Dreams of Angels
Pan: There will now be a short interlude, during which, you can get popcorn. Sorry, ignore that. Anyways, there will be a little break before getting into the next part of the main story. I have to do a little thinking about how I'm going to manage it first, but before that, you get this.
This chapter is actually pretty long, and they'll be a shorter one after it, and then we'll return to the main story. Yay!
I suppose I had also better add that I don't own Spirited Away, or Sento no Chihiro in Japanese.
And, due to ff.net's STUPID Quickedit thing (and I hope someone from ff.net reads that), Yami's thought-speak will now be between speechs instead, because it keeps doing a stupid link to file thing when I do it the other way. Bloody annoying.
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Yami sat at his school desk, absent-mindedly drawing on a scrap of paper. The teacher was warbling on about some period in history Yami didn't give a damn about. The sun was beating in through the windows, and the boys had been allowed to take off their jackets because of the heat. He sat with the annoying feeling of being too hot, but being unable to do anything about it, so he doodled to take his mind off of it.
He hadn't really looked at what he was drawing, up until now, but it turned out to be a reasonably good drawing of a chibi Yugi. The huge eyes made him look even cuter, it really did look like Yugi. Yami grinned, and slipped the drawing into his pocket. He had started wearing the Puzzle around his neck again. It was partially responsible for saving him, after all.
"Muto-san!" the teacher called. Yami didn't really hear them, nor did he hear the "Not you, Yugi." the teacher had given when Yugi had reacted. "Muto Yami-san!" the teacher shouted. Still, Yami was off in his own little world, until Yugi stuck his head into Yami's Soul Room and yelled 'Ya- chan!' at the top of his voice.
Nani, Yu-chan? he asked sleepily.
/You're ignoring the teacher. You're past the detention stage, and well into 'mopping the halls for a month'/
Ah, shit...
"Muto Yami, I'm about to send you to the principal's office!" the teacher threatened. "OK." Yami replied. "So NOW you decide to pay attention!" the teacher said. "You're still in detention!" Yami shrugged. "OK." "You are going to end up in a lot of trouble if you carry on like that!"
"OK."
"You don't care?"
"Not really."
"Care to explain why?"
For the first time, Yami looked his teacher straight in the eye. His own crimson eyes were cold and emotionless, a look reserved for people who irritated him that little bit too much.
"Because, with all due respect, I have suffered things a thousand times worse than the worst punishment you can give me."
The teacher eyed him disbelievingly. Yugi was a bit surprised by his koi's current attitude, but said nothing. "Care to give an example, Muto-san?" they asked.
Yami looked away. "I could tell you in such fine detail you'd think you had been there, because it stands out in my memory so clearly. However, there are only four people in this room who would believe what I would say. So, no."
"I demand that you give me at least one example." The teacher said through gritted teeth. The rest of the class seemed to lean forward to hear what he would say. Yami sighed. "Fine." He closed his eyes, bringing the images in his memory forward, so he could describe them perfectly.
"I have ridden across the deserts of Egypt, beyond the Nile, beyond the great tombs of my ancestors, with sword at my side and a thousand men following me, some of this world, some not. I took those thousand men to war with a country that threatened the borders of my Two Lands, with two thousand men. Those thousand men that followed me did so willingly, believing they were following a god. I led them to battle, a bloody battle, and only six of them survived, victorious though we were. Those six followed me back to the great River at the height of its flood." Yami paused to look at the others around him, then continued. "Those six and I forged seven items of power to control the shadows that threatened this world. After many more battles, fought in this world, the next, and the dark one, I was locked in the dark for three thousand years, alone, without light or warmth or anything, until I was awakened by my lost ka, and history repeated itself." His eyes met the teacher's again.
Ryou was laughing silently, probably something to do with Bakura. Malik was listening in interest, Jonouchi looked confused, and Yugi... well, he was giving Yami a very withering look, but obviously found it funny too. Yami's style of storytelling was very much brief and to the point, but he used some of his magic to create the images in his listener's minds. They could see the glittering golden sands of Egypt, and the glimmering, silver waters of the Nile. They could feel the heat that smothered the land like a blanket, and the cold that drifted out of the darkness of the Shadows.
Despite all this, the teacher shook the glowing images out of their head, and frowned. "Muto Yami, detention for the next three days after school. Two days for not paying attention, and one day for making up silly stories." Yami's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I told you you would not believe me. Still, I do not care about getting detention." he said, his tone of voice becoming more severe every second.. "The accusation of not paying attention I do not mind, as it is true, but you have accused me of lying. Listen here and now, because I will not repeat myself." He fixed the teacher with a hard glare. "I do not lie."
