Kath: Last chapter was not enough. We need more than just a few thousand words.
Anna: Yeah, I underestimated the chapter, I got it. I just didn't want too many breaks, damnit. *pouts*
Draga: Oh, I see no difference between the lengths.
Anna: You have the summary dumbnuts.
Draga: OI!
Skies: So what? You finally went with my advice. 11 pages is good enough.
Kath: It was only 4 thousand not our usual 9 thousand.
Skies & Draga: And that's bad. . . (D) why?
Kath & Anna: *sighs* (A) I give.
A/N: I have no idea how soon I'll been done with this chapter but I have awesome news. . . For me. I wanna brag! I'm going on a cruise with a friend and her family and I'm so sict! By the way Kishisu means Spirit in Japanese.
~In a dying world, we are so much more
Than money and clothes and things we can't afford
You must find a way to break down this door
Then you'll find yourself in a brighter world
We're gonna change your mind, look inside yourself
And find hate, find fear; your life is over here
You want to fade from time, reaching out
From the inside, your face will disappear with years~
- From The Inside by Hollow Point Heroes; Hollow Point Heroes
Chapter 4: Fading Time; Beautiful Lie
"Fuzakeru na!"
Jounochi's voice echoed the long hallway in S.H. HQ making heads turn from the newest additions that Domino asked for after the recent battle. His normally cheery face was seething with rage as Yuugi let out a sigh, rubbing at his temples, and Ryou was cringing at the yell that he now knew was collecting bystanders' glances. Jounochi turned to stomp down the hall so he could get to the elevators that led to the top floor where the Council was located but Ryou grabbed his arm and tried to talk him out of it.
"Jou listen," Ryou begged, holding on to the flailing appendage as Jounochi tried to shake him off to give those old geezers a piece of his mind. "We need this no matter how much you disagree."
When Jounochi gave him the are-you-fucking-kidding-me look Ryou gave a sheepish grin that only made him snort and jerked his arm out of his grasp. "No way in hell, Ry."
Just as he turned away Ryou pounced on him, locking his arms around Jou's waist and pulled back, in – what he thought – was a strenuous pull. Jounochi stopped, staring down at the arms before moving, unceasing, having no problem moving against the weak attack and Ryou almost cried at the fact that his body was effortlessly pulled along even after trying his hardest to keep the mage in place. After a few strides, Ryou realizing he wasn't getting through to him, he turned to his leader who was nursing a small headache, almost feeling bad for him.
"Yuugi!" He cried, catching said paladin's attention, and grunted when Jou took another step. "Help me out here!"
Said adult just gave him a blank look and walked closer to the weird commotion his team was putting on display to the new generation that looked out the doorways of their classrooms. Ryou gave a small smile, encouraging him to take part in assisting him only for it to falter as he stopped a foot or two away. Jou felt the arms around him stagger and he gave a pause, turning his head to look over his shoulder only to come across the dulled and unamused gaze from his leader and he shuddered at the look.
"Ryou," Yuugi started slowly and calmly, words coming out smoothly and clearly even within the commotion of teens around them, "You forget that I told you he wouldn't like this."
"Yeah but –" Ryou started.
"If Jou here wants to burst into the top dogs and screech their ears off because he couldn't handle a little change," Yuugi said, venom and threats dripping off his words that made Ryou and Jounochi shrink as the former turned around to stare at the small adult in the eyes. "Then he can and we'll see him every month to tell him how we're doing in federal prison until we either die in battle while he rots in jail or join him."
Jounochi felt a stab of guilt at the harsh words as Ryou looked at his leader in shock. Yuugi gave a pointed look to those that stared to edge closer to the bubble the sea of onlookers gave – encouraging the young teens to start moving faster to get to their classes before they too become a part of his wrath – before placing the gaze back on his two, vaguely trembling, subordinates.
Jounochi opened his mouth before snapping in shut, slightly amused at the sight of seeing his petite buddy display his rare assertiveness that he knew Yuugi always had but just never thought it would ever be used on him, considerably put off by the presently pissed paladin. He knew where Yuugi was coming from, showing that he had control of his wild comrades after losing three of them in a battle. He heard the rumors that went around now for the past three weeks: that is was the young paladin's fault for choosing to turn tail and run, leaving his friends behind to the mercy of the Shadow Monsters that plagued their world – for scampering away with his tail between his legs. Honestly, he knew that to keep Yuugi as a leader and not join someone else's unit that he had to be on his best behavior. He wasn't stupid. But that didn't mean he liked having to show submissiveness in from of others, especially in front of new recruits.
