Fall of the Dice

Chapter 13: Snake eyes. The dice that will bite you back

The last day of the trip was upon them and Ryuuji rose early to fix a special breakfast.
The three other men arrived as the smell of food filled the house and snagged them out of their dreams.
Each was in his own world as they all sat down and began eating.
Ryuuji had to make a decision today and that kept him from noticing the silence in the house.
After they had eaten, Ryuuji began to clear up and do the dishes. Honda stayed to help as the others went to their rooms to begin packing for the trip home.
As the Dice Master washed the dishes, the brunet dried them and his silence was what cut through the mood.
“Is there something wrong, Hiroto-kun?” Ryuuji asked as he handed the last plate to the silent teen.
“Ryuuji, I can’t do this. I mean, it isn’t fair. I care for you, I really do. But, you belong with one of the others. I’m gonna pull myself out of this, then you won’t have it so hard.” Honda said as he placed the dish on the counter and dropped the towel.
Ryuuji was too shocked to speak as he watched the brunet leave the room.
He stared at the stack of dishes and wondered what had brought that on.
As he reached for the stack and headed for the cupboard, he heard the sound of a throat clearing and turned around.
Kaiba stood in the door and his posture was just wrong.
“Here, let me take those.” He said stepping forward and grabbing the plates from the longhaired teen. “I wanted to tell you that I am bowing out of the competition. You should be with someone who can hold down a long-term relationship. I can’t and we both know it. So, choose one of the others, and I will be happy for you both.” Kaiba said as he pushed the dishes into the cabinet and closed the door.
His eyes looked haunted as he smiled lightly at Ryuuji.
Then he, too, was gone.
The lanky black haired youth watched the door and shook his head.
This was an unexpected turn, and though it solved his problem, it bothered him even more.
He placed the cups from the strainer into their hooks on the shelf and tossed the towel into the laundry basket as he untied the frilly pink apron that was covering his pale blue sundress.
Jou stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked around for anyone else as he watched Ryuuji hang his apron on the hook near the pantry door.
The smaller man saw him and this set Jou in motion, again.
He entered the kitchen and took the dice man’s hand, leading him to the couch in the living room and motioning him to sit.
Ryuuji settled on the sofa and watched as Jou took the seat next to him. The look on the blond’s face was mixed with pain and resolve.
Ryuuji was not going to like this, he was sure.
“Ryu, I know that we have put you on the spot and I just wanted to say that I’m real sorry. I never meant to do anything that would upset you, and all I can think is that I have to make it up to you. So, I decided to step out of this bet, and let you pick one of the others. They are better for you, Kaiba can take you places, and Honda is a pure soul. I have too much baggage, and it would eventually be a problem for us anyway. I hope you are happy with your new guy and I’ll always be your buddy, kay?” he said and before the cross dressing teen could answer, he was off the couch and on his way up the stairs.
Ryuuji just sat there staring at the door that he had exited.
“What the Fuck just happened here?” he said as he shook his head.
Ryuuji’s hands instinctively went to his pocket and his fingers wrapped around his favorite dice kept there. They had gotten him through so much and yet, they were what had gotten him here, also.
He pulled them free and looked down at the yellow and red cubes in his palm.
Ryuuji shook them lightly then dropped them onto the low coffee table before him.
Double fours.
The Dice Master stared at the dots and whisked the dice up once more.
He shook them hard and tossed them back onto the surface.
One and three.
“Oh, my gods!” he said, “It is so obvious. I should have figured it out before.”
He lifted the dice and shook them again, thinking his concerns and projecting it into his palm. He tossed the cubes again and watched them roll to a stop.
One and two.
It was what he suspected and it would certainly work. He only had one concern left and he sent the dice rolling once again.
Double Fours again.
The dice were sure and now so was Ryuuji.
He rose and hurried through the house.

:::Well, that was just weird!!!

Just one more chapter and an epilogue to go.

I have re-published a short story under the original category that is a brief jaunt into the world of my first novel. If anyone is interested, it is called Above My Love and you can find it under Original/science fiction. I hope you all enjoy, it is just a bit of a teaser that wasn't long enough to make a sequel out of, though I may end up publishing it with others if I write them as Short Stories.