Necropolis demon
Disclaimer: YuGiOh is the property of Kazuki Takahashi, I'm only here to dream that it was mine.
Necro: People I implore you to be careful with what you eat…I've got food-poisoning again…
The Game
Chapter 24 Game Set and Won
They all had an eerily quiet breakfast that Saturday morning, and after what happened just a few hours ago it was no surprise that tension filled the room, no, the whole house. The maids had been quieter than usual as they served their employer, Ryou didn't have his normal smile plastered on, Mokuba was always looking downwards with a look of guilt even when walking through the halls, and Kaiba was just…
Back…that's right…Kaiba the CEO, the ruthless duelist and heartless egotist was back…Seto seemed to have evaporated over night.
The servants went back to their primary instincts of never talking EVER since the old Kaiba was back…it was so sad too. When they saw that old corporate doctor last night make his way towards Ryou's bedroom the servants were all curious and very worried, all of them wondering about what happened last night. Had Ryou developed a fever? Was it pneumonia? Last night's little commotion had woken them all up from sleep.
None of the hired help, not even the chauffeur, knew the exact details of what happened last night…But for certain they knew that it was dead serious to their boss, serious enough to pull him away from work and have him sitting on the couch all alone and brooding in the dark until sunrise came.
Right now, the maids were secretly watching their boss drinking coffee nonchalantly while Ryou and Mokuba gloomily sat side by side without uttering a single word, eating their cereal quietly.
This WAS serious…Ryou had never allowed Mokuba to eat 'Froot Loops' in the morning…
In just a few minutes, Kaiba was done with his coffee and without sparing a glance at Ryou he left the room, briskly making his way towards his bedroom to work on something. Ah…work…always his excuse to everything…
Soon after Kaiba left, Ryou finished, he didn't even seem to have eaten much…quietly like the dead he exited and went to his room to mope some more.
Alone…Mokuba sat there; he really messed things up…he just had to fix this…
There just had to be a way…
With uncanny frustration, Seto Kaiba typed away on his laptop, pushing the buttons a little too hard to be subtle. He'd seen Ryou drown…now was his turn. Drown…drown in work Kaiba and never come up to breathe. All that frustration he exerted to work, he scowled and growled and practically threw the laptop in confusion…
All he could do to ease the pain was to say 'Ryou, I love you' in his head…to just pretend that for once he admitted defeat… 'Ryou, I lose…love me now.'
Downstairs, Mokuba kept mostly to himself, staying in the living room all alone to think about what he'd done and what he could do to make it up to those he'd troubled. He knew that his brother wouldn't just suddenly apologize to Ryou for turning cold on him…Kaiba had too much pride for that…so…what could possibly be done to help patch things up?
From the corner of his eye, Mokuba saw a head of white blond hair head towards the front double doors and into the waiting limo, bringing along a duffle bag that seemed to be full of clothes and such…wasn't Ryou supposed to be upstairs in his room? What was with the luggage? Could Ryou possibly? …but that would mean…
"Ryou, where are you going?" immediately panicking, Mokuba got up from the couch…no Ryou couldn't
Oh…but…he was…
"Oh, Mokuba…didn't see you there." Ryou replied a little glumly, taking a second to glance back at the young boy and put up a fake happy face, but his eyes clearly showed the sadness he felt, "I'm just…going on an errand," he replied, adding a friendly smile that still seemed troubled and miserable to Mokuba.
"Wait Ryou-" too late, the limo already made a turn to leave, leaving behind a confused Mokuba watching it as it took Ryou away…perhaps….forever.
"No…" the boy whispered.
Pounding footsteps echoed throughout the vast hallways of the Kaiba residence, catching the attention of the many maids who were scattered here and there, cleaning up the furnishings and dusting off some dirt from the aged picture frames. Mokuba paused for a moment from his running to take a quick second to ask a maid dusting one of the many paintings in the hallway.
