A Legacy Unfinished
Disclaimer: needless to say, if YGO belonged to me, this wouldn't be called a fanfic and I wouldn't be posting this on fanfiction.net
Summary: Sequel to 'Identity'. The legacy carries on in a new timeline – modern Domino. Ryou and Seto face new problems the legacy holds in store for them. Semi-AU Duellist Kingdom and Battle City S/R YY/R
Chapter Title: Together . . . Or Maybe Not
Warnings: yaoi, OOC, semi-AU, weirdness of character and DK, BC plot changing! If you don't like, DON'T READ! No one's holding a gun to your head and FORCING you to read this! And all flames will go to burning Anzu/Tea, and assisting Baku and Marik in their evil schemes.
Author's Notes: I think it would be safe to say that people were generally okay with the ending of 'Identity' . . . and I was afraid that people didn't like it.
Before I forget, when I say 'Alternate Universe', I mean that the yamis are in separate bodies from their hikaris. Yami is Yugi's older brother, Bakura is Ryou's and Marik is Malik's . . . like inside 'Identity'. The yamis are the Duellists, but they're all there, okay? I know the gang calls Ryou by either 'Bakura' or 'Bakura-kun', but in this he's still going to be Ryou and Y.B. will be called Bakura.
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Chapter Three: Together . . . Or Maybe Not
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Mokuba blinked at his older brother as the CEO stormed into his office, slamming down his briefcase onto his desk. He furiously switched on the computer, which stirred to life at his command. There were several times the black-haired boy had seen his brother so angry. Those times usually involved Magic and Wizards, or Duel Monsters, KaibaCorp or danger towards either of them. He didn't know which one it was this time.
"Niisama?" he questioned timidly. "Daijoubu ka?"
"Mokuba . . ." Seto turned towards him. "Ee, ore wa daijoubu."
"Where have you been these last two days, after school? I didn't see you."
"At a classmate's house," was the distracted answer. "I had business to take care of there."
"Homework?"
"You could say that."
"Oh."
Seto rummaged around in his briefcase, lifting out files, folders and papers randomly, putting them on his desk. When he straightened, he put them aside on the desk and pulled one of them out and opened it. Then he called up another file from his computer and started working.
"How long will you be working on it for?"
"A week, at most," Seto replied distractedly.
"Can I meet them?"
"Perhaps."
Mokuba smiled.
"Cool! I've never met someone from your school other than Yugi-tachi!" he said enthusiastically. "What's their name?"
The CEO looked up at him. Something flickered in his eyes, but quickly dispersed. He was regarding his younger brother fondly, something he didn't do for anyone else. Mokuba was the only one who had actually made him truly smile before and that still remained.
"Bakura Ryou," he said. "Don't worry, Mokuba, you'll meet him."
Mokuba gave a whoop of joy and left the room, skipping and humming happily. Seto never liked to let him down and this time was no different. He would now have to invite Bakura Ryou over on some occasion or other. He sighed, unable to concentrate on his work.
Why had he decided to help the albino? The suing excuse would not work now, since Ryou had made it obvious that he wasn't going to. Then why did he continue to help the boy? He himself didn't have a reason for it. But there was something about Ryou that gave him a sense of protectiveness, an urge to help him. When he looked at him, he got a feeling of dejavu.
He gaze turned to the book lying on a stack of files. Domino's ancient history – Ryou's book. Why had he felt inclined to take it? Something had drawn him towards it that was for sure. Like something had drawn him towards Duel Monsters and Magic and Wizards – more importantly, the three Blue Eyes White Dragons that were in his possession.
It wouldn't hurt to read a little, I guess.
He took the book from the stack and opened it up to the first page. Flipping past the introductions and acknowledgments, he found the first chapter. Domino's history was like any other history, as Seto soon found. There was nothing interesting.
About to put the book away after skimming five or six chapters, something caught his eye at the beginning of the seventh.
'The 16th Dynasty – The Rule of the Mutous.'
"Mutou?" he questioned. "As in, Mutou Yami? They're descendants of the rulers of the 16th dynasty?"
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Ryou flipped looked through the homework as the others went on to explain what they meant. He was in most of his classes with Yugi and, in some cases, with Anzu and Honda. He had Gym with Jounouchi and study hall with everyone.
