Disclaimer: *pokes a sharp stick at the lawyers and bares teeth* Back! BACK I SAY! *gets tackled*
Fairydust
PM: Anyhow… yes, I did consider the last chapter to be short… well, at least compared to previous chapters. *humphs and folds arms*
Jyou: Immature…
PM *punches him* I apologize now for the crappiness for this chapter. Yes, I am risking Neko-chan and a bunch of you swooping me down for saying this, but I have been unable to give this chapter as much attention as I could have. This week has truly been h-e-l-l week… (before we go further, I'll like to thank Ruri-chan for her wonderful help on my term paper). I can tell you what I was doing instead of writing on all days of the week… Sunday I needed to prepare for Italy, Monday I needed to work on my term paper and study for a math test and English test, Tuesday SOMEBODY broke into the house and STOLE about $23,000 worth of stuff AND I needed to work on my term paper, Wednesday I turned in my art history paper (took four hours…) and studied for Japanese/English tests, Thursday I studied for Japanese test… basically, this has NOT been a good week for writing… essentially, the entirety of this chapter was written on Friday and Saturday. -_-;; Also, a note… please, please, please, PLEASE, I beg you… do not tell me to update faster in your reviews. I can tell you quite frankly that I can't, even if I wanted to. And speaking of updating, PLEASE read the end author notes. They are VERY important in reference to the winter vacation. ^^;; Tis all…
Anyhow, thanks to Mariel for her usual beta-ing, and to all the reviewers of the last chapter ^_^;; I would do the usual long paragraph thingy, but… my hands are kinda freezing off right now so it's hard to type. ::BLUSH:: Sorry, sorry! And no Nalan Li, no, I didn't get a reply to my last mail… ;_; And to all of you who have asked me whether or not a shampoo called Fairydust exists… *giggle* I don't think so!! I mean, I can be wrong, but I really don't think so… ^^;; Anyhow, thanks to all the past reviewers. Sorry I couldn't reply to you each individually as I usually do, but my hands really are freezing off right now… and it's not even that cold around here. ::grumble::
~ Shocking Pink Flamingos ~
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, I happened to stumble across one of Yuugi-kun and Yami-kun's mental arguments. Normally I wouldn't be able to see Yami-kun if he wasn't occupying Yuugi-kun's body, but apparently Yami-kun had taken the liberty of tapping into the extra power of the Sennen Rod and Sennen Tauk because he had created a somewhat see-through body in order to argue with Yuugi-kun.
I don't quite know what the conversation was about, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with Yami-kun's love interests because the conversation more or less went something like this:
Yuugi-kun: I'm just having problems understanding your love choices! It's not that difficult a concept to understand, especially considered what you're in love with!
Yami-kun: You're really one to talk!
Yuugi-kun: What do you mean?! I'm not the one in love with a card and a stuffed seal!
Yami-kun: What about Mr. Feathers?
Yuugi-kun *turns pale*: That… that… that's different! And don't you dare tell anybody about Mr. Feathers!
Yami-kun *HUGE SMIRK*: Does Anzu know about Mr. Feathers? And if she does, I'm surprised that she hasn't put him through the shredder!
Mr. Feathers, as it turned out, is a shocking pink flamingo that is apparently Yuugi-kun's favorite stuffed animal.
Anyhow, the conversation kind of ended there because then the two of them noticed I was there. If anything, Yami-kun's smirk seemed to elongate to a sadistic level unpassable by all mankind, and Yuugi-kun looked ready to faint. From what I've heard, Yuugi-kun never dared to bring up the 'My Yami is in love with inanimate objects!' rant because all Yami-kun had to do was mentally whisper "Mr. Feathers" to Yuugi-kun before the poor guy would drop the subject.
The reason why I'm thinking about this is because I feel like a shocking pink flamingo with a black bow tie right now. And let me be the first to say that it is a most uncomfortable feeling.
