A Dragon\'s Call

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 fract all 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 le? le? 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...