Title: Strawberries and Black Pepper
Author: Broken Music Box
Rating: PG
Summery: Ryou's thoughts as he is neglected by everyone.
A/N: Okay, I know this one is a little weird. Any reviews welcome.
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"Ryou?"
Smile. Cheerfully, but not too happily. Turn and face Yugi quietly, smiling, not looking ready to scream at all. Not smiling too tiredly either. Perfectly. Non-threateningly. Ryou-like.
"Yes, Yugi?"
Smiles are lies. Lies that everyone bandies about so cheaply, so much so that they have no meaning. But if they have no meaning, they can't be lies. Can they? None the less, they are deceiving. Smile because you can't let Yugi know you are sad. Smile because so Yami doesn't notice you're sore because you slept outside in a garden chair because he and Bakura were making out living room and you didn't want to walk past. Just smile, damn it, so Bakura forgets you have feelings too.
"Are you okay?"
Nod and smile. Don't explain that you're sick of being a shadow in your own home. Don't tell him that you hate the fact you have no privacy. And do not, certainly not, shout that you'd like some attention because you cook and clean for them all. Oh, no. That wouldn't do. After all, there is no answer to that question. So turn away, still smiling. Walk away, slipping out the door and grabbing your coat, venturing out into the rain, still smiling.