100 Themes, 2 Pairings

This blog has moved

2010-05-01T18:27:00.001-04:00

This blog is now located at http://asylum-100-2.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://asylum-100-2.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Little Treasures

2006-09-30T18:17:00.000-04:00

Title: Little Treasures
Themes: 052 - Jewel
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: Somewhere between T and M
Notes: Heh, this is kinda stepping backward a bit. A little dark-ish but nothing like Endings.

The silence was always comforting to him after. During, in the dark hours of the night, it was difficult to keep quiet. His beloved was well educated in eros, it seemed, and his body was more than willing--more than eager--to learn.

After, though, when he'd found blissful release in his lover's embrace, the silence was welcome. Silence meant that they were still safe, still free. It was accented by their quiet breathing, by warm kisses dropped upon his face, by the non-sound of his fingers combing through his thief's hair.

Once in the silence of after, he'd been called most precious treasure and had one of his love's many rings, one set with a small red gem, slipped onto his index finger. He never removed it, only turning it in moments of nervous worry.

He remembered, now, wearing it when he died.

He had not yet told his love, worried that the news of his restored memory of that moment would trouble the elder. Instead, he continued to feign ignorance of that instant of his previous life, and ceased asking about it. The memory probably haunted the other; for him it answered oh so many question about how he lived his life now.

But the silence after remained a comfort. And after his king had surrendered to Orpheus' call, still joined with him intimantly, he would run his fingers through silver-white hair and absently wonder if his long-buried shell still wore Bakura's ring.

owari

Weekend Trip

2006-08-21T12:03:00.000-04:00

Title: Weekend Trip
Themes: 017 - The Duty of Siblings
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T on this one.
Notes: I like dialogue style. I don't use it nearly as often as I'd like since it doesn't go into a lot of detail... but it seemed like it would suit for this theme. I hope you enjoy!

"Stop pouting."

"I am not pouting. I never pout."

"Kura?"

"What?"

"You're pouting right now."

"...so what if I am? You're leaving."

"It's not like I'm going away forever--"

"Last time you left, I didn't see you for three thousand years."

"...good point. But there're several huge differences."

"And those would be...?"

"Number one: I'm only going to be gone from tonight until late Sunday evening. Number two: You have the phone number where I can be reached. Number three: I'm just visiting my sister. Nothing is going to happen to me."

"And you probably told your old man and sister the same thing when you went to participate in Battle City."

"...don't start."

"What? I'm not allowed to worry when you're away?"

"Oh, you can worry, Kura, but this is bordering on insanity."

"I just... I'm going to miss you."

"I know. I'll miss you, too. But I want to check up on Shizuka, make sure she's okay and see how things are going with that part of my family. I might not get along with my parents but--"

"Family is important. I know. Hurry home?"

"As soon as I can."

A quick kiss, then a lingering one, then he was gone. And Bakura sighed, knowing that this was going to be a very lonely weekend.

Communion

2006-07-30T18:47:00.000-04:00

Title: Communion
Themes: 005 - Oil, Sex/One's Nature Magic
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: M for allusions of sex. I don't write smut ~~anymore~~ so there's nothing hardcore. But... yeah. You have been warned.
Notes: Slightly odd POV this time. It's not my usual style, but it's still part of the series.

You lose yourself in the taste of sweat. In the feel of a familiar body beneath your own, in a voice that barely breathes your name, in long fingers tangling in your hair... this is when you lose your careful control.

It has always been like this, since the first moment he accepted your touch. The first tentative kiss, where it became clear to you that he was indeed pure. The first whimper that you managed to draw from him with an experimental nip. There was power there, and you enjoyed it.

Every time he gave up a little of himself... but you knew in the end that you'd given just as much of yourself in return.

And although the times have changed, and his soul lives in a different body, you still lose yourself. In his sweat, in his voice, in the clench of his body as he moves his hips to meet yours in the dance you both continue to perfect, you find yourself falling.

It is magic, in its own way. Sweat and saliva and semen, you reaffirming your hold on him. He strengthening his hold on you. Together, overcoming death and centuries of forced separation.

Zork can wait.

Atemu (if he finds his way back as you managed to) can wait.

The entire fucking world can wait.

For now, they are unimportant. The only thing that exists, the only thing that matters, is this moment in time.

And as you find your completion in him, as he finds his own release in you, you know that this moment will never come again.

So you kiss his lips and taste his sweat, committing them to memory. As you do every time. This moment is gone, but there are many more to come.

owari

Endings

2006-06-30T18:44:00.000-04:00

Title: Endings
Themes: 030 - Blood
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: M for a bit of gore.
Notes: This is another of the not-terribly-happy chapters in the series. I hate that I'm so last-minute on these things here of late; the muses do not wish to cooperate so much ~_~

How did I die?

The words were still ringing in Bakura's head, even hours after the question had been asked. Jyonouchi had dropped the subject after he'd promised to answer the next time it came up, but the memories just wouldn't leave him to rest.

Bakura shook his head, trying to clear his mind. It was no use, however, and he let his thoughts slip back....

"Jyonou!" He was starting to panic now. His beautiful one had expressed a deep concern about crossing the desert so close to Kura Eruna, but Bakura had reassured him that it was safe. That had been hours ago, before they'd retired for the night. When he'd opened his eyes again, long before Ra's light would grace the sky, Jyonou was gone.

Everything. Even his bedding, as if he'd never existed. The only trace of him were his footprints in the sand, leading towards the ruins of Bakura's village.

"Jyonou!" he cried again. "Where are you? Please answer me!"

Bakura....

The thief froze in place, frowning darkly. Something about that voice... frightened him. He didn't recognize it, yet somehow he wanted to flee into the desert at the sound. Bakura steeled himself and called out again: "Jyonou? Please, if you can hear me--"

He hears, the dark voice answered again. The Aegean hears, but he cannot come to you.

Bakura closed his eyes, let his senses (his Diaboundo, his ka beast) search for the source of the thing that was taunting him. It seemed to come from the center of the village, the spot where as a child he'd watched the pharaoh's men drag the bodies of his family and neighbours. He shivered slightly, and Diaboundo wrapped its tail around him in a gesture that was oddly comforting.