He was looking through his Science homework. They were doing the basics of genetics – DNA and the like. He was particularly interested in this topic, for no reason whatsoever, except that he liked it. It was interesting to know how exactly he became an albino . . . even if he wasn't a full one.
" . . . So guys have one of X and Y chromosomes, while girls have two X," Yugi explained, pointing to a diagram. "Other than that, we have 22 other chromosomes from each of our parents. You read through page 168 and answer the questions in the book."
"Arigatou, Yugi-kun. I get it now." He sighed. "I can't believe I missed a class on genetics! It's so cool!"
"Eh? Genetics are boring," Jounouchi complained.
"That's because you don't get it, aho," Honda said, hitting him over the head with a book. "Unlike you, Bakura's got a brain he actually uses."
"Damare!"
Yami sat across the table from them, doing his own homework, smiling slightly at their antics. He was two years older than they were, which meant he was a senior, and he was preparing for his half-yearly exams. That meant he had to study during whatever spare time he had, on top of doing his homework and assignments. The six of them usually formed a study group after school at Yugi's house, but they had decided to come over to Ryou's to keep him company.
"Ok, and then there's History. You'll like this one, Bakura," Honda said, grinning. "It's Ancient Egypt."
"Yokatta!" Ryou exclaimed, smiling broadly. "Though I still feel a little deprived because I missed such a good lesson."
They all laughed and continued on with their work. Ryou hummed happily as he finished off his Science and History homework then pulled his last bit of homework towards him. He groaned. Math. He hated Math with a passion. Not only was it one of his worst subjects, he had regular pop quizzes in class that really got on his nerves. And to get on Bakura Ryou's nerves was quite extraordinary.
"Heh, you got Math," Jounouchi sniggered. "I don't."
"Just because you didn't have Math today," Anzu said, whacking him over the head. "You imbecile."
"Shimatta!" Yugi yelped, looking at the clock. "I promised jiichan that I'd help him in the store in half an hour! I'll have to see you guys later."
"Ja ne, Yugi-kun," Ryou farewelled, waving as Yugi left.
Anzu, Honda and Jounouchi followed a little later, having finished their homework or found other things they had to do. That left Ryou and Yami alone. The albino struggled through his Math. Damned trigonometry, he cursed inwardly. Yami saw him struggling and grinned, scooting over to the other side of the table and peering over his shoulder.
"Oh, that one's simple," he remarked casually. Ryou bit back a yelp. "Here, do you want me to help you with it?"
"H-Hai," Ryou stammered, flushing.
As Yami explained the question to him, Ryou struggled to calm his breathing. What was this? He was surprised easily, yes but not so much as to lose his breath all in one go. And Yami's breath on his cheek . . . he flushed.
"Do you understand now?"
"N-Nani?" he stammered again, looking up into Yami's amused eyes.
"Something wrong?"
"Iie . . ."
"Ryou-kun . . ." Yami's cheeks tinged pink also. "I . . ."
He thought that it would only be in the movies, but it was obvious that coincidences – however annoying – did happen. As he tried to continue what he was about to say, Yami found the phone ringing. Ryou started, looking shaken, before picking up the cordless phone on the tabletop.
"Moshi moshi? Ryou speaking." He paused for a moment, listening to whatever the other person had to say. "Iya, tousan, daijoubu yo. It was just a sprain. No, you don't have to come back straight away. Finish your work."
He sounded a little bitter when he said that. Yami remembered that the boy's father was rarely home and rarely cared about anything to do with the two siblings. Ryou had disguised his disappointment in his father well, but that didn't mean he forgave him for being so negligent. The reason why Bakura was always out of the house was because he didn't want to be burdened with his father's responsibilities, so Ryou was basically more alone than he let on.
"Hai, I'll be more careful next time," Ryou continued. "Iie, tousan, I'm not going to sue. He's helping me to recover already . . . called a doctor and everything . . . I'm fine, nothing was broken . . . I'm not missing schoolwork . . . no . . . tousan, I have to go now, I've got work to do."
After a few moments, Ryou hung up with a sigh.
