Youth of the Nation
By: Neko-chan
A/N: *screams and runs away from the reviewers as fast as her two legs could carry her* Yami! Bakura! They're out to get me! Some of them are going to kill me! SAVE ME!!!
Yami: *raises eyebrow* And why would we do that?
Bakura: After all, look at all the things that you put us through in this story. In fact, I think that it would be to our ADVANTAGE if you just silently...'disappeared.'
... *glares* ... Then how would I be able to write more B/R fluff and eventually make my way to the Y/Y fluff, hmmmm? I can't do that if I'm DEAD.
Bakura: *chokes* Ne, she DOES have a point, Pharaoh...
Yami: *pales* True...
Anyway, please don't hurt me! Like I had put before, I needed that chapter! And besides, it was more bittersweet than sad. (Eh...is there even a difference???) I had also promised to make it up to everyone in this chapter---and that's what I'm planning on doing. In fact, I put plenty of fluff in this chapter to make up for last chapter!! So there. ;-p And, of course, this chapter is dedicated to Songwind. (Just like I promised, ne? ^_^)
WARNING: This fic contains YAOI and SHOUNEN-AI. If you haven't been able to understand this by now, then you completely ignore the warnings in each chapter AND in the summary...or you're stupid. (Good readers read author's notes. I have good readers. So there. ;-p)
DISCLAIMER: What did I say last chapter?! PUT THOSE LAWYERS AWAY! Dang it, what does an author have to do around here to actually be able to write? I mean, seriously: Does it look like I own Yu-Gi-Oh!? No? Well, I don't. (Don't we all wish we did, though?)
Chapter Twelve
'Smile, Bakura. Smile and look happy---look as if you actually want to be here. Smile, for Ryou's sake. You made a promise to your hikari to actually protect him and that promise has yet to change---nor will it ever change. So just smile and look as if you're actually enjoying this "school" experience. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks---just as long as hikari is happy. Smile. Biiiiiiiiiiig smile. Yeah! Like that!! ...wait, never mind. Sensei just got terrified. Don't smile. Look bored. Copy that blonde idiot's expression... Now she's turning back towards the board... HA! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Stupid teacher. You're too trusting. After aibou leaves this place to go off to college, I'll come back to torment you in your sleep. Wait---better idea. I'll just send you to the Shadow Realm. You and my Man-eater Bug can get acquainted. HA! Stupid buzzard...'
At this thought, Bakura snickered aloud, bringing the teacher's attention to himself once again. She paused and turned to the white-haired yami with a raised eyebrow. "Is there something wrong or funny, Bakura-kun?" she asked moderately, her eyebrow raising even further to disappear into her hairline.
Bakura just blinked and gave her innocent eyes. "Oh, no, sensei. I was just thinking about the future and a place that I know about called the Shadow Realm. Have you ever heard of such a place?" The teacher blinked and mutely shook her head. "Well, it's of no matter. You'll hear about it soon enough."
Ryou heard this and choked on the pencil that he was chewing on. "YAMI!!!" he hissed, glaring darkly at Bakura. But all his yami did was give him wide, innocent eyes. Of course, Ryou didn't believe his expression for a second. He was a hikari. That didn't make him stupid.
Luckily though, Bakura was able to reign in his sadistic sense of humor (not to mention temper...) until Chemistry period. Like the day before, he was made to sit in a corner, his hands in his lap--and in full view of the teacher. The only difference today was the fact that Yami joined him in the corner. Anything explosive, breakable, and even remotely dangerous was moved as far away from the two as it was possible. The two yamis were not happy...no, they were not happy at all. (To say the least...)
"Seto Kaiba? I see that you're finally back," the teacher caroled happily.
Hearing the name of the head of Kaiba Corp., Yami's head snapped up and he glared darkly. 'Today is not my day...' he thought darkly to himself. First he had been told off by Bakura in the morning, but now this...? _This_ was an abomination! Seto Kaiba--in _his_ Chemistry class, handling _his_ chemicals that HE wasn't even allowed to go within ten feet of, let alone _TOUCH_?! UNFAIR!!! Death to the teacher! (Unknown to Yami, Bakura was glaring at the professor and plotting the same thing...)