"Why?" he demanded, moving towards the building that lead beneath the village, dreading what he might find there. It had been forbidden to enter it, children had long been warned not to enter the dwelling of the Dark God's prison. But he had no choice, not if his Jyonou was down there with that thing.

The voice laughed, the sound grating to his ears. Come and see, it replied before falling silent.

Bakura entered the building, walked the stairs to the crypt below. He paused to take a breath before moving the last hundred yards that would take him into the belly of the beast, as it were.

Anger rose in him as he saw the thing before him. It was a poor imitation of his own ka beast, more closely resembling a dragon than his own Diaboundo's serpentine appearance. There was hatred and fury burning in its eyes, and it stood on top of what appeared to be a seal. Caught in its tail--more correctly, its other head's grasp was his missing lover. Jyonou's eyes were dull, blank, as if he were under some sort of spell.

"Jyonou!" he called, his fear for the younger man overcoming his rage for a moment; the Aegean glanced up at him and life--fright--flickered in his eyes for a moment before they went flat again. The creature holding him captive laughed.

Pretty little things, these slaves from the Aegean region, it remarked. So lovely and frail compared to the children of Khemet.

"Let him go," Bakura demanded, signaling Diaboundo to slip around behind the thing.

The creature chuckled. I will. For a price, Bakura king of the thieves.

The thief's eyes narrowed. "How do you know who I am?"

I am Zork Necrophidius, the creature replied, laughing when Bakura took a step back. Yes, the one your people kept watch over, in my prison away from the world. But the pharaoh wasn't satisfied, was he?

"Please let Jyonou go," the Egyptian pleaded, knowing that demands wouldn't get through to the Dark God. "He has done nothing."

Your people died for the pharaoh's folly, Zork continued, as if he hadn't heard the plea. He should be punished. They should all be avenged. And I will do so. With your help.

"No," Bakura said, shaking his head. "I just want to leave Khemet, let the pharaoh and his people rot for all I care."

He might well come after you, the creature said. He might kill your pretty Aegean. You don't want that, do you?

"Let him go. Please."

Be my vessel. Do my bidding and your beloved--it fairly sneered the word as it ran one claw along Jyonou's cheek--will be safe from all harm.

Bakura lowered his head, hating himself for his fear. If he said no, then Zork Necrophidius would probably kill him and Jyonou both. If he said yes, at the very least his lover would be safe. His own soul would be condemned and his heart would weigh far more than Ma'at's feather, but for his Jyonou it was a valid risk.

He already knew his answer.

"I will be your vessel."

Zork laughed, eyes flashing the colour of blood. Ah, a wise decision, it said, voice a dark hiss. And now to keep my part of our bargain.... The claw lightly stroking Jyonou's cheek ceased movement--

--and before Bakura even knew what was happening it sliced across the Aegean's throat. Blood poured from the wound, spilling to the floor and spreading in a pool of deep red at Jyonou's feet. He didn't fall to the ground, held in place still by the dragon's mouth for a moment before the head-tail jerked backward. A large chunk of the boy's torso was ripped free and his body dropped into the spreading stain before the altar's seal.

Over his own screams, Bakura could hear the cool, dark voice of the monster: In death, no one else can ever harm him again.

Bakura bit back a cry of pain, closing his eyes and resting his head against the wall. Even after all this time, he couldn't forgive himself for the murder of his lover.

He only prayed that Jyonouchi would forgive him; he would never tell him all the details of his previous life's end.

owari

Forgotten

2006-05-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

Title: Forgotten
Themes: 035 - Memory loss
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T
Notes: Remember I Believe? How it didn't seem like things were going to be all happy and goodness from here on out for Bakura and Katsuya? Yeah, I remember it too. This brings us back around to that point in a sense.

"How did I die?"

Bakura nearly dropped the knife he was polishing and looked over at Jyonouchi. The blond was sitting on the windowseat, gaze turned to the night sky, arms wrapped around his knees. He looked almost peaceful... if not for that abrupt question.

The thief decided to play dumb: "Well, you nearly drowned once, and you were fried by Ra, and yadonushi mentioned something once about electrocution--"

"No, Kura," Jyonouchi interrupted, turning his attention from the sky to his lover instead. His eyes were strangely serious for once. "How did I die three thousand years ago? How did Jyonou die?"

Bakura didn't want to answer that question. The memory was still too much, even with his Jyonou reincarnate sitting right in front of him. Silver eyes clouded and he looked away.

"Why now?"

"Because I can't remember it," came the quiet reply, just before the sound of feet padding across the floor. Slender arms wrapped around Bakura from behind and Jyonouchi rested his cheek on the older man's hair. "I try and try but I don't see it at all. I have to know, Kura, please."

The thief was shaking his head again. "I can't, Jyonou. Not now."

The blond was quiet for a moment before nodding, tightening his hold on his lover. "Okay, love," he said softly. "Not now. But someday? Soon?"

Bakura wondered again why Jyonouchi was asking about this now; instead of asking, though, he just nodded. He couldn't speak of it now, but the next time his Jyonou asked he would try to tell him.

And maybe with the telling his guilt would finally fade away.

owari

Pretty

2006-04-25T20:31:00.000-04:00

Title: Pretty
Themes: 081 - contact lens; 031 - glasses
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T

It wasn't something Jyonouchi really talked about. His friends didn't know (except for Honda, but they'd known one another forever and so it wasn't a big deal) and he generally didn't have anyone around to worry about keeping his things placed out of sight.

Unfortunately, Bakura was still the king of thieves and was naturally observant. So Jyonouchi really shouldn't have been terribly surprised when the Egyptian placed the cases and bottles down on the table in front of him while he was in the middle of a tutoring session with Ryou.

"Jyonou," he said in a tone that meant lying wasn't an option, "what are these?"

From the corner of his eye, the blond could see his friend staring at the selection and obviously not registering why they might be in the Jyonouchis' home. "A glasses case, a contact lens case and two bottles of cleaning solution."

Bakura nodded; obviously the response was somehow pleasing. "And why were they in the bathroom? I didn't think your old man bothered with this stuff."

Ryou was watching them like he was at a tennis match. Jyonouchi wanted to reach up and smack his lover right now, this was starting to feel like an interrogation. "They aren't his. They're mine."

