Disclaimer: Hmm... Well, let's see. Let me pull out my handy dandy Rules for Being the Owner of Yu-Gi-Oh book. Guy? Nope. Japanese? Nuh-uh. Rich? In. My. Dreams.
"Come on Ryo, we've got a long day ahead of us! You need to learn how to shop!"
"But I-"
"Nope. Come on. In here." Malik had lead Ryo into the biggest mall within twenty minutes of Domino's perimeter, and had dragged him into an accessory store. "Okay, you'll need a few chains, maybe a collar, possibly a fake earring... nah, forget the earring thing; you're feminine enough, um... here." He jammed a shopping basket into Ryo's arms. "Oh man, I have a great idea!" He proceeded to throw seemingly random items into Ryo's basket, but he actually had a plan. He thought he was to be commended for this little bit of genius, too. Yes, commended, definitely. Malik the Genius. That did have a nice ring.
When he had proceeded to fill the basket to bursting with chains and the like, he turned to the terrified Ryo. "Okay, now put the basket on the floor."
"Just do it!"
"All right... If you say so..." Ryo obediently dropped the basket. "Now what?"
"Now you close your eyes, reach in and pick five random things. What you reach for is what you keep." He smirked at the boy's horrified expression.
"Atemu doesn't wear any of this stuff! Why are you making me?"
"Atemu's naturally cool, he doesn't need it. Plus he's got the hair, the muscle, and the voice to have him set for life. We could all learn from Atemu. Now, pick."
Ryo reluctantly closed his eyes and reached a hand into the basket. Thinking he might as well get this over with, he drew out five small packages. He re-opened his eyes and looked up into Malik's smiling face.
"You have done well, my young padiwan." (N/A: Star Wars ain't mine.)
Ryo forced himself to look at what he'd picked out. Three chains, a collar much like Yugi's usual one, and a studded bracelet. "Ugh."
"Oh come on, it's not that bad! Now onto the outfit!"
This is going to be a long day, the imprisoned boy thought.
Meanwhile, at the Mutou residence:
Everyone except for Isis and Anzu had left for home, and Yugi had busied himself with cleaning up the mess everyone had made with a few thousand pounds of food. Sogoroku walked in.
"What happened in here?"
"Just the guys," Atemu replied, looking up from where he and Isis were working on a new song, Anzu looking on while also making conversation with Yugi and helping to clean up. Suddenly Anzu shook Atemu's shoulder. "Look! It's snowing!" The four others in the room turned as one to watch the wondrous element bathe their world in purity. Isis smiled. "Maybe you two should change your date to ice skating. It's great out on that pond near the high school, especially when it's snowing. Pierre used to take me there all the time, until... well, you know. She blinked rapidly at the memory of her old boyfriend, soon-to-be-husband, who had gotten hit by a car the day after he'd popped the question. Anzu rubbed her friend's back.
"It's all right, Isis. It's okay to cry." Atemu nodded his agreement.
"It makes you feel better, too. He gave her a tight hug and sent a message to Anzu with his eyes to convey that it was only to comfort her. Anzu understood and smiled. "It'll be all right. It'll be all right." Isis sobbed into her friend's shoulder until her eyes dried themselves out, then pulled away quickly.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I mean..." She glanced worriedly at Anzu.
"No, I get it," the brunette replied. "We all need to cry sometime." She smiled in Atemu's direction. "Even the Game King."
Funny how Anzu's thoughts could be so prophetic.
With Ryo and Malik:
"Can we go YET?" Ryo asked, after nearly four hours of shopping. The two had compiled three chains, a collar, a studded bracelet, a pair of blood-colored pants of some shiny, unknown-to-man-thus-far material, and a black shirt reading "Rocker Dude," on the back side of the shirt.
"Not yet, my young padiwan. You still need shoes. Like Atemu's, I think."
"Why can't I just borrow a pair from 'Temu?"
"You know, that might not be a bad idea. What's your shoe size?"
"Seven," Ryo mumbled.
"Man, you have WAY too small feet!"
"Yeah, I get that a lot..."
"Oh well. I think Atemu's that size too, so you two can be midgets together." He flipped open his mobile phone and speed-dialed the Mutous' number.
