Author's Note: thank-you for your patience, and support. Especially Meekandangerous (love the name by the way) that sent me those um- well inspiring death threats these past few weeks. Hopefully during the summer I will get off of my lazy but more often. Though I doubt it.
Disclaimer: I have five dollars in my wallet, you do the math.
Chapter Three: Lifestyles of the Delusional, and Clumsy
I am now regretfully awake, and feeling the repercussions for my heroic dash. Oh happy day, I have come back to the world of the living. I am now conscious! Note the sarcasm, onegai. Yes, I am a bitter, but unless your other half of your soul betrayed you… well I don't think you should judge my behavior. According to Yugi my Yami is long gone, but by his obvious unease I'm sure there was some kind of promise for vengeance. The scary thing is I can just see Bakura adorning a Arnold Schazennager type accent , and hysterically laughing as he says "I'll be back."
Ooookkkkaaaayyyy, that's a really freaky mental picture, I apparently have a very screwed up subconscious. Well we already knew that I created you after all. No more bad American movies for me, thanks. Now, my dear friend I'm having dinner with a five thousand year old pharaoh, and his midget. I should feel honored, but I instead I'm just plain irritated by the pitying glances they keep on giving me every few minutes. "Ryou, are you okay?" Yugi asks for the thousandth time.
Yes. Yes. For the love of Ra yes, I want to shout. Or maybe I just want to say No, no I am not alright, what do you think you can do about it? In any event I nod my head, signaling, yes. As much as I want someone to be able to heal me maybe I just need to heal myself. Okay fine roll your eyes at me, did I seem to have a self motivating thought you needed to squish? Jeez who ticked you off?
I am happy to excuse myself from the table, I think that this dinner has been the most awkward meal I've ever attended, and that's saying something since awkwardness just seems to flow from me. I am about to go home to my eerily lit, empty house, so I might have the proper sulking environment. But really don't want to go home yet. So after a refusing an escort home multiple times, I set off , to wander around Domino City a bit.
The wind feels cools on my face almost as if it's trying to lift all my worries away, I close my eyes standing still for a bit. No, not only do I make imaginary friends I also make friends with the weather. You know me, and those weather gods we're very close. Actually I think it's kind of a love/hate relationship. Since the wind has now stopped leaving me alone. I hate being alone. The sidewalk on which I'm walking is deserted, and only a few cars whish by me now. Perhaps it's time I made my way home.
CRASH
"I am so sorry," I say desperately, Wow was does this seem familiar…I admit I'm to cowardly to even look up, if I do it will probably be my nightmare.
"S'ok," came a voice that sounded vaguely familiar. A hand is being offered to me and I feeling daring or maybe just to tired to refuse any help right now take it. A car speeds by, illuminating my clumsiness's latest victim.
"Otogi?" The aforementioned person started grinning.
"Hey, long time no see, white-hair-guy, person.."
"Bakura Ryou" I supply helpfully, I give him a small smile, wave, then continue on my way.
"So how's it been Ryou," I frown, and look to my left to find Otogi's piercing jade eyes blinking at me curiously. Apparently he's going to keep bugging me.
"Fine, you?" I inquire warily, I really don't need the hyper-active dice boy on my back right now.
"Suuurrrreee, which is why your walking around with your eyes closed at one in the morning." Well that was blunt. Is it really that late?
"I'm fine, just restless." I reply. Otogi rolls his eyes.
"Right." He looks slightly hurt, this from the guy who couldn't remember my name just seconds before.
"AAAhhhh Ryou I thought we were friends." pouts Otogi mockingly. Did I no… yes of course I had to state my previous thought out loud.
"I' m sorry, I'm just tired." I apologize, but the black haired youth looks merely amused.
"So are you going to tell me what your doing?" I pause.
"No not really." I say. While wondering for the umpteenth time if Otogi is planning on following me home.
"Are you seeking counsel"
"No."
"How about contemplating the meaning of life."
"No."
"Sexually frustrated?" I blush, before screaming a "No". Otogi just smiles, and I think he knows what this is all about. We walk on in silence for a bit. Yugi never could his mouth shut, probably told anybody who would listen to my clichéd tragic love story. And I, not for the first time I'm afraid, wish for my dark, and then curse myself for being so needy. And Otogi is just staring at me with thoughtful jade eyes that just seem to cut right through my flesh. Which is just kinda…
Wait if it's one o'clock then what is he doing out here…
"I'm fine just, restless," he mocks. Seeing my surprised face he answers my unasked question , " Your thoughts sorta just run across your face, your very easy to read my innocent friend." I shake my head. Look imaginary friend someone just as annoying as you. Wow, you have competition now.
A couple of minutes pass, and we're finally at my apartment, though it seems like a lifetime.
"Hey Bakura," the night clerk, or ahem- concierge (as my father called him)- whatever, calls, "I thought I let you in ten minutes ago." I freeze. No prizes guessing who that was. I just want someone to dig a hole, and put me in it. Could you do that for me? Don't laugh I'm being dead serious here.
"Ryou" I turn to look at Otogi, who is still here by the way. Otogi is leaning against a wall with a bored expression on his face fiddling with his dice earring. "Weren't you going stay over at my house tonight." I smile nervously.
"I… I guess so" I reply a bit surprised. Otogi smiles encouragingly, and yet at the same time his grin is mocking. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
"Well then my darling Ryou, let us depart these humble," at this point he gives a snobbish sniff before continuing , "dwellings." I have to smile a bit at that, although I am a bit offended. It is my home, and it's pretty respectable thank you very much. Otogi turns around gives the night clerk a wave, and suggestive wink. I really don't want to deal with the implications right now. So I'm going to have my healthy dose of denial right about now. Then my savior the dice-boy slings his arm around my shoulder, in an fake exaggerated yawn .
"Otogi…" I warn.
"What," he smiles innocently, "hey I'm letting you crash at my place, I do demand the full benefits of your company."
"As an arm rest?" I asked annoyed
"One of your more charming qualities Owww"he winces as my elbow collides with his chest.
"Opps sorry my arm just slipped" I apologize, having to shield my smirk with my long hair.
" Well now that you mention it," continues Otogi ignoring me, "There are other ways to thank me." he whispers in my ear, making me shiver.
"I'll pass." I reply dryly. And I then I notice for the first after Bakura I'm joking around, am not acting like I'm made out of glass, and above all I'm surprised to find myself almost content. Yet I'm petrified to think that maybe I can achieve happiness without my yami. I turn to look at my apartment which is well lit, curtains open. A beacon of darkness, and dependence. I see a familiar figure watching with me with arms folded, and I have to wonder who is more dependent on who. Meanwhile Otogi is rambling on , and I find myself laughing at the occasional witty comment, while he hails a cab.
End Notes: Yeah um, I'm sorry for my grammar I changed my e-mail address so I lost my beta readers. Sorry. Um anyone want to contact me it is Thanks.
I would also like to apologize for Otogi just sorta popping up like that. He's another underrated character like the Bakuras. I don't know where he will be in the greater schemes of this story, but feel free to voice your opinion. In other words … review. PPPLLLLEEEAAAASSSSSEEE.
I would like to thank:
yukoma
BishounenzAngel
yuu
Red Roses2
katia
Without Your reviews I wouldn't have continued, so thanks.
