aidez-moi à vivre (chp. 5)
Title: aidez-moi à vivre
Author: Moi
Pairing: Yami no Bakura/Ryou Bakura
Genre: Alternate Universe, Supernatural, Angst, Romance
Rating: R
Warnings: Limeiness
Theme for 30_kisses: 22 // Cradle [v. To hold or support protectively]
Summary: When sundered strangers stumbled through the doors of his cafe, Ryou was not too surprised. If Ryou could, he would save them all. But not all strangers are willing to be saved.
In case you missed it:
In case you missed it:
Chapter 1: Good Night
Chapter 2: Letter
Chapter 3: Our distance and that person
Chapter 4: Jolt!
Ten Years Earlier…
It had been a sunny day, with a gentle, warm breeze. He and his sister had decided to leave the apartment to window-shop at the local shops. Hand in hand, they walked down a busy street together. They had passed an ice cream parlor earlier, so in his sister’s hand was a partially melted cone of chocolate delight. Twin smiles accompanied two heads of pale hair.
“Brother! Let’s go over there!”
“Aa!”
She had seen a small kitten, hiding in the corner by an alley, and sympathized. Discarding the remnants of her cold treat, she stooped to pick up the cat and cuddle it in her arms. He was glad to watch, slipping his arms around her waist.
“Isn’t it cute, Brother?”
“He’s very cute. Adorable!”
“Do you think Father would let us keep him?”
“No, you know how much he doesn’t like pets.”
“Aww!”
An odd scent, carried on the warm breeze began to pass by them. Moments, later, cries of fear and pair began to drift by.
“Brother! Look! There’s a fire over there!”
Indeed, a glow filled the gloomy alley. Shadows flickered in hues of yellow and orange along the walls.
She gave a cry, and dashed out of his arms, making her way to the source of the blaze. Disregarding her brother’s shouts of warning, she forced her way into the building, covering her mouth to avoid breathing the already smoke-filled air.
“There’s someone in there, Brother! I have to help them!” had been her muffled response as she disappeared into the building.
He ran after her, shouting her name, just making it to the door before he began to choke on the black smoke that came from within. The edifice gave a low groan of labor and he could see that the burdened building was beginning to strain against its foundation and supports, barely able to hold itself up.
Tears filled his eyes as he strained to see through the smoke, all the while calling her name. No reply came, and in the growing heat around him, all he could hear was his own screams.
The building rumbled again, just as charred wood began to drift down from above. Falling to his knees, he continued to scream his beloved sister’s name. Finally, as the raging fire licked at the sky, the building gave in, crumbling to the ground before him as if in slow motion. He backed as far away as he could, now becoming surrounded by other spectators, and his streaming tears blinded him as they forged down his soot-stained cheeks.
“AMANE!!!!”
::~~~~::
Slowly, Bakura Ryou opened his green eyes, bringing up a hand to wipe away the tears. The memory and constantly reoccurring nightmare remained fresh in his mind as he began to awake. On the nearby bedside table, his alarm clock read “6:30am.” Groaning softly, Ryou tried to shake himself of the dream, but it remained persistent.
Ryou forced himself to sit up. He had awaken in this manner several times before and wasn’t about to let the old memory hold him back. The young café owner had made a promise that he would not break. Thus, he hoisted himself out of his bed and made his way to his bathroom.
In truth, the recent reminder of past events was an almost welcomed distraction to the goings on of the past few days. But as Ryou walked lethargically into the bathroom adjacent to his chambre, and glanced in his mirror, what had happened the night before suddenly came rushing back to him.
The cold hands, slowly drifting down his body, making him feel emotions he had never experienced before.
“Bakura…” he murmured, leaning in slowly towards the mirror. They were so similar in appearance that he had only to imagine himself with darker eyes… Ryou’s lips brushed the cool glass gently, and the coldness of the mirror did not seem to register in Ryou’s mind. After all, his nightly specter had no warmth either.
As the images of last night continued to flicker in his mind, Ryou’s hands began to move on their own, gradually moving downwards. His breath became ragged and the café owners tongue flickered out past his lips to leave a wet trail on the mirror.
