Chapter 11: Could It Be That Easy?
Ryou nervously stared down at his fingers as they twiddled with the hem of his dark blue cotton tee shirt. He could feel those penetrating eyes on him, burning into his skin, attempting to read his mind. Or at least that's what it felt like. He didn't look up though. He refused. He knew the moment he made eye contact it would be the end for him. His old life would be finished and he'd begin a new one.
He could remember vividly the way Bakura's hot mouth invaded his own, the way Bakura's hips pressed into his as it sent his heart pounding erratically. Even now, just thinking about it, Ryou's breathing became labored slightly. That feeling. The feeling that he'd never felt before with anyone was now imprinted into his brain forever.
Ryou had lived a very sheltered life, to the point that his identity was a secret to everyone. To say that he had romance in his life at any point, would be a lie. Nonetheless, he'd hoped that one day he'd meet someone that would love him for who he actually was. Meeting Bakura and sharing what was the most passionate experience of his life, made him wonder if that was something that could lead to his dream. He wasn't sure because he had never imagined someone like Bakura would take notice of him the way that he had.
Bakura shifted in his seat on the stairs outside the palace. Ryou knew that he should have run away from Bakura then. And in all honesty, he had tried. However the guard was amazingly good at finding him and Ryou had given up. He'd have to confront this no matter how much he wanted to.
"Why do you put up with it?" was Bakura's cut into the silence that had been surrounding them for quite some time. Ryou even started a bit at the sound of his gruff voice, letting the involuntary shudder roll down his back before he spoke.
"Put up with what?" he asked timidly, still not making eye contact. It'd be too difficult for him to speak eye to eye. At least this way he'd be able to speak clearly.
"You know what," Bakura snorted, causing Ryou's cheeks to redden a little. "How can you just be okay with being a secret to everyone? Doesn't that bother you?"
Ryou swallowed hard, the misery he'd locked away a long time ago trying to resurface within him. Of course it bothered him. To live each day knowing that you were some mistake, that his mother died while giving birth to him, and that he wasn't able to portray who he really was of course upset him. More than he let on most days. Not even Kisara knew how terrible he felt about it. He knew that his sister had more things to worry about then him, as he also knew she worried enough about him as it was.
Apparently he was silent longer than he'd noticed and before he knew it, Bakura was kneeling in front of him on the stairs, his large hands grabbing onto Ryou's fidgety ones. It was only then, because he was taken off guard, Ryou looked up into Bakura's violet eyes. He didn't recognize the emotion within them, but it made him feel slightly on edge. He even blushed.
"Ryou," Bakura muttered and Ryou tried not to pull away from him. "You" ā
"You're different from others," Ryou cut in before he could stop himself, making Bakura still and stare questioningly into Ryou's eyes. "Y-you thinking about how I feel about it. No one else has asked me how I feel."
Bakura frowned deeply in front of him but his thumbs lightly caressed the backs of Ryou's hands. "And how do you feel?"
"Wanted," Ryou whispered, not even answering the question properly. Wanted was how he felt at that very moment with Bakura.
Something lit up in Bakura's eyes that Ryou had caught but didn't have time to think too much on because the man before him leaned in, taking his breath away. Bakura stopped mere inches from Ryou's lips, causing the smaller boy to tremble slightly in anticipation. Their eyes flickered over each other, before settling on each other's lips as both of their breaths ticked the other's face.
"I want you," Bakura murmured over Ryou's lips, but before he could press them properly against them, the door of the palace slammed open ā thoroughly breaking the tender moment that they seemed to be having and they leaned away from each other immediately.
"Come on Ryou, we're leaving," Kisara's desperate and wobbly voice said as she ran down the stairwell, not even bothering to wipe at her cheeks that were tearstained.
The fact that his sister was sobbing made him stand up. "What happened?" he asked in concern and Kisara paused on the way down to the sidewalk and turned around to look up at him, her watery eyes glancing at Bakura.
"We're obviously unwelcome here because of that low life blond brat in there, so tell your boyfriend goodbye and let's go," Kisara snapped, causing Ryou to wince and Bakura to tense beside him.
"I⦠okay," Ryou murmured with reddened cheeks, embarrassed by the fact that Kisara had called Bakura his boyrfriend, and followed after her.
He was quickly stopped by a grab of his wrist, spinning him around to come face to face with the guard. Bakura's eyes were intense. "You're not leaving," Bakura practically growled and Ryou had to hold himself together.
"I-I have to, I'm s-sorry," Ryou stuttered shamefully as he attempted to get out of the man's grasp.
"Unhand him Bakura!" a demanding voice came from the palace, Ryou recognizing it as King Seto's. Ryou looked back at Bakura worriedly, who seemed like he didn't want to do as he was commanded to do.
Slowly and reluctantly, Bakura released Ryou and the smaller of the two quickly ran after his sister who was already at her car that he assumed she called for prior. Disappointment ran through Ryou at the loss, his eyes glancing backwards over his shoulder once before getting into the car to see Bakura still on the steps where he'd left him staring after him as if he still wanted to go and steal him back. The one person in the world that really wanted him, was now unable to. And Ryou wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
"There has to be something done about Prince Wheeler," Kisara said to him privately, sending Ryou on edge at the dangerous voice his sister was using. "I can't let Seto go through with this marriage. It's not right, unnatural and completely stupid!"
