The Truth
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO!
Warning: Slight shounen-ai fluff in later chapters. That's about it.
AN: Some of you don't like the idea of Bakura*Jou, but this is my story, so I can write about that if I want to! I'd like to thank Charcoal Cat for her support for that pairing. And the answer to the appearance of the cats will be answered in this chapter. This chapter is in Bakura's POV.
'Thoughts'
"Talking"
Chapter 2
Jou's 'Cat'alyst (for any who don't know, catalyst is a synonym of vehicle)
Bakura's POV
I felt like hitting myself over the head for being such a baka. I mean how much stupider can I get than saying 'cute'?! I can't believe I actually said that! I can't believe I'm still agonizing over it!
I mean, that had happened over three hours ago. And after Jou saw Yuugi and Yami as cats, I think it kinda left his thoughts, but still, when he remembers, I'm in for a load of teasing (or blackmail. I just hope he doesn't have a tape recorder.)
Still, I did manage to scare him with my death threat, so he might not do either. But then, there is Ryou and the Pharaoh and his feline hikari to worry about. Actually, the Pharaoh and Yuugi might not tell, considering that I will make it very difficult for them to return to human form if they do.
Not that I know how they became that way. If I did, Ryou wouldn't be a shorthaired albino kitty at the moment. Wait, did I just think kitty? Great, first 'cute', now 'kitty', what next?
Well, at least it was in my head and not out loud, not like that would stop Ryou from hearing.
Speaking of Ryou, I can feel him in his soul room at the moment. I think I'll go visit him.
I withdraw into our minds, then walk up to the beautifully carved portal that is the door to Ryou's mind. I turn the gold-tinted handle and enter the room.
I love it in Ryou's soul room. It has a warm, peaceful air to it, very much like Ryou himself. I look around searchingly, trying to find a trace of my hikari. Ah, there he is, just up ahead.
"Ryou?"
He looks up at me, his chocolate brown eyes sparkling with happiness. "Hello Bakura!" he says cheerfully to me.
"You sound happy. Why? You're a cat."
Ryou shrugs his shoulders. "I know, I'm just happy to see you is all." He smiles winningly at me.
Who could resist that smile? I certainly can't. "I'm happy to see you too hikari." I grin back at him.
Confused? You shouldn't be. Alright, I admit, when I first knew Ryou, I hadn't been exactly nice to him. I never beat him, like I'm sure the Pharaoh and his posse suspect, but I did hit him on occasion. But I got over that stage of coldness when I really got to know my gentler half. I even, for a time, developed a little crush on him, but I got over that as well. That had been a really awkward period for the both of us. Now, though, we're just really good friends. I'd say we were best friends, but I wouldn't want to presume that Ryou feels that close to me.
Well anyway, back to Ryou's soul room. Ryou was chatting about something and I managed to catch his last words. "…Anyway, I just dropped by to see you, but I should return to my body soon and speak with Yami and Yuugi. Maybe they'll be able to tell us what's going on."
I blinked at Ryou. "How are you going to talk to them though? You can't speak cat, can you?" But just as that question left my lips, I remembered something. A few months ago I remembered that Ryou had been reading some guide to how to speak cat. I hadn't understood why he would have wanted to learn that, but Yami, Yuugi, Honda, and Anzu had been reading that novel as well, so I figured that it was the latest fad or something. Guess it came in handy, for the Pharaoh and our hikaris anyway.
"Well, speak to you later Bakura," Ryou said, and was just about to leave when I remembered something and quickly grabbed his arm.
"Ryou," I said in earnest, "promise me you won't tell anybody about what I said earlier."
Ryou looked at me in slight confusion, then realization dawned on him. "You mean, about me being cute as a cat?"
"Yes, that."
"Alright, I promise. Damn, that woulda made great blackmail!"
I looked shocked at my light. 'Why would he want to blackmail me?'
Ryou chuckled at my shocked look. "I'm just joking with you Bakura! I've got plenty of good blackmail already! Yami and Yuugi can have the 'cute' one."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "What other blackmail do you have?"
"Well, the fact that you sleep with your stuffed camel toy at night, that you have the bathroom light on at night, your fear of spiders (I have pictures to prove that one!), um…"
"Ack! You're not really going to use Caramel against me, are you?" I asked anxiously. He better not tell them about my camel!
"Hahaha! Oh Bakura, I'm just kidding you! I won't tell anyone about Caramel. And I'll make Yami and Yuugi promise that they won't tell about earlier as well."
