Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
The pairings introduced right now:
Anzu/Yami no Yuugi
Jounouchi/Mai
The crushes introduced right now:
Ryou/Seto
Ryou/Lobster
Gomen, this wasn't beta-read. Sorry beta's.
Chapter de Fifteenth: Aquarium Part 1
I'm only here because Otogi told me to come.
Again.
I am only here because Otogi told me to come.
Repeat.
I'm only here because--
"Hey, Bakura, how long do you plan on standing there doing nothing? Fyi, we're kind of leaving now."
"Sorry, Jounouchi!" I quickly apologize, hurrying after Yuugi-tachi. I'm following them now. This isn't as bad as I make it sound, really. I'm just a bit frustrated Otogi isn't here yet.
"So, which way is the aquarium again?"
"Jounouchi, you're the one with the map. You tell us."
Yuugi-tachi sighs at Jounouchi's wonderful directional sense. The blonde sweat drops nervously and begins trying to orient our location with the nearby street signs.
"Where's Otogi?" Yuugi asks. I look around and shrug.
"He said he'd be there with the lobster--"
"Maybe he actually knew where the aquarium was, unlike this idiot leading us!" Honda growls, jumping for the map in Jounouchi's hands.
"Oi, hands off! I'm reading this," Jounouchi snaps, looking back down at the paper.
"The dog reads? Wow, I'm impressed."
I recognize that cold, calculating voice behind me (how many times am I going to say that till I realize everyone knows who I'm talking about?).
"Who asked you, Kaiba?" Jounouchi snaps.
"No one. I'm merely making an observation. Is that a crime?"
Jounouchi scowls at this, but still attempts to remain calm for my sake. It looks painful. "Well keep it down. I'm trying to think."
"The dog thinks?"
"DDIIIEEEE!" Jounouchi finally snaps, lounging at Kaiba, and flailing the map around like a flag. Kaiba just sneers as Honda and I hold our friend back.
"Jounouchi, please," we plea. I know my little strength is going to give out soon if Jounouchi doesn't stop resisting.
Finally, Jounouchi just as suddenly decides Kaiba isn't really worth his time and cools down. Honda and I release his arms cautiously, ready to reapply our restraint should Kaiba continue egging Jounouchi on.
"What do you want, Seto?" Yuugi asks casually, like Jounouchi almost going on a rampage didn't just happen. Of course he wouldn't really notice, he didn't have to hold anyone back.
"I just saw you were walking around behind the puppy with the map and figure you were lost. Jounouchi obviously has no direction sense."
"BASTARD!"
With this new war cry, Jounouchi leaps at Seto, fists thrashing around in an odd frenzy. Honda and I can only watching in horror, waiting for the moment to close our eyes if one of the two went down.
"JOUNOUCHI!" Yuugi calls too late. He's reduced to the same state a Honda and myself, waiting and afraid.
Seto merely watches the tornado of furry speeding at him and steps aside. The rest of us take the cue to cringe and mutter as Jounouchi runs fists and head first into a tree. I wonder if this offends the tree.
"Are you okay?" Yuugi asks nervously as Jounouchi falls to the ground, stunned at the solidness of his opponent; the ancient city tree trunk.
"You really ought to look where you're going, idiot," Seto advises coldly. I frown at this. I see no reason why Seto should be so scornful of Jounouchi and have to needlessly provoke him. Sure, the guy's a bit emotional about things and overlooks the thinking first stradgey of problem solving, but he's really not pathetic.
"Say what you have to say Seto, or beat it," Jounouchi growls.
"Very well, if you really want to know, I was curious as to where all of you were headed so long and aimlessly," he says. "It looked like you were lost."
"We were doing perfectly well on our own," Jounouchi snaps, now feeding his insults off of Kaiba's. I see this is going to go to only get worse.
"Please," Yuugi sighs for me. "Will you two stop it? We're trying to get to the aquarium today."
Seto perks his attention slightly at this. I can't say why. Regardless of most people's beliefs, mutually liking someone does not mean reading each other's minds follows.
