Make Yourself
Chapter 07: Inappropriate "Vow"
By: Shounen Squared

I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, any of its characters, or any of the songs throughout this little FANfic.

As boring as art was to Ryou, he still felt himself strangely compelled to it. Perhaps it wasn't so strange, since it often brings the artist to express what they think, feel, and do. In that way, it was similar to music, which Ryou adored. So it wasn't that out there. But Ryou would remember this stuff if he'd been so great at the whole drawing-and-painting thing before the car wreck.

Even if it killed Ryou to continue this fake "hobby," he couldn't stop, for his and Bakura's sake. Ryou had to come off like he was interested in this. If he'd just suddenly dropped the "hobby" altogether and out of the blue, Mr. and Mrs. Bakura would get pretty suspicious of Ryou's doings outside of the house. Besides, he had classes he was taking for it at school as well, and being half way through the first semester, it would be pointless to quit now.

Today, he just happened to be thinking of his mother and father as he tried to think of something new to work on.

Currently, in his high school art class, it was free choice. Because it was their last project of the grading period, they could use anything: colored pencils, oil pastels, water colors, acryllics, scratchboards, or anything else they desired. They were also free to paint whatever they chose, and the teacher suggested something of deep and true meaning to the artist.

Ryou, who felt the oppurtunity to get closer to Bakura slowly approaching, wished to paint something dramatic, maybe a bit morbid by shallow standards. But then its deeper symbolism would include resolution and/or starting a new chapter, beginning fresh over. Thus, Ryou eventually came up with a dark/romantic type of scenario for his piece. He made the subject two males, in order to kind of add to the drama. After all, it was never more apparent to Ryou how much people got worked up over a homosexual relationship, compared to a heterosexual one.

Yet another Sleep concert was soon coming up, and Ryou intended to earn every penny of the money on his own to go. Domino High's schoolwide art sale was in a few days, after all; the maximum sale prices were about $45, which was a whole damn lot for Ryou. And if viewers and guests who came to the show wanted about two or three of Ryou's paintings in their living rooms, then Ryou could score the cash with ease. The thought of being called up onto stage with 'Kura-kun again made his spine tingle.

The longer he went on, the longer he carelessly sketched out the image. He got more and more lost in thought, and when he finally came back down to earth, he stared at what he'd done so far. Not too bad. There were two males kissing in pouring rain. The guy on the right was holding the other's face while also covering a bleeding wound which was a deep slice at the left male's throat. The left boy was gazing with his eyes half-open, with a look of lust and care. He was also crying tears of joy and kissing the other male back.

Indeed, this would look extremely morbid and depressive to some. But to others who were more familiar with art, (or even to just those who were deeper thinkers) it contained beauty as well. If speech or dialogue was to go with it, it would be words of encouragement and promise. The man on the right, who was covering the wound, was promising the one on the left that he'd protect him and help him heal.

Ryou was very satisfied with it. He felt it symbolized his and Bakura's promise to each other. Theirs wasn't as deep, touching, or as "dark" as the piece's was, but he and Bakura weren't in love, either. Plus, a little bit of drama always added to the atmosphere of an art exhibit. And since the right guy was giving the left guy a solemn vow, he named the work "Vow." As for the style, he chose to use a scratchboard, which was a black board that you scrapped off ink where there were highlights, and left the dark places alone, until it formed a vivid picture.

Besides the fact that he needed money for the next Sleep concert, Ryou didn't really care how well the paintings and drawings sold. But Bakura had actually offered to come to his show! Ryou hadn't asked him to come, nor had he even brought it up. Apparently, Bakura used to go to Domino High as well, and he knew when all of the Art Class events were coming up. Ryou gushed and giggled and thought to himself, He's so sweet!

"'Ey, Yo-chan, are they still doing that C-AAAS thing at your school?" Bakura had asked, taking a sip of soda through a plastic straw. C-AAAS stood for "Class-A Autumn Art Show."

"Hmmm? Yea, but how did you know about that?"

"Domino High's number one passion is the arts, and while they deny it, they value it even more than actual education. It's why so many people don't graduate from that hell hole. Like I was saying, there's a class for just about every type of art you could think of, at that place. Ask any of the contemporary music class teachers, I was their number one student."

"I don't doubt that for a moment." complimented Ryou.

"I was so involved with numerous art classes that I knew pretty much when every art event happened."

"Oh, okay. Anyway, why do you ask?"

"I was gonna ask you if maybe I could go to your little art shindeg. Unless, you know, that bothers you."

"No, of course not! If you want to go, please go! I mean, you have every right to go." Ryou had insisted. "My junk isn't that great, but you're free to go and look at the others' works."