Ryou whimpered softly to himself, his fingers wrapping around the part of his body that currently emanated the most heat. Again, he dragged his tongue along the mirror in front of him, disregarding that his body was pressed against the bathroom sink.
“Bakura…”
Huffing softly, Ryou’s fingers began to move faster, the movements more intense.
“Bakura…”
As the overwhelming sensations continued to assault his senses, pleasure searing through Ryou’s veins, the spirit that haunted his café unrelentingly remained in his mind.
Finally, a strangled cry spilled from the café owner’s lips as he gave into the emotions that wracked his body. Ryou went weak in the knees from the exertion. His dirtied hands moved to tightly grip the edges of his sink, but he could not find the strength to hold himself up. Sliding to the floor, he knelt on his knees in front of the sink and continued to tightly grip the edges. He sobbed, tears flowing steadfast down his cheeks once again and his whole frame began to shake.
His sob filled cries rang off the tiled walls as Bakura Ryou collapsed on the floor and in on himself.
“Amane… Bakura… It’s not fair!!!”
~~~~::
An hour later found Ryou downstairs, behind the counter of his coffee shop. Again, a rag in hand, he lovingly cleaned the brass top, bringing it to an impossible shine. But as he did so, he kept his eyes away from his distorted reflection and focused his attention elsewhere.
The jingling of the doorbell announced a new arrival, and Ryou turned his attention towards the front of the store. His green eyes widened in shock and he saw a familiar figure stumble inside - alone. Mouto Yuugi walked slowly to his normal corner and collapsed bonelessly into a chair, tears streaming down his cheeks. Immediately, Ryou dropped his cloth and hurried to his friend.
“Yuugi-kun!” Ryou wrapped his arms around the shorter man, in an attempt to comfort him. “What’s wrong? Where’s Atemu-kun?”
To Ryou’s surprise, Yuugi’s tears increased tenfold. Now that he had mentioned it, Ryou realized that an important feature remained missing from Yuugi’s side. Where was Atemu? As far as the coffee shop owner could remember, ever since the two had met, Yuugi never went anywhere without his lover.
“Shh… There, there…” Ryou whispered softly in his soft accent, all the while, rocking Yuugi gently. “Shh… What’s wrong? You can talk to me, Yuugi-kun…”
Indigo eyes lifted to meet Ryou’s, and the café owner could see the pain reflected deep within. The heart wrenching dullness in Yuugi’s eyes was as clear as crystal and it nearly took Ryou’s breath away. Immediately, all the events of the morning were gone from Ryou’s mind as he looked into his friend’s eyes.
“I… He… He’s gone…” Yuugi sobbed, burying his face in Ryou’s shoulder. Ryou had to shift slightly, moving to sit on the small table in front of Yuugi’s table to relieve some of the discomfort that came from kneeling next to Yuugi’s chair.
“What do you mean, he’s gone?” Ryou asked softly, keeping his tone gentle yet inquiring. He gave the crying man a gentle squeeze.
If it was possible for Yuugi to cry more, he did so, and Ryou soon found his shoulder soaked with tears. “He’s gone! I couldn’t save him! I couldn’t! And… and… it’s all my fault!!”
Ryou continued to gently rock Yuugi, wisely keeping his lips shut as Yuugi began to haltingly tell the tale of the night after Ryou had last saw them. If Ryou remembered correctly, the night had been slick with fog. From what he could pick out between Yuugi’s sobs and cries of anguish, the two had been on their way to their scheduled date. As the walked across the dark street to the restaurant they had reservations at, a drunk driver swerved onto the road with Yuugi in the car’s direct path. Atemu had pushed Yuugi out of the way in time, but not soon enough to avoid the drunk’s path. He had been hit head on. When Yuugi had run to him, Atemu’s chest had been crushed, but before the older man heaved his last breath, he managed to slip a ring onto Yuugi’s finger and whispered a soft “I love you…”
Tears began to sparkle in Ryou’s eyes as well as Yuugi finished his story. But for once, Ryou had a strong grip on his emotions. Yuugi had always been a kind, caring man, and Ryou wasn’t about to let an earth-shattering event such as this break him.
