Necropolis demon
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh because…I'm not Japanese…and yeah, you all know that only a Japanese person can really truly own an anime.
Necro: Hello everyone! Here's chapter 16 for you guys, freshly made and posted within 2 hours from completion. Hope you all like it and I hope you guys review.
Just a reminder: this is the continuation of the last chap; it's set in the same morning k.
The Game
Chapter 16 My Fault
The day seemed empty, incomplete and utterly monotonous for Kaiba but then again, of course it was. For starters, it was school and everyone knows that school is boring, but as a second thought, it was also boring because fun itself was absent. Ryou was absent. Kaiba wanted to call Ryou to check on the young teen, but to his knowledge, if he called it would be a sign of weakness, a sign of affection, and a sign of humanity.
So…instead of calling Ryou's cell, Kaiba opted to just do nothing, absolutely nothing…that actually led him to subconsciously drift towards certain thoughts that distracted him from actually listening to the teacher.
First of all, Ryou was supposed to be at school an hour ago and Ryou would've called by now to inform Kaiba that he would not be attending school because he was ill or the like… the two had already had an agreement before, more like a mutual understanding, that if one of them was going to be absent due to a reason not related to business, he would call the other in order to avoid confusion in their schedules.
People seemed to notice Ryou's absence as well… Yugi's group was worried sick for Ryou; Joey constantly glared at Kaiba throughout the morning class they shared thinking that the brunette did something bad to Ryou. It was around third period when Kaiba actually started to WORRY for Ryou; yes he admitted it to himself internally, worry.
And strangely enough, it was within that exact minute that Kaiba's cell phone rang.
The class shifted in their seats to crane their necks towards Kaiba who picked up his cell phone to answer his call, expecting it to be some incompetent person from the HQ nagging about some trouble at KaibaCorp…but instead, it was Ryou.
"K-Kaiba?" came Ryou's barely audible voice. The teen sounded like his breathing was labored.
"Ryou?" said Kaiba, hearing his partner's strained voice, "Where are you? Why didn't you come to school today?" he spoke in his demanding tone.
"…" There was no reply.
"Ryou?" the brunette softened his voice a bit, seeing as there was no reply, "Ryou?" he said again, this time, urgency lacing.
Then came an obvious sniff, "K-Kaiba…" Ryou's pitiful voice once again spoke up, this time it seemed even more strained…Kaiba could've sworn that Ryou was…crying…
"Ryou? Are you crying?" the CEO spoke somewhat softly, realizing that the white blond probably was. Panic then struck Kaiba as he spoke urgently, "What happened to you? Where are you?" he questioned immediately.
"I- I'm fine…I just got mugged that's all." Came Ryou typical hypocritical reply with the occasional strain in his voice.
"Mugged?" This time, Kaiba immediately stood from his seat while everyone listened intently to the brunette's phone conversation; Ryou got mugged?
"Tell me where you are and I'll come pick you up," said the brunette, already packing his school things and scribbling an excuse letter to give the teacher, all the while, the class watched him, curious as to what happened to Ryou and curious as to when Kaiba started to care.
"I- I don't know." Ryou replied.
"Look around and see if you can find a familiar street sign, are you in an alley?"
"Yes." Sniff.
"Ok, look around for a street sign or something that's easily distinguishable and stay where you are. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Ok…" Ryou then proceeded to tell Kaiba the details of his location starting from a nearby street sign and names of several nearby shops, "thank you Kaiba…" with that, Ryou ended the call.
Just as Kaiba was about to close his briefcase, Joey spoke up, "Whoa wait, Ryou got mugged?" he questioned his most loathed classmate, "What happened to Ryou Kaiba? And ya' better tell us the truth!" the blond threatened, raising his voice in time with his fist to threaten.
"It's none of your business!" Kaiba growled back…he had too many things swimming in his head right now, he really didn't have time to quarrel…Ryou was in trouble!
"Is too! We're his friends UNLIKE YOU! Now spill bastard!" at this point Kaiba and Joey had initiated a heated glare towards one another, Yugi and his pals stood up to hold back Joey.
"Joey! Now's not the time to fight with Kaiba! He has to go and take care of Ryou." Yugi reasoned.
"Calm down Joey! You're making a scene!" Tea followed, she, Yugi and Tristan trying to desperately hold back the blond who looked extremely aggravated.
"Yeah man, calm down" Tristan spoke, "Kaiba, you better get going, take care of Ryou for us will ya?" he asked, receiving an annoyed "Hmp!" from the brunette which clearly stated 'duh, that was what I was gonna do if your mutt hadn't made me waste such valuable seconds!'