"Awww. Don't say that. Your stuff's really good! Remember, I recognized you in the park the first time we met because your pre-sketch caught my eye." He stood up from the leather-covered cafe booth, brushing dust off of his black jeans. "I have to go back home now. I'll see ya later, man." Before he strode off, Bakura managed to briefly lean down and kiss Ryou atop the head. Then he was off.

Now Ryou was daydreaming of 'Kura-kun. Just the thought of that peck against his hair made Ryou feel so giddy.

"Mr. Bakura, it looks like someone needs a wake up call." snapped Mrs. Harper, the strict art drawing/painting teacher.

"Who?" Ryou innocently inquired, still half-dazed. He was able to answer his own question, however, when the class laughed in response to the show of stupidity; he blushed faintly in response and hung his head slightly.

"Seriously, dude, what are you drawing, anyway?" asked one of Ryou's classmates. He didn't wait for an answer and snatched the paper from the table on which is was set. The student stared at it for a few moments, paying attention to every little detail and squinting, as if it was some kind of mind trap. "Ewwwww, it's two fags."

Ryou swung his leg forward and back in a swift movement, kicking the boy roughly in the shin, and cutting him off mid-sentence. I know what the picture is, dumbass. I drew it. I came up with it.

The student growled and took his seat, not bothering to try to finish what he was saying. The sensei gave a confused, perplexed look before shaking her head and changing the subject. "Anyway, it is vital that you finish your final first-term project. It will be required at your exhibit during the C-AAAS, and it should say something about you. You are free to sell them if you desire, but you don't have to. Since tomorrow's Friday, it'll be your last day to work on these, and otherwise, you can bring them home and work on them until Sunday afternoon, which is the day of the sale-slash-show." Then Mrs. Harper continued to babble and ramble on about information of location, time, plans, and the like. As soon as she did, once again, Ryou found himself reverting back to "dreamy Bakura" mode.

He found himself still feeling angry about his art classmate's rude antics. So he eagerly and immediately made his way to the door when Mrs. Harper said it was time to leave. His pace was brisk and rushed, and when he felt a hand touch his shoulder and stop him just before he made it to the door, he whipped his head around and snapped, "What is it!"

For a few moments, there was a tense silence, and then Mrs. Harper began talking again. "Ryou, you do realize you'll get a detention for that, yes? Anyway, I wanted to talk about your sketch." She took a moment to walk over to the drawing drawer and pull off the sheet of paper with the name "Ryou Bakura" on the back of it. "Now, I know you and Reiji" --that was the rude student's name-- "don't exactly see eye to eye. You two have completely contrasting personalities and tastes. I thought Reiji was just giving you a hard time because you don't get along with him, but when I saw your sketch, well, I have to admit that it concerns me."

"Concerns you. . .?" Ryou muttered slowly, trying his best to keep his utter frustration under control.

"It's not a person's couteous right to ask a person of their sexuality, this I know, but. You see, I really don't understand why you'd even think of choosing this for your topic, let alone why you thought you could use it in any project in this school. But the point is, I cannot accept it."

"Accept what?" yelled Ryou, throwing his hands to the sky as if in defeat. My work, or homosexuality?

Mrs. Harper sighed. "You see, Ryou, I never thought of you as the kind of person who would use such an inappropriate subject. You've always been so obedient in the past, and an excellent student. Your artwork is stellar, and I honestly think you should pursue a career in painting in the future. You always have it together. But now, all of a sudden, this? What kind of ideas are you trying to introduce to this school?" The teacher was obviously getting angry (almost as much as Ryou) as she pointed to the drawing as if it was a plagiarised novel.

"I don't draw, or do any art for that matter, to 'introduce ideas' to anyone or anything. I do it to express myself."

Mrs. Harper nonchalantly dropped the paper to the floor and flaced her foot atop it. She couldn't tolerate being polite anymore if it meant her student would continue to argue with her. "Well, you are in a school class. My class. Just because you're gay, that doesn't mean the whole school is, and it doesn't mean the whole school approves of gay men."

"It's a free country, and it's my right to express myself as long as I'm not hurting anyone or anything. I've never had to ask for your approval like 'Mrs. Harper, may I do this, may I do that.' Nor do I need the rest of the school's approval. Why should I ask permission to paint what's in my mind? Pretty soon I'll need your permission to think a certain way. This just in, my mind is not your property."

"Well, some thoughts are better left unspoken."

"Yes, but there are exceptions to every rule."

"It's common courtesy, Ryou, to respect other's opinions."

"It's also common courtesy to respect mine. Posting my opinions in a piece of paper in semi-public display is not hurting anyone else's opinion. I don't care if they agree with me, disagree with me, or they are indifferent. No one is making them look at my work, either. Not to mention that it's another one of my rights to believe what I believe, isn't it?"

