Gardenias

Gardenias

Hato chiisai

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

If you’re a fan of my fics, you already know that this story is YAOI

As per my promise in Tearing Down the Sky, each chapter of this fic is dedicated to the winner of the “Guess Who The Four Are” Contest. The answer was the Four Arch Angels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel.

This chapter is dedicated to Vixinkitsune

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Chapter 6

Lilly of the Valley

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Otogi sighed and watched Ryou. He had his laptop on his lap as he lay in bed, but his attention was far from the glowing screen. Ryou sat on the floor in the corner of the room, playing with his puppy. But Otogi could tell from Ryou’s body language that he was still upset. The idea that they had been filmed while performing such an intimate act had frightened Ryou badly; he was too scared to go to bed. Otogi sighed.

“Ryou…. It’s late… come to bed.” Otogi called, and Ryou stopped and looked at him with worried eyes. “Please?” And Ryou sighed and slowly stood, nodding. He looked down and giggled as Daisy seized the leg of his pants in her teeth and began to pull, growling playfully.

“Can she sleep with us, Otogi?”

“No.” Otogi said, frowning. “Absolutely not. I do NOT want fur all over my bed.” Ryou sighed and nodded, placing Daisy into her bed, before slipping beneath the sheets with Otogi.

“What are you working on?”

“Huh?” Otogi blinked then looked at his laptop. “Oh, checking my mail. Go to sleep, Ryou.” He said, and kissed Ryou’s cheek gently. Ryou sighed and smiled, laying down and closing his eyes. Otogi opened his next mail. He read over it, and his eyes widened.

“Oh, no… dammit…….” He muttered, and Ryou opened one eye.

“What is it?”

“Nothing Ryou. Just some idiot screwing up my stocks. I’ll take care of it tomorrow.” He said, shutting the laptop down and setting it on the bedside table before laying down and pulling Ryou into his arms. “Good night, Ryou.”

“Mmmmmm….. night……..” Ryou sighed, cuddling close.

………………………………

Ryou sat in Otogi’s chair, watching his lover pace back and forth, nervously. Ryou sighed as he glanced out the window, seeing Nakazawa getting out of his car.

“He’s here.” Ryou said, and Otogi cursed. “Otogi, please, calm down. What’s wrong?”

“Ryou, just be quiet.”

“Excuse me?!” Ryou gasped in disbelief, and Otogi looked at him. Ryou blinked, seeing the anxiety on his lover’s face.

“Ryou, please… I need you to keep quiet tonight. Don’t say a word, and don’t move from that spot.”

“Otogi!!!”

“I mean it, Ryou!!!” Otogi shouted, and Ryou winced, not used to his lover shouting at him. But things fell silent as the dreaded ding of the elevator was heard. Footsteps sounded down the hall, and then came the knock on the door.

“Come in.” Otogi said, and Nakazawa did so. Otogi handed him the envelope with the $2000 cash. Nakazawa smiled and winked, then turned to go. Otogi bit his lip momentarily, then stepped forwards.

“Wait.” He said, and Nakazawa turned, a look of hope in his eyes.

“I have to leave town for a few days. Business. I HAVE to go.” Otogi said, and Nakazawa turned to face him completely. “W-when I get back, I’ll pay you for all the nights I miss.”

“That won’t be necessary, Ryuuji.” Nakazawa said, with a smile. “Your lover can make the payments each night while you’re gone.” Otogi’s eyes widened.

“What?! No! NO!!! HE is coming with ME!!!” Otogi gasped. “I will NOT leave him here to deal with YOU!!!” Nakazawa snarled and shoved Otogi to the floor.

“You WILL leave him here, or you will be arrested as soon as you re-enter the country, Ryuuji.”

“I will not leave him where you can hurt him.” Otogi snarled.

“I will not hurt him. I will come, he will give me the cash, and I will leave.” Nakazawa growled as Otogi stood.

“No.” He snapped, and shoved Nakazawa back. “NO!!!” Then, he yelped as Nakazawa slammed him onto the floor and snapped handcuffs on him.

“In that case, you’re under arrest on charges of embezzlement, tax evasion—“

“NO!!!” Ryou screamed, leaping up and running over, dropping to his knees and grabbing Nakazawa’s hands, trying to pry them from Otogi. “Please, no!!! I’ll stay!! I’ll stay and make the payments! Please, let him go!!!”

“Ryou, no!!” Otogi gasped, squirming under Nakazawa. Nakazawa looked Ryou straight in the eyes with a sneer.

“Oh? You will stay behind and meet me here every night?”

“Yes.”

“On time?”

“Yes.”

“With the money?”

“Yes.”

“…… alone?”

“NO!!!” Otogi cried.

“…… yes.” Ryou said, softly.

“Agreed.” Nakazawa said, and released Otogi, leaving the room. Otogi stumbled to his feet and turned on Ryou.

“WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!?!” He screamed, advancing on Ryou who backed away, frightened by his lover’s temper, which had never been turned on him before. “I TOLD YOU TO SIT STILL AND BE QUIET!!! CAN’T YOU EVER DO WHAT I TELL YOU?!?!”

