Tegami

Tegami*

Summary: Ryou smiles
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh. If I did…*begins to laugh evilly*
Warning: Just some really sad type things about our favorite white haired hikari.

Smile Again*

Ryou read the salutation and was some what taken aback. He wasn’t “Dearest” to anyone was he?

Yami can’t write letters…his hiragana looks like squiggles all over the place and the last time he wrote English manuscript The hikari laughed, remembering how their English teacher had looked when she caught a glimpse of the boy’s essay. She’d told the Yami to type all his work from then on.

He unfolded the rest of the letter and began to read it.

Dearest Ryou,

It pained me most deeply to see your honor besmirched today in the hall and again at lunch. I want you to know that incidents like the ones today and in the past shall no longer happen for I am here to protect you.

Although I am waxing quite chivalrous, I want you to known that I am gravely serious. Everyday, I look upon your countenance and though my heart swells, it is also pained as I see your abused state.

I want you to know, that you are loved and admired, even if no one will tell you. Never again do I want to see those deep brown eyes rimmed in tears or your sweet alabaster skin marred with bruises. You are perfect and eternal and I won’t have it any other way.

Enclosed is a small gift for you, something I thought a fellow bibliophile would love. I often see you at the library and thought you could use this to keep your place in the dozens of books I know you read.

I want you to smile tomorrow, for when you do, the heavens open and rejoice. You are an earthbound angel and I feel blessed to see your happiness.


Sincerely,


Ryou gasped softly. The closing was not signed. He looked in the envelope and withdrew a thin metal book mark with a pure white tassel. Etched on the book mark were several swans in flight.

The pale boy touched it lovingly, not aware of the light blush on his cheeks. He couldn’t believe it. Someone had gotten this for him? A simple book mark though it was, the metal etched ones were at least the price of a thick paper back –

The door opened and Ryou turned, his face a glow in the lamp light. Bakura stood there, cigarette dangling from his lips, looking every bit the ruffian.

“Eh. What are you doing?”

“I was getting ready to do Homework Yami. Can I get you anything before I start?”

Bakura tossed a bag on the bed. There were Skittles and chocolate inside. “Got these for ya. You okay?”

The boy nodded. “Want something special for dinner?”

“Marik’s getting us all Pizza. We’re cool.”

Ryou nodded again and smiled. “Then I’ll talk to you at dinner, alright?”

Bakura nodded, turning to leave. He put his fist on the doorway and shook his head. “Hikari, it’s my job to protect you. If you don’t tell me who hurts you, how can I do my job?”

“I’m not hurt Yami. I know it’s your job to protect me. I’m alright, I promise.”

Bakura closed the door and left.

Ryou turned his attention back to the desk and picked up the book mark again. He ran a finger over the surface and sighed. It was beautiful and perfect.

That’s what the letter said about me… He put the book mark down and reached for a book on his tiny above desk shelf.

He opened it and began reading, searching for his favorite part, his homework forgotten.

****

Malik combed his hair and yawned. He hadn’t gone to bed early enough last night and now was suffering. Algebra was horrible. Why had he agreed to do Marik’s homework? It’d taken him all night.

A knock at the door came and he gave a grunt of assent. Ryou came in and smiled.

“Malik, good morning. Breakfast is ready.”

The desert blond nodded and put down his brush, sweeping his hair into a pony tail and looking at the mirror.

“What do you think Bambi? Up or down today?”

“Down?”

Malik let his hair loose and left the room. Ryou went in Malik’s room and began to collect his laundry. He’d do it later with everyone elses. He eyed the hair brush on Malik’s dresser and reached for it.

The wooden handled brush was fraught with loose strands of gold. All the fibers in the brush were very thin and silky looking and Ryou thought of his own brush; it was wiry and old. He didn’t have enough for a new one. Maybe he could use Bakura’s…

He put the brush back and left the room with a bundle of clothes in his arms.


By the time he’d made it to school any perfection the boy had achieved after the morning’s shower was ruined. He’d gotten waffle batter on his sweater and had no time to change it and he smelled like the dozens of colognes coming off of Marik and Bakura’s clothes.

He leaned his head against his locker. If this were a story, the next scene, something wonderful would happen. My father would pop up or I’d discover my magical powers…

Ryou opened his locker and was about to exchange his books for morning classes when he saw a grey hardcover book laying on top of his binders. He dropped his bag and picked it up.

“It can’t be!” he whispered. He opened the cover and a grin stretched across his face.

The book Tokajin had ruined yesterday was replaced. The book Ryou now held in his hands was brand new. He noticed some writing in the cover and read it.

I hope you use your bookmark in your favorite book.

The doe eyed hikari was suddenly overwhelmed with feeling and let out a happy squeak. He quickly hushed it up, changed out his books and went to class, a huge smile on his face.



Somewhere down the hall a ways, another face also broke out in a grin, albeit a smaller one.

Beautiful...

****

Malik smiled around his Udon noodles when he saw Ryou come into the cafeteria. The boy was smiling for once and seemed to have a bounce in his step.

The white haired boy came over to the table and and sat down, opening his lunch with gusto, even as Marik muttered, “Oh great he’s on drugs.”

Ryou took out his sandwich and carefully laid his book on the table. He opened the book and took out the book mark, lovingly laying it aside before he began to read.

Yugi leaned over to look down table. “Ryou, how’d you do on the test today?”

The brown eyed didn’t respond. He’d already been sucked into his story. Bakura rolled his eyes.

