Fall of the Dice

Chapter 11: The house of cards meets an ill wind


The next three days were like a whirlwind of fun and friendship.
Day four they drove into the local town and did some sightseeing, then Jou took Ryuuji to a movie while Kaiba and Honda stayed at home.
Day five saw them all cleaning the house before Kaiba took Ryuuji to the closest French restaurant he could find, complete with two dozen long stemmed red roses and a large box of imported chocolates (nuts and chews) which Jou and Honda ate while they were gone.
Day six was a trip to the top of the mountain and some heavy rock climbing, which Ryuuji did in some tight khaki shorts that Kaiba and Jou were more than happy to stay beneath, so he and Honda were the only ones to reach the top. Then when they returned to the cabin, Honda took Ryuuji out to the local town dance and the others stayed home to read and watch TV.
Day seven broke clear and sunny. A happier morning couldn’t be asked for.
The three young men rose surprised not to find the smell of breakfast meeting their early morning noses. They met in the hall and came down the stairs together, hearing a strange sound from the kitchen.
When the door opened they found the dark haired beauty sitting on the floor, legs skewed oddly and tears running down his mascara-streaked face. When he saw them, his cries stopped and he attempted to rise, ineffectually. Kaiba and Honda rushed forward to help his as Jou grabbed a kitchen chair and moved it closer.
“Ryu, what it is?”
“Yeah, Otogi. What is wrong?”
“Ryuuji don’t cry. We’ll make it better, just tell us?”
Ryuuji waved them all silent and as they thought he was about to talk through the hiccoughs and sobs, he looked from face to face and broke out in renewed tears.
Kaiba threw up his hands and walked to the sink, filling a cup of water and returning with it, as Jou hugged the dark haired teen and Honda gently patted the exposed knee that peeked out from under the short pink skirt.
Once the cup was drained and the three worried faces had permanently made their impression on the dice man’s memory, he rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I just realized that this week is the most accepted I have ever felt and it was just so overwhelming. I mean, Yugi and Anzu mean well, but I am not really part of the whole group thing. I always feel like a spectator. I stay in the background and cheer with the crowd. Not like I’m in the spotlight. I will never be the duelist that he is or Jou and you Kaiba for that matter. And I didn’t mind before, but now I don’t know how I will be able to be that person again, with any of you around. I can’t go back to that, and I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t.” Kaiba said.
“Easy for you to say, moneybags.” Jou announced.
“Yeah, Kaiba. Think about it. You never even try and you are in the spotlight. Jou works real hard and he is still a second round player, and me and ‘Togi, we get left in the cheerleader section. That ain’t easy to deal with. But he is right, Ryuuji. We will never treat you like an outsider, I promise.” Honda said.
“Yep, I plan on treating you like the most important person in my life.” Jou added.
“I would even venture to call a press conference. You are worth that much to me.” Kaiba completed. Ryuuji looked from face to face. His tears drying on his face, and a shocked expression on his face did not diminish from the deep beauty of the longhaired cross dresser.
“How can you promise such things? What if I don’t choose you?” he asked.
“Then I will proclaim your choice the luckiest guy in domino, and we can still be friends. I hope that is okay with you guys.” Jou said, looking from the one brunet to the other.
“I already said that I would understand if you chose another over me, and that goes for both of them. I will be around as a friend, also. Someday I could find a replacement. And if you pick Honda, I guess Jou and I could double date with you, right Katsuya?” Kaiba said, patting Jou on the head.
“I guess I could tolerate you for a date or two. You do have good taste in restaurants. I liked that Italian joint.” Jou answered swatting his hand away.
“And if you pick Kaiba I’ll take Jou out.” Honda said.
“Hey, when did I become a charity date?” Jou complained.
“What if I pick Jou?” Ryuuji said, smiling.
Honda and Kaiba looked at each other and then looked away, quickly.
“I’m not that desperate.” The CEO said as the other brunet expressed a quick.
“I’d rather eat mud.”
Ryuuji and Jou began to laugh and the two turned back and sneered at each other.
“I feel better about the whole pity date thing, now.” Jou said between guffaws.
“You are all so wonderful. I can’t thank you enough. I wish I had known all this months ago, but I am enjoying this week so much.” Ryuuji said wrapping his arms around them all and pulling them together. Luckily, Jou was in the middle, and they all hugged the dice man back.
Today they all sat around playing monopoly and of course Kaiba won. They even managed to cheat, but it was just for fun and nobody cared.
Jou took Ryuuji for a moonlight walk and they watched the stars from a park bench that was set in a pull out for travelers.
Ryuuji leaned against the blond and closed his eyes.
“I meant it, Ryu. I am always there if you need anything. If you choose one of those guys or me, I just want you to be happy. Okay?”
“The only thing I need right now Jou, is for someone to help me pick between three of the best things that have ever happened to me.”
“I guess I am going to let you down already. Cause I couldn’t pick. I want to say that I’m the best thing for you, but I know what Kaiba can offer and I know how great a guy Honda is. He was my best friend for years and I won’t say anything bad about him. Sorry, I love you, but I don’t think I could do that for anyone. Not even you.”
“Oh, Katsuya. That’s why you are so hard not to pick. That kind of loyalty is nothing to overlook. It is just impossible.”
“Well, this is our last night so I’d rather not talk about them, okay?”
“I agree. How about you and me go back to the cottage and I show you how much I care. If I don’t choose you, it’s a good way to give you a consolations prize.”
“Mmmm, I like that If you were the trophy, I’d be a second rate player for ever.”