“You know...” Ryou whispered soft, taking one of Yuugi’s hands in his. He noticed a small, golden ring glint on one of Yuugi’s fingers and wasn’t a fool to wonder where it had come from. “I believe that even if we can’t see the ones we love, and even if they have left this world, they are still with us in some way. And I know for sure that Atemu-kun loves you too much to leave you in this world alone.”
Yuugi looked up, his tear-filled eyes meeting Ryou’s. “Really?” he hiccupped softly.
Ryou nodded. “Not only is he here, somewhere with us, but he is here too.” Ryou took Yuugi’s be-ringed hand and placed it over Yuugi’s heart. The white haired man gazed intensely into Yuugi’s to make his point clear.
The shorter man shook his head slightly. “Yes… he’s there… that’s why I won’t ever be able to love anyone else…”
“Don’t say that, Yuugi-kun. That’s the last thing Atemu-kun would’ve wanted. He loved you, so much that he wanted you to live while he had to die. That means he would’ve wanted you to continue living your life. And if love comes into your life again, Atemu-kun would’ve wanted you to pursue it. You’re meant for greater things, Yuugi-kun, than to give up on love and life.” Ryou’s voice surprised himself. Never in his life had he spoken with such conviction, and he couldn’t help but inwardly smile. I’m doing what you would’ve wanted me to do, Amane…
Yuugi gave a nod and sniffled softly. His pale lips quirked into a would-be smile, and the café owner returned with a gentle smile of his own. “Now… I’m sure that Atemu-kun wouldn’t have wanted to see you here, all teary eyed. What do you say I get you something to drink while you go clean up in the water closet, ok?”
The shorter man gave another nod, and stood, dusting himself off nervously. “D-do you really think that… that Atemu is watching me? That… that he would be ok with it, if I fell in love again… I swore that... that I’d never love anyone but him…”
The café owner wrapped his arms around his friend once again, in a comforting embrace. “Was Atemu-kun ever the type to prohibit you from making friends, or did he keep you from doing things you love? He wasn’t the type, was he? And as far as I could tell, Atemu-kun would never have kept you from being yourself. He had always wanted to see you happy. And I know, from the bottom of my heart, that he still loves you, but doesn’t want to see you unhappy.”
Tears welled up in Yuugi’s eyes again, and he brought up a fist to hastily wipe them away. He sniffled softly. “Thanks, Bakura-kun… I… I don’t know where I’d be without you or this café.”
Ryou smiled at Yuugi again and watched him walk towards the restroom. Once he heard the sound of running water rush through the pipes over head, signaling that Yuugi was using the bathroom faucet, Ryou wandered over to the counter again and busied himself with making Yuugi a cup of black coffee.
Neither would I, Yuugi-kun… Neither would I…
~~~~::
Night fell swiftly and silently on Amane’s, as foggy and shrouded as the first night Bakura made his appearance. After Yuugi had gone, Ryou had been left to his thoughts. Again, he tried to distract his mind, this time by writing another letter to his sister.
Dear Amane,
I miss you…
Ryou’s green eyes lifted from the page, and he found his mind nearly as blank. His gaze roamed the small coffee ship before resting on the smashed cup lying near the back wall. Yuugi’s earlier anguish had forced the shards from his mind, but now came the time to remedy that. Ryou wandered across to the china-strewn floor. He stopped, pale fingers deftly picking up each piece and laid them in the make shift pocket Ryou had made out of his towel-apron.
Suddenly, one of his fingers slid against a sharp edge, and Ryou gave a startled gasp. He withdrew his fingers to his mouth so his lips and tongue gently removed the blood that came to the surface. Once he was certain the cut would no longer be a hindrance, Ryou continued his cleaning and then walked towards the garbage to dispose of the broken cup.
Heaving a soft sigh, Ryou moved back to the counter, brought out a rag and began to compulsively clean the brass top. His eyes, however, remained on the clock. The torturous long hand slowly moved closer to the twelve as Ryou watched with baited breath. Midnight eventually came and passed, to Ryou’s dismay. He dropped his cloth and bustled to the door to gaze out the window. Mist clogged the dark street and as Ryou’s jade colored eyes scanned the shadows through the fogged window panes, a stray cat dodged by. Wind blew at the door, rattling the panes slightly, and Ryou’s hands paled on the cold glass.
