Gift for the Readers

Walk Alone

Hato chiisai

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh. If I did, it would SO not be allowed on day time TV. Or on TV period, I guess. AND I would not have let the FUCKIN AMERICAN DUBS totally RAPE AND BUTCHER THE SHOW!!! BURN THE DUBS!!!

Shonen-Ai

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Yami laughed as Jou and Seto bickered back and forth, and Yugi giggled and shook his head, covering his face with his hands. Yami put and arm around Yugi as the smaller boy let himself flop over.

“They’ll never get along!” The hikari giggled.

“Amen to that!” Otogi said with a nod, raising his bottle of root beer.

“Hear hear!!!” Honda called, and he and Otogi grinned and clinked their bottles together before tipping their heads back and drinking the carbonated beverage. Anzu and Shizuka looked at each other and giggled, quite amused by the entire spectacle, and Mai rolled her eyes, but smiled and shook her head.

“Who ever thought that Seto Kaiba would act so childish?” She said.

“Only when Jou is around.” Anzu said, and the girls laughed. Yami picked up the remote control and aimed it at the TV, starting the movie that they were watching that night.

“DOWN IN FRONT!!!” Otogi howled, and a few moments later he dragged Seto to one side of the room, and Tristan dragged Jou to the other.

“Shut up and watch the movie, guys!” Yugi laughed, and the group settled down to watch.

Several blocks away, the front door of a small house opened and a young man stepped out. He closed and locked the door behind himself, then turned and sighed, standing on the doorstep for a moment. A cold breeze whipped by and he shivered, pulling the hood of his shirt up over his head and zipping up his jacket. Malik hated the cold weather that Japan got. He sighed again and stepped off of the porch and moved down the front walk, then turned and made his way down the side walk.

Blocks away from the Ishtar house, a boy locked up his apartment and took the elevator down to the ground floor, then walked outside. He shivered and dug his hands into his pockets and began to walk down the sidewalk, brown eyes staring blankly at the pavement before him. A few wisps of white hair flitted across his face, blown about by the wind. Ryou gave his head a bit of a jerk, tossing his hair over his shoulder, trying to keep it falling down his back as opposed to blowing into his eyes.

Malik glanced up at the sky, filled with stars and streaked here and there with a few stratus clouds. The wind picked up a bit and dead leaves skipped down the sidewalk and skirted around Malik before continuing on their merry way. Malik hardly paid them any mind. The town was quiet that evening; everyone was inside where it was warm, spending their time happily with friends and loved ones. Well, almost everyone was. Malik continued down his solitary path, sliding his hands into his pockets to keep cold, feeling the metal of his keys warmed by the heat coming from his thigh. His fingers curled around them after a bit, not liking how their jingling disturbed the silence of his walk.

Ryou blinked when a cat ran out of an alley before him, and two more followed. He watched the animals run down the street, then dart into another alley. They were the only signs of life on the street that night. The roads were empty and shops were dark. Even the alleys found themselves devoid of human life, when they usually found themselves hosting several kinds of illegal activities, be it the selling of narcotics or as a convenient spot for a prostitute and client to find some privacy where they could conduct their business. Ryou felt almost completely alone. His scuffed sneakers carried him down a path; where it would lead, only said sneakers knew. Ryou simply followed, not really minding. He would let his feet decide what would happen tonight; he wasn’t in a mood to argue.

Malik frowned and kicked at a can that lay across his path, but winced at the unpleasant clanking it made as it bounced along. When he reached it again he stepped over it, preferring the silence. He sighed and lifted a hand, tucking a few wild blonde locks behind his ear, but quickly ruffled them back out again as they had bared his ear to cold air; he would rather have his hair blowing about than have cold ears. He sighed in satisfaction as he slipped his hand back into his pocket, his hair having warmed his ear up nicely. He turned the corner and walked along the wall of the park, breathing deeply and smelling the wet grass. It was a fresh, crisp scent, and he found it to be quite pleasant and soothing.

Ryou walked along, then turned and trotted across the street, reaching the walk along the wall of the park. The place that was usually buzzing with activity was empty and silent, save for the distant music of water from the fountains falling into their basins. Ryou sighed and shivered a bit as a crisp wind whipped across his face and nipped his arm through his thin coat. Ryou huddled in on himself a bit, trying to keep warm. He reached the gate to the park, and slowly stopped. He stared down at his shoes, distractedly noticing the stark contrast between his own scuffed sneakers and the shiny black boots that stood before them. Slowly, Ryou lifted his eyes up the legs of khaki cargo pants, leather jacket, and finally, into a familiar face. Lilac eyes met Ryou’s from where they sat in a tan face, framed in flaxen gold.

