Chapter 16 Bakura

Sitar music - the most boring music on the planet in Bakura's opinion - oozed out as he opened the door of the only business that seemed open anywhere.

"Oh! Tank que far uare cosstam," said a heavily accented Indian woman behind the counter.

"What?" Bakura was far more interested in getting Ryou a seat away from the cold than he was in figuring out the locals' bad diction.

"I am fine, Bakura," Ryou sighed with a tired smile. "You must surely be just as cold and tired. Sit. We shall order in a moment, love," he told the woman. "It is quite the chill outside."

"Oh jess. Beddy coal."

Bakura glanced at the woman, then gave Ryou a confused look. "Are you gettin' any of that?"

"A scuse me?" She looked at Bakura with confusion. "Raji!" the woman suddenly yelled.

"Ma! I'm right here." A twenty-something man came out of the back. "You don't have to…. Oh, customers. Hi guys, sorry for the wait. What can I get you?"

"At this point, I should be quite happy with something hot," Ryou chuckled.

"Right here, babe," Bakura quipped. "Couldda stayed in the room for that."

"Room?" Raji asked. "Oh, you drove over from one of the battlefield hotels? If you have your room key, there's a 10% discount."

"We walked." Bakura pulled out the key card. "This one?"

Raji looked at the two men, and then out the window. "You walked? In this?"

Bakura shrugged. "Never argue with a Brit about tea."

'Ma' said something in Indian and Raji replied. They had a brief exchange which involved gestures toward the weather and the customers. She began opening cabinets, and he pushed a couple register buttons.

Finally Raji smiled at Bakura. "I figured it would be a waste of time to open today, but Ma insisted. We were just about to close up, so you guys are really lucky. Coffee or tea for you, sir?"

"Coffee. French roast or whatever's close. What kind of tea you got?"

"My mother's making tea for your friend," Raji dismissed. "Scone? Danish? The blueberry is very good."

"Yeah, sure. One of each. How much?"

"Oh no charge," Raji said as he served the baked goods. "Once Ma heard you say you walked, she said it was a mitzvah to thaw you out and dry you off."

'Ma' came out from the counter and handed Ryou a mug. "Hoomd chai. Beddy good."

Ryou took a sip. Then his eyes fell shut and Bakura would have sworn that his lover had just jizzed his pants.

"Madam, you are a saint." Ryou opened his eyes and smiled. "The finest cup of black tea I have had since leaving London."

'Great, now I gotta compete with old Indian hags?' Bakura found himself thinking. That smile could make sluts out of virgins and pervs out of monks.

"Ah! Loandun? Meni, meni year ago..."

"Your coffee?" Raji interrupted Bakura's jealous rage to hand him the steaming beverage. "And, listen, our place is upstairs. If you want to come up and dry off, I've got a robe you can borrow. Mom can keep your friend occupied, and I can drive you back to your hotel when we're done. It's less than a mile away."

"I can deal," Bakura shrugged, "but he might want -"

"Actually, handsome, I don't think my robe would fit him."

Bakura looked at Raji. "Are you actually hittin' on me?"

"Only if there's a chance you're saying yes. Otherwise, it's just a friendly offer."

There was a time when, it wouldn't have been a discussion, and Bakura would already be halfway up the stairs. But that changed a year prior.

"How can I marry you? I should have to share you with every man you see," Ryou had said softly, sadly. "Be mine, truly mine alone, and next year, ask me again."

Ryou's tears had been enough to convince Bakura to stop sleeping with any hot bod he saw. It hadn't taken long to change; not once Yami had remarked on the number of dinner invitations Ryou got in a week. The sudden fear that the love of his life might say yes to someone else, made Bakura start saying no. Bakura had been hoping for some alone time to ask Ryou if it was too soon to ask again.

Bakura looked at Ryou; he and Ma were having an animated conversation. He was smiling. Radiant as the snow drifted past the window behind him. He looked like a ice fairy.

The Indian kid was hot, but compared to Ryou? No contest.

Bakura smiled. The weather couldn't be all bad if the trip made Ryou happy. "Thanks for the friendly offer," Bakura grinned, "but he's just here for the tea, an' I'm just here for him."

Author's End Note:

Standard reviews welcome. Even if you don't feel comfortable commenting, I would deeply appreciate a ":-)", ":-l", or ":-(". I feel a bit alone on this one. From the stage, the lights are blinding and you don't know if anyone is watching if the audience is silent. Let me know you're out there, please. Thank You. SJ