Still Standing.
Authors Note;
Okay. Let's see if I can get at least the next chapter done cos it involves Bakura (yay for the sadistic son of a bitch) and there's some wonderful confrontations between Yuugi and Bakura in the first half of this chappie, and explosive arguments between Yami and Bakura in the second half of this chappie… huzzah for long running feuds.
Oh and by the by I apologise for the rating as there is some bad language in this chappie as well as some obscure sexual references…. Enjoy.
P.S. There is a reference to something said in one of Le Diz's fictions in this chappie… my own way of praising her work.
Disclaimer;
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any other trademarked characters…. I also do not own Snow white…. You'll see why that one was thrown in there later.
Chapter 2; Aftermath.
Yuugi scuffed his sneakers against the rough, uneven pavement of Domino City as he took one slow, deliberate step after another towards Domino High. His hands shoved deep in his pockets and his head hung low, he hunched his shoulders forward in an attempt to make himself appear even smaller and more unnoticeable than usual.
He paused briefly and caught a glimpse of himself reflected in a shop window. The usually bright amethyst eyes were dull and expressionless, the golden bangs drooped limply around his cherub like face. His uniform swamped his small frame, meaning he never looked particularly neat and smart. Today he looked lost, dishevelled as well as scruffy.
He drew his lips back in a tight unpleasant smile aimed at his reflection.
"You are pathetic, Yuugi Mutou! Pathetic!" he spat.
"So. The midget does have a temper."
The voice was dark and taunting. Yuugi immediately knew the owner, slowly he dragged hi gaze over to a second reflection.
"I was beginning to wonder if you actually were Disney's Snow White. All pure and good and innocent…" Bakura paused, musing over something then he smirked, " Though… makes you wonder doesn't it? Just how 'pure' a maiden would be at the end of that movie, after all she was alone with seven men…"
Yuugi frowned. "You're a pervert, you do know that right?" he began to take a step away from the albino haired teen.
Bakura grinned wildly. "I'm so glad you noticed… I've been practicing." He fell into step beside the boy.
Yuugi hissed in irritation, paused and turned to face the other. "Is there something I can help you with Bakura? Only, I'm kinda in a hurry."
The thief's russet eyes chilled and narrowed dangerously and his face lost all traces of amusement. "You sound more and more like that bloody Pharaoh every time I see you, midget. I'm starting to dislike you!" The friendly tone to his voice lost to the growling rumble it had become.
Yuugi flinched slightly when Yami was mentioned, cocking an eyebrow, Bakura tilted his head slightly to the unusual reaction. Then Yuugi snorted in twisted amusement, causing a soft gasp to burst from his lips as a sharp jolt of pain announced a protest from his ribs.
"Something amusing?"
"You're 'starting' to dislike me? When have you ever liked me?" Yuugi demanded. He eyed Bakura nervously, because of the long running feud between the thief and Yami he still felt uneasy around the other dark. "I seem to recall you attempting to kill me on several occasions."
The thief gave an almost rueful smile, rubbing an open palm up and down the bare and tanned flesh of his opposing arm. "Ah… True. But, believe me or not. I do find you far more tolerable than His High and Mightiness."
Folding his arms lightly over his chest, so not to aggravate his painful ribs, Yuugi nodded. "I can believe that."
"And you're always far more willing to tolerate me, unlike Pharaoh ,Up His Own Ass'… He would have told me to piss off by now."
Again, Yuugi found himself nodding in agreement.
An uncomfortable silence descended between them, drowning out the dull murmuring of busy commuters weaving through the human traffic of themselves.
Bakura scowled as a middle-aged man jostled into him knocking him backwards a few steps.
"Bloody modern day mortals." He seethed "Always rush, rush, rush isn't it? And yet, you're soooo fun to terrorize."
Yuugi glanced at his old scuffed sneakers, "Bakura? Can I ask you something?"
Bakura lifted a hand to his face, inspecting his fingernails, bored and unconcerned. "What?"
"How can you be 100 percent sure Ryo is your aibou? I mean you two fight constantly. Don't you ever worry that fate screwed you over?" Yuugi asked quietly, eyeing his footwear critically.
Bakura snorted a mocking chuckle "Aibou," he turned and faced Yuugi. "What's this all about, midget?" The thief demanded, Yuugi simply lifted his head, his eyes wide as he met the dark's gaze.
