Disclaimer: If I owned it, it would be on a chain like my dog and my
wallet. It's not, so I don't.
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If It Pays The Bills
By Hidden Guardian
Chapter One: You Can Make Money doing that?
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It was getting late in the day, merely ten minutes before school let out for the weekend. Every student in the classroom was fidgeting, impatiently, waiting for the bell to ring. Ryou Bakura was no different, it finally being time to get away from their Harpie-Lady twin of a teacher. Also, it was the first time one of his friends would see his and Bakura's new apartment. Jou was coming home with him so they could work on a science project and Ryou was a bit nervous about what his friend would think.
"Alright, class, listen up," Sensei Koiyoko trilled. "This year, for our class trip, we're going to Kyoto. However, this trip is not, I repeat, not free. I will need the $180 dollars for the trip by the end of next week, no later." Ryou frowned. Normally, he wouldn't think anything about it, but as it were, that was a lot of money.
Seto stood up, knowing with pride that he could get the teacher fired if she said anything to him. "Sensei Koiyoko, do see reason. For a simple trip in the area (A/N:: I don't know how far apart they are!) that's a quite expensive." "I'm sorry, but that is when the money is due. End of discussion." He glowered at her but remained silent. Just then, the bell rang and most of the students flew out of the hell-prison known as school. Ryou put all of the things he would be taking home in his bag, then met up with his friends in the hall.
"That teacher is such a witch," Honda complained. "What do you expect; she's always riding a broom," Seto informed him. "Whose?" Ryuuji asked with a sneer. Ryou and Yugi, being the most innocent two in the group, flushed at the innuendo. "Sorry I can't pay for you two's fee," Seto told Jou and Ryou. "It's okay," Jou reassured him, "it's payable." Ryou said nothing. Jou turned to him.
"You ready to go, Ry?" "Go where?" Seto queried with a slight glare. "Get over ya self, Set. I ain't gonna cheat. We're doin a science project togha is all." Ryou rolled his eyes. Jealous boyfriends were the worst.
"Come on, Jou. We need to get to my place so we can get to work and you don't get home too late." "Comin'." As they walked to Ryou's apartment, he couldn't help but be nervous. None of his friends had seen his and Bakura's new place yet. After Ryou's father kicked him out for being such a 'prissy little queer,' there hadn't been much money to throw around. Even now, while Ryou was at school, Bakura was at work, trying to make ends meet with the best job he could get without a diploma of any sort.
Ryou stopped them in front of a large, yet somewhat demolished, building. Truthfully, he was glad that Jou was the first to see it because he wouldn't put too much into it. He turned to his friend. "Well, let's head on up." Ryou took Jou inside, got them in the elevator, and pushed the button for the top floor. That was the only good thing about the apartment's place in the building--no one above them. As they went up, Ryou snuck a look at Jou to see what he thought. The blonde's face revealed nothing.
He opened the door to his home and took a breath to calm down. "Bakura? I'm home!" There was no answer. He turned to Jou. "Make yourself at home. I think we should work on the table in the dining room, right through there," he pointed. Jou nodded and went. He paused in front of the door. "Can we have a snack?" he asked, hopefully. Ryou laughed and nodded in the affirmative.
"Bakura?" He went in into the kitchen to get a snack for himself and Jou. On the refrigerator was a note. 'Hikari, I have to work late tonight. I'll call when I can. Bakura.' "Darn," he grumbled, snapping his fingers. Saturday was the only night he got home before nine-ish, too. But Ryou, being the good sport he was, shrugged it off and went to help Jou with the project.
It didn't end up taking nearly as long as they thought it would, so the boys ended up in Ryou's room, talking, once they were done. "And then Set, oh you'd better believe he was pissed. He caught Malik by da hair and pulled, knocking dem both to the ground with Malik in his lap." Ryou couldn't help but giggle at Seto's expense. He faded out, though and looked at Jou. He had to ask him something.
"Jou?" "Hm?" "What do you think?" "About what?" "About this; about this building and apartment and, well, just *this*?" Jou chuckled. "You know I ain't thinkin' nothin' about it with where I live." Ryou sighed. "Good. I was a little embarrassed to have my friends over here. I wasn't sure of what anyone would think." Jou hugged him in a friendly manor. "You know you can always count on me."
Just then, the phone rang. Ryou picked it up and smiled, knowing it was his Bakura. "Hi, 'Kura-chan!" "Hey. I'm gonna' be even later little one. I'm not certain I'll make it home tonight." "Oh, darn. I'm going to be all alone tonight." "So have one of your loser friends spend the night or something. It's not like I chose to work late, you know." "I know. Well, maybe Jou can stay the night," he said, looking at his friend as he said that and receiving a nod. "Whatever. Oh, and can you go to the store or something? We're damn near out of food and if Mutt comes over, we will be."
