I do not own yugioh, it is copyright Kazuki Takahashi. There! Let's start! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... CHAPTER TWO! *exits to fanfare, cheers, applause*
You're waiting outside Ryou's door with Sio, wearing your favourite t-shirt and a pair of shorts, since you felt that it was too hot for jeans. I can't believe I'm doing this. This is insane, this is stupid, this is -
"You know, since it was so nice of the lad to invite you over in the first place, you might as well ring the doorbell." Sionnach's comment brings a hot flush to your cheeks, jerking you into action to press the button beside his door before turning around and hissing, "don't be an eejit, Sio, he invited the both of us!" So why the hell do I feel so cheesed off about it?
She's up to something...
Sio smirks, leaning back on one leg and shoving her hands deep into her pockets as you add in a mumble, staring at your trainers, "it isn't as if he even likes me anyway..."
"So all the blushing, the surprising meetings, and the way you two stare into each other's eyes isn't romance? Darling, you shock me." Shaking her head mockingly, she grins a foxy grin. (A/N: the hint is in the name. "Sionnach" means "fox"). "I don't think that this romance is unrequited!"
"But - but -" you stutter, then give up. "Why are you so interested, anyway?" You use as your retort, glaring at her.
"Ooh, defensive are we?" (A/N sense of déjà vu, anybody?) Your best friend smirks before leaning past you and giving a little wave, smiling like a sunbeam. "Hi, Ryou."
you squeak and jump back, twisting around to face the now-open doorway.Shit! How much did he hear!?
"Hey, Sio," Ryou greets her cheerfully, stepping back and opening the door wide. "Step in, the others are all here - well, of course they're here - I mean -um..." he stutters into silence and turns back into his apartment, biting his lip. He can feel the his porcelain skin turn red. (Y/N) looks really pretty tonight, why tonight? Yami'll just take her away from me...
He's aware of a whispered conversation between the two girls behind his back as he walks into the living room where the others are already sitting and chatting amongst themselves. And then...
"Ow! Sio - agh!"
(Y/N) cannons into his back with the force of the push. They fall forward together, landing on the floor in a heap in front of everyone else. For a moment, he can feel the heat of her body through his thin top, and then he scrambles upright, cherry-red, apologies tumbling out of his mouth as he pulls her up beside him. He can hear Bakura laughing inside.
Joey leans over to Yugi and Tristan and stage-whispers: "I reckon that that was done on purpose by the other one to get these two lovebirds to kiss."
"Not quite, Wheeler, but nearly there." Sionnach steps into the room, an evil glint in her eye. Embarrassment and annoyance flood your stomach, and you're almost about to give her a piece of your mind before you notice the way she's standing. You raise an eyebrow at her, stepping away from the poor Brit and yanking her into a rough hug. "I hate you. So much, you evil sod."
She wanted a confrontation, to try and get me to show how I feel... And get him to react too! Smart move, Sio.
Sio laughs and hugs you back before shoving you away, holding her hands up to Ryou. "Sorry, Ryou, but she wouldn't set a foot over this threshold, so I had to take matters into my own hands... arms. Elbows. Whichever." She shrugs apologetically.
"It's f-fine. Nobody's hurt."
Yugi laughs from one of the sofas. "Shouldn't it be (Y/N) that you apologise to instead?"
"It's fine," you assure him, glancing shyly over at Ryou, who smiles a bit before you drop your gaze again. "She's trying to be helpful."
Ryou runs his hand through his hair and coughs. "Um, anyway... you two sit down... I just need to wait for Marik."
A laugh, from the corridor. "No need to wait for me any more!"
Somebody steps into the room, and Ryou blinks. "That was quick." A welcoming smile spreads across his face as he steps forward to greet the stranger. "How are you? How's Ishizu?"
"Ishizu? Last time I saw her was on a dig site. I'm sorry I'm late, but I got held back because of a new student..." the new boy - Marik - trails off. He's quite handsome, with spiky blonde hair and bronze skin, contrasting against his vivid purple eyes... one of which is black, marring the symmetry of his face. Both of which are staring at Sio in distaste. "What is she doing here?"
"I could ask the same of you, you pervert," she growls, furious. You recognise this stance, and lay a warning hand on her arm.
"Sio... easy. Not here." You glance between the two, mind making connections. So we have exhibit A, with black eye. Exhibit B, with the word "pervert" directed at exhibit A... got it.
"Marik, why are you so against Sio? How do you two know each other?" Thank you, Tea, for asking the question that is on everybody's minds.