"Hey," he caught his breath, "d-do…do you know where…Ryou was heading to? Oh please tell me you do!" he desperately asked the maid with the feather-duster.
"I was informed that he was headed to the airport for a plane…" the maid replied.
"What? Airport? Plane? Oh no…um did he say which one?"
"Um…I'm certain it was SR-143…"
"Thanks" with that, Mokuba resumed his running, heading off to his brother's room to bring about the bad news.
Obviously, Kaiba was still typing away on his laptop to try to push away any thoughts of Ryou when Mokuba suddenly came bursting into the room looking panicked and disheveled. The elder sibling looked up from his work and saw his brother's worry-stricken face, but before he could inquire as to why this was so, Mokuba beat him to it.
"Big brother! It's Ryou!"
Ryou…ugh…that wretched name…again. Why can't things just go back to simplicity? Back to when everything was one-sided and controlled?
"Big brother!" urgently Mokuba walked over to his brother's side and tugged on Kaiba's arm, relentlessly trying to get the teen's attention.
This was a very hard and trying time for Kaiba…he was still inwardly weeping for what happened between him and Ryou, for what could have been if he could've had the courage to say those three words he so loathed. How could Mokuba, of all people, disturb him at a time such as-?
"Brother! Ryou's GONE!" Mokuba all but shouted at Kaiba.
…That surely woke Kaiba up, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE?"
"He…he went to the airport just a while ago and…h-he was carrying a traveling bag with him…big brother…he's LEAVING!" The boy spoke, out of breath and absolutely desperate…
It took a second for Kaiba to process all this…"He's…leaving?" no…correction, he left, …about to leave Domino to get away from everyone… from the pressure, from all those who knew him…from Kaiba…
"Brother…?" Mokuba's weak weeping voice sounded, "What now?" yes…what now?
There was no response…there was just a long and heavy pause as a mix of emotions in Kaiba's eyes remained unreadable, unreachable…he just…stood there, alone with his thoughts, unmoving…thinking…denying…trying to hide the pain that was ripping at his heart. So what if Ryou leaves…it didn't matter, it shouldn't! ...all that mattered was the things of today and what challenges would be faced tomorrow…Ryou didn't need to be here…he had no significance to Kaiba…none…whatsoever…
…Yeah right…
"Aren't you going to chase after him? …Seto?"
Yes…aren't you? Go on…there's still some time left for you, go to Ryou, tell him how you feel, end this unspeakable pain and yearning…you know you can trust him, hasn't he proven that to you? …he trusts you…and he loves you deeply…truly does. Just reach for him and surrender…forget about pride…forget about pretenses and masks and what you fear everyone would think…
"Why should I?" Kaiba answered hatefully.
He didn't NEED Ryou…he was not weak like an insolent love-struck fool swooning over his significant other when in truth he only lusts….
He wasn't like those men who needed to be cared for…he didn't need Ryou's sympathy or pity…or Love.
He could live without Ryou's apologetic looks, those innocent doe eyes shinning with concern and relief…that smile that showed whenever a change for a better mood was in order…
…That tender touch the Ryou alone could give…
Mokuba just…stared at his brother…here was Seto…the one person he cared for the most…denying happiness just to keep up pretenses to the outside world, slowly diminishing in existence. This was…stupid…pretending not to care, not to love…not to feel.
A sudden rage filled Mokuba…and all of a sudden, he hated all this.
"I HATE YOU!" Mokuba suddenly gave out an outburst then kicked his brother's right leg, eliciting a pained sound from the off-guard CEO who flinched and bent to nurse the offended limb.
Kaiba stared, shocked and aghast at his sweet little brother's actions…Mokuba…never hated him before. And it hurt to hear this…More than that kick did.
Tears… "I-I can't believe you…Seto…you're going to just let the love of your life walk away from you?"
The expression on Kaiba's face softened as he watched his brother cry and sniffle, "Ryou's…the best thing that has ever happened to you…and here I was thinking that the old Seto, my brother, would come back…I hate you for this, you're not my brother if you throw away this chance for happiness."