"Okay." After a few minutes they hung up. "Well, Bakura wants me to go to the store, but I can't think of many places that would be open this late." "I know where one is. Come on." Jou led Ryou to a pretty seedy part of town. "Jou, I don't know about this," Ryou whimpered. "Just stick with me and you'll be fine." As they got further into the bad neighborhood, Ryou clutched on to Jou's arm.
"Bud, I think you may want to get offa' me. Folks think you doin' service or somat." "Service?" Ryou queried, "What's that?" "You don't want to know." Ryou decided that it was probably for the best that he didn't. Suddenly, a man walked up behind them and put his arm around Jou's shoulders. "Hey, pal. You up to make some big bucks tonight? I pay big and I play big, if you follow me." Jou shrugged him off. Ryou raised an eyebrow at what the man had said. He didn't get it. "Oh, come on. I can make it worth your time, you know."
"Maybe some other night." The guy shrugged. "Fine. If you don't want the money, I'm sure someone else does." He walked off. Ryou looked at Jou curiously. "What was he talking about?" Jou cursed under his breath. "Well, you see, Ryou, sometimes people will pay you to go on a date with them. That guy wanted me to go on a date with him and offered me money to do it." "Then why did you say you would do it another night? You and Seto are okay, aren't you?" "Of course we are. And...sometimes I really need the money."
"So, you can make money by going to the movies with someone?" "No' exactly. They don' take you to da movies. They take you to deir be'room." That much, Ryou could understand. After all, he and Bakura did that. "But, why would they pay you to do that?" Jou groaned. How could anyone be so naive? "Does Bakura like it wen you two do it?" "Yeah." "So do dose men, but they don' have a lover to do it wit." Ryou tilted his head.
"Let me see if I get this: people you don't know will pay you money to have sex with them just because they have no one else to do it with? That's silly." "It may be silly, but it brings in mullah, and tha's one thing I need often." Does Seto know about this?" "Hell no. And he ain't either, 'cause you ain't gonna tell, are ya'?" "I don't know about this. I never knew you could make money doing that."
"It's da only way I'm goin on tha trip anyway. I can' not go. And dat damn harpie won' extend da deadline for da fee. This is da only way I can get da money to go." Ryou thought about it. This was a lot for him to take in. "You could always stay behind with me. I can't pay for the trip either." "Nah. I'll need whatever left ova this month to pay dem damn bills, anyway." "There's no way you can make enough to pay a month's bills from this," Ryou insisted. "You wanna' bet. I do it ev'ry month."
They let the discussion drop as they shopped for some snacks for that night. But Ryou couldn't get it out of his mind. He couldn't believe you could make money by letting people do that with you. And he couldn't believe that Jou would let them. But the biggest shock was that Jou paid his and his father's bills from the money he made having sex with these men. Later that night, Ryou asked Jou a question, seemingly out of the blue.
"How many 'dates' do you have to go on to afford your apartment?" Jou blanched. "Eh, come on, Ry. It ain't that big of a deal is it? I didn't know it would botha you so much." "It doesn't, I just want to know." "Six or seven, if it's a good payer. Why?" "How much would it take to afford a place like this?" he asked, making the motion of meaning his apartment. "A few more. Eleven or twelve. Why?" "Could just anyone do that kind of work?" "What are you getting at, Ry?"
"Could I do something like that?" Jou almost fell out of his seat. "Oh, come on, Ry. You would never want to do somethin like that. It's as dehumanizin (big word for him, eh?) as it can be. Why would ya' want to do that?" "To help Bakura. If I was bringing in some income, it would be easier to afford this place. 'Kura-chan wouldn't have to work so hard and we could be together more."
"Ryou, I'm sure it's just tha fact that you's just moved here. No big thing." "I want to help, Jou. I really do." "Why don't you get a job on da weekends if dis is botherin you so much?" "No place would hire me because I'm still in school. You know that." "Yeah, but-""Jou." Ryou looked at him seriously. "I want to do this." Jou shook his head. "It's tha same thing as cheatin on Bakura. You don' wanna do that, do ya'?" "Well, no, but..." "See, dere ya' go. No need for ya' to do dat." Somehow, Ryou wasn't so sure.
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Wow, wow, wow! I can't believe it! This is the longest chapter I've ever written. I didn't mean to let this drone on and on the way it did, so I apologize if it got boring. For those of you who read this through to the end, yo have my eternal thanks. I hope you liked this story and will maybe send me a review about what you thought of it (hint, hint). Anyway, thanks to all of you who read this through and my next post will depend on the reviewers. So you'd better write me or I'll sick Bakura on you! Bye!
