Okie! Isabel is gone. Sort of. It's been windy all afternoon, but nothing
like last night. I swear, I was half afraid that the house would blow over.
But it wasn't that strong of a hurricane, so my friend tells me. She should
know, she grew up in Florida. Any, we lost two trees, a lawn chair and a
bunch of pine-needles, and power for about 12 hours.. But that was all.
Thanks for everyone who was praying for the safety of everyone else in the
path of the storm. I feel loved! I had four people call me to ask how I
was, and two dropped by and visited me! ^_^ Anyway, you probably don't care
about my personal life and are thinking 'Get on with it already' so here
are my responses to reviews!
Aisu Hoshino: Yup! I'm updating this faster and more often than any other story I've written so far! At this rate I might even finish it! Lol! Thank you for the prayers and for the reviews!!
Senko: ^_^ Syrupy Ryou/Serenity moments coming up!.. I mean sappy. Lol, yup! Thanks and thanks!!
Isabella-Ryou-4EVER: Thanks for the prayers! And I agree. This storm gave us all a bad name! My name isn't Isabel or Isabella, but it could be a nick name for me. So there. Lol, thanks for the review!!
Bakuraluva: isn't that? And yes he is. However, Malik.. Let's just say that Malik is.. A scheming rat. You'll have to wait and see what happens! Thanks for the review, and obviously I'm ok cos I'm updating! Thanks!
Thanks to all for everything! Now, enough with the syrup and on to the fic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sat in the livingroom. I stared at the clock, willing the hands to move faster. It wasn't working.
I barely noticed when my Yami materialized. Or semi-materialized.
"You've been staring at that clock for an hour. It's not going to move any faster. Five hours can't be that much longer. Just go do something."
"Huh? Oh, no thanks. I'm not hungry." I said absently. Then I registered what was being said.
"Five seconds, a new record." Bakura teased. I glared up at him.
"Hikari, your death glare makes you look like you've eaten a lemon." I rolled my eyes and gave up.
"Look at what she is doing to me!" I sighed, sinking back into the couch.
"You look normal, except every four seconds you blush, every three seconds you dive off into daydreams, and every two seconds you sigh like you will never see the girl again."
"Not true!" I said.
"Is so." Bakura vanished into the ring with a slightly scary grin on his face. I sighed.
**There you go again.**
"NOT!" I yelled aloud.
"Not what?" I hadn't noticed Malik enter the apartment.
"Ishizu won't be coming over today. She is having a girl's day out with Serenity, Tea, Mai and Serenity."
"I know. Except who's the other Serenity?"
"What?"
"You said Serenity twice." He pointed out, smirking. I knew I was blushing.
"No, I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"No, I didn't!"
"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." Malik said.
"Shut up."
"Fine! I suppose I can. But who else will you argue with?"
"My yami, the clock, the wall... I guess I could try arguing with the TV, it might talk back..."
"Why argue with the clock?"
"No reason. It has a face, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
He was about to go into his room, undoubtedly to turn on his radio and blare it as loudly as the neighbors allowed, when I registered something from a good. lot of words ago.
"How'd you know?" I asked. He stopped.
"I walked with Serenity to drop off Jeffery at home and then walked with her to Ishizu's house."
"Oh." I said. I looked at the clock. Malik entered his room and turned on the radio. I could make out indistinct yelling to a tune.
The clock now told me that it was four hours to go. I groaned and sank back into the chair, frustrated. I clutched the small ebony box in my jacket pocket. Three and three quarters of an hour..
This was torture.
~
Three hours later. I was pacing the livingroom in beat to the music that was blaring from Malik's room. Based on the pounding the floor was getting, I had a feeling he was jumping around playing 'Air Guitar' again. I caught him at that once. On tape. It was worth $1000 on Planet's Funniest Roommates. He nearly killed me for sending it in, but the last $70 of it helped pay for Serenity's necklace. So it was worth it.
The clock again. Seven on the dot. Ok, I should probably wait a little, you know, so that I am not early and look like I was expecting her. Should I call first? No, I want to surprise her. But then again...
For another quarter hour I debated with myself. By the time it was nearly 7:30, I decided to just go. I made sure the box was still in my jacket, that my hair was combed, and that I looked halfway decent. I grabbed my wallet and headed out. I exited the building and made my way down the darkening alley. Curse early sunset in fall. I went to the building that Serenity lived in. It was not too upscale, but there was a doorman on duty.