The CEO packed his school things, dropped the excuse note on the teacher's table while the teacher was trying to calm down Joey, and headed towards the door but not before hearing Joey's last comments, "In some way, I'm guessin' you're probably the reason why Ryou's in trouble ya' bastard! Yeah, ya' better leave! Keep walkin'!" came Joey's fading accusations.
As Kaiba's limo drove past a street sign close to wherever Ryou was at, Kaiba couldn't help but contemplate to himself. The mutt had overreacted back in the classroom, and for what? Just because he wanted the CEO to tell him exactly what happened to Ryou, Joey really didn't trust Kaiba at all, that outburst proved it…but then again, about what the blond said…
"What happened to Ryou Kaiba? And ya' better tell us the truth!" the blond had threatened"It's none of your business!" Kaiba had growled back.
"Is too! We're his friends UNLIKE YOU! Now spill bastard!" Joey had replied this got Kaiba thinking…he wasn't known as Ryou's 'friend' by everyone else, what special right did he have over Ryou? He was probably just the teen's boss to Yugi's group… but then again, those guys always did consider everyone who was in neutral terms with them to be their friend.'In some way, I'm guessin' you're probably the reason why Ryou's in trouble ya' bastard!' Joey's voice echoed in the brunette's mind.
How was Ryou getting mugged supposed to be his fault? Was that what the blond meant? The 'getting mugged' thing, or was it something deeper? Kaiba knew that Joey absolutely hated his guts…and that outburst was probably just an unconscious action by instinct…but in a sense, Kaiba felt as if he DID do something wrong to Ryou… but, what could it be though?
The vehicle stopped and Kaiba got out of the car, he proceeded to walk towards the alley that Ryou had described to him, checking his memory if he got the descriptions right and back-tracking once or twice to make sure he was on the right route. It took him few minutes but he found his classmate, huddled up in one corner, hugging his knees to himself and sniffling.
So pitiful…Ryou looked, so small and vulnerable and absolutely broken…what could've possibly caused this? The white blond simply looked lost and so very weak, there were dirt stains on his uniform, his shoes were worn out from running relentlessly and his face…so stricken and sullen.
Tears formed at the edge of his chocolate eyes as he tried to fight them back, but clearly he was losing. He gasped and coughed and kept on clutching his stomach…so very pitiful.
"Ryou?" came Kaiba's voice, soft, worried and…even frightened, what happened to Ryou that broke him so much? As the CEO stood there at a corner, watching his classmate, a sense of guilt seemed to seep through the cracks of his iron walls…was this what Joey meant? In a sense, that it was HIS fault Ryou was…broken?
"K-Kaiba?" the pale youth looked up shakily…oh the humility to be seen sitting on the ground near a dumpster, crying…and in front of your boss who's your classmate too. Your boss who thought and believed that you could be strong for him…
"Ryou!" Kaiba immediately sauntered towards Ryou's side, crouching low and getting hold of Ryou's shoulders…so frail. "Ryou, calm down, I'm here…" the words seemed to just flow out of the brunette's mouth…by instinct he took out a handkerchief and wiped the smudges on Ryou's face off.
The two were silent at that moment; Ryou seemed to be lost in his own thoughts as Kaiba wiped away the blood that trickled down the side of his classmate's lips.
Both of them didn't speak until Ryou started to sob, "I'm sorry!" the pale teen cried, tears now flowing freely down porcelain cheeks, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" he repeated over and over again, having difficulties in breathing and trying to bite back tears that relentlessly shed themselves.
"…What are you so sorry for?" again, here was that compassionate string in the way the brunette spoke…
"I'm weak…I can't do it."
"Do what?"
"I can't be your assistant…I can't go on with this contest…I can't handle it…the mere pressure of being a contestant is killing me!" with that, Ryou thrust himself towards Kaiba, not caring if it was inappropriate for him to do so…he just, whimpered there, crying continuously as Kaiba instinctively rubbed circles around Ryou's back.
Pressure…was that what the mutt meant? That the pressure Kaiba was putting upon Ryou was actually breaking the young teen? Was it Kaiba's fault? His fault that Ryou was now in an alley with him, weeping in his arms and letting all the stress and humiliation out in tears?
But the again it all made sense…one can't possibly expect a person who lives a pretty normal life to suddenly adapt to the controversial lifestyle Kaiba lives. A person can't possibly get used to all the staring and cameras or stalkers out there who want information…life is complicated when you're a celebrity or the sort…isn't that the main reason why stars have bodyguards and heavily guarded mansions?