Hidden Guardian
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If It Pays The Bills
By Hidden Guardian
Chapter One: You Can Make Money doing that?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was getting late in the day, merely ten minutes before school let out for the weekend. Every student in the classroom was fidgeting, impatiently, waiting for the bell to ring. Ryou Bakura was no different, it finally being time to get away from their Harpie-Lady twin of a teacher. Also, it was the first time one of his friends would see his and Bakura's new apartment. Jou was coming home with him so they could work on a science project and Ryou was a bit nervous about what his friend would think.
"Alright, class, listen up," Sensei Koiyoko trilled. "This year, for our class trip, we're going to Kyoto. However, this trip is not, I repeat, not free. I will need the $180 dollars for the trip by the end of next week, no later." Ryou frowned. Normally, he wouldn't think anything about it, but as it were, that was a lot of money.
Seto stood up, knowing with pride that he could get the teacher fired if she said anything to him. "Sensei Koiyoko, do see reason. For a simple trip in the area (A/N:: I don't know how far apart they are!) that's a quite expensive." "I'm sorry, but that is when the money is due. End of discussion." He glowered at her but remained silent. Just then, the bell rang and most of the students flew out of the hell-prison known as school. Ryou put all of the things he would be taking home in his bag, then met up with his friends in the hall.
"That teacher is such a witch," Honda complained. "What do you expect; she's always riding a broom," Seto informed him. "Whose?" Ryuuji asked with a sneer. Ryou and Yugi, being the most innocent two in the group, flushed at the innuendo. "Sorry I can't pay for you two's fee," Seto told Jou and Ryou. "It's okay," Jou reassured him, "it's payable." Ryou said nothing. Jou turned to him.
"You ready to go, Ry?" "Go where?" Seto queried with a slight glare. "Get over ya self, Set. I ain't gonna cheat. We're doin a science project togha is all." Ryou rolled his eyes. Jealous boyfriends were the worst.
"Come on, Jou. We need to get to my place so we can get to work and you don't get home too late." "Comin'." As they walked to Ryou's apartment, he couldn't help but be nervous. None of his friends had seen his and Bakura's new place yet. After Ryou's father kicked him out for being such a 'prissy little queer,' there hadn't been much money to throw around. Even now, while Ryou was at school, Bakura was at work, trying to make ends meet with the best job he could get without a diploma of any sort.
Ryou stopped them in front of a large, yet somewhat demolished, building. Truthfully, he was glad that Jou was the first to see it because he wouldn't put too much into it. He turned to his friend. "Well, let's head on up." Ryou took Jou inside, got them in the elevator, and pushed the button for the top floor. That was the only good thing about the apartment's place in the building--no one above them. As they went up, Ryou snuck a look at Jou to see what he thought. The blonde's face revealed nothing.
He opened the door to his home and took a breath to calm down. "Bakura? I'm home!" There was no answer. He turned to Jou. "Make yourself at home. I think we should work on the table in the dining room, right through there," he pointed. Jou nodded and went. He paused in front of the door. "Can we have a snack?" he asked, hopefully. Ryou laughed and nodded in the affirmative.
"Bakura?" He went in into the kitchen to get a snack for himself and Jou. On the refrigerator was a note. 'Hikari, I have to work late tonight. I'll call when I can. Bakura.' "Darn," he grumbled, snapping his fingers. Saturday was the only night he got home before nine-ish, too. But Ryou, being the good sport he was, shrugged it off and went to help Jou with the project.
It didn't end up taking nearly as long as they thought it would, so the boys ended up in Ryou's room, talking, once they were done. "And then Set, oh you'd better believe he was pissed. He caught Malik by da hair and pulled, knocking dem both to the ground with Malik in his lap." Ryou couldn't help but giggle at Seto's expense. He faded out, though and looked at Jou. He had to ask him something.
"Jou?" "Hm?" "What do you think?" "About what?" "About this; about this building and apartment and, well, just *this*?" Jou chuckled. "You know I ain't thinkin' nothin' about it with where I live." Ryou sighed. "Good. I was a little embarrassed to have my friends over here. I wasn't sure of what anyone would think." Jou hugged him in a friendly manor. "You know you can always count on me."
Just then, the phone rang. Ryou picked it up and smiled, knowing it was his Bakura. "Hi, 'Kura-chan!" "Hey. I'm gonna' be even later little one. I'm not certain I'll make it home tonight." "Oh, darn. I'm going to be all alone tonight." "So have one of your loser friends spend the night or something. It's not like I chose to work late, you know." "I know. Well, maybe Jou can stay the night," he said, looking at his friend as he said that and receiving a nod. "Whatever. Oh, and can you go to the store or something? We're damn near out of food and if Mutt comes over, we will be."
