Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Redemption ❯ Subtle Shifts ( Chapter 26 )

 

AN:

*crawls in on hands and knees* Okay time to grovel. I know this has been over a month, and therefore about a month overdue in coming. But trust me, you can blame that squarely on my work. I have been working constant overtime since early December and have been constantly tired and uninspired. It is so not helping my usual writer's block.

 

But at last the bridging chapter is out. Now I can get onto the good stuff *cough*smut*cough*angst*cough* Ahem. I seem to be developing a nasty cough. Well the tension is rising. My apologies for taking so long. I am planning to work on the next chapter today since I have some free time, so I am crossing everything (bar my legs, not conducive to trying for a baby) I have in the hope that the next chapter will not be so long in coming to you all. My sincerest apologies and love to you all!

 

Okay guys, yet again I am spamming your inbox with updates and I am so sorry. Every time I get a file beta read media miner just will not upload it without the bloody changes to the file showing. I am trying to find a way to stop this happening but it really, really doesn't seem to work. One day I will work it out and I am sorry!!!

 

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While Bakura was going about the rest of his day that would ultimately end in the nasty little confrontation with Duke, Jou was trying to get used to Seto all over again. He couldn't believe it, Bakura had been right, once he had gotten over his hangover Seto had surfaced and it was immediately obvious that there was something different about him. It took him a couple of hours to be able to come to some kind of conclusion as to what it was, and he was at work before he figured it out. It was the air of coldness that surrounded the other man, somehow it was gone. Something about him seemed to have softened as well. Just what had happened on that night out? What was even more of a shock was to come home to find dinner awaiting him on the table. It wasn't anything complicated, but it was edible, and actually quite nice. It didn't stop him from checking the kitchen though.

 

“I'll think you'll find I still haven't destroyed anything.” Seto said dryly which made Joey jump, not having expected Seto to be right behind him at that precise moment.

 

“Don't do that!” Joey yelled, though it was poor retaliation and yet he felt embarrassed at being caught checking up on things.

 

“It's nice to know I have your trust.” The angel said with a smirk, turning to walk away.

 

“Wait a minute… that is, I… I…” He stumbled and stammered, mainly because of the amused look on Seto's face. “Okay, thanks for dinner I mean, and sorry… I guess I was just a little surprised.”

 

Seto smiled, a real and genuine smile, though why he was doing so was beyond him. What was clear was that Joey was completely thrown by it. The expression lit up the angel's face even though he didn't know that. For the first time Joey felt he was seeing behind the arrogance, seeing Seto shine with a radiance that even reached into his stunning sapphire eyes. Joey found himself swallowing hard as he realised just how beautiful the man before him was… correction, could be… when he let himself relax. But his staring had not gone entirely unnoticed. Well it had been pretty bloody obvious all told, his jaw had even gone slightly slack as he had been staring and now the dazzling smile was gone, replaced by a look of annoyed concern.

 

“What?” Seto asked tersely.

 

Oh yeah, the attitude was back, not gone for good then, merely on holiday… can't have been anywhere nice, wasn't gone for long enough. Joey suddenly realised that it was his brain that was in the middle of a serious meltdown and needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. But being who he was he managed to pull on his own game face and shrug.

 

“Nothin', just surprised to see you smile is all. Don't think I ever have before.”

 

Seto's look softened, Joey inwardly feeling a surge of triumph, he had obviously managed to say the right thing for once, instead of his usual putting his foot in it.

 

“Yeah well, don't expect it to happen again.” Seto threw back, though the come back was lacking a little of the punch it could have had, possibly because Joey had a point and didn't really mean it.

 

Mind you that in itself amused Joey, he was quite enjoying this new side to Seto, though he spent every moment wondering how long it could last, it couldn't possibly be permanent after all. But with their little… moment… or whatever the hell it was… now over, Joey made his way past Seto and towards his dinner before the kind effort went to waste. Though once past Seto a cheeky grin crept onto his lips and he just couldn't help himself.