Jounochi was tired of constantly fighting. Fighting the rumors to keep his unit's name from being stained. Fighting to keep his last relative alive. Fighting for his small world to not implode on him as he tried to fix the small things repetitively without knowing that it was still going to burn no matter what he did in the end. He was just too goddamn tired. And he knew he wasn't the only one.
But that didn't mean that he was going to roll over and let those old geezers run him over with their ridiculous demands.
"Yuugi," Jounochi said slowly, calculatedly, watching for a sign that he over crossed boundaries, unknowingly. Said adult looked at him with a cool amethyst gaze, thoughts interrupted as the orbs glazed over while their owner people-watched, and he searched those eyes, regarding the emotions he saw inside them. Finding was he wanted, Jounochi finally turned around, facing the heated spirit he perceived inside the young adult's stare and Ryou's slackened arms fell away to return to his sides. "You honestly cannot tell me you agree with this-this thoughtless – "
"Ill-advised," Ryou jumped in, taking his stance on Jou's side but the tone he used showed that he wasn't against the paladin's choice. Yuugi rolled his eyes as he put in his two cents but couldn't stop the small smile that strummed across his lips and Ryou subconsciously relaxed, stepping closer to his friend of almost four years so that they all made a small obtuse triangle.
"Insensitive," Yuugi sighed out, his body untightening, tone tired but playful and he gave a challenging look to his blonde friend, eyebrow lifted and everything. And Jou didn't disappoint as he gave a mischievous smirk that rivaled his own.
Ryou knew what game was being played, happy that his friends had their good humor back, and he so wasn't looking forward to it.
"Selfish," Jou shot to his tri-haired friend.
"Inconsiderate," Yuugi's smile broadening at the fact that his friend bit the bait.
"Mercilessly."
"Unconcerningly?" Ryou asked, finally catching up with the game. Yuugi and Jou looked at him. It was a double dose of THAT look, the look that practically screams "are you stupid" and the albino haired healer recognized that he lost.
"Not a real word," Yuugi simply said, his eyes kind but words hard-hearted, before giving Jounochi his answer. The word coming out like a shotgun. "Unsympathetically."
"Heartlessly."
"Callously."
"Uncompromisingly," Jou said breezily.
By this time Ryou almost felt the urge to resort to an "ooo" when Jounochi got out his word; his tongue tripping over itself to get the reply out fast enough, his smile so contagious that Yuugi's answered in kind. Speaking of his leader, Yuugi's face became stumped at the term, mind slightly in shock over the fact that Jou of all people could keep up this easily, his smile wavering a bit as his brainpower worked in overdrive to come up with a better word than the one just given.
Within the silence that Yuugi had given, Ryou looked between the two and his eyes widen considerably as the game tipped more in Jou's favor and the possibility of Yuugi losing came to mind. This revelation almost made him miss the small smirk that formed on Yuugi's lips. Almost.
Jounochi smile was filled self-satisfaction and he was practically bouncing on his feet with the thought of him winning finally after so many years of losing against this little King of Games. He saw Ryou give him a look full of pity and his smile slipped of his face within seconds, whipping his head to the little demon that gave him an almost condemning smirk, and he remember at that moment the exact reason why he didn't loosen up and relax around the petite panda in front of him.
"Undependable." Yuugi said with a relaxed stance, leaning on his right leg.
"Unreliable." Jou's voice becoming desperate as he searched through the different words in his mind.
"Capricious." Yuugi's smile became sharper.
Jou was starting to sweat and, deciding to abandon ship, went on a different tangent. Unfortunately, that just gave Yuugi more options, leaving the possibility of cornering the panda-human and winning in to obliteration. "Impulsive."
"Whimsical." Arms became crossed and Jou silently cursed when he saw the move, aware that he was deliberately dancing to his wishes.
"Misguided."
"Imprudent." Yuugi's tone was in the progress of becoming airy, deceptively indifferent, and (though he knew that the cocky ass knew that he knew that said ass was trying to get a rise out of him and Jou didn't want to rise to the bait dangling at him tauntingly but damnit that fucking smirk was annoying) Jou felt his face flushed in response. He so wanted to beat the little shit at his game.
"Indiscreet!"
"Injudicious."
