Title: My Blue Eyes
Rating: This chapter would be PG-13 I guess. Sorry.
Pairings: Yami/Yugi, Bakura/Ryou, Bakura/Ryou/Jou
Yes…This took forever. I hope you all can forgive me. The worse thing is, I have soo many ideas for new fics! I'm insane to think about writing more I know, and I've decided I'm going to finish this one before I do anything else.
Disclaimer: *Tears* I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! I will never get to own Yu-Gi-Oh nor will I ever own any of the characters in this story. *sigh* thanks now I feel awful...
Wow, now I can't load this….ff.net is REALLY annoying.
-:|:-.·:*¨¨*:·. --:|:-.·:*¨¨*:·. - -:|:-.·:*¨¨*:·. - -:|:-.·:*¨¨*:·. - -:|:-.·:* -:|:-.·:*¨¨*:·. --:|:-.·:*¨¨*:·. - -:|:-
Boy Talk
Jou walked down the street with his hands buried deep in his pockets and his feet shuffling on the pavement. His eyes were downcast and the slight breeze ruffled his honey blonde hair hiding his face from anyone who passed. Not that Jou noticed anyone, no sir, Jou had run into a good number of people on his long walk from his house to Yugi's. Each one shaking him, and his apologies off and speeding into the opposite direction to continue with their own little uncomplicated lives.
After Jou had thanked Yugi's grandfather for the ride home earlier this afternoon, he had made his way to his apartment and found to his surprise that his key was gone. He knocked on the door and circled the house banging on windows until he remembered that his father had left the house in favor of staying with his 'friend' Jerry from work, to go across town and see a motorcycle rally for the weekend. The old woman who lived in the building next to him refused to acknowledge that Jou really lived there and flat out refused to give him the spare key that had been given to her for cases such as this. Finally, after deciding that standing outside all by himself, and that breaking and entering while the old unhelpful fart was peeping at him through her window were both bad ideas, he started his walk to Yugi's. Unfortunately, walking was always a great time to think…and Jou had a hell of a lot to think about.
The image of Ryou sitting on a counter clearly having been thoroughly and completely fucked, seemed to be plastered into his brain. He couldn't have mistake the glassy-eyes, tousled hair or the bright flush that spread deep on Ryou's cheeks, down into the collar of his shirt while he tried lazily to capture his snowy-haired twins lips.
Jou shivered from something other then the cold and dug his hands deep into his pockets. He had told himself about fifteen times that what he had seen could not have been true. People don't just randomly have an identical looking twin pop up out of nowhere, not to mention that these already non-existing twins can't just disappear into thin air.
He shook his head, making the blonde hairs fall out from his eyes. Being all thoughtful and depressed was beginning to hurt his head. Looking around he recognized a shopping district that Yugi had dragged him off to more times then he would have liked to remember. Dropping his hands to his side, he sighed heavily and turned walked back in the opposite direction towards Yugi's house which he had passed in his musings.
Yugi, that's what else he had been thinking about. Should he tell his new best friend about how he was feeling towards Ryou? Yugi would understand. At least maybe Yugi would be able to help him sort out his feeling enough to be able to confront Ryou. Of course, he wouldn't say anything about his delusion thoughts earlier that day in the bathroom, but more on the tightening in his stomach that came to him every time that Ryou would stand a little closer then normal and how nervous he got whenever the snow-haired boy was waiting for him to reply to something.
Jou scratched his head and bounced up the steps that led to the front steps of the game shop. Solomon's car wasn't in its normal spot, and Jou instantly was worried that he had missed his friend and therefore lost his opportunity to clear up his head and have a comfortable place to stay. Removing his hands from his pocket he approached the store and entered the building with the ring he had grown familiar to hearing. The place was swarming with people. Not actually swarming mind you, but a good number over the normal amount. Jumping over a kid laying on the floor with his hand reached far under a shelf, he made his way to the counter.
"Hello Nikki my sweet!" Jou leaned his back against the counter with his elbows resting on the wooden desk, craning his neck around to grin flirtatiously with the older woman. Nikki laughed under her breath and shook her head as she finished printing out a receipt for the little boy bouncing around at Jou's feet.
"Hey Jou, haven't seen you in a while." She smiled sweetly at him as she took the pack of cards and duel monsters lunch box from the next girl in line.
Jou turned around so that he could lean forward with his elbows on the table supporting his chin. He batted his eyelashes playfully and gave her a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry my love, I've just been so busy waiting for the day that you would say you'd be mine. I cannot bear to look upon your face and know that I will never be able to hold you."
Nikki blushed and handed finished ringing up the girl's new toys. "Aren't we flattering today Jou." She reached under the desk to grab a bag and ducked under the desk with a frustrated moan. She popped back up with her eyes squeezed shut, but only for a moment. She snapped out of it and began smiling at Jou with a new amount of kindness.
"Oh Jou! What ever would I do without you? Would you please be a dear and run downstairs and grab me the box that says 'BAGS' on the front? Just down those steps. Please?"
Jou signed and pushed himself on the desk. "Yea, yea, I'll get em. I'll be right back." He stalked over towards the door he knew led to the basement with Nikki's thanks shouting in his ears. Just as he twisted the brass doorknob, two tiny boys voices popped up next to him.
"Hello. Are there more toys down there?"
"Yea, there aren't many to choose from up here."
"We'd like to accompany you down there and select a few."
Jou looked around with one eyebrow raised before looking down at the two boys. They looked about the same age. Although they looked no way related. One had an arch in his blonde eyebrow and seemed to be studying Jou's appearance with an expert eye, while the other black haired boy was trying to sneak a peek into the depths behind the door. He closed the door and making the second boy pout.
