Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading my story! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
One could hear a pin drop. After Atemu delivered his verdict, both Yami and Bakura froze, each staring at him with a mixture of horror and disbelief on their faces. Bakura's mind instantly began racing as he tried to make sense of what was just said. Yami in love with Aoimori? That's….impossible. That would never happen. It could never happen. There's no way. He's too…..No, it wouldn't work. She wouldn't go for him, would she?
While Bakura was silently panicking, Yami was reacting in a slightly different manner. That dumb bastard….Who the hell does he think he is, walking in here and saying whatever the fuck he wants? He lunged forward and seized Atemu by the collar of his shirt. With a growl, he shoved the Ancient Pharaoh in to the wall, placing their faces only inches apart.
"What the fuck is wrong with you, huh? Have your brains rotted with your age?" Yami snarled, the Millennium Eye appearing on his forehead. Next to him, Bakura gasped with pain as he tore at his shirt. Against his skin, the Ring was glowing white-hot, apparently mimicking the intensity of Yami's anger. Even separated physically, it was now obvious that the Ring continued to serve as a link between the two, a fact Bakura had now painfully learned.
"Come on, oh Pharaoh! Tell me the logic behind that one, huh? Were you not listening to me? Are there worms in those fucking ears of yours? That bitch will die by my hand. She's nothing but a fucking nuisance and distraction! Nothing more and nothing less!" When Atemu continued to stare at Yami with a serene expression, he swore under his breath, dropped the Ancient Spirit, and stormed out of the apartment.
"Well, that went about as expected." Atemu said as he straightened the collar of his shirt and rolled his neck. At that comment, Bakura turned to him with a dazed expression on his face. "You don't truly believe he loves her, do you?" His voice was odd, as if he was forcing himself to be nonchalant.
Atemu glanced at his friend and sighed, mentally shaking his head. You poor soul, you love her, don't you? And you don't even realize it yet. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Atemu took a step over to Bakura and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Instead of worrying about something like that, don't you think you should be focusing instead on why the rare hunters are here and what it will mean for everyone now that Yami is out?"
Eventually, Bakura nodded and slumped back into the living room where he appeared to collapse on the couch. With a sympathetic look towards the teenager, Atemu quietly slipped out of the apartment.
What if Atemu is right? What if Yami does love Aoimori? Is that why he keeps saving her? Is that why he is upset if someone else hurts her? He never answered my question….. Bakura's thoughts continued to race amongst those tangents until he finally fell into a fitful sleep.
The next morning when Bakura woke up for school, Yami was back in the apartment, fully dressed and eating in the kitchen. Bakura didn't ask him what he did the previous night nor did he mention Atemu. Yami too chose that path and didn't offer any explanation.
So in a companionable, if not slightly tense, silence, the two ate and Bakura prepared for school. After about fifteen minutes of arguing, Bakura persuaded Yami into attending school with him. The reasons that won the Thief King over were that one, he would be able to annoy anyone he didn't like there, and two, what else was he going to do now that he had a truce with everyone that prevented him from taking over the world?
Bakura's real motive behind the argument was that he didn't want to leave Yami out of his sight no matter what. While inside the Ring, the spirit had seemed fine with a peaceful co-existence with him and the others, but who knew if that would last now that Yami possessed his own body? Until he knew for sure that Yami had honestly changed and was no longer completely hell-bent on destruction, Bakura had no plans to take any chances.
So after the ten-minute walk consisting of Yami complaining of the cold, the two had reached Domino High. During the walk, Bakura had been looking out for Hotaru, hoping that she had been taking the same route as them, but it appeared that she was either running late, left really early, or had simply chosen another route.
After a brief introduction in the office and to the teachers, Yami and Bakura made their way to the classroom. "God, I hope your classmates aren't as annoying as they appear to be through the Ring. I don't feel like dealing with stupidity." Yami grumbled as he opened the door.
"What the hell are you doing out?" Jonouchi's loud exclamation seemed to echo in the classroom. Instantly, he was in Yami's face, a scowl on his own. "What did you do to Bakura?" Yami glowered at Jonouchi and crossed his arms. "Get out of my way, you stupid mutt. Your breath is absolutely disgusting. Decaying flesh has a more pleasant aroma."