"Hai, I apologize for being gone for so long. Mokuba came down with the flu and then I had to focus on an important deal between my company and the American Microsoft," Kaiba answered politely, staring at the teacher with cool blue eyes.
"And I bet that the company saw how inept you are and hightailed it out of Japan as fast as their personal jets could go," Jyou suddenly cut in.
Yuugi winced and hung his head in embarrassment. 'Why must Jyou ALWAYS put his foot in his mouth?' he wailed to himself. Yami heard the echo of the thought in his mind and snickered.
"Unlike you, make inu, I can actually accomplish without failing miserably."
"NANI?!"
"You heard me, make inu."
"KISAMA!"
"KAIBA! JYOUNOUCHI! Go to the office---NOW!"
The blonde and the brunette boy both paused mid-yell and looked at the teacher, blinking in surprise. Then they shot each other nasty looks and slowly made their way out of the classroom. As they left, Yuugi could hear them still mutter insults to each other under their breath. He sighed and hung his head lower, bonking it against the table counter. 'Why?' he thought, half to himself and half to Yami. 'Why do they do this? Everyone KNOWS that they like each other--so why don't they finally just admit it to each other?'
"Because they're both bakas, aibou," Yami whispered his answer, smiling softly to his hikari.
"My, aren't you a one to talk, Pharaoh no Bakamono," Bakura easily cut in, smiling smugly at his fellow yami. Yami managed to control the urge to pick up a baseball bat and smash Bakura's face in...but just barely. Instead, he daydreamed about what he would do to the Tomb Robber during PE. Heh. PE was going to be FUN today...
"...urusei, _bakayaro_."
Bakura's only response was to cackle in amusement to himself.
And, it was about this time when Yami and Bakura finally noticed that there were chemicals openly lying about on Jyou and Kaiba's table counter-top. And Jyou and Kaiba had been sent to the office... The chemicals were within easy reaching distance. Finally realizing this, Yami and Bakura blinked and looked at each other, grinning maniacally.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
* ~ *
The school day had managed to pass by quickly enough. It was harder for Bakura, however, because he had a black eye...courtesy of Yami. (They had ended up playing field hockey in PE, something for which Yami was very happy about. A black eye was easy enough to explain in field hockey or football. If they had done track, he would have bided his time. Oh, yes... Baka Tomb Robber, anyway. HA!)
"Have you and Ryou finished bringing the boxes into your room?" Yami asked as he leaned against the counter, idly sipping a soda, gloating to himself over Bakura's black eye.
Bakura didn't answer. He just glared around the ice pack covering half of his face. Yami waited several more seconds for Bakura to answer--and the Tomb Robber still didn't speak up. 'Heh heh heh... He's such a baby...' the Pharaoh thought to himself, still smirking happily.
Suddenly, Bakura spoke up. "What are you going to do about tonight's dance? I'm taking Ryou. He seemed excited about it and so I asked him. Are you planning on asking your own hikari? Ryou has told me that he wants to go, Pharaoh no Baka."
"I know..." Yami sighed and took another sip from his drink.
"Well. Are you going to ask him, Pharaoh no Baka?" Bakura asked, pressing the issue.
Yami shot Bakura a look out of the corner of his eyes and frowned. "I don't know, Tomb Robber no BAKAMONO. I don't know if Yuugi wants to go with me or with someone else. I don't want to pressure him into saying yes. I... I don't want to force him."
Bakura smiled wickedly and tilted his head to one side. "Ne?" he asked, his one good eye sparkling with sadistic humor. Yami gulped, worried. Bakura normally didn't get that expression...unless he was up to something and/or planning on killing someone. ('That's what evil yamis DO,' had been his reasoning. Didn't matter--it still unnerved Yami. Scared--no. But unnerved--yes. Most definitely.) "Hmmm... So I guess you wouldn't be happy if I told you that Ryou told Yuugi that you and he were going to the dance with us?"
