Disclaimer: I don't own. Sorry...
Author's Note: Uh...yeah...forgive me for not updating in...well, eternity. -- It's not like I don't have the chapters written. O.o I've just been BUSY. Oh, well. Hope you enjoy this chapter. I think this is where it begins to get AU. :P
Enjoy!
A Gathering Of Memories
It was a cloudy morning, much too dark for anyone's liking, but the group of teenagers seemed to ignore it as they trudged to school, smiling at each other and laughing. Ryou was amidst them, eyes following the pattern of his steps and a frown on his face. His Yami hadn't spoken to him since last night, and he had a feeling that it would be a good few days more until he actually did.
Why was it that Bakura had to always see everything as weak unless it involved pain infliction?
Ryou shook his head, lost in his own thoughts, and he didn't see the figure sneaking up behind him until he was locked against a warm body, arms around his throat. He heard a chuckle of amusement and stopped struggling, his cheeks burning a dark red. He had forgotten that he wasn't alone, and it was most likely one of his friends trying to get him to come back to earth.
It had certainly worked.
"Sorry, Ryou, you just looked like ya needed a little excitement," a familiar voice rattled, making him suddenly very self-conscious. There was a definite bulge of muscle in the limbs surrounding him and he noticed a spicy scent that he hadn't before, something that reminded him of someone else, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it. Ryou jumped as another poked him in the stomach, bringing him from his strange daydreaming state of shadowed faces.
"Are you alive in there?" That was Honda, there was no doubt about that, and that meant only one thing; Jounouchi was holding him prisoner. He opened one eye to look around and found Yugi crying because he was laughing so hard, and Anzu sighed, shaking her head at the immaturity of the boys.
"I...yes, Honda. I was just -um- thinking," he squeaked out, breathing a heavy sigh of relief when Jounouchi removed his arms and stood beside him.
"Good, 'cause if you hadn't stopped walkin' you woulda went straight inta that." Jounouchi pointed ahead of them towards the raging traffic of students, mostly girls, who surrounded a black limo pulled up beside the curb, shoving each other to have a look at the man stepping out. The blonde groaned excessively loud and slapped his hand to his forehead. "I just don't see what the big deal is. I mean it's only Kaiba, for cryin' out loud!"
But everyone knew Jounouchi was far from right.
Seto Kaiba was a big deal. In fact, he was the biggest deal in Domino City at the moment, and it had nothing to do with his talent at playing Duel Monsters or that he owned a multi-billion dollar corporation, which he ran on the side of finishing an education he really didn't need and raising his younger brother. It only had do with the fact that his lover, unbeknownst to the crowd of ogling fanatics, was standing with them, and there was obviously something important going on for him to show up at a public school, on a Friday morning.
The tall, dark-haired man pushed his way easily through the frenzied circle, making a few of them faint as he put them aside with a touch of his hand, and he walked directly to the others, a serious expression in his cold blue eyes. Ryou smiled as he looked at him, giving him a very brief and silent hello, but Jounouchi did the complete opposite.
He scowled at him, and his fists were clenched as if he was about to fight.
"Whatdaya want, Seto Kaiba?" he mocked, ignoring the warning gaze from Honda and the touch of Ryou's hand on his arm, attempting to hold him back.
Kaiba sneered at him, lighting up his face in a blaze of red.
"It's none of your business, mongrel, so I suggest that you shut your trap," he teased, almost laughing as Jounouchi's face burst into a flame of crimson. Yugi, who almost seemed forgotten among them, stepped forward, tapping Kaiba's arm with his small, slender fingers.
"Don't taunt him that way, Seto," he whispered, ignoring the strange stares from his friends although his cheeks nearly matched the color of Jounouchi's entire visage, giving away his embarrassment. The other smiled tenderly at him before stepping back, giving himself some room.
"I apologize, Yugi," he replied quietly before raising his voice so everyone else could hear. "I have a proposition for all of you. I suggest that you take it while the offer still stands free."
"Before we did that we would have to know what it was," Ryou interrupted before Jounouchi could open his mouth to say anything else insulting. He knew the blonde would unconsciously say something that would start an all-out war, and no one wanted that, especially him; disliked fighting in all its forms. Kaiba stared at him, as if he were from another planet and just shook his head. The white haired youth slapped a hand over his lips to force himself to remain quiet.
How could he have spoken out like that?
What had gotten into him?
