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A/N - Right this is my first attempt at a Yu-Gi-Oh fic. Please don't hurt me. It's
loosely based on My Beautiful Launderette so as you might've guessed its not the most
serious story in the world. You do not need to see the movie to know what's going on.
Please review if you have any opinions but please be gentle...
Summary - Ryou is an unemployed immigrant from Britain who has to take care of his bedridden father. Soon a brilliant business venture presents itself and new feelings arise when he is reunited with an old school friend. But will his family and racial prejudice get in the way?
WARNINGS - Contains yaoi, swearing, violence and lime. I you don't like any of these things, stop reading.......now.......or now.......or even now!
Disclaimer - I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or My Beautiful Launderette. They are owned by...other people... Please don't sue.
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Chapter One - Eviction
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A fist rapped forcefully on the chipped red surface of the front door and the bang resounded through the grotty bedsit. A wizened face peered suspiciously out the window only to see the familiar trenchcoat of what had now become the bane of his existence, accompanied by his usual entourage of thugs and heavies. The old man cringed and sat down on the filthy bed waiting for the inevitable.
"He's not answering, sir." said one of the heavies.
"Well, break the fucking door down then!" yelled the man in charge. "That bastard's been squatting on my cousin's property for too long now and he needs to be delt with!"
The order was quickly followed as they fetched their crow bars from the van.
"All right Motou! We know you're in there!" shouted one of them.
They stormed the building quickly removing the old man's belongings and throwing
them out the nearest doors and windows while Sugoruko, the soon to be ex-tenant,
looked on in silent terror.
"You can't do this! I still have rights!" the old man shouted as the goons dragged him down the stairs. "You've already taken my livelihood, what more do you want?!"
"Now listen, old man!" said the younger man he was faced with. "You gave Pegasus
that shop to pay off those enormous debts you owed him. Now you know the boss is a
fair man and he gave you more than enough time to get the rest of the money.
However, you have done nothing to fulfil that little obligation. I hope you
understand." and with that the old man was thrown roughly down the front steps and
the doors were swiftly boarded up.
"Damn you, Ishtar! Where the hell am I supposed to go?!" shouted Sugoruko.
"You have a grandson, don't you?" said Marik as he got back in the van with the others.
"Stay with him."
"Yugi shouldn't have to support me." said Sugoruko to no one in particular as the vehicle drove away into the urban wilderness. "Especially not now..."
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Ryou hung various items of damp clothing on the rail of the balcony while putting the dry ones back in the washing basket. They were old but well kept through the years. In the economic slump Japan was experience at the moment, it was good to take care of your clothes in order to save money in the long term. The idea of having a balcony seemed terribly romantic at the time. That was until you found out that it was barely five feet away from one of Domino's busiest train lines.
Incidentally, there was a train right now. The engine sped past with a defening roar,
the breeze making Ryou's pure white hair lift slightly with the breeze. The noise was
too loud to think and the entire appartment would rattle from the vibrations of the rail.
But after fifteen years of it happening every ten minutes the teen had grown quite used
to it. Plus the draught did help the clothes dry quicker. The tracks held far more
disturbing memories for the boy, ones that he tried not to think about... He hastily
finished his task and wondered back inside with the dried clothes ready to be ironed.
The feeble accented drone of his father's voice could be heard through the bedroom door. He crossed the threshold into the crowded room where the ironing board was kept.
"Yes I know, Pegasus, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for him. I mean all he
does is clean the flat look after me. But, I kind of had my heart set on him going to
college, you know .... I just want him to get ahead in life. ..... Yes, I know that. .
Well, I'll let him know, anyway. Thanks .... Bye." said Ryou's father into the receiver
balanced on his shoulder as he sat upright in bed and flicked through the morning
newspaper trying not to upset the multitude of medication that crowded the bedside table.
"Who was that?" asked the teen waiting for the iron to heat up.
"That was your uncle. He said he's got a job for you in his car showroom." said the older man.
"What kind of job? He's never offered me one before."
"I don't know, assistant manager or something." said his father. "I said you'd think about it."
"Who will look after you?"
"I can take care of myself for now, son. And your aunt Cecilia's offered to help out if things get any worse."
"There's no need for her to go to any trouble. I could probably handle doing both if I organised my time properly."
"You can't do everything yourself. Your mother was like that and it all became too much for her." said his father. "I don't want you throwing yourself on those tracks because of me..." his deathly white skin became even more pallid and his arms dropped back onto the bed as if they had been deflated.
"For God's sake, dad! You had nothing to do with mum dying!" said Ryou for the billionth time. "Don't you dare blame yourself for what happened. And don't worry about me.I can handle it."
They'd had that conversation so many times but his father still blamed himself for his mother's suicide. Ryou suspected that was the reason why his health hadn't improved at all that decade. He would repeat himself so often but it never stopped hurting.
"I still think you should concentrate on your education, Ryou. Get some qualifications."
"But then I'd be qualified and unemployed. Honestly, dad, this could be a great chance for me."
"I was worried you'd say that." said his father with a weak sigh. "Well, I guess there's no stopping you."
"Thanks dad! Just think we can finally support ourselves. We could even afford a private doctor." said Ryou happily.
"I still think you're too young for full time employment. Anyway, he said to show up at eight tomorrow if you're interested."
"OK."
"Good luck, Ryou..." murmured the older man before slipping back into long anticipated sleep.