"You wear contacts, Jyonouchi-kun?" Ryou cut in, staring at him as if trying to see the outline of the lenses now that he knew they were there. "Why?"

"Because I'm a little near-sighted and I don't like how my glasses look."

Bakura shook his head and shoved the cases towards him. "Take them out," he commanded. Jyonouchi gave him a dirty look for a moment, hoping that being stubborn would stop the questioning and allow him to go back to his studies. The older man simply crossed his arms and stared back. After a few minutes the blond gave up and picked up the supplies.

"I really hate you sometimes," he informed the Egyptian before stalking off to the bathroom. After he'd left, Ryou turned to his once-other half and frowned at him.

"Ya-erm, Bakura-san, wasn't that sort of... well, mean?" the pale teen asked.

Bakura smirked and shook his head. "Nope." This earned him another long look.

"Your logic astounds," Jyonouchi announced dryly as he walked back in the room. "Happy now, dear?" he asked, sarcasm thick in his voice as he sat down and slipped his glasses on.

"Ecstatic," Bakura replied before leaning down and kissing him soundly. "They look good on you, my love." Without another word he left the room, whistling to himself and apparently unaware of the incredulous looks being shot at his back.

"My lover is strange," Jyonouchi finally said after a moment; Ryou could only nod in agreement. "If I ever find out what the hell that was about, I'll let you know."

Of course, once he found out that Bakura had a minor glasses fetish from the time he'd spent peering through Ryou's eyes Jyonouchi kept it to himself. No need to share that, after all.

owari

Discovery

2006-03-28T19:08:00.000-05:00

Title: Discovery
Theme: 060 - A silence
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T
Note: This one is slightly different; I wanted to touch on how Jyonouchi's friends would react and somehow it turned into this.

At first Yuugi wasn't sure if he was imagining things or if Jyonouchi really was happy again.

It had to have happened shortly after Obon, because he didn't see his friend during that entire time at all. It was only just before school started up again that Yuugi noticed the change.

Jyonouchi's eyes were bright again, and he smiled easier than he had in a long time. The smiles weren't those he'd made up to reassure them that he was okay (and Yuugi had been able to see through them, but felt it wasn't his place to say anything), but sweet and genuine... and sometimes shy. Those were the smiles he flashed whenever Ryou was around, as if he was keeping a secret that could be seen as good or bad.

Yuugi knew he wasn't imagining it when Jyonouchi started pleading off a few outings after school, saying that he had something else he needed to do. About the fourth time it happened Ryou approached him and asked what was going on with the blond. And although Yuugi desperately wished the answer was something other than "I don't know," that was really all he could tell the pale-haired teen.

The fifth time, Yuugi and Ryou decided to follow him.

Needless to say, they were speechless when they found out just who had given Jyonouchi back his smile.

"You know, if you keep your mouth open like that for too long you'll attract flies," was the first thing said after about a minute... followed by an amused snicker from a certain blond teenager.

"Be nice, Kura," Jyonouchi scolded him, although it was obvious he was amused. "What kind of reaction did you expect? Hugs and flowers?"

"No," the thief replied with a smirk. "Besides, we already did the hug thing. And I doubt yadonushi would be happy if I said 'hello' to the mini-pharaoh the same way I did you."

"I wouldn't be happy."

Yuugi had a brief moment to wonder what they were talking about; then he felt his own face heat in embarrassment to match Ryou's. He so didn't want to think about Jyonouchi's sex life.

It would be much later when he would wonder about why Ryou was blushing.

owari

Slightly different. I'm hoping this still falls under the guidelines even though the boys are kind of secondary ^^;

Hands

2006-02-21T07:10:00.000-05:00

Title: Hands
Theme: 009 (King)
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T (because I don't write porn... often. I like to allude to it, however ^^;)

His hands seemed so small and pale compared to Bakura's own, yet he knew that there was nothing weak about them.

The hand held in his own had once upon a time carried offerings to gods Jyonou did not worship and had written poetry for those he did. It had spun fine linen, brushed silver hair until it shone in the light and danced nimbly over bronzed limbs.

The hand held in his own had not so long ago been bruised and battered in fights that were Jyonouchi's to win and in fights initiated for the honour of his friends. It drew Duel Monsters cards with confident ease, curled into a fist when its owner was enrage and yet was gentle enough to tenderly cup Bakura's face as they'd shared their first kiss in three thousand years.

The hand not held in his own was currently resting on the pillow, fingers lightly tangled in Bakura's hair as they lie next to one another. Both these pale hands had peeled through the layers of both their clothing with a quiet, desperate need to ensure that he was not merely dreaming again, that they were really together and he would not awaken alone. These pale hands had made his own body sing... his own darker hands had returned the favour in a manner that would be blasphemy were he still in his own time, silently worshipping his once lost but now found lover.

Bakura pressed a kiss to the palm of the hand held in his own. He may well have been the king of thieves, now and forever, but Jyonouchi had once again managed to steal his heart.

owari

Temporary Changes

2006-02-21T07:04:00.000-05:00

Well, I was hoping that the muses would wake up a bit but that seems to not be happening.

Oh, sure, they're still here for YGO... but for FMA they haven't been nibbling. So it pains me to admit that if I have nothing for EnvyEd by the end of the month I'm going to drop the pairing from my official 100 Themes repetroir.

However, I am going to keep track of the themes on my own computer and update as frequently for Bluebird's End as I can.

Right now, though, it's time to finish getting ready for work and figure out which them I'm hitting next for Bakura and Jyonouchi. Later, tomodachi!

Just to See You Smile

2006-01-31T13:41:00.000-05:00

Title: Just to See You Smile
Theme: 068 (Smile)
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: EnvyEd
Rating: T

"No, General, I am not imagining things," Ed growled out between clenched teeth. On the other side of the desk from him, Roy was giving him one of those condescendingly sympathetic looks that did little more than piss the blond teenager off. One would think after five years the older man would know what to avoid if he didn't want to have five-foot-four of annoyed alchemist 'rearrange' his office... but Riza wasn't there at the moment to referee, and Roy seemed to thrive on aggravating Edward Elric.

