Okay, the second chapter! Sorry it took so long.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or General Mills cereals.
Warnings: Homosexual references. Please remember, this IS Yaoi and if you don't like it then don't read. But at the moment, it's just slow build-up.
Ryou awoke with a stiff back and a pounding headache. He pried open a single eye to see the gray morning light filtering in from his bedroom window. He slowly sat up, blinking away the sleep from his eyes. With a soundless yawn, he stretched his arms out, his back arching until he heard a satisfying pop.
He lowered his arms and turned to look past the silently snoring Bakura on the bed to read the alarm clock.
6:02
Six-oh-two? Ryou suppressed a miserable groan. That meant he had less than six hours of sleep last night because he had gotten in around midnight. He could try and go back to sleep but Ryou knew that would be a futile attempt; his morning headache wouldn't allow him any peace of mind. Cursing his innate ability to wake up early in the morning, Ryou managed to slowly get on his feet and quietly tip-toe past Bakura's slumbering form to go out into the hallway.
His cold feet dragged him down the hall and into the bathroom where Ryou suddenly found himself staring at his bleary-eyed reflection in the mirror. His face was its usual pale, the only exception being the slight red flush of his cheeks. His hair was a complete mess, sticking out in frenzied directions.
Ryou grasped the edge of the sink for support, his migraine pulsating painfully beneath his skull. He needed some aspirin...
Opening the medicine cabinet, Ryou's chocolate brown eyes searched the shelves' contents until at last they fell on the generic white bottle of medicine. He reached in, closed his fingers around the bottle, and took it out, the bottle rattling its purpose. After he unscrewed the lid, Ryou shook out two pills, small, round, red ones, and with an expertly quick flourish of his pale hand, swept them into his mouth and swallowed. They slid uncomfortably down his dry throat.
When Ryou had placed the bottle back to its stationary position in the medicine cabinet, Ryou made his way out of the bathroom, down the stairs, and into the kitchen.
He turned the light switch on and gingerly took a few steps. He vaguely remembered leaving Bakura alone in here last night so he could go back to bed. Now he was going to find out if that was a wise decision or not...
The kitchen table stood in the middle of the room innocently enough. Upon closer inspection, Ryou could not detect any messy splatters of pink, strawberry yogurt. So far so good...
Ryou turned his attention to the sink. Peering past the shiny, metallic-plated side, he saw a solitary spoon resting on the bottom. The dipper of the spoon was smudged with yogurt. Ryou felt as though he could laugh; he didn't really expect Bakura to be capable of putting away his own dishes.
With one last, swift gaze of the room, Ryou could conclude that Bakura had indeed done nothing bad to it and that there was nothing wrong with the room.
Ryou gave a weak smile to himself as he began searching through cabinets for a probable breakfast. What had he expected anyway? For Bakura to completely trash the kitchen? Surely he wasn't that destructive. Besides, how much harm could he do with a single canister of yogurt and a spoon?
Ryou stopped that train of thought before he could visualize possible fantasies on what could go wrong with yogurt. It was Bakura after all...
After deciding he wasn't in any mood to cook, Ryou pulled out a box of one of his favorite cereals, Cocoa Puffs, and set it on the table. After retrieving a bowl, a clean spoon, and a carton of milk, he fixed himself a bowl of cereal and as he ate slowly and chewed thoughtfully, began to think. Always a dangerous task for him.
It seemed that Bakura would be staying with him, no matter what kind of plan Yami and Yugi came up with. Bakura was a person now, not some evil spirit trying to take over the world- as far as Ryou knew. But still, though it seemed irrational and illogical, Ryou trusted Bakura and that he wasn't there to harm him. It was odd and went beyond the normality of common sense but Ryou trusted Bakura, to an extent of course.
And Ryou had a feeling that Bakura might actually need him. Maybe heds never admit to it, but Bakura definitely needed Ryou to be able to function this world, to know how it worked, and ultimately to survive.
Yeah, Ryou scoffed, thinking, as if Bakura would be able to admit that he was dependent on another person.
Suddenly, Ryou remembered the mind link Bakura had mentioned and used last night. Because they were able to communicate telepathically, did that mean he could hear Bakura's thoughts as well, when he wasn't contacting him?
Chewing his lower lip, Ryou tried emptying his mind of all thoughts and tried listening for Bakura. There was nothing, not a sound. He was about to give up when he thought he heard a small, faint noise in the far recesses of his mind. It was so quiet a sound, he could have simply imagined it. In fact, he probably did. But all the same, Ryou only listened harder.
And then, he heard it again. So soft, he could have easily missed it.
It was snoring. Ryou blinked. Snoring? And then he remembered Bakura was still asleep upstairs. Ryou sighed; that made sense. And then he wondered if he would be able to hear Bakura's dreams or talk to him while he was still sleeping. But then, what if he happened to wake Bakura up? He was sure the old tomb robber wouldn't be too happy if he woke up this early.
//No I wouldn't, // growled a grumpy voice. Ryou froze, wondering whether he should answer Bakura or not. Sensing the impatient pause from Bakura's end of the mind link, Ryou decided to.
