Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did I would be rich and a man called Kazuki Takahashi. It's just too unfortunate that I'm not.
Ha, ha. Sorry for taking so long to post this next chapter. I had so much work to do before the summer holidays it had to wait. Anyway, it's more like two now, so that's some consolation. It is a bit long, but never mind. Things might be getting bit more graphic soon, just to warn you, but there you go. Enjoy it.
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Yuugi couldn't pretend that he wasn't traumatised from the experiences of the previous night. He hoped that he would never again have to suffer the complete and total humiliation of having someone he knew virtually nothing about cleaning his cuts and swabbing at him with antiseptic. Especially when they were that gorgeous, albeit in a totally wrong way, however tenderly they might attempt to do so.
Thankfully, nothing completely hideous had occurred in the bathroom. Yami had simply done his ministrations and vanished. He hadn't even tried to pull down the towel, (which Yuugi'd feared Yami might), although he had got slightly frustrated about the younger boy trying to hide half of the wounds on his stomach behind it. It wasn't as if Yami didn't know where they were. After all, he had possessed that body for a good while the previous evening. Still…
As far as Yuugi was concerned, Yami did not seem to be overly forthcoming about himself. Yuugi was still completely in the dark about what had happened after Yami took control. Nor indeed, did Yami seem to care about anything other than what it was Yami intimated he wanted at the said time Yami wanted it. He was mysterious, demanding, aloof at best. And a complete pain in the backside, but Yuugi was hooked, it was like an addiction, and despite everything, he wanted to know more.
It was with much sighing and groaning that Yuugi dragged his sorry self into school the next day. He felt like death. It turned out that getting beaten up by Ushio was not something you recovered from too easily. Not that Yuugi had expected to really. Frankly, he was surprised he was still alive. Yuugi was also very conscious of the fact that he had a rather deep cut somewhere above one eyebrow, which Yami had covered with a plaster, and a graze on his cheek below, which Yami had chosen to leave open to the air, seeming to think it would heal faster that way. This did not make Yuugi happy.
People were going to notice. Yuugi hated that. He'd already had to tell his Jiichan that he'd fallen down the stairs, which had been accepted with a suspicious raise of the big bushy eyebrows. Teachers might ask him if he was all right. That was always the worst; then he would have to explain about bullies, or not explain. Either way it didn't make any difference. The interrogative glances and pitying stares made his insides shrivel, but nothing changed whatever he said. It just made him feel more of a freak.
He was terrified of the notion of running into Ushio. He was also paradoxically terrified that Ushio was not going to be around, and that whatever Yami had done to him was something utterly cannibalistic and too awful to contemplate. Did spirits eat flesh?Yuugi couldn't help but wonder. Something about Yami's teeth when he smiled; the way he held his lips… it seemed a little sinister. Then again, maybe that was just Yami.
'Let me just say it was a poetic justice.'
The spirit's words rattled around inside his head. Thanks to all these troublesome thoughts, and possibly a little due to the memory-loss he was still suffering from, Yuugi walked in to school feeling completely spaced-out, as if he were watching events happen to him from outside himself, rather than actually physically doing them. That was to say, he could feel himself doing them, and he knew what he was doing, but he felt as if he was playing with his own avatar in a game, and that the self that was walking to school was not his true corporeal body. He barely noticed anyone around him, and he certainly did not notice the tall shadow looming over his locker until he had nearly lost himself in its very disheveled school-shirt.
The shirt was accompanied by a wave of intense odeur, and gagging slightly, Yuugi looked upwards bemusedly. He finally came round only to discover he was practically nose-to-navel with non other than a very battered looking Jonouchi.
As realization struck, Yuugi reeled away from him, ramming his back against his locker as far as it would go, face paling. Thoughts of imminent doom began to circle sickly in his head like a flock of storm crows forecasting his fate. Yuugi was left paralysed by fear.
Not already! I only just got here!
'Umm, good morning, Jonouchi.' Yuugi whispered softly, with a pallid attempt at a smile.
'Ya don't look as if you though so, Yuug,' Jonouchi answered, reasonably enough, in fact, he seemed to be in quite an amiable mood; positioning himself comfortably leaning over Yuugi, one arm supporting his weight against the locker, effectively trapping the smaller boy. 'Anyways, I gotta talk to you 'bout somethin'.'
