Disclaimer: I have pretty new wallpaper, a pretty decent amount of cash, and a lot of manga that I adore. And a lot of summer homework that I need to do instead of writing disclaimers… :P (note this was written in August)
Fairydust
PM: I will not gripe about the last chapter. I will not gripe about the last chapter. I will NOT gripe about the last chapter. *long pause* I still think it kinda sucked.
Keel (Tales of Eternia): *smacks PM on the head with his cool staff*
PM: Ow! *rubs head* But the pain is not going to keep me from bringing another victim to torment, because… he… so cute! Amidamaruuuuuuuu-sannnnnnnnnn! *squeals and grabs the white-haired warrior* KAWAII!
Amidamaru (Shaman King): *whimpers* Yoh-dono…
PM: He's cute too! *grabs Yoh* KAWAIIIIIIIIII!
Yami *takes Keel's staff and smacks PM on the head with it again*: Get on with the fic, you crazy writer!
PM: *rubbing head and pouting* Heh. Yami-kun, one would think you wanted me to start the fic! *innocent grin*
Yami: Actually, I don't really care since I haven't done anything yet.
PM *grumbles under breath of pairing up Yami with Yami Malik*
Yami: What did you say? *looking ready to yell out "Batsu Gemu" or "Mind Crush"*
PM: Nothing. Anyhow, it never occurred to me to mention this, but Ryuuji-kun gets a pretty big part in this fic… why? Cause I don't see enough of him, and he's too cute! *squeals and hugs him too*
Lance: Is it really possible to hug three people at the same time?!
ANYHOW, sorry I'm late everybody! But I just got the Yu-gi-oh DVDs and have been watching them in all my free time. So here's the next update, GOMEN! Okay, so it's two days late, but still, I'm very sorry. ;_; Just been having too much fun… ANYHOW, thank-yous! As usual, thanks to my wonderful beta-reader, Mariel. And to Vampire Huntress D (Sorry, no Yami Bakura romance in this fic… I personally don't like him all too much and cannot for the life of me see him having a relationship with Ryou, mainly due to his ability to treat the poor guy like a piece of property), The Evil Laugh (oh, give it a shot some time! I never thought I would be able to write shounen-ai, and look at what I've churned out! Several idiotic stories!), Shamanic Guardian Lena (here it is!), Wildwolf (Honda-kun has an older sister, but I'm pretty sure that Ryou-kun has an older brother… and yep, Emi-chan is starting to sound like a lot of us), Mejika (well, you see, my fics are really experiments in brainwashing… that is why your mind is blank. I will soon be hunting you down and imparting great vasts of useless knowledge in order to make you all my unwilling slaves… *gets knocked out by Yami-kun*), Sarina Fannel, *incoherant* (Dental floss… I should use it more regularly myself!), Crystalline Maxwell (they'll find out in due course), random reader (don't we all want to know what happens? Except Ryou-kun, cause he'll be mad at me…), silverlaugh1155 (I sincerely hope that by 'gross stuff', you don't mean shounen-ai cause that is showing up. However, this fic will remain PG no matter what), and Indigo Tantarian (*grins sheepishly* Who knows? I might have lost my touch. Not that I had much of one in the first place…). Thank you all!
Just as a reminder, and I know I sound like a prick, but this story IS shounen-ai, and if anybody comes after me because of the coupling, you can expect hell to break loose. (Ryou: Very nice of you… PM: Shut up.)
~ Pink Carnations ~
Fact #1: I'm allergic to carnations. This, sadly enough, includes pink ones sent by 'loving boyfriends' who are trying to make up for their poor behavior from several hours ago.
Fact #2: I didn't find this out until quite recently. Twenty seconds ago recently.
And now… let's just say that I'm very happy for the fact that my skin hasn't burst out into hives (or whatever happens when people are allergic to something) and I'm not in any danger of dying… I think.
The reason why I say 'I think' is because judging by the way the others are acting, I'm going to be heading towards a bright light and meeting my dead ancestors fairly soon.
In between his wild cursing that seems to be directed mainly at Kaiba-kun (with short, random bursts that are directed towards florists and the like), Jyounouchi-kun finally glares at me, a glare that causes me to shrink back as I pray he won't kill me or even worse, tell otousan.
"Jyounouchi-kun!" Luckily for me, Yuugi-kun intervenes on my behalf, "Stop that already! You're making all of us nervous, and that isn't helping any of us."
