Title: My New Year Resolution part 2
Author: Sorceress Fantasia
Pairings: YY/Y, K/J, mentioned YM/M
Warnings: Slight angst, some fluff, sap, romance, AU
Disclaimer: If I owned YGO, Yami would confess his everlasting love for Yugi in the first episode and kiss him at least once every episode. However, for those of you who have watched the manga and anime, you'd know that doesn't happen and so in conclusion, I do not own YGO or any of the characters.
Note: In this fic, Yugi's family owns a temple instead of a game shop. If you've watched Sailor Moon before, just picture Rei's temple and clothes and everything will be clearer. Also, take took that I don't actually know a lot about the traditions (all I know is from reading about it in mangas) so I'm taking some artistic license with the whole thing. Also, this fic is inspired by a Hollywood movie called 'When you were sleeping', which I highly recommend to those of you who enjoy romantic, sappy flicks.
Intro: Yugi's New Year resolution was to fix up his strained relationship with his boyfriend, Yami. But little does he know what Yami's New Year resolution is… (YY/Y and K/J)
Rule number eight of the Kaiba family was to always be fair in everything, and take advantage of every opportunity possible. This rule was the one Kaiba Seto loved the most, and the only one he would willingly abide by.
So that night when his best friend came back to their shared apartment, looking like he was ready to drop dead, he thought it was the perfect opportunity to drop a bomb on him. After all, he had to be fair to Yugi, and there was no time better than the present to take advantage of Yami's current mood.
"Yami?"
"What?" said teenager barked, dropping his keys onto the table and shrugging off his denim jacket, carelessly throwing it onto the ground without a second thought. "If you're looking for a drinking companion, look for someone else. I'm definitely not in the mood for any alcohol now that my head is giving me a killer headache. Right now, I just want some aspirin and go into hibernation."
True to his words, Yami quickly headed into the kitchen for a glass of water and aspirin.
"I had coffee with Yugi earlier," Kaiba mentioned offhandedly, turning back to his laptop. And then he waited.
Just as he expected, Yami was beside him in a matter of seconds, water and aspirin all forgotten. He stifled the smug smirk that threatened to surface and continued to let his fingers dance across the keyboard.
"How did you meet him? And what did you say to him?"
"I was heading to Jou's place when I saw him walking alone on the streets. He told me Jou wasn't home, and since I had set my heart out on having some coffee, I took Yugi with me. I should have done it earlier; he makes wonderful company. And yes, I almost forgot. Yugi asked me to pass that box of cream puffs to you, but I hope you wouldn't mind if I ate some just now," he replied, his fingers never pausing in their ardent dance.
"Cream puffs?" Yami asked, and he turned to the dining table where there was indeed a box. Walking over, he picked it up. Opening the box, he was delighted to see that it was really filled with Yugi's mother's distinctive cream puffs. He loved it, and had just mentioned it once to her when he was visiting, but she took it very seriously. Now, he always got a share of whatever sweet confections she made in her spare time. She would give it to Yugi, and ask him to bring it over, where they would then share the snacks in the most flirtatious manner possible. Yami grinned; it was such an enjoyment to feed Yugi and see a light blush appearing on his face. But he enjoyed it more when Yugi would retaliate and feed him back. Their kisses would be particularly sweet on such occasions, and Yami was sure it wasn't just the sugar in the snacks.
"But why didn't he come over himself? He usually does…" Yami asked, popping a puff into his mouth and savouring the taste.
"He asked me if you were dating Anzu."
The box nearly fell out of his hands.
"If I'm not wrong, Yugi did come over. But he probably had a very impeccable sense of timing to see you and a certain someone together. I hope you weren't doing anything with her. But if you did, I hope you had enough sense to do it inside the apartment, behind closed and locked doors."
This time, Yami had to put the box down before he really dropped it.
"Shit."
"You better call him."
As Yami dashed into his room and no doubt grabbing a phone, Kaiba just leaned back in his chair. Rule number eight, accomplished.
A string of curses, strung up in the few languages he knew, raced through his mind as he picked up and phone and dialed the set of familiar numbers. Of all the blasted days, why did Anzu have to insist on today? And why did Yugi have to come today? He had the worst luck ever! Crossing his fingers, Yami hoped that Yugi wouldn't hang up on him. At least, he hoped that his little angel would pick up his cell phone.
