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 Angel Reaper

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Chapter 8

Water Lillies

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Ryou was shaken awake by Bakura.

“You really DID come down with something, didn’t you?” The yami said.

“Huh?” Ryou asked, blinking.

“You’ve slept for fifteen hours!”

“And there’s vomit all over the bathroom!” Marik said, coming in. Ryou blushed.

“Oh….. um…. Sorry….” He said, softly.

“Good news, though.” Bakura said with a grin, ruffling Ryou’s hair. “Otogi just called. His plane just landed and his driver is waiting to pick him up. He’ll be home within the hour.” Ryou’s eyes brightened, and Bakura and Marik grinned at Ryou’s obvious delight and excitement.

“Togi’s home?!” He cried. “Oh! Did you take my puppy out?”

“I did.” Marik said, and Ryou thanked him. Then, the door opened and the maid slipped in with a tray.

“Good afternoon, Master Ryou.” She said with a smile, which Ryou returned as she set some chicken soup with rice down before him on a bed tray.

“Thanks.” Ryou said, and dipped a cracker into the broth. And an hour later, Otogi was leaping onto the bed and gathering Ryou to his chest.

“OTOGI!!!” Ryou cried happily.

“Ryou! How are you?”

“Fine! How was your trip?!” Ryou asked. Otogi grinned.

“Great, Ryou. I brought you a present.”

“really? What?!” Ryou asked, eagerly, and Marik and Bakura exchanged smiles. Otogi reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He gave it to Ryou, and Ryou looked at it. It was professionally wrapped in silver paper with a red bow, held on with a sticker that had some company logo on it. It looked like a candelabra with the letters JA on it.

“JA?” Ryou asked.

“Stands for James Avery.” Otogi said. “Open it.” Ryou smiled and pulled off the ribbon and paper. He opened the lid of the box inside and pulled out the little velvet envelope. Otogi smiled as Ryou reached inside and pulled out the little silver chain with a tiny silver flower pendant.

“Ohhhhh…. Otogi….” Ryou gasped. “It’s beautiful!”

“I thought it looked like a gardenia.” Otogi said with a smile. “I thought it was perfect for you.” And he took the necklace and Ryou lifted his hair so Otogi could fasten it around his little lover’s neck. The pendant fell to rest in the hollow of Ryou’s throat.

“Otogi… thank you, I love it!!” Ryou cried, and threw his arms around Otogi’s neck, kissing him. Otogi kissed him back, then looked at Marik and Bakura.

“I got something for you two, as well.” Otogi said. “In a store called Spencers.” The pair perked up and Otogi pulled a box from his suitcase and passed it to them. “I thought you could amuse yourselves with this.”

“WHOAH!!” Marik gasped, snatching the box. “BAKURA!! It’s a SEX BOARD GAME!! Look at all the toys it comes with!!!” Ryou gave Otogi a look as the Dice Master buried his face into the pillows, snorting, as Bakura and Marik ran off, undoubtedly heading home to try out their new game.

“Otogiiiii……” Ryou moaned, and Otogi sat up.

“Sorry Ryou. Couldn’t help it.” He said with a grin.

“Well…. I guess it was a nice thought…..” Ryou said weakly.

“So, how did everything go with Nakazawa?” Otogi asked, and Ryou froze and tensed. Otogi blinked. “Ryou? Did something happen? What’s wrong?” Ryou’s mind raced. “What happened?!”

“Nakazawa is… raising the….. price……”

“WHAT?!” Otogi screamed. “NO! WHY?!?!”

“If you don’t, Social Services will take me away!!” Ryou cried, and Otogi stood from the bed and began to pace, pulling at his own hair.

“No… no…. no… no… WHY?! HOW!! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!”

“Otogi, I’m sorry!!” Ryou cried, and Otogi turned and saw tears flooding down the boy’s cheeks. “It, it’s okay. I understand. I’ll just—“

“No. I’ll pay it. I won’t lose you.” Otogi said, and hugged Ryou to his chest. Ryou burst into tears.

“Otogi…. I don’t wanna go tonight!”

“You have to, Ry. You know that.”