"He says he cares, but I know he only feels obliged to do so," he said ruefully. "I know I remind him of kaasan, but I can't help it."
He looked on the verge of tears. Yami knew the boy was sensitive to more things than the others realised. He was pained when his friends had arguments, but usually didn't show it in public. The issue of his father's absence also hurt him badly and the fact that he was alone most of the time was also a sensitive topic. What Ryou wanted, as he confessed to Yami once, was someone who would always be there for him. An emotional supporter who cared.
"Ryou-kun . . ." Yami pulled the boy against his chest. "Daijoubu yo."
Ryou was content to enjoy the other's warmth as he let go of the misery inside him. Yami always managed to comfort him just by being there. The older teen was his best friend and confidante. He closed his eyes as he felt Yami's fingers comb through his hair gently.
"If you would let me . . ." he heard Yami murmur. "If you would . . . I'll take care of you. Ryou wa suki da."
"Un," he said, feeling oddly warm inside. "I'd like that."
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The next day saw Seto, again, at Ryou's door. This time, the person who opened it was Bakura. The elder albino scowled when he saw who was at the door, equally matched by Seto's superior glare. Turning around, Bakura yelled back at Ryou to hurry up.
"Your fuckbuddy is waiting!" he hollered.
"NIISAN!" Ryou's voice yelped from somewhere inside the apartment.
Seto grabbed Bakura by the collar, hissing a threat dangerously to his face. The albino smirked before pushing him away and straightening his collar again. Obviously threats didn't work on him. He got them so often, from so many different people, that it got boring after a time. Seto sighed impatiently at him, earning himself yet another smirk from Bakura.
Moments later, Ryou came out from what Seto knew to be his bedroom, fixing up his school uniform. He chirped an 'ohayou' to the CEO, getting a nod in return, before grabbing his schoolbag, whacking Bakura over the head with it, and walking out the door. There was still a slight limp in his step, but the swelling had almost completely faded.
"You didn't have to come this morning, Kaiba-kun," he said quietly as they walked down the stairs. "I'm almost all better."
"Better safe than sorry." Seto raised an eyebrow as they went through the glass doors of the complex. "Besides, I had a question to ask you."
"Question?"
"Ee."
They got into the limousine waiting patiently for them. Seto opened the door, as was polite, for Ryou to get inside. The albino did so hesitantly, having never accessed such luxury before. The CEO got in after him, settling himself down comfortably opposite the boy. He motioned for the chauffeur to start.
"Anou . . . Kaiba-kun, you said you had a question."
"You knew about the 16th Dynasty of Domino, did you not?"
Ryou blinked.
"16th Dynasty?" he chirped. "Hai, the rule of the Mutous."
"I was wondering whether they had any connection to the Mutous now."
The albino tilted his head to the side, blinking again in confusion. Finally, after a few moments, the confusion in his dark eyes cleared up and he smiled.
"I don't know," he said simply. "Perhaps so. I wouldn't be surprised, though, since some of the successors to the throne had many children. I suppose many of us now can trace our ancestors back to this period of history."
Silence reigned after that. Ryou bit his lip and stared down at his lap, uncomfortable in the CEO's presence. He wasn't meant to be here. He was an ordinary, common person, while Seto was the rich and powerful one. Their worlds weren't ever meant to collide.
Seto was thinking about what Ryou had just said. Their ancestors could possibly be traced back to the 16th Dynasty. He had to remember to check it up on his database then. After Gozaburo had adopted him, Seto had recorded all his family histories, which he had saved from his previous home, onto the Kaiba database. Gozaburo was a businessman, not a computer worker, so he never really bothered to check what Seto spent his free time doing.
But this is purely out of interest, he reminded himself. I don't live in the past. I'm only doing this because I want to find out whether or not my family can be dated back that far.
"Have you ever traced back your family?" he asked the albino on impulse.
Ryou smiled nervously.
"Hai. In the late 16th Dynasty, the Bakura household was one of the most prestigious noble families," he said, pride seeping into his voice. "The royal family greatly favoured them and they were respected."
"You bothered looking them up?"
"Of course," Ryou answered. "I read the book too, remember? I became interested in this topic so I went to look up my family history. But I couldn't find which branch of the Bakura line I came from."
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"Ohayou."
