O…my… holy chocolate oranges. I'm depressed. For no reason at all. My life is going great. Damn. Well, except that I haven't gone to bed earlier than midnight for the passed week. I'm so freaking busy and so… sleepy… (falls asleep at computer)
My friend got the new Zelda game, Twilight Princess. I'm so fucking jealous. But that's ok, I'll just watch all the story clips on YouTube.
I love this chapter. But I say that about every chapter. Oh well, I love this chapter too. Everything is so interesting and cute and fluffy and (in terms of Ryou and Bakura) painful.
My chapters used to be a lot shorter too. I wonder what happened.
-((10))-
Chyaputa 10: TV News
-((10))-
The streets were very dark that night; Ryou could barely see out of the windows in the bus as it drove steadily to his destination. Finally Ryou's stop came into sight. He pushed the "Stop Requested" button and jumped out the door into the night.
Ryou felt like an idiot standing there on the sidewalk, alone, barely a few cents of change in his pockets for the bus ride back. He looked around but Ryou didn't see anyone there.
"Hey," a voice hissed from behind him. Ryou turned to see a pale hand beckoning to him out of a small alley. Ryou approached cautiously. Sure enough, there was Bakura, wearing a long black coat and a black hat for disguising proposes probably. Even in the darkness Ryou could see his pale face smirk. "I'm glad to see the number worked. You're a little late though, kid."
"My name's not 'kid'," Ryou said firmly. Bakura would not intimidate him; he would get his mother's necklace back and leave as soon as possible.
"Ouch. Touchy," Bakura taunted taking off his back hat and shaking out his long white hair majestically. Ryou blinked the magic away.
"I'm going to be very late for work because of this. Could you give me what I came for?" Ryou asked as politely as he could manage. Bakura leaned in closer to Ryou, his black coat blending in with the darkness like a shadow.
"I missed you," he said, voice smooth.
Ryou took a step back. "Don't play games with me."
Bakura frowned, looking slightly hurt. 'I was being truthful, I think…' the rock star muttered silently to himself.
"Kaa-san's necklace, please," Ryou reminded him. Bakura scowled and fumbled around in his various pockets.
"Here," Bakura tossed it into the air. Ryou saw the glint of metal as it caught the light of the moon and it landed in his open hands. He examined it as well as he could in the pitch darkness. He ran his thumb over its smooth surface and corners. But something was odd. The necklace felt surprising heavy and the points of the cross it felt too big and too sharp.
"What? No thank you? It took me forever to find it," Bakura grumbled darkly, hands stuffed into his pockets. Ryou held the necklace up by the chain so it could catch the dim light and didn't say anything.
"The chain is different," Ryou commented dryly.
"The other one broke so I replaced it," Bakura answered automatically.
"This is not Kaa-san's necklace," Ryou said coldly. "Its made out of real silver, hers wasn't. And it's too big; Kaa-san's was almost half this size. The sides are too clean and too smooth, there used to be a large knick on this corner. This feels like it's been made recently." Ryou's voice sharpened. "You thought I would be fooled by this fake."
Bakura didn't move, he didn't say anything and Ryou couldn't make out his expression in the night. The average, white-haired teenager's insides flamed; his fists shook as he threw the necklace angrily at the rock star's head.
Bakura caught it with one hand, dark eyes fixed upon the ground.
"Where's the real one?" Ryou demanded. Bakura didn't say anything. "You told me you had the real one!"
"I told you what happened to the real one," Bakura snarled. "I threw it away, it was junk."
"Stop toying with me! You told me found it! On the answering machine you said you had found it!" Ryou cried.
"I said no such thing," Bakura answered mildly, as dully as though the conversation was suddenly boring him. "I said: 'It's shiny and I think it might have belonged to a dead relative of yours.' I never said anything about finding your mother's necklace." Ryou's jaw clenched.
"You made me believe you had it!" Ryou accused.
Bakura shrugged. "I won't deny that," he admitted, looking up at the sky. "It was the only way to get you to come and meet me."
"And why did you want to meet me?" Ryou questioned. Bakura fell silent, looking down at the false necklace in his hand.
