I'm still here

Trigger warning: This story contains a character dealing with the aftereffects of a house bombing.

He awoke in the hospital, the soft beeping of the heart monitor trying to lull him back to sleep, but something told him to wake up. Maybe it was the hushed whispers from people outside the room. Or the feeling that something terrible had happened to put him in the hospital.

He was careful in looking around, his eyes blurry as he tried to look through the glass door. He could see two doctors and a very familiar person, the only person who looked familiar. He glanced back towards the window, seeing a clear blue sky with little splotches of clouds. Such a pretty day.

The door was slow in opening, like they were trying to be quiet when entering. He turned to look at who had entered, a friend. Well, somewhat friend, somewhat enemy. Maybe it was because of what happened that earned the soft glance he was given. But what did happen?

Riku Naoki glanced at the sleeping teen on the bed, Room 217 in the ICU. He sat on the chair in front of the window, looking down at his phone. It was all over the news: Local Game Shop Bombed; Bomber Still At Large.

It was luck that Yuri Mercia was outside the building when the bomb went off, but the blast had sent him through the neighboring coffee shop windows. Four bodies were found in the building; no other deaths or injuries. Riku learned from the news and was quick to contact every hospital until he found the one that took in Yuri.

Outside the room, police officers were waiting for Yuri to wake up. It was clear that the bombing was targeted, and, until further notice, guards were stationed around the hospital for Yuri's protection. They were trying to find any living relatives that might want to take him in, but were pulling blanks. If none were found, he'd have to go to the foster system. And if he never gets fostered, he'd have to age out. He'd have it worse than Riku, and his little brother did.

Riku glanced back up to see Yuri's eyes open, and looking straight at him. The first thing Riku did was press the Nurse Alert button; the second was to grab the younger one’s hand in comfort, carefully. “You’re safe. I’ll explain everything later once the nurses are done checking you.”

Though it was small, he spotted the nod.

~~~

Yuri glanced from the bandages on his arms to his classmate/dueling rival sitting in front of the window, then to the plate of hospital food. “I never did like the food here; they would usually fight over what I gave them.” He heard the snort from Riku but didn’t look up to see the way his eyes held sadness. He didn’t want to see it, not from him. He got enough pitying looks from the nurses and hospital staff in the last hour than he needed.

“Yuki, do you have any ideas on who would do this?” Yuki thought he knew, but this was different. They had never attacked his family like this; they never tried to. It was always him they went after, never anyone he was attached to. Yuki shook his head, and the police officer silently sighed. “Has anyone sent you threats or warnings? Have you spotted anyone following you, any odd behavior?” Another no.

“Okay, we’ll be in contact in case you remember anything.” “I want to see the pictures.” Riku and the police officer both froze at the demand.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “I want to see them. Please.”

The officer glanced at Riku, who only shrugged, before opening the file he had and carefully placing it on the teen’s lap. “We were able to identify your friends and family. These are just pictures of the damage and the bomb.”

Yuki was slow in moving the pictures around, seeing the destroyed walls that once held game boxes, and the glass case that had rare collectables. The burnt sign hung on the front of the store. “We couldn’t find any prints or noticeable pieces that we could tie to other bombers. That’s why we were wondering if you’ve noticed anyone who could do this, or might have a reason to do so.”

He looked at what was left of the bomb, a mess of wires and clay. But there seemed to be an iridescent shimmer to the picture that wasn’t on the others. He focused on it, forcing it to reveal what was hidden underneath. A symbol, one that was burned into the picture the moment it was taken. One he knew all too well, especially since his pendant had the same one. Well, the pendant he had. It was gone now, along with the others tied to it.

They were still after that power, the one that tied itself to him. That helped him gain friends, those same ones who died in the bomb. “What’s going to happen to me now?”

The officer carefully grabbed the pictures, “We’re contacting any relatives you have to see if one of them might take you in.” “And if not, I’ll be put in the foster system.” The officer nodded as he closed the file, “Yes. But, we have found a relative that looks promising; he has his own family with two kids around your age as well.”

“Do I have a choice?” There was a beat of silence, “No, Yuki. Right now, it’s best you have someone around you to help you through this.” “Will I have to leave?” “If your relatives agree to take you in, yes.”

Yuki pushed the tray away, focusing on the deck of cards in his hands instead. The officer gestured for Riku to follow him outside, leaving Yuki alone for the moment.

Riku closed the sliding glass door behind him before focusing on the officer and the hospital’s psychiatrist, Adrian. “Do you have any ideas on who could do this, or why?”

Riku scoffed through his nose, “I told you everything when I first got here. I have no clue or idea who would do this, nor why. Yuki’s a good kid, even when dueling. He doesn’t cheat, spit-talk, or try to hurt anyone. He’s innocent in ways that adults lose over time. Whoever did this did this for a terrible reason.

“Has the relative decided?” Adrian nodded, “They’re willing to take him in. But they’re in the United States, he’ll be able to leave at the end of the month. I suggest you find some way to stay in contact; he’ll need the support.”

~~~

Yuki glanced at the therapist who entered the room, having a small smile on his face. No malice; only pity and worry. The teen looked back at the cards, shuffling through them.

