Kimyo: Sorry it took so very long to update. My Ring fic was deleted, and I was banned from posting anything until today.
Thanks for all your nice reviews, KrystalMountain, Lothwen the Harpist, Dark Egyptian Priestess, OBSESSED Uber Rei(BTW, "Malik, Obsessed" was named after you!), and Shadow Vixen!
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Chapter Three: Aijin
o o
o
The bell had rung some time ago, but Ryou did not hurry to get back to class as he usually did. His feet carried him around the building to the entrance in a half-hearted, mechanical fashion. The sun was glaring down on him.
Yami's voice: Where's Bakura?
He didn't know where Bakura was. Bakura had not taken anything, he'd simply run off, like a frightened little boy trying to outrun the demons of hell itself. Ryou smirked briefly at the memory.
Baku Chan, you were always so strong... yet...
He remembered laying down to share his bed with his darkness for the first time, after Battle City. They'd lain on their sides, facing each other, and Ryou had been the happiest he could ever remember being.
Finally, he'd thought, someone who will have to stay with me.
Ryou stopped. The entrance was just twenty feet away. He didn't want to go in. He knew he'd have to see Yugi-tachi again. He'd have to smile at them. Not to mention Yami.
He remembered their flowers, and felt a startling pang of hatred.
Bakura had his own body now. He didn't need a host anymore. Yugi and his friends had each other. Father had his research... those precious archaelogical digs.
At this point, a normal person might have felt the need to cry.
Ryou turned and spit out the gum he'd been chewing for an hour now. His jaw was sore. He wondered if he'd find any more Valentine's Day gifts on his desk. He would be disappointed if he didn't get at least a few.
A wolf-whistle sounded off to his left. They sat sprawled on a bench under a tree nearby, the filtered shade mottling their complexions. Two male classmates, neither particularly attractive, were leering at him.
"Cute," one of them said. Although looking directly into Ryou's eyes, they were addressing each other.
"Yeah," said the other one, "very pretty. But look at the uniform..."
"Oh, it's a boy. Couldn't tell with that freakish hair..."
"Clearly, it must be a fag." They stood and closed in on him.
They circled in such close proximity that he felt their breath when they spoke.
"You're a fag, aren't you?"
"We'll do you a favor..."
"Come with us and we'll let you suck us off. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
He gazed at the square jawed boys who could probably crush him flat on a whim. He thought about Bakura... how cold and cruel he was... what he'd do to these assholes if only he was here.
They sweatdropped at Ryou's unfaltering glare, and made a hasty retreat.
Ryou dusted himself off and approached the building, walking faster now.
o o o
After a long, painstaking afternoon, it was done.
The cake was rich chocolate, with white chocolate frosting dyed blue, and white icing, adorned with a fresh white rose.
Jouno scrutinized the expanse of blank frosting on the middle of the cake. He'd almost written Happy Birthday Serenity, but it wasn't her birthday.
I'm so glad Honda's not here. He'd never let me hear the end of that.
It's Valentine's Day. Should I write, 'Happy Valentine's Day, Serenity'? No. No, I can't write that to my sister. It would be creepy. But it looks weird with no words on it.
The phone rang.
He knew who it was before he heard his mother's voice, and knew what she'd say before he heard that Serenity wouldn't be coming after all. After a debate that escalated into a screaming match, Jouno turned the cordless phone off and threw the receiver across the room to bounce off the recliner and slide across the floor. Then he collapsed into his couch and wept silently for a few minutes.
The kitchen was seperated from the livingroom by a long island counter. From where Jouno sat, he could not help but see the cake sitting proudly atop its stand, looking so splendid, waiting for Serenity.
He walked over and picked it up. He carried it to his trashcan and held the fruit of all his hard work over it, wanting to chuck it in and then go curl up in bed and wait for the day to be over.
Finally, he decided against that, and set it back down and leaned on the counter, feeling doubly defeated.
If only I could reach her...
He didn't have enough money for a train ticket. If he tried to call her, their mother would answer.
Kaiba's Blue Eyes White Dragon jet.
Jouno sucked in a breath and looked up, eyes focused on nothing.
Kaiba stopped coming to class right before Battle City. He has private tutors now. So why was he at school today?
o o o
Ryou broke down and told Yugi-tachi the 'truth' between classes.
"Baku Chan and I had a small argument, and he stormed off."
"What was it about?"
"I caught him stealing while we were at the mall, and I made him return everything. He was rather embarassed."
"Wow," said Honda,"I didn't even know Bakura could get embarassed."
Ryou shrugged and nodded. "I'm sure he'll find his way back when he gets hungry. He still doesn't know how to cook." He giggled at that.
Anzu's cell phone rang. "Hello." She suddenly frowned. "Jouno! Where are you? You should know better than to cut classes. What would Serenity say?" She sighed and handed the phone to Honda. "He wants to talk to you."
Yugi leaned towards Ryou. "So you're really alright?"
Ryou popped another cube of sour apple bubble gum into his mouth. He chomped and gave Yugi the sweetest, most carefree grin he could manage. "Honestly, I don't know what could have made you think anything was wrong, but I'm fine."
Yugi patted Ryou's shoulder. "Glad to hear it."
I hate him!
Honda grabbed the phone. "Hey, Jou, if you were gonna skip out, I coulda come with you... Huh?"
"Your motorbike, Man. I need to borrow it."
"You don't even have a license!"
"I'll be fine. Just, please, bring it over after school. It's important."
o o o
Ryou ambled down the sidewalk towards his house. He would be meeting his date in front of the theater. He had plenty of time to get ready, then take a nice leisurely stroll to the rendezvous spot.
She's probably getting ready right now, trying her best to look pretty just for me. He smiled. Maybe it'll be nice. Maybe I can like it.
He turned onto the walkway leading up to his house and stopped short. Someone was sitting on his porch steps, elbows on knees, leaning forward, hair hanging down to conceal his face.
With some distaste, Ryou recognized the sandy blonde hair, tanned skin, and purple midi. He started walking again and stopped well out of reach, regarding the Egyptian impassively.
Malik sniffed and lifted his head to gaze at Ryou with eyes swollen and red from weeping.
"Aijin..."
3
aijin
finish