"So you want me to believe that one of the homunculi, which no one has seen for several months, is stalking you?" Roy asked. At Ed's nod, he continued, "Maybe you need to take a little more time off. Why don't you take a trip to Rizembool--"

"You're not listening!" Ed cried, slamming both hands down on the desk. Outside the office, half the staff dove under their desks even as Riza heaved an annoyed sigh. She made her way across the hall to the general's office and opened the door; no one noticed that she was being followed.

This wasn't exactly his greatest plan, but it was working so far. Getting into army headquarters had been way too easy in the form he'd chosen to adopt, and no one had noticed his presence until he opted to make it known. He'd followed the blonde woman into the office where he had heard o-chibi-san yelling about him without incident and listened to the argument until he got sick of listening to Mustang's voice... especially since no one got to antagonize o-chibi-san except for him.

"I know what I saw," Ed was still shouting, "and I'm telling you, General, that Envy was in my house last night!"

"There have been no reports of homunculus activity since the Fuhrer vanished, Fullmetal," Roy snapped back, a hint of a growl in his tone. "It makes no sense that one would suddenly reappear in Central at this time."

"Envy's never made any damn sense!"

"General, colonel," Riza interrupted before either could speak again, "it might be in the best interest of everyone if this discussion was continued outside. Colonel Elric seems to be becoming a little aggravated."

"Who are you calling little?!"

"No one said--"

"Or a short vacation--"

"I am not short!!"

"General, is antagonizing the Colonel really necessary?"

"Meow?"

All three stopped talking and stared at one another for a moment before glancing towards the floor beside Riza. What no one in the building had noticed was that a small black cat had made its way inside. The same small black cat that now took the opportunity to jump up on Roy's desk and knock several files to the floor for reasons known only to it.

"How did a cat get in here?" Roy asked, moving as if to pet the cat. The feline flattened its ears and hissed loudly at him before moving to bump its head against Ed's stomach.

"Don't look at me," Ed grumbled, pushing the cat away only to have it nip his fingers and nuzzle him again. "Al's the one who liked cats, not me. Shoo, go away."

"It seems that he likes you," Riza observed with faint amusement. The cat purred as if in agreement and continuing bumping its head against Ed's hand.

"Back to the subject at hand, however," Roy said after a moment, resting his chin on one hand. "If any of the homunculi are around, why hasn't he made his presence known to anyone other than you, Fullmetal?"

"How the hell should I know what goes on in that lunatic's head?" the blond demanded. He yelped slightly as the cat bit his hand. "What? It's not like I called you crazy!"

The best part of all this was, in his opinion, the fact that he got to partially trash Roy Mustang's office. Okay, so he knocked a stack of paperwork onto the floor, but he could always do more damage later. And although the conversation was a bit on the dull side, it was about him; the military just had no imagination. It was probably a good thing he was sticking around for a while, or else the whole damn lot of them would die of boredom.

But still, that lunatic remark was uncalled for; he made his displeasure known by biting Ed's hand before scrambling up onto the teenager's shoulder.

"Perhaps you should be careful for the next few days, Colonel," Riza offered, a slight frown marring her features. "If you're being followed, it may be best to remain at headquarters."

Ed was shaking his head almost before she was finished speaking. "Sorry, but not happening."

"Then we'll post a guard." Roy frowned as Ed turned to glare at him. "It's either that or remain here. The choice is yours, but you seem to have made it already. Besides," here he smirked slightly, "cats aren't allowed in the personal quarters anyway."

"I'm not keeping the damned cat!" This statement was negated by the fact that said cat was perched on Ed's shoulder, purring happily. "You keep it!"

Riza gave the blond a look. "Black Hayate doesn't like cats. He'd probably chase the poor thing and frighten it to death."

"And we already know it doesn't like me," Roy added. The cat appeared to be following the conversation somehow and was sending the feline equivalent of a glare towards the General. "Whether you decide to keep it or not, it's clear to me that the cat has claimed you, Fullmetal."

Ed snarled but didn't have any real reply to that. It was the truth, after all.

"Fine, post a guard," Ed finally grumbled in agreement. "But don't think this means that I'm going to back down from missions, because if Envy tries anything I'm the one who's going after him."

O-chibi-san, do you even know what the word "relax" means? the disguised Envy wondered to himself, resisting the urge to roll his eyes and instead smacked Ed on the nearest ear. Someone needs a keeper.

"Ow! Stupid cat...."

"Is that its name then?" Riza asked casually, ignoring Roy's smirk and Ed's glare.

"No," Ed ground out, "because I'm not naming it since I'm not keeping it. I'll just feed it for a few days before it gets bored and wanders off."

Envy snickered to himself, the sound coming out closer to a hissed meow. Me? Get bored around you? Don't count on it.

"You can't just call the cat it," Roy mused, smirk still in place. "Why not call it Jealous? It seems to be that, anyway."

"Perhaps Spite might be a better name," Riza suggested thoughtfully. The cat 'snickered' again as Ed glared.

"What, did you two just pop open a thesaurus to find synonyms for 'envy?'" he snapped. "Next you'll be suggesting Malice and Green-Eyed Monster!"

"Now that you mention it...."

"Nope. I'm leaving," Ed said with finality before turning and stalking out of the room, the black cat clinging to his shoulder. Only after stepping outside did he carefully reach up and pluck the creature from his shoulder, settling it on his automail arm before petting it lightly. "I suppose I can put up with you for a few days, Cat. But I'm not naming you!"

Don't worry about that, I've already got one, Envy mused to himself, a purr escaping at the warm expression on the blond's face. And I might stick around longer than planned if only to see that smile again.

Notes: Ugh, this feels rushed to me. For some reason the muses weren't cooperating with me this month. So, yeah, this is weirder than my other ones thus far. I'll try to do better next month >_<

I Believe

2006-01-11T06:50:00.000-05:00

Title: I Believe
Theme: 086 - Holiday; 054 - Miracle
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T
Note: This... is probably going to be the longest part of the series to date. I think it even surpasses "Shifting Sands" as far as length goes. Also, this is where I go wildly AU from series standards. If you've seen Yuugiou then you'll be able to tell where it happens.

