Disclaimer: ::lawyers lean in:: I, Ego-chan, ::lawyers lean closer:: do not own ::lawyers lean even closer:: Yu-Gi-Oh. ::lawyers frown, waiting:: Oh, and no one's making money from this fic. ::lawyers back away and walk off:: I wish I were though. ::lawyers come back to listen in:: Uh, never mind? ::lawyers glare::
Notes: Well, I was hoping this chapter would be longer…dammit.
I cut this chapter in half. The original ending didn't fit. I like to stay at least one chapter ahead of my others or I get writer's block.
You know, these chapter lengths are actually quite short for me. ::shrugs:: Oh well, I can only hope they get longer (watch me drop a twenty-plus pager on you guys).
Also, characters are calling each other by their last names so far due to whom this fic is centering about (Yuugi-tachi sort of exempt a tad there because of what readers are used to seeing). First names are special-full. XP
Chapter Information: This chapter was inspired by someone's dead parakeet waves to R Amythest I dunno, I guess I had birds on the brain after that. The chapter came out of it. Also, as far as this plot cares, Yuugi-tachi is still in the Pharaoh's memory world. Neither of my chief characters entered that place, so that's why they get to be the key focus. This also limits me from having to mess with Yami no Bakura (though rumor has it that I'm excellent with his personification ::is very confused::).
Thanks: R Amythest for beta reading. She's read chapter four! ::grins at readers:: Review and you can too!
(Equaral: Ha, I knew you'd review! grin I don't plan on making Ryou insane this fic. ::blinks at Rabid Otogi-chibi and pokes him:: Er, so…does it do any tricks?) [gwinny: Glad you like the first chapter!] (Moonchild: Never fear, Ryou will not be insane this fic. Fyi, I actually made him crazy three times. "Plans" was the only good one, though.) [Renee the Rabid Squirrel: Yeah, about the G thing… I had ten minutes left online and was in a hurry. I fixed the genre and rating at one in the morning. Too lazy to worry about the summary though….] (A.K.A. Talentless: Ha, I knew you'd review! ::grin:: I knew both you and Equaral would {another reviewer}. - I'd say I've set up part of the conflict. Seto's role hasn't been introduced yet. ::grin:: Demo, I did hint on it though.) [kaaoru: No threesome. At least, I don't think so….] (Windswift: I believe I said what D-D-D was in "Plans". Oh, well. You don't have to worry about the Pharaoh's Memories; it's just an excuse for me not to have Yuugi-tachi around. ::grin::) [The Evil Laugh: I know, I'm not good at cliffhangers. But I really don't think they're that necessary. It's also a bit cruel, but you get reviews. I used to write lots of cliffies, so forgive me. - Baka, I will not give up on my glossary idea! ::bops TEL on the head:: How can you even suggest that? ::bops TEL on the head again::] (Shetan: {Ryou: I am not a slut!} ::cast sweatdrop nervously:: We didn't say you were…. - ::happy grin:: You download YnM? Yatte! Finally, someone will know what I'm talking about! ::runs off to go find Tatsumi-san:: Are your downloads English or Japanese? I'm assuming you watched them, it's been two weeks.) [R Amythest: I was in a good mood, so I updated! ::glares at chapter five:: I have everything planned, I just need to get through five, shimatta!] (Ashuri chan: ::hyper grin:: You like it, you really like it? ::composes herself:: Well, look at that, more!) [Kayrie: Yes, I found last chapter funny too; it's fun making up stuff about Otogi-san grins {Otogi: Which is why I hate you} - Glad you like Ryou.] (InSaNe KeYbLaDeR: "Plans" will not be updated this week either, as I had my homework delivered last week and couldn't concentrate. - ::grin:: I'm happy you like this. I'm still trying to figure out why I wrote it.) [Sachi-chan: Reviewing from the beginning? Where else can you review this fic? blinks ANYWAY… I am helping TEL to write a HP fic {and I still haven't finished book four—that's a promising credential}.] (Green Eyes Silver Dragon: Why thank you. I'm happy you find this cool.) [TeeDee: ::nervous grin:: "Plans" isn't updated this week. ::silence:: Well, anyhow, I promise not to make Ryuuji-kun like Muraki-::grin::-SAMA! ::goes off to look at pics of said insane doctor:: Ryuuji is actually starting to sound like me a bit, so I'm getting angry. I fixed him up though.]
Wow, ::blinks:: that's a lot more reviews than I expected. I hope you all keep this up. I like it. ::puppy eyes:: Me ish loving all these wonderful reviews!
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Or Die Trying
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-Soba-
Ryuuji grimaced at his calendar listening to Mei. He counted the days until school let out for a week. That would be the opportune time to hold his tournament. He had more or less five days until vacation. The spot for the tournament had yet to be decided and until then there could be no advertisements. Ryuuji knew there was still time…that he could back out any second and pretend nothing had been planned. But, that would be shameful, a terrible blow to his pride. No, he had to do this; he wanted an event for his game very much. Giving up wasn't going to get him anywhere.