"Fine, then I'll save you all from this untrained puppy," Seto sighs, like we've asked hima nd he's doing us a favor. "The aquarium is down the block a bit, to the left," he looks at Jounouchi, "not the right."
Amazingly, Jounouchi shows a bit of self-control and keeps himself from screaming and attacking. The look I'm giving him begs him not to.
"I know that, Kaiba," Juonouchi growls. Kaiba just looks like he doesn't believe him, which is insult enough because if a genius doesn't believe you then you must be wrong.
"Let's just go," Honda (the genius) suggests with feigned optimism, though he sounds a bit nervous at what Jounouchi might do. He grabs his friend and proceeds in dragging him in course to Kaiba's directions. I follow nervously with Yuugi, not wanting to look at what Kaiba might be doing behind me. I don't want to know if he's walking with us or away. I just have to follow Yuugi-tachi.
All of us walk into the aquarium to find Otogi. Yuugi and the others, taking this mainly as a field trip of sorts, split up. I slowly realize I'm left by myself because it turns out Seto did not follow.
"Hey, over here!" I hear Otogi call, "What took you so long?"
I look over to Otogi with the lobster in a small tub of a tank. I don't know why he agreed to bring it here, as he dislikes all lobster equally by now. I find this funny. Otogi is holding tub as far away as he can without tipping it over. This burden is almost instantaneously transferred to me as I'm noticed. Until now I didn't realize just how heavy water is, and I am forced to be a little impressed with Otogi.
"Sorry it took so long. We've discovered Jounouchi can't navigate his way out of a paper bag," I quickly explain, short on words with how obscenely heavy the lobster's little tub is and my struggle to keep it up.
"Figures," Otogi says, looking around for where everyone else went to. He soon realises I am alone and frowns.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I ask, slightly surprised at Otogi's sudden resentment of Jounouchi in my presence. For a while he's been really good about not getting onto the guy's case at my request.
I assume Otogi's just annoyed from having to carry the lobster. It's his fault; he volunteered.
"Jounouchi's not all that intelligent, Mahout," Otogi tells me.
I feel so sorry for Jounouchi. So many people don't like him. It's sad. My only comfort is that Jounouchi seems to sort of revel in being mutually hated.
"So, how did you guys finally wrestle the map from him?" Otogi asks. I have to sigh at this. It is truly the worst question he could have chosen so suddenly. He's asking to be amusing, but there is little amusing about the answer.
"We didn't," I reply slowly, readjusting my grip on the tank. The lobster snaps at this, annoyed. I don't look as Otogi as I continue in one quick breath, "Seto Kaiba came up and gave us directions."
"What?" Otogi asks, confused some, but grinning at what he thinks he heard.
"Seto Kaiba gave us directions."
"And Jounouchi's still alive?"
"Otogi…."
"Okay," he relents. "But, what were you thinking during this, hm, Bakura?"
I frown again but cannot take action due to the weight in my arms. I am reduced to a mere glares. The dangerous nature of this expression is just less than the immediately danger felt in the presence of a rubber duckling. My disadvantage: I do not emit a high, wheezy squeak when squeezed that can occasionally startle a few timid house pets.
Or, at least I don't think I do. I can't say I've ever really been squeezed before, particularly near house pets.
"How about you go find Yuugi-tachi," I suggest, desperately needing to change the subject, "And I drag this monster off to the lobster…people…watchers…whatever…."
Otogi shrugs because he doesn't know what you call them either. He does exactly what I tell him, and once again I'm left alone with my soon to be former lobster.
Said lobster is currently snapping at my arm. I think he knows I'm not taking him home. I can't tell if he's happy or angry about it.
"You know, you still don't have a name," I say, walking to one of the lobster tank areas where I'd been told to be earlier on the phone. I have to wait for some aquarium personnel to realize I'm here before the lobster goes. Till then, it won't hurt to suffer a bit of reflection and conversation.