A few rings later, he heard someone picking up.
Yugi had been tempted to just ignore his cell phone when he saw Yami's number, but he thought that it was too childish. Besides, he wanted answers. And he also knew that if he avoided Yami, things would just get worse and Yami would probably try again. The last thing he wanted was his cell phone ringing constantly.
"Hello?"
"Yugi?"
A sigh of relief was heard on the other side, but Yugi wasn't too sure if Yami should relax so soon. Picking up the phone didn't mean that he didn't have a temper.
"Do you have anything you want to say to me, Yami? Because if you don't, I have things I need to do," he said tersely, hugging his black magician plushie close.
"I… I heard from Seto that you had coffee with him."
"So I did. Anything wrong with that? I figured that if you could kiss a girl, I could at least have some fun of my own. Besides, I was just having coffee with a friend. Your best friend, in fact."
Yugi thought he heard someone cringe on the other side.
"Before you ask, yes, I saw you and Anzu together. Don't even think that Kaiba-kun told me anything."
There was a long silence on Yami's side, and Yugi thought that Yami was probably thinking up of an excuse. Vaguely, he wondered how creative the excuse would be. Jou had once told him that at a time like this, creative juices always flooded the mind and so it was better to take everything with a large pinch of salt. Better yet, a tablespoon.
"I… I'm sorry, Yugi… But I really didn't mean anything with that kiss! I was just… I just needed a favour from her, and she asked for a kiss…"
Yugi frowned.
"You didn't mean anything with that kiss? But you looked as though you were enjoying it very much, the way you were hugging her so tightly and even desperately. From a bystander's point of view, I thought that kiss was pretty passionate," Yugi remarked calmly. "But since that kiss didn't mean anything, then I suppose you don't mean anything when you kiss me either, right?"
"No! I don't mean that! Yugi, I love you! I really do!" Yami cried desperately into the phone.
"Then why did you kiss her? All the times you refused to go out with me… were you having fun with her? Having fun with her, while I'm just here, wondering what I did to make you angry, wondering where we went wrong!" Yugi shouted, finally giving in to his anger and pent-up tears. Hiccupping, he let his plushie tumble to the side when he raised an arm to wipe away the streaks of angry tears.
"Yugi, let me explain!"
"You know what? I think you never loved me; you just thought you did because I was the first person whom you thought was a cute doll to totter along. A doll you could play dress up with all the things you bought me! You poured all your pent-up affections for your parents into me, and convinced yourself to love me so I would love you back. But now that you've found someone you really love, I've got no use anymore, have I?"
"Yugi, that's not true! I don't like Anzu that way!"
"Enough, Hatake Yami," Yugi whispered, not even bothering to wipe away his tears now. "I need some time alone and reconsider our relationship. I think you need to do that too. Good night, Yami."
Before the other could protest, Yugi hung up the phone and switched it off. Still sobbing, he forced himself to be at least quiet about it so no one would hear. His family thought the world of Yami; there was no need to correct them just yet. And they were busy preparing for the New Year prayers anyway. Every New Year was the same; everyone would visit the temple on the first day of the new year and pray to the gods for a good year. Teenagers seemed to love coming in droves and making a wish at the well, ring the bell, and pray for a divination lot. The girls would then buy some charms and wooden tablet to write their New Year resolutions.
New Year resolution… he still remembered Jou asking him about his. But it seemed that fixing up his relationship with his boyfriend wasn't applicable anymore. Yugi wasn't even sure if he still had a boyfriend to begin with.
The next few days passed by painfully slow for Yugi. Although he was the one to avoid Yami's numerous phone calls and even refusing to see the other when he knocked on his door, Yugi still thought he didn't have the upper hand, as opposed to what others might think. In fact, Yugi felt as miserable as the moment when he finally realized that he had just seen Yami kiss Anzu. That image seemed to have been burnt into his mind, and he could see it every time he closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, all he could see was the little things Yami had done for him. The watch Yami had given him for their first anniversary, the dark magician plushie, their favourite restaurant, their photos…
And the worst thing? He still loved Yami despite everything.