"Iie, that's not going to work out, Mei," Ryuuji sighed into the office phone, "I just don't think—yes, I really want this tournament—no, I'm not going to negotiate with Kaiba-san. I know he has those crazy little stadiums, I know special affects draw bigger crowds, but I also know I don't want Kaiba Seto all over this."
Mei recited again the benefits of borrowing Kaiba World, the Kaiba gaming franchise's enormous Magic & Wizards complex. With adjusting, the equipment could easily be converted for a Dragons, Dice, and Dungeons competition. The place was also large and enclosed. The 3-D monster holograms would probably attract more people and spectators. Ryuuji was by then well aware of this. Mei had been repeating himself for the past four days.
"I said no, Mei and I meant it, too. The arcade has capacity issues and the new game center's got an outrageous price tag. I can't even imagine how much Kaiba would ask for, the sadistic egomaniac. That guy is a miser, Mei. All that technology—I'll be drained! I'm not obscenely rich," Mei started to laugh slightly and Ryuuji smirked, "Okay, not that obscenely. But Kaiba Seto's worth more than this entire city economy-wise, you know that."
Mei agreed and Ryuuji grinned. He'd seen Seto numerous times during classes as the loaded-with-yen-aire was forced to "grace with his presence" the indecency known as high school. It was almost comic. Yuugi-tachi had been known to converse with him on occasion (blue moons, alignments of the planets). No one else really did. In fact, no fan girls clustered around Seto, even though he was easily one of the sexiest single young men in attendance. He was very well trained in the art of scaring people off.
Ryuuji didn't like Seto too much. The jerk was snooty and bitter. There was no way he'd let that pompous idiot take credit for his event.
"Listen Mei, I'll talk to some people, see what they think, and I'll personally make sure your die-hard Kaiba World idea goes down with the proper ignition." By this Ryuuji just meant he'd ask the soba noodle man down the street, his own reflection (which would count for a refusal), and Bakura Ryou. Usually he'd get Yuugi-tachi's opinion, but they currently had more important things to do that for once didn't involve him, Ryou, or Kaiba.
"Goodbye, Mei. I'm off to prove what a baka you are," Ryuuji finally ended the conversation. He heard Mei smirk and wish him luck before he hung up the phone.
Ryuuji stared around his small office space unenthusiastically, suddenly not so certain what to do with himself. With a sigh he stood up and exited, going to the bathroom. Opening the medicine cabinet, he pulled out a jar of aspirin to relieve a potential lethally resounding headache.
"Che, what am I going to do?" he muttered into the mirror as he began straightening his elaborate hair set up. With well-practised skill he tied a decorative bandana into the black mass so it stood up outrageously, gathering the rest in a ponytail. Ryuuji, happier with the improved appearance, smirked at the image in the mirror. He was completely irresistible.
Well, unless the person judging was Ryou, but Ryuuji was certain his little white haired friend wasn't as fully uninterested as he made seem. No, Ryou had to at any rate agree that his friend was incredibly good looking. It was quite obvious.
But then, Ryuuji was more than a bit overblown. He was one of those people to flip his hair and say, "Sorry, wasn't listening, wasn't caring, too busy being sexy…ooh, is that a mirror?" in a singsong, absentminded sigh observing the masses outside the window. Ryuuji found it hard to realize why Ryou wasn't interested in a witty, dedicated, monetarily thriving, and (most importantly) handsome businessman like himself, (quite the wrap up.) Really, it seemed virtually everyone else wanted him, so why couldn't it be the one person his thoughts liked to fall on at the strangest times?
Ryuuji groaned as the phone rang. He picked up the nearest one in his bedroom and waited.
"Hello, this is Suzi Tan and I was—" {A}
"Gomen, busy, call back later, bye," Ryuuji cut her off, hanging up the receiver. Finished with his hair Ryuuji was hurrying. The conversation with Mei had taken far too long and now had to be made up for with a rush. Ryuuji had to get to the soba noodle vender in ten minutes. This was so he'd arrive before Ryou passed by on his Saturday walks through the business district of Domino. Ryuuji had a very important proposition to make to his lovely friend.
Humming to himself, Ryuuji exited and made his way down the street. He soon cut the cheerful tune and attitude as he approached the groups of people on the sidewalk, resorting to profanities as he tried to part the masses like a reluctant Moses making his way to the promise of the soba stand in the less crowded portion of the city where Ryou was wont to be.
-----
Otogi looked pleadingly over his soba. Ryou wasn't taking in much of his meal, but that didn't bother his companion. It was one of those things you had to accept about the slight boy, he didn't eat a lot and he didn't eat fast. He was just like that and Ryuuji thought it impossible to think any other way about it.