 

“Shame really, might've liked to see you smile again sometime. Makes you look kinda cute.”

 

Joey thought that he could actually feel the temperature drop and couldn't help the smirk. He turned to face Seto who was now openly glaring at him. If looks could kill that one would have nailed him to the floor and dismembered him. Ah… so he had finally gotten under the other man's skin… he was going to have to remember this.

 

“What?” Seto demanded coolly.

 

“What can I say?” Joey shrugged, just to further wind up his tenant. “When you relax, you're actually quite the hottie.”

 

He didn't wait for the reaction, merely went to his dinner. He didn't have to see Seto to know that the taller man was practically foaming at the mouth in indignation, utterly at a loss for what to say and generally completely off kilter. As he tucked into his dinner he chuckled to himself as finally with an exasperated sound Seto stormed off to his room and slammed the door. Jou grinned. After feeling completely out of sorts around Seto all this time, to actually turn it back on the other man was a nice change and he was enjoying every minute of it. And besides, it wasn't like he had been lying… He stopped dead, fork halfway to his mouth. Wait just a minute, had that thought really just crossed his mind? To his dismay he realised it had. But Joey Wheeler was well practised in the art of being able to deal with unusual situations, and while he couldn't figure out just when he had started being attracted to someone quite so arrogant and difficult to be around that didn't really matter. What mattered was that it obviously bugged Seto and it was going to be a lot of fun messing with him. Oh there was nothing quite like payback.

 

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That night, long after Jou lay asleep and while Bakura was getting rather… heated… in his `discussion' with Duke, Seto was lying awake. He was trying to tell himself that it was this damned human body and the circ… circa… whatever rhythm or other they were supposed to have and his wasn't working. Might have been due to the nap he'd had while Joey was at work and he had been sleeping off the after effects of the alcohol. Oh yes, note to self, at some point punch Bakura and kick the shit out of Yami for that stunt. Mainly hurting Yami more because that made him feel better. Why? Well he didn't care. But since he was lying here awake and staring at the ceiling he was also grinding his teeth. That was because of a few things. Frustration at being unable to sleep being one thing, annoyance at his blond landlord being another - his comments still were on his mind and as a result that brought him to the third thing.

 

Unwittingly Joey had brought up memories of Kisara, which was probably why his comments bugged him in the first place. Kisara had been the only other he had ever known dare to call him cute. He had been equally thrown by it the first time she had said it too, and when the blond had uttered the endearment, for an instant he had seen her face instead of his. In his mind's eye he could see her face, achingly blue eyes shining as she giggled girlishly at his shock, an elegant hand coming in front of her mouth. It was that instant in which he had lost his heart to her, he knew that. That smile, her silvery laughter, and the warmth in her eyes… He felt a spear of pain pierce his heart and he sighed. Part of him wanted to yell at Joey for making him feel like this, for stirring up something he shouldn't, but it wasn't his fault, he couldn't have known.

 

And that wasn't the only thing bothering him. He couldn't help the feeling that there was more to what was going on around him than he knew, that there was some deliberate design to everything. He hardly found it coincidence that he somehow ended up living with the one human that had caught his interest, whose aura fascinated him. What Joey didn't know was that in the time he often spent staring at the youth - to unbalance him and carry on his little power game, and this was surprisingly effective at achieving those goals - he was also doing it just to watch that golden aura, the complex layers within it, moving, shifting, every bit a living organism as the man it belonged to. He had been doing this blissfully unaware of how he was becoming more and more drawn to the youth.

 

Now that he had been jolted into the realisation there were a few things pulling at him. Guilt was foremost, he was wondering how he could be drawn to another after his beloved Kisara, it wasn't right, she deserved his love throughout eternity. There was also a certain amount of curiosity he didn't want to admit to. The breadth of human emotions being wider than an angel usually experienced, curiosity was not one he was familiar with and it was disconcerting feeling it in the first place. There was also annoyance. Why Joey? He was loud, annoying… well not all of the time…and far too damned cheerful for his own good. Well actually that last one could be endearing on occasion… He slammed the brakes on that train of thought very sharply. No, if he went down that road he would start musing on the blonde's virtues and that would not do.

