YNoMH? (BL)

35

Chapter 35: Where Home Is (11)

They entered Kei's apartment, and when Kei heard Ushio lock the door behind him, he slumped down to his feet at the entryway.

"Kei?"

"...I'm exhausted..."

He was tired from thinking, tired from his nerves, tired from speaking, tired from his agitation, tired from crying. If he fought a hamster right now, he would lose. His strung up nerves were torn to shreds, and he had truly turned into a puppet with its strings cut. His entire body was filled with lactic acid.

"Oi, are you okay?"

"Of course I'm not okay! Your old man is terrifying as h.e.l.l! It'd be easier to be on TV for 24 hours straight—not that I've ever done it!"

"Ahh, yeah, sorry, he's a s.h.i.tty old man."

"Seriously, he should watch and learn from my dad. Ugh, I'm starving. Fat, I need fat..."

"Should I make something?"

Ushio went into the kitchen, but he immediately returned to the hallway.

"You don't have much here except for instant or frozen meals. Should I go to pick something up?"

"It's fine." Kei grabbed Ushio's hand. "...Don't ever leave me again."

Ushio leaned over and laughed. "That's something I said to you before."1

"Technically, I didn't physically go anywhere."

"Yeah, but it was pretty rough on me when it happened... but yeah, I won't go anywhere."

"I'm not going to save you again next time."

"I won't leave, so will you carry me to bed like a princess?"

"What more do you want from me, b.a.s.t.a.r.d? I don't even want to lift a Wii U controller."

"Well, given the positions, you're the prince here."

"Like a real prince can lift anything heavy in the first place."

"Then I'll carry you."

"Huh, wait—"

"Hold on tight, my prince."

Ushio threaded his arm under Kei's knees, and when Kei realized that Ushio was being serious, he wrapped both arms around Ushio's neck and held on for dear life. He felt stable enough as Ushio lifted him up, but it had been a while since he was held in the air, and Kei freaked out and shrieked, "G.o.d no, G.o.d no, G.o.d no, G.o.d no!"

Any princess who can remain calm in this situation has to be fearless.

"It's just a short distance away, so stay still."

"You drop me, you're dead, you drop me, you're dead, you drop me, you're dead!"

"Such a bloodthirsty prince~"

In the end, Ushio carried him to the bed and placed him down all gentleman-like, so Kei supposed that he could forgive him.

"Shall I help you undress, my prince?"

"No, I'll do it myself... so..."

"Yes?"

"...Undress yourself too," Kei ordered, pulling a petulant face.

Ushio placed a kiss on Kei's forehead, singsonged an "Okaay~" like a child, and shed his clothing. Two sets of clothing fell to the floor.

"Next you should say, 'Come closer, I shall grant you the honor,'" Ushio teased.