"Ehh, it's not really my store to let cha come down here in the first place." He waved over to the stuffed animal section that was to his right. "Why don't chos kids go and look over there for some fluffy friends?"
The black haired boy laughed at this until the blonde elbowed him sharply in the side. "No, we've already looked there. We don't want any of that. We want to see what's downstairs."
Jou huffed at the boy's snobbish attitude and turned his back to the boy as he opened the door. "Well, that's to bad ya little brat. Go somewhere else then." He closed the door quickly just as the black-haired boy tried to stick his face in for a better look. "Stupid kids."
Jou stumbled in the dark for a moment until he found the chain that he pulled, instantly allowing himself to be flooded in light. Blinking a few times to allow his eyes to adjust, he marched down the steps and grabbed the largest box that was labeled 'BAGS'. He marched back up the stairs and groaned when he couldn't open the door. Setting the box down, he turned the handle and stepped back into the main shop. He placed the box back down with a sigh and quickly turned off the light and made sure the door was firmly closed.
Nikki smiled at him and shrugged when he glared at her after she refilled her bag holder and set the rest of them back in the box. Just as she was opening her mouth with a devilish smirk on her lips, Jou beat her too it.
"I'm sure your not going to ask me to put that back. I mean, I would and all, but I really do need to see Yugi."
Nikki sighed and practically threw the filled bag at the retreating customer. "Yea, he's up stairs. Don't know what he's up to. I think he's upset that Solomon left today."
Jou leaned over the counter, eyes cast downward as he played with a blinking duel monsters pen. "Oh yea? When's the old man comin' back?"
Nikki shrugged, stretching her fingers as she had the chance. "No idea. You know how those guys get when all that 'creative genius' comes together."
Jou hummed his agreement; mind now occupied on weather or not Yugi would want to hear about his problems when he had some of his own. Shrugging his shoulders he looked up at the door at the top of the steps and then back to Nikki. "Well I guess I'll go up and say hey. I'll see ya around okay?"
Nikki tisked and mumbled loud enough for him to hear, "I couldn't miss that ugly mug even if I wanted too." Jou glared at her and turned around blowing her a raspberry for a moment before he found himself tripping face forward into one of the larger magnate displays.
"AAAHhhhhhhhh!!!"
Jou reached out blindly. His hands trying to support himself on the revolving display, but that only resulted in the whole thing falling on top of him in a rather loud crash.
"Oh my Gosh! JOU! Are you alright?!?"
Jou spun around, ignoring Nikki's question and his slanted eyes found the reason he fell. A string of jump ropes tied together laid limply at his feet. He followed the trail that lead him to a pair of giggling boy's circled up in a corner rolling on the floor in laughter. Baring his teeth, he sprung to his feet ready to give the two a piece of his mind. He felt rather then heard the joints in his fingers popping as he balled his fists. The sharp stinging bruises of falling on the hundreds of magnates pushed aside for right now. A few feet away. He felt a steady hand on his shoulder and looked up into two smirking grey eyes.
"Hello young man. I see you found my boys. How very helpful of you." The two children, faces now red with laughter, looked up and smiled wider at the man gripping Jou. "I simply can't keep track of them in such a fine store. Now here." The man slipped a rolled up ball of bills in his breast pocket and gave the two now silent boys a nod. "Come now boys. Much more shopping to do. Don't want to make Lily have a fit."
Jou glared at the two boys who stood up with shaky limbs, and he growled as the blonde turned around to stick out his tongue as he exited the shop. Mumbling to himself about irresponsible parents and how the youth of today was going to ruin the world, he turned to see that Nikki had already cleaned up his mess. Biting his lip sheepishly, he rubbed the back of his head.
"Aw, my bad Nik. Sorry about that."
She waved her hand at him with another smile. "No problem Jou. Not your fault. Although you did cause quite a racquet. You could have at least just fallen and taken it like a man instead of bringing down the whole magnet case with you."
Jou shrugged helplessly. "Like I said, my bad." He looked around again. Half of the customers quickly looked away from him and he found himself blushing. "Wow, I sure feel dumb now… I think I'll go see Yugi now. Um… it was nice talking to you."
With that, Jou climbed the stares a carefully as possible, not wanting to give the little shop another show. When he reached the top, the door opened just as he was reaching for the knob. Almost falling back in shock he steadied himself on the shoulder of his best friend.
Yugi Mouto.
A very unusually looking Yugi Mouto. Something about the violet eyed boy looked strange. Jou couldn't tell if it was because of the seriously ruffled mat of bed head Yugi was supporting, or the way that Yugi's eyes were darting around as if nervous. He removed his hand form the boy's slender shoulder and Yugi backed into the room allowing Jou to pass. Jou walked into the more homier part of Kame game shop. He instantly made his way to the kitchen calling over his shoulder asking if Yugi wanted a drink. Yugi nervously leaned up against the wall releasing his lip from between his teeth.
"No. I'm fine, thanks though."
Jou reappeared with his head thrown back chugging a Dr. Pepper. When he finished he made a loud "Ahhha" sound and set the half empty can down before jumping back from shock.
"Woooh, Run out of clothes there buddy? When are those from? The sixth grade?!?"
Yugi looked down at his way too short gym shorts that he was pretty sure he had owned way before sixth grade. The fading symbol on his upper thigh seemed to resemble along the lines of 'Domino Elementary'. Not to mention his Grandpa's out dated collage tee shirt that clashed horribly with his sparkling gold puzzle. Smiling up sheepishly at his friend he shrugged. "I don't know how to do laundry."
