White Demon, Dark Angel
20 REVIEWS!!! ^^ I didn't think I'd get so many! I love you guys!!!
Note for Moshi: (I couldn't find any place else to put this where I thought you might find it) Apparently, some people are thinking I should do a sequel for Forever and Beyond. I'd like to know what you see as sequel material. I hadn't really thought there'd be any way I could continue it. If you'd let me know, that'd be great ^^
Note for everyone: ^^ I finished the picture of Bakura, and if anyone wants to see, just ask and make sure I'll be able to find your email address somewhere.
I'm finally back! This chapter is kind of short, but it sort of sets everything up for the next chapter so I won't have to make random jumps.
Disclaimer: Sadiera owns Chibi Me. I don't. I think I'll consider myself lucky ^^
~+~+~+~+~
Chibi Windswift: I've got the keyboard! ^^
Muse: Okay . . . . and what are you planning to do then?
Chibi Windswift: Um . . . ^^ I'm gonna make a little shrine to The Great Emu!!!
Muse: You're obsessed with Windswift's friends . . .
Chibi Windswift: (yells off the screen) Chibi Muse! Come and bring my legions of chibis!!!!! MWAHAHAHAH!!!
(Chibi Muse comes, bringing behind her: Chibi Meawen, Chibi Ryou, Chibi Bakura, Chibi Ryelle, and Chibi Me [Sadiera's chibi, I don't own her])
Windswift: I'd better stop this . . . .
Chibi Windswift: (gets dragged off kicking and yelling) NOOO!!! I'll be back!!!! I'm like Bakura, you can't keep me away!!!!! Just wait until next chapter!!!!
Chibi Me: WE'RE FREE!!!!
Chibi Ryelle: Ummm . . . on to the fic?
((+)~
Ryou laid his head on his arms, sweet oblivion tugging at the edge of his mind, his eyes slowly betraying him to the darkness . . . .
"Ryou!"
His head snapped up, the sudden movement causing his dull headache to worsen. The teacher glared at him, the look promising a detention if he didn't stay awake.
Somehow, it had been past midnight when he'd gotten home the previous night, and he'd overslept in the morning. That meant he hadn't had a chance to have breakfast, which didn't really help his awakeness skills. 'Why do you only get attention when you don't want it?' He wanted nothing more than to be ignored as usual and left to be miserable in peace . . .
By lunchtime, the stress of all sorts had caught up to him, and Yuugi found Ryou snoring gently over his half-eaten lunch. Yuugi didn't have the heart to wake him, so he carefully removed Ryou's tray to let his head lie more comfortably on the table. 'He's been so out of it lately. I wonder if something's wrong.'
~+~+~[Dream]~+~+~
Ryou was back at his school in Britain. He spotted his friends sitting in the back of the classroom as usual.
"Hey guys!" he cried joyfully, going back to meet them.
He couldn't make out the faces anymore, but someone turned to him, the look in his eyes not acknowledging Ryou as anything worth their interest.
"Go away, we're doing something important."
Ryou was hurt, terribly. These were his best friends!
He tried hard to keep the smile on his face. "My dad said I could have some friends over for a party! I wanted to ask if you could come."
"I'm busy," the person waved him away boredly.
"Oh . . . . with what?"
"Stuff." They turned their backs on Ryou.
The child quickly ran over to his seat, lowering his head in his arms so no one would see the tears in the innocent brown eyes.
Ryou seemed to separate from himself, the older one silently watching the younger cry. This had happened every time he'd tried to make friends. They always hurt him, stabbed him in the back. But for some reason, he couldn't give up.
A new thought occurred to him, daring and perhaps a bit desperate. Perhaps, instead, he'd find what he sought in one of his "enemies" . . . .
~+~+~[End Dream]~+~+~
Ryou woke up suddenly, all remembrance of the dream fleeing his mind. However, a cheerful, resolute feeling was left behind, making him feel better than he had in a long time. Better enough even to be blissfully innocent, forgive and forget, and turn over a new leaf as if he'd never left off.
This being so, he headed over to where the rest of his friends were sitting.
"Hi, guys!" he greeted them with honest cheerfulness. He saw Yami's eyebrows rise slightly in obvious surprise at this change from Ryou's normal soft hello usually only said as a reply.
"Hi yourself," Yuugi replied, his amethyst eyes shining in innocent joy. "Feeling better now that you got a nap?"
Ryou blushed slightly. "Yeah . . . ."
"What were you doing last night?" Yami joked.
