When the Snow Falls: chapter 3
Tears
That night was the first that I had ever spent outside of the house. If I even tried, Father would scream and beat me for hours on end. Although he couldn't now, I still had a feeling in my gut that he would come bursting through the hospital doors, throw Ryou across the room, and call me a whore while hitting me. Then, at each mental mention of my father, I saw his body, and tears accumulated in my eyes. I pushed my hands onto my face, not wanting Ryou to see me crying. I had never let anyone see me cry before, and I wasn't about to start now. Unfortunately, my guise was easily seen through.
"Akane-san, are you alright?" Ryou asked me with all the gentleness in the world.
"I-um. I-It's sort of..." I stuttered between sobs.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I couldn't bear to recollect all of the things that he had done since I could remember. I knew I wanted to tell Ryou everything; I felt that I could trust him, but I still didn't want to involve him in what had happened. My smoke gray eyes met his, and I shook my head.
"No. Maybe some other time, but...not right now..." I muttered quietly.
Ryou blinked in understanding and leaned back in his chair. "I know first-hand that there are some skeletons that don't want to be unveiled. Don't worry too much about it." There was a brief pause. "So you live in South Domino? It's the rough part of town, isn't it?"
I flicked my face towards the window, raindrops still pounding against the glass.
"Not anymore. I never want to go back to that place ever again."
"Where are you going to live though?" Ryou responded smartly.
...Damn. I hadn't thought of that. He did make a good point: I had nowhere to live, no relatives to ask for help from, and definitely no money. Furrowing my eyebrows, I let out a soft growling sound from the back of my throat.
Ryou chuckled at my obvious frustration. "Would you like to stay with me then?"
I was not expecting that. I was a complete stranger to him, but he was inviting me into his home to live.
"I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I want to be able to help you. I can sense that you have a very kind soul." His pale face flustered as he spoke. I put my hand on his and grasped it endearingly.
"I-I would like that. As long as I'm not a burden for you, I can stay."
Ryou's eyes brightened and revived their happy shine. The hesitation was gone now, and all that remained was his smile.
When the doctors released me from the hospital the following morning, Ryou appeared to be clouded with apprehension.
"Are you sure about this? It's fine if you want to go back to your house."
I bored my eyes into his with just the right amount of intensity.
"No, I really don't want to be reminded of things that happened there. I want to stay with you because, well, you're the only person that has ever offered me a chance to get away from there. I'm really happy and grateful for that..."
Ryou smiled."Well, if you're happy, then I'm happy too."
Why was he being so nice to me? We hardly know each other... I guess that's just who he is...
As we were walking through the streets of Domino, Ryou started telling me more about himself.
"A couple years back, my sister and mother died in a car crash, and I don't even know whether or not my father is alive or dead... So I think I know how you feel; you know, lonely..." I stared with shock. I never told him anything about myself other than my name! How could he possibly know that I've been alone? Sensing my confusion, Ryou looked back at me, and smiled nervously. "I got the feeling that you were alone for most of the time because you made no attempt to contact anyone else and nobody was around you when you passed out, so it's just a matter of deduction on my part..."
"So, you've been alone too... It must be difficult sometimes, huh?"
"Yes, I must say it got almost unbearable when it was just me and my shadow..."
What a strange choice of words... "Shadow?" I questioned jokingly. "You shouldn't need to depend on your shadow for company."
Ryou looked back at me with a melancholy face. "Sometimes that's all that you have, though."
It took us nearly an hour to walk from the hospital to Ryou's apartment. Curious. Why was he so far from his home for a reason he can't even remember? Even though I knew it wasn't that important to ask, it still was a strange coincidence. He had saved my life, given me a place to live; I felt it wasn't a good thing to question the logistics of the situation. I have to take things as they happen, I guess...
We stopped in front of a small apartment building. The outside walls were pale beige stucco and it had the feeling of all mundane high-rise: complete indifference to anyone else. But there was a sense of a home emanating from this one, which I found comforting. Ryou peered over his shoulder towards me and smiled.
"This is it, Akane-san. It's not much, but its home."
I admired the building for a while without saying anything. Sure, it wasn't an architectural masterpiece, but it was beautiful in its own way.
"...Akane-san? Are you ok?"
Alrighty, Akane. Get back to reality, would you? I flinched in surprise as he called my name. I still wasn't used to anyone call my name with such a proper honorific. Oh well, get used to it.
"Y-yes, I'm alright. Let's go inside; the sun is starting to set.
We continued up the stairs to room 601: Ryou's place. As he opened the door, I felt a strange sensation pulse through my body. It was a feeling of confinement, misery, anger, hatred, but above all: solitude. I couldn't believe that Ryou would think of these emotions while he was alone in his house. Weird...
The whitette was obviously extremely perceptive to others, and turned his face to speak with me.
"Hey, Akane-san, there's something I want to-"
He was cut short; before he could finish his sentence, his facial expression turned from curiosity to horror. His body crumpled to the floor fast, curled into a ball and clutched his head in frustration. Along with this, the strange pendant he always wore looked like it was...shining?
"Ryou-kun? Ryou-kun? Are you alright? What's the matter?" I asked frantically. An allergic reaction? No, I don't think he's eaten or drunk anything since I met him, and there aren't any strange insects flying around. What could this possibly be?
"N-no!" My attention was diverted from my thoughts and back to Ryou. "I won't...let you hurt her!" What? He continued after a slight pause. Tears were now falling down his cheeks. Why is he crying? "Stop laughing at me! You're th-the one who-You told me to... Why-" He was immediately hushed.
"Ryou! Who are you talking to? What's going on?"
"I did it because I felt like feeling some blood in between your fingers, Yadonushi." Ryou's voice had changed. It was deeper, more menacing. He stopped twitching on the floor, and got up with ease.
"...Ryou...kun?"
He looked up towards me, and I noticed there was something different about him. His hair was spiked out more, he was taller, and his eyes were slanted and a terrifying blood-red color. He put one hand on his hip and leaned to the side, giving me an arrogant smirk.
"So, we finally meet, face to face. I hope you appreciate the little...gift I gave you back at your house."
A/N: Duhn duhn DAAA! ! Enter Yami Bakura!
Bakura: Hurray! About friggin' time, it's the end of the third chapter!
Riv: You have no patience whatsoever, do you...?
Ryou: RiverTear980 owns absolutely nothing. Yu-Gi-Oh is the proud creation of Kazuki Takahashi. She does not claim to own it in any way, shape, or form. She still doesn't-
Riv: YES! I did get one. I am now the happy owner... OF A FISH!
Ryou: *sigh* she still doesn't own a soul.
Riv: His name is Bowser, and he's purple, and he's my guard fish! I love my little guard fishie!
Akefia: *appears* ...Wait, why the hell am I here?
Riv: I wanted a Bakura harem.
Bakura: O.O
Ryou: O.O
Akefia: O.O
Riv: ... Review? The prize this time is your very own harem of your choice.
Thanks to Owl-Lady, clarissazeniarosele and Mairorah for reviewing ^^ Im going to start doing this... I always feel warm and fuzzy whenever I review someone's work and it shows up in the story lol