Beyond the Veil | Yuji

14

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 14
EYES
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

The first thing I notice as I start to wake up is warmth—a comforting, enveloping warmth that makes me want to sink deeper into sleep. My cheek is pressed against something firm yet soft, and a steady rhythm hums in my ear. It takes me a moment to realize it's the sound of a heartbeat. I open my eyes slowly, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.

My vision clears, and I find myself snuggled against Yuji's chest. His arm is draped around me, holding me gently but securely. The rise and fall of his chest beneath my head is soothing, and for a moment, I simply revel in the closeness, feeling a sense of peace I haven't felt in a long time.

I shift slightly, my movement causing him to stir. "Good morning," he says, his voice a low, sleepy rumble that vibrates through his chest.

I tilt my head up to look at him, finding his eyes already open and watching me. His gaze is soft, filled with a warmth that sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. "Morning," I reply, my voice hushed and still thick with sleep.

He gives me a small, sleepy smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," I whisper, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Better than I have in a while."

He chuckles softly, the sound a comforting rumble. "Me too."

We lie there for a moment, neither of us making any move to get up. The room is quiet, filled only with the sounds of our breathing and the occasional distant noise from outside. The calmness of the moment feels almost surreal, given everything that happened yesterday.

"You know, I don't want to sound like a creep," he says after a while, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on my back, "but I woke up a few minutes ago and I couldn't help watching you sleep."

I lift an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? And what did you see?"

He grins, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You looked really peaceful. And you have this cute little frown when you're dreaming."

I laugh softly, feeling a bit self-conscious. "A frown, huh? I don't remember having a bad dream."

He shakes his head. "No, you seemed pretty content. I was just... worried."

"Worried?" I echo, my tone softening.

He nods, his expression turning serious. "Yeah. I know things are really complicated right now. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

My heart aches at his concern, and I tighten my arms around him, hugging him closer. "I'm okay, Yuji. Especially now."

He smiles, the tension in his face easing a bit. "Good."

We fall into a comfortable silence again, and I let myself relax against him, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath my cheek. The warmth of his body seeps into mine, and I feel a sense of safety and comfort that makes me never want to leave this spot.

"Do you remember when we used to have sleepovers in middle school?" he asks suddenly, his voice filled with nostalgia.

I nod, a smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, we'd stay up all night watching movies and eating junk food."

"And then we'd end up falling asleep on the couch, just like this," he adds, his voice soft and wistful.

"Yeah," I say, my smile widening. "Those were good times."

"They were," he agrees, his fingers continuing their gentle tracing. "And this... this feels just like that."

I close my eyes, savoring the moment. "It does," I whisper, my voice filled with emotion.