Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ My Promise ❯ Childhood Saga: A life for a life, part 1 ( Chapter 12 )

12 Childhood Saga: A life for a life, Part 1

 

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Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. I do not own Ryou, Bakura, or any other characters.

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“OUCH!” I yelped when someone tugged my arm. I patted my arm softly, not looking up. I guess I was getting more nervous by the minute. Inside me I felt an angry spirit snort, patting him too. I think he was hurt too ...

 

“RYOU!” When I heard the yell, I stopped patting my arm. DAMN! Not only had I had a HUGE headache, a stomachache, a Jou who looked like he was going to puke in front of me, but also a very pissed off Mai behind me!

 

“RYOU! Why on earth did you do that?! This is anything but like the normal you!” She has a point in that. Bakura is anything like me. Inside me I heard Bakura snort, while rubbing a sore spot on his arms ... which was exactly the same spot where I was rubbing myself.

 

“Mai, I wanna go home.” I whispered as an answer, feeling very uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the fact Joey kept on staring at me, while looking hurt -beside that, he didn't let another emotion escape his face ... strange ...-, but it also could be the fact more than 50 people were staring at us ... they didn't see the whole fight, did they?!? PLEASE let them have seen anything BUT my fight with Jou!!!!

 

“But Ryou-chan, I can't ... -I pleaded my eyes, but when I felt great pain in my head, I winced, and looked normal to her again- ... okay then. Come-on.” She helped me standing up, but when she motioned Jou to come over here, I tugged her arm, while silently crying a bit.

 

# RYOU! Don't cry in front of other peeps! NO CRY-BABIES ALLOWED HERE!!!!!! You'll look like a nitwit that way!!! # I suddenly heard Bakura mentally say to me. I completely ignored Bakura -he snorted, but didn't respond further- and grabbed Mai's hand, and walked away, not looking at Jou once more.

 

When Jou was almost out of the sight, I suddenly remembered the little guy ... Ah well, he would be away by now, wouldn't he? I mean, after seeing me fight like a wild animal at another kid, who wouldn't be frighten away?

 

I shove away the thought, because Mai hugged me while walking back to the other side of the hall ... no wonder I didn't find the exit back there.

 

o0~0o

 

“Ryou?” Mai's voice brought me back to the real world. I looked up from the window in the bus, while having a questioning look at my face. She smiled at me reaction, and softly patted my back. I winced a bit in pain, since Joey somehow also hit my back once, but remained silent, as Mai spoke.

 

“I have to tell your daddy what happened ... Gomen, little one. But if I would keep it a secret, it would hurt him even more if he found out the truth.” She continued patting my back softly, what made me squirm a bit around, until she noticed it, and stopped patting.

 

I nodded in response at her question, already knowing Mai would say something like this. It wasn't like I was a stupid kid, who wouldn't understand the effects of keeping something like this a secret for their parents. I still don't know why some kids really think that keeping things secret is better than telling it immediately.

 

“I know ... but did you see the whole fight, or just a little bit?” I hesitated a bit while asking it, but I really needed to ask. Now hope she doesn't get a wrong view of the real me. Suddenly I felt a mental hit against my head -no injuries were caused- and Bakura snorted immediately after it.

 

# GEEZ! When I'm done with you, you won't be a mother-child anymore like you were before! See this as the beginning of a great time! # Bakura nodded while stating this, but I completely ignored him again. I think it was more because Mai finally answered my question.

 

“I don't know how long you fought, but I found out, from some peeps that stood there from the beginning, you only fought the boy because he was hurting a little boy ... I'll tell your daddy this also, so he won't think you did it without any reason. For the rest I can't do a thing.” She spoke softly at me, while stroking my hair now.

 

“I understand. Thanks Mai.” I answered sweetly. Since I was still in great pain -okay, this pain was fading away, but it still hurt!-, I didn't want to make things more difficult than they already were. And since I was already in trouble, I guess the safest thing for me to do was not to complain and to let everything come over me.

 

“See. You can be sweet if you want to! Perhaps this was just a once-in-lifetime fight, something what won't happen again. OW lookie!!!! Here's our stop!!” Mai changed subject, and pointed outside, at the street I lived in.

 

I heavily sighed, but let myself slip off the bench, and walked to the exit of the bus, while Mai followed me. I slowly stepped off the last step, but totally stopped walking when Mai stroke my hair -I REALLY dislike her habit right now- while cheering at me: “I'll bring you home. Come-on Ryou-chan!”

