Shredshipping (Sugoroku x Kisara)
Tape might be able to hold the paper together, but it can't erase the places where it was shredded.
So Sugoroku Mutou thought as he wound a careful piece of the sticky stuff around his precious holographic Blue Eyes White Dragon. It was so sad, that a boy of such potential like Seto Kaiba could become so callous and unfeeling. The card may have been no more than a slip of paper to him, but even inanimate objects could take on the feelings of its owner, if a memory was attached to it. It was a shame Kaiba couldn't see that. A real shame.
Sugoroku studied his handiwork. The tape was clearly visible, but he had managed to match up the ripped pieces pretty well. It was still a bit upsetting, though. Arthur had given that card to him out of the deepest friendship, and here he was, not taking good care of that friendship. Hm.
He sighed. After sitting at the dusty table for another moment, he slapped his hands onto his knees and stood up with a crack in just about every bone in his body.
Hmph, I really am getting old, he though dryly. After a moment's though, he took the semi-fixed card with him. He'd go back upstairs to the game shop and put it back in its box.
The half light from the thin basement window, set high in the wall, shimmered across the holographic front. Sugoroku stared at it. It was only a card, he knew. He shouldn't be so upset over it. But still, it had been shredded, and he couldn't help but feel that a part of him, a part of his friendship with Arthur had been shredded too.
The card gleamed. For a moment, he thought he caught the glimpse of a face reflected in the card. But it was only a trick of the light, he reasoned. He moved towards the stairs.
Then the card gleamed again. That was odd – he had moved it out of the light. It shouldn't still be reflecting anything. He looked at it again. Nothing seemed out of order. Except that it was still torn. He shook his head, resolving not to think about it anymore. Then the card caught the light for a final time, and he was positive that this time he had seen a face in it: the soft, curved face of a young woman, with huge blue eyes and the most impossible metallic white-blue hair.
"Anything broken can be fixed!"
The voice was so quiet that he almost didn't hear it. He glanced behind him. No one was there. No one in front of him, either. Where had it come from? Were they talking to him? No, he didn't think so. Maybe he was just catching a glimpse of something else.
"Do you really believe that?"
"Of course!"
"You're so naïve."
"Maybe, but look how much more hopeful and joyful I am than you."
The moment seemed to fade, and Sugoroku felt a keen sense of disappointment. He was well aware of the supernatural – he had come across it often enough in his younger days as an archaeologist. He had hoped to catch a glimpse of more, though.
Then the card warmed in his hand. When he looked down again, he caught the barest glimpse of something small darting out of sight. He turned – there it was again. He turned once more. There it was, sitting on his work table. It was tiny, and glowed, like it wasn't really there. And perhaps it wasn't: after all, it was a dragon.
The little Blue Eyes White Dragon sat primly on the table, stretching out its wings. It even nibble at its foot to get an itch, looking very much like a cat.
"Who are you?" Sugoroku said.
The dragon glanced up, eyes shining with intelligence.
Well, quite obviously, I am the dragon in your card. What, haven't you ever noticed me before?
"No, I can't say that I have."
Pft. Humans. They never look. And then they go around ripping things.
The last sentence was uttered with a venomous tone, so human-like that Sugoroku almost laughed. He felt that would probably be the wrong thing to do however.
"Well, why are you here now?"
The dragon considered this for a moment.
Well, she sent me, of course. I have to be here.
"She?"
The girl in the reflection, perhaps? Was that who sent her? But who was the girl in the reflection?
"Why? Why did she send you?"
How should I know? I don't ask, she doesn't tell. We have a simple relationship. She told me to follow the card.
The dragon yawned, showing off its tiny white teeth.
And it just so happens that I happen to like you. Better than the prick that has my three siblings, anyway.
Sugoroku was rather surprised at how well he was taking this. Well, here he was, having a conversation with a Blue Eyes White Dragon. Maybe the doctors were right, maybe it was time for him to go to a home.
But even as he thought this, the sharp, intense gaze of the dragon fixed on him.
"What?" he said.
I was just thinking. She always felt a bit broken, like you. I attributed that to the loss of her family. You've lost someone too, huh?
He was struck by an image of Ume, his long-dead wife, and her smile that never, ever lost its sparkle. He nodded silently, suddenly unable to speak. The dragon nodded smartly.
Thought so. I guess that's why I'm here.
She stretched like a cat, and then took to the air. She landed gently on his shoulder, and he felt a definite heat and weight. Sugoroku stirred back to his senses.
"You're here because I'm broken?" he asked.
Kisara always believed that everyone could be fixed.
"Even a shredded piece of paper?"
The dragon looked at him flatly.
Just because my card is ripped, doesn't mean I can't keep going. Just because a heart is ripped, doesn't mean you can't use some spiritual form of that sticky stuff to put it back together.
Sugoroku chuckled. He liked this little dragon already.
"What's your name?"
The dragon yawned again.
I suppose you can call me Ryuni. Kisara always called me that.
"Ryuni," Sugoroku said. He scratched the dragon's head affectionately, and Ryuni almost seemed to purr. "You know, I think I like this Kisara of yours."
I think she would have liked you too.
A/N: Kisara hardly showed up. But I don't really care, I had fun with this. Any story I can sneak Ryuni into is a good story. :3 Next is Shotshipping (Ryo x Keith).
