Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh and am not making money from this fic. ::wards lawyers off with her English assignment:: Yes, fear me and my homework. FEAR ME! PH34R!
Notes: I sure hope none of you drink for the same reasons as Ryuuji in this chapter, because it doesn't help. I know Ryuuji's all messed up and idiotic, so don't take after him. Look forward to a lecture from me when I'm awake enough to ramble. ::nod, nod, nods off for a few seconds::
Chapter Information: I wrote one of these scenes on a trip to Baton Rouge and that was what initially inspired this fic plot-wise. I've always wanted to do something with pigeons, but the bar scene really helped pull things together for an actual fic after watching too much Yami no Matsuei (damn, Tsuzuki-san can hold his sake). I think this came out pretty well, even though I wrote it half-asleep (aka, zombie-mode; very frightening—grrrrr, grrrrr…).
Thanks: R Amythest for beta reading.
(Maruken: Thank you! I've finally updated!) (InSaNe KeYbLaDeR: Well, no pigeon attacks, but I did mention past attacks…. ::blinks:: Awe, thanks for reviewing, this fic hasn't been updated in forever anyways.) (eta inu: That's wonderful.) (Pastbyer: There's two ways to say no, actually {learned this recently}. I changed all of Ryuuji's "iie's" to "iya's" when he's angry because "iie" is for more polite speakers like Ryou, who I usually write about. I've been fixing that up for him. - Oh yes, and how do you say "I don't speak Japanese" in, erm, Japanese?) (evilcourtney: Yay, I'll ask her then! Oh yes, and Ryou is very happy you love him. He's keeping a tally. ::grin::) (Shetan: Gomen, no impeding on Ryou/Seto's privacy…. ::grin:: - Wow, you are thinking well along the lines I am. Ryuuji can be like Seto, just not as "scarred" to say. And of course Ryou wouldn't say anything; he's too girly! - I never made National Honors Society ::looks at grades:: Oh yeah, that's why…. All textbooks put me to sleep it seems.) (Sachi-chan: Thank you for review and random fanart link! I love fanart. If you ever have fanart for me, e-mail me and I'll give you may AOL screen name to send it to {yahoo has limited room since I'm cheap}) (Elle-FaTe2x1: Gomen for not updating! Hato's a he.) (Ashuri chan: Ryou and Ryuuji are the YuGiOh fandom sluts {romance fics with every character}, so it's only natural I put them together. ::grin:: Thank you! Hope this chapter is good for you too!) (Renee the Rabid Squirrel: Yay, you reviewed! Well, never fear, new chapter is here! ::cheer, cheer, cheer::) (Windswift: Yep, Hato escapes. ::grins at Ryuuji:: She called you her baka. {Ryuuji: ::has already been knocked out by fangirls::} He'll come round in a few hours….) (R Amythest: Penguins! ::cackles:: That cracks me up every time I see it. Thank you very much! ::laughing her butt off:: - Well, Yami no Malik's been asking for a bunny…. I'll see what I can do!)
Gomen for not updating for months, but most of you were reading "Plans" anyways and I was focused on that. I hope some people will review after such a long time? Please? ::falls over and hits her head on the Sennen Ring:: Owie, "Die" is so evil to me….
:::::::::::::::::
Or Die Trying
:::::::::::::::::
-Gomennasai-
Ryuuji had the stunned, horrified expression of one on the receiving end of the autos-da-fe. He leaped across the room, and reached out the window in a vain effort to grab the bird back. In his mind he knew it was too late.
"Sou naa," he muttered, Hato far out of sight in the increasing darkness. Ryou was going to be disappointed with him.
Except, disappointed was too feeble a word.
Ryou was going to hate him.
Ryuuji pulled his torso back into the apartment and spun around. In the corner was Hato's cage, empty and ruined, its contents slowly deteriorating the quality the carpet. He had finally done it, after yelling at him and walking away, Ryuuji had at last done the one thing to sunder Ryou from him forever. The dove was gone and it was his fault. Ryou was so careful with his pet and now it looked like Ryuuji had simply come over in a rage and gotten rid of it. The pale boy would think his testing friend had done this on purpose, as there wasn't a single witness to prove otherwise.