"Do you even want one?" I ask. The lobster doesn't seem to think much of it. He doesn't bother with a no or a yes.
"I really hope you aren't too mad about this whole moving to the aquarium thing. The conditions are better here, and there are other lobsters. You'll like it."
The lobster sends up a few disbelieving bubbles at this. I don't see what he wouldn't like about this place, it's a lot nicer than the bathtub. The end was always meant to be like this from the start. It was simply too difficult for me to take care of him, what with regulating the water temperature every time I came home and making a mess of that expensive aquarium salt and equipment? It wasn't easy and I couldn't afford everything. So, not only would the aquarium tanks be better, they would also not cost me anything, which is important when you live alone like I do. The people here wanted to take the lobster out of my hands for it's own safety.
"You'll thank me later. This place is great."
My soon to be former lobster flexes his claws. I have no idea if this is supposed to mean anything, but it looks a bit on the lines of disagreement.
"Awe, c'mon, whose ever heard of a shy lobster? You can't be serious."
In reply, the crustacean propels himself to the side of the tub farthest from the lobster tanks.
"Seems someone's made up their mind."
I duck my head at Kaiba's voice. I'm probably hoping this will in one way or another make me invisible or somewhat less conspicuous. Don't mind me, I am a fixture at the exhibit and only happen to resemble Ryou Bakura close up. At a distance, I appear to be a cut out of a beluga whale. Please, scurry along and don't question this.
Needless to say, it doesn't work. Kaiba is still here and waiting for a reply.
"The lobster's just being difficult," I tell him slowly, watching the ugly creature in the tank swim up.
"Yes, probably doesn't care what happens to itself."
I frown slightly. I care what happens though. That has to count.
"This is the best place for him," I tell Kaiba, still not looking at his face. Kaiba shrugs at me, which demeans me far more than words ever could. I'm awed that he doesn't even have to speak to make me feel bad. However, speak he does to make it all worse.
"But why now? Why not two or three weeks ago?"
I shrug now, which has none of the same effect as Kaiba's. "I'm lazy."
"Or you unreasonably care for a lobster."
Kaiba's mind reading skills could annoy me very quickly, but I won't let it. It's a freakish talent. I should feel very sorry for him instead.
"Well, isn't that the point to having a pet?" I ask, "I mean, for what other reason would someone take care of some kind of animal if it didn't mean something to them?"
"So I take it you don't want let the lobster to go?"
I never really considered this. Yeah, I can believe that Kaiba's right. I don't really want to just give up the lobster so easily. But, that's life. Some of the most difficult things happen with the simplest ease. At other times, impossibly easy things are dragged out into long and bitter struggles because I'm an idiot. That's the only reason I've got.
"I have to," I say, deterring the blame and guilt of letting the lobster go by making myself the victim.
"But if there was another way, you'd keep him, perhaps."
I would glare at Kaiba, but he's not really reading my mind and steal my thoughts. I'm just incredibly predictable. "Yeah, I probably would," I sigh and admit. "He's awfully annoying most of the time, and a bit of a hindrance, but I suppose I'd keep him."
"Really…." Kaiba says to fill conversational space then this leave himself with the last work me looking like an idiot who has nothing to say for himself. I could thrown in an killer comeback like 'mh-hm' or 'yeah', but I don't. In my mind I know he's probably thinking about how insane I am and congratulating himself for not falling for me like an idiot. This makes me feel he deserves the last word as a reward for all of his new wisdom.
What makes this whole lobster thing an interest to Kaiba anyway? Maybe because it shows how far gone I really am and that amuses him. Probably he's realized that he wasn't in love with me, just mixed it up with how amusingly insane I am.
"Bakura, if you really don't want to give your lobster up to the aquarium I'll take it."
I blink at this, perfectly taken aback. What?
"Why?"
"Well, what else are you planning to do with it?" he says and shrugs again, casually, like it's nothing but the quickest solution. I try to think what his intention for the lobster might be.