"What are you doing?" The question was so unexpected that he jumped slightly before turning to regard the man speaking to him. Funny, he was under the impression that the other would avoid him at all costs, not seek him out to play Twenty Questions.

"Waiting," he replied tersely. "Not that it's any of your business." He turned back to his quiet contemplation, fully prepared to dismiss the other's presence entirely.

Which was why the next words caught him by surprise: "You want to go back, don't you?"

Bakura's head snapped back around and he leveled a glare on the younger. "Again, not your business, pharaoh. Now leave."

Atem would not be deterred. Instead, the former king tilted his head to one side and blinked at him in mild curiosity. "Why?" he finally asked. When several minutes slid by with no answer he spoke again. "It's because of him, isn't it? Your Aegean?"

The thief's eyes widened in shock before narrowing to slits again. "What do you know, anyway?" he growled, refusing to answer the question verbally. "Leave me alone."

"You should not have given Jyonouchi your memories," the other continued, ignoring the command. "They've awoken his own, and now you're both suffering because of it."

Bakura had been rising to walk away, to leave the conversation behind; the words froze him in place. Slowly he turned to face his old enemy again, expression carefully blank. "What?"

Atem shook his head slightly, although whether it was in negation or simply in thought was uncertain. "The gods have been watching since the night you visited his dreams," the pharaoh said after a moment. "His memories of his time as Jyonou started returning shortly after that. Now they are worried that he may lose his will to continue in his current lifetime."

"No..." Bakura murmured quietly. "That was not... I couldn't just... I only wanted...."

"I know," Atem replied, tone gentle. "They know that, too. Which is why they've sent me here."

Now Bakura regarded the other with quiet suspicion. "Sent you? For what?"

"To remind you of a promise." When the thief continued to stare at him blankly for a moment, Atem prompted, "One you made long ago, before he killed the only thing you've ever truly loved."

The silver-haired man frowned, letting his thoughts drift backwards for a moment before his eyes widened in realization. "It's impossible now," he said quietly. "Even if I could hear him call to me--"

"The gods work in mysterious ways," Atem said with a cryptic smile. "Just give it time... and listen. This," he glanced around them, eyes lingering for a moment on the doorway just beyond where they stood in the afterlife, "is a good place to wait." He offered another smile, this one more genuine. "I will leave you now. And, if all works out well, I truly will miss you. You were a worthy adversary, Bakura King of the Thieves."

Bakura smirked, the first one since he'd passed from the earth. "The same can be said for you, Once-Nameless Pharaoh."

It was the fourteenth now, approaching midnight, and he was slowly losing what little hope he'd had. He had spent almost all day Wednesday visiting various shrines and temples, hoping to feel something when he called to Bakura, and had repeated the process most of this day as well. Friday, the fifteenth, was his last real chance to even try.

Jyonouchi heaved a weary sigh and leaned against the temple entrance. It was too late in the evening to try anywhere else, and he really didn't feel like going home and dealing with his father. Any other day, any other time before it wouldn't have bothered him to listen to the man's drunken ramblings about how all the decent members of their family were gone and would never return. Right now, with his heart so heavy from wanting--needing--to be heard, those words would cut at his very soul.

"God damn it," he said under his breath, swiping the back of his hand across his eyes. "Any and every god damn it. This is hopeless. He isn't coming back, ever."

Does everyone lose hope so easily?

Jyonouchi lifted his head, eyes scanning the area around him. There was a young couple by the small koi pond, but that was too far for them to have heard his frustrated words. Shaking his head quietly he let his gaze drop to the hem of his t-shirt, fingers toying with a loose thread.

"And now I'm hearing things. Wonderful." He sighed again, free hand running through his hair. "I'm losing my mind."

No, little one. You just aren't listening.

Okay, he was positive he heard something that time. Brown eyes snapped up again, but by now the couple had left and he was alone. "Is someone there?" he called, rising to his feet and reaching for the switchblade he carried. He tried to ignore the fact that he'd actually swiped the knife from Ryou's apartment shortly after that odd dream, but somehow it made him feel like he had a piece of him close by.

Yes, the odd voice came again. But not who you wish to see most.

Jyonouchi frowned, trying to place the voice. It sounded (felt?) familiar, but he'd never known anyone with that soft yet somehow threatening tone to their voice. And he sure as hell didn't know anyone who could talk directly into his head! "Look, this isn't funny," he said instead of asking who or what was toying with him. "You'd better get lost if you know what's good for you."

A laugh. You're so brave, too. As spirited now as you were then. No wonder he used you as bait for his trap.

The words sent a shiver down his spine, and Jyonouchi tightened his grip on the knife in his hand. "Leave me alone," he whispered. "Please. I can't take this now."

I know. The words were warm yet cold as ice all at once. You've a strong spirit, but it's dying right now. You don't have the will to go on, but you are more important than you know, little Aegean. Those that are coming could easily remove you now.

"Go away," the blond muttered, the switchblade falling from his hands as he raised them to cover his ears in an effort to shut out that voice. "Leave me alone."

And why should I? There's no one to protect you, no one to care if you vanish tonight, no one to care if the coming darkness steals you away--

"Liar!" Jyonouchi snapped. "There are people who will miss me!"

But only if they remember you, the voice whispered silkily. Did anyone remember you when he stole you from Egypt? Not a soul cared about one little slave, a temple virgin who was stolen long before he perished....

"Shut up! Leave me alone!" The blond would never really be sure whether the next words were spoken aloud or simply in his mind: "Bakura, please, I need you here!"

"Bakura...."

Bakura's head snapped up, a frown crossing his lips. He almost swore he had heard his name called....

"...please...."

There it was again, this time he was certain he'd heard the voice calling to him. Bakura looked suspiciously at the door before him, unsure if he should trust what his instincts were screaming at him.

"I need you here!"

The desperation in that voice spurred him into action.

There was silence after that last outburst before the odd voice began to laugh quietly. Ah, of course, it whispered, all warmth gone now. Your true strength lies in being together rather than apart. You know this in your heart; you finally understand. I cannot allow that. It threatens my foothold on this world.

Jyonouchi was no longer listening, eyes tightly closed and hands still over his ears. He said nothing but in his mind was desperately denying all that the voice had said before. His friends would miss him, and if Bakura did come back he knew the thief would miss him.

