You Always Build It Better the Second Time Around

Chapter 27 - Enlighten (Me With Your Wisdom, O' Great One!)

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"I said no."

"You can't keep me under house arrest forever, you overprotective bastard!"

"It's my job to worry about you!"

"Then take a break from it!"

"I don't give a fuck, Yu! You're not supposed to be on your feet for a few more days, and I'm going to chain you to the fucking bed if you struggle against me!"

Yu is already unimaginably weak at the moment, so he's already not much of a fight for me, though this is rather entertaining to deal with. Yu isn't very pleased, though, and I can understand why. "Fine," Yu suddenly gives in, arms crossed, though he has a look as if he knows something I don't. "Then, I suppose you know all of Koba's habits and translations?"

"I'll learn."

"And when he faces the book face down he no longer needs it?"

I don't have a response to that. I mean, it's an... unusual thing to do, but I suppose everyone has their own quirks. Hell, even I do. Koba is of no exception it seems, and Yu knows everything about Koba. I ponder it for a minute, and a single glance at Yu's adorable face of a knowing smile makes me sigh in defeat, for he already knew my answer before even I made the choice. "I hate you."

"I'm well aware," he replies, a smile still upon his lips.

...

"Aren't you supposed to be off your feet?" Koba knowingly asks right away when we enter the Library. Mitsuba, Shinoa, Yoichi, and Ferid has joined us today. Ferid for unknown reasons. Yoichi without Shiho for more unknown reasons.

Yu sticks his tongue out like a child. "It's too boring lying all day in bed. Besides, Mika's bed is too soft."

"You're just used to sleeping on the ground," I counter.

Shinoa raises a brow at the mention of my bed coming from Yu's mouth. "Is there something you wish to tell us?"

Ferid chimes in. "Has it been done?" he asks, voice a sickeningly high tone to express his shock.

I sit on the bench beside Yu in front of the window. Shinoa took my chair from yesterday. "Don't be vulgar. Yu is still young."

"I'm a fragile creature," Yu nods, holding a finger up for emphasis on his point.

Koba remains quiet. I understand why.

"Let's move along with this case, bitches," Mitsuba proudly declares, opening a book and roughly turning the pages to Yoichi's displeasure and warning she'd rip the pages. Koba joins in, adding that the books are rather old and of obvious importance to us.

...

Yuichiro is the last one, aside from Koba, to remain not completely exhausted after countless hours of doing nothing but reading and writing down enough notes to fill a book. On my small self-granted break, I simply watch Yu as his hands move swiftly from line to line, his eyes skimming the words. I watch him for a few more moments until his hands slam on the table in frustration, taking by surprise all of us.

"There's no way to destroy it without killing me in the process," Yu declares. "But, I have to go in order to give you all the chance to find him and destroy Heaven's Crown."

"No," Shiho growls. "We'll find another way."

Yu shakes his head, rising to his feet only to pause before the open window, the soft breeze flowing through the thin fabric of the white curtains as the gentle rays of the afternoon sun rests upon his skin, the gold rings on his ears lighting up like a flame with a majestic glow. "Nikolai has to be dealt with right now." There's a look of desperation in his eyes when he turns to the rest of us. Namely Koba and I, who he's closest with. "For all the things I've done and allowed to happen, let this be one thing that can be justified. I don't ever want to hide in fear for my own safety and the safety of others for something that I am the main reason for."