It seems as though the universe is against this story… it really does…
Well first off, mother reassured me that our hostel would have internet. SO I was happy, thinking I'd get to use the laptop to get lots and lots of writing work done in Hawaii and I get to update! YAY! So I put all my stories on my flash drive and stuck it in my CD case. Then we went on a plane ride at 7:30 in the morning… which meant we had to wake up at 4 am. After several long restless hours of absolutely no sleep and lots of switching planes and carrying my blood relation's luggage and stuff EVERYWHERE! We landed in Oahu… then we took ANOTHER PLANE to Hawaii Hawaii (the big island) finally got in our hostel… other people took a nap while I decided it would be the prefect time to use the laptop to start writing! So I looked for my CD case… and I couldn't find it. So that's why I couldn't update I lost my CD case which had my flash drive in it which had HINAFTYCC on it (I like writing it like that it looks cool (inspired by Talk It Out!)). And no music to listen to…
I'M SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY! I'M SO FORGETFUL! (bows repeatedly to readers) THIS IS THE THIRD CD CASE AND SECOND FLASH DRIVE I'VE LOST! (cries) I'M SO SORRY! (bows again)
But that's not the end of the story… Oh no…
See I got an email from my a fellow author who told me that I wasn't allowed to respond to my readers reviews anymore! I'm like: "WHAT THE HELL! YOU (I'd type the rest of the sentence but I don't want the wonderful people of to get mad at me (smiles innocently))" Lets just say I'm extremely pissed off… and "extremely" is perhaps not a strong enough word, neither is "pissed off".
So, I'm in hawaii, helping my blood relation move into her dorm. For a week… currently burning with humiliating shame, having not updated story and letting readers down, and burning with… a large amount of anger at this (cough, cough) new rule they just put up. So I FINALLY come home and guess what?
Readers: WHAT!
My internet wasn't working…
Yep, oh and of course me not having any time to update even if my internet was working because I was at OTAKON! But since I had no one to be with and knew no one there I basically hung out in video rooms watching AMV's and wandered around the various hallways trying to interpret maps and directions to get to the art room and dealers room. Its not like I never been there before but I usually have my blood relation with me and she's the one leading me around and doing stuff and making friends with strangers… I met a very nice Ancient Thief Bakura and I saw a battle city Bakura who was actually played by a guy! (gasp) But he didn't talk to me; I don't think recognized me at all… (sigh) well you can read about my Otakon experience on my profile, wheni eventually put it up,because I'm probably not allowed to write it all here… (mutters dark curses under breath)
To sum it up: I'm not having a very good week right now, in fact I've had a bad week and I'm really really really sorry I had every intention of updating, I really did.
Now I'm tired and I'm going write all this really fast with no creativeness at all.
WARNING: THIS IS SHONENAI/YAOI! GUY ON GUY STUFF! YOU ARE WARNED!
Profanity, violence, cars, Anzu (eeeeek, hide me!), cell phones and normal phones and sexual stuff have all cause this story to be rate "T".
Disclaimer: If I owned Yugioh, dubbed Ryou Bakura wouldn't make me cry. How's that for depressing?
That's it… here's the story…
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Chyaputa 11: I'll Take Care Of You
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"I brought you some food, Atemu," Anzu said as she entered the living room, a fake warm smile on her face and a tray in her hands. Atemu was still sitting on the couch, eyes gazing dully at the phone. Anzu's heart sank, her false smile faltered.
'I wish he'd at least look at me,' Anzu thought sadly. 'But I've got to keep my spirits up,' she reminded herself stubbornly.
"I made it myself," Anzu said cheerfully, offering the tray to him. Atemu did not even look up.
"I'm not hungry," Atemu said flatly.
"You need to keep your strength up," Anzu reminded him motherly. "Come on, Atemu," she added, bright smile failing. "You have to eat something," she pleaded, putting the tray down in front of him. A chopstick slipped off the tray and landed near Atemu's foot. Atemu's gaze flickered down to it. Mutely and grudgingly he reached down to pick it up and then his eyes spotted something underneath the phone that he could not see by staring directly at it.
Atemu's forehead suddenly wrinkled, eyes narrowing. "What… the…?" he muttered. He reached forward and turned the phone around to find that the phone cord was not plugged in. "How did this…? That's why we didn't get any phone calls!" Atemu cried. Then an idea hit him. Atemu turned sharply to Anzu, eyes wide. "Did you know?" Anzu's lip trembled.
"Atemu… I'm so sorry," she said fearfully, eyes tearful. Atemu looked back at the phone.
