Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A Dragon's Call ❯ Affairs of the Heart ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 10 - Affairs of the Heart

The streets were filled with police and Yui found it hard getting herself and the twins back to her hotel. Both twins seemed to have gone into shock, but she wasn't really surprised at that. After what had happened…

She shook her head, banishing the memories. The important thing was to get them to safety. She could break down later. Taking their hands in hers, she led them down a side alley, pressing against the wall as a police car drove by. Watching as the car drove away, she took the twins hands and led them into the back entrance of the hotel.

Leading the way, Yui slipped into the alley next to the hotel. Opening the employee's entrance, she ushered Joshua and Jonathan inside. Closing the door, she breathed a sigh of relief as they just missed a patrol car making its rounds.

Taking their hands in hers, she brought them to the nearby elevators. Entering, she punched in the floor to the lobby. She turned to look at them as the doors shut and the elevator began to move.

Joshua looked far better than his brother did. The color had returned to his face and he no longer shook. His eyes darted from left to right, looking for any danger, as they exited the elevator and came to the lobby of the hotel. Seeing nothing, he relaxed somewhat.

Yui smiled reassuringly at him, before mumbling for him to stay. She left the brothers' hidden behind a large marble column in the lobby. Walking up to the Concierge desk, she briefly spoke with the attendant. He nodded politely, disappearing into the back office. He returned moments later with a wheelchair. Bowing her thanks, Yui brought the wheelchair over towards the brothers.

Joshua raised an eyebrow, but relaxed at her smile. "This will be easier on both of us. Your brother isn't in any position to walk on his own." Yui replied as she helped Joshua to sit his brother in the chair. She smiled again at Joshua, her eyes bright as she led him to the main elevators.

They boarded without incident, then Yui pressing the button to her floor. While they traveled up to her floor, she turned to watch the twins carefully.

Jonathan sat in the wheelchair, dazed. Joshua was very attentive to his brother's needs, going so far as to rub his brother's back soothingly. She smiled at him reassuringly as the doors of the elevator opened. Ushering the two outside, she approached the door of her room. Unlocking it, the three entered.

Joshua couldn't help but look around like a little kid. After all, he'd never been in such a place before. He marveled at the large room. The decorations were expensive and he was leery about touching anything.

Seeing the look on his face, Yui giggled. "You can touch things Su. . . Joshua. They won't bite."

He hadn't missed her slip of his name. Gazing at her, he caught his breath. With the return of his seishi memories, he remembered the deep and profound love he'd had for her. He didn't feel as if he were Suboshi. Suboshi was another person altogether. He didn't want to disappoint Yui, not in any way. He knew that Suboshi had, in fact, disappointed her and his brother. At least, that was how the young seishi had felt. Suboshi had been rash and impetuous. He never thought before he did anything. Which attributed to many problems for the young seishi. Most notable was the animosity between the young Seiryuu Seishi and Suzaku Seishi, Tamahome.

Joshua knew the animosity was justified. As Suboshi, he'd done some horrible things, things for which he regretted now. But most importantly, he didn't want to disappoint Yui again. For he'd come to realize something very important. When the twins had faced down their mother, he'd been awestruck at the bravery Yui had shown in the face of such danger.

Now, he stood before her in her hotel room, unsure as to how to proceed. A groan next to him prevented him from having to think too hard about it. Kneeling next to his twin, he lifted Jonathan into his arms.

Immediately moving into action, Yui pulled down the covers of the bed. Joshua placed his brother under the covers as Yui tucked him in. Sitting next to Jonathan on the edge of the bed, Yui brushed his blond hair from his face as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

During a break in school, Yui had been bored out of her mind. Consequently, she had taken a course in first aid at the local college. That knowledge came in handy for her now, as she bundled Jonathan up. She could tell that he was in the beginning stages of shock. They had to keep him warm, for fear of him catching pneumonia. Placing her hand to his forehead, she could detect a slight fever. Bundling him up in the blankets, she dashed into the bathroom. Joshua could hear running water. Moments later, she returned with a bowl full of water, dish cloths and a basket over her arm. Placing the basket on the side of the bed, Yui grabbed a towel, drenching it in the water. Ringing it out, she began to swab Jonathan's face, attempting to cool him down.

