Aaaaand she's back! After not failing her maths exam! See, I don't know what I actually *got*, but I know I didn't fail. So it's all good!
Disclaimer: "Kaiba has a void in his heart due to the lack of love from his parents. To develop love for himself, to fill the void, he had tried to be victorious, even if it meant hurting others. But meeting Yuugi has changed him into a warrior, and given him an opportunity to develop as one." Quote from Takahashi-san. Thus, I see no problem with taking it a step further in fiction. So screw you, Konami.
Chapter 33: A Rush of Blood to the Head
* * *
Ryou awoke the next morning very sore indeed. His head was pounding from a hangover - how many glasses of champs did he guzzle last night? He couldn't remember the exact figure, but knew it was in double digits. And something *else* was hurting a lot, too.
He tried rather unsuccessfully to stand up, and fell back onto the bedspread with a "bollocks!". With the support of the wooden bedhead, he managed an upright position, and staggered, wincing, to the door. He reached for the handle, then realised he was still stark naked, and swore his way back to his backpack for clothes.
He eventually made his way back to the door with a "feck" on every footstep, and swung said door open. He had discovered a way to walk that was minutely less painful; a sort of half waddle, half limp, and quater marathon-walker stride. Now if only he could find some Asprin...
Halfway to the kitchen, he came face to face with a rather smug Yami. He took one looke at the suffering Ryou and grinned rather evilly. "Sleep well, Ryou?"
"Bugger off," Ryou snapped most uncharacteristically. Yami laughed at him. Ryou felt strong arms wrap around his waist, and he gratefully collapsed into Bakura's embrace. "Hello, Pharaoh."
"Hey Ba-" He stopped dead, staring at Bakura, brows furrowed and ruby eyes inquisitive. Something flashed, a spark of memory deep in the blood-red pools of the ancient ruler's eyes. Bakura noticed this, and drew a breath, wondering if Yami had remembered...
In his current state of bad temper and pain, Ryou was completely oblivious, and the moment passed with him missing the whole thing.
* * *
Spirits were low as everyone repacked their bags, ready to return to their neglected homework slash jobs slash multinational billion-dollar corporations. They ate another last meal, but stayed almost entirely off the alcohol. The penthouse was in a terrible state, but they figured Kaiba could afford a cleaner, and consequently left half-empty sushi containers on the dining room table.
Seto, both wanting to avoid another bus trip and hopefully snog Yami's face off before returning to the real world, borrowed Kaiba Corp's blimp for the afternoon, much to everyone's delight. Yugi and Jou, Mai and Rebecca held a tag duel on the roof top, which provided ample entertainment for all (except Yami and Seto). It was a close one, but Jou managed to pull off a fairly complex manouvre, finally clinching it for the boys. He would later live to regret it, however, when he tried for a goodbye kiss from Mai...
* * *
And so the remainder of the holidays whiled away in a frenzied rush to do their assignments. The first day of school arrived, them having completed approximately none of them, but who really does holiday homework, anyway?
"Hey, guys!" Yugi called to the Jounouchis and Honda, as they walked through the gate. "Seen Mai lately, Jou?"
"Uh, yeah. Only once." Jou flushed. "So, um, how is, uh, stuff?"
"Jounouchi, your ability to subtley change the subject astounds," smirked a husky voice from behind.
"Seto!" Yami cried, launching himself into the most unfairly busy CEO's arms. The rest of the group turned away decidedly.
"Football season starts this term, Jou. You ready?" Honda asked, demonstrating his own abilities, as far as subject-changing went.
"As ever! You're lookin' at the star striker for the Domino Devils!"
"And you're also invariably modest, Katsy. Bye, everyone!" Shizuka smiled, before running off to join her 'snobsquad' friends, passing Ryou and Bakura on her way.
"Hey, everyone. What do we have first lesson?"
"You two have computing."
"No, we all have an assembly in the hall."
"Really? Why?" Yugi asked.