Malik smiled slightly and nodded a small greeting. Ryou returned the smile and nod, and they stared at each other for a moment. Then, Ryou cocked his head a bit and glanced at the gate of the park, then looked back to Malik, who smiled and nodded, accepting Ryou’s silent invitation. The pair turned and walked into the park, shoulder to shoulder, their feet soon falling into an identical rhythm.

They didn’t speak; they just walked and seemed to bask in the presence of the other, in the fact that they were not alone. The park was silent, the only noise heard was the water of the fountains, the wind in the trees, and the rustling of their clothing and their soft footsteps, Malik’s boots resonating a bit louder than Ryou sneakers.
They stared down at the pavement path they were following, not even looking at one another. All that mattered at the moment was the here and now, and the knowledge that they walked beside someone. The thoughts that had filled their minds when they started out on their unplanned walks had left, and had been replaced with a soft sense of peace and a mutual understanding. Neither felt the need to speak, they had instinctively known that all the other needed at that moment was the peace of their presence, and both were happy to give this, enjoying the returned courtesy.

Eventually, their feet carried them off of the path, neither leading, neither following. They moved together wholly and completely, without a word or a silent signal. It didn’t matter; their feet knew where to go. They lifted their eyes as the ground got dark, too dark to see, and their pace slowed as they began to move with more caution. After all, if one of them tripped or stumbled, it would ruin the mood. They moved slowly and methodically, their eyes on the shadows of the trees around them. They moved quite easily, almost with familiarity, despite the fact that neither one had walked this path before. But neither thought much on this, there was no need. If they had, they both would have come to the same conclusion. They may have never walked this path before, but their other halves had. The familiarity came from over the bond that linked them to their other selves. The answer was simple, so the question required no thought.

They emerged from the shadows of the trees and walked down the empty slope, stopping a few feet shy of where the parks’ lake lapped gently at the muddy shore. They stared out at the glassy surface of the lake, devoid of all life; the ducks were sleeping in the brush at the edge of the lake, or floated under the dock across the expanse of water. The pair stared silently at the moon and stars, reflecting on the lake. For a moment, both closed their eyes and inhaled the fresh air, relishing the silence of a park that was usually filled with noise; the shouts and laughs of children, the quacking of ducks demanding to be fed by people passing by… the jingling of bells as the ice cream cart rolled by. But for now, all was quiet. But it was here that the tallest of the pair broke the silence.

“You’re not at Yugi’s party?” Malik asked softly, his voice smooth and soothing. Ryou opened his eyes.

“Wasn’t invited.” He answered in the same tone. “You?”

“Wasn’t invited.” Malik echoed. “I thought you were in with their little group.”

“So did I. I thought the same with you.” Malik shrugged at Ryou’s comment.

“Sucks, doesn’t it.”

“Hmm.” Ryou replied. “You spend your life as an outcast… and then when you finally have been accepted; it’s like a dream come true… all you ever wanted. But then, as time goes on, you find that the people you thought were your friends have been…”

“Excluding you.” Malik finished softly. “You’re not wanted.”

“… yeah.” The pair was silent for a while. Both blinked and came out of their peaceful reverie at the sound of laughing and shouting. Familiar voices… A few moments later, several figures emerged from the trees, running around the lake. They came upon the silent pair, and stopped.

“Malik. Ryou.” Yugi said, softly. Said pair stared at Yugi and his friends around him, with no expression on their faces. No one said anything. Malik and Ryou had nothing to say… and Yugi… what could he say to someone who thought they were his friend, only to be faced with him and his real friends… the ones he had chosen to be around…

“What are you two doing out here?” Yami asked, finally. Malik and Ryou blinked, then turned and looked back out at the lake, silently. Yami blinked.

“Malik… Ryou… I… I’m sorry.” Yugi said. “That I didn’t—“

“Don’t.” Malik said in a soft, yet firm tone. “Don’t apologize for how you feel. That’s not something you can control.” Yugi blinked.

“Malik, what are you talking about?” Yugi asked.

“If you don’t want us around, then you don’t want us around.” Ryou answered for Malik. “That’s how you feel. And you can’t control your feelings. So you have no reason to apologize.”

“But Ryou, I’ve hurt your—“

“Hurt our feelings?” Malik asked. “Doesn’t matter. We’d rather you made it obvious that you didn’t want us around than let us hang around, thinking falsely that you liked us there.” Ryou nodded his agreement.

“It… it’s not like that…” Yugi said. “It’s… it’s just that…” He sighed. “It’s—“

“Our yamis.” Malik finished.

“We know.” Ryou affirmed. Yugi frowned and looked up at Yami for help.

“It’s just that neither of you does anything to…” Yami began, but wasn’t sure how to finish it.

“They can’t be trusted. They’re dangerous.” Anzu said. Both Ryou and Malik frowned.

“No they’re not.” Ryou said. “You would know that if you bothered to give them a chance. Instead of just following Yami like mindless sheep.”

