Matter of Self 2

Yumi looked around the room taking in the surroundings once more as she sifted through what Yuki told her. If she looked at Yuki for too long she was afraid that she would start to feel weird again like before. She was barely keeping in control knowing how close he was to her and that they were alone (which was certainly not helping matters for her).

"…the bookstore! I need to get back to work!"

Yumi started to get out of bed, but Yuki stood up putting his hands on her shoulder's stopping her.

"They gave you the rest of your shift off. They want you to rest."

"But they'll be short handed!"

"Momoko said she'd handle your work."

"But I—"

"If something's got you stressed out it's just going to keep affecting, especially in a weakened state."

"…I…"

Yumi was still straining against Yuki's hands not wanting to give into what he was saying. She thought about her brother suddenly making her stiffen realizing the effects that it was having on her.

"Alright…" Yuki had let up on her seeing her resisting come to an end.

"I'll let the doc know you're awake."

Yuki stood up walking out of the room disappearing into the hall leaving Yumi alone in the room.

Yumi laid back in the bed leaving the covers slightly folded down when she tried to leave. The ceiling was unwelcoming to her concerns as her mind was given the freedom and peace to begin turning once more on the thoughts that were plaguing her.

'Yori… What should I do now? Yuki's here and…'

She turned in the bed not wanting to deal with the questions that were popping up.

'I just want …' Yumi closed her eyes trying to get the thoughts closed out from her.

"I'm back, Yumi!" Yuki said entering the room and announcing his return with a bag in hand. When he saw that Yumi looked like she was in pain he dropped the bag and ran over to her side.

"What's wrong, Yumi?!"

"Oh Yuki! I-I…" She froze opening her eyes once more staring back at Yuki. 'He's so close…'

"Are you in pain?"

Yumi forced herself to calm back down seeing Yuki.

"I'm sorry for worrying you so much. I'll be fine. I've just got a lot on my mind."

She pulled herself up from the bed sitting in it so not to get Yuki alarmed too much. Her eyes were quickly drawn over to the bag that Yuki had dropped coming into the room.

"Is that my school bag?"

"Huh?" Yuki said confused by the sudden change in conversation. He turned his head over to where she was looking seeing what he had dropped. He walked back over to the entrance of the room and picked up the bag taking it to the end of the bed that Yumi was resting in. The school bag rested a little heavy on the mattress.

"Yeah, Momoko gave it to me to give to you. She put your school uniform in it too, so it's probably a little wrinkled. But I didn't have much I could do while I carried you."

She pulled the bag in to her lap while Yuki talked taking out her uniform and realizing that she was still wearing the bookstore's clothes. However, everything came to a stop for her when she heard the last thing that Yuki said to her.

"You carried me?"

"Yeah…traffic was bad and so I didn't want to wait any longer. Momoko complained saying I shouldn't have carried you thinking it would cause even worse injuries or whatever, but she's over reacting."

'Yuki carried me…I was…all that time…'

Her mind began to spin again with the thoughts that were floating through her head imagining Yuki running through the streets shouting to people to get out of his way while he was carrying her (over-dramatized recreation). The thoughts of her being carried by Yuki made her face red once more as she tried to keep it under control.

Yuki did not want to dwell on the matter too much longer and turned away.

"Well umm…the doc said if you're feeling better you can leave. But if you want to rest some more—"'

"No! Uh… I mean… I'm feeling better. I don't want to burden him with me when he's probably got other patients that need his attention more."

He turned to look at Yumi not wanting her to be saying such things.

"He's a doctor. You're just as important as anyone else here. You're not a burden!"

"…I-I…" Yumi began to stutter not expecting to have Yuki snap at her as he did. She had always known him to be so carefree and cheerful. It was a strange light that she was seeing him now that she was not familiar with, yet comforting to her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you."

"…No, its fine… You're right."

Yumi looked through her clothes and school bag. While she could stay in the bed for as long as she wanted she knew that she had to be getting home. She did not want to make her brother worry about her. The time had to be late. She lifted up her uniform close to her and looked back at Yuki not saying a word.

Yuki looked down at Yumi not taking the hint immediately. The slow turning gears finally hit him and he stood up looking a little embarrassed that he was still in the room.

"Uh… I'll just be outside." He walked a little stiffly through the room making it to the door and closed it behind him.

She smiled to herself seeing a little more of the normal Yuki in that moment. Once she knew that she was alone she lifted herself out of the bed and changed out her clothes. The slacks and shirt lay on the bed next to her school uniform neatly arranged on the bed. It was a little chilly for her, but her thoughts had paused her.

As she had went for her school uniform her mind echoed back to school. She placed her hand on her school uniform seeing her friends pounding at her thoughts.