"You guys look like shit," Jounouchi observed. "What happened?"
Honda made a face at him. "That's all you can say?"
Jounouchi blinked. "Should I say something else?"
"Mou, Jounouchi!" Anzu exclaimed before turning her attention to Yuugi. "Daijoubu, Yuugi?" she asked, voice concerned.
Yuugi paused, then noticed Kaiba across the room from them. "Ee..." he said slowly. "Daijoubu."
Bakura gave the smaller boy a compassionate look.
Anzu's concern didn't lift. "You know if you need anything, you can come to me, right?" she asked with a small smile.
"Un...." Yuugi said with a nod, not meeting her eyes.
Anzu's worried look increased. "Yuugi...."
Yuugi tried hard to smile. "Ii yo, Anzu."
The girl gave a small sad smile before turning back to the bickering boys with a frown. "Mou, kodomo jainai yo!" [Geeze, you aren't children!] she reprimanded them before turning to Bakura in concern. "Daijoubu, Bakura-kun?" she asked.
"Un," The boy nodded. "Chotto nemui yo," [I'm a little tired.] He gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
Yuugi looked at him in concern. "You really don't look good, Bakura-kun... maybe you should have stayed home...."
The boy shook his head. "Iie, daijoubu," he insisted. "Yuugi-kun no tameni," [For Yuugi's sake] he said in a soft voice only his friend could hear with a smile. "I won't leave you. I'll be alright."
Yuugi smiled. "But if you need to go home..."
"If I need to, I will," the pale haired boy smiled. "Don't worry."
Yuugi glanced at Kaiba again, then sat down across the room from him.
Through out class, Bakura kept looking over at Yuugi with concerned worry, eyes almost pained as the smaller boy kept looking over at Kaiba and then quickly looking back down at his desk. He nearly grimaced when he noticed Anzu looking at him and forced his attention back to the lesson, but was unable to stay focused, his concern and tiredness eating away at his concentration.
Yuugi could barely pay attention in class, trying hard to work out a way to apologize to Kaiba so that the other boy would forgive him. His hand crept up to his bare neck a few times, eyes misting over at the thought that Kaiba had practically ripped the collar off him before ordering him out.
Finally class reached a break for lunch. Relieved, Bakura closed his book and rose to his feet. He gave a small smile as Yuugi was almost instantly surrounded by the rest of his group of friends, Jounouchi comically demanding that Yuugi hurry up so they could make it to the lunchroom before he died of starvation.
The pale haired boy paused, seeing Kaiba very calmly reading his book. A look of determination crossed Bakura's face and he took a deep breath before walking to where his smaller friend was. "Yuugi-kun?" he smiled softly. "I have to finish up something before I go to lunch, I'll meet you there, okay?"
Yuugi looked surprised a minute, but quickly nodded.
Bakura smiled as Jounouchi dragged the smaller boy off to lunch and then turned to where Kaiba was still reading, readying himself before he approached the boy's deck. "Kaiba-kun..."
The dark haired boy looked up with annoyance.
"I need to talk to you about Yuugi-kun..." Bakura said, trying no to be nervous.
Kaiba's scowl deepened. "You're Bakura?" he said more than asked.
The boy nodded. "He cares for you..." he said softly, forcing himself to keep meeting Kaiba's eyes. "You hurt him deeply yesterday, and he blames himself for it...."
"Since you're obviously more important to him I don't see why you care," Kaiba said coldly.
"I care because I don't want to see Yuugi-kun hurt. Kaiba-kun mo Yuugi-kun no taisetsu na hito yo."[YOu're also very important to Yuugi, Kaiba]
"Because when he's with me and calls out your name it really shows how much he cares," Kaiba said, showing rare anger. "Enjoy your little whore."
Before he could stop himself Bakura's hand flashed out, sharply slapping his classmate. "Don't you insult Yuugi-kun!" he snapped, breathing quickly with anger. "Yuugi-kun cares about you more then you deserve!" Bakura's eyes went wide and he covered his mouth with his hands in shock.