Seto's driver (it was a different one, by the way… I have a feeling that the former one is currently in a nicely padded room considering how much emotional stress he has been through the past couple days) dropped me off at the building where the dinner party was taking place, but Seto was and still is no where in sight. Something that does not bode very well with me, especially since I don't know any of the well-dressed people walking in.
It's odd, actually, that I should feel so much like an outsider again. I'm not dressed like a war refugee anymore, at least, but I still feel like I could be wearing clothes similar to that of Tarzan and still be as noticeable as I am now. Could it be that I have yet to really gain that self confidence for myself, but that I still rely on Seto before I can find it within me? Or am I just a nervous little bunny, something that I will be for what seems like the rest of my life?
"Bakura-kun?"
I whip around to see none other than Emi-san, who is watching me expectantly. Her light brown bangs have been carefully curled, falling to the sides of her face, and her hair has been released from the barrette that she used before to keep her hair pinned up. She's clad (clad? Clad? Where did that word come from?!) in an elegant dark blue dress, as well as a black jacket threaded through with silver. Somehow, she manages to make me feel like a clumsy giant, even though I'm only a few centimeters taller than her.
"What…" her brown eyes blink in confusion, as if she had not been expecting to see me here. I can only stand there and fidget nervously, waiting for her to get the dreaded words out as she continues to stammer, "I thought… I mean… he came and then you didn't and…"
Suddenly, a light seems to come into her eyes and she suddenly stops her stuttering, making it my turn to stare at her in abrupt confusion.
Before I can open my mouth to politely question her, she reaches over to gently grab me by the arm, nudging me towards the entrance.
"Come on, Bakura-kun… Seto-kun is waiting for you… he is expecting you, right?" Emi-san pauses to look at me. She doesn't look as much like a grown woman trying to step up to the challenge the world is setting before her, but more like a curious child who has apparently stepped into a secret conversation she wasn't supposed to have done. Kinda like me when I accidentally walked into Yuugi-kun and Yami-kun.
"Ha… hai…" I reply, an answer which causes her to nod absently.
"That's weird…" she hasn't budged, standing there with that perplexed look on her face, "I thought I told him that he could take you with him to help out with the decorating…"
I freeze as I gape at her. But she's stopped her inward thinking and is pulling me inside again, leaving me no time to ask her what she meant… if she said what I really thought she said.
Meanwhile, my thoughts are running around my head, creating little questions that seem to dance and spin at dizzying speeds through my mind. Did she really mean that? I don't think Emi-san is sneaky, par say, but I do know all too well that people can be manipulative when they need to.
Still, that confusion in her eyes. It seemed much to real to be just acting. I shake my head as I follow her, greeted by a blast of warmth as soon as we enter the marble white building. It's beautifully decorated, with enough flowers to send anybody with allergies running out of the door screaming. I note with interest that there is not a single carnation to be seen. Not one… I wonder if that is Seto's doing?
Demo… if what Emi-san says is true, then why didn't Seto say anything?
"Emi-chan… what… Ryou!" I tear my eyes off the fascinating tiles pattern on the ground as Emi-san drops my sleeve, and I feel a blush rapidly spreading across my face as I stare at Seto. Oh my… he looks…
Nice?
The word goes through my mind like a mightily surprised squeak. I can only stare at him in amazement… it's still him, but he looks… different. Not better or worse, par say, but just… different…
"I'm… going to gocheckonthedecorationsI'llseeyoulater!" Emi-san's words blend together into one long word as she quickly escapes. Somewhere along this point I've noticed that Seto is also staring at me, and if there wasn't a limit on how red a person could be, I'd be gaining a new job as a stop signal…
"Ja… Ja ne…" Seto manages to say to Emi-san's retreating form, but his eyes are still glued on my face. While as I am fighting to keep my eyes on him, rather than on the ground. But the tiles are so pretty! They are! They're a beautiful shade of white and very clean!
Then his arm slips around my waist, pulling me closer, and he plants a light kiss on my forehead, quickly bring back memories of last night, "You look nice."
