking about."

"Ioryogi wouldn't though. He's just messing with Kuro-min."

"I know." Kurogane muttered. "But I rather fight him then have my mother date him. She can do better." He shrugged.

Yuui blinked before whispering into Syaoron's ear about the dragon being a mommy's boy with a smile. In which he received a very soft jab to the side and a smile for that comment.

Fai chuckled. "He's not that bad."

Kurogane glanced between Fai and Yuui before grumbling as he continued to eat.

Snuggling closer to Syaoron, Yuui smirked before closing his eyes. "Oh right...I met another dragon today. At the hospital."

That got Kurogane's attention as he looked up at the resting blonde.

"Oh?" Fai asked just as curious while Syaoron grinned.

"Yeah." Yuui resisted the urge to nudge his boyfriend. "Poor girl was a patient. Six years old and already mature. Oh, she was so sweet."

"It was pretty cute." He added. "Aww~ Yuui wants to be a mommy."

"If I wasn't so comfortable and have this injury, I'd throttle you right now." Yuui promised as he smiled sweetly.

Kurogane almost chuckled at that. He had no idea why but the way Yuui said it was a bit amusing.

"Don't deny it." Fai argued as he finished off half his Rueben.

"If anyone's a better mother, it's you." Yuui teased. "Now then, I decided to take some time off the cafe for a bit to let my shoulder heal and... avoid more babying from my workers. And visit my little friend with noodle dishes." He smiled.

"Sounds good. I have work tomorrow so you and Kuro-myu will be hanging out a lot." Fai added.

"..." Kurogane looked at Yuui with a curious face; seeing if the blonde would like having him around.

Yuui smiled at Kurogane. "Oh really? That's good. Maybe you can come with me to visit the little dragon. Sound good?"

"…Yeah, I guess it'd be okay." Kurogane shrugged.

Fai was glad to see them interacting as Kurogane tended to just stand around when there were others about.

Getting an extra plate, Kurogane placed some fries there and pushed it to the other couple. "Here. If you want and junk."

"Thank you." Yuui smiled. "Um...Syaoron, c-can you get that?" He didn't like asking people to do things since he rather do it himself but his shoulder was making things difficult for him.

"Of course." He grinned and reaching over grabbed the plate and held it up for the blonde while thanking Kurogane too.

Blushing a bit, Yuui got some fries and started eating.

Kurogane was in mild pain the whole day and up until this point, he was handling it but the way his fingers were twitching, he was at his limit.

Fai saw this and wiping his hands on his jeans stood up. "You should go and lie down. We've been busy all day and it's not good for you."

"It's nothing that I can't handle." Kurogane argued. "I've been through worse and I always come back stronger."

"Um...not to put you on the spot but brother's right." Yuui smiled apologetically. "You were stabbed in the chest and you're still healing. You're not in some outland or in a cave, you're here with brother...and us." He hugged Syaoron. "So it's okay to just take it easy. No one is going to think less of you if you did."

"..." Kurogane sighed; knowing that Yuui was right.

"You can bring your food, but you can eat in bed." Fai said grabbing his own food.

"Sure." Kurogane grabbed his food. "Later." His voice had a bit of a tremor in it but was held firm as he left the living room.

"See ya, Kurogane." Yuui smiled.

"Goodnight you two." Fai grinned before following after his boyfriend.

As the couple left, Yuui yawned. He was at his limit.

"Sounds like you should go to bed too."

"No~!" Yuui cling onto Syaoron weakly. "I want you to be my pillow~! You're so warm and I don't want to get up!"

"You want to sleep on the couch?" He grinned playing with blonde hair.

"I want to be with you." Yuui confessed with a blush. "And my bed's been a bit a cold without you." He coughed as he just realized what he said. "Uh...f-forget I said anything!" He hastily said; cursing at himself for running his mouth.

Shaking his head he smiled. "I can stay the night. Just let me text Syaoran first."

"..." Yuui felt a bit guilty. "Uh...w-wouldn't that mean Syaoran will be alone at your place? I don't want you to put yourself out there for me..."

"It's fine. He doesn't mind."

Nodding, Yuui sat up. "O-Okay then..."

"So couch or bed?" He smiled.

"..." Yuui cleared his throat. "T-The bed. Couch's too small anyway." He looked away.

Kissing the other's temple he got up, putting the plate down and pulled Yuui up.

With Syaoron's help, they got out of the living room and into Yuui's bedroom. Once there, Yuui tried to get his shirt off without help. Of course, things never work out the way they are supposed to.

"Here." Syaoron moved behind him and helped. "How is it?"

"I-It's fine." Yuui said as he was now bare-chested.

Inspecting the injury he was glad to see no signs of blood. "Good." Stepping away he put the blonde's shirt away before he removed his pants and socks.

