I have returned! Yay! (crickets)...fine. Be that way. I had some interesting Christmas celebrations w/my family. The Serbian side of the family were downing shot after shot of sleevaveetz (plum brandy) each time yelling "NOSTROVIA!" It got more and more enthusiastic as time went on. Heh.
blackalbino: Feel sorry for Bakura? I suppose...Anyhoo, Ryou's note? (sigh) I was afraid you all would be bringing that up again...I'm getting there! Give it time. Review again, dearie! Happy holidays! (hugs)
xKokurox: (smirk) Yes, Bakura is extremely pissed at himself right now. Hehe! Poor guy. Thanks for the review! Continue to do so! Happy x-mas! (kowtows)
StormySkys: I'm still working on improving how I write all the fight scenes. So it was good, though? That's a relief to hear. Little kitten? (cackles) It was a spur of the moment thing. Review again! Love ya! Happy Christmas!
Shadowed Mirage: Thanks for the compliment. I know how annoying computers can be...(grumbles) So yeah. I'm glad you're back. Thanks for the review! Happy holidays!
Satra: (sigh) Yes I know only English. I took Spanish for two years but the teacher was wacko and didn't teach us anything except talk about disgusting, perverted things that I've vowed to myself to never repeat. (shudders) So yeah, that's why I'm so excited abut college next year. So many choices of languages! My highschool only teaches latin, french, and spanish. (and onlytwo of the teacers are even any good.) --...We've begged for--you'll love this--GERMAN! The french teacher knows nothing and likes to insult her students. The old french teacher was racist...latin is the slacker class...spanish has the only good teachers and I got the bad one. Lucky me. Wow...I really went on a ranting spree. My most sincere apologies! Thanks for the review, dear! Happy holidays!
Miyosuke: I'd like to start out by saying that I love your name. Very cool. Who's your favorite character? ...Marik and Malik are going to be joining soon.If that isn't one of them, sorry. Thanks for the review and pleasepleasepleaseplease continue! Happy holidays!
dragonlady222: Glad Yami stopped 'Ryou' from going on a killing spree? Well, I couldn't have our dear tomb robber get dragged off to jail for committing murder...it'd mess everything up! I liked having Honda and Jou jump in. So protective! Yeah, Yugi doesn't like school...in fact he loathes it. (grins) Review again! Love ya! Happy x-mas!
Freak in the Shadows: I love YOU. (even more evil smirk) Booya! Happy holidays!
Silver Mirror:Your fav. chappie so far? I loved that one too. (grins) I just had to let our dear tomb robber be himself for a while. It'd be quite an exhausting feat after a while, don't you agree? Happy holidays! Review again!
This chappie will be dedicated to Shadowed Mirage cause I missed them. Yay!
Hikari
An angel, a young boy
With a heart that is pure.
How long must he suffer?
So much to endure.
But he never complains
At his life's toils and trials;
Instead, he is silent
And offers a smile.
Chapter 6: Crush?
(Yugi's POV)
(Yami, what are you thinking?) I ask quietly.
((I don't know. I'm worried about Ryou. Bakura's back. I'm worried about your grandfather being alone in the house with him there.))
(You left them alone with him before.) I point out.
((But Bakura hadn't shown himself in so long…))
I cut in. (Doesn't mean he's not there. Besides, Ryou said himself that Bakura was protecting him.)
I can feel Yami scowl at this. He hates admitting that Bakura could even possibly have the smallest amount of sincerity.
((He was only protecting Ryou because he needs the body as well. He said: 'Next time I'll just let the body get beaten to a pulp.'))
(Well can you blame him after the way you were yelling at him?)
He pauses before saying quietly: ((Abiou, are you defending the tomb robber?))
I smile at this. (Maybe. I just think, even if he is only concerned with what happens to the body, he's still protecting Ryou in the process.)
((But as soon as he finds a way…))
(Yami, we have to trust whatever Ryou feels is best. He knows his own situation better than any of us.) I reply sternly.