The only possible explanation was that part of his Yami's personality was rubbing off on him, which was a very dangerous and scary thing!
"Let's just say I've found an old friend. I need you to show him around, teach him about this filthy place of a school. He refused to come with me, and you're the only people I can actually count on to get the job done, as sad as it sounds."
"Well, who is this punk? Should we even care?" Honda leapt on Jounouchi to keep from saying something nastier, and Kaiba laughed, loving the way the blonde imitated a dog perfectly as he bit at Honda's fingers, trying to get free.
It was certainly amusing, but it was also a waste of his time.
"It seems that you live up to your name, Jounouchi," he muttered, smirking ruthlessly at his own, hidden joke. "If your patience can hold out, I will get him."
"There is no need, Seto. I've made it well enough on my own," a strange voice answered, startling the entire group so that several heads turned to look. When Ryou's eyes landed on the form of the boy speaking, he sucked in his breath, suddenly feeling very faint. His hair hung low on his shoulders, creating a golden sheen around his tanned face, and the orbs that stared back at him were beyond any logical color; they were bright violet, even lighter than Yugi's. A smile formed on his lips as he watched Ryou with partial interest, who was still trying to figure out what he was actually seeing, before turning his attention back to Kaiba and the others. "Hello."
"Hi," Yugi chirped happily, unaware of Ryou's shocked state or the fact that Anzu, Jounouchi, and Honda just gaped, their mouths open. "I'm-"
"I know who you are, Yugi Mutou," the stranger murmured softly, his voice lilted with an air that seemed very familiar to the two youths who held Sennen Items in their possession. "Seto has been kind enough to give me a complete background on each of you before I came here."
"That'd only be from his pointa view, I'm wagerin'!" Jounouchi snapped, glaring darkly even as Kaiba turned his back, mumbling something about being back later after school was finished, and without so much as a good-bye, he left.
"I take it that you are Katsuya Jounouchi. Am I correct?" The blonde crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders when he identified him correctly.
"Lucky guess," he retorted, bending over to pick up the backpack he had thrown on the ground earlier. "I'm outta here. I'll see you guys later." He shoved past Honda and Ryou, making his way quickly towards school. The others sighed in exasperation, knowing that Jounouchi -indeed- acted that way, but the newcomer frowned.
"I seem unwelcome in this place. Perhaps I should not have come here."
"Don't let Jou get to you like that. He's in one of his moods, and I'm going to find out why. I'll catch everyone later, alright?" Without saying another word, Honda raced off after him, and Anzu, giving up on the entire situation, continued on towards the old building, excusing herself quietly without giving them a speech on something even more annoying than how 'friendship was important.' Yugi smiled up at the stranger, finally noticing that he was already dressed in the appropriate uniform of a white t-shirt, blue jacket, and pants, but the sleeves of the thin coat were rolled up to the elbows, revealing thin, well-defined arms. The golden bands encasing his slender wrists caught the young Sennen Puzzle owner off- guard.
Why was he wearing that?
"Since you know all about us why don't you tell us something about you? Like your name?" Yugi implied, still grinning even as he brought his hand up to cup the pyramid hanging from his neck in security. Ryou swallowed harshly as he turned his head slightly to stare at him.
There was just something so familiar about him that set off warning bells in the depths of his mind.
What was it?
"It would be my pleasure. I'm Malik Ish- What the hell?!" Ryou had forgotten all about his Yami, and he immediately found Bakura standing about two feet from the newest addition of Domino High after a bright flash of light had blinded him momentarily. The Sennen Ring lay against his chest, the cold metal chilling his skin through the sweater he wore, and he realized that it had been his other half that had made him worry. The demonic spirit scrutinized the boy before him, eyes wide in fascination, but then, he stepped back, spitting on the ground in disgust at his feet. He grabbed him by the open collar of his jacket and pulled him forward, their faces inches apart.
"I don't know what the fuck you're playing at, but it's far from damn amusing! You're not him, and you never will be!" Releasing him roughly, he shoved him away and then disappeared back into the Ring, jolting Ryou with a burst of emotions that enveloped him in a powerful wave. He couldn't stop himself from falling to his knees.
What had that been about?
Why was his Yami suddenly being so open with his feelings and sharing them with him through their connection?
He rubbed his heart as the unconscious thought of it breaking filled him.
"Are you okay?" he managed to ask before he was able to breathe again. When Ryou glanced up, he saw Yugi helping the boy to his feet, and he also tried to stand, but his legs felt like rubber.
