Author's Note: It's been unbelievably long since I updated any of my stories. I was in college, and for a while I was completely focused on my courses. A couple of months ago I graduated with honors-- yay me! Writing this chapter was such a pleasure for me, and I hope you will like it.
ps this story features a few guests from Gravitation!
+*+*+*+
Chapter 9: Whever I May Roam
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The first thing Ryou noticed upon entering Jouno's apartment was the shopping bags.
They were stacked on the kitchen counter, boxes and garments inside.
Did he win the lottery?
Jouno noticed Ryou's questioning look and shrugged, "Got a new job."
"It must pay well."
"Yeah, it's a huge opportunity."
Ryou felt a pang of jealousy for Jouno's good fortune. "What sort of job is it?"
Jouno watched for Ryou's reaction. "Game programmer."
Instead of looking overly shocked or laughing it off, Ryou simply smiled and said, "I should've known it would involve games. Congratulations, Joseph."
"Thanks. Here, let me take those." He took the paper sacks of takeout food from Ryou and set them on the counter, getting plates out of the cupboard to transfer the food to. "Why don't you go have a seat. Turn on the TV, if you want."
Jouno's apartment was contradicting itself. Here was the same old junky, beat-up couch with the hideous upholstery and the smushed cushions, there on the wall was a flat-screen TV with a Wii hooked up to it. Here on the floor were ratty old thrift-shop T-shirts and jeans, there on the counter were bags from designer clothing stores.
"So, why did you call me, Joey?"
"… You know what, why don't we talk about it after we've had dinner and relaxed for a bit—oh, you didn't have plans for later, didja? I mean, if ya did, it's no problem. I'm just really hungry right now, and I thought you might be too."
Ryou could tell Jouno was uncomfortable and not quite ready to talk about things yet. "Where is your phone? I'd like to call Bakura and let him know where I'll be."
"Mushi mushi."
"BakuChan, it's me. I'm staying with a friend tonight, so you'll have to get your own dinner."
"When are you coming home?"
"I'm not sure. I'm helping out with something important. I don't know how long it will take."
Bakura's facial muscles drooped as his expression changed to one of disappointment and resignation. "Okay. I'll see you later, then."
"Thanks for understanding, BakuChan. In the meantime, please clean something around the house, okay?"
Bakura cringed. I hate when he says that! Clean WHAT, Asshole?! I've got better things to do than find stuff to clean!
"Okay. Goodbye."
"Bai, BakuChan." Click. Bakura hung up the ugly green phone and went back to the living room, where his guest was sitting on the couch.
"Ryou's not coming home tonight."
"That's okay", said Sakuma San, who was a little bit occupied with playing with his pink stuffed bunny, Kumagoro. "I'll just invite him some other time. Besides, you're the one I'm here for."
Ryuichi Sakuma hopped to his feet, making Kumagoro fly around Bakura.
"BakuChan's all sparkly! I wanna see the sparkle!"
Ryuichi Sakuma, the lead singer for N.G.-- Bakura found him very interesting. Being around someone with such a genuine, childlike demeanor made Bakura want to smile. Of course, he fought that urge.
"Let's sparkle together, Bakura. You and me."
They ate slowly, speaking at an equally leisurely pace.
"When did you know, Ryou?"
"Know what, Joseph?"
"About Bakura. When did you become aware that you were not alone in your own body? What was it like?"
Ryou's fork paused mid-air as he gazed off. "I don't remember it very well. He frightened me… I blacked out at times…"
Jouno tried to recall if he'd been blacking out. I don't think I have… but how can I be sure of something like that?
"Joey?"
"Huh?"
"Are you okay? Are you ready to tell me what's going on?"
Joey swallowed and looked down at his food. Most of it was still there, but he didn't have much of an appetite anymore. He put his fork down.
"You're done already? I'll stop eating, too, then."
"No, go ahead and eat. Don't stop on my account."
"It's fine, I wasn't very hungry. May I use your bathroom?"
"Go ahead." They rose at the same time. Ryou started in the direction of the bathroom, and Jouno gathered up the food. "I'll stick this stuff in the fridge."
Ryou went and took a leak, and checked himself out in the mirror while he washed his hands. He looked a bit ruffled—a few hairs out of place, some fatigue showing in the eyes… but still sexy.
Smacking his lips, his gaze fell to Jouno's toothbrush.
Fuck it, we're going to be exchanging body fluids soon enough.
Ryuichi took Bakura to NG Records to sit in on a session. Nittle Grasper was recording a new single.
Sakuma San asked Bakura to help out by singing a little backup. Although Bakura had sung in front of Ryuichi and his friends before, he was still a little embarrassed. He tried to overcome that feeling, since he wanted to please Ryu, who had always been so cool to him.
After they recorded the song, Ryuichi hooked his arm around Bakura and laughed with him in a big, goofy way.
"Hey Bakura, why don't you sing a song now?"
"Huh!?"
"Sure, why not? Come on, get all sparkly!"
He looked around the room—besides the other members of Nittle Grasper, there were a couple of big suit types, plus Fujisaki and Hiro from the band Bad Luck. These were some of the biggest musicians in all of Japan, Ryuichi being the biggest of all. And he was asking Bakura to sing???
"I'll play accompaniment, Mr. Bakura." Fujisaki got behind one of the keyboards, flexing his fingers. "What song are you going to sing?"
