Disclaimer: Oh boy, I don't own Yu-gi-oh (that's for sure)… Ano, right…
Summary: Ryou decides to get a job at a café and happens to witness a nasty break up between Seto Kaiba and Ryuuji Otogi. So, being the nice boy he is, he decides to help Seto out. Life wasn't complicated enough…
Couples:
Eventual RyouxSeto.
Hints of SetoxOtogi.
A/N: Four reviews, savvy.
Jess-Chan of the Nya Nya Neko: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you liked it so much.
DehctiwebAh, yes, RyouxSeto is my fav. pair as well, as you can probably tell… Thank you for the review!
Higuchimon Yes, I have this strange obsession with neglecting grammar, as my English teacher often reminds me… () Nice that it made you laugh. That's always an up. Thanks for the review.
Lil-Riter: I hope you are feeling better. You didn't have to leave a review and yet you did, despite your mood, that's very cool of you. Thank you for putting my fic. on your fav. story list.
Fair Game
Chapter Two
I dare say that one day soon I will also be saying a funerary speech for Otogi as well. Perhaps my cellmates won't like that very much though. And Mou Hitori no Boku even less… He finds Otogi quite disagreeable because of his high-pitched and very caucus loud voice. I do admit that it is very intimidating, but his interesting character makes up for it. It's not nearly as curious as Yuu-gi's very high voice… Or mine… I sighed while eating my toast. And successfully choked on the piece of the crust. I wanted to cry at that moment.
Somehow I always manage to dig myself into a ditch and can't seem to ever get out. Life, much like the greater power above, loves me.
"No, really, what happened to it…? It wasn't…" he asked, eyeing the Ring around my neck and then looking back up at me. I shook my head slowly.
"No, something much worse. And why must you always blame him for everything? He hasn't done anything important or exciting lately, let alone Earth-dominating. I believe the most interesting thing he's done this month is say that we need more bamboo in the house," I explained to him, taking another bite of my toast. Otogi looked at me concerned, before munching on a corner of his toast.
That was a strange day. He and I were both sleeping and it was nearing midnight when suddenly he felt the urge to wake me up, sit besides me on the bed, take my hand in his and then say "get some bamboo for the house- - and get me them now." It took every ounce of courage to resist the urge to ask him when he'd lost his marbles while he handed me a crumbled piece of paper from his pocket with a store number written on it and then he disappeared. I hadn't heard a word from him after that event since yesterday actually; he's been dangerously quiet. He's like a small misbehaving child… You know they're doing something they're not supposed to be doing when they're quiet.
I think Otogi is answering my comment. Oh well.
But mo matter how interesting the subject is, or even more intriguing the reason as to why he brought it up, I'm a bit afraid to ask or take action myself and step into his soul room. It's hardly worth losing my life over… Which I know he won't hesitate really to do so… I do often wonder though why he's mellowed out so much in these past few months. I believe he's in dueling withdrawal.
Perhaps I should keep him that way.
/ If you do I will sedate you with enough stuff to kill a camel. Get the damned bamboo now, you only bought two sticks.. /
This scared me terribly so that I jumped off my cushion and onto Otogi.
"…Ryou..?"
I swallowed a lump in my throat and then looked down at him for a moment before wrapping my arms around his neck.
"You, ano, you looked like you needed a hug," was my excuse. He sighed and patted my back with one hand. I feel the need to pat myself on the back as well, for my amazing improvisation skills.
"And so do you, my friend, but if you don't mind, you're sitting in my toast," he said sweetly, grinning at me. I sat up slowly and got off the couch as gracefully as I could. I looked at his plate, there was no toast there. I opened my mouth to scold him for this before he pointed towards me. Technically.
Carefully I turned my head around. Indeed, there was a large piece of bread plastered to my rear because of the jelly.
Great power above: infinity and one.
Bakura Ryou: -6.
The sad thing is that at birth I'm sure the greater power above and I both started out at zero.