What was wrong with him?
"I'm fine, but what was that?" He heard Yugi laugh, and he used the side of a building to support himself as he got up; his legs didn't seem to want to work. Ryou shook his head, his gaze meeting that of the one who his Yami had just threatened, and a blush flooded his cheeks.
"Trust me. You don't want to know," he replied, glancing up at the clock hanging above Domino High School. "I believe we will be late if we do not hurry. If you would like, I'll show you to your first class, if you know what it is -um- Malik." Malik smiled appreciatively at him.
"That would be much obliged, and I thank you. Give me a minute so I can find the schedule Seto made me." He dug into the pockets of his pants and withdrew a crinkled piece of paper. Grimacing, Malik unfolded it to make out blurry computer print. "I believe it says advanced calculus...huh?! There has to be some mistake! I don't know anything about math...much less that!" Yugi laughed and patted him on the arm.
"It'll be fine. I don't have that class, but Ryou does, don't you?" Ryou opened his mouth to say something but turned another shade of crimson instead, and he nodded his head. "See. You're not the only one that has to suffer through that class."
Malik smiled.
"That's a relief. What else does he have me taking? Chemistry, English, psychology, civ history, physics, business schematics...what the hell is that?" Malik squinted to read the last thing and sighed in relief. "Thank Ra! At least it's something I can do. Physical education...gym," he spoke, laughter in his voice. Ryou glanced over at Yugi to see if he had noticed the exclamation concerning another entity they had never before heard, except in history classes and from their other halves, and he nodded briefly before adjusting the weight of his backpack.
"Well, I suppose we should get going, or we're going to be late. I'll see you later, Ryou! It was nice to meet you, Malik!" he called back as he took off running, a smile on his face. Ryou nervously looked around, expecting to find the other gone as well, but it was a wish only his heart made; a very silent wish.
"He seems quite cheerful. What say you about going to -um- advanced calculus?" he asked, sounding hopelessly sad when he mentioned the math class. Ryou shrugged and started to walk, knowing that it was going to be an extremely long, and probably terrifying, day.
TBC-
A/N: I know...not the best of my work, but I'm slowly revising. If there are any mistakes, please forgive me! Other than that...comments, anyone?
Author's Note: Uh...yeah...forgive me for not updating in...well, eternity. -- It's not like I don't have the chapters written. O.o I've just been BUSY. Oh, well. Hope you enjoy this chapter. I think this is where it begins to get AU. :P
Enjoy!
A Gathering Of Memories
It was a cloudy morning, much too dark for anyone's liking, but the group of teenagers seemed to ignore it as they trudged to school, smiling at each other and laughing. Ryou was amidst them, eyes following the pattern of his steps and a frown on his face. His Yami hadn't spoken to him since last night, and he had a feeling that it would be a good few days more until he actually did.
Why was it that Bakura had to always see everything as weak unless it involved pain infliction?
Ryou shook his head, lost in his own thoughts, and he didn't see the figure sneaking up behind him until he was locked against a warm body, arms around his throat. He heard a chuckle of amusement and stopped struggling, his cheeks burning a dark red. He had forgotten that he wasn't alone, and it was most likely one of his friends trying to get him to come back to earth.
It had certainly worked.
"Sorry, Ryou, you just looked like ya needed a little excitement," a familiar voice rattled, making him suddenly very self-conscious. There was a definite bulge of muscle in the limbs surrounding him and he noticed a spicy scent that he hadn't before, something that reminded him of someone else, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it. Ryou jumped as another poked him in the stomach, bringing him from his strange daydreaming state of shadowed faces.
"Are you alive in there?" That was Honda, there was no doubt about that, and that meant only one thing; Jounouchi was holding him prisoner. He opened one eye to look around and found Yugi crying because he was laughing so hard, and Anzu sighed, shaking her head at the immaturity of the boys.
"I...yes, Honda. I was just -um- thinking," he squeaked out, breathing a heavy sigh of relief when Jounouchi removed his arms and stood beside him.
"Good, 'cause if you hadn't stopped walkin' you woulda went straight inta that." Jounouchi pointed ahead of them towards the raging traffic of students, mostly girls, who surrounded a black limo pulled up beside the curb, shoving each other to have a look at the man stepping out. The blonde groaned excessively loud and slapped his hand to his forehead. "I just don't see what the big deal is. I mean it's only Kaiba, for cryin' out loud!"