“I’M NOT YOUR PROPERTY!!!! I’LL DO WHAT I WANT!!!!” Ryou screamed back, then gasped as his head whipped to the side as a result of the harsh slap that Otogi delivered to his lover’s cheek. Ryou raised a hand to his face where a red hand print was rising on his white skin. Otogi stared, shocked at what he had just done. Ryou slowly turned to stare at Otogi, tears filling his large brown eyes.

“R-Ryou…. I… I’m sorry….” Otogi gasped, and fell to his knees, taking Ryou’s hand. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Ryou! Please, forgive me!!! I want to keep you safe, Ryou!! I do not want you to meet with him alone! I don’t want him to hurt you!! Ryou, all I want is to protect you!! That’s all I’m trying to do!!!” Ryou blinked as he watched the regretful tears slide down Otogi’s face, and he dropped to his knees, throwing his arms around the Dice Master’s shoulders and sobbed.

“That’s what I’M trying to do, Otogi!!!” Ryou wailed. “I’m trying to help you! But you have to LET me!!! Please!!” Otogi sighed and hugged Ryou tightly, stroking his back.

“I love you Ryou…. I love you so much……” And he pulled away and looked Ryou straight in the eyes. “Promise me that you will be safe. You won’t let him hurt you.” And Ryou smiled.

“I promise.” He said. “I just want to help you. I love you…..” And Otogi pulled Ryou into his chest, kissing him passionately.

……………………

The next morning, Otogi found Ryou hugging him tightly as he prepared to board the plane.

“I’ll be home soon, Ryou. Just be safe, okay? Please, don’t let Nakazawa hurt you.”

“I won’t.” Ryou said with a smile, and kissed Otogi’s cheek.

“Ryou, if you get into any trouble…” Otogi said.

“I know, I know. Bakura and Marik.”

“Or Yami and Yugi. Hell, even Seto, Ryou. ANYONE would help you, okay?”

“Okay.” Ryou said and hugged Otogi, who smiled and pet his hair. “Have fun in New York.”

“Not likely.” Otogi said. “You know how much I’ll worry.”

“I’ll call you, Otogi.”

“After every meeting with Nakazawa.” Otogi said, and Ryou nodded.
“Well…. Gotta fly.”

“Love you.”

“I love you too.” Otogi said, and gave Ryou a quick kiss before boarding the plane. Ryou sighed and watched Otogi until he was out of his sight, then turned and left, already scared of what might happen that night.

And that night, as he sat waiting in Otogi’s chair, cuddling Daisy, he found himself shaking. He opened the top drawer for the fourth time in the last ten minutes, just to make sure that the envelopes that Otogi had filled and dated for his lover were there. When Nakazawa pulled up, Ryou pulled the envelope that had the current date on it and set it on the desk. After what felt like hours, he heard the elevator, and then a knock on the door.

“……c-come in.” Ryou managed to squeak, and clutched his puppy as the Police Chief walked in.

“Well, well…. Ryou Bakura….” He said with an odd grin, slowly approaching the desk. “I see you followed the proper protocol.” Ryou slid the envelope across the desk.

“Here. Two thousand. Now please leave.” Ryou said, and Nakazawa checked the envelope before smiling and bowing.

“As you wish.” He said, and turned to leave. But as he got to the door, he stopped, and turned. “Oh…. One thing.” He said, and Ryou glared at him. “When Otogi gets back, enjoy his company. It won’t last.” Ryou blinked.

“What?”

“Your father.”

“My father? What about him?” Ryou asked.

“Your father has been negligent in his duties as your guardian, my boy. He’s gone nine months out of the year and leaves his son, a MINOR, alone!”

“I’m not alone!” Ryou gasped.

“You’re living with Ryuuji. He may be an emancipated adult, but he’s not your guardian., boy. And not long after he comes back to you, Social Services will come FOR you! And you will be placed into a home where you can be properly cared for.” And he left, slamming the door. Ryou stared at the door with wide horrified eyes.

“No….” He gasped, but as he thought it over, the man was right. He could do what he said he could. Easily. Ryou slowly sunk to the floor, clutching Daisy tightly, and began to let out frightened sobs.

In his room in New York, Otogi paced back and forth by the phone. He had expected Ryou to call long ago. When the phone finally rang, he pounced on it.

“Ryou? That you?”

“Yeah…. Hi..” Came the soft voice of his lover, but something didn’t sound right.

“Is… is everything okay, Ryou?” Otogi asked.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

“You sound upset.”

“I was scared. That’s all.”

“Did something happen?!”

“No. He came in, he took the money, and he left.”

“He didn’t… do anything to you?”

“No. He didn’t touch me.”

“He didn’t have to touch you to do something. Did he…. Say anything?” Otogi asked. Something had upset Ryou, and the boy was claming up about it.

“……….”

“Ryou?”

“No. He took the money, and left. I was just scared to be there all alone. But I’m fine. How are you?” Ryou asked, and Otogi sighed. Ryou wasn’t talking.

“Fine, love. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. When will you be home?”

“Just get through tomorrow night, Ryou.”

“Okay.”

“You get some sleep now, okay?”

“Okay. I love you.”

“Love you too, Ryou.”

“Bye.”

“…… bye…..” Otogi sighed, and listened to the soft click as Ryou hung up.