"He's trying to kill you! That *beep!* is trying to kill you!" Jyounouchi-kun ignores Yuugi-kun and continues to rage, causing us all to shake our heads and sigh.
= Due to technical and moral difficulties, certain rude words will have to be censored. Thank you for your time and patience, and have a nice day… *PM bonks Katsuya on the head with a huge anime mallet* Baka na! You know this fic is only rated PG! =
"Jyounouchi, what on earth makes you think that Kaiba-kun will want to kill Bakura-kun? It's not like he even knows that he's allergic to… carnations," Anzu blinks and looks at me, "Why did you take them if you are allergic to them anyway, Bakura-kun?" I think she's also struggling to keep herself from asking how on earth can anybody be allergic to something like carnations, but she bites her tongue. I have a feeling that they would have been laughing if it wasn't for the fact that they're acting like I'm about to pass on into the next world.
"I didn't…" Sneeze. "… know that…" Sneeze. "I was allergic." Sneeze. "… to carnations." Well, although they're looking at me funny, it makes complete sense to me. Even when I lived with the rest of my family, before the divorce, my mom wasn't exactly the gardening type. Also, otousan and oniisan never liked carnations anyway. So it shouldn't be that odd that I didn't know… uh… right?
The long silence makes me believe that perhaps the others believe otherwise, and I can only sigh. Between sneezes, of course.
~ * ~
Yuugi-tachi [1] had to hold Jyounouchi-kun down when Kaiba-kun arrived, much to his amusement. I don't know how he managed to get into the dorm and find our room, but very little about Kaiba-kun surprises me these days. In all likelihood, he probably just asked somebody. After all, I no longer have to question whether or not he knows my name, and at the worst, I'm pretty sure he remembers Jyounouchi-kun's name (then again, since he spends so much of his time calling Jyounouchi-kun by those horrible nicknames, I suppose that would lead to some doubt)…
Having stuffed some of Jyounouchi-kun's clothes into his mouth to keep him from talking, we silently stare at Kaiba-kun, as if he is an apparition rather than actually here. He, in turn, stares at us as if we have lost his mind, although there is a sadistic flash of pleasure in his blue eyes as he appraises Jyounouchi-kun, held down and gagged. Jyounouchi-kun is, of course, unhappy, and the gag isn't enough to completely muffle out the curses he's itching for Kaiba-kun to hear.
"Very good. It looks as if the make inu has learned his place," Kaiba-kun sneers.
That, of course, does it for Jyounouchi-kun. I don't know how, but he manages to throw off all four of them to get up and charge Kaiba-kun, ripping the makeshift gag out of his mouth as he does so.
Unfortunately, Yami Bakura decides this is the perfect opportunity to cause some hell. Taking over my body without any permission (not that he ever asked for it in the first place), he allows me to watch as he sticks his (MY!) foot out, causing Jyounouchi-kun to trip and fall, crashing into Kaiba-kun on the way down. Yami Bakura laughs before whisking himself away, leaving me to take the blame. I can't help but squeak at the sight of Jyounouchi-kun sprawled on top of Kaiba-kun, both of which look ready to murder somebody. Namely me. Only the knowledge that Yami Bakura won't allow his precious possession to get maimed or killed is keeping me from bolting, but it's still pretty close as I smile at them nervously.
"Um… gomen nasai [2]?"
I think they would have killed me (or at least attempted) if it wasn't for the fact that they had suddenly noticed that they were in a VERY compromising position. They look at each other for a moment, the blood running to their faces, and get away from each other as if the other person was suffering from the plague.
"Kaiba-kun, don't you and Bakura-kun need to get going?" Yuugi-kun asks politely, helping Jyounouchi-kun up and gripping his shirt VERY tightly to prevent Jyounouchi-kun from attacking either Kaiba-kun, myself, or the Sennen Ring hanging from my neck (which probably still constitutes as myself, as I'll probably get strangled in the process), "After all, there might be traffic or the lines might be long or… anyhow, shouldn't you two get going soon?"
Never mind the fact that Kaiba-kun most likely already has the tickets, and I'm sure he could clear the skies of thunder clouds if he wanted to. In fact, it almost sounds like Yuugi-kun is trying to get rid of us, which isn't that bad of a plan if I say so myself. At least it will prevent any bloodshed between the two, although the prospect of being alone with a ticked off Kaiba-kun isn't very appealing (if I may say so).
