Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Faulty Reasoning ❯ Basket Case ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1- Basket Case


This is why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Ryou sat in study hall, trying not to pass out on his notebook. Skipping dinner last night definitely was not helping. He groaned as his stomach growled. Note to self, he thought miserably, starvation diets are HIGHLY overrated.

"Are you alright? You're not lookin' so hot," asked Jou. Yuugi was looking at him with concern.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine, just hungry. I didn't eat breakfast." Jou nodded in sympathy as Yuugi winced.

Jou began digging in his bag, and victoriously presented him with a slightly flattened Snickers bar. "Super Jou to the rescue!"

"Jou, I love you!" Ryou cried as he ripped into the candy.

"Mai once told me chocolate was the miracle drug but sheesh!" said Jou laughing. Ryou was too busy trying to shove the entire bar in his mouth to pay much attention.

Hakura-sensei glared in their direction, and the trio tried to look as innocent as possible, which was a difficult task considering that having now achieved his objective, Ryou's cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk, Jou was trying desperately to pull off the innocent look and was failing miserably, and between the two of them, Yuugi couldn`t stop laughing.

The teacher continued to glower at them, and if looks could kill the three of them would be wet spots on the floor. They gradually recovered themselves and Hakura-sensei found something else to scowl at. "This day is going so slow! It feels like I've been here for hours and its only third period!" Jou moaned.

"Too right. This morning before school went too fast and now the clock doesn't appear to be moving," Ryou agreed.

"Tell me about it. This morning-" Yuugi began.

"Mister Mouto, would you be so kind as to move your seat. Mister Jounouchi and Mister Bakura would like to study," Hakura cut in icily. Yuugi shrugged and gathered his books, raising his eyebrows at his friends.

"Tight ass," Jou muttered under his breath.

"How would you know, Jou?" whispered Ryou, smiling.

Jou rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, gross! No, never! With Hakura? Eww!"

"Then with who?" asked Ryou, genuinely curious. He wasn't sure if it was the fact that Hakura was a man, or the fact that Hakura was Hakura that turned Jou off.

Jou was completely blindsided. "What?"

"If not with Hakura, with who?" asked Ryou again. "Out of anyone, man and woman."

"If I could screw anyone who would it be? From both sexes?" asked Jou. Ryou nodded. "Uh, Mia is pretty hot. She hates my guts, but given the chance I'd do her. A man?" Jou stared at the ceiling; to Ryou's surprise he was actually thinking about it. "Dunno, it depends. Call me shallow, but looks are semi-important for a good screw."

What would make him say that, unless…Ryou opened his mouth in shock. "Have you-" he glanced around to make sure no one was listening, "have you ever-" Ryou began to look uncomfortable.

"Have I ever?"

Ryou lowered his voice to a whisper, "Have you ever-you know-with a guy?"

Jou eyes widened and he began to blush. "Define you know," was all he said before the bell rang for next period. He swept up his books and stood, disappearing into the halls. Ryou didn't have a chance to question Jou further, which he guessed was Jou's intent. //Well, THAT was an interesting conversation.// his Yami commented, having been shamelessly eavesdropping. Ryou couldn't help but agree.

***
Ryou sat in English, playing with his pencil. He stared at the back of Jou's head, trying to fathom Jou with a guy. He always seemed so…straight. Not that Ryou was put off by any means. He had always assumed Jou had a crush on Mai. But in light of their most recent conversation, well…

All throughout lunch Jou had made himself impossible to get alone, so Ryou didn't get to pursue it further though he had every intention to.

Maxwell-sensei called on Jou to translate a sentence on the board. Jou began a tremulous translation. "The magazine covered the politician's erection scandal," Jou said, the words rolling weirdly in his mouth.

Ryou found himself holding back a fit of laughter. He wasn't sure he had just heard what he thought he had heard. But judging by the look on Maxwell-sensei's face, he had indeed heard it.

"Careful of your pronunciation, Jounouchi." Maxwell continued on with the class. Ryou smiled hugely.