I very cautiously pulled it off and winced at the large square of pink jelly now on my pants. That's one stain that will not come out very well, much like that big chunk of embarrassment that has been hanging over my head ever since I happened to come in contact with another human... I sighed a very long and heavy sigh.
"Are we done fancying our own ass' now?" He asked. I turned to him, blushing a bright red. The cocky man sat, smirking at me evilly, playing with a piece of his hair again. This was not at all fair, now if his rear was covered in jelly, perhaps I would have something to work with… No, now that I think about it, I'd probably still be in the same awkward position as I am now.
"No, we are not!" was the first good come back I was able to muster in my defense.
"How about now?"
"NO."
"Look, Ryou, I know you've got a cute ass and all but-"
"No! I meant we are not fancying our ass'!" I exclaimed, putting my hands hand my back, self-conscious again. He burst out into laughter, draping himself across my sofa. I was still blushing I think, when I sniffled at him, highly embarrassed. Only he could pull off such a stunt.
One day, Otogi, the greater power above will get you too.
"I'm going to go change now," I announced, walking to my room, backside facing the wall. He only laughed louder. I came out a few minutes later, now changed. I had my regular blue and white striped shirt with a pair of jeans. But of course, my laundry was not done so I ended up wearing my jeans from yesterday. I walked up to him and stood above him for a moment. He was still lying across my sofa, an arm lying over his eyes.
"Otogi? Otogi I know you're not asleep," I said, tapping his elbow slightly. He groaned.
"Not yet, but I've been waiting here for days, Ryou!" I frowned, slightly offended.
"I didn't take that long! Only ten minutes, and I had to brush my teeth as well."
"Yes, you did take that long," not willing to step down from his point.
I opened my mouth again to say that last time I was at his house he took thirty minutes to choose an outfit. And another hour and a half to brush his hair, teeth and change… By that time Yuu-gi had fallen back asleep, along with the rest of his friends. And myself. We missed our movie that evening. But considering how much he had lightened up in the past hour or so made me not want to bring up any sour note again. If any thing was bad for his health (and mine) it was bringing up Kaiba Seto again. I smiled, thinking about how much happier he was now.
His arm lifted and a green eye fixed its gaze on me.
"What?" he asked, sitting up. I stopped smiling like a loon into space and then turned to face him.
"Nothing, now come, I need to go buy a new TV," I said, a new wave of determination capturing me, a fist raised high into the air, hoping for victory. And apparently a poetic one as well…
"No, really though, you never told me what happened to your beloved," he said, shrugging a shoulder in the direction of my "beloved."
"I did tell you- - a creature far worse than dark," I said, shaking my head, pointing to my ring and giving him another tired smile. He understood suddenly.
"Jounouchi, huh?"
"Yes, sadly. He has a heart of gold but--"
"A head of rock. If there's anything Seto and I can agree on, it's our opinions of Jounouchi," he muttered, casting an irritated look at my broken TV. It did not sputter back any comment, and for this I was thankful. I do not like to be scared inside my own home.
Or embarrassed.
Otogi swung his legs over the sofa and linked his arm with mine, taking me from the apartment. I managed to barely grab my keys and wallet from the counter before he swung the door on my hand. I clutched my hand to my chest, completely in shock at the thought of losing it.
I could see it now, I'd be the only person is history to have ever lost a hand because his best friend slammed it between a door and its frame… What would I ever do? I would never drive… I would never- oh, my, what would Mou Hitori no Boku think! No, no, mustn't think about that… No need to stress myself out at this point…
He picked me up from the ground, as if I was being the misbehaving child. No, that was either Otogi himself, or mou hitori no boku…
I'm not because I'm 16 years old, so "ha."
"Let's go, Ryou, the day is young!" he said happily, throwing both arms into the air. I made sure to duck before my head was added to the list of items broken this month.