"Sure, just run away after you've nearly killed him! What were you thinking?" Jyounouchi-kun screams, causing us all to sweatdrop.
"What are you talking about?" Kaiba-kun asks, staring down at Jyounouchi-kun as if he is a piece of dirt, "Have you lost your mind? Not that makes much of a difference from your previous state…"
"How could you not know about his allergies?! Don't you check medical records before pulling these types of stunts?!" Jyounouchi-kun continues to yell. Kaiba-kun looks at me, although there is no accusation in his eyes. Something that I'm thankful for.
"I'm allergic to carnations," I explain lamely, hoping I don't sound as pathetic as I think I do.
"If you want to break up with him, why don't you just say so instead of sending poison?!"
"Jyounouchi-kun! I didn't even know, how could you expect Kaiba-kun to?" I try to knock some sense into him… not literally, although the thought is starting to be very tempting.
"There's no talking sense to him," Honda-kun shakes his head, probably getting a headache from Jyounouchi-kun's hysterics (it's about time he was on the receiving end rather than the giving side), "You two better just go. I doubt he'll get that information through his thick skull until much later."
"I'm going to kill him!"
"I see," Kaiba-kun replies flatly… speaking to Honda-kun rather than Jyounouchi-kun, of course. He silently looks over at the raging Jyounouchi-kun, "Then let's go."
Muttering a soft good-bye, I trail after Kaiba-kun, who sweeps through the crowded hallway like a king, everybody parting a path for him as surely as the Red Sea parted for Moses. He's mumbling incoherently about idiot blonde dogs (-_-;;;), but I'm not in the mood to reprimand him. Not that it matters, I don't think he'll listen to me anyway.
"I'm sorry about Jyounouchi-kun," I finally start rambling/ranting as we pass by most of the people, who thankfully don't follow us like stalkers, "I really didn't know and I tried to explain to him but he wouldn't listen to me and…"
"It's okay." I blink in surprise, trying to get a good look at Kaiba-kun to make sure there are no huge gashes on his head that gave him minor concussions. I don't see anything, but I suppose a painful impact with the floor could still scramble his mind up. It's not that I'm pessimistic about the possibility of Kaiba-kun thinking I was anything but an annoying pest, but it just that it doesn't seem likely that he would think of me as anything but just that.
"Demo…" I try to get a word in edgewise… something along the lines of if he needs to go to the hospital or something… but he cuts me off again.
"I said it's okay, Ryou," he repeats firmly, putting some emphasize on my name and causing me to turn bright red again, much to the amusement of the group of girls watching us like hawks, "I know it's not your fault."
"Are you…"
"Yes," he cuts me off for the third time in approximately two minutes as he opens the back door, where a more low-profile vehicle is waiting for us.
Somewhere along this point, I get a good look at Kaiba-kun's clothes and realize for the umpteenth time that he shares a buckle fetish with Yami-kun, although the chains are a little less obvious. I also notice that I still look like something dragged from the sewers, but then again, I was too busy worrying about Jyounouchi-kun not murdering a certain somebody to deal with clothing issues.
I'm beginning to wonder if some of Kaiba-kun's "I don't care what you think" attitude is rubbing off on me. If so, then I'm going to be needing to see a psychiatrist when this is through.
~ * ~
The car trip was done in silence, at least on my behalf. Kaiba-kun spent most of the time talking on his cell phone, which might as well be glued to his ear considering how often he uses it. Personally, I think that the only reason why he hasn't done that yet is because you very well can't dial when the piece of technical misery is permanently attached to your ear. I couldn't understand anything he was saying, so I spent most of the time staring out the window as the scenery whizzed by, as if I was watching my life from afar on fast-forward.
Odd as it seems, it appears that most of my life is spent doing exactly that. Watching, as a spectator, as others do what they please. I've allowed myself over and over again to get carried away by their wishes and wants, rather than caring about my own needs.
What am I saying? I think I need that psychiatrist more than I could have suspected. Or I could just talk to Yuugi-kun, who took a course on it. Although I have a feeling that no matter who I go to, the diagnosis will be somewhere along the lines of me needing to get a lobotomy.
I'm so lost in my depressed stage that it takes me a while to notice that Kaiba-kun has already left the car, walked to the other side, opened my door, and is looking at me expectantly with his hand held out waiting for me to take it. From the way he's impatiently tapping his foot and the annoyed expression on his face, I have a feeling that he has been waiting for quite a while, which immediately causes me to turn red. Again, he waves off all my pathetic attempts at an apology, taking me by the hand and leading me into the theater.