"You… on purpose? You did this on purpose?" Atemu questioned, so angry and shocked he was having trouble forming words. The food tray clattered to the floor as Anzu dropped to her knees and covered her face with her hands.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she cried, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Why?" Atemu asked, voice becoming dangerously sharp. He stood up from the couch trying to get away from her, blood pulsing hot in his veins. "Why did you do this?"
"I just didn't want you to leave me!" she cried. "If you left, I'd die!" she sobbed taking her face out of her hands, large tears falling from her deep blue eyes. "Oh Atemu, I just love you so much!" Atemu looked both appalled and utterly furious.
"You…" he muttered, voice trembling with surprised anger. "You kept me from Yugi…"
"I love you more than anything, Atemu!" she cried again, pulling herself shakily to her feet and walking towards him, hands reaching towards him desperately. "If you were by my side, you wouldn't regret it! I'll take care of you, I promise! We could live right here in this apartment! I'd make your life so wonderful! You'd never have to worry about another thing again. I'd do anything for you! We could spend our whole life together! Just the two of us!"
"Just the two of us!" Atemu questioned harshly, temper reaching its boiling point. "Wasn't it 'Just the three of us' a few days ago? What about Yugi? What about when you told him you loved him?"
"I thought I did loved him, I really did! I know how much Yugi loves me and I didn't want to break his heart! But I can't hold it in any longer! I love you!" she screamed rushing forward, arms out stretched. Atemu skidded out of her way.
"How could you do that to Yugi! How can you pretend you love him and then drop him at the altar in the middle of his wedding? He doesn't deserve that!" Atemu snarled, his eyes sharp and fierce.
"I'm sorry about what happened to Yugi!" Anzu said, eyes pleading, still moving slowly towards him. "I know its all my fault but now is what really matters! And now I love you!"
"Well, I DON'T LOVE YOU!" Atemu screamed angrily, eyes flaring. Anzu froze, shock hitting her hard, she looked as though she couldn't breathe.
"Y-you what…? But…" she asked disbelieving, eyes wide.
"I love Yugi," Atemu said voice surprisingly even and controlled but his eyes still glowing hate. "I have always loved Yugi! I came back to life for Yugi! I live for Yugi! All I want is Yugi! And you tried to keep me from him! I'll never forgive you!" Atemu finished harshly. Anzu's knees collapsed, she knelt on the floor, painful tears still running down her face, unable to speak.
The doorbell rang.
Atemu forced himself to turn away from the pitiful creature on the floor and stormed toward the door, feet stomping in his rage. He swung the door violently open.
"What!" he snarled, eyes sharp. Ryou and Malik, who had been waiting patiently on the other side, jumped back in surprise.
"Ahh…" Malik said as he and Ryou swapped fearful glances, backing slowly away. "We were just wondering if you had any information on Yugi and Bakura yet…?" Atemu took a moment to stare at each of them then took a long deep breath to control his anger and stepped out of the apartment, slamming the door loudly behind him, cutting off Anzu's desperate, hopeless gaze.
"Information?" he hissed, voice still shaking. "That would involve me getting phone calls, wouldn't it?" Malik and Ryou looked at him questionably, obviously they did not have a clue about what he was talking about. Atemu took another cleansing breath and explained. "Anzu has unplugged the phone line, for how long I don't know but I've haven't received a word."
"Why'd she do that?" Ryou asked curiously.
"So she could keep me in that infested house!" Atemu spat coldly. "But that doesn't really matter. What have you guys heard?"
"Nothing," Malik answered moodily, frowning irritably. "Our phone was working fine and no one bothered to call us!"
"Maybe we should call Jounouchi-kun in case he's found out something," Ryou suggested.
"But I don't have a phone," Atemu answered.
"Well… someone does…" Malik said, eyes flicking over to the apartment door.
"No way!" Atemu insisted firmly. "I am not going in there again!"
"It would be for Yugi," Ryou said casually. Atemu hesitated, eyes flickering over to the door painfully.
"What if she… tries to capture me and drag me off? Or tries to…" Atemu shuddered, "…throw herself at me or something?"
"Don't worry," Malik assured him firmly, massaging his fists. "We deal with desperate straight girls all the time. You'd be surprised how attractive you become to women as soon as you're unavailable." Atemu glanced the door fearfully.
"For Yugi?" Atemu asked Ryou. Ryou smiled, reassuringly.
"For Yugi," Ryou repeated. Atemu took a deep breath, stepped rigidly forward and put his hand on the doorknob. He took one last look at Ryou and Malik, gulped and opened the door, one last time.
While driving back from the abandon warehouse, Jounouchi cell phone started ringing.