"Arigatou Ryou," I breathed with a sigh of relief. Ryou then left the soul room. I lingered a moment longer, checking to make sure everything was in order. Ryou has suddenly developed a dangerous sense of humor. I think it might have something to do with the cat thing.
---*---
"Jou, we're out of food here." I inform the lazy blonde pigging out on the couch. Ryou just informed me that Jou and I would have to feed the three cats, as they are incapable of doing so. So I checked the kitchen pantry, but there was nothing fit for the felines to consume.
"Oh, really? Guess we'll have to go shopping."
"We?"
"Well, yeah. You can communicate with Ryou, he can communicate with Yami and Yuugi, so you'll know what we have to get for them to eat."
"Oh," I say simply. I mean, he makes sense. But… "How are we going to get there?"
"I can drive. I'll just go over to my house and get my car, then pick you up in front of the store, 'k?"
"Umm, okay." I heard snickering in my mind. //Ryou?//
/Oh, Bakura, we all pity you. Good luck./
//We? Good luck? What're you talking about?//
/Well, you're going to be traveling with Jou, so you're going to need luck , and lots of it too./
//Thanks a lot hikari. I'm sure I'll survive. Honestly, how bad could he drive?//
---*---
I wish I hadn't asked that question. Jou was the worst driver in the whole of Japan. "JOU! HOW FAST ARE YOU DRIVING?!" I screamed.
"Umm…about 100 mph. Why?"
"YOU PRACTICALLY GOT US KILLED BACK THERE!"
"Oh, you mean that oak tree? Don't be silly, I wasn't going to crash. I have everything under contro-"
"JOU, WATCH OUT! THERE'S A TRUCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF-" SCREEEECH!
I took deep breaths, trying to forget about how we were so close to dying. I just gripped my seat tightly and kept my eyes shut for the remainder of the ride.
Finally, we arrived at the supermarket and I hobbled weakly out of the car. "I'M DRIVING ON THE WAY BACK!" I screamed at the calm blonde.
"If you're sure…"
"Yes! If I ever get driven anywhere by you again I'll die of fright!"
Jou just shrugged nonchalantly at me, which really angered me. "Grrr, c'mon, we've gotta go shopping," I said, grabbing his shirt and dragging him into the store, seizing a shopping cart as I went in.
I made a beeline to the fresh fish area, where we encountered Seto Kaiba. I immediately felt the blonde behind me bristle in anger. The CEO just sneered at Jou and mockingly said, "The mutt's being taken out for his walk, is he? Hope you're being paid well to be his dog walker Bakura."
I instinctively knew that Jou was going to lunge at Kaiba, so I held him back. I didn't need Jou getting beaten up in the supermarket. After all, he knew the way to the Game Shop. Jou struggled wildly to get at Kaiba, snarling, very much like a dog, at him.
"Take that back Kaiba, you b******!"
"Oh Jou, you better not bite off more than you can chew, you little puppy. You better watch what you say or you might end up in the dog house!" Kaiba continued sneering at Jou.
I swear I don't know what made me do it. Maybe I went slightly insane at that moment, but one moment I'm holding Jou back and the next I'm punching Kaiba in the gut and hissing, "Urusei Kaiba or else!"
Two pairs of eyes stared at me like I'd gone crazy or something. Then I realized that I had just defended Jou, wherefore I don't know. Oh great, now I'm thinking in Shakespeare! Maybe I am going crazy. Wouldn't be surprised.
Anyway, Kaiba and Jou are staring at me when suddenly the man at the fresh fish counter comes and asks for my order. I turn gratefully to the man and ask for whatever it was Ryou wanted. Then I quickly walked away from the counter, dragging Jou with me. When we reached the check-out, Jou turned to me and said, "Arigatou for what you did back there. I guess I owe you Bakura."
"Don't mention it," I quickly muttered. And he better not either!
-----TBC-----
Yeah, kinda abrupt, but I didn't know how to end it. So, how was this chapter? Please tell me in a review. Flames will be used in my story "Stranded", which will be posted sometime in the future. That or for the barbecue Bakura's having.
Bakura: Since when was I having a barbecue?
Rowan: Since I decided I would write one! Now, Ryou, do you have the list of things to bring?
Ryou: Yup! Yuugi's gonna bring the video camera, I've already got the grill,
Rowan: And I'll bring the water balloons!
Bakura: I'm getting scared.
Rowan: Oo, it's going to be so much fun!
Sakura: Well, while we plan the barbecue, you readers go review!