Getting Back To Abnormal
In Which Things (And People) Change – And Change Back
Japanese
Ano – Um…
Arigatou – Thank You
Chisaii Houko – Little Treasure
Ecchi – (Playfully) Pervert/Perverted
Nani? – What?
Ryou And Bakura's House
"YES!"
Started by the loud exclamation, Bakura dropped the egg she was just getting ready to break into the bowl of brownie mix she'd planned to break it into. Scowling, she noticed that thankfully the egg had not broken on contact with the cocoa-colored powder and proceeded to fish the white oval out before continuing with her baking. Whatever it was that had Ryou so manic obviously wasn't bad, or she wouldn't have sounded so jubilant.
And Bakura would have felt terror through their mind-link instead of intense happiness.
Besides, Ryou had taken to eating chocolate to combat her PMS, and she'd eaten the last of the double chocolate fudge cake yesterday. Bakura felt a shudder run through her as she thought about how pissy her hikari had been before they'd discovered that remedy.
She was so glad she'd managed to luck out of having PMS.
When she maimed people, she wanted to be aware enough of her actions to enjoy it.
The sound of bare feet pelting down the stairs reached her ears, and Bakura tensed, turning towards the doorway, prepared for anything.
Except for what came through the door. Her lover – her male lover.
"Isn't it a bit too soon for you to be back to normal?" were the first words Bakura could think of to say. She winced, her surprise at the situation causing her to forgo censoring her words.
Ryou nodded eagerly, too happy at his retransformation to be miffed at his girlfriend's reaction. "I thought so too, but… I don't care! I'm me again!" he whooped, dancing around in a circle.
A full-blown grin cracked the formerly sober façade of Bakura's face as she watched her hikari cabbage patch around the kitchen. Seeing Ryou do something so – well, not stupid, because she'd never call him that, but – silly was not a normal occurrence.
"You were always you, chisaii houko," Bakura said dryly. "If much more chocolate addicted." She smirked.
Ryou mock-glared at his yami. His eyes flicked back and forth between her smiling face and the bowl in her hands.
Surrendering to the inevitable, Bakura sighed. "Yes, I'm still going to make you brownies, Ryou." Normally she'd be a bit put out at the fact that these past two weeks she'd been relegated to the role of 'housewife,' but… Well, Ryou was an okay cook, but he tended to forget things.
Like the fact that he had something in the oven, or on the stove… There was a reason that one of the first things she'd done when she got her new body was make sure to learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
Ryou wasn't such a bad cook that he couldn't manage a simple brownie mix – especially when it came in a box and you only had to add a few ingredients. But for some reason, the smell of eggs had made Ryou nauseous during her PMS, so Bakura was the one who cooked.
It was worth it to make Ryou happy. Like he was now.
Brightening, Ryou threw his arms around her as best he could while she was encumbered by her bowl of brownie mix. "Arigatou, 'Kura!" he chirped.
One arm coming around to hold her hikari close, Bakura shook her head at his antics. Definitely worth it. "You're welcome, Ryou," she murmured.
It was good to have things back to abnormal.
Kaiba Mansion
"So, how have you been handling things?" Téa asked Mai as they settled into the kitchen.
Mai shrugged. "Things went fine that week," she said dismissively.
Téa raised one eyebrow at the complacency of the blonde's words.
Mai quirked a grin. "Oh, we had a few problems, but on the whole, I think this whole thing brought us closer together."
Sensing she wasn't going to get any details from the other woman – Mai was as protective of Seto's privacy as she was of her own – Téa said, "Well, I'm glad. It seems this didn't turn out as bad as it could have. For everyone, as far as I can tell."
"Oh?"
Téa nodded, sipping her tea. "Malik and Duke were okay, of course. They've dealt with at least half of this craziness before. I heard from Yugi that things with Ryou and Bakura were a little rocky at first – it seems the poor boy…er, girl…got her period the first week."
Mai grimaced. "Ouch. Rough way to get introduced to the feminine mystique, ne?"
