YNoMH? (BL)

23

Chapter 23: Center of the World (10)

Kei had hit his head, and when he woke up, he was at Ushio's house watching the closing scene for Cinenight. It was like he was in a dream, and nothing bothered him no matter how irrational things seemed—just like how he hadn't realized that he had missed nearly a week of his life.

The words I know, right? appeared to be the keywords that toppled the dominoes inside of his memory, spiraling all the missing pieces into their rightful places in an instant, and Kei was able to find himself again. Rather, it was Ushio who seemed to have been thrown for a loop by the sudden and abrupt nature of Kei's recovery, and he looked at Kei like he could barely believe his eyes.

Kei thrust a finger at the completely stunned Ushio. "You bastard, you tried to reject me!"

I was so pure and earnest with my feelings... no, wait, something's not right.

"No, actually, you tried to cheat on me! You tried to reject me, but if my cell phone hadn't rung, you would have slept with me! Asshole! Now we're even, and you can't bring up what I did ever again! Got it, you damn cheating traitor!?"

As Kei decried triumphantly, Cheater, cheater!, Ushio grabbed Kei and pulled him into a fierce hug. Kei was bound inside his arms, and he thought he was going to suffocate.

"Hey, I can't breathe like this, idiot—"

Kei started to struggle, thinking his bones would break if this continued, but then he felt Ushio's hands shaking—little tremors as he clutched Kei's back—and Kei froze in his movements. Ushio's breathing was harsh and ragged, as if mixed with hiccups. Locked up inside of Ushio's arms, Kei realized that maybe it was Ushio who had needed to be held at this moment.

"...Ushio."

At long last, Kei couldn't help but want to show him some kindness, and he softly whispered an I'm sorry—at least that was what he had planned to say.

"Huh?"

Ushio suddenly released Kei from his arms and pressed the knuckles from both of his fists into Kei's temples.

"Oww!!" Kei yelled, as the knuckles ground into each side of his head.

"How much grief do you think you gave me!?"

"Hey, ow, that hurts! You're gonna dent my skull! I'm going to forget everything again, seriously!"

After Kei flailed his limbs and yelled, finally Ushio released his fists and held both of Kei's cheeks between his hands.

"You worried me so much..."

"But you were being all lovey-dovey!"

"I guess it did feel a little like newlyweds, which wasn't bad, I admit."

"See...?"

"But you're the one who I needed..." This time Ushio gently wrapped Kei into his arms. "Welcome home."

"......I'm home."

I'm home, Ushio, I'm home.

Kei had found his way back to the space where he always felt safe.

As Ushio pressed Kei down naked into the sheets, Kei grabbed his arm.

"What is it?"

"...Do you prefer that better?"

"What?"

Dammit, why are you giving me such an exasperated reaction? You were acting like a completely different person too up until 10 minutes ago, you know.