Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ If only for one moment, I could be like you... ❯ An e-mail and a meeting ( Chapter 28 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Marik groaned at his computer carefully glancing Ryou's way every so often, noting the merboy was entertaining himself by hitting a small beach ball in and out of the water, or trying to keep it beneath the waters of his little home.

Marik grinned a bit. Cute. He looked back to his monitor. Reading the following e-mail.

From: IAOSAT.edu@ky.com

Subj: Annual Meeting.

Dear Dr. Ishtar,

This year the annual meeting of the members of science and technology's members and board of directors will be held in Sacramento California. We look forward to your attendance and appreciate your contributions and new theories on Marine Biology, Oceanography and Zoology. Our board of directors has elected you as this year's winner of the science and technology award.

Sincerest Congratulations,

International Association of Science and Technology.

President Gerald E. Cordey

Marik groaned and rolled his eyes. Great, now he had to go from Florida to California. “God I hate `surprises' like this...they should cart the award to ME.” He looked back to Ryou, who was now giggling under the water, holding onto the ball for dear life and swimming awkwardly against it's natural flotation to keep it down.

Ryou squeaked as he suddenly shot up with the ball, losing his grip and falling backwards, hanging upside down in the water watching the ball fly out of his tank and roll down the steps, across the laboratory floor and under a desk with wet little ball-prints in its wake.

Marik looked at Ryou and raised an eyebrow. “Having fun are we?” He asked, kneeling to pick up the beach ball, and giving it a soft toss back to the surface of Ryou's tank. Ryou blushed a bit. “I'm sorry...it's an odd thing. It won't stay sunk!” He giggled beginning to tug it back under the water with little grunts of effort. “It's a very strong swimmer!”

Marik chuckled. “It's not alive Ryou. It's a beach ball. The reason it won't stay under the water, is because it's full of air.” He proceeded to explain laughing a bit. “Air can't exist under the water in any grouping larger than molecules. Ryou looked at Marik like he was an imbecile. “Moleycubes? What in Neptune's name is a moleycube? And you're wrong, air's under the water all the time. I breathe it. Everything breathes it.”

Marik chuckled. “Your people aren't vastly known for science...that's for sure.” He chuckled climbing the steps as Ryou let go of the beach ball and swam up to meet him. “A molecule is a small small thing. Smaller than anything you can see with your eyes. So small infact that we humans had to create a special device, just so we could see them.” Ryou blinked and nodded. “But why? If you couldn't see it, how did you know it was there? Why would you want to see it?”

“So little merpeople could ask why years and years later.” He said amusedly, plucking up a small shred of paper, and dipping it into Ryou's tank, holding it still as it checked the levels of different chemicals. “It's because we wanted to learn. If it weren't for those tiny molecules that no one could see, no one would exist. Everything is made up of billions upon billions of molecules!” He said calmly, looking over the paper and clicking his tongue.

Ryou blinked and watched as Marik walked over to a cabinet, before returning and dumping some purple colored chemical into the water. “What's that?” He asked softly, watching it filter into the water, disappearing. “It's what makes the air get into the water easier.” Ryou gaped for a moment. “But you JUST said air can't be in water! HA! I told you, you were wrong!”

Marik laughed a bit. “Alright alright, I'll concede. I'm actually up here, because you and I are going on a little trip.” He said smirking a bit at Ryou's blank expression. “I'm going out to get you some clothes, and we're going to take a train to California.” He said as Ryou nodded. “Afterwards if you're good, I'll take you out to see the ocean. How about that?” He bribed. “You...you mean it?” Ryou asked, his attention thoroughly grabbed with the prospect of going into his home's oceanic comforts. “Yes. If you are good, and keep to your word, then we can make a trip special, just for you.” Marik confirmed.

Ryou looked at Marik and nodded eagerly. “I'll be good. I would love to go home for a while.” Marik laughed. “I cant take you `home' persay, but I can take you out to the ocean for a few days. IF, you keep your word. If you break it and swim away from me, I know one merboy who won't think his home is homey by the time I'm done with it.”

“I won't swim away...Just please you can't do that to my home...” Marik smirked. “Besides, you're my mate aren't you? Stuck with me for life.” He chuckled, walking away from the tank and back down the steps to his computer. Time for a little behavioral study in Ryou's natural habitat, maybe he'd learn a bit more than he'd bargain for too.

~~~~~

Yugi sat down, stomach growling in protest. “Ootogi this time I really am hungry...” he mumbled leaning his head back and waving a hand by his face, to cool himself. “It's hot...and there's no lakes...no ponds, no streams...I'm going to fry and starve...at the same time!”

Ootogi nodded, sliding down to sit next to Yugi. “I know...it's hot.” He mumbled, leaning his head down to nuzzle into Yugi's hair, in a comforting way. Yugi blushed a bit. “Ootogi...” he whispered pulling away, and looking at his friend with a soft painted blush, and big eyes. “Yes?”

“...you're sweaty.”

Ootogi groaned and thunked his head back against the wall.

“I know.”

~~~~~

Jono groaned, he'd been searching for Ryou since Seto had called him and aside from their normal bickering, mentioned that he'd left Ryou. Of course Jono had been furious!

“I can't believe he'd just ditch Ryou! Ryou doesn't know a thing about humans! He's probably lost, frightened and hungry...” Jono shook his head and walked around the main streets, looking for a sign of fluffy white, or a small teenage boy ooh-ing and ahh-ing at something mundane. He sighed, sliding down near a pair of boys who looked tired and were fanning themselves.

“From out of town?” he asked, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket. He didn't smoke often...infact he ONLY smoked in situations like this. The last cigarettes he'd smoked had been when he and his sister had been separated. The smaller boy stared dumbly, as he lit the cigarette and took a drag, wrinkling his nose at the smoke before exhaling. “I guess you could say that.” The taller said suavely. “Where from?” Jono asked, glad to break his worries a bit. The smaller teen merely stared at the cigarette. “What is that glowing thing?” He blurted.

Ootogi smacked Yugi in the back of the head. “Yugi!” He berated, as Yugi held his head. “Ootogi!” He whined, looking back to Jono. “It was just a question! Jeeze!” He grumbled pouting and crossing his arms, huffing and looking away. Jono blinked a bit, looking at the two a bit more closely. “Say...” he mumbled deciding to test the slight theory he had. Who asked what a cigarette was? Someone from REALLY out of town. “How'd you like them...uh...escalator.” He said sounding to himself stupid.

Ootogi and Yugi stared for a moment blankly. Oh hell...how do you respond to that? Yugi blinked. “I um...I like them?” He said cautiously. Jono smirked a bit. “Oh? Tell me, what's your favorite escalator look like?” He asked calmly.

Ootogi clenched his teeth a bit, releasing a worried breath. “We need to get going...” he said after a moment. Yugi nodded. “We're actually looking for someone. Have you seen him?” He blurted, once again receiving a swift clocking to the back of his head. “Ootogi!” He hissed this time returning the favor, before returning his attentions to Jono. “We're looking for a guy our age, he's got white hair, and big brown eyes, his name is Ryou. Have you seen him?”

~~~~~

Ryou watched Marik pack, calmly kicking his legs to-and-fro from his perch on the side of the bed. “So, where is a California?” He asked picking up one of the previously packed pairs shirts and poking a finger through a small hole curiously. “Oh, thanks Ryou.” Marik mumbled taking away the shirt and replacing it with a hole-less one. “California is a state, far far across the United States. On the other side of the land.” He said clarifying himself.