Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
The pairings introduced right now:
Anzu/Yami no Yuugi
The crushes introduced right now:
Jounounchi/Ryou
Seto/Yuugi
Thanks Beta-reading, R Amythest!
Chapter de Fourth: Rain
Doesn't rain always seem to set the mood for some horrible news that will depress you? News that will make you distraught at the mere idea that life could ever be so horrible?
Well, it's never raining when I am the last to learn something. No, only once the problem is solved, and everyone has moved on, do they finally decide to let me in on why the group was so downtrodden for weeks. I hate this because it's usually a lovely, inspiringly spring day while I'm happily counting the flowers that have bloomed on the cherry trees. That's when someone walks up to me and asks me if I want to know why a few months ago Jounouchi was so angry at the world. Then I'm worried about him and am told that guess what, he's finally over it! Has been over it for weeks! But, hey just so you know, when it doesn't even matter any more.
Better late than never, I suppose.
But maybe that's how I want it to be. I want to be the sweet, innocent saint everyone loves and tries to help, even when all I've done is felt slightly depressed, being quieter than usual.
Note the sarcasm.
I do not like to be avoided, but I've gotten used to it. It's like I'm not human, just there. Nobody ever likes to really talk to me. Yuugi would rather go and tell Jounouchi about how worried he is about the Sennen Puzzle spirit's mood and be comforted the best way Jounouchi can. That isn't very much. When you tell Jounouchi something he has to think about it for maybe five hours before a conclusion breaks through.
Maybe no-one thinks I want to know about him or her, that I'm too concerned with the spirit in my ring? Okay, that spirit hardly does anything past annoying me these days. Everyone's probably scared that they'll end up talking to the spirit instead of me. Who wants to tell an egocentric and ambitious alter ego of devious origins what is going on? They're smart and I can see the logic in this lack of trust, but still. I end up being snubbed when trouble arrives.
Even Otogi won't tell me what bothers him, and, unlike all the other people in my life, I can't read minds. Everyone is so eager to help me, but they will not, under any circumstances, allow me to return the sentiment. I'm am terrified of the thought that anyone would depend on me for anything because I wouldn't know how to react. I've had no practice and would just make things worse.
But there's a part of me that doesn't think so. It's the part that make me always thrilled to be the first to learn something and first to do something about it. There is a chance that I may fail, but I go for it. I've never failed to help people because I'm always the last resort, so I get to see my predecessors' mistakes and avoid them. It makes me appear much more intelligent and aware than I really am.
So, when it rains, I hope. I hope that maybe I won't have to read to learn something new today, that some one will tell me something I didn't know and I won't be the last in.
Right now it's raining torrents, which I can hardly believe. I wondered today, when the storm started, if it was the day a bit of information will hit me first. The big secret I'll be let in on before anyone else. I've just recently escaped my molasses life of trying to please everyone. All my friends know about where I am, that I'm baby-sitting Mokuba Kaiba. Honda, Anzu, Jounouchi, and Mai have gotten a little distant, but I've been with Yuugi and Otogi most of the time, so that doesn't matter. I still haven't met Jounouchi alone though, so he hasn't had a chance to kill me.
"Mokuba, what do you do when it rains?" I ask, sitting across from the boy in the library. I listen to the pleasant platter of the droplets on the even, strong walls of Kaiba's home. God knows where Kaiba had to go today, but I'm watching Mokuba again like I promised. The billionaire was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't a liar.
"Read? Play video games?" the boy says with a shrug. I nod and go to look for a book. I'm done learning about Peru, thank you very much.
I thumb idly through all the different volumes dominating the wall nearest to me. Nothing looks interesting at the moment. These are all old books, past references and past politics. Once something's been around long enough to be written down, it's over and old. I won't learn my fabulous secret here.
"Are there any good books in here?" I ask, sitting down again.
"No," Mokuba replies, knocking over a row of tiles he spent thirty minutes arranging to what seemed the exact, mathematical correction.
I stare at the clock and wonder what time Kaiba comes home. I didn't know the first day, because I was outside. Yesterday I found him while walking around the city like a moron. His schedule remains a mystery.
"What time does your brother come home, Mokuba?" I ask him. I wonder if even he knows?
"Late," he replies, stacking the tiles again.
"I see." I say. "I wonder what Yuugi's doing?" I ask the wall.
"Yuugi?" I hear Mokuba ask.