"Against her? She's against me! First thing I say to her, and she hits me with a leather covered rock that she was trying to pass off as a ball!"
"Sorry... Marik?" He looks at you and nods. "What did you say to her?"
"Hello, beautiful," Sionnach grumbles. "And then he tried to get closer. I had no choice."
Yugi, Tristan, Joey and Ryou are staring at her in silence. "What? I didn't!" She protests, looking at them all.
A sniggering fills the room. Slowly, Sionnach turns around to give her deluxe death glare. You wave a hand, the other covering her mouth. "You could have hit him with the hurl instead..."
"You could have not hit him," Ryou points out, grinning.
Marik snorts, rolling his eyes. "She could have accepted the fact that she really is beautiful."
"When hell freezes over!" Sio splutters, turning pink.
"You could have flirted back so, in the knowledge that you're uglier than an aowld toad with verrucas." Ryou watches (Y/N) tease her best friend, her face glowing. He feels a pang in his heart, hiding it behind a smile. I wish I was as close to her as that...closer, even...
"Shall I make everyone some tea?" He suggests, stopping the discussion. Joey and Tristan shake their heads. So do Yugi, Tea, Marik and even Sionnach when he asks them.
Finally, he turns to you. "(Y/N)?"
"Please." He smiles, chocolate eyes sparkling, before heading into the kitchen, and you can finally sit down on the only space left: the floor. It feels nice to get the weight off your feet.
"So, do you think that sometime you and Ryou will..." Tea whispers, her voice low as she leans over the side of the sofa to talk to you. You shake your head and shrug.
"Does he even like me?" He'd be mad to, what with what's happened to me over my life...
Tea hesitates, and the gap is filled by the conversations of the others. Sionnach and Marik are having a low voiced discussion in the corner. Tristan, Yugi and Joey are discussing Duel Monsters. There's no noise from the kitchen. "I think that... he probably -"
But then Ryou enters holding a tray full of cupcakes and cola... And a teapot. And two cups. And milk. And even a sugarbowl...
"Hey, cola! Thanks, Ryou, you're awesome!" Joey reaches out as the tray is set down onto the coffee table and snags two cupcakes with one hand and a glass with the other. He stuffs one onto his mouth and beams. "Mm, delicious!"
Sionnach and Marik gravitate towards it as well to snag some goodies, and you manage to catch the tail end of a conversation.
"...still think you're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," Marik insisted. His eyes were serious, but a small smile danced around his lips.
"Huh." Sionnach was still grumpy, but you could tell that she was secretly enjoying all of the attention. Marik is the first person that you have ever seen to persist in trying to woo your friend.
"Here, (Y/N)." You look away from the two into Ryou's face, and then down to his hands, where one of the mugs is full of delicious, soothing tea. Reaching up, you wrap your fingers around the handle and balance it in your palm before taking a cautious sip. It's hot, but nice, and you sigh in contentment, giving him a grateful smile.
"It's lovely. Thank you." And you mean it. It is lovely, the way he went to all this trouble for everyone. It showed he cared. He beams at this result.
"Sionnach told me that you prefer drinking tea to anything else where it's possible."
"Really? When?" You look up at him, confused. You don't remember Sio saying anything of the sort...
"When we first met, and we were outside the block... after I brought you here." He flushes slightly, but smiles at you again before sitting down between Tea and Joey on the sofa and drinking his own tea.
Tea hands you down a cupcake and winks. "He likes you," she mouths, before turning back to join in the general conversation and moan about being back at school again.
"Yugi, I don't know how, but that girl can see me, " Yami murmurs to his hikari. Yugi glances up. Yami is sitting with his legs crossed on the arm of the sofa beside him, his violet eyes worried. "I feel as if I know her from somewhere, but I just can't recall from my memories where..."
Yugi discreetly looks down to the figure sitting on the floor beside Tea's seat, watching the Duel Monsters match on the T.V intently like everyone else. "It seems likely that she is," he admits, under his breath so that nobody can hear. "But you'll find out eventually..."
"I don't know. Maybe." Yami goes silent for a while, and Yugi goes back to watching the game until he feels a ghostly touch on his shoulder. "The ritual will be ready later," he whispers, and Yugi smiles secretly before whispering back, "Until then, then."
"Until then," Yami agrees, and then vanishes.
"Guys, it's getting late. We should probably head off," Tea announces. There is a General consensus, and she smiles at Ryou while she gets her school bag. "Thanks, Ryou."
