THE OTHER HIM

"Alright, Kaya, I will apply the mud." Yuzuru held the bottle; tilting it, he poured out thick brown mud. Splashing it onto his bleeding arm.

"Ew, Yuzuru, what the?" Ren scorned looking at the mud. He turned to Yuzuru and back at the mud.

Yuzuru laughed along with Kaya. "This is called Mud; it is a...a...medicine which instantly heals wounds."
As he rubbed the mud, it absorbed into his skin. With each stroke the cuts shrivelled until his skin was back to normal.

Kaya smiled with his prominent canines. "Thanks!"
He stood up and patted both Yuzuru's and Ren's backs. Both coughed due to the sturdy pats.
Ren looked at the taller guy. His dark brown hair curled down the length of his shoulders.
Ren's gaze followed Kaya's hand as he lowered it. Placing one over his stomach, which was exposed under his crop top.

He surely got a sturdy figure.

Ren quickly looked away.

Kaya smiled. "Man, I am glad the wound is closed."

Yuzuru looked around. "What happened to you?"
Kaya turned to him. "I was sleeping when I felt the pain; when I woke up, I was bleeding from all those injuries." Kaya sighed, "Since I was out of mud, I decided to crawl out. It was hard, but I managed to make it to the lounge."
Yuzuru almost shouted, "Couldn't you have called someone over? we got phones?"
Kaya stared blankly and burst into laughter. "Sorry, in nervousness I forget this technology exists. Don't forget the world I came from didn't have any."
Yuzuru sighed, "I am glad I was in the lounge."
Kaya smiled, "And I am glad Yao didn't kill ya."

Did he have to talk about that

Ren nervously glanced at Yuzuru.

Yuzuru's brow twitched. "And you were betting on Yao; couldn't you have bet on me!"
Ren stared blankly. He isn't mad.

Kaya laughed, "Betting on you? Nah, man, Yao is a better fighter!"

Kaya moved away from them. "Thanks for helping me; I will repay ya both sooner or later." He went down the hall.

Yuzuru smiled at Ren. "You should go now."
Ren nodded; he took a few steps. He noticed Yuzuru's hand shivering. Ren took a few more steps; he sighed and turned around, facing Yuzuru.
Yuzuru stood biting his lower lip, blood popping out. He noticed Ren and quickly turned around. "Leave already!"

Ren wanted to leave.
Leave this thing behind.
But
Would that count as a humane act
Ren sighed, his lips quivering with the weight of dismay. "You can talk to me; it will feel better."

Yuzuru took a few steps forward and embraced Ren.
Ren blinked. So all this thing—no guy needed—was someone.
Ren wrapped his arms around him.

The blue moonlight illuminated the lounge. For a while it felt like they were finally in a better place. A warm place, filled with forgiveness, hope, and acceptance.

Yuzuru trembled in the embrace. "Ren, thank you."
Ren looked towards him. "Thanks for what?"
Yuzuru pulled away, his hair ruffled as he scratched his nape. "Here no one really comforts each other," he chuckled softly, looking at the floor. He was blushing, frequently blinking. "I don't even remember when everyone just stopped it."

Ren stared blankly.
This is the same guy who bullied Toby.
And beat his best friend to the point he couldnt move
Why?
This doesn't add up.

Yuzuru's eyes suddenly glistened; he grabbed Ren's shoulders. "You slapped Dac?"
Ren remembered Dacoria; he gasped, "I didnt mean to; he just—"
"He gets on everyone's nerves," Yuzuru laughed, "but he never gets slapped; he was crying in the lounge."
Ren bit his lip. "Damn, I should say sorry!"
Yuzuru nodded. "You should; he keeps grudges."
Ren sighed, remembering when he took over him. After a little consideration, he decided not to tell Yuzuru. "Where can I find him?"
Yuzuru smiled, pointing at himself. "That's my specialty."

He closed his eyes. As he opened his eye, golden light shone under his lids.
Ren gasped, as Yuzuru's eyes were gold now.
Yuzuru stood straight for a second before grasping his head.
He trembled for a while, gasping for air.
"Are you okay?" Ren cried out.
Yuzuru faced him with a smile. "Yeah, looking through the eyes of a high-grade power user is hard."
"Oh, so you know where he is?"
"Yes, in the garden," Yuzuru replied thoughtfully.
.

.

.

Ren and Yuzuru walked, crunching the grass under their steps. The cold nightly air blew. They walked past the verandah and a wall with multiple golden bricks with carvings.
They saw Dacoria just standing.

"Dac!" Yuzuru called out; Dacoria turned to them.

Dacoria wobbled; his shoulders trembled. His eyes darted from Yuzuru to Ren.
His lips quivered. "You were talking to yourself."
Pointing at Ren, "But you kept saying Toby."

Yuzuru looked at Ren. "T-toby?"

Ren raised his hands. "I just met his wandering soul."

"S-soul?" Dacoria mumbled.
Dacoria held his head hung low.

Yuzuru took a few back. Bending down, he quivered and covered his mouth.

"I met him a total of three times; that's it." Ren shuddered as Dacoria's eyes made contact with his.

Dacoria smiled. "W-will he meet me too?"
His smile wrenched Ren's heart. "N-no, he said it's his last day."

Dacoria's eyes dulled as a tentacle popped out of his shirt.
Ren took a few steps back.
But it waved in the air for a while and slithered back in.
Dacoria lowered his head. "B-but w-why?"

He sat down on the ground, pulling on the grass, "WhY......ThE nEW gUy......WhY nOT ME?"
His voice changed; Ren trembled at the realisation that this was the voice he had heard in Dacoria's head.

Yuzuru got up and pulled Ren away. Ren looked at his face. I guess he was crying.

Dacoria let out a scream, "Why last day? Why not meet me?"
"Don't do this to me." He cried out,
He bent, still pulling on the grass. Tears falling on his hands.

He raised his head. His eyes widened as he stopped crying.
A different voice came out of his mouth before he spoke.
 "Yes, he must be mad about the truth or dare Dacoria forced on him."

"But I didn't hurt him."
A tear rolled down.

"He must think everyone hates him because of Dacoria."

"No, it was others."

"It was Dacoria's fault."

"Mine, mine, It was all my fault."

Ren and Yuzuru stood at the side. Dacoria screamed, pulling on the grass.
"What's going on?" Ren glanced at Yuzuru.
"That's his split personality at work; mostly he is fine, but sometimes—" Yuzuru held Ren. "The other personality is extremely dangerous."
Ren looked at the breaking kid and back at Yuzuru. "We can't just let him suffer."

"It's okay!"
The two turned and saw Damian approaching; he walked up to Dacoria.

"Hey, other Dac, you are supposed to help him, not break him!" He shouted.

Dacoria stopped crying and got up. 
Again a tentacle popped out and jolted towards Damian.

A burning smell filled the air; the air crackled. A lightning bolt emerged mid-air, striking Dacoria. He screamed in pain for a while but composed himself as the lightning disappeared as if it was never there to begin with.

"He absorbed it," Yuzuru mumbled. "Hopefully he doesn't strike us."
Yuzuru's eyes shone, and a golden shield surrounded them.

Dacoria panted for a while and looked at Damian.
He quavered a few steps forward.
Damian prepared himself.

Dacoria huffed; he looked at Damian, giving him a faint smile.
"Thanks, but I am leaving."
His voice echoed behind as he disappeared.