Later on…..
I am lead blindly by Bakura, his hand my only guide.
"Can I take it off yet?" I ask tugging at the blindfold but it was skilfully tied by trained hands.
"No, not yet." He says slightly amused, gently slapping my hands away. The next few minutes were in silence. Yeah… I can't keep that up for long.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"Cant you tell me now?" I hear Bakura laugh softly. "What?!" I ask self consciously.
"Nothing. Its just that I blindfold you then you ask why I cant tell you where we are going."
"Yeah…? So?" I ask, confused. "So, are you going to tell me?" Bakura laughs again. He pulls one of my arms so I spin, catching me as I fall into him. He lightly tugs at the blindfold and it falls away in his hand. I blink a couple of times to clear my blurry vision.
"No need."
I take in my surroundings. We were in a light clearing, surrounded in a dense forest aside from a skinny path lead from it. Obviously the way we came. The light was perfect; not dark and scary but not to bright. Everything around me was green, vibrant and alive. I turn back to Bakura, who was leaning against a tree. Watching me silently. "Its beautiful," I utter breathlessly. He just nods. "But why have you brought me here?"
"Don't you remember, Ry?" he asks quietly. Then it clicks. The clearing, the forest, everything.
~Two years before~
It was the night of the first ever school dance I actually considered going to. I comb my fingers through my ivory hair, take a deep breath and make my way down the stairs (careful not to trip and fall on my face). I scan the room. Dad, drinking beer, watching TV and ignoring me. As per usual. I would give anything to say that my mother was rushing around taking photos and fussing over minor details or to say my big sister was insulting me and messing my hair that took over an hour to perfect. But I can't. They died in a car crash on my seventh birthday, my dad was, IS, a wreck. I started hating people and wandering around on my own. I was known as 'Ryou the emo' or 'Ry-emo' that continued for years until we moved from London and I met Bakura. Reckless, sarcastic Bakura. Perfect because he was imperfect. Now he was sitting in my living room, slouched in an armchair in a black tux. I wince.
"How bad do I look?" I ask quietly, looking down past my bright white tuxedo.
"Ryou. Are you kidding? You look brilliant! But come on, moneybags is waiting!" He grabs my arm and runs me to the door. I make a half-hearted call to my dad, like he would care, and jump into Setos' limo. This was waiting outside with Seto looking good in a grey pinstripe suit, Yugi in a cute blue suit, Yami looking really hot in a leather jacket and black skinny jeans, and Tea as her normal slightly cute slightly annoying childish self in a short silvery dress.
"Hey guys," I say as I squeeze between Bakura and Yami, "where's Joey and Tristan?"
"I don't want that mutt in my limo. And Tristan was still gelling his hair so after half an hour of circling his block I got bored and made my driver pick up everyone else." Seto says, his nose slightly crinkling at the thought of Joey.
"OK, fair call," I can hardly sit still. I was like a squirrel on caffeine, "God I am nervous."
"Why? It's just a dance." Inquires Yami. I blush.
"Well, it's kind of my first dance and I have some crazy idea that it must be perfect." I shake my head at the thought. Yami puts his arm around my shoulders. I hope he didn't notice that I tensed under his touch.
"Don't worry Ryou, we will make sure that your night is perfect," his voice is low, "or at least I will." He leans closer to my face, my eyes widen and my breath quickens. I duck out from under him and scoot as far away as I can from him. Nearly head butting Bakura in the process.
"Ha ha. Watch out Bakura. I think Ryou is coming on to you." Tea laughs. I blush and look down. I mutter an apology and use all my strength and self-control to not show how much I wanted to punch her in the face. [a/n I think it would be better if she did but then she would hate him and she might be useful later on]
"Ha. You bloody wish. You always did like those gay make out scenes." He fires back.
"How do you know? Have you been perving at me?"
"Maybe. You never know." He crosses his arms in defiance. The two bickering teens glare at each other for a few silent seconds till Bakura starts laughing then that starts all of us.