"Bakayaro…" Ryuuji sighed at himself, sitting under the window. He watched any chance of being with Ryou slip away. Now it would be impossible to even speak with his quiet friend. Why'd he have to yell? Why'd he have to lose that stupid bird? Of course Ryou would say he'd forgive it all, Ryuuji knew that, but it wouldn't be that same. No matter how optimistic and docile Ryou was he would never be able to forget.
Ryuuji didn't know how long he sat there, mind slowly going blank. He tried to form a semblance of an excuse, something that would annul at least a minute portion of the crime. To say the least, it wasn't working. He realized faintly that he couldn't face Ryou, not after losing the bird. The apartment around him seemed to mock his intrusion. The cage in the corner rocked slightly at the small draft from the window, edging closer to where Ryuuji sat and watched. He shied from this approach, knowing the bars should be standing vertical with a small cooing dove inside.
Ryuuji sat even longer in the silence before the compulsion to move finally came. As soon as he was standing he was out of the apartment and hurrying away. He searched his mind desperately for a place to go and a plate of spaghetti appeared. He felt like Italian.
-----
Ryou cringed slightly, heading for the bar. When he walked into a restaurant, the bar was the last place he expected to place himself for the duration of his meal. Ryuuji was there though. Ryou sighed in relief and headed over.
This relief was rudely stomped to the dust as he saw the drink in Otogi's hand.
"Er, Otogi-kun?"
The dark-haired teen looked in his direction. Ryou noted it was a probably a good sign Ryuuji had recognized his own name and kept squinting to bring Ryou into focus at a minimum.
"How'd you know I where I was?" Ryuuji asked as Ryou sat down next to him.
"I found Mei-san's number in your coat at my place. He told me where I might find you." Ryou replied. Ryuuji sighed and rolled his eyes.
"How typical, the baka."
Ryou sat down nervously next to his friend. He had seen the apartment when he arrived home early. Hato wasn't there and Ryou didn't know what to think. Had the disappearance been a malicious act on Ryuuji's part for some ambiguous reason? Ryou wasn't sure if it was even safe for him to track the troubled teen down, but his concern had successfully attempted to win over his actions. He didn't want to face any unpleasant ramifications for the visit and tried not to think about if Ryuuji really was angry with him to the extent of getting rid of Hato. Ryou was blindly trying to make his way through a night that had been rather disagreeable for him in more ways than one. Hato and then Ryuuji's depression were just another unfortunate distraction on the boy's attentiveness to reality. Ryou had given up proper rationalization forty-eight minutes ago on a flee to his apartment. The past few hours hadn't been agreeable at all.
"Are you all right, Otogi-kun?" Ryou asked, not certain what he'd do about it anyway. Ryuuji dismissed the question, ordering them a near table and a bottle of sake instead. Ryou followed quietly, anticipating some kind of answer when Ryuuji had settled himself in his new chair.
"You probably want to know about that bird," Ryuuji finally said, changing Ryou's initial subject. "You want to know if I had anything to do with it."
"Iie, I just…"
"Shut up. Of course it was Otogi-kun; you know that. You knew the moment you walked up to the bar. In fact, I'm sure if you watch the news you'll hear all about it again."
Ryou looked at Ryuuji distressed. He couldn't tell if Ryuuji was completely drunk or just angry and ranting his frustration. Ryou had never seen a person his age blowing all inhibitions on drink—much less someone he actually knew. That happened on television and in books. Surely Ryuuji, a minor, wouldn't attempt such a thing? Ryou didn't know what he could possibly do for someone who chose to treat themselves so terribly. It wasn't something he was faced with often.
"Otogi-kun," Ryou said, trying to remain the reasonable one, "Losing someone's dove does not make the evening news."
"Of course not—if you're Jounouchi Katsuya or Bakura Ryou," Ryuuji scoffed as Ryou tried to find the logic in the mindlessness, "But if you're someone successful like me and if it's someone else's bird…well then, there's a story. Is it an attack or a great show of stupidity? People follow me and wonder."
Ryou couldn't hide his expression of complete disbelief. Ryuuji had to be drunk. He would never say something as paranoid and utterly ridiculous as that if he were in his rights.
"Don't be an idiot, Otogi Ryuuji!" he exclaimed in exasperation. "I'm sorry, but that's just stupid."