Well, if he were thinking about it. Currently he was waiting for an answer to the request he'd just thrown at Ryou. The white haired boy, in deep contemplation, asked the same question for the third time.
"So you want me to go with you to this…?"
"Party, dinner, random social event of Doom, whichever you want to call it," Ryuuji was quick to answer.
"Yes, uh, that. You want me there, Otogi-kun?"
"Hai."
Ryou furrowed his brow again, contemplating. Ryuuji watched and waited anxiously. He had just invited Ryou to a dinner with some of Domino's most prominent individuals. The logic behind it all was that Ryuuji was allowed to bring along one person. Not only that, he was expected to do so. The black haired teen had already decided if Ryou wouldn't go, then he the great Otogi Ryuuji, would excuse himself and not attend as well. He couldn't stand the thing alone. Basically it was an event for all of Domino's highest money earning egos to clash opinions and check books, make financial alliances and fire old affiliates. Ryuuji thought it was hilarious he could be thrown into the lot with his dice game, but he had to admit, it was quite well liked. Some people where saying D-D-D was the next best thing to Magic and Wizards, which was very flattering as, with the current state of its creator, the card game wasn't as insanely popular as when it first came out. Still, you had to except that nothing would ever really beat out M&W (it had affected much of the world in more ways than he bothered to make himself aware of), so Ryuuji had borrowed a bit of its elements for his own game so all the duelling fanatics would not feel attacked by an alien sport. This worked well enough, as the dark teen was considerably wealthy.
"Repeat; when is this convention of sorts?"
"Tomorrow evening."
"Hm…." Ryou stared off to space again. He eyes traveled distantly over the salad sitting on another table. He watched it mutely before a light of realization came across his face.
"Can I get salad?" Ryou finally said. Ryuuji blinked at him.
"What, right now? You didn't touch your noodles," he said, slightly perplexed.
"Well, I just want some croutons. That or bread," Ryou informed him, looking over Ryuuji's shoulder. The dark teen turned around to see what was so distracting. There was nothing there but an expanse of sidewalk and a flock of bothersome pigeons.
"Do birds eat noodles?" Ryou wondered aloud while Ryuuji sighed.
"You can't be serious, Bakura-kun…."
Ryou ignored him, already standing and heading towards the birds. Ryuuji frowned at the cracker the boy had gotten from nowhere.
"Bakura, they're pigeons, we see them every day. You know, flying rats." Ryuuji tried to convince him. Ryou shook his head faintly and pointed.
"Not them silly, the dove."
Ryuuji stood next to Ryou, curious, "What dove?"
"The one there, next to those feral pigeons."
"Huh?" Ryuuji slurred at this, "Feral…?"
"Between the two 'flying rats' by that pagoda. It's pale, the other birds are grey." {B}
Ryuuji looked under the tree. Sure enough, there was a white turtledove, like the kind used in western films for weddings and Christianity oriented displays. That was odd. Someone had either lost a dove or the bird had lost itself. Turtledoves weren't native, were they?
"Where did that thing come from?" he asked. Ryou was busy feeding the bird, which appeared quite tame and had flapped up to the offering of a cracker.
"Wakarimasen," Ryou shrugged. Ryuuji observed the slight creature jump onto the curious boy's jacket sleeve. Ryou studied it, interested. He turned to the feet to look for a tag. There was a black band around one of the scrawny legs, but past that it wasn't much.
"Where do you think it came from?" Ryuuji asked; his eyebrows knotting slightly as he studied the fairly domesticated bird. Ryou sighed, lightly petting the fragile head of the pet, giving Ryuuji a slightly annoyed look.
"How would I know, Otogi-kun?"
Ryuuji nodded, not sure what he thought such a question would achieve. He watched Ryou with the bird. It was almost like something from a greeting card, a pretty white-haired boy squatting under a pagoda tree with an elegant dove nibbling at the offered cracker. Both looked picturesque. Ryuuji wished he had a camera, something with which he could capture such a lovely image. Ryou's appearance was almost angelic.
"Have you decided yet?" Ryuuji finally asked, changing the subject from the bird to the dinner with a bit of annoyance in his tone successfully betraying his admiring thoughts. Ryou shrugged again, standing up. The bird flapped its wings at this but didn't attempt to take off.
"I dunno, I guess I could take it home," Ryou suggested, petting the bird again. A few passersby watched the boy holding the dove with interest. Ryuuji was almost expecting someone to pull out a camera and flash his or her own perfect shots. Somewhat paranoid to prevent this, the dark haired teen stood before the best viewing range of his friend. Ryou failed to notice as he was focussing on his pet.
It took Ryuuji a few seconds afterwards to realize Ryou thought he was talking about the bird.