The words remind me rather disconcertingly of that disturbing Nutcracker dream, but at least I'm not wearing a dress this time! I seriously hope that nobody ever finds out about that one…
"A… arigatou…" I mutter, entranced by his blue eyes. They're a turquoise-like shade… trying to tear my eyes away is like wading through mud. More or less impossible without an iron set of nerves, and it doesn't help that I don't mind losing myself in those eyes…
"Should we go in then?" he smiles, relaxing from his before-nervous (somewhat) state and causing that bubbly little spring of confidence to well up within me, along with other warm and fuzzy feelings that feel so uplifting that I think I'm going to need a chain to keep me from floating into the clouds…
I nod, the look in his eyes making me able to face the world and all its pitfalls as long as he is standing there next to me… maybe if this lasts, I'll one day be able to get that confidence for myself. But for now on, I'll have to settle for this… although in no way do I mean to imply that this is a bad thing.
His hand slips from my waist and takes one of my hands. He suddenly grins at me, his free hand playing with a lock of my white hair.
"You're using my shampoo."
"Hai."
"You smell nice…" he continues to grin before gently leading me down the hallway as princes did with their princesses back in the olden days.
Except… I'm not a princess, nor am I a prince. And although Seto probably has enough money and manner to be a prince, he isn't either.
We're just two teens who have managed to find something magical about the world around us through each other…
And I can only hope that I am not deluding myself. But then again, how can something that feels so good be a mere illusion or insanity on my behalf?
~ * ~
"Bakura-kun! It's so good to see that you are all right!" Before I can blink, Yoshizawa-san has taken my hand and is pumping it up and down with such enthusiasm and strength that I think it's going to fall off as I sweatdrop nervously. Honestly, this guy could be that friendly uncle who only stops by once every five years and showers the family with gifts and interesting stories… I can't help but wonder why Seto would think that he would break the deal with KaibaCorp if his daughter had been snubbed. "You must have been very resourceful… you and Otogi-kun!"
"You've met Otogi-kun before?" the first words that pop into my head come falling out of my lips before some vague semblance of self-control can stop them from doing just… just that.
Yoshizawa-san laughs as Seto just sighs, whether that is because of me, Yoshizawa-san, or some other thing that I don't know about, "Aa! I've met Otogi-kun! My company produces his game! [1]"
Now I'm fully gaping at him, jaw slacked and I probably look like a cow who is chewing cud or something… except without a contemplative expression. Moo…
He chuckles as he kindly pushes my jaw back up, "His father and him came to our company a while back. When his father was detained due to… ah, how should I put it, unusual circumstances…" Course, we all know what those circumstances are… something along the lines of negligence and causing the building to burn down, kidnapping Yuugi-kun, and a bit of child abuse towards Otogi-kun, "… Anyhow, after that, I took over that part of the company and started to deal with him personally."
I think I'm still staring at him because he finally clears his throat and gives me a gentle smile, "I knew the two of you couldn't get into that much trouble… you're both too smart for that. Although you're not quite as flamboyant as that one…" he pats me on the shoulder, "But you've taught him to be gentle."
There's no doubt who he means by him… Seto. And I'm beginning to wonder if the whole world is in some type of conspiracy to make me go insane, if I'm not already… first Jyounouchi-kun, then Otogi-kun, then Koushiro-san and Taichi-san, then Michelle-san, and now Yoshizawa-san…
They're all sending me the same message, one that I fully comprehend but seemingly cannot accept. I don't know why that is, and I don't know how to stop it. It just… is.
It takes me a moment to realize that Yoshizawa-san is gone and I've been staring at blank air.
"Ryou? Daijoubu ka?" Seto's voice washes over me, warm and soothing. I've never noticed exactly how much I love his voice, but I do… it's strong and powerful, and he's got this tone that just screams of confidence to the point where it's almost unbelievable. How can somebody be so confident? Have so much faith in everything turning out right, the way it is supposed to? So much in this world is guided by insane and ridiculous reasons, and we conform to survive and throw away the things that make us… us.