((Bakura?)) Ryou called tentatively through their mental connection.
//Of course it's me, you fool. Who else would it be? // Bakura snapped.
((I'm sorry!)) Ryou began in a flurry. ((I didn't mean to...I just...you see- ))
There was a sigh from Bakura's end. Not an impatient one but more of a sigh that projected ancient experience. It was then that Ryou began to partially grasp Bakura's seldom maturity through his five-thousand plus years.
//When you open your mind up, I can hear everything you're thinking, // he explained. Bakura's tone was extremely tolerant, almost patient. In a way, it was as though he reprimanded himself for not describing this earlier to Ryou.
((I'm sorry,)) Ryou repeated. Bakura seemed uncomfortable to replying to the apology.
//I'm coming down, // he said instead. //I hope you have more food because I'm hungry again.// And with that, he closed the mind link. Ryou drew himself away from it as well, secluding himself to the confines of his mind and returning back to the present. He looked down at his half-eaten bowl of cereal, hearing Bakura loudly lumbering down the stairs. Ryou held his breath as the sleepy-eyed tomb robber robotically made his way into the kitchen. His hair was also standing up in chaotic ways, more than usually, that is. The look seemed to suit him, almost invoking a feeling of desire and arousal in Ryou.
In response to that latest thought, Ryou could feel his face growing red hot with embarrassment. To his utter relief, Bakura seemed too tired to notice his blush. But then, a pang of panic shot through Ryou's veins as he remembered that Bakura could read his thoughts.
However, Bakura's expression remained unchanged as he sat opposite of Ryou at the table. Ryou had been so shocked by his initial feelings of Bakura's presence that he had all but forgotten the spoonful of cereal, halfway to his open mouth. Ryou remained frozen in this state for a few more moments while Bakura considered him for a second and smirked.
"What's wrong, Ryou?" he asked. "Cat got your tongue?" The expression was harmless enough but Ryou couldn't help but wonder at the fact that last night he had mentally compared Bakura to a kitten and it was now Bakura who was making him speechless. Ryou blinked away his stupor and, placing the spoon back into the bowl, stood up from the table, his chair scraping across the floor.
"Would you like cereal for breakfast Bakura?" Ryou asked, gesturing toward his own bowl of Cocoa Puffs for an example. Bakura glanced at the bowl with a bored expression.
"Sure, why not?" he said dismissively, turning away from the bowl and Ryou to stare dejectedly into space. Ryou went to retrieve another spoon and bowl along with the carton of milk from the fridge. He set the bowl and spoon in front of Bakura, placed the milk beside it, and pushed the box of Cocoa Puffs toward him. Bakura began to absently fix his breakfast.
Ryou watched him as he sat back down in his own chair. While Bakura was distracted for the moment with the cereal, Ryou closed his side of the mind link, hiding his thoughts from his other half.
Ryou didn't eat another bite of cereal as he began to think, his unfocused eyes fixed on Bakura.
Desire and arousal. That was what he had felt when he saw Bakura's form in the doorway of the kitchen. He wondered, as he watched Bakura now with unseeing eyes, where those feelings had come from.
Ryou was a guy and Bakura was guy, obviously. For Ryou to be attracted to another guy would make him gay. Ryou blinked at the word. Was he gay? Sure the last girlfriend he had was in day care when he was five years old but still... Was it even possible for him to be gay? Just because Bakura had shared his body for the past four years didn't make him lust after the general male population!
And then Ryou remembered Bakura's teasing comment from last night. We could share it, Bakura had said, referring to the bed. Ryou's face had turned bright red at the statement. Then, Ryou didn't think he had meant anything by it except to be annoying and to get his own way. But now that Ryou thought about it, could it mean that Bakura was gay as well?
No, not "as well." That implied that Ryou was gay and Ryou was still unsure at the moment of his sexuality.
Bakura chomped away at his cereal not bothering to silence the loud and rude noises he was making. After a few minutes of eating, he seemed to notice Ryou's unwavering gaze on him. Bakura frowned and swallowed his current mouthful.
"Ryou, why are you staring at me like that?" Ryou blinked, breaking his thoughts on his identity crisis. He smiled apologetically at Bakura's annoyed face.
"Sorry Bakura... I was just thinking." Bakura contemplated him, a frown still on his face, before impatiently shoving the cereal bowl away from him.
"I'm not hungry anymore," he said, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back in his chair. "So, what's on the agenda for today? I expect you're going to see your friend, Yugi, and that idiotic pharaoh?" Ryou glanced at the digital clock on the microwave, ignoring the insult to Yami, and saw it was almost seven.
"Maybe later," Ryou speculated. They wouldn't be up by now. "But before I do, I'm going to need to go to the store and get some things." It had been a while since Ryou had been home, really home so all the groceries and such were probably low in stock.
"The store?" asked Bakura. Ryou nodded. "Well you're going to have to get some more yogurt, we're all out." Bakura looked away, avoiding Ryou's stunned gaze.
"What do mean we're all out? Bakura, there were eight things of yogurt last night!" Ryou exclaimed.
