Lol- didn't I say this story was going to get updated more often? Ah...
well... it didn't... I've just been really lazy... but I'm working on
everything- I swear! Replies!:
FANTASYCHICK: A sad story? Ah well- I guess it depends on who's side you decide to see it from...! I mean- for some it's all ready sad because Jou- kun is all by himself...
PANDORA: I think Jounouchi hasn't snapped yet because... well- right when he thinks he's gonna go nuts, Seto shows up! Yeah- something like that.
HYATT INSOMNIA: Of course Bakura is gonna care! I don't know- I mean- he'll always act like he doesn't care, but we all know deep down, he's got the squishiness we call mush inside him. [sniff] We love you, Bakura! [kisu]
EBONY OPIUM: Thank you for dropping me a line, hun- yes- every review counts on the many stories I have quotas on! Granted- they SHOULD motivate me to write faster, but being the lazy person that I am, I'm really... yeah- messed up. And yes- when you're stuck in a video game where no where to go- you must resort to "extra help". [sighs] Walkthroughs... [cries]
SHADOWY SNOWBALL: Yes- just when you think it's getting good- there's no more chapters- I know what that's like... [sigh]
CHIBI-CHAN2: ((aw... ff.net messed with your ID!)) Yes- the perfect ironicy, huh? [sings] He's everything you want- he's everything you need- he's everything inside of you that you wish you could be... [sighs] And yes- Bakura and Ryou pushing Jou in the right direction. You're getting' the idea! But now to take into consideration what this could do for Jounouchi!
RENEE THE RABID SQUIRREL: I'm flattered that you'd think there was an edit! How sweet of you to say that... but- as you should have discovered- no edit. I'll leave a note at both the beginning and ending of a chapter so people know that there's an edit. But- you have one coming up in a couple chapters, k?
DISCLAIMER: I don't own YGO... don't bug me!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
/.../: Thoughts
There's More to Me Than You: "If You Know What I Mean"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The teenager's nimble fingers wove three strands of silver hair around each other, forming a thin braid that started just at the nape of his neck and rested across his chest. He was bored and it was all because of some "business" Bakura had asked to talk to him about.
Ever since high school, things had always been "business". Ryou and Bakura's relationship had formed out of nothing but accidental words on Ryou's part- and when Bakura professed his feelings rather bluntly, it had begun. Now it was as comfortable as ever to the two of them and it didn't seem like anyone really cared. The hikari had to admit he liked it better that way- no one caring. It was just there to prove that yes, the hikari could take care of himself and find himself a partner without driving himself mad.
For some reason over the years, his group of friends had formed an impression that Ryou might always be alone and after the initial shock of finding out his sexual preference, he was promptly forgotten. In Bakura's point of view, it was something to be enraged about. Something about his ego being stomped on about being forgotten came to mind.
/What's this all about..?/ Ryou sighed as he pulled his right foot onto the leather chair, bending it slightly to recline. His naked back stuck to the black material and when he moved, it pulled lightly at his exposed flesh.
Suddenly the small office's door burst open, Bakura followed by Malik, both talking in with their usual sneering voices and their never ending arguments. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought they were an old married couple instead of best friends.
"Look, Malik- I told you we can't fuckin' hire them. So why the hell do you keep bringing them back here saying they'll get a job?" Bakura snapped angrily as he sat down on one of the leather chairs besides his hikari.
"Because, you idiot, they're related to Rishid- I can't turn them away even if I wanted to. How many times do I have to tell you this?" Malik snapped back as he sat on the other side of the desk and crossed his arms.
"Then tell your damn stalker that you can't give his spawn jobs because we don't have any openings or something! Lie!"
"I can't just lie to Rishid, Bakura! I've known him for years! He can tell when I lie!" The silver haired yami rolled his eyes and frowned.
"Find a fuckin' way to lie because we can't let them work here." Malik frowned deeply before leaning back in his own leather chair, looking down at his nails.
"So what did you need me for?" Ryou asked softly in deep contrast to that of the two other males in the room. Bakura seemed to still be recovering from the small argument, but he glanced at his lover and sighed.
"Jounouchi."
"What about him?" Malik asked as he began cleaning underneath his perfectly manicured nails- it was like an obsessive compulsive habit for him.
"He's lonely, Malik-kun [1]." Ryou sighed lightly as he wrapped his arms around his pulled up leg, and stared at the ceiling.
"And you guys are worried because.?" Malik's eyes shifted from his nails to the eyes of the two Bakuras.
"Because we haven't seen him in a long time- and when we finally did. he's changed, Malik-kun." The hikari frowned to himself. "He's not the same at all no matter how hard he tries. Yami and Yuugi aren't saying anything about it, though."