Adrian sat down on the couch in front of the window, eyes spotting the unfinished food and the cards in the teen’s hands. “You play?” Yuki nodded before pulling a card out and showing the other. A magic card; Hansha. Reflection.

“Do you wish it were you instead of them?” The card was switched with a different one, a trap card. Junsuina Haiboku: Pure Defeat.

“You think that if it were you, they’d still be here?” Yuki put the card back in his hand, but didn’t take another out. “There’s always the chance that this could’ve happened anyway.” Trap card: Teisan. Ceasefire.

“So, you know why they attacked you then?” Spell card: Ninmei sa reta. Appointed. “Can you tell me what you were chosen for?” This time, it was a monster card; Jōhō saigai. Infohazard. “You can’t tell me, huh?

“Is there anyone you can tell?” Yuki only shook his head, placing the card back in the deck and shuffling it again. “We got in contact with that relative of yours, and they’ve agreed to take you in. They live in the United States, however, so you’ll be sent over there at the end of the month when you’re released from here.”

Spell card: Shindō suru. Occilate. “I know, you grew up here. It’s home, but think of it like a new beginning-” The table was pushed away, hard enough for it to slam into the wall. “I don’t want to leave, I don’t want to say-”

He hiccuped, tears forcing their way out as he fought them back. “I’m not gonna say it.” Adrian silently sighed, knowing that he had to be careful. “You don’t have to, not right now. Not ever, if you don’t want to. But you can’t stay here, Yuki. You don’t have to let them go, but you will need to move on. Not today, not tomorrow. Probably not for years, but someday, you’ll look back and see that you’re okay from now.

“This isn’t the end of the world, just a chapter that hurts to read.” Yuki didn’t react after that, not to any other questions asked or the nurse taking the plate away. He only looked at his cards, shuffling them every now and again.

~~~

Antiko, Riku’s little brother, glanced at Yuki before looking back at his laptop. “They still haven’t found anything about the bombing, but the police think that it’ll be best if you live with your American relatives. It might be harder for them to track you.”

Yuki only nodded as he messed with the 3-D puzzle one of the staff had given him. He had finished it twice already, but he needed something to do with his hands, something mind-numbing in a way that seemed to block everything else out. “We got you a new phone, since the other got destroyed. Luckily, we were able to save everything on it as well. You still have your pictures, videos, contacts, and messages.”

The puzzle dropped, and Antiko only knew because he watched it. He was careful in handing over the new phone, with a special case for added protection. Yuki pressed the small button on the right side, seeing the screen turn on with the picture he had set for the last one.

It was summer; they were all at the beach. His grandpa was sleeping in one of the tanning chairs. Tony and Hiro were wrestling in the water while Yuki was taking the picture, a selfie that Atio photobombed. They were so happy.

A tear fell on the glass, and then another, and another. But Yuki didn’t bother wiping them away. God’s, they were so happy.

~~~

“You can’t keep blaming yourself, Yuki.” The younger teen stayed silent, going through the photos to make sure they all transferred over. “It wasn’t your fault.” “You wouldn’t know.”

Riku sighed, “Because you won’t tell me.” “It is my fault.” “How, Yuki? Tell me, how was it your fault when no one knew that this would happen?”

“They are after me, therefore it’s my fault.” “Then why haven’t they tried again?” Yuki swiped to another picture; the first time he taught Atio how to play. “Because I still have it.”

There was a pause. “What?” “I still have it, Riku. They know that I still have it; that’s why they died.

“They died because of me, because of what I have. Because those psychos want it.” “I thought it went away when you-” Yuki sighed and finally looked up for his eyes to meet the others, “It didn’t. I thought so too, until I woke up one night with a force field around me.

“I still have it, Riku. You’re in danger too, because you know about it. Because you know where I’m going. And my relatives will be in danger too, because I’ll be around them.”

Something flashed behind Yuki’s eyes, something Riku spotted. “Don’t even think about it, Yuki. Death won’t bring them back, and it won’t stop them.”

“So, I should just keep running and hiding then?!” The lights in the room dimmed. “You think they won’t come after you and Antiko if they can’t find me here?! They won’t stop until they get it, Riku! So, what else am I supposed to do?!”

“USE IT!” There was a minute of silence as they both caught their breath. Riku spoke up, “Use it, then. Make sure they can’t hurt anyone else. You were chosen for a reason; prove why you were.

“Make their deaths mean something, Yuki. Let them leave behind something great instead of headstones. Learn how to use it, in their honor. Make it meaningful, instead of meaningless.”

~~~

The airport was loud and bustling with people rushing around to try and get to their gates on time. Yuki didn’t have that worry, as he was escorted to the right gate. Riku stopped at the entrance, giving a single nod. Yuki returned it before waving at Antiko, turning and heading onto the plane.

He watched as the air strip started to shrink, then disappear beneath the clouds. 13 hours before he meets his relatives, the only ones willing to take him in. Riku had paid for the upgrade to first class, letting him have his own little pod.

He raised his hand and focused, creating a dark ball of energy. Maybe Riku is right that he can learn to use it. Let them be the reason he protects others.

He doesn’t have to say it now, but he knows he will one day. Maybe afterwards, once he’s learned. When he doesn’t need them anymore. When he’s ready. When he’s better.