"W-what do you plan to do then?" Ryou asked, not even sure that he truly wanted to know. He'd seen his sister be very scary when she wanted to be.
Kisara crossed his arms over her chest angrily and stared hard out the window as they drove away. "I have some connections, Ryou. Prince Wheeler will be out of my way for good."
oO0Oo
Joey stomped all the way into his bedroom, slamming the door in Yugi's concerned face and throwing himself down onto his bed to cradle his swollen cheek. Stupid bitch didn't have to use a fucking glass bowl on my face! he screamed into his head, which made it pound as if he'd done it aloud.
Despite the pain, the confusion of Seto's reaction, and his own newly found desires for the King, Joey was relieved to know Kisara was finally gone. If he had known that all he had to do was get into a fight with her, he would have done so a long time ago. It wouldn't have been a problem.
After he'd jumped across the table, intending to strangle her with her own hair, Kisara had jumped out of the way sending him crashing into the chair she had been sitting in prior. When he had reached his feet, he had ran after her, grabbing her by the hair making her scream bloody murder. He assumed now that the scream is what brought Seto back into the dining room. Joey had been seeing red by that point and hadn't even cared enough to pay attention to it. He did have the sense to not hit her, as she was still a woman and he did have morals. He was just going to pull her hair a bit, tell her to fuck off and leave Seto and his country alone, but instead she had grabbed the bowl and swung it up to connect into the side of his face.
Seto had then intervened. As Joey was moaning in pain, his hand clutched his cheek, Seto had grabbed the bowl from Kisara and sent her out the door with a few choice words. Apparently Kisara had overstayed her welcome and he could deal with his unruly fiance without her help. If it hadn't been the fact that he had kicked her out, Joey would have called offense to being called unruly. But at that point, he really could have cared less what Seto had to say to him as long as that bitch was gone.
Joey groaned, hearing Yugi's knocks on his door. "Yugi stop! Your tiny fists shouldn't be making such loud noises!" he moaned, rolling onto his side and closing his eyes to wallow in pain and self pity.
He had been injured by a girl. How humiliating. He hoped Tristan never found out.
Surprisingly enough, Yugi did stop knocking but just when Joey felt like he could fall asleep, his door open and in walked Seto. Joey felt his heart start to race and he quickly sat up to defend himself in need be. But Seto wasn't glaring at him... with too much malice. Sure his eyebrows were furrowed low over his narrowed eyes and his lips were thin, but he didn't look to be too angry.
That was a sorta good sign, Joey supposed.
"What do ya want richboy? Can't ya let a man lick his wounds in private? Or do ya have to sabotage that too?" he couldn't help but drawl; he was in too much pain to give two shits about the plan he'd been working out for the past two days. Kisara was gone. It was over.
Seto didn't dignify it with an answer, but instead continued to walk over to the bed and took a seat next to the blond. "You need to clean yourself up properly. Laying in bed when you could have a concussion isn't a good way to do it," Seto stated in a low strained voice as if he was forcing himself to say it.
Joey narrowed his eyes as far as they could go without completely killing his headache. "Go away."
Seto reached for his cheek but Joey pulled away immediately, almost falling off the other side of the bed in the process. Thankfully he caught himself and gave Seto another glower for good measure.
Apparently that was the last of Seto's patience. "Get your stubborn ass over here so I can look at your face before I make you," he growled and Joey crossed his arms over his chest defiantly at the tone - not appreciating it. They stared at each other with fire in both of their eyes, before Joey felt too tired and pained to continue.
Joey let himself fall back to the bed, scooting reluctantly over to Seto. Immediately, the brunette's attitude changed and he again reached up to take Joey's cheek into his hand. Joey's eyes closed of their own accord. Seto's fingers were soft, gentle and almost caressing as he looked over the swollen cheek, eye, and eyebrow. It sent involuntary goose bumps to rise on the blond's arms and neck. Trying not to show a reaction to the touch, Joey became restless when Seto didn't pull away after a moment. Joey felt the fingers move along his cheek very softly, then travel over his jaw.
When the fingers reached his neck, Joey's eyes popped open and locked gazes with blue ones. Immediately his heart lurched towards Seto and he searched into the icy color for something he wasn't sure of. It seemed like Seto was doing the same thing because his fingers stilled on Joey's neck and he stared just as intently back at him.
Momentarily, Joey's mouth ran dry and he licked his lips then swallowed, feeling Seto's fingers move slightly with the movement of his adam's apple.
Seto finally broke the connection as he glanced down to his hand before gently pulling it away. Joey felt the loss immediately but his cheeks warmed up with the realization of what just had happened between them. It was something that he'd never felt before with the brunette... or anyone for that matter. That confused him. He'd thought he'd been in love with Duke for the longest time but what he'd felt just now with the man in front of him, was something completely foreign.