The first word that comes to mind is beautiful. The theater really is just that; beauty that is seldom seen except in pictures and the imagination. It's alluring and breathtaking, and I could have spent an entire week just standing there and taking in the gaze if it wasn't for Kaiba-kun.
I don't know if it's because he's seen such wonderful sights so often that he is immune to the wonder that one feels, like a child seeing their first pretty bauble, or if it's because he's too busy to care about the scenery around him. In a way, I can't believe it could be the first, since who can ever get used to seeing something like this? And if it is the second, that he's too busy to enjoy a gratification such as this, then what's the point of living a life?
I don't ask him these things, knowing that it really isn't my place to be asking such questions of him. Although I would very much like to. But there are many questions that I would like to know the answer to, so many of them surrounding Kaiba-kun since this whole 'experience' started.
Quickly buying two programs without a word to me, he hands me one and then pulls me towards where our seats are… at least, that's where I think he's taking me. I seriously hope that this is the part where he randomly informs me that he's one of the performers and I'm supposed to be one of his actors.
Heaven forbid.
That thought in play, jumping crazily and doing flip-flops in my mind, I nearly want to hug the seat when my fears are erased. Yoshizawa-san and Emi-san are already there, along with some other people that Kaiba-kun knows and that I vaguely recognize from today's other events. I'm finally introduced to them, but there are so many names (and long ones at that) in a variety of languages that the names just seem to go through one ear and out the other. In the long run, I end up not remembering any name besides the ones I already know, along with the name of an American businessman who looks a lot like oniisan, except his name is Jack. It doesn't help when some of the daughters I'm introduced to start giggling and say something about 'cute' and 'adorable', bringing up some bad memories of when I was dragged off by four adoring fans on my first day at Domino High.
Kaiba-kun just glares at them and drags me off to the seat, which has got to be the best seat I have and ever will sit in when it comes to theater. Mainly because I don't go to the theater, but I'm digressing. He gives me a set of binoculars, which I am sure I will not need considering how close we are to the stage, but I take it anyway. Although that might have more to do with how I don't know how to politely refuse. Besides, if it later turns out that I might need it, he'll probably end up giving me an arrogant smirk, and I don't really want to deal with that today.
Since he doesn't look interested in talking to me, instead involving a more-or-less impatient Yoshizawa-san (impatient in that he would rather not talk business at the moment) in another business conversation (doesn't he ever stop thinking about that?), I flip open the program, causing some of the paper advertisements to fall out. Kaiba-kun doesn't notice as I turn red and stoop down to grab them, earning some odd looks from neighbors and the such.
The play is set in Feudal Japan, based on a peasant who works as a servant to a prince. When the prince goes to visit his fiancée, a high-born princess, she falls in love with the peasant. But since she's high-born and he's just a servant, of course they're not supposed to fall in love. In fact, if they get found out, he would most likely get killed.
Of course, he knows that, and since life is one of the few things a person bound to another possesses, it's of no surprise that he's trying to avoid her.
I'm guessing it's going to end up being one of those typical romantic fairytale stories; in fact, I'm surprised that Kaiba-kun is going through the torture just for a few words with Yoshizawa-san. Emi-san is looking at the stage, ignoring everything going around us. Once again, I feel like an invisible toad, patiently waiting (in vain) for the kiss from a beautiful princess.
Luckily, the play starts quickly, so I don't need to wallow in self-pity for too long.
~ * ~
My mood worsens steadily as the play progresses. It's not that it was bad, cause it's wonderfully acted with a brilliant script, but the irony is getting on my nerves. It seems that somebody is out to get me this week (PM: Teehee! *tries to look inconspicuous as Ryou tries to yank the laptop away from her*), and I'm not talking about Yami Bakura, as he doesn't seem to have a set schedule for when he wishes to use me.
As expected, the peasant falls for the princess, who is a bright, charming young lady with not enough common sense to drown a flea in a teaspoon. While the young man possesses quite a bit more common sense than she has, no amount in the world can prevent him from losing his heart to a girl who can flutter her eyelashes and pout her lips like that.
But since they do belong to two entirely separate worlds, worlds that aren't really meant to collide together, problems arise. Secrecy, morals, decaying friendships… everything that makes a good romance, I suppose, but it's not like I'm an expert in that category.
