Intertwined fates (book 3)

Chapter 8: aibou

   "Did he really have to go to school today?" I mumble bitterly as I sip from my coffee. The bitter taste only making the moment even more intolerable.
   "Yami," Solomon scolds from the other end of the kitchen table. "He is still a boy. I will not let him drop out of highschool because you need a cuddle buddy."
   "I don't need a 'cuddle buddy'"I mumble irritably. "I just like having him near me."
   "And I understand that." Solomon says with a fond smile. "But you can't keep him prisoner here for the rest of his life." I glance down into my mug as the dark, bitter contents swirl beneath my gaze.
   "I know that." The room falls silent as Solomon drops his gaze. It would seem that we have both reached the point in the conversation that we would rather not discuss. Yugi's disappearance had been difficult for both of us. I had lost my love and Solomon had lost his only grandson, his last link with his family. Neither of us truly enjoy reliving those moments where we doubted that Yugi would ever return home to us.
   Those weeks had felt like an eternity. A torturous span of time with no relief until the day my love first opened his eyes. Pain squeezes my chest harshly as I struggle to breath. Simply recalling those moments makes me believe that this is all a dream. That Yugi never woke up and I am simply fantasizing about what our life together would be like. Tears prick at my eyes as I avoid looking at Solomon.
   "Yami, don't cry." He says gently. "There is no need to cry."
   "Answer me honestly," I say with a wavering voice, silently cursing myself at my weakness. "Am I dreaming? Is any of this real?"
   Solomon simply looks at me with a surprised expression for a moment before his expression becomes neutral once more. "This is no dream Yami. Everything you see, hear and sense around you is very much real."
   "It just seems to be too miraculous." I mumble as I wipe away the few stray tears that have escaped me. "Too wonderful to be real."
   "Believe me," Solomon says quietly. "I feel the same way." He stares into his mug for a moment before meeting my gaze. "It seems to be impossible, but I am merely enjoying the moments that I have with him. Someone is watching out for us by returning him to us and for that I'm grateful."
   A faint smile graces my lips as my mind drifts to Yugi. His bright amethyst eyes glowing as he looks up at me, his cheeks shining a light shade of pink. My little love has enchanted me. I am forever to be tortured with thoughts of his adorable features and endearing qualities.
   "I have considered having him home schooled." Solomon murmurs. I look at him with blatant surprise. "Just...to have more time with him." I remain silent. This is something that I can take no part in. As much as it would overjoy me to have my Aibou always by my side, I still have no idea how Yugi will react. It wasn't just us that Yugi had been separated from, he missed his friends as much as he had missed us.
   "That is something you should discuss with him."
   "I don't know if Yugi will appreciate my meddling."
   "I don't know Solomon," I muse, taking a brief sip of my coffee. "I'm not Yugi, I can't tell you what he would say."
   "He wouldn't be alone." Solomon replies defensively. "I would extend the same offer to his friends...make it easier on Yugi." Easier on Yugi or easier on yourself? The man's desires are selfish but I am no more virtuous. "Would you agree with my methods?"
   "If you do this, assuming that Yugi agrees, make sure that Tea is excluded from your group." I reply firmly. Solomon stares at me with a surprised expression for a moment before quickly nodding.
   "Ofcourse."
   "Thank you." I say rising from the table.
   "Where are you going?"he asks curiously.
   "It looks like it's going to rain." I say with a brief glance at the gray sky. "Yugi forgot his umbrella. I would rather that he didn't get a cold walking home in the rain." Solomon say nothing as I finish my coffee and place the now empty mug in the sink. An almost uncomfortable silence has fallen on us as I pull on my shoes and grab Yugi's sky blue umbrella.
   "Don't get lost." Solomon murmurs from the kitchen. I smile faintly as I open the front door.
   "I'll be back soon." I call back with a smile, pulling the door shut with a click behind me.