Ryuuji was ignoring him, "Ryuuji sat down. Ryuuji waved. Ryuuji did this. Ryuuji did that. Oh, lets all worship him from afar!"
"You know that isn't true, Otogi-kun."
Ryuuji smirked. He poured the rest of his drink into the other's unused, untouched glass, courtesy of Ryuuji the moment Ryou had sat down. Ryou ignored the offering.
"Okay then, Bakura-kun, you explain why those girls follow me so relentlessly. Maybe they're really doing so for one of your deep, philosophical reasons, hm?"
"Iie. They might be a bit obsessive…."
"Only a bit? Ha. You're funny, Bakura."
"Well, it's not like they don't have lives, Otogi-kun."
Ryuuji shook his head at this grimly. With a sickeningly false grin, he poured more drink into his glass, also topping of what he added to Ryou's.
"Here, Bakura, to lower you inhibitions. Have some of this lovely sake in these teeny tiny glasses."
Ryou frowned, wrinkling his nose at the liquor, "I don't drink, Otogi-kun, and neither should you."
Ryuuji just laughed, downing his glass in a single gulp. Ryou shook his head and grabbed his share, dumping it all back into his friend's glass. Ryuuji grinned at the rude rejection, and accepted it eagerly to make Ryou angry.
"I hope you have a terrible hangover, you baka," Ryou sighed, a slight vindictive sincerity in his tone. Ryuuji remained oblivious to the remark.
"You know what, 'Kura?"
"What?"
"Your hair…. It's very white."
"I am aware of that," Ryou sighed again. He was also aware of the faint red around Ryuuji's eyes.
"You sure do sigh a lot," Ryuuji stated loudly. Ryou looked at him and blinked, not amused.
"How about a drink to cheer you up?" Ryuuji suggested, grabbing for Ryou's glass. Quickly, the other boy snatched it back. He was growing frustrated with Ryuuji's consecutive offers.
"Iya, Otogi-kun. I don't need a drink," he replied firmly with an uncommonly harsh overtone. Ryuuji looked into his eyes disappointed. This expression, however, was soon replaced with one of awe.
"Wow, you have nice eyes. How'd you get them so big?"
Ryou, to his credit, was slightly taken aback by this. He soon recovered though, shaking his head as he moved the sake away from Ryuuji.
"Okay, someone's had a bit too much of that now."
Ryuuji either didn't notice or (for the moment) didn't care. He was too far gone, transfixed with the "pretty eyes" across the table.
"Ano, are you feeling all right, Otogi-kun?" Ryou asked, confused at his drunken friend's behavior.
"I'm dead, aren't I?" Otogi asked distantly, a bit of remorse in his voice.
"Erm, no…." Ryou answered, admittedly disturbed by the question. Still, he was curious to what had prompted the inquire. "…Why?"
Ryuuji smirked.
"Well, I dunno. You tell me. You're the angel."
Ryou nearly dropped. The light sake glass barely remained in his hand. That statement was simply insane. Ryuuji had had too much to drink and that clenched it. Ryou had to hold the moment in his mind: he had finally spoken to someone who was drunk. Tomorrow morning he'd be faced with a friend suffering a real life hangover. Oh, joy!
"Otogi-kun, I am not…."
"Look everyone!" Ryuuji announced standing up, "I found an—ahh!" Ryou yanked him back down, horrified.
"Gomen." He apologized to the faces turning their direction, "Gomennasai. It's just my friend. He's delirious—too much sake—erm, yeah…."
Face red, Ryou glared uneasily at Ryuuji. Ryuuji fail to notice this as well, suddenly breaking out into unsteady song.
"Kimi ga yo wa chiyoni…. YA—chiyoneeee sazare ishi…i…i…. Ano—koka no mus—ahhh!"
"Urusai!" Ryou yelped, putting a hand over Ryuuji's mouth. He grinned nervously to his fellow observers.
"See? Delirious!" he squeaked, quickly sitting down. The people looked at him, wondering why he was smiling and waving at them.
"Bakura-kun, I was getting to the best part: maaa—"
"Iie, Ryuuji-kun, no singing," Ryou pleaded. Ryuuji blinked at him before grinning mischievously.