 

And yes, there was that feeling of deliberateness. One did not work as the Left Hand of God for as long as he had and not come to know that sense of deliberate plan. It was a subtle feeling, barely there, and most angels would miss it, as they did not spend the sheer amount of time round the Lord as he did. But he knew that feeling, and while he doubted that the Lord would be engineering things as such in this case, he could not see the motivation for it quite frankly since it was not to the greater good all told. But still, that stamp was there, he got the feeling that he was just a pawn, being manoeuvred into place, but to what end he really did not know. It bugged him this feeling, but it was not about to go away. So instead, he laid there, staring at the ceiling alone with his thoughts. Just what was going on though, he wondered.

 

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Come morning Bakura was still as grouchy as hell. The confrontation with Duke was still pissing him off. Okay he had simmered down some since but the bastard was under his skin now and he really, really wanted to smash that face in some more. Not a good feeling he knew, but he couldn't help it if that was genuinely what was on his mind. He wished it wasn't but the way Duke had been about Ryou, his Ryou had gotten under his skin in a way that no-one else ever had done before. He'd been angry in his many years on earth, though nothing like this. It burned and ate away at him like acid erodes everything it touches, and this was still with him, even though the confrontation was over. On more than one occasion throughout the morning he had to stop, take a few deep breaths, and calm down some. It was either that or he was going to storm over to the smug bastard's place and rearrange his features a little more. He didn't even know where to find him but still…

 

He found himself anxious to see Ryou, partly because it was now plain that Duke had either been following Ryou himself or had paid to have him followed. And the eerie way he had watched him for hours at work… he was concerned for his love, and considering the way he had seen Ryou round Duke, he was pretty sure his young lover was going to be pretty pissed at the news. He didn't like seeing Ryou upset and he sure as hell didn't want to be the one doing it, but he really did deserve to know. Well it was Thursday, he'd have a few hours with Ryou after his shift finished and before his own shift started. He would feel happier knowing his lover knew what was going on, though this was not going to be a comfortable experience by any means.

 

Even so he found himself clock watching, the time to see Ryou not coming soon enough for his liking. To that end, and after finding out about the stalking, he decided to be there early and wait for Ryou outside, his crimson eyes scanning for any sign of anyone watching him, or who might also be waiting for his lover to come out. Ryou on the other hand was blissfully unaware about what was going on. Actually he had not arranged to meet Bakura, so when he stepped out of the library humming quietly to himself it was a total shock to see him there. That was a worrying occurrence in its own right, but more so was the expression on his lover's face. He didn't like it one bit.

 

“'Kura?” He said anxiously, stepping up to his lover quickly. “What's wrong?”

 

Bakura inwardly cursed for his lack of ability to control his facial expression. “Hush.” He said softly and placed a reassuring kiss on soft lips. “I'll tell you everything when we are inside somewhere. My place or yours?” He asked, adding a little leer to the question.

 

Ryou chuckled, reassured by his lover's somewhat normal behaviour presenting itself once again. “Well I do believe the plan was your place.” He said with a teasing tone. “Though I think I was supposed to just turn up there, I can't say I mind the escort.”

 

“Good.” Bakura said pleased.

 

In the couple of moments he had been in his lover's presence he had instantly calmed down, Ryou having an immediate soothing effect on him, or more accurately his aura did. Not that his young lover was aware of his aura or the inherent ability but that didn't matter. It was a lot easier to be calm around Ryou and he would feel a lot better knowing he wasn't walking alone after last night.

 

It didn't take them too long to get to his apartment, Ryou noticing how much more relaxed Bakura became when the door was closed behind them. Something was definitely up with him, but Bakura wasn't acting too unusually. Still he wondered what on earth could have him looking like he had outside of the library. Once they had settled in the living room with a mug of coffee each he was glad to see Bakura looking himself again. Well he'd ask about what was going on but first things first.