"Who are you seeing, sir?"
"Wheeler residence."
"Name?"
"Ryou."
"Ryou?"
"Yes."
"Last name?"
I was beginning to get irritated.
"Bakura."
He pressed an intercom button. After a moment, I heard Joey's voice.
"Yeah Al?"
"Young man here by the name of Ryou Bakura."
"Send him up. Thanks Al."
"Certainly Mr. Wheeler."
Al, apparently, nodded to me and held the door open.
"Thank you." I said softly. He nodded again.
"Fourth floor. Apartment 4B.
I nodded, feeling the nervousness set in. I climbed on board the elevator and pressed '4'. The doors closed with a 'Bing!' and I felt myself beginning to ascend. I exited the moment the doors opened, feeling slightly queasy. I hated elevators. Next time I was taking the stairs.
I went to apartment 4B and knocked. With luck-
"Ryou?"
Yes! Serenity answered.
"Hi Serenity. I kind of, well, brought you a bot of a gift. You had said you wanted it, so.." I felt myself growing hot again, and I knew I was blushing. I handed Serenity the box. She opened the door.
"I'm sorry, my manners seem to have left me. Will you come in?" I nodded.
"Thanks for coming over. I was actually going to call you and see if you wanted to go somewhere to eat, you know, as a repayment for treating me to pizza last night." I smiled.
"I would like that. Open the box, it in itself wasn't the gift." I said. She smiled.
"I was getting to that." She opened the box and gasped.
"Ryou! You didn't! Oh my gosh, thank you!" She threw her arms around me and squeezed me tightly. When she let go, I was red from blushing and purple form lack of air. She lifted the necklace from the box.
"You know, let's get dressed up to go to dinner! We can go to that new restaurant, Outback Steakhouse! I know the perfect dress to go with this necklace! I'll pay."
"No, I'll only go if you let me pay at least half. I've heard that place is fairly expensive." Serenity nodded.
"Now, you go find something nice to wear! Pick me up in an hour, Okay? We can walk." She grinned.
"No, it's probably too far. I'll, er, 'borrow' Malik's cycle." I said mischievously. She grinned.
"Perfect! No, shoo! I have to get ready!" She shoved me out the door excitedly and I head her shriek:
"JOEY! GET YOUR BUTT IN HERE! I NEED MY SHOES POLISHED!"
"Yeah, yeah." I head the vague reply. "The things I do for my little sis."
I chuckled and headed for the stairs. I went down and left the building. I nodded a goodbye to Al and entered the alleyway. I hesitated.
*Yami?*
**Yeah, Hikari?**
*I think Serenity asked me out on a date.*
My Yami didn't reply. I sighed. Oh well. I hurried into the apartment.
I sighed, slumping against the door, and listened vaguely to Malik's end of a conversation on the phone.
"Okay. One hour in Outback. See you then, love!" He hung up. "Oh, hey Ryou. You looked flushed, something happen?" He asked with a very wicked grin. I sighed.
"No time! Have to find something to wear." I said. I hesitated, then made a dash for the bathroom. I took a quick shower, and dashed into my room. I frantically searched my closet.
There.
A decent pair of black slacks, a nicely pressed whit shirt and a light blue tie. Perfect. I hastily dressed, dried and combed my hair, found my dress shoes, and generally got ready. I then braved Malik's room.
"Malik?" I asked, stepping over dirty clothes, magazines, CD cases and general junk.
"Yeah Ryou?"
"I need money." I said plainly. He looked at me. He took in the neat clothes, polished shoes, and less-messy state of my hair.
"Oh! A date? You could've told me. Here you go!" He handed me a fifty. I stared at him.
"Malik? Are you alright?"
"Fine, why?"
"Can I borrow your cycle?"
"Sure! T-I was going to walk to Outback anyway." He said casually, dropping the keys into my hand.
"Where?"
"Outback, that new steakhouse. I'm picking up my girlfriend and we're gonna walk there." I nodded. I hoped to Ra that we either wouldn't be there at the same time, or that he wouldn't see me there with Serenity. He wouldn't try anything on her with his girlfriend, but it couldn't hurt to be safe. I left and glanced at the clock. Showtime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow! Long chapter! Yyyyeeeessss. my evil plan is set in motion! That took me longer than I expected. I had thought you know, maybe a page or two, he gives her the gift, then go ahead right into the date. But this sotry is taking on a mind of its own! Ahh! Help!!! no, I'm just kidding. But it is becoming a lot more than I had expected. So, please R+R so I can respond to your nice reviews and update soon!