Where are you? Bakura?
A screech of wood on wood sounded behind Ryou and he whirled around to find his nightly visitor sitting in a chair, samurai robes spread out around him. The specter smirked.
“What? You expect me to come through the door every time?”
Ryou gaped at Bakura. “I… just thought…”
“Did your parents never tell you bedtime stories?” Bakura let out a low, dark chuckle. “I’d tell you to give walking through walls a try, but it might prove difficult in your state. A shame, really. It’s a rather enjoyable activity, so you’re missing out.”
Ryou, however, continued to gape, until the morning’s occurrences, coupled with those of the night before, came to mind. A dark pink tinge came to the café owner’s cheeks.
Rolling is metaphysical eyes, Bakura stood and slowly drifted towards Ryou. With translucent hands, he pushed Ryou into a chair. “Cat got your tongue, Ryou-dearest?” smirked the deceased ronin in a tone of mocking.
Ryou blanched slightly and gazed up at Bakura, only to flush yet again.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a woman.” Bakura’s words finally got a reacting, other than a blush out of Ryou.
“…I’m not girly…” he said softly, eyes traveling towards the ground.
“Sure, and I’m alive…” the ghost snorted, a transparent hand burying in Ryou’s hair. Bakura tugged at the white strands, forcing Ryou to glance up in time enough to see into Bakura’s dark eyes before his lips were captured in a kiss. This time, Ryou was prepared for the shock of cold against his lips. The familiar tingling sensations began to travel through Ryou’s body, but he had to pause the kiss to breathe. Their lips, however, remained close enough for Ryou to feel his breath reflected back towards him. [1]
“Why are you here? Why are you doing this to me?” he whimpered softly.
“Fool…” Bakura grumbled in response, and pressed his lips against Ryou’s again. The spirit’s hands moved forward, covering Ryou’s and sinking into the café owner’s skin, effectively possessing Ryou’s hands. With the control he now had, Bakura was able to experience the slew of emotions that overwhelmed the smaller man. The deceased ronin paused, allowing Ryou to breathe and allowing himself to briefly morn his inability to feel.
Then, Bakura began to direct Ryou’s hands, slowly moving them downward. Before Ryou could gasp in surprise, his mouth was covered yet again by the ghost’s. Ryou’s controlled hands continued to move downward, pausing to slowly unfasten the buttons and zipper on his trousers before moving inside.
A low whimper escaped Ryou’s mouth as his hands began to move torturously slow. A million thoughts ran through his mind, but when the spirit paused their kiss again, allowing Ryou to breathe, the café owner could voice only one thought.
“Don’t stop…” he murmured, pleadingly.
Suddenly, Ryou’s controlled hands stopped their movement, and he discovered that they had returned to his own command. He voiced another whimper and looked up at Bakura, who’s eyes were looking at Ryou, but not truly seeing him. It was as if the ronin was lost in thought.
Ignoring his own need, Ryou stood, pausing only to hastily close his pants and then turned to Bakura. He hesitantly reached out a hand, only to see it travel through Bakura’s chest.
“I… I have to go…” Bakura said suddenly, his voice distant. And he rushed forward, his entire being sweeping through Ryou’s body as he went. The overwhelming sensation of the ghost traveling through his entirety sent Ryou’s head swirling. Darkness closed in on Ryou and he fell to the floor.
Bakura, with his thoughts elsewhere, did not notice as the café owner passed out, and he sped through the door. He didn’t even bother to open it.
Time passed again, though not as slowly as it had seemed to earlier. When Ryou awoke, he found a slip of white paper on his chest.
1274 SE Daimeryan [2]
11:00 pm.
[1] Because Bakura cannot breathe, and because Ryou has the ability, at times, to make physical contact with the dead, when Ryou breathes, his breath is reflected back at him by hitting Bakura
[2] Stolen shamelessly from a friend of mine. :)Comments plz?