Ryou's little incident with a thug was nothing more that a mere push for the white blond, meant to shove Ryou and make him fall off the edge and cry out…to be mugged was nothing! He'd been through worse! But…the steady build of pressure because of people thinking him wrong for the competition…all the controversy and stress!
"I'm sorry." Kaiba spoke solemnly, barely audible to Ryou who gave out another sniff, still clutching the front of Kaiba's uniform. "This is my entire fault…you're distraught because of me…I did this to you." he apologized…though his pride wouldn't let him, he did.
Ryou was puzzled, his predicament wasn't Kaiba's fault…it was his own…he was the one who was too weak to face the gossip and the responsibilities of being an assistant…did he expect working for Kaiba to be so easy? Kaiba…couldn't have had anything to apologize for.
"Kaiba…please…we both know this isn't your fault…it's mine." Ryou apologized, "It's my fault, I can't handle the responsibilities…you must be so ashamed of me…don't worry, I won't tell the media that you offered me a job, I'll just tell them I was the one who asked."
"Don't be stupid!" the CEO replied a little too roughly seeing as Ryou winced at the sudden rise in his voice, "The pressure's getting to you…you're trying hard to live up to my expectations as well as…trying your best to handle the media …I should've known that you would burst at some point"
"It's just that…it's so hard…everyone…thinks that I've cheated, that I've found someway to get into your good side or something which is why my game entry passed…" the pale teen spoke softly, "they don't believe me capable of doing anything…notable."
"That's because they're stupid."
"Huh?" Ryou raised his head in question.
"I've told you, you have talent…don't let anyone bother you, let them believe what they want to believe…they're just jealous," A smirk, "Start out small and end up on the top…that's what I did. Now look, those who didn't think that I could run KaibaCorp are now working for me." Kaiba let out another smirk that made Ryou feel better.
"Prove them all wrong Ryou…. I know you can do what I want you to do. I don't pick out weaklings."
"But still…"
"Sooner or later, those idiots who've doubted you will crawl back on their knees, begging for your attention, …then you can ring their necks, pull out their intestines and kick their ass ALL you want." At this snide comment, Ryou laughed…who could've know that Kaiba could make such a…demented joke.
"Thank you…for making me feel better…I guess…I promise I'll work harder." The white blond smiled and gave Kaiba a friendly hug that the brunette stiffly returned not knowing what to do in such situations…Was he being nice and encouraging to Ryou? There's a shocker.
So sweet…that smile, and that sparkle in the white blond's eyes…how could people actually hurt this pure and innocent youth? That conversation…felt so much like a conversation with Mokuba, in which Kaiba would sit by the boy's bed and whisper encouraging words and such, comforting thoughts and friendly jokes…was Kaiba really that comfortable with Ryou that he could compare it to when he's with Mokuba?
Mokuba's everything to Kaiba; everyone knew that…being compared to the young Kaiba was a big something…
"Be strong…" Kaiba whispered to Ryou's ear, his warm breath making Ryou blush…then, surprisingly as if Kaiba lost himself and didn't notice, he unconsciously gave Ryou a smile…a real smile that one would think that only Mokuba could get from the CEO.
Kaiba did notice though, but only about a second later… he just smiled at Ryou…and out of instinct too! The brunette immediately willed down the embarrassment threatening to show on his cheeks and did a pretty good job at doing so while Ryou just looked at Kaiba, dazed for a moment before regaining his whim. The pale teen blushed a bit as if complimented and smiled at the brunette whose expression lightened…
In an unspoken way…Ryou understood Kaiba. There would be absolutely no way that Kaiba would be so intimate with someone…absolutely no way…but this sudden show of affection, a simple gesture… proved that wrong.
Seto Kaiba was a man who had problems with showing sincere emotions, he was one who would think that everything had a catch and that there was always something to lose or gain…Ryou Bakura was one who understood others and how others saw the world…Words were of no need, there was no point speaking about it.
…Because somehow Ryou knew Kaiba as no one else did…
In those actions were words…soundless but meaningful…saying 'I care' in more than one way. But Ryou still had that nagging voice in his head saying 'nah…can't be'
'Seto Kaiba can't possibly…like me in THAT way…' and yet, inwardly Ryou could read it in Kaiba's eyes…though there was a tinge of denial there.
"I will be strong…for you." Ryou replied. The two slowly stood up, Ryou dusting off some dirt then headed towards Kaiba's limo…wherever it was parked at.
While the two sat quietly in the limo, Kaiba remembering how he'd lost his composure in the alley, his cell phone rang. The CEO answered the call, after a 'yes', a 'no' and a 'do you think I'm THAT stupid woman!' Kaiba ended the call.