Jou laughed, "Well," he smiled his largest most cunning smile, "I happen to be an expert at laundry." Yugi raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Oh really?"
Jou nodded, his smile remaining as he looked down at his feet. "That's actually what came here to talk about. My dad just left town and I don't think I can get into my house. I mean I could, but I would have to break in through my window, and my neighbor Mrs. Bryant is this old defective tyrant that refuses to acknowledge that I do live…"
"Is this going somewhere Jou?"
Jou looked up to see Yugi bending over with his hands resting on his knees trying to get a better look at his downcast face. Jou sighed. "Yea, sorry, I was wondering if you would mind if I stayed over here tonight? At least until my dad comes home, I don't really …"
"Jou! Of coarse you can stay! I was going to ask you if you would stay! My grandpa just left town and I thought I would be all alone…"
Yugi seemed to cut of his train of thought and zone off somewhere. Jou watched him for a moment waiting for him to continue before shaking the smaller boy back to reality. Yugi blushed a brilliant red and fell back against the couch with a sigh. "Sorry Jou. I guess I haven't really talked to you in a while hub?"
Jou shook his head. "Guess not, the first time I take you out with the gang to have a good time, that whole Kaiba disaster happened."
Yugi laughed. "The Kaiba disaster? I wouldn't call it a disaster."
Jou stared at the small boy that was dwarfed on the couch. With a grunt he jumped on the sofa and spread himself out on it resting his legs on Yugi's thighs. Yugi groaned and made an effort to shove Jou off him, but in the end he was left pouting, while Jou relaxed spread out on the comfy couch with a lazy grin spreading across his face.
"It sure was a disaster if you ask me! What, you almost get molested by some pervert that wanted to touch Anza, then you were physically beaten up by some jealous punks outside of a supposed safe area. Not to mention that freaky Kaiba guy claiming to have come to your rescue." Jou sat up with a darker look on his face. "You. Today. You kicked me out and let that creep stay with you. What were you guys talking about?" Yugi's widening eyes and futile attempt to not show his surprise made Jou even more upset. "Did he hurt you?!? Threaten you!? I swear to GOD if that monster so much as…."
"JOU!" Yugi looked completely scandalized. "What are you talking about! Kaiba was most certainly NOT trying to threaten me! What would even make you say that!" Yugi pushed Jou's legs off his lap and Jou sat up so that he could face him.
He tried to recall the events of today withdrawing his own little experiences. All he could really think about now that he was trying to think about it was, of course, Ryou completely devilish looks that afternoon. Forcing himself to remember why he had been so mad at Kaiba, and image of those blue eyes staring intently at their reflection came to mind.
"I saw him. I saw him right after he came out of your room. He came in the bathroom looking all…" Jou twirled his hands in frustration, trying to figure out how to describe the look Kaiba was giving off. It had kind of reminded him of how Ryou looked…Jou clenched his eyes stopping that thinking process. "He was all messy, and not clean looking."
Yugi stared at Jou for a moment then very clearly gulped. He allowed his hands to twist his large tee shirt in a knot, and couldn't seem to even look up at Jou. In a soft whisper that Jou almost missed, Yugi spoke.
"Um, Jou?" Yugi snuck a look at the blond teen. " There are a couple of things that I guess we really should talk about…"
It was Jou's turn to widen his eyes. "About KAIBA!?!"
"NO! I mean yes, but more then just that. There's a few things really. Quite a few things now that I think about it."
"Oh." Jou thought about his most important reason for coming to Yugi today. That little tightening in his stomach had been the cause of so many headaches these past few days. He tightened his resolve. "I think I have a few things we should talk about too."
Yugi turned to him quickly. "Really! Okay you first!"
Jou turned to him outraged. "No way! You started it! Why should I go first? It was your idea to have a talk so you should definitely be the one to start it. I refuse."
Jou could virtually see Yugi running thousands of ways to possibly make him change his mind and go first. Therefore, he was ready for the pout. Yugi's incredible eyes seemed to widen more so then usual and his lips puffed out. Jou huffed and turned his head. "Don't you even try to do that whole pouty thing with me. I'll go after you." He crossed his arms to emphasize his point.
Yugi dropped the stretched out bit of tee shirt and began twittering with his fingers, his eyes back on his lap. "Okay... I don't really know how I should start this but I guess the beginnings a good start right?" He gave a nervous laugh as he looked up at Jou and instantly shut up and kept his eyes on his dancing fingers. "Well, you know how I had that box that you and Honda were messing around with before we were friends?"
Jou nodded.
"Well, my grandpa gave that to me along time ago, I think it was for my thirteenth, no actually, my fourteenth birthday. Well, he gave it to me because he wanted me to have something to do, cause well, back then I didn't really do anything besides sit around and help him clean up the shop. That's when I started playing duel monsters a lot. I didn't really have that much else to do… Well anyways, he gave it to me and told me all this stuff about it. How it had that old writing on the sides and stuff. I tried to look up those scribbles, but I couldn't find any Internet site that had information on it so I kinnda stopped looking ya know? So when I kept working at it, I kind of felt stupid because it was taking so long, and that's all I ever did anymore. Well besides Duel Monsters. I did get really good at it…. Don't you think?"
Yugi's hands were balled up tightly and Jou noticed that the smaller boy seemed to be sweating somewhat. He wanted to help but he really didn't understand half of what Yugi had just said. The speed at which the boy was rambling was taking him aback.
