Hikari's DS: My jaw has officially made its home on the floor by now. You guys are so wonderful, 27 REVIEWS? I'm blushing and crying as I speak…err…write these words.
Yami Muraii: My little hikari means to say thank you and here's the chapter!
Hikari's DS: (eyes blazing with fiery spirit) yami…what about the funny thing that's supposed to happen in these notes that you asked about, hmm?
Yami Muraii: But they want the chapter!
Hikari's DS: …shut up you stupid useless muse
Yami Muraii: (reading Gravitation graphic novel) No respect at all…(turns page)
Warnings: Mentioned shonen-ai, demons, swordsmanship, possible swearing, and mock sparring (would that count as violence?)
Pairings: Puppyshipping (S/J), Puzzleshipping (YY/Y) (main), Bronzeshipping (YM/M), and Tendershipping (YB/RB)
Rating: PG-13 or T according to the new ratings
V
For that Reason
Written by Hikari's Dark Side and Co-written by her yami/muse Muraii
Chapter Three: Sparring and Archery Lessons
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"When we met, I knew it from the start, it seems inevitable that we fall in love."
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The next morning dawned on the countryside bright and early, with a fresh breeze rustling through the blossoming sakuras and cherry trees. The sun lazily stretched across the horizon, kissing the dew on the grass with gentle rays. Along the Gyro River, Malik dipped his feet in the ice cold waters calmly swaying back and forth with the morning breeze.
His violet eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint as he adjusted the bait on his hook. His mind whirled and sparked with different methods of matchmaking for the new arrival and a certain sensei. He had also noticed the exchange of a promise made between the two of them that night on the roof, when Marik had been carrying him inside from underneath his half-closed eyes.
He was starting to miss Yugi's daily jogs by the river and over that infamous bridge, but he knew where the missing sensei happened to be. At that moment, his teacher was still enjoying his new company before breakfast.
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"BAKURA!"
"What?"
"You never let me cook!"
"Because you always burn the eggs, that's why!"
"I DO NOT!"
"Do too"
"DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT!"
"Yes you do, and YOU know it."
Currently, Ryou was arguing with the mentioned head Chef on who was to cook breakfast. The boy was absolutely furious that Bakura would not even let him near the pans cooking the eggs and pancakes. Due to past experiences, Ryou usually handled the cold foods at two of the daily meals, while Bakura cooked all of the hot foods with the help of a certain blond fisherman.
Bakura explained to Atemu that Ryou usually burned hot foods when he was in an otherwise cranky and sleep-deprived mood. The rurouni's eyes danced merrily at the love spat between the two albinos. Yugi ate his white rice quietly with his glowing red face turned downwards. He felt so embarrassed when he was in the company of his favorite rurouni, but it turned into a nice fluttery feeling whenever HE smiled or laughed in that baritone voice of his.
Bakura threatened Ryou one last time with his choice weapon, a spatula, and the younger albino backed down, ears almost flattened like a dog's. A small kiss turned out as a reward for Ryou's submission, and Bakura turned back into the kitchen, his back on a cherry red Ryou.
At that time, Jou stumbled into the dining area, slowly followed by a grumbling Seto. Both murmured a 'good morning Yugi-sensei' and started on their steaming plates of cherry pancakes and bowls of plain white rice. Seto, having forgotten his good morning to his puppy and that they were in a room full of people, kissed Jou full on the lips, awakening all of the residents of that same room. Jou's face split into a wide grin after he had ended their good morning kiss, and Kaiba ruffled his messy hair playfully.
Marik also stumbled into the dining area, fully dressed for the sparring lessons planned that day. He had taken the day off, and was waiting for another shipment of paintings and other merchandise to come to their town.
"Yugi, do you happen to know if Malik will be sparring or shooting archery today?"
"I don't know Marik-kun…he said he would, but knowing him, he's probably fishing some more until he gets hungry for lunch!"
"That's kind of a shame…"
Marik frowned so deeply, that Yugi felt his heartstrings tug back and forth. But he turned towards Atemu and asked him if he would've liked to spar with Marik or Malik. Atemu grinned like a Cheshire cat, and answered,
"Of course, only if I also get to spar with you, would that be alright?"
