Koki: Ok I've decided that this will have more than one chapter since I've been adding more detail than I thought I would but it shouldn't be too much. I don't like putting in too much cuz it bores some people who don't like to read that much but then again I like putting in a lot of detail cuz it helps with future writing so yea. Anyway I don't know how many chapters this will have but I know that it probably won't be anymore than five at the most. I alos have to keep the summary in mind as I end up changing whats happens cuzI never remember what the summary says. Oh what the hell /Stops what she's doing to write summary down/. I usually don't post a story til it's done so I can think of a summry. It's hard for me to come up with a summary if the story isn't done cuz I'm never sure what'll happen so yea. I might add a lemon...I don't know if I will. If I do the rating will go up. It's at T right now just to be safe. Well I hope you like it. It's kind of more like a setup chapter where you understand what's goin on and all. Well enjoy and please review...Reviews are like candy to me...if I don't get them alot I feel kinda down...Reviews are pick me ups cuz it lets me know there are some people who appreciate my writing. Onto the chapter!
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Ryou sighed as he glanced about the classroom. Everyone was still taking their test; he had finished minutes ago and was now waiting for the bell. It was unusually quiet in the room. He looked to his left where Bakura usually sat but it was empty. Normally he would be sitting there, flicking little paper footballs, which Ryou taught him how to make, at whomever he wanted, instead of completing his test. But Bakura was in Egypt now, back at his home, and he wouldn't be coming back. Ryou would never admit it to anyone but it hurt not having him here. After spending the last few years becoming adjusted to him, he felt as if he lost a piece of himself when he left. He became more distant from everyone again, just like he had when he first came to Domino. Soon the bell rang, ending the class period and signaling the end of school. He picked up his bag and, sliding his test off his desk, he gave it to the instructor before leaving, not noticing the pair of bright eyes watching him.
-How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb-
He stopped by his locker to unload some of his books before leaving but the combination lock decided to be stubborn and not allow him entry. He fought with it a few times until a soft voice stopped him.
"Need some help, Ryou?"
He turned to face the owner of the sweet voice, Anzu Mazaki, whose voice and face would be forever imprinted into his memory.
"Yeah…um…stupid thing won't open." He said, stepping back a bit.
"What's the combination?" She asked, leaning towards the door.
He gave her the numbers and watched as her nimble fingers effortlessly spun the dial and lifted the latch, letting the door swing open.
"There you go. You may have been turning it the wrong way." She said as she stepped back.
"Probably thank you." He said as he stepped up and began empting several books from his bag.
-Without a soul…
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there
And lead it back home-
Anzu walked away. Looking back once with concern spilled across her face.
She was met up in the hall by her friends. They were all lost in their conversation but she didn't notice. She was lost in her own thoughts. So lost she didn't hear Yugi at first when he called her name. She started a bit and looked over to him. He had grown quite a bit in the last few years and was almost as tall as she was but still short a several inches.
"What is it Yugi?" she asked.
"Are you all right?" He asked.
"Yes I'm just thinking is all." She replied.
"Ok I was just wondering because you didn't say anything when Joey said something about your weight." He told her.
Anzu narrowed her eyes at Joey who sent Yugi a murderous look. She balled her hand in a fist and promptly knocked Joey to the ground then continued walking. Yugi felt there was really something bothering her but he wasn't one to force things. He would let her come out with it on her own.
-(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and
Save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the
Nothing I've become-
Later that night Anzu was lying in bed. She couldn't go to sleep as her racing thoughts wouldn't allow her. Her mind was on Ryou all day. He was drawing into himself again and she seemed to be the only one who noticed. She knew of Bakura's departure to Egypt awhile back. Hell everybody knew since Atem made a big deal about how he couldn't be happier. Though he told them secretly that he wished Ryou had gone with him. Anzu didn't say anything but she couldn't believe he'd say that. Ryou was nothing like Bakura, in fact he was the complete opposite. Ryou was nice and sweet while Bakura was…well…not. In that moment, she'd lost any respect she had left for him now she was just polite to him because of Yugi and she didn't want to hurt him. She kept thinking of ways to help bring Ryou out of his shell…again. Then she decided that tomorrow she would ask Ryou if he would go to the park with her. She needed to talk with him. She felt bad for him, for losing someone so close to him (though Bakura would never agree with that). The decision put her mind at ease and soon she was able to fall asleep
-Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life…-
It had taken awhile before she was able to talk to Ryou. There was hardly ever a moment where Atem wasn't around her. She had to wait until the last period of the day where she and Atem didn't have the same class. When she entered the room, she quickly scanned it for Ryou as she only had a few minutes before class began to speak with him. She spotted him in the corner of the room, staring out the window. She approached him and sat on the desk in front of him. She figured he must've seen her in the corner of his eye because he whipped his head in her direction.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Um…I was wondering something. Would you like to go to the park with me after school?" She asked hopefully.
'She wants to go to the park?...with me?' He thought, feeling some blood rush from his face.
"Please? I really want to talk to you but I'd rather not with my friends around." She pleaded before he could attempt to answer.
Ryou thought about it for a moment. 'What could she want to talk to me about?' he wondered. 'Well only one way to find out.'
"We can." He replied.
-(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and
Save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the
Nothing I've become
Bring me to life
(I've been livin a lie
there's nothin inside)
Bring me to life-
Anzu smiled brightly, making him happy that he pleased her.
"Great ok, is it all right if we meet by your locker? I have to stop at mine first." She suggested.
"That's fine." He said.
"Ok see ya then." She chirped as she hopped off the desk and walked over to her seat as the bell rang.