 

Mai smiled at me, while motioning me to come with her. She had her usual smile still plastered on her face, and was humming happily ... I wonder what made her so happy ... must be the coke from earlier. Girls and sugar don't mix, take that from me. Well, to be honest, I and sugar don't mix too, but I'm no girl ... hmmm, never mind.

 

I sighed once more, before slowly continued walking toward my house. Once more I completely ignored the spirit inside me, and the comments he made about my nitwit-behavior.

 

o0~0o

 

 

“I understand. Thanks for bringing him home.” I heard my dad softly talk at Mai in the corridor. I sighed deeply, opening the door some more so I hopefully heard the rest of their conversation, but as soon as I noticed my daddy was coming upstairs, I closed the door and ran to my bed.

 

I sat down on it, grabbed my bunny, and looked as innocent as possible -which was hard, if you think of what I had done- when daddy entered my bedroom ... why can parents always look without emotions at these types of situation, and children not?! No fair, since I couldn't see what went through my daddy right now. Luckily I practiced hard during al those earlier years, and my emotion could also be got under control in these situations. Unluckily, I always start to tremble when it comes to these things.

 

“Son, I think we need to talk.” He sat down next to me, and hugged me. I think I trembled even more right more than before! I think that came cuz if daddy starts talking like that, something is up alright!!!

 

“Hai, tou-san.” I nodded, and hugged my bunny some tighter. After a few moments my daddy let me go, still having no emotion in his face.

 

“I heard what happened at the tournament today. Mai told me almost everything.”

 

Everything? I thought she didn't see me fighting?! If I find out she lies to me, then I want another baby-sitter!!!

 

# Or just no baby-sitter at all! I can take care of your little ass! # Bakura's comment didn't get replied by me, cuz I was busy with my own thoughts.

 

# Your thoughts are boring, and stupid! Be happy you can hear my great and interesting speaking sometimes! # This time I didn't even thought of not thinking at his speaking, because I wanted to ask my daddy something.

 

“Tou-san ... are you angry at me?” Please don't be, don't be, don't be! I don't wanna be hated by my daddy!!!

 

“I don't know -... what? He doesn't know ... then what DOES he thinks about me ... I was doing justice??- because I don't understand everything. I only heard Mai's part ... can you tell me everything what happened, son?”

 

At this point I couldn't take it anymore, and started crying really hard. I couldn't care about a now pissed-off spirit inside me, or a daddy who would think his son was a bully. I hurt Jou!!! For no reason at all!!! All my fault!!! And I couldn't help the little kid too!!!

 

“I-I'm sorry daddy!” I sniffed, but remained crying in the end. Suddenly I felt an arm around me, which meant daddy wasn't that disgusted off me and was hugging me right now.

 

“I-I didn't m-meant to hurt him ... I-I was just ... I-I don't know. I'm sorry daddy!!” I cried a bit harder now, only because I felt daddy tens around me.

 

“I'm not angry at you. Only confused, not angry. I was just shocked of what happened.” Daddy hugged me once more, before giving me a handkerchief. I silently whipped away my tears, while Bakura was cursing at me cuz he thought I was acting like a wimp once more ... and I, I didn't respond of course.

 

# What do you mean by `of course'?!!! No Cry-babies allowed here! I told it once, and I'll tell it again, as long you'll act like a cry-baby and cry!! So STOP crying like a baby and listen to me! Since I'm way smarter and better than you, it would be smart to obey me, and-

 

“Daddy, I only hurt Jou because the was hurting the little kid! He was doing really mean to him. Though I'm terribly sorry I was overreacting way to much back there, I'm happy I did at least SOMETHING about the fact Jou was hurting the little kid!” Not only I interrupted Bakura's speech, but also I caught both daddy's and Bakura's surprise! Too bad they both had other reaction.

 

I immediately felt Bakura tense, and mumble something like `master is proud of his little baka slave'. On the other hand, daddy tensed also, but was anything near Bakura's evil mood. I felt him hug me for another time, while mumbling something like `ssssssst .... it's okay ... don't cry ...'. This caused Bakura to gag, but I ignored him again -much to his despise-.

 

“Daddy ... gomen nasai for doing such a cruel thing to pour Jou! I think he'll hate me for the rest of my life!!! And I also think nobody wants to be friends with anymore because of what happened.” I started to cry a bit harder, but my cries make place for sobs when daddy slowly started to pat my back. I hugged my fluffy bunny a bit tighter, and once again ignored Bakura's comments.

 

“I understand now, Ryou. What you did was terribly wrong, but seeing you dealing with the fact, I think you're punished already enough. You're sorry, and I can see you'll never do something like that again.” I put up big eyes at my daddy, still not quit believing of what he just said to me. When it finally settled in, I hugged me sweet daddy tight, and smiled watery through my sobs *which were almost disappeared *.