"The Seto I knew and grew up with…the one whom I've loved dearly…he used to smile, he had a sense of humor, he was a great person who cared for others…he was the best," sniff, "He was the one who promised to make me a playground where children could have fun…he was the one who promised to take care of me and protect me…Seto was my brother and my best friend. He was not cold. He was not mean. He was gentle and nice not this emotionless statue standing in front of me with a block of ice for a heart…Seto loves Ryou."
Mokuba looked up, shoulders trembling and eyes full of unshed tears, "Are…are you still my brother?" his expression turned to hate, "Or did he die along with mom and dad?"
That hurt…the pain, the loss…the heart-wrenching feeling of being alone and miserable, cold and devoid of warmth and security…it crept eerily into Kaiba's heart mixing with dread. What was he doing? Was he really that far off the edge of reality that even Mokuba says that the real Seto was dead?
Did Gozaburo Kaiba ultimately win? Was Seto really dead and broken?
Kaiba turned and sat back in his chair…
"Brother-!"
…no.
No…Seto…was not dead.
"Which plane is he boarding?"
Mokuba smiled, Seto, his brother was back…
Immediately Kaiba reached for his cell phone and dialed the number for Domino airport office; he had some connections there that would be of service to this situation. "Hello, this is Seto Kaiba…"
A raging blue motorcycle made its way through the busy urban streets of Domino, swerving dangerously from left to right and making sharp turns here and there. The rider's white trench coat flared behind dramatically like a crusader's cape as the bike tore its way past streets and traffic.
SR-143...a plane from Egypt landing in Domino, making a round trip back to Egypt…Ryou was going to board it on its way back to Egypt…he was leaving Japan for good.
Flight SR-143 for Cairo, Egypt…was now landing…
Faster…or you'll miss him…you have to stop him…
Ryou was looking over a small souvenir shop with Japanese-themed stuff for the passengers and tourists. The passengers of SR-143 were getting off now, heading for the gift shops and exits or to where their families where waiting eagerly for them.
The technicians were now doing primary checks on the plane.
While the aircraft was being inspected, the next batch of passengers was preparing themselves.
Hurry…boarding in 15 minutes…
Kaiba was having a hard time getting through traffic, the airport was really far.
…Most of the passengers were at their seats…
10 minutes…
Finally…Kaiba was at the primary gates…and was now tearing through crowds towards the international flights entrance, shoving off anyone who dared to slow him down.
5 minutes…
The stupid metal detector was slowing Kaiba down…but from a distance he could see a head of white blond hair passing by…
"Ryou!"he yelled…the figure disappeared as a crowd passed by…
Kaiba threw off his trench coat and passed through the metal detector without making it beep, he practically yelled at the passing guard whose dpg was checking his for any drugs.
"Ryou!" he yelled louder, more desperate.
The figure paused and looked back, confused and surprised to see Seto Kaiba by the metal detectors, trying to fend off a stupid dog that was blocking his way.
"Se…to?"
"Ryou…I!"
A group of tall American foreigners passed by and obscured Kaiba's sight…when the crowd dispersed, Ryou wasn't there anymore…
…Ryou was gone.
Everyone had borded the SR-143…it lifted up to the air and now on its way to Cairo, Egypt…Kaiba…was too late…just a few seconds…would've made a difference…
He…had tried so hard hadn't he? To try and save the few morsels of humanity in him…to try and revive the warmth and feeling…the essence of the real Seto…but Kaiba had failed, Ryou, his last chance for happiness and contentment in life was gone for good…leaving him an empty and broken lover who loved but could not say it so…
Just like that…Ryou was gone…having touched and pulled at Kaiba's heart only to leave…
Depressed, the CEO sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting area; he looked absolutely miserable…he was clutching his white trench coat close, his usually combed and kept hair was slightly disheveled…and he was so tired from running around and chasing after Ryou he could collapse.