"Err…" came Ryou's timid voice.
A frustrated sigh… "Ryou, your formal wear trench coats have been completed and delivered promptly to your apartment, they should be when you get home." The blue-eyed teen spoke, receiving a nod of understanding from Ryou.
"But I will have to have them sent over to my place due to certain circumstances"
"Eh?"
A sigh… "Well, it seems that some of your stupid neighbors caught a glimpse of the package's tag…they probably saw who the package came from; me of course, and thought it would be interesting to try and see what the package contained."
Ryou giggled with dry humor; he had always known how nosy his neighbors were when it was about his mail…with his father sending interesting artifacts from Egypt and all… "I have NO privacy," he said exasperatedly, and it was true too!
No privacy huh…we can't possibly have that disturbing Ryou's work-life. "You are aware that I'm going to need you to have my confidential files kept CONFIDENTIAL right? Your neighbors aren't going to make that any easier for you aren't they?" spoke the brunette, smoothly in that collective way he usually speaks.
Ryou shook his head 'no' and Kaiba sighed; he had to do something about his apprentice's privacy problem because not only was it going to be a big obstacle for Ryou's work but it was also one of the main sources of stress for Ryou…if only Ryou had the same privacy as Kaiba did even though the media was on to him like a pack of gossip-hungry wolves.
And then came a brilliant idea, "How fast can you pack your essential belongings?" the CEO asked bluntly, receiving a confused look from the white blond.
"You're moving in with me." The brunette stated.
"…"
At the obviously shocked silence, Kaiba continued, "I'm sure you'll find that arrangement better. Staying at the mansion will give you the privacy you'll need…unless of course you'd prefer to stay at your apartment, fighting off anyone who comes within a one-mile radius of your work-related belongings."
'He has a good point' the pale teen thought, "All right then…I'm quite sure that even if I did decline your offer you're going to make me stay there right?"
"Good that you know."
"Ok, I guess I can stay at your place, though I don't want to be a burden," agreed the teen… seriously Ryou…a burden to a millionaire? "…I'll just leave a message at the apartment that'll let my father know where I'm staying at incase he ever looks for me." Ryou replied…a small hint of sadness lacing his words at the mention of his father.
"Now that that's settled, I expect you to be capable of doing your job as my assistant understood?" ah…there was that stiff and somewhat political form of Kaiba…hey, the caring part HAD to stop ya' know.
"Also…are you sure you can handle everything now Mr. Bakura?" this time, Kaiba looked at his assistant seriously, making sure that Ryou was still up for the job.
"Yes sir."
"Good, you'll be needing all your confidence this Saturday."
"Yes sir." It took Ryou a few seconds to process what his boss had just said, "What's happening this Saturday?" he spoke stupidly.
"There's going to be a party at the mansion for the elites of Domino's society to celebrate the KaibaCorp contest's, despite the gossip, successful launching and upcoming results." Kaiba explained, Ryou still looked confused, "The contest has brought in a lot of publicity to whatever game will win and there are a lot of investors ready to fund production…as my apprentice, you'll be there with me when I socialize, mingle and give out my business cards to the guests. Also, you may think of it as a way to formally introduce yourself to society as my apprentice…this way's better than having to wait for the media to do it for you, leaving them to make wrong assumptions like they usually do"
…Err… Looks like someone forgot to actually organize his boss' schedule…
In a normal case, Ryou would've immediately said, 'but'…BUT he didn't, instead, he accepted this as an opportunity to start fresh, "Of course Mr. Kaiba, I'll ask the office for the full details of the event and for information about Who's Who in the party." Ryou smiled…this was going to be a start of a professional relationship…no more schoolgirl err- boy crushes…right?
Necro: OOC? I hope not…I really do…but hey, think of it this way, people DO tend to get out of character when they're in love…if you're human that is…AND YES Kaiba IS human…he's not an animal…though technically I think, if roughly translated, his full name means 'Sea Horse' and Mokuba's name means 'Wooden horse' …what? I'm not good at translating K.
I just noticed how I make Joey always call Kaiba a 'bastard'…whoops…
Oh and…Joey's anger towards Kaiba is normal, it's not like he's jealous or something ok. He is not gay in this story.
Chapter 17 for sale! Chapter 17 for sale! We accept Visa, American Express AND checks…or you could just give a nice and long review to show that you care/smile/
Don't mind me, I'm just Looney from all the sugary sweetness I ate while typing this stuff.
Check out my other fics Destined Duel and an experimental fic called Venetian Romance.