I react to Seto's question by squeezing his hand, feeling as he responds similarly. He… he loves me for who I am, right? Not the person who we put out in order to survive, but the one who fights to get out and show the world what living life should truly be like.
I think I'm starting to get depressed again.
"Yeah… I'm fine."
There's something about all of this that is shaking me up. If we don't want to see something, can we imagine it away? Is that possible, or will we wake up one day to see the cold, hard truth staring at us in the face no matter how much we try to ignore it. We give up our souls so that we don't have to deal with rejection, but in the long run can we really escape? Those times where we let out our feelings and just be ourselves, those times that we learn to live and strive for even though we don't really know that we're feeling like this.
"Good," Seto ruffles my hair, making it a mess after I spent so much time trying to tame it down to being somewhat neat compared to its usual mess, and in only a few seconds he musses it up back to what it should be, what it would be if it wasn't for all the effort we use to keeping ourselves kept down.
I start to giggle at how insane my thoughts are getting to be. I really need to let go some time, and this might as well be the time. I need to find some way of pushing aside all the doubts that seem to pervade through my mind and allow myself to just break free. If only for one night.
If only because I know that I owe Seto to at least try.
"So…" he smiles easily, "How about dinner right about now?"
I just laugh and nod my head. I don't know why I'm laughing right now, but it feels pretty nice. You have to admit, I like the person Seto is beneath that cold exterior. Sure… it's kinda weird… who wouldn't consider reading shoujo manga and singing to shoujo anime theme songs weird? But it's a nice weird.
~ * ~
Once upon a time, when oniisan was "piss-ass drunk" (this is not my term for it, but his not-so-eloquent okusan [2] Erika-san's) at a very important business party, he started to dance on the tables and sing very loudly to American pop songs, even though it was more or less known that he didn't understand a vast majority of what he sang, especially in such a drunken state. Anyhow, somewhere along this point, he suddenly got down on his knees and yelling quite loudly about how the string that connects him to Erika-san will never be cut.
(Somewhere along this point, Erika-san dragged him off the table and took him home, where he woke up the next morning with an excruciating hangover. I offered him no sympathy because about twenty minutes before he had been bodily dragged home, he had tried to set me up with a variety of his friends, something that did not bode very well with me.)
A while later, I found out that the 'string' was from a CLAMP shoujo manga. It basically was a string that linked two loved ones together [3] and allowed them to understand the other person's feelings. Or something like that.
I pick at my food as I try to ignore the pointed whispers and stares. I'm really quite lucky that Yuugi-tachi are very accepting of just about everything, or I would be having even more problems in life. I know that not everyone tends to harbor homophobic tendencies, but there's enough to make my life a living hell if I allowed it to.
There hasn't been much back lash from the 'announcement' on Monday, but there's been a bit. I've managed to ignore it, I always have. But it gets a bit difficult when it seems that everyone is somehow against you because of something that you have no control over.
I start when my face is lifted and a piece of sushi is rudely stuffed into my mouth, causing me to choke and glare at Seto, who is smirking lightly at me.
"You were getting that look again," he replies mildly as I quickly chew my food, still glaring at him as I hurry to swallow so I can give him a piece of my mind. But when I open my mouth to speak, he snags another one and shoves it into my mouth again, causing me to glare at him again.
"You know that look…" he snaps, waving his chopsticks threateningly at me. This time I'm smart enough not to open my mouth or risk getting something else shoved into it, but I can't help but continue glaring at him. My teeth are clenched and I have to concentrate not to open my mouth and bite his head off.
Not literally, of course.
I shake my head in reply, since I can't open my mouth. Argh, he can be so… annoying! Or something like that… I feel more like laughing, but I'm afraid of doing that. I think I'll choke if I try to eat and laugh at the same time, or do something equally embarrassing and detrimental to my already very much screwed up reputation… if I even have one of those. Which I probably don't, but that's a different story.