Aisu Hoshino: Yup! I'm updating this faster and more often than any other story I've written so far! At this rate I might even finish it! Lol! Thank you for the prayers and for the reviews!!
Senko: ^_^ Syrupy Ryou/Serenity moments coming up!.. I mean sappy. Lol, yup! Thanks and thanks!!
Isabella-Ryou-4EVER: Thanks for the prayers! And I agree. This storm gave us all a bad name! My name isn't Isabel or Isabella, but it could be a nick name for me. So there. Lol, thanks for the review!!
Bakuraluva: isn't that? And yes he is. However, Malik.. Let's just say that Malik is.. A scheming rat. You'll have to wait and see what happens! Thanks for the review, and obviously I'm ok cos I'm updating! Thanks!
Thanks to all for everything! Now, enough with the syrup and on to the fic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sat in the livingroom. I stared at the clock, willing the hands to move faster. It wasn't working.
I barely noticed when my Yami materialized. Or semi-materialized.
"You've been staring at that clock for an hour. It's not going to move any faster. Five hours can't be that much longer. Just go do something."
"Huh? Oh, no thanks. I'm not hungry." I said absently. Then I registered what was being said.
"Five seconds, a new record." Bakura teased. I glared up at him.
"Hikari, your death glare makes you look like you've eaten a lemon." I rolled my eyes and gave up.
"Look at what she is doing to me!" I sighed, sinking back into the couch.
"You look normal, except every four seconds you blush, every three seconds you dive off into daydreams, and every two seconds you sigh like you will never see the girl again."
"Not true!" I said.
"Is so." Bakura vanished into the ring with a slightly scary grin on his face. I sighed.
**There you go again.**
"NOT!" I yelled aloud.
"Not what?" I hadn't noticed Malik enter the apartment.
"Ishizu won't be coming over today. She is having a girl's day out with Serenity, Tea, Mai and Serenity."
"I know. Except who's the other Serenity?"
"What?"
"You said Serenity twice." He pointed out, smirking. I knew I was blushing.
"No, I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"No, I didn't!"
"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." Malik said.
"Shut up."
"Fine! I suppose I can. But who else will you argue with?"
"My yami, the clock, the wall... I guess I could try arguing with the TV, it might talk back..."
"Why argue with the clock?"
"No reason. It has a face, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
He was about to go into his room, undoubtedly to turn on his radio and blare it as loudly as the neighbors allowed, when I registered something from a good. lot of words ago.
"How'd you know?" I asked. He stopped.
"I walked with Serenity to drop off Jeffery at home and then walked with her to Ishizu's house."
"Oh." I said. I looked at the clock. Malik entered his room and turned on the radio. I could make out indistinct yelling to a tune.
The clock now told me that it was four hours to go. I groaned and sank back into the chair, frustrated. I clutched the small ebony box in my jacket pocket. Three and three quarters of an hour..
This was torture.
~
Three hours later. I was pacing the livingroom in beat to the music that was blaring from Malik's room. Based on the pounding the floor was getting, I had a feeling he was jumping around playing 'Air Guitar' again. I caught him at that once. On tape. It was worth $1000 on Planet's Funniest Roommates. He nearly killed me for sending it in, but the last $70 of it helped pay for Serenity's necklace. So it was worth it.
The clock again. Seven on the dot. Ok, I should probably wait a little, you know, so that I am not early and look like I was expecting her. Should I call first? No, I want to surprise her. But then again...
For another quarter hour I debated with myself. By the time it was nearly 7:30, I decided to just go. I made sure the box was still in my jacket, that my hair was combed, and that I looked halfway decent. I grabbed my wallet and headed out. I exited the building and made my way down the darkening alley. Curse early sunset in fall. I went to the building that Serenity lived in. It was not too upscale, but there was a doorman on duty.
"Who are you seeing, sir?"
"Wheeler residence."
"Name?"
"Ryou."
"Ryou?"
"Yes."
"Last name?"
I was beginning to get irritated.
"Bakura."