"Finally," Honda said. "Maybe its Atemu."
"Hello," Jounouchianswered as he held the phone up to his ear.
"Jounouchi?" a strained voice answered.
"I'll do anything, please!" a faint pleading women's voice could be heard in the background. "Just don't-" there was a loud crash on the other end of the line.
"Atemu is that you?" Jounouchi called, rising his voice, trying to get through all of the background noise.
"Back, foul double X chromosome beast!" a voice that sounded a lot like Malik's shouted.
"Jounouchi!" Atemu called again. "My phone has been disconnected for… I don't know how long but that's why I wasn't getting your calls…"
"-Since the first time I saw you!" Anzu cried shrilly. "I knew I could never love another!"
"Atemu, we found Yugi!" Jounouchi cried, shouting so that his voice could be heard above the background noise.
"You found aibou!" Atemu repeated very loudly. The noises on the other end of the line stopped temporarily. There was silence for a second then.
"NO! ATEMU, DON'T LEAVE ME! I LOVE YOU!" Anzu shrieked.
"Shut up, woman!" Malik shouted. There was a loud bang.
"Malik, don't hurt her!" Ryou urged.
"Where is he!" Atemu questioned desperately.
"Don't worry he's safe, Bakura didn't do anything to him," Jounouchi reassured his friend hastily before he could jump to any dangerous conclusions.
"Is he with you?" Atemu asked hastily. "Are you bringing him home? Is he in the car right now?" There was a pause while the blonde hesitated. "Jounouchi?" the pharaoh asked more cautiously
"Well you see," Jounouchi began. "Bakura wanted you to pick Yugi up. He said he wouldn't let Yugi go unless you came."
"Bakura wanted me?" Atemu questioned suspiciously. There was a slight pause. "I'm at Anzu's apartment. How soon can you get here?"
"I PROMISE I'LL MAKE YOU HAPPY, JUST DON'T LEAVE ME AGAIN!" Anzu's voice screeched.
"We're pretty far away," Jounouchi admitted. "Maybe an hour."
"We can take Ryou's car," Malik suggested, over hearing the conversation, Jounouchi could barely hear his voice over all the static. "We could leave right now."
"Great!" Atemu exclaimed. "Jounouchi, can you give Malik the directions?"
"Sure, but Atemu," Jounouchi added. "Bakura wanted you to go in alone. Oh and Ryou has to come too."
"Ryou?" Atemu repeated into the phone, confused. "I thought you said he wanted me alone."
"What about me?" Ryou's voice asked faintly, somewhere in the background.
"ATEMU, I NEED YOU!" Anzu screamed followed by another loud bang and Malik shouting various profanities back at her.
"He did but Yugi asked that you bring Ryou too. He said Bakura wouldn't mind or something…"
"Alright, if Yugi said so," Atemu said warily. "Wait, I'll tell to Ryou." There was a long pause; Jounouchi pressed his ear up against the phone trying to listen their conversation but all he heard was quiet mumblings and Anzu occasionally screaming something in protest.
"Jounouchi," this time the voice was different, softer and lighter. It sounded like Ryou's. "Give me the directions."
How many times have your friends let you down?
Just open up your heart, Just open up your mind.
Bakura collapsed again after he chased away a couple of homeless people trying to get at his stuff all the way across the large room. Yugi had to dragged him all the back to the couch for him to rest. The former dark spirit must have been getting better although it was sometimes hard to tell. Yugi sat at the table watching him mutter to himself in his sleep. When he woke again Yugi gave him what was left of the food and water.
"Being dead wasn't so bad," Bakura breathed, lying on his back on the couch and looking up at the gray sky through the broken ceiling. "Sure dying was painful, and hell was painful, painful beyond belief, but I felt like I deserved it. I belonged. It wasn't like this. I hate this world…"
"You said this was you're punishment," Yugi said cautiously, resting his head on his folded arms on the table's surface. "How is that so?"
"I don't remember it clearly, but apparently They didn't feel like I was being punished enough. They couldn't put enough pain into me to equal my crimes." He smirked, but it was in a weak sickly way. "Then in the darkness, I heard a voice of someone calling to me." The smile faded from his lips. "It was weak and small but sad. Apparently it was someone praying for the salvation of my soul," Bakura laughed hollowly, body shaking. His harsh laughter hurt Yugi's ears. "They probably thought it was hilarious, probably thought it would be even funnier to trap me here, in this filthy human shell, as further punishment. To make me kill myself again…" his chin dropped down upon his chest, gazing wondering around the dirty decaying walls around him.