Kaiba rose, glaring down at Bakura, and left the room.
Bakura stood there in shock a long moment before near fleeing the room.
"Yuu-- Yuugi-kun?"
Yuugi looked up from his lunch. "Bakura-kun?" he asked, worried, "Daijoubu? You look pale."
"I-- I'm going home... gomen yo..." the pale haired boy said, looking half miserable and half afraid.
"What happened? You were fine when we came to lunch."
"Got dizzy when I picked up my bag..." Bakura explained. "Gomen yo. I probably should have stayed home...." He looked down, not able to look the boy in the eyes any longer.
"Bakura-kun," Yuugi asked in a concern that neared panic. He held the other boy's shirt tightly. "Did I do something? Are you ok? Please... talk to me...."
The boy shook his head. "Yuugi-kun no sei janai yo," [It's not your fault, Yuugi] he said softly. "I just... don't feel well right now..."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
The boy hesitated, seeming torn.
"You can say that you need someone with you just in case you get worse on the way home. No one has to know about us...."
Bakura gave a small smile. "Demo... what about Kaiba-kun...?"
Yuugi paused, eyes wide. "But you need me," he decided after a long moment.
Bakura was quiet, expression conflicted, unable to decide.
"Do you want me to come?" Yuugi asked quietly.
"Yuugi," Anzu spoke up. "Why don't you walk Bakura-kun home?" she suggested. "I can take notes for you," she smiled.
"Arigatou, Anzu." Yuugi looked at Bakura. "Do you want me to?" he asked softly.
The boy hesitated a moment, then nodded, looking almost ashamed.
Yuugi smiled. "Let's get your stuff and tell sensei."
They had no trouble at all getting the teacher to agree to let Bakura go home. One look at the boy was enough to make the teacher near order Yuugi to take him home.
Bakura smiled sadly as the left the classroom. "Do I look that bad..?" he asked softly.
"You look very pale," Yuugi said, carrying Bakura's briefcase with his own bag.
"I'll listen to you next time..." The pale haired boy looked down at the ground as he walked. "I just made things worse...."
"Eh?" Yuugi asked, going wide eyed with worry.
"I-- I tried talking to Kaiba-kun..." Bakura said, voice ashamed.
Yuugi's lip began trembling at mention of Kaiba, and he touched a hand to his neck.
"Gomennasai..." Bakura near whispered, shoulders slumped.
"What... what did he say?"
Bakura was quiet a moment "He was angry..." he finally said. "And I-- I wasn't thinking and I...." he trailed off, too ashamed to admit it.
"You...?"
"I... I slapped him..." Bakura's voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible. "and said he didn't deserve your care.... I just... I didn't realize what I was doing until after I---"
Yuugi dropped their bags, trembling where he stood. "Ba-- Bakura-kun....."
The boy paused, looking utterly miserable. "Gomen yo, Yuugi-kun...." he whispered. "Honto ni gomen nasai yo, Yuugi-kun..." his voice trembled slightly.
"But-- but why would you hit him?"
"I-- I don't know..." the boy near whimpered. "I just... he called you a whore and I just reacted..." He froze, covering his mouth again in horror.
Yuugi looked down, flinching. "So," he said softly, "He hasn't forgiven me...."
Bakura turned, looking at the smaller boy. "There's nothing wrong with liking us both!" he insisted.
Yuugi looked startled, then smiled sadly. "That... isn't it...."
Bakura blinked, looking at Yuugi in confusion.
The smaller boy looked down. "We should get you home."
Bakura blinked once more, then nodded, looking down again.
Yuugi was silent the rest of the walk, barely staying next to Bakura as they walked, eyes clouded with tears.
Bakura fumbled for his key and unlocked the door. Expression heavy, he turned to take his bag from Yuugi, and froze, seeing the boy's expression. "Yuu-- Yuugi-kun...."
