Chapter Four - Employment

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Review Responses

ladywolf(Terri - You guess correctly but you're not supposed to know that yet. Here is more!

Dark Magician Girl / Hikaru - Hey, don't worry about the review thing. I read it briefly and it was very nice. Thank you. As for the Anzu part, yes, I did find it particularly nauseating to write but it was necessary. There will be no Anzu bashing in this story but she does experience a lot of psychological pain.

Katarina Wassilivich - Whoa! Glad you liked it! And I'm glad you found out how to copy and paste!

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Bakura decided not to join the guys for the rest of the night. He had too much on his mind. That boy he'd seen was reawakening some old memories and innumerable regrets. Seeing Ryou again was a painful reminder of the life he could have had, if he'd been a little braver and a little less selfish. But he'd taken the easy option.
Dropped out of school, got into a bad crowd, the petty crimes, the skinhead mentality.
But then again, looking in those innocent brown eyes had rekindled something deeper.
Something that was frowned upon by his friends and his father but seemed so natural when he faced it head on. He smiled slightly in the dark as he remembered their time together. A happier, more innocent time, when he could briefly forget about the fucked up mess that was his life and just enjoy himself. He'd tried to regain that feeling with drink and whatever drugs he could afford but it never worked.

He sighed at the thought and wondered whether he should go home or not. Yet again the answer was no, he didn't particularly feel like fending off his old man that night and there were plenty of people who would be willing to put him up for the night.

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"So, how did the dinner go?" asked Ryou's father as he put down his book and sat up more in his bed. "I'm sorry I couldn't go with you. I know how your uncle can be sometimes."

"That's OK, dad. I understand." said Ryou happily taking off his coat. "And besides,
Pegasus decided to put me in charge of his game shop!"

"Game shop? Not the Kame Game shop, Ryou!" his father exclaimed with concern.

"Yeah."

"Are you insane? Have you any idea of the state of that place?! You're looking at a hundred grand just to get it up to the minimum standard of human habitation! That bastard's screwing you over! I knew it was wrong to trust him!"

"Hey! Dad! Calm down! I'm sure it's not that bad." cried Ryou "Didn't you tell me once that if I believed in myself I could do anything? Well I believe I can pull this one off and make it a success!"

"And there's nothing I can say to make you change your mind?"

"No, dad. I'm sorry."

"Then I suppose you have a business to run." said the older man and smiled.

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"Well, here it is!" said Marik as he handed over the key and smirked "Enjoy."

Ryou unlocked the front door and had a look around. The place was a disaster area!
His dad obviously hadn't exaggerated. Broken and dusty shelves lay randomly on the floor. The display cases were all broken and tiny shards of glass sparkled off the floor like a jagged sea. Obscene graffiti occupied every bit of wall space, there was garbage everywhere and the room smelt suspiciously like urine. There was no power, no heating and there was a massive hole in the ceiling surrounded by patches of damp.

"Hmm, looks like you need considerably more funding before you begin this little project." said Marik smugly. "And I think I have a job you might be interested in, squirt."

"Why are you being so helpful all of a sudden?" said Ryou suspiciously.

"Hey! I'm just looking out for my family. It's not a crime now is it?"

"What kind of job?" Ryou sighed in defeat.

"Stop round my apartment at six. I'll tell you what to do." said Marik and drove away in his Mercedes Benz.

Ryou seriously didn't trust that guy but right now the measly investment that Pegasus had made in this place wouldn't even pay to fix the ceiling. It seemed that taking the other man's advice was his best option. Taking out a loan was impossible for someone his age. Right now he just concentrated on cleaning up and daydreaming about a certain dark eyed stranger he'd met the night before.

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Bakura wondered aimlessly along the street. He had never realised how boring the city was when you had no cash on you. It was nine in the morning and all his friends were probably still in bed. He didn't want to see them anyway. Not after what they had nearly done to Ryou and his family. He wasn't entirely sure why he cared but thought it best not to over-analyse his feelings for now. That sort of thing could drive you crazy.

His thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of music that seemed to come from the old game shop at the end of the street. He remembered going there when he was a kid just browsing with his friends and showing off his duelling skills. Had someone finally bought the place? He approached out of sheer curiosity. The music was louder now and he could hear that the song playing was "Our House" by Madness. An old favourite of his.

The door to the shop was wide open and, figuring there was nothing to stop him,
Bakura stepped inside. He would have never expected in a million years what would happen next. There, at the far end of the room, stood a familiar, slight, white haired figured sweeping up shards of glass.

Ryou heard something move behind him and nearly jumped three feet into the air with fright.

"Bakura!" he cried and picked up the broom he had dropped earlier.

"Hello again." Bakura drawled, quickly overcoming his shock.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question." said Bakura.

"My uncle made me the manager of this place." said Ryou proudly.

"Hmm, he must really love you." said Bakura sarcastically as he eyed the mildew covered walls.

"I know it doesn't look like much but I've got some big plans for this place." his old friend replied.

"Well, that's great. You were always having good ideas." said Bakura "I'm surprised you didn't go to college or something."

"Yeah, well. I can't afford to go to college and look after my dad at the same time"
said Ryou sadly.

"Oh right. How is the old man?"

"The same. He's lost his drive recently. Won't even get out of bed, now. Not since you left actually."

"That doesn't make any sense." said Bakura. There was an awkward silence. "So, I'd better get going. Good luck with shop." and he turned to leave.

Ryou gulped nervously. He didn't want him to go. It was now or never.

"Wait!" he called. Bakura looked at him curiously. "I don't think I can do this on my own...I...I was wondering if you'd like to help."

"You mean work for you?" Bakura asked. The younger boy nodded. Bakura wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. On the plus side he'd be earning some proper, not to mention 'legal' cash and he and his friend could catch up after a year or so of being apart. But on the other hand he couldn't think of anything more humiliating than working for someone that in any other circumstances he'd quite easily be able to kick the shit out of!

"I'd like that." he said after a few minutes of thought and was rewarded with a brilliant smile from Ryou as they shook hands and set to work.