I don't know what possibly could have possessed Kaiba-kun to agree to come to this…
Act one ends up with the discovery of a forbidden kiss by none other than the prince the princess is engaged to. Then comes the 15-minute intermission, which is when you get a chance to endure the bathroom lines that are tediously long to go to the bathrooms that are ridiculously small. Conversations about the play's progression immediately spring to life as the lights on the stage fade into nothing, a curtain closing to shield the small microcosm.
That's when I realize something.
Somewhere, sometime during the play, Kaiba-kun's hand has miraculously found its way into my lap, and is now holding my hand. And it's not even a death grip, just a soft, gentle hold. Now while I suppose there can be differences in deciding exactly how surprising such a gesture is, since I've discovered that Kaiba-kun can be both a wonderful and terrible actor, there is absolutely no doubt on my surprise towards the fact that he's been holding my hand for who knows how long, and I haven't noticed at all.
My family was never one of those touchy-touchy types, so I've never been that comfortable with contact, which especially includes sudden no-asking-for-permission kisses from a person who doesn't even like me, as a lover or a friend. Yet his hand has been holding mine as if it belonged there, and I didn't even notice until the lights went on and I looked down. Could it be possible that I was so entranced by the play that I didn't notice such a huge thing?
I somehow doubt it, and I blink as I stare at my lap. I couldn't be anymore fascinated if I suddenly started to grow mold. Kaiba-kun apparently has no urgency in removing his hand, talking casually to somebody behind him about such and such, I'm not exactly sure what.
The person next to me appears either to be angry that Kaiba-kun has been 'taken', or is merely homophobic, glaring at me and making no show to hide it. As if I couldn't get anymore uncomfortable. I suppose that it's really too much to ask for everybody being as accepting as otousan and Yuugi-kun (I wonder what okaasan and oniisan will say… do I even want to know what they're going to think?), but it's always nice to dream.
Dreams are for people who cannot deal with reality, Yami Bakura offers those kind words of advice.
I cringe and decline to reply. Since Yami Bakura doesn't come out too often anymore, probably still waiting for an opportunity to steal Yuugi-kun's Sennen Puzzle and Sennen Tauk (I wouldn't put it beyond him), I sometimes forget that he's there. Yes, I know it sounds weird that it's possible to forget a psychotic spirit living in your mind, but for the past couple months… with the exception of the perfume incident… he's laid low. I suppose there's the possibility that it's because Yami-kun is living right across the hallway now, and he doesn't want to tempt getting banished into the Shadow Realm like Yami Malik, rather than him actually feeling kind enough not to utterly destroy my social life. But as long as he's not using me to steal something, I guess I'm happy.
"Ryou?"
I snap out of my silent contemplation of Yami Bakura, which isn't exactly a hobby of mine, mind you, and look into Kaiba-kun's intense blue eyes, "Ha… hai?"
He takes a good look at me, as if seeing me for the first time in his life. Then again, I don't even think he looked at me this carefully the first time he really did see me, except maybe as somebody to stick on a hit list.
Honda-kun once told Jyounouchi-kun that he thought I had a face that you couldn't help but trust, and that included little children and animals [3]. If I remember correctly, Honda-kun was at the time very drunk and upset about Otogi-kun, so I imagine his tongue was a little bit loose as he was tipsy from the alcohol and flipped-out about the whole incident. Jyounouchi-kun, seeing that he still has yet to learn when to shut up, told me, and Otogi-kun happened to be close enough to hear at that time. That, of course, caused him to freak out, putting another dent in the ongoing saga of whether or not Otogi-kun is ever going to tell Honda-kun that he likes him, as he clearly does. I swear, those two are driving me crazy… and I'm not even interested in matchmaking!
Anyhow, I have a feeling that the innocent face doesn't really work too well on Kaiba-kun, seeing that he hasn't been at all charmed. Kaiba-kun is a pragmatist; he does what he needs to do in order to meet his goal. The only innocence that can sway him starts with a 'M' and ends with an 'A', but he's not exactly here right now.
I can't help but hold my breath as I wait for what he's about to say. Part of me can't help but wonder if I even want to know what he's about to say. It can either be oddly affectionate or coldly disdainful, both of which I don't think I can stand. Although deep down, I know I would prefer the coldly disdainful dismissal, seeing that is the Kaiba Seto that I am used to. When Kaiba-kun is affectionate, it just makes me feel worse. I know I never thought much about having a relationship with somebody, but I would prefer the one I have not to be acting.
