Anachronism | By : Ochodre Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Het - Male/Female Views: 4984 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
I didn't realize that he was acting like Snow on the Sahara Ryou at first, but he is, isn't he? I guess I've just got him pegged a certain way in my head... It wasn't conscious.
For the record, Ryou is 18 in this story. Powerless and this story have established that they either are in or heading into winter, and his birthday is sometime in the fall, if I recall correctly. I think he's supposed to be 16 or so in Duelist Kingdom. Come to think of it, I did a doodle on the topic:
http://art.worldweave.net/crap/agecomp.jpg
Sorry it's messy, but I think it gets the point across. ^^; Older Ryou is muttering about how he still wishes he was sixteen, and younger Ryou looks kinda haunted since, well, the Ring was haunting him at the time.
Heh, thanks for all the kind words.
---
Like a ghost don't need a key
Your best friend, I've come to be
Please don't think of getting up from me
You don't even need to speak
I've been here for just one day
You'll already miss me if I go away
So close the blinds and shut the door
You won't need other friends anymore...
~Dido, "Don't Leave Home"
Bakura had exchanged her shirt for one of Ryou's loose jackets, and replaced her skirt with a pair of baggy pants. Her hair was been combed completely out of her face, and was hidden with a baseball cap over her crown. The rest was tucked beneath the high collar of the blue jacket. A few white strands fell over her eyes, but they were thin enough to be mistaken for blond in the light. She wore translucent colored glasses that broke up the distinctive outline of her angular eyes.
"Wha-ah... who're you?" Joey sputtered.
"Yeah, Ryou, where'd you find her?" Tristan gaped, and Ryou tried his best to disappear into the couch.
"Charming company you keep, Ryou," Bakura chuckled and sat beside him, folding her legs. She gave him a secret smirk. "Who are they?"
"Who are we?! We're his buds!" Joey found his voice and was suddenly eager to introduce himself. "I'm Joey Wheeler, this here's Yugi Muuto -- you mighta heard of us... oh, and that loser's Tristan."
Bakura shrugged. "Can't say I have."
"What?" Joey looked deflated. He flailed his hands. "You know, three -- four -- er, however-many-times runner up in like every major duelin' tourney Joseph Wheeler?! And Yugi's da grand champion! His mug's on everything!" Yugi bowed his head and waved shyly, blushing.
She looked bored. "Never heard of either of you."
Both Joey and Yugi frowned a little at that, and she looked over at Ryou. "Are you going to introduce me?"
"O-oh, um," Ryou shook his head and finally spoke, sitting up. "Guys, this is my, my friend, uh--"
"Touzoku," Bakura supplemented smoothly for him.
"We're sorry... Touzoku," Yugi bowed his head slightly, but Ryou thought he saw one of Yugi's eyebrows raise as he looked at the girl, "We didn't know Ryou had anyone else over."
"Yeah, we figured his... roommate kept away most'a Ryou's company," Joey thumbed at the door, making a face. "Hope you don't run into him, he's a damned lunatic."
"Oh, I don't have any trouble with him," Bakura's smirk broadened, and Ryou had to bite his tongue to keep from chuckling.
"Well, anyway," Joey looked disappointed that his guy-only dueling party was a flop. "We were jes gonna duel and stuff, which you must not be into if you ain't never heard'a us..."
"I never said that." Bakura reached into her pocket and produced a deck of cards. "But I'm afraid I'm something of a novice." She looked over at Ryou and offered him a sly smile, "Ryou has been teaching me."
Joey and Tristan whistled simultaneously like they were now privy to some juicy gossip. Ryou's face suddenly felt aflame. "G-guys, it's not like that..."
"Oh, can I have your number, then?" Tristan grinned at the girl, and she cast him such a singularly dismissive glare that his shoulders fell and he slumped back against the table.
"Actually, this works out pretty well," Yugi tried to change the subject, looking around, "The more, the merrier, right? It's fun to play against new people."
"Okay, I call dibs on Tozzie!" Joey blurted, grinning like an idiot, "She obviously ain't seen me in action yet."
"Me against a champion?" Bakura's eyes rolled towards the ceiling briefly, "Whatever shall I do."
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on ya! I wouldn't pick on a beginner." Joey gave her a thumbs-up sign and a wink.
Ryou and Yugi exchanged a glance. He could tell the small boy was not fooled by Bakura, but the prospect of seeing the horror on Joey's face later was too good to pass up. They both suppressed grins.
"I'm putting my money on Touzoku," Tristan noted offhandedly, and Joey scowled at him.
"Some friend you are!"
"She may not have seen you in action, Joe, but we have."
Dueling fields were quickly staked out across the coffee table. Ryou and Bakura moved to the floor and sat on one side, while Yugi and Joey took another.
"You better not help her, Ryou! It's th' worst thing you can do for a beginner! Plus it ain't fair," Joey warned, handing his deck to the girl. "I think you and Yugi should switch places."
