Disclaimer: Still don't own it! Won't while I write this fic, so this is my last disclaimer.
Important Note: Several people have asked if this is yaoi. It IS NOT! This is very clear. There is ASOLUTELY NO YAOI IN THIS FIC. I do not support yaoi and therefore do not write it.
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Ryou sat on the couch, absentmindedly kicking his dangling legs. Three days… He'd been in Bakura's care for three days, and just as the man had predicted, he could just barely limp around the coffee table. He stared at the white cloths bandaging his leg. A faint smile graced his lips.
Bakura was so talented. He was strong, smart, quick… everything Ryou wasn't. Ryou's smile melted. He was just a little weakling that always needed saving. Anything heroic he had every done was plain luck.
Ryou's hand strayed to the lip of his shirt. He reached inside, his fingers curling around a thin chain, and he withdrew a gold necklace. Eyes growing distant, he smoothed the gold pendant with his thumb. The thin heart glinted into the living room light. His small index finger traced the words etched into the metal. Bakura Ryou. Beneath it, a year he presumed to be that of his birth.
Tilting his head heavenward, Ryou closed his eyes. How many years were in between them? Nine? Ten years? He wasn't sure.
Again, Ryou felt himself sink into futile longing. He liked Bakura. That first night Bakura had immediately assumed the role of savior in Ryou's mind. However, the man did not want him. Then… why had he brought Ryou home in the first place? Just to toss him back out onto the streets?
Tears welled in Ryou eyes. He didn't want to be abandoned, again. He did not want to go back. If he were sent away, they would find him again. Holding himself tightly, Ryou drew his knees to his chest. He did not want go back.
Ryou looked toward the door. Why didn't Bakura like him? Was it because he was small… frail?
Wiping away his tears, Ryou narrowed his eyes. He wasn't completely useless. His face fell, again, as he looked down at his leg.
He shook his head. No, he could make Bakura like him. What to do, though?
Suddenly, a large smile broke his face. Hobbling toward the kitchen, Ryou decided on the perfect way to earn Bakura's approval.
Bakura trudged down the road toward his apartment. The slight breeze tugged at his long white hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail. He flipped the hood of his jacket over his head as he entered a more populated area. No sense attracting unwanted attention.
He absently fingered a wad of bills in his pocket and glared forward. He despised this. These 'odd jobs' as he had put it for the kid. It had taken him years to stifle his pride enough to stoop to the level of these low-lifes. It was necessary, though. His reputation earned him enough attention as it was.
As long as he wasn't discovered, it didn't matter what he became.
The cars whizzed down the crowded street. The flaps of his black trench coat swirled around his long legs as he strode past a deep alley. He paused, eyeing the high walls of the brick buildings. He stared for a long while, ignoring the pedestrians bypassing him with skeptical glances.
Shaking his head, he looked away and continued down the sidewalk. He should have never taken that kid in. It was not fair to the child. He became attached too easily. Bakura knew Ry- the boy could not stay.
A soft ring drew Bakura from his musings. He took a cellular device from his pocket and held it to his ear.
"Nani?"
"Bakura-sempai!"
"Please tell me you're calling from the phone I gave you."
"Hai, hai. I'm not stupid."
Bakura kept back a sarcastic comment. "Did you get it?"
"Of course. Seems your man has been absent for several months now. The most recent thing I could find, and I did a thorough search," Bakura rolled his eyes, "Was registration for a private plane from Moscow, Russia about a week and a half ago."
"Did it list the destination?"
"Yup. Get this. He landed in Tokyo."
Bakura cursed under his breath. Perhaps his presence in Japan was a coincidence. Not likely.
"Alright. Keep me posted on anything new."
"Hai, Bakura-sempai!"
Bakura sighed. "I've told you not to call me that, Ma-"
"Yeah, but I can't see your nasty glare, so it has no affect."
Bakura could almost see the huge grin on the other teenager's face.
"You are insufferable."
"That's why ya keep me around! That and my superior skills."
Oh yes. His quite 'superior' skills.
"Ja!"
"Ja."
Bakura closed the phone with a shake of his head. The kid was impossible, but his skills for hacking were unrivalled for his age. Bakura would never find out how he learned it. Abundant spare time, perhaps?
Still... the information had disturbed him. He was in the same country as Bakura. Far too close for comfort. Bakura would have to change things... again. It also meant he'd have to get rid of the kid sooner.
Refusing to dwell on it, Bakura stopped in front of his apartment door. Things just couldn't get any worse.
CRASH!
Bakura stiffened. What the...?
He hurriedly took out his key, inserted it into the lock, and turned. He threw open the door and burst in... then froze.
Smoke billowed through the dining area and filled the living room.
Bakura absently pushed the door shut behind him as he numbly advanced into the apartment. He was surprised to smoke detector hadn't gone off. Bakura coughed, covering his mouth with his hand.