"Oh, prob'ly just the usual," Jou said dismissively, not quite meeting Yugi's eye.
They entered the hall and found seats together, waiting for the inevitable start-of-term pep talk from the principal. Which they recieved, of course, and which Bakura, in a hissing undertone, translated it into it's 'true' form...
"And I'm a fuckin' homophobe bastard prick-head who likes to perv on little girls in short skirts so I'm going to practice my middle-aged sexually-frustrated paedophilia at the cheerleading championships where the pepped-up sugar-high happy freaks will be bouncing around..."
"Hey, my sister's a cheerleader," Jou scowled.
"Just telling it like it is."
Here, the principal (and Bakura) paused. "On a more solemn note; as some of you may know, one of our students passed away over the holidays..."
A low murmur of buzzing speculation rolled through the assembly hall. "As a mark of respect, we will now observe one minute's silence for Anzu Mazaki."
The two Motous stared at the podium in disbelief as the rest of the school obediently bowed their heads. Yami felt an awful guilty lurch somewhere in his stomach when he observed his light; white as a sheet and mouth open slightly. The beginnings of tears had formed in his large violet eyes, and they began to drop, leaking a trail down pale cheeks. Yami stood, followed by many a prying eye, and held his other innocent half tightly.
"Yami..." he sobbed, "I said she could rot in hell for all I care. I... I didn't mean it." Yami could feel warm tears soaking his uniform.
A teacher took them both by the shoulder and led them to an empty classroom. She sat them down and closed the door behind them. "Was this the first time you'd heard?" she asked sympathetically. Yugi nodded mutely, wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his blazer.
"How did she... I mean...?" stammered Yami awkwardly. But he thought he could guess, without the teacher. He prayed hard and fast to Ra she hadn't... but no, she couldn't be that stupid...
"I can't tell you that! But, I suppose... best you hear it from me, not some ridiculous rumours... We get enough of them here," she added, looking at Yami pointedly, who glared at her. "Yes, well. She died of blood loss from cuts on her wrist. The main artery on each wrist was slit, she died fairly quickly."
Yugi choked back more sobs. Yami knew that though he wasn't so conceited as to think she would resort to that over their... *situation*, Yugi would blame himself. "When?" asked Yugi.
"August the Eighteenth."
"Her birthday..." he muttered.
The teacher sighed. You wouldn't happen to know if Miss Mizaki was feeling depressed, before the holidays?" she queried tentatively. "Had you noticed her acting unusually?"
Yami looked up, head spinning as blood flooded upwards. In his mind's eye he could still see her, held against a locker against her will, her blue eyes tearful yet still defiant. He questioned himself - would he even have cared at the time, if he had known she was suicidal? He wasn't sure. A cascade of emotion swept over him. Guilt, of course, that he could have ever been instrumental in any one taking their own life. For his ego told him she had hurt for his sake. His hands shook. That would make him a *murderer*...
But no. He had been protecting Yugi. He glanced at the smaller boy, still sniffing in his chair, large eyes blotchy and red. She was still hurting him, even in death. Yugi valued every person who ever made an impact on his life, unselfishly and almost blindly. He could see the positive side to everyone he met. It was just his nature - he was the purest and most naive person the Pharaoh had ever met. And she had completely used him. So Yami had protected him from more pain.
Not just Yugi, either. Unrequited love may hurt, but false hope was cruel. It wasn't his fault; he couldn't pretend to love someone he didn't to save a life. Truth in death, rather than living a lie... Yami couldn't decide which was better. And he still felt guilty, more than he'd ever felt. No one deserved to live through so much pain.
And one part of him, one small part, whispered he should appreciate being cherished so unconditionally as to... Yami found said part, strangled it, and told it to stop being sick. Speaking of sick...
Yami excused himself and ran to the bathroom, just managing to scoop his hair up before being violently ill in the toilet.
* * *
Um. Yes. Well... I was in a mood. At One o'clock in the morning. Shmeh, it happens. Anyways, since there's not much more of this fic to go, a review would be kinda nice. Please? Thankies in advance.