"Reckless," Jou slammed out, grasping at straws, and when Yuugi's smirk widen to the point that it was basically splitting his face in half Jou groaned, knowing that he lost and played to Yuugi's tune by experience alone.
"Foolhardily." Yuugi practically purred at the surrendered stance that his friend made, his words meant to be perceived as another meaning.
Silence once again fell on the three. Ryou having his mouth open and staring incredulously at his two friends' overly competitive nature, not understand why his so called normal friends did this constantly. Jou was racking his brain for a word, any word, that could beat his comrade and turn the tables in his favor. He looked up, seeing the relaxed and slightly cocky state his challenger was in as if he knew that Jou didn't have any more tricks up his sleeves – which he didn't but that was beside the point, and glared into laughing amethyst.
It was almost a full 30 seconds before Jounochi finally found a word deep within the crevasses of his mind and he opened his mouth to declare it, expression determined, just as he noticed the sharp intelligence slip up behind dark eyelashes. Said intelligence exposed that at least five answers would be presented to counter any retort he would give, all exceptional and unique as the one before, and Jounochi felt exasperation but he coincided his defeat with a reluctant sigh.
A smile chased away the frown when Jou saw the small proud grin Yuugi had at the tiny accomplishment and he grabbed the adult around his neck before giving him the worst nuggy ever given to date. Yuugi cried out, tone joyous and annoyed, as he worked his way out of the headlock with a sharp jab from his skinny elbows after finally maneuvering an arm between them. Finally, after a grunt and a disgruntle squawk, the paladin found himself trying to tame the nest that he called hair a little more before giving up and he looked at the bent over wheezing blonde.
"My spleen," Jounochi groaned out, his voice coming soft and painfilled but he glared good-humoredly at the little menace that he called friend.
"Spleen's farther down Jou," Ryou said exasperatedly. Jou went for Ryou, planning to give him the same treatment, when a throat cleared pointedly at them. Each turned to the sound at their own pace to see a displeased teacher staring them down from behind her librarian glasses. She pointedly smacked a piece pf paper to her door before slamming said object closed, the three watching her turn to observe her class like a hawk through the window before turning their attention to the sign.
"Texting," the mage read out loud, "don't disturb."
Ryou slapped the back of his head before pulling on his ear to lead him away with Yuugi follow close behind, "testing, Jou. It's testing."
"It's in English!" The blonde yelped out, feeling dignified.
Yuugi let out a small chuckle, barely audible but he knew his friends could hear it easily with their acute hearing that they honed to a fine point after years of practice within the school. The affection within his chest faded at the reminder of the place they were at. He observed at the white plaster, granite marble, grey metal and the few memories he could withstood haunted him behind closed eyelids as he looked away with a grimace.
"So now that Obelisk's power is no longer infinite, it can be easily trampled by Ra."
The paladin froze, face paling and his hands trembled. His breathing becoming erratic as his vision swayed and the world blurred together in a vicious cycle, colors burning into his retinas. Sweat beaded on his face, slipping down his back, and his hair stood on end. His heart fluttered painfully in his chest at the old memory that wiggled out of his grasp, his breath catching in his throat, making breathing near impossible. He stared at his feet, body swaying, as his vision darkened.
"Guess you missed your chance Yuugi."
He heard a loud thump that filtered faintly in his mind, barely processing that he fell against a row of lockers off to his side, as he mentally flinched away from the one memory he didn't want to remember. His hands covered his ears and he slid to his knees, covering his face and sight from the world around him as if the move could stop the onslaught of memories.
"So Yuugi's. . .gonna lose."
Those faces. Their fear. Just the discouragement and distress that filled their eyes at the small voice that said the one thing on their mind within that very second. Their illusions of him falling apart at the seams as they all registered that they couldn't save their small home. The regret and frustration filled him to the bone at the looks aimed at him. Their disbelief and hope making him want to vomit as they pushed everything on to him and he had to carry the world alone on his frail shoulders, trying not to reach out but still screaming for his yami to help: whoever that was.
"Time for you to fall. By the mighty hand of Ra!"
He was there. Facing the blonde Shade onto of Kaiba Corp. tower. Giving his all and still failing. He knew he would not succeed after the third turn, that everything he did was within Marik's calculation. And when said teen, at the time, was threatening him that if he continued to beat him, Mariku would be lost to the dark, eaten away by the shadows that surrounded them Yuugi was thrown for a lope, unable to make a move. He tried to calculate a million different ways to win and still have Mariku live. He couldn't risk letting that happen. He didn't want to be responsible for a life that he could have saved just so billions could live in peace; it wasn't right. It isn't right.
