Intrusive Thoughts

Sunata’s sharp features softened as he paused outside the door to Braith and Yumie’s assigned room.

“I’m sorry. This must be really hard on you both. But remember-” he slid the door closed as he finished, “-we’ve all been through this. Good night.”

The latch clicked shut.

Yumie no longer hid her face in Braith’s arm, but she clung to him tighter than ever. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, remembered she couldn’t see it, and gently rested a hand between her ears. She inhaled sharply - quiet, startled.

“B-Braith…”

His voice softened.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded, slow and unsure.

“I think so…”

“Do you want me to describe the apartment?”

“Yes please.”

He guided her a little farther inside.

“So, there’s a short hallway from the door. On the left is a cupboard, and just past that a door to the bathroom. There’s-”

“Is there a bathtub?” she asked immediately.

He peeked inside.

“…Yes.”

She smiled.

“Okay.”

He blinked, puzzled, but continued.

“Anyway, the hallway leads into the main room. And there’s… one double bed.”

He stared at it, dumbstruck. Yumie giggled.

“That’s good. Keep going.”

He swallowed everything he wanted to say and moved on.

“There’s a small kitchen. Just a fridge, microwave, hob, pantry, and sink.”

“No oven?”

He shook his head.

“No.”

She nodded sadly. “Okay…”

“There’s also a small table mounted to the wall with two chairs. And a window on the far wall, but you’re not missing much, just the street below and more buildings. Fourth floor, so nothing scenic.”

Yumie nodded thoughtfully.

“What does it feel like?”

He glanced at her.

“Feel like?”

“What’s the vibe? Cute? Cozy? Depressing? Temporary?”

He thought for a moment.

“I’d call it… a temporary hidey hole.”

She brightened.

“That’s cute. I like it.”

Then she tilted her head.

“What about dinner? You’re hungry.”

Only then did Braith feel the ache in his stomach. He chuckled.

“You’re right. How did you know?”

She smiled, nervous but proud.

“Because I’m your Mahotona. I feel everything you feel.”

With a jolt he realized how instantly she had reacted to his injury in the airport - how she had seemed to feel it. Everything snapped together.

“Oh… so we’re literally connected.”

She giggled.

“What did you think we were?”

He shrugged helplessly.

“I don’t know. I didn’t do my research.”

She laughed.

“Well, your hunger is making me uncomfortable, so dinner please.”

He grinned.

“Alright, I’ll check the fridge.”

He tried to ease her toward the bed or one of the chairs, but she clung to him stubbornly. She smiled as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

“Sorry, but I’m not letting go.”

He sighed, amused.

“It’s going to be very difficult to cook.”

“But I want to cook with you one day. So I should stay close.”

He smirked.

“You’re just worried I’ll run off.”

“N-no…”

He laughed.

“You don’t trust me?”

She tightened her grip, smiling shyly.

“Sorry… I know I should, I just…”

“Hey. It’s fine,” he said, still laughing. “You’ll get used to it eventually.”

She giggled.

“Or maybe you’ll get used to me first.”

He laughed again - but inside, something ached.

He wished she could see him.
It felt wrong, somehow, that she’d chosen him - liked him - without truly knowing what he looked like. Without being able to see his expressions, his flaws, his everything.

But he also knew: he wasn’t going to let her slip away just because of guilt.

Dinner passed, and night fell swiftly, but before the sky had truly darkened, Braith decided to turn in.
Then came the next problem - the double bed.

He glanced at Yumie, who was still holding his arm like a lifeline. She sensed his gaze and turned her face toward him - not quite looking in the right direction, but the gentle smile she wore made up for that tenfold.

“What’s the matter?”

He sighed.

“You know exactly what the matter is.”

She grinned mischievously.

“What, are you scared of spending the night with a pretty girl?”

He shook his head.

“No, I’m scared of spending the night with a girl whose only cover is my sweater… and even that barely counts as clothing.”

