Youth of the Nation
By: Neko-chan
A/N: I've been going around asking people a question and they all just look at me strangely, shake their heads, then back away from me, trying to look unsuspicious. *glares* Why? It's not like the question was so unbelievably hard! *scowls*
Yami: *suspicious* And what question would that be, Neko-chan?
... "If you were a duck, what would your superpower be?"
Yami and Bakura: Neko-chan, I think that you and Yami Malik would get along wonderfully.
...why?
Yami: You're both nuts.
...¬.¬;;
WARNING: SHOUNEN-AI! Fluffy! Romance! Comedy! Wheee~!!! Yami Yuugi/Yuugi. Yami Bakura/Ryou. (And I'm gonna go back on my word. Seto/Jyou/*SURPRISE!*/*SURPRISE!* will be a pairing. What are the surprises? You'll just have to read to find out. And yes, I realize I just put four names together. Heh. ^_^;; And, 'cause PM got me into it, Honda/Otogi.)
DISCLAIMER: *makes Dark Magician do it*
DM: *sighs* Neko-chan doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!. If she did, then all of the males in the series would be pairing up and I would probably end up with either Yami, Yuugi, or Elf Swordsman. Neko-chan does wish she owned Yu-Gi-Oh!, but we thank Ra every single day that she does NOT.
...¬.¬;; Next time I'm having Yuugi or Ryou do it. You're a smart aleck, DM.
DM: ^_^;;
Chapter Thirteen
The dance had been over for about an hour and a half, but Yuugi was still in a fuzzy bubble of happiness. True, Yami hadn't admitted his love or anything...but he had still danced with Yuugi--and that was enough for the little hikari. Just being with Yami was enough for him. It sounded silly, true...but it was enough.
Though, as happy as he was...there was an unhappy feeling wandering around in the back of his mind. It wasn't really an Unhappy-type feeling...just... Well, just off. Something was off. And Yuugi knew exactly where that feeling was coming from. His hair.
He was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, clad in a pair of light blue pajamas, frowning quizzically at his reflection. For some reason, his hair still...sparkled. The gel was still in it. Yuugi didn't know if Ryou had done it on purpose or if it had happened completely by accident.
It didn't matter, anyway. Yuugi's hair still sparkled like... Well, like fairy dust. Or moon dust. Glitter. No matter how many times he had tried washing his hair, the glitter wouldn't come out. If he didn't come up with something to get his hair back to its normal state, he was stuck.
And, as much as he loved the way his hair sparkled with every movement, he still wanted his old hair back. Silly and sentimental, he knew. But still...
/Yami?/ he called mentally. He hated to bother Yami with his own problems, but perhaps the spirit of the Sennen Puzzle would know a way to get the glitter out of his hair. It was worth a try, anyway. _Anything_ was worth a try. He had tried everything he could think of on his own. And they all didn't work...at all.
//Yes, aibou? What is wrong? Did you need me for anything? I can sense that you're worried about something. Is it something in which I can help?//
/Ano... Actually, I don't know, Yami. I hope you can, but I feel really stupid for asking.../
//Asking about what, Yuugi?//
/Well... The glitter stuff that Ryou put in my hair? It won't come out. And I've tried nearly everything. Really and truly, I have. Do you have any suggestions, Yami?/
The Pharaoh laughed--Yuugi could sense his amusement through their link. //Aibou, I TOLD you that I thought that Ryou was around his yami a little bit too much lately. Knowing him, he did it on purpose--but knows that you would never accuse him of anything.// Another laugh. //Anyway, if you'll just wait a moment, I'll come and help you. There's an Egyptian solution. One that I think you haven't considered yet. Just wait a moment, alright? I just have to get something from the kitchen...//
/Domo arigatou, Yami! I'll be waiting for you in the bathroom that connects to my room. I knew that you would be able to help me!/
Smug amusement from Yami's end. //What is the saying, hikari? 'Don't count your chickens before they're hatched', isn't it? Don't put complete faith in me yet, hikari.//
Yuugi laughed and he bent over, placing his chin in his cupped hands. He didn't know it, but as he continued to banter with Yami, his violet eyes lit up with a happiness not achieved by many...and he smiled a bright, happy, sunny smile. It was times like these when Yami thought that he was an angel.
In fact, this was his exact thought as he stepped into the bathroom, spotting his hikari's expression in the mirror. Yuugi looked so happy and so sweet----fresh and angelic. Words couldn't describe how much Yami loved his hikari. The emotion transcended words. It just WAS.
"What did you grab from the kitchen?" Yuugi asked, turning around to stare at his yami with wide, curious eyes. Yami loved Yuugi's eyes... But now was not the time to admire his hikari's delicate beauty.
Smiling at Yuugi, Yami held up a lemon. "This," he answered. "A lot of people don't know, but anything with citrus acid cleans extremely well--better than almost anything else. Hopefully the citrus acid from the lemons will be able to strip away the glitter that's attached itself to your hair."