But everyone knew Jounouchi was far from right.
Seto Kaiba was a big deal. In fact, he was the biggest deal in Domino City at the moment, and it had nothing to do with his talent at playing Duel Monsters or that he owned a multi-billion dollar corporation, which he ran on the side of finishing an education he really didn't need and raising his younger brother. It only had do with the fact that his lover, unbeknownst to the crowd of ogling fanatics, was standing with them, and there was obviously something important going on for him to show up at a public school, on a Friday morning.
The tall, dark-haired man pushed his way easily through the frenzied circle, making a few of them faint as he put them aside with a touch of his hand, and he walked directly to the others, a serious expression in his cold blue eyes. Ryou smiled as he looked at him, giving him a very brief and silent hello, but Jounouchi did the complete opposite.
He scowled at him, and his fists were clenched as if he was about to fight.
"Whatdaya want, Seto Kaiba?" he mocked, ignoring the warning gaze from Honda and the touch of Ryou's hand on his arm, attempting to hold him back.
Kaiba sneered at him, lighting up his face in a blaze of red.
"It's none of your business, mongrel, so I suggest that you shut your trap," he teased, almost laughing as Jounouchi's face burst into a flame of crimson. Yugi, who almost seemed forgotten among them, stepped forward, tapping Kaiba's arm with his small, slender fingers.
"Don't taunt him that way, Seto," he whispered, ignoring the strange stares from his friends although his cheeks nearly matched the color of Jounouchi's entire visage, giving away his embarrassment. The other smiled tenderly at him before stepping back, giving himself some room.
"I apologize, Yugi," he replied quietly before raising his voice so everyone else could hear. "I have a proposition for all of you. I suggest that you take it while the offer still stands free."
"Before we did that we would have to know what it was," Ryou interrupted before Jounouchi could open his mouth to say anything else insulting. He knew the blonde would unconsciously say something that would start an all-out war, and no one wanted that, especially him; disliked fighting in all its forms. Kaiba stared at him, as if he were from another planet and just shook his head. The white haired youth slapped a hand over his lips to force himself to remain quiet.
How could he have spoken out like that?
What had gotten into him?
The only possible explanation was that part of his Yami's personality was rubbing off on him, which was a very dangerous and scary thing!
"Let's just say I've found an old friend. I need you to show him around, teach him about this filthy place of a school. He refused to come with me, and you're the only people I can actually count on to get the job done, as sad as it sounds."
"Well, who is this punk? Should we even care?" Honda leapt on Jounouchi to keep from saying something nastier, and Kaiba laughed, loving the way the blonde imitated a dog perfectly as he bit at Honda's fingers, trying to get free.
It was certainly amusing, but it was also a waste of his time.
"It seems that you live up to your name, Jounouchi," he muttered, smirking ruthlessly at his own, hidden joke. "If your patience can hold out, I will get him."
"There is no need, Seto. I've made it well enough on my own," a strange voice answered, startling the entire group so that several heads turned to look. When Ryou's eyes landed on the form of the boy speaking, he sucked in his breath, suddenly feeling very faint. His hair hung low on his shoulders, creating a golden sheen around his tanned face, and the orbs that stared back at him were beyond any logical color; they were bright violet, even lighter than Yugi's. A smile formed on his lips as he watched Ryou with partial interest, who was still trying to figure out what he was actually seeing, before turning his attention back to Kaiba and the others. "Hello."
"Hi," Yugi chirped happily, unaware of Ryou's shocked state or the fact that Anzu, Jounouchi, and Honda just gaped, their mouths open. "I'm-"
"I know who you are, Yugi Mutou," the stranger murmured softly, his voice lilted with an air that seemed very familiar to the two youths who held Sennen Items in their possession. "Seto has been kind enough to give me a complete background on each of you before I came here."
"That'd only be from his pointa view, I'm wagerin'!" Jounouchi snapped, glaring darkly even as Kaiba turned his back, mumbling something about being back later after school was finished, and without so much as a good-bye, he left.
"I take it that you are Katsuya Jounouchi. Am I correct?" The blonde crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders when he identified him correctly.
"Lucky guess," he retorted, bending over to pick up the backpack he had thrown on the ground earlier. "I'm outta here. I'll see you guys later." He shoved past Honda and Ryou, making his way quickly towards school. The others sighed in exasperation, knowing that Jounouchi -indeed- acted that way, but the newcomer frowned.
