AN: Erk, I'm sorry this chapter is so late (I feel really bad…;;). The first week of school was so overwhelming, it was just…gah. I didn't have time to write anything until last night, and I don't believe I'll be able to update every few days anymore. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'll have to start updating weekly (on weekends). My school schedule is…O.o…much harder than expected, to say the least.
Anyways, I hope you guys had a good week (either work, school, or just life in general). Thanks to…
Tails7651: Yeah, the kid's not having a good day. Well, I'm glad you still like the story! I'm sorry this chapter was so late…eheh…Thanks for the review!
dragonlady222: Ryou is pretty mature for his age, isn't he? And yes, Marik and Malik are being really supportive, and that's always nice to see. Sorry this chapter was late. Thanks for the review!
ONIX-21: I've been trying to incorporate more of Malik and Marik into Ryou and Bakura's lives, and it's only just beginning. Lol. Thanks for the review, and I'm sorry this chapter was late.
casaragi: Bakura is working both at the factory and the bar. Since his pay at the factory got cut, he needs more money to make up for the loss, and so takes a nighttime job at Tameron's bar. I'm sorry this next chapter was late, though I hope you like it. Anyways, thanks for the review!
The Vampire Prince: Thanks, I really worked hard on that part. I'm sorry this chapter's late…(sighs) School sucks so far. I mean, who the heck gets an essay and two projects on the first week of school? Anyways, thanks for the review!
Superhumansaiyajin: Hehe, yeah, Takui doesn't sound that great, but people have flaws, right? Either way, it's good for Ryou to have a pal at school. And yeah, it must be hard on him, going behind Bakura's back, though Bakura's fighting his own battle…Physics is the only class I don't have homework in. However, I have an essay in my history class, a project in my health class, and another project in my Spanish class. It's all too much for the first week of school! I'm sorry this chapter's late…stupid homework. Thanks for the review!
SV Green: Ah, I didn't catch that mistake, and neither did Microsoft Word. (Oops). Thanks for catching that, I went back and editted that. ;; It always feels good to hear someone say that about the chapters. Thanks so much! Anyways, I'm sorry this chapter is late. Thanks for the review!
MadPie: Haha, okay! Here it is, even though it's late (sorry 'bout that). Thanks for the review!
Chapter Sixteen: Responsibility
"It says here that you're eighteen. Is that correct?"
Bakura numbly nodded, trying to act relaxed. Nearly half of the things on his resume and application were lies, but he couldn't help it; having quit in his junior year of high school had made sure of that.
"Mmhm, okay…" the man murmured as he continued to scan the papers for the last time. Bakura wanted to say that the manager had already read through everything, but he kept silent. For all he knew, this guy was probably his senior.
"Alright!" The man smiled at Bakura, folding the papers in half and tucking them into one of the multiple pockets adorned on his apron. "I'm Christophe, nice to meetcha!"
Shaking the young man's hand, Bakura gruffly introduced himself as well. "Bakura…Ishtar." I'm never going to use my father's name ever again. Christophe gestured for Bakura to follow him behind the limestone counter, talking as he gave Bakura a tour of the bar.
"It's only your first night, so we'll probably have you serve drinks from behind the counter," Christophe explained. As he bent down to pick up a dropped towel, Chris reached into one of the multiple cubbies underneath the bar counter and pulled out a navy-colored apron. "Put this on, no complaints. The pockets enable you to keep lots of receipts, so you know which customers bought what. You only take the apron off when you wait on tables. Are you interested in doing that later on?"
Bakura shook his head. "I-I'll stay behind the counter…"
There was a chuckle as Chris shrugged. "Your choice." Then the man turned around to face the back wall, and told Bakura to pay extra careful attention. "The hard liquor is over on this side, and…"
The back wall was literally covered with bottles and cans of all sorts of alcohol. Bakura felt a little discomforted, being so close to something he absolutely despised, but he quickly pushed that thought out of the way. Wooden shelves were stacked on top of each other, seeming to strain with the weight of the multitude of bottles that rested on them. Yet that wasn't all – glasses mounded in the shape of a pyramid lay beneath the lower shelves, all clean and ready to go. Towels were placed at regular intervals between the glasses. The teen snuck a glance up and down the aisle behind the counter, and saw an ice machine near the entrance, and a few sinks and other contraptions on the other end.
"…got that?"
Bakura nervously ran a hand through his hair. "Was I supposed to get all of that on the first go?"