The small boy sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but 'hopefully' is the key word in all of this, Yami. What will happen if the lemon juice doesn't manage to strip away the glitter? What happens if the glitter stays bonded to my hair for the rest of my life?"
"Well, I guess that just means that you'll get to look like a pixie for the rest of your life," the Pharaoh shot back, grinning, as he took out a knife to begin cutting the lemons. Yuugi heard this and turned around, sticking his tongue out childishly at Yami. Yami replied in kind.
Soon the two forgot all about the knife and the lemons and had a 'who-can-stick-their-tongue-out-longest' contest. Yami, being a child-Pharaoh and having the most practice at sticking his tongue out at his old advisors while their backs were turned, won--of course.
Having lost, Yuugi pouted and gave Yami puppy eyes. "You're so mean to me, Yami. So cruel. So bossy. And besides all that--you cheat!" Again, the tongue was stuck out.
"I do not cheat!" Yami shot back, sticking his own tongue out once again. Then, sniffing in a dignified manner, he went back to cutting the lemons. He didn't have to make a reply to Yuugi's cheap shot...he was much more 'mature' than that. (Heh. Besides, if worse came to worse, he could always short sheet his hikari's bed when Yuugi wasn't looking.)
Finally, Yami was able to finish cutting the lemons into smaller sections after several minutes of silence. Neither yami nor hikari spoke during those moments--but neither felt the need TO speak. The silence was nice and they didn't want to break it. And so the two just relaxed in the other's presence.
"Alright... The lemons are done. Go and sit by the bathtub with you head held over the basin. This way, we won't cause more of a mess." Yuugi did so, smiling trustingly up at his yami. "Now, I want to warn you before I begin that this might sting a little bit."
"Itai!!! That HURTS, Yami!!"
"Well, yes, Yuugi. It _would_ sting a little bit. After all, the lemons have citrus acid and the citrus acid is a very strong acid, Yuugi. Of course it's gonna hurt, baka."
"Don't call me baka, Yami! That's the name that you reserve for Yami Bakura alone. You don't call anyone else but him that. So that means that I'm not a baka."
Yami laughed and poked Yuugi in the side. "True, I call Bakura 'baka.' But, if you think about it, I call him so many other things as well. Baka. Bakamono. Kisama. Stupid Tomb Robber. Bakayaro. So many words to describe him. I seriously doubt that I'll be able to come up with enough names to adequately describe him in one lifetime. Heh heh heh... I guess I should be grateful that we're both spirits, ne?"
"...urusei, Pharaoh no Baka..." Bakura shot back as he walked by the open bathroom door.
At this, Yuugi burst into giggles. "I be that you two only go head to head so often so that no one else will ever realize how much of a friend you actually consider the other person to be. Have you ever thought that this is your own way of telling the other that you care? You're so silly, Yami!"
"...Yuugi, if you ever mention 'Bakura,' 'me,' and 'friend' in the same sentence ever again, I don't care how innocent and kind you are--I'm sending you to the Shadow Realm for an indefinite holiday. Ne?"
Yuugi sighed in a much-aggrieved manner and rolled his eyes. "Hai, Yami. Hai."
"Domo arigatou. Anyway, close your eyes. I'm going to squeeze more lemon juice onto your hair again. Hopefully it'll be enough by now. If not... I don't know what else to try, Yuugi. I'm squeezing right now, by the way."
'Kay... ITAI!!! It STILL hurts, Yami!"
"Stop acting like a baby, Yuugi."
"...urusei..."
At this, Yami's deep throated laughter filled the small room, echoing happily off of the walls, and filling Yuugi with a fuzzy and warm emotion. He loved being around Yami. They didn't have to do anything--just being with him, sharing in a quiet moment--these were the highlights of Yuugi's days. But Yami didn't know that, did he?
Gentle and smooth fingers slowly ran through Yuugi's hair, massaging his scalp, and trailing through various strands with the utmost of care. Surprised, Yuugi's eyes snapped open and he stared over his shoulder with wide eyes. Yami stared back, smiling slightly, still running his hands through Yuugi's soft hair.
"N... Nani?" Yuugi whispered, his violet eyes still wide with surprise.
"I have to work the lemon juice into your hair or it won't have a chance to soak in, hikari. If that happens, the juice won't have the chance to strip the glitter away from your hair." As Yami spoke, his hands still continued to trail through Yuugi's hair, twisting a lock of hair this way and that, playing with the tri-colored strands. Such beautiful hair...and so soft, also. Like running strands of silk through his fingers. He loved Yuugi's hair.
"...oh."
Five minutes later, Yami finally stopped and turned on the bathtub's facet. Yuugi's eyes had closed sometime during the five minutes and so Yami gently guided his hikari's head underneath the facet, thoroughly rinsing the citrus acid from Yuugi's hair.
Yami missed running his hands and his fingers through his hikari's hair...but at least he had a chance to do so, anyway...right? What other chance would he get? What other chance would he _ever_ get? Better to just take the different gifts--to him, anyway--as they plopped into his hands.