"I seem unwelcome in this place. Perhaps I should not have come here."
"Don't let Jou get to you like that. He's in one of his moods, and I'm going to find out why. I'll catch everyone later, alright?" Without saying another word, Honda raced off after him, and Anzu, giving up on the entire situation, continued on towards the old building, excusing herself quietly without giving them a speech on something even more annoying than how 'friendship was important.' Yugi smiled up at the stranger, finally noticing that he was already dressed in the appropriate uniform of a white t-shirt, blue jacket, and pants, but the sleeves of the thin coat were rolled up to the elbows, revealing thin, well-defined arms. The golden bands encasing his slender wrists caught the young Sennen Puzzle owner off- guard.
Why was he wearing that?
"Since you know all about us why don't you tell us something about you? Like your name?" Yugi implied, still grinning even as he brought his hand up to cup the pyramid hanging from his neck in security. Ryou swallowed harshly as he turned his head slightly to stare at him.
There was just something so familiar about him that set off warning bells in the depths of his mind.
What was it?
"It would be my pleasure. I'm Malik Ish- What the hell?!" Ryou had forgotten all about his Yami, and he immediately found Bakura standing about two feet from the newest addition of Domino High after a bright flash of light had blinded him momentarily. The Sennen Ring lay against his chest, the cold metal chilling his skin through the sweater he wore, and he realized that it had been his other half that had made him worry. The demonic spirit scrutinized the boy before him, eyes wide in fascination, but then, he stepped back, spitting on the ground in disgust at his feet. He grabbed him by the open collar of his jacket and pulled him forward, their faces inches apart.
"I don't know what the fuck you're playing at, but it's far from damn amusing! You're not him, and you never will be!" Releasing him roughly, he shoved him away and then disappeared back into the Ring, jolting Ryou with a burst of emotions that enveloped him in a powerful wave. He couldn't stop himself from falling to his knees.
What had that been about?
Why was his Yami suddenly being so open with his feelings and sharing them with him through their connection?
He rubbed his heart as the unconscious thought of it breaking filled him.
"Are you okay?" he managed to ask before he was able to breathe again. When Ryou glanced up, he saw Yugi helping the boy to his feet, and he also tried to stand, but his legs felt like rubber.
What was wrong with him?
"I'm fine, but what was that?" He heard Yugi laugh, and he used the side of a building to support himself as he got up; his legs didn't seem to want to work. Ryou shook his head, his gaze meeting that of the one who his Yami had just threatened, and a blush flooded his cheeks.
"Trust me. You don't want to know," he replied, glancing up at the clock hanging above Domino High School. "I believe we will be late if we do not hurry. If you would like, I'll show you to your first class, if you know what it is -um- Malik." Malik smiled appreciatively at him.
"That would be much obliged, and I thank you. Give me a minute so I can find the schedule Seto made me." He dug into the pockets of his pants and withdrew a crinkled piece of paper. Grimacing, Malik unfolded it to make out blurry computer print. "I believe it says advanced calculus...huh?! There has to be some mistake! I don't know anything about math...much less that!" Yugi laughed and patted him on the arm.
"It'll be fine. I don't have that class, but Ryou does, don't you?" Ryou opened his mouth to say something but turned another shade of crimson instead, and he nodded his head. "See. You're not the only one that has to suffer through that class."
Malik smiled.
"That's a relief. What else does he have me taking? Chemistry, English, psychology, civ history, physics, business schematics...what the hell is that?" Malik squinted to read the last thing and sighed in relief. "Thank Ra! At least it's something I can do. Physical education...gym," he spoke, laughter in his voice. Ryou glanced over at Yugi to see if he had noticed the exclamation concerning another entity they had never before heard, except in history classes and from their other halves, and he nodded briefly before adjusting the weight of his backpack.
"Well, I suppose we should get going, or we're going to be late. I'll see you later, Ryou! It was nice to meet you, Malik!" he called back as he took off running, a smile on his face. Ryou nervously looked around, expecting to find the other gone as well, but it was a wish only his heart made; a very silent wish.
"He seems quite cheerful. What say you about going to -um- advanced calculus?" he asked, sounding hopelessly sad when he mentioned the math class. Ryou shrugged and started to walk, knowing that it was going to be an extremely long, and probably terrifying, day.
TBC-
A/N: I know...not the best of my work, but I'm slowly revising. If there are any mistakes, please forgive me! Other than that...comments, anyone?