Yugi smiled softly and set to clean off the table, while the Jou, Seto, Ryou, Marik, and Atemu cleared out to ready themselves for their daily activities. Ryou decided to take Seto and Jou and show them a new way to shoot on target more accurately. Kaiba shouldered his shaft and bow, leaving to retrieve the arm gear for Jou and himself.
Bakura set about the kitchen cleaning the dishes off of the table and storing away the leftover food and chopsticks. Marik and Atemu decide to warm up and begin the fighting almost right away. Yugi watched from afar, and observed the way Atemu seemed quick on his feet and nimble with his hands.
'Good footwork and good for handling a heavy sword.'
The mock battle seemed to last quite awhile, with no clear victory in sight. Marik's higher kicks appeared to land on their initial targets, but Atemu's firm muscles took the brunt of the attacks. The rurouni's punches also landed on their intended targets, resulting in numerous cries of pain and finally the merchant's submission and defeat.
Both Bakura and Yugi were in a state of shock, at the quick display of Atemu's fast learning and conquer over a long time student of the sensei's martial arts. The rurouni flashed Yugi a sly smile that caused the poor sensei to blush fever red. However, Atemu did not seem to notice Yugi fanning his blush with his hand, and proceeded to stretch his arms and legs in many positions of his next warm-up. Poor Yugi turned an even darker shade of red at the sight of Atemu's muscles sliding over his bones and the smooth display of skin showing up every now and then.
"Like what you see, eh Yugi-san?"
'I wish that rurouni would stop flirting with me…but at the same time those muscles sure are sexy…no! Stop thinking like that!'
Yugi slapped himself mentally, desperately trying to rid his mind's eye of Atemu in some very compromising positions. 'I've been around my students too long; their sexuality is rubbing off on me…' Yugi told himself hopelessly. He walked over to the sparring area, stripped himself of the heavy outer garments, and readied himself in a basic fighting stance. Atemu circled around the smaller sensei, as a bird of prey would surround its next meal.
A bead of sweat dripped down Yugi's forehead, concentrated toward his center point and to the untrained eye, vanished from sight. Atemu's eyes darted to and fro, searching for his opponent, found him crouched on his shoulders for only a split moment, and then Yugi disappeared again with a small grin. Atemu began to panic, not knowing that Yugi could pull off such a complicated maneuver. Yugi would reappear long enough for Atemu to spot him for a fraction of a minute, land a punch or kick from the front, and then vanish from his sight.
After twenty or so minutes, Atemu started to understand how this maneuver worked and even began to counter it, sometimes catching Yugi's leg or arm before it landed on its target. He soon realized that this technique was known as the 'Dance of Your Shadows (1)' for its uncanny ability to allow the user to mimic shadows and their movements from concentrating on their focal point. He had only watched one martial match where this technique was used, and the user's opponent had nearly fainted from exhaustion when he tried to use to same move. It was so dangerous that only the most skilled martial artists were allowed to even watch the move being performed let alone be taught to them.
Ten minutes after this realization, Atemu actually pinpointed where Yugi would appear next, waited and caught Yugi with both arms before he could vanish. But Yugi grabbed both of the rurouni's arms, flipped Atemu forward and over his head. Atemu landed on the hard sandy earth with a loud THUMP! Recognizing defeat, Atemu put both hands in the air,
"I give sensei! I give…"
Yugi wiped sweat from both of their brows, and plopped next to Atemu,
"You're lucky I went easy on you today because of your side and arm injury, otherwise I would have creamed your sorry ass from here to kingdom come!"
"Tch! Watch that language young man, I might have to punish you…"
Yugi smirked mockingly, folded his arms, and put his nose in the air,
"And do what; try to beat me at swordsmanship? I'm the country's champion!"
Atemu smiled and grabbed Yugi while he was facing away from him. He pulled him into a light hug that made both boys blush, but delighted both to the point of overflowing. Yugi's stomach fluttered with butterflies and Atemu's touch sent shivers up and down the nerves under his skin. He sat quite still in the rurouni's lap, his warmth spreading through both of their bodies like wildfire.
'Is it so wrong to love another man the way I love Atemu?'
Yugi turned in Atemu's lap and marveled at the view of his well-toned skin and muscle. He rested his head in the crook of the older's neck breathing a spicy and intoxicating scent that surrounded them in a halo.
"Why are you holding me Atemu-san?"