She blinked in confusion, then flushed.

“So that’s what you think of me…”

“No! No! That’s-” He cut himself off as she lifted her head and gazed up at him like a needy puppy.

“You don’t like my body?”

He slapped his forehead.

“Yumie! Of course I do!”

She frowned.

“Then why don’t you want to get into bed with me?”

He opened his mouth, shut it, then exhaled heavily.

“I give up. I’m too tired for this.”

Her smile returned instantly.

“Okay! Um… you’ll have to guide me. I can’t see.”

He chuckled.

“I know.”

It wasn’t too difficult to guide her into bed. His bigger concern was that their clothes would start to reek by morning, but there was no helping that. Sunata had promised they’d be able to buy new clothes tomorrow - tonight they just had to endure. He pulled the covers up over Yumie, who refused to let go of his hand, and then lay down beside her, leaving a safe distance between them.

He switched the light off. The faint city glow behind the curtains gave the room a dim, bluish haze. Yumie continued holding onto him. As he stared up at the dark ceiling, he wondered what she would want to wear, given she couldn’t see any of it, and considering-

“We should take them off.”

Her voice froze his thoughts.

“…Pardon?”

They rolled to face one another. The faint light painted her expression with innocent sincerity.

“We should take our clothes off. Then they won’t be so dirty tomorrow.”

He stared, dumbfounded.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

She tilted her head.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He grit his teeth.

“Yumie… do you understand the implication of doing that?”

She paused - then her eyes widened.

“Oh.”

But then she smiled shyly, wriggling under the sheets.

“Well… I wouldn’t mind if it was with you…”

His brain short-circuited, but he forced himself to stay composed.

“Yumie, we’ve known each other for what, six hours? Less?”

She thought for a moment.

“…So?”

He groaned softly.

“You’re acting a little like a hooker.”

She went rigid.

“Am I?”

He nodded reluctantly.

“Yeah…”

She curled in on herself.

“I’m sorry… pretend you didn’t hear anything…”

He sighed. Maybe he had just passed up what could’ve been the best night of his life - but beneath the regret was a rare spark of pride. He believed he’d done the right thing, morally. He’d rather build a long, happy relationship than rush something fleeting.

But as he lay there, he felt Yumie shuffle closer, tugging his arm. Suddenly she was pressed against his side, hugging him tight.

His thoughts scrambled.

“Y-Yumie… what…”

She smiled up at him.

“Now you can’t run away.”

A wicked idea flared.

“I’m pretty sure I can.”

She looked scandalized - then grinned.

“Yeah?”

Before he could react, she climbed onto his chest.

“How about now?”

“I… Yumie…”

She wiggled to get comfortable, her tail brushing along his legs as she rested chin on his collarbone, grinning.

“This is surprisingly comfortable.”

“What-”

“I did tell you how much I love your cooking, right?”

He chuckled as his brain began to function again.

“Only about four… maybe four hundred times.”

“That’s a relief.”

He laughed softly, though every nerve in his body was struggling to behave. She was warm, close - closer than sanity allowed - and the fact that she only wore his oversized sweater wasn’t helping.

Then he noticed her hands. They were resting lightly on his stomach - on skin he hadn’t realized she’d accidentally exposed. A thought flickered through him:

What if I thought about shooting-

A whipcrack split the dark. A bright flash illuminated Yumie’s shocked face. Something tore through his abdomen, burning like fire.

She yelped in pain, gasping.

“Braith! You shot yourself!”

He couldn’t speak. The pain was blinding.

“Braith? Braith?!” Her voice cracked. Smoke curled from her palm as she clung to him, trembling. “Ow! Quick, think about healing! Think about healing!”

But his mind was slipping. His eyes were closing on their own, consciousness fading. Somewhere, distant footsteps pounded toward their door, drawn by the explosion.

Tears dripped onto his cheeks.

“Braith! Please! Think! Speak to me! Braith!!”

His eyes shut.