Téa nodded, smiling slightly at the inherent and undeniable humor of the situation. "Ryou seemed really put out about that, too. Apparently, Malik got his – ano, her period, but only after three and a half weeks of being female. I think Ryou thought he wouldn't get his since he was only supposed to be changed for three weeks or so. Luckily, he changed back sooner than planned – she had 24/7 PMS."
Mai chuckled. "Poor girl."
Téa nodded her agreement. "I'm just glad that both Joey and Tristan changed back before they had to deal with that." She shuddered. "I can't imagine it."
"Joey Wheeler on the rag," Mai said, awed dread dripping from every word. She shook off the horrific thoughts. "I'm beginning to wonder if that guy Murphy used Shadow Magic. It would explain this crazy summer."
"I know," Téa said, shaking her head.
"So what about the rest of the guys?" Mai asked. "I've been in to see Yugi and Yami a couple of times, and they seemed okay."
"Pretty much so," Téa agreed. "I think it caused them a few problems what with Yugi being changed for such a shorter time, but I heard from Yugi that he got some advice from Kaiba that really helped him out."
"Yes, Seto told me about that," Mai replied, her tone indicating that she wasn't going to divulge just what the 'advice' was.
Téa inclined her head in acceptance of the unspoken declaration. "And Yami should turn back any day now, so it's all good. Everyone will finally be back to their correct gender – including Mokuba."
Mai giggled. "Oh, you heard about that?"
Téa nodded, barely managing to suppress her own laughter. "Kind of hard not to. Serenity told Joey – after the fact, of course – and I had to deal with him threatening death on both of the Kaibas."
Mai buried her mirth in her tea, finally coming up for air. "Any other changes?" she asked, sipping her tea.
Reviewing the happenings of the past few weeks, Téa grinned conspiratorially. "Speaking of Joey… I think the biggest change was with him and Tristan," she revealed.
Mai gasped. "They finally got together?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes!" Téa crowed, laughing out loud. "Apparently the close quarters finally got to them and they had a fight that ended up with them making out on Tristan's living room floor. Back before they changed back."
Mai cocked a blonde brow. "And just how did you come by this information?"
Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Téa finally said, "Ano…I went to talk to Marik last week."
"Nani?" Mai squeaked.
Discomfited, Téa said, "I thought that what with Malik staying with Duke, and Isis and Rishid working all day, he might be lonely. Plus, I figured someone should talk to him before he tried something like this again."
Mai's brows furrowed in thought, a silent indication for her friend to continue.
"Well, Malik told us that Marik's mental age is different from his apparent physical one," Téa told her. "He's at about age thirteen mentally. Growing up pretty fast though; when he was first formed it was about eight. All the trouble he's caused lately seems like a cry for attention to me."
"You thought he might be lonely," Mai said, reiterating Téa's first words abut the Egyptian yami.
Téa nodded. "I was right. Apparently, he missed sharing a body with Malik more than the others. It was all he'd ever known – Marik never even had his own body before this Spring."
"Ohhhh…" Mai said in a dawning comprehension. "I never even thought of that."
Téa sighed and looked down, contemplating the leaves in her teacup. "Neither did I. Neither did any of us, I think. Except maybe Malik, but he didn't know what to do about it."
"You think your little talk helped?" Mai asked.
"I don't know," Téa admitted. "I hope so." And I hope the fact that I agreed to hang out with Marik wasn't as bad an idea as I fear it was.
Kame Game Shop – Upstairs Bedroom
The morning of what would herald Yami's fifth week as girl dawned bright and sunny, the rays of light shining softly through the bedroom window.
On a decidedly male Yami.
"How do you suppose this happened?" Yami asked curiously, drinking in the sight of his nude – and once more masculine – body in the mirror.
Yugi hid a grin at this show of vanity. "Well, like I said, we didn't really know how long it would last. But if I had to hazard a guess…"
Yami raised one raven brow. "Yes?"
Yugi smirked. "A person's metabolism factored into how long the spell would take to wear off. All the sex we had must have worked the spell off faster."
Yami blushed and snatched a towel from the rack to cover his groin. "Ecchi," he chided.
"Look who's talking," Yugi shot back. "Mr. 'Why don't you eat another one of those chocolates so you can find out what sex as a girl is like, Yugi?'"
Yami made a face.