"He likes Foo Fighters, right?" said Hiro. "How about the Best of You?"
Bakura shook his head. "I don't…" He was stopped by a warm hand over his heart. Looking up, he met Ryuichi's gaze, which had changed into his intense onstage persona.
"Don't worry about how it sounds. Just make sure your voice is true. Here…" He pressed lightly on Bakura's chest. "… This is where the sparkle comes from."
Bakura didn't understand why Ryou wanted to hear him sing at first, but he looked at the expressions of those around him and felt something nice, like warmth, friendliness. Something was familiar. Bakura felt like he was close to… something…
"Do you know Everlong?"
Fujisaki nodded and started playing. Bakura took a few deep breaths…
"Hello… I've waited here for you… Everlong…"
He lost himself in the simple pleasure of singing, something he used to do only when no one was around. He sang with his eyes closed, so he didn't notice how intently Ryuichi and Tohma Seguchi were watching him. Ryuichi sidled over beside Tohma and said, "I'm right, aren't I?"
Tohma didn't say anything, but the corners of his mouth perked.
After the song was done, Ryu gave Kumagoro a big hug. "BakuChan knows how to sparkle and shine!"
They curled up on opposite sides of the couch, facing each other. Jouno didn't know how to start.
"It's okay, Joseph. There's not much that can surprise me after Bakura and the Desert Rats."
"Do you hate Bakura?"
"I used to, I guess. He took big chunks of my life and made it impossible for me to make any friends…" It's still impossible…
Ryou remembered for a moment the simple pleasure of his hands smashing into Bakura's face and body. A small grin appeared on his lips. "However, we slowly became friends. Nowadays we're like brothers."
"So it's possible to coexist with your other self?"
"Of course. Bakura and I are no different from Yugi and the Pharaoh."
"Or Malik and Mariku."
Ryou snorted. "True."
"So having a yami isn't so bad, right?"
"Is that it, Joey? You think you have a yami?"
Jouno nodded. "I've done some pretty terrible stuff. I've lost control, and I been having the most horrible nightmares. I'm changin'—my personality, I mean. I find myself interested in and good at things I've never given a damn about, like computer programming and literature. I enjoy those things now, but I can't help but wonder where the hell the desire to pursue those interests came from."
Ryou blinked, a crease in his brow. "Joey?"
He lifted his head from the couch cushion. "Yes?"
"Oh…" His speech pattern changed halfway through that statement. I thought he'd switched out!
"Have you ever tried to talk to him?"
Joey shook his head. "Ryou, I don't know if I can be friends with this guy. He's a real sicko. He's done some truly rotten things, and he sends me the most horrific visions of hurting and killing people I love."
"That might not be intentional. He may even be unaware of your existence. I'll talk to him."
"Wait, what if he hurts you?"
Ryou smiled, "If I could handle Bakura, I'm sure I can handle your friend."
He moved closer to Jouno and framed the blonde's face in his hands, gazing into his eyes.
This is so perfect. I could kiss him right now!
"Other Joey… Is there someone in there who isn't Joey? Please, I'd like to talk to you in a civil, friendly way."
They stared at each other for a few long minutes, but no 'Other Joey' answered Ryou's inquiry.
"Joey?"
"Yes?"
Ryou could feel the heat under his palms. Jouno was growing flustered with their closeness. Ryou glanced down at Jouno's lips, then up to his eyes. He asked without saying a word:
Will you let me kiss you?
Jouno's gaze didn't waver or wander.
Yes, came the reply. They started moving towards each other, and they exchanged a brief, soft kiss. When they parted and looked at each other again, Jouno's eyes were clouded with lust.
"Ryou." The second kiss was deeper and more forceful as Jouno tried to push Ryou back to a reclining position against the cushions. Ryou fought it and pulled away, standing and looking at Jouno.
"What? Ryou, was I too…?"
He stopped asking when Ryou unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside, a smile playing on his tiny, delicate mouth. He undid the fly of his jeans, opening them enough to show a tiny triangle of his underwear. He turned and walked in the direction of Joey's bedroom, and Joey followed.
After the recording session, Sakuma San and a few of the others took Bakura to a small, intimate club with dim lighting. They sat around for hours, talking and singing. Ryuichi and Bakura got up onstage and sang together. Bakura had a few drinks and got a little giggly.
One of the times Bakura was singing, Ryuichi got behind him and unbuttoned his shirt, then started tickling his chest. Bakura sang through his laughter. He was singing an obnoxious party song, so the laughter actually enhanced it.
As he finished the song to friendly applause, he stopped in his tracks.
What the hell am I doing here, goofing around with these modern people!?! I'm the Thief King, Bakura! I'm supposed to be taking over the world, not playing around…! Not being that angelic creature's little bitch, either. Ryou… what have you done to me?
He felt ill. For a second he thought it was nerves, but then he was struck with the intense urge to bolt. Sakuma San followed him to the bathroom and held his hair back while he puked.
chapter 9
wherever i may roam
finish
Note: I was planning to write a story called "The Best of Ryou", where Bakura becomes a rock star, but then I realized it might fit in well with this bizarro universe. I just finished rewatching Gravitation, so Ryuichi Sakuma popped up in this story, which seemed nice since I already had Bakura, Malik, and Mariku go to an N.G. concert earlier in the story. Anyhoo, if you have any thoughts or suggestions, please let me know. Hopefully my next update won't take as long as this one did! *sweatdrop*