"Yeah, I just wonder what he's doing now, sorry. I told him to check in on my lobster."
"Yuugi Motou?" Mokuba asks again. I sigh. It's like Kaiba and the Ryou thing. 'What, did I really say Ryou? Did I say Ryou? Really? Did I actually call you Ryou? No. Really? Are you sure? You're kidding, aren't you? I said Ryou?'
"Yes, Yuugi Motou." I say firmly hoping this doesn't get drawn out. Mokuba grins at something.
"What?" I ask tensely. He's always laughed at me.
"Oh, not you, Bakura. I just remembered something Seto said--" he smiles again, "--about Yuugi."
I can see there's a nice little joke here that Mokuba thinks is funny. Naturally, I want to know what it is. Funny things are always great.
"What did your brother say about Yuugi?" I ask, curious.
"I'm only telling you on one condition." Mokuba challenges.
I nod to show I'm listening to his suggestion.
"Promise to call my brother Seto," he says.
I really wish I could reach into Mokuba's brain and pull all the information out. I gulp at the request. I can't do that when he's officially established himself as Kaiba to his enemies and their group. We all called him Kaiba, me, Otogi, Mai, Honda, Jounouchi. Only Yuugi ever called him Seto, because they usually got along well enough and tag duel really well. Seto was too personal a word for me to permit myself to use.
Obviously Seto's told Mokuba all about me. Yuugi tells everyone all about me, too. So does Otogi. I didn't know I was of such interest to everyone. That's or my life's super exciting and they all wish they had it as great as me. Or, the general consensus is that I'm fun to poke fun at, so when I do something stupid everyone gets a phone call about it. I'm no longer surprised Otogi knew I was locked out my first day baby-sitting. It was probably on the evening news.
"Forget it," I mutter. Because the fact that the whole world knows I'm and idiot who prefers impersonal relationships doesn't at all change the fact that I'm an idiot who prefers impersonal relationships. I give up.
"Then you don't get to know anything," Mokuba scoffs, passively setting up the smooth little tiles all over again. I begin to count them, which usually helps me relax. I observe the little marks on their faces and try to think. Then it hits me.
This could very well be the one big secret I've been waiting to hear all day. Calling Kaiba by his first name can't be that bad, can it? I'm not going to do so again ever. And it's not like he'll kick me in the face. It's just a name to him. It separates him from all the other Kaibas in the world and that's it. Hell, there's probably another Kaiba Seto out there and another Bakura Ryou. It's not like we have exclusive rights, that our parents signed contracts that for this generation there will be one Kaiba Seto right here, and too bad for anyone else who wanted the name. They were just too slow.
And Kaiba did accidentally call me Ryou. I'll just be getting him back.
"Okay, I'll call him that, now tell me." I request.
Mokuba grins at me and I want to lock him in a tiny little box, shipping him off to Who-Knows-Where, America.
"Make sure he can hear you really good, on the drive home!" he adds, suddenly make the task more specific which isn't fair.
I nod like an evil stone gargoyle that has just come to life long enough to agree.
"Make sure he hears you!" he commands, starting to laugh. Does he want me to make sure the penknife goes clean through my heart as well?
I sigh again, "Yeah, I get it!" I'm also getting annoyed at this.
"Okay, promise!" he orders.
"I promise," I say slowly.
"Swear you'll call him Seto when he can hear you. Give me your word!" he pipes into my reddening world.
"I swear. You have my word as long as you tell me the answers to my questions," I reply. Hey, I'm not that stupid, I'm not going to give my word sans, stating Mokuba's side of the offer. That way he can't go and say I promise to call Kaiba Seto for nothing and refuse to tell me what I want to know.
"Fine!" he laughs and slowly calms down.
"Seto loves Yuugi," he says smugly.
"KAIBA'S GAY?" I scream in shock and possibly terror. I dunno, it makes me afraid. I'm gay and Kaiba being gay makes me afraid.
"That's another question." Mokuba answers.
I calm down and unintentionally smile at him. I'm so very happy now that I've rigged this conversation.
"I said I'd keep my word if you answered 'questions'. Were you listening?" I ask him. If he doesn't answer more questions from me, I don't have to call Kaiba 'Seto'. Hehehe, Bakura Ryou, you're a genius.
Mokuba's face slowly fills with awe, then betrayal, then rage. He glares at me, but I don't care. He agreed to the deal. Slowly his face calms and he looks ready to laugh. He likes to laugh at me, I see.
