A Requiem for Innocence
Chapter Six
Sara O'Leery had been working at the Currency-Exchange counter for nearly five years. It was not the most interesting job, but she liked to meet all the different people from the different countries. And she met so many people each day, it was nearly impossible to remember them. So normally she forgot a face after they vanished back into the bustle of the airport. But today was different.
The first person was a teenager, with his parents. She knew all about teenage rebellion, having been quite the black sheep in her family herself, but when she glanced at the boy, the look of hatred he was giving his parents shocked her. Forget yelling and fighting, he looked as though he would have loved nothing more than to have shoved the couple out of the airplane when they'd been at maximum altitude.
His parents seemed oblivious to his glares as they exchanged Yen for United States dollars. But when they turned to walk away, his mother reached for his arm, saying, "Yugi…"
The son-Yugi?-jerked backwards and Sara noticed, for the first time, tears in his eyes as he skirted her grasp. His mother appeared hurt by the response, but didn't try to speak to him anymore.
Even though the family-like so many others-faded into the crowd and out of view, Sara couldn't forget the young man's face. What had happened to him to make him so upset? It hadn't been hatred, not really…now she realized that what it had really been, on his face, was pain.
The surprises for her weren't over yet. A few hours later, another young man approachedher counter, and she stared in surprise at someone that nearly passed for a carbon copy of the teen she'd noticed earlier. A little taller, a little older, a few slight feature differences…but otherwise, a clone of the boy named Yugi. And when he looked up to hand her his money, (Yen as well), his eyes had the same sadness that Yugi's had, and the same pain buried in his purple irises.
It startled her so much that she froze up and forgot what she was supposed to be doing.
"Are you okay?" he finally asked, looking puzzled as to why she was staring at him.
"Oh…yes, yes, I'm fine." Hurriedly, she handed him his money. "I'm sorry, it's been a long day."
He nodded. "Ah, I understand. It's okay." Although he looked as though he was in a hurry, he lingered for a moment and pointed toward a crowd of people across the way. "Excuse me…but do you know what's going on down there?"
"Oh, there was a plane crash." Sara replied. "A few hours ago."
"…A plane crash?" His voice suddenly rose.
"Yes…an international flight…" she paused, then asked, concerned, "Sir…are you okay?" For his face had suddenly gone pale, his eyes darkened, and he whispered,
"Yugi…"
Sara's eyes widened. This person knew that other boy? What was going on with that? But either way, it was clear he worried Yugi had been on the flight that had crashed. Opening her mouth, she was about to tell him that Yugi was okay, she'd seen him, (for how many other Yugi's could have come through here?) but before she could, he had taken off at a run toward the crowd. And she was about to follow him too, because his eyes had already been sad enough, she didn't want him to worry unnecessarily.
But the person in line after him plunked down his money on the counter before she could, saying,
"About damn time! Listen, I'm in a hurry-"
Biting her lip, Sara sat back down to help the other people, and hoped that whatever was hurting Yugi and the mysterious other young man, that they'd somehow get past it.
It wasevening by the time Yugi and his family arrived at the new house in California, given the time differences, and extra time that had been wasted because of the plane from the same airline that had crashed shortly before their arrival. (A mechanical issue had forced it down in the landing.) The runways were jammed with rescue equipment, so their plane was forced to circle for some time. A traffic jam on the highway did not help things, either. His father was seething by the time they made it home.
By the time they got inside the house, everyone was exhausted. In an obvious effort to be nice, his parents offered Yugi his choice of the three bedrooms. He selected the one on the ground floor, while his parents then got one of the rooms on the second story. Yugi was out of temper with them, having gotten into an argument on the plane about the kiss Yami had given him before they left, and was glad to see they'd be separated by a ceiling, at least. So they moved his stuff into that room, (it had been shipped earlier that week), wished him good-night, and went upstairs.
Yugi was too tired to bother fixing up his bed, he dressed in his pajamas, threw himself down on the bare mattress, and just curled up under a blanket. After awhile he had to go and search out two more blankets because, for some reason, he couldn't stop shivering.