"The one you get when you're thinking too much," is the calm explanation. I open my mouth to protest and wince as he sticks another piece into my mouth. This guy should not reproduce… he'll probably end up killing his kids (accidentally, of course) if he keeps acting like this… "Plus you're not eating."
That doesn't give you an excuse to shove something into my mouth!! Course, I can't tell him that because he'll… do that again if I try to get a word in.
I swear he's doing this on purpose.
Since I'm tired of being the one who's being fed, I pick up a piece for myself and glare at him, waving it at him to show my surrender. He smirks and opens his mouth, probably to say 'I told you so', but that is something we will never know because before he can get the words out, I stick it into his mouth.
"My turn," I stick my tongue out at him, feeling oh-so-mature and powerful. Mwaha, I have power! Fear me!
I swear that somebody spiked my drink. That is the only explanation for why I'm acting like a… a… a… Oh, forget it, I don't know what I'm acting like. But I still think somebody spiked my drink.
"Good job," his voice has a measure of grudging respect, but there's a malicious light in his eyes that makes me think he's up to something…
"Thank you," I reply curtly, arming myself with some fish this time. Oh yeah, I'm prepared! Just in case he tries to do.. that again or something.
"I'm still in the lead though," Seto grins, looking very smug and self-satisfied. I take the opportunity to shove the fish into his mouth, and I happen to know for a fact that he's not extraordinarily fond of fish. Heh… well, nothing's perfect in life! Especially feeding fights, apparently.
"Not if you keep opening your mouth," I shoot back as Seto gets this little surprised look on his face as he cautiously chews the food that I shoved into his mouth. Heh, I never knew that this could be so much fun… but then again, the weirdest things have been seeming fun lately.
He leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek, smelling very much like fishy breath and vinegar rice. Not that I have any problem with it…
~ * ~
"I feel like dancing today."
I stare at Seto, who smiles lazily at me. Oh no, he's not getting me into this one… I remember when they had a dancing period in physical education back at school… since there were more boys than girls, the sensei (who never liked me very much… especially after the whole Yami-no-Bakura-turned-him-into-a-wooden-doll episode [4]) pulled me aside and made me a temporary 'girl', much to the amusement of Yuugi-tachi. Cause, as he explained, I already looked like a girl…
Anyhow, not only was that part of the day extraordinarily humiliating, but my dancing skills are more or less non-existent. I guess I'm not clumsy, par say, but that doesn't mean I can dance. I can dance about as well as a drunk man with no legs and arms. And no head, now that I think of it.
But the point is that I know that Seto knows I can't dance for beans because he was there… he was there smirking because I had got partnered up with Jyounouchi-kun, who I swear is even worse at dancing than I am. Can't help but feel very sorry for Mai-san right about now, but that's a different story. Besides, I don't think Seto was the one to be smirking… a majority of the female population were trying to get him for a dance partner.
"No," I reply flatly, sinking back into my seat and feeling a bit bloated. The feeding fight had not, unfortunately, ended when it was supposed to, and now we both look like we need some serious exercise. However, dancing does not go under my definition of exercise, which makes it a definite no-no. No, Seto, that look in your eyes is highly dangerous and conniving, and you had so better not be planning some way of getting me onto the dance floor because I'll let Yami no Bakura rip out your spleen before I do! You'll see!
"Just one?" he's still grinning.
I can learn to hate him right about now.
"No!"
Anyhow, yes, this explains why approximately thirty seconds later, the two of us are in the middle of dancing couples as we try to not get run over by the other couples. I'm going to die here… now that is pathetic. Killed on a dance floor by big skirts! Details at eleven!
"I hate you," I mutter as I accidentally do the wrong step and get my foot stepped on. Argh, he's doing this on purpose! I know he is!