For the first time in three years, Yugi spent New Year's Eve at home with his family. And when the fireworks that heralded the coming of the new year appeared in the skyline, he slipped out of his house, passed the watchful eyes of his jii-chan and mother, and headed for the wishing well.
Tossing a coin and listening to it fall into the empty box (1), Yugi put his hands together and prayed. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the big bell fastened on top of the box and pulled on the red and white cord. The crisp ringing of the bell sounded particularly lonely that night.
It was around ten in the morning when the crowds started to arrive in throngs, all dressed beautifully in their elaborate flora kimonos. Girls dragged their boyfriends to the wishing well, tossing some of the money from their red packets (2) inside and then pulling on the bell. Other girls were lining up at the stall and buying their share of charms and tablets, giggling and laughing with each other. Those who had already made their purchases would line up for a chance to hang up their wooden tablets at the stands in the temple grounds, letting everyone see what their New Year resolutions and wishes were. There were also droves of people praying for their divination lots, and those who got the good ones cheered while those who got the bad lots would tie the piece of paper onto a tree in hopes of changing their luck. All in all, the temple was overflowing with people.
Yugi and Jou were tending the stall together again, something that did not usually happen on busy days like this. But it was obvious how despondent Yugi had gotten the last few days that his grandfather refused to let him be alone. Besides, he was more likely to make mistakes in his current mood and there was no need for him to get pushed around by the gaggle of people.
So he had been shepherded inside the stall along with Jou that morning without another word. Luckily, Shizuka had convinced her mother to let her help out on New Years' Day so they weren't really very short-handed. Still, everyone was kept busy the entire morning and by the time evening rolled around, much of the crowd had dissipated and they were finally able to relax a bit.
"Yugi, you alright?" Jou asked after a girl left the stall with a lucky charm for romance and health each. "You've been really down the last few days… And you're not even happy on New Years' Day! I mean… well," – he shrugged – "a year has passed, and a new one has come! Shouldn't you be at least a little happy?"
The amethyst-eyed boy sighed, sweeping the two 500 yen coins into the money basket.
"I just can't bring myself to be happy."
Jou frowned, and allowed himself to sit down beside his friend when he saw no one in the queue.
"Yugi, did something happen between you and Yami? I noticed that you haven't been going out with him lately."
"I'm not sure actually… We haven't been spending a lot of time together recently because he's always busy with some things, but he just won't tell me what he's busy with. And when we're actually together, he always distracted and I get the feeling that he doesn't want to spend time with me," Yugi replied, voice almost cracking. It was amazing how easily things could fall apart, and how easy it was to doubt himself for everything that went wrong.
"You remember asking me about my New Year resolution?" he asked. At Jou's hesitant nod, he continued, "I know I told you that I hadn't thought about it yet, but truth is, I have. And all I wanted was to fix up my relationship with Yami. Something is wrong, but I just don't know what or why. It's like after being together for three years, when I thought I knew him best, and suddenly I have this stranger in front of me instead of my boyfriend."
Jou wanted to talk more, but suddenly there was another group of people lining up again. He quickly reverted to his working mode, offering a small smile and getting the charms and tablets ready.
Yugi just continued to look down, reaching out for the money mechanically. At least everyone was tossing only 500 yen coins onto the counter, so he didn't have to worry about getting their change. If anyone had given him the wrong amount, he had no idea. All he wanted to do was to finish up with the day so he could crawl back under his covers, go back to sleep and not worry about a thing. Before that, he was just listening to the sounds the coins made when they were tossed onto the counter top. It was almost hypnotizing, like a lullaby that was luring him to sleep.
Suddenly, there was something different about the sound. It sounded as though the coin wasn't solid, and it was a lot softer than usual. And had Jou just gasped?
Curiously, Yugi peered at the counter top. However, instead of seeing a coin as he should have, all he saw was a silver ring gleaming in the evening sun. Picking it up, he saw the three small diamonds gazing back at him in their glorious brilliance, each glittering delicately on top of the ring. Finally, Yugi looked up to see Yami standing in front of the stall, biting his lower lip nervously. Kaiba and his younger brother, Mokuba, flanked his sides almost as though they were guards to a king. Everyone seemed to felt the tension that was so thick it was suffocating.