"I know Keith certainly thought so, I beat him so good. Well I guess I didn't beat him really, which is something I guess we need to talk about. But um, oh yea, the puzzle, that golden box I mean, it was a puzzle but the box wasn't really part of it. It just held the puzzle pieces in it. I don't even know were it went now that I think about it!" Yugi paused again and looked at Jou confused. "I'm rambling aren't I?" Jou nodded. "Oh, well sorry. I just… I don't really know how or what I'm trying to tell you. I think I should start back at the beginning."
Jou widened his eyes as Yugi started talking again. What the hell is he talking about? I knew Kaiba did something to him! Look at him, talking all insane and acting all crazy. Jou was about to interrupt him when Yugi just stopped talking and took a deep breath and looked intently into his lap. "Jou, look, I'm really sorry. I don't know what I'm supposed to say. You're my best friend and I don't ever want to have to loose you." Yugi finally looked up at him. Big teary eyes seemed to glisten with his unshed tears. Jou forgot his previous concern and instantly wrapped his arms around his smaller friend.
"Yugi! What's wrong! I swear! Nothing you could ever tell me would make me not want to be your friend anymore! I swear Yug!" Yugi sniffed and pushed Jou away so that he was able to look up into his eyes.
"Really Jou? You promise? Nothing?"
Jou nodded. "As long as you promise me the same thing." He took one of Yugi's shaking hands and squeezed it tightly. "I hope you know that you could tell me anything, I'm you're friend Yug, and that's what friends do, they tell each other stuff."
Yugi nodded. But didn't say anything. He bit his lip for a moment and seemed to be in some sort of deep thought. Jou shook the hand that was still holding onto Yugi's and the boy snapped out of it.
"Oh um, sorry…." He was silent for a few seconds. "I think it would be easier if I just tried to show you what I was talking about." Jou nodded, a bit confused, but scooted back as Yugi pulled away from him. "Um well, here we go…"
Jou raised an eyebrow at this declaration, but instantly toppled backwards when suddenly Yugi seemed to let out a soft glow surrounding his body. Before he fell over off the sofa, he felt a pair of strong arms wrapping themselves around his upper chest and looked up to see a pair of sharp red eyes studding him intensely. He jumped back, his feet still tucked under his body and fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. He could hear Yugi gasp and instantly was met with a pair of concerned looking violet eyes and a pair of small hands trying to help him up.
Jou ignored Yugi and turned around quickly and was startled again when he saw another, taller Yugi standing there smirking down at him. He crawled backwards until he hit the coffee table. He rapidly shot his eyes back on Yugi, who was reaching out for him, and pointed his finger accusingly at the taller person who had appeared.
His eyes darted back to the other person in the room, who was still standing up straight, but now looking down at Yugi with a concerned look, apparently ignoring Jou's now bulging eyes and stuttering phrases.
It seemed as if the man standing in front of him had took Yugi's boyish looks and sculpted it to a much more defined and older looking Yugi. If he didn't know better he would think the red-eyed man in front of him was Yugi's brother.
Tearing his eyes away, he looked back at Yugi, opening and closing his mouth trying to ask what the heck was going on when he saw that Yugi had scooted closer to the older looking man's feet. He watched as Yugi wrapped his arms around one of the leather clad legs and pressed his body up against it, holding on as tight as he could. Jou closed his mouth with an uncomfortable clicking sound, and allowed himself to un-tense, realizing that Yugi was so upset because of his reaction.
Not that it wasn't justified! Holy shit, Yugi's identical twin just popped into the room complete with glowing lights and all.
Yugi's twin… Jou froze as a startling realization came over him. This is exactly what had happened with Ryou. He felt his head start to spin and he faintly heard Yugi's voice in the background.
"…didn't really know how to tell you because I don't really know what happened in the first place, all I know is that…"
If Yugi had a "twin" did that mean what he had seen in the bathroom was not some sort of fantasy his deprived mind had made up? The whole scene where Ryou had been with what looked like an older, more defined vision of himself was true…? Jou had no way to even think straight at that moment. As much as he didn't want it, his head was cooking up hundred of possibilities available to him now with that information.
He squeezed his eyes shut as visions of the boy who had so deliciously threatened him with a seductive purr and a nip at his ear sprung to mind. Not with out also envisioning Ryou spread out underneath him. The thought of the two of them together seemed to excite him a little more then he thought was acceptable, and he quickly pushed those thoughts away for later. Opening his eyes he was again forced to come to terms with what was happening in the room.
Yugi at them moment seemed to still be stuttering over his own words and only caused to confuse Jou more. He shook off Yugi's words, a habit he had picked up with endless lectures on world history, and continued thinking to himself. He decided to lay out the facts.
One. Yugi was currently being hugged tightly by a person that seemed to be some sort of older sibling.
Two. Yugi had no siblings.
Three. Ryou also had an older looking twin just pop out of nowhere. Situation very much similar to this one.
Four. There was obviously something going on between all of the previous mentioned people.
Five. He was thrown way out of the loop on this one.
He sat for a while more completely missing any and all meaning of what Yugi was trying to tell him. Hell if he was going to ask Yugi to start back at the beginning all over again. He watched cautiously as Yugi's look alike caressed the small of Yugi's back tenderly, his other hand tracing the gold links of Yugi's necklace…
Yugi's necklace. Or rather, his gigantic golden pendent that's creepy eye had always given his the chills. Ryou's had given his the same strange feeling when he first saw it as well….
Ryou! Ryou had the same creepy necklace! Well, almost the same. Bright, shinny, gave him the chills every time he stared at it for too long, and now this… both of them all of a sudden started having this bad ass looking twin popping up all over the place.
Jou watched the hand until it disappeared from his view. He then brought his eyes back to Yugi's downcast ones. When Yugi took a pause to inhale a deep breath Jou took his opportunity.