But at that moment he forgot that there was more than just two options.
If he was stronger he could have called out to Mariku and pulled him back from the brink of destruction. If he had said the right things, knew what cards to play, could read his opponents like he was supposed to then people wouldn't have died. If he had lived up to the expectations forced on him blood wouldn't have been spilled. If he was the Pharaoh, if he had his Yami, if he was like his crush and idol Atemu then maybe, just maybe, he could have won. Could have save billions and one.
But he wasn't. He wasn't the Pharaoh. He didn't have his Yami. And Atemu was dead like the rest. He saw it like the rest of his family. Crimson eyes flashing in the dark as he was pulled away by a Gil Garth, his voice yelling for Yuugi to run, that he'd be okay. He wasn't okay. He didn't show up on any searches he made in the HQ system whenever he could hack into it. And after six years, Yuugi finally found some strength to finally look at that memory and accept that his childhood friend was forever dead.
Yuugi felt warmth on his cheek and he fingered it, slightly appalled but mostly staring at the water on his fingers in wonder when he realized that he was crying. How long had it been since he cried? The battle at Beika city*? Battle city? Pegasus's castle? Before his grandfather gave him the Millennium puzzle? Suddenly everything hit him at this revelation and he covered his face with his hands, thankful that as a child when he was bullied he learned to cry without making a sound.
Jounochi knew something was wrong as soon as he turned around to see terror, panic, smeared on Yuugi's face, noticing that the adult wasn't following when he asked a question. His pupils contracting until they were nothing but pinpricks and, as Jounochi reached out a hand to steady him when he noticed him swaying, he fell, his knees unable to keep him up any longer.
"Shit!" Jounochi barely jerked his hand in between the space Yuugi's head was sealing off involving it and the lockers (metal lockers mind you) before said appendage was slammed into. Letting out a hiss, mentally agreeing with himself he would have bruise, he gently eased the boy off the grey paint and moved his own body out of the way just as arms wrapped around tri-colored hair and block small ears. Unable to understand what was going on exactly, Jou gawked up to Ryou with imploring eyes as the albino got closer and he rolled his eyes before pushing the blonde towards their friend.
"Pick him up and let's find the nearest bathroom to capture," Ryou said softly and watched as he nodded sharply with a grimaced at the thought of conquering a filthy place so his friend didn't have to worry about any scorning looks aimed at him. Ryou took a hold of Yuugi's right arm and placed it around his shoulders as Jou did the same on the other side and, with a nod of agreement, they both stood (Jou slouched so that he didn't have to hurt the smaller adults by his taller bulk). Though, now that he thought about it, Jou could have lifted his leader easily in his arms.
Apparently thinking the same, the mage told him he could handle it and Ryou relented his hold so that he could basically throw the smaller into a princess hold. Small hands grabbed at his faded green jacket and he gave a flinch when a head burrowed into his shoulder but, giving a sigh when he felt a small damp spot grow at the spot, relented, understanding why Ryou looked away when he picked up Yuugi up after getting a good look at his face.
"Another reason why I didn't want to be here," Jou lamented to himself and Ryou gave a timid smile, slightly confused at what the hell he meant. He snorted at the look, knowing that Ryou was puzzled about why he said that and promised to tell him when they were behind closed doors and not in the middle of a hallway where anyone could see. "Do you remember where the nearest one is Ry?"
Ryou gave him a look, identifying that Jou was virtually referring to his long ass time in the school while his two seniors were only in there for a year at the most. So, what if he failed the summoning test twice when he was trying to be a mage only to realize much later that he was more suited for a healer. It was three years; a year more than he should have been in the program. He wasn't a super genius like the two of them. He huffed before stepping forward at a trudging pace, knowing that Jou was only trying to lighten the mood.
"Oi!" Jounochi scampered after him, trying not to jostle his cargo too much, ignorant that he just pissed his kōhai off. "Man, what's his problem?"
(The Shadow Games: Shadow World)
By the time Yuugi finally able to get a hold of himself within the sea of his mind, a full twenty minutes had passed and he was not pleased. When he realized that he had a mental breakdown in the middle of a hallway surrounded by students (students that tend to gossip) in front of his team (dare he mention) at a school he graduated at the top of his fucking class, well Yuugi didn't know how to act. He pretty much reached the bottom of the barrel. He could feel that he was in a lap, feeling a muscled chest under head breathe and rumble as the owner talked in a hushed voice to another, and he venomously fought down a flush at the compromised position he was in. He was just thankful that he held no attraction to his blonde friend what so ever (though he really held no desire for anyone at the moment).