He sadly thought to himself that he knew why. He was remembering how warm Yami had been the night before, holding him. And no amount of blankets or sheets could make up for the loss of that warmth. He tried not to think about that, but now all he could think about was how lonely it was by himself and what he'd give to be anyplace else right now.
Closing his eyes, he hid his face in the mattress and thought of being back in Yami's familiar arms, someplace a million miles from here.
Some time later, he must have fallen asleep, because he was dreaming. It was a dream about standing beside someone. Someone with warm hands and a kind smile and soft amethyst-coloured eyes that belied their piercing gaze. It was such a realistic dream, he could even hear the person's voice saying, "Yugi…Yugi?"
"Yami…" He murmured back.
Yami's figure was starting to fade…he could feel himself slipping out of the dream. It was too bad, he'd been enjoying it. But if he was waking up, then why was Yami's voice becoming clearer?
"Yugi! Psst, wake up!"
"Don't want to wake up." he mumbled at the voice. "I like this dream…"
"What? Now I'm offended!" Yami's voice came from someplace above him and he awoke with a start, realizing that the voice wasn't coming from his dream at all. Sitting up, he turned to see someone standing beside his bed and for a split second felt a stab of panic. Then he recognized the person's silhouette and nearly passed out again.
"…Yami?" he whispered.
"Who were you expecting, Santa Claus?" Yami asked, his whispered reply sounding amused. "If I'm correct, this is the wrong month for him."
"But-but you-"
"Now what's this I was hearing about how you would have rather kept dreaming than woken up to see me?"
It was surely Yami. The voice was right, the build was right, and the sense of humour was definitely right. Yugi's eyes filled with tears and he leapt to his feet, throwing his arms around Yami's midriff and forcing himself not to say anything too loudly, even when he felt like this moment called for shouting in joy.
"Yami…I can't believe you're here." He latched onto him tighter to prove to himself that Yami was real and this wasn't still a dream.
"Well, believe it. I didn't come all this way and nearly have a heart attack over that plane crash for nothing."
"Huh?"
"You know, the plane crash that happened awhile before you landed…I thought it was the plane you'd been on."
"No!"
"Yes." Yami shook his head and smiled to himself as he thought back. Not remembering the flight number, he'd spent three hours waiting for information about the crash after hearing about it, just sitting in one of the chairs with his head down in his hands, shaking, praying to whoever the hell would listen that Yugi wasn't hurt.
And then, as fate would laughingly have it, it hadn't been Yugi's flight after all, and he'd wasted those three hours. But perhaps this was a good thing, because while he'd sat there, wondering if Yugi was alive or dead or someplace in between, he'd swore that if Yugi's parents had somehow survived and Yugi had not…he'd swore he would hunt down Yugi's parents and kill them too. For forcing Yugi to come in the first place. For forcing him to be on that plane at all.
Sure, he felt bad for the people that had been on the doomed plane, but as he'd walked away from the crowd, he couldn't help smiling. And now he was smiling again, thinking that the memory, at least, was funny.
He returned his attention to Yugi and asked, "Where are your parents, anyway?"
"Upstairs. Never mind them, how'd you get in here?"
Yami pointed toward the window, which was now open. "If you don't want visitors, lock your windows."
"I don't mind visitors, not if the visitor is you." Yugi whispered. "I just can't believe you're really here. I missed you so much."
"We've barely been apart for half a day." Yami said, laughing to himself.
"You know what I mean!"
"Yeah, yeah I do." Yami nodded. It felt like it'd been years, Yugi had a point. Something to do with the way he had walked away in the airport…it sure felt like it'd been ages. "Well, here I am in the good ole' USA now. I forced my way onto the next flight here."
"No way."
"Yeah, borrowed one of Bakura's machine guns and demanded they let me on the plane."
"You're making that up."
"Okay, that part, yes. But I did catch the next flight they had here. After you left…I had to follow you. I couldn't let you go alone."
"I can't…I mean…you followed me all the way to the US? You did that just…just because…I mean, I don't want to sound vain, but, you followed me because…I'm that important to you?"