"Oi, you called me Ryuuji-kun. Ha, you used my first name!" Ryuuji laughed, causing Ryou to blush even further.
"Iku yo," Ryou quickly suggested. With difficulty, he half led, half dragged Ryuuji to the door. Outside, the free flowing air (not exactly a fresh breeze for Domino City), restored enough of Ryuuji's ability to retain a physical sense of balance. Ryou sighed with relief, as he didn't have to help the other teen stand. That would be too much for embracing the drunken friend scenario.
"Do you know I'm cursed?" Ryuuji asked vaguely, leaning against a lamppost. Ryou, expecting more insanity, listened with a notable lack of interest.
"Pigeons are out to make my life a living Hell."
"Hato too?" Ryou snapped, annoyed with the statement. It wasn't the first time he had heard Ryuuji profess a similar notion.
"Yes, and the pigeons who ate your creampuffs."
Ryou looked up at this, interested, "What creampuffs?"
"The ones I got you Wednesday, before that bird flew into the restaurant window."
Ryou had never heard about the creampuffs. Ryuuji had told him it was a random, malicious attack. He was slightly impressed at the fact Ryuuji had purchased him his favorite dessert, even if he had been arrogant enough to lie at his failure to successfully deliver it.
"Hato ruined everything too. He knocked over the cage and I went to see if he was all right because it was your bird. But when I turned around he flew away."
If it was a lie, Ryou had to admit it was a very believable one. Ryuuji had actually taken something he hated into consideration even when he had no one to impress. Ryou told himself that even if it wasn't the truth, the caution that had allowed Ryuuji to form such a story was touching.
"Really?" Ryou asked hopefully.
"I'm not lying, if that's what you mean," Ryuuji pouted. Ryou was inclined to believe him, drunk or no. He couldn't stay angry with Ryuuji forever when he had no other company. For the past few days even Yami no Bakura had disappeared along with Yuugi-tachi.
"All right," Ryou agreed, humoring Ryuuji's current state, "Will the birds ever stop assaulting you?"
"I have to kiss Kaiba."
"NANI?" Ryou yelped, finding it difficult to believe the words just out of Ryuuji's mouth. He remembered Ryuuji saying something about pigeons attacking him when he was on the phone with Mei. Surely that hadn't come true? It was just an expression, not a literal request. Ryuuji wasn't blaming the birds on a sarcastic demand, wasn't he? Kami-sama….
"You can ask God to help me," Ryuuji smirked, alluding to his earlier angel comment. Ryou was ready to smack himself in the forehead. For a few moments he had foolishly overlooked the obvious inebriation. He had to take Ryuuji's words with a grain of salt and not forget the nearly empty bottle of sake back inside on the restaurant floor.
"Argh, we need to get you home before you pass out or something," Ryou complained lightly, not sure if it was likely Ryuuji was even going to pass out. But, since that always seemed to happen in similar cases, so he had to prepare for it. He didn't want to drag Ryuuji home late at night. Not only was it dangerous, people would see him and recognize his company. Though it wasn't as bad as Ryuuji made it sound, the media was still pretty persistence in that circumstance.
"Where is your cell phone?" Ryou asked, waiting for Ryuuji to produce the device. Unfortunately, Ryuuji wasn't in a mood to cooperate and shrugged, looking up at the light from the streetlamp.
"Damn, that's bright."
Ryou sighed (noticing he was doing so much more often) and began to search Ryuuji's pockets. He found the phone, but not before Ryuuji commented on his actions.
"Whoa, little quick there, eh, 'Kura? Feelin' up already?"
Ryou was in the mood to slap Ryuuji at this broadcast, but that wasn't his nature. He settled instead on harmlessly rolling his eyes and turned on the phone. Ryuuji's head was tipping over slightly as he last thimble of sake began taking affect. Ryou frown and called a cab, not wanting to become a human crutch. Sadly, his preference was not inquired and when the ride finally appeared he was resisting the urge to kick the heavier Ryuuji in the shins and make a run for it.
"I'm going to tell you all about what a pain you've been tomorrow morning when you come over with a headache," Ryou snapped crossly as he ushered Ryuuji into the backseat. "You're definitely not going to want to hear it."
