A Requiem for Innocence
Chapter Nine
Yami and Yugi sat staring at each other for a moment, one in stunned silence and the other in apprehension. Finally Yugi felt he had to explain further.
"It would be the perfect situation for right now, see?" he asked. "I don't want to be at home, and you're getting kicked out and won't be able to come see me anyway. If we just ran away…we could be together all the time and not have to worry about any of that. My parents have no idea you're here in the States, so they wouldn't think to suspect you. I'll leave them a note so that they won't think I was kidnapped. It's the best set-up we could have…we wouldn't have to worry about only seeing each other sometimes, we could live together and it wouldn't be nearly as stressful…unless you don't want to." Yugi added, suddenly realizing that Yami might be trying to use this as an excuse not to see him anymore. And, though feeling somewhat hurt at the idea, headded diplomatically, "I mean, if you'd rather not…"
"No, I want to be with you. I want to be with you all the time…" Yami shook his head. "But…"
"But what?"
"I'm sorry Yugi, but I just don't like the sound of this. I mean, I like some of it, but…I don't like the idea of you running away and dropping out of school. It's irresponsible, and I shouldn't be endorsing the idea."
"Yami…" Yugi groaned. Sometimes his other self was so reasonable it was scary. "School's not doing me any good. It's boring, I'm about to fail anyway, and it's not like I'm going to become a rocket scientist or something. The only reason I carried on with high school beforeis because my parents wanted me to."
"Yes, but…" Yami was torn between his two most pressing issues. Being with Yugi…and yet also making sure Yugi had a good life. Being a teenage high school dropout run away didn't sound very practical. Not that practicality was very important to him,and honestly, he quite liked the idea, but he still faltered."I just don't know. Your parents will be really worried about you."
"Yeah, I know. But I can look past that. And after I turn eighteen, I'll call them up and explain everything. They'll never understand…but I will and that's what matters."
"They'll be mad pissed." Yami warned, still looking fora way to prevent himself fromagreeing to anything foolish."They already hate me. And I don't want them to hate you too."
"They're my parents, I'll deal with them." Yugi promised. "Don't worry about that."
Yami still hesitated, running out of reasons not to agree.Yugi frowned. "Yami, come on, what's your problem? I know it's risky, but…I thought you'd be a little more receptive to the idea. Unless you don't want to live together, and in that case all you have to do is tell me."
"It's not that. I just don't want to agree and end up pushing you into something you'll regret later." Yami confided. "I really don't care what happens to myself, if I make a wrong choice or whatnot…but I care about you and I'm trying to figure out what's best for you."
Yugi huffed and then took a deep breath before demanding, "Okay, would you please explain to me why it's always someone else besides me that seems to think they know what's best for me? My parents say they know what's best for me. You're saying you're trying to figure out what's best for me. That's not part of your job! You're not me! You're Yami. You worry about what's best for Yami, not what's best for me, can you try to do that for once in your life?"
Yami thought about that for a moment and then grinned."Okay, and I'm thinking that what's best for me is to pack up my stuff now, kidnap you, and split town tomorrow. Sound like a good idea?"
Yugi suppressed a shriek, as to not disturb Yami's easily-disturbed neighbours, and threw his arms around Yami's neck. "Sounds like the best."
For the second time since their relationship began, Yami was questioning his sanity and for the second came he came up with the same answer: that being insane really wasn't so bad. In fact, it was rather fun. He was sitting in his living room, his few belongings already stowed safely in the new silver minivan he'd bought only a few hours before; including the evil curtains, which he'd festively used to decorate the windows inside the van. He hoped his landlord was watching. He was just waiting for Yugi to arrive, and then they could take off. And while he waited, he mused over what he'd agreed to.
The idea was crazy. By the next day, police all over the state would be looking for Yugi, and subsequently himself too. Yugi's parents might not know he was involved right now, but if they ever realized he was living in the US too, he knew he'd be first on their list of suspects. They would certainly have to leave the state...maybe travel a few states over to get out of the main search range. And he still couldn't forget that Yugi was uprooting his whole entire lifestyle...just so they could be together. The thought always caused him some guilt.
Yet, Yami couldn't help but feel proud. How many other teens would go through all this just to be with their lover?He knew he'd do it, and more, in a second for Yugi, but to know that Yugi felt the same way back was really nice.
At that moment, Roger came storming into the apartment abruptly,threw open the door with a bang,and caused Yami to nearly hit the ceiling.