"So your brother? He's actually gay?" I ask again, carefully. I'm shocked. Who would have known? Seto Kaiba? But I thought, with all those girls….
"Yeah," he says like I'm an idiot. "Unless Yuugi isn't telling us something."
"Are you sure he isn't bisexual or something? I mean, have you seen all those girlfriends crowded en masse in group sessions complaining about how he 'rejected' them?"
Mokuba shrugs without concern for these poor girls. Apparently his brother's taste doesn't bother and/or concern him. He probably doesn't give a damn.
"It's not impossible…" He admits, "But he doesn't talk about any girls the way he does Yuugi."
I nod. So there's more to this. Suddenly it hits me.
"Is this why I'm 'babysitting' you?" I ask.
"Yep, Seto used to talk about Yuugi all the time, obsessed over that guy. It was funny, and he only let me know. I finally told him to go and do something about it. That was when he picked you out to baby-sit."
"Why me? Because I'm a friend of his crush?" I ask nervously.
"Yes, and he hopes to get Yuugi's attention better if he has one of his friends here. He wants to be near Yuugi and that's why he has you to watch me all the time now. I've never had to be 'baby-sat' before. I thought it was funny," he smirks again, "But of course, by the first day, you knew that."
I actually did think that. Mokuba is obviously great on his own.
"You sure weren't taking your job very seriously. I sent you outside and you didn't worry about me at all. I watched you to see if you'd panic and try to get back in. You didn't. You tried to leave but the guard knocked you over. Then you just napped on the lawn and stuff till Seto came back. I was laughing at you. You'd make a terrible babysitter."
I can't help but smile. So maybe Mokuba didn't need to be locked in a box. Everything was a part of his plan too, as well as his brother's.
And both Kaiba's were using me: Seto for his crush and Mokuba for his amusement. My friends never do stuff like this to me. It's almost offending, now that I understand.
Kaiba is gay? I am, but it's really weird to find out other people are. Especially because being gay does not give you an intuitive sense of who else it. People coming out is still just as surprising.
Lesson number one here: Rich people are messed up.
Kaiba wasn't home till late. The rain had been pouring for two hours and it was dark out. Mokuba and I had gone outside, the Kaiba with an umbrella and me without, since I didn't care. We taunted the door guard. The man didn't move at all. Finally, Mokuba ran back to the house and, laughing like the devil on drugs, locked me out. I was screaming at him to let me in. He finally did, but I was wet. I think I hate him. He was a little mad at the whole 'questions' thing, that me, the stupid doll, had tricked him. When Kaiba came home, I was still little wet, but I wasn't soaked. I certainly smelled like rain because of all my hair.
"Bakura, why are you dripping?" Kaiba asks critically as he sees me.
"I'm not dripping," I sigh at him, "My hair is just damp."
"Why? Did Mokuba lock you out?" he asks in amusement. I don't think he realizes Mokuba and I could ever get along.
"Well yeah," I answer, "But we were annoying the guard."
Kaiba raises an eyebrow at me. "Together, as in, you got along?" he asks, like this could never happen in a million years. Mokuba and I are friends now, after all the things he's told me about Kaiba and what I told him about Yuugi (which, I know, will find it's way to the older brother sometime). I even told Mokuba of the fate of his dinner lobster. He laughed and said I needed help. I said his brother needed it more.
"Yes, Mokuba and I get along." I repeat back to Kaiba as Mokuba laughs at him. Kaiba isn't happy at the fact that we are making fun of him, but it's his fault for thinking we're impossible.
"Oh, that's okay," he says, opening the door so I can go out to the limo. Like usual, he gets into the front seat and drives.
I remember what I promised Mokuba. I swore I'd call Kaiba 'Seto' and I'm not sure how. How does one bring up a topic?
Why am I so paranoid at people's names?
Bad genes I suppose.
"So how did you really get wet?" Kaiba asks. I look at him surprised. What? Does he not believe me?
"Mokuba locked me outside after we talked to the guard. He let me in after a few minutes."
Kaiba shakes his head like he does not believe me. "Sure, Bakura, I think you're just trying to defend Mokuba."
I sigh at this and mimic his headshake. I'm about to say Kaiba when I change my mind. It's best I get this over with soon.
"Seto," I sigh loudly, like he's completely hopeless.