"Yeah, the cupcakes were awesome!" Joey grins. Tristan punches him in the shoulder, laughing.
"You and food!"
"Yeah, so? They were, they were delicious!"
Yugi smiles apologetically over the bickering at Ryou. "See you tomorrow." But he gives you a strange look before the gang leaves.
Sionnach looks at you, tucking her red hair behind her ear and winking. "I'm going to keep chatting to Marik, down in the flat. Don't wait up."
"Good luck," you snicker, and watch as he tries to take her hand only to have it smacked away. The door shuts with a final click.
You're alone in the room with Ryou.
"Um... d-do you want to come onto the sofa (Y/N)?" Ryou's stuttering makes him wince. Why can't I just be normal around her?
"Sure," she smiles, carefully getting up and sinking into the cushions with a relieved sigh. "Ahh, that's much better than the floor!"
She's so close I could reach out and touch her... Ryou thinks, trying to keep his eyes off the way she sits, and blushing every time he glances up from under his eyeashes. His fists clench slightly with the embarrassment.
I can help you with that, Bakura whispers in his mind.
You hear the other voice loud and clear, and glance at Ryou, confused. "What did you say?"
"I - I didn't say anything." She can hear him!
Good, Bakura purrs, and then Ryou feels himself being pushed out of the way and deeper into his own subconscious.
Bakura eyes you slyly, reaching out a hand to tuck a piece of hair behind your cheek. You flinch at the contact and jerk away. This isn't Ryou! What the hell -
"I was just thinking of how pretty you are, that's all," he finishes for his hikari. You glare at him and inch away. He smirks, grabbing your wrist and yanking you into his arms, leaning so that his face is close to yours. "Very pretty indeed."
"You're not Ryou! What have you done to him?" Wriggling only makes him chuckle and adjust his hold on you to a more secure arm around your waist. "Who are you!?"
"I'm just someone who isn't afraid to do what Ryou wants to do with you, love," he whispers, his breath hot on your face. His hand suddenly yanks your head back, fingers bunched in your hair, before he runs his mouth down over your cheek. "And I want to do it all." He stops at your jawline. Involuntarily, you shiver at the closeness, feel him grin against your skin before he kisses it. "Very much."
"Get off!" Jerking, trying to get him to let go of you, stop what he's doing. But he's too strong, and all you get for your troubles is a hard bite and a warning growl that vibrates through to your throat. "Fucking get off, right now - nngh..."
"But you like this, sweetheart." He shoves you down onto the sofa, pinning you in that iron grip so that you can't escape. Straddling you, he pulls himself up, tilting his head, a gleam in his hungry eyes. His voice turns hard. "After all, if this were Ryou then you'd be loving it."
"You laughed at him when Sio pushed me," you force out through gritted teeth, unwilling to admit that a part of your heart was racing with excitement. "And I hear you talking to him and goading him just because he has manners. Unlike you."
Something strange is happening... you can feel your whole body getting hotter and hotter, like your anger. As the not-Ryou's eyes narrow, you manage to shove your hand onto his chest and push hard. "Now fuck off!"
Light. So much light that you turn your head away, squeezing your eyes shut tight. And then...
"(Y-Y/N)?" Ryou. Thank God. He sounds scared, confused, and you can feel him shaking. "What h-happened? Why are we... like this?"
You squint up at him as he takes his hand away from where it had been wrapped in your hair, his arm from around your waist. He's tomato red, and shaken.
"Who are you?" You ask him. "And who the fuck was the other you?"
He gets off of the sofa, eyes averted from yours. "You might not like me if I tell you," he whispers, voice trembling. He starts to pick up all the empty glasses and cupcake cases, placing them onto the tray, his back to you. "You'd leave me like everyone else, or even worse, stay with me just for him."
"I..." You hesitate. Lick your lips, then slide off the sofa and reach up to touch his arm. "I like you. A lot." Um. Jesus. What do you say to a guy that's so miserable? And I'm still a frigid. But, I'd, em, like to be your frigid, or even your... your not frigid if you want?"
Wow. Such amazing ways to avoid saying it directly. IDIOT!
He's still looking down, but his hands have stopped moving, resting on the glasses that he was stacking. Then, in a voice so low that you can barely hear it:
"My father gave me a present for my birthday when I was younger. He'd got it from an Egyptian archaeological dig site, a tomb. I wore it all the time." He swallows. You can tell that this is hard for him, and squeeze his arm slightly as he takes a breath and goes on.