"I had them remake this thing five times, you know. I wanted it to be perfect but I could never remember exactly what it looked like. I knew you'd figure out that this wasn't the real thing, but I was hoping you'd keep it anyway," Bakura explained roughly.
"You think just because you have the resources and money you can manipulate people," Ryou spat. Bakura turned to face him.
"Look, just take it," Bakura insisted firmly, holding out the necklace to Ryou. "Its no use to me, you might as well take it." Ryou backed away.
"It's not mine, I don't want it," Ryou said, shaking his head. Bakura was starting to get angry now.
"Just take it!" Bakura ordered more forcefully.
"I don't want it," Ryou repeated calmly.
"I want you to have it! Take it!" Bakura snapped.
Ryou shook his head. "I have to go to work," he insisted, backing away more rapidly. He reached the exit to the alley and turned to walk away.
"Don't go, Ryou!" Bakura cried. He grabbed Ryou's hand before he could turn the corner. "Please, just take it…"
"Let me go!" Ryou said firmly. He twisted his arm out of Bakura's grip and ran as fast as he could down the dark street. Bakura stood there and watched him go with a sick guilty feeling in his stomach, the silver cross still in his limp hand.
((10))
"Good morning!" Yugi greeted happily, walking into his classroom the next day. His date with Atemu, although extremely unexpected and unnerving at first, was still fresh in his mind. Jounouchi and the others waved at him as he approached, but Yugi had barely managed to place his school stuff down on his desk before a shadow loomed ominously over his head. Yugi looked up to discover Ryou standing there, eyes unusually narrowed and hard. Yugi gulped, he could guess what this was about.
"R-Ryou-kun," Yugi greeted nervously. "Good morning!"
"I need to speak with you, outside," Ryou said forcefully, grabbing his arm and pulling his friend out into the hall.
"But class is about to start," Yugi protested weakly as Ryou slammed the classroom door shut behind him. He turned to Yugi again, a murderous glint in his eye.
"To whom did you give my phone number?" Ryou interrogated. Yugi smiled nervously, scratching his ear distractedly.
"Ah, no one…?" Yugi lied. Ryou's eyelid twitched dangerously. "Look, it was only, ah, Yami…" he admitted.
"And you gave my number to him, just like that!" Ryou accused angrily, white hair flying.
"He said Bakura was going to apologize! Really, he did!" Yugi protested, hands held up in defense "I wouldn't have given it to him if I didn't think he wasn't!"
"Well, he didn't," Ryou snapped coldly. Yugi's face fell, suddenly feeling guilty.
"Oh," Yugi swallowed. "Sorry, I didn't know…" Ryou sighed, brushing his bangs away from his face, irritated.
"Yeah well," Ryou started frustrated, taking a step back as though he needed to breathe. "It's alright… I know you meant well."
"I'm so sorry," Yugi said again. "If I had known… I wouldn't have-"
"Really, its fine," Ryou insisted stiffly resting his back against the wall next to the door in defeat. Yugi could see the hurt in his eyes.
"What happened?" Yugi asked cautiously.
"Nothing. It was nothing," Ryou answered shortly, not looking at his friend.
"I'm sure he was trying," Yugi suggested helpfully. Ryou snorted unbelievingly.
"Sure," he muttered sarcastically. "It's just…" Ryou continued, glaring at nothing in particular. "He's so… aggravating! And selfish and spoiled and narcissistic and… confusing!" Yugi stared at Ryou, rather puzzled.
"So… if he didn't apologize, what did he do?" Yugi asked cautiously.
"Nothing…" Ryou repeated and then he turned suddenly on his friend, skepticism shining in his eyes. "You didn't tell him about my money problem, did you?" Ryou questioned.
"No!" Yugi insisted immediately. "No way. Who do you think I am, Ryou?" Ryou smiled weakly, relaxing.
"It's okay, I know you were trying to help," Ryou said, eyes still sad. "So…" Ryou gave his childhood friend a sly look. "Exactly how does this Yami know Bakura?"
"Ah…." Yugi went slightly red, tugging on the edge of his collar nervously.
Ryou released a smile. "It's okay, Yugi-kun. I'm not going to tell anybody."
"Thanks." Yugi breathed again.