"It's nothing." Brushing me off as if I was an annoying insect that has been put into place, Kaiba-kun turns away to look at the stage, as the play is about to start soon. I sigh and turn to face the same way, the lights gradually but quickly dimming and the actors coming onto the stage.
But like everybody else who has been thinking me too ignorant to notice, the feeling of those burning eyes gazing at me as act two picks up is painfully obvious.
As is the hand that is still clutching mine, as if he is searching for comfort in a world that has turned as cold and as pointless as a hamster wheel that keeps turning and turning, exhausting your energy but leaving you in the same place you were before, never to get anywhere.
~ * ~
The play was depressing. Really depressing. Now that they've been caught, the princess needs to figure out a way to save her lover, even if it means sacrificing her happiness. Since she's the princess, the worst they could directly do to her is immediately make her marry her fiancée and hope he can knock some sense into her, although this time it's not meant literally.
In order to save his life, she sends him away. With the help of some loyal servants, she manages to smuggle him onto a ship headed for China, and hopes that if possible, she would be able to escape herself and join him in a place where they will hopefully be safe (and happy) together.
Unfortunately, they're about as unlucky as I am. On the journey, the ship ends up sinking to the bottom of the ocean, and everybody dies. When the princess finds this out, she goes into a deep depression and ends up throwing herself off the edge of the cliff, as grief-stricken as she was.
One would think that they play would end here, but whoever wrote the play had a definite love for irony. The final scene involves a young man getting washed up on the beach, not looking very healthy I admit, but certainly very much alive. And who should it be but the peasant who risked his life for a moment of happiness?
With his memory gone, of course. The only thing he has from his past is (get this) a pink carnation that he had put in his shirt pocket, dead as the princess that gave it to him, as well as the memory that he had of her.
A pink carnation.
Pink carnation.
Did they even have pink carnations back then?!
And that's how the play ended. Seriously. If anything else could convince me more that Kaiba-kun and I are on a one-way road to hell with no rest stops in sight more than the ending of this play, it would certainly have to be something.
As I just sit there, slack-jawed at how horrible my life is becoming, Kaiba-kun gets up and moves for the exit before the applause has barely begun. His hand still around mine, I have no choice but to follow him, although I guess I'm not that interested in staying behind either.
Walking from the dim light of the box into the bright light of the hallway leading to the grand staircase takes a bit of effort to get used to, and I can only stand there, blinking at the sudden burst of white. Kaiba-kun doesn't bother to wait for my eyes to adjust as he leads me towards the stairs, me doing my best to keep from tripping over my two clumsy feet.
My eyes are nearly adjusted when they start to water painfully, my throat feeling scratchy and suddenly expressing a need to sneeze. Very, very soon. That's when I realize that as a momento from the play, the theater has enlisted the doormen (and women) to hand out carnations or roses to the people as they left. That, of course, is causing my nearly-discovered allergies to go haywire, which as I had previously discovered was not a pleasant experience.
In fact, the carnation is right in my face, the girl holding it looking at the two of us with starry-eyes. Another shounen-ai/yaoi fanfic writer, no doubt (at this rate, I'll meet every one of them before the end of the week). All I can hope is that she doesn't suddenly whip out a camera and ask us to pose. That'd be something… I'll probably end up sneezing throughout the entire photo shoot, especially with the carnation right under my nose like this.
Quickly, Kaiba-kun deftly takes the carnation from the girl, placing it back in her basket (much to her surprise, which is clearly mirrored on her face). He then pulls out a long-stemmed rose, before proceeding to walk away. I smile apologetically at the girl, who looks ready to burst into tears.
"Gomen nasai. I'm allergic…" I manage to get out before Kaiba-kun has pulled me away, where his car is already waiting. Maybe he has a psychic or telepathic bond to them, I don't really know. Whatever it is, I'm shoved into the car before I can open my mouth to apologize, and before he's even gotten in the other door, he's already on his cell phone again, yelling very loudly at some poor subordinate. He somehow manages to put on his seatbelt, even with his hands full due to the cell phone, program, and the single red rose.
The trip back to campus is about as silent as the one to the theater, punctuated by violent yelling and fluent cursing on the part of Kaiba-kun. As for me, I just memorize the detail of all the buildings we speed by, tuning out the angry conversation that Kaiba-kun is engaged in.