I can feel him give in, settling back in his soul room. I sigh. I hate these arguments. They always make me feel so…uncomfortable. Personally, I really don't even think we should be discussing Ryou and Bakura's relationship. If Ryou ever needed help he'd come to us…wouldn't he?
"Yami, look…I can explain…!" Ryou begins, backing away from me.
I hold the piece of paper up, shaking it in my trembling fist. "Just what did you plan on doing with this? Get some more freedom?"
"It's not what you think!" he protests, voice nearing hysterics.
"Oh isn't it?" I sneer.
"Yami, I swear it's not what you think! You've got to believe me!" he cries.
"How long have you been planning this?" I whisper venomously. "How long have you lain awake at night, scheming up ways to utterly annihilate…?"
"It wasn't even me!" he screams desperately.
I smile coldly. "Ah, so it just found its way into your backpack, in the back of your folder…"
"He just gave it to me! I didn't…"
"Who?"
He pauses, realizing what he's just said. "N—nothing."
I stride forward, eyeing him carefully. "So, you've even asked one of your little companions to help…how delightful."
He shakes his head. "No. It was only…only me."
I scowl, eyes darkening. "I seriously doubt that. Well, there is a way to find out…"
"NO! BAKURA WAIT!" he screams as I disappear, putting him back in control of the body.
(Bakura's POV)
I sit up, unable to calm my heartbeat. Damn it! Why can't I stop dreaming about that incident? Probably because I'm still so infuriated about it. Luckily, I discovered that note before they'd carried out their little strategy.
"Ryou? You all right?" Yugi asks, entering the room.
I nod, still shaking.
"You were yelling in your sleep," he states softly, fixing his pajama leg that's slightly folded over.
"Oh. Sorry I woke you," I say softly.
"It's fine. Are you all right, though?"
I look over at him, with his large, innocent eyes. Who would ever guess he'd be the pharaoh's other half? I suppose yami's and their lights are complete opposites. Perhaps we're not as different as I once thought, though. Ryou certainly proved me wrong on that one.
"Did Yami hear too?"
He shakes his head. "He's dead asleep."
I sigh in relief. "Good. I know he'd probably overreact with this. You won't mention it to him, will you?"
He looks at me carefully. "I…if you really don't want me to."
"Thanks," I exhale noisily.
"So…What happened with Bakura today?" he asks quietly. I can tell by his tone that it's been something on his mind all day.
"He took over and beat the crap out of those guys basically," I shrug, unable to hide my smile.
He giggles. "I wish I could've seen their faces when he took control."
What? Since when did Yugi…This is…surprising to say the least.
He seems to notice the shocked look on my face. "I mean, sure he took it a bit far, but they did have it coming to them…" Ha! The kid's got spite! This is highly startling and amusing.
He looks around slightly nervous. "Now you do me a favor and not tell Yami I just said that." I nod, smiling. We both snicker, imagining the monarch's face if he were ever to hear this conversation.
(Yami's POV)
I'm not sure what to do. Today in the hallway…I've never felt so protective of anyone in my entire life!...not even Yugi; and that scares me. I mean, shouldn't my own light come before anyone else on my list? What is it about the white-haired hikari that draws me to him? I'm beginning to wonder just what my limit with him is. It frightens me, my loyalty and defensiveness to him.
I close my eyes, heaving a sigh. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Suddenly Ryou's face appears in my mind's eye: light, pure hair; large brown eyes; a sad smile on his lips. I gasp, my eyes shooting open. What's all this about!
I take a trembling breath, trying to calm myself. It's most likely nothing. He's…just an innocent boy; a kind, compassionate person who thinks nothing of himself. I think that's what drew me to him the first place…did I just say 'drew me to him'? I shake my head, trying to take control of my thoughts.
(Yami?)
I start in surprise. ((Yes abiou?))
(I thought you were asleep. Is something wrong? There's quite a bit of confusion coming from your link.)
((Everything's…fine)) Good job, Yami. That sure sounded convincing.
(Hmm. Well, I'm tired. Want to take control for a while?)
((Are you all right?)) I ask with slight concern.
He giggles. (Oh yes, Yami. 'Everything's…fine'.))