"Gomen ne, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said tearfully. "Maybe I should just go home so it won't hurt you anymore."
Bakura blinked, expression uncomprehending. "What-- what do you mean? Yuugi-kun, you didn't hurt me!" he insisted, eyes wide.
"Demo... boku no tame ni... with Kaiba-kun...."[for my sake]
The pale haired boy looked down, looking ashamed. "Yuugi-kun no sei janai... Boku no sei yo..." [It's not your fault, it's mine] he said softly.
Yuugi gave him a crushing hug. "Iie. Boku no sei! Zenbu wa boku no sei!" [No. It's my fault! Everything my fault!] he sobbed. "Ima... ima boku ga kirai...." [Now.. now you'll hate me...]
Bakura gave a startled exclamation, loosing his balance and falling backwards into the house. "Yuugi-kun... I could never hate you..." he said softly, holding the boy close. "eien ni daisuki yo...."
"Demo... demo...." Yuugi began crying into Bakura's shoulder.
Bakura hugged him. "Demo ja nai," [No buts] he countered softly. "No matter what, I'll always love you...."
Yuugi shook his head sadly.
"Uso jainai!" [it's not a lie!] Bakura insisted, looking slightly upset. "Yuugi-kun!"
"Demo boku wa... boku wa.... I was a whore..." Yuugi whispered.
Bakura blinked, looking at the boy confused. "What do you mean...?" he asked.
"I needed money... so I let duelists pay me for sex...." Yuugi whispered, not meeting Bakura's eyes.
Bakura's eyes went wide. "Yuu--Yuugi-kun...." he whispered in shock.
"Kaiba-kun-- was angry when he found out...." Yuugi continued. "And he gave me a job so I wouldn't do it anymore. Sort of.... He said I didn't have to come back to get the money, but I did and he gave me the collar....." He reached up to his neck again.
Bakura stared at the smaller boy. "Yuugi-kun..... So... so that's why you and Kaiba-kun...." He looked horrified and gave the boy a crushing hug. "Hidoi yo!" [That's cruel!] he near sobbed.
"Gomen yo, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said, hiding his face in Bakura's neck.
"Ii yo," the boy insisted, holding Yuugi tighter. "I don't care! Yuugi-kun wa Yuugi-kun da yo! Eien ni daisuki na Yuugi-kun yo..." [Yuugi is Yuugi! The Yuugi I'll love forever] Bakura's eyes began to water.
Yuugi began crying into Bakura's shirt. "Boku mo... Bakura-kun ga daisuki yo. Hontou ni daisuki!"
A short while later the boy's were upstairs in Bakura's room, the pale haired boy gratefully falling onto his bed in exhaustion. He rolled on his slide, holding his arms out for the smaller boy.
Yuugi crawled into the bed after him, nestling into his arms.
Bakura snuggled close, near enveloping the smaller boy in his embrace. He nuzzled against Yuugi's hair briefly before falling swiftly into a deep slumber.
Yuugi sniffled a bit, relaxing into Bakura's touch. He didn't know how the other boy managed to make him feel so loved, and so safe, but somehow it felt as though everything would be better here. He looked at the other boy's sleeping face and a small smile came to his own. He rested his head on Bakura's chest, letting his love for the other boy overwhelm him. He knew what he had to do.
Kaiba was waiting when Yuugi arrived.
"Kaiba-kun, I--" Yuugi's eyes widened as his words were cut off by a piece of cloth being thrust into his mouth.
Tying another piece tightly in place, Kaiba explained. "I don't want to hear his name out of you again," he said coldly.
Yuugi practically began crying again at the tone of Kaiba's voice. How could he explain? How could he apologize? How could he do anything with Kaiba feeling like this?
He winced as Kaiba roughly pinned him to the bed, strapping his wrists up tighter than he ever had before.
When he had finished, Kaiba rose and reclothed himself. "You'll still get your money," he said, practically spitting his words. "Since that's apparently what you cared about, don't worry."