The car stops so suddenly that I fly forward and hit my head on the back of Kaiba's seat. He pulls over and I hear a roaring sound. It's Kaiba, laughing at me. I look at him, annoyed and dizzy from the impact.
And remember, children, to always fasten your seatbelts.
"What was that, Bakura?" he asks quietly, a sadistic smirk on his face. I want to rip his head off.
"What was what?" I ask, climbing back into my seat, feeling sick. My head hurts.
"Did you call me Seto?" he asks with hideous sneer. I'd glare at him, but the throb in my skull is just too much.
"Did I?" I ask angrily.
Kaiba starts the car again, laughing at me. My ears are ringing and my forehead throbs uncomfortably. As we drive to the apartment complex, I'm seeing slight flashes of light. I hope it's only temporary. I don't notice anything on the way there, except the way the world spins once, real fast, and stops, spins once, real fast, and stops.
"Hey, you getting out, Ryou?" I hear Kaiba asking. I jolt and wait as the world holds still again.
"Hey, you have a death wish?" I mutter, so low and fast he doesn't even catch it. I try to find the door handle and fail. Where is it? Why isn't it next to me in the door, where it belongs? Kaiba sighs and gets out, going around and opening the door for me. I try not to fall out as I straighten to exit.
As my foot touches the hard cement, the world falls out from under me. I almost hit the ground as Kaiba stabilizes me by the shoulder.
"What's you're problem? Are you feeling right?" he asks.
I don't know. What am I? Am I ill? Am I dead? Am I sane? What's Kaiba? Is he angry? Is he annoyed? Is he concerned?
"Fine," I slur. He stares at me unbelievingly. Why can't the earth just swallow him. so I can go to my room?
"Which apartment is yours?" he asks me. I don't know if I answer, I don't think I care anyway.
Kaiba goes back to the car and locks it, walking with me up the stairs, inside. By the time we reach my door, I already have most of my coordination back.
"Goodbye," I remark, closing the door in Kaiba's face, locking it.
"Bakura? Bakura, what the hell is wrong with you?" he calls.
"Goodbye," I say again, going to the phone. I dial the first number that comes to my head.
"Hey Otogi."
"Oh, hey Bakura, what do you want? It's a little late."
"Could you come over?"
"Sure," he replies.
"Thanks, and, if Kaiba is outside, chase him away."
"What?!" he asks, surprised.
"Kaiba," I repeat.
"Why is he…?" Otogi trails off.
"Just come over." I sigh in frustration to make it more obvious that questions are no important at this time.
"Okay, all right."
I listen to the click as he hangs up. I walk to the bathroom where the lobster splashes in the tub. I throw food at it and close the door again. I have no idea why I still have that pet. I can hear him swimming about all the time. I wonder if he likes his new home?
"Bakura?" I hear Kaiba ask, one last time, before I collapse onto the couch. My head hurts too much to stay awake.
I wake up and I don't know where I am. I try slowly to piece together what just happened. I remember Kaiba and open my eyes.
There's a slight, painful echo in my brain of the sound of someone moving around.
"You finally woke up!" I hear as a greeting from what must be the most annoying voice in the universe.
"Why are you here?" I ask Otogi, hating him for just that.
"You called me last night. You didn't sound too good on the phone," he says. Memories don't flood back. Some fragments drift by and that's it. "You didn't look too great either when I came over. What happened?
"Oh, Kaiba just tried to crash his car and kill us both, or, at least, me." I grumble as I sit up. I feel like I'm going to be sick.
"Well, why don't you sue?" That's Otogi, full of optimism.
"No thanks," I answer as my nausea fades.
"Are you watching Mokuba today?" Otogi asks as I stand and try to clear my head of its heaviness.
"If someone invents a pill that relieves pain," I say, hinting to a jar on the table.
"Good, so how many aspirins do you think you need? One? Two? The entire jar?" Otogi jokes.
"That's funny," I growl, and grab the jar from the psycho as he holds it before me, "how many did Kaiba need?"
"None," Otogi answers, "He runs too fast."
The image of Kaiba trying to escape Otogi is completely unfeasible, and therefore hilarious.
"Let me guess, he wasn't there?"
"What makes you think that?" Otogi asks, insulted.
"Cause otherwise you'd be in traction and I'd be dead."
"Why, you afraid I couldn't take him, Bakura?"