"…I don't know, perhaps it's a matter of attraction, I just feel drawn towards you and I don't seem to know why, do you?"
"It is quite confusing, but it does feel nice."
"I agree, will you let me hold you like this more often?"
"…We'll see, just hold me now."
Yugi's mind refused to let Atemu play with his feelings like this, it kept calling him easy and telling him to play hard-to-get. But his heart ignored him and told Yugi to gently accept this new man in his life and enjoy the love that was being offered so selflessly to him. He hoped that this attraction would last for a longer time than it was bound to, he was starting to enjoy all this attraction between them.
Atemu, on the other hand, was already head over heels for this boy Yugi. He slid his arms around the boy between his legs and inhaled the sweet smell that lingered about Yugi. It was untouched by the presence of sweat on the boy's pale toned skin. His heart was beating a mile a minute especially known whenever the person in his arms would nuzzle closer to his chest or neck. A gentle breeze winded through Yugi's and Atemu's goldenrod bangs, bringing the smell of a storm and the currents of the nearby river.
After what seemed minutes, really being hours, Atemu straightened up and carried a sleeping Yugi into the house. Setting the slumbering figure on his bed, Atemu set about the kitchen with Bakura, Malik and Marik making an early supper for the remaining four residents. The rain made small beats of drums on the tin tiles on the roof of the small house and the two windows in the kitchen. The clouds in the darkening sky shifted every now and then, but the rain hit the earth steadily for the remainder of the night.
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Hikari's DS: Eeyah! (runs in circles) I can't believe this!
Yami Muraii: What hikari-chan?
Hikari's DS: I have written three chapters, I just can't believe it…it's so long…
Yami Muraii: And you're surprised you have held onto this for so long, right?
Hikari's DS: Dear King of Angels above, YES! Onto the review replies!
Enjeru: (hugs you both Yugi-like) ACK! You both like my story, I'm so proud and happy…-sniff-…I'll send you guys an e-mail maybe? If you consider that your best, just wait until you just write with almost no effort and produce masterpieces like some authors I know, for example Pharaoh Atemu's Angel, Yana 5, O.S. Acious(sp?) just to name a few. (holds out Rurouni Atemu plushy)Hope you liked chapter three, keep a lookout for chapter four!
Yana 5: Well my job is pretty much done when it come to humor in your case, you're welcome for the comment, don't know which one, but it's all good for this on at least. Thanks for reviewing (hands you plushy of your choice)!
Pharaoh Atemu's Angel: Those sweet hints…I loved writing those as well my Pharaoh! I think I'll work on something for our yahoo groups either today or tomorrow, for sure before next weekend. Maybe I should post this on pharaohshikari, what the members would think of that, this one wonders…I'm so glad you like this one's story, keep a lookout for other fics and chapter four! And again thank you for the nice long review (holds out plushy of your choice and solid chocolate Easter egg filled with mix of peanut butter, caramel, and soft chocolate)
Hikari Skysong: Strange minds bond and like alike, ne? Heh heh heh…you like the cute fluff? More to come in the next chapter, thank you for reviewing!
Sarah Costa: Anything for a revered author such as yourself! I'm happy to include good authors on my list(s) whether it is favorites or alerts. I like to think I was the first to come up with an idea like this, though I'm probably not, at least for a YY+Y fic, ne?
Thank you for the review, and be on the lookout for the fourth chapter ((glomps))
Yaoishoujo: Honey, you're looking straight at a fellow hopeless romantic, I never knew Dee was one though. I thought Ryo was the hopeless one, good thing they found each other right? I like FAKE that is such a great police shonen-ai, right up there with Gravitation. Isn't it sad I just found out that the word gravitation is another word for attraction? Oh well, you are awarded the second largest bag of your choice of candy for having the largest and most detailed review, Rin came in a close second and Bush stole the largest bag for himself, bastard stole MY candy for 'tax' reasons…Grr…! I loved your long review, and here are some plushys as well! (dumps armloads of Rurouni Atemu, Yugi, Dark Magician, Malik, Pharaoh Atemu, Marik, Ryou, Yami Bakura, Thief King Ba-ku-Ra, Priest Seto and Mahaado plushys) Any others you didn't receive, feel free to make requests, Muraii knows a reliable source that I can contact, coughfriendfromeBaycough. You don't have to make them longer, but I adore the length they are at right now, see you next chapter, ne?
