"How did you find me here?"
"I wasn't looking for you, I came here to get away from the others! After you left, they started to hound on me. I ran away like you did."
"Oh, Ryou!"
"Don't worry, I left, I could care less how much I loved my yami, no one treats me that way if I can help it!"
"Let me get you a drink and you can tell me what happened. Tiana, can I work the bar for the rest of the night?"
"After that performance, you could take the rest of the night off."
"No, I need the tips to help pay for some stuff. C'mon Ryou." I hauled him off to the bar, where I got him a White Russian and asked him the basics, was he hurt, did he have any money, etc. He was battered and bruised and he was broke. They had forced him to use his money to fix Yami's place up, and then they turned him into the slave, just like me.
"Whenever we close, I'm taking you back to my place; I've got a room for you there."
"Thanks, Yug, and though it doesn't mean much after 9 months, I'm really sorry."
"You're probably the only person I can forgive. You didn't hurt me like the others, I saw regret in your eyes when you looked at me."
"I feel so stupid!"
"Hey, I forgive you. You're the only one I'm ever gonna forgive. I swore never to help those bastards again, not even it my life depended on it."
"Thank you, Yugi."
"No problem."
The next day, I introduced Ryou to Chris over my usual morning game with him. Chris said he could take the day shift here. We both thanked him greatly and then Ara and Tatiana took us to the mall, wanting Bakura to get a new look for his new job. Something cool, yet something that made him look like he meant business. We ended up getting him navy blue pants with pockets covering them, and then a blue duster to wear over a black button-up shirt with the cuffs left unbuttoned. Casual, yet professional, it was the perfect look for quiet little Ryou.
He woke up early so that he got to work on time, and before he left, he woke me up. I would get up and go run errands before heading over to the shop, which we now spent more time at then my house. After dinner he would go home and relax while I worked the bar unless it was Karaoke Night. The tips and gifts I got from the people I helped and who heard me sing were enough to pay for a small family's living costs for a month!
Life was now very good for the two of us, and I had started to go steady with Ara. Ryou was rebuilding his deck since he left his old one with Bakura, and he got a custom duel disk to match his style. One morning Ryou and I were about to go in at the same time for once, and Tiana gasped when she saw us on the street.
"What are you two doing here still! Oh well, the tournament starts in a few hours, let's get going!"
"What?"
"We're not opening today, there's a big tournament downtown today, players from all over are coming!"
"You want us to go to one of the most likely places the gang will be?"
"I'll be with you guys, if they try to hurt you, I'll make them wish they were never born." She smirked evilly, "Now c'mon, let's go!"
We went to the subway station and went downtown. She led us to a place Ryou and I paled at the site of.
"I didn't know this was here."
"It opens today, that's why."
"It's another Kaiba Land! We're supposed to come to a tournament here?"
"If the Kaiba brothers see up, even in new outfits, we're dead!"
"Chill out." She said as she took out a pair of mirrored sunglasses as we walked into the sun-filled plaza. She and I wove through the crowds towards the front, actually making it to the front. I saw enlarged posters for the tournament hanging around and remembered that you had to sign up for this early.
"Please tell me you didn't sign us both up."
"Of course I did, I mean, it's not as if the Kaiba brothers look over the tournament list themselves-"
"Yes, they do, and now he knows we'll be here somewhere."
"I'm not really worried, there are too many participants here for him to look through them all and find you two, he'll be too busy running this thing."
"Mokuba's running the show today; Seto's playing in the tournament." Ryou said softly.
"How do you- You're right! That was advertised on the poster, a chance to duel against Kaiba Seto, CEO of Kaiba Corp."
"Well, too late now guys, there they are." She pointed towards a limo that the two dark-haired brothers got out. They walked up the red carpet and up to a podium, where Seto announced the beginning of the tournament. The doors opened and the kids flooded in.
We walked up to the sign-in tables and found out who our first opponent were.
"Total stranger." I sighed.
"Hey, I know him from college! This guy will be cake for you!"
"Thanks."
"I've got Honda Hiroto."
"You got Honda!" We both exclaimed
"Well, that means that no one will be there for support."
"'Cept me." Someone grabbed her by the waist from behind, making her gasp in shock.
"Chris!" She yelled in laughter and frustration as she hugged her husband, "Aren't you competing?"
"Nope, I came to watch."
"Who'd ya get, Ryou."
He looked at his card and gulped as a frown found its way onto his face.
"Who?"
He couldn't speak, he just handed me the card that said his first opponent and the meeting place. I gulped.
"Who's he up against?"
"Seto, in the main arena."
"Well, best of luck, Ryou."
"Yeah, and whatever you do, if any of the others are there, don't tell him I'm here." I pleaded.
"Don't worry about that. I won't tell him."
"Good, and also, kick his ass for me."
"Why? Seto wasn't that mean to you was he? He was barely around!"