"No one's stopping your beliefs, Ryou. But I am teacher and you are student."

"I still want to know how homosexuality is 'inappropriate', hmmm? Because it's not something you approve of, right?"

"Ryou, this has gone on far enough."

"I disagree with that. How is my innocent little drawing vulgar or inappropriate? All I got so far is 'because it's two guys.' Take a pill, why don't you?"

"Do not tell me to take a pill!"

"Still, it's not like they're having sex, or even making out. It's just an innocent kiss. I mean, a mom kisses her son good night. You've never had a problem with heterosexual subjects making out or doing who-knows-what in the past. Just because homosexuality is a minority, it is suddenly inappropriate? Who are you to judge what is open to opinion?"

Mrs. Harper rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry that you feel that your rights are being neglected. But in the nation called 'Domino High School', not all expression is 'legal', and contradicting the administration is 'breaking the law.' By continuously arguing with me, you have earned yourself two more detentions for a grand total of three. No one has ever managed to receive that many in one day at this school. Now, would you like to make a simple compromise?"

"No," said Ryou bitterly. "No, I wouldn'tlike to make a compromise. I have the right to paint two guys kissing, and I plan to continue excercising my rights. If that means getting some detentions, then bring on the Saturday schools."

"I've given you fair warnings that your piece is inappropriate. If you don't comply with me, I will have to give you a zero on this free choice grade, and at the least, you will be suspended. I had such high hopes for you before, but I can't give any one student special treatment, Ryou."

Ryou's jaw dropped incredulously. "Ah, no, hell no," he protested, laughing a bit dilariously. "Hellno, I don't think so. That's wrong and that's just plain unjustified. Trust me, I know I am right, Mrs. Harper, so do not tell me I am wrong, because this is one thing that's not open for opinion. I'm not going to compromise, and I'm notgoing to give up without a fight. Get ready for one hell of a protest, Mrs. Harper, because by messing with my rights, you've sunk armpit-deep."

For a mid-teen with mega-strict parents, Ryou sure had connnections. Then again, he was friends with one of the most famous rock bands in the entire world. And famous people knew at least ten times the amount of people as the average person.

He also had internet access like most people, so he went online and used search engines.

"Gay/Lesbian clubs in Domino" is what he typed in the search bar, and he immediately found information about the closest local club. He was actually a bit shocked how popular they were, and how many members they had. There the website listed e-mail addresses, locations for meetings, phone numbers, everything. He seriously doubted that he would actually join, though, because he would never be able to keep something like a club membership secret from his mother and father. Still, becoming a part of the gay/lesbian community could prove interesting.

Mai, who was shown to be the leader of the Domino Gay/Lesbian Club (DGLC) was on AOL Instant Messenger. Ryou made the screen name "cheatedartist01724" and sent Mai an instant message.

cheatedartist01724: hey, can I ask you a favor?

MaiLoverGurl: what kind of "favor"? who is this?

cheatedartist01724: Ryou from Domino HS.. i need you n your club's help in a protest

MaiLoverGurl: o ok.. well what kind of protest? r u in my club or something?

cheatedartist01724: no.. my school's art teacher is planning to flunk me for doing a piece w/ 2 guys kissing

MaiLoverGurl: what thats stupid

cheatedartist01724: yea it is... so i wanna protest. will you help me out?

Mai ended up agreeing right away, and the rest of the conversation was Ryou telling her the who, what, where, when, and how. So far, he had the support of two world-renowed bands (The Sleep and their brother band, MasoKissed) and an enormous gay/lesbian club. He layed out a list on the computer, and he felt a mix of surprise and satisfaction as he counted the people. Bakura, Seto, Yami and Marik from The Sleep. Then, Mike, Tanak, Kuro, Hirahara, and Ran from MasoKissed. Including Ryou, that was ten. Mai and eleven other members from the DGLC would also be present. After that, there was Sofia, Michele, Michael, Kenji, and Taku, representing the Organization for Freedom of Expression. So he was assured of at least twenty-six helpers so far.

Not only that, either. He also had at least ten representatives of the Domino City Public Museum, along with various popular young artists from ages eighteen to thirty-five years of age in the surrounding areas. His lawyer and countless members of the "Debate" and "Majority-Minority Equality" clubs of Domino HS also planned on getting involved. Now he had about a minimum of about fifty supporters, and they all guaranteed Ryou their presence at his school the next day.

He'd always wanted to mess the school up, and start some controversy, but now he finally had some valid reasons for doing so. Domino High School will regret cheating anybody of their rights.

If you haven't noticed, I edited the chapter. It looks much neater now. So if you haven't noticed, then NOTICE, biatch, and appreciate my hard work :) haha, review, please.