"...nani?"
"Hai. And you'll find out his reaction in... Five...four...three...two...one... Heh. Prepare to be attacked, Pharaoh." And, as if on cue, Yuugi came running into the room, glomping Yami happily as he did so.
"Yami! Ryou told me that you had decided to take me to the dance! Domo arigatou, Yami! Ryou got dressed and then he picked out my clothing when he finished. What do you think?" At this, Yuugi slowly turned around and gave Yami a chance to look his aibou up and down completely.
And Yami's jaw dropped. 'Must remember to tell Ryou thank you...many, many times. Oh, yes... MANY times.' Yuugi was dressed in his own pair of black leather pants so form fitting they hugged his legs like second skin. His shirt was sleeveless and black, but with a violet tint that brought out his eyes wonderfully. And his hair... Ryou had done something with his aibou's hair. He had used a spray or a hair gel that contained glitter or something very similar, making Yuugi's hair sparkle with every movement. To say that Yuugi was beautiful..and sexy...would be an understatement.
"Yami...?" Yuugi began with a slight frown, "Where's your outfit?"
The Pharaoh was about to open his mouth to answer, but Bakura cut in smoothly. "We haven't dressed yet. Tell my hikari that we'll be down shortly." Yuugi nodded and Bakura smirked, standing up and dragging Yami away to his room.
"Here," he said and threw a pile of clothing at Yami. "Ryou picked them out for you to wear and if you make my hikari feel bad about getting you clothes, I'll kick your ass. So put them on and smile."
All the poor Pharaoh could do was blink and stare at Bakura in amazement. 'Why is HE--HE of all people--doing this?' Yami thought to himself. Frowning, he rubbed his forehead. It hurt too much trying to figure it out, anyway. Still frowning, he opened his pile of clothing...and smiled. Leather.
Yami was a very happy yami.
Five minutes later, he and Bakura were dressed. He was dressed in a tight pair of pants--which showed off his long legs to their very best advantage--and a soft black suede shirt which molded to each and every muscle--displaying his upper body for anyone else to see. 'Hmmm... Must remember to take Ryou shopping with me next time...' Yami thought to himself, smiling happily.
Of course, that all changed when he was tackled from behind.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, TOMB ROBBER?!" he yelled, shoving Bakura off of his torso. He glared up at the Tomb Robber and he knew that he was very close to giving Bakura another black eye.
"Your outfit isn't done yet, stupid," Bakura growled. "If I tried to talk you into this, you would say no. Therefore, I have to resort to this." And with that, he brought out a liquid eyeliner.
Another five minutes, much kicking, screaming, threats, and cursing in ancient Egyptian, Bakura was finally done. Yami blinked and continued to stare at himself in the mirror. Something... Something was different about his eyes. They seemed more striking. Blinking, he looked over to where Bakura was.
...and that was when he noticed that Bakura was dressed identically to himself, only the leather and suede on him was white. Besides that, his hair had been black-tipped. And he was wearing this 'eye-liner' as well. In a way...they looked striking. And dangerous.
"My, aren't we a matched pair?" Bakura asked, smirking broadly.
"...urusei."
"Hey, Bakura, Yami--are you two almost done? The screaming has stopped so Yuugi and I assumed so. ...oh..." he finally trailed off, staring at the yamis with wide-eyes. "Sugoi..." He stepped further into the room and Yami got the chance to look more closely at Ryou's own outfit. His shirt was silk and was a chilly ice-blue, bringing out the natural highlights in his hair. The fact that his hair tips had also been dyed ice-blue helped bring out the highlights, also. His pants were a white suede so soft-looking Yami knew it would raise goosebumps if trailed along a person's skin.
"Ryou... Who picked out your clothes?" Yami asked, tilting his head to one side in curiosity. It didn't seem like something he would normally wear. But it did look very, very nice on him.