Joshua held the basket in his hands, watching Yui with a soft expression on his face. No one, save himself, had ever cared so gently and so lovingly for his brother. It made his heart quicken at the thought. She was just as kind and gentle now as she had been before. He watched her; watched the gentleness for which she cared for his aniki. She handled him so tenderly, so lovingly. It was as if she were caring for a lover...

"Joshua, hand me the tall, brown bottle, ne?" Yui asked, looking up from Jonathan. She smiled at him; his heart skipped a beat. Nodding, he handed her the requested bottle. Unstoppering it, she spooned a large amount onto a spoon. "Arigatou. Now, tilt his head so I can administer this."

Nodding, Joshua raised his brother's head. Yui tilted the spoon against Jonathan's lips. His lips opened a fraction, allowing the implement entrance. Tilting the contents down his throat, Yui nodded for Joshua to lay his brother back as Jonathan swallowed reflexively. The elder twin sighed softly in his sleep, his fever gone. He mumbled his brother's name before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Looking up from his brother, Joshua gazed at Yui. Swallowing, he stood abruptly.

Yui busied herself with putting the syrup away. It was a home remedy her grandmother had given her as a child. She knew that if anything it would break Jonathan's fever. She was also a bit frightened. Ever since finding him again, she'd never been completely alone with him. She'd found him at the disastrous Homecoming Dance. They hadn't been alone at all during that fiasco, as she'd watched as he went on a rampage to protect his brother. Oddly, she couldn't blame him for what happened there. She could still see the sight of Jonathan on that stage, dripping and humiliated. Her heart had gone out to him immediately upon seeing such ridicule. No one should have to go through something like that. Then Joshua had attacked his brother's attackers. She found herself silently cheering him on, hoping he'd get rid of the lot of them. But sense had returned and she had helped Jonathan to bring Joshua back to himself. They'd carried the young man back home. There, she'd discovered something about them that probably no one else knew. They loved each other very much. Not just as brothers, but more. She couldn't find it in her heart to hate them for such a relationship. Love was love, no matter who it was.

Finally looking up at Joshua, she caught her breath. Feelings like she'd never felt before came crashing down around her. The same feelings had assaulted her as she had cared for Jonathan. What did this mean? How could someone be in love with two people? She could still remember the kiss that Suboshi had given her. Despite her being upset and frightened at the time, she still had dreams of that kiss. Of how sweet and loving it had been. It had been filled with love and passion, but had an air of innocence to it. She longed for that again.

To give him his due, Tetsuya tried. He was a wonderful friend, but Yui just couldn't see herself with him. He'd always been there for her, but when she kissed him, it was bland, with no life. At one point, she'd had to stop herself from comparing him to Suboshi. It didn't matter what the young seishi had done in his life. She still could only see the sweet young man that had always cared for her so deeply.

And now that young man had been given a second chance. Or a third, she thought to herself. The second chance had been...evil. That was the only word she could think of to describe it. The only consolation she could imagine was that he was with his brother. The hardships and horrors he'd had to endure while with that...creature was unbearable. She couldn't...wouldn't think of her as their mother. No true mother would ever do such vile things to her children.

She found herself gazing longingly into his eyes. Her hand unwittingly reached out, the palm pressing to his cheek. He closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath at her touch. He'd been holding it in as he gazed into her face. He remembered her face so vividly. It had always been so beautiful to him. All the horrors that had happened to him and his brother seemed to evaporate as he gazed at her. His deep azure eyes gazed into hers and he smiled. He saw what he had so longed to see in her eyes. Love. He could see it so clearly in her eyes now. Maybe...maybe it had been there all along and he had just never noticed it.