I pout. ((Yugi, that's not fair!))
He suddenly shoves me, putting me in control of the body. I attempt to retaliate but am in too big a state of astonishment to do much about it. I give in, eyes focusing. I'm in the living room once again. It looks like it's very late at night.
"Damn it, Yugi!" I say out loud in aggravation.
"Well, hello to you too," a voice says to my left.
I jolt, glancing over to come face to face with no one other than Ryou. Gods, why must you all torture me so? He's looking at me with a bemused look on his face, snuggled against a pillow, a single blanket draped over his torso.
"I…hi," I say, cheeks flushing.
He snickers, sitting up. I look closer and notice the stitches and swelling on his bottom lip. His eyes show a bit of pain but are relatively cheerful.
"How's that doing?" I ask, motioning.
He reaches a hand up and touches the stitches, wincing a bit. "Not too bad. It's a good thing it was the only wound I got."
I nod solemnly. Ra, how could anyone want to hurt him? That's something I'll never understand about people.
"Darn it!" he suddenly curses.
"What?"
"Started bleeding again," he mutters, holding a hand up to the lip where a trickle of blood is slowly gliding to his chin.
"Hold on," I say, getting up and jogging to the kitchen.
I grab a wash cloth from the drawer right next to the sink, immersing it in warm water from the faucet. I walk quickly back in where he's looking glumly at his blood-spattered hand.
"Here," I gently let the cloth brush against his lip.
He flinches a bit, looking at me with surprise. "I…can do it…" he insists as I carefully dab around the stitches.
"I've got it," I reassure him. He looks like he's going to protest. "Seriously, Ryou, I can handle it." I smile.
He pouts. "I don't get to do anything around here. If I so much as lift a finger I get chastised."
"Chastised is kind of strong, don't you think?" I chuckle. "Let me see your hand."
"Huh?" He looks at me with those large, brown eyes.
"You have blood on your hand. Let me see it."
"For the love of…!"
I lunge and grasp his hand while he's protesting. There's blood smeared across his delicate fingers. I hold his hand still as I allow the wash cloth to gently slide over the contours of his hand. He stills, paying attention to my ministrations. I tentatively let my hand run over his delicately smooth skin. His hands are incredibly soft. I feel myself smile at the silky feeling. How could someone have such smooth skin?
"Uhh…Yami?" he asks, voice quivering slightly.
I come to my senses, quickly dropping his hand. "I…sorry. I was…I mean…"
He stares at me. Ra, why can't I put a sentence together? I quickly stand, causing him to jump slightly at my sudden movement.
"Good night, Ryou," I whisper weakly, striding out of the room without another word.
(Bakura's POV)
Anubis! What the hell! What in the gods' names was that? Ra, I don't think I've been so uncomfortable in my entire…well, no that's a lie…still, it was extremely awkward.
Just what did he think he was doing, stroking my hand? I sit here, staring down at my hands. What would provoke that type of reaction out of him?...My eyes suddenly widen.
No…it can't be….NO. It's not possible. It can't be. The pharaoh is...and…oh, I think I'm going to be sick! Could it be possible that Yami has a crush on me?...er… 'Ryou'? I shudder. That's just wrong.
I feel my stomach quiver. Good Ra the pharaoh just hit on me!
(Yugi's POV)
I awaken as a strong feeling of dread came from Yami's link.
(Yami, you okay? I ask with concern.
((……))
(Yami?)
((Y—yes?))
I feel myself grow nervous. (What happened? What's wrong?)
He falters, not answering.
(Yami, you can talk to me) I say soothingly. (Tell me what's wrong.)
((I…I can't, abiou.))
(What? Why not?)
((I…)) he takes a quivering breath. ((I just can't. I….I need to figure this out for myself.))
I pause, still extremely concerned. What would Yami not be able to talk to me about?
(You sure?) I press.
((Yes. I'm going to my soul room until morning, abiou. Please let me be)) he sighs, dissolving away to the puzzle.
(cackles) poor Yami. He's having it so rough. Happy holidays to you all! May they be filled with sparkling juice and bubbles! Yay! Hic...
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