"You aren't going eat him, are you?" I ask, alarmed.
Kaiba smirks at this. In fact, he comes the closest to an actual laugh I've ever heard.
"No, you idiot. I'm planning a salt-water aquarium for the mansion. Lobsters are salt-water creatures, yes?"
"Well, yes, they are, but wouldn't that cost a lot?"
Kaiba arches a brow/ "Your point being?"
I realize the idiocy of my question. Money isn't too much of an issue for Kaiba is it? He's likely installing a saltwater aquarium just for the sack of burning some cash.
"But why?"
Kaiba shrugs again, "Well, the lobster seems to mean a lot to you and you'll know where it is."
I notice the lobster begins tapping on the tub in the direction of Kaiba, as though agreeing to and preferring the CEO's idea. I'm a little offend at my traitorous pet.
"And, if the lobster likes to be by himself, there won't be any others but the appropriate fish."
The lobster is still motioning in Kaiba's direction. I have to agree at last. For the lobster's sake.
"Sure, Kaiba, you can keep the lobster. in fact, I think he wants you to have him."
"I think you want me to have him too," Kaiba adds. "It's better than the aquarium."
I nod and the lobster makes a happy splash. It better be a happy splash. I am doing it no more favors, so help me.
"Now, how do you plan on taking him home?"
"Look, he's behind the rock over there."
"I don't see him. You better not be lying, Mokuba. If you try to tell me the rock is a lobster one more time, I'll--never mind. He's moving."
"See, would I ever lie to you, Bakura?"
"Well, earlier you did--"
"That's not the point. I pointed him out, didn't I?"
I sigh lightly as arguing with a Kaiba is completely pointless and will remain pointless for the rest of their natural lives. The glass of the fish tank fogs up slightly and distorts the view. I quickly wipe it away and back a bit farther from the surface. I really don't need to press my face into the glass to see a few hundred fish and a lobster.
"This tank is huge," I awe again at the size. When I don't know what to say, I repeat that and all my questions about the tank. Cut me some slack, though; that tank's pretty cool. It's like you are starting into a giant window of the bottom of ocean with more fish than I could ever happily count swimming past aimlessly. I can't even guess how much Kaiba paid for the tank. The only reason I don't feel guilty is because he did say it had all been in planning anyway, and the Kaibas clearly have the money for this kind of thing. I admit, my lobster is an awkwardly unattractive add-in, but he can luckily be confused for a rock, as Mokuba already demonstrated.
"Did it really take only three days to install?" I ask again.
"Well, on Saturday when Seto brought your lobster half the fish were already in the water. It isn't finished completely, though. A few of the plants are coming and a couple more fish. But, this tank is all right for the lobster. There aren't any natural predators or anything."
"You mean besides people?" I grin.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure no one eats the lobster. I dunno, it's something about that one that doesn't make you want to see it broiled. Maybe it's because it means something to you. That's just odd, you know. You look at the lobster and it just comes to mind, 'Hey, someone actually cares about that hideous five pounds of seafood.' I mean it's kinda strange."
I grin at this. "Wow, I didn't know I had so much power. I will always be remembered for a lobster. I'm honored."
"Well, I think you're insane, but Seto was careful with it. He was threatening the people setting stuff up within an inch of their lives if they messed up and killed the lobster. That happened to some of the fish. They went belly up because those guys put them in the water too soon. They were expensive too."
"What did Kaiba do?" I ask, slightly curious.
"Ordered more fish to take their place, what else?"
"Oh. That makes sense." I nod, as the lobster walks toward us. It begins scraping at the glass near my arm with its antenna.
"I guess this place is better than the apartment, yes?" I ask it. The antenna nod at this and I grin. "It's a good thing you didn't forget how to swim. You where hardly submerged in the bathtub."
Meanwhile, Mokuba is watching like I've lost my mind.
Well, I might just be looking a bit creepy right now.
"I know people talk to their pets and all, but watching you talk to a lobster; that's weird."