Barely remembering to uncuff him, the taller boy left.
Honda made a face at him. "That's all you can say?"
Jounouchi blinked. "Should I say something else?"
"Mou, Jounouchi!" Anzu exclaimed before turning her attention to Yuugi. "Daijoubu, Yuugi?" she asked, voice concerned.
Yuugi paused, then noticed Kaiba across the room from them. "Ee..." he said slowly. "Daijoubu."
Bakura gave the smaller boy a compassionate look.
Anzu's concern didn't lift. "You know if you need anything, you can come to me, right?" she asked with a small smile.
"Un...." Yuugi said with a nod, not meeting her eyes.
Anzu's worried look increased. "Yuugi...."
Yuugi tried hard to smile. "Ii yo, Anzu."
The girl gave a small sad smile before turning back to the bickering boys with a frown. "Mou, kodomo jainai yo!" [Geeze, you aren't children!] she reprimanded them before turning to Bakura in concern. "Daijoubu, Bakura-kun?" she asked.
"Un," The boy nodded. "Chotto nemui yo," [I'm a little tired.] He gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
Yuugi looked at him in concern. "You really don't look good, Bakura-kun... maybe you should have stayed home...."
The boy shook his head. "Iie, daijoubu," he insisted. "Yuugi-kun no tameni," [For Yuugi's sake] he said in a soft voice only his friend could hear with a smile. "I won't leave you. I'll be alright."
Yuugi smiled. "But if you need to go home..."
"If I need to, I will," the pale haired boy smiled. "Don't worry."
Yuugi glanced at Kaiba again, then sat down across the room from him.
Through out class, Bakura kept looking over at Yuugi with concerned worry, eyes almost pained as the smaller boy kept looking over at Kaiba and then quickly looking back down at his desk. He nearly grimaced when he noticed Anzu looking at him and forced his attention back to the lesson, but was unable to stay focused, his concern and tiredness eating away at his concentration.
Yuugi could barely pay attention in class, trying hard to work out a way to apologize to Kaiba so that the other boy would forgive him. His hand crept up to his bare neck a few times, eyes misting over at the thought that Kaiba had practically ripped the collar off him before ordering him out.
Finally class reached a break for lunch. Relieved, Bakura closed his book and rose to his feet. He gave a small smile as Yuugi was almost instantly surrounded by the rest of his group of friends, Jounouchi comically demanding that Yuugi hurry up so they could make it to the lunchroom before he died of starvation.
The pale haired boy paused, seeing Kaiba very calmly reading his book. A look of determination crossed Bakura's face and he took a deep breath before walking to where his smaller friend was. "Yuugi-kun?" he smiled softly. "I have to finish up something before I go to lunch, I'll meet you there, okay?"
Yuugi looked surprised a minute, but quickly nodded.
Bakura smiled as Jounouchi dragged the smaller boy off to lunch and then turned to where Kaiba was still reading, readying himself before he approached the boy's deck. "Kaiba-kun..."
The dark haired boy looked up with annoyance.
"I need to talk to you about Yuugi-kun..." Bakura said, trying no to be nervous.
Kaiba's scowl deepened. "You're Bakura?" he said more than asked.
The boy nodded. "He cares for you..." he said softly, forcing himself to keep meeting Kaiba's eyes. "You hurt him deeply yesterday, and he blames himself for it...."
"Since you're obviously more important to him I don't see why you care," Kaiba said coldly.
"I care because I don't want to see Yuugi-kun hurt. Kaiba-kun mo Yuugi-kun no taisetsu na hito yo."[YOu're also very important to Yuugi, Kaiba]
"Because when he's with me and calls out your name it really shows how much he cares," Kaiba said, showing rare anger. "Enjoy your little whore."
Before he could stop himself Bakura's hand flashed out, sharply slapping his classmate. "Don't you insult Yuugi-kun!" he snapped, breathing quickly with anger. "Yuugi-kun cares about you more then you deserve!" Bakura's eyes went wide and he covered his mouth with his hands in shock.