"And don't tell me that Bakura's actually worried about someone.?" Malik's lavender eyes shifted to the adverted chocolate eyes of his best friend.
"What difference does it make?" Bakura snapped as he turned his sharp eyes to the blond hikari.
"So you're admitting it." Malik sat back in his chair with a triumphant smile. "Well- what's the deal with Jounouchi, then?" He looked back at Ryou that was displaying his characteristically accurate pity face.
"He's been with Seto-kun for a long time now. and. you know how Seto-kun is." All eyes were turned to focus on the quiet hikari. "Always working and busy. And Jounouchi is all alone because of it." He turned his own chocolate eyes to the other males. "You see how he lives, Bakura. That giant house with only servants and maids- it's just him by himself."
"We can't be sure he's not happy there, hikari." Bakura sighed; his face looked exhausted as if he'd been through too many fights in the span of a day.
"Bakura- he's NOT happy there. How can you say otherwise? You know exactly what you saw and it really worries me."
"I think I'd have to agree with Ryou, Bakura." Malik sighed as he stared at the ceiling. "I know what it's like being in situations like that and Jounouchi's been thrown into it without him really wanting it."
"What are you talking about, Malik? You haven't seen him like we have." Bakura snapped, somewhat angry in the truth of his hikari's words.
"Oh please, Bakura- you know exactly what I'm talking about. Being someone glorified has its disadvantages." He frowned and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the dark wooden desk in front of him and entwining his fingers till they were locked together. "That's what Jounouchi is going through right now- and I can say that I 100% sympathize with him.
You're saying Seto is the busy one- always out and running around. And Jounouchi is probably the faithful lover that's stuck at home under obligation of wanting to please the 'man of the house'. It's a common housewife syndrome- and as much as I hate to admit it, I've been there, too. Granted- not exactly like Jou, but you should get the idea. Everything around you is PERFECT. And what are you left to do? Nothing. There's nothing you can do except keep your mouth shut because you know that even if you cause shit, it'll all be okay. It's like nothing you can do is wrong."
~*~*~
"Do you think Malik-kun was right?" Ryou whispered as the two males walked through the chilling early morning air of Domino City. The two had gotten out of work an hour before, and as soon as they were able to leave, they had. Just spending 4 nights a week in the stuffy and cramped underground fetish club could get suffocating and the 4 o'clock am air was a definite pleasantry.
"I'm not sure." Bakura said simply, slipping his hands into his coat pockets.
The two walked in silence for a few blocks before Ryou stopped and looked at his lover walk a few steps, then stop as well, a questioning look on his face. "I think Malik-kun is right." He looked down at the pavement beneath them and frowned to himself. "Jou is really stuck there by himself and we have to do something for him."
"And when did you suddenly come to this conclusion?" Bakura smirked lightly at his hikari's sudden determined attitude.
"I... I think I've always wanted to help him." Ryou looked up and searched his yami's eyes for understanding. "I mean- not with relationships." He looked away- in the direction the sun would be rising in a few hours. "But... whenever I got to help him, it made me happy. Jounouchi and I were never close, but... whenever I helped- it made me feel like I actually made a difference."
"But you do make a difference, hikari." Bakura sighed and looked in the direction Ryou's eyes were watching. "You make a difference to me."
"I know I make a difference to you. I know because I feel it in me- but... I feel that same satisfaction and warmth whenever I helped him." He smiled lightly and looked back at the placid but sharp face of his other half. "I want to do the same thing for him again like before. Even if it's just a little- I want to make him happy."
Bakura's chocolate eyes drifted down to his hikari, studying his expression and features. "You're starting to sound like that Baka no Pharaoh's hikari." He began walking again, leaving a giggling Ryou behind.
"Ah well- you know you love me...!" The smaller boy ran to catch up with his yami and then linked arms with him. "But really, Bakura- I'm serious. I want to do something to Jounouchi to make him happy."
"Like what...?" The yami looked down at his other half from the corner of his eyes.
"I don't know... it doesn't have to be anything big... maybe a date?" At this Bakura frowned and rolled his eyes. "Oh, yami- it doesn't have to be anything serious. Just to get him out of that mansion he's pent up in... What do you think?"
"I think you're really starting to lose your mind."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[1]: Um.. the "-kun"s tacked on are gonna be for signs of respect on Ryou's side. Jounouchi won't get one because he's more related as a colleague and Bakura won't get one cuz they're close enough. and well. yeah.