Which is precisely why I don't really mind, even though I know I'm going to wake up tomorrow to have one gigantic bruise as my foot… that will certainly drive Jyounouchi-kun off the deep edge, if he hasn't already gotten to that point considering how he's been screeching for the past couple hours.
"You don't mean that," Seto replies as I bury my head into his shoulder, enjoying his warmth. I suppose if I have to get my feet stepped on, I might as well be comfortable on the top, "Or you wouldn't be holding me like you are."
I think we've given up on dancing because we're just lightly swaying back and forth to the slow music… Okay, so I have to hand it to him. This isn't too bad.
Seto has his nose more or less buried in my hair (I guess that answers the question of whether or not he likes peach) when a friendly hand rests on both our soldiers. We both blink in surprise and look as one to Yoshizawa-san, who is grinning quite jauntingly at us.
"Congratulations, Kaiba," he grins.
"For what?" there's a steely hint of coldness in Seto's voice that I haven't heard in a while, but either Yoshizawa-san doesn't catch it or just ignores it.
"The lawyers have completed the contract, and by now there should be a copy of it sitting on your desk," Yoshizawa-san is still grinning as the music reaches a climax, the sounds pounding in my mind as he reaches a hand out to Seto, who shakes it with a blank expression on his face, "Now you can enjoy the rest of the night with your koi without having to worry about it anymore… think of it as my parting gift to you two." He winks at us, but that emotionless mask in Seto's face has yet to change, and he just continues to blink at Yoshizawa-san.
"Arigatou, Yoshizawa-san," Seto bows politely, "It has been nice working with you."
"You too, Kaiba," Yoshizawa-san is still smiling, seemingly heedless of Seto's lack of expression. Or perhaps he just chooses to ignore it.
Maybe he can see through it? Maybe he can see something that I'm struggling to define? I'm just standing here, trying to figure out why he's looking like this… I would think that Seto would be happy about this.
It's over… the deal is over…
Yoshizawa-san and Seto are still going through the final small talk before their business partnership is completed, but it's as if it's a different person standing before me. It's the person I've known throughout high school and never wanted to get close to in fear of losing a couple vital body parts. Everything in the room is starting to feel cold again, and the music's soft melody continues to pound in my head, feeling oddly discomforting.
What's going on with me? With everyone?
It's over… the words keep repeating in my mind, and I don't know what to make of it. Does this mean that… all of it is over? That…
They're done talking, and Yoshizawa-san is now shaking my free hand enthusiastically. I can only give him an oddly confused look that seems glazed over. I must look like a zombie again… perhaps this whole world is really a game being played by giant monsters and we're all pieces of a puzzle. That might explain these conflicting ideas and reasons that seem to have no end and no beginning.
Then he's walking away and I'm staring at him with that same glazed expression.
Seto drops my hand and walks away, leaving me standing there searching desperately for an illusion that does not exist and never will.
As the music culminates in one final, heart-twisting finale before everything falls to a deafening silence.
~ * ~
I silently brush aside the questions of the girls staying at the dorm as I walk in, making a bee-line for my room. I walk by Honda-kun and Otogi-kun, who stare after me with confused expressions baring into my head as I quickly slide by them, unwilling to take any of their questions.
"Bakura-kun…" Otogi-kun's worried voice follows me but I've already shut the door to our dorm room before he can ask the inevitable question which I don't want to answer.
I'll call you later. The cold, detached words that seem to have an underlying message that the chance of him actually calling me is zero to none. Let's please squelch that bouncy hope which has no place in this world, shall we? How is it that the driving force of the human race can cause so much more pain than any other emotion in this world? He was always going to stay behind to help clean up, but it didn't matter because I left early. There really was no reason to stay, as there is nothing for me to wait for. Not anymore.
Jyounouchi-kun isn't there, something I thank the higher forces for doing. He probably went on a date with Mai-san, and I hope they're much happier than I am.