Yuugi stared incredulously at him. What could Jonouchi possibly want to talk to him about? Yeah, sure, he might want to hurt him, especially considering he looked more seriously wounded than Yuugi had first realised, but talk to him?
'What on Earth…? Jonouchi?' Yuugi questioned, his fear swallowed to some degree beneath a wave of intense curiosity.
'Well…' Jonouchi started, but seemed unable to finish. In fact, on closer inspection he seemed more nervous than Yuugi had been, twisting his gold tag necklace round and round between his long fingers restlessly.
'That is to say-' Jonouchi stopped again. 'How are ya doin'?' It was clearly another cop-out from what he really wanted to say.
'I'm fine,' Yuugi responded more easily, feeling slightly in control, 'and you, Jonouchi?' He asked back, trying to convey some of the concern and sorrow he felt with his eyes. After all, it had been his fault that Ushio had taken it upon himself to 'discipline' Jonouchi.
'Whaa, this?' Jonouchi said, touching his grazed face reflexively, 'This is nothin'. Happens all the time.'
He turned and leant his back against the locker beside Yuugi, crossing his arms in front of himself, looking down at his ancient trainers and smiling. Something about the elegance of the posture, and the smirk, reminded Yuugi of Yami. It seemed he was going to start seeing him everywhere.
'Yuugi! If you can keep a treasure, so can I!' Jonouchi exclaimed suddenly, 'Wanna see?'
'Yes.'
'Ha ha ha… you can't!' Jonouchi's laugh was slightly shy, but genuine, nothing like the nasty snigger Yuugi normally received. It made his heart start to beat faster, hope thrilling through his veins.
Was this?…
'I'll give you a hint! It's "something you can show, but can't see"!'
Yuugi looked down, slightly puzzled, 'Something you can show, but can't see…?' He echoed slowly, 'What is it?'
This is too much to hope…
'Ya give up?' Jonouchi glanced across towards Yuugi's face, looking him dead in the eye. Yes, he is smiling at me!
'C'mon… I thought ye were good at games. It's friendship!'
Yuugi opened his mouth incredulously, his eyes growing several sizes in amazement. It had been too much to hope for, but there it was. Real enough to touch, almost.
So it is!
'Thanks for showing me that we're friends.' Jonouchi finished.
'OKAY!' Yuugi exclaimed, tears forming at the corners of his eyes; for once these weren't caused by distress. Quite the opposite. He reached out to hug Jonouchi-
Then Jonouchi's face changed, as if he had realised what he had just said and was completely mortified by it.
'Well… later! See ya in class!' And he sped off down the corridor as fast as his long legs could take him. He had failed to notice that one of his slip-ons had come off. In his head he was cursing himself. How can I say such corny stuff? Soon I'll be turning into that pansy… arrrrgh!
'Jonouchi, JONOUCHI! Your shoe! YOU DROPPED YOUR SHOE!' Yuugi cried out after him, picking it up and following at a sprint towards Mr Nakamura's English class, the place where he knew he would catch up with his new friend.
When Yuugi did manage to catch up with Jonouchi, much to his frustration, he was unable to speak to him until lunchtime. This was because Mr Nakamura was once again looking completely murderous, and the following teachers until break were not ones who permitted idle chitchat. Yuugi had no chance of cornering him, not only that, but somehow the blonde managed to vanish extremely niftily when they were finally let go. Yuugi did manage to return the shoe though; it wasn't as if someone like Mr Nakamura was going to let a thing like bare feet occur during his lesson. The Gods forbid.
As the bell rang for the end of class Yuugi decided to deviate from his usual routine and actively seek out Jonouchi, not willing to let his one chance at a normal friendship slide. Reaching the cafeteria, instead of choosing his usual solitary table, or, as he did much of the time, simply skipping the whole nightmare altogether, he plucked up his courage and made a beeline for Jonouchi's crowded circle. As he slipped in amongst them, Yuugi could make out the familiar faces of Hiroto Honda, Jonouchi's best mate and another boy he had classes with, Ryuuji Otogi, who was otherwise known as the Duke Devlin. He was sitting next to Ribbon, Anzu's pretty friend, on Jonouchi's left.
Anzu herself was leaning over a very irritable-looking brunette boy, by the name of Seto Kaiba. He was, Yuugi knew, a teenage billionaire in charge of his own billion-yen company. Characteristically, he was sitting slightly removed from everyone else, scowling at a huge pile of papers, probably work. Anzu appeared to be trying to get him to sign something, but he was having none of it. Jonouchi himself was lounging confidently over two of the plastic chairs, as if he owned the school. It appeared the awkwardness of the morning had evaporated from him without a trace.