 

“I promise daddy. I won't do something stupid like that again.” My sobs were gone now, and now I was smiling happily at the best and forgivable daddy of the whole world!!!!!

 

# Get a room, and a bucket to slime in!! I'll drown in your soppy states someday!!!! # Bakura grumbled, while snorting a bit.

 

“But I still have to ground you for a whole week!” Daddy tried to put up a serious face, but when he saw my face, he smiled, stood up, and walked to the door.

 

“I have to make dinner now. I know actions like you did have to be punished, but do you want to have pancakes tonight?!”

 

“YEAH!!! Domo arigatou!” I smiled sweetly at my daddy, before grabbing a book, and started to look in it. My daddy smiled at me, while opening the door to the corridor, and continued walking downstairs.

 

For a moment I didn't know what to do. First of all, daddy wasn't angry at me, while I did a horrible thing! Second, instead of getting punished, I got grounded, which would be heaven for me and my dislikes for playing outside! Third, I'll even get pancakes tonight! HUZA!!!!!!! And Mai isn't angry at me too!!!

 

# You forgot number four: Bakura isn't THAT angry at you too, although you acted like a baby for several moments!! ... why didn't you respond my interesting states anyway?! Did you finally figured out you were to low for being my friend?! Or did you find out you rather wanna be my slave, who does everything as I say? SPEAK UP, BAKA!! #

 

I didn't respond at his comment, but as soon he materialized in front of me, grabbed my hair, to pull me to eye-level, I growled and slapped his face very hard ... I think he didn't see that coming. He whimpered a bit, but remained angry when he looked up to my face again.

 

# ... LITTLE BAKA! What was that for?! Not only I was kind enough for letting you be my friend, but I also hurt that Jou-guy for you so he wouldn't be a threat for you anymore!! # He pulled my hair once more, but stirred as I smiled at him.

 

“ ... you don't get it, do you?!” I whispered, but Bakura could hear every word of it. He instantly let me go, I guess because of the sudden change in my voice, “I thought ignoring you would keep you away from me, but it's obviously that doesn't work! Bakura, I don't wanna be your friend anymore!” I stated, with no emotion on my voice ... there, I finally said it!

 

From the moment Bakura attacked Jou, I understood Bakura wasn't like me. I loved to get protected by adults, but Bakura rather like to fight. When I saw Jou whimpering and trembling a bit, I concluded Bakura wouldn't be a good friend for me, because I hated fights above everything!

 

# You WHAT?!?!?!!!!!!! You can't do that!!!! You- ... FINE! But don't come back for forgiveness! Because the almighty tomb-robber Bakura-sama isn't going to forgive you this betrayal! # Bakura snorted, and turned around. Strangely enough he didn't walk away.

 

“Then go, Bakura. I like you very much, but you are way too different to be my friend ... gomen nasai Bakura, I didn't want to upset you, but-

 

# SHUT UP, BAKA RYOU!!! # Bakura turned around, only to see a glister in the corner of his eyes ... wait a minute ... was he crying?

 

# I'm NOT crying!!!!!! I'm too almighty to cry! And only babies cry, like you! If you don't want almighty me as a friend, I'll leave, and never come back ... and I'm taking to ring with me! And I don't care one single bit if you dislike the fact or not! And I want your deck also, cuz you're no good duelist!! # He was still standing in front of me, but now trembling a bit. This time he turned around, but also walked away a bit. He grabbed the Ring, my deck -Which was still laying in my bag-, and was about to walk away, when something hit me.

 

“Bakura ... where do you want to go? There's no place you can go, because no-one can see you!”

 

“I don't care. The only one who COULD see me turned against me. I guess because he was too afraid of a real friendship.” This was all spoken out loud, much to my surprise. Probably because of the fact he didn't spoke anything out loud for almost a week.

 

“I didn't mean ... I didn't ... mean to hurt your feelings ... I .... I just ... we can't be friends cuz ...” I stuttered, while feeling uneasy. Why was I the one who felt like a cruel person, while Bakura was the one who attacking Jou?

 

“Because I never meant to hurt you. I was only protecting you and the little kid. But now I've heard this, I think it would have been wiser for me to have done nothing, so Jou could take to boy to the exit, while leaving us with the rest of his gang. Because I attacking him, the rest will notice you can defend yourself, so they won't pick on you anymore. And I doubt Jou hates you. In fact, I even think he likes you better than ever now, only because you showed you weren't a little kid anymore.”

 

...

 

Wow, I never thought of it this way ...