"You alright?" Jou asked – he realized that Yuugi was coherent when he felt the heater suddenly turn to blazing on his neck. He felt a small nod and released the waist he held onto, giving the adult the option to leave when he had pulled himself together. Yuugi was eternally grateful to the gesture that he vowed to duel Jou again when they got back to their commons. "Yuugi. . ."
"Give me a minute," he cringed at the husky quality his voice adopted, embarrassment embedded in the tone and he felt Jou grunt, a hand patting his head and Yuugi almost lost it again at the simple action; reminding him of his recently lost friends.
"Take as much time as you need," Ryou's voice whispered from his left and Yuugi blinked out from behind blonde strands to see the gentle smile aimed at him, making him answer in kind. Ryou rubbed his back soothingly as he continued, "We've been moving too fast and too constantly for any of us to take a breather. Especially you Yuugi."
At Jou's slight nod at the words, agreeing whole-heartedly, Yuugi let out a sniffle but beamed at his friends, appreciating them more than words could describe. They sat in a small bubble of silence until Yuugi finally understood what was making him feel uneasy. And he asked the question that had been dancing just out of his reach.
"Why are we in a bathroom?"
(The Shadow Games: Shadow World)
Melvin Ikari did not appreciate having to wait.
He looked at the clock on the wall, glaring when it showed that three minutes had passed since he last had a glaring match. So far, the clock had twenty-two wins. He groaned, before throwing himself on the itchy couch that was more uncomfortable than comfortable for the nth time within the span of fifteen minutes.
He looked up at a snicker, expecting the one he was waiting for, and looked at the door only to snort when it didn't reveal any of its secrets. Then who. . . Melvin looked around, eyes resting on two other occupants that had been there before him. He narrowed his eyes at the 18-year-old that was practically bouncing in his spot on the arm rest and wondered (yet again) why such a young child was with in the new recruits.
Two weeks ago, he got a file with the name Shade Hunters Fire Phoenix Unit 16 written on it and instructions that he was moving from his current unit to this one within two weeks. On that Tuesday, he was told to wait in the lounge located on the fifth floor of HQ within the school at 13.15 and not a second late. He, being the rebel he was, arrived ten minutes passed the scheduled time and yet not one instructor or his new renown team members were here.
'Talk about legends,' Melvin snorted. He took in his teammates that were waiting with him and, so far, he wasn't impressed.
The hyperactive teen in his seat looked like he missed puberty, skin cleared of acne (which slightly ticked him off because he had to deal with that all the fucking time back then) and was a healthy glow of light tan. His onyx hair was long and out grown, almost as if he really needed to go to a salon and cut off at least ten inches in order have some resemblance of a guy, but surprisingly it wasn't unkempt or unclean and the long bangs fell into wide plum eyes. He watched the teen try to fight a smile and settle down before he would start to continue the dance and he almost wanted to tell the kid to take a piss before he unloaded. He wore an old neon, slap in the face I'm-here, heavy yellow jacket-vest (which was two sizes too small on his slim trunk) over an olive green long sleeves shirt that looked as if it had seen better days. Baggy combat pants covered his long legs that, in his opinion, had way too many pockets for comfort and a small leather belt kept them up. He tapped his worn black and white converse on the luminol floor in an annoying beat that was irregular and changed ever four measures. To finish his look, he had a locket in the shape of a card game he remembered seeing before the apocalypse happened and it leaped and bounded with him. In summary, he was attractive if you were okay with the wild play type but he also knew by watching that the teen was intelligent and, to be even chosen that young to be part of this unit, he had to be strong. Melvin smiled, he liked competition.
He looked over at the other one who was leaning against the counter behind him in the small kitchen part of the lounge. Melvin wanted to say that he was at least a year or two older than him but was at least 5 feet 2. His physique was small and lacking in intimidation but when he looked into hooded violet they flashed dangerously and an involuntary shiver racked down his spine at the darkness that swirled in those eyes. Golden strands framed his heart shaped face from underneath the green hood of his green, white, and red plaid hoodie, but he could make out braid outlines from the cloth sitting on his head. His complexion looked washed out from under the florescent light but the color he wore helped him not look like a zombie. A white undershirt was showing from underneath the hoodie that was falling over navy green pants, said clothing was tucked into tan combat boots. His hands were covered by faded black leather gloves and he tapped them on his crossed arms. Eyes flared to the clock too before they closed and the adult turned his face back to the ground, eyebrows creasing in thought.