Author: Moi
Pairing: Yami no Bakura/Ryou Bakura
Genre: Alternate Universe, Supernatural, Angst, Romance
Rating: R
Warnings: Limeiness
Theme for 30_kisses: 22 // Cradle [v. To hold or support protectively]
Summary: When sundered strangers stumbled through the doors of his cafe, Ryou was not too surprised. If Ryou could, he would save them all. But not all strangers are willing to be saved.
In case you missed it:
In case you missed it:
Chapter 1: Good Night
Chapter 2: Letter
Chapter 3: Our distance and that person
Chapter 4: Jolt!
Ten Years Earlier…
It had been a sunny day, with a gentle, warm breeze. He and his sister had decided to leave the apartment to window-shop at the local shops. Hand in hand, they walked down a busy street together. They had passed an ice cream parlor earlier, so in his sister’s hand was a partially melted cone of chocolate delight. Twin smiles accompanied two heads of pale hair.
“Brother! Let’s go over there!”
“Aa!”
She had seen a small kitten, hiding in the corner by an alley, and sympathized. Discarding the remnants of her cold treat, she stooped to pick up the cat and cuddle it in her arms. He was glad to watch, slipping his arms around her waist.
“Isn’t it cute, Brother?”
“He’s very cute. Adorable!”
“Do you think Father would let us keep him?”
“No, you know how much he doesn’t like pets.”
“Aww!”
An odd scent, carried on the warm breeze began to pass by them. Moments, later, cries of fear and pair began to drift by.
“Brother! Look! There’s a fire over there!”
Indeed, a glow filled the gloomy alley. Shadows flickered in hues of yellow and orange along the walls.
She gave a cry, and dashed out of his arms, making her way to the source of the blaze. Disregarding her brother’s shouts of warning, she forced her way into the building, covering her mouth to avoid breathing the already smoke-filled air.
“There’s someone in there, Brother! I have to help them!” had been her muffled response as she disappeared into the building.
He ran after her, shouting her name, just making it to the door before he began to choke on the black smoke that came from within. The edifice gave a low groan of labor and he could see that the burdened building was beginning to strain against its foundation and supports, barely able to hold itself up.
Tears filled his eyes as he strained to see through the smoke, all the while calling her name. No reply came, and in the growing heat around him, all he could hear was his own screams.
The building rumbled again, just as charred wood began to drift down from above. Falling to his knees, he continued to scream his beloved sister’s name. Finally, as the raging fire licked at the sky, the building gave in, crumbling to the ground before him as if in slow motion. He backed as far away as he could, now becoming surrounded by other spectators, and his streaming tears blinded him as they forged down his soot-stained cheeks.
“AMANE!!!!”
::~~~~::
Slowly, Bakura Ryou opened his green eyes, bringing up a hand to wipe away the tears. The memory and constantly reoccurring nightmare remained fresh in his mind as he began to awake. On the nearby bedside table, his alarm clock read “6:30am.” Groaning softly, Ryou tried to shake himself of the dream, but it remained persistent.
Ryou forced himself to sit up. He had awaken in this manner several times before and wasn’t about to let the old memory hold him back. The young café owner had made a promise that he would not break. Thus, he hoisted himself out of his bed and made his way to his bathroom.
In truth, the recent reminder of past events was an almost welcomed distraction to the goings on of the past few days. But as Ryou walked lethargically into the bathroom adjacent to his chambre, and glanced in his mirror, what had happened the night before suddenly came rushing back to him.
The cold hands, slowly drifting down his body, making him feel emotions he had never experienced before.
“Bakura…” he murmured, leaning in slowly towards the mirror. They were so similar in appearance that he had only to imagine himself with darker eyes… Ryou’s lips brushed the cool glass gently, and the coldness of the mirror did not seem to register in Ryou’s mind. After all, his nightly specter had no warmth either.
As the images of last night continued to flicker in his mind, Ryou’s hands began to move on their own, gradually moving downwards. His breath became ragged and the café owners tongue flickered out past his lips to leave a wet trail on the mirror.