"Things started... happening, then. I'd get these memory blackouts, and wake up not knowing what had happened, or if it was really bad, where I was. Then it started to happen when I invited my friends over to play a board game... I woke up and they were all unconscious. They were hospitalised.
"It kept happening, so I moved to a new school, but it happened there too... so I kept on moving. I had to leave my family, my mother and my oneechan. My father I rarely see anyway. They send me money to live on, from time to time..."
He goes silent for a little while, closes his eyes. Opens them again, and looks directly at you, his sweet warm eyes full of pain. "I moved here, and met the guys... but when I touched Yugi's millennium puzzle... And when I was about to mention my own Millenium Ring...I got these weird chest pains... And I started to hear him."
Such bitterness in his voice. He drops his gaze, and his tone. "He told me everything that he'd done... And even when he didn't, I could feel it in his mindset... he hates the pharaoh that lives inside Yugi's Puzzle... he's tried to kill them multiple times, using my body... And he's stolen everyone that I loved, I mean, he can steal my face and pass off as me... The others can't trust me." He pulls away from your hand on his arm. "You can't trust me either." Picking up the tray, he heads toward the kitchen.
But you reach out and grab him again, taking the tray from him and putting it onto the floor, looking him straight in the eye. "Yes I can."
"No," he says softly, "(Y/N), you can't, you -"
He looks into her eyes. Tears burn behind his, but won't come out. He shakes his head, steps back from her. How could she? Nobody else could, not even Yami... not even my family...
"You sound different. You act different, too. More... suspicious, less you. I can't explain it." Don't grab my hand, (Y/N), please just don't...
"And," she continues, staying where she is, but still looking at him, "there's one other way." She purses her lips and looks down at the ground. "You haven't tried to kiss me yet."
... what?
"Would you like me to kiss you?" He asks, heart beating faster. Please say yes please say yes please say yes please please please...
Still looking down at the ground. "...maybe." and she shivers, hugging herself.
"Oh! Are you cold?" He reaches out to her, hesitated, touches her bare arm. "Maybe you shouldn't have worn shorts... it is September, after all."
"I thought it was too hot for jeans," she mumbles. She isn't looking at me.
Maybe... he blushes at the thought. Maybe if I...
Carefully, he reaches around her small body, feeling the inner heat even through her cold skin, and pulls her into his chest.
She's stiff for a second before relaxing, wrapping her own arms around his neck. He can feel her heart beating in her chest, hear his own drumming in his ears.
The contact is electrifying.
You sigh, and lean your head on his chest. "You're so warm," you mumble, and shiver again.
He holds you tighter, voice worried. "Are you still cold?" You nod slightly against his chest. He hesitates. "Maybe..."
Glancing up, you meet his gorgeous eyes while he reaches up a hand and cups your cheek, the look in them a plea. "Maybe this will warm you up..."
But you're already leaning up to meet his lips as he's bending down. You kiss, then kiss and kiss again, a series of little kisses, exploring kisses, shy kisses, soft and sweet kisses, both of his hands holding your face, yours burying themselves in his long, soft hair like you had had daydreams about doing ever since you had met him. So this is what a kiss feels like, a tiny part of you wonders giddily. Then your mouth moves back to his, and all rational thought is lost.
He strokes his fingertips over your cheeks, moving to a light touch at your temples, a brush over your jaw, tilting your head more with a soft groan. "Oh..."
Amazing. She's amazing. His thoughts are running around in circles. She's wonderful. But eventually he has to break away from her, both of them gasping, cheeks flushed. He hugs her tightly again, his body trembling, his legs feeling like jelly.
"Thank you," he repeats, over and over again, breathlessly. "Thank you. Thank you."
He feels her doing something to her hands behind him, pulling something off her finger and shoving it back on again. Then she turns around in his arms so that her back is to his stomach, and holds out her right hand. "Look."
Her cladagh ring had been switched around, so that the heart pointed in towards her knuckles. He laughs. "Does that mean that I have your heart then?"
"Keep it safe for me, I've only got the one," she jokes, leaning back, looking up at him and grinning.
Here is nothing funny about the serious way in which he promises her. "I will."
WHOOHOO! That's chapter two finished! It took me a while, three days to type, because as soon as the inspirations started to hit I was called away to do chores, or to food, or once to go to the orthodontist to get the bracket put back on my tooth (I ate a piece of baguette too enthusiastically.) I will now have to do the rest of the story in the same way, but hopefully with not to long a gap between updates!
Thank you all, and please like, comment and review!