"Yugi, I…erm… Happy New Year?" Yami started, looking strangely vulnerable as he kept his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. He protested at the rather harsh nudge his friend gave him before he finally sighed, sweeping a gloved hand through his hair.
"I know I hurt you when I kissed Anzu that day," – he ignored Jou's loud protest and Mokuba's wide eyed look – "but I swear on everything that's important to me that I didn't want to. I needed her help, and she asked for a kiss and a date in return. I… I couldn't afford this ring otherwise."
"I don't understand… you have enough money to take me out for a 500 dinner, but you can't afford a ring?" Yugi asked, clearly confused. As far as he knew, Yami was never thrifty with anything whenever it concerned him, and was even willing to splurge on luxurious dates just to make him happy.
"Yugi, I know you hate it when I spend too much, and that you think teenagers like us shouldn't spend more than what we can afford… that's what your grandfather always tells you, isn't it? So I thought… I thought that for once, I would earn the money myself to buy this ring for you. But I didn't count on neglecting you because I was always out working, and when I was with you, I didn't want to talk too much because… I'm just worried that I'll blurt everything out and ruin the surprise. You… you know how I am. I can't keep secrets from you, so I forced myself to shut up this time."
Seeing Yugi's disbelief, he quickly added, "I'm telling the truth! Really! I've been working all these weeks! I can even call up one of the bookstores I worked at and ask my boss to talk to you! He can vouch for me!"
Kaiba, surprisingly, helped out, even though he disliked getting himself into sticky situations like other people's relationship problems.
"This part is true, Yugi. Yami's been working in all sorts of places these last few weeks. I didn't tell you that night at the coffee house because he," – he poked a finger at his best friend – "ordered me to keep it a secret. From Jou, even."
Jou looked slightly indignant at that piece of information, crossing his arms.
Yugi felt almost surreal, but the cool metal in his hand told him it was real. Nothing could ever duplicate the warmth it seemed to emit, nor could anything but Yami ever make him feel such tenderness and such love. His boyfriend – he was sure Yami still wanted to be his boyfriend now – had come over with a ring and asked for his forgiveness. He still loved him and in fact, he, according to what he had just said, had never stopped loving him! But even now, Yugi was unsure.
"But Anzu?"
Yami actually winced at that, like something had given him a rather nasty bite.
"She… got me a discount for the ring," he answered sheepishly. "I planned for all this too late, so I didn't actually have enough to buy it. But Anzu's parents own a jewelry store, and she told me that if I took her out on a date and kissed her… Just once! Really, Yugi! Just once…" he quickly added when Yugi looked away again. "Anyway, she told me that if I took her out on a date and kiss her, and she specified that the kiss had to be… well, good… then she would ask her parents to give me a discount for the ring. So I…" – he bit his lip – "I'm sorry, Yugi. I shouldn't have done that, but I wanted the ring so much…"
Yugi was still quietly holding the ring. Occasionally, he would let his eyes slide down to the gleaming silver but otherwise, he was just staring at his flustered boyfriend.
"I wanted the ring to ask for your hand in marriage, Yugi."
Jou gasped loudly, stumbling back to lean against the wall of the stall while Yugi's head shot up and he blurted before he could stop himself, "What…?"
Yami looked a lot more determined and confident than he did barely ten minutes ago. Stepping forward and closer to the one he loved, he gazed deeply into Yugi's eyes.
"I want to marry you," he said again. "You're graduating from high school soon, and then you'll be heading for college. I'm… I'm scared. I'm scared that you'll go a college elsewhere and meet all these good looking people. I'm even more afraid of you meeting someone, and finally deciding that I'm not as good or that I'm not good enough to keep anymore. I… I want to marry you so I can stay with you. If you really leave for college in another city, I'll go with you! Yugi, I really love you. Will you please marry me?"
Yugi finally decided that this was real, and that he hadn't been dreaming for the last few minutes. Yami was really proposing to him! Blinking, he noticed how all his friends and Yami were looking at him in anticipation and anxiety. He was suddenly reminded of the time when Yami had first asked him out, at the temple with a mere slip of paper. And then he remembered his own answer.
"No."