"Okay." After a few minutes they hung up. "Well, Bakura wants me to go to the store, but I can't think of many places that would be open this late." "I know where one is. Come on." Jou led Ryou to a pretty seedy part of town. "Jou, I don't know about this," Ryou whimpered. "Just stick with me and you'll be fine." As they got further into the bad neighborhood, Ryou clutched on to Jou's arm.
"Bud, I think you may want to get offa' me. Folks think you doin' service or somat." "Service?" Ryou queried, "What's that?" "You don't want to know." Ryou decided that it was probably for the best that he didn't. Suddenly, a man walked up behind them and put his arm around Jou's shoulders. "Hey, pal. You up to make some big bucks tonight? I pay big and I play big, if you follow me." Jou shrugged him off. Ryou raised an eyebrow at what the man had said. He didn't get it. "Oh, come on. I can make it worth your time, you know."
"Maybe some other night." The guy shrugged. "Fine. If you don't want the money, I'm sure someone else does." He walked off. Ryou looked at Jou curiously. "What was he talking about?" Jou cursed under his breath. "Well, you see, Ryou, sometimes people will pay you to go on a date with them. That guy wanted me to go on a date with him and offered me money to do it." "Then why did you say you would do it another night? You and Seto are okay, aren't you?" "Of course we are. And...sometimes I really need the money."
"So, you can make money by going to the movies with someone?" "No' exactly. They don' take you to da movies. They take you to deir be'room." That much, Ryou could understand. After all, he and Bakura did that. "But, why would they pay you to do that?" Jou groaned. How could anyone be so naive? "Does Bakura like it wen you two do it?" "Yeah." "So do dose men, but they don' have a lover to do it wit." Ryou tilted his head.
"Let me see if I get this: people you don't know will pay you money to have sex with them just because they have no one else to do it with? That's silly." "It may be silly, but it brings in mullah, and tha's one thing I need often." Does Seto know about this?" "Hell no. And he ain't either, 'cause you ain't gonna tell, are ya'?" "I don't know about this. I never knew you could make money doing that."
"It's da only way I'm goin on tha trip anyway. I can' not go. And dat damn harpie won' extend da deadline for da fee. This is da only way I can get da money to go." Ryou thought about it. This was a lot for him to take in. "You could always stay behind with me. I can't pay for the trip either." "Nah. I'll need whatever left ova this month to pay dem damn bills, anyway." "There's no way you can make enough to pay a month's bills from this," Ryou insisted. "You wanna' bet. I do it ev'ry month."
They let the discussion drop as they shopped for some snacks for that night. But Ryou couldn't get it out of his mind. He couldn't believe you could make money by letting people do that with you. And he couldn't believe that Jou would let them. But the biggest shock was that Jou paid his and his father's bills from the money he made having sex with these men. Later that night, Ryou asked Jou a question, seemingly out of the blue.
"How many 'dates' do you have to go on to afford your apartment?" Jou blanched. "Eh, come on, Ry. It ain't that big of a deal is it? I didn't know it would botha you so much." "It doesn't, I just want to know." "Six or seven, if it's a good payer. Why?" "How much would it take to afford a place like this?" he asked, making the motion of meaning his apartment. "A few more. Eleven or twelve. Why?" "Could just anyone do that kind of work?" "What are you getting at, Ry?"
"Could I do something like that?" Jou almost fell out of his seat. "Oh, come on, Ry. You would never want to do somethin like that. It's as dehumanizin (big word for him, eh?) as it can be. Why would ya' want to do that?" "To help Bakura. If I was bringing in some income, it would be easier to afford this place. 'Kura-chan wouldn't have to work so hard and we could be together more."
"Ryou, I'm sure it's just tha fact that you's just moved here. No big thing." "I want to help, Jou. I really do." "Why don't you get a job on da weekends if dis is botherin you so much?" "No place would hire me because I'm still in school. You know that." "Yeah, but-""Jou." Ryou looked at him seriously. "I want to do this." Jou shook his head. "It's tha same thing as cheatin on Bakura. You don' wanna do that, do ya'?" "Well, no, but..." "See, dere ya' go. No need for ya' to do dat." Somehow, Ryou wasn't so sure.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wow, wow, wow! I can't believe it! This is the longest chapter I've ever written. I didn't mean to let this drone on and on the way it did, so I apologize if it got boring. For those of you who read this through to the end, yo have my eternal thanks. I hope you liked this story and will maybe send me a review about what you thought of it (hint, hint). Anyway, thanks to all of you who read this through and my next post will depend on the reviewers. So you'd better write me or I'll sick Bakura on you! Bye!
Hidden Guardian