"Jonouchi-san, good morning!" Bakura said, ducking around Yami and stepping in between the two in hopes of preventing a fight. Fortunately, at that moment, Miho decided to make an appearance.
"Bakura, good morning!" Miho singed as she practically tackled him. "How are you today?" As she wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes fell on Yami. "Another Bakura! Who are you?"
"He's my….brother. Yeah, he's my brother, Ryou Yami! He just returned from studying abroad in…China! Yeah, he just got back from China last night!" Bakura fumbled, ignoring the glare from Yami and the questioning expression from Jonouchi.
Miho, on the other hand, seemed to believe every word he said. "China, huh? What was that like? Oh, and if you need any help with translating Japanese, just let me know, okay? We can study together." This was finished with a flirty wink.
Noticing Miho's actions, Yami quirked an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "I'll pass. Annoying people have nothing to offer." That said, Yami strode past the dumbfounded girl and sat down in last desk closest to the window.
"Sorry about that, my brother's not used to Japanese customs yet…" Bakura said, fumbling to fill the awkward silence that followed Yami's put down. Jonouchi snorted and shook his head. "Like he's ever followed any to start with."
When Jonouchi opened his mouth to say more, his expression changed to one of confusion and surprise. Confused as well, Bakura leaned around him to see what causing that unusual expression. It was Hotaru, standing behind Jonouchi and poking him in the middle of his back. Apparently, she had tried to ask to him move but wasn't heard so had resorted to this method.
"Aoimori-san, good morning." Bakura said as he grabbed Jonouchi's arm and pulled him out of her way. Hotaru glanced up at him for a moment before she seized his hand and dragged him out to the hallway. Neither of them noticed the daggers shooting from Miho's eyes or Yami's intent stare.
"Aoimori-san? What's wrong?" He questioned when she had finally released his hand after tugging him halfway down the hallway. She looked up at him for a minute before she quickly bowed as low as she could without actually kneeling. "I to apologize!" She burst out, her volume surprising Bakura. "I to act stupid! I to apologize! I know not Ryou-san sibling! I to act rude so to apologize!"
Taken aback for a second, Bakura stared at the trembling girl before carefully placing his hand on her shoulder. "Aoimori-san, its okay. I know my…..brother scared you. You don't have to apologize, okay?" At his words, she glanced up at him, her eyes wide and visibly trembling. "Not angry?" She asked quietly as her hands tightened on her bag until her knuckles turned white.
Bakura smiled and shook his head. "I'm not angry. And believe me, Yami isn't angry either. He just has problems getting along with people." As he spoke, he gently pushed her shoulder until she was standing up straight again. "So don't worry about it, okay?"
"Yes!" Hotaru beamed up at him, all of her previous traces of nervousness vanishing. Bakura felt his heart skip a beat at her smile but was able to hide his reaction behind his own smile. "So are you ready for class today?" He asked as Hotaru glanced at the window. Her back stiffened and she glanced up at him before bowing quickly. "To excuse please. Have big errand." Hotaru said before she moved past him, running as fast as her injured legs would allow her to, leaving Bakura to stare after her in a wounded confusion.
With no other choice, he left and returned to the classroom. By this point, the last of his friends had arrived and depending on who they were, was either offered the explanation of the visiting brother or the Millennium Ring version.
Miho was happily standing next to Yami's desk, chattering away while the Ancient Spirit stared out the window with his arms crossed, an annoyed expression on his face. Jonouchi and Honda were joking with Yugi and Anzu at their desks and the rest of Bakura's classmates were caught up in the routines of their own lives.
As he approached Yugi's desk, a loud cry echoed throughout the hallway. It sounded as if several of their classmates had all shrieked in panic at the same time! With a barely a glance at each other for confirmation, Yugi, Bakura, Jonouchi, Honda, and even Yami, all stood and rushed to the door. The rare hunters! They wouldn't attack a school, would they?