Melvin himself wasn't a push over. He stood at 5' 8" and had enough muscle mass to put most the new recruits to shame but he also wasn't fooled into thinking he was the strongest. The only reason why he was a better fighter than most was because he knew the basics and had an excellent balanced core. He was more a speed fighter than a one-hit-wonder. His sandy blond hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, it was spiking out down his back and on top of his head. His face was more round than angular but he, by no accounts, had baby fat only just had one of those faces that lied about his age. His lavender eyes held more mischievous than what was called normal but coming from Egypt, with a tan darker than anyone here in this small town and a fashion than boarded on low cut and crop shirts, he thought he'd just fuck it and fuck the system. Right now, he was wearing one of his more modest clothing; sea blue jacket than ended under his heart, baby teal wife beater, dark blue jeans (ripped at the knees and flayed at the ends), and black Nikes. He'd forgo his usually gold accessories and left his buster blade at his room.
Now that Melvin focused on the others, they left everything that would show what sector they worked for before given this chance to change units. Put out that he didn't know who was what and he wasn't going to start that awkward conversation of "meet and greet", he glanced at the clock again only to see that two minutes had passed this time.
Melvin resisted the urge to growl and throw the clock off the wall. He really, really hated having to wait for someone else.
(The Shadow Games: Shadow World)
"You sure about these guys," Jou whispered to his leader besides him as the three crowded around the small window embedded into the door, the sign above their heads read 'Teacher's Lounge'. He looked at his soon-to-be teammates and, even after reading all about their accomplishments, he still wasn't impressed. Honestly, he felt insulted at the choices that the Council made and was even affronted that his pal agreed with them after reading the files and hearing what the geezers said to him.
"Yes Jou," Yuugi said, exasperated he had to have this conversation again with the 22-year-old. "They're the top of their categories and the best we have. Even if," Yuugi's voice filled with steal to cut off the objection that was on his friend's tongue and he held back his retort. "Even if there were others better and more experienced and didn't fly off the handle at any command given I would still choose them."
"But why?!" Jounochi was at a loss of the paladin's reason: why was he so adamant about having these three in their unit?
"Because they're trust worthy," he said simply and that shut the mage up quickly. Whenever Yuugi got novices he either refused them or trained them long enough that they earned a name for themselves before asking for a transfer for them. It was rare when he kept recruits and never was he so fixated on have a certain one. The only one he could think of seeing this look on Yuugi's face was when he said that they were having Ryou become a part of the family. That was at least two years ago. So, considering all this Jou accepted that he would have to deal.
"Well if that's what you choose then let's go scare some newbies," Jou said defeatedly but a sadistic smile curved his lips and Ryou grabbed his arm, trying to stop him, knowing where this was going to lead, as he slammed the door open.
"Jou!" Ryou cried helplessly and Yuugi facepalmed behind their struggling forms.
'So much for good impressions.' Yuugi thought but, as he glanced at the clock he flinched with a sheepish smile. "Never mind then."
Yuugi observed the three S.H.'s. The blonde jumped from his semi-relaxed state on the faded red couch to his feet with an irritated look when Jou barged through the door and was now holding the wrestling duo with an unimpressed regard. The teen sitting on the armchair flinched at the banging door, his eyes widen at the sight of the unit and he observed recognition flash through plum irises along with gratitude and respect as a smile spread across thin lips faster than a bullet and Yuugi felt sincere affection flood his veins at the look.
He looked at the last one and found violet eyes bore into his own and he stepped back as a wave of nostalgia over gave him by the color alone. A faint laughter fluttered like humming birds through his thoughts from a long-forgotten memory from the restraints he put around them. Yuugi felt his eyes narrow at the reaction he had to the eyes alone and made a mental note to figure out why his twin's childish laugh filter around his mind. As he was debating going over there and ask what his relationship he had with the Mutou family the stranger glanced away to watch the bruise fest and Yuugi sighed, resisting the urge to go to his friends and bang their heads together.
"Get OFF me," Ryou yelled from underneath Jou's bulky body but the boy just laughed at his weak attempts to move and breathe.
"Say uncle Ry-chan," Jounochi said in a sing-song voice, snickering as he moved flawlessly to counter a knee to his ass.