"What are you going to do when they do find out though?" Ryou asked, nodding toward the classroom door.
"Oh god, don't even suggest that!" Yugi gaped, hands covering his ears as though he was trying to block out Ryou's words.
Ryou giggled. "How did you two even meet anyway?" he asked curiously.
"Well, I was kinda telling the truth. He really is Yami, well, that's his screen name," Yugi explained awkwardly.
"When did you find who he really was? Didn't you freak out?" Ryou asked curiously.
"Well yeah," Yugi admitted. "We went over a rough spot but, I think we're okay now," Yugi explained, he couldn't stop himself from smiling a little.
"I'm glad you two could figure things out," Ryou said, putting a hand on Yugi's shoulder.
"Thanks, I hope you can figure things with Bakura," Yugi said. Ryou's face fell again.
"Why would I want to figure things out with him?" Ryou grumbled, frowning as he looked away. Yugi was actually surprised. Ryou wasn't usually the type to hold grudges; he usually forgave people very easily.
'There must be something different with Bakura,' Yugi thought shrugging examining the peculiar look on Ryou's face.
"Aren't you two supposed to be in class?" a brisk voice questioned. Ryou and Yugi both swerved around to see their severe teacher, Midori-sensei, eyeing both her students sharply with her tiny wrinkled eyes.
"Yes, Midori-sensei!" they both cried at the same time and then dove back into the classroom. Ryou and Yugi fought their way back to their desks as the teacher took her place at the front of the classroom. Yugi was just bringing out his notebook when he felt a nudge on his elbow. Yugi turned to see Honda sitting behind him poking him with his pencil.
"Hey, what's up with Ryou? Is he okay?" he asked, face looking surprisingly serious for Honda.
"Yeah, he's fine," Yugi answered truthfully. Honda nodded, looked over at said white haired teen and then sat back in his seat.
((10))
"Oi," Atemu said, glaring down at Bakura slouching on the floor.
"What?" Bakura snapped grouchily.
"You didn't apologize?" Atemu questioned incredulously. Bakura scowled and kept his eyes narrowed at the floor. "Can you do anything right?"
"Shut up," Bakura spat. Atemu sighed and flopped back down on the couch, sipping one of the heath drinks Ishizu always bought them. "How do now all of this anyway? You spying on me or something?"
"Please. I wouldn't be that bored," Atemu drawled. "But seriously, you've got to have like zero social skills. What the hell did you do to him?"
"Nothing!" Bakura snapped. "And it's none of your fucking business!"
Atemu rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine." He sighed and sipped some more of vegetable juice. "It's too bad. I thought you were actually going to learn to, you know, be a better person or something through this experience."
A pillow sailed through the air and smacked the lead singer in the face. Atemu chucked right it back at Bakura on the floor.
"And why the fuck are you in such a freaking good mood?" Bakura growled nastily.
Atemu grinned, picking up a pencil from the table beside him. "I'm going to write a new song," he explained.
Bakura scoffed as Atemu got up and headed towards his room to think. "Better not be like that cheesy shit you wrote last time," he warned. "That one was a drag."
"Believe me, it won't be," Atemu assured him.
((10))
"I'm home!" Yugi called into the house as he dropped his bag and kicked off his shoes at the door as usual. There was no answer.
'Grandpa and mom must have gone somewhere.' Yugi shrugged, went up stairs and sat down on the couch in front of the TV. Now that his guardians weren't there to bug him about his homework, Yugi could finally watch some television in peace. He flipped through channels for a few minutes, stretching out on the couch until something caught his eye.
It was a newscast; a large group of reporters crowding around a black limousine when who show emerge but Atemu himself. Yugi watched him climb gracefully out of the car and onto the walkway, the flashes of thousands of cameras reflecting off his smooth skin, red shirt and black pants. The rest of the group filed out after him but Yugi only had eyes for Atemu. He sighed, letting his head drop onto the couch's armrest.
'God, he looks good,' Yugi thought, letting the pleasant dizziness fill his brain.
"The famous rock group, the Descendants of Ra returned to their home in Tokyo after a long international tour today," a lady's voice over the broadcast explained as the camera followed the group down into the building.