As Yuugi slid into a seat, Jonouchi looked up interestedly, and Yuugi caught Otogi glancing questioningly towards him. Hiroto appeared to be gazing across Otogi at Ribbon slavishly; he paid Yuugi no heed at all. It was Jonouchi who started the conversation.
'Yuugi, ma main man.' It was now a sure thing that the blonde had gotten over his shyness, but he was still being uncharacteristically… nice.
'Erm… hi, Jonouchi. Er, is it, is it ok if I sit with you?' Yuugi mumbled.
'Course. Although…' Ah, here it comes… 'Well, you see, I do have a slight issue to clear up with ya.'
Yuugi blinked up at him owlishly, but his stomach had begun to clench with worry. What could possibly be wrong with me now?
'What is it, Jonouchi?'
Jonouchi rested his head on the table and chocolate brown eyes peered up contemplatively through the steeple he had made there with his fingers. 'Well, it's like this…'
'He thinks you're gay and he wants to know whether or not it's true.' Otogi cut across the conversation bluntly, lounging over the table and twirling his long black fringe around a tanned finger. He was grinning like a Hindi statue of Ganesh.
Yuugi's face started heating up. It didn't help that Otogi was the official school sex-God. It was blindingly obvious that the nuisance knew he was gorgeous, with his green cat eyes, raven hair and exotic, tanned complexion. He always made Yuugi feel rather ravished whenever he turned his gaze on him, a bit like… well, a bit like Yami really, only, no-one was quite as sexy as Yami. Not even Ryuuji. It was also blindingly obvious that he had no problem discussing uncomfortable topics or all those things x-rated at all. Yuugi on the other hand, did.
'Now that you two are friends, Jonouchi wants the truth.'
Yuugi shot a look across at Jonouchi, surprised. So he had said that Yuugi was his friend. This was so weird. Somehow, Yuugi still didn't feel he as though could admit the truth. Being gay was just, so, unnatural. Everyone said it. Yuugi was convinced that Jonouchi would not approve, and quite frankly, Yuugi was going to hold onto his uncommon good humour for as long as he could get it.
'I… I do like girls. I just-'
'Can't get a girlfriend?' Otogi once again interrupted, his eyes glinting with a dangerous delight. Yuugi had a bad feeling all this might be headed somewhere.
'Um… yeah.' he acknowledged cautiously, coming to the conclusion that it was easier than arguing.
'No problem, no problem mate, I can hook anyone up. Just give me a name,' Otogi grinned, slinging an arm around Yuugi's petite shoulders. It didn't seem to be an optional help he was offering either. Yuugi peered up through his bangs at Jonouchi, his eyebrows raised, pleading.
Jonouchi rolled his eyes back quizzically, but he seemed to like the idea.
'Yea, that's perfect! What Yuug needs is a girlfriend then he'll start acting proper mature, won't ya?' The over enthusiasm did nothing to remove his mounting terror.
'I guess…' Yuugi said, doubtfully.
Honda took that moment to deign to join the conversation, finally wrenching his eyes from Ribbon. He decided to include himself in the Spanish Inquisition.
'So who you makes you hot Yuug?' He didn't seem to find it at all odd that only a day ago he had been making fun of Yuugi, and now he was here, sharing such close intimacies with him.
Perhaps he just follows whatever Jonouchi does? But seriously.
'Um, um.. I, er…' Yuugi was having difficulty finding an answer to that one. He glanced over at Ribbon.
Can't say her, Honda likes her, but then, who? I've gotta give an ok answer or they might pick someone terrible for me! I don't know any girls! Ahh! Amaterasu help me, oh, please, help me…
Yuugi eyes fell, panicked, on Anzu.
She's always been nice to me, so it won't matter if they try and set us up, and she'll never say yes, so I'm safe from having to do anything. Yeah, that's it. Yeah. Plus, she seems quite pretty, for a girl. Yeah, so it won't be odd if I say her, yeah that's it! Oh dear…
Lowering his eyes and with his cheeks inevitably colouring more brightly still at the whole scenario, but in such a way that it made his 'confession' quite authentic, Yuugi muttered quietly so that she wouldn't be able to hear, 'Anzu's quite nice.' He needn't have worried about her finding out. She was far too engrossed with bothering Kaiba, and too far away to realise her name had been uttered.
