No Words

Title: No Words
Author: Naria Lacour de Fanel
Rating: Still R-ish

A/N: As an apology, here's another hopelessly Jr. High School mentality chapter. Please excuse my lack of imagination and over abundance of stereotypes in this one.

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Four Years.

It had been four years since he had last been home.

Four years since he had set himself free… and now he had to confront his shackles again, to destroy their grip on his heart.

Ryou was now 23...a young adult taking his first steps into his real future, but only one thing held him back from continuing his journey…

The four years of hiding were over.

Winter break beaconed his leaving, and he looked forward to the break from his challenging classes. And yet, it still haunted him with what he needed to do.

He had changed a lot from the boy he was when he had left, and was determined to keep changing. He had experienced many new things, both good and bad, when in America where he studied. But every experience only added more wisdom to the deep pool he had already been gathering. Ryou found that he very much enjoyed life outside his cage. The unquestionable freedom of being able to do what he wanted, when he wanted, and taking the consequences was so rewarding. He felt more alive than he had for a long time…And his life showed that.

He was known by every professor in the Psych department for being the student with the most potential. Ryou excelled where others his age faltered, and yet he was not out of reach of his true peers. He was an excellent student, but was an even better social butterfly. The hikari was almost automatically well liked by everyone. Perhaps it was his exotic looks, or maybe his inherent charm and dignity, but people were drawn to him like moths to a flame. It was as if, with his new freedom, he could finally come into who he was truly meant to be. Perhaps it was his happiness that drew people to him…

He’d experienced his first parties, his first hangovers, his first girlfriend, first boyfriend, and had ultimately lost his virginity to each. And he continued in search of someone to share himself with, for he was not completely happy. His only regret was that the could not bring himself to fully trust anyone, never saying anything about his dark past. He did not want to let anyone inside his heart after the damage he had taken, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not trust enough. This was a terrible block for him, the only one left that he had to overcome. Ryou felt that if he were to become the therapist he dreamed to be, then he needed to overcome his traumatic past. He was not one to be hypocritical, and wanted to be at his best for his future patients…So, he had come home…to face him…to fix what was still broken inside…

Ryou found his way to his old home easily enough, and confidently knocked on the door. The name plate now read “Touzouko, Bakura” . It was a strange sight, but he had also hoped the thief would still be there…

There was some thumping, a muffled curse, and the sound of footsteps approaching the door. It was a few moments before the door creaked open, revealing a sliver of dark interior and a shock of white hair popped into sight.

A bleary eyed Bakura looked out through the crack, and his eyes suddenly came into focus as he took in the sight before him.

“Hikari?” The groggy voice questioned.

“Yes, Bakura,” Ryou smiled. “It’s me.”

The thief blinked a few times, as if trying to clear his sight, but then just warily shook his head and stepped back, opening the door wider.

“Uh…Want to come in?” The Thief King mumbled, obviously sleep toussled and trying to hide his confusion.

“Yes, if it’s not a bad time,” Ryou said politely.

“No, no, not a bad time! I, uh, was just getting to bed,” Bakura mumbled, scratching his head awkwardly.

“Sounds like a bad time to me,” Ryou replied, sympathy in his voice.

“No, not really, I’ve gotten by on less…” the thief shrugged.

“If you’re sure-”

“Fucking Positive!” The tomb robber blurted out a little too cheerfully as he stepped aside and let his hikari walk in before gently closing the door behind him.

“Yeah, it’s your home anyway, just let me get some decent clothes on and I’ll meet you in the living room,” he yawned and walked off sleepily, heading towards the stairs.

Ryou politely removed his shoes and made his way into the living room, taking in his old home. It hadn’t changed one bit. Apparently Bakura had been keeping up the place since Ryou’s leaving. The hikari had expected to see everything in disarray, but only found the coffee table in the living room to be the only thing non-orderly, having piles of papers littering it’s surface. Still, it was much better than he had expected. He sat himself down in one of the nearby armchairs, and comfortably sat back waiting for Bakura to return. Ryou thought he would be more nervous, but he was actually quite calm, and only the fast beating of his heart gave sign of discomfort. It was like he was in auto-pilot in a session with a patient…He was subconsciously distancing himself…

A few minutes later, Ryou heard Bakura come back down the stairs and he watched as the tomb robber finished buttoning up the shirt he had put on. Bakura looked over at Ryou somewhat cautiously, as if expecting the hikari to start screaming at him, he faked a smile.

“Want anything to drink? I can make us some coffee,” Bakura awkwardly offered.

“Sure,” Ryou replied, returning the smile. Bakura tried to hide his puzzled expression, but still failed to stop his eyebrow from raising.

“Alright,” he said as he padded off, pulling his unruly hair up into a ponytail as he went.

Saying that he was confused was an understatement; saying that he was mother-fuckingly insanely confused beyond all damn possible universal belief was more appropriate…The last he had seen of his light had been four years ago in the hospital when he’d let him go. It had been a very painful farewell, and a long, lonely four years…And he was back? Bakura had so much to say, and so much to ask…But he wouldn’t push it or question it, he’d just have to accept it. There had to be a reason. He was just grateful to have him back, even if it was for only a short visit…

The tomb robber started the coffee maker and brought down two mugs as he searched for a tray and something to hold the sugar in…In un-Bakura-like fashion, he felt he needed to make something as mundane as coffee presentable…In the time it took him to prepare said tray, the coffee was already done. He sighed, poured the coffee, and took the tray out to the living room where he hoped to get some answers.