Ryuuji didn't answer while Ryou directed the driver and counted out the fee. The district where Ryuuji's apartment was located would take a bit longer to reach at the time of night. Ryou foresaw a long trip to Ryuuji's and then his own place. He just barely had enough to pay.
"I hope you had a good time, because this is all going to come back to you."
"Really?"
Ryou sighed and threw an annoyed glance at Ryuuji. The raven-haired teen didn't notice, too busy studying the world behind his eyelids. Ryou turned his attention to the windows, tracking their progress through street signs. A few blocks from the first stop, he ventured to speak again with a simple question.
"You have your keys, Otogi-kun?"
"I'm tired."
Ryou shook his head. "You would be," he muttered callously, though he didn't see what was so cool about the remark. It just sounded mean, even if it made no sense. Maybe he was finally frustrated beyond reason?
"Did you lose your keys?"
"Huh?"
"Did you lose your keys?"
"But of course! I'm tired."
Ryou wanted badly to stop the cab, push Ryuuji out, and drive away cackling, but he knew it was impossible. He wouldn't be able to live with something like that.
That wasn't to say it wasn't tempting.
"Otogi-kun, where are your keys?"
The boy was on his last straw, frowning at the companion who failed to respond. Ryou groaned. Ryuuji was probably unconscious. Why couldn't he wait until he got inside before he blacked out? It was unfair and Ryou wasn't looking forward to carrying him anywhere. He was growing quite certain someone hated him, someone with enough power to make his life Hell.
He wondered just what he'd done to deserve it.
"Here, they're…." Ryuuji drifted in and out of his drunken vertigo and pulled out his apartment keys—only to leave Ryou watching as they fell into the seat.
Someone hates me, don't they? Why? Why me?
"Idiot!"
Ryou reached over Ryuuji as quick as possible and grabbed one of the fuzzy key chain ornaments. He paused and looked at it curiously. There was a mini pair of fuzzy dice and a faux fur kuriboh.
How…kawaii….
Ryou smiled idiotically at the ornaments as the cab gave a sudden lurch, forcing him uncomfortably on top of his companion. He blushed and looked up to see Ryuuji blinking down at him. The game inventor's eyes held an expression Ryou couldn't discern and hoped desperately was the drunken stupor.
"Eh…heh…heh…." He breathed nervously and looked at the window, not entirely certain of the reason for his not getting up and moving. Things were looking very awkward.
"Ryou…."
Ryou shied from Ryuuji's hand finding it's way on his shoulder.
"Erm…Otogi-kun?"
Ryuuji closed his eyes and brought Ryou's face closer. Ryou couldn't do anything; his body didn't feel like responding. He squeezed he eyes shut and mentally cringed in anticipation, not sure why he wasn't punching Ryuuji in the face and tossing him out the window. His eyes opened again as his lips were a breath from Ryuuji's. He gawked rudely, not certain what he was going to do.
"Ehem?"
Ryou jumped up with a start and spun around to face the disturbed driver. Ryuuji's arm went limp as he once again fazed out of consciousness. Ryou looked around the backseat desperately and tried to explain to the man who was already troubled beyond his intellectual capacity from the scene he'd just witnessed.
"Gomen nasai, it isn't what it looks like!" he yelped, leaping away from Ryuuji, whose head hit the window.
"Owe, you're so mean, Ryou."
:::::::::::::::::
Lettered Notes:
{A}: (not in chapter) Ryuuji is definitely one of the nicer drunks I've seen, though it can still scare the shit outta you. Ryou's lucky. ::nod, nod::
:::::::::::::::::
Translations:
Note on Translations:
My friend Telly was right; I can't keep re-translating all of everything. No new words this chapter.
:::::::::::::::::
Next Chapter: Now we'll have some Ryuuji going after Seto, yatte! ::ignores her pointless note A:: Also, something's bothering Ryou…. All in the upcoming installment: "Dice".
Ano…review?
Randomness: OMG! ::perky voice fades:: My little brother scares me. You know what I saw in the medicine cabinet? ::dies:: TOOTHPASTE WITH YAMI NO YUUGI! ::dies again:: Where's my Ryuuji cereal? Toothpaste? Action figure? Cover of TV Guide? Where? WHERE?! HUH? ::dies, gone, doubly dead::
-Ling no Yong-