Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Closer I am to Fine ❯ Let them know it's Christmastime ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: This song is Do They know it’s Christmastime, by Band-aid, whoever that is. Heard it on the radio and loved it. Happy Holidays!

Warning: Sad chappie, bring tissues.

Ch.7: Let them know it’s Christmas Time

“I can’t believe I’m letting you do this,” Bakura muttered, arms crossed.
Michiyo chuckled and ran the brush through Bakura’s hair again.

“C’mon, Baku, you want to look nice, don’t you?” she teased.

“I’m not really concerned,” Bakura snorted. Indeed, the only thing currently on his mind was the fact that it was too cold out to just wear and unbuttoned shirt and a pair of jeans.

“Figures,” Michi said, rolling her eyes.

“Presents are in the car!” Kenta called from the kitchen. “Cooler packed, suitcases packed, ready to go!”

“Finally!” Bakura exclaimed, jumping away from Michiyo. “Lets get going!”

It's Christmastime, there's no need to be afraid.

“Sing with me, guys!” Michi encouraged, turning up the Christmas song playing on the radio.
Kenta groaned. “Isn’t it enough that we strung those damn lights up for you?”
“Nope.”
“Fine. Jingle bells, jingle bells, c’mon Bakura, if I have to sing then so do you!”
Bakura rolled his eyes. “Over my dead body.”
“Spoilsport,” Michi complained, pouting.
Bakura just grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade.

“Here we are!” Michi exclaimed as Kenta pulled the car up in the driveway of a snow-covered, Christmas light illuminated house.
“Joy, your wonderful relatives,” Kenta muttered.
“Oh, shush, they’re excited to have you back and to meet Baku!” Michiyo scolded.
“Don’t call me that around other people, please,” Bakura requested.

And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy.

“Michi, you’re here!” a young woman who could have passed for Michiyo’s twin greeted them at the door. “And Kenta, Ken it’s been to long! And this must be Baku!” She gave Bakura a teasing wink. The ex-tomb robber turned red, realizing Michi must have shared the nickname with her whole family, and stared at his feet.

“Miharu, it’s wonderful to see you again,” Kenta said with a small smile.

“Understatement!” Michi exclaimed, hugging Miharu. “I’ve missed you, sis!”

“Can we go in? It’s cold out here,” Bakura growled.

“Of course!” Miharu said cheerfully. “Come on in!”

Throw your arms around the worldat Christmastime.

“Michi! Ken!”
Bakura covered his ears as his two ‘parents’ were greeted by what seemed like a thousand people. The house was small on the inside and filled with delightful smells and not so delightful sounds. There was a TV playing in the living room and a radio playing Christmas songs in the kitchen at the same time, creating what sounded like ‘Have a Jolly Law and Order.’ Eventually Bakura located a seat and from then on refused to move. It was a good seat, a small red chair located in the kitchen, and while he did have to listen to the women gossip he also got to try every new dish being cooked.

But say a prayer, pray for the other ones.

“Michi, where is Bakura?” Kenta asked suddenly. He and Michiyo were in the living room watching the visual half of ‘Have a Jolly Law and Order.’
“He’s in the kitchen,” Miharu said as she bustled into the room.
“What’s he doing in there?” Kenta asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. Miharu laughed.
“You make it sound like he’s committing a crime, Ken. He’s letting mom and Aunt Yumi feed him their cooking.”
“Oh, but he won’t be hungry for supper,” Michi said in dismay.
“Please, that kid is always hungry,” Kenta muttered.

At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun.

“Gee, you’re a bottomless pit, Baku!” Yumi laughed as the tomb robber seemed to engulf any food placed near him.
“Add insult to injury, why don’t you,” Bakura muttered, but he was grinning. “These...cookie things are excellent.”
“You flatter me,” Yumi grinned and ruffled Bakura’s hair.

There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear.
“Present time!”
The household scrambled to the living room or, in Kenta’s case, out to the car to get the forgotten presents. Soon they were all unwrapping presents and Bakura had amassed a stack of booster packs to rival the Kame Game Shop’s stock. He was handed a present that came from Yumi. Unwrapping it eagerly he found a box. Opening this box he found a curious little black gadget.

“What’s this?” he asked, perplexed.

“It’s a Game boy, stupid,” Kaito Sakamoto sneered. Kaito and his brother Ibuki were rather unsavory characters. They were the sons of Michiyo’s youngest sister, Atsuka. Bakura didn’t like them at all and the feeling seemed mutual on their parts. He scowled at them now and looked to Michi for an explanation.

“I’ll explain later,” Michi offered.

Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears.

After the excitement of Christmas had died down, the visitors of the house, including Bakura, Kenta, and Michi, were shown the way to the small hotel where rooms had been rented for all of them. Bakura plopped down on his bed with a contented sigh and fell asleep almost immediately

And the Christmas bells that ring thereare the clanging chimes of doom.