Ryou whimpered softly to himself, his fingers wrapping around the part of his body that currently emanated the most heat. Again, he dragged his tongue along the mirror in front of him, disregarding that his body was pressed against the bathroom sink.
“Bakura…”
Huffing softly, Ryou’s fingers began to move faster, the movements more intense.
“Bakura…”
As the overwhelming sensations continued to assault his senses, pleasure searing through Ryou’s veins, the spirit that haunted his café unrelentingly remained in his mind.
Finally, a strangled cry spilled from the café owner’s lips as he gave into the emotions that wracked his body. Ryou went weak in the knees from the exertion. His dirtied hands moved to tightly grip the edges of his sink, but he could not find the strength to hold himself up. Sliding to the floor, he knelt on his knees in front of the sink and continued to tightly grip the edges. He sobbed, tears flowing steadfast down his cheeks once again and his whole frame began to shake.
His sob filled cries rang off the tiled walls as Bakura Ryou collapsed on the floor and in on himself.
“Amane… Bakura… It’s not fair!!!”
~~~~::
An hour later found Ryou downstairs, behind the counter of his coffee shop. Again, a rag in hand, he lovingly cleaned the brass top, bringing it to an impossible shine. But as he did so, he kept his eyes away from his distorted reflection and focused his attention elsewhere.
The jingling of the doorbell announced a new arrival, and Ryou turned his attention towards the front of the store. His green eyes widened in shock and he saw a familiar figure stumble inside - alone. Mouto Yuugi walked slowly to his normal corner and collapsed bonelessly into a chair, tears streaming down his cheeks. Immediately, Ryou dropped his cloth and hurried to his friend.
“Yuugi-kun!” Ryou wrapped his arms around the shorter man, in an attempt to comfort him. “What’s wrong? Where’s Atemu-kun?”
To Ryou’s surprise, Yuugi’s tears increased tenfold. Now that he had mentioned it, Ryou realized that an important feature remained missing from Yuugi’s side. Where was Atemu? As far as the coffee shop owner could remember, ever since the two had met, Yuugi never went anywhere without his lover.
“Shh… There, there…” Ryou whispered softly in his soft accent, all the while, rocking Yuugi gently. “Shh… What’s wrong? You can talk to me, Yuugi-kun…”
Indigo eyes lifted to meet Ryou’s, and the café owner could see the pain reflected deep within. The heart wrenching dullness in Yuugi’s eyes was as clear as crystal and it nearly took Ryou’s breath away. Immediately, all the events of the morning were gone from Ryou’s mind as he looked into his friend’s eyes.
“I… He… He’s gone…” Yuugi sobbed, burying his face in Ryou’s shoulder. Ryou had to shift slightly, moving to sit on the small table in front of Yuugi’s table to relieve some of the discomfort that came from kneeling next to Yuugi’s chair.
“What do you mean, he’s gone?” Ryou asked softly, keeping his tone gentle yet inquiring. He gave the crying man a gentle squeeze.
If it was possible for Yuugi to cry more, he did so, and Ryou soon found his shoulder soaked with tears. “He’s gone! I couldn’t save him! I couldn’t! And… and… it’s all my fault!!”
Ryou continued to gently rock Yuugi, wisely keeping his lips shut as Yuugi began to haltingly tell the tale of the night after Ryou had last saw them. If Ryou remembered correctly, the night had been slick with fog. From what he could pick out between Yuugi’s sobs and cries of anguish, the two had been on their way to their scheduled date. As the walked across the dark street to the restaurant they had reservations at, a drunk driver swerved onto the road with Yuugi in the car’s direct path. Atemu had pushed Yuugi out of the way in time, but not soon enough to avoid the drunk’s path. He had been hit head on. When Yuugi had run to him, Atemu’s chest had been crushed, but before the older man heaved his last breath, he managed to slip a ring onto Yuugi’s finger and whispered a soft “I love you…”
Tears began to sparkle in Ryou’s eyes as well as Yuugi finished his story. But for once, Ryou had a strong grip on his emotions. Yuugi had always been a kind, caring man, and Ryou wasn’t about to let an earth-shattering event such as this break him.
