CHAPTER FIVE
It was Saturday, and Yami had an entire day to work at the game shop. "Saturday, better known as 'Income Day' in this household, is the best day of the week," Grandpa Mutou had told him the other day. Yami really liked the old man. He had such a jolly character.
Grandpa was already up and sweeping outside the shop door when Yami arrived. "Good morning, Yami," he greeted, wiping the sweat off his brow. "I'm glad you came so early today. Yuugi's inside, eating breakfast. You can help him set things up if you want. And have some food." He grinned proudly. "My grandson makes the best pancakes in all of Japan."
Yami smiled and thanked him. As he entered the cozy shop, he found Yuugi sitting in a high stool, wearing a T-shirt ten sizes too big, twirling his pancake around on his fork and reading a gaming magazine. Yami was glad to see that the cut across his arm no longer needed bandages and was scarring slightly. "Having fun with your pancake?" he teased.
Yuugi blushed and immediately lowered his fork. Yami sounded so casual for a moment, almost as if they've known each other for years…
"It's fine," Yami said, laughing to himself. He watched as Yuugi took a large bite out of his pancake. "Keep twirling. Is there anything I can do for now?"
"Wou'd you… like to hab a 'ancake?"
For a moment, Yami had to resist the urge to run over the the boy and give him the biggest hug on the planet. So innocent… so perfect… He shook his head. "No, thank you," he managed to say. "Save them for your grandfather. I'm sure he'd be hungry after all that sweeping."
Yuugi swallowed, looking slightly hurt. "It's okay," he murmured, so soft Yami could barely hear him. "We have plenty of pancakes. And I made extras just for…" His voice trailed off as his face reddened even more. He nervously took another bite.
For me?
"Could I?" Yami asked, his heart skipping a beat. Yuugi wanted him to eat a pancake. Not just a pancake, but a pancake he made. "I mean, I wouldn't want to trouble you…"
Yuugi brightened, hopping off his stool, the last bite of his pancake disappearing into his small mouth. "Sure. Give me a second," he said, vanishing into the next room, his shirt covering most of his bare legs as he walked. Yami secretly wondered if he was wearing anything underneath.
His heart fluttering madly, Yuugi made his way into the kitchen. Yami was so kind, so polite, so… enticing. Yuugi had to pause and breath for a moment before remembering what he came to the kitchen for. Pancakes… for Yami. He stacked Yami's plate with as many pancakes as he could, topping it all off with a swirl of whipped cream and a blueberry.
"Pancake is ready!" he called, hoping his voice didn't crack as badly as he thought it did. "You can come in!"
Yami's eyes widened as he entered the room, the large stack of pancakes immediately catching his attention. "Oh, Yuugi! You didn't have to. I can't finish this…"
Yuugi squirmed around bashfully, desperately wishing he could disappear. "I'll take some out for you," he said weakly.
Before Yami could protest, Yuugi had already skillfully drawn out three of the layers using only a fork and a knife. "Is that too much? Or not enough? Do you want maple syrup or butter? Oh, I forgot! You might be allergic to whipped cream…" He said this all very fast, lightly rocking back and forth in one place.
"Don't worry," Yami replied softly, careful not to scare the boy any further. "The amount is perfect. I'll have some maple syrup. And no, I'm not allergic to whipped cream."
Lowering his eyes, Yuugi handed him the container of maple syrup. "Do you want anything else?"
"Well, you can sit down and talk to me." Yami paused, searching the boy's face. "Or you can sit and not talk, if you don't want to," he added hastily. "I just don't want to cause you any more discomfort."
Yuugi sat down across from him, watching him eat the pancakes. Yami's every move could make the hairs on the back of his neck quiver, the way he would slice the pancake into small pieces before dipping it into the maple syrup and bringing the tip of the fork to his lips, licking the fork afterwards with a sultry tongue. Once in a while, he would look up and tell Yuugi how delicious the pancakes were, and Yuugi would blush, his heart filling with pride. Yami ate the blueberry last, holding it between his fingers and popping the small fruit into his mouth. For a moment, Yuugi thought he would lick his fingers clean, but he reached for a napkin instead.
"So what's it like… in Egypt?" Yuugi asked, eyeing Yami's syrup-stained plate.
"It's not so special," Yami said, fingering his napkin idly. "Modern Egypt is just like any other place, with buses and tall buildings. Of course, the language and climate is different. Where I come from, we speak English and Arabic."
Just as Yuugi was about to ask how Yami learned Japanese so perfectly, his grandfather strode in through the door. "Yuugi! We have three customers waiting outside! It's time to get back to work!"
Yami stood and apologized, explaining how hungry he was. Yuugi looked away guiltily, muttering something about changing his shirt and cleaning up the dishes as Yami left to tend the customers with Grandpa.