"Yo, Atemu there?... Yup... Uh-huh... Hey 'Temu, what's up man?... Oh, so when are you two going?... No it's just when YOU'RE on the topic of girls, my friend... Yugi said the same thing? I guess great minds think alike, eh?... Yeah, that too- Wait! Hey, you just royally dissed me! ARRRRG!... Yeah, whatever. So I'm helping Ryo shop, and could he borrow a pair of your boots for the concert, you know, thoseones with the multiple buckles, and the brass button things, that come to a point at the end, you know... seven... You're a seven and a half?... Close enough. What a loser though, half-sizes are for dopes... So what if I'm a ten and a half?... Yeah, whatever. Bye."
"Yeah, you can borrow his. So, is that everything?"
"I'd say so. Ugly jewelery, icky pants, odd shirt, and a humongous hole in my wallet... yes, that's all."
"Just so you know, it's hard to be really sarcastic with that light voice you've got."
"What exactly is wrong with my voice?"
"Nothing, it's just... light."
"And?"
"Never mind. Let's go." They exited the he mall to where Malik's motorcycle was parked outside. Malik got in front and threw Ryo a helmet over his shoulder. Ryo climbed on and clung to Malik for dear life as the older teen started to barrel down the main drag, whooping crazily the whole way.
"MALIK! You psychotic evil nutcase! You're going to get us killed!"
"And I should be scared because...?"
Ryo sighed. "Just drop it."
With Atemu, Yugi, Isis, Anzu, Sogoroku and soon-to-be Ryo and Malik:
Atemu coughed as he assisted his grandfather in preparing their dinner, which Isis and Anzu were staying for upon Sogoroku's insistence.
"Wash those hands again, young man."
Atemu continued to cough as he made his way to the bathroom sink and scrubbed his hands with soap. As he finished his nose decided to itch, and he sneezed.
"Again, Atemu!"
He sighed and turned the water back on as Anzu walked in, face spread in an ear-to-ear grin.
"Geez, you're in here every two minutes."
He nodded and smiled. "By now, your food will be part hand soap."
"Hey, I can take that. It was really nice of your grandfather to invite us to stay."
"Yes..." He smirked suddenly.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Maybe I can pull a few strings with Jii-chan and we can go out tonight."
"Are you sure you're up to it? I don't want to make you sick or anything."
"Well... I really want to... Well, you know..." He blushed madly, and Anzu grinned.
"All right then. It's fine with me."
"I'll ask now. Maybe you should stay in here, so he doesn't think you put me up to it or anything... By the way, have you... told your parents?"
"Yup."
"What... did they think?"
"Oh, the usual parents thing... 'Who is this 'Atemu Mutou' fella? Why is his hair like that? Does he waste all his money on hair products? Is he a useless bum? Does he commit robbery or murder on a daily basis? Why does he want to go out with you? Has he ever been in jail? From under which rock did he crawl?' (Hehe, you're right Electric Fire!) Your normal parent reaction."
He sighed. "But they didn't... have a problem with it?"
"Nah, they've seen you save the world on TV too many times."
He chuckled. "Okay, well, I'm going to go ask Jii-chan, and you should stay here and pretend... well... I mean..." His already-scarlet blush deepened.
"I get it. Just ask. And good luck!" she called after him as he headed to the kitchen.
Sogoroku was chopping carrots for the salad. "Jii-chan?"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering... Well, my fever's better now, right?"
"Better than it's been, I suppose. Here, rinse the lettuce."
Atemu took the head of lettuce form his grandfather and rinsed it in the sink. "And my voice is in working condition, right?"
"Yes."
"And I haven't puked in hours now, and my stomach feels fine, actually I'm hungry-"
"What are you getting at? And you're NOT hungry, that's a lie. You're holding your stomach."
Atemu looked down at his hand, which had involuntarily placed itself over his slightly sore stomach. "Well, the point is that it's a lot better now. So I was wondering... Could I take Anzu to that arcade tonight, instead of waiting for the weekend?"
"Always impatient, aren't you? Well... Let me check your temperature first, and then we'll see. Where is Anzu, anyway?"
"In the bathroom. I passed her on my way out- Achoo!"
"And now you shall be going back in. Hands, washed. Now. When Anzu gets out."
He made his way back to the bathroom, sniffling, and knocked on the door. Anzu opened it. "So?"
