The sun shined down on 17-year-old Yami Mutou as he made his way through the sea of students to Domino High School. Today was his birthday, and though all of his friends had sent him cards and gifts, he was feeling depressed, for the one person he wanted a "happy birthday" from had completely ignored him for the last 2 years. Yami didn't know why he wanted Seto Kaiba to pay attention to him so badly, and he hated it. The flames of anger licked at his heart; no one knew how much of a temper he had. For the longest time he'd been able to keep things together, but as of late his fury had been boiling just below the line.
"Oi, Yami!" Katsuya Jonouchi called, waving to Yami from the corner of an intersection. "Happy birthday, man!"
"Thanks Jonouchi-kun." Yami said, forcing a smile. "Your present was….. unusual."
Jonouchi grinned perversely. "Yer almost a man now, you deserve to have a little glance into adult stuff." He'd sent Yami 5 XXX rated magazines, which Yami had promptly locked in a safe and hidden beneath the floorboards in his room. "Why do ya look so down, buddy?"
"I guess I didn't sleep well last night." Yami said truthfully. Lately, his dreams had been haunted by a mysterious Egyptian pharaoh cloaked by shadows who kept calling to Yami, and Yami, no matter how hard he tried, could only fall into a deep, dark abyss upon taking a step towards the pharaoh. 'Who is the pharaoh?' He thought. 'Why does he keep visiting my dreams?'
"Um, Yami?" Jonouchi waved his hand in front of Yami's face. "Wake up sleepyhead."
"Huh?....Oh, right." Yami shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "Sorry, I was just thinking about….. things."
"I think I know what kinds of things." Jonouchi grinned. "It's perfectly natural for guys our age to think like that, Yami, so don't worry 'bout it."
"That's not what I meant!" Yami said heatedly, his cheeks flaring with blush.
"I'm just teasin' ya! Geez, you don't have to be so uptight all the time." Jonouchi lowered his voice. "Honda and I are going drinking tonight, wanna come?"
Yami began to say, "I don't drink," when he thought, 'Maybe a little alcohol will get the pharaoh off my mind.' "Sure."
"Great! See if Yugi wants to come too." Jonouchi looked happy. "Me 'n Honda will swing by your place 'round 6."
In the distance, the school's first bell rang, warning students to get to class.
"Yipes! We better high-tail it to class or we'll get detention!" Jonouchi exclaimed, beginning to run. "Come on Yami!"
"I'm coming." Yami said, walking normally. He knew he'd make it to class on time; it only took a couple of minutes to get to the school. His mind wandered to the tall brunette, Kaiba. 'Damnit! Why do I keep thinking about him?!' He thought angrily. 'We're enemies for God's sake!' Running his fingers through his hair, Yami tried to think about something else. Today was student council elections, and Yami had been nominated for president. 'Damn, I'll have to give a speech if I'm elected….' He thought in despair. He hated speaking to large crowds.
As he reached the school campus, a girl sprinted towards him. "Yami-kuuuuuuuuun!"
'Dear Lord….' Yami thought, dread flooding through him. "Hello Anzu-Gah!" He was cut off as Masaki Anzu hugged him enthusiastically.
"Happy birthday Yami-kun!" She squealed. "Did you like my present?!"
"Of course I did." Yami lied. He cared too much for Anzu's feelings to let them be crushed by telling her that he hated her gift most of all. It was a homework planner with Anzu's days off circled in red pen.
"Yay!" Anzu let go of Yami. "Come on, let's get to class!" She took his hand and dragged him into the school.
Yami ground his teeth. He was too damn nice for his own good. If he let Anzu carry on like this, she'd start thinking he actually LIKED her…… He shuddered at the thought.