Kaiba rose, glaring down at Bakura, and left the room.
Bakura stood there in shock a long moment before near fleeing the room.
"Yuu-- Yuugi-kun?"
Yuugi looked up from his lunch. "Bakura-kun?" he asked, worried, "Daijoubu? You look pale."
"I-- I'm going home... gomen yo..." the pale haired boy said, looking half miserable and half afraid.
"What happened? You were fine when we came to lunch."
"Got dizzy when I picked up my bag..." Bakura explained. "Gomen yo. I probably should have stayed home...." He looked down, not able to look the boy in the eyes any longer.
"Bakura-kun," Yuugi asked in a concern that neared panic. He held the other boy's shirt tightly. "Did I do something? Are you ok? Please... talk to me...."
The boy shook his head. "Yuugi-kun no sei janai yo," [It's not your fault, Yuugi] he said softly. "I just... don't feel well right now..."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
The boy hesitated, seeming torn.
"You can say that you need someone with you just in case you get worse on the way home. No one has to know about us...."
Bakura gave a small smile. "Demo... what about Kaiba-kun...?"
Yuugi paused, eyes wide. "But you need me," he decided after a long moment.
Bakura was quiet, expression conflicted, unable to decide.
"Do you want me to come?" Yuugi asked quietly.
"Yuugi," Anzu spoke up. "Why don't you walk Bakura-kun home?" she suggested. "I can take notes for you," she smiled.
"Arigatou, Anzu." Yuugi looked at Bakura. "Do you want me to?" he asked softly.
The boy hesitated a moment, then nodded, looking almost ashamed.
Yuugi smiled. "Let's get your stuff and tell sensei."
They had no trouble at all getting the teacher to agree to let Bakura go home. One look at the boy was enough to make the teacher near order Yuugi to take him home.
Bakura smiled sadly as the left the classroom. "Do I look that bad..?" he asked softly.
"You look very pale," Yuugi said, carrying Bakura's briefcase with his own bag.
"I'll listen to you next time..." The pale haired boy looked down at the ground as he walked. "I just made things worse...."
"Eh?" Yuugi asked, going wide eyed with worry.
"I-- I tried talking to Kaiba-kun..." Bakura said, voice ashamed.
Yuugi's lip began trembling at mention of Kaiba, and he touched a hand to his neck.
"Gomennasai..." Bakura near whispered, shoulders slumped.
"What... what did he say?"
Bakura was quiet a moment "He was angry..." he finally said. "And I-- I wasn't thinking and I...." he trailed off, too ashamed to admit it.
"You...?"
"I... I slapped him..." Bakura's voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible. "and said he didn't deserve your care.... I just... I didn't realize what I was doing until after I---"
Yuugi dropped their bags, trembling where he stood. "Ba-- Bakura-kun....."
The boy paused, looking utterly miserable. "Gomen yo, Yuugi-kun...." he whispered. "Honto ni gomen nasai yo, Yuugi-kun..." his voice trembled slightly.
"But-- but why would you hit him?"
"I-- I don't know..." the boy near whimpered. "I just... he called you a whore and I just reacted..." He froze, covering his mouth again in horror.
Yuugi looked down, flinching. "So," he said softly, "He hasn't forgiven me...."
Bakura turned, looking at the smaller boy. "There's nothing wrong with liking us both!" he insisted.
Yuugi looked startled, then smiled sadly. "That... isn't it...."
Bakura blinked, looking at Yuugi in confusion.
The smaller boy looked down. "We should get you home."
Bakura blinked once more, then nodded, looking down again.
Yuugi was silent the rest of the walk, barely staying next to Bakura as they walked, eyes clouded with tears.
Bakura fumbled for his key and unlocked the door. Expression heavy, he turned to take his bag from Yuugi, and froze, seeing the boy's expression. "Yuu-- Yuugi-kun...."
"Gomen ne, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said tearfully. "Maybe I should just go home so it won't hurt you anymore."
