Heartshipping (Bakura Ryo/Mutou Yugi)
. . .
The first time Yugi said "I love you" Ryo wasn't sure how to react. It was sandwiched between giggles as Yugi fell onto his back, having been beaten for the fifth time that day at Mario Kart. Ryo was laughing too because he honestly couldn't believe he was defeating Yugi at this game for once, and so he hadn't acknowledged what he thought he heard. It couldn't be possible, of course.
The second time he knew it was only one of the silly ways friends say it to each other. He had just pulled a giant tub of vanilla ice cream out of the fridge in the middle of a hot summer day, and Yugi had fallen dramatically across the table to reach his arms towards it with a dramatic "I love you." Ryo had only grinned and rolled his eyes.
The third time, he couldn't be sure if Yugi had said it or not. Both of them on the couch while a boring, honestly very terrible horror film played in front of them, both of them having ended up under the same blanket with Yugi's face kind of smushed against his shoulder, already half asleep. He sort of mumbled it in his half sleep, words glazed over by the forced screaming on the television. It was probably something from a dream, Ryo thought. He couldn't be saying it to him.
The fourth time, he said it clearly. So clearly that Ryo couldn't pretend he hadn't heard it this time.
When Ryo looked up from the papers on his desk, applications to colleges and study-abroad programs and brochures upon brochures of information, Yugi was looking right at him, chin in his hands, his own pile of forms forgotten.
Ryo felt his lips part, but no words came out. He didn't know what to say. When he finally spoke, it was almost hoarse.
"Not sure what I did to deserve that," he said, cracking a smile, trying to make it into a joke.
Yugi didn't smile—not in a joke way, at least. The smile that he sent across the table to Ryo was the warmest one that Ryo had ever seen. It was like spring breezes and the smell of baking cookies and the feeling of a warm, soft blanket against his cheek.
"You've done everything to deserve it."
It was only then that Ryo felt his throat close up, the tears rising up and lodging into place. He pressed his hand to his mouth.
"You don't mean it," he said between his fingers, letting his bangs fall over his eyes.
And Yugi reached across, and slid his fingers between Ryo's resting on the table. Ryo's fingers twined around Yugi's almost of their own accord—Yugi's hands were soft.
"Ryo-kun," Yugi said again. "I love you."
The fifth time Yugi said "I love you," Ryo couldn't help but cry.
The fifth time Yugi said "I love you," Ryo knew that it was real.
. . .
A/N: I ship it a little. Next will be Hedgehogshipping (Yami Marik x Ryota Kajiki).
