every damn chapter?
Authors Note: Sorry minna, for taking so long to get this out. I've had far to many
visitors lately * sigh* Thanks to Callie/Mikey for being my beta reader! ^_^
Choice
By: Crystalin Elf
Chapter 10: Surprising Saionji
I would have given eternal thanks and gratitude to Ra for removing Minako, Ooshige,
and Rei from my life, had he not chosen to sent Saionji back home again a few days
after those three went away. I don't hate the blasted man, seeing as he is my hikari's
father, and my hikari would be very upset with me if I hated his father, but I can't
help find him very…annoying.
To say the least.
After Rei's going away party, (everyone was surprised that I had got her a present, and
more surprised that it was a harmless gift), I was able to spend four nice,
quiet days with my hikari. We played games, watched a movie, went for nice long
walks together, and basically did such sappy activities as that.
And everyone knows I hate sappy things.
But with Ryou at my side, the sappy moments didn't feel so suffocating or wrong. With
Ryou, everything felt right.
Well, he is my light after all, so what did I expect? Of course I feel better when I
get to spend time with him! As long as I don't examine things too closely…
And now Saionji is back, and has been for three weeks. He ignores me entirely, and
spends almost every waking moment with Ryou. If we didn't 'share' a bedroom for
appearances sake, then I would never get to see my hikari these days. And staying
in my soul room all the time is to boring.
I make breakfast for them every morning, but only those things that Ryou likes best. I also
take care of the rest of the day-to-day chores, so he can spend as much time with his
father as he wants to. I haven't had to bother with their lunch or dinner yet,
because Saionji seems determined to take Ryou to every restaurant in town.
They've watched at least one movie at the theatre every single day. He's also dragged my
hikari to the museum three times, spending most of those three days there, even
though the exhibits didn't change and they covered everything in the first tour. And
they have spent several hours a week at the mall. Saionji insists Ryou needs new
clothes, and has been trying to pick them out for him.
Not pink, gratefully. I think Saionji knows I'll burn anything pink that's brought into the
house, though he's hinted that Ryou would be cute in pink. He's lucky he only
hinted, or I would have been… 'forced', into delivering to him the same treatment
that Minako-baka received. And that would have been a regrettable course of
action, since summoning monsters from the Shadow Realm to terrorize Saionji
would have really pissed Ryou off.
A nice thought to contemplate though, when I'm stuck by myself and bored. And since
Saionji is the one keeping me from spending time with my Ryou, thinking of ways to
torment him is more entertaining than thinking of ways to torment the Pharaoh. Of
course, I don't intend on letting things continue this way for much longer…No, once
Ryou and Saionji com home tonight, I'll do something that my Ryou has been
asking me to do for months.
Materialize in front of Saionji.
…and just when did I start calling my hikari 'my Ryou?'
Ah damn it.
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Ryou continued to smile politely as he listened to his father drone on about the first
archeological dig he was ever allowed to participate in, while staring with a single-minded
determination out the window. He had given his fathers experiences his whole
hearted attention, for the first five times the story had been told, but on this six rendition,
and more embellished version, his attention had disappeared after the first thirty minutes had passed.
He tugged gently at the millennium ring, pondering the warm metal to help pass the rest
of the ride home. The warmth meant that Bakura was in his soul room, which was
extremely unusual these days. The last time was… when? The brief time he was
in there, when Minako had dragged me to the mall. Right. When he rescued me
from her and her pink scarf fixation.
He cringed slightly, remembering every single piece of clothing that Minako had tried to
make him buy, and how she had pouted at him each time her had refused. He had
been exceedingly glad when Bakura had decided to join him at the mall so he would
have a nice, perfectly logical reason to ditch Minako and return home. Climbing in
through the window had been fun, especially when Bakura had slipped his arms
around Ryou's waist to help the smaller boy through the window…
He was smiling for real now, rather than being polite… most thoughts of his darker half
brought a smile to Ryou's face these days. He'd even found the pranks Bakura had
pulled on Minako to be amusing, though he hadn't condoned the acts. Rei would
have been upset…
Rei. He had been surprised that she had still wanted to see him after running into one of
Bakura's monsters, and had been more surprised when she had correctly deducted
that Bakura had been responsible for the creature. It's not as if he'd actually
done or said anything unusual around her. Well, things had worked out in his
favor, since she had moved away, and neither was missing the other. How could
I ever have loved Rei? Did I ever, really? No… no, I don't think I ever really loved
her. I was attracted to her, for a few days, but that was all really. It faded once I
started to know her, and then she became my friend. I'm amazed that I was
ever afraid of 'losing' her to one of my other friends. I'm so grateful
Bakura was there for me.