   The walk to Yugi's school is silent and nostalgic. Who knew that I would actually remember the way to Yugi's school? Every time we had been forced to return to that building I had either been asleep or blatantly ignoring everything going on around me... I apparently did a poor job of such.
   Few small droplets of rain splatter in my skin as I open the umbrella. A light sprinkle turns into a torrential downpour in a matter of a few seconds. I sigh as I trudge through the rapidly falling water, the hem of my pants dragging through the multiple puddles. Yugi's school is surrounded by children fleeing from the school using their bags as makeshift umbrellas.
   I watch with a sadistic sense of pleasure as Tea tries to shield herself from the rain but the water still manages to reach the excess of makeup that composes her face. Long black smudges drip from her eyes like scars and her scarlet lipstick makes it look like she is bleeding due to all of the rain. I have to fight back a laugh as she glares at my amused expression as she runs by.
   The large crowds of students that rush past me all lack the one student that I am searching for. Not a single spike of his hair is visible and neither are his two tall companions. The schoolyard has become still and silent as the last group of students has fled the premises. Something akin to worry begins to claw at my nerves as the doorway remains empty. Has something happened to Yugi? Is he alright? Who do I have to kill?!
   I find myself running across the puddle strewn landscape towards the door my heart hammering frantically in my chest. My heartbeat repeating one word. Yugi. Yugi. Yugi. My feet speed up frantically as I see the familiar silhouettes of my love and his friends. His eyes widen in surprise as he catches a glimpse of me before I crash into him, my arms wrapping tightly around his slight form.
   He gasps as his hand grabs onto my shoulder before we fall onto the slick tile floor. We both grunt in pain as we collide with the floor but all I can feel is an overwhelming sense of relief. Yugi is safe and sound in my arms, where he belongs. My heart slows to a soft and gentle pace that mirrors the rate of Yugi's heart as he clings onto me.
   "Yami?!" Honda exclaims as he pulls me up, my arms never disconnecting from Yugi. "What are you doing here?"
   "Yugi forgot his umbrella." I say with a glance at the sky blue umbrella that I had cast aside in my haste to get to Yugi. The blue fabric glowing in the fluorescent light.
   "So you had to tackle him to the ground?" Joey asks incredulously. "That's rather harsh for simply forgetting an umbrella Yami."
   "I didn't mean to knock him over!" I say defensively. "Don't be stupid."
   "That's not what it looked like." Joey teases playfully, prodding me on the shoulder as he smirks. "You looked pretty intent on getting to Yugi and getting him on the floor." Yugi blushes brightly in my arms as he clings onto me.
   "Well," I murmur. "You are half right." I brush a stray bang away from my aibou's small face.
   /"Are you alright love?"/
   /"Yeah, I'm fine."/ Yugi replies with a smile. His eyes shining with emotion as he looks up at me.
   /"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"/
   /"Thank you for coming."/
   I smile down at him sweetly. /"Ofcourse Aibou."/ My fingers wrap around the handle of the umbrella as I pull Yugi close to my side. The umbrella shields us both from the rain as we trod through the rain with a few bursts of laughter from the ridiculous nonsense that Joey and Honda were spouting. I find myself glancing over at Joey and Honda. Was this what it's like to have friends? This ridiculous amount of laughter and contentment that I'm feeling is a tad bit overwhelming.
   Yugi smiles up at me as he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling himself closer to me. His bright eyes shining through the rain like hopeful beacons. This is my life. The life that Yugi has gifted to me. Not only has he given me himself and his love, but he has also given me something that I have struggled for centuries to obtain. Friends. My heart has grown light as we travel in a group towards our homes. Even after we all have to head in our own separate directions I can still feel the connection between us. Yugi under my arm and my friends in my heart. I feel truly alive.
   "Thank you for walking me home Yami." Yugi whispers to me happily. "I really enjoyed this time with you."
   "As did I." I say with a grin as I kiss the crown of his head gently. "Next time just move a little quicker to get out the door." I tease. Yugi giggles as he elbows me in the side making me chuckle.
   "If I had known you were there I would have come running." His cheeks glows a light shade of pink as we walk through the rain into the foyer of the game shop.
   "And that is just one of the many things that I love about you, little one." I say, shaking the water off of the umbrella.
   "Aibou." He corrects with a small growl. "Not little one, Aibou."
   "Aibou." I agree with a chuckle as we walk into the warm house, our fingers interlaced and our hearts beating as one.