Running his fingers through Yuugi's hair one final time, he whispered: "Done."
Yuugi straightened and peeked a look over his shoulder at Yami. "Domo arigatou, Yami. Did all of the glitter manage to come out now, Yami? I hope so..."
The Pharaoh smiled slightly and raised his hand, cupping Yuugi's cheek softly. "Hai, Yuugi. The citrus acid in the lemon's juice managed to take away all of the glitter in your hair. It's all gone now. You don't have to worry about what other people will think or say on Monday. Ne, Yuugi?"
Yuugi answered by smiling brightly.
That done, Yami began to back away, his hand starting its trip back to his side. But... Before it could leave his cheek, Yuugi covered Yami's hand with both of his own. Keeping the hand cupped against his cheek. Trapping it under his own.
And the two boys stared at each other.
"Yami...?" Yuugi inquired, a questioning lilt to his voice.
"Yuugi... I..." Yami began, his cheeks flushing slightly with his embarrassment. He was terrified of what he was about to say...but, in the end, Bakura was right. Yami was a coward. And he didn't want to be a coward. He _wasn't_ a coward. "Yuugi, I... Well, I... I..."
Seeing how Yami stumbled over his words, Yuugi smiled gently at his yami and took one hand away from the hand that Yami had cupped against his cheek. Placing two fingertips against Yami's mouth, Yuugi effectively silenced him. "Shhh, Yami. Please, no. Not yet. Not yet, Yami."
"...n--nani? Why, Yuugi?"
"Because you're not ready yet, Yami."
Still smiling gently, Yuugi leaned forward and hugged Yami. The hug lasted for only a moment, though, and Yuugi quickly backed away, making his way out of the bathroom. Before he could leave completely, though, he poked his head back in. "Domo arigatou for helping me get the glitter out of my hair, Yami. Domo arigatou." And, with that, he left.
Yami was left alone in an empty bathroom, the echo of Yuugi's voice and a faint scent of his hikari his only companions. The silence seemed to ring for eternity.
"But... I _love_ you, Yuugi..." Yami whispered into the silence.
A/N: Wheee~! Update! I know that I said that I was going to update on Feb. 6, but I couldn't resist. I was planning on uploading the second chapter for "Elemental Magick" tonight and upload this chapter for "Youth of the Nation" on Thurs. But I decided to switch the two. I have a favor to ask you guys, though! If you have time, please read "Elemental Magick"! New YY/Y romantic fantasy--and hopefully a completely original idea, to boot!
And, as you can see, the relationship between Yami and Yuugi is tightening further. I wonder how long before it finally snaps? Heh. ^_^
And for all of those who've heard "Insatiable." Did the song really suit the chapter? I tried really hard to do so, but I want your opinions! Onegai, minna-san? ^_^;;
Anyway, review and make a sick and sneezy cat-girl happy! Onegai?
Thank-Yous!
Ame Tenshi, Gin Ryu-chan, Shenya, candy, Wolfspeaker, Duet-sama AKA The Chibi Master, dfh, Digimagic, Ni-chan and Michi-chan, Seventh Sage, violettegal345, Sadira-Black, Fate, Promise, Tenshi no Miko, Neko and Inu-chan, molten-amber, Kugi Ra Muto, jeti, Saiai No Hito Mokushi, Yami Krissy, Bringer of the Storm, KuroShiranai, i love bakura, Labannya, Yohko Kiyoto, SilverLily, Susmita, PsychoMouse, Difinity, Sky Blue Angel, Jadesaber, Jenna-Neko, sparks the insomniac werewolf, Sparky16, Dracou Malfouy, Slice, YuugiLover3, DogsruleW, firedraygon97, Yami Anime Writer, Kyra Windwood, OtakuChild, Mystic-flower, Tenshi no Yami, Lil' Cherry Blossom, MaidenoftheMoon, Brit-chan, Burning-Yami-Rain, Kate, agentpudge, Princess Strawberry, Beverly, KawaiiShinigami, Jack V. Briefs, Mero-chan, Songwind, PriestessoftheMoon, tenshimagic, Bob D. Girl, Vera, Sage of Zelda 64, Orca, Spark-gurl, thockie, valkie girl, Yugi, Yo Xi Wang, Chibi, phoenixfeather, Shinigami666, Tatsutahime, akasha_raksha, Force-Kill, moonnymph, loanshark, and Un-Named Person!
Thank you guys for all the wonderful reviews that you leave! It really helps a lot. This is my very first shounen-ai fic (like I've told you so many times before...), and I really and truly would have stopped a LONG time ago without your support! In fact, I probably would have stopped writing shounen-ai altogether. So... Thank you all--thank you so very much! Because of you guys, this is my highest reviewed story I've ever written. Because of you guys, I managed to reach 398. Over 90 reviews for this chapter alone. Thank you all so very much. You guys rock! =^_~=
~Neko-chan