"Oh, high and mighty chief of the flaming dragon that rules the night," Ryou said reluctantly but with enough sass to put Jou to shame. "Please get your fat arse off my bloody air ducks so I can breathe and not die before my twenty-second bloody birthday, you little shite!"
Jounochi flew into a full-blown laugh when he heard Ryou's heritage showed and he fell off the petite body so that Yuugi could pick the albino up off the floor. "See," he said looking up at the researcher as he dusted himself off, "was that so hard."
"Under your bulk," Ryou sniped, pausing so that his words sunk into the blonde's head, "yes."
"Oi!"
Jounochi snapped his mouth shut at the shout he was going to give only to be cut off. Yuugi and Ryou turned to the one who was responsible as their friend picked himself from the floor. The sandy blonde was giving a death glare at the three people that most deemed as gods and Yuugi flinched at the hard look.
Melvin was beyond pissed now. These fuckers finally showed up 35 minutes' overdue only to play right in from him without apologizing for being late. He thought that Unit 16 was hardcore, untouchable and died honorably in the line of duty, but maybe the rumors about this Mutou Yuugi were right. "Who do you think you are arriving 45 minutes later than the time you were supposed to?"
Jounochi straighten up and Yuugi watched as the other blonde cross the room in four long strides to stop in front of the mage. His friend's mouth was slightly parted, aiming to answer back, when his accuser continued, poking him in the chest to punctuate his message.
"We've been waiting here before the designated time and only now do you grace us with your presence?" The blonde's lavender eyes glared heatedly into caramel brown as they sparked back just as hotly. "If you're a leader fucking act like one."
Well slap a collar on him and call him spikey, this spitfire thought that he was Yuugi. Jounochi sent his leader with a helpless look and he could read the entertained laughter within those honey eyes and shrugged his shoulders, not really caring what the mage did. Yuugi could see that the blonde saw the exchange but thought nothing of it and he sighed, now knowing that observation wasn't necessarily his strong point.
"You need to fix your calculation," a voice spoke up, cutting through the thick beta-vs.-alpha aura that surrounded the four boys, testosterone levels through the roof. Five pairs of eyes flickered to the owner and plum eyes considered lavender triumphally, daring the blonde to say he was wrong.
"Oh," Melvin's voice practically hummed the word as he turned away from the taller adult to study the teen, looking for any sighs of discomfort but only perceiving smugness and he had to silently applaud the kid for having a backbone. "What do I have to fix bōya?"
A smirk graced the blackette's lips (Jounochi wondered why the smirk was so familiar and why he felt degraded and infuriated at the same time) and he stood to face the Egyptian, his eyes glancing to Yuugi's (he noticed the answering smirk spread across the paladin's face as amusement danced in amethyst eyes) before giving his undivided attention.
"When you face an opponent, don't show your hand until you're absolutely sure you know you have them caged."
He closed his eyes, hands drifting over the locket around his neck at the voice that streamed around his mind from the memory of his favorite person, and opened them to give the other a piercing look, wiping off the superior appearance. "The one you're talking to is Jounochi no yarou."
Within seconds of hearing that Jounochi let out a protest before the familiar phrase clicked inside his mind as two faces overlapped to form the body before him. He eyed the boy in front of him with an appraising look, noting the differences from the last time he met him on top of a tower with a shadow game going on before them. But he still couldn't stop the cry of shock as he pointed at the teen before him when his mind said: yes, this was the child from his memories, only not twelve.
Melvin gave Jounochi a look when he let out the least manly scream he had heard in his life, the other blonde pointing at the teen with a shaky finger as his face paled fifty different shades within the span of two seconds, before turning back to the teen. Interesting.
"So, this gawking idiot is the 22-year-old Mage Jounochi Kastuya," the hooded figure said finally, voice soft but still carrying.
"Who's an idiot?!" Jou yelled with dignity.
"How are you doing Mokuba?" Yuugi asked with a warm smile and the teen smiled back, happy to finally meet the one that he and his brother "befriended" within the year they knew each other back then.
"I'm fine," Kaiba Mokuba, brother to the still well-known Kaiba Seto, replied honestly, looking over the others to give Yuugi his undivided attention. "I was taken care of by the school until I was old enough to graduate."
Yuugi read between the lines and his smile slipped right off, his heart going out to the young man in front of him that was there since the beginning. He had so many things to say but they crashed before he could express them and he had difficulty swallowing pass the lump that formed in his throat.