"Yes, but so am I, calm down!" I said, as he grabbed my hand to lead me downstairs. Otogi Ryuuji, mood-swing extraordinaire… I believe if scientists were to study him, a large newspaper article would come out, and the new discovery would made headlines all over the world… Through the internet, phones, etc etc.
Otogi Ryuuji is a new form of human. When reaching years, usually 13-19, he becomes wildly uncivil, has a huge lack of common sense and what makes of for this lack is a gross amount of hormones.
Wait, I believe this discovery has been made before; it is called "teenager."
I was roughly pulled from my thoughts, and quite literally, actually. We turned a corner very badly so that my nose nearly collided with the corner of the wall. But before we disappeared from my floor, I believe I saw a flash of the little bird that was utterly mortified fall from its place on the banister. There was only one proper thing to do with a mortified, probably dead bird. And I thought yesterday was an exuberant day…
"Otogi, Otogi stop! We need to go save the bird!" I wailed, tugging against his hand. Most unfortunately he is not only taller than me, and heavier than me, but also stronger.
"What…?" He said, still skipping at an insanely fast pace down the stairs.
"The bird, Otogi, the bird which you have paralyzed for fear of its sanity!" He stopped this time and so I tumbled into his back, momentum still the better of me.
How sad… I believe I saw my life flashing before my eyes there… Oh, so that's where the batteries went--
FWUMP.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
THUD.
And so our cascade down the stairs ended. Now I just need to wait for the headache to do the same… I groaned, rubbing my head as I tried to sit up.
"Ow, hey, Ryou, what happened?" I heard Otogi ask. Please note how I said "tried to sit up." He had been the lucky one and landed on top of me. He was sitting atop my belly now, smacking my chest a few times.
"You okay down there, little buddy?" He asked again. I coughed and smiled warily, I felt kinda dizzy…
"Sure, sure, Otogi, but I can't seem to breathe…" I said, looking at him. His face immediately fell.
"Oh, no… he's finally snapped," he said. He bent over me, hands on my shoulders shaking me vigorously. My felt my head lull about my shoulders. It's something like being stuck on a roller coaster that's too extreme for you.
"Otogi, that's tickles..." The roller coaster stopped slowly. Head went back again. "No, no, it hurts. Yes, that's the word… 'hurts…' " The roller coaster stopped completely now. I don't want to go again, and they most certainly can't make me.
He watched me some more before looking around in panic and then getting off me in a hurry. Good boy. Otogi would make quite a funny dog. He looked around again, before bending over to help me sit up. My head began to swim. My vision was suddenly taken up by a cloud of black, which then turned to a collage of Technicolor and finally I was blessed with my normal vision. Except everything kept tippin' around and around and around…
"Okay, Ryou, um, we're going to go to the doctor's now, okay?" Duke asked cautiously, crouching down by my side. Such long hair he has. Perhaps he should brush it, it's all messed up. No, stay focused, stay focused. Must get up, must buy the TV and must do it soon.
"No! I need to go buy the TV, I'm fine, I'm fine…" I said, pulling away from him, rubbing the back of my head. Oh, look, my hand turned red!
"Hey, Otogi, wanna see my hand change color!" I asked him. I suddenly put on a very serious face, "But then we need to go buy my TV, hai, Otogi?" He looked at me worridly.
"Um, Ryou…" He said, advancing towards me.
"No peeking!" I yelled, suddenly very angry with him. Stupid Otogi, wanting to know my magic... He may as well ask Mou Hitori no Boku how to send souls to the Shadow Realm. My secret shall stay with me to the grave simply.
"B-but Ryou-" he asked again.
"Look!" I said, showing him one hand. And then a pause. He stared at me, eyes wide and mouth frowning. "Look again!" I said, putting my left hand behind my back now and then showing him the red right hand.
"See! I'm magic!" I shouted.
"Ryou, that's blood-"
"Shh! It's okay, not everyone can do magic, Otogi," I nodded knowingly and placing my right hand on his lips. He paled. I can do more magic now; not only can I turn my hand red, but I can also turn Otogi's face white then green!