Seto cleared his throat, a blush high on his own cheeks, breaking Joey out of his musings. "You're bruising pretty quickly so I don't think it's too bad. I'll have Rolland bring you up some ice and pain reliever..." his voice trailed off as he looked back into Joey's eyes for a moment, creating the connection again before quickly adverting his gaze to break it.
He was fighting it. And Joey understood that. He didn't know what to make of it either.
He sure as hell didn't know where the sentiment came from that then followed out of his own mouth, "Thanks."
Seto swallowed before nodding silently as he stood from the bed. Joey watched him without a word even in his head, assuming he was going to be leaving him to his lonesome once before, but Seto paused.
"I apologize for Kisara's behavior. She is a good person deep down and that's what keeps me from throwing her out of my life forever," Seto stated quietly, throwing Joey off guard from the admission - despite gravely disagreeing with Seto for saying Kisara was in any way a good person. "My priorities have changed recently, however and she needs to respect that."
Joey didn't know what to say to him and Seto glanced back at him swiftly with a thoughtful expression before exiting the room.
When the door closed, Joey let out a breath that he didn't know he'd been holding that whole time.
Things were different now.
oO0Oo
Seto slowly made his way through his palace, seeing Rolland at the foot of the stairs in the foyer with a grave face. The brunette attempted to make himself feel like himself as he straightened and rose his chin, pausing in front of the man. "Prince Wheeler needs his face attended to. He doesn't seem to have a concussion but he needs pain reliever and ice."
Seto felt the old man's eyes observe him for a moment, but before he could snap at him in defense, he responded. "Right away your majesty." And then he walked away to the kitchens.
Seto let a breath exhale through his nose solemnly. He just wanted to crawl in bed and wake up tomorrow with today gone from his memory. He wished he could say that Kisara's actions had been surprising, but they weren't. He knew first hand what Joey and Kisara were like and he should have known to never leave them together alone. Especially after realizing just what Joey was up to. His head pounded with the thought of Joey trying to make the princess jealous. He really didn't know what to think about it. He knew Prince Wheeler was homosexual. He'd always known that. It was the reason he'd made the decision to marry him. It had been the perfect opportunity to take Ghaffar into his control without waiting for Joey's younger sister Serenity to mature enough to marry. Of course, it would have been more ideal for Seto. But now...
No! You're not gay. Don't let Joey's temptations corrupt your mind.
Seto sighed again and made himself move towards the sitting room, intending to sit down in his comfy chair and hope that he could relax a little before he went to bed and attempt to forget. The reminder of the dream he'd had made his skin tingle and he gritted his teeth. Perhaps he should have thrown himself out of the palace. Only then he'd be able to be rid of all of this.
"I told you Seto!" Mokuba cried to his brother as soon as he stepped inside, throwing his arms around his middle. So much for relaxing. "She's a monster! What she did to Joey... it's unforgivable! Don't let her come back Seto! Please!"
Seto rolled his eyes at his younger brother, untangling himself from the tight embrace. "I'm sure Joey initiated whatever was going on in the dining room Mokuba. Don't think for a moment I believe Joey was completely innocent and Kisara is the only one to blame."
"But"-
Seto threw a hand up to stop his brother from interrupting. "Mokuba. I'm not justifying Kisara's role in any of it. However, I'm sure you're aware of the fact that Joey seemed to be egging her on," he stated, leaving it up to Mokuba to fill in the blanks.
Mokuba then looked down with a very guilty face, making Seto narrow his eyes with suspicion. Was his younger brother in on it? Did he really not like Kisara that much that he forged a plan with Joey in order to be rid of her? For some reason... Seto wasn't mad about it. Actually, he was kind of proud of his brother. Seemed like he was a Kaiba after all.
"Mokuba," he said as he sat down in his usual chair, gesturing to the one next to him for his brother to take. And he did. "Explain to me why you hate Kisara."
Mokuba's cheeks reddened and he looked away uncomfortably. "No."
Seto's eyebrows shot up, not expecting the answer. "No? Why not? It's obvious you hate her with a passion, but I never even thought you two had much interaction over the years. Father was always throwing us together and leaving you out of it. So please, Mokuba. Tell me."
The little boy's lips trembled and his hair fell into his face as he looked down at the ground. "You'll be mad at me."
Seto frowned, not understanding. "Why would I be mad at you?"
"Okay fine!" Mokuba suddenly cried out. "I'll tell you."
And he did. Every. Single. Detail.
Seto took back what he said to Joey about Kisara being a good person. No one touched his brother. If he saw her again, he'd make sure to end her.
Hello... *blushes* I am so sorry that I dropped off the radar for a while. I could literally write a whole other story just about what has gone on in my life and you'll probably get bored. I also apologize for how short this chapter is and how clipped it kind of is. I am trying to get myself back into writing it. And OMG! 100 reviews? Can I just say that's never happened to me before. You people are freaking amazing. Seriously.
So Kisara's gone! Who saw that coming? And lots of tension goin' on between our boys... excluding Yami and Yugi who will make another appearance in the next chapter! They have to! I want to see their relationship progress!
Hope you're all doing fine and I hope to write for you soon! Review to tell me how good this is, how bad it is, or badly you want to hit me for not updating sooner. : P Thanks guys!
