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: Thanks to Flame for the review nn
Warning: Shounen-ai! RyouxMalik
Naming Convention:
Ryou Hikari no Bakura
Malik Hikari no Malik
Last Chapter: Malik was lost in search for Domino High and found a kid being bullied, will he help? Go find out n.n
The Cherry Road:
where souls meet and part
By Hunter K
Chapter 2: Friendship Blooms
-…-…-…- Still a flashback -…-…-…-
Malik noticed that the boys' uniform is similar to his. They must be from Domino High. Realizing the fact, the lad flinched. He didn't expect to have violent schoolmates.
Jou eyed him, holding his gaze to converse him in the eyes. His blue eyes saying, 'keep out of this or you'll be sorry.'
Malik stood there, shocked on the scene. He tried to move but his body won't follow. As if he had grown roots and he'll bud soon, like the cherry trees surrounding him. Malik hissed, not at those stupid bullies but more to himself.
Jonouchi gave a smirk. No one ever dared to stand against the leader of the fiercest gang in Domino High. Everybody feared him. But not the blond newbie as he thinks. With a forceful thrust, he sent Ryou tumbling on the cold cement, his face hitting the steel handlebars of the bridge. It had been long since he had had a worthy opponent. This is what he was waiting for.
The blond Egyptian looked pass the bully to see the white-haired teen trying to get to his feet, his weight on the handlebar. Malik gave him a stare.
Ryou gathered all his strength to run to 'his savior'. He ran, tripping several times before he grasped the tanned boy. "Tha-…"
Slaappp!
The loud slap echoed at the young albino's ears.
…
…
…
And there was a long silence…
Jou smirked, ruffling Malik's hair. "That's me boy…" as he hauled the Egyptian with him.
Malik turned his face once to see what damage he had done. It wasn't his intension to hurt the lad. He just wanted to keep himself safe, that's all. He saw the silver-haired lad stare at him in awe, holding his distended check with his right hand.
Jou tugged the newbie's arm, leading him to their hideout.
-…-…-…-
They're just a block away from the arcade when Malik noticed someone following them. He turned around. It was the albino kid. And more to his surprise, the kid smiled. Blood dripped from his swollen lips, but after wiping it with his white hanky; he wore a smile, again.
"That's not the way to the school…", he said shyly, trying to hide from the gang's view by standing behind an electric post.
"Hey, blondie!", Jou shouted as he gestured Malik to come inside the arcade.
Malik just nodded in return. "I'll follow…", as he saw Jou and his swallowed by the arcade door. He turned to Ryou who has revealed himself.
"You're new here, ain't you?", came the soft British accent that feels like feather to the blonde's ear.
'How did he know?', Malik nodded.
Ryou wiped a streak of blood away from his lips, pasting a smile, "No one passes that road to going to the school, except me. That suggests that you're astray…"
Malik gawked at the comment. 'Is he a clairvoyant or something?'
"And I guess you're just trying to get off troubles, so you sided with them…" he continued.
The Egyptian stared with his mouth ajar, that of a stale fish being sold at the market. 'How can he read me so easily?' All he could do was nod.
"So I guess you wanted to come with me to the school?"
The other nodded again, that made Ryou think that he's mute.
"Hey! Blondie!" they heard Jou shout from inside the arcade.
Malik thinks he's going out in seconds so he pulled the silver-haired kid and run as fast as his long legs would allow.
-…-…-…- after a few minutes -…-…-…-
The boys walked side by side on the way to Domino high. Silence ruled. The taller one studied the other with his violet orbs. He noticed that the other's check was still red; he can almost see the shape of his hand on it.
"Does it hurt?", the Egyptian asked.
Ryou's eyes widened as he heard his companion's voice, making him stare. He then smiled, "So, you aren't mute after all!" he chirped.
"Ah", Malik was confused, with both being mistaken for a mute and being stared at. He felt that he might melt under that chocolate gaze. "No…" he blushed the slightest tinge of pink. Though it wasn't visible to Ryou due to the Egyptian's tan colored skin.
"We're here!", Ryou chirped as he jumped at the school gate. "Welcome to Domino High… uhm, eh"
Malik just gazed, following his newfound friend. "What?"
"We're 30 minutes late!" Ryou squealed, running to the building. "I guess you should report to the administration office first since you're new here!", the albino shouted while running. "That way…", he pointed at the opposite direction.
"Wait!", Malik shouted, reaching his hand, seeing Ryou disappear in the building's lobby… He bowed his head, slowly letting his hand slump, "What's your name?..." he whispered.
-…-…-…- End of flashback for now -…-…-…-
... Tsuzuku ...
AN: Short… It took me a week… But you can't blame me! I'm busy… And I have to keep other fics going… Oh well, Thank you for waiting and please Review… Thanks everyone!