Binding Circles
Chapter 2
Author: Shamise
Rating: Teen
Pairings: Atemu(Yami)/Yuugi
Archive: Can also be found on fanfiction.net, Binding Circles
Warnings: Nothing major yet but this is a yaoi fanfic.
Spoilers: I will be using Yami's real name in this fic. (I think that's a spoiler)
Summary: The Ocean will call you home.' Is what Yuugi’s Grandpa told before he died. Now, a few years later, the ocean really is calling Yuugi, but not in the way he thought it would. A strange creature has claimed Yuugi as his mate. How will he survive? YYxY AU
Disclaimer: I dont own Yu-gi-oh!.
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"Speech"
'Thoughts'
~~Newspaper quotings~~
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Yuugi lingered in the safety of his home for the next four days, refraining from any diving in fear of encountering that creature again. He turned down several offers of group diving and refused to talk about what had happened on that tour. The people in the village were only minimally worried so Yuugi was thankfully left alone.
After he had gotten off the boat four days ago, he had immediately locked himself in his house and avoided looking at the ocean. He used the excuse of the rain that had fallen for the next two days to keep him inside and busied himself with research. He was planning on going into a marine biology field when he got into college, so that he could make use of his love for diving.
His Grandpa had always said that diving was in his blood, and this proved true when he quickly became restless from being in his house all day. He wanted to dive again, to be submerged in the tranquil world that was so different from his own, but his fear of that creature was a burden that was weighing him down. So, in an attempt to soothe his restless legs, he took a trip into town.
The day was nice and cool after the rain they just had and people were out and about. Children played tag in their yards and Yuugi even saw a group of wetsuit clad teens carrying surfboards out to the main beach. The town got most of its income from the beaches and the minor tourist attractions that came with it. Yuugi bypassed the ocean museums and aquariums, heading aimlessly towards a small beachside café.
This quaint restaurant, named the ‘Current’s Café’, was a popular little shop that had been owned by the same family for a very long time. It was the local hangout for people of all ages and got a fairly good size of business thanks to its location near the beach. Their food was good and they served the best fruit drinks and smoothies in town.
Yuugi entered the café quietly and headed straight for an empty booth in the corner. The booth was always left empty since it was too small for a group and too secluded for a tourist so Yuugi, almost always coming to the café alone, had become its sole occupant. He sighed gratefully as he sat down on the soft seat, giving his feet a rest from the long walk here. He cradled his head in his arms and took a few deep-calming breaths.
“Hello.”
The soft voice unexpectedly broke in upon his solitude, causing him to jump in surprise. He turned to look at the culprit, putting a relieved hand on his chest to slow his racing heart and said in a breathless tone.
“Anzu! Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
The brown haired girl named Anzu raised an eyebrow I amusement. Slim arms crossed over her chest as blue eyes glinted mischievously.
“Aw, did big bad Anzu scare little Yuugi-kun?”
“Y-you didn’t scare me!” Yuugi protested, waving his arms in the air. “You just startled me.” He whispered that last part as Anzu continued to laugh animatedly. Yuugi couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips; Anzu had always cheered him up, even if it was unintentional.
“So, what are you doing out here, Yuugi?” Anzu asked curiously once she got control over her laughter. She glanced at the clock that hung on the wall and continued speaking. “Normally you’d be out impersonating a fish at this time.”
Yuugi blushed lightly at Anzu’s reference to his diving habits; it wasn’t his fault that he felt more comfortable in the water than on land. His good humor faded momentarily when he was reminded of just why he was not in the water right now and he quickly hide his emotions behind a bright mask, hoping that Anzu didn’t see the change.
“Just thought it was time for a change…” Yuugi faded off as he saw the unconvinced expression on Anzu’s face. He ducked his head guiltily when he realized that his childhood friend had caught him in a lie. Unfortunately his mouth decided to run away from him and dig an even bigger hole.
“Well, it’s…been raining and…I need a…break?” He said unconvincingly, his sentence ending in a question. One look at Anzu told him that she wasn’t buying it at all.
“Yuugi, you and I both know that that’s never stopped you before. What’s wrong?” She demanded, taping her foot impatiently against the hardwood floor. She didn’t have to wait long until Yuugi broke under her scrutiny, he wasn’t very good at keeping secrets about himself, and began to explain what had happened.
“I…was attacked.” The rest of the story came out soon after; Yuugi had never been real good under pressure. Anzu looked at her friend sympathetically and with a ‘be right back’ sped back behind the counter.
Yuugi stared at his retreating friend with a sad expression. He had hoped that Anzu would understand, at least she didn’t laugh in his face. Yuugi ducked his head back in between his arms; he shouldn’t have told her, then at least she wouldn’t think he was a weak, little, scardy cat.
He was so caught up in his own self-torture that he didn’t notice when Anzu came back towards him, carrying a small styrofoam cup in one hand and a newspaper clip in the other. She set the cup down in front of Yuugi with a sudden thump. The teen jumped in surprise, not expecting her to have come back.
Yuugi stared at the styrofoam cup with a look of confusion and glanced up at Anzu for clarification. She nodded and gestured for Yuugi to go ahead. Yuugi took a sip out of the white straw and his eyes light up in delight; the drink was his ultimate favorite, the ‘Ocean’s Swell’, and blend of apple, orange, pear, and grape.
“You know, Yuugi,” Anzu started, laying the newspaper article in front of the teen. “There’s a saying that obstacles are put in our way to see if we really want something. I know you love diving more than life and that you’re a natural at it, so why give up something you love because of one isolated setback?”
Yuugi was about to protest that the attack wasn’t just a ‘setback’ when Anzu interrupted him by pointing to the article she had brought. The clipped article had a picture of a teenaged girl surfing on some beach, looking to be having the time of her life. Something seemed off about the picture but Yuugi just couldn’t seem to put his finger on it, then it hit him.
The girl had didn’t have a left arm.
~~“Surfer Girl Makes Comeback After Shark Attack.”~~
~‘Bethany Hamilton Spurns Self-Pity; Returns to Competition and Earns Acclaim After Losing Her Arm’~
“Yuugi, I don’t know what its like to be attacked, but I do know that if she made a full comeback, even after losing an arm, then so can you.”