Reaching out, he took her face in-between his hands. His eyes sought out hers, finding and holding them as he gazed longingly into her eyes. She caught her breath again, swallowing in apprehension. Did he still feel the same way about her that he used to? Or had his love for his brother replaced the one he had once felt for her? She found that thought agonizing, unbearable. She didn't begrudge them their love, but she wanted to...what? She wasn't sure, but felt that she needed...wanted to share it with them. She'd only been able to glimpse the true selves of the twins. But she found that she wanted to learn more, as much as possible about them both. Just now, she felt giddy with happiness. She couldn't explain why she did. She just knew that her life would never be the same, not now that she'd found Suboshi...and Amiboshi.

Joshua felt the same about her, as he leaned in closer. Her lips were so soft...just begging to be kissed. He looked over at his brother briefly, and then turned his attention back to Yui. At that moment, he realized that he loved them both. With every fiber of his being, he loved them. All he wanted was to keep them safe, and loved. Their happiness was his happiness. Nothing else mattered. His eyes fluttered shut and, for the first time in this life, he kissed her. It was sweet, filled with promise. His lips traced over hers as if studying them, their shape and texture. She gasped, her arms wrapping around his neck more for support than for anything else. His arms rested on her waist, pulling her closer to him.

For a time, they lost themselves in the kiss, nothing else existing for either of them. Yui began to feel weak in the knees, but Joshua was there, lifting her into his arms and placing her on the bed. He followed her, as he laid her down next to his brother. She gasped at the sudden feel of the bed underneath her and he took that opportunity to brush his tongue against hers in a dance as old as love itself. Her eyes widened and her fingernails dug into his back, holding him to her tightly. Wonderful sensations flooded her senses, bringing with it an understanding. She truly did love him, as deeply as Miaka had always loved Tamahome.

Love filled her, flowing out of her to encompass the wonderful young man before her. Not just him, but his brother as well. At that moment, she realized that she truly did love them both. Despite having just met Amiboshi, her heart went out to them both, filling them with her love.

It was as if a tidal wave swept over him as he pulled back, panting. Joshua gazed into her deep, soulful eyes and gasped. How long had he dreamed of seeing that look in her eyes directed at him?

They both stared at each other for what might have been days, but was actually only a few minutes. Sighing softly, Yui wrapped her arms around his waist, her head pillowed over his heart. "Don't ever leave me again, Suboshi. Onegai…"

"Never, Yui-sama...Never again." Joshua whispered into her ear, his head nuzzling against her hair as he spoke. He held her close, kissing her softly once more.

She smiled, nestling close to him as she listened to his heartbeat. It was a comforting sound. Life always seemed to have a way of surprising her. For once, it had done so happily. Nothing could mar this happy time for her, not even Dirk and his scheming.

Her thoughts turned inward, reliving all the pain and anguish she'd undergone since she and Miaka first found the Shi Jin Tenchisho. In all that time, she'd never counted herself fortunate for what she'd experienced inside that book.

Now she did. She found herself thanking Seiryuu for what he'd done. The pain and betrayal that she had experienced paled in comparison to the love and security she felt now. Everything had indeed turned out for the best. Not only for her, but for all of them.

She hadn't realized how long it had been since she'd felt so loved. It was a new and wonderful experience for her. Now she understood why Miaka had felt like half a person without Tamahome in her life. She'd been feeling the same way about Suboshi, though she hadn't realized it until now. Nothing in heaven or hell was going to keep her from him, and Amiboshi.

Looking up, she smiled as she saw Joshua's sleeping face nestled next to her. He probably hadn't even realized it when he drifted off to sleep. She didn't mind; they were all exhausted. For a long time she watched him sleep, just content to be this close to him. Nothing else mattered to her. Placing a kiss to his lips, she yawned. Turning slightly in his arms, she nestled into his back, seeking the warmth she knew was there. He murmured, pulling her back against his chest as slept. Smiling, she turned droopy eyes onto the elder twin.

Jonathan slept as well, peacefully and contentedly. Yui raised her hand, the tips of her fingers brushing lightly over his face. He mumbled sleepily, pressing into her hand. She smiled, resting her head on his chest. Her arm wrapped around his waist, connecting all three of them. Her own eyes began to droop as she pillowed her head on his chest. Listening to his heartbeat, she closed her eyes and she followed them into sleep.

to be continued...