Jou gasped again, while Mokuba held onto his brother's hand tighter as he hid behind Kaiba's trench coat. Even Kaiba winced at the sharp rejection. But all that was nothing compared to Yami's reaction. His once bright crimson eyes dimmed to a red so dull it looked as though they were bleeding. And they were indeed, bleeding with a pain so deep, with hurt so intense, it was agonizing to even look into the red depths and see how lost they were. His lips opened and closed, like words, both nonsensical and logical, were clamouring to come out of his throat. Yet not a sound was heard.
But before he could leave, Yugi tugged at his sleeve.
"Not until you ask for my forgiveness properly," Yugi added softly, smiling a real smile for the first time in days. It was the bright smile that could melt the coldest of hearts, and the one Yami loved so much. Not even the quiet tears cascading down his cheeks could ruin his sheer angelic beauty.
When Yami finally registered the words, a smile bright enough to rival Yugi's blossomed on his face. But before he could say anything, Jou had beaten him to it.
"You really can't do any apologizing here. I mean, it's just much too cramped!" he said cheekily, slowly pushing his friend out of the stall once he had opened the door by the side.
Kaiba quickly caught on.
"Ah yes. I believe Jou's right about this. It is too cramped for a good apology of any kind. I'll take over Yugi's job."
"What?" Jou exclaimed. Then he quickly shook his head. "No, no, no… There's no need to! I mean, the crowds are pretty much gone so I can handle it myself. Really!"
But Kaiba did not seem to have heard that as he ushered Yugi out and let himself in.
"Mokuba, if you want to, you can go home. I'm going to be here for quite a while."
"Kaiba, get out!"
"Or you can stay around and go talk to Shizuka. I think I saw her around."
"Kaiba, for the last time, get out of the stall!"
Yami and Yugi snickered at the two before they grabbed a wooden tablet and ran off.
As the evening sun bestowed its orange beams onto the horizon, Yami fished out a coin from his pocket. His other hand was still holding Yugi's gently; he had taken off his glove some time ago so he could feel his boyfriend's skin under his own. More importantly, he wanted to feel the ring he had slid onto Yugi's finger so he would know that the surrealism surrounding him like a veil was just that: a veil. Everything underneath the veil was real; Yugi had agreed to marry him after his high school graduation.
Flipping the coin into the wishing well, Yami grasped both of Yugi's hands and said, "I wish that I can make you happy everyday for the rest of our lives. I will never try anything like I did with this ring again. Really."
And then he pulled on the bell. It rang for the umpteenth time that day, but unlike the joyous sounds of celebrations and the lonely chime Yugi had heard just last night, this ring reminded him of church bells: the ones that rang at a wedding ceremony. He grinned.
"I know you won't. You wouldn't dare to anyway," he chirped.
"Cheeky, huh?" Yami replied laughingly, leaning in for a quick peck on Yugi's lips.
Yugi just grinned wider.
"Yami? Are you going to do something with that wooden tablet? Because if you're not, it's going to just sit there and rot."
"Just give me a second. I need to think of what to write for my New Year resolution."
"Haven't you thought about it yet?"
"Well, it was 'Propose to Yugi so many times so he'll agree just to shut me up' initially. But since I got you on my first try…" Yami trailed off, his hands sliding down Yugi's body to his waist where they stayed and wrapped around tighter. At his fiancé's chuckle, he leaned their foreheads together.
Yugi pouted cutely when he felt Yami's warm breath tickling his nose in a puff of white smoke.
"First try? What? You think I'm some plushie in a UFO machine?"
"And what a cute plushie I got… You gotta keep my bed warm, you know? Since you're a plushie and all…" Yami teased, quickly dodging the light slap from Yugi.
"My New Year resolution is going to be this: keep Yami in line until our wedding. Jii-chan will kill me if I do anything with you before that. I'm a priest in training, remember?"
Yami quickly leaned in for another short kiss.
"I think so."
"Baka…"
They stood there for a while, just hugging the other for all they were worth. Yugi sighed contentedly in his fiancé's embrace. Even though things had soured, they were just the prelude to a string of better luck. Now that things looked brighter, he could look forward to a wedding in springtime when the cherry blossoms were blooming and showering the skies with petals of pink and white. It would definitely be a very beautiful sight, even more so if they wore the traditional kimono for the wedding.
He was about to ask Yami if he wanted to go to his room when Yami broke the silence.
"I know what my New Year resolution should be now."