Bakura swallowed the lump that had involuntarily risen into his throat with difficulty. The boy's eyes held a lost and wounded expression, like that of a dog's while waiting for the kick from his master. The thief felt his chest tighten momentarily, then he shook his head, 'Pull yourself together Bakura!' he mentally snarled, berating himself for feeling anything toward the boy.
He squared his shoulders.
"Problems with the Great and oh so Wonderful Pharaoh?"
Yuugi turned away again with a scowl, "Forget I even asked." He snapped, striding quickly away.
Bakura growled and loped after him, easily overtaking and rounded on the boy, bringing him to an abrupt stop.
"Now, now, midget. No need to be all melodramatic."
Yuugi glared from under his dulled gold bangs. "I said forget it Bakura." He snapped trying to brush past.
The albino haired teen whipped out a hand and grasped Yuugi's shoulder roughly, yanking him off balance. Yuugi gave a strangulated yelp of pain and fear as Bakura's fingers applied a sudden pressure to his bruised skin.
"What the Hell is going on Yuugi?"
Yuugi glared coldly at the thief, hiding his surprise. Bakura used his given name? He never used anyone's given name, Yuugi tilted his head, "Why do you care?"
Bakura's face darkened, "I don't!" he snarled. "But Ryo does. If you're upset and he realises, he, being the sensitive little rabbit that he is, will also become upset." He released his hold on Yuugi's shoulder as the smaller teen shrugged him off. "And I will not see Ryo upset."
The two glowered at each other in silent fuming, then Yuugi snorted. "I thought you only cared for yourself."
Bakura growled at Yuugi's mocking tone. "Ryo is a part of me you bloody idiot! Can't that penetrate you thick skull?" he towered over the shorter teen. "He is me. As you are the Pharaoh!"
Yuugi froze, staring up at the fuming tomb robber. "I… I have to get to school…" he mumbled lamely.
Without a word Bakura steeped aside, allowing him to pass, watching as Yuugi walked away and waiting a few moments before calling after his retreating form.
"You asked how I know Ryo is my 'aibou'. My heart beats in time with his, they beat as one. The same way yours and the Pharaoh's do."
Yuugi paused sharply, spinning to face the thief, who smirked and tapped his index and middle fingers over his chest, mimicking the rhythm of a heartbeat.
"They beat as one…"
Yuugi shook his head and quickened his pace to a jog, his mind churning at Bakura's words as he quickly left the thief behind.
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Yami scowled moodily over his folded arms as he slouched across the Game stores counter. He despised working in the Mutou family shop, business was slow and Sugoroku often blackmailed him into working to increase the profit turn over.
However, this time it was an act of sanctuary that had forced Yami into the role of shopkeeper. Since Omocha had found out about his and Yuugi's rather violent row, she had been screaming for Yami to get out, with tears streaming down her face as she screamed for her son.
Omocha had never been happy with Yami living with them, he was strange, rude, frustratingly arrogant and extremely lazy… in fact the only reason he had survived here so long was because it made her son happy that she reluctantly agreed… that, and Yuugi's insistent badgering.
Sugoroku was currently trying to calm his hysterical daughter down after he had walked into the kitchen only to witness Omocha swinging her ladle at Yami, attempting to whack any unguarded part of his body with it.
He sighed heavily. Though he was safe from the bruises of Omocha's ladle, he was bored. Very few actual customers had entered the shop; many were wannabe duellists, attempting to goad him into petty duels. He sighed once again; at least in dodging Omocha's swings, it had kept his mind active and his wits sharp.
Right now he craved any sort of stimulation… adoring fan girls… surprise attacks from Omocha… anything…
"Hello, Pharaoh."
Yami inwardly cringed, anything but that.
He slowly opened one eye and glared coldly at Bakura. "You have impeccable timing, thief. Crawling from whatever vile pit that spawned you, just when things couldn't possibly be worse." He snarled.
Bakura sneered cruelly from his position across the store, leaning against one of the glass display cases, his arms folded across his chest and an unpleasant and triumphant smirk upon his lips. "It's a gift."
"You're like a plague…"
"Ooo. Such maturity from the Prince of Egypt."
"Maturity is highly overrated."