"Go away," he finally forced out again. "You're nothing. Leave this place."

The voice chuckled darkly. Oh, but I am something, little Aegean. And I will have this world, one way or another.

Bakura growled in his throat as he heard that voice in the darkness around him. He could hear the words he was saying and quickened his pace.

"Not this time," he growled. "Never again."

Jyonouchi opened his eyes, blinking silently even as the voice's words permeated his thoughts. "You..." he whispered, lifting his head and staring up at the sky. "It was you we were dealing with all the while. The yami no RPG, Malik's dark side, Dartz... they were all pieces of you...."

The voice sounded smug: So you can be taught. Pity, since you're going to be dead by midnight.

"I don't think so, Zork."

The voice actually snarled at the new voice, this one almost painfully familiar to the blond. Aren't you a little lost, my puppet? The afterlife is the other way. I'll send your whore along shortly.

"Excuse me?!" Jyonouchi demanded. Whatever he was about to add was swallowed by the other, equally offended voice:

"I'll overlook that slander for now. But if you ever show your face in any form that I can kill, you've an appointment with my blade."

Empty threats, empty promises, the darker voice whispered viciously. I will return.

"I look forward to it," was the reply; the tone was both cruel and calming. An unearthly silence then seemed to settle over the temple, the only indication that the other had left. Jyonouchi's eyes fell shut as he heaved a sigh, sliding down the wall as all his strength seemed to bleed away.

"Shit," he mumbled, pulling his knees to his chest and resting his head on them. "If I ever complain that my life is boring...."

"Are you alright?"

Jyonouchi froze. He... didn't recognize the language, but somehow he understood what had been asked. More than that, he still recognized the voice. Slowly, as if afraid to see that the other from before had found a new way to torment him, he lifted his gaze to the one who'd spoken. For a moment he wondered if he'd hit his head, and could only reply by blinking.

Bakura frowned to himself and wondered if he should repeat the question; that was all he had time to think for the moment as he suddenly found himself knocked to the ground with the blond clinging fiercely to him. He wrapped his arms securely around Jyonouchi and shifted to a slightly more comfortable position before resting his chin atop the boy's head, letting his eyes slip shut as he listened to the other's breathing calm.

"You're here." Jyonouchi's voice was somewhat muffled against the older man's neck. "You're back."

"You called," Bakura murmured softly, fingers combing through the other's hair, "and I heard, and answered." He shifted again so he was sitting instead of lying flat on the ground, slipping one hand behind Jyonouchi's neck and kissing him softly. The kiss was returned, pale hands moving to cup Bakura's face as the two said everything that they could not convey with words alone.

Information regarding Obon comes from JapanGuide.com and Animefringe. Also, since the series occurred during the late 1990s I'm working with the 1997 calendar. I know that the anime started in 2000 but I generally go with the manga as my dates resource, and that began in 1996.

Sorry for the fairly abrupt ending. I couldn't think of anything to actually say to wrap it all up and decided to let the 'hello' stand as is. The next part of the arc will probably pick up from there.

Never Too Far

2005-12-04T13:25:00.000-05:00

Title: Never Too Far
Theme: 046 (Homecoming)
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou/Jyonouchi
Rating: T

I will be waiting for you at the gateway.

The words rolled over in his mind, as they always seemed to do these days, and he absently wrapped his arms tighter around himself. Despite the fact that it was still summer, not even ten days into August, he felt cold. Japan was home, had always been home, but ever since that night three months ago when he'd found himself in ancient Egypt, he always felt like he was a thousand miles from where he should rightfully be.

"Jyonouchi-kun? Are you okay?"

He turned to flash a faked smile to his best friend, wondering if the shorter boy felt even half as lost as he did right now. "Fine, Yuugi," he lied. "Just got a cold chill. It's nothing."

Yuugi wasn't convinced if that small frown meant anything. "Are you sure?" he pressed. "You haven't been yourself lately."

Jyonouchi swore silently even as he nodded, fake smile in place. "Absolutely. I've had a few things on my mind--we're graduating soon and I'm not really ready for it, you know?"

Apparently this was a good enough excuse for Yuugi since it brought a faint smile to his face. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he said. "But that's still almost a year away. There's plenty of time to figure things out."

"I guess." Inside he was screaming No it's not, it'll never be long enough. You don't know how lost I am, and I know what I need--who I need--and there's no way I can ever reach it! With a purely mental sigh he rested his head on his hands and closed his eyes for just a moment.

He blinked them open again and gazed up at the night sky, a small frown crossing his lips. How was it night when only a few moments ago he'd been sitting in the public library thinking about him? For that matter, how did he get outside?

He tried to shake his head to clear his thoughts, only to discover that he couldn't move. Panic overtook him for a moment as he felt himself stand. The last time he'd felt this way was when Malik had taken possession of his mind; was it possible that it was happening again? He tried to break away from whom-or-whatever was controlling him, but to no avail; his body continued walking down the hill where he'd found himself and pushed aside a tent flap.

He caught his breath when he realized that he was looking at the one he'd been missing. And Bakura was frowning at him.

"Jyonou?" he said, confusion colouring his voice. "What troubles you, my heart?"

"Dark thoughts," he heard himself reply, and it hit him that he was reliving a memory from his previous life. "I do not like being this close to Kura Eruna. It... it feels wrong, Bakura."

Bakura stood and crossed to the door, pulling him into a tight hug. "I know," he said softly. "I feel it too. But don't fret so, my Jyonou. We'll only pass within a hundred yards of the city, and by noon tomorrow it will be a distant memory."

"If you say so," Jyouno replied, and Jyonouchi could feel the frown that remained on his--their--face. "But it still bothers me. Can we not go some other way?"

"Not if we wish to avoid the Pharaoh's men," the thief apologized, running his fingers through Jyonou's hair. "But do not worry so, my heart. I will always be by your side."

"What if the desert tears us from one another?" the younger insisted; Jyonouchi was starting to get a sinking feeling, wondering if this was what had happened just before Zork first appeared to Bakura.

The older of the two frowned, fingers still gliding through the blond's hair. "Then call for me," he said in a strangely sad voice. "Call for me, and if I am where I can hear you I will always come back to you."

