I know some of you want more of the other couples besides Ryou and Bakura so I've added in some bits with them in. If that doesn't satisfy then I am trying to write some Puzzleshipping fluff in the next chapter. It's hard to write fluff at the moment because I'm under some serious pressure but that should be over in a few weeks when half term starts up. Anyway, yeah, enjoy.
Chapter 17
At 9.30 everyone was waiting in the Entrance Hall for their chaperone. Malik was sat leaning against the wall still half asleep with Marik next to him. Jou and Seto had already got into an argument over something trivial while Yugi, Yami and Ryou talked calmly amongst themselves. Bakura was off to the side avoiding the others.
Everyone looked up at the sound of heavy footsteps. Hagrid stood before them, ready and waiting to go. "You all got your money?" he asked.
"Yes," Yami answered for the group.
"Follow me then," Hagrid commanded before heading out across the grounds.
The gang followed, most shivering as the icy November wind came straight at them. "I knew I should have put on more layers," mumbled Ryou.
"You think you've got it bad? You're not from Egypt where it never ever gets this cold," Malik complained bitterly.
All members of the party were glad when they arrived at Hogsmeade. They each took turns exchanging their Yen at the little kiosk while the others blew on their cold hands or jumped up and down to keep warm. Normally Bakura would have been hugging Ryou to stay warm but cuddling wasn't on the menu today.
Bakura noticed the looks Ryou kept sending him when he wasn't furiously rubbing his hands together. They were inquisitive, wondering if Bakura had decided to call a ceasefire. Bakura wasn't ready to do that yet, even if it pained him to see those beautiful brown eyes so full of worry.
Once they all had the correct currency they went into the 'Fine Robes for All Occasions' shop. There was an all round sigh of relief when they entered the warm shop. Malik and Marik were the first to shamelessly rush over and stand in front of the fire. They were left to it while the others decided who would be measured for their dress robes first.
The shop wasn't that big and everyone could only just fit inside. Hagrid gave them directions to the Three Broomsticks (the local pub) then left for there since he was too big to squeeze in with all of them already overrunning the shop.
The seamstress and her assistant led Yugi and Yami over to two stools set out for the customers to stand on. The other assistant brought out a catalogue so the ones waiting could think about what they would like to wear.
"Look Seto! This one here kinda looks like your trench-coats!" Jou said with a cheeky grin.
Seto scowled and whacked the back of Jou's head. He then had a closer look at what Jou had spotted. He smiled slightly, actually liking the deep blue robe. The picture showed it flowing out like it was caught in the wind but Seto didn't believe that it actually came like that. Only he knew the secret art of 'caught in the wind flare' clothes technique.
"That actually doesn't look too bad. Good work puppy." Seto derisively patted Jou's head making the blond growl and try to bite Seto's fingers like his namesake.
Malik and Marik left the warmth of the fire to take a look in the catalogue. "I want something purple like my old Rare Hunters was," said Marik, quickly flipping through the pages.
"Hey, that sounds like a cool idea!" Malik agreed enthusiastically.
"You can't wear purple though," Marik pointed out.
Malik frowned. "Why not."
"Because I'm already going to be wearing purple! If we're going to go together we can't wear the same colour! We'll totally clash!"
"Since when did you become a fashion consultant?"
While the two argued about who would be wearing purple Yami and Yugi had been thoroughly measured they too came to pick out robes. "Do you think they have any leather robes?" asked Yami.
"Yami," Yugi calmly explained, "this is formal wear that we're looking for. Leather clothes aren't seen as being formal." Yami's face fell. Yugi quickly looked for something that would be a good substitute for Yami's leather fetish. "What do you think of that?" Yugi asked, pointing at one of the designs.
Yami perked up a bit when he saw the colour picture. "Yes, that does look good, even if it isn't leather. What else is there?"
Ryou was looking at one of the catalogues next to Bakura. He coughed nervously and pointed at one of the pictures. "What do you think of that?" Bakura made a face so Ryou quickly turned to the next page. "Do you think that one's better?" Bakura shrugged. Ryou sighed.
When everyone had been measured and decided what they were going to order they paid the assistant managing the till and headed for the Three Broomsticks. There was still a chill wind outside and they were glad when they entered the warmth of the inn. Hagrid was easy to make out so they all headed to his table.
