Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Love, Yuugi ❯ Chapter 03 ( Chapter 3 )

CHAPTER THREE

Yami woke up the next morning to the sound of claws scraping against wood. It turned out his cat had found her breakfast under one of the loose tiles. Glancing sideways at his clock, he realized it was only five in the morning, but he couldn't fall back asleep, so he quickly dressed and stepped outside for a breath of fresh air.

It was nearly freezing outside, and he suddenly remembered he gave his jacket away last night. Apparently, the sweater he was wearing wasn't enough to keep him warm. Cursing under his breath, he rubbed his hands together. He would need to buy a new jacket sometime soon, but money was an issue. There were still three hours left until school started. Perhaps he had enough time to find a decent job.

Most of the stores were open as Yami strolled down the sidewalk, looking around for any "help wanted" signs. Several old ladies were sweeping outside their shops. Young workers and businessmen rushed past him, occasionally brushing him aside as if he weren't there.

An oddly shaped building caught his eye. Above the glass door was a sign that read "Kame Game Shop." Feeling a little curious, he pulled the door open and walked in. The bells on the handle jingled as the door closed on its own. A short old man sat on a high stool in the corner, humming to himself, rearranging the boxes on the shelf. His grey hair stuck out on all sides from under his bandanna.

"How may I help you?" the old man asked without turning around.

Yami stuck his hands in his pocket and looked around the store. It was a cozy little place. There were display cases that held packs of cards, shelves full of video games, and board games from all around the world.

"I was wondering if I could work here," Yami said, immediately regretting his words as they left his mouth. There had been no sign on the door, and the old man was probably expecting him to buy something.

The old man dusted off his last box and placed it on the shelf before turning around. And he nearly fell off his stool.

"Yuugi?" he cried. "W-What happened to you? And what in the world are you wearing?"

Yami raised his eyebrows casually as he looked down at the leather pants he was wearing. "Sorry," he said, pretending to be embarrassed. "I think you're mistaking me for someone else."

Yuugi? This man knows Yuugi?

The old man laughed sheepishly. "Oh, no. Don't be sorry. I should be sorry," he said. "It's just that you look awfully like my grandson."

Note to self: Yuugi lives with his grandfather.

"A job, you say?" the old man asked. "Well, perhaps. I am getting old…"

"Grandpa?" a soft voice muttered. Yuugi appeared at the bottom of the stairs to the second floor, rubbing his eyes sleepily, dressed in pajamas. "What happened? Did you call me?" His eyes widened as they landed on the boy near the shop entrance. I must be seeing things. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes again.

"No, Yuugi," his grandpa answered kindly. "Go back to sleep. You still have a while before school starts."

Yuugi nodded before dragging his bare feet back up the stairs, too asleep to think about what he just saw.

Yami stared for a moment before snapping back into reality. Had Yuugi just left without giving him a second look? Automatically, he glanced down at his own hands. They were quite visible. He sighed to himself, secretly disappointed.

"Which hours do you plan on working?" Yuugi's grandfather asked him, lowering himself from the stool and making his way to the counter. "How much should I pay you every hour? I've never had any employees before, except for my grandson, so I'm not really sure how the whole system works."

Yami shrugged. "Anytime in the afternoon is fine. Maybe from four to seven. My salary is up to you." He didn't care for the money or the games anymore. Now, he had a whole new reason to work in this place. "I could start working today if you don't mind. I'll clean the shelves and help the customers-anything you ask."

The old man examined him closely. "What's your name?" he asked. "I've never seen you around before."

"Yami," Yami replied. "I moved here two days ago."

"Well, all right, Yami," the old man said. "You can start working this afternoon. Come early if you can. I need to show you around the shop."

Yami could hardly contain his smile. "What should I call you, sir?"

"'Grandpa' is fine. All the kids here call me that."

- - -

"Yuugi-kun!" his blond friend called from behind. Yuugi stopped and waited for him to catch up. "Thanks a million for the homework yesterday. I owe you one."

Yuugi giggled playfully as his friend tackled him and ruffled his hair. "Jounouchi!"

"So? Anything new?" Jounouchi whispered as they quickened their pace toward the school gate. "Anything happen between you and Anzu yesterday? I swear, that girl is just using you."

"I know," Yuugi admitted, thanking God, not for the first time, for giving him a true friend. "But she's okay. I mean, she stands up for me a lot, and I really appreciate it."

"You don't think she's just pretending?"