Fuyish: I love the smiley you put in your review so kawaii: 3 Is it like a cat with whiskers or just a plain smiley? Gomen nashi for earlier, I get carried away when I think I disregarded someone's request, maybe Atemu will teach Yugi some things, but seeing as he got his butt handed to him…it might not happen for awhile (sweatdrop) Gomen once more, but thank you once again for the review, and for being patient.
PetPetAngel: You think my solemn thought was deep as well? I'm so overwhelmed by your greatness' compliments. (tackleglomphugs once more) ) Me so happy! You are such a dear friend, maybe I'll send you an e-mail in awhile, it may take me awhile to get myself together, but bear with me, I'll post the next chapter as soon as I get my act together.
Puffin: Your name rings a very loud cannon…
Yami Muraii: You mean bell?
Well that too! But the cannon shot the birdie that was supposed to ring the bell…
Yami Muraii: (sweatdrop)
That's right, you reviewed PetpetAngel-sama's fic before, haven't you? I can't believe you reviewed this one's fic as well, many many thanks to you! Be kind enough to tell what those other reasons are? You don't have to, but I would like to know…and you like my writing style as well, wow, just…wow.
Hikari Flame: HUZZAH (even louder mind you)! Just don't sick the evil watapons on me, (hands you the chapter three of this one's fic) SPARE MY LIFE I BEG OF YOU!
Yami Muraii: (another, BIGGER sweatdrop) Means she's grateful for the review and she hoped that you liked the third chapter, and her paranoia is kicking in, she never takes her 'medicine'
KEEP that stuff away from me! (is hit on the head by her favorite card's dagger, Grave keeper) xX hopeyoulikedthechapter…
Rin-almighty-yaoi-lover: RIN-SAMA! (springs to life and glomps) ME WUVERS YOU TOOS! I'm glad you liked chapter two, and hoped you liked or loved chapter three. If you want to look for a yami, try a mysterious country with a good mythological background besides Egypt, see I also found Demon's Lightning in Rome, Italy. That's how Muraii helps me with my Latin, it was his first language (smiles really big) )!
My suggestions are Japan, India, China, Greece, Italy, England, Mexico, and Central American countries. They might have some interesting artifacts not discovered yet that could house a spirit that could be your yami! I have a question or two, do you ever feel torn in two places, headachy, or weak in the muscular areas? That is one of the first signs, that you NEED to find your yami and SOON.
Yami Muraii: Are you making this up?
Hikari's DS: Maybe…most likely not since I tend to channel unusual information from my higher power or MIND as some psychologists call it, might be God for all I know…
Yami Muraii: You're gonna scare off your readers…
Hikari's DS: Yeah right, am I scaring you guys?
…..
…..
Um…Guys?
Yami Muraii: Told you so…
Dark Angel of Fire Ice: I'm glad to have been of service, I hope you liked this chapter as well! (floods you with favorite sweets and plushys as well)
SoulDreamer: I hope there will be more moments like this, tell me if you liked this chapter as well, will you? Kind of reminds me of a Brad Paisley song, anyone wanna take a guess? Medium sized plushy of your choice goes to the first and correct guess. Thanks for the review, see you next chapter?
Hikari's DS: Whew…look at those reviews, so many, my fingers hurt…
Yami Muraii: How about you only type out responses to the first half or two thirds of your reviews next time?
Hikari's DS: That's a good idea, but only if there are more than 15 reviews per chapter, I can handle thirteen that were for this chapter and maybe the responses will be shorter, but if I type them out over a break, vacation, or weekend, they'll be longer. I post updates fast, don't I? And they are pretty decent length wise right?
Yami Muraii: And about that move that Yugi used on Atemu…(1) that move is made up by my hikari and therefore rightfully belongs to her even if we can not put it on paper and make it official same goes for anything not related to Yu-gi-oh and Rurouni Kenshin, example: Gyro River, pans used for cooking, made up techniques, etc.
Hikari's DS: Please review, the offer for plushys, muffins, chocolate, and candy stands for all nice reviews, and flames will be cried over for about .00002 seconds, then laughed at, and then used to burn yaoiphobes and serious criminals set free by the federal/state/local court systems.