"You underestimate your importance." Yami smiled gently. "Yes, you are. Yugi, I'll follow you anywhere." He stroked his hair and Yugi shivered again, even though he no longer felt cold at all. Rather, he felt like he'd sunk into a wonderfully warm bath. "Because I love you, and I wanted to be here for you. If you ever get sick of me though, you can feel free to tell me to go home."
"No! I don't want you to leave."
"Then I won't. I'm renting an apartment for right now…I had to offer them quite a lot of money, but they were thrilled to rent it to me after that."
"Where?"
Yami told him, looking sheepish. Yugi raised an eyebrow. "A religious housing development? Yami, you've never gone to church in your life. Well, in Egypt yeah, but those were more like temples…"
"Hey, it was the best I could get on short notice. The housing here is worse than in Tokyo, I tell you. I copied down a few bible passages at the library before I left and recited those on the phone, and like I said, they were thrilled. I'm a good actor."
"If they find out that not only are you not a member of the religions on their list, but that you're also gay, they will so throw you out."
Yami shrugged. "I've been thrown out of better places. Once, at a tournament, me and a whole bunch of other duelists-"
Yugi giggled. "It's okay, you don't need to tell the story. I believe you, I believe you."
"And anyway, I'll have more time to find a new place to rent once I get settled. This place just happens to be only two blocks from here. Which was a lucky coincidence, to be honest."
"How'd you find us, anyway?" Yugi asked, curious.
"Your dad already set you guys up in the phone book, and you were one of the only three Motou's in it." Yami held up a crumpled page from his pocket. "I tore this out of a public phone book for the addresses…I decided it was for a good cause. I've been skulking around houses like a common Peeping Tom, but this was my second stop, and I saw you sleeping in here. Good thing you were on ground floor!"
From above there was the sound of someone walking down the stairs. The two of them froze. Had their voices been loud enough to arouse the people sleeping upstairs? Then Yugi grabbed Yami's hand and shoved him into the closet, himself diving into bed and pretending to sleep as his mother walked past the door to his room. A few moments later she walked back and leaned in the door.
"Yugi?"
"Mom?" Yugi asked, sitting up innocently.
"Oh…I thought…never mind."
"Thought what?"
She looked puzzled. "I thought I heard someone talking down here. I would have guessed you were watching TV…but the TV isn't hooked up yet."
"I was probably talking in my sleep."
"Ah, of course. Well, good night." She yawned and walked back upstairs.
As soon as she was gone, Yugi jumped up and shut his door, locking it.
"That was close." He said with a sigh of relief. "She might have seen you. I'm going to start keeping this thing shut. And we'll have to be quieter."
"Smart thinking." Yami emerged from the closet, disentangling a hanger from his hair. "But next time, can you shove me someplace softer?"
"You mean like this?" Yugi pulled him onto the bed, laughing.
"Shh, don't wake up your parents again."
"Don't shush, me, you're the one talking!"
"So what's that mean you're doing, mime?"
"Shhh!"
"How come you guys are on separate floors, anyway?" Yami asked, curling up under the covers. (He'd kicked off his shoes at the window.) "Not that I'm complaining, but it's odd."
"Ah…they offered me which room I wanted. I chose this one so there'd be no way we could share a floor. We sort of got into a massive argument on the plane. You know, about the fact that you kissed me before we left. They weren't very happy about that. I quote: What the other people must have been thinking, you two boys tangling your tongues in a public airport."
"Tsk. Well, you kissed me back."
"Well…yes, that was the other half of the argument." Yugi added sheepishly.
They both lay there in comfortable silence for a little while, merely enjoying each other's company. Then Yugi spoke up. "Yami, did you plan to follow me here? Because if you'd been planning on this, and still let me cry about losing you last night knowing that we'd still be together, then that was very cruel of you. You ought to have told me."