And a few hours later, there they were, in Otogi’s office. Ryou had indeed come down with something and had thrown up an hour before, so now he was bundled up on the sofa, trying to sleep, but was too afraid. Otogi had gathered the $3000 and was watching Nakazawa leave his car.

“He’s here, Ry. Just pretend to be asleep. He might leave you alone.” Otogi said. Ryou nodded and did so, wanting nothing more than for the man to leave him alone. When Nakazwa entered, he immediately looked for Ryou. He spotted the boy under some blankets on the sofa.

“Something wrong with your lover, Ryuuji?”

“He’s sick.” Otogi growled, and passed Nakazawa the envelope. The man counted the money.

“You’re a grand short, Ryuuji.”

“WHAT?!”

“It’s four grand, not three.”

“But, Ryou said…..” Otogi gasped.

“Or are one of you going to be doing me a favor tonight?” And his hands went to his belt.

“WHAT?!”

“Oh, no wait… This is the first night that this is in affect. And your lover made a payment in advance last night. So you’re off the hook tonight.” Otogi’s eyes snapped to Ryou, and Ryou’s eyes flew open in horror.

“What?” Otogi asked in a low dangerous tone. Nakazawa’s grin widened.

“Awww… Did I say something I shouldn’t have?” The man asked, turning and looking at Ryou, who was staring at him, near tears. “Your lover has a talented mouth, Ryuuji.” Otogi’s jaw dropped in shock, and he looked at Ryou, who hid his face in his hands, shoulder shaking with suppressed sobs.

“You, you LIE!!!” Otogi screamed, and Nakazawa laughed.

“See you tomorrow, Ryuuji.” And he turned. “And you, Ryou.” And he left.

“Ryou…..” Otogi said in a low, shaky tone. Ryou gulped, and slowly looked up at his lover. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?” Otogi glared at Ryou, fixing a hard gaze on the boy. “WELL?!” And Ryou burst into tears. “YOU DID!!! RYOU!!” Otogi screamed. “YOU PROMISED!! HOW COULD YOU?! DAMMIT RYOU!!”

“I… I just wanted to help, Otogi……”

“BULLSHIT!!” Otogi screamed, and Ryou recoiled like he had been slapped. “I went through all of that for NOTHING! RYOU!! You just went and blew it all in one night! Now I’ll never get out of it!!!” Otogi began to pace, shaking in fear and fury.

“Otogi, please, don’t say that. I never wanted to—“

“SHUT UP!!” Otogi screamed, turning on Ryou, hurling the bowl of water and gardenias across the room to shatter against the wall. Ryou froze in fear. “YOU’VE DONE ENOUGH!! DAMMIT RYOU!! HOW COULD YOU?!?”

“DON’T YELL AT ME!!” Ryou sobbed, hugging himself.

“Oh, shut the fuck up, Ryou!! Dammit! You have made this so much worse!!”

“I didn’t mean to!!”

“DID YOU THINK THAT SUCKING HIS COCK WOULD FIX THIS?!” Otogi roared, and Ryou stared, eyes wide and hurt plain on his face.

“…..’togi…..”

“Get the fuck out of my sight….” Otogi snarled. “You’re nothing but a filthy little slut, Ryou. Get out.” Ryou slowly stood, staring at Otogi with more pain and sorrow on his face than Otogi had ever seen. Slowly, the boy reached up and unfastened the silver chain around his neck, and let the necklace fall to the floor. He opened his mouth to speak, but Otogi’s eyes flashed. “Don’t you DARE say one fucking word. Get out of my building and go whore yourself on a street corner if that’s what you want.” Ryou dropped the blanket that had been around his shoulders and ran from the room and to the elevator. Otogi stood fuming in his office for a few minutes, then slowly turned and looked at the little silver gardenia on the floor. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, guilt and remorse flooding his heart. He reached out and picked up the necklace. Something on the blossom glittered, and Otogi stared at the little drop on the blossom… his lover’s tear.

His own eyes filled with tears, and he turned, screaming and hurling the necklace across the room and among the water, gardenias, and shattered glass in the corner.

“Damn you, Ryou…….” He hissed, and slammed his fists onto the floor. “DAMN YOU!!!!