Each prepared to fight; the teenagers filled the hallway only to stop in shock at the sight before them. Instead of a swarm of rare hunters attacking their classmates, what had caused the uproar was the sight of Seto Kaiba walking arm in arm with Hotaru!
"What the hell?" "What the fuck?" Bakura choked out at the same time Yami growled as the two stared at their former enemy walking with their short classmate. Kaiba and Hotaru, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the commotion around them. Instead, Kaiba inclined his head towards Hotaru who was talking to him with a joyous grin on her face.
As the strange pair approached Bakura realized the two were speaking English with Kaiba sounding just as fluent as Hotaru. "Aoimori-san? How do you know Kaiba?" Yugi called out when it appeared that Bakura and Yami were too dumbfounded to say anything.
At the shorter teenager's question, Hotaru instantly stopped speaking and glanced over at him with a confused expression on his face. "He wants to know how you know me." Kaiba said to her in English, causing her to look up at him with a smile. Seeing that smile, Bakura felt his chest tighten painfully. It was hard enough seeing her smile at anyone besides him, but it was near torture to watch her grin at Kaiba of all people like that.
On the other hand, Yami felt the ice in his chest expand and anger surge through his body. What does that stupid girl think she's doing, talking to Kaiba like that? Doesn't she have any survival instincts?
Hotaru approached the group with a shy grin on her face and one hand on the back of her neck. "Seto is best." She said cheerfully, not noticing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces.
"Kaiba? The best?" Jonouchi was the first one to speak as usual. "What is wrong with you, huh? Don't you know who he is? He's rude, manipulative, has tried to kill all of us several times, and is an all around jerk!" Hotaru stared up at him with a puzzled expression on her face as she attempted to understand what he said.
"He said that I'm a jerk and not worthy of being called the best." Kaiba said in English as he stepped up behind Hotaru, smirking at Jonouchi.. When she heard the translation, Hotaru's puzzled expression turned into a fierce glare. Balling her small hands into fists, she took a step closer and reached up to grab the blonde teenager's shirt collar.
Even though the ice in his chest had filled his entire body with a freezing rage, Yami couldn't stop himself from smirking at Hotaru's enraged expression. The sight of that tiny girl glaring up at a former bully looking as if she were ready to rip his throat out was simply too amusing. Its as if someone had pissed off a kitten…
Realizing what he just thought, Yami's back stiffened and he dug his nails into his palms. Where the fuck did that come from? He glared at Hotaru, his anger surging through his veins. How dare she? How dare she have this effect! That little bitch… Unbeknownst to him, as he stood there in his fury, the Millennium Eye was beginning to appear on Yami's forehead and palms.
At once, Kaiba and Atemu were in front of him, both of them pushing him away from Hotaru. "Calm yourself at once." Atemu ordered, the Puzzle still glowing warmly from Yugi disappearing into it. "You fool." Kaiba spat, taking a step back with his arms crossed.
Jonouchi and the rest froze and looked over at the three boys, all of them wearing confused expressions on their faces. Bakura too, was surprised. He hadn't even felt Yami's anger through the Ring, yet he apparently appeared ready to murder someone.
Honda, sensing there would be a fight that he wouldn't be able to prevent, grabbed Jonouchi and began hauling him away from their friends. When Jonouchi started to protest, Honda quietly explained that they would be better off doing crowd control than trying to break up that particular fight.
Hotaru, on the other hand, quickly moved so that she was standing in between the three of them, her hands held up at the boys' chest level. "To stop!" She commanded in a surprisingly loud and authoritative voice.
"Seto, what is going on?" She asked in English as she glanced up at Yami. He glowered back at her, his eyes promising a painful death. Hotaru swallowed hard but didn't look away from him until Bakura joined her in the middle, asking. "What are you guys doing?"
Kaiba rolled his neck and shot a haughty look at Yami. "Ask Anger Management over there." He replied in English before he turned and walked away. Hotaru watched him for a moment before turning back to Yami.
"What wrong?" She asked quietly, staring up at him. "You." He growled before he spun on his heel and stormed away from her. Seeing her hurt expression, Bakura put his hand on her shoulder.