Another clatter drew his attention to the kitchen. Squinting, he peered over the counter at the white-haired child scrambling to pick up the pots that were scattered across the tile. Ryou shoved the pots and pans into the cupboard hastily, eyes flicking toward the stove anxiously.
Bakura nearly gagged when he looked at the stove. A liquidly, greenish substance sizzled in a small pan over high heat. The inside of the once silver skillet was scorched with black. On the counter beside the stove, two charcoal black slices of bread stuck out of the toaster.
"Bakura-sama!" A shrill voice squealed.
Bakura looked back down at the small boy. He had stood up, arms full of pots.
"Don't worry, I'll clean it up!"
He quickly stuffed the remaining cookware into the cupboard, then hobbled toward the opposite counter, favoring his left leg. Ryou clambered onto a chair pushed against the counter and reached up toward the cupboard suspended above the white counter-tiles. However, with his injured leg, he could not stand tall enough to grab the plates.
Bakura rounded the bar and walked across the small kitchen, decreasing the heat to low as he passed the stove. He approached the struggling boy, then reached over Ryou's head into the cupboard and extracted two plates.
Flashing a grateful smile, Ryou hopped down and returned to the ominous concoction in the pan. He stirred the liquid until it began to take a semi-solid form. Upon closer inspection, Bakura realized it was only half-cooked scrambled eggs, though how the child had altered their color he had no idea. Though, the assortion of seasonings beneath the spice cabinet may have been a clue.
Ryou took one plate from Bakura's hand and grabbed the two pieces of toast. Then, he glopped the runny eggs onto one piece of blackened toast and placed the other on top to form a gooey egg sandwich. Bakura held back a grimace.
The boy limped over to the square dining table and set the plate down next to a pre-placed fork and napkin. He then turned to Bakura with a big grin. When Bakura realized the food was meant for him, Bakura nearly choked. He would have protested, but the innocent pride radiating off the small boy overpowered his disgust.
With a weak smile, Bakura sat down in front of the steaming plate. Nervously, he picked up his fork and poked at the runny and discolored scrambled eggs. He looked back up at Ryou's expectant face. Why did the kid have to be so innocent?
Swallowing back another gag, Bakura scooped up a small bit of egg and raised the fork to his mouth. He paused, then, closing his eyes, he parted his lips and inserted the utensil into his mouth.
For a few seconds it sat there on his tongue, the taste dissolving into his taste buds. Bakura opened his eyes and pulled out the fork. As he slowly began to chew, his eyes widened slightly in surprise. It… wasn't so bad. His gaze flicked toward the kid, who's eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets with anticipation. He gave a small smile and nodded. The boy squealed with excitement. A small pang of guilt stabbed Bakura's chest.
He swallowed, then broke off a piece of the burnt toast and popped it in his mouth. This time, he forced back a grimace as he swallowed the rock-hard bread.
Bakura was about to take another bite when he noticed Ryou still standing beside the table, watching him intently.
"Where's your food?"
Ryou shook his head. "I made breakfast for you, Bakura-sama. I'm not hungry."
Bakura heard the strain him Ryou's voice as he uttered the last sentence and shook his head. Setting down his fork, he rose. "Sit."
Ryou frowned. "Demo-"
"Kid, sit down."
Nodding, the boy complied. Bakura crossed the small kitchen. He opened a cupboard and took out two glasses, setting them on the counter. Ryou watched silently as Bakura opened the refrigerator and grabbed a carton of orange juice.
"Want some?"
Smiling, Ryou nodded. Bakura filled both glasses, then returned the orange juice to its place. With the two cups, a fork, and another plate, Bakura walked back to the table. He handed a glass to Ryou, who hungrily guzzled the drink, then split the child's attempt at cooking between the two plates, allowing the majority to 'accidentally' spill onto Ryou's plate. The boy didn't mind, though, as he devoured the meal without giving a second thought to the taste.
A small smile crept onto Bakura's face, and he shook his head. Ryou was certainly a strange kid.
He sighed inwardly as he watched the thin child wolf down his breakfast in pure naivety. It would be hard to let him go.
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Author's Notes: YIPPEE!!!!! I finally updated. It has been exactly three months since I last posted. O.O" -bows- Gomen nasai, minna!!!! I am so very, very sorry. You all deserve huge rewards for being so patient with me. I promise it won't be as long before the next post. It is my goal to update at least once a month. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. More action will be seen in the next for those of you squirming to see Bakura do his stuff. Well, this is my Christmas gift to all of you. Merry Christmas~
Translator's Notes: 'Ja' means 'bye'; and 'demo' means 'but'.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It will be a while before I update, again. I have figured out a lot more for the plot of the story, and since the three chapters I've written thus far are too short for my tastes, I will be editting. I have also decided to wait to update until I've written at least two chapters past the chapter I'm posting. This will decrease the chances of me going back an changing a chapter I have already posted. Watch for announcements of updated previous chapters!
Take a quick minute to review? Inspires me to update faster! ;p (I know, I'm evil)