The end of class couldn't come fast enough for Ryou. He didn't know why he was so anxious. 'What does she want to talk to me for?' He wondered again. The bell rang suddenly starting him from his thoughts. 'I guess I'll find out soon.' He thought as he got up. He watched as Anzu darted from the room, no doubt to her locker which was on the other side of the huge building. He exited the class room, sliding through the crowd as he made his way to his locker. After several moments the crowd around him began to die down and he was leaning against his locker waiting for Anzu to appear. A few more minutes passed and she still hadn't come. 'You are so gullible. How do you know she isn't playing games with you?' came his ever so faithful conscience. He snorted at that, 'faithful conscience my ass'. That was like saying Bakura was an innocent person. After another minute, he heard light footsteps coming towards him. Looking up he spotted Anzu running towards him.
"I'm so sorry. There was a huge crowd, then my locker wouldn't open at first, then my friends stopped by and tried to get me to come to the arcade with them but I told them I had other plans and they wanted to know what-"
"Anzu it's all right." Ryou cut in, hushing the rambling girl.
Anzu blushed lightly in embarrassment. "Are you ready to go?"
Ryou nodded as he pushed off his locker and hoisted his bag further up on his shoulder. Their walk to the park was silent. They sat on a bench for a few minutes, watching all the people and their interactions.
-Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love darling
Only you are the life among the dead-
"How are you, Ryou?" She asked suddenly.
"I'm fine." He replied.
"Please don't lie to me." She said almost painfully.
Ryou was a bit taken back by that. Was he really that transparent?
"I know you're not fine Ryou. You've become distant from everybody…again. What is going on? Is this because Bakura left?" She asked.
Ryou almost snorted in amusement. He had to hand it to her. She had one hell of a bloody radar.
"Or is it because of my friends?" She added.
'B-3 you've sunk my battleship.' Ryou thought in amusement.
"Of course I wouldn't blame you, with the way Atem's been gloating over Bakura's absence. He wasn't that bad…at least not to me." She continued.
'That's because he knew.' Ryou thought.
"Atem even had the balls to say he wished you had gone with him." She added.
Ryou was mildly surprised at what she just said; she only used that kind of language when she was really upset about something.
"So I know something is bothering you." She ended.
She realized then that his normally pale face was a light red.
"I can only assume my assumptions were correct, judging from your expression?" She asked as she reached over and lightly pinched a cheek.
"Yes, it's no surprise you were the only one who noticed." He answered.
"You shouldn't be doing this to your self. It's not healthy." She told him.
""I know." He muttered.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked.
"Well everybody kinda stopped talking to him and I guess I just got used to it." He answered.
"Would you mind if I hung out with you…again?" She asked.
Anzu really felt sorry for him but she wasn't doing it out of pity. She really liked him and wanted to get to know him better.
"What about your friends?" He asked.
"It's not their decision who I hang out with." She replied, tilting her head at him.
"I don't mind, it's your decision." He said.
'That's just like Ryou.' She thought.
"I don't mind at all, the company would be nice." She said.
Ryou nodded as he looked down. He looked up at her through his hair. She was looking down to the side, watching all the other people around them. Ryou noticed as time went on, Anzu began to move closer to him. Then he realized she had her arms crossed and would shiver every now and then. He unzipped his jacket and pulled it off to drop it over her shoulders. She started when he did that and looked over to him in surprise.
-All of this time
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
But you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything-
"Aren't you cold?" She asked.
Ryou shook his head. "No I'm fine. I was feeling a little hot anyway."
"Ok thanks." She said as she slid her arms through the sleeves.
"It's getting late. We should head home." Ryou said after awhile.
Anzu nodded as she looked up at the sky that was beginning to turn from a light shade of blue to a dark midnight shade of blue-black.
-Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life…!-
"I'll walk you home." Ryou offered.
"Oh you don't have to. I don't want to be a bother." She said.
"It's not a problem really." Ryou said as he stood.
"Okay." She stood as well and they left the park.
"So do you want to meet up again tomorrow, if you're not busy?" Ryou asked.
"I have a ballet class but it ends earlier tomorrow. I won't get out until seven." She said.
"That's early?" He asked.
"Yeah I don't usually get out until nine and it starts at 4:30. It's a lot of work but it'll be worth it." She replied with a bright smile.
"Where is it?" He wondered.
"Um…it's St Palms Dance Academy, over on 40th." She replied.
"Hmm it's not that far." He mused.
"So do you want to go somewhere after that? We could go to a movie and maybe dinner." Anzu suggested.
"That's fine." Ryou agreed.
"Do you want to meet at my house or yours?" She asked.
"Yours is fine." He said as the wheels in his head turning as an idea formed in his head.
"All right well…oh here's my house." She said and they turned to walk up the path.
-(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and
Save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone-
"Well thanks for actually coming with me. I wasn't so sure you would agree to it." She said.
"It wasn't a problem." Ryou said.
"Ok…oh here's your jacket. I don't want you catching a cold." Anzu said as she pulled it off and handed it back to him.
"That's sweet of you." He replied.
Anzu smiled lightly. "Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
Ryou nodded.
"All right goodbye." She said.
Ryou waved as he turned and walked down the small stone path to the sidewalk. He turned to look back at her as he walked and noticed her reach into one of the small potted plants sitting on the rail of the porch then go back to her front door and open it. Smiling to himself, he said on his jacket and continued his way down the walk.
-(Save me)
Save me from the
Nothing I've become
Bring me to life…
I've been living a lie
There's nothing inside
Bring me to life……-