"Aoimori-san? Don't worry about him, okay? Remember what I said earlier?" He said softly, ignoring the pointed look Atemu shot him. Seeing that she was struggling to compose herself, Bakura glanced over at Atemu. "What the hell did happen?"
Atemu shrugged and tilted his head towards Yami's retreating back. "He reached a murderous rage. Something obviously set him off." He stated as his eyes shifted towards Hotaru.
"See, I told you! You were wrong! He doesn't love Aoimori-san, he wants to kill her!" Bakura purposefully spoke quickly so that Hotaru wouldn't be able to understand him. However, at the mention of her name, she glanced up at him with a confused expression.
"That aside, Aoimori, how do you know Kaiba?" Atemu asked, not willing to prove Bakura wrong in public and give the girl a chance to understand what they were talking about. She glanced up at him and smiled shyly again. "Friend in England. Help to speak English." Seeing that shy smile as she talked about another man, Bakura felt his chest tighten painfully, making it difficult for him to breathe. Why Kaiba? Why does she have to look like that when talking about Kaiba?
Before either of the teenagers could question her further, the bell rang, causing all three of them jump. Without another word, Atemu disappeared inside the Puzzle and drew out a confused Yugi to hurry after Bakura and Hotaru.
Later, during physical education, Bakura and the others were able to meet up again and speak freely. Yami was sulking at the far end of the gym, glowering at his new classmates.
"So what the hell happened this morning?" Jonouchi demanded as soon as the boys had gathered. "To put it simply, Aoimori-san knows Kaiba from England. Apparently he helped her learn English like we are helping her to relearn Japanese. As for Yami, I have no idea what set him off. He looked like he was ready to murder everyone in the school with his bare hands." Bakura explained.
Honda sighed and put a hand on his head. "And here I thought that all we would have to deal with this year would be the International Tournament." "Things are never that easy, haven't you noticed?" Yugi commented.
While his friends were talking, Bakura was looking over at the other side of the gym. The boys in his class were supposed to be working out leaving the girls to play basketball again.
Once more, Hotaru was leaning against the wall, watching her classmates play. Bakura couldn't tell from the distance, but he thought he saw a longing expression on her face as she watched the other students laugh with their friends.
Hotaru sighed and pushed her bangs out of her eyes. Thanks to her injury, she couldn't participate and play with everyone else. So instead, she just had to watch Anzu shoot baskets and listen to the other girls' gossip and giggles.
Instead of the longing Bakura thought she was feeling, she was bored. Hotaru wasn't able to play nor could she understand what anyone else was saying. She wouldn't admit to being lonely, but she was definitely bored.
As she stared at the ceiling, she felt someone looking at her. Turning her head, her eyes locked with Yami's icy brown ones from across the gym. Like her, he was leaning against the wall and had apparently been watching his classmates as well.
Hopeful and hesitant, Hotaru raised her hand in greeting. In response, Yami's eyes narrowed, he crossed his arms, and turned his head away from her. Disappointment welling up inside her chest; she slowly lowered her hand and her eyes to the floor.
The presence of a hand on her shoulder caused her to look up. "Are you okay?" Kaiba asked her in English. She smiled and touched her hand to his. "Yeah…I'm still trying to get used to everything again. It's a bit overwhelming." Hotaru replied, also in English. After spending so much time trying to translate everyone else, it simply felt nice to be able to speak freely.
"Those guys are stupid…..But they are reliable." Kaiba said as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. Hotaru blinked, staring up at him before a huge smile broke out on her face. "That's the nicest thing I've heard you say about anyone outside of the family." She teased, laughing. He sighed and glanced down at the girl, a faint smile on his face.
From across the gym, Yami felt the ice inside his chest expand and saw red creeping in from the corners of his vision. All of the other sounds and people faded away until he only saw Hotaru and Kaiba standing together, laughing. The only time he had ever seen Hotaru laugh was when she was near hysterics at discovering the both of them at the end of a strained day.