"If that person hadn't prayed for me, I'd still be dead. I want to be dead. This is all their fault. So no, I don't regret anything I did while I was alive and no, there wasn't someone I left behind. But…" His face, not exactly softened more like relaxed. "There must have been someone who regretted me."
I woke up in hell today. I woke up depressed and drained.
And that's okay cause I promised not to hurt you again.
Atemu's heart was beating hard against his rib cage as the warehouse Jounouchi had described came into view. He wiped the sweat off his shaking hands with his sleeve. Why was this so hard? He was excited to see Yugi again, wasn't he? But what if nothing had changed? What if Yugi still loved Anzu? Atemu's over flowing emotions were making him fidgety. He couldn't think straight, hope and doubt toying painfully with his feelings.
Ryou hadn't said anything all trip. He was staring pale faced out the windshield, eyes wide and fixed, knuckles white as they gripped the stirring wheel.
"Ahh… Ryou wasn't that the place?" Atemu said as they slowly passed by the broken down building they had been looking for. Ryou blinked and shook himself, coming to his senses.
"Yeah, I guess it is…" he answered stiffly. He swung the car around and parked right next to the building. As soon as the car stopped, Atemu kicked the door open and jumped outside, blood pulsing oddly in his ears. What if Bakura hurt Yugi? What if he had him tied up or tortured him? Atemu ran toward the door leaving Ryou still sitting numbly in the driver's seat. He ran frantically through the door and the dark decaying hallways into the center of the building, light headed, panicked.
"I see your wood chips and I rise you two soda cans," a familiar voice spoke. Atemu saw the lone table in the middle of the space and the back of Yugi's head. Atemu cautiously walked toward the table.
"Dammit! Okay, show your godforsaken cards," another familiar voice coming from a white haired figure cursed, also sitting at the table.
"Aibou…?" Atemu questioned, voice tight. Yugi turned and saw his darker side standing there.
"Mou hitori no boku!" he exclaimed, purple eyes shinning. He set down his cards, upon the table and stood up. Bakura looked down at the cards Yugi had just put down.
"God dammit!" he cursed again and threw his own hand down upon the surface of the table frustration.
"W-what are you doing?" Atemu asked, extremely unbalanced. He had expected he would have to save Yugi from Bakura's evil clutches but Bakura hadn't even realized he was there. Yugi smiled nervously. His face was smudged with dirt and his clothes were filthy but besides that Yugi looked in prefect health.
"Just playing a little bit of poker," Yugi explained looking back at Bakura who was scowling at the cards on the table. "We didn't think you'd get here this early."
"Playing poker, huh?" Atemu asked eyeing Bakura suspiciously. Bakura's dark eyes turned on him.
"And who the hell are you?" he spat, glaring at Atemu. "What's with all these fucking visitors!" Atemu was slightly taken aback. Had Bakura lost his memory in the world of dead?
"He's Atemu. You remember Atemu, right? The pharaoh?" Yugi reminded Bakura kindly. Bakura stared harder at Atemu.
"Oh… that guy," he said mildly after a couple seconds as though Atemu and Bakura had been mild acquaintances, not archenemies. "He's here to pick you up then?" Yugi nodded. Bakura scoffed, walked over to the couch and flopped down upon it, as though he was planning it to be his final resting-place. "Well, take your bitch and leave, your presence is annoying me."
"H-he- He isn't my…" Yugi insisted, red-faced looking at Atemu.
'Bakura's attitude certainly hasn't improved…' Atemu thought darkly, but his gaze softened as it landed on Yugi once again. Yugi walked up to Atemu, looking curiously around.
"Is Ryou here?" Yugi asked in a low voice. Atemu blinked, he had completely forgotten about the white haired man.
"Oh yeah, he's… somewhere," Atemu said, also looking around. "Might still be in the car." Yugi looked disappointed.
"The car?" Yugi repeated exasperated. "We have to go get him!" At that exact moment, Ryou appeared in the doorway, stumbling awkwardly out of the dark hallway.
"Ryou-kun!" Yugi greeted. Ryou waved weakly, eyes darting around the room as though he was looking for someone. "Well, we'll wait for you outside," Yugi said with a wink and grabbed Atemu's arm and pulled him towards the door.
"Ahh… yeah…" Atemu agreed distractedly, transfixed by the grip Yugi had over his arm.
Ryou forced himself to walk forward as Yugi and Atemu disappeared from sight. It felt like his heart was too heavy to pulse, forgetting to breathe. He approached the thin lanky Bakura lying on the couch, matted white hair tangled around his head. He did not look at all healthy. Hands trembling, Ryou walked towards the front of the couch. The figure on the couch looked up as he heard Ryou approach.
