Author's Note: I had to type this on my dad's laptop, but I got it out. Here's the next chappie! It's probably one of my favorites that I've wrote so far. Hope you like it, too! :3
Chapter VIIII: Cold Conditions
"Ryou!" Bakura yelled unnecessarily loud even though his 'twin' was just one room away.
Ryou walked into the kitchen, a textbook in hand and asked calmly, "What is it, Bakura?"
Bakura complained, "The microwaffle isn't working!"
Ryou blinked.
"I'm sorry. The what isn't working?"
"The mircowaffle!" Bakura repeated, infuriated. He pointed to the devise on the kitchen counter.
Ryou burst into a fit of giggles and corrected, "No, no, 'Kura, that's the microwave. Not the microwaffle."
"Whatever the hell it is, it's not working," Bakura informed him, pouting.
Ryou glanced at the microwave and stated, "That's because you have to tell the microwave how long to go and at what power."
"Fine," Bakura huffed. The spirit turned to the devise and commanded it aloud, "Five seconds. MAXIMUM POWER."
Ryou sustained another giggle and explained, "No, Kitty, you have to touch the buttons. Like this…" Ryou set the microwave to a certain amount of time and started it.
Ah, so this is why I let my hakari live… Bakura mused to himself. He growled, "I hate this technology."
"Once you learn to use it, I'm sure you'll appreciate it," Ryou told him in a positive tone.
"Whatever makes you feel better…" Bakura mumbled, waiting for his popcorn to finish 'microwaffling'.
"So," Ryou sat down on their new couch and inquired, "How did you like your first day of school?"
Bakura winced at the mention of it and questioned, "Am I required to answer that question?"
"I guess not," the 'twin' answered, drinking some tea as he simultaneously studied.
Bakura's popcorn finally finished. He opened the microwave door and snatched the popcorn bag, articulating, "Damn!" and dropping it as it burned his fingers. The thief whined, "Why didn't you warn me it was hot, Ry?"
Ryou replied without looking up from his text as he turned a page, "There are caution signs printed all over the bag."
"The day I read voluntarily is the day I want you to take me to an asylum," Bakura muttered, picking up the popcorn bag from the floor. He fiddled with it until what little patience he had grew thin and ripped it open, popcorn flying everywhere.
Luckily, Kitty skipped along and began eating up the popcorn, making it unnecessary for Bakura to need to clean it up.
"Good Kitty," Bakura praised, leaving the cat to lick up the scraps. He waltzed out of the kitchen with the popcorn bag in hand, about a third of it still left in it for Bakura to snack on. He sat down on the couch second couch adjacent to the one Ryou sat on and did just that.
"If Kitty gets a stomachache, it'll be on your head," Ryou commented.
"Technically, it'll be on our floor, but I get the point," Bakura retorted. After it finished the popcorn, the cat jumped onto Bakura's lap, letting the spirit stroke it.
"Let's study together, 'Kura!" Ryou suddenly suggested. He added with enthusiasm, "It'll be fun!"
Bakura ate some of his savored popcorn and growled, "Ryou, it's the first day of school. What could we possibly have to study?"
"Well, Yugi told me that the chemistry teacher is going to give us a pop quiz tomorrow."
"'Pop quiz'?" Bakura echoed, the definition of such a thing unknown to him.
"Ya," Ryou explained, "A pop quiz is a surprise, short test that the teacher springs on the class to make sure they're studying on a regular basis."
"How infuriating," Bakura hissed, stroking Kitty a little harder with growing rage.
Ryou seemed to translate that as a 'let's study' and poked his nose in his textbook and began reading, "When Mitosis occurs, several organisms…"
While his hakari was busy, Bakura leaned on side of the couch and placed Kitty on his chest. Slowly, Bakura's eyes began to feel heavy. He had woke up earlier than any other day before that. The good thing about Marik's was that he was able to sleep until noon. With Ryou, he would have to wake up at the crack of dawn again and again and again and…
"Bakura?"
Bakura was snoring, lost in dreamland.
Ryou smiled at this and promptly shut his textbook. The mutual sleeping kitten on Bakura's chest made the scene all the more adorable.