Yami shook his head. "I'd had a vague idea. Sort of a dream, but that was all. I hadn't intended to follow you because I didn't want to hold you back, and I didn't want to talk you into anything you might regret later. So I wanted to let you go, but at the same time, after watching you walk away…that was when I really decided that I couldn't let you leave and not follow you. I would have told you before, but I didn't decide until after you were already gone."
"Oh, okay."
"Why, are you mad at me?"
"No, no I'm not." Yugi smiled at him. "I'm just glad you're here…I have no idea what I'm saying."
Yami hugged him and laughed quietly.
Around five in the morning, Yami slipped off the bed and stretched, knowing he should leave. He had intended to leave after Yugi fell asleep, some hours before, but hadn't been able to. He had told himself of course that he didn't want to risk waking Yugi up when he needed to sleep, and that if he was caught leaving the house at one o'clock in the morning, it'd be hard to explain, (not that him leaving at any other time would be any less suspicious), and other such excuses. But in the end, and as weird as it sounded, he stayed because he just wanted to watch Yugi sleep. Asleep, his face lost the stressed-out look that he'd worn for the past few months, and allowed his inner light to shine into his expression.
Yugi was, Yami thought, an incredibly beautiful person. He was kind, he was gentle, he would help anyone that asked…his spirit showed in his eyes and when he was asleep, his entire aura was a defenseless one and for some reason, (or maybe it was only in Yami's mind), that seemed to accentuate tiny features of his, such as his feathered eyelashes and tousled bangs. It was impossible for anyone to be perfect, Yami thought to himself, but Yugi was about as close as they come. So why would anyone want to change him?
Sure, if he was straight and had a "respectable" girlfriend, society wouldn't give him a hard time if they ever bothered to check whom he was dating. It was true that a good education and a stable job would ensure a nice future and retirement. And maybe following his head rather than his heart would keep him from getting hurt too much or taken advantage of by other people. But then he wouldn't be Yugi. He'd be some stranger.
Yami stood there thinking this, and realized he was wasting time. Carefully he pulled the covers all the way up over Yugi's body to make sure he stayed warm, and smiled at him one last time before slinking across the room and slipping out the window. He closed it firmly, checked to make sure no cars were coming, and then walked out onto the sidewalk and innocently headed toward his new home, trying to look like he'd been walking along for miles.
A few hours later, Yugi woke up in bed and his memories of the night came rushing back. Yami had left no sign that he'd been there, and even though his body heat had long since faded away, Yugi could still close his eyes and practically feel as though he was still at his side.
There were sounds of people moving around outside his room, so he got up and stretched too, his mind still on the things Yami said to him before. It was nice to be loved, it was nice to know that there was someone that cared about him and didn't judge him. He knew his parents cared…he just wasn't too happy about their way of caring. But Yami just as obviously cared. And even though nothing had really changed, he noticed that his room felt nowhere near as cold.
That night when he'd gone to bed, he'd thought it would be impossible. But here he was, able after all to face the first day in his new home with a smile.
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes:
In case no one noticed…we had hurricane Katrina yesterday. It was pretty nasty down here, much worse than we expected. School was canceled, and I used the time to spiff this chapter up a bit, but didn't feel like getting online to post it…because frankly, this is not my best work, and I was hoping to find a way to make itbetter. I was going to take some of the next chapter and add it in…but that would take away from all the excitement I have planned in the next one…and I didn't want that. So take this one as it is, my gift to all you saps that wanted to read some sweet-nothingness, and be ready for the next chapter, which will be starting like, "phase two" of the fic's overall sl. Fun!
Plus…this person I was talking to online the other day went all spazz-out on me and started calling me dense and that she didn't have time to put up with my crap and the world's crap and her life was awful…and all I did to invite this was send something to her wrong sn. To be honest, that freaked the hell out of me, (I hate being yelled at, even if she was pretty much a stranger and not like, a best friend or anything), and most of Friday, I felt rather sick and didn't feel like writing at all. So…yeah. I'm sorry about the late-ness, but stuff happens, I suppose. She apologized, and I think things will be okay now. Next week, I swear, this will be posted on Friday!