Otogi, Honda and Jonouchi themselves were only just able to catch it. They all looked surprised.
'Why would ya like her, Yuug?' Jonouchi queried, frowning.
'Yeah Yuug,' Honda added, 'She isn't exactly the cutest girl in school.'
Otogi just seemed perplexed. Yuugi didn't get it.
Oh Amaterasu, I chose the wrong one, didn't I?
'Well, um, I, She's…' Yuugi pulled himself together, 'She's always nice to me, and I like her, she's pretty. Well, I think so…' Somehow his voice trailed off weakly, as his forehead crinkled in consternation.
'Don't you think she's pretty, Jonouchi-kun?'
Jonouchi glanced over at Anzu dubiously. 'Yea, I 'spose - if ya like interferin' busybodies.'
Otogi's eyes lit up suddenly.
'But that's it, then, isn't it Yuugi? You like her because she rescues you, don't you? Whereas her being all commanding pisses us off, because we're free souls, you're, like, the uke in any partnership. You need a woman who will look after you, even though you're the man.'
Yuugi and Honda both looked confused. Jonouchi's lip curled up in contempt.
'So, what you're sayin' is, Yuug is the girl. Don't that mean he's gay, in any other words than yours?'
Yuugi paled, and shrank down in his seat.
'No!' Otogi argued back confidently, 'That is why we all thought he was gay before. This is why we didn't get him -because he is the uke. Because he likes strong women. It's just preference. I know all about sex. I should know…'
'Yeah, ya should,' Jonouchi muttered darkly. Honda snickered.
'I am going to choose to ignore that comment, because I know that you struggle to get women to sleep with you. Instead, I shall focus on helping Yuugi to get Anzu to consider him.'
Honda was thinking hard. 'Actually, I think Ryuuji has a point, I think Yuug's all sensitive and shit.'
'Haven't you got cleaning duty to do? Of course the Duke's right, when is he ever not right about things like this?' Jonouchi snapped back irritably. Honda looked affronted.
'I knew you'd come round,' the Duke smiled back like the Cheshire Cat, 'because I'm good and you know it.'
'Um… guys, what's an uke?' Yuugi asked, cautiously. He had been lost somewhere in this argument.
'It's a submissive guy.' Jonouchi replied, 'We think you're one because you're so… well… so uke. You don't like fighting, do ya Yuug?'
'No, I don't.' Yuugi answered. He didn't see what that had to do with being submissive in a relationship. He wasn't sure he wanted to be submissive.
'Well, so there ya go, guess that's why we all thought yous were gay. Still, Duke'll get ya with Anzu, he's a marvel, you'll see Yuug.' Otogi winked at him ominously.
'I can't wait,' Yuugi said glumly, but no-one seemed to notice his less than cheery tone as the conversation moved onto other things.
Still, at least I've got friends now.
As he left the school at home time, in his peripheral vision Yuugi caught sight of someone beneath the large cherry blossom tree just outside of the school grounds. He was tossing up the many leaves that had collected beneath it, again and again. He seemed deliriously happy, muttering to himself contentedly in a moronic fashion. Yuugi couldn't catch the words. Something about the figure was suspiciously familiar. Yuugi ventured a little closer. Yes, it was Ushio. What was he doing? More importantly, what was it that Yami had done to him? If only I could hear what he was saying…
Yuugi cautiously crept closer still, until he was within earshot. It didn't seem to matter anyway, Ushio was oblivious to everything else around him.
'Money! Yes! Ahhahah! It's mine, all mine. Hah! Yuugi, you didn't see this one coming did you? It's all mine, yes it is…! Money!'
Ushio rolled over, no better than an animal in the fallen pink blossom, gathering up armful after armful and lifting it up to his face, so he could kiss it. Over and over. He just kept on crowing about money. It was unnerving in the extreme.
Something about it sent chills through Yuugi. It was unnatural. What had Yami done?!
'But… no. I thought of a much more… apt…reward for your dear Ushio. Let me just say it was a poetic justice.'
What strange dark magic is this? Because it is magic isn't it? Ushio really thinks those leaves are money. Oh Amaterasu, he does, doesn't he? Ushio's insane… Yami, what have you done? What are you?!