 

“So how did taking Seto out go then?” He asked, he'd not had chance to speak to Joey as yet and to his pleasure the question had Bakura's face lighting up.

 

“Eventful. I don't think he's ever been drunk before.”

 

“Oh Heavens.” Ryou shook his head, dreading to think what Bakura was going to say next.

 

“The part where he fell off the bar stool was hilarious, and in a strange way, so was the part where he punched Yami.”

 

“No!” Ryou was looking at him with big wide eyes completely disbelieving.

 

“Oh yeah, and to say the chat we had yesterday morning over breakfast was something else entirely, man I thought I knew him, more fool me. Explains a hell of a lot.”

 

By now Ryou was hanging on his every word, his earlier behaviour forgotten, making Bakura chuckle at the attitude.

 

“I'm going to have to tell you everything now aren't I?”

 

Ryou grinned and nodded. With a sigh Bakura began to relate how they had sneakily gotten Seto drunk and all the events that occurred, avoiding the specifics on what was said, and glossing over the chat he'd had with Seto as not his business to discuss. But for now the two were laughing and enjoying themselves all unpleasantness forgotten.

 

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On the other side of Domino, Yami was growling to himself. While it was now long since healed, having his cheekbone broken really had left a nasty taste in his mouth. Sure that was two days ago but he was daemon, he held a grudge, and he'd already had one against Seto in the first bloody place. So he had been stewing on it for days. He really wanted to shout about it, let off steam, but Marik was nowhere to be found, and even when he was on this plane he really didn't want to find him, because the noises coming from Malik's bedroom were enough to put anyone off attempting to disturb them for life. Bakura on the other hand was busy working or with Ryou, and besides, he was a little ticked off at him for siding with Seto in the first place. So when his phone rang he was about to growl into the handset until he saw the number come up as unknown. Who the hell had he given his number to recently?

 

“Hello?” He answered cautiously.

 

He could have sworn he heard a nervous squeak from the other end, but it was so faint he could have been imagining it.

 

“H, hi… it's Yugi.” Came the soft reply from the other side.

 

Suddenly his annoyance melted away to be replaced by a grin. Well what would you know, the little one had managed to pluck up the courage. His day was rapidly improving.

 

“Well hello little one, I was beginning to think that perhaps you weren't going to call.” He said teasingly.

 

“I, I… that is… I did mean to call you it's just…”

 

Yami chuckled. “Easy, I'm only teasing, I am sure you had a lot on or something of the sort. Don't worry. But I am glad you've called. What can I do for you?” He asked.

 

Well the answer to that question was bloody obvious. He'd given the youth his number in a gesture which screamed `call me for a date' and here he was doing just that.

 

“Well… I wondered, maybe… if you might… you know… want to meet up sometime, go for coffee, or something like that.”

 

Yami grinned. He could hear how nervous Yugi was right now, and could only imagine how cute the young one looked right now. Pretty damned cute he was willing to bet. He would be blushing, probably looking at the floor fidgeting uncomfortably… The only problem with his current imaginings was that in doing so he hadn't answered Yugi who was left hanging.

 

“Umm, Yami?” Came the unsure question at the silence.

 

Yami was jolted out of his thoughts and into reality quite harshly by that. He chuckled softly.

 

“My apologies little one, I was distracted, not your fault. I would love to.” He said softly.

 

“Really?” Came the excited response from the other end.

 

Yami couldn't help but chuckle at the tone the other displayed, that hopefulness that was in his voice.

 

“I tell you what, when is your next shift?”

 

“Well, I am working later on, and tomorrow I have the early shift so I finish at six, early evening.” Yugi replied.

 

“Then why don't I meet you at the casino after work?” Yami suggested.

 

“Sounds good.” Yugi agreed, sounding a lot more confident now that he had actually initiated the phone call and it was going so well. “Well I guess I should go, I have stuff that needs to get done before work. I wish I could talk more but...”