Christophe laughed again, shaking his head. "Would you be working here if you did? There's a charted guide behind plates underneath the counter. Just squat down and take a peek if you ever forget where something is when an order comes in, okay? But don't keep a customer waiting!"
"Of course not," Bakura agreed, feeling a little relieved.
"Okay! So, I'll be helping you behind the counter today, but starting tomorrow, you're on your own…"
Bakura nodded in understanding as he took a deep breath and strengthened his resolve. This is…a bad idea… The smell of alcohol, the red-faced drunkards, the dancers on the stage – it was all revolting to him, knowing that his father spent nearly half his life in a place like this. But he needed the money, he couldn't back down. You can do this, Bakura…you can do this.
Pushing down the sensation of quitting on the spot, Bakura tried to think of his paycheck in hopes that he could face the night without feeling too ashamed.
-
Ryou woke up, like he always did, at seven in the morning. He no longer needed Bakura's wristwatch to sound its alarm anymore, since repetition had gotten his body used to an early start.
The chill of morning that iced his back told him that he had slept alone. The hopes of Bakura coming into his room in the middle of the night had been but a dream. He's still sleeping on that stupid couch…Ryou thought forlornly. He heaved a sigh as he pulled himself out of bed, feeling depressed and forgotten.
Brushing his teeth at a snail's pace and going about his morning routine in the small side bathroom that extended from his room, Ryou tried to whittle away his melancholy. It was just so difficult, worrying himself sick over going behind Bakura's back. And on top of that, Bakura seemed to be ignoring everyone of late.
The way Bakura had come home and done nothing with him, even talk with him, had really hurt. He was still miserable from the lonely last night, but he somehow felt that this was all a punishment for his secret laptop.
So when Ryou emerged from his room, he didn't say his usually bright, morning greeting and instead said nothing to his brother or the Ishtars.
Marik glanced at Ryou over the newspaper he was scanning, and was about to say something until he saw Malik's glare. So the kid's still feeling guilty about the laptop, huh? Marik thought. That just made him feel worse. Clearing his throat quite loudly, Marik fiercely turned the page of his daily, nearly tearing the paper. Bakura looked back over his shoulder as he diced vegetables for his little brother's bento, raising an eyebrow. Ryou blankly gazed from Marik to Bakura before slowly turning away.
When it was time to go, Ryou glumly headed out before Bakura could hand him his bento, expressing to everyone that he was troubled without meaning to.
Bakura gave Malik a questioning look, and only got a shrug. Exhaling softly as the teen started down the passageway, Bakura regretted not going back into the room he shared with Ryou after his night job. Now his brother was walking around with a big, black cloud over his head. Bakura paused to lean against the wall, suddenly feeling faint.
Holy shit.
This was all so frustrating. He knew that he couldn't force the child to possibly understand the constant stress he was under. Yet he wanted so bad to make Ryou realize he was giving his life in order to send the kid to school. It irritated Bakura, how Ryou couldn't be satisfied with all the effort he was giving. It was always 'play with me' or 'take me somewhere' with the kid. Why couldn't the child be satisfied with the time Bakura spent with him?
But how could he tell his little brother off? That would devastate Ryou completely. Bakura knew the boy loved him, just as much as he loved Ryou. But that wasn't the problem! Bakura couldn't explain to Ryou that he was too busy destroying himself and throwing away any pride he had left in order for them to survive! His hands burned, his back felt like it was about to snap, and now even his head felt like it was splitting in two. It was killing him, keeping all these things to himself! Sometimes, he wanted to yell at Ryou that he didn't have time to play. However, the fact that doing so would emotionally and mentally shatter Ryou made Bakura bite his tongue.
This was all like some big, intricate web, meant to drive people insane.
Though really…it was just that sometimes…Bakura wanted to live for himself. He knew that he was being stupid, that he could never really abandon Ryou, but... There was this longing to live without having to worry about a little brother. He wanted to be free to do what he wanted to do for once in his life.
Is that so bad?
-
AN: This chapter is really late, and I apologize again. I just didn't expect the first week of school to be so hectic. And…I have a feeling it's going to be hard to find a lot of time to sit down and type/edit. So, I'm sorry, but I think I may have to start updating weekly, on the weekends. I hope you liked this chapter, please review! It would really mean a lot…Anyways, expect the next chapter next weekend. Thanks for reading.