The other albino decided to sleep, too. Kitty may have tracked salt and butter all over the floor and Ryou was still not prepared for the pop quiz, but all felt right in the world at that moment in light of the peaceful scene.
Ryou climbed into his bed and mumbled sleepily, "'Night, Kittys…"
-transition-
Cold water was poured over Bakura.
"Ryou, I'm gonna kill-"
But, as Bakura sat up, he discovered that it wasn't Ryou whom had woken him up.
It was the Pharaoh.
"Rise and shiney, 'Kura," Atem sang with an unnerving grin.
"What the hell are you doing in here?" Bakura's narrowed eyes glanced around, "And, what did you do with my hakari?"
"Ryou had to go to school early for some last-minute studying," he continued to smile mercilessly, adding, "So, he asked me to babysit you."
Bakura stood up and attempted to punch the Pharaoh right in the jaw, but Atem moved to the side, using no effort to dodge the assault. Bakura missed and fell onto the carpet, too tired to aim correctly.
"Tisk, tisk," Atem clicked his tongue in a very irritating way, "Violence will get you nowhere."
Bakura growled from the ground, "You're just lucky that it's six in the bloody morning."
Atem ignored this and pulled the other spirit up into a standing position. He ordered, "Now, go get ready before we're late and make our hakaris worry."
"What's the matter, Pharaoh? Someone can't live without the aid of his hakari?" Bakura mocked.
Atem's eyebrow rose skeptically, and he countered, "Well, maybe if we're early, we can make some oatmeal in the 'microwaffle'."
Bakura didn't retort, the point taken.
After he finished getting ready, the thief warned the Pharaoh as they walked out of the building, "I don't care what you tell Ryou, I'm not letting you ride in my car. You walk."
"Don't be like that, 'Kura," Atem poked the other spirit's side, "I know I'm growing on you."
"Yep," Bakura agreed sardonically, "Like a mushroom on a stump."
They exited the building and found that the day was going to be rainy one. Storm clouds hung over the landscape, threatening to release their wrath at any moment. It was already pouring and appearing to become harder. This gave Bakura an idea…
He formed a plan and put it into action.
Bakura gave a sharp yelp as if he were in pain.
"What is it, Bakura?" Atem inquired uncertainly.
The thief pointed back at the building and asked with false urgency, "You did remember to close the door, right?"
"I- I'm not sure," Atem admitted in a stammer.
"Well, go back up there and check!" Bakura exclaimed, straining to sound fearful, "Kitty might get out!"
"Okay, okay," Atem chanted, putting his hands up defensively, "Don't worry. I'll go check. Kitty is going to be fine."
As soon as Atem turned his back and faced away, Bakura sprinted to his Mustang, jumped in, and started up the engine. He backed out of the parking spot quickly.
Atem, halfway back to the door of the building, realized this must have been a trick and turned around just in time to get splashed and drenched with a puddle from Bakura's back tires as he sped off.
Bakura called behind him, "Have a nice walk, Pharaoh!"
-transition-
More than halfway into homeroom, Atem stumbled into the classroom. He was extremely soaked, dripping as he walked. The teacher had finished teaching and the class was conversing, too busy to notice. But, Bakura noticed. How could he not with the death stare Atem was giving him drilling into his head?
Atem stopped directly in front of the thief's desk, his eyes so narrow, they were almost closed.
"Hi there," Bakura greeted with mock cheerfulness. He glanced out the window and saw to his satisfaction that it was raining harder than ever. He quipped, "Wonderful weather we're having."
Atem wanted to hurt him. He really did. He even sensed Yugi behind him, ready to stop him. But, he didn't want to give Bakura the satisfaction. Plus, he was trying to be his friend, which was already proving to take every ounce of his strength. He would get his revenge in time…
The Pharaoh took a shallow breath and responded calmly, "Yes, it is. Beautiful day for a stroll. You should try it some time, Bakura."
The albino spirit shrugged.
Atem walked away, the desire for vengeance still burning inside him.
Yugi followed and gave a sigh of relief, telling Atem in a whisper, "I thought you were really going to hurt Bakura."
Atem gave a genuine smile that felt slightly out of place and asked, "Now, what kind of friend would I be if I did that?"
Author's Note: Yep, defiantly my favorite chapter so far. What about you? Will you do me a great honor and review?