Yuugi tightened his grip on the straps of his backpack. "Well, she's only pretending if you think she is."

They walked the rest of the way in a comfortable silence until they reached their first class. A swarm of chattering girls were already inside, crowding around what seemed to be one desk in the back of the classroom.

"Gee, what's all the commotion for?" Jounouchi asked the nearest girl.

"It's the new boy," she whispered excitedly, flipping her hair back. "He's so hot. And guess what?" She paused for less than half a second before answering her own question. "He's from Egypt!" She squealed and vanished into the mob.

Yuugi and Jounouchi gave each other amused glances. "I bet she hasn't even seen him yet," Jounouchi muttered quietly as they eyed the growing crowd of students. "How can anyone see through that? There's no way, unless…" He straightened his uniform and cleared his throat, shoving through the girls. "Jounouchi Katsuya coming through. Make way. Make way."

Yuugi laughed softly to himself as his friend disappeared into the crowd like everyone else.

"What's so funny, Yuugi?" someone asked from behind. It was Honda, another one of his closer friends. "And what's going on here?"

"Supposedly, there's a new boy in school, and Jounouchi somehow managed his way into there." Yuugi nodded his head toward the mass of people. "I have no idea how he'll manage to get out."

Honda feigned a sigh. "I knew it. He's hopeless."

Suddenly, Jounouchi reappeared, panting and wiping the sweat off his brow. "Yuugi… there's a boy… who looks just like you," he gasped. "I swear, he has the same exact hair as you do. I couldn't see his face, though. Too many girls in the way."

"You," Honda said, "are the worst liar in the world."

"I'm not lying!"

The sound of a metal wooden ruler hitting the desk interrupted their conversation. The students obediently left the classroom or returned the their seats, revealing the unfazed center of attention. Yuugi's breath caught in his throat as his eyes landed on the new student.

Jounouchi had not been lying.

It was the same boy he thought was his imagination this morning, the one in the game shop. Yuugi didn't doubt he was Egyptian at all. The bronze skin certainly said something about the boy. He allowed his eyes to travel down the slender body: a hooded maroon sweater and tight black leather pants. Then, he looked up to find a pair of piercing red eyes gazing into his own.

Yuugi swallowed before turning around in his desk.

Could it be?

The teacher rapped the ruler against her desk again. "Good morning."

The class stood and murmured, "Good morning, sensei," before sitting back down.

Apparently, the new boy had not done the same, because the teacher gave him a half glance, half glare. "In Japan, when a teacher says 'good morning' to the class, the entire class must stand and do the same." Everyone turned around to looked at him, almost expecting to hear some sort of brazen remark, but he only nodded in understanding.

There was a pause before the teacher resumed the class. "As you've all noticed, we have a new student today." She motioned for the boy to come to the front of the classroom. Everyone stared in silence as he walked, or flowed, through the neatly arranged desks.

Yuugi couldn't help but admire the fluidity of his movement, how one leg would slide gracefully in front of the other, how the leather would twist, hugging the slim thighs even tighter.

"You're drooling," Jounouchi whispered teasingly from the seat next to his.

Feeling the blood rise to his cheeks, Yuugi lifted his sleeve to wipe away the saliva.

"Please welcome Ohama Yami," the teacher introduced after what seemed like hours. "He moved here from Egypt several days ago. It's nice to see some cultural diversity in this school."

"Cultural diversity, my ass," Jounouchi muttered. "He's got a Japanese last name. Now, all he needs is a uniform."

And for the first time ever, Yuugi didn't hear what Jounouchi said.

- - -

Note: Wow, does this chapter suck major @$$ or what? I hate myself for writing this; it sounds like the average Yami/Yuugi AU. Dammit, I tried so hard to make it sound somewhat different and even realistic (with Honda and Jounouchi's smart remarks), but I guess that didn't work. Just to not confuse you, Yuugi is only different around Jounouchi and Honda. Otherwise, he's a shy little kid who does whatever he's asked of. And Yami… he's not supposed to be nosy, just something else. Ah, you'll see, once the story actually becomes a story.

Lanlan: Yami? Yuugi? Where are my muses!?

(suspicious activity coming from nearby room)

Yuugi: …aaah… Yami… *moans*

Yami: *growls deeply*

Yuugi: …ah! Yami! YAMI!!! Aaaaah…! *pants*

Lanlan: Nooooooooo! *bangs on door* You guys are ahead by like… twenty chapters! Stop!

(not-so-suspicious activity continues)

Review? Pretty please? =]