Bakura blinked, expression uncomprehending. "What-- what do you mean? Yuugi-kun, you didn't hurt me!" he insisted, eyes wide.
"Demo... boku no tame ni... with Kaiba-kun...."[for my sake]
The pale haired boy looked down, looking ashamed. "Yuugi-kun no sei janai... Boku no sei yo..." [It's not your fault, it's mine] he said softly.
Yuugi gave him a crushing hug. "Iie. Boku no sei! Zenbu wa boku no sei!" [No. It's my fault! Everything my fault!] he sobbed. "Ima... ima boku ga kirai...." [Now.. now you'll hate me...]
Bakura gave a startled exclamation, loosing his balance and falling backwards into the house. "Yuugi-kun... I could never hate you..." he said softly, holding the boy close. "eien ni daisuki yo...."
"Demo... demo...." Yuugi began crying into Bakura's shoulder.
Bakura hugged him. "Demo ja nai," [No buts] he countered softly. "No matter what, I'll always love you...."
Yuugi shook his head sadly.
"Uso jainai!" [it's not a lie!] Bakura insisted, looking slightly upset. "Yuugi-kun!"
"Demo boku wa... boku wa.... I was a whore..." Yuugi whispered.
Bakura blinked, looking at the boy confused. "What do you mean...?" he asked.
"I needed money... so I let duelists pay me for sex...." Yuugi whispered, not meeting Bakura's eyes.
Bakura's eyes went wide. "Yuu--Yuugi-kun...." he whispered in shock.
"Kaiba-kun-- was angry when he found out...." Yuugi continued. "And he gave me a job so I wouldn't do it anymore. Sort of.... He said I didn't have to come back to get the money, but I did and he gave me the collar....." He reached up to his neck again.
Bakura stared at the smaller boy. "Yuugi-kun..... So... so that's why you and Kaiba-kun...." He looked horrified and gave the boy a crushing hug. "Hidoi yo!" [That's cruel!] he near sobbed.
"Gomen yo, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said, hiding his face in Bakura's neck.
"Ii yo," the boy insisted, holding Yuugi tighter. "I don't care! Yuugi-kun wa Yuugi-kun da yo! Eien ni daisuki na Yuugi-kun yo..." [Yuugi is Yuugi! The Yuugi I'll love forever] Bakura's eyes began to water.
Yuugi began crying into Bakura's shirt. "Boku mo... Bakura-kun ga daisuki yo. Hontou ni daisuki!"
A short while later the boy's were upstairs in Bakura's room, the pale haired boy gratefully falling onto his bed in exhaustion. He rolled on his slide, holding his arms out for the smaller boy.
Yuugi crawled into the bed after him, nestling into his arms.
Bakura snuggled close, near enveloping the smaller boy in his embrace. He nuzzled against Yuugi's hair briefly before falling swiftly into a deep slumber.
Yuugi sniffled a bit, relaxing into Bakura's touch. He didn't know how the other boy managed to make him feel so loved, and so safe, but somehow it felt as though everything would be better here. He looked at the other boy's sleeping face and a small smile came to his own. He rested his head on Bakura's chest, letting his love for the other boy overwhelm him. He knew what he had to do.
Kaiba was waiting when Yuugi arrived.
"Kaiba-kun, I--" Yuugi's eyes widened as his words were cut off by a piece of cloth being thrust into his mouth.
Tying another piece tightly in place, Kaiba explained. "I don't want to hear his name out of you again," he said coldly.
Yuugi practically began crying again at the tone of Kaiba's voice. How could he explain? How could he apologize? How could he do anything with Kaiba feeling like this?
He winced as Kaiba roughly pinned him to the bed, strapping his wrists up tighter than he ever had before.
When he had finished, Kaiba rose and reclothed himself. "You'll still get your money," he said, practically spitting his words. "Since that's apparently what you cared about, don't worry."
Barely remembering to uncuff him, the taller boy left.