::Kitzaku-san::
Disclaimer:: I do not own Yu Gi Oh, Otogi, Jou, or any of the other characters that just happened to be mentioned here. I do however, own the original plotline that doesn't center around Jou in a dog suit. Maybe.
Authoress Note: Alright, here's the results from the question I had at the end of the prologue: Who should I pair Otogi up with?
Jounouchi: 6
Pegasus: 3
Seto: 3
Honda: 3
Serenity: 1
Yami: 1
Malik: 2
Ryou: 1
So it appears that Jou won! Weee! But Peggy, Seto and Honda tied. I mean, woah, who knew that Honda could get such a man, eh? People feel sorry for the guy. I do too, but Jou just goes so much better with him! Peggy's too old and well, I've got plans for Seto.
Otogi: ::Covers Kitzaku-san's mouth:: Shhhh!
-.-; Otogi, you just made their curiosity worse.
Otogi: O.O!! Gomen ne!
::A Roll of the Dice::
"This is fun, isn't it Otogi?" Yugi smiled and took a delicate lick from his ice cream cone. "I mean, now that we're not fighting anymore, things are so much more peaceful!"
Otogi raised an eyebrow and watched the boy try to keep his ice cream from melting too fast. He didn't say anything, however. There was truth in what Yugi said, though. But everything was too peaceful now. About the only competition in their lives was the occasional tournament held at their Game Shops on alternating weekends.
"Otogi?" Yugi looked up. "What's wrong? Are you having another, episode?" At the mention of 'episode' his voice lowered.
The said closed his eyes tightly and came to grips with himself again. "No, Yugi. I'm alright. Just thinking."
"Ok..." Yugi hesitated and went back to operating on his ice cream cone.
Yugi had started to call whenever Otogi spaced out his 'episodes.' They were getting more and more frequent and it was worrying the small boy. But Otogi didn't take any notice at all. Even though he was 'friends' with Yugi and his gang, he still felt left out. There were always heated glares sent towards him whenever they were around.
The only refuge he could find was in another outcast to Yugi's gang.
But there wasn't much of a difference in that anyway. Who would want to be close to someone who'd made a complete and total fool of himself on national television? Everyone perceived him as an evil incarnate who tried to steal Yugi's title. And all it did was raise Yugi's own popularity.
After much fussing, Yugi managed to finish his ice cream cone with minimal mess. Otogi had already finished his much earlier. The two were taking a walk in the park because Yugi felt like Otogi was being left out. At least someone noticed. But then:
"Hey, Yug!"
Otogi's back straightened out and Yugi turned around to see who called. It was no surprise who it was.
"Hi, Jou!"
Jou responded by ruffling Yugi's hair. Then the blonde noticed Otogi. "And... hi."
Otogi grunted a response.
Jou looked uncomfortably at Otogi for a moment and then down at Yugi. He bent over inconspicuously and whispered in the shorter youth's ear. "Why are you hanging out with dicey-boy here? You remember what he did."
Yugi smiled, but didn't whisper. "Otogi's my friend, Jou..."
Jou straightened out, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well then he's my friend too then!" And his fake smile faded when he saw the death look on Otogi's face.
Episodes like this weren't uncommon. Jou was horrible at concealing his hatred for Otogi. For all he knew, Jou was more interested in Kaiba than he was in him, and that was saying something. Otogi ran a hand through his hair, a sign he did when he was nervous—and concealing it. "You're worse at being a good friend then you were as a dog." He scoffed.
"You take that back!" Jou lunged forward, but was stopped by Yugi's small hands.
"Settle down you two! Can't we get along?"
"He started it." Jou folded his arms.
"And you're being juvenile!"
"I'm not the one with the dice earring!"
"What's that have to do with anything?"
Jou responded only by tackling Otogi before Yugi could do anything. Episodes like this were common too. And Otogi usually had the upper hand, like at this time. He had Jou in a headlock and was smirking wildly. "And you should take that back."
At that moment a group of girls had just gotten their ice cream cones and giggled at the sight. Yugi blushed and rubbed his head. "You guys, you're making a scene!"
Both Otogi and Jou looked at Yugi, glaring. "Hush!"
~*~
"Stop it. If you keep moving, it'll only make things worse."
Otogi growled, but held still. He was sitting Indian style in the middle of the lobby of his game shop. Ryou was hovering over him, cleaning a gash on the side of his head. The silver haired boy tsked before rinsing the cloth of blood and dabbing at the wound again.
"So, you're telling me he flipped you?"
"...yes."
"Jou?"
"Yes."
Pause. " Jou flipped you."
"Yes, damnit, he flipped me ok? I had him in a headlock and Yugi distracted me and he flipped me over his shoulder. I hit the pavement and that's all I remember." Otogi tapped his knee impatiently.
"Alright, I believe you." Ryou wrapped a cloth around the said's head and patted it. "There. What were you doing in the park anyway?"
"I was trying to do some male bonding with Yugi." Otogi muttered.
"Male bonding?"
"That's what he called it!"
Ryou was silent a moment before laughing. Otogi glared at him, obviously hurt and that stopped the boy immediately. "I'm sorry. You probably don't want to talk about this anyway. I'll go clean up. My shift is over anyway." Ryou stood up and grabbed the broom in the corner. Otogi stayed sitting in the middle of the floor.
What'd he ever do to Jou in the first place that would get him so mad? Oh, the dog thing. Right. But that shouldn't make him hold a grudge over him forever, should it?
Well, alright. Perhaps it could, but that wasn't the point his mind was trying to make. The point was, he was tired of fighting with Jou anyway.
Suddenly, there was a tap on his back and Otogi looked up to see Ryou's smiling face. "Are you going to move and let me sweep, or what?"
"Right. Sorry..."
~*~
He didn't remember how he got there, but the next thing Ryouji Otogi knew, he was striding through the park on a Saturday afternoon, alone and kicking pieces of trash to the side of the path. His head was down and he was deep in though. The past few days hadn't been the absolute best for him. Business was slowing down all because there was a new type of Duel Monster cards and everyone had forgotten about Dungeon Dice Monsters for the time being.
Hands in his pockets, and eyebrows furrowed, deep in thought, Otogi strode on. People around him milled aimlessly, jabbering about this and that. He caught bits of their conversation. Most of it centered around one person liking another and 'So-and-so wants to go out with me.'
It was the same day that Otogi had run into Jou at this very park. Why Otogi came back here was beyond him, but after Ryou booted him out of his own shop, he just found himself here, avoiding the gaze of couples on benches. He'd have to admit, it wasn't his favorite pasttime, but it had to be better than moping in self pity. Which, by the way, seemed to take up most of his time.
But since his head was in the clouds, or more or less not so close to the clouds but near to the ground, he didn't notice someone else who was doing the same thing. It's funny how things can be a roll of the dice. Everything that had happened that day was generally common...
Until about two seconds ago, when Otogi walked headfirst into Katsuya Jounouchi.
Ending Notes
Ok. BAAAAAAAD cliffhanger. This was a horrible first chapter, but it should get better I promise! ::bows:: Sorry, minna-san. I have writer's block and a creative streak all in one. It's REALLY annoying. Plus, I'm working on an online comic and I don't even have a title for it... ayiyiyi.
Otogi: Since when did Ryou work at my game shop?
Since I just wrote this.
Otogi: Oh...
Yugi Muse: I was in it! And Yami wasn't! Weeee! ::dances around:: I'm naked!
Otogi: ::grins:: You always ruin my bad moods.
Yugi Muse: Hee. ^.^;
Yami Muse: O.o;;; R&R? I got... cream cheese and bagels.