“You know...” Ryou whispered soft, taking one of Yuugi’s hands in his. He noticed a small, golden ring glint on one of Yuugi’s fingers and wasn’t a fool to wonder where it had come from. “I believe that even if we can’t see the ones we love, and even if they have left this world, they are still with us in some way. And I know for sure that Atemu-kun loves you too much to leave you in this world alone.”
Yuugi looked up, his tear-filled eyes meeting Ryou’s. “Really?” he hiccupped softly.
Ryou nodded. “Not only is he here, somewhere with us, but he is here too.” Ryou took Yuugi’s be-ringed hand and placed it over Yuugi’s heart. The white haired man gazed intensely into Yuugi’s to make his point clear.
The shorter man shook his head slightly. “Yes… he’s there… that’s why I won’t ever be able to love anyone else…”
“Don’t say that, Yuugi-kun. That’s the last thing Atemu-kun would’ve wanted. He loved you, so much that he wanted you to live while he had to die. That means he would’ve wanted you to continue living your life. And if love comes into your life again, Atemu-kun would’ve wanted you to pursue it. You’re meant for greater things, Yuugi-kun, than to give up on love and life.” Ryou’s voice surprised himself. Never in his life had he spoken with such conviction, and he couldn’t help but inwardly smile. I’m doing what you would’ve wanted me to do, Amane…
Yuugi gave a nod and sniffled softly. His pale lips quirked into a would-be smile, and the café owner returned with a gentle smile of his own. “Now… I’m sure that Atemu-kun wouldn’t have wanted to see you here, all teary eyed. What do you say I get you something to drink while you go clean up in the water closet, ok?”
The shorter man gave another nod, and stood, dusting himself off nervously. “D-do you really think that… that Atemu is watching me? That… that he would be ok with it, if I fell in love again… I swore that... that I’d never love anyone but him…”
The café owner wrapped his arms around his friend once again, in a comforting embrace. “Was Atemu-kun ever the type to prohibit you from making friends, or did he keep you from doing things you love? He wasn’t the type, was he? And as far as I could tell, Atemu-kun would never have kept you from being yourself. He had always wanted to see you happy. And I know, from the bottom of my heart, that he still loves you, but doesn’t want to see you unhappy.”
Tears welled up in Yuugi’s eyes again, and he brought up a fist to hastily wipe them away. He sniffled softly. “Thanks, Bakura-kun… I… I don’t know where I’d be without you or this café.”
Ryou smiled at Yuugi again and watched him walk towards the restroom. Once he heard the sound of running water rush through the pipes over head, signaling that Yuugi was using the bathroom faucet, Ryou wandered over to the counter again and busied himself with making Yuugi a cup of black coffee.
Neither would I, Yuugi-kun… Neither would I…
~~~~::
Night fell swiftly and silently on Amane’s, as foggy and shrouded as the first night Bakura made his appearance. After Yuugi had gone, Ryou had been left to his thoughts. Again, he tried to distract his mind, this time by writing another letter to his sister.
Dear Amane,
I miss you…
Ryou’s green eyes lifted from the page, and he found his mind nearly as blank. His gaze roamed the small coffee ship before resting on the smashed cup lying near the back wall. Yuugi’s earlier anguish had forced the shards from his mind, but now came the time to remedy that. Ryou wandered across to the china-strewn floor. He stopped, pale fingers deftly picking up each piece and laid them in the make shift pocket Ryou had made out of his towel-apron.
Suddenly, one of his fingers slid against a sharp edge, and Ryou gave a startled gasp. He withdrew his fingers to his mouth so his lips and tongue gently removed the blood that came to the surface. Once he was certain the cut would no longer be a hindrance, Ryou continued his cleaning and then walked towards the garbage to dispose of the broken cup.
Heaving a soft sigh, Ryou moved back to the counter, brought out a rag and began to compulsively clean the brass top. His eyes, however, remained on the clock. The torturous long hand slowly moved closer to the twelve as Ryou watched with baited breath. Midnight eventually came and passed, to Ryou’s dismay. He dropped his cloth and bustled to the door to gaze out the window. Mist clogged the dark street and as Ryou’s jade colored eyes scanned the shadows through the fogged window panes, a stray cat dodged by. Wind blew at the door, rattling the panes slightly, and Ryou’s hands paled on the cold glass.
