The first thing that you noticed about the ranch was that it was quiet. Not the complete silence of a graveyard, but the silence of a still, slow moving lake only cut through with the sounds of loons calling out in their haunting cry. The loon had one of the most marvelous sounds you could ever hear. It was a symphony of sadness and longing. Of finding yourself and those who liked you for you. That, at least, is how I heard the loon's trill.
Just as the loon pierced the still lake, laughter would pierce the quiet acreage and the wind whistled through both. Magnifying and carrying all the sounds it caught within it's depths. The wind carried with it the amazing scent of sweet grass that always tantalized my nose when I was on the ranch. Everything about life seemed to get better and brighter the more you looked around the fields, smelled the air and listened to the noises. It was perfect.
And my memories of it failed to compare to the real thing. They were never able to capture the magic that swirled throughout the entire area that Chris owned. The magic was what was really attractive about the place. It magnified the beauty with whispers of happy times. I have never heard tell of unhappy times at the ranch while Chris owned it. Well, besides when I didn't want to leave it when I was little and all the complaining that my relatives had done there.
I stepped out of my beat-up car and pulled my bags out after me. I closed my eyes and turned my face into the wind, feeling the breeze sweep over my face and caress me. I sighed in utter contentment before closing the door quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace. I walked up the four steps to the patio, they creaked loudly and gave everything a supernatural feel. That was something Chris enjoyed and he wouldn't let Scott or anyone get them fixed.
I started across towards the door, looking around the deck just to find something to see. The only thing that was new was a porch swing. His old one had finally been taken down when Scott's niece had nearly broken her leg when it fell from the supports attached to the roof.
Before I got to knock on the door, I heard laughter filter out from one of the many open windows. I recognized it as Chris's carefree, lilting chuckles. He was in a very happy mood, and, being the young man I am, I didn't want to think about why he might be so happy. Scott's deep laughter followed. It was lush and spoke of aristocracy. Well, he did come from a wealthy family. It was family money, too. It had been added upon by all Scott's fore fathers, added to each generation so that it eventually equaled quite a sum and his family was quite respected because of it.
I smiled again and knocked on the door. I started humming to myself as I waited. I heard Scott tell Chris to go get it and Chris, petulantly, refusing to. I laughed at the childish-ness of it. My dear uncle was worse then I was. And he was almost forty. I wondered why Chris didn't want to answer the door when I had told him to expect me at three. He had to know it was me. Was he expecting someone else that he would rather not deal with? Something nagged at the back of my mind again, just like it had before I went into LaFae's café. But was I one to wonder what it meant? Was I one to think that it was my intuitions or fate and destiny? No, of course not. We make our own futures by the choices we make. That's what I firmly believed.
"Oy, Chris! Open the door would ya?" I yelled loudly. I was granted my request as the large wood door was swung open and Chris's smiling, though anxious, face appeared before me. He beamed then pulled me into a hug while he took my bag and handed it to Scott.
"Sure, I'll take his bag." Scott grumbled as he allowed Chris and me to get into the bright, open living room.
"That's a good boy. Keep it up and you might get a treat," Chris teased. I smiled smally then realized what he could mean and gagged.
"Joey!" Chris fired in my general direction as his own brown gaze was fixed on an uncomfortable looking Scott. "I hadn't even thought of it that way." he muttered under his breath, seductively towards Scott. But I somehow managed to hear it and nearly choked on my own spit.
"'Kay, I know ya, like, love each other and stuff, but keep that to a small amount while I'm around you, would ya?" I pleaded, turning wide eyes to each in turn. I was mature enough to handle it, and I knew what they must do, I mean they had just proved what I knew they must do when alone, but I really didn't need to see - or hear - the only one that was like a real father to me doing that stuff. Kissing was okay. Hugging was okay. Whispering to each other when I wouldn't hear, was okay. But not talking about such personal matters in front of me was a must.
"Sure, Joey. I've been looking for a reason to join the celibacy club." Scott grinned over Chris's head and winked at me, his clear blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Why, I never would have known you were so eager to join it," Chris glared at his boyfriend and I decided to intervene before I learned stuff about their bedroom life I didn't want to.
I cleared my throat. "Uh, guys? Crossing that line again," I informed, glancing around the room, settling for the floor. It was a light colored wood and it was pretty scuffed up. I guessed Scott couldn't convince Chris to get it buffed. Or maybe he liked it that way, I know I did. but what did it matter? That was going off the topic at hand.
"So sorry, Joey." Chris said in a way that had me believing he wasn't. What a weird uncle I had. "Anyway, while Scott takes your bag to your room - the same one you always want, okay?" I nodded and grinned. My room, it was mine since I was the one who used it the most. And it was my favorite color, blue. "While he does that, we'll get you something to eat. I know you must be hungry."
My grin grew. My uncle knew me well. Well, everyone knew I liked to eat. "Sure. Whatcha got?"
The afternoon passed easily with us laughing and having fun like we always did. Scott kept glancing at his watch or one of the clocks scattered around. I wondered why but didn't comment on it as Chris hooked up his game system and challenged me to a race. Naturally, I agreed. Why wouldn't I when he said I couldn't beat him?
Well, I showed him. I beat him two and a half out of four times. Then fourth game Scott jabbed me in the ribs as Chris was about to lose. As a result I veered off course and crashed into the brick wall.
"No Fair! You used your boyfriend!" I yelled, jumping up and pushing Scott to the floor where I preceded to jab him in the ribs. Chris stood back and laughed until Scott said something to him in French that I didn't understand. I'm not sure I wanted to know what he said, Chris looked pretty shocked at the proposition of it.
"All, right. Joey you proved your point, what ever that was. Did you have one?" Chris asked curiously.