"I want to face you sometime in here, therefore you have to beat him."
"Alright, I will."
Chris took out three cards and handed one to each of us.
"I usually don't give away rare cards, but you three deserve them."
I looked at mine and gasped, "Where did you get this!"
"Internet auction. I inspected them myself they're the real deal. Each one reflects you. 'The Brain Jacker' card for you, Yugi, because you seem to have a way to persuade people."
"Hey Yugi, remember the 'Monster World' game we had when we first met. Your ability was like that!"
"Oh yeah, I remember that. It was the first time we ever met face to face, Yami and I."
"Those were the good days."
"They were, but they're gone now." I sighed before I looked at the location of my first match and decided to get going.
"Shall we meet up here when we finish our first match?"
"No, didn't you hear? All winners are taken to a private lounge in the back where we stay until our duels."
"Oh, yeah!" I grinned, "Well, see you there."
"You better believe it!" Ara said as she wrapped her arms around me from behind, nearly scaring me out of my wits. I turned around and hugged her back.
"Hey, Ara, did you enter?"
"Yep! I can't wait until I get to duel you, though!"
"Neither can I!" I kissed her before I walked in the direction of my duel, "Above all else, guys, remember we're here to have fun!"
"Yeah, but try not to attract too much attention, Yug!" Ryou called back before I vanished into the crowds.
TBC
That's right, reveiw and I'll post more
I'm bluffing, go ahead...)
I slipped the card Chris had given me into my deck before I sighed and started towards the main arena. I was happy that he had given me a rare and valuable card, but I was curious as to how I was reflected by the card. It was 'Dedication through Light and Darkness', a spell card that related to Dark Magician. Wait a second – how did Chris know I had Dark Magician of Chaos in my deck? If I draw it, I keep it in my hand, I never play it. I even went downtown to buy it instead of buying it from him.
I approached the player entrance to the main arena and saw a group of people near the door talking to Seto. It was the old gang. I walked right past them and opened the door with my pass before I heard a voice I never wanted to hear again.
"Ryou, is that really you, hikari?" That tone was not as I had expected it, but I didn't care.
I stopped but didn't turn around, "Yes, I am Ryou, though not the same person you knew from before." I pulled my deck out of the holder on my belt as I walked through the door.
"Oh, Ryou..." Bakura's voice sounded so genuine, but I knew it couldn't be. I heard someone walk up next to me and as the door shut.
"Ryou, do you know what you did to them when you left?"
"Do you know what they did to me, what they did to Yugi, as to drive us both to the breaking point!" I snapped at the tall executive, "Or did you just not care that they were abusing us and using us?" I turned and walked through the tunnel, "Let's get this over with, I want to get into the lounge and see my friends."
"Like Yugi?"
"He's here?" I asked, my voice as genuine as could be, "The only reason I'm here is because someone else entered me and I don't forfeit because I might see some unfriendly faces. I can't imagine why the boy who almost burned down the Kame Game Shop out of business would come here."
"You know he's here, and I know you know. You were talking to him before you came here."
"Did Mokuba tell you that from your usual perch, watching everyone up in a video room?" I felt a hard grab my shoulder hard.
"Hate me for not being there, but don't hold a grudge against my brother, too!" He hissed as he squeeze my shoulder so hard it hurt. I didn't budge, still.
"I don't hate either of you. You two didn't know what they did to me, I left so quickly. Yugi stayed and endured it for years before he left, and you did nothing about it! He, the person who has saved you and your precious little brother repeatedly and never heard so much as a 'thank you' from you, suffered in front of the eyes of you and your brother, and Mokuba at first tried to do something about it like me. You did nothing, for Ra knows what pathetic reason!" I snarled as a tear threatened to fall, "You were the only one that could have really done something about it, and you let him down!"
I turned and started to walk away, "Well, he's better off now."
"How much better?"
"He has a house, a good, fun job, and friends who he can count on."
"I'm happy for him." Seto said, sounded defeated. This made me turn around, and frown in confusion.
"I'll tell him after I beat you."
"No need, I forfeit."
"No, Seto, I won't accept that! I want to beat you fair and square!"
"You already did. I'm forfeiting not because I want you to win, but because I won't be able to focus and play my regular game."
He pulled out a radio and pushed a button, "Mokuba."
"Yes, Seto."
"Announce that I forfeited the match and Ryou won."
"What! Why, big brother!"
"Something came up." He said before he turned to me, "Go on out, that way the official forfeit can be made."
I shook my head at the ceiling as I walked out to look around at all the people. A few seconds later a game official announced the forfeit, and I was escorted to the winners' lounge. It looked like some fancy party.
The main TV screen flickered to life and Mokuba's angry face came on the screen, "Ryou, what did you do to my brother!"
Hello. Review or I won't update. BTW, I need some ideas/inspiration for songs.
-Ara, Goddess of the Broken