"Then you are telling me that all the things you have said are true? Your schooling abroad has done nothing more than to turn you into a spoiled brat who seeks attention by making up stories." The teacher sneered. Yugi could feel the pressure of Yami's anger pressing against his mind, although outwardly, Yami seemed perfectly calm.
/Don't do anything stupid, onegai, Ya-chan!/ Yugi said hurriedly through their mind link.
Me? Stupid?
/Just don't challenge them to a Yami no Geemu, or anything.../
I hadn't thought of that until you said anything. Good idea, aibou!
/Oh no... no, no, no.../
I'm only kidding. I don't want to waste my energy and my magic on this twit.
/Good. If you behave from now on, I'll reward you, OK?/
What kind of reward?
/What do you think?!/
OK, I'll behave!
"I don't lie." Yami repeated. "Four people in this room can vouch for that. If you can guess who they are, I'll behave." He sighed. "But I won't impose a Penalty if you lose." The teacher frowned. "What kind of silly game is this? I should not have to beat you at anything to get you to behave, Muto Yami." they said. "Indulge me." Yami smiled, somewhat sinisterly. "Now, will you try to name them all?" "Alright, alright." The teacher returned to the front of the class, and allowed their eyes to sweep over the students in the room.
"By the way, I'm not included in the four." Yami added. The teacher merely nodded. "My first guess must be Muto Yugi, since he's your brother." they announced. "Correct." Yami said with a suppressed laugh. "Ano... Katsuya Jonouchi, because he's one of your best friends..." the teacher named next. Yami nodded. The next two would probably be the hardest. "And Bakura Ryou, since he's nearly always with you." Yami nodded assent again. The teacher frowned, seeking out the last person in their class. They sighed after a few minutes of silence. "I don't know." Yami smiled. "Take a guess." he prompted. The teacher shook their head. "Nosaka Miho." Yami shook his head. "Incorrect. You lose."
"Well, that was a waste of time." the teacher said, ignoring Yami. "Now, can we please return to the history of Japan?" They picked up the text book, and was about to begin reading again, when Yami called out. "Hold on!"
"What is it now, Muto-san?" the teacher asked angrily. Yami smirked, and a second later, the bell rang. "It's the end of class." Yami explained. By now, their teacher looked as if steam was about to start pouring out of their ears. "Class dismissed." they said through gritted teeth.
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"Nice one, mate! You wasted most of that boring History class!" Jonouchi congratulated. Yami smiled at him. "I didn't expect them to get Malik as the last person anyway. You, Yugi and Ryou were the obvious ones. My winning streak continues!" he said happily. Yugi rolled his eyes. "Very clever. Now, however, we can go home!" he said. He paused for a moment. "First one to my house gets to choose tonight's movie!" "Yeah! Movie night!" Jonouchi cheered, dashing after Yugi, closely followed by Ryou and Yami.
What about my reward, aibou? I did behave! Yami said.
/You played a game! That's not behaving!/
Yami pouted mentally (if that's possible). But that's not fair! I didn't even impose a Penalty!
Yugi tried to ignore the pout, but found it impossible. /Ah, you learn well, young grasshopper!/ he said, recognising that the pout was a reflection of his own. /But patience is a virtue you have yet to learn./
Patience is not my thing.
/Then you will just have to be impatient, and wait. Movie night first. Then reward./
Alright...
As the four dashed around the corner which led into Yugi's street, Ryou surprised them all by sprinting the last hundred metres to Yugi's house, and overtaking them all. They soon found out why, when it was Bakura waiting for them, and not Ryou. "You are so slow. And your winning streak has just been stopped, Yami." he said. Yami smirked. "Your fly's open, Bakura." he said casually, as Yugi unlocked the front door. Bakura blushed a red as deep as Yami's eyes, before following them in.
"I still get to choose!" he said. "And I pick..." Here, he made a choking sound, and Ryou's voice finished for him. "Spirited Away!" "Hey! Ryou, you know I wasn't going to say that!" Bakura protested. Ryou pushed Bakura out into his own body. "Yeah, well, I'd rather watch Spirited Away than the film you were going to say." Ryou answered. "What was he going to choose?" Yugi inquired. Ryou sighed. "The Exorcist. I hate that film with a passion."