Yugi blinked, looking up.
"What is it?"
Yami grinned toothily.
"Plan the most romantic wedding this coming April and sweep my Yugi tenshi off his feet during our honeymoon."
The amethyst-eyed boy returned the grin.
"Just as long as you don't mean that literally, I'm all for it."
"Happy New Year, love."
"Happy New Year to you too, Yami."
-owari-
(1): It's actually not a wishing well, but I just don't know what to call it. It's actually a rectangular wooden box with grills on top so as to prevent people from stealing, and a bell is fasten on top of the box with a red and white rope twisted together. So when you've made a wish, you pull on the rope to ring the bell.
(2): In both Japanese and Chinese cultures, it is customary for elders to give out red packets to the children during New Year. It is some sort of lucky charm, and there's usually some money inside the packet. The money is usually referred to as 'ya sui qian'.
Replies to reviews:
xamosy - Heh... It's always so strange to see you review here and the ML! Not that i don't appreciate it though! Anyway, in case you don't get my email, drawing is actually 'hui hua' in Chinese. So both 'hui ma' and 'hua ma' works, only that 'hui ma' is more, well... classy. Therefore, both of them literally translate into 'draw horse' in English. Hope that helps!
To the person who left a complaint abt Anzu-bashing but did not leave a name - Okay, let me clarify something first. When you bash someone, it means that you're completely degrading that person into nothing more than a bimbo or airhead. Thing is, I have implied nothing of that sort in this fic. While Kaiba did express his contempt for Anzu as well as Yami's, he is just stating his personal opinion. If you were to say something well... bad, about someone you know, does that constitute as bashing? I don't think so. Personally,I do not dispise Anzu;I just don't like her a lot.
As for the spelling mistake, I would have to admit that it's my bad. I don't have a beta (that I admit), so I might have missed out on a few of my mistakes. For that, I apologize.
As to why I made her a cheerleader, it is mainly because of the status that is usually attached to it. For many, being a cheerleader also means popularity, which is what I had hoped to convey here. It is as character-bashing making Anzu a cheerleader as it is making her a lawyer. Being a cheerleader does not equate to bimbo.
And as to why I gave her the role instead of some random OC, I thought it would be better to make use of characters already present in the anime. Besides, Anzu has always expressed a liking for Yami even in the manga and anime, so she's perfect for this role.
Anyway,when and IF you've read this chapter, you will understand Anzu's perspective a little bit more and how that I did not bash her.
Killian - Thank you so much! Things did get better for Yami and Yugi, no? /grins/
citrus luver - Did you like what Yami was up to? I hope you did! And well, Kaiba is ALWAYS blunt. /snickers/ And so I thought I'd play with him a bit and let him chase Jou around instead of always having him running away from Jou!
KNT - Now that you've read this part, I guess you wouldn't say Yami really cheated on Yugi, now would you? /grins/
Alea - You know, Iwas laughing so hard when I saw your comment I think my mum thought I was going nuts! Concussion and broken computer indeed! /laughs/ Hope this chappie will lift your spirits!
SoulDreamer - Updated now! Like it?
Sansi - Yeah, I was feeling the same way. I've made Yami chase after Yugi so many times already I thought I'd turn the tables over for poor Yami. Still, I think he got the short end of the stick this time. Maybe I'll write a fic for him soon.
Duelgirl - Have you caught that movie? I absolutely adore it! I just wonder how long was that movie made because I cannot for the life of me recall anything about it. I mean, I don't even remember hearing a thing about it! I hope I did the movie justice too!
abby-sarajane - Here's the next chappie! Hope you like!
flyingshadow370 - I'm sorry for not adding Bakura and Ryou in. I actually finished writing this fic before I even posted part 1 on , but I didn't post it because it was for a ML challenge so I thought it would be better to post it only after the challenge is over. Anyway, I'm looking forward to writing a fic with our favourite tomb robber and his landlord (snickers) soon, so look out for it!
Trio Wing - Next part is up and posted! Like it?
magician-girl-mia - I hope this part lived up to your expectations!
Yukiko-Angel - Aww... Yami's not that bad now that you've read this part, now is he? /grins/ And yup! I think Seto is really cute here too! But I didn't do anything to him; he practically demanded for his role to be portrayed like this here!