Yuugi turned his back on the disturbing scene and hurried away. It was too odd, too creepy. It made him feel completely ill at ease. Looking down at the bits of arm exposed by his school shirt, he could see all the fine hairs on his skin raised in protest.
By the time Yuugi got home, he found he was shattered. It seemed to be a combination of not being used to such social interaction and being traumatised from what he had just seen of Ushio. His wounds were aching slightly as well. He just wanted to have his tea and go to sleep. Running upstairs past the shop without even greeting his Jiichan, Yuugi went and crashed out on his bed. He had a few hours before anything would be ready to eat, with the added bonus of no homework to do, because he'd completed it the night before.
But, somehow, now that he was able to relax, his mind just wouldn't. It was just going round and round, fluttering like a trapped bird, thinking. Thinking, about a certain someone. Yuugi fingered the pyramid, a heavy weight on his chest, but one that he had so soon grown accustomed to. His fingers seemed to know every crevice, every slight crease in its surface, even though he'd barely put it together two nights ago. It comforted him, despite its unwelcome resident. Then again…
Was Yami so unwelcome? Yuugi thought back to the previous evening. It was all so confusing! Those fingers had been so gentle, and he'd known exactly what to do to soothe the painful bruises, the bleeding wounds. It was an expert touch, accompanied with a sensation like that of cashmere. No-one has hands like that, not unless they're royalty, Yuugi thought for thousandth time, wistfully. Then he thought again.But what about Ushio? Is it so possible for someone to have such a split personality? Yami is like two completely different people, all rolled into one. And I know nothing of the darker side. What even makes someone like that? Who is he really? I can't trust him. Yet, I have all these mixed-up feelings for him. I want to know him. I want to know where he comes from. He called that Ra person the Sun-God, but that's impossible! Amaterasu is the Sun-Goddess! What culture says Ra? I can't think! I'm sure I've heard it before. That might give me a clue…
In the process of doing all that thinking, Yuugi had closed his eyes and drifted off sleepily, his tense muscles relaxing. That was perhaps one of the reasons why he wasn't prepared for the amused voice that cut in on him.
'You could just ask.'
Yuugi's eyes shot open, and he entered a kind of hysteria. He wasn't in his bedroom. In fact, he had no idea where he was.
The walls were cream, and they seemed to stretch out endlessly. Various toys were scattered about everywhere in a disorganised fashion, most especially what looked suspiciously like Yuugi's entire collection of dual-monsters cards. That meant a hec of a lot more than just one deck. He could see a life-size dark magician figurine that he didn't own leaning against the wall closest to him. It was staring back blankly; Yuugi found it creepy, like it was watching him. He couldn't understand any of this. Why was all his stuff here, and why was it scattered in such chaos? As for the ceiling, it seemed to stretch upwards to the very heavens, disappearing into a proscenium arch style framework of gold leaf and renaissance angels. Yuugi thought he could spot a few doves amid the orange tinted clouds. It was very beautiful, very… innocent.
Eventually, as some of the panic left him, Yuugi came to realise that he was lying on top of a massive bed, and that it was that which was supporting him. His torso had been swallowed a good way by soft satin sheets, also in a rich cream colour. A quilted purple coverlet lay slumped over the lower end of the bed; his pillows were framed with the same purple trimming. Yuugi twisted round where he sat and admired the gold bars that made up the headboard; they were twisted ornately. Shimmering gold and purple chiffon hung from the four curving posts that vanished up towards the ceiling, connecting, undoubtedly, somewhere with the gold framework supporting the laughing angels high above. Something about it all seemed very inviting. The bed was sinfully soft. It felt like this was where Yuugi had been meant to be all his life. The more he got over the shock of his sudden apparition in this unfamiliar environment, the more he felt at home here.
So it must be a bedroom? Why does it seem so familiar, when I have never been here before in all known existence?
Yuugi peered over towards where he could sense Yami's presence, hoping for some sort of explanation. He was surprised to see that the spirit was actually quite far away, lounging just outside of an incongruous black doorframe, which seemed to be marking the entrance to the room. That also made no sense, because his voice had sounded so very close. Too close, anyway, for him to be so removed in person.
'Yami?' Yuugi's voice was quivering, uncertain.
'Do you want me to come in, little Yuugi?' Yuugi didn't understand the question.
'What do you mean, come in? Where am I?'
'You are in your soul room, Yuugi. Will you allow me to enter?' This seemed even odder.