But worst of all…he was desperately wishing for Ryou to be beside him. This was the real Seto for once, tousled and human and absolutely normal…he was raw and real, not just a lifeless puppet anymore…But with Ryou gone…this Seto would eventually go back to being that unhappy drone.
He knew that he could easily buy a ticket to Cairo but…what if Ryou really hated him now? Ryou wouldn't want to see him…why else would Ryou leave the country? Ryou would have stopped and stayed upon seeing Kaiba…but he didn't, he still left.
Ryou…oh how he wanted to hold him, kiss him…confide his love to him…
I Love you Ryou…
It was my fault…
I'm sorry…
"Seto? What are you doing here?" came Ryou voice…
What the HECK?
Kaiba looked up, eyes wide, there he was, Ryou dressed in that normal blue and white striped shirt and blue pants he wore at battle city…and behind him was a man Kaiba knew indirectly.
It was Mr. Bakura the archeologist, exactly as he looked like in Ryou's photo, with bluish hair tied in a ponytail and a slightly tanned complexion, wearing glasses and a traveling coat while carrying the small duffle bag Ryou had been bringing along earlier…
"So you must be Seto Kaiba, I've heard many good things about you," said the father while shaking the CEO's hand as Kaiba stood there confused with the situation…wasn't Ryou…leaving for Egypt?
"We'll have to chat some other time…oh look, the other professors are waving at me, I better head off then son, I'll be seeing you soon enough, thank you again for packing my extra clothes and my old files." With that, Ryou's father gave Ryou a warm hug before heading off to a small cluster of professors and fellow archeologists heading to another boarding entrance, "Take care of yourself son!" he called back.
"I will!" Ryou replied back.
Once the parent was gone, Kaiba spoke, "What the hell is going on here!"
Ryou blinked, "I was just meeting father here. He just arrived from Egypt and had asked me to pack some of his old belongings and research materials for him. I came here to give them to him before he makes his way to Peru for a 3-day conference since he was stopping over here for a while to change planes"
"I didn't think I needed to tell you…I mean…I didn't want to bother you while you were in your room…you seemed really mad at me for…what happened so I…I though it best to give you some time to cool off…" Ryou trailed off, looking down at the floor.
"I thought you were leaving me…" came Kaiba's soft reply, barely audible and clearly miserable.
The white blond looked up, surprised at the sadness in the way Kaiba spoke and said that sentence, "leaving?"
"Mokuba said he saw you leave…and the duffle bag…the plane to Egypt…We obviously assumed…"
Ryou smiled hopefully, "were you…chasing after me? Thinking that I was going to leave Japan?" he received an annoyed nod from Kaiba, "Seto…I would never…I mean, I know that you're not used to…well I…what happened to us…that is." He blushed.
"I would never leave you." Ryou finally settled with that simple reply…
Silence…
"…I wasn't lying back when I said I really liked you," said Kaiba, at this Ryou looked up and saw the sincerity in his classmates blue eyes.
"Seto…"
"Just. Ryou. Don't…don't leave me," right now Kaiba was having a hard time with words…some people were stopping to watch the scene as the two teens stood there… great, more spectators to worry about.
"Look. You…you make me feel. And I. am not used to this…" the confidence that the great Seto Kaiba had seemed nonexistent in this scenario…
But Ryou was patient and smiling… go on now, say it…I know what you mean Seto…
Kaiba stared at the knowing expression in Ryou's face, in normal circumstances this would've annoyed him and angered him to a point that it would be as if Yugi was taunting him in a duel…and in a sense things seemed like that…
All the confusion, the insecurities…disappeared as he looked into that kind and caring face smiling back at him with good intention…why fear this? What's there to be afraid of?
What the media would think? What this could do to his reputation?
…To hell with the media!
"Give me time…Ryou. Please." He said simply, sure it would take him a while to get used to being a lover…but he would get there eventually.
