21 Aug 08 - Yu-Gi-Oh! - nightswimming [Jounouchi, Shizuka]

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Title: nightswimming
Day/Theme: 21 August 2008/These hands made of splinters.
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh!
Characters: Jounouchi, Shizuka
Rating: PG
Summary: Shizuka loves visiting Jounouchi.

 

 

Shizuka loves visiting Jounouchi.

"I'll give you a hand up."

Shizuka steps into her brother's cupped hands and hooks her fingers into the chain link fence. Even though she's stretching, her hands are about a metre below the top. "Why did they have to build such a high fence?"

"You can climb from there, can't you?"

"Of course," Shizuka says, "it's just a little difficult..." Her complaint trails off because she realises that Jounouchi will take it to heart, and she launches herself at the top. The fence rattles and shivers.

"Shizuka!" Jounouchi yelps.

"I'm fine. Come on!"

He's on the fence and over in a flash.

"Wow! You're fast." Shizuka grins. "Do you break into the school swimming pool a lot?"

"It's not breaking in! Did I break anything?" Jounouchi says indignantly - then he remembers himself and shuts his mouth with a snap, looking around furtively to spot signs of anyone having heard him.

Shizuka pushes him gently on the arm, taking his attention back. She doesn't want him to worry. Their mother treats Shizuka as if she'll shatter any minute, carefulness left over from the time when Shizuka's eyesight was getting increasingly blurry. Jounouchi also worries too much around her, but he'll still do things like this with her.

She grins up at him. "Come on. Let's swim."

Jounouchi smiles back at her, and Shizuka recognises one of those moments when he's just glad she's there. "Yeah. Come on; put your clothes over here. That way if anyone comes, we'll grab our stuff, pop over the fence, and get away through the bushes."

"No one will come," she says lightly, as if she does this every other day, and enjoys the feeling of her heart beating a little faster. She discards her t-shirt and shorts, and steps over to the poolside in her one-piece costume.

She dives into the water almost silently, with a heady shock at the coolness of the water after the heavy heat of the summer night. A woomph sounds underwater as her brother plunges in, supporting himself with the side of the pool. She rises and swims over to him, and he gives her a grin. Then, naturally, he begins a splash war. It can't be as big as it should be, considering that a night watchman might come around, but Shizuka enjoys it.

Later they drift in the water, giving only tiny kicks to move. They've chased each other around for dunking, and now it's nice to lie here and look at the stars.

Jounouchi gives a heavy sigh. "Sorry we don't have air conditioning at the flat," he says.

"That's silly thing to apologise for," Shizuka scolds, and kicks the water harder so she can bump him. He gives a little laugh, and then dunks her again.

"Raaah!" she says as she comes up - the battle cry she decided on because it makes Jounouchi cry with laughter, and then he's an easy victim - and lands on him, dragging him down.

"Ssshh!" Jounouchi splutters, giggling and fighting her off. "Hey - hey! Seriously, shh. I think we should get going."

"Aww," Shizuka says. "But it is getting pretty late. Dad might worry."

And Jounouchi goes quiet in that particular way where it seems like the air gets heavier. Shizuka is suddenly twice as aware of the humidity. "Huh, yeah," Jounouchi mutters sarcastically, and paddles towards the side of the pool.

She swallows hard and follows him slowly. By the time she reaches him, he's sorry again, and tries to lighten the mood. "He probably is worried," Jounouchi offers as he helps her out. "Since you're out here too. When it's just me he knows I can take care of myself."

Shizuka squeezes his hand before going to towel herself off. She can't say she's sorry too, because it would make her brother feel worse.

The apartment her dad and her brother share smells funny when the windows are closed and there are all kinds of stains on the carpet. When she arrived, she'd noticed that all the fruit and vegetables in the fridge were newly bought, and there were two full trash bags in the kitchen waiting to be taken out. Dad had been standing in the bathroom, shaving his ratty beard even though it was already past noon, and he'd looked at her with such guilt when Jounouchi muttered about it. But this is the first time she's spent any real amount of time with her dad, and she wouldn't give up the time with her brother for anything.