 

“Can I at least wave goodbye to you? ... Oops, I forgot I'm grounded now. And I promised daddy I-

 

“STOP PROMISING THINGS!!!” Bakura interrupted my sentence very rudely. But seeing his face, he couldn't care a slightest bit, “If it's one thing I've learned from you then it's peeps make too much promises, even if they can't fulfill them! That's what I hate most of you. If you make a promise, you don't think of what you just said!! Instead of me, you promise too much things, which causes you one day to turn out to a person who CAN make promises, but CANNOT fulfill them. No wonder nobody wants to be your friend, you lie to every peep around here! Geez, you even made a false promise to me!!!”

 

...

 

At this point I felt like crying ... the worst thing was Bakura had to be right. I always make a promise, but don't fulfill most of them ... And I was so mean to say he was the bad guy!

 

“Ryou, -I looked up, with tears in my eyes again- before I go I just wanna say I was only fulfilling the only promise I ever made for you. I knew that if Jou would get away with the little kid his gang would have tried to attack you, unless I found a way to attack Jou first. That way everyone will think you can defend yourself, so they won't pick on you again in future. Like I said before, a life for a life. This is almost the same, only then not literally taken. I gave a piece of my life, to give you a normal life for once.” With that, he turned around, and slowly walked away. I heard him walking down the stairs, opening the door, and after a very long moment I heard the door close again.

 

I just stood there. First I wanted to stop him, but I doubted it would have mattered something. But even if it would've mattered something, I don't think I would have ran downstairs, went outside, to find Bakura, who was probably now freezing to death, because he didn't know where to find jackets and boots.

 

It was probably more the fact of WHAT Bakura said to me. He was right, although I didn't want it to be right. I was a liar to everyone. I lied to my mom so she thought I couldn't read yet. I lied to daddy so he thought I couldn't duel yet. I lied to my teacher about my intelligence. I lied to Mai about the paying for the tournament. I lied to myself about the fact I wanted to be someone else, as long it wasn't my real self. I even lied to my only friend in my whole life about the promise we made!

 

I mean, I like secrets, but noticing this, I think this is anything BUT a secret. This is a lot more! This is everything I kept away so I would be a sweet little boy forever!

 

At this point I realized something very important: If I would have been myself all along, things wouldn't have been so bad now. Then mommy would have known I could read already, at the age of six! -I know she would have been in heaven then! Now she really is in heaven, but he still doesn't know I can read- Then Bakura wouldn't have gone away!! ... but that's past, now is now! And if I don't do a thing, perhaps daddy is the next one to hate me!!! And I want to keep everything that's left of my life!

 

So I think I need to keep my promise to daddy, and don't go outside for a week. Next, I'll show my teacher I CAN read and write better than the rest of the class. And I also need to ask Jou forgiveness, because I was the bad kid back there, not Jou! And last, I'm going to search Bakura as soon I won't be grounded anymore, so I can say I was wrong, and he was right! He can keep my cards and ring too, because I don't need them as much as he does.

 

YES! That's what I'm gonna do!

 

I hummed a lot happier than a moment ago, and walked to my desk. I grabbed to picture on it, carefully stroke it, and whispered at the smiling lady in the garden with the little boy in her arms `guess what mommy, I won't be a bad boy anymore! All by myself'. I carefully kissed the smiling lady, and for a moment I thought she was holding me again in her arms, swinging me back and forth, like a swing. But that moment didn't last forever. After a short second, I put the picture back on my desk, only to be taken up again. I grabbed some tape, walked to my bed, and hung the picture next to Mai's one.

 

I smiled at the result: Two beautiful sweet ladies, both smiling at the camera. I hummed again, walked up to the book I was holding some time ago, and started to read the line next to the pictures out loud. I couldn't care if daddy found me this way, because then he would know he raised a very smart boy!

 

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Thankies:

Pork steak the Grande: I don't REALLY care how long your reviews are ... I'm already over the moon that you read my plotless fic, and even like it! I don't care how big or how long reviews are, it's the thing what's written in it, honey! Well, I don't usually dedicate things to peeps, so I'll just give you a cyber-plushie # Amy hands over a Ryou-doll #

SilverWing147: This bomb writing peep is so glad you think my fic is so ... sexy! Anyway, muchos thankies for the review, and I hope you loved this chap as well!

loathed wolf spirit: Again, thankies for reviewing li'll old me, and my day was great once again, cuz of your loverly review . Although you still didn't read why Jou smiled ... I hope you'll can guess the answer though. If not, just be patient, since the answer will be given within ... emmm ... 3 chaps ... hmmm ... never mind ... heheh, thankies once again