"Swear it," Jyonou begged. "Swear it by Ra's name and power."

"I swear it by all my gods, and I swear it by all your gods as well, my heart. If I can hear you, I will come back to you."

He felt a smile cross his lips, the first real smile he'd given in months. "I will hold you to that, Kura," he heard himself whisper, and closed his eyes as he kissed his thief.

When he opened them again, he was back in class. He could swear he still felt Bakura's lips against his and had to fight back the urge to run his fingers across them. Yuugi turned again to blink at him; the smile he offered this time wasn't in the least bit false, and his friend returned it before glancing back to the book he had been reading.

Three days till the beginning of Obon, he mused silently. Three days until I can try. Please, please let him hear me.

owari

I know I already did the holiday theme for this pairing, but I'm going to rewrite it. I had a better idea that more ties into this series that I'm writing. Sorry if this throws anyone off or leads to confusion!

The Vow Not Broken

2005-12-02T16:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Vow Not Broken
Theme: 075 (Oath)
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: EnvyEd
Rating: T

Promises were made to be broken.

I disagree with leaving, but I will stay away.

But he was sitting inside the military headquarters right now.

I won't do anything that goes against your wishes, Father.

But he was waiting for the one that Hohenheim told him to stay away from after they'd left the city for good.

If it comes down to it, I will kill anyone who stands in our way.

But Edward Elric still lived, and he had no intention of killing him anytime soon... possibly never, in fact.

Envy was a contradiction in terms, and he knew this quite well. He had no love for Hohenheim, but followed his orders until recently. He had been insanely jealous that Hohenheim seemed to feel more pride for his younger two sons, but the feeling had changed into something... else with the loss of the youngest Elric son. He had once followed orders, even if he took some liberties from time to time, but now he was breaking every vow he'd ever made.

Every vow except one.

I swear to you, I will watch over you and keep you safe from harm. Even if it means I'll finally die.

The person whom he made this promise to had been sleeping and never heard the words.

But Envy would keep this vow anyway, and perhaps in time he would understand the strange not-hate he had felt when Edward Elric had peacefully fallen asleep in his arms.

Persistence of Memory

2005-11-03T19:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Persistence of Memory
Theme: 019 (Rest one's head on a person's lap); 084 (World of Dreams)
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou/Jyonouchi
Rating: T

Night was always the best time.

It wasn't best for the obvious reasons, those being the cover of darkness to mask his presence in temples and tombs and the trust that all the "honest" citizens of the kingdom were sleeping. No, it was best because that was when his real treasure was closest.

The fair-haired Aegean was a prize in and of himself, a temple virgin he'd "stolen" from one of the houses of Ra. At first the boy had been skittish and frightened of him, expecting Bakura to use him and kill him sometime during the night. After several weeks with no indication that he was in any danger from the thief, the boy had relaxed enough to lie near him. It was months later that they moved from a tentative, fragile friendship into something stronger.

He could still remember the first time the boy dared to rest closer. He'd been keeping watch, uneasy with the number of guards roaming the city, when the Aegean lie down beside him and rested his golden head on his lap. It was all Bakura could do not to jump up or snatch the boy into an embrace; he'd slowly fallen for the boy, but he was still uncertain as to what the boy - who said his name was 'Jyonou' - felt towards him.

Night was the only time that they were able to be relaxed. Even with the threat of capture should he be found in a temple, Bakura found comfort in his boy's embrace. Months passed, a full year plus several more weeks, before tragedy found them... and Zork reared his head from the ruins of Kura Eruna.

Zork had used Jyonou to lure Bakura into his grasp, promising that the Aegean would be returned to the thief without harm in exchange for loyalty to him, only to renege on his word. Bakura could still see the light dying in his beloved one's eyes as Zork tore him asunder.

Millennia passed, three in all, before Bakura was able to see the stars again and enjoy the embrace of nighttime... but it was not the same without his Jyonou lying beside him. Yadonushi was a good kid, willing to help in his quest to find the rest of the Sennen items and free the souls of his people, but there was still the shadow of Zork, hiding somewhere in the twisted corridors of Bakura's own mind.

And then he found his love once more.

Oh, but it was bittersweet at best. Zork still loomed in the back of his mind, and it wasn't hard to guess that the monster would use Jyonou - no, Jyonouchi now - against him once more if he was aware of his existence in this new world. Bakura had no choice but to push the blond away, no matter how much it broke his heart. All he had left were his dreams of Egypt, where he still had his Jyonou and there was no Zork to darken their lives.

Then came the time he'd dreaded and feared, when he was too powerful to fight anymore, and the thief became a spectator in his own body. He'd nearly broken when he realized Zork had drawn all of the Pharaoh's allies into the yami no RPG, his beloved Jyonou included. His fear that Zork would win was overshadowed only by his fear that he would recognize Jyonouchi for who he'd been and destroy him once more.

But the Pharaoh won, and Bakura had been drawn away from life to the Afterlife. All that was left were the worlds he'd created in his mind, where Jyonou was alive and well. This was his gift to his Jyonou, to Jyonouchi... the world of his dreams and the Sennen Ring.

He trusted that in time he'd find his way home again. But until then, he would wait.

Perchance to Dream

2005-11-03T07:20:00.000-05:00

Title: Perchance to Dream
Theme: 019 [Rest one's head on a person's lap], 029 [Thing left behind]
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: EnvyEd
Rating: T

[Note: I'm setting all my theme fics for this pairing after the Roy ending to the game Bluebird Illusion. This, however, is somewhat AU since, from what I can tell, that ending sets up for possible RoyEd, and that's not my kink ^^;]

It wasn't unusual for Ed to fall asleep without changing out of his uniform these days. Nor was it strange for him to wonder where he was when he started to wake up. Since Al's... disappearance, he didn't really care much about anything, and in a sense Roy and Riza had 'adopted' him to make sure he functioned at least semi-normally.

However, it was unusual for him to slowly blink awake to find himself staring at black cloth and porcelain-white skin. Something in the back of his mind told him this was a bad thing, while another part insisted on closing his eyes and going back to sleep since he wasn't dead yet. The part arguing against more sleep won out... sort of. Instead of jumping up and generally freaking out, Ed rolled his head slightly so he could look up and see if the lap belonged to who he was thinking it belonged to.