He turned around, clamping his hands against his mouth. I crawled over to him, tapping on his shoulder.
"Otogi, Otogi? I think you're the one's who's not well, let's take you home!" I said, standing up and trying to help him up as well. He looked over at my hands frantically.
"No!" He jumped up. He was about to take my hand when he suddenly paused and then reached for the other one. Yes, mortal, don't touch my magic hand. He wiped his mouth across his arm, wincing. Now his arm was red. I couldn't help but giggle at this, such a funny creature Otogi was. He took my left hand in his and took me back upstairs.
"Heel, heel, Otogi! Bad dog!" I yelled this time, pulling away from him. He whipped around to glare at me for the dog comment I suppose, but a look of panic flashed over his face, and then came back to vacation there for a while.
"Ryou, be calm, okay?" He pleaded, taking my hand again. I pouted following him to the door. He jiggled the hand for a moment before turning back to face me again.
"Okay, Ryou, I need your keys," he said, pointing to my pocket.
"No, thank you, the keys are mine and we're going TV shopping," I said defiantly, turning and then walking to go back down the stairs. I heard his light footsteps running up behind me.
"Ryou, the keys, now!" He commanded, spinning me around and holding on his hand. I looked at it. Blink. "Ryou, your head is bleeding, and you're a mess… Let's fix you up a bit, okay…? Give me the keys…" he said more calmly this time, like trying to coax a new cat you've brought home from the animal rescue center from underneath the sofa with a sour bowl of milk.
"I think the one who needs to be fixed, is you, bad Otogi, bad!" I said, waving a finger in his face. He paled again. He is no match against my magic. I'm still a bit dizzy, I wonder why…? It was so noisy around here too… There were some more footsteps, and a cell-phone began to ring… It was kinda overwhelming…
"Ryou, Ryou, come on!" he said, grinding his teeth together. The little colourless dots came back.
"Fine, be that way! Leave me behind, but at least save the bird!"
And so, along with my sanity, my consciousness slipped away.
…A Little Bit Later… Technically…
I don't like being sick. I don't really believe that any one likes being sick at all. Once in a while, you may stay home, using it as an excuse for your reason as to why you missed the math test and such, but in all honesty, no one enjoys feeling as though your head has been put beneath a steam-roller or their stomach has been flipped inside out. It's just not a pleasant feeling at all. And following these Heavenly thoughts I rolled off the sofa, hitting my head against something or another. Quite frankly it hurt. The steam-roller has now been replaced by fireplace poker being driven through your temple.
Too much time with Mou Hitori no Boku, must remember to spend time with virgin-minded Yuu-gi Moutou. I blushed at the thought, despite the big eyes and naive visage, the leather clothes, belts and chains were far from an idealistic innocent person. My nausea increased at that moment, I am sure.
"Otogi Ryuuji, explain why you felt the need to put a metallic trashcan here!" I yelled out, pushing myself up. The foot steps came running over, and two hands picked me up to settle me back on the sofa. I felt very silly at that moment. If Otogi can pick you up with ease, you are a bundle of feathers in a human skin.
Dear Kami-sama, that was the most grotesque idea that I could-- Nausea increasing…
"Okay, you just stay here, I'm making you some tea," he said, while turning to go back into the kitchen. My hand reached to grasp his wrists, leaning forward so I could actually reach him. Or miss. Which I did. I leaned forward too much and nearly tumbled off the sofa if Otogi hadn't caught me. I believe that if I ever become drunk, I will be in a state similar to this.
"Um, right, you stay here, okay…?"
"No, no, no… No tea. Glass of water, two pain-killers, get TV, come back, sleep," I said, pulling his face down to see me in the eyes, and though try as I might, I couldn't quite get them to focus. I shook my head and tried again. "Right?"