I understand his concern. I mean, it's a lobster.
"Sorry," I apologize, "I have to get home anyway; homework."
"But Seto hasn't come back yet, don't you want to talk with him?"
"I talked to him at school today, he invited me over to see the fish tank. I've seen the tank and I'm happy with it. You can tell him that when he comes home," I reply, grabbing my book bag. I came here right from school by taxi just to avoid Kaiba. The key is to arrive early and leave early. I'm in and out without any awkward interruptions and confrontations. That, and a honestly do have an obscene amount of homework.
(I can't believe you're scared of Seto Kaiba.)
I'm not scared. I just don't want to be here when he comes back.
(Oh, you're terrified then.)
"Er, I really gotta leave."
Mokuba frowns at this. I don't feel very bad for him and look for where my book bag is. Suddenly, for no reason, he smiles. I'm scared of it because a Kaiba smiling is a bad omen. Why is he so happy? What is he about to do?
"You can't do your homework if you don't have it with you," he announces. It takes me a few seconds to sort what that means. Before I even know where to look, he's taken my book bag and is running.
"Hey!" I yell, hurrying after him. Mokuba is making good time ahead of me and I can hardly keep up. I follow him around the mansion, but after one lap I can no longer take a step. Breathing heavily, I'm reduced to leaning against the wall as he disappears from sight. Now it's hide-and-go-seek and I'm not in the mood.
(You are pathetic.)
I am not. I'm just not very athletic, that's all.
(And that is what makes you pathetic.)
"Mokuba!" I call out. Beside a constant echo, there is no response. I sigh, naturally, as my grade just ran off in the arms of a deranged Kaiba. I turn around, heading back the way I came. I pause at the door to the room with the fish tank and enter.
The lobster is somewhere inside, I know. I look around for him quietly. It seems he's under a rock or behind some vegetation. The ugly, buggy body isn't anywhere.
"Where are you?" I ask, walking up to the glass.
The lobster avoiding me is a lot more annoying when he can hide also.
I decide I'm going to leave. There is no way I'll look for a lobster or hunt down my book bag till Kaiba comes back. I know Mokuba and the lobster are in cahoots, they assume I'll stay if given some sort of incentive.
Unfortunately for them, they underestimate the enormity of my desire not to be in proximity of Seto Kaiba right now. Nothing short of my imminent death will keep me here to await the end of the world.
"Where are you going?" Mokuba asks, having already hidden my books. I'm heading for the front door.
"To get a taxi," I tell him, turning the knob. Mokuba frowns at this, but has nothing left to bribe me with.
"I'll burn your textbooks!" he threatens pointlessly.
"Go for it," I shrug, continuing down the drive. Mokuba isn't happy with this inability to care.
"Argh!" he sighs before he turns back inside. I'm soon out the gate and heading for the corner, flagging down a taxi.
"You have money for a trip across town?"
I blink stupidly at the driver for a few seconds before realizing his question. For a few seconds, I'm scared I left my money in my bag. I slowly remember the bills in my pocket and pull them out. Every single one goes to the ride. For this whole trip I'm broke.
I bet Kaiba never finds himself in this kind of situation.
I'm quickly reduced to glazing almost mornfully out the window contemplating my spending money as the taxi makes its way down the street. Up a ways, heading the opposite direction, is a very distinctive limousine.
I duck for no reason whatsoever.
I must look paranoid right now. I'm happy that the driver's too busy watching the road to notice. That's a good thing.
I've missed Kaiba's return home by less than eight minutes.
That was too close.
I timidly peek over the glass, watching the car continuing on in the opposite direction. Slow and ominous, the large vehicle pulls up to the gate of the Kaiba mansion, enters, and disappears. Once it's gone I'm slightly comforted with the fact I actually know where Kaiba is right now. It's getting odd for me these days. I'll walk down the street wondering if the billionaire is going to pop up again. Sometimes I want him to show, other times it's a test of will that I even got past my front door. I never know where he is or where he's gong to be and it always catches me off guard no matter what.