"Are you going to get a drink before we head back to Hogwarts?" Hagrid asked them.
"We might as well; we have to wait at least half an hour for our robes to be made," replied Ryou.
"Do they serve Coke here?" asked Yugi. Hagrid looked at him blankly. Yugi sighed. "If they don't have Coca Cola the there's no way they'll have any drinks that we know about. What would you recommend Hagrid?"
"Most students have Butterbeer when they come here," Hagrid replied.
"Does it have real beer in it?" asked Bakura eagerly.
Hagrid gave him a strange look. "No it don't and even if it had don't you think you're a little young to be drinking?"
"I've been dead longer than you've been alive," Bakura snarled.
Hagrid wisely shuffled away from the psycho white haired male. Bakura stood up and headed to the bar to get the bartender to give him his alcohol. The woman told him he was too young and it was only by having Malik, Marik and Yami restrain him did Bakura not send her on a one way trip to the Shadow Realm.
While the others sat with Hagrid drinking Butterbeer Bakura sat at the bar with the alcohol he had managed to threaten the woman into giving to him. Bakura sighed; he almost missed Ryou telling him off for threatening people and trying to send them to the Shadow Realm.
Back at the table Yugi and Yami were plotting telepathically. /We have to do something about Ryou and Bakura/ Yugi said over the mind link. /Bakura's not very stable when Ryou's not around and it's obvious that Ryou's miserable./
/Didn't Ryou tell us to let things just sort themselves out/
/Yes, but he also said that the fight would be over the next day and it's still going on. I think they need a small push in the right direction/
/You mean push off a cliff push or nudge someone in the side push/
/Which do you think/
/I'm hoping I can push Bakura off a cliff-/
/Yami/
/Just kidding/
Yugi sighed out loud. /I just want them to be alone for a while so that they can try to talk things over/
/Tell them to go pick up our dress robes while the rest of us wait here/
Yugi grinned broadly. /That's it Yami! If it wasn't so obvious I'd kiss you/
/You can make it up to me tonight/ Yami thought, a smirk forming on his lips.
Yugi turned pink. /Alright/ he replied shyly.
Yami turned to Ryou, trying to keep his smirk under control. "Ryou, you've finished your Butterbeer, would you mind going and picking up everyone's dress robes?" Ryou was about to stand up when Yami added, "And take Bakura with you so he doesn't get drunk and embarrass himself."
Ryou sighed dejectedly; he hated being a nice guy. He walked over to Bakura and dragged him off his stool. Bakura started to protest but when he saw it was Ryou he immediately sealed his mouth shut.
They walked together in silence after Ryou told Bakura what they were doing. The sky was starting to darken and it wasn't because it was getting late. Angry clouds were heading their way but both white haired males were oblivious to everything but their shoes.
After picking up the robes and handing over the money Ryou had collected before he left, they headed back to the Three Broomsticks. They were half way there when they felt the first drops on their faces. A moment later the heavens opened.
On instinct Bakura and Ryou dived under the first thing that might provide them with shelter. When they reached the doorway of an abandoned shop they were drenched. Ryou dropped the clothes parcels on the floor and sat down with a sigh. "I don't think the rain's going to stop any time soon," he said sadly.
Bakura grunted and dropped down next to him. They both stared out at the water, watching it bounce up off the ground before falling back onto cobbles.
"It's funny," Bakura said out of the blue, "back in Egypt it used to be like Christmas when it rained. People would be happy, celebrating like madmen. Here in England everyone just thinks it's a nuisance. They'll be sorry when it stops raining and they have a drought!"
Ryou laughed softly at the comment. Bakura looked at Ryou as if he had just realized he was there. He quickly turned back to staring at the rain. Ryou sighed and searched for something to say.
"Out of the places you've been which did you most like living in?"
"Japan," Bakura said after he'd pondered the question. "It's warm and not as wet as England. The technology puts it ahead of Egypt. I loved Egypt – don't get me wrong – but you don't know how much I appreciate things like air conditioning, electricity, TV, horror films, stuff like that. The only downside is that security has improved along with lifestyle. But the thing I liked most in Japan wasn't really a thing."
"If it wasn't a thing what was it?" asked a confused Ryou.
"Privacy. No stupid idiots about to annoy or disturb me from…stuff."