Bakura easily twisted his features into an expression of mock hurt. "After all this time, I would have thought us to be beyond all this childish name-calling." he extended his hand toward Yami who sneered at the gesture.
"The only instance I shall ever soil my hands by touching you, Tomb Robber, shall be to remove your decomposing corpse from my sight." He spat, his voice oozing with venom.
Bakura's eyes burned with rage as he snatched back his extended hand and let out an overly exaggerated sigh. "Oh, Pharaoh. Such hatred and hostility you have… it's not surprising really then is it? How the midget flinches at the mere mention of your name." his voice lowered dangerously from the taunting sing-song tone.
Yami snapped his glare up to meet Bakura's scowl, as crimson bore unflinching into the russet as the hatred and anger for each other burned.
"Get. Out!" Yami snarled.
Bakura pulled back, tapping a finger to his chin, mimicking thought. "No. I don't think I will." He drew his lips back in an arrogant and spiteful grin.
Yami hissed through clenched teeth, stifling the urge to sling a blast of shadow magic at the thief. He really didn't need this. Shadow magic would be justified. Inappropriate, but justified. "It was not a request. Thief." He threw as much hatred and disgust into the final word as he could.
Bakura simply shrugged off the verbal onslaught. He strode closer; his twisted smirk grew wider with every step he took. "I saw your Light-side this morning… he was not his usual nauseatingly happy self… any ideas as to why, 'Sire'?"
Yami simply glared, his jaw working as he gnawed the inside of his cheek, stubbornly refusing to answer Bakura. He watched the thief cautiously as his cold, dark eyes hardened in annoyance.
Without warning he lunged and snarled, grasping Yami's chin in his hand. Spittle flecked from his lips as he spoke. "How can you be so BLOODY blind, Pharaoh?"
Yami lounged almost lazily in Bakura's grasp, annoying the thief further, a cocky and self confident smirk on his lips. "I see perfectly well, thank you." He taunted.
Bakura gave his face a spitefully painful squeeze and fury quickly replaced the cocky expression on Yami's face.
"You are meant to protect him!" Bakura roared, "You protected him for years… why abandon him now? He doubts you."
"I suggest you unhand me thief…" Yami growled, his voice low and dangerously calm. "before I remove your arm from its socket!"
Bakura released his grasp and stepped back, sneering at the other. "You throw so much hatred at me, Pharaoh. But isn't it strange… I 'm a malicious, arrogant, egotistical, sadistic son of a bitch… but my Light-side does not fear me." He paused, running his tongue over his lips as he relished in Yami's struggles to control his rapidly unravelling temper.
"And you, Your Highness. The Great Forgotten King… who ruled Egypt justly and fairly… you can't seem to keep one snot nosed brat entertained!"
Yami's eyebrow ticked slowly, his whole body hummed with rage. "Get… Out…!" he snarled, the words rumbling together.
"Hmm?" Bakura absently flicked dust from his shirt. "Didn't quite catch that."
The last rational bone in Yami's body shattered, he vaulted over the counter, snatching up a forgotten coffee mug from beside the cash register and landed almost nose to nose with Bakura. The tomb robber quickly back peddled, ducking the mug that Yami had launched at him with all his strength.
"GET OUT! GET OUT! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, YOU VILE…. DISEASE RIDDEN VULTURE!!"
Bakura smirked a satisfied smile as he heard the mug connect with a glass display case, he melted the duck into a sarcastic bow, his teeth bared as he purred. "And with that, I shall bid you good day, Pharoah."
Quickly he loped out of the shop door, leaving Yami alone, panting and snarling as he collected the shattered porcelain from the floor with only Bakura's crowing laughter to keep him company.
"Why do the Gods insist on screwing me over…?" he muttered, flinching as he cut his hand on the shattered mug. The shop bell jingled softly as the shop door finally closed behind the long gone thief, Yami glared up at the tiny brass bell and snarled, "No one asked you!"
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Hazzah! A second chappie done.
Phew that was a highly emotional chapter there and thank god I managed it.
Bad Bakura and Yami… such appalling language. In the next chapter both Ryo and Jou find out about little Yuugi's argument and the extent of the damage done to poor Yuugi… yes Yuugi removes his top in the next chapter, you damn dirty dogs…lol I jest I jest…
So til next time… in the words of Little Kuriboh.. Read and Review as it'll be "Super special awesome."
Stay Smexy. x