There's nervous knocking at the door, but I decide to ignore it. Unfortunately, I also forgot to lock the door, and before I know it, Yami-kun walks in, holding something in his arms.
"Didn't go too well, I take it," he states kindly. I just nod my head.
"Honda-kun and Otogi-kun aren't mad at me, are they?" I ask softly. It will certainly do no good to isolate myself from the people who are actually trying to help me, that is a given.
"They understand." Then he hands something to me, something surprisingly fuzzy and very… pink. A shocking pink shade of pink…
Mr. Feathers? I blink at it, as if it will disappear from my hands. Just like everything else seems to be doing today. I'm kind of surprised that everything around me hasn't disappeared yet.
I look up at Yami-kun in confusion, and he shrugs lightly.
"I would have given you Yuki, but he's in here," Yami-kun taps his forehead, "So I figured that aibou's flamingo will be sufficient."
"What about Yuugi-kun?" I ask… not to say that I'm not appreciative of the former pharaoh's actions, but it still seems a bit weird. Randomly weird. But then again, this entire week could fit under that definition, so I guess I should just shut my mouth and listen.
"He won't notice," Yami-kun shrugs, "He and Anzu have something planned for today."
I just nod dumbly.
"Besides," he finally adds, sounding like he's feeling a bit awkward to have been placed in this situation, "He would understand even if I didn't ask for his permission for."
I just smile slightly as Yami-kun walks out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Am I really that easy to read or am I just pathetic? Perhaps both?
Mr. Feathers is looking a bit limp lying on the bed all by himself, so I quickly change into my pajamas and quickly join him, clutching him close to me. He's a rather ragged looking think, and I think about half of his pink fuzz has fallen out from years of love, but… all right, all right, he's still pretty adorable.
Clutching him tightly, silently thanking Yami-kun for his thoughtfulness, I finally close my eyes and lose myself to a fantasy world where dreams can be reality and reality counts for nothing at all.
Translations and Notes:
[1] Yes, I know that in the anime, Ryuuji-kun went to Pegasus for getting his game produced. However, in the manga, I don't believe they ever said who it was that helped produce his game. I think that we're supposed to assume that it was just him and his father who did it, but I just thought that this was a nice way to bring everything together.
[2] Okusan is what you call somebody else's wife, but not your own.
[3] The manga I refer to specifically is Wish, volume 2. CLAMP, if you don't know, is a four woman group whose work includes, among others, Cardcaptor Sakura.
[4] Reference to volume 6… this P.E. teacher said some mean things to Ryou-kun, and Yami no Bakura later turned the guy into a doll. *snicker*
PM: Do you all hate me now?
*long silence*
PM: Probably… first note is about that lemon story some of you want me to write. I put a notice up in my profile, but since I figure most of you probably don't read it (I wouldn't), it goes like this. A suggestion said I could have someone else write the lemon story. I don't mind this, but if you're interested, please e-mail me… don't leave a review saying you want me to get back to you because I don't have much time… sorry! Basically, the reason why I want you to e-mail me is because I have some requirements in terms of plot. So e-mail me! ^_^ And don't be worried if you don't get an answer for a while… I'm a bit busy…
Anyhow , SECOND REALLY IMPORTANT NOTE! I have some… um… very bad news. ^^;;; I am not going to be home on 12/22 and 12/29… in fact, I'm not exactly going to be in this country on those dates. Which means I won't be able to publish chapters 16 and 17 until next year… *ducks rotten veggies* I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! Basically, since I know for a fact that I won't be able to publish by then (chapter 16 especially is an extremely long chapter), I won't be publishing chapter 16 until January 5, if even then. You see, I get back on Friday night, and while I'll have way too much time to do it on airplanes… I tend to get a bit air sick so who knows if I'll finish in time! Especially with jet lag… sorry! ^^;;;; Please don't kill me…
Yami: A smart person might have ended this chapter on a less-than-cliffhanger-like-situation…
PM: Blehhhh…
Ja ne!
Pikachumaniac