 

“Don't worry, I shall see you tomorrow.” He reassured him. “Thanks for calling, I look forward to seeing you.”

 

After a few nervous attempts at hanging up the two finally ended the call and Yami sat with a smile on his face. He had been honest when he had said he had just about given up on Yugi calling him, but the fact that the youth had overcome his nerves and done the deed pleased him immensely. It certainly had driven all thoughts of Seto out of his mind. Now he was thinking only of his meeting with the youth and just what he might be able to get away with…

 

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Back with the white haired couple the laughter had come to an end and the mood had settled some. Enough for Ryou to have questions, ones that Bakura was anticipating, and was currently mulling over how to tell his lover about happenings.

 

“'Kura? Just why did you come to meet me at the library today? And just why did you look quite so scary?” Ryou asked softly.

 

Bakura sighed and looked hard at his young lover.

 

“Duke.” He said quietly.

 

“What?” Ryou asked incredulous.

 

“Yeah, he came to the club last night.”

“No!” Bakura nodded solemnly which only had Ryou flabbergasted. “Why?”

 

“Because of you.” Bakura said honestly. “He stood and watched me from one spot all damned shift, fucking creepy.” He didn't like the dismayed look on Ryou's face one bit but he deserved to know the truth.

 

“Please tell me that he didn't threaten you?” Ryou said desperately.

 

Bakura sighed. “Not really.” Ryou looked at him confused. “Look I am just going to have to come out and say this. When I got out of work he was waiting for me - well of course he was, he had been watching me all damn shift. Anyway, he states we should take a walk and you of course are the topic of conversation. Well he basically asks me to break it off with you, and he will give me whatever I want in return.”

 

Bakura really did not like the look on Ryou's face. The wide eyed disbelief, the way he had paled, and yet there was a fire in those normally calm chocolate brown eyes, two flushed patches of colour in the too white face as the anger burned within him.

 

“That bastard. Ooooh! I could wring his neck I really could! How dare he, the barbaric ignoramus! He has no right, who the hell does he think he is?!”

 

Bakura couldn't help but chuckle; Ryou was actually a little cute like this, it was the insults that were doing it.

 

“What did you say?” Ryou was rapt by now, mainly because he wanted to hear what the hell Bakura said.

 

“I told him he could cut off his own dick.”

 

“'Kura!” Ryou squealed shocked.

 

“What, you want me to lie?” Bakura asked seriously. “What would you have done?”

 

Ryou was floored by this question, mouth opening and closing in a mildly fishlike manner, still torn between shock and anger at what Duke had done. Bakura sniggered.

 

“Well you know I would never do that to you. But I did lose my temper. You know that feeling you had when we were out, that someone was watching you?”

 

Ryou nodded, looking horrified at what he was suggesting.

 

“Yeah, the bastard admitted it. Didn't take too kindly to being told no. I was so fucking angry at him, especially when he started insulting you, I tell you smashing that nose of his was bloody satisfying.”

 

“You what!!” Ryou exploded.

 

Bakura faltered. While Ryou had seemed cute when angry earlier, having those angry eyes on him, being the focus of that anger was actually quite scary.

 

“Please tell me that you were not so bloody stupid as to actually hit him.” Ryou said dangerously.

 

Bakura couldn't do anything other than shrug.

 

“You idiot!” Ryou yelled getting to his feet. “Do you have any idea what you have done? This is Duke Devlin we are talking about! He has money coming out of his ears and he's not a nice guy. Do you have any idea about some of the stuff I found out he was up to? I am not sure he has any scruples. Do you realise what he might do now?”

 

Ryou really was off on a rant, part through anger, indignation, and also a certain amount of fear when it came to his ex. He wasn't lying. At the end he had come across some of Duke's shadier deals. There were also dark rumours surrounding him and his business, they cropped up from time to time but were very short lived.