"No, not the least bit afraid," I sigh. "I know. He'd beat you up for trying to chase him away, take your key, come into the apartment and kill me for locking him out."
"Well, you two must get along great," Otogi states with a slight smile.
"Yeah," I mutter, "Great."
Two days later
I look at the wall, as it is the most amazing thing in the classroom.
"People lived in France as long as twenty thousand years ago. Celts from the east arrived about 500 B.C. From the middle of the first century B.C., the country was under Roman rule. The Romans called the land Gaul. As Roman rule weakened, various peoples arrived and fought each other for land. The most successful of these people were the Franks. The Frankish empire reached it's high up until the eighth century under the king Charlemagne." (A)
Ms. Teacher Lady is telling us about France. I don't care right now. She's mad at me because I missed school. I can't say I partied all day.
Well, unless you consider throwing up for nine hours a great celebration to the art of humanity's gift of projectile vomit.
Otogi told her I was sick, but we both know she doesn't like him, or me, since the clown thing. Yuugi came over after school to see if I was okay. I don't remember how long he stayed of if he said anything. I only know for certain that yesterday was not the best day of my life. I think I hate Kaiba now. Where did that idiot learn to drive? A computer simulator?
Wait, there's probably more truth in that remark than I realized bringing it up. For all I know he probably did learn in a simulator.
"Bakura, in 1804, who became emperor of France?" the evil woman asks.
"Sorry, but I don't know." I burrow back onto my folded arms as Otogi scoffs. I never answer my questions vocally. Ms. Teacher Lady hates this because I do everything else well enough that she can't fail me. I just get gigantic zeroes in class participation.
Before I am slaughtered by a wave of insults, the bell rings. When this happens, Ms. Teacher Lady leaves the room because she can't stand her class any longer.
At least that's why I think she goes.
I sit and watch the other students leave. I'm always last out and Otogi is always first. It's the thing we do to be different from each other. I don't know why, but it's always been that way. If both of us are told to leave at the same time, Otogi exits before me. Ms. Teacher Lady noticed this and would try to mess us up. It never worked. Otogi leaves, then I leave. Always in that order, even though sometimes I stay till the chess club chases me out.
As Kaiba leaves, I sigh loudly for apparently no reason whatsoever. He turns around to face me. I stare him right in the eyes and think about how much Yuugi would enjoy someone with eyes like that. Yuugi has this thing for peoples' irises. He told me about it once. He told me I had nice, shy blue eyes that made you feel bad when they hardened or grew sad. I laughed at this and he told me it made him happy to see that, for a few seconds, the large ranks of sadness aligned before had pulled back. He told me that when my eyes grow hard, it's very easy to help soften them again. He then stated, quite sorrowfully, that the horrible distant view of sadness I had was hard to move and constantly there. He said the only way to understand me was my eyes, as I didn't seem to like talking.
Yuugi is obviously more of a do-gooder, people person than me to worry about such strange things in others.
I had thanked my little friend politely and went home, trying to see if I did look depressed. Yuugi had also told me his opinion on other people and the expressions they tend to show most often in their eyes. He said he had wanted to change Kaiba's. He complained that the billionaire was too hard and impassive all the time, that he felt sorry for Kaiba and what forced him to do that.
I wonder how happy Yuugi'd be to soften Kaiba's eyes? Yuugi always tried to help me. I want to reward this, even if I get to please Kaiba at the same time.
I wonder how Kaiba would feel if I helped him get Yuugi? Would he let me help? I'd be a lot faster than his current plan, whatever that may be. I know more about Yuugi than he does and, thanks to Mokuba, I know more about Kaiba than he realizes. And this is not just that lobster gives him gas.
I might have to warn Yuugi of that.
"What are you laughing about, Bakura?" he scowls at me. I realize I'm watching him and smiling. Because looking crazy is one thing I'm good at.
"You," I reply truthfully, "and Yuugi."
Kaiba's face darkens in dislike. "What do you want?" he growls.
I realize what I just did. I brought up him and Yuugi up in the same sentence. Big error now, because this lets him think I know, and I do know. I didn't even mean it that way when I said Yuugi; I was just truthfully answering his question.
I hate my slip-ups.
"Nothing," I lie, getting up to go. Kaiba gets to the door before me and closes it. I panic. I shouldn't have said anything.
"You know," he growls. I look at him nervously and back up. I look at the last exit: the window.