"Your stop, kid," the driver calls, motioning to the door for me to get out. I look out the window and see the apartment complex looming overhead. Suddenly my level seems so far up. The elevator has been out of service for two months and I still haven't gotten used to the stairs. It's almost pathetic.
Well, on the bright side: I don't have to drag my book-bag up today.
I thank the driver and close the door. He doesn't really care. He drives away to go find another client. My thanks doesn't count for much, I'm sure, just my money. All that poor money.
(A bit cynical, are we.)
I frown as I make my way up the staris. The spirit is right though; I am being a bit harsh these days. I'm not looking forward to reaching my apartment. It's quiet up there, and lonely. The lack of sound actually gives me a headache, though I've heard for most other people it's vice versa. Without anything to work on the feeling can only get worse. Most days I can concentrate on schoolwork for hours to avoid a throbbing skull. While here, the lobster was always making noise, and I had to spend so much time monitoring his living conditions when I was home. Now it feels as though I have nothing to do because that is exactly it. I drag myself upstairs to finish my homework only to afterwards merely exist for a few hours till I prepare to go to sleep. I hate those few hours with nothing in them. I never noticed I had so much time so awkwardly in the middle of my day until I gave Kaiba my lobster. Stupidly, I already promised Yuugi-tachi I wouldn't go walking all over Domino at odd hours after Otogi told them about it. Otogi only did that to give me a reason to stop drinking caffeine like some kind of sleep-hating weirdo. You could say it's worked; I haven't had tea, or coffee or anything like that for almost a week (well, more like five days). So, I'm improving.
I'm not sure I want to improve though. I don't like headaches at all.
"Excuse me," a small man apologizes, walking past me down the stairs with about fifty books in his arms. I stare at him stupidly before moving aside into a door alcove. I look at the door number casually and yelp.
I'm two levels higher than I should be. That's what I get for letting my thoughts wander. It's sort of a moment when I doubt just how invested I am with all that's going on around me.
Well, at least it's easier going downstairs than up.
I turn around and follow the man with the books down two flights. This takes a while as he is being overly cautious. The books look about ready to fall as I finally open the door to my hall. Without any further interruptions and making sure to count the numbers as they pass, I am quickly to my apartment door.
"Oh, no…." I mutter as my left hand stops instinctively reaching in my pocket, pulling out lint and a coin. I nervously reach for the other pocket to find pretty much the same there.
Oh, this is great. I have no money and I'm locked out of my apartment. This is wonderful….
(You are a baka.)
Well, thanks for reinstating the obvious there.
(You're welcome.)
I frown at the door, not at all happy with how well it's doing its job. The wooden panel separates me from my room and my possessions. My little pocket money is inside. I could go to the bank, but that would require a taxi. I can't pay for that.
"Stupid door," I whimper, trying the knob to no avail. Of course I locked it. I always lock it. I check it ten times before I leave to make sure I lock it.
(Oh yes, insult an inanimate object, you must've hit a nerve with that one. Awe, look, I think you hurt the door's feelings.)
"Shut up!" I snap, kicking the wood and stubbing my toe.
(Just so you know, yadonushi, I didn't feel that.)
I frown at this. The air seems to be heating up and it isn't helping my mood. The spirit has decided he wants to annoy me and now isn't a great time. I'm busy being angry at a door, thank you.
I pull at the knob again in a vain attempt to see if it feels like breaking off. Unfortunately it doesn't.
(Baka.)
I sigh and give up, leaning against the wall and sliding down to the floor. I realize I could go to the lobby to get another key, but I'm too tired. I want to go inside now just to be there. At first I hadn't even wanted to come upstairs. The irony is so unfair. I dragged myself all this way just to realize my key is in my book bag.
"Bakura, you all right? Why are you sitting out here in the hall?"
I shake my head quickly to clear it of the clouds of frustration and depression fogging my outlook on the world and life in general. As quickly as I can, I turn my head up to Otogi. I've never been so happy to see him.