"I'm fine over here, Joey," Yugi lowered his head to hide his bemused look.
"Yeah, we could say the same about Yugi helping you," Tristan grinned, and Joey threw his shoe at him.
"I believe I can handle myself," Bakura chuckled darkly and shuffled Joey's deck. He did his best to cut hers using a snazzy casino technique, but only ended up nearly scattering them.
"Well, ladies first," Joey scooted under the table and set his deck down in its spot.
"You're too kind," Bakura sneered, voice dripping with sarcasm. She drew five cards and looked over her hand. "Hm... I play this, face down, in defense mode, and end my turn."
"Okay, lessee--" Joey looked over his own draw and scrutinized it. "There's a buncha things I could do, buuuut since I'm goin' easy on ya... I play Gearfried th' Iron Knight, in attack mode, and blast yer defense monster!"
"It's destroyed," Bakura lifted the card. It was Mystical Clown, so she set it down above her deck in the graveyard. "But my lifepoints are still safe, are they not?"
"Yep! Ryou musta taught you pretty well. Oh yeah, that ends my turn," Joey bounced a little on his heels, hyped up as he usually was during a duel. Everyone else watched.
"He is a fine teacher," Bakura said casually as she drew and examined the card, before she also set it down in defense mode. "I end my turn, again."
"Hm... Gearfried too much for ya?" Joey sounded genuinely concerned, and he looked over his hand. "Well, least I can do is not play anythin' else. He slices through yer new monster!"
Ryou watched Bakura's reaction. Her lip twitched, but she was restraining herself. She revealed her other card -- Whiptail Crow, and set it on top of the other card in the graveyard. Once again, she pulled another card and immediately set it down in defense mode. Joey frowned.
"Yer gonna hafta attack sometime," he said, though he tried to sound helpful, "You got any magic or traps in there? I made that mistake way early on too--"
"I end my turn," Bakura cut him off, and looked at him above her fake glasses.
"Well, okay," Joey shrugged, "Guess I attack that one with Gearfried too, and end my turn."
Bakura pulled the monster card off the table and revealed it. Headless Knight. She also set it down in the graveyard, but then gathered all three cards into her hand and showed them to Joey.
"These are all Fiend monsters, if I'm not mistaken."
"Uh..." The blond squinted, then nodded. "Yup, you can tell by that little monster face in the corner."
"How fortunate." A wicked smile curled over the thief's lips and she winked over at Ryou. The boy allowed himself a slight smile, though he hid it with his hand. He knew what was coming next.
"I eliminate these three cards from play," Bakura announced, pushing her entire graveyard up a space, "In order to summon Dark Necrofear."
"Wha?!" Joey nearly fell back as she placed the orange card down.
"I'm not done yet," she warned, "I also play Change of Heart."
Joey look struck as she took Gearfried from his side of the field, and continued detailing her battle plans. "And sacrifice your Gearfried to summon Earl of Demise."
"No way--"
"I believe I am operating entirely within the rules of Duel Monsters," Bakura snickered lowly, and looked over her hand. "I set down this card and attack your lifepoints directly."
In one turn, she had almost played her entire hand and more than halved his lifepoints.
"Ghyahh... Beginner's luck!" Joey nearly squeeked, but shook out of it and leaned over intently. "All right, no more mista' nice guy! I summon Goblin Attack Force, and I use Polymerization to combine th' Red Eyes an' Summon Skull in my hand!" He slammed down the fusion monster with a victorious flare.
"And it attacks yer Necrofear!"
"Are you sure you wish to do that?" Bakura's eyes lit up dangerously.
"If yer gonna play hardball, I'm gonna play it right back!" Joey grinned, "That's a thousand points'a damage!"
"Joey..." Yugi started, but thought better of it and sighed.
"Very well then," Bakura slid Necrofear downward, but brought the monster into a magic or trap card slot. She then reached forward and took possession of Joey's Skull Dragon.
"Ey, whaddya doin'?!"
"Dark Necrofear may not seem a terribly powerful monster, considering how difficult she is to summon," Bakura smiled knowingly and turned the Skull Dragon into attack mode on her side of the field, "But she is an effect monster, and her effect allows me to turn her into an equip card and commander one of my opponent's monsters after she is destroyed."
Joey looked pale.
"It is wise to never underestimate your opponent, no matter the circumstances, Wheeler," Bakura's voice dipped into its more familiar huskiness, "They may not be what they appear."
"Wait a minute..." Joey looked distinctly unsettled, as if he was reminded of something, but the deja vu passed him and he continued. "I still got my goblins, so they destroy yer Earl! And its special effect forces me to put 'em in defense mode afterward, so I'm safe fer now."
Bakura drew a card and flipped over the trap she had set earlier.