Ryou blushed when Yami snaked an arm around his waist. The older teen was fairly open with his feelings for him. He let himself be pulled into a tight hold. They were in a quiet part of the school grounds, hidden by the school buildings because they weren't quite sure how the others would react to their relationship.
"Yami-kun . . ."
He was silenced by Yami's finger resting lightly on his lips.
"Sh . . ." the tri-haired teen murmured. "Omae ga suki da."
He'd been saying that ever since they had become 'an item' yesterday afternoon. From what Yami had told him, he'd liked Ryou since he first transferred into the school. At that point, however, he wasn't in the right position to tell him so. Ryou had liked Yami since . . . he had started properly hanging around Yugi-tachi.
"Omae ga suki da."
"Yami-kun," he whispered, exasperated. "I know already."
"Then tell me the same."
Ryou opened his mouth to speak, but stopped suddenly. Yami watched him, confused as to what was going on.
"Daijoubu ka?"
"I-I . . ." the albino trailed off uncertainly. Why couldn't he say it? "I should really be getting to class . . . this is really cutting it slim. I-If I don't get to class on time, I'd get detention."
Yami looked disappointed as Ryou picked up his bag from the ground at his feet and fled, never looking back once. Why had he been so reluctant to tell him that he felt the same? Yami could only wonder about this question, feeling a little twinge of hurt. He thought that Ryou felt the same way about him.
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Ryou, meanwhile, stopped in front of his classroom door, breathing heavily. He bit his bottom lip to stop himself from crying. He hadn't meant to run away, but he just couldn't bring himself to say the words. Why was he so damn unsure of himself?
"Ryou, daijoubu ka?"
He looked up to see Seto standing in the doorway, watching him. He nodded slowly, not trusting himself to speak. The CEO shrugged, raising an eyebrow at him. He knew everyone knew when he was lying. He had come to accept the fact that he just couldn't lie.
"If you say so." Seto turned around and walked back into the empty classroom. Their classmates never bothered to come to class until the bell. "Though I believe . . ."
He froze when he felt someone's arms latch tightly around him. Ryou buried his face into the brunette's shoulder, shaking from suppressed sobs. Seto simply stood there while the albino cried onto his back, letting all his frustration and uncertainty out in the only way he knew how.
A few minutes later, Ryou's tears had stopped. He apologised profusely for being a nuisance and let go of him. Seto turned around to see him wiping his face on his sleeve, sniffling. With a sigh, the CEO handed him a handkerchief. He didn't like bringing packets of tissues, preferring handkerchiefs, but he never used them anyway. It was just a habit and he had too many at home.
"Here, keep it," he said shortly. "It's unhygienic to use your sleeve."
"Demo . . ." Ryou looked uncertain.
"I said take it." Seto clasped his hand around it.
"A-Arigatou, Kaiba-kun."
He's not as bad as Yami-kun seems to think. Sure, he has his mood swings from time to time . . . well, actually, pretty often . . . but he's proven to be nice in a standoffish way. I wonder why he isn't like this all the time?
He followed the CEO inside the classroom, still holding the handkerchief. Not another word passed between them as the bell rang and the class filed in. Yugi-tachi asked after him, having not seen him all morning. He smiled, and said that he was fine, but a bit tired.
I can't tell them about Yami-kun and me . . . we've only just begun and already we have this problem between us. Maybe after we – I've – sorted out my issues, we can tell them . . .
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End Chapter Three
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Author's Notes:
All right, just a few points to make. Yami and Ryou have known each other since Ryou started junior high school (according to Japanese schooling levels). That's . . . since they're in first year high school (10th grade) . . . three years. And, of course, Yami's liked Ryou for three years. Ryou starting liking Yami a few months after he started hanging around Yugi-tachi, because he got to know Yami only after he started going to Yugi's house.
Ryou's got issues with his self-esteem, as Seto does with the way he acts around people. Seto's nice to certain people (eg Ryou), but he doesn't know why and he tries to act differently. It's an immediate thing for him to protect and help Ryou, thanks to the prequel 'Identity' and the legacy within, so neither of them know exactly why they're acting that way around each other.
Cleared a few things up? Okay then!
REVIEW!
Relinquished