"Rumor has it the main singer of their group has started dating again," a man spoke turning to his female broad-casting partner as the scene shifted into the newsroom once again.
Yugi's head shot up from the couch, panic gripping his chest.
'They couldn't possible know about me and him… could they?' Yugi thought pulse racing. It had only been that one time! How could they know? Did they have pictures of him and Atemu eating together at the fancy restaurant? What about Burger World? Yugi felt sick.
"Yes, it seems this famous rock star might be back together with his old girlfriend, Vivian Wong," the woman responded. Yugi's fear dropped and then rose up once again, worse than ever.
"His what!?!" Yugi exclaimed, sitting up, hands flying up over his face, the remote control falling onto the floor.
"Ah yes, the famous Chinese actress. Those two made quite a couple," the newsman chuckled.
'He can't be cheating on me!' Yugi told himself, staring horrified at the screen. 'He can't be!'
At that exact moment, phone rang.
Yugi dived over the edge of the couch and snatched the phone up with trembling hands.
"You're already dating someone?!" Yugi blurted out, slightly frantic. "How could you not tell me?" Yugi squeaked.
"Wait… I'm dating someone?" a very, very different voice then Yugi had been expecting answered confused. Yugi hesitated.
"Who is this?" he asked.
"This is Jounouchi," his blonde friend answered obviously.
"Oh," Yugi sighed. He forgot to take the disappointment out of his voice.
"Well, that's a nice way to greet someone. See if I ever call you again," Jounouchi grumbled.
"Sorry, Jounouchi-kun," Yugi apologized hastily. "I was expecting a call from… um, someone else…"
"Ah," Jounouchi realized, sounding suddenly very knowledgeable and smug. "I see… Waiting for Yami to call you?" Even over the phone, Yugi suddenly got very flustered.
"What? I, ah… why would you think that?" Yugi stammered, very unconvincingly.
"Well, I wouldn't want to take away any of your precious time with each other," Jounouchi said slyly and smugly into the phone. "I'll just call Honda. Bye."
"Right," Yugi muttered and hung up the phone, glowing with embarrassment.
"Yes, it wasn't too long ago that Vivian was looking at wedding dresses," the newswoman continued. Yugi felt very, very sick.
The phone, still in Yugi's hand, rang again. He brought the communication device up to his ear.
"Hello?" he asked timidly.
"Hey Yugi?" Atemu answered.
Yugi breathed. "Yeah, it's me," he replied.
"You spoke so softly I could barely hear you," Atemu said. "What's up?" Yugi drummed the couch armrest with his nervous fingers.
"Atemu… are you back together with your old girlfriend, Vivian Wong?" Yugi asked apprehensively.
Atemu snorted. "She wishes," he muttered darkly. Yugi relaxed. "Why would you think that?"
"Ah, these people on the news said you were…" Yugi admitted shamefully. Atemu chuckled.
"Don't believe anything those reporters say," Atemu advised firmly. "It's all rumors and speculation. Besides…" Atemu's voice went suddenly tender. "Why would I want to go out with that bitch when I'm already dating you." Yugi's heart jumped.
"I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't mean to think that," Yugi stuttered, figures curling and uncurling around the phone cord distractedly. "It's hard to believe sometimes…" Atemu chuckled.
"I know what you mean, it's hard to believe that I'm going out with someone so cute," Atemu teased.
"Atemu!" Yugi exclaimed, face burning. He was so glad his grandfather and mother weren't home. Atemu laughed, a really nice rich laugh. "I was being serious…"
"Which reminds me, Yugi," Atemu began importantly. "I was meaning to ask you a question."
"Yes?" Yugi asked, lying down on the couch on his stomach.
"Am I your first, um, 'significant other'?" Atemu questioned bluntly.
"Ah, yeah… I guess you are," Yugi admitted truthfully. Apprehension filled his lungs. For some reason he knew this was not going to be the last question Atemu would ask him. The phone was growing slightly sticky on the side of his head.
"So would it be safe to assume that you've never been kissed before?" Atemu continued, speaking very smoothly and clearly as though he was merely commenting on the weather.
Yugi felt his heart utterly stop in his chest. His voice cracked as he struggled to speak.