No updates till I get at least 40 reviews! [blows kisses]
NEXT CHAPTER: Jou's little date- but him gripping to Seto's "rules"
FANTASYCHICK: A sad story? Ah well- I guess it depends on who's side you decide to see it from...! I mean- for some it's all ready sad because Jou- kun is all by himself...
PANDORA: I think Jounouchi hasn't snapped yet because... well- right when he thinks he's gonna go nuts, Seto shows up! Yeah- something like that.
HYATT INSOMNIA: Of course Bakura is gonna care! I don't know- I mean- he'll always act like he doesn't care, but we all know deep down, he's got the squishiness we call mush inside him. [sniff] We love you, Bakura! [kisu]
EBONY OPIUM: Thank you for dropping me a line, hun- yes- every review counts on the many stories I have quotas on! Granted- they SHOULD motivate me to write faster, but being the lazy person that I am, I'm really... yeah- messed up. And yes- when you're stuck in a video game where no where to go- you must resort to "extra help". [sighs] Walkthroughs... [cries]
SHADOWY SNOWBALL: Yes- just when you think it's getting good- there's no more chapters- I know what that's like... [sigh]
CHIBI-CHAN2: ((aw... ff.net messed with your ID!)) Yes- the perfect ironicy, huh? [sings] He's everything you want- he's everything you need- he's everything inside of you that you wish you could be... [sighs] And yes- Bakura and Ryou pushing Jou in the right direction. You're getting' the idea! But now to take into consideration what this could do for Jounouchi!
RENEE THE RABID SQUIRREL: I'm flattered that you'd think there was an edit! How sweet of you to say that... but- as you should have discovered- no edit. I'll leave a note at both the beginning and ending of a chapter so people know that there's an edit. But- you have one coming up in a couple chapters, k?
DISCLAIMER: I don't own YGO... don't bug me!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
/.../: Thoughts
There's More to Me Than You: "If You Know What I Mean"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The teenager's nimble fingers wove three strands of silver hair around each other, forming a thin braid that started just at the nape of his neck and rested across his chest. He was bored and it was all because of some "business" Bakura had asked to talk to him about.
Ever since high school, things had always been "business". Ryou and Bakura's relationship had formed out of nothing but accidental words on Ryou's part- and when Bakura professed his feelings rather bluntly, it had begun. Now it was as comfortable as ever to the two of them and it didn't seem like anyone really cared. The hikari had to admit he liked it better that way- no one caring. It was just there to prove that yes, the hikari could take care of himself and find himself a partner without driving himself mad.
For some reason over the years, his group of friends had formed an impression that Ryou might always be alone and after the initial shock of finding out his sexual preference, he was promptly forgotten. In Bakura's point of view, it was something to be enraged about. Something about his ego being stomped on about being forgotten came to mind.
/What's this all about..?/ Ryou sighed as he pulled his right foot onto the leather chair, bending it slightly to recline. His naked back stuck to the black material and when he moved, it pulled lightly at his exposed flesh.
Suddenly the small office's door burst open, Bakura followed by Malik, both talking in with their usual sneering voices and their never ending arguments. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought they were an old married couple instead of best friends.
"Look, Malik- I told you we can't fuckin' hire them. So why the hell do you keep bringing them back here saying they'll get a job?" Bakura snapped angrily as he sat down on one of the leather chairs besides his hikari.
"Because, you idiot, they're related to Rishid- I can't turn them away even if I wanted to. How many times do I have to tell you this?" Malik snapped back as he sat on the other side of the desk and crossed his arms.
"Then tell your damn stalker that you can't give his spawn jobs because we don't have any openings or something! Lie!"
"I can't just lie to Rishid, Bakura! I've known him for years! He can tell when I lie!" The silver haired yami rolled his eyes and frowned.
"Find a fuckin' way to lie because we can't let them work here." Malik frowned deeply before leaning back in his own leather chair, looking down at his nails.
"So what did you need me for?" Ryou asked softly in deep contrast to that of the two other males in the room. Bakura seemed to still be recovering from the small argument, but he glanced at his lover and sighed.
"Jounouchi."
"What about him?" Malik asked as he began cleaning underneath his perfectly manicured nails- it was like an obsessive compulsive habit for him.
"He's lonely, Malik-kun [1]." Ryou sighed lightly as he wrapped his arms around his pulled up leg, and stared at the ceiling.
"And you guys are worried because.?" Malik's eyes shifted from his nails to the eyes of the two Bakuras.
"Because we haven't seen him in a long time- and when we finally did. he's changed, Malik-kun." The hikari frowned to himself. "He's not the same at all no matter how hard he tries. Yami and Yuugi aren't saying anything about it, though."