Four stories aren't that great a fall, are they? People have been know to survive that, right? I may never walk again, but I will be alive. I'm also certain Kaiba would bestow a much more painful death.
"I'm sorry, and I swear I won't tell anyone," I plead. Kaiba is dangerous looking angry. His wrath, I know, is spawned from the fear I will let others know, that others already know, that other's are letting many more others know. This rage pulsates lightly from him like a horrible heat that will destroy me and leave nothing behind.
The most frightening part is Kaiba hardly looks more frustrated than he usually does. He's standing there, cool and collected, yet he's angrier than I've ever seen him. He's vengeful and scared, not a good combination.
"How did you find out?" he asks me, calm again as he stands before the door.
"Mokuba," I mutter, looking at the fascinating ground. Seto sighs angrily at this while I count tiles.
One—two—three—four—five—six—seven—eight—nine—ten—eleven—twelve
"When?" he asks, just as calmly as though he is offering me a paying job as babysitter.
"When it was raining. We were talking about different things, and it came up," I lie.
To my fright and surprise, Kaiba smirks.
"I should have know he would," he says, suddenly casual.
"Heh, yeah…" I smile back nervously and wonder just what the hell is wrong with Kaiba.
"Does anyone else know?" he asks.
I shake my head. "Unless Mokuba's told them, none that I know of." How could I have told anyone? I was throwing up for the whole of yesterday.
There is a long silence after this answer. Kaiba still stands before the door, and in my way. All I can do is wait till he remembers there's only one door out. Meanwhile, back to the floor tiles….
Thirteen—fourteen—fifteen—sixteen—seventeen-eighteen—nineteen—twenty—twen—
"Bakura," he asks, and I look up from my inspection of the floor. "Since you know Yuugi and all, could you…"
I wait while Kaiba tries to talk, say what he has to say in the most macho, businesslike manner possible. Apparently he gives up. "Could you, you know, help me out?"
"Help you get Yuugi?" I ask, though it's obvious. He glares slightly at this and I close my mouth.
"Yes, could you?" He finally admits it, low and hardly understandable.
I smile slightly, remembering his anger of a while ago. "You're giving me a choice?"
Kaiba brightens slightly. This is my version of a yes.
I wonder how happy Yuugi would be, to soften Kaiba's eyes? I wonder if he'd like the affection of the billionaire?
I wonder how well Yuugi could get along with Mokuba?
I watched Mokuba later on today. We didn't do much; I sat and read about the history of Pi. It was a very inspiring book about the evolution of not only that number, but also the struggles of mathematicians and scientists in medieval Europe. It told about Muslims' math works and Arabs who didn't ban such it like Europeans. The few chapters I read were very enlightening. (B)
Leaving, I requested Kaiba's driver take me home in the car. Not so. I now have Kaiba at the wheel again and I'm fearing for my life as I try, in vain, to find a seat belt.
"There are no seat belts back there," I am told. "It's a limousine, Bakura."
I scowl and hold the bottom of my seat. My grip is strong, I can tell this by how my arms shake at the force I cling with. My fingers are exceptionally pale on the tips. I don't want to shoot out the window if Kaiba should think of something funny and stop the car at SIXTY MILES AN HOUR! What the Hell was he thinking before? You don't just hit the brakes like that on anything, not even a bicycle or a push scooter. People get hurt, and as it so happens, I'm a very fragile people.
Finally I arrive home: alive. I'm all too thrilled to remove myself from that death trap, of sorts.
"Bakura?" I hear Kaiba ask. I turn around.
"Do you have Yuugi's number in your apartment?" he asks.
I nod, the simple request suddenly a threat to my life, should I not fulfill it, due to Kaiba's cold demeanour. "When are you going to call Yuugi?"
"After you get us together, obviously," he smarts back annoyingly.
"Sorry. Okay, wait here and I'll get it, it's on the fridge," I reply, and enter the hall.
Now, unlike most people, I do not commit others' phone numbers to memory. This might be bad if I were stranded in Tokyo, or arrested with one free call, but I'm not the person to do something that will get me into that kind of a situation. All the numbers I have are on my refrigerator upstairs in my apartment.
As I reach the door, I hear a noise inside the main room. I pause and put my ear to the wood. I can here someone crying inside. Quietly I unlock the door and look in.