"I was hungry," Bakura pouted. "So I happened to eat all of them." He was unapologetic in his deeds. Ryou passed a hand over his face. Calm, he had to remind himself. He was going to the store anyways; it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Okay, then," he said in a strained voice. "Is there anything else you can think of that we might need?" Bakura shrugged his shoulders, a small and uncaring movement.
"How should I know? You know more about being human than I do." Ryou sighed, suppressing his annoyance but knowing he was right about that
"I suppose I'd better make a list then," Ryou sighed, feeling a faint trace of his headache coming back. He looked around the room for paper and a writing utensil. He stood up and searched one of the drawers for some. In a short amount of time, he pulled out a small notebook he used for making lists and a pen. He sat back down at the kitchen table and began making out a list. After a few minutes of writing, the list said:
Yogurt
Milk
Cereal
Eggs
Peanut Butter
Bread
Toothpaste
Seven simple things. Ryou glanced up form his list to see Bakura leaning over the table, scowling at the list.
"Peanut butter?" he asked in disbelief. Ryou hesitated, unsure of what was wrong with peanut butter.
"Uh… yeah?" he said uncertainly. "Why?" Bakura sat back in his chair, glaring at Ryou.
"I'm allergic to peanut butter," he said flatly. Ryou cocked an eyebrow.
"How can you know if you're allergic to peanut butter? You've never had it! And I seriously doubt that the ancient Egyptians had it." Bakura made no reply, seeing it was fit to ignore Ryou and grumble to himself while glaring daggers at the kitchen tabletop. Ryou stared at the yami hopelessly and stood back up again, scratching the nape of his neck in discomfort.
"Look," he said slowly. "I'm going upstairs to get ready. You can either come with me or not. It's up to you." Even though Bakura annoyed him half to death, Ryou secretly wanted him to come. That way if he did, he wouldn't have to worry about Bakura trashing the house…
And NO, he was NOT gay.
At least, he didn't think so.
Bakura continued not to look at Ryou but answered him anyways.
"I would come but I have nothing to wear." And suddenly, he was smirking. But Ryou realized that the crumpled clothing he was wearing were the same ones from last night, striped T-shirt and jeans. But then again, Ryou was wearing the same thing, not bothering to change into pajamas before he went to bed.
"Well, I guess you could borrow some of my clothes because I'm pretty sure we're the same size-"
"We're not the same size!" Bakura suddenly exclaimed, finally looking at him. "I'm taller than you!" Ryou's eyes widened in incredulity.
"Taller than me?! Only because your hair is like ten times poofier than mine!" Ryou shot back. Bakura jumped to his feet in a flash, jabbing his finger at Ryou.
"Poofier? That's not even a word you fool! And where do you even get off insulting my hair like that?!" Ryou felt his skin flush as his temper began to flare dangerously.
"Well where do you get off acting like a spoiled brat in my house? You-"
"Oh please," Bakura dismissed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. "Don't tell me you're as sensitive as a girl. You're like, what, a teenager now? Aren't you suppose to be mature and all that adult development stuff?" Ryou's hands balled into fists.
"You're the one who's five thousand years old! Do you think you could try and not act like a petulant child? I gave up my bed, allowed you to eat all my yogurt, and put up with your constant complaining! Not to mention I allowed you to stay in my house even after you've taken control over my life for the past four years!"
"Okay, so now you're taking this way too personally-"
"Yeah I am! So if you don't like it, you can just leave!"
The words were out of Ryou's mouth before he could help it. He didn't mean to be quite so… rude. But, quite frankly, he had had enough of Bakura's mouth.
Bakura's eyes widened and for the first time ever, Ryou could swear that he might have detected a hint of fear. Because, as he had concluded last night, where did Bakura have to go? Nowhere. And now Ryou was kicking him out. Ryou might have taken it back but, for the moment, he was too angered to care about Bakura's feelings.
And then Bakura's eyes narrowed back down to their normal angular shape. And it made him look terrifyingly angry. It was all Ryou could do not to lose his severe countenance.
"Maybe I will," he sneered, taking a step back.
"Then leave! And don't come back until you've given me a sincere apology for your actions!" That might have been taking it a bit far because, seriously, asking Bakura to apologize?
"Who said I wanted to come back?" Bakura lashed out, turning around and stalking out of the kitchen. Ryou followed him into the living room.
"Then don't," Ryou grumbled, just audible enough for Bakura to hear. The yami had his hand on the door knob, turned it, and flung the door open angrily.
"Good bye, hikari," he said over his shoulder as he stepped out into the freezing December outdoors, barefoot and in his thin, weather-permeable clothes.
"Good bye, yami," Ryou called out, his voice as cold at the air outside, before closing the door and returning to the kitchen.
Oh boy, I can just imagine that a lot of people hate me right about now. And I'll go ahead and say it, Bakura does come back, in the next chapter even so please do not fret needlessly about it.
And don't think too much about the whole thing of Bakura being allergic to peanut butter. He just said that to be annoying.
Please review and I shall try and get next chapter up sooner!
~Nuit Songeur