"So… whatever's going on here, Ryou's involved right?"
Yugi's concerned look changed into one of confusion. After a while his eyes narrowed and he shook his head in disbelief. "Have you been listening to me Jou?!? Ryou's not involved in this at all!" The man next to Yugi seemed to straighten up at this comment and he quickly opened his mouth to speak.
"Ryou is the white-haired boy correct?" Jou nodded hesitantly, not liking that the other boy was able to speak and gulped as the look alike hardly seemed to need his affirmation. "Ryou is very much a part of this. He is after all the holder of the millennium ring. He is probably going through a time very similar to ours." Jou's ears perked at this, forgetting his initial dislike for the elder looking Yugi
He brought himself closer to the two boys, while throwing his hands up in the air and jumping onto the couch. He allowed himself to snuggle into it's warmth.
"I knew I wasn't crazy!!!"
The two boys seated on the floor certainly didn't seem to agree with him…
"Um Jou, are you alright?"
Jou scooted over and shot the taller boy a suspicious look before continuing. "Yea, I am now! Wow, you have no idea how good it is to feel like you're not insane! Here I was thinking all day that I had imagined Ryou and that…. guy that looked like him, while the whole time it all some big giant conspiracy that's going on! I knew those crazy looking necklaces were evil." He shook his head amused then paused to bite his lip. "Unless of coarse I really am crazy and now I'm just doing it again."
Jou's excited mood seemed to fade away and he smiled uneasily up at the two teens who were now sitting next to him. "Wow, I really am going crazy…"
Yugi scooted closer to him and took one of Jou's hands in his. "No, you're not going crazy Jou, I didn't even understand what was going on for a really long time. I only just figured it out. Even with it being kind of hard not to notice when someone's wandering around in your head with you."
Jou raised an eyebrow and was about to comment that maybe the were both crazy, but was cut off but the deeper, stronger voice.
"What were you saying about Ryou? Did you see him and his spirit?"
Jou blinked and turned to Yugi. "Who is this guy?" He tried to pull Yugi closer to him and discovered that Yugi had an arm snaked around his waist. Yugi didn't seem to care and only blushed so Jou dropped his hold on him. "You could at least tell me how he popped out of thin air and why he looks exactly like you."
He heard Yugi give a sigh at this but didn't seem to be about to give him an answer, he turned his eyes narrowing to a soft glare on the taller boy. "Well, do you at least have a name or something? I keep calling you 'the freaky guy' in my head. I'm guessing your gonna be the one to explain this whole fucked up situation to me?"
The grip around Yugi's waist tightened, and the small boy shuffled into the other's lap. "My name is Yami" He left Jou's eyes and looked down at Yugi's crown of hair. He began to tenderly stroke the blond streak of bangs behind Yugi's ear. Causing Yugi to look up and smile at him.
Jou blinked and twitched in annoyance for getting such and incomplete answer and then being ignored completely by the two other boys in the room. Lifting up his hands, he waved them around his head in frustration about to open his mouth and complain about the utter lack of consideration he was receiving, just as those deep red eyes caught his.
"You were talking about Ryou and his spirit. Continue."
Jou blinked and lowered his arms. "His spirit?"
Yami nodded while looking down at Yugi, apparently assuming that he had answered Jou's question. Jou raised an eyebrow at them as Yami cupped one of Yugi's cheeks in his palm and smiled gently down at the boy. Jou pushed away the uncomfortable feeling the two of them were giving him and tried to recall the events of this afternoon.
Stumbling for words and trying to contain his blush the entire time, he told them in sparing detail how he had seen Ryou talking to his seemingly older looking twin earlier that afternoon. He skirted around the details of Ryou and his spirit's condition when he found them, and ended by stilling both of his fumbling hands in his lap. Hesitantly he brought his gaze back up to the two boys and found them both looking at him interested. He twitched with the unwelcome attention.
"What?"
Yugi shrugged with a hint of a smile tingeing his lips and scooted out of Yami's lap, who was chewing almost ferociously at his lip. Jou stared at him for a moment before turning to Yugi with a questioning look on his face. Yugi just shrugged again and stroked Yami's arm, snapping the taller boy out of his trance.
Giving a quick look at Jou and Yugi, Yami stood up from the couch. "Maybe we should pay a visit to Bakura, since he seems to know everything that is going on and chooses to flaunt it in public. Perhaps I can convince him to answer a few questions of mine."
Jou gulped. While the idea of seeing Ryou sounded like a good one, the idea of seeing this Bakura character did not float to well with him. "Bakura is Ryou's spirit you were talking about? Cause if it's who I'm thinking you're talking about I wouldn't suggest goin' anywhere near him. That guy gives me the chills."
Yugi raised an eyebrow at him. "The chills Jou?"
Jou blushed. "The chills, the creeps, the willies whatever. You know what I mean."
Yugi continued to look skeptical. "Hum… Alright. Well, If were going to go over there today, we better get a move on. I don't know how late he's aloud to have visitors over. "
"Oh his parents aren't home, his dad's off somewhere on business."
Yugi stopped. "Oh really? And how do you suddenly know so much about Ryou Jou? Something you're not telling me?"
"NO! He told me when I was at his house the other night!"
Jou heard Yami stifle a snort and watched as Yugi's grin widened and he was about to tease Jou recklessly on what he had just said when he felt a hand on his shoulder and the gentle pressure urging him towards the door.
"I'm sure." He stood up with Jou following him. "Well lets get going, I'm guessing that YOU know the way to Ryou's house since you two have gotten so close while I was out. I just hope you guys can find a place for me back in you busy lives now that you've made such good friends with one another."