'My soul room?' Something about that…
'Yes, will you let me in?' It seemed that Yuugi wasn't going to get any further until he told Yami he could come in, which was weird, because, if Yami wanted to come in, why didn't he just do so? It wasn't as if he'd had any qualms about taking over Yuugi's bedroom the other night. Or his bathroom for that matter. What was so very different about this place?
'Yes, you can come in, but you have to talk to me, tell me where I am.'
'I already told you Yuugi,' Yami was suddenly right beside the bed, as if the distance between them hadn't existed, 'you're in your soul room.'
Yuugi sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, gripping it tightly. Something within him wanted to resist the notion of a soul-room. He wasn't quite sure he could fathom why.
'I don't understand,' he stated mulishly, gazing down at his dirty trainers.
Strange they didn't mark the sheets.
Yami merely smirked and sat down beside him, far too close for comfort, one leg hooked over the other. He had no concept of personal space - at all. Yuugi resolutely refused to meet his gaze, mainly because he couldn't bring himself to do so without a blush. Unfortunately, that meant looking at those boots and then he couldn't resist looking upwards over the sinful PVC trousers. It left nothing of Yami's figure to the imagination. Yuugi felt his breath catch. He was blushing anyway.
Too close.
'Everyone has one, Yuugi, but very few people actually get to see theirs. Your soul room is in your soul, it is in and a part of you, it is in your mind.'
He's too damned close.
Yami was so very close that Yuugi could smell the sweetness of some exotic spice on him, mingled with the hint of age and dark magic. Yami's own personal scent. Why did it have to be so good? Yuugi couldn't imagine anything more erotic, but he still didn't get it.
'But why am I here? I don't understand.' Yuugi was verging on tears, but his alert ears still caught the rustle of Yami shifting slightly, his motionless hand still tingled as Yami brought his own, longer yet finely tapered fingers down over it.
'I thought it would be easier to talk to you here. You were worrying. I don't want you to worry about me. I will not hurt you.'
'YOU, you, brought me here.' Yuugi choked out.
'You could say that I gave you the key, yes, but you can come whenever you want. It's not as if you didn't have the power to unlock the door yourself. Most people have, they just never use it.' Why did Yami have to purr the words so seductively? Why did he have to be so gentle and persuasive, persuasive in a way that made Yuugi forget what he had wanted to know, forget everything other than the sound of that accented pronunciation? And yes, there was an accent, even if it was but a slight one. This wasn't Yami's first language.
'And why would I want to come here?!'
'Because it's a part of you. You'll see. You'll fit here, as I fit in mine. Here, you are in control. Here, you are no uke.' Yami's tone had changed.
Yuugi started, drawn out of his hypnosis.
'What did you say?'
'I said, you aren't an uke in your own soul room, whatever Jonouchi and his friends might tell you.' The comment was heavily laced with amusement. Yami was laughing at him!
'How would you know?' Yuugi snapped back bitterly, and he didn't know where all the rancour had come from, but it had reared its ugly head all the same, 'you could never be considered an uke. Not under any circumstances. Never.'
Resentment flooded through him in angry pulses, in time to his sped up heartbeat. Somehow, Yuugi felt ashamed, ashamed to be so weak, so vulnerable, ashamed and violated that Yami had to see him thus. He could see everything. It wasn't fair. Couldn't Yuugi do anything to keep him out?
'Did I hit a nerve?' Yami patience seemed unruffled, 'Of course I am no uke, I would be a natural seme, but that is neither here nor there. Generally love between a man and a woman is not described using such words.'
'What?'
'I have only ever heard the terms employed when concerning homosexual couples.'
Yuugi felt embarrassment flood his every orifice; his face was once more a brilliant crimson, having skipped all stages in between that and his natural porcelain. This was taking Yuugi completely out of his depth, and Yami dangerously close to discovery of Yuugi's last big secret, if he didn't already know it and had merely toying with him all this time.
'I-I-I…' Yuugi looked up, then realised it was a mistake. They were nose to nose, practically close enough to kiss, and Yuugi was able to see Yami's flawless complexion, was able to count everyone of Yami's long black lashes. He felt himself stop breathing, his muscles tensing in anticipation. Yami was wearing that disarming smile of his, the one that spoke of hidden yearnings. It almost looked as if…
'Homosexual?' Yuugi whispered back tremulously.
