A/N: Ugh. Life is getting kinda like, "Hey! I exist!" But somehow this got written. Sorry it wasn't up yesterday, I ran out of time. But on the plus side, I think I actually managed cute fluff this time!
Takes place a few months post-series.
Chapter 11: Rose - 1043 Words
It came again. The single red rose was in her mailbox for the fifth Monday in a row. Serenity sighed. The rose was always accompanied by a visit from Tristan some time that afternoon. While Tristan was a sweetheart, and enjoyable to be around, he wanted her in a way for someone else.
Ryou… Serenity thought of the way he always smiled his cute clumsiness, and the way he wasn't afraid to speak his mind. He was also very attractive. She, on the other hand, was plain and rather tomboyish, usually the damsel in distress. Perhaps Tristan was more in her league after all…
Serenity closed her apartment door with a sigh.
Ryou growled and smacked himself. She had been right there. It had only been luck that she was so focused on the rose that she hadn't seen him scamper behind the closest cover.
Ever since Bakura had disappeared forever, Ryou thought he was free to tell Serenity about his feelings for her. But something (was it Bakura reaching across death to keep Ryou from happiness, or just plain embarrassment?) kept him just a little too nervous to let his feelings out. The way her delicate features glowed, the way she wasn't afraid to get down and dirty, and her perfectly happy demeanor, she was almost too angelic for a man who had sinned as much as he had.
Ryou scowled and shuffled back to his apartment.
Serenity was in the middle of a good T.V show when there was a knock on her door. "Hey Serenity! IT's me!" Tristan called. Serenity half-forced a smile as she answered the door. "Hello, Tristan!" She said, motioning for him to enter. "Would you like something to drink?" She offered politely. "Just the usual, please." He said as he slipped out of his shoes and walked to the dining room.
They chatted pointlessly for a while on how the other was doing. Serenity listened to answers and questions, replying when necessary. But with each minute ticking past, she felt more and more like she was drowning.
"Excuse me. I'm going to make more tea. Would you like some?" She asked politely, getting to her feet. Tristan shook his head. "I'm fine. In fact, I should probably get going. Goodbye, Serenity!" Tristan said after glancing at his watch. Serenity bit her lip to keep from screaming, "Finally!"
Tristan opened the door and nearly collided with Ryou's fist. "Oh! Sorry –" Ryou stopped mid-knock as he registered Tristan's presence. He smiled. Serenity looked at him. If he wasn't jealous, he must not care for her after all… "Hello Tristan. Hello Serenity." Ryou said with a grin. "I came to say goodbye!"
What?
Ryou rubbed his palms on his jeans nervously. Why was he so afraid to say, "I really like you, but I'm moving. Keep in touch!"? With a sigh, he shifted the bouquet of roses behind his back and took a deep breath. He was about to knock when the door opened, and Tristan nearly crashed into his hand. He started to apologize when he realized Tristan was in Serenity's apartment.
Something inside of him broke but he hid it with a smile, as usual. Of course Tristan and Serenity were an item. Tristan had been hitting on her ever since they had met, from what Joey had complained. Ryou, on the other hand, only met her once, but he heard many stories from Joey. He doubted she even knew he existed. Well, that made this easier.
Keeping the smile on his face, he said, "Hello Tristan. Hello Serenity. I came to say goodbye!" Serenity gave him a look he couldn't decipher. "What do you mean, Bakura?" Tristan demanded, "And what's behind your back?"
Ryou brought out the bouquet. "I just want to give my friends something to remember me by." He pulled two roses out and handed them to Tristan and Serenity . "But where are you going?" She asked. Was that tone in her voice confusion or curiousity?
Since the Spirit is finally gone, I'm going to move back with my family. My sister is starting high school, so I figured it's time that I go back. Plus, my dad's back from his big trip to Cambodia. I gues things are just working out." He said with a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ryou was about to leave when Serenity's hand shot out and grabbed his shoulder. "Do you have a phone number? Just to keep in touch." She said quickly. Ryou's eyes widened. Even if it was just as friends, at least they could talk.
Ryou wrote the number on a piece of scrap paper Serenity handed him. "When will you get to your house?" She asked. "The train leaves in half an hour, and it's about 4 hours there." Ryou said, blushing slightly. From what she said, it sounded like she was going to…
"I'll call you then. Is that okay?" She asked quietly, matching blush creeping over her face. "Yes!" Ryou yelled happily. "I mean," He settled himself with a deep breath, turning beet red. "That will be fine."
"And I'm guessing you're gonna visit us once ina while. Or are we going to have to come down there ourselves?" Ryou and Serenity jumped at Tristan interrupting their dialogue.
"Oh, um, Tristan…" Serenity said nervously, playing with a strand of hair. "I…I appreciate you talking to me every week, but I am not interested in you. Sorry." She said, looking down. Tristan stared at her in confusion for a second then burst out laughing.
"Oh, I'm sorry~" He said, clutching his sides. " I'm sorry! It's just… I know. I figured that a while ago." He said with a smile. "Joey just wanted me to keep an eye on you while he's studying abroad." He explained, crossing his arms over his chest. Serenity's eyebrows rose, and her mouth opened in a little "O".
Ryou stared at Tristan, unable to understand why Serenity seemed to be choosing him, and moreover, why Tristan was letting her go. He was about to say something when his watch beeped. "Ak! I gotta go!" He cried, shoving the bouquet of roses in her arms before running to the train station.
A/N: I'm not very good at romance (never been in one myself.), so please tell me how I did!
Read and review, please? =w=
P.s. I'm getting a little uninspired, mostly due to lack of reviews. Seriously. I have nearly 400 views, but only 3 reviews. Please review. And I'm being serious.
Sorry for that review-grab...