Ryou smiled up at him as he walked past and elbowed a few stacks of papers off the table to make room for the tray.

“Wow, a tray,” Ryou scoffed lightly as he reached for the stack of fallen papers. “You’ve gotten awfully domestic.”

“Meh,” Bakura shrugged. “Everyone needs a hobby, seeing how my old interests consisted of thievery and general mischief, I see being Suzie-Homemaker as a lesser evil in this day and time.”

“Really…” Ryou inquired as he glanced at the papers he had picked up. “These seem to say otherwise.”

“That’s my job you’re holding there,” Bakura chuckled as he reached for the papers.

“Really? And just how does a list of 1-900 numbers account for a job?” Ryou smirked.

“I didn’t make ‘em, my client’s husband did,” the thief cooly replied, as he held up a picture. “And this is my client’s husband meeting Chesty Laroo at the No Tell Motel after telling the Mrs. he had an important business meeting to attend. I’d have to say business relations are excellent.”

Ryou blinked at that…Business relations? What?

With the sudden change from contemplative brow furrowing to surprised actualization on Ryou’s face, Bakura swore he could almost see the light-bulb go on.

“You’re a Private Investigator?!” Ryou said with sudden realization.

“Well, you could say that,” the tomb robber smirked. “I’m a little more than that, but we don’t need to go there.”

“B-but why a P.I?” Ryou stammered, still taken aback.

“I had to pay the bills somehow, and this seemed like a good calling,” Bakura shrugged, setting the papers down and sitting on the couch across from Ryou, taking a mug and gesturing for Ryou to do the same. “After all, who’s more perfect for catching sneaky bastards than the ultimate sneaky bastard?”

“Oh…That makes sense somehow…” the light murmured as he lifted his mug to his lips, reluctantly agreeing with the yami’s reasoning.

“So,” Bakura casually began. “Where’ve you been?”

Ryou lowered the mug from his lips and settled it in his lap, still calm.

“I’ve been studying in America.”

“America?! Wow!” Bakura started, looking interested. “Is it as shit-tacular over there as everyone says?”

“No,” Ryou chuckled. “Everyone I met was actually quite friendly and open. Though they seemed a bit more lax towards respect for personal boundaries…And everyone was much more intelligent than they seemed at first.”

The thief king nodded, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “So, why America?”

“Well,” the hikari pondered. “I’d actually been awarded several scholarships from universities over there after I’d graduated high school, but I never took up on them because…” he hesiated. “Because I was still trapped here.”

“Ah…” Bakura nodded, awkwardly looking down at the floor.

“But,” Ryou continued. “I decided that I needed to come back. I need to talk to you.”

Bakura looked up at that, and sat up straight. “About what?”

“Well, as you can tell, I’ve changed a lot since I’ve been gone,” he began, putting his mug down.

“Obviously for the better I can tell,” Bakura interrupted gently. “You seem happier, you’re smiling again.”

Ryou smiled wistfully at that and looked at his hands and back up before continuing.

“It’s because I’ve been seeing a therapist…”

“Well, if it works for you…” Bakura mumbled with a wary look to his hikari. Ryou just brushed it off.

“Believe me, it has. It led me to take an interest in psychology. I understand myself much better than before. But if I want to help people the way I wish, then I have to heal my own wounds so I don’t pass on an infection and continue the cycle…”

“Ooookay, I understood you until you got to the part about helping people,” Bakura said, confused.

“I want to be a therapist,” Ryou began again, smiling apologetically. “And if I’m going to do a good job, I’ve got to confront my past.”

“Oh…That’s why…”

“Yes, and I think that maybe now isn’t the best time to talk since you haven’t had any sleep. I’m planning on staying for a few days, so maybe we should get together later.”

“Yeah,” Bakura said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You staying in a hotel?”

“Of course, I don’t want to impose on you,” Ryou casually stated.

“Impose? This is your house! I’ve just been watching it for the last four years! Hell, I haven’t even changed the locks!”

“Really?”

“Hell yeah, really! And shouldn’t a student be saving money instead of spending it stupidly?”

“I’ve money enough,” Ryou stated flatly ,even though he really didn’t.

“Well, you’re not imposing or anything, I’ve left all your things alone ‘cept for cleaning once in a while. Like I said, this is your house, you should live in it a little. Give me a few hours, and I‘ll be good to go.”

“Don’t you have work to do?”

“Work can wait, this is more important. But sleep is more important above all else at this point,” he said, pointedly yawning. “Stop changing the subject, anyway.”

“You’re right,” Ryou said, standing up with newly discovered resolve. “This is a good way to start my therapy.”

“Well, that isn’t quite what I had in mind, but whatever you want to tell yourself is fine by me. I’m going to sleep. Make yourself at home,” the tomb robber yawned and gathered up the tray with the now empty mugs to go to the kitchen. As he reached the doorway, he paused. “By the way, Ryou?”

“Yes?”

“Welcome back.”

“Thank you,” Ryou smiled and gathered up his suitcase.

“No, thank you…” Bakura whispered under his breath.
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I apologize again. Please understand I have little writing skill and I want to rip off my own fingers for some of the crap I write. But, if a few people can see past that and see the story I'm attempting to tell, I'll be happy.