Chapter 70 - Darkness

After the festival, everything resumed normalcy. Kurama returned to his office, carrying some agreements he would later interpret and read out to Yomi, who's going to decide if they are worth it or not. Hoshiyomi and Tsukiyomi have also gone to their office, and Botan went for a shower. Byakuya and Shiori were in their bedroom as nighttime was coming. 

Kurama switched back to his human form as Youko has spent a long time on his normal form and needs some time to rest. However, his feelings are still hitting Shuichi:

-Why does Yomi not open his eyes if his eyelids are normal now? What if instead of being blind, he now has some sensibility problem?- Youko mulls. 

-I don't know, Youko... every blind people I've ever met behaved like him. 
-Why not go there and find out? 
-No, Youko. I don't know what I'll find, and you know how I feel about it...

-Excuse me, Shuichi. But let me do it, I'm curious.

-Right, you can do it, but be fast. I have a ton of work to do, and my coworkers cannot wait for too long. 

-Ok, no problem.

Shuichi allows Youko to take full control and switch. He gets up and goes to Yomi's desk:

-Any update, Youko?

-Oh... now, but I'm about to finish. 

-I can hear your heartbeat is not normal, It seems to me you are a bit tense. I can order some tea for us.

-Yomi... no need for that.

Yomi gets up from the chair and moves close to Youko:

-What's your problem now, Youko? You can tell me what's wrong with you. - Yomi smiles. 

Youko mulls a bit. As Yomi is closer, he now feels more confident to follow his original plan:

-Yomi, your eyes...

-What's wrong with them?

Youko reaches out, gently sliding them over Yomi's face, who does not react:

-I have to see your eyes...

-Youko, I don't... Youko...

Youko gently opens Yomi's left eyelid. His eyes are still in place, but are totally blackened, and have a visible, deep cut on them. The overall picture is terrible:

-No... NOOOO!- Youko looks down.

-What's going on Youko, tell me.- Yomi asks. 

-Your eyes... I don't... what I have done!

-Forget that, Youko... this is now past, let's not talk about it again. 

Yomi hugs Youko and stays silent. Youko only holds Yomi's hands:

-You had no choice, you have done the right thing... better blind me than kill me...and now we know this can be fixed...

Youko suddenly hugs Yomi back:

-I want to see your eyes again Yomi... the way they were back then...

-Well, if the spirit word staff do a good job, this is not going to be a problem.

-Oh Yomi...

Youko keeps hugging Yomi for a while. The growing evidence of that sweet relationship from adolescence coming back lets Yomi happier and Youko more confident to go forward with Botan on Earth.

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