"Oh, um, I just - couldn't sleep, you know?" he answered uncomfortably. He'd never been that great of a liar.
Yami got the hint and changed the subject. "I don't suppose you're free tonight? We were thinking about going to the arcade."
"Yeah, you can watch me cream Honda!" a certain blond yelled, receiving a playful shove from said brunette.
"I'd love to come!" Ryou's eyes held a glow of life and happiness that none of the group had seen for a long time.
The bell rang, signaling the start of afternoon classes.
"We'll meet up out here after class, right?"
"Sure!"
It may have been out of character and induced by lack of sleep, but Ryou enjoyed it anyway.
~+~+~+~+~
Ryou ran down the front steps of the school and over to where Yami-tachi [1] were waiting. He walked with them, actively listening to the conversations.
Anzu was talking to Yuugi about her dance lesson, how she had a new routine she couldn't wait to show them. Jou and Honda were exchanging friendly insults and boasts, though it was really a sadly disguised conversation about nothing. Yami dropped back to the rear of the group with Ryou, feeling a sudden protective urge towards the silver-haired teen. He felt bad knowing Ryou wasn't usually this outwardly cheerful, and Yami hadn't been able to help bring it about.
He decided to strike up a conversation of some sort with Ryou.
"So, what have you been up to lately?"
"Not much, just my usual. But I'm thinking I may have found a club to join."
"Sounds like fun. What kind of a club is it?"
"I'm not sure yet," Ryou replied thoughtfully. "Anyway, it was someone else's firm request that I join."
Yami laughed. "You dad forced you into it?"
"Sort of . . . ."
They reached the arcade, listening to two of the teens revert to their immature days, if they'd ever grown up in the first place.
"Let's go, Jou, I'm so gonna whip you!"
"Oh yeah? Bring it on, dude!"
"I will! You won't even know what hit you!"
"That's cause you're not even gonna have a chance to take a shot, Honda!"
"Guys, how about you just pick a game so you can play it?" Yuugi inquired.
Ryou laughed along with everyone else at their antics. He'd forgotten what it was like to _live_ life.
~+~+~+~+~
[1] Yami-tachi means Yami and company or something like that . . . anyway, it's Yami and his friends.
((+)~
Another chapter done! ^^ I don't really have any notes to put here, other than please review!
-Windswift ((+)~
20 REVIEWS!!! ^^ I didn't think I'd get so many! I love you guys!!!
Note for Moshi: (I couldn't find any place else to put this where I thought you might find it) Apparently, some people are thinking I should do a sequel for Forever and Beyond. I'd like to know what you see as sequel material. I hadn't really thought there'd be any way I could continue it. If you'd let me know, that'd be great ^^
Note for everyone: ^^ I finished the picture of Bakura, and if anyone wants to see, just ask and make sure I'll be able to find your email address somewhere.
I'm finally back! This chapter is kind of short, but it sort of sets everything up for the next chapter so I won't have to make random jumps.
Disclaimer: Sadiera owns Chibi Me. I don't. I think I'll consider myself lucky ^^
~+~+~+~+~
Chibi Windswift: I've got the keyboard! ^^
Muse: Okay . . . . and what are you planning to do then?
Chibi Windswift: Um . . . ^^ I'm gonna make a little shrine to The Great Emu!!!
Muse: You're obsessed with Windswift's friends . . .
Chibi Windswift: (yells off the screen) Chibi Muse! Come and bring my legions of chibis!!!!! MWAHAHAHAH!!!
(Chibi Muse comes, bringing behind her: Chibi Meawen, Chibi Ryou, Chibi Bakura, Chibi Ryelle, and Chibi Me [Sadiera's chibi, I don't own her])
Windswift: I'd better stop this . . . .
Chibi Windswift: (gets dragged off kicking and yelling) NOOO!!! I'll be back!!!! I'm like Bakura, you can't keep me away!!!!! Just wait until next chapter!!!!
Chibi Me: WE'RE FREE!!!!
Chibi Ryelle: Ummm . . . on to the fic?
((+)~
Ryou laid his head on his arms, sweet oblivion tugging at the edge of his mind, his eyes slowly betraying him to the darkness . . . .
"Ryou!"
His head snapped up, the sudden movement causing his dull headache to worsen. The teacher glared at him, the look promising a detention if he didn't stay awake.
Somehow, it had been past midnight when he'd gotten home the previous night, and he'd overslept in the morning. That meant he hadn't had a chance to have breakfast, which didn't really help his awakeness skills. 'Why do you only get attention when you don't want it?' He wanted nothing more than to be ignored as usual and left to be miserable in peace . . .