Jou paused in his picking up a bag of pretzels, trying to figure out exactly what Yugi was trying to say. He heard a deep chuckle behind him and glared at the amused looking Yami standing behind him ushering him out of the door.
"What are you laughing at spirit boy?"
Yami just shook his head.
~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*
DING DONG
Jou stifled his laugh and tossed a pretzel in his mouth as Yami leap away from the door with a startled expression. The walk had been more then interesting enough. Yami appeared to have never really experienced all that there was to life outside of well anywhere. Jou and Yugi answered all of his endless questions. In no time at all, Yugi had reached out and rung the doorbell to Ryou Bakura's home.
Still grinning, both Yugi and Jou rocked on their heels waiting for Ryou to answer the door. Sighing after about a minute of no response, Yugi rang the doorbell a few more times hoping to get a response. This time all three of them heard muttered curses coming from the other side of the door as the sound of twisting of locks were heard. The door sprung open revealing a widely smiling Ryou.
A half naked smiling Ryou.
Jou almost instantly choked on the pretzel he was chewing and broke off into a hacking cough. Ryou was standing there barefoot and shirtless with a pair of faded blue jeans that he must have worn in years ago from the way that they essentially hugged his hips and clung tightly to his thighs.
Yami shook his head not bothering to look behind him at Jou as Yugi tried to hide his smile as he rubbed Jou's back. Ryou tried to lazily look around him to see what was going on because of how the tall spirit was currently standing in the doorway blocking his view.
When he looked up and realized who exactly it was standing in front of him, his eyes flashed and the hair on his head seemed to flair out and his dark eyes seemed to sharpen. His whole body seemed to relax out of Ryou's normal posture and with a roll of his eyes he scooted back inside the house.
"Ugh, it's you." He drawled before slamming the door shut and clicking the lock.
Jou looked up from behind his bangs as Yugi stopped rubbing his back and saw Yami's red eyes narrow in anger as he placed a hand on the door. Yugi was looking up at Yami excitedly.
"Was that Bakur…"
"Yes."
"Can you open…"
"Stand back."
Yugi bounced next to Jou's side and gave him a big smile. Jou returned it softly and returned his gaze on Yami whose hand was glowing faintly. The puzzle around Yugi's neck answered with the same dull light and the sound of the lock opening had Yugi smiling back up at him again.
Jou stood there with his mouth slightly opened for a while before he followed the two tri-colored boy's into the house. Bakura was standing in the living room with his lower back resting casually against the sofa with his arms crossed as if waiting for them to have busted in the door. The soft white locks of his hair fell almost dangerously into his sharp, almost black eyes and his lips were curved in what looked like the beginning of a scowl. His fingers began to tap almost lazily against his forarm as Yami stood directly in front of him demanding his attention.
Yugi walked to Yami's side cautiously, looking around for signs of Ryou. Finding none, he turned his attention to Bakura.
"Where's Ryou?"
Besides a quick glance down to Yugi, Bakura seemed to ignore his question and continued stare at Yami. Jou crept up behind the two tri-colored haired boys and tied his hardest to stay in the shadow of Yami.
"I think the more important question to ask now would be what exactly he seems to know about my past." He looked down reassuringly at Yugi before raising his eyes and met Bakura's cold stare. "You wanted to share so badly the last time you visited."
Bakura's scowl darkened and he rolled his eyes dramatically in turn catching sight of the blonde cowering behind in Yami's shadow. His face instantly lightened and the frown on his lips rose into a predatorily smirk.
Pushing Yami aside and ignoring Yugi completely, he stalked up to Jou's side. He stood a few inches below Jou's height, yet somehow managed to look five times more intimidating. Jou managed to keep himself from backing away and only shuffled his feet around as Bakura managed to successfully invade his private space.
Yugi and Yami turned to each other with a questioning look on their faces and Yami seemed to relax enough to loosen his shoulders and give Yugi a small smirk. Yugi returned it full blast and turned to watch as Bakura seemed to raise up on his tip toes to be level with Jou as he stepped closer.
Jou fumbled over his feet and began to back up trying to stay away from the rather frightening looking boy. Bakura only continued to advance on him until he successfully had Jou pressed up against a wall.
"Well, well, look who we have here." Bakura made quite a show of moistening his lips as he bore into Jou's eyes. "It seems you just couldn't head my warning. Shame really. Whatever shall I do with you now?" Jou trying not to keep eye contact tried desperately to concentrate on the streaks of blue paint staining Bakura's neck.
Jou quickly took a breath in as Bakura leaned one arm up against the wall behind his head. Bakura's hand idly twining of Jou's blond strands in his finger as he punctuated his last few words.
"Either you are looking for your death wish," he reached up on his toes so that his lips again brushed up against Jou's ear and whispered so that only he could hear, "or you came back for more."
Bakura backed up almost as quickly as he had advanced and spun around, facing his back to Jou. Jou watched with his mouth slightly parted, millions of things he wanted to shout at the cocky young man who had practically just implied that he wanted "something" from him, but couldn't seem to force anything out of his uncooperative mouth. Instead he settled for glaring at the back of that shaggy white head as hard as he could. His eyes soon began to wonder down to a single strand that fell below the rest of the white locks. It fell straight down and curled upwards tightly touching the beginnings of a set of five angry red marks the lead down to the inward curve of his waist.