He looked at me frowning and shaking his head. Don't give me that, you most certainly are not my mother!
"No, you have to stay here and rest, your head-" I pulled his face closer to mine, eyes still not focusing correctly.
"No, I need to get this now, just in case Father decides to come home early or something… He does that you know…" I said, looked off into the space behind me.
Otogi never has to know that father isn't coming back for three months. Buying the TV now is somewhat of a necessity, half to not send my father into a state of permanent shock and secondly because TV's can be very useful things. I saw the TV then, in its sad state. My head lulled heavily on my shoulders. Don't you dare spark at me, I glared at it, giving the thing a warning look. I jumped slightly though, when I thought that the antenna twitched at me. Back to what I was saying. I mustered a large breath and began.
"For the last couple of years I have lived with my hand being impaled on a toy tower, my soul being trapped in several inanimate objects, my arm nearly being torn off, being stuck in the Shadow Realm for several hours with out food, had my mind taken over by two evil, ancient spirits, been knocked out several times, run over by a fake boulder and fallen down the stairs to a particularly nasty tomb. So I believe I will be fine with today's events. And anyway, what if Father comes home to find out not only did his only son break the only television and then proceed to do nothing about it, but somehow managed to get a cut on the back of his head? And then I won't even begin on the broken rice maker, or mother's old mirror or…" I trailed off. I believe that is the most I've said in about three weeks.
I wrapped my cream-colored blanket around my shoulders firmly.
I don't want to implicate that spectacular accomplishment by mentioning the time that I had been dragged into a darkened classroom and snogged for ten minutes before a teacher came and rescued me. As it turned out, I had been pulled in the room because a person thought they were pulling in Otogi and not me (Otogi had been standing on the other side of me, and the clever person who had pulled me in was using a mirror to locate where we were…). Otogi tried to explain to me that the door was locked and that was why he did not rush in to help me. Or take my place, which ever, it did not matter to me.
I never did figure out who it was though. When the teacher opened the door they rushed out and ran down the hallway. Since it was dark, no one really got a good look at him.
And since then I have had a rather large phobia of dark classrooms. Otogi finds this very funny however and will at random pull me into any dim-lit room he can find at school. This, however I do not appreciate. So once in a while I play upon his secret fear of spiders, though very much putting at risk my apathetic view on the arachnids… Yes, very slowly, I do believe I'm developing a phobia. But it is funny to see a person like Otogi scream frantically and then run one hundred meters away in roughly about nine seconds.
You'd think him coming from a long line of clowns and such he would appreciate these mind games much more than he does. So I often tell him this.
"You're a clown! Be nicer!"
He kindly explains back that I, with a psychotic alter-ego, should be more sensitive with these types of things.
"But you're a reincarnation of a crazy Egyptian thief! You be nicer!"
Touche. And so the battle continues.
Otogi looked at me for a few moments. He blinked. So did I. We shared this interesting conversation for several minutes before I sniffled and gave him a pleading look. Now would be a wonderful time for my eyes to start watering, come on… please..?
He blinked again, blowing a breath of air out the corner of his mouth so that one of his black bangs was flung high above his head. He got up and brushed off his pants. No, don't walk away from me! Otogi- -
"Where are your pain-killers?"
Greater power above: infinity
Ryou Bakura: back down to -5
I do believe I have a chance at victory. Hopefully… Oh, please, don't take that seriously…
TBC…
Translations:
a. None that I can think of at this moment… I completely gave up any languages I knew for the sake of not failing my exams. S'all good though.
b. Okay, translation for the hitting the head thing… If that was a bit confusing, don't worry about it… it's not really that important.
A/N: Ah, yes, the second episode of the TV saga is over, stay tuned for episode three, coming to a computer near you. How to know whether or not there are too many Star Wars ads everywhere... Oh, yeah, by the way, I won't be updating for month 'cause I'll be away and there's no internet connection there… Please review; that'd make my day. It's good karma. Thanks.