"Right, we can watch Spirited Away, but make a double feature, hmm? A more action kinda film." Jonouchi requested. "Alright, alright..." Yugi said. "Spirited Away and... ano..." "I can't stay long enough for a double." Ryou said. "Put that film on another night, when you've had a chance to think up one to watch." "OK!" Yugi said. "But, I don't have a copy of Spirited Away..."
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So, Ryou ran home to pick up his copy of it, while Jonouchi was dispatched to the store to get some popcorn, under Bakura's careful supervision. This was only necessary so that Jonouchi wouldn't eat it on the way back.
Yugi set about raiding his kitchen for other snacks. Yami sat happily on one of the worktops. "You're so cute when you're busy." he commented lightly. Yugi glanced over at him. "Would you pass me a bowl out of that cupboard you're sitting over please?" he asked. Yami blinked, and reached down to the cupboard below him, and succeeded in falling off of the worktop, and hitting his head on the kitchen table. "Itai..." he murmured.
Yugi sighed and trotted over. "Next time, I suggest getting off of the cupboard first." he said, helping Yami back to his feet. "That hurt..." Yami sniffed. "Never mind." Yugi said, kissing Yami softly on the cheek. "It'll be fine once we're watching the film." "Okay..." Yami said, sounding somewhat childish.
"Hey, hey, watch it next time!" Youkai said within Yami's mind irritably. "You're not the only one who lives in here!" "Shut up, you." Yami replied.
Ryou walked in through the door they had left open. "Got it!" he said cheerfully, holding up the DVD. "Good." Yugi said. "Just waiting for Jonouchi and Bakura to get back from the store." Ryou's eyes widened. "You gave Bakura money?" he asked quickly. "No, I gave Jonouchi money." Yugi replied, confused. "Bakura's a thief. He'll have that money by now." Ryou said quietly. "What's so bad about that?" Yami asked, sounding worried. "Bakura buys weird things. VERY weird and DISTURBING things." Ryou said slowly. "I'm not even going to ask." Yugi said.
"Hey! Someone help me with this!" Jonouchi's voice called. All three ran outside...
To where Jonouchi was carrying four bags of popcorn and an unconscious Bakura.
"What did you do?!" Ryou asked in surprise. Jonouchi shrugged. "He tried to nick that money, so I knocked him out." he said simply. "Give him here." Yami said, walking up to Jonouchi. "Let's just hope he wakes up in time for the film, ne?" (Pan: Excuse me... I just gave Yami MY pattern of speech, adding 'ne' to the end of a sentence. I'm weird...) Jonouchi gratefully offloaded Bakura into Yami's arms.
Yugi frowned slightly as Yami carried Bakura back in. "Tenshi?" he asked quietly. "What is it, Yugi?" the Angel's voice replied. "Yami's got much closer to Bakura since he regained his memories..." Yugi murmured. "And?" Tenshi enquired. "I was wondering why." Yugi said.
Tenshi gave a nervous sigh. "It's not my place to tell you." he said. "What?" Yugi said. "That's Yami's secret, the only one he keeps from you." Tenshi said in a whisper. "If it's anyone's place to let you know, it's him or Youkai." "You've got me curious now. Tell me, please! I won't say anything!" Yugi pleaded. "You may not have to say anything, you can't guard your secrets as well as Yami." Tenshi said. "Onegai? This one I'll guard really, really well!" Yugi said.
Tenshi paused. "Youkai!" he called. The demon responded in a few moments. "What?" "Yugi wants to know about... you know..." Tenshi said shyly. "Oh. Are you sure, Yugi?" Youkai asked, almost surprised that Yugi would really want to know. Yugi nodded vigorously. "Well, once upon a memory, in Ancient Egypt, Yami and Bakura were very... close. Only a little less close as you are to Yami." Youkai said slowly. "That was before Yami found out that Bakura was a thief though." "He used to be in love with Bakura?" Yugi said in surprise. "Yes. I suppose Yami still harbours a few feelings towards him. That's why he could never kill Bakura." "Oh..." Yugi said quietly.
"Yugi! Come on!" Yami called. "Bakura woke up and is trying to punch Jonouchi. I need you to help me hold him back while Ryou talks some sense into him!"
"Coming!" Yugi called back, walking towards the house, still thinking about what he had just heard.
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Pan: What the hell kinda crap was that?! Oh well, 10:15 pm, not late enough for good writing...