"And don't tell me that Bakura's actually worried about someone.?" Malik's lavender eyes shifted to the adverted chocolate eyes of his best friend.
"What difference does it make?" Bakura snapped as he turned his sharp eyes to the blond hikari.
"So you're admitting it." Malik sat back in his chair with a triumphant smile. "Well- what's the deal with Jounouchi, then?" He looked back at Ryou that was displaying his characteristically accurate pity face.
"He's been with Seto-kun for a long time now. and. you know how Seto-kun is." All eyes were turned to focus on the quiet hikari. "Always working and busy. And Jounouchi is all alone because of it." He turned his own chocolate eyes to the other males. "You see how he lives, Bakura. That giant house with only servants and maids- it's just him by himself."
"We can't be sure he's not happy there, hikari." Bakura sighed; his face looked exhausted as if he'd been through too many fights in the span of a day.
"Bakura- he's NOT happy there. How can you say otherwise? You know exactly what you saw and it really worries me."
"I think I'd have to agree with Ryou, Bakura." Malik sighed as he stared at the ceiling. "I know what it's like being in situations like that and Jounouchi's been thrown into it without him really wanting it."
"What are you talking about, Malik? You haven't seen him like we have." Bakura snapped, somewhat angry in the truth of his hikari's words.
"Oh please, Bakura- you know exactly what I'm talking about. Being someone glorified has its disadvantages." He frowned and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the dark wooden desk in front of him and entwining his fingers till they were locked together. "That's what Jounouchi is going through right now- and I can say that I 100% sympathize with him.
You're saying Seto is the busy one- always out and running around. And Jounouchi is probably the faithful lover that's stuck at home under obligation of wanting to please the 'man of the house'. It's a common housewife syndrome- and as much as I hate to admit it, I've been there, too. Granted- not exactly like Jou, but you should get the idea. Everything around you is PERFECT. And what are you left to do? Nothing. There's nothing you can do except keep your mouth shut because you know that even if you cause shit, it'll all be okay. It's like nothing you can do is wrong."
~*~*~
"Do you think Malik-kun was right?" Ryou whispered as the two males walked through the chilling early morning air of Domino City. The two had gotten out of work an hour before, and as soon as they were able to leave, they had. Just spending 4 nights a week in the stuffy and cramped underground fetish club could get suffocating and the 4 o'clock am air was a definite pleasantry.
"I'm not sure." Bakura said simply, slipping his hands into his coat pockets.
The two walked in silence for a few blocks before Ryou stopped and looked at his lover walk a few steps, then stop as well, a questioning look on his face. "I think Malik-kun is right." He looked down at the pavement beneath them and frowned to himself. "Jou is really stuck there by himself and we have to do something for him."
"And when did you suddenly come to this conclusion?" Bakura smirked lightly at his hikari's sudden determined attitude.
"I... I think I've always wanted to help him." Ryou looked up and searched his yami's eyes for understanding. "I mean- not with relationships." He looked away- in the direction the sun would be rising in a few hours. "But... whenever I got to help him, it made me happy. Jounouchi and I were never close, but... whenever I helped- it made me feel like I actually made a difference."
"But you do make a difference, hikari." Bakura sighed and looked in the direction Ryou's eyes were watching. "You make a difference to me."
"I know I make a difference to you. I know because I feel it in me- but... I feel that same satisfaction and warmth whenever I helped him." He smiled lightly and looked back at the placid but sharp face of his other half. "I want to do the same thing for him again like before. Even if it's just a little- I want to make him happy."
Bakura's chocolate eyes drifted down to his hikari, studying his expression and features. "You're starting to sound like that Baka no Pharaoh's hikari." He began walking again, leaving a giggling Ryou behind.
"Ah well- you know you love me...!" The smaller boy ran to catch up with his yami and then linked arms with him. "But really, Bakura- I'm serious. I want to do something to Jounouchi to make him happy."
"Like what...?" The yami looked down at his other half from the corner of his eyes.
"I don't know... it doesn't have to be anything big... maybe a date?" At this Bakura frowned and rolled his eyes. "Oh, yami- it doesn't have to be anything serious. Just to get him out of that mansion he's pent up in... What do you think?"
"I think you're really starting to lose your mind."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[1]: Um.. the "-kun"s tacked on are gonna be for signs of respect on Ryou's side. Jounouchi won't get one because he's more related as a colleague and Bakura won't get one cuz they're close enough. and well. yeah.
No updates till I get at least 40 reviews! [blows kisses]
NEXT CHAPTER: Jou's little date- but him gripping to Seto's "rules"