"Y-yeah," Yugi answered, hands were sweaty and trembling on the phone. Why did Atemu have to be so damn blunt all the time?
"I see…" Atemu commented, painfully casual, and with the air of someone who had discovered a common yet easy to fix problem. "Well, we'll have to do something about that, now won't we?" Yugi opened his mouth and all that came out was a small croak. Atemu chuckled in amusement. "Would that be alright with you?" Atemu asked playfully.
Yugi had to smack himself on the side of the head to make himself answer.
"Y-yes!" he insisted, a little too enthusiastically. "I mean, yeah. We, ah, we should… work on that…" Yugi gulped. His head was growing dizzy at the very thought of the event.
"So when would you like to see me again?" Atemu asked casually.
'How about right now?' Yugi barely stopped himself from saying it. 'I'm alone in my house…' He slapped himself again.
"Any time you're free," Yugi replied. "I got nothing this week after school."
'School! Who cares about school!' he screamed at himself. 'Atemu's more important than school!'
"Perfect. How about Thursday?" Atemu suggested. "I got another nutritionist appointment I would just love to blow off." Yugi giggled before he could stop himself.
"Oh no, Ji-chan's birthday is on Thursday," Yugi moaned. "Sorry. How about Friday?"
"Ah… no good, I got a recording session all Friday and Saturday," Atemu admitted sulkily. "Sunday?"
"Oh… the new shipment is coming in that day Kaa-chan will want me to help unload and stack shelves…" Yugi bit his lip nervously. He hadn't even thought of scheduling conflicts being a problem before. Obviously Atemu would be really busy, he had a full time job and between school and the shop Yugi didn't have much time either.
Yugi heard Atemu mutter, "Damn." There was a tense pause, both trying desperately to think of a solution.
"What about next Monday?" Yugi suggested.
'Next week? That's so far away!' Yugi's insides were crying.
"Oh well... I got this... this... oh fuck it!" Atemu cursed exasperatingly. "Monday is perfect."
"What do you have Monday?" Yugi asked warily.
"Oh just this stupid talking thing. The other guys can handle it," Atemu reassured vaguely. Yugi felt uneasy.
"What talking thing?" Yugi asked warily.
"Ah... well, you know, just a TV interview thing with, ah, a producer..."
"Atemu, that really sounds important," Yugi said reasonably. "You can't miss that."
Atemu groaned, frustration ringing his voice. "But I want to see you!"
Yugi's grip on the phone tightened. "I do too, more than anything right now but..." He gulped. God, he really wished he wasn't the voice of reason in this conversation. "We can't skip out on our lives. Your job is very important."
"But you're important too. More important," Atemu claimed. Yugi's brain was singing on an emotional high, Atemu's words swimming around in his thoughts.
"Don't say that," Yugi pleaded. "You're living a dream, Atemu. Millions of people wish they were you."
"Yeah, yeah. Like I haven't heard that one before," Atemu grumbled. Yugi grinned. "Hey! I got it! How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Yugi repeated, thinking hard. Wasn't that too soon? Would they be able to pull it off on such short notice?
'What am I talking about?' Yugi thought almost smacking himself in the head. Hadn't he just been complaining about how long he would have to wait? "I don't know... I don't think I have anything. But where will we meet? Aren't you in Tokyo now? And no offense but I don't have enough money or time to buy a train ticket."
"Oh... I didn't think of that," Atemu muttered. "Don't worry, I'll come to Domino again."
"When will you get here? And how?" Yugi asked.
"Ah, tell you what. I'll call you when and where I get there and you can pick me up. You can take me on that tour of the city you told me about."
"Sounds like fun, I can't wait," Yugi said honestly.
Just then the front door opened downstairs, Yugi could hear the grunt of his grandfather carrying heavy boxes.
"Ji-chan's home, I better go help him," Yugi announced reluctantly.
"Yeah, Bakura'll have my head if I miss anymore of rehearsal today," Atemu admitted.
Yugi gaped. "You're skipping rehearsal? Right now?"
"Ah, yeah." He didn't sound the least bit guilty.
"What are you doing talking to me? Go!" Yugi urged.
"Aw, but I want to talk more," Atemu whined playfully.