"Of course." Ryou replied with warmth in his voice and understanding in his eyes.
In the background, silent choruses of sweet 'awes' could be heard from the nosy passers-by...
A full month has passed since the contest started and it has been a week since the winner was announced, it had been a big day at KaibaLand where the media and the audience had gathered to watch. One of Kaiba's suits, the same one who refereed Battle City came up to the stage and announced the winner to the public.
There were neither scams nor objections when the man named Ryou the winner, in fact everyone had cheered and rooted, even the other contestants. And Ryou was delighted as well as overwhelmed by the praise and warmth everyone showered him. There was no cheating as the results were dependent upon the votes and subscriptions of the audience, the game's true potential and strategic output and there were many opinions about the winning entry.
Unsurprisingly, majority of the votes were from females…but that's another story.
Today, the latest CMC programs were being hooked up to KaibaLand's hologram projectors, it was a working progress. In just a short span of time 'Capsule Monsters Coliseum' ranked number one in the game charts, Ryou had obtained what he wanted…and more.
He now had a lover, and the media was actually quite supportive about the whole situation. In a sense, perhaps everyone, like Yugi and the others were rooting for him and Kaiba to get together…and indeed they did.
Ok…so maybe not EVERYBODY, I mean, there were a lot of fan girls who cried and balled their fists while beating their pillows, screaming 'Why Ryou? Why?' or 'Why Kaiba?' but soon enough, those girls came to appreciate how great a couple Ryou and Kaiba made…I mean… Who would NOT want to see two hot guys together?
The two officially went public a few days after the winner was announced, and of course there were a few controversies prior and even after the news seeing as there were witnesses at the airport when Kaiba had asked for Ryou's patience, but those quickly died out. Everyone knew that Ryou would never cheat anyway. He'd proven it a million times.
That old photo of Kaiba, Ryou and Mokuba together was now in Mokuba and Kaiba's card lockets; Ryou had a locket too with Kaiba and Mokuba's pictures in it since he was now part of the family. Ryou's father was surely shocked when he first heard the news about his son getting together with Seto Kaiba but he was supportive nonetheless.
So…everything was perfect, they were all happy and contented…going to Ryou's apartment every Fridays to get a sense of normality in life, watching movies at Kaiba's during Saturdays to bond.
Gradually Seto Kaiba became more humane and reachable, he learned to love and to be as truthful as he could be, to his brother, to his lover…he was on his way to healing from the pains of the world.
Mokuba was beyond ecstatic when he found out that his brother and Ryou were finally together, in a sense he had a new family now, one that he would love as he loved his brother.
As for Ryou, he would never forget the first time Kaiba finally said 'I love you'.
He could recall…The celebration for the announcement of the winner of the contest was over and they were alone together at the backyard of Kaiba's mansion where the pool was. It was night time.
Kaiba had come up to Ryou from behind and had wrapped his arms around the lithe form….Ryou had been surprised, Kaiba had never initiated touch between them…
"Ryou…" Kaiba whispered into Ryou's ears, "I…"
"Go on…you can say it." Replied Ryou softly, placing his hands upon his lover's.
Kaiba leaned his head and rested his chin on Ryou's shoulder, they were so close…the water in the pool reflected them there and they could see their images on the flat surface.
"I Love you Ryou." As simple as that, Ryou felt so glad and loved.
"I Love you too…Seto." And then they kissed.
…So maybe their romance had been confusing, filled with twists and turns and a dead end here and there. But that was what was so great about it, they discovered each other as they progressed….fears subsided and love was developed.
It all seemed like a game, from the beginning…a game of how two lovers could make things work when the other refuses to feel.
But in this game, nobody lost…
No one ever loses when they accept Love.
Necro: The promised playground thing is from the actual series, I got the info from a friend. I'm finally done…wow, didn't think I'd ever finish The Game since this has been a pretty random story. Anyways, I hope you all liked it.
REVIEW PLEASE!