Bakura awoke sometime in the middle of the night. There was something going on out in the halls, he could hear voices. Michi and Kenta were still sleeping soundly so Bakura crept out of bed carefully opened the hotel room door just enough to look out.
Kaito and Ibuki stood outside. Bakura smelt alcohol on their breath.

“Fools,” Bakura hissed to himself. The boys started down the hallway and Bakura followed after them to see what they were up to.

Well tonight thank God it's theminstead of you.

Michi woke up to the sound of soft crying. She sat up, careful not to wake up Kenta, and looked around. The door to the room was open. Bakura was missing from his bed. And the bathroom door was shut tight. Worried, Michi stood up and opened to the bathroom door. Bakura was huddled on the floor, scrubbing at his face with a damp rag and sobbing.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” Michi asked gently, crouching down beside him.

“G-go away!” was Bakura’s only reply.

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong!” Michi insisted, reaching a hand forward and tilting Bakura’s face up.

And there won't be snow in Africa this ChristmastimeThe greatest gift they'll get this year is life.

“Baku, what happened?!”

Bakura’s face was covered in smeared make-up. The thief gave a choked sob.

“They s-said I w-was to girly and I c-couldn’t make them stop,” he whimpered.

“Oh, Baku, who said that?” Michi asked gently.

“Kaito a-and I-Ibuki...” Bakura whispered unwillingly.

“Poor baby,” Michi said quietly. She took the rag away and began to gently wash the face paint off. As she cleaned, she realized that Bakura also sported several bruises and a busted lip. She felt her anger growing but she shook it off. “C’mon, sweetie, back to bed,” she said, helping Bakura to his bed.

“Is he okay?” Kenta asked softly from the other bed.

“No,” Michi muttered angrily. “I swear, I’ll kill Atsuka...”

Where nothing ever growsNo rain or rivers flowDo they know it's Christmastime at all?

“Sweetie, wake up,” Michi said gently, shaking Bakura awake. The tomb robber blinked up at her.
“What?” he asked wearily, pulling himself into a sitting position.
“We need you to tell us what happened,” Kenta explained. He and Michi were sitting on either side of Bakura’s bed. Bakura scowled.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he muttered.
“But you need to,” Michi encouraged. “We need to know, Baku.”
Bakura sighed. “I woke up last night and heard them out in the hallway,” he said finally. “So I went to see what was going on. They were drunk. They went down the hall so I followed them to see what they were doing.”
“And?” Kenta persisted.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Speak now,” Kenta commanded sternly. “What did they do?”
“They caught me,” Bakura said sourly. “Go away.”
“Bakura, why won’t you tell us?” Michi asked softly.
“C-cause it doesn’t matter!” Bakura exclaimed. He buried his head under his pillow.
“Sweetie,” Michi began gently. “Did they...did they touch you or hurt you?” Bakura tensed.
“Maybe,” he replied, his voice very soft.
“How?” Michi asked, rubbing his shoulder comfortingly. “You can tell us, I promise.”
“Th-they...well...R-Ra, I...”
“Where did they touch you, kid?” Kenta asked sadly.
“Everywhere,” Bakura admitted with a shudder.
“Did they hurt you, honey?” Michi asked. She was relieved when Bakura shook his head.
“Not that way,” he whispered.
Here's to you raise a glass for everyoneHere's to them underneath that burning sunDo they know it's Christmastime at all?

The drive home was quiet. No one said anything, for fear of bringing up that uncomfortable subject. It seemed that this Christmas had turned out thoroughly miserable. Bakura was becoming increasingly irritated with Kenta and Michi as they continuously glanced back at him, as though to make sure he was still there. When they arrived home, Bakura quickly dashed inside via a window and locked himself in the bathroom once again. Michi and Kenta decided to let him be. He needed some time to himself.

Feed the worldFeed the worldFeed the world Let them know it's Christmastime again.
“Baku! Come out here please!” Bakura awoke the next morning still in the bathroom. With a sigh he opened the door and stumbled out.

“What?” he asked gruffly, blinking. Michi just grinned and led him into the living room.

“More presents,” she explained with a grin. “From us.” She hugged him and motioned for him to pick up one of the gifts. Hesitantly he did. Unwrapping it, his eyes widened.

The book was large and thick, obviously a text book. There was a picture of three pyramids on the front and in gold letters was written ‘Egypt.’ He felt his eyes fill up with tears and he looked over at Michi. The woman just smiled at him. Bakura hugged the book to him.
“It’s the best gift I’ve had so far,” he whispered.

“Glad you like it,” Michi said. Kenta, who was sitting on the couch, just rolled his eyes. But he was grinning.

“I didn’t...get you anything,” Bakura said uncertainly. Michi just shook her head.

“You’re gift enough for us,” she assured him. Bakura felt himself smiling. This Christmas wasn’t so bad after all...

Feed the worldLet them know it's Christmastime again.
TBC

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