Much to my surprise, Jyounouchi-kun is waiting for us when we reach the back entrance into the dorms, along with Yuugi-tachi. Okay, so it shouldn't be surprising that Jyounouchi-kun would be waiting after the death threats he was yelling at Kaiba-kun, but the rest of them? How could they do this to me?
Kaiba-kun doesn't care if they're there or not. He helps me out, which I'm sure would make anybody else feel like the belle of the ball, while I feel like the toad that's still desperate for the kiss. And just when I think I've gotten so used to Kaiba-kun's mood swings, he surprises me again when he gives me the rose, gently taking my hand and securing my shivering fingers around the long stem. Somebody had gone through the painful task of removing all the thorns, so all Kaiba-kun has to do is make sure my hand isn't crushing the delicate leaves.
"Well, at least I know you're definitely not allergic to roses."
I gawk at him, mouth half-open as if I'm trying to catch flies in it. Then, Jyounouchi-kun's screeching a distant buzzing in my ears, he plants a light kiss on my forehead, as soft and tender as the blood-red petals of the rose I'm clutching in my hand. It lasts only for a second, perhaps for even less, but it spills a variety of desperate emotions that almost makes me want to scream from the sudden rush.
And then he's gone, vanished into thin air. Of course I know he left, but I can just stare after him, mouth still gaping in an embarrassing manner. It's not until the sounds of the car have completely died out, and a screeching Jyounouchi-kun runs out of the dorm, Yuugi-kun and the others no longer able to hold him, screaming more death threats and cursing his head off as the car that has disappeared into the distance.
"Gomen, Bakura-kun. We only went because we needed to hold him back," Anzu explains, and I just stare at her in a daze.
And I realize that like the toad who wished beyond hope for the beautiful princess to kiss his slimy, fly-favored lips, that like the peasant who knew better than to fall in love with death but still succumbed to its spiderweb spells, I'm walking into the same trap brought about by love.
And like the toad and peasant, not one of us stands a chance.
Translations and Notes:
[1] Adding the –tachi kinda means this person and the others. Yuugi-tachi basically means Yuugi and the others (I'm pretty sure, at least… *innocent look*)
[2] Sorry… very politely. VERY politely.
[3] The part about the innocent face is actually true, although it was just Honda-kun thinking, rather then him telling Jyounouchi-kun. What happened was that instead of searching for how Pegasus was 'cheating' after the duel with Seto (like in the anime), Honda went in search of Mokuba, while Yami Bakura took control of Ryou's body to go and look at the painting of Shaddi. Anyhow, on his way back, Ryou ran into the guards that were guarding the way to where Mokuba was being kept, and although he managed to get out of that mess, he runs into Honda who had seen the whole thing. Anyhow, Honda enlists Ryou's help to distract the guards, inwardly thinking about how he has a face that 'children and animals automatically trust' (or something like that… it's been a while since my friend translated that part for me). -_-; For those of you who want to know what happened after that, Ryou did manage to distract the guards, but Honda got caught anyway. Yami Bakura freed him though. I would put a basic/Japanese-corrupted translation of the conversations and such, but it's too long and this note is already getting way too long.
PM *grimaces*: Okay… I think the chapter sucked, but I'm not going to say anything beyond that (my beta-reader hates me). What I really wanted to say was that the play about the peasant and the princess is actually a Digimon fanfic plot developed by Salt-Washed Mirror, Kei Kazama, and I on my last birthday. Since it's been rotting in my computer since then, and I know for sure that I will never finish it unless a miracle should occur, I decided to just make that the play in this story. The play itself is inspired by the fanart gift Kei drew for my birthday, so that prompted us to make a story. I was originally thinking about doing either Rent, The Lion King, or Aida, but since I haven't watched Rent (only listened to the CD), The Lion King doesn't have much to do with the storyline, and I haven't watched Aida either (just read the little book thing the CD comes with), I decided to just use the storyline plot that will never get written anyway. I hope it wasn't too bad… I was really struggling with this chapter when I wrote it.
Yami Bakura *steals the rose from Ryou and holds it with his teeth, trying to look seductive*: Now how about getting me some of those Sennen Items, sweetie? *bats eyelashes at PM*
PM *screams in absolute terror and runs away to hide behind an exasperated Yue, who was planning on making out with Touya but now has to act as a shield for a psychopath writer from a psychopath thief*
Koushiro: ^^;; Finally somebody who can scare PM.
Pikachumaniac