"Roger, I wish you would stop surprising me like that." Yami muttered, striving to catch his breath after the shock as the door banged shut.
"I just heard the news! They're kicking you out?"
"Yep."
"That's just plain wrong!"
"No kidding." Yami agreed.
"They have no right to treat you like this! Hell, the lady down the hall is a Friday-night prostitute, and couple two floors below sells cocaine and crystal meth out of their bathroom window, and the guy in room 14 is an atheist! And you don't see the establishment kicking them out! Dammit, I'm going to probably get stuck with a totally freaky neighbour now!"
Yami listened to all this with amusement, and didn't bother to ask how Roger knew all that information.
"I'm telling you Yami, I don't care how cheap this place is, I'm moving out too." He finally declared. "Screw California, I'm going home to Allie."
"Probably a good move on your part." Yami nodded and added, mostly as a joke, "The landlord is an alien robot anyway."
Roger's eyes grew big. "I knew it." He said quietly.
Yami furrowed his brow and didn't reply to that.
"Yami, I'm here!" Yugi pushed open the door too, much more quietly than Roger had,and said, "Oh, hi, Roger. How are you?"
"Fine. I'm moving out." He replied. "Did you know that Yami's moving out too? Isn't that going to mess up your little affair or whatever?"
They both shook their heads. "Don't worry, I already knew Yami was leaving." Yugi said. "I'm leaving Los Angeles too, can't take my parents anymore."
"Boy do I know how that goes." Roger agreed sympathetically.
"Yeah, and we're leaving together." Yami added. "So we'll be fine."
Roger looked delighted. "You're running away together? That's brilliant! You two really should write a book about this whole ordeal. Tell me when it comes out, okay? I've got buy a copy for Al, she'd love it. She's a big gay rights supporter, you know. Her whole family practically has disowned her...they're a bunch of rednecks. But Al, she's great, supports everyone." Roger beamed.
"Maybe one day." Yami turned his attention to Yugi. "So, you're all packed?"
Yugi hefted his bookbag, considerably fuller than usual. "I told my parents I had a lot of homework last night to cover the fact that it was so fat this morning." He replied with a grin. "I didn't have a whole lot I wanted to bring anyway, it was easy to sneak out. And I've already left the note. I figureMom'll find it this evening sometime, Dad left today for England or someplace."
"Well, the van's all packed with my stuff. We'll stay in a hotel till I can find another place to rent…or buy. I figure we'll drive around till we find a place where we can blend in. After all, all we have is time."
"Sounds like a plan." Yugi hugged him. "Thanks for all this, Yami. I don't really know what to say to let you know…how much you, and everything you've done…how much it all means to me."
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything." Yami replied, running his fingers through Yugi's hair gently. "Just being here…just being you, that's all you have to do."
"Ugh, okay, this is getting way too mushy." Roger made a face and backed out the door. "You guys have a good time, and if you're ever in Alabama, feel free to look me up, that's where I'll be going back to school. Yami, I gave you the number. Good luck!"
They all waved good-bye to one another. Yami and Yugi looked back at each other and hugged tightly for a long time.
"Well, let's go." Yami took Yugi's hand and smiled warmly. "There's a whole wide world out there waiting for us."
That evening, Yugi's mother came searching for him to set the table, and upon finding him missing, called her husband to come home as soon as he could from England, and then phoned the police in tears. When they arrived, they asked her to look around his room and tell them if she saw anything out of place. The first thing she noticed was that his gold box he normally kept Duel Monsters cards in was missing from his desk.
"He…had this gold box…it's gone."
"Gold?" The police all looked interested and one of them opened the window. "Does he usually leave this window unlocked?"
"I-I don't know…"
"Does anyone know about this box? Is it solid gold?"
"I really don't know…I think it is." She was rather puzzled why they were so interested in the box instead of the fact that Yugi was missing. "I don't think he's told anyone here about it. It's very important to him…he keeps these trading cards in it."
The policewoman with the group peered out the window and noted, "No sign of struggle out here."
Mrs. Mutou's eyes filled with tears again. "Do you think…he was kidnapped over a robbery? Could a thief have taken him without me knowing?"
"Ma'am, we can't tell anything yet. Is anything else out of place here?"
"His backpack for school is gone too."
"Backpack?" They all echoed this, the same way they had echoed the word 'gold', and one of them asked, "Can you see if any of his clothes are missing?"
