Jaded Dice

By: Neko-chan



A/N: Firstly,---

Yami Bakura: Is firstly even a word, Neko-baka?

*knocks Yami Bakura out* Apparently, it is; Corel Word Perfect hasn't brought attention to it. Anyway, firstly I would like to thank all my reviewers for the wonderful things they said! *tackle glomps* You guys are great! Secondly, I would like to tell PM that she needs to put warnings on her picture links and reviews. -.-;; But we already talked about that, ne? *bouncy* Thirdly, I hope you guys enjoy the second chapter! Ja ne!

~Once again, PM, this fic is for you. ^_~ Hope ya enjoy it!

WARNING: SHOUNEN-AI! No like? Then don't read!

DISCLAIMER: Oh, Blaaa~aaackie!

BM:...Neko-baka--*coughs* I mean, Neko-CHAN--doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!. And she never will. The end. *goes back to studying his dark spell book*

...that's IT? THAT'S the disclaimer?!

BM: *still reading spell book* Mmm-hmmm...

...*starts thinking that she should get Yami or Ryuuji to do this job* D





Chapter Two

Ryuuji Otogi, premier DDM player and all around game genius (tying with Seto Kaiba and Yuugi Mutou, of course), was at a loss for words. Still idly twining the black lock of hair around his finger, he continued to look at Honda with cat-like emerald eyes. He was at a loss for words and he didn't like it--didn't like it _at all._

Being at a loss for words was a loss of control--and control was something that Ryuuji took pride in. Nothing phased him; he was continuously calm and collected. Even around Honda. _Especially_ around Honda. Even now, thinking about upon it all, the feelings that he felt for Honda were still new and strange...he had never felt this way about anyone else. Not that he would willingly admit THAT anytime in the near future, or ever if he had his own way. (Why did Tsukiko's face suddenly appear in his mind, raising an eye dubiously? Damn the old man, anyway. He couldn't possibly know...could he? And if he did, Tsukiko _couldn't_ possibly understand what he felt. He just couldn't. ...the image's eyebrow raised further. Ryuuji squished down an almost insane urge to stick out his tongue childishly.)

Honda blinked and stared at Ryuuji quizzically. The taller (though not by much) youth seemed to be making faces at himself, grumbling about someone named 'Tsukiko-san' under his breath. Honda blinked again. "Ano... Otogi-kun?"

Ryuuji started in surprise and stared at Honda, his green eyes wide. "Nani, Honda-kun?"

"...why were you making faces at yourself?"

Laughing nervously, Ryuuji's hair-twining intensified. "Ne... I wasn't making faces at myself, Honda-kun. Just... Ano... Just... Practicing the different face expressions I'll need for my next photo shoot. ... Anyway! Why are you here, Honda-kun? No one else is with you."

The brunette smiled softly and answered by saying: "Well, I just decided to finally take you up on your offer, Otogi-kun. I know that it's been awhile since you offered, but I decided... Why not? And so I'm here."

Ryuuji smiled softly and his hands finally fell away from his hair. Walking softly over the tiled floor, he made his way over to Honda and picked up the card packet that he had been looking at with so much interest. Duel Monsters. Of course. But with a best friend who held the undisputed title of 'Game King,' Honda _would_ have to be interested in Duel Monsters. True, Ryuuji knew that Honda had a deck himself--but he had never seen the brunette play. A pity, really.

"What offer was that, Honda-kun? I can't seem to remember..."

But of course he did. He had made the offer in the heat of the moment--finding out that your game was going to be taken up and distributed worldwide--often tended to do that to people. After he finally realized how rash he had been in making the offer (and how stupid it had been, as well), he wanted to mentally kick himself. That all changed when no one ever stopped by his Game Shop to take him up on his offer. And a feeling of...loneliness...surrounded him. He didn't like it. Not one bit.

The tall youth turned red and looked down, still fiddling nervously with the Duel Monster pack. "Eh... Never mind then, Otogi-kun. I guess you don't remember. You had offered to teach Jyounouchi 'n' myself how to play DDM. Gomen nasai about bringing it up if you've forgotten about it. It's just that I was talking to Shizuka-chan last night and I asked her for help with a problem of mine...and then I told her about your offer...and then she said that I should finally take you up on it. Stupid, ne?"

Ryuuji shrugged idly and turned around, making his way upstairs. "Iie, I don't think it's stupid, Honda-kun. So don't worry about it." He finally paused when he was about halfway up the stairway, looking over his shoulder at Honda with large green eyes. When Ryuuji noticed that Honda _wasn't_ following him, he frowned and raised an eyebrow, once again twisting a lock of black hair around his finger. "Well? Aren't you coming up, Honda-kun? The DDM machines were moved upstairs."

In reply, Honda put down the card pack and bounded up the stairs, taking each step two at a time, quickly catching up with Ryuuji in seconds. However, Ryuuji just smiled slightly once again and continued onward, the duo slowly making their way to the dueling pit. "Be prepared for the hardest game you'll ever play, Honda-kun..." the creator of DDM caroled over one slim shoulder.

Honda smiled in response. He was about to play a game, alright--just not the one that Ryuuji expected. And it was true--this game _was_ going to be the hardest game that he'd ever play. The stakes were higher, too.

But he could only hope that he would end up the winner in _this_ game.





A/N: Grrr... Short chapter. *kills shortness of chapter* Promise that from next chapter on, length WILL be longer! *pinkie promises* Really, they will! Anyway, see minna-san next chapter! Ja ne! *waves*