"I told you to… leave…" Bakura's voice died as he recognized he was no longer talking to Yugi. His dark eyes widened. Ryou's stomach shrank.
"Hi…" he greeted awkwardly. Bakura did not move, completely and utterly stunned. Ryou stood there, wishing Bakura would say anything.
"Why are you here?" the dark spirit finally spoke, anger suddenly began flowing back into his face. "You're not supposed to be here," he growled coldly, face forming a scowl. "Did Yugi tell you to come here?" he accused nastily, eyes narrowed. Ryou's gaze dropped and landed on Bakura's wardrobe.
"I was wondering where that shirt went…" Ryou commented mildly. "Those were my favorite pants too. But you forgot to take shoes…" Ryou'seyes had spotted Bakura's shoeless blistered and scared feet. He stared at them for a second, eyes unmoving. Bakura's irritated scowl deepened as he saw where Ryou was looking.
"Its nothing, doesn't hurt at all," Bakura insisted harshly. Ryou's face suddenly hardened in disbelief.
"Like hell it doesn't," Ryou said sharply. Bakura was slightly taken aback. He had never heard his lighter half speak like that before. They stared down each other for a moment than Bakura finally scoffed.
"Leave me be, this is none of your business," he snapped, looking forcefully away again.
"Get up," Ryou said firmly. Bakura's gaze shot back to Ryou.
"What?"
"I said, get up," Ryou ordered more sternly. Bakura stood up looking rather shocked as though he was not quite sure why he was following Ryou's commands. Then his legs wobbled underneath him and he fell back down. Ryou's face softened slightly and he walked over to Bakura and took both his elbows and pulled him to his feet.
"What are you doing?" Bakura growled coldly, glaring at his former-lighter-half.
"You can't stay here, you'll kill yourself," Ryou said. "You can stay in my hotel room until you're better."
"I don't need your help," Bakura snarled unkindly. Ryou blinked and then let go of Bakura's elbows. Bakura's body tilted to one side and his arms flew out in his panic, grabbing onto Ryou's shoulders. There was a long pause; Bakura was forcing himself to look away from Ryou's smug face. "Shut up," he grumbled darkly.
"Come on," Ryou insisted, wrapping an arm around Bakura's shoulders to support him as they walked to the car. Bakura hesitated looking back at his table and sofa. "What is it?"
"I killed a man for that couch," Bakura explained mildly. Ryou looked slightly sick.
"Do you want to keep it? We could come back and get it tomorrow," Ryou suggested awkwardly. Bakura turned to stare at Ryou, eyes half lidded.
"It's just a couch," he spat darkly.
"You were the one reminiscing about it," Ryou pointed out. Bakura scowled as they began to walk.
"I was not. Well, not purposefully anyway…" he insisted.
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Who cheered when Atemu told Anzu he'd never forgive her? I know I did! HELL YEAH! (does happy dance)
I'm tired I really want to go take a shower now… yuck I'm so depressed…
About this response to reviewers thing, I don't really want to email everyone responses so if your just saying the normal "I liked this chapter" just you already have my thanks! I'll email people if they have a question on the story or if they write me a really really really long review, like Hell's Sorrow and Talk It Out usually do, I LOVE YOU GUYS! But if you really want me to respond to you just tell me so in the review, ok? Of course if you're not a signed user I won't be able to get your email anyway…
But I won't be responding to anyone today... I'm too tired...
Oh yeah… what's up with all these Yami no Malik questions suddenly? You all conspiring against me or something? Heehee, just kidding. But seriously I got like four people asking me if Yami no Malik was coming back. Well Yami no Malik's a little different then Yami no Bakura and Atemu. He was never alive in Egypt so he doesn't really exist technically, he's just all Malik's evil feelings squished into one… so I've already wrote the fic and he isn't coming back but maybe (shrug) I'll surprise you… or maybe I won't if I still feel like this…
Does that count as responding to people? I'm not TRYING to break the rules you know! (mutters dark curses)
Next chapter: Will Yugi and Atemu confess their feelings? Will Bakura and Ryou have anything to talk about? Will their car flip over the drove while they're driving over a bridge and all four of them go crashing 50 feet below for a very unexpected and horrible ending to the story? Well, you'll just have to find out now, won't you? Mwahahaha…
Bonus: Who (what anime character (not from YGO)) was Anzu's little speech inspired by? If you win I'll give you a cookie or a golden star or whatever you want.
Please REVIEW!
Even if I'm not able to respond to you all I still appreciate and love you all!
REVIEW!