"He wants to take my temperature first, and if he dubs me healthy we can go."
"Oh, that's so great! I'm so excited!" She looked down at herself, modestly dressed in stylish black boots, jeans, and a pink turtleneck. "I'm not really dressed for an arcade, though."
"That doesn't matter. You look great in anything. "Look at me." He was in jeans, black sneakers and a red shirt. Come on, let's go so Jii-chan can just take my temperature and we can get on with it." He finished washing his hands and dried them, and the pair walked into the kitchen where Sogoroku was holding a thermometer. Atemu obediently took it and stuck it into his mouth, waiting impatiently for it to beep.
Bleep!
"Hmm... ninety-nine... I don't know, that's four tenths of a point off..."
"Please?"
"Oh, all right. Just stay warm."
"Thanks." He rushed to get his and Anzu's coats, and helped her with hers. She giggled. "You're such a gentleman."
"Only for a deserving lady." He shrugged his own jacket on and took her arm. "Bye Jii-chan."
"Hold on, young man!"
"What?"
"You need to make sure I approve."
"Huh- Oh." He smiled, leading Anzu into the kitchen and stood in front of Sogoroku. "Well?"
"Hmm... That's a tough one... Yugi! Isis!"
The two, who had been talking in the living room, appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. "What do you you think?"
Yugi smiled and gave Atemu a thumbs-up, and Isis hugged Anzu. "You two look terrific!" Yuugi exclaimed.
The new couple blushed. "Can we go then, Jii-chan?"
"I don't know, It's a bit too fun to torture you... Maybe I should keep you here..."
"Yes, and it's not too often you get the King of Games to blush!" a light male voice called from the door in back of Atemu and Anzu. It was Ryo, Malik right behind him. Sogoroku chuckled at Ryo's words.
"Yes, that IS true... All right, go then." He laughed as the two exited through the side door.
"Sorry about that, Anzu," Atemu apologized once they were outside.
"That's okay. Now let's go!"
He smiled, taking her arm. "That sounds like a plan."
We all know that plans never work out, though. Hence the word, 'plan.'
Am I evil, or am I EVIL?
Black-Caracal, you don't have to LEARN how to sing, just sing what feels natural. If you can play lead alto sax in a jazz band, you can sing no doubt. That's how I dance. I'm a lot like Anzu in that sense, except she's good and I stink, but I dance around m house morning to night anyway! Of course Ryo is starting to grow on you, he's an adorable, cute, blue little fluff ball! I LOVE him! He's just too fluffy for his own good, really...
Ah my dear friend Electric Fire, I TOTALLY AGREE about the hikaris! Fluffiness all around! GO YUGIRYOANDMALIK! Go YUGIRYOANDMALIK! We need banners: FLUFFY HIKARIS FOREVER! Of COURSE Ryo was going to save the day, he's just a wonderful little ball of fluff! You tend to be able to predict the course of my stories, and it's starting to scare me, you know...
Ninqe, no it wasn't a typo with the EJHS thing, darn. I live about... 1500 miles from you. Oh well. Yeah, actually the song they're going to do IS a love song, and Ryo's gonna be perfect for it too... plus there's gonna be some ACTUAL romance too, between him and... someone. He's just too fluffy to leave out of a romance-y fic! Yeah, isn't Electric Fire's site great? I printed out the Ryo pics, and they're front and center on my newly erected Ryo wall in my room... Oh yeah! And yup, I'm just writing this as I go along on my twisted merry way, but... I'm gonna go with it! And I don't mind long reviews, actually I love them! I write them too. .
Aww, thanks Ksaturn! I love Anzu and Atemu together too! And COME ON, they're together ALL THE TIME in the anime and manga, us fanfic writers shouldn't have to write all the action! But alas, he has to leave for the afterlife... so I shall write AnzuAtemu fluff to no end! How did I come up with this?Well actually it started out as one of my hundreds of sick-fics, and then when Sogoroku tells him to cancel his plans I was GONNA just have YugiAtemu or AnzuAtemu fluff for the weekend, with a fluffy ending, but then I thought the unthinkable- ACTUAL PLOT! If you can call this fluff fest a plot...
I'm glad you like it Sailorsun195, and I update this one like... every other day, so you shouldn't have to wait too long.