Jou turned around to Ryou, looking extremely bewildered. "What did I say?" That just about finished it for Ryou. He couldn't look at Jou for fear of bursting out laughing.

The girl who sat beside Ryou added, "I don't know, it sounded all right to me." It was over. Ryou couldn't stop himself from laughing like a maniac. Jou gave him this look and he laughed all the harder.

"What's the problem, Bakura?" asked Maxwell.

Ryou desperately tried to stifle his laughter. "There…is no…problem…Maxwell-sensei," he managed.

Maxwell glared, and rolled his eyes. "Good," he said with an air of finality. Ryou quickly swallowed his mirth and sat back grinning wide enough to split his face, waiting for class to end.

***

The rest of the day passed slowly. Phys. Ed was a bore. Enna-sensei was teaching them to play a new game, pickle ball. Ryou could barely contain himself.

Chemistry was little more exciting since most of it was spent listening to the teacher rant about the previous class, particularly about Jou and Honda. Ryou sure the poor man regretted the day he made those two lab partners. Literature was better since he had it with Honda and got all the gory details of what actually happened in chem.

Ryou sighed with relief when the final bell rang. He made his way through the crush of the hallways and wound up next to Jou.

"Free at last!" Jou exclaimed, stretching.

Ryou nodded in agreement. "Uh…Jou?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

Now that Ryou had his attention he didn't know how to bring up the subject. "Uh…I want to talk to you about-um," Ryou was at a loss.

"Hey, listen!" Jou cut in. "I'm gonna head out to get a burger since we have no food at the house. You wanna come with? I could always use the company."

"Yes. I'm home alone this week, so I'd rather eat out than have to cook," Ryou was supremely grateful for the save.

Jou laughed, "A man after my own heart!"

They went to their respective lockers and collected their things. Ryou reflected that bringing up the conversation again would probably make him out as a bit of a hentai and more than likely gay. Then he reflected that they were both true. He sighed and grabbed his bag. "What's with the dramatics?" came Jou's voice over his shoulder.

"School sucks!" Jou face faulted. Ryou smiled at him shyly and he shook his head and laughed. They started for Calorie Burger. "I was thinking about study hall…" Ryou began, "Have you ever…uh." Jou didn't look offended so he dropped the bomb before he lost his nerve. "Haveyoueversleptwithaguy?"

Jou blinked. "Eh, what?" Ryou wanted to bash his head into a wall. "No, I just couldn't understand you. Just don't talk so fast to the floor. What did you say?"

Ryou was reevaluating his question. Okay, so maybe slept was a bit over the top. "Have you ever kissed a boy?"

Jou smiled and muttered, "busted" under his breath. "Yes," he said simply.

"Who?" Ryou blurted out before he could stop himself. Ryou inwardly flinched.

Jou just laughed. "I don't think he would appreciate his name being handed out."

"Sorry," Ryou murmured.

Jou laughed again. "Don't apologize. Besides, were I in your position I wouldn't be sorry. I'd be pumping you for information so bad you'd grow a handle and a spout." Ryou relaxed. He really should have known better than to expect Jou to get mad at him. He felt slightly guilty about that but his relief overrode it.

They walked into Calorie Burger and placed their orders while Jou kept up a friendly banter. Ryou felt weird. He knew he found Jou attractive, very attractive. But instead of that nervous, jittery feeling he usually associated with being alone with a hot guy, the sexual tension seemed less…tense. Ryou rolled his eyes at himself and decided to finally break down and buy a thesaurus.
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If anyone has read the February (I think) issue of "Shounen Jump" you know all about Calorie Burger. (PANTY TANK!!) Whee! Jou is such a perv! I love it! Uh, yeah, I have no excuse as to why poor Ryou-chan has a synonym deficiency other than that I find it amusing. If nobody had noticed yet…Yes, I have been stealing characters from random anime and making them teachers. I wasn't feeling creative, meh. ::drags Jou in front of readers:: Do it! ::Jou makes puppy eyes:: Aww…how can you say no to a face like that? Please review!
~Karre