He pressed an intercom button. After a moment, I heard Joey's voice.
"Yeah Al?"
"Young man here by the name of Ryou Bakura."
"Send him up. Thanks Al."
"Certainly Mr. Wheeler."
Al, apparently, nodded to me and held the door open.
"Thank you." I said softly. He nodded again.
"Fourth floor. Apartment 4B.
I nodded, feeling the nervousness set in. I climbed on board the elevator and pressed '4'. The doors closed with a 'Bing!' and I felt myself beginning to ascend. I exited the moment the doors opened, feeling slightly queasy. I hated elevators. Next time I was taking the stairs.
I went to apartment 4B and knocked. With luck-
"Ryou?"
Yes! Serenity answered.
"Hi Serenity. I kind of, well, brought you a bot of a gift. You had said you wanted it, so.." I felt myself growing hot again, and I knew I was blushing. I handed Serenity the box. She opened the door.
"I'm sorry, my manners seem to have left me. Will you come in?" I nodded.
"Thanks for coming over. I was actually going to call you and see if you wanted to go somewhere to eat, you know, as a repayment for treating me to pizza last night." I smiled.
"I would like that. Open the box, it in itself wasn't the gift." I said. She smiled.
"I was getting to that." She opened the box and gasped.
"Ryou! You didn't! Oh my gosh, thank you!" She threw her arms around me and squeezed me tightly. When she let go, I was red from blushing and purple form lack of air. She lifted the necklace from the box.
"You know, let's get dressed up to go to dinner! We can go to that new restaurant, Outback Steakhouse! I know the perfect dress to go with this necklace! I'll pay."
"No, I'll only go if you let me pay at least half. I've heard that place is fairly expensive." Serenity nodded.
"Now, you go find something nice to wear! Pick me up in an hour, Okay? We can walk." She grinned.
"No, it's probably too far. I'll, er, 'borrow' Malik's cycle." I said mischievously. She grinned.
"Perfect! No, shoo! I have to get ready!" She shoved me out the door excitedly and I head her shriek:
"JOEY! GET YOUR BUTT IN HERE! I NEED MY SHOES POLISHED!"
"Yeah, yeah." I head the vague reply. "The things I do for my little sis."
I chuckled and headed for the stairs. I went down and left the building. I nodded a goodbye to Al and entered the alleyway. I hesitated.
*Yami?*
**Yeah, Hikari?**
*I think Serenity asked me out on a date.*
My Yami didn't reply. I sighed. Oh well. I hurried into the apartment.
I sighed, slumping against the door, and listened vaguely to Malik's end of a conversation on the phone.
"Okay. One hour in Outback. See you then, love!" He hung up. "Oh, hey Ryou. You looked flushed, something happen?" He asked with a very wicked grin. I sighed.
"No time! Have to find something to wear." I said. I hesitated, then made a dash for the bathroom. I took a quick shower, and dashed into my room. I frantically searched my closet.
There.
A decent pair of black slacks, a nicely pressed whit shirt and a light blue tie. Perfect. I hastily dressed, dried and combed my hair, found my dress shoes, and generally got ready. I then braved Malik's room.
"Malik?" I asked, stepping over dirty clothes, magazines, CD cases and general junk.
"Yeah Ryou?"
"I need money." I said plainly. He looked at me. He took in the neat clothes, polished shoes, and less-messy state of my hair.
"Oh! A date? You could've told me. Here you go!" He handed me a fifty. I stared at him.
"Malik? Are you alright?"
"Fine, why?"
"Can I borrow your cycle?"
"Sure! T-I was going to walk to Outback anyway." He said casually, dropping the keys into my hand.
"Where?"
"Outback, that new steakhouse. I'm picking up my girlfriend and we're gonna walk there." I nodded. I hoped to Ra that we either wouldn't be there at the same time, or that he wouldn't see me there with Serenity. He wouldn't try anything on her with his girlfriend, but it couldn't hurt to be safe. I left and glanced at the clock. Showtime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow! Long chapter! Yyyyeeeessss. my evil plan is set in motion! That took me longer than I expected. I had thought you know, maybe a page or two, he gives her the gift, then go ahead right into the date. But this sotry is taking on a mind of its own! Ahh! Help!!! no, I'm just kidding. But it is becoming a lot more than I had expected. So, please R+R so I can respond to your nice reviews and update soon!