Going to a pair of boxers, Yuui quickly went into his bed. He made sure that Syaoron had enough space. "S-So...today was good, right?" He tried to start up some conversation.

"Yeah, it was good." He moved then wrapping his arms around Yuui.

Cuddling closer to Syaoron, Yuui frowned. "I...I'm not used to people doing things for me." He confessed softly. "If I can do something that I'd do it; regardless of how difficult it would be. I just don't like people doing that for me. It makes me feel...useless..."

"But you're not. It's good to have help. Means people care enough about you that they want to."

"But what if they're not here when I do need help? What then? I've handled my problems in a way that I know how but...something got messed up." Yuui tried to explain.

"Then you ask or if no one can come to you I guess you'll have to rely on yourself." He tried to explain.

"...I can't even trust myself." Yuui admitted. "So how can I even rely on myself?"

"You do that every day. You run a restaurant."

"Syaoron, that's not what I meant." Yuui smiled though. It was nice that Syaoron was trying very hard to make him feel better. "After my last relationship; I just...I don't even know myself anymore. I mean...who am I?"

"You're Yuui. You're smart and funny, attractive. Everything." He tried to explain, not wanting Yuui upset.

Syaoron was really very sweet, Yuui mused. "You just don't want me sad." He chuckled.

"I'm telling the truth, but no I don't want you hurt either."

"Syaoron, I've been hurt before. Believe me...it's fine..." Yuui tried to placate his boyfriend.

"I know, but I don't have anything bad to say about you." He countered.

"Are you sure?" Yuui teased a bit. "Nothing at all?"

"Nope. Nothing off the top of my head." He grinned kissing him again.

"Well, you better find something because in case you haven't noticed, I'm not perfect." Yuui said after returning the kiss. "My exes never held back what was wrong with me and I've accepted my flaws. Nothing new there."

"I can think of one thing...it's that you still care about what people who didn't even care about you though. You're much better than that."

"..." Yuui sighed. "Well pain and sadness shapes a person as much as happiness and love. It's...what happens..."

"I know, but I'm still going to try and help you with that."

"I can get angry for what they did to me but I can't bring myself to hate them. That's not me." Yuui argued. "I...I rather just push it in the back of my mind and try to forget."

"Then forget them. They're not important anymore." He reasoned trying to convince Yuui.

"I know." Yuui weakly countered. "I keep telling myself that every morning when I wake up...and every night before I go to sleep." His voice started to break. "Tell myself that they're not with me anymore and they can't do anything to me. That it doesn't bother me. I can handle it...I'm okay." His eyes started to water. "It's behind that even though I'm the one holding all this pain while they...they go with their lives like nothing happened...I'm fine with that..."

"You need to confront him you know." Syaoron didn't know if it would help, but it was worth a shot.

Yuui closed his eyes and bit his lip to keep himself from crying.

"It's alright. You don't have to do it alone."

"Syao..." Yuui whimpered; trying not to sob outright.

"I'm not saying you do it tomorrow...just sometime." He held Yuui close.

Pressing his head on Syaoron's chest, Yuui's body shook as he silently cried.

Brushing blonde hair he let Yuui get it out.

"I hate them!" Yuui cried a bit out. "I hate what they did to me and how they put scars on my heart and just leave me like that without...without even giving me a word of comfort! And that man. I really thought he was the one!" He took a shaky breath. "But he used me. And it was too late for me...I'm so stupid!"

"You're not stupid. You just didn't want to be alone." Syaoron argued.

"But..." Yuui shook his head.

"Nope. It's the truth. You wanted to find someone, you kept trying and they just didn't work out."

"I always thought it was me..." Yuui argued. "That...I did something and it would be the reason...for them to..."

"No, you tried to make it work. You weren't at fault." He rubbed the other's back.

"Then why do I feel so bad about it?" Yuui asked; feeling very tired.

"Because you're too kind." Syaoron gave him a soft smile.

Blinking, Yuui looked up and saw that smile. "Too kind?"

"Yeah. Even when it's not your fault you still feel bad."

Letting out a chuckle, Yuui nodded. "I guess I am too kind, huh?"

"You are." He grinned, seeing the tears had stopped.

Rubbing his eyes, Yuui sighed. "Is that what you like about me the most; my kindness?"

"It is." Leaning in they shared a short kiss.

Yuui hummed into that kiss; giving it all the gratitude and love he can put into that gesture of affection.

When he pulled back he stared for a moment. "Now sleep. You need to rest after today and your shoulder could use it too."

"Mm-hm..." Yuui yawned. "Yeah, you're right...sorry..."

"It's okay." He kissed Yuui's forehead and closed his eyes.

"Night Syaoron." Yuui muttered as he drifted off.

"Night Yuui." He hoped things would be better for the blonde soon.

TBC

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