'Yes,' Yami said contemplatively, leaning back and examining shining fingernails. The moment was broken. Feeling a small rush of disappointment, but at the same time a flood load of relief, Yuugi realised he had been straining forwards, drawn to Yami as the tide is to the moon. It made him even more flustered, and he sat back clumsily. Yami's eyes had that glint to them and Yuugi knew that they saw every aspect of his discomfort.
What am I doing? He knows what he's doing to me.
'Still no matter…' Yami glanced across slyly, 'Was there something you wanted to ask me then, Yuugi?'
Must be some way to wipe that knowing smirk off his insufferable face!
'What! No, no… I was just thinking before. I, that is… do you think I should ask Anzu on a date?' Yuugi had no idea where that last question had come from, it had leapt into his mind untracked. Perhaps it was due to the something about Yami's perceptive attitude that made him edgy, desperate to hide from him the truth - the truth that Yuugi was falling fast under his spell.
I mean, this guy's a psycho! Think of Ushio…
For the first time, Yami looked surprised. Actually, he looked more than surprised; he looked floored. Yuugi felt his breath sigh out in relief. The intense scrutiny had gone. He didn't know how he knew, he just did.
'What did you just ask me Yuugi?' Yami asked slowly.
'Well- that is to say- I thought, maybe, Jonouchi thinks it will help me and Otogi's gonna, gonna sort it out so… Anzu's pretty. I'm fed up of useless luck. I want a girlfriend. I want to know what it's like.'
Yami's eyes had narrowed to suspicious slits. There seemed to be more red glowing in them than usual too. Yuugi quivered beneath their smouldering.
Then as quickly as Yami's displeasure in that unexpected turn of events had flared up, it seemed to vanish, but Yuugi could sense the spirit's withdrawal from him like a physical cold. Whereas seconds before, there had been a confiding and intimate nature to their connection, now, Yami was more aloof than ever before. Yuugi was sure he'd lost something in that moment.
Shit! This wasn't supposed to happen…
'Well, if you really want to, I suppose I will help you do it, but I am not sure that it is a wise desire, Yuugi. She is… perhaps not for you Yuugi.'
Yuugi felt mystified.
'What do you mean?'
'You are too pure,' he said shortly, 'to have a girlfriend such as Anzu. She is kind-hearted, yes, but I sense something in her that will seek out grandeur and drama in every scenario. Her greatest ambition, after all, is to be a dancer. She wants life on a stage, with people to rally round and watch her story in full colour, from every angle. You however…'
Yuugi's lips were pursed up worriedly, this had him unsettled. Again unsure. Was he doing the right thing letting the others set him up with Anzu? Then he felt rebellion spike his heart. Yami did not know everything. He could not. Yuugi was not just some timid little mouse who couldn't cope with anyone from the real world. Yuugi wanted his chance. Yami only knew the weak and reclining Yuugi, but somewhere within him, Yuugi knew, there was a fierce, brave version fighting to break out. He didn't even care about whatever it was that Yami hadn't said about him, but was undoubtedly thinking all the same. All he cared about was he was going to show this smirking know-it-all that he could have a girlfriend if he wanted to, and that it would be Anzu.
'Yami, I'm asking you to help me, or to leave me to do it if you won't…' Was all that Yuugi said.
Yami looked back, his expression impenetrable. Yuugi wondered whether or not he was still cross.
'All right, on your head be it.' Yuugi guessed that it was Yami's strange way of giving his assent. The spirit got up and stalked out of the soul room haughtily. He did not look back. Yuugi could feel the place unravelling around him, melting into reality.
As Yuugi felt his surroundings spin and dissolve, shifting back into the bedroom he had known since infancy, he couldn't help but wonder, what's through the black door, if it isn't my soul room? Could it be the answers I'm looking for, could it be his?
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Please review and tell me how to improve things!
In Japanese schools, generally the students don't move, the teachers do.
Jiichan - Grandfather.
Kun - term of affection used by young people of the same age or by those who have known each other for a long time (I think).
Yes, I know that I haven't mentioned Bakura or Malik yet, but I might. Then again I might not. I also realise Otogi doesn't really feature in the original manga but I just couldn't resist.
Next time:
How is Yuugi ever going to get Anzu to go out with him? And just what exactly is going on with Yami? Now his voice has started appearing in Yuugi's mind! Yuugi thinks the answers might be through that door with the black frame… if he could just get back to his soul room and go through it without Yami noticing. Or something, things might become clearer. But that's impossible, isn't it? Maybe…