“Now hold on!!!” Jou protested.

“Why?” Malik asked. “It’s true. You think we didn’t notice?”

“It was after we refused to let Yami banish Marik and Bakura that you started to avoid us.” Ryou pointed out. No one answered. “If we still shared bodies with our yamis, we could understand that. But we don’t. Marik and Bakura have bodies of their own now. You don’t have to worry about us going bipolar on you.”

“We know that Ryou.” Yami said. “It’s just that…”

“We haven’t done anything.” Ryou said. “But that doesn’t matter to you, does it? We know exactly how it is…”

“Guilty by association.” Malik finished. “We know the attitude you’re taking Yami. To put it simply, if we’re not against Marik and Bakura, we’re against you.” Yami scowled and folded his arms. “So fine. We’re against you.”

“Don’t worry about not including us anymore, Yugi.” Ryou said. “I’m afraid that we just don’t care. If you’re going to let your yami force us to make a choice between our yamis and our friends, then you’re not our friends anyway… and that makes the choice painfully obvious.”

“You’re taking your hell raising other halves over your friends?” Yami asked. Ryou and Malik looked at him.

“What friends?” Malik asked, and he and Ryou turned, prepared to walk away. But they didn’t. Ryou, Malik, and the group behind them stared at the two figures emerging from the very trail that Malik and Ryou had walked minutes before. Shoulder to shoulder, their steps in a perfect rhythm with one another, Marik and Bakura approached, faces blank and void of emotion. Yami narrowed his eyes and turned to face the pair. But they ignored him. They stared at their hikaris, side by side. Faint smiles flickered across Ryou and Malik’s faces in a silent greeting of welcome. Marik and Bakura’s lips both turned upwards in slight smiles as well, and they nodded in thanks and acknowledgement.

“What are you doing here?” Yami growled. The pair finally turned and showed recognition.

“Walking.” Bakura said after a moment. Yami frowned.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Believe what you will.” Bakura shrugged, looking back to Ryou. The pair conversed silently with their eyes. They remained silent, physically and mentally as well. No words were exchanged, neither through mouth nor mind.

“You two don’t just show up peacefully.” Yami snapped. “If you want a duel, then say it.” Marik turned and walked over to Yami, glaring down at him. Yami snorted. “I knew it.” Marik sneered.

“Fuck off, Pharaoh.” He growled. “This wasn’t a confrontation until you made it one. We didn’t fucking come here for a fight.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Suit yourself.” Marik said with a shrug, and returned to his place beside Bakura. Malik smiled at Marik, and the yami returned it with a nod. Then, Ryou, Bakura, Malik and Marik turned their backs on Yami and the others and walked away, side by side, Ryou and Malik between the yamis. As they reached the narrow trail Marik and Bakura fell back to walk behind their respective hikaris and the four disappeared.

They left as silent as they had come, walking up the dark path with careful deliberate steps until they reached the concrete sidewalk. Once again, no one needed to speak. All they needed was to know that the others were there. Marik and Bakura moved to flank their hikaris once more, and the four boys made their way to the park gate. Once there, they all stopped. Ryou and Bakura faced Malik and Marik. Ryou looked up at Bakura, his eyes asking a question. Bakura furrowed his brow for a moment, but then closed his eyes serenely and gave Ryou a small smile and nod. Ryou beamed up at his yami, face shining in thanks and adoration. Then he turned and looked at Malik and Marik. He gave a small jerk of his head, beckoning them to follow. Malik looked up at Marik, who also smiled and nodded. Malik grinned, then smiled at Ryou gave him an accepting nod. The four boys turned and walked down the street together, still in silence. They reached Ryou’s apartment building and went in, riding the elevator up to the ninth floor. They stepped out and made their way down the hall. Ryou unlocked the door and opened it, and they all stepped in, removing their shoes.

And still no words were spoken. They tossed their coats over the back of the sofa and all filed back to the bedroom. The small room was taken up by a queen sized bed. They looked at the bed for a moment, and then slowly began to undress. Finally, clad in nothing but their boxers, the four boys slid under the blankets, seeking to escape the cold temperatures that had plagued them all night. They sought warmth from one another, Bakura spooning Ryou from behind, and Marik the same with Malik. The hikaris smiled calmly and cuddled up to one another, finally curling their arms around the other. Marik and Bakura nestled in closer, draping arms over their hikari’s waists. Bakura drew the comforter up over them, then relaxed and closed his eyes. And the four fell into a peaceful sleep.

The four had been cast out of the one group that they thought might accept them. But it didn’t matter. They had each other. And that was all they needed…

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This fic was inspired by Greenday’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams and the Cruxshadows’ Edge of the World... Not sure why, honestly… just listened to them back to back and the image of this fic just kind of slowly pieced itself together…. I was in one of my moods again. O.o()