She checked the closet and dresser. "Well, I can't tell for sure…but I think some might. His shoes are gone."
The police all looked knowledgeable. "Ma'am, has your son ever shown any tendencies toward running away?"
"You think Yugi ran away?" she asked, sounding offended now through her tears.
"The signs are all here. His favourite possessions, his clothes, his backpack…that's what kids take when they run away."
"I honestly don't see why he would…oops!" she'd knocked his pencil holder off the desk, and a note that had been secured under it fluttered down as well. Picking it up, her eyes widened.
One of the policemen grew impatient and snatched the paper, reading,
"Mom and Dad…If you're reading this, you've noticed by now that I'm missing. I wasn't kidnapped or murdered or anything like that, so stop worrying. I'm leaving of my own accord, because I can't take it around here anymore. You guys are too demanding and I never wanted to live here in the first place. I'll call you once I turn eighteen and once I'm free to go back home to the Game Shop. –Yugi. PS: Progress Reports are being mailed from school next week."
"Well, here's your proof, Mrs. Mutou. He ran away."
"My Yugi? Running away? Sir, I've never done anything but support and try to help him…I don't understand…why would he leave like this? Demanding? We've hardly asked anything of him…well, I know his father might, but I can't really-"
"Sometimes kids get funny ideas about stuff and decide to be dramatic. All the same, we'll put out a bulletin on TV for him, and you should call up his friends to see if that's where he is. He mentions Progress Reports. Perhaps he's ashamed of his marks in school."
"Thank you…but" she looked faint. "I can't believe…he'd run away because of his marks. His father pushes him, obviously, but we'd understand if he was having trouble…am I supposed to wait ten months for his birthday before I'll even know if he's dead or alive?"
"Ma'am, try not to worry. Kids like him, they run away saying they'll never come home, and they're back in a few weeks." One of the officers said as a way of farewell.
But a few weeks passed. And then a month. And then longer. And there was no sign of Yugi to be found.
Because California had brought them nothing except bad fortune, Yami and Yugi's road trip took them south a bit, out of the state, andalong into Arizona, where-if nothing else-it was hot. It was now entering September, and the weather hadn't cooled down into autumn temperatures yet. It called for a change of clothing and a change of attitude, but neither of them minded the heat. They were having the best time of their lives, living spontaneously, eventually settling down in a small town called Bracken, which was laughingly called a "city".
It was a nice place, very quiet and rather isolated, which was probably best. But for some reason, Yugi felt unsettled about it.
"Bracken…Bracken, Arizona…I could have sworn I've heard this name before." He'd muttered.
Yami hadn't been too concerned about it, however, and Yugi eventuallydecided he'd likely seen the name in a book or something. It was a nice town, either way, and he quickly forgot his confusion over the name.
At the same time, a familiar enemy was skulking around his own hometown in Arizona, moping about his loss in the Duel Monsters tournament some timebefore and stilltrying to think of ways to get back at the skinny faggot with the overly-fluffy hair that had beaten him and then tried to act like some sort of friggin' perfect gentleman about it. Oh yes, Akkei Yukimura was still pissed, determined to reach his goal of taking Yami out of the competition picture one way or another.And, as fate would have it, the next day he was out wandering the streets when he spotted two people with the hair that was impossible to miss.
"No way…" Akkei breathed excitedly, dashing around a building and closer to them to get a clearer look. The two people were walking toward the hotel section of town, chatting, walking very close together. There was no mistake, they were Yami Atemu and his boyfriend…Yugi, hadn't that been his name? He looked a bit different…his hair colour wasn't black on the tips anymore, but it was definitely Yugi. Definitely the boy that Yami had called his "inspiration".
And definitely the perfect way to get Yami's attention.
Even though he wasn't a professional duelist, Yugi was a great gamer with the quick-thinking mind needed for it. He seldom was caught off-guard by things. This explained why he was so puzzled when he was kidnapped aweek or soafter they'd settled into their new place.
It was late afternoon. He and Yami were currently renting an efficiency in a hotel, and they'd run out of salt. Yami insisted he couldn't boil pasta without salt, and rather than start a debate,Yugi had offered to run down to the corner store and pick some up. He was on his way home-already he was thinking of the little hotel room as 'home'-when out of nowhere an arm snaked around his neck.