And she was a bit eccentric, though he would never say so aloud. He hadn't understood
her love of duel monsters and fighting, mingled with a love of Pita Ten and shoujo
manga. It was definitely an odd combination, one that Bakura had remarked upon
several times, though only through their mind link. I hardly saw him then…like
I've hardly seen him for the past three weeks… he's being amazingly patient.
"…kura."
Ryou's eyes widen as his attention returned to his father, as he realized that his father had
finally started talking about something else.
"Pardon?" he asked softly, hoping Saionji would repeat himself.
"Your attention is drifting Ryou. I asked if you were worried about Bakura spending so
much time alone." Saionji didn't take his eyes off the road, but the slight tilt of his
head indicated his interest.
Ryou sighed and wondered what had precipitated this particular question. "Bakura is
quite capable of taking care of himself father."
"Is that so… then you don't think he's done anything unusual sine we've been
gone? Minako mentioned some off happenings while she stayed with you," Saionji
said, as he pulled the car into the driveway.
"Bakura spent most of the duration of Minako's visit in our room Father, so she wouldn't
try to drag him clothes shopping ever few hours. Oh, and speaking of her, just why
did you suddenly ask Minako to leave?" Ryou asked sharply, watching his father carefully.
"I'd rather not go into any details about Minako's leaving, son, but a… reliable source
told me that I shouldn't trust her as much as I had, and offered proof of her
untrustworthiness," Saionji said, his voice nervous, and almost pleading with Ryou
not to ask more questions about the unlamented Minako.
Ryou didn't say anything else, and the rest of the ride passed by in silence. When his
father pulled the car into the drive and parked, he hopped out with speaking and
made his way to the door. He was inside the house and halfway to the stairs when
Saionji called out to him.
"Ryou, stop! Come back here and talk." Saionji ordered.
// Yes Ryou, be good and stop. //
So Ryou stopped, turning about to face his father and listening to Bakura's laughter in his
mind. He was still tugging absently at the Millennium Ring, wondering what else
his father was going to say, and what Bakura was up to. His father was watching
him with a peculiar look.
"Ryou… did you know that your Ring is glowing?" Saionji's voice was worried, but at
the moment Ryou didn't particularly care.
"Oh, is it? It does that from time to time. Now, why don't you tell me just what you
suspect Bakura of having done while we've been out?" He was proud of himself for
keeping his voice steady, and uncharacteristically cold.
"Well, nothing really, of course, I just heard some… unusual reports from Minako while
she was still here with you."
Saionji's voice was even more worried now, and Ryou held back a smile as Bakura
laughed even more in his mind.
// lalala //
/ Bakura? What are you planning now? /
// Worried? //
/ Should I be? /
// Noooo, not at all! //
The glow from the Ring intensified, then dissipated abruptly. Saionji's eyes widened as
he stared at his son, then at Bakura. The spirit smirked and slipped his arms around
Ryou's waist, deciding to maximize Saionji's shock.
"What," he asked mockingly, "never seen an ancient Spirit manifest before?" He stared
on in silence as Saionji fainted.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
/ That really wasn't the nicest thing for you to do Yami. /
// But Ryou, you said you wanted him to know about me! //
/ …. /
// …. //
/ I know I did, but you could have told me before you appeared! I could have told him
about you first, and then have you appear before them. /
// That wouldn't have been nearly as much fun. //
/ It would have been more practical, and then we wouldn't have had to drag father to the
couch and left him onto it. /
// We could have taken him to his room. //
/ I bloody well don't think so! /
// hahahaha!!! //
/ And on another note, Yami, why did you put your arms around me when you came out
of the Ring? /
// Because I felt like it of course. You didn't like it? //
/ No, I… I liked it just fine. I only wondered because you've never done so before. /
// I did it because I like holding you hikari. The added shock to your father was a bonus.//
A soft groan caught their attention, and they looked back at the couch. Saionji was sitting
up, holding on hand to the back of his head, and watching the two cautiously.