"Dad knows," Jounouchi says as he puts on his shirt.

"Huh?" Shizuka whispers, looking around distractedly. Now that they're not splashing around in the water, the rustling of the bushes and the distant sounds of traffic makes her jumpy. She keeps thinking she hears footsteps.

"I'm pretty sure Dad knows that Mom didn't allow you to stay with us." And he heads for the fence, up and over in a second. Shizuka stands stricken.

"Wait - what? Did he say something?" she hisses, running to the fence. Her shoe slips from a link and all her weight wrenches at the fence and with an awful rusty rip, it comes off the closest pole.

"Oh shit!" Jounouchi says and Shizuka almost thinks. "Come on!" Jounouchi grabs her, pulls her around the widening gap and hustles her away, along the bushes and past empty buildings, and - finally they hit the street. All the good of their swim has been undone, and they're both sweaty and breathless. Shizuka clutches Jounouchi's arm and giggles helplessly.

Then Jounouchi shakes her off and grabs both her arms, almost shaking her. "You shouldn't stay with us," he says, and he's perfectly serious.

"I will!" Shizuka says indignantly, and then pleads. "Big brother, please! I want to stay!"

"Dad's already talked to me about how Mom never calls the flat to ask how your stay is. He knows you're not supposed to be at our place. Go stay at Anzu's like you told Mom. She won't mind."

"But I like staying with you guys."

"You're just saying that, and I appreciate it, you've been great about everything, but it's not good enough. It's not what you're used to—"

"I don't care!" she says. "You make it good enough!"

"I can't," Jounouchi says, his hands making fists as everything goes heavy and still.

He does, and she wants to tell him that, but this is one of those things it's hard to make him believe. Shizuka winds her hands together, wringing them as Jounouchi's chest heaves. At last she can't take it anymore and grabs one of his wrists, since his fists won't come loose.

"It's late. Let's just go back?"

He lets her pull him along for a bit, and then he pulls his arm free and gives her a quick hug as they walk. "I don't wanna kick you out or anything. I just want you to enjoy your stay. You shouldn't have to put up with - everything."

"You make it good enough," she repeats. "And if Dad doesn't say I should go somewhere else, or tell Mom I'm staying with you guys, then I want to stay!"

He gives her another quick hug, and she ignores his sniff. "Thanks," he says, and before she can tell him that it was only the truth, changes the subject. "And I'll fix that pool fence! Can't leave it like that, after all!"

"Of course," she says, surprised that he felt the need to tell her. She knows her brother is an honourable, upstanding guy who wouldn't leave the fence in that state. "Can I help?"

"No!" He looks panicked. "Jeez, I already almost got you in trouble."

"I had fun," Shizuka rebuts, and her heart lifts when her brother grins.

"Anyway, I won't need help," Jounouchi says. "I'm good at that kind of thing! Did I tell you I built most of the Bluebeard game for our class's stall at the school festival?"

Shizuka nods. "And you guys did really well that year, right?"

"We got a cup for running the stall that was the most fun!" He's grinning again, in high spirits. The way she likes it best.

She's coming back next time school breaks up, Shizuka decides. Even if her mother finds out, she'll stay at Dad's flat. He's trying so hard. No matter who protests, whether it's Mum or Jounouchi, she's definitely coming back.

The sea breeze in her damp hair feels wonderful through the heat that's still radiating from the asphalt. Shizuka sighs in satisfaction. "Hey. I think this is the latest I've ever been out."

"Really?" Jounouchi gives her a dubious look. "Well, don't worry. Nobody's going to bother you with me here!"

"I know," she assures him. And with those words and that grin, he's made the uncertainties of a few minutes ago fade away, and the night is wonderful again. Even if Jounouchi doesn't know what he can do, Shizuka always will.