I stood up and helped Scott up. "I'm not sure," I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment before I heard the thunder roar and the rain pelt against the house. We ran around and closed the windows before the rain could get in and damage the wood floors. I really didn't care but the other two did.
We all flopped on the sofa's tired from running up the staircases and finding all the many windows and trying to jam the closed when they liked to stick. The only thing that broke the long silence was the panting that receded gradually after ten minutes. The thunder and rain sounded in the background. The clocks ticked loudly as the silence grew uncomfortable. Scott looked at one and I followed. It was five o'clock! On cue my stomach growled. Chris laughed and Scott shook his head.
"Come on, I'll go make you something to eat. What do you want?" Chris pushed himself up with renewed energy. I sat up and narrowed my eyes, thinking that question over thoughtfully.
"How about spaghetti? Or steak and potatoes, or hamburgers or-" Scott laughed at me. I figured if he was offering, why not go the whole way. "How about pizza?"
"I'll see what I can find." Chris headed off and Scott followed him. I was left alone which weren't much. They really weren't important. Since they weren't, I fell asleep.
I'm not sure how long I left, but I woke up to the doorbell ringing. I bounded up and over to it. "I'll get it!" I yelled casually. In the kitchen I heard a pan hit the floor, then what I guessed was glass shattering. I sighed. Less food.
As I opened the door, I heard to vague curses. I wondered what was wrong. I soon figured it out. As I opened the door I found a waterlogged Seto Kaiba waiting there.
"Kaiba! What are you doing here?" I snarled. What the hell was going on?
"I'm not taking a shower, puppy. Let me in." Kaiba glared and shoved his way inside. I just stared at him. I was supposed to some here to relax and Kaiba shows up? What was Scott and Chris thinking? They knew I hated him.
"Chris!" I bellowed. "Scott! Get your asses out here!" I was shocked and that always appeared as angry. Kaiba was looking at me so superiorly, I wanted to smack him. That would get me no where. I've been down that road. It isn't pretty for me.
"What's the matter, Joe?" Chris asked innocently, but I noticed how his eyes shifted. He had known about this! I looked at Scott. I got the feeling Scott had planned all this, but I wasn't sure why he did. What good would come of it?
"What the hell do you think the matter is?" I flung my arm in Kaiba's direction, for the first time noticing his bags. "Oh, hell no. If he's staying I'm leaving!" I started to head off towards my room, but Scott stopped me.
"Joey. Chris just made a large meal for you. If you don't stay and eat it, I'll make it that you don't get another job in Domino." Scott threatened. There was more to it then the food. And Scott knew I badly needed a job. Son of a gun.
"Fine. I eat, then I leave." I stormed towards the kitchen, Chris followed me. I turned to look at him. His hands pleaded with me to forgive him, though his stance and eyes suggested he was annoyed with me.
"Joey, stay. you can't go on the roads in this, it'll kill you. At least stay the night. I expect Kaiba will feel the same. Joey, for me? Your favorite uncle?" Playing that one was like blackmail!
"You're the only uncle I have that's sane," I grumbled but agreed to stay the night. But I was still as mad as hell at my uncle and his lover. I just wondered what they had planned. Chris obviously didn't really want to do it. At least he didn't at first. That was why he was anxious. He knew Kaiba was coming. But now he seemed bound determined to make me and Kiaba stay. I sat down to eat and think it over.
"Why did you bring me here, if the mutt was going to come too? You know I can't stand him." Kaiba inquired, his face hard. And he was annoyed. Not only was he soaked, and all of his bags, but he had to stay with the mutt because the road was washed out and he couldn't get back to the city. He knew he should have stayed home.
"I didn't know Chris had invited his nephew here," Scott shrugged. "Anyway, what difference does it make? You came to relax." he pointed out.
"You think I can relax with him around?" Seto raised his eyebrows and faced his friend head on. Something was going down and he hated not knowing what it was. If it had been someone keeping something from him at his company, they wouldn't have a job anymore. To bad that didn't apply here,
Scott didn't reply out loud, but he thought, No, that's the point. "You can stay in here," he opened the door to a room rather close to Joey's. "The bathroom is down there, I'll get you some dry clothes." He walked off and entered Joey's room. He pulled out some pajama pants and a t-shirt that he figured would fit and then gave them to Seto. He conveniently forgot to tell him where the clothes had come from.
I walked to my room after eating almost everything Chris put in my sight. He was really a good cook. I'd have to tell him that after I decided to forgive him. Scott and Chris were in the living room and I didn't care where Kiaba was. But I found myself thinking of him. He had looked rather . . . charming soaked to the bone, his clothes sticking to him everywhere . . .
Hold that thought! What am I thinking? I cannot be having those thoughts about someone would made my life a living hell ever since I met him.
I was so annoyed with my thoughts I didn't notice the object of them stepping out of the bathroom. Just as I had managed to get most of those thoughts from my mind. He has to go and look like this! He's actually wearing normal clothes. They look good on him. And familiar. Wait-
"Where did you get my clothes from!"
TBC
Empress Mara: Hey y'all. Sorry for the long wait. I was sick and had a lot of school owrk to do. Hope ya like this chapter. I don't. I hate it. But it did sorta go the way I wanted it to. Thanks to those who reviewed last time. Do it again and I'll give you your own private island.
a little demon pops out of a Hell portal: Does it matter if the island is in the arctic and you have to share it with a few other people and an angry polar bear? little demon smirk with his pointy teeth sticking out
EM: Eh, don't listen to him. Review please and you'll get your own - private - tropical island in the Caribbean
Demon: She lies, but review anyway. That way she won't torture me!
EM- mutters: That's what he thinks... evil chuckles
Bye until next time! Review! I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!