After he was certain Yami was busy with something else, Yuugi reached for the empty plate on the table and dipped his finger into Yami's leftover maple syrup. He swirled it around a bit, making sure to brush his skin against the tip of the fork, and brought sticky substance to his own mouth.
- - -
Yami was bored. He had been working all morning and noon with Yuugi, who was now on a short break with his grandfather. Grandpa had kept them busy with chores such as dusting off the tiniest corners of every shelf, making sure each game was in its right place in alphabetical order, and finding whatever each customer asked for even if it meant going through every game in the entire store. If Yuugi didn't come back soon, Yami didn't know what he would do.
He was so caught up with his thoughts that he didn't even notice a customer coming through the door.
"Earth to Yuugi!" a feminine voice called. "Not even one 'hello' for me. Hmph." Whoever it was, she was now waving her lavender nailpolish in his face, wearing a fingerless glove on her hand. "What's wrong with you today?"
Yami blinked and looked up. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
The woman's eyes widened as she took a step back. "You're not Yuugi!" she exclaimed. "Who are you? His long-lost cousin?"
"No. I work here."
The woman leaned across the counter and examined him closely. "Well, now that I take a good look, you two look nothing alike. Where is the cutie-pie, anyway? I haven't visited in a while."
Yami shrugged. "He's on break," he said. "How may I help you?"
"You can take that cute ass of yours and go find Yuugi for me."
Who the hell does this woman think she is? "It is Yuugi's lunch break," Yami repeated slowly, looking her straight in the eye. "If you don't need anything, you can always come back later to speak with him."
The woman laughed, a sunny sound that filled the room. "I like you, kid. You don't just take orders from anyone." She held out her hand. "The name's Mai. Kujaku Mai. It's nice to meet you."
Yami shook her hand firmly. "Yami," he said simply.
"Just Yami?"
"Ohama," Yami replied. "But I'd prefer Yami."
The moment Yami finished his sentence, Yuugi quietly entered the shop, his eyes brightening as the woman turned to give him a kind smile. "Hello, Mai," he greeted. "How are you? Do you want something to drink?"
"Gee, no need to be all formal around me, Yuugi," Mai replied. "By the way, your friend here is such an enthusiastic worker. He was just iching to help me out." She sounded so utterly sarcastic, Yuugi didn't know how to respond.
Yami gave her a piercing glare that would have made any other woman shrink back in fear before coming out from behind the counter. "I'll be back in half an hour," he muttered to Yuugi, allowing his hand to lightly brush against Yuugi's back as he left the shop.
Yuugi turned bright red, trying hard not to gasp out loud. He gazed out the glass door, watching as Yami crossed the street and turned at the corner.
Mai whistled. "Is it just me, or does little Yuugi have a crush on someone?"
"I'm just a little edgy today, that's all," Yuugi said meekly.
"I know a crush when I see one, and that, my friend, is a crush," Mai declared. "You should go for it. It isn't every day that a sexy guy like Yami comes around and starts working right under your own bedroom."
Yuugi sighed. As much as he wanted to go for it, he knew he couldn't. He shouldn't. It was wrong, so very very wrong, for him to even think about being loved by someone else. He already caused his grandpa enough suffering. Then again, Yami would probably never love him back. But he cares… Yami cares about me. If only he knew he was making such a terrible mistake. If only I wasn't so selfish…
"Maybe I will," Yuugi lied. "Thanks."
- - -
Note: Aaaaaaah! Why is this story moving so slow? Why??? *tears hair out* Anyway, I wish I could answer all your questions without giving everything away, but unfortunately, I can't, so I won't. Oh, yes. No dissing Mai. She's the only female character I've actually thought was cool before, so don't ruin my image of her. I can assure you she won't fall in love with Yami and tear him away from Yuugi. And um… I know some of you think Anzu is Yuugi's girlfriend, but she's not (it's only what Yami thinks). If she is, then Yuugi has many many girlfriends. You'll see what I mean later. Thank you guys for all your kind reviews! *throws Yuugi plushies at everyone*
Yami: No Yami plushies? *sweatdrop*
Lanlan: Nope. Yuugi stole all of them.
Yuugi: *completely naked in bed, buried in a pile of Yami plushies, muttering to self* I love you, Yami… You're mine. All mine.
Yami: Oh, gods. That… is the most arousing scene I have ever come across. *drools* Never knew this possessive side of him…
Please review and tell me what you liked and didn't like. Thanks. Oh, yeah, one more thing. Check out my new doodle of Yami and Yuugi. It's not so great, but it's the closest their lips have gotten in my fanart: (deviantart.com/view/4276350). You might have to add the 'www' part. =]