Before any of you start calling me a hypocrite because I'm always lobbying against fics with sex in every freaking chapter, (not that any of you have, and I don't think you would, but I feel it important to say this), while here there is shades of sex in chapters, I'd like to clarify. I'm against fics with hentai in every single chapter. Because let's face it, romance involves sex, and I'm cool with that. What I'm against as it is the tasteless way people toss it in, as if it means nothing for the people involved. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but heck, that's how I feel, and I'm the author, so I call the shots.
In the first draft of this chapter, the plane crash thing had a scene of its own. A scene with Yami all anxious and stuff, but I took it out and replaced it with shorter flashbacks of before and after the fact. Do you think that was a good idea? I didn't think it needed a full scene, considering it was just a way for me to make Yami anxious for awhile, and to stretch out the time frame. (Confession: I'm really bad about time frames, so the bigger they are, the better!) I seriously toyed with the idea of killing Yugi in the plane crash. Can you imagine that? What a twist THAT would have been! Afterwards, Yami was going to go insane from grief and anger, and kill a bunch of people, and eventually kill himself…but that sl got ditched right away, since they were so filled with hope for each other and the future…and I just couldn't do that to them!
Replies!
GaaraBelongsToMe: Nice new name change, I see! Because, cliffhangers are fun! xDD And cause we all love to torture you, of course. Hehe, Yami being a stalker is pretty cool, actually. Except…he's a nice stalker. xD
Atemu Yugi Lover34: Ahh, recklessness. It hits us all eventually, I think. xD Hmmn…that line does come to mind though, very true.
Marikslildevil: OMG…you practically just described the exact reason why I began watching Yugioh! A lot of personal crap was going on, and like…watching it was like coming home to a comforting place, you know? Even now, nearly three years later, watching it is still like coming home to that place. That's why I'm very upset with this turn of events…but I'm hoping they will dub it for the uncut DVDs. The memory arc is filled with violence, guns, torture, death, sadism…oooh, so much good stuff. xD Twisted minds, indeed. Anyway, I'm very glad you enjoyed the chapter, and also that I made you cry. xD That's not a very nice thing to say, I know, but it means I succeeded in instilling the emotions in the chapter that I was going for. Sooo…it's all good! xD See you next week!
Fallen-Angel-of-Repression: Well, I'm sorry for making you cry and betraying your namesake, but…I'm also glad you cried because it was supposed to make people cry, so…yeah. YES. You know, most people would say that, and that's when I get ticked off. It's like…man, I dunno, I just get so ticked off when people just toss in tasteless sex scenes. Thank you very much!
Yami Yuugi: Well, I'm awfully glad to hear it was a false alarm. I don't like being spammed…but at least it was a false alarm and nothing worse. :shrug: Yay for toning down! It's a style I'm fond of…I'm glad you liked it. :niko:
Serena the Hikari of Love: Oh dear…xDD Man, that was funny. The penguins are waiting! I'd like to see these penguins in the trees that you speak of…xD Next time you hit another sugar high, you must tell me where they are. Well, I wrote another, and I plan to write more! I'm taking this fic out to fifteen or sixteen, hopefully. xD Thanks for the review!
SailorBaby16: Yay, thank you! Hehe, you'll have to wait and see!
LiNes: xDDD The place with all the weirdoes…oh man, you just hit the nail on the head. We are so filled with weirdoes that Key West is more commonly known as Key Weird. One look at Fantasy Fest and it's not hard to understand why…oh my god, I burst into laughter when I read that. Teehee. Well, like, SOME people here are mad 'cause we don't have a mall or a large movie theatre and stuff. So they say there's nothing to do here. Personally, I love the Keys, but then again, my idea of "doing something" is hosting an all-day DVD-a-thon on my couch. Aah, I'd enjoy a swap! xD That would be fun. Ooh, and very glad that you enjoyed the vids too. :niko: As for the actual fic…wow, I had no idea that TeaxMariku was so uncommon. I like it a lot! It's my favourite pairing involving Tea. I'd like to do a fic that focuses on it more, someday, even just a one-shot. Well…it's nice to know you like it as well! Ah, yes, I've heard that, actually. It's certainly a good point for Japan in my book!
