Summary: The meeting isn't the beginning; the parting is not the end… Witness how a simple friendship blooms into love. And prove to yourself that no matter how far your feet go, your heart will take you back to the Cherry Road.
Disclaimer: I own this story and its title, not the characters, not yu-gi-oh, not even the PC I used to upload this!
Hunter K: Woo-hoo!4 reviews! It really surprised me! That was just the introduction, that was actually very short, and I got4 revs, what more on other chapters? Thank you people who reviewed, keep 'em coming!
- I put up a section called Last Chapter, just like those you see in soaps, so that you won't bother to read the previous chapter, if you somewhat forget, before reading the other… And Happy Valentines everyone!
Warning: Shounen-ai! RyouxMalik
Naming Convention:
Ryou Hikari no Bakura
Malik Hikari no Malik
Last Chapter: Malik, Ryou's friend, left for his homeland, leaving a gold ring as a sign of their infinite friendship.
The Cherry Road:
where souls meet and part
By Hunter K
Chapter 1: The Meeting
As Ryou walked halfheartedly to his apartment, he started to tease the ring with his fingers. He found the pastime not so attractive, in fact, he found it appalling. The more he lingered his fingers on that ring, the more he felt Malik going far away.
He sighed, seating himself on a vacant bench beside that very same road, facing the river. He never mind dusting the bench or riding it off dried leaves he just sat carelessly. He stared at the languidly flowing river, thinking of how he met the one who gave him the ring.
-.-.-.- To those who doesn't know, this is a flashback -.-.-.-
It was thirty minutes before nine yet he was still lying on his bed. "Fright time Friday" he thought involuntarily. He don't want to move, to stand up, to change into that navy blue school uniform and go to school, but he did. He has to. He can't miss any lessons now that his father is coming back from Egypt. He mentally mocked himself that he was just flying his own kite in front of his Dad, and shrugged afterwards. It was true. His Father's attention wasn't all his. It wasn't his fault to ask for it sometimes.
Ryou made his way to his door, stared at the calendar pasted on the back before opening it. He remembers the note he got on his locker yesterday, it said; "fright time Friday" He didn't know what it means, but his instincts says it means trouble. He locked the door. Leaving his room, he locked all his fears in it and put some courage in his pocket.
-…-…-…-
He ran down the alley a few blocks away from school. He saw big bully-like lads flocking on the junction. Realizing it was Jonouchi's gang, he quickly took the other way around. It was way far but safer as he thinks.
Whenever Jonouchi's gang flocks on that intersection, waiting for him, he always takes the Cherry road. He didn't know how hounding Ryou became the gang's favorite leisure. He just knew that the gang is already obsessed in capturing him and putting him in situations, which he abhorred.
He continued his pace, hopeful he won't be noticed.
"There he is!" Honda said, throwing his half-consumed cigarette carelessly before going after the poor person. Others followed.
Ryou ran as fast as he can, his heart raced with his feet. His breathe came in arduous rapid gasps. He's not used to running and that makes him so vulnerable to bullies like this gang.
Jonouchi grabbed his hair, pulling him down on his back. "Huh, trying to outsmart us?", he spat.
'Oh, joy', Ryou mentally teased, more to himself, 'That's what you get for being so frail!' He knew he'll proceed to the clinic rather than the classroom afterwards, that is, if he can still move.
He winced when he felt Jonouchi tug his hair harder.
"Albino, you really pissed me this time…"
"W-what did I do?", he tried to get up, following the bullies hand to minimize the pain.
"Don't play innocent." Jou smirked, "You tried to escape…"
"I-I didn't!", He tried to remove Jou's grip on his hair using both his hands, "I-it's just…"… he thought for a story to cover up the mess, but he can't. He's not a professional liar.
"You just what?" Jou shouted on his ear. Ryou quivered on the blow, closing his eyes.
"Jou, you know…" Honda caught their leader's attention, "those silver locks scare me."
Jou scowled in return, "What do you want then?"
Honda didn't answer. He just took a blade out of his pocket and Ryou knew it. Ryou eyes widened at the sight of the sharp blade, shrieking, "Noooo!"
-...-...-...-
A tanned boy prowled the not so familiar streets of Tunsuya, hoping he could get to that school his sister enrolled him before he gets late. He just arrived from Egypt the other day and is no quite familiar to the atmosphere, the people… and most of all, the itinerary. Just thinking of the crisscrossed streets made him think of those labyrinths inside the pyramids. It made him dizzy. He looked to his right, the to the left. Right. Left. Right. Left… "Ahhh! I doubt I could get to the school." He said mentally, ruffling his hair in annoyance.
The Egyptian lad is almost perfect. He's tall, muscular, clever, good-looking, and friendly as long as the person has nothing to do with the pharaoh. What more a girl would you ask for?
But there's no such thing as perfect. He did have a flaw. His weak spot was his sense of direction. Yes, you are not mistaken, sense of direction.
His sister, Isis, once got sick and he have to do the cooking, buying the ingredients included. So he went to the market and ended up in a gay bar O.O Damn his lack of sense of direction! And now, here he is… lost in a maze of identical streets and junctions.
He'll just ask anybody for directions.
"Lucky me!" he shouted to break the silence. He slapped his forehead slightly with his right hand. No one was passing the vicinity. Not a single soul, not even a cat or a dog can be seen.
He sighed aloud. He broke in a hand on his jean pocket for a coin and flipped it. If heads, he'll go right otherwise left. Here goes… Heads! Tails! Heads! Tails! Heads! Tails! Heads! Tails!
He tossed the coin as high as he can, but didn't grab hold of it. The blooming cherry trees caught his eyes. Their broad trunks stood proud, and the branches starched to brag the small pinkish flowers veiling them. He heard a small chink which was of the coin's that broke his admiration of the Sakura trees. He bowed to see the outcome. It said tails, means left. He sneaked a quick look to his left. It looked like the same old trail leading to similar trails. So he decided to forget the coin. He took the cherry-bordered track to his right.
He admired the trees so much. His violet orbs conversed with the pink blooms. He was mesmerized with that beauty he didn't saw in the country he came from when a loud cry disturbed him.
He tilted his face to the direction of the howl. His eyes broadened when he saw a white-haired lad, held by a blond bully by the hair. The albino was sobbing, his chocolate-colored eyes pleading for help.
He wanted to help, but his thoughts and feelings argued inside his head…
-.-.-.- That ends the flashback now; there's more next chapter -.-.-.-
.tsuzuku.
AN: sorry to Jonouchi fans, can't think of a name nn;
To the readers:
justapasserby( ): Thanks, I'm very flattered...
Malikztiah: Ryou's pretty glad you found it interesting nn;
AN again: Hey... that was two reviewers... means not four but five reviews! yay! I better get going to write the next chapter... Hope you like this one guys... RR! And, guys... try to read Blood Bound... I'm pretty sure it's almost asgood as this one, except it got a different concept nn;
Happy Valentines to ALL!
oo; ma birt de s nir...