Bakura moved behind Ryou again and once more slipped his arms around his
hikari's waist. No one said anything for a moment, then Saionji cleared his throat.
"Well… that was unexpected," Saionji said hesitantly. "So, the legend was true, and there
is a spirit that exists within the Millennium Ring."
"I'm existing outside of the Ring quite nicely, thank you," Bakura stated, eyes Saionji
suspiciously.
"Ah, well, yes I can see that." Saionji fidgeted on the couch, gazing at Bakura
appraisingly.
"Father, you do realize I won't give up the Ring don't you?" Ryou asked softly.
"Oh, of course, I wouldn't expect you too! But you could both come into the office with
me… visit for a little while?" His voice was expectant, and almost demanding.
// Ha! Told you he'd want to turn me into one of his 'discoveries'! But I won't let anyone
take me away from you. //
/ Glad to hear it. /
Ryou sighed softly at his father's attitude and shook his head, leaning back into Bakura.
"No Father. We won't come in, and Bakura won't manifest for anyone else. We
only showed you because I love you, and I wanted you to know the truth about Bakura."
"But… Ryou, he's the discovery of a lifetime! I could make the history books, get a very
large pay raise, maybe even be made head of the department!" He was standing
now, and moved closer to his son.
"No. Absolutely not father. He's a part of me, and I won't give him up to further your
career," Ryou said, tone firm and resolute. He's spent most of my life away from
home, 'advancing' his career. He doesn't need a pay raise, or a higher position,
and I'm not letting him take something precious away from me so he can get those
things! And spending several days with me, doing nonstop 'father-son' activities
together can't possibly make up for not being home more than a single month out of
the entire year.
Bakura was grinning maniacally, his eyes glittering brightly. "I'm so honored, really, that
you two are fighting over me, but don't expect that to mean anything. I will not be
separated from my Hikari."
He tightened his hold on Ryou and made a show of smelling his hikari's hair. "Here's the
thing, Saionji. Ryou is the person destined to possess the Millennium Ring, and be
my partner. My light. See, without him, I'm quite a bloodthirsty little bastard. Dark.
You wouldn't want me running amok around your precious colleagues now would
you? I consider reaping chaos, death and destruction among you poor mortals to be
one of the most enjoyable of pastimes, and I have lots of practice. Though you
should know, I never did anything to harm that idiotic Minako. She wasn't worth
the effort."
/ …maybe you shouldn't have said that Yami… /
Saionji was backing away from them with wide eyes, his motions slow. He looked as
though he was afraid that Bakura was a viscous animal, about to attack him.
// Your fathers obviously a weakling hikari. I practically told him I'd be behaved as long
as I have you with me. //
/ But I'm not always with you Yami. /
// Course you are, all I have to do is go back into the Ring. //
/ Oh, right. /
// Too late though, he's already out the door. //
Ryou jumped slightly as the front door slammed shut behind his father's retreating back,
and he couldn't help but laugh softly. "Yami, you're a bad influence on me. I
shouldn't find that funny."
"You should find it funny, because it is funny. He'll be back though, and we can
tell him I was joking to see how he'd react. Or we could give him the Pharaoh…"
Ryou shifted until he was facing Bakura and smiled. "No Yami."
The Spirit sighed dramatically, but was smiling as well. "Well then, shall we go upstairs
and talk?"
Ryou tilted his head slightly and nodded. "Yes, why don't we?"
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Crys: To be Continued, and our most sincere apologies for this taking so long to write.
Rakka: I like Crys' in laws, except when they come visit. And they've been visiting a lot!
And are gonna visit more! I think I'm going to go insane.
Crys: * looks innocently at Rakka * …go insane Rakka? I thought you already were.
Rakka: * sighs and shakes her head * Some people might think so, since I agreed to be
your muse and help out, but your family is definitely the catalyst for my insanity.
Crys: awww poor Rakka… well, I still love you anyway!
Rakka: That's reassuring Crys, even though I know you love most people, with a few
notable exceptions.
Crys: * clamps a hand over Rakka's mouth * Rakka, you promised never, ever to
mention those two.
Rakka: * mutters 'Sorry Crys.' *