SoulDreamer: Aww…:hands over Kleenex: Thanks, I will!
Cherry Romancer: I have to give you props for your self control…I'm afraid I would be hard pressed not to bother them if they were living with me. xDD I'd probably install a camera in their room or something, I have such a twisted mind…but…I'm sure they appreciate your offer.
Sansi: Yaaay, someone else I succeeded in almost bringing to tears. xD Syahahaha…well, you're welcome to put in an application for the job. At this rate, the guy will have many, many people chasing after him with Uzis, daggers, and a good deal of other deadly weapons. You are welcome to join them. :wink:
DarkYami7: ACK…oh god, I HATE that stuff in fic. :cowers in fear of her lasting emotional scars: Ick ick ick…lemon just pisses me off to read. I will never post anything with that in it! NEVER:assuming a pose that very much resembles the statue of liberty: Anyhoo, that said, I'm still very glad you enjoyed the chapter. :smile: Well, no more waiting, cause here it was!
Yami Hitokiri: Ah, I can explain! No, seriously, you want to know why he doesn't have a dishwasher? Cause they're pointless! You have to wash the damn dishes just to put them in the dishwasher, so it's redundant! Yami is not a redundant sort of person. Thus…no dishwasher! Hehehe, yay, I'm glad you noticed it! Oh, that was such a fun scene to write. He really did sort of reverse their roles there, didn't he? I'll bet the fact that Yami was talking directly on his level really ticked Yugi's father off, too…mwahahaha. Well, I'm very glad you're enjoying it so far, though!
Spidy007: 007! My class year! Cool name. :wink: Yes, they ARE so cute! I just adore those guys and their cuteness…Aw, I'm so glad! Thanks!
Neko Yoka: xD I hope he doesn't get in trouble PERIOD. The guy has a bit of a hot streak…:laughs: Thanks!
October Leaves: Woot, right on! Angst is mad awesome. I'll update as soon as I can!
You Know Us: Yes, finally! I decided the little buggers were ready…and besides…they needed to have their moment. Ah, no, he could never just let Yugi go like that! Yami tends to have a bit of a smart mouth sometimes…thus he has his snippety moments. That was one of them. xD But he was mad at her…still, you hit the nail on the head when you said that Yugi's mother isn't as bad. I'm trying not to make her despicable…she's just sort of ruled. Yep, yep…and of course everyone hates Yugi's father. xD Tea and Mariku make a good couple! I plan to do at least a one-shot for them someday. Unfortunately, they likely won't be in here again. But someday!
Bombay-Elk: Yaay! I'm glad! Don't worry, I'll continue it! I tried to e-mail you the vid...it had issues about going through, so I e-mailed you a link to download it instead. I hope you enjoy it! On the page link I sent you, there are a few links to other YamixYugi vids of mine as well. They're early vids and notas good, but you can feel free to download them as well if you want!
Well…moment of truth has begun! Today started the Kaibacorp GrandPrix, (AKA, Grand Championship), as well as the final season. :lip wobble: Oh god…just saying that…whaaaa…I suppose this means we won't see the Ceremonial Battle after all…unless they plan to somehow merge that into the GrandPrix. As masochistic as it sounds…I was looking forward to crying my eyes out at that. But we might still get to! Guess we'll find out! I'm really sad because it's ending, yet…I'm really excited to see the GrandPrix, there are so many cool scenes. (Including some Puzzleshippy ones! xD Like when both Tea and Rebecca were trying to get Yugi's attention, and what does Yugi do? Heglances over at YAMI and smiles. PROOF, PROOF I SAY! Oooh, and 186...oh god, so funny...it was funny in Jap and even FUNNIER in English. "Uh...a little help here?" xDD Man oh man, I just loved that.) It's very easy to buy my loyalty…but anyway, I very much enjoyed the new eps, (yes, I've seen them in Jap. too, and I liked both versions), and now I'm about to die waiting for next Saturday! Ack!
Have a good week everyone, I'll see around!