#gothicshipping

They were in a secluded part of the park, preferringto walk through the trees instead of the path, when Ruri stopped walking. Yutoturn around to in confusion only to become worried when he saw her tears.

“Ruri?” He faced her fully, standingdirectly in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing…” she sniffled. “I’mj-just…” the tears began to fall in earnest. “I’m just s-so happy… I neverth-thought we’d get to go on a-another date.”

“Ruri…”

“When you and Yu-yuya and Reji-san,were d-dueling Leo and Z-Zarc was…” she tried to wipe her tears away but theykept falling. “I was scared… I th-thought… I…”

Yuto reached out to her and pulledher close. His arms wrapped around her, his left hand resting on her left hipwhile his right hand rubbed her head, and she wept into his chest, her handsclutching at his jacket.  

She couldn’t really tell why shewas crying so much. Was it the relief, the happiness, or maybe the lingering sadness?She really didn’t know and it really didn’t matter. All that did matter wasthat she was here, in his arms, and they were safe.

Yuto rested his cheek on her headand remained silent. He knew she didn’t need words of comfort or reassurance. Heknew that all she needed was time, time to let the tears fall and time to heal.

And in time they would heal, slowlybut surely, they would heal. So, for now, he held her; a silent comfort, asturdy wall of strength, and a feeling of safety. He would hold her for as longas she needed him to, just as she had held him.

“Ruri?” Yuto called her, not likingthe way she was beginning to smile. “You had a question?” he asked nervously.

“Yeah… Yuto,” she walked towardshim, hands behind her back and an innocent smile on her face. “You’re notticklish, are you?”

A cold shiver ran down Yuto’s spineas he backed away from Ruri.

“I’m one hundred percent sure that is not the question you were goingto ask me…” a cold sweat began to form on the spikey haired boy as he liftedhis hands in front of him to ward off the girl.

“Noooo, but,” She looked behindYuto and went wide eyed, “Nii-san!” She gasped.

“WHAT?! Where?!” Yuto spun on hisheels looking for his best friend, only to see… no one.

With a glint in her eyes Ruri pounced!Grabbing Yuto by his sides, she began to wiggle her fingers and tickle him.

“BWAHAHAAA!! N-noo! Ruri! Stop!”Yuto half laughed, half cried as he doubled over and slammed his arms to hissides. He tried to shake her off but she held fast (It helped that Yuto’s armshad pinned her hands just over the sides of his ribs.)

She laughed as she managed totickle him to his knees, with him bending over to protect himself from her onslaught.

“R-Ruri!” He gasp between laughs. “S-stop!”he was laughing so hard tears had started to well up in his eyes. He felt herfingers wiggle and tickle their way up and down his sides, from his hips to hisarmpits, her onslaught knew no bounds.

He wanted to run but he couldn’t,he had no strength and whatever strength he did have flew out the window whenher hands slipped past his defense and attacked his stomach.

“GYAHAHAHA!!!!” He let out a heartylaugh and toppled onto his side. He curled up into a ball hoping to dislodgeher hands but all that did was trap them and she tickled him with more vigor. Tearsfell from his eyes as he squirmed beneath her hands, holding his stomach andflopping this way and that but her attack didn’t end.

While he was preoccupied withfending her hands off his stomach, she leaned over towards his neck, placed herlips on it, and blew the biggest raspberry she could. The result was instantaneous.He let out the strangest and most strangle laugh she had ever herd and went fromsquirming about to flailing about.

“Whoa!” Ruri ducked his elbow andflattened herself across his chest. “Okay! Okay, I won’t do that again! I’llstop!”

Yuto glared at her in distrust whilebreathing heavily.

“I promise no more raspberries.”She pulled herself up and sat with her legs tucked towards the right.

Yuto panted and wheezed as he straightenedout, and just laid on his back. He hadn’t laughed like that in a long time.

Ruri pulled out her white handkerchiefand wiped the tears off Yuto’s face, then, against her better judgment, tried totrace a circle on Yuto’s exposed belly (his shirt rode up with all hissquirming). Her hand was promptly smacked away and she received a pouty glarefrom Yuto.

Despite herself she started togiggle, which soon turned into laughter.

“I-I’m sorry, Yuto!” she exclaimedbetween laughs. “I- I couldn’t help myself!”

Yuto let out an exasperated sigh, tootired to even speak.

Ruri placed her hand on his headand ran it through his hair, she watched as the tired boy blushed but didn’tmove.

“I’ll make it up to you.” She smiled.“Whatever you want for lunch tomorrow, I’ll make it.”

Yuto blinked and nodded.

“Sounds,” he rasped, “good.” His weaknessmight have been found but at least he was getting a lunch made by Ruri. That madeeverything worth it.

-  -   -

“Yuto,Thank you~!” Ruri smiled Yuto handed her a rolled up crepe.

“You’rewelcome.” Came his bashful reply. They began walking around the park headingtowards its center. They were planning on having dinner at a small family restaurantson the far side of the park but instead of heading straight there, they decidedto take the scenic route.

“Youhave an upcoming duel tomorrow, right?” Ruri asked as she linked her left armwith Yuto’s right one.

“Ye-Yes!”Yuto’s voice squeaked a little. “Ahem,” he quickly composed himself as Rurigiggled. “I-it’s against Michael Arclight.”

“MichaelArclight…” Ruri hummed. “Oh! I remember now! He has an interesting deck! You’lldefinitely have fun playing against him!”

“I’lltake your word for it.” Yuto smiled. Ruri returned it, then, had a suddenrealization.

“Oh!Hey, you got a different crepe then me, right? Can I have a taste?” she asked.

“A…taste?” he repeated, nervously.

“That’sright. Ahhhhn~!” she moved quicker then Yuto expected and took a bite out ofhis crepe, pulling him closer to her side in the proses.

RUUURIIIIIII! He internally shouted when he felt his elbow brush… her upper body. You are way too unguarded!Shun will kill me if he sees this!

Yutotried to pull away a bit, at least enough to get his elbow away, but Ruri heldfast.

“Ooo!That was good, I’ll get that one next time. Now, here!” she said cheerfully asshe held her crepe up to him. “Your turn!”

“Th-that’sokay…” he replied weak willed, once again trying to discreetly move his arm. Doesshe not realize where my elbow is?!

“Say‘ahhh!’.” She smiled innocently.

“aa…ahhh.”Yuto gave in and took a bit of Ruri’s crepe. He focused whole heartedly onchewing the food in his mouth.

“Well?”Ruri asked. “Do you like it?”

“Hm,”Yuto confirmed. “It’s good.”

“Yay!I knew you would!” Ruri loosened her hold on Yuto’s arm and went back to eatingher own crepe.

Yutohide a huge sigh of relief by practically stuffing his own crepe into hismouth. He was going to have to be careful with Ruri, very careful. Hopefully, noone they knew saw that otherwise he was sure Shun, best friend or not, wouldhave his head for that.

-  -   -

Yuto lightly banged his head againsta tree as he tried to focus on the here and know.

Ofall things to remember THAT’S what comes to mind? He thought exasperatedly.

-Ding dong ding dong-