Where are you? Bakura?
A screech of wood on wood sounded behind Ryou and he whirled around to find his nightly visitor sitting in a chair, samurai robes spread out around him. The specter smirked.
“What? You expect me to come through the door every time?”
Ryou gaped at Bakura. “I… just thought…”
“Did your parents never tell you bedtime stories?” Bakura let out a low, dark chuckle. “I’d tell you to give walking through walls a try, but it might prove difficult in your state. A shame, really. It’s a rather enjoyable activity, so you’re missing out.”
Ryou, however, continued to gape, until the morning’s occurrences, coupled with those of the night before, came to mind. A dark pink tinge came to the café owner’s cheeks.
Rolling is metaphysical eyes, Bakura stood and slowly drifted towards Ryou. With translucent hands, he pushed Ryou into a chair. “Cat got your tongue, Ryou-dearest?” smirked the deceased ronin in a tone of mocking.
Ryou blanched slightly and gazed up at Bakura, only to flush yet again.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a woman.” Bakura’s words finally got a reacting, other than a blush out of Ryou.
“…I’m not girly…” he said softly, eyes traveling towards the ground.
“Sure, and I’m alive…” the ghost snorted, a transparent hand burying in Ryou’s hair. Bakura tugged at the white strands, forcing Ryou to glance up in time enough to see into Bakura’s dark eyes before his lips were captured in a kiss. This time, Ryou was prepared for the shock of cold against his lips. The familiar tingling sensations began to travel through Ryou’s body, but he had to pause the kiss to breathe. Their lips, however, remained close enough for Ryou to feel his breath reflected back towards him. [1]
“Why are you here? Why are you doing this to me?” he whimpered softly.
“Fool…” Bakura grumbled in response, and pressed his lips against Ryou’s again. The spirit’s hands moved forward, covering Ryou’s and sinking into the café owner’s skin, effectively possessing Ryou’s hands. With the control he now had, Bakura was able to experience the slew of emotions that overwhelmed the smaller man. The deceased ronin paused, allowing Ryou to breathe and allowing himself to briefly morn his inability to feel.
Then, Bakura began to direct Ryou’s hands, slowly moving them downward. Before Ryou could gasp in surprise, his mouth was covered yet again by the ghost’s. Ryou’s controlled hands continued to move downward, pausing to slowly unfasten the buttons and zipper on his trousers before moving inside.
A low whimper escaped Ryou’s mouth as his hands began to move torturously slow. A million thoughts ran through his mind, but when the spirit paused their kiss again, allowing Ryou to breathe, the café owner could voice only one thought.
“Don’t stop…” he murmured, pleadingly.
Suddenly, Ryou’s controlled hands stopped their movement, and he discovered that they had returned to his own command. He voiced another whimper and looked up at Bakura, who’s eyes were looking at Ryou, but not truly seeing him. It was as if the ronin was lost in thought.
Ignoring his own need, Ryou stood, pausing only to hastily close his pants and then turned to Bakura. He hesitantly reached out a hand, only to see it travel through Bakura’s chest.
“I… I have to go…” Bakura said suddenly, his voice distant. And he rushed forward, his entire being sweeping through Ryou’s body as he went. The overwhelming sensation of the ghost traveling through his entirety sent Ryou’s head swirling. Darkness closed in on Ryou and he fell to the floor.
Bakura, with his thoughts elsewhere, did not notice as the café owner passed out, and he sped through the door. He didn’t even bother to open it.
Time passed again, though not as slowly as it had seemed to earlier. When Ryou awoke, he found a slip of white paper on his chest.
1274 SE Daimeryan [2]
11:00 pm.
[1] Because Bakura cannot breathe, and because Ryou has the ability, at times, to make physical contact with the dead, when Ryou breathes, his breath is reflected back at him by hitting Bakura
[2] Stolen shamelessly from a friend of mine. :)Comments plz?