I recognize Yuugi Motou's tri-colored hair. I'm about to go in and see what's the matter, when a half plan hits me. Quickly, I turn around and sneak downstairs again, signaling for Kaiba to not call my name as I come outside. Silently, I jump back into the car and the billionaire turns around to see me.
"Where is it?" Kaiba asks, holding out his hand. I shake my head.
"I don't have it."
"Great. I thought Yuugi was your friend."
"Well, something came up. Or, showed up."
"What?"
"Yuugi," I mutter. Kaiba shifts slightly and softens his tone.
"What? Where?" he asks me, though it's obvious.
"In the main room: crying."
"And you didn't help him why?" Kaiba asks angrily at my lack of attention to someone important to him.
"I kinda left him for you, idiot," I snap before I can choke back the insult. I'm under the tension of having to turn a sorrowful friend down and leave his needs to a centrally concerned businessman.
"Sorry," I apologize quickly.
"I've never hear you be so rude, Bakura," Kaiba muses, to my annoyance.
"Sorry. I was just thinking that since you want to 'connect' with Yuugi, that you'd want to see what was wrong."
"But won't it be weird that I'm at your apartment?" he asks, getting the idea.
I sigh and think. Yuugi thinks I'm going to come back from 'babysitting' Mokuba anytime now. I need to use this in some way.
I'm terrible at plotting.
Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba. Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba. Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba. Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba. Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba. Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba.
Suddenly I have an idea.
"Okay Yuugi thinks I'm watching Mokuba, right?" I brighten. Kaiba nods quickly,
hanging on every word.
"Well, you can go in and—sorry, here take the key," I cut off and reach into my pocket. Kaiba nods impatiently as I hand him the little piece of metal.
"And?" he smarts at my slowness.
"Sorry," I apologize, "You act like you're looking for where my room is because," I pause to breathe long. What? I'm nervous. "Because I'm staying at your mansion because me and Mokuba are getting along great and because I'm spending the night to do—whatever it is Mokuba does all night……."
"Sleep?" Kaiba answers.
"Yes, and I want a certain pair of pajamas or something that you come over to get."
"Toothbrush?" he suggests.
"Sure, whichever." I say as Kaiba makes to go. I stop him quickly, apologizing before I continue.
"Wait! And while you're up there I'll just, what? What do I do?" I ask.
"Sleep in the car," he offers and hastily makes to go. I grab his coat and he turns around.
"What?" he asks with a little anxious annoyance that is impeccably masked over with a furious tone.
"Feed my lobster," I order and let go. He blinks for a few seconds and nods.
"Sure," he says, walking away quickly before I can stop him again.
"Wait!!" I whisper loudly before he's out of hearing.
"Hell. What now, Bakura? This is the last time I'm stopping!" he sighs angrily.
"Keys, please?" I ask meekly, pointing to the car. He takes them from his pocket and tosses them.
To my great alarm and surprise, the keys are in my hands. I can't believe I caught them in the dark. Or maybe Kaiba throws well. Hastily, I climb into the back seat, closing the doors and locking them. I look around. It's pitch black, but for some artificial glow. I turn on my watch light to see the time. It's late already. I wonder if Kaiba will be able to actually befriend Yuugi up there?
Then I'll have to move on to bigger schemes, dates even. I wonder if I can think that much? I'm surprised I came up with the spending the night idea so fast. Maybe I'm not as entirely hopeless at planning as I like to think I am?
I'm not sure if I'm looking far enough into the future now. I have this great and terrible fiend clawing in my stomach, tying all my gut into knots, trying to tell me something's going wrong. I don't get it, it's all okay, and my plot isn't flawed at all. What could go wrong?
I just hope Kaiba remembers to feed my lobster.
There's a pitter-patter sound outside. I look out the window. The light from the nearby street lamp shines down on the car and I can see the rain as it hits the window.
I watch my old molasses world as it's cleaned up and I'm forced to find something else.
I know.
This is my chance to go first on something.
What a sentimental moment!
You're an idiot.
Oh, well that was rude! Thank you, that really adds to the moment.
Don't say it, I know; I'm just great that way.
Uh, yeah…
Just shut up.
Notes and Stuff:
A: I got that bit reading an encyclopedia! It's not word for word, but it's a skim of the beginning of the article about France.
B: "The History of Pi" a book by Petr Beckmann. Math history, how fascinating! I read it once a while back. Like Ryou, I only got through the first few chapters. So hey, I don't exactly know the 'history of Pi', come kill me now.