But Kaiba was able to make her laugh so easily and she looks so comfortable in his presence. Why the hell does any of that matter?Yami groaned and smacked the back of his head against the wall. Why do I care if she's happy with that prick? It's a good thing! That bastard would be able to keep her out of my hair! Even as he berated himself, Yami couldn't tear his eyes away from the two. Nor would the ice inside his chest recede.
Oblivious to Yami's turmoil, Kaiba and Hotaru continued to talk. "I'm sure you know already, but I'm hosting this year's International Tournament." At her nod, Kaiba continued. "It's not for several more months, but I'm throwing a party for the contestants from the Japan and for any others that have arrived. That will be in a few weeks and I'll announce it publicly a week from today." As he spoke, he leaned his head down towards hers. "He will be there so wear your English dress, okay?"
Hearing that, Hotaru gasped and stared up at him. "No…He promised he wouldn't!" She backed away from him, her arms crossing defensively in front of herself. "How could you let him? You both promised!" She nearly shouted that last part.
Yami, who had continued to watch them, against his better judgment, had raised his eyebrows when Hotaru had first started to back away from him. Maybe she's starting to realize how much of an asshole he can be. However, when he heard her shout, he was crossing the gym before he could even realize he was doing it. He couldn't understand what she had shouted, but he had been around the girl long enough to know when she was distressed. Who the hell does Kaiba think he is…. I'm the only one allowed to make her sound like that…
Hotaru blinked when she felt a hand on her shoulder pull her back and Yami stepped in front of her, glaring at Kaiba. "Back off." Yami growled as Kaiba crossed his arms and stared back. "Mind your own business." He replied, tossing his head as if to dismiss Yami. Yami's vision turned red and this time he could feel the Eye appear on his forehead.
"What the hell are you guys doing now?" Having seen Yami storm over to Hotaru and Kaiba and having been burned by Yami's anger through the Ring, Bakura rushed over before the situation could erupt violently. He moved between Yami and Kaiba, extending his palms towards both of them.
Yami didn't reply, only continued to glower at Kaiba. Who, on the other hand, had locked his eyes with Hotaru's. "Do you want another scene? Call them off. Now." He told her in English. She slowly nodded and took a deep breath before she hesitantly placed one hand on Yami's shoulder and the other on Bakura's.
"I fine. Seto to tell that no to wear kimono to party. No problem." She said with a forced grin on her face. Yami stared at her for a second before he smacked her hand off his shoulder and stalked away. Bakura on the other hand, glanced up at Kaiba. "What party? And why can't she wear a kimono?"
Without missing a beat, he replied; "The party I am throwing for the Japanese contestants in the International Tournament. It is in a few weeks. It's a modern party and a kimono is hardly modern." Once Bakura seemed satisfied by the explanation, Hotaru gently tugged on his sleeve. "To leave please? I to talk Seto good bye." She mumbled.
"Alright, see you in class." Bakura said before turning and re-joining their other classmates. "That was dumb." Kaiba told her the second he was out of earshot. "Then don't make me lie to my friends." Hotaru replied, crossing her arms. "If you want to stay here, you have to. Otherwise, I'll have to return you to England. You know his rules." Kaiba told her as he placed his hand on her head. "Just bear with it okay? You're safer here, especially with idiots like that to protect you all the time."
When the bell had rang, signaling the end of physical education, Bakura followed the rest of his classmates to change. In the locker room, Yugi approached him, the Puzzle around his neck glowing softly. "Atemu wants to know what we should do with Bakura, Yami, and Kaiba." He started, keeping his voice low so that he wouldn't be overheard.
"I don't know what to do with them." Bakura sighed as he tugged on his uniform shirt. "I mean, I don't know what the deal is with Yami and Kaiba with Aoimori-san. Yami just wants her dead, but he keeps attacking Kaiba every time he's with her. And Aoimori-san told me herself that Kaiba is nothing more than a friend from England."
Yugi glanced down at the Puzzle before looking back up at Bakura. "Are you in love with Aoimori-san?" Bakura stared at him for a moment, his arms frozen the motion of buttoning his shirt. A minute passed before he collapsed on to the bench behind them and stared up at Yugi.
"I think I am."