"Otogi! It's wonderful you're here. I don't have my key."
Otogi looks at me confused, "Where's your key?"
"In my book bag," I shrug. "But you have one, you can open the door."
"All right, but where's your book bag?" he asks, pulling out the key I gave him so long ago. I make some formless gesture akin to a shrug but not quite. It's more guilty than a shrug, more elusive and ashamed of itself.
"At Kaiba's."
I can tell Otogi is grinning even if I don't see his face. His voice is surprisingly calm though, as he asks about that as well, "How come your stuff is at Kaiba's?"
"I went there after school to see his aquarium." I say, gleefully rushing inside and taking off my shoes. For some reason this simple task has become surprisingly difficult and is taking forever.
"And you figured you'd have Kaiba help with your assignment? I like how you think, Bakura."
I shake my head, successfully removing one shoe while replying, "No, I didn't see Kaiba."
Well, that is true. I saw the limousine car, not Kaiba.
"Then how'd you manage to leave everything? You didn't panic and run away again, did you?"
"No," I snap a bit too soon. I pause to collect myself. "Mokuba took my stuff and ran."
Otogi stops to think about this, "Yeah that does sound like the kid. What do you think provoked him?"
"Otogi," I sigh, "Mokuba's not some kind of wild animal."
"Really? Are you sure?"
I frown at this, intentionally not grasping the joke. Otogi grins at my annoyed expression before continuing.
"Fine. But, Mokuba had to have some kind of incentive."
I look down at the carpet, biting at my lip. Otogi waits patiently for the answer. He knews I will give it. If a person stares long enough to me, I may just tell them everything.
"He wanted me to stay and talk with Kaiba."
"Then you lied," Otogi says. "You did run away."
"No, I didn't."
"Then what do you call making a break for it within ten minutes of Kaiba's return home?"
That's errily close to the actual eight. I don't think I should tell Otogi that, though. It wouldn't make him an more forgiving.
"Well…."
"Mahout, you have got stop doing that, or you'll get nowhere. You were getting along great with Kaiba before."
"Yeah, before he said he loved me. That changes things."
Otogi rolls his eyes at this, turning on the light ahead of me. I think my feet must've grown since I can't seem to get my shoes off.
"Here, Bakura," Otogi sighs turning around and lowering to grab my foot, "You're making this a lot more difficult that it really is."
In mere seconds the shoe is off. I just stare at it as Otogi stands and holds out a hand to help me up. I take it and look for my house slippers.
"You aren't going to have trouble with those, too, are you?" Otogi asks with a slight smirk as I put my slippers on.
"Ha. Ha. Ha." I say sarcastically and make a face. "What did you come over for anyway?"
"I wanted to see where you were," he shrugs. I notice he's heading for the door again.
"You're leaving?" I ask, confused, "So soon?"
"Yeah," Otogi nods, "I don't have a lot of time today."
"Oh," I say slowly, "Bye, then."
"Yeah," Otogi replies quickly, leaving. I understand though…I think. Otogi tends to procrastinate horribly and at the end of the month he has too many deadlines. To complete these Otogi will actually cut off his social life, which I find a bit odd. He'll somehow put everything on hold outside of his work and then just come back when he's done.
I'm assuming it's so now. I'm hoping it's so now, not some clandestine reason everyone knows about but me.
Of course, I wouldn't say no to a Do Ryou's Homework Party in the works. I'd love to walk into the room and have people jump out with a little 'Ta-da! We finished all of your assignments, Bakura. Yay!'
But, judging by the stillness of the apartment, I pretty sure that isn't going to happen today. Unless a Kaiba tells me where my book bag is, I will remain not only without my work, but also my paper and pens and all those little school supply necessities. I am not about to go to Kaiba's and hunt down everything.
On the bright side (I notice I tend to point this out more often--like someday I'll believe it), I have my uniform still, right?
Notes:
N/a
You know you need help when: You don't update a nicely reviewed fic for almost two months.