The swiftness was what surprised him. One minute he was walking along, his mind on dinner and that Yami had come a long way in his cooking abilities, (thank god),and the next minute, he was caught in the iron grip of an unknown captor. By the third minute, he'd been hit by something heavy in the back of his head. Red flashes sparked before his eyes, and then everything went black.
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes:
"...only reason I carried on with high school...": In most high schools inJapan, I believe, students have the choice to drop out and enter the workforce about half-way through their high-school education. Generally, most students willingly choose to complete their secondary years, but it doesn't seem like the sort of thing Yugi, (or Joey or Tristan for that matter), would want to do. Thus, Joey, (as I hinted earlier, but never really touched upon), dropped out and shacked up with Mai. Yugi wanted to, but his family told him to continue. And Yugi had turned into a rebel yet when all this happened. :wink:
Hmmn, whatelsecan I say about this? Not a whole lot… Next chapter we'll see just how contemptible Akkei really is… What is his big plan for revenge? Well, you'll see. Kidnapping Yugi is just the first part. Owch, what a painful coincidence that one was! The same town and everything…geez. How convenient! Okay, that was too convenient. But I had to move the pace along, or it was going to get very boring. Chalk it up to Fate Always Targets the Pretty Ones, and don't complain! xD
Well…there's really nothing to say about this one…so make of it what you will. It's leading up to an important part next chapter! I'm taking a ride off the beaten path in the next couple chapters, and this is going to start to get real dark, real fast. To be honest, I'm worried about the next few chapters, and very nervous about posting them. However, it's too late to turn back now, and chapter 10 WILL be posted next week, no matter what!
But, the angst isn't here quite yet, so let's focus on some happiness before then, okay? This fic has reached 100 reviews and counting! Padfoot13, congrats on sending me my 100th review for RFI:claps: And Brave Rae, congrats to you as well for sending me my 500th review altogether! Of course, everyone else deserves a majour thank you as well for helping me get to this point at all!
Considering last week's fiasco, whatwith the site having a lie-in at 9:30 when I tried to post...I decided to be better safe than sorry this week, and post in the afternoon, so that way I could be sure that this would be up on Friday for you all! That might not bother some people, but it bothers me! If I say I'll post on Friday...then by golly I'm posting on Friday and that's that, and if the site doesn't let me, I get very unsettled and feel as though I've broken a promise. :sigh:
Replies…
Fallen-Angel-of-Repression: Ah, yes, later in the series Seto reverts back to his old wardrobe. It's a rather curious scene, really…but we'll see if they play it or not. xD Oh yes…I modeled them after some curtains I was designing for my own series…how cool would they be, eh? Ah, Vivian you mean. xDD She's rather silly…I wasn't sure which girl to root for myself…my mom wanted Vivian to win, since she hates Rebecca. :laughs: Oh well, Yugi and Yami both know that they belong to each other, so it's all good. Now if only the show would admit it. :wistful:
Faith68: Woot:hugs: Thanks, I shall!
Yami Riyunoa: Mwaahaha…yeppers, cliffies galore…but they are such fun! Then again, hark who's talking…I don't have to wait a week for them…so I won't tease. Yes, he did, didn't he? It's because he found a reason to fight back…I've always seen a bit of a fire in Yugi. I suppose Yami helps bring it out a bit, ne? Well…you two are in different circumstances, to be sure. :laughs: Oh, you bet'cha he will be! Lovely lovely obstacles…the wacky religious people puzzle me to this day, to tell you the truth, though. Thanks again for the review:niko:
Yami Yuugi: Oooooh, I believe I just about squeeled the glass out of our windows at those eppies! When Yugi was sad about not getting to have any fun…:sniffle:…I was squeeling and crying at the same time. He's so adorable…and I really liked the eps a lot. But of course the OC will play a fairly big part. He hasn't come into character much…but he will next chapter!
Atemu Yugi Lover34: Well, you have to remember, they don't know yet that Yami is in the country as well. Otherwise, it would be very reckless-to the point of stupid-for them to try such a thing! But you certainly are on track with your suspicions about Akkei. I want to make everyone hate him…I think it'll work. Oh yes, I can see it! Like when she was lurking around the corner with that fangirlish look on her face…she's going strike for sure. I can't wait to see what'll happen!
Pharaohess1: Yes yes, because I like to drive people mad:niko: No, really, I do it to make you all come back to find out what will happen next! No prob on the skipping…I wasn't chuffed about the idea of writing it out, so I'm glad you didn't mind that I skipped it!