By lunchtime, the stress of all sorts had caught up to him, and Yuugi found Ryou snoring gently over his half-eaten lunch. Yuugi didn't have the heart to wake him, so he carefully removed Ryou's tray to let his head lie more comfortably on the table. 'He's been so out of it lately. I wonder if something's wrong.'
~+~+~[Dream]~+~+~
Ryou was back at his school in Britain. He spotted his friends sitting in the back of the classroom as usual.
"Hey guys!" he cried joyfully, going back to meet them.
He couldn't make out the faces anymore, but someone turned to him, the look in his eyes not acknowledging Ryou as anything worth their interest.
"Go away, we're doing something important."
Ryou was hurt, terribly. These were his best friends!
He tried hard to keep the smile on his face. "My dad said I could have some friends over for a party! I wanted to ask if you could come."
"I'm busy," the person waved him away boredly.
"Oh . . . . with what?"
"Stuff." They turned their backs on Ryou.
The child quickly ran over to his seat, lowering his head in his arms so no one would see the tears in the innocent brown eyes.
Ryou seemed to separate from himself, the older one silently watching the younger cry. This had happened every time he'd tried to make friends. They always hurt him, stabbed him in the back. But for some reason, he couldn't give up.
A new thought occurred to him, daring and perhaps a bit desperate. Perhaps, instead, he'd find what he sought in one of his "enemies" . . . .
~+~+~[End Dream]~+~+~
Ryou woke up suddenly, all remembrance of the dream fleeing his mind. However, a cheerful, resolute feeling was left behind, making him feel better than he had in a long time. Better enough even to be blissfully innocent, forgive and forget, and turn over a new leaf as if he'd never left off.
This being so, he headed over to where the rest of his friends were sitting.
"Hi, guys!" he greeted them with honest cheerfulness. He saw Yami's eyebrows rise slightly in obvious surprise at this change from Ryou's normal soft hello usually only said as a reply.
"Hi yourself," Yuugi replied, his amethyst eyes shining in innocent joy. "Feeling better now that you got a nap?"
Ryou blushed slightly. "Yeah . . . ."
"What were you doing last night?" Yami joked.
"Oh, um, I just - couldn't sleep, you know?" he answered uncomfortably. He'd never been that great of a liar.
Yami got the hint and changed the subject. "I don't suppose you're free tonight? We were thinking about going to the arcade."
"Yeah, you can watch me cream Honda!" a certain blond yelled, receiving a playful shove from said brunette.
"I'd love to come!" Ryou's eyes held a glow of life and happiness that none of the group had seen for a long time.
The bell rang, signaling the start of afternoon classes.
"We'll meet up out here after class, right?"
"Sure!"
It may have been out of character and induced by lack of sleep, but Ryou enjoyed it anyway.
~+~+~+~+~
Ryou ran down the front steps of the school and over to where Yami-tachi [1] were waiting. He walked with them, actively listening to the conversations.
Anzu was talking to Yuugi about her dance lesson, how she had a new routine she couldn't wait to show them. Jou and Honda were exchanging friendly insults and boasts, though it was really a sadly disguised conversation about nothing. Yami dropped back to the rear of the group with Ryou, feeling a sudden protective urge towards the silver-haired teen. He felt bad knowing Ryou wasn't usually this outwardly cheerful, and Yami hadn't been able to help bring it about.
He decided to strike up a conversation of some sort with Ryou.
"So, what have you been up to lately?"
"Not much, just my usual. But I'm thinking I may have found a club to join."
"Sounds like fun. What kind of a club is it?"
"I'm not sure yet," Ryou replied thoughtfully. "Anyway, it was someone else's firm request that I join."
Yami laughed. "You dad forced you into it?"
"Sort of . . . ."
They reached the arcade, listening to two of the teens revert to their immature days, if they'd ever grown up in the first place.
"Let's go, Jou, I'm so gonna whip you!"
"Oh yeah? Bring it on, dude!"
"I will! You won't even know what hit you!"
"That's cause you're not even gonna have a chance to take a shot, Honda!"
"Guys, how about you just pick a game so you can play it?" Yuugi inquired.
Ryou laughed along with everyone else at their antics. He'd forgotten what it was like to _live_ life.
~+~+~+~+~
[1] Yami-tachi means Yami and company or something like that . . . anyway, it's Yami and his friends.
((+)~
Another chapter done! ^^ I don't really have any notes to put here, other than please review!
-Windswift ((+)~