Disclaimer: "Kaiba has a void in his heart due to the lack of love from his parents. To develop love for himself, to fill the void, he had tried to be victorious, even if it meant hurting others. But meeting Yuugi has changed him into a warrior, and given him an opportunity to develop as one." Quote from Takahashi-san. Thus, I see no problem with taking it a step further in fiction. So screw you, Konami.
Chapter 33: A Rush of Blood to the Head
* * *
Ryou awoke the next morning very sore indeed. His head was pounding from a hangover - how many glasses of champs did he guzzle last night? He couldn't remember the exact figure, but knew it was in double digits. And something *else* was hurting a lot, too.
He tried rather unsuccessfully to stand up, and fell back onto the bedspread with a "bollocks!". With the support of the wooden bedhead, he managed an upright position, and staggered, wincing, to the door. He reached for the handle, then realised he was still stark naked, and swore his way back to his backpack for clothes.
He eventually made his way back to the door with a "feck" on every footstep, and swung said door open. He had discovered a way to walk that was minutely less painful; a sort of half waddle, half limp, and quater marathon-walker stride. Now if only he could find some Asprin...
Halfway to the kitchen, he came face to face with a rather smug Yami. He took one looke at the suffering Ryou and grinned rather evilly. "Sleep well, Ryou?"
"Bugger off," Ryou snapped most uncharacteristically. Yami laughed at him. Ryou felt strong arms wrap around his waist, and he gratefully collapsed into Bakura's embrace. "Hello, Pharaoh."
"Hey Ba-" He stopped dead, staring at Bakura, brows furrowed and ruby eyes inquisitive. Something flashed, a spark of memory deep in the blood-red pools of the ancient ruler's eyes. Bakura noticed this, and drew a breath, wondering if Yami had remembered...
In his current state of bad temper and pain, Ryou was completely oblivious, and the moment passed with him missing the whole thing.
* * *
Spirits were low as everyone repacked their bags, ready to return to their neglected homework slash jobs slash multinational billion-dollar corporations. They ate another last meal, but stayed almost entirely off the alcohol. The penthouse was in a terrible state, but they figured Kaiba could afford a cleaner, and consequently left half-empty sushi containers on the dining room table.
Seto, both wanting to avoid another bus trip and hopefully snog Yami's face off before returning to the real world, borrowed Kaiba Corp's blimp for the afternoon, much to everyone's delight. Yugi and Jou, Mai and Rebecca held a tag duel on the roof top, which provided ample entertainment for all (except Yami and Seto). It was a close one, but Jou managed to pull off a fairly complex manouvre, finally clinching it for the boys. He would later live to regret it, however, when he tried for a goodbye kiss from Mai...
* * *
And so the remainder of the holidays whiled away in a frenzied rush to do their assignments. The first day of school arrived, them having completed approximately none of them, but who really does holiday homework, anyway?
"Hey, guys!" Yugi called to the Jounouchis and Honda, as they walked through the gate. "Seen Mai lately, Jou?"
"Uh, yeah. Only once." Jou flushed. "So, um, how is, uh, stuff?"
"Jounouchi, your ability to subtley change the subject astounds," smirked a husky voice from behind.
"Seto!" Yami cried, launching himself into the most unfairly busy CEO's arms. The rest of the group turned away decidedly.
"Football season starts this term, Jou. You ready?" Honda asked, demonstrating his own abilities, as far as subject-changing went.
"As ever! You're lookin' at the star striker for the Domino Devils!"
"And you're also invariably modest, Katsy. Bye, everyone!" Shizuka smiled, before running off to join her 'snobsquad' friends, passing Ryou and Bakura on her way.
"Hey, everyone. What do we have first lesson?"
"You two have computing."
"No, we all have an assembly in the hall."
"Really? Why?" Yugi asked.
"Oh, prob'ly just the usual," Jou said dismissively, not quite meeting Yugi's eye.