Jou's glare faltered as he absorbed the rest of the smooth white skin that had many more of these similar markings. It looked as if the whole of Bakura's back was clawed into. None of the marks seemed to break through the skin but all were a bright red color and looked, well, rather painful. Resisting the urge to touch the wounds, Jou watched as the powerful looking muscles constricted under the tight skin as Bakura walked back to his former position on the couch. He gave a short glance in Jou's direction and smirked amused at the wide-eyed expression on Jou's face before returning his attention to the two tri-colored haired boys. Jou soon found himself loosing the ability to keep his knees locked and started sliding down the wall. He instantly stood up straight and glanced at Yugi and his spirit to see if they had seen him.
Both of them had their attention on Bakura who was again resting his hip casually against the back of the coach with his arms folded in front of him, annoyed expression clearly written on his face.
Yugi's eyes were still fluttering around the room searching for Ryou. He glanced up at the staircase and then back to Bakura, his eyes turning hard as they lost their normally friendly glow. "Where's Ryou?"
Bakura had the decency to look at him for a few seconds before rolling his eyes and falling against the couch, hopping over the back and sliding down into the cushions. Jou watched intensely from the reflection of Bakura that was clearly displayed for him on the black TV screen. His complete focus was openly displayed as he watched Bakura stretch his arms over his head over the armrest of the couch and then begin to snuggle into the warmth of the cushions. It took a moment for Jou to realize that Bakura was staring at him in the same way through the TV. Jou tore his eyes away to hide the staining of his face behind his hair, when he finally looked back up again Bakura was wearing the same devilish smirk as before and managed to throw a wink in the blondes direction before he was again affronted by Yugi's annoyed spirit.
"Enough of this! You said you had knowledge of me and my puzzle. Now would be the time I recommend you telling me." Yami's low growling voice sent shivers down Yugi's back as he climbed his way up the stairs to find his friend.
Yami was standing in front of Bakura who had stood up at the threatening stance Yami held over him. His eyes were flashing and a scowl was again set on his face. Stepping closer to Yami he pushed out his chest. "I have an idea. Why don't you let me examine you're millennium puzzle for a few days, and I'll get back to you on that?" With that he held out a hand to finger the large ornament. Yami caught his wrist almost instantly and pushed the white haired boy away.
"No."
Bakura rolled his eyes, "Oh why not Yami? Don't like to share your things?" He gave a glance towards the top of the stairs that Yugi was climbing down again. "I certainly would want to share my things with anyone else either." Shooting a glance at Jou he tilted his head and smirked. "Well, unless of course I get …"
"WHERE'S RYOU!!"
Bakura spun around and shot daggers at Yugi who was now standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands on his hips. The angry look Yugi had on his face was more like a pout then anything remotely threatening. Bakura threw his hands up into the air as he started to make his way to the kitchen. "Why the hell did you all come over here to piss me off? What he hell did I do to any of you to get you two over here? Leave me alone. You're not welcome… If I come out of here and you're still here. So help me Ra…"
This time Yami grabbed Bakura and spun him around. "Where. Is Ryou."
Bakura rolled his eyes and harshly pulled away dusting his shoulders off where Yami had touched his skin. "For Ra's sake! He's Asleep!"
Yugi approached the two. "No he's not! I just checked upstairs. All the rooms are empty. What did you do to him?!" Jou's eyes widened at this and he too began to move towards Bakura. The pair of brown eyes intently caught his and he regretted moving at all. Bakura glared at Yami a moment before grabbing Jou around the arm and pushing him towards what looked like to be the direction of the garage. "Oh stop freaking out you pansies. He's over here." He pushed the stumbling boy threw the hallway with Yugi and Yami following closely behind, exchanging curious glances at each other. Jou looked back trying to see what Bakura was doing but the white haired boy had a zoned out look on his face and was grinning like mad. "Common Common! Don't want to miss anything now do we?" He shoved Jou aside when they reached a paneled door that led to what looked like a laundry room. He threw open the door and Jou felt his mouth go dry.
Ryou was there eyes wide open, hair wildly arranged, bending over with one leg trying to find the hole of his pant leg. As he stood up straight and abandoned trying to pull on his pants, it was quite obvious the only thing the slim boy was wearing was the huge backwards tee shirt that reached down to his upper thigh where remains of the same bluish liquid on his arms seemed to have been whipped off with the innocent looking white towel laying next to him. Jou just stood there motionless with his mouth hanging slightly open and his breath caught in his throat.
Bakura was standing there trying hard, but unsuccessfully, not to snicker at the scene of his rapidly flushing lover. Ryou closed his eyes at an especially loud snort and wished he could hide form his embarrassment. Jou could only continue to stare at the scene in front of him. Random clothes had been thrown all around the room and there were a few blue handprints over the washing machine. A bottle of spilled blue liquid soap was laying on the dryer, top nowhere to be seen.
Yugi and Yami stared wide-eyed at the scene before Yugi spoke up. "Um, are you okay Ryou? What are you doing?" He looked around the room again before giving his friend a concerned look. "Why were you um…sleeping, in a closet?"
Ryou groaned at this and ran both hands through his hair before rubbing it vigorously. He bit his lip before he said almost hopelessly, "I was just looking for these pants I guess." He struggled to pick a pair of wrinkled looking cargo pants and slide this up his thighs with out exposing anything to scandalous. Bakura's smirk disappeared as he watched Jou keep his honey brown eyes focused on the gradual disappearance of Ryou's delicately pale thighs.
Jou's view of the struggling Ryou was instantly obstructed as Bakura shut the flimsy door. He blinked a few times before he realized that Bakura was standing there with a furious look directed at him. Yugi looked up at Yami completely unsettled by everything that had happened once they stepped foot in the room with Bakura. He felt bad for Jou who was on the receiving end of one of Bakura's glares. With another look at Yami and a raise of an eyebrow, he shook his head and made his way back to the living room. Jou was quick to follow his smaller friend out of the room and escape the looks that were being thrown his way.