"I will not be responsible for you sounding crappy at your next concert, Atemu," Yugi told him, though only half-seriously. "Go!"
"Ok, ok. Boyfriends can be so bossy," Atemu teased. Yugi giggled.
'That's right, I'm his boyfriend,' Yugi thought happily.
"Oh and one more thing," Atemu mentioned before Yugi could hang up.
"What?"
"Your first kiss will be amazing," Atemu told him confidently. "I'll make sure of it."
Yugi's face grew hot, the warm fuzzies traveled back into his chest. "Atemu, everything you do is amazing."
"That's what I meant," Atemu said. "Till tomorrow then. I'll wait with baited breath."
"Bye," Yugi muttered, face aflame. It was with a heavy heart that he ended the call, Atemu's words still echoing inside him.
'Oh god, tomorrow...' Yugi moaned, falling back on the coach and letting his jittery nerves consume him. 'Twenty-four agonizing hours and I'll see him again. Twenty-four hours...' And the two of them would be alone together, where anything could, and hopefully would, happen.
((10))
Bakura was not one who usually sat, brooding silently in his room but that's what he was doing. He couldn't stand Atemu's constant taunts anymore about how he had no social skills or conversation etiquette. How did Atemu know about his meeting with Ryou that night anyway? Atemu had a secret. It had something to do with that kid who had called for "Yami" about a month ago and if Bakura was in any other situation he would definitely investigate but not now. He was too tired and too disgusted at himself to get involved in Atemu's life. Now, he just sat in his room and glared at walls.
Bakura wanted to do something but couldn't. Ryou didn't want to see him and even though he now knew his name the rock star still didn't have any way of knowing where the kid was or what to say to him once they got face-to-face.
Next door, keys of a piano played spastically, working out a so-far-non-existent tune. Atemu was doing something. Things were going oh-so-damn-well for Atemu. His secret, whatever it was, was going perfectly. Atemu was writing a new song. Atemu was being productive. Bakura wasn't. He was just sitting on his fat-ass, moping and sulking about some stupid, stubborn, immature kid.
Atemu played out his tune again. It sounded good.
Bakura scowled. "Fuck this."
He grabbed his cell phone up from his nightstand and dialed the number he knew all too well.
"Pizza Palace," an employee answered in a bored, not-Ryou voice. "Would you like to try one of our special seven combos?"
"No. Is Ryou working there tonight?" Bakura growled at the lankie.
"Ryou? Ah… yeah, he's at the, ah, cash register but we're not supposed to get personal calls while we're working…"
"Ok, look worker person, don't tell Ryou that I called. Tell me where your food place is. Give me directions," Bakura ordered.
"Ah… I don't even know who you are. Why should I?" the worker questioned.
Bakura rolled his eyes. "You know the Descendants of Ra?"
"Yeah, duh. Everyone does."
"How would you like one of the members to show up at your restaurant?" Bakura asked, with a smirk.
((-10-))
You wanted AtemuxYugi fluff. You got it. I hope you liked it. I hope you took that fluff and chewed and then it got stuck in your teeth. Yeah…. Man I love that scene. It makes me smile.
DAMN THAT VIVIAN WONG!! She's such a slut. The only thing good about her was that she was so lame she lost to Rebecca, in one episode. That was sweet. Yeah and no one took her battle with Yugi seriously, and she lost in one episode… at least I think she did. Anywho, at least she left quickly.
I'm so sleepy….
Yugi is so cool. I love him. Man, Atemu was so freaking arrogant in this chapter. That's ok I suppose, it's like him.
Oh, Bakura, Bakura, Bakura… trying to be all sneaky and, well, failing,… it's almost cute. Ok, it is cute. And did you see it? That little spark in the conversation Ryou had with Yugi? You know that Bakura's getting to him... one way or another...
NEXT CHAPTER!!!! Hm… what happens next chapter? (goes and checks) Sweet. Let's just say a rampaging clan of ravenous wolves is involved. Seriously. What? You don't believe me? Have I ever lied to you before? Oh yeah and Yugi and Atemu go on another date but that's really not that important.
REVIEW!!!
Oh yeah, and Bakura does something very silly… and it kinda works… or maybe not, depends on how you look at it.
REVIEW!!!