They entered the hall and found seats together, waiting for the inevitable start-of-term pep talk from the principal. Which they recieved, of course, and which Bakura, in a hissing undertone, translated it into it's 'true' form...
"And I'm a fuckin' homophobe bastard prick-head who likes to perv on little girls in short skirts so I'm going to practice my middle-aged sexually-frustrated paedophilia at the cheerleading championships where the pepped-up sugar-high happy freaks will be bouncing around..."
"Hey, my sister's a cheerleader," Jou scowled.
"Just telling it like it is."
Here, the principal (and Bakura) paused. "On a more solemn note; as some of you may know, one of our students passed away over the holidays..."
A low murmur of buzzing speculation rolled through the assembly hall. "As a mark of respect, we will now observe one minute's silence for Anzu Mazaki."
The two Motous stared at the podium in disbelief as the rest of the school obediently bowed their heads. Yami felt an awful guilty lurch somewhere in his stomach when he observed his light; white as a sheet and mouth open slightly. The beginnings of tears had formed in his large violet eyes, and they began to drop, leaking a trail down pale cheeks. Yami stood, followed by many a prying eye, and held his other innocent half tightly.
"Yami..." he sobbed, "I said she could rot in hell for all I care. I... I didn't mean it." Yami could feel warm tears soaking his uniform.
A teacher took them both by the shoulder and led them to an empty classroom. She sat them down and closed the door behind them. "Was this the first time you'd heard?" she asked sympathetically. Yugi nodded mutely, wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his blazer.
"How did she... I mean...?" stammered Yami awkwardly. But he thought he could guess, without the teacher. He prayed hard and fast to Ra she hadn't... but no, she couldn't be that stupid...
"I can't tell you that! But, I suppose... best you hear it from me, not some ridiculous rumours... We get enough of them here," she added, looking at Yami pointedly, who glared at her. "Yes, well. She died of blood loss from cuts on her wrist. The main artery on each wrist was slit, she died fairly quickly."
Yugi choked back more sobs. Yami knew that though he wasn't so conceited as to think she would resort to that over their... *situation*, Yugi would blame himself. "When?" asked Yugi.
"August the Eighteenth."
"Her birthday..." he muttered.
The teacher sighed. You wouldn't happen to know if Miss Mizaki was feeling depressed, before the holidays?" she queried tentatively. "Had you noticed her acting unusually?"
Yami looked up, head spinning as blood flooded upwards. In his mind's eye he could still see her, held against a locker against her will, her blue eyes tearful yet still defiant. He questioned himself - would he even have cared at the time, if he had known she was suicidal? He wasn't sure. A cascade of emotion swept over him. Guilt, of course, that he could have ever been instrumental in any one taking their own life. For his ego told him she had hurt for his sake. His hands shook. That would make him a *murderer*...
But no. He had been protecting Yugi. He glanced at the smaller boy, still sniffing in his chair, large eyes blotchy and red. She was still hurting him, even in death. Yugi valued every person who ever made an impact on his life, unselfishly and almost blindly. He could see the positive side to everyone he met. It was just his nature - he was the purest and most naive person the Pharaoh had ever met. And she had completely used him. So Yami had protected him from more pain.
Not just Yugi, either. Unrequited love may hurt, but false hope was cruel. It wasn't his fault; he couldn't pretend to love someone he didn't to save a life. Truth in death, rather than living a lie... Yami couldn't decide which was better. And he still felt guilty, more than he'd ever felt. No one deserved to live through so much pain.
And one part of him, one small part, whispered he should appreciate being cherished so unconditionally as to... Yami found said part, strangled it, and told it to stop being sick. Speaking of sick...
Yami excused himself and ran to the bathroom, just managing to scoop his hair up before being violently ill in the toilet.
* * *
Um. Yes. Well... I was in a mood. At One o'clock in the morning. Shmeh, it happens. Anyways, since there's not much more of this fic to go, a review would be kinda nice. Please? Thankies in advance.