"So, you're Mutou Yuugi," the soft-spoken stranger said, not really asking, and Yuugi nodded soberly.
Within seconds he was faced with a human that he swore was a wrath as his vision was filled with an annoyed sandy blonde. "Why where you late?" The blonde's voice was becoming more animal like.
Yuugi raised an eyebrow at the seething adult, contemplated his next words and move. "The time was changed to 14.00 a week ago since the Council wanted us to check rations and the farming progress today as well," Yuugi lied smoothly the only thing that gave him away was the twitch of his left wrist but he had nearly fixed his habit to it almost being nonexistence. Only those that knew him well or knew what to look for would be able to tell.
The blonde gave him a disbelieving look, searching his eyes for the lie or something that would give it away, and his eyes widen when he couldn't find the lie or any fib for that matter. He blushed and stepped away from his senior with a quite sorry but Yuugi brushed it off with a smile, his gut squirming uneasily. He gave his attention to the rest and realized that most here didn't know each other because of their personality blocking that possibility.
"Why don't we sit down and introduce ourselves before we get into the expectations you'll need to finish and jobs you'll be handling for the next week before you become part of the Unit 16?" Yuugi asked and everyone looked at each other, shrugging and seeing no reason not to, now that things had mellowed down. "List one thing about you, your name, age, sector and weapon/DM, sound good?"
As two of the three newcomers nodded, Yuugi turned to Ryou, silently asking him to go first. He rolled his eyes but conceded and cleared his throat to gain some attention. "My name's Bakura Ryou. I'm currently 21 and was born in 1990 on September 2nd. I was from the Britain branch before I was transferred here. I'm a Researcher and use knives as my main weapon."
"You're from the British branch," the blonde asked in wonder and he nodded.
"Jounochi Kastuya is the name," Jou said, interrupting the other before he started grilling his friend about his birth country. "I'm currently 22 and take care of my little sister Shizuka Kawai who's 19 and working at the orphanage in town. I'm a Mage and my DM is Red Eyes Black Dragon."
Mokuba's face lit up when he heard that Shizuka was still alive. He remembered the shy red head who cheered on her big brother at Battle city though did she. . . Was she still: "Is your sister's sight okay now Jounochi?"
"If you're asking if its deteriorating then no it's not," Jou said proudly.
"I'm Mutou Yuugi and also 22," Yuugi said with a smile. "I'm the Paladin and leader of Unit 16. My birthday is June 4th and my weapon is my phirebird sword. Dark Magician is my DM."
"The name's Kaiba, Kaiba Mokuba and I'm 18," Mokuba said proudly. "My sector is a Tracker and my weapon is my brains. I also have a DM called Wattaildragon. I'm trying to find my big brother since we've separated almost six years ago."
Silence fell on Jounochi and Yuugi watched his face shut down with the news.
"Barreit Hermal," Hermal said, his face still covered and in the shadows, watching the interaction between the older adults. He frowned at the unmoving blonde that reminded him of a puppy and then looked to the starfish head who was opening his mouth to talk to his friend. Can't have that now can we, at least, not yet. "I turn 23 soon in June. I'm a healer and have a DM named Lightray Sorcerer. I'm just a traveler that finally decided to settle down and fight."
"I'm Melvin Ikari," the blonde said, jumping in right after Hermal finished and grabbed everyone's attention with the last thing he said. "I'm 20 now but in a month, I'll be 21. I'm a rare Warrior that has a Buster Blade and a DM called Lava Golem. A cool fact about me is that I'm trying to find my lost yami, who's my first crush." Oblivious to the jaw dropping senior he continued, "Also I like to be called by my middle name, Malik."
'Well,' Yuugi thought as he just stared at the blonde, Malik, words forever lost to him, 'we found another Hikari, Ishizu. Now what?!'
~It's time to forget about the past
To wash away what happened last
Hide behind an empty face
Don't ask too much just say
Cause this is just a game
It a beautiful lie
It a perfect denial
Such a beautiful lie to believe in
So beautiful, beautiful, it makes me~
-A Beautiful Lie by Thirty Seconds To Mars; A Beautiful Lie
A/N:
German:
Ehemalig former
Ursprung/Herkunft origin
Quelle source
Tapfer game (brave)
Bereit game (willing)
Conclusion: Hermal Barreit
PS: If anyone can tell me who says what in the "flashbacks" then I'll be really fucking impressed.