Before he could answer Yami, Bakura did so. "_I_ picked out my hikari's clothes." He stalked over to Ryou, standing behind his smaller hikari, and wrapped his arms around him, burrowing his face in Ryou's hair once again. Ryou replied by clasping Bakura's arms, drawing the yami closer to himself. Yami smiled softly--that was the type of thing he wished he could do with his own aibou. But... He didn't know if Yuugi truly loved him or not.
"...oh."
"Yeah."
"...so, um, are you guys ready to go yet? Yuugi's really excited and he can't wait." Ryou laughed and looked at Yami with sparkling eyes. "I feel sorry for you, Yami. You're going to be dancing with Yuugi every song!"
'And I'm looking forward to it,' Yami thought to himself, smiling.
* ~ *
"Yami... Look! It looks so beautiful!" Yuugi happily gasped as the foursome stepped into the gym. Dangling lights covered the ceiling, making it seem as if the student council had managed to bring the night _inside._ small tables with single candlesticks were scattered here and there... Arches interwoven with roses covered every exit and entrance. And a huge mural of the night sky that the art class did was drawn along the back wall. All Yami could do was blink and stare in amazement. Their gym had been transformed...and it was gorgeous.
"Ne! Bakura, let's dance!" Ryou suddenly exclaimed and grabbed his yami's hand, dragging him out onto the dance floor. As he quickly made his get-away, he looked over his shoulder, smiling at Yuugi. 'He'll be alright. I'm sure of it. He HAS to be alright...'
And that left Yami and Yuugi all alone.
"... W-Would you like to dance with me, Yami...?" Yuugi whispered softly, looking at his yami from underneath his soot-black lashes.
"I would love to dance with you, Yuugi. Very much so."
At hearing this, Yuugi's eyes brightened and he grabbed Yami's hand, dragging his own yami to the dance floor. He was happy... So very happy. And his heart was beating so fast. Excitement, fear...it didn't matter. He was with Yami. And _that_ was all that mattered.
From across the room, a girl with short brunette hair watched the pair with bright blue eyes. She was dressed in a sleeveless blue dress that was a perfect match for her eyes. The girl watched the tri-colored duo for a moment longer, then made her way across the room...
...passing by the dance floor and only stopping until she reached the DJ. She smiled sweetly at him and gestured for him to come closer. He did so, and she whispered something in his ear. Nodding at the brunette, he went through his CDs, picking out the one the girl wanted.
And a slow song began to play...
~When moonlight crawls along the street, chasing away the summer heat...~
Yuugi blinked and paused, staring up at Yami with wide violet eyes. With all of his heart, he wanted to dance just one slow song with Yami... But Yami didn't want to...right? Yuugi started to back away, but Yami's arms tightened around his waist. ...and Yuugi stopped.
~We practice love between these sheets...~
"Yami?" Yuugi whispered softly, not daring to look Yami in the eye. If he did so, he was terrified that this moment might not last. And he did want it to last. Forever and beyond. But... That was only a dream...right?
Can't dreams ever become reality?
"Shhh... Just one dance, Yuugi. That's all I ask of you." Hearing this, Yuugi smiled slightly and leaned forward, resting his head against Yami's strong chest. It felt so...right...in Yami's arms. How could this feeling ever be considered wrong?
~My love for you... Insatiable...~
"The Pharaoh is still a baka, though," Bakura whispered while pulling Ryou closer against his body. He loved holding his hikari, touching him, stroking him--knowing that Ryou loved him.. And that he loved Ryou as much as he was able. He just regretted that he couldn't love his hikari more.
As if sensing his thoughts, Ryou pulled Bakura's head down, kissing him gently. "Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?" he teased. "Anyway, I think you're _much_ smarter. You finally admitted your feelings for me. Granted, it took long enough...so you can't be THAT much smarter than him..."
"...urusei."
"Heh. Make me, Bakura."
And so his yami did so, crushing his mouth against Ryou's.