Darkyami7: Sure sign of a bad guy, for sure…an unspellable name! Well, it was the most name-like word I could find in the dictionary…xDD Ooooh, that would be a good fanart! Now I want to draw that…:plots: You weren't alone in that! I was thinking that Yami would hug him, or touch his hand, or something, but of course then had to face reality that this was the show, not a fic…:sigh: Well, it was an adorable scene nonetheless, and I know Yami WANTED to hug him. :wink:
Red Dragon of Egypt: Very well put! Akkei does remind a person of Keith…and Keith ended up dead, so there we go.
YamiNOkokoro26: :smile: Hiya! Thanks! Yesss…everyone is waiting for the happily every after to come…and the two of them so deserve some fun times together, too, after everything! Well, I mean…I understand why Seto acts the way he does, and I can totally see how he became the person he is, and in that case I do have some sympathy for him. However…his personality and mine just clash too heavily. Let me put it this way: I respect him a good deal, but that's as far as it will go. Nonetheless, I despise overt charrah-bashing, and I won't be doing any of it! xD I will!
Cherry Romancer: :silence: Dreams are good, my friend! xD They might scare our heroes though.
Neko Yoka: I know…poor guy! That really sucks…nope, I daresay we're sinking into a pitfall for the two of them…poor little buggers.
Christy: Yay, thanks:niko:
Padfoot13: xDDD Oh, I have to say it was fun to read all your reviews. I like weird reviewers! It was nice to see you faithfully reviewed for each one though, and in doing so, you earned yourself the honour of sending the 100th review, so it certainly wasn't bad!
Spidy007: Well, it's good you got new stuff! Well, I do believe they'd put out a search-if they knew that Yami was in the US! Remember, they don't know that yet. Maybe there's hope for Yugi and Yami after all? Aww, thanks, I will!
LiNes: Ah, it's okay:pats: I'm rather slow on names myself, actually. Someone will say hi to me, and I won't have the slightest clue what their name is, so I'm just like, "Hey, how's it going?", while furiously trying to remember who the heck they are…well, anyway, you were right! Then again, you know my writing a bit, so you might have seen it coming. Or you're hacking into my harddrive…well, good luck on your entry!
Marikslildevil: Eeek, Yugi is so cute! I tell you, while Yami could kill with looks, Yugi could kill just as easily with cuteness. He'd make his enemies squeel themselves into submission. xD Ah, yes, I have the series on VCD! I can send you the site to order it yourself if you'd like. The whole 27-ep set, for only $25. It's very cool. :wink: Still! Siegfried amuses me, actually…I knew that Joey lost to him, (don't worry about spoilers, I enjoy them. xD), but I guess we have to take the good with the bad. I don't think they'll play it…but I'm not going to count my chickens till I see this season through. They're hinting way too much about Yugi and Yami finding Yami's memory for them to not show any of it…so I'm thinking there'll be a very-cut-up Memory arc in there…I guess we'll see, eventually. :sigh: I hate waiting! Yeah, he's a bad sport, really…well, bad sports make great villains…everyone already hates them!
Sansi: How about…obsessive YamixYugi freaks? I think that's a good term! I might even have a shirt made with that title emblazoned on it…well, it would be amusing at any rate, ne? I have a plan…it's sort of crazy…but aren't the crazy plans always the most fun anyway? See you next week!
GaaraBelongsToMe: Be patient, and you WILL get the next chapter, I promise! Because I feel awfully guilty if I don't update on time. I do realize I torture you with each cliffie…but I can't resist! There's a bit of a sadist in me, perhaps…hmmn…well, here it is though!
In other news...I loved last week's eppies! Soooo cute…I swear I almost exploded from keeping all my fangirlishness in me! (My parents were in the room…it's hard to squeel insanely while being watched.) I hope I won't really explode though…that's got to be messy…
I saw the trailer for the upcoming Harry Potter movie today! It looks mad awesome! Well now, that WAS random...
It's been quite a week, really! I'm glad it's over…it seemed awfully long. :collapse: I had a math test today...ack. The good news is that I got manga finally::fangirlish scream of mirth: Yugioh! Ravemaster! Shaman King!Happiness is new manga volumes on sale! (Borderscould not have picked a better time to have a sale on manga, lemmie tell you.)And tomorrow is Saturday, which no one can argue with. NEW EPPIES! Sorry…I just had shout it at least once.