"Come to think of it, I believe I have seen you duel before. You like to use cards that involve dice, do you not?"
"Now ya remember! I sure do," Joey struck a pose. Bakura gave him a fanged smile.
"So do I." She produced a ten-sided die from somewhere on her person. "I play Blind Destruction. If I roll a four, your Goblins are destroyed."
"If! Yer using a bigger die, the chances are gonna be a lot lower," Joey watched her warily, "S'why they recommend six sided dice for everything."
"I've good luck with dice," the thief chuckled, and tossed the die with a flick of her wrist. It hit the table and spun on its side like a top. As if possessed, it landed perfectly on a four.
"Wha... Hey, that's not fair, roll normally," Yugi pointed out, and Joey looked confused for a moment, till recognition slowly dawned on his face.
"This dolt's nowhere half as perceptive as the Pharaoh, Yugi. What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Bakura took her die back anyway, but remained smirking, "He's even easier to toy with than when he was a miniature."
"Y-y... You?!" Joey sputtered, pointing at Bakura shakily. She lowered her face, her eyes were shadowed, then slowly removed her glasses. Tristan looked confused, until Bakura tilted her head back, giving them her best villain laugh, and her hat fell away. Familiar tufts of hair arched over her head as her white mane was shaken out over her shoulders. Joey and Tristan yelped simultaneously.
"I suppose a game of Monster World after this is out of the question," Bakura sneered at them, and the two tall boys cowered against the television.
"I ain't playin' against you!" Joey tried to look brave, making a fist at the cackling girl and gathering up his cards, "I don't wanna end up with my soul in another doll! Messin' with our minds like that -- sheesh!"
"Sorry, guys," Ryou didn't meet their gazes, but he was smiling. "I didn't think sh -- Bakura was going to come out of the room in the back."
"When these idiots interrupted my supper? The least I could do is scare the hell out of them," Bakura huffed and leaned back against the couch.
"Why the heck are you walking around like that?" Tristan wondered, "Last time I saw you, you looked pretty manly."
"It's probably some kinda magic illusion, tryin' to lull us into a false sense'a security!" Joey arched up defensively, "We don't buy it, so you can drop it!"
"I would if I could," Bakura intoned in a flat voice and said no more.
"It's a long story, guys," Ryou explained for her, looking over at the girl, "But there's no magic involved. Don't bother he... Bakura about it, okay?"
"Ryou, just use the stupid pronoun," she sighed, closing her eyes, "It's not inaccurate."
The thief looked up at their guests. Despite Ryou's request, they were obviously curious. "Fine. When Malik came back and stole the Rod, I lost a duel to him. The magic of the Items was nullified when I defeated him again, so I can't change back."
"You defeated him? I thought th' Pharaoh did," Joey looked confused.
"No, guys, it was Bakura," Yugi spoke up, shaking his head, "The Pharaoh and I could just watch. If we had been willing to listen to her earlier, things would've ended sooner, but... it's over now, and that's all that matters."
"Hmf," Bakura waxed indignant, "I suppose I had to receive credit sooner or later. But now it's your turn to share; what's the real reason you've come to bother my landlord? You never let him in on your little card games before."
Joey and Tristan looked at each other guiltily, and Joey held up his backpack. "We, eehh... well, my dad's around, an' Tristan's mom is around, and Yugi's got Grandpa back home, so we needed someplace to watch these videos we found..."
Ryou looked baffled, and Bakura narrowed her eyes. "So you've not come to see him, but to watch pornography in the privacy of his apartment. I repeat; charming company you keep, Ryou," the thief looked over at him, and his shoulders sagged.
"It's not like that," Tristan started, and Joey waved his hands. "We really did wanna see Ryou too! But... yeah, we had to leave Tea and the Pharaoh behind 'cause Tea's a girl and the Pharaoh's probably too noble for that kinda stuff..."
"I would doubt that, the man had ten wives," Bakura folded her arms and smirked at the double-takes she got from everyone in the room. "You may not have seen that particular detail in his Memory World, but I visited his palace in person. I assure you, they were there."
Ryou stood up and left the room without a word, walking to his room quietly.
A nearly invisible frown flicked over Bakura's face for a moment. "Ryou, however." Her face became a glare, and the three boys frowned at each other.
"Would you like me to watch in his place and tell you how unrealistic and inaccurate it is? Unlike you three, I've bedded plenty of women in my time," she leered at them, and they stared at her with wide eyes.
"But this is guy stuff," Joey argued feebly, looking into his bag of videos. Bakura snorted.
"I've little doubt that I still have more manliness than you three combined. At least I'm not cruel enough to pretend friendship towards a lonely boy as a pretense to masturbation," she rose and narrowed her eyes at them, voice growing cold. "Think about that the next time you mouth off about friendship and loyalty."
She turned and headed down the hall, towards Ryou's bedroom, and left three shamed boys in her wake.
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