~The moonlight plays along your skin, a kiss that lingers, takes me in; I fall asleep inside of you, there are no words, there's only truth; breathe in, breathe out, there is no sound; we move together up and down...~
Anzu watched Yuugi and Yami slow dance on the dance floor. Most would have expected her to be jealous, but she wasn't. Her eyes were happy...and bright. Closing her eyes, she let the music fill her.
~We levitate, our bodies soar, our feet don't even touch the floor...~
Yami's arms tightened around Yuugi.
~My love for you... Insatiable...~
~ * ~
'Dear Diary,
Tonight was the school dance. I had fun--but, more than that, I'm hopeful for the future. I was able to see love tonight--a love so pure and shining it seemed to almost light up the whole entire building with its purity. I hope I will one day experience that type of love.
For a while now, I've liked Yuugi Mutou. But... He loves someone else. I don't think he knows that he loves this person, and I'm going to try my hardest to reveal that love to him. That's why I told him that I liked Yami. Pushing him away from me will give that person the chance they deserve. I just hope it will end up alright in the end.
I love happily ever after's...
~Anzu'
* ~ *
~My love for you... Insatiable...~
A/N: I think I love this chapter. *_* Yup, I KNOW I do. (Heh.. Also liked the outfits. I guess all the times when my best friend and I played around with the idea of our favorite Bishies in different outfits really helped out... Yay for fashion designing! D) Aaaand...as a surprise for ya, some more YY/Y fluff for ya NEXT chapter, too! (And Bakura vs. Yami antics. They do live in the same house now, after all... Heh heh heh...) Hoped you liked this chapter, minna-san! ^_^
"Insatiable"--by Darren Hayes. He was the singer for Savage Garden. Now he's solo. LOVE this song. It's so.... *melts into a puddle*
Thank-You's!!!
(For Chapters Ten and Eleven!)
~Difinity (Happy Birthday! I'm sorry this was late... ^_^;;), Silver Dragon, Fate, Digimagic, Kirby, Soleia Nova, Orca, RyuArashi, Sky Blue Angel, cheetacat, Neko and Inu-chan, Sadira-Black, Saki, Dracou Malfouy, Invader Zia, Chibi, YuugiLover3, Yami Tsuki Tenshi, Wolfchanger, Saiai No Hito Mokushi, Sage of Zelda 64, un-named person, Yumi Lover, Songwind (Hope you liked the chapter!!!), Lil' Cherry Blossom, --NC--, Wanita, Burning-Yami-Rain, Jenna-Neko, Sweet, CrYsTaLdRaYgOn98, CutieCherry, IceAngelDarkMoon, loanshark, Vera, Duet-Sama AKA The Chibi Master, another un-named person, Little Kaori solo Yuy-Maxwell, Itoshii-chan (Oh, please don't worry! I just hope YOU get better!!!), tenshimagic, Jadesaber, Kugi Ra Muto, Yami/Yugi Fan710, Yo Xi Wang, Rikuuka, Silver Lily, Gin Ryu-chan, Yami Animw Writer, I luv Yugi and Kurt so :p, Fire-Angel, OtakuChild, Draculella, lime, catherine, firedraygon97, Hikari no Neko, Shinigami666, MaidenoftheMoon, Inuyasha, Ni-chan and Michi-chan, Siren, anon., Foof, agentpudge, Promise, candy, Seventh Sage, Mero-chan, Jack V. Briefs (EEEP! O.O;;), Slice, PsychoMouse, Emma Zuver, Sugomi (Email me and I'll tell you about the Operation Shooting Star.. ^_^;;), Cat, Shenya, tuulikki, violettegal345, Bob D. Girl, KawaiiShinigami, Betrayal, thockie, FluffCat, Brit-chan, Labannya, and Princess Strawberry.
OI! I am NEVER going two chapters without saying thank-you. THAT was a LOT of writing. ;_; *sniffles and massages poor fingers* ;_;
Bakura: Stop being a baby.
...shut up or no fluff for you! ;-p Anyway, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE 307 REVIEWS!!! Let's just say that I'm...shocked. o.O;; THANK YOU AGAIN! *tackle glomps readers/reviewers*