 

“I don't give a damn who he is, Ryou, he had it coming and don't tell me that you wouldn't have wanted to do the same?” Bakura retaliated.

 

“So what, I threw a Ming vase at him, I was bloody pissed when it missed I was that mad at him, but I was already seen as the highly strung boyfriend because I hated having my picture taken, he could fob that off in the media as me being a… well I don't know what he brushed it off as and I don't bloody care. You've hurt him personally, he's not just going to leave that alone.”

 

Bakura snorted. “Yeah well I'd like to see him try. I gave him a good dose this time and I will gladly do it again, the prick needs putting in his place.”

 

“Bakura will you just listen to yourself.” Ryou scolded.

 

The angel didn't know what to make of it. Ryou was being really fierce and it was so unlike his normally placid lover. Yes he knew Duke had a tendency to set off that reaction in him, but right now they were arguing, really arguing.

 

“You are talking about taking on the biggest businessman in the whole of Domino. I am not going to be melodramatic and say people that have opposed him have disappeared, because that isn't true. But they sure have left Domino in a hurry. He gets very, very jealous and you have just pushed his buttons. I suggest you get over there and bloody grovel.”

 

“I fucking won't!” Bakura snarled, incensed at the very idea. “What happens if I do that huh, then he expects me to break up with you and he starts trying to sneak his way back into your life? Apologise to make things easier? - I don't fucking think so. What are you gonna do, be his boyfriend again just to make things easy? You won't be able to keep your virginity from him this time you know, are you really willing to whore yourself to him for an easy life?”

 

Bakura regretted it the instant he had said it, but Ryou had hit a nerve however unwittingly, and having been wound up by the whole situation prior to this… discussion, his temper was already short. But the look on Ryou's face as those words escaped him cut deep into his soul. He should have hit him, it would have been kinder and less painful to the youth.

 

“Ryou… Ry', I'm so sorry… I didn't mean…”

 

“Shut up!” Ryou snapped. “I think you've said enough already. Time I went I think.”

 

With that he stormed to the hall where he had left his coat, Bakura hot on his heels, catching him by the wrist before he managed to flounce out of the door.

 

“Please sweet one.” Bakura begged, desperate to undo the hurt he had just done to his lover.

 

Ryou merely wrenched his arm out of his grasp. “I don't want to see you till you start thinking sensibly.” He hissed, before marching out of the door, slamming it behind him, Bakura wincing at the force of it.

 

“Shit!”

 

Well that was an understatement, talk about fucking up. Bakura remained by the door in the hall for a while, not able to bear the thought of watching Ryou go, angry at himself for hurting the youth like that. What the fuck had gotten into him? He knew what, it was his temper, it had been short for so damned long that he really had very little control of it any more. Which was ironic considering how well he had managed to keep his hands off Duke in the first place. He had shown immense restraint right up until the point Duke had pushed things too far, and even after; he had wanted to rip the bastard to pieces with his bare hands and he had refrained. The scary thing was that even in this human form he was probably capable of such a deed. Humans were quite fragile compared to angels.

 

After a while and with a heavy sigh Bakura made his way through the apartment, a couple of hours yet to kill before his shift started. It should have been no surprise that a pack of cigarettes and a lighter were soon in his hand and he could be seen leaning out of the window, looking utterly miserable, a lit cigarette between his lips. He knew he was going to have to do something to patch things up with Ryou at some point but he didn't have a fucking clue of where to start. And the youth had raised some worrying thoughts. Was Duke really that ruthless? If so, he worried for his lover, wondering just how far the bastard would go. Only one thing was for sure, he wouldn't let the green eyed little shit get anywhere near him, he would do whatever it took to protect his love. He had failed in doing that once, he would not fail again.

 

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AN:

Well there we are, I think I have the tension rising nicely as it should be. Well they need to make up do they not? Well that is going to be… lemony. So yes, long awaited smut coming your way peeps. I've had that scenario in my mind for six months now… finally I get to write it. And you shall hopefully all enjoy it.