The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 71.5 - Cold Touch

A few hours later, deep in the night...

Yurio lay still in his bed. He stared into space for a while before glimpsing out the window. With a struggle, he forced his weak body up. He could barely move. He saw the distant trees separating him from his home...

He glimpsed at Leo's bed. He was sound asleep...

Slowly, he let his feet slip out of his covers. He carefully stood up, careful not to wake Leo. He put some socks and shoes on and grabbed a jacket from his wardrobe.

Yurio made his way downstairs and then opened the front door to the cold outdoors.

"Um?" Yukine turned to see Yurio coming out.

"Uh!!" Yurio jumped in shock to see Yukine sitting on the porch.

"Wh-what are you doing out here?! It's the middle of the night!!" He yelped.

"Me and sleep have a complicated relationship... we're currently seeing other people," Yukine claimed in the least sarcastic tone ever.

"Err..." Yurio didn't know how to react.

"Uh. Wait! What the heck happened out here??" Yurio questioned, seeing the huge mountain of ice right in front of the porch.

"Echo was letting off some steam," Yukine explained.

"Looks like the opposite... Wait— Echo did that?!" Yurio gasped.

"Yes... she learned ice magic with you, didn't she?" Yukine assumed.

"Ah! Mm... yeah. She did..." Yurio grumbled, diverting his gaze to the ground in frustration to see the power Echo held compared to him.

Yukine noticed the frustration in his eyes, so he changed the subject.

"You should really grab a coat if you're going out. That top won't do you much good," Yukine mentioned.

"Don't tell me what to do. I'll be fine!" Yurio grunted, closing the door behind him and stumbling gradually past Yukine.

"..." Yukine watched as he struggled. It was clear Yurio's body was in no condition to maintain balance for too long...

"Do you... need help?" Yukine asked awkwardly.

"No!" Yurio yelled very aggressively.

"Yachel's demon magic is still running through you. You'll collapse if you're not careful," Yukine warned him.

Yurio ignored him, trying to quicken his pace, when suddenly his body tumbled over!!

Yukine rushed over to catch him.

"Uh!! Get off me!!" Yurio detested, pushing him away and falling back.

"Yurio, what are you doing? You'll only get hurt if you sneak out on your own. Where are you trying to go?" Yukine asked.

"Nowhere!" Yurio detested.

"....... death is never the answer, Yurio. Don't do what I did," Yukine assumed the situation.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE!!" Yurio yelled.

"Then what's going on?" Yukine asked.

"It's none of your business, Yukine. Leave me alone," Yurio grumbled, practically crawling away.

"... if that's what you really want," Yukine agreed, too introverted to argue.

He turned back and slowly headed to the door.

Yurio gradually got back to his feet and, with a wobble, stumbled forward. He was losing breath just trying to walk...!

"......." he hesitated, glimpsing back at Yukine.