Ryou knew by the look in Bakura's eye before he turned to the side what he really meant. "I miss not having privacy too," Ryou said, watching Bakura intently.
Bakura licked his lips, internally debating whether he should make up with Ryou. No-one was about to disturb them. He'd have to do it some time anyway; he could never be mad at Ryou for long. The only problem was his stupid pride. Damn pride! Damn it to hell!
"Bakura are you alright?"
Bakura looked up at Ryou. "I'm fine. Why?"
"It's just you were making faces and…"
Bakura could see that Ryou was trying not to laugh. "Laugh and I'll bite you," he warned.
"Is that a bad thing?"
Bakura's eyes widened slightly. "Since when did you get out of character?"
Ryou laughed at that. Bakura felt a warmth in his chest, loving the happiness pictured on Ryou's face. Ryou shook his head as the laughter ended. He smiled, making Bakura smile back.
Suddenly Ryou shivered. "Stupid weather," he muttered. "It's even colder outside when you're wet."
Bakura did the only respectable thing a spirit can do. He moved behind Ryou and wrapped his arms around him. Ryou shyly looked over his shoulder at Bakura with a questioning look.
"I'd give you my jacket but it's kinda wet so I doubt it would be of much use to you," Bakura said with a shrug.
Ryou smiled and leaned back into Bakura's chest. Bakura rested his head on Ryou's shoulder, leaning it to the side so his cheek was pressed against Ryou's. Ryou gave a sigh of contentment and let his eyes slide shut.
"Don't drift off to sleep love; the rain's stopped," Bakura whispered softly.
Ryou frowned at the rain that was no longer falling. "Stupid English weather," he grumbled.
Bakura chuckled and lightly kissed his cheek. "We better get back to the idiots. They'll all go 'what took you so long' when we get back won't they? Lazy bastards probably didn't even notice it was raining."
Ryou smiled. Bakura was back to his old evil self. The quarrel was over. If getting wet was the price he had to pay for getting Bakura back then he didn't mind…much.
Ryou stood up with Bakura still wrapped around him. They had to separate to carry all the clothes parcels but they walked as close as they could to each other without becoming a nuisance.
The first thing they heard when they walked into the Three Broomsticks was, "What took you so long?"
Ryou snickered as Bakura rolled his eyes. How predictable.
"It rained and I'll be damned if I have to walk about in a downpour," Bakura said as he dumped the wrapped up robes on the table.
"Where's the change?" asked Jou.
"In my pocket," Bakura replied with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
"Hand it over then," ordered Yami.
Bakura wagged his finger at him. "Sorry Pharaoh but a fee must be paid. You didn't really expect me to play servant boy without charging did you? I got wet bringing these back here so I think I'll keep the change."
"You can't do that!" Yami said, outraged.
"Watch me," Bakura said cockily as he sat back in his chair.
Yami tried to go for Bakura but Yugi held him back. "Don't Yami! Can't you see what's happened?" Yugi hissed in Yami's ear. "Ryou's smiling and Bakura isn't being moody anymore. That can only mean that they've made! Your plan worked!"
Now that Yami was a little calmer he did notice the change. Both seemed to be back to normal. And Yugi said that it was his plan that had done it. A Bakura like smirk crept onto Yami's face. Yugi owed him big time for helping his greatest enemy and he was definitely going to reap the benefits that night.
When all the drinks were finished everyone gathered up their things and they headed back to the castle for lunch. Ryou and Bakura carried their parcels under one arm and held the other's hand with their remaining arm and the hand attached to it. The others copied what they were doing and silence reigned over them until Seto pointed out that Jou's hand was sweaty. An argument about sweaty palms ensued making the others roll their eyes.
Malik then started pestering Bakura about what his dress robes looked like. Seeing that this annoyed Bakura, Marik joined in on the fun. Bakura ended up chasing after them, leaving Ryou to sadly shake his head.
Yami was still mentally trying to work out exactly how Yugi could repay him for his kindness. It wasn't hard for Yugi to notice the dazed expression and slight bulge in Yami's pants. It made him wonder if he was going to be sleeping or doing things that made him blush that night.
Meanwhile Hagrid was making a mental note to never ever get roped into chaperoning this group of psychos again.
Please Review! They give me a creative boost so that i can write the next chapter!