Yami stood there looking Bakura over as if almost interested by the psychotic looking boy. With a grin he leaned over towards him. "I don't think you'll be getting any for a long time oh Mr. Powerful evil spirit." With his most satisfied smirk he followed the other two back to the living room.
With a last glance at the closed door, Bakura huffed to himself and left mumbling curses to himself as he bit his lip and contemplated the possible results of his fun.
After a few moments of awkward silence with Yugi and Jou deliberately taking up all the room on the couch and Yami shooting Bakura knowing smiles, Ryou came out with a very wrinkly button down shirt and the pair of cargo pants he was attempting to put on before. He looked around the room sheepishly and when his eyes fell on Jou he looked down at his twisted hands and blushed scarlet.
Bakura felt the bead of moisture forming in his eyes as he bit down harshly on his tongue. Whatever was going on with this Jou was either going to come out in the open soon, or he was going to deal with the blonde in his own way. He dug his nails into his palms as he watched Jou's eyes sweep over his lovers rumbled looking person. When Ryou looked up again, his face displayed his normally passive look and his half-hearted smile. Smiling softly towards the two boys on the couch he offered them both a drink.
Jou shot up form the couch relieved to be able to leave Bakura's presence again. Yugi nodded vigorously stating that he hadn't had anything to eat or drink since he got home form the hospital. This in turn caused Yami to offer his help in getting his light something to eat, but Ryou and Yugi were able to convince him that everything was under control.
"I'm not hungry or anything really. I'm just a little thirsty. We'll be right back, I'm sure you and Bakura can hold a civilized conversation for five minutes."
The three of them left the living room a quickly as possible pushing oven the swinging door to the kitchen. As soon as Yugi entered he burst into a fit of giggles that soon had Ryou and Jou cracking into laughter as well.
Jou sucked in a breath between laughs. "What…exactly are…we laughing about?"
Yugi shook his head and laughed harder, beginning to grab at his sides for air. Ryou leaned up against the fridgeorator and allowed himself to slide down into a position where his knees were pulled up to his chest. When all three of them calmed down enough Ryou slung his head into his knees and started shaking silently.
Jou was instantly at his side having seen him first and Yugi was soon putting a comforting hand around Ryou's shoulders stroking his hair. Jou sat down next to the boy and pulled him closer. "What's wrong Ryou? What do you want us to do?" Ryou looked up at them big doe eyes glittering with unshed tears. "I don't really know. I don't even know why I'm crying really." With that he laughed again and Jou and Yugi gave each other concerned looks. Ryou stopped and whipped his face with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry, I really don't know why I did that, I guess this whole visit thing was just really um… awkward." He laughed again and stood up. Jou and Yugi quickly got to their feet as well still unsure of how to react.
Jou whipped his hand on himself when he rose up and looked to see a blue stain now on the top of his shorts. Looking at it quizzically he turned around and helped Yugi get the cups out of a cabinet that he just couldn't seem to reach. Ryou went to the fridge and took out a bottled water and a few cans of soda. Yugi picked the soda along with Jou and Ryou filled his own cup with ice and brought the bottle with him. All three of them were putting their things away when the heard Yami's voice shooting throughout the house.
They made their way out to the living room with Yugi mumbling "Why can't those to just leave each other alone."
Yami was standing exactly where they had left him but Bakura had seemed to move directly in front of him, obviously provoking him with simple pokes on the arm. Yami pushed Bakura away but the white haired boy just moved closer. "It's because you know I'd win. Isn't it." Bakura put on a mocking smile. "The king of duels is scared to play a petty little theft?"
Jou defiantly heard Yami growl, the ruby eyed boy's eyes flashed as his teeth clenched together tightly, "Where and when Bakura. I'll defeat you no matter what game you pull."
Bakura smirked. "Oh yes, we certainly haven't lost our cockiness after all these years now have we?" He pushed again at Yami shoulder resulting in a faint glow beginning to form around his and Yugi's puzzle. "OOO and what is this? Threatening to throw me to the shadow realm?" He leaned closer to Yami. "I'd like to see you try."
"Bakura!" Ryou was glaring at him, "What the hell are you doing?!?"
Not letting Yami break eye contact with him Bakura waved a hand at his side. "Nothing that concerns you darling Ryou. Just getting back what should be rightfully mine." He raised an eyebrow at Yami. "KaibaLand, one o' clock."
Yami pushed him away again. "I'll be there." And with that he grabbed Yugi by the wrist and began to drag him out of the house. Jou just stood there a moment locked in place by Ryou and Bakura's eyes both on him. With a small, nervous smile in Ryou's direction, Jou turned and followed in Yami. When the front door closed behind him Ryou fell back against the couch throwing his arm over his face.
TBC…..
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~*
Hm…long chapter. Took me long enough to get it out I'd say. Just so everyone knows I'm not exactly aloud to write OR read fanfiction anymore. Mom's orders. But seriously how the hell would that stop me? Hm…I donno. I hope you all liked this chapter, Please leave a review, the reason I actually sat down and typed today was because I found a review notice in my inbox today. Oh yes, next chapter, I'm sure you know is the hook up. Oh yes, well not the ACTALL hook up, but the beginning of the S/Y/YY hook up. Not to mention hints of the J/R/B as well. I donno weather or not to have J/B/R chapters with S/Y/YY chapters or not, every time I focus on one pairing people get upset. Well I hope you all liked this, PLEASE REVIEW
If I have time to, I had actually planned on writing a side story for this chapter. R/B in the laundry room. Never has the spin cycle been so evil….