"I mean, have you decided if you're going to attend the dinner with me. I want an answer."
Ryou's brow creased slightly at this, as though Ryuuji had reiterated something he was trying to avoid.
"Wouldn't it be a bit, well, awkward?" he asked pensively. Ryuuji looked at him, baffled.
"How so, Bakura?"
"I don't know. It just seems it would."
"Bakura-kun, I promise not to treat you like you're my koi. Nothing's unusual about me hauling one of my friends to an otherwise mind-numbing get-together," Ryuuji reassured. Ryou looked doubtful about this as the bird clung to his long sleeve, fretting a bit while he walked back to the table.
Feigning eternal patience, Ryuuji waited. Finally, the white haired boy answered him with an optimistic smile.
"Hai, I guess I'll go. It's not like I have anything else to, right?"
Ryuuji smiled broadly at this, "That's the spirit, Bakura!" The dove flapped its wings angrily as Ryuuji slapped his friend once good-naturedly on the back in thanks.
"Watch out for the bird, Otogi-kun," Ryou warned as the talons dug into his jacket's fabric.
"Gomen," Ryuuji apologized quickly, giving the animal its space. Ryou quickly subdued the frantic bird with another cracker. The origin, of interest to Ryuuji, was a slightly bulging pocket.
"Why the bird food?" Ryuuji asked curiously. Ryou shrugged his shoulders casually and answered.
"I dunno, I used to visit the park; feed some of those insane geese that kept showing up. Sometimes they'd honk at me or sound off to another. Geese get in fights fast and are never silent as a whole. I don't bother with them anymore."
"Nani? Geese too rude for you, Bakura?" Ryuuji smirked. Ryou sighed, a bit annoyed.
"Yes, oh how did you know, Otogi-kun?"
"Oh, well, you seemed more of a pigeon person to me."
Ryou shook his head at this as Ryuuji laughed. He watched his bird-less friend take half the cracker and offer it to the ever-eating dove on Ryou's shoulder.
"Yep, more like a delicate dove," Ryuuji added, grinning suggestively.
Ryou blushed at the remark, watching the little bird to avoid Ryuuji's amused eyes.
"Urusai, Otogi-kun."
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Lettered Notes:
{A}: I like to think Suzi is a Tai businesswoman with Western influence in her name. I don't know why. Tan's her cognomen (and a popular one too), as she's not too big on the whole special first name thing. She has a middle name too, but I haven't decided on it yet. I have yet to realize why any of you care, but just incase some of you where taking my notes into consideration on that, there, I cleared it up. As a matter of fact, I like Suzi. All she ever does is an introduction though. Oh well, that's as it is. ::hugs Suzi and hands her cookies:: Muwah, she'll be my original character self-insertion.
{B}: I mean pagoda the Japanese tree, not the part walled enclosure. Would pagodas grow in Domino, though?
{C}: [not in chapter] You know, white originally isn't the same thing in Eastern cultures as in Western. It's not that extreme innocence. No, it's more like what crosses your mind about the cleanness of hospitals, not the soul. I don't think that translates into this chapter though. White's more like a funeral color anyways.
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Translations:
Note on translations: Go ahead and use 'em if you want. I don't care. It's not like Japanese has been designated to a select few. …Demo, if one is wrong, it's your fault for neglecting to look it up, not mine. The only ones I'm 100% sure of were double checked through religious watching of Yami no Matsuei. ::grin::
Che – Shit (::Ego shoves bar of soap into Otogi's mouth::)
Wakarimasen – I don't know (no, really, that's what it means)
Urusai – Shut up (::gasp:: oh no, Ryou said that!)
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Next chapter: Time for dinner. Ryuuji's Hell is introduced. ::grins maliciously:: Seto also decides to show up. ::glares and bops Seto in the head:: (Gomen, Wildwolf-chan got me addicted to bopping in "Plans" ::grins and bops Seto again:: She writes great Seto/Ryou, btw, if any of you happen to not know that [read them…now!])
Yay! I hope people will review.
If you read the whole lobster thing in "Plans," you can see I like random pets for characters. I have a plot for that dove too. Very sad, you'll maybe feel sorry for Ryuuji (or not).
Oh, and I'm not going to make Ryou extremely mental. Three fics were enough for that. He's still paranoid, overly polite, submissive, and has denial issues, but that's pretty much it. :p
Randomness: Did you know pigeons (rock pigeons, aka. flying rats) drink though their nostrils? I found that little gem of knowledge in the encyclopedia (whoa, stop the presses). I think its cool, gross, granted, but cool all the same (I don't think they have the mucus issue). Apparently they stick their beaks into the water and suck it up. Strange, isn't it? Other birds just knock liquid back after scooping it up with their beaks.
My bother also drinks through his nose….
-Ling no Yong-