“You have to go over there and smack him.” Bakura bit into his sandwich, pulling all the turkey out with one bite. “He’s already gone.”

Otogi laughed. “That’s what happens when Malik sees a shoe sale!”

“Aw!” the Egyptian pouted. “You do the same thing every time we go by a car lot! Or a leather store!”

The raven haired teen rubbed the back of his head and laughed. “At least my eyes don’t go all wide like Yugi. He saw some cards at the Duel monsters shop there and his eyes got gigantic.”

Marik cackled. “That isn’t possible! –Oof!”

Yugi elbowed the boy and kept eating. “So what? Who cares! We passed the food court and you started drooling Marik.”

The blond shrugged. “Food’s important.”



In another part of the cafeteria, someone else was also having their lunch as they held their book up.

He daintily took a potato chip into his mouth and ate it, sneaking glances across the cafeteria. His friend smiled.

“Why not just go talk to him?”

“I will. The timing isn’t right. Besides, I haven’t finished this chapter.”

“God, I don’t know how you do it. I could never read that much.”

He smiled. “That really amazes me. Your status demands that you be well read.”

His friend flexed his muscles. “This demands otherwise!”

They shared a laugh and another glance was stolen.

And he’s still smiling…how wonderful.

****

When the end of the day came, Ryou was still walking on air. He went to his locker and hopped back in surprise as another letter flipped to the ground. He picked it up and slipped it in his text book.

He was putting his books away when Bakura came to him. “Yami?”

The thief handed Ryou the keys to the car, kissing his forehead. “Sorry Bambi,” he whispered. “I can’t drive ya today, I’ve got…plans you know?”

Ryou looked at Bakura. “But, you said you help me with the groceries today Bakura and the laundry -”

“Yeah well, look, I lied. I got shit to do.” The thief left him, waving over his shoulder.

The doe eyed boy watched his yami go and shoved the keys in his pocket, anger welling up briefly. He dismissed it with a whisper of a laugh and turned to leave the building.

It’s okay. He’s busy. Everyone’s busy.

Ryou came home to an empty house, various notes scribbled on the refrigerator’s fry erase board about everyone being busy. He went upstairs and put down his books, returning to begin the laundry.

Three hours later after washing, drying and folding everyone’s clothes, as well as making all the beds, Ryou slowly wrote a grocery list. He was startled out of his trance when the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Ryou? Hello!”

The boy smiled, leaning against the kitchen wall. “Hello Father. How is the dig?”

“We’re making great progress, but I called to see how you were doing! How’s school?”

Ryou’s mind ran through the various acts committed upon him since his father’s last call in the summer. “Oh…I’m quite alright.”

“Still being bullied?”

“No sir. I’m quite alright. Stiff upper lip you know?”

Ryou listened as the man seemed to mull this over. “And your school work?”

“I’m doing well. Although there are times in math class when I feel lost.”

“Well, you know to study.” The man paused, searching for what else he could ask his estranged son. “I’m sorry I couldn’t send anything for your birthday or Christmas. I was terribly busy with the dig.”

“It’s no problem Father. I’ve just bought a new book and –”

“Not books again! Ryou we’ve been over this!”

“Father, I buy them after I’ve bought everything I need –”

“It’s not about the money! It’s about you getting your head out of those goddamned books and getting some real friends! Why do you think you’re bullied all the time? Stop being anti-social!”

Ryou clutched the phone tighter as a tear escaped his eye. “But Father, you don’t understand how mean some of these people are! Just the other day this boy –”

“If you weren’t such a pushover you wouldn’t get harassed! Sometimes I wonder if you’re my son at all!”

The white haired boy’s face was over shadowed by his bangs as more tears fell. “I’m sorry sir.”

“Well, you’d better quite. No son of mine is a wimp, do you understand? I’m reducing this months allowance again until you learn what your money’s for! This’ll stop all that book buying!”

“Yes sir…” the boy murmured.

“Good. Now, how is that Bakura? He treating you alright? Roommates are bound to have a row or two.”

“He’s out right now Sir. I’m cleaning just now.”

“Good. Can’t have a dirty house…”

The conversation went on for a few minutes more, the elder man berating his son here and there for his “cowardice” and lack of tact.

“Well, I’ll call again soon. Goodbye Ryou.”

The man hung up before Ryou could answer in kind and the hikari hung up, his face streaming.

He glanced up at the clock and began to cook dinner. No chance anyone would make it home on time, but they’d all complain if there was nothing to eat.

After making stew and serving some to himself, Ryou took a trip to the grocery store. When he left, he loaded six very heavy bags into the trunk of the car and went home with an empty wallet. He knew he’d have to ask Bakura for more money and feared the reaction.

The yami never responded well to having to give his “hard earned” money to the likes of him. Apparently, despite the fact that Ryou kept everyone fed and clothed, asking for money to do those things was nearly forbidden.

When he got home, it took him sometime to get the groceries inside. It was nearly ten and the boy noticed no one was home yet.

He turned on a lamp in the living room so they wouldn’t stumble when they did come home. He went upstairs, took a quick shower and slipped into bed.

There, the joy he’d felt earlier in the day could find no purchase as the afternoons upsets over shadowed his heart. Ryou cried himself to sleep, something that was a near everyday occurrence, the letter he’d received forgotten in his unopened textbook.

****
*Tegami means “Letter” in Japanese. *Courtesy of Skoop On Somebody
*Oh god…It started out so happy too! What the hell am I doing to Ryou! Damn! This is makin me feel bad!