Still, he was groggy enough that he had to ask: "Hm? Envy?"

The dark-haired homunculus frowned down at him. "You're so rude, o-chibi-san. I come all the way here just to visit and you're sleeping. You have no manners."

Okay, maybe it wasn't really Envy. "Sorry," Ed mumbled quietly before closing his eyes again. These dreams were starting to become more realistic, but if Envy was going to appear in them he should at least act like himself.

An annoyed sigh reached his ears, and he could almost swear that he could feel fingers carding through his hair. This dream-Envy was actually... well, kind of nice, which was good considering that Ed didn't really like dealing with the real Envy. Especially with everything that had happened only a few short months ago; sometimes he forgot and called for Al when he arrived home, only to collapse into crying fits when he remembered that his little brother was never going to be there again.

Dream-Envy was talking again: "You could at least pretend to be happy to see me, chibi-chan. If they knew I was here, there could be trouble for both of us." The hand in his hair paused for a moment before the gentle strokes began again. "It probably still hurts, doesn't it? The feeling that nothing has changed but the reality that everything is different now. I would say I understand, but, heh, I don't."

Now that sounded more like the real Envy. He briefly debated on whether he might actually be awake before opening one eye again. It still looked and sounded like the homunculus he knew and loathed, but it wasn't trying to kick his teeth in or bore him to death. It was strange, but at the same time an odd dream was better than memories.

"You're an ass," Ed grumbled, rolling onto his side and nestling closer to the dream-Envy.

"Yep," came the almost cheerful reply before the homunculus shifted the pair of them; when he was finished moving Ed was lying across Envy's legs, head resting against the much older male's stomach. Envy resumed petting him once he was finished moving, and Ed felt himself drifting towards deep sleep again. "But I still missed you, chibi-chan. Life is boring without you around. Wrath is a pain, Lust is still whining about wanting to be human and Gluttony... well, yeah. I'm risking everything just to be here right now."

"Must suck," the alchemist murmured, eyes drifting closed once more. His only reply was a throaty chuckle and what may have been a hug.

It was bright out when his eyes fluttered open again. He was surprised to find himself in his bed, his jacket thrown over the chair and his boots on the floor by the door. Ed couldn't recall making it that far before collapsing; the last thing he remembered was coming home, sitting down on the couch, and having a weird-ass dream where he and Envy had a semi-civil conversation without punches being thrown.

He groaned softly as he pushed himself up. Mornings were bad anymore, with no improvement in sight until he arrived at headquarters where Riza would pretend not to fuss over him for a good twenty minutes. Ed shook his head to clear his thoughts, only to pause and frown. When had he taken his hair down?

He glanced over at the table by his bed, eyes snapping fully open. His hair tie was there, but so was a headband. This would have been odd in its own right, if not for the inverted triangular symbol that was almost as familiar as his own name.

"What...?" he said aloud, knowing that he wasn't going to receive an answer; the room was empty save for himself, after all. Ed picked up the headband for a moment to make sure he wasn't imagining it there. After assuring himself that it was real, he placed it back on the table and quickly got ready for the day. He hurried out of the room; for the first time in what seemed like forever, Ed felt he had a reason to be alive.

He never noticed the shadows in the corner melting into the homunculus that had visited him in the night. Envy smirked and shook his head before retrieving his headband, slipping it back on without batting an eye.

"Good to see you back to your old self, o-chibi-san," he said to the empty room. "Looks like things might be interesting again after all."

owari

Sam Who?

2005-11-01T19:48:00.000-05:00

Title: Sam Who?
Theme: 086 - Holiday
Fandom: Yuugiou
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (wrapshipping)
Rating: T

(Note: Yes, this is the thief king. Why it's him and how he's in modern Japan is semi-explained herein.)

"So who's this Sam guy the stupid Pharaoh and his midget were talking about?"

Jyonouchi looked up from the English homework he was attempting to do and shot Bakura an odd look. "Sam?"

The thief nodded. "Yeah. Sam Hayne or something. Who is he?" Bakura scowled when his boyfriend started snickering. "What?"

"They were talking about Samhain" - he pronounced it so-ween - "it's a holiday, but not really celebrated here. It's more of an American holiday; they call it Halloween."

"Oh." Bakura seemed to be letting the subject drop, so Jyonouchi returned his attention to his book. "What happens on Samhain?"

Knowing from past experience that Bakura wasn't going to stop till he had an answer, the blond pushed his homework off to one side and rested his elbows on the table. "I don't really know much about it. What I do know is, the Celts used to divide the year into two parts, light and dark. The light was marked by Beltane on May 1, and the dark by Samhain on November 1. It was a pretty important holiday for them."

Bakura leaned on the table, chin propped on his hand and silver eyes locked on his boyfriend's. "So what's all this hubbub about October 31?"

"Well, the Celts saw that date as the most magically potent time of the festival of Samhain," the blond said with a small shrug; in all honesty he was a bit fascinated by other cultural beliefs, even with his fear of the occult (of which Bakura was trying to break him). "They felt that the laws of time and space were suspended, and the dead were able to communicate with the living. It was a big deal for them. There are still people who feel that way and celebrate Samhain rather than Halloween. In a sense I guess it's kinda like Obon that way."

"Well, I like Obon," Bakura said with a slight smirk.

Jyonouchi couldn't help but ask, "Oh? And why's that, Kura?" The Egyptian responded by leaning across the table and lightly tugging at the cord around the other's neck, pulling the Sennen Ring up into view for a moment.

"Because that's the day I came back to you," Bakura said matter-of-factly before leaning in to steal a kiss, although it couldn't really be called stealing seeing as Jyonouchi wasn't protesting. "Now do your homework, Jyonou."

"Baka." It was said affectionately, though.

"I'm not the one failing English."

"No, but you are the one who keeps distracting me when I'm trying to study," Jyonouchi countered with a decisive nod. He yelped slightly when Bakura moved around the table, picked him up, sat down in the chair and pulled him down into his lap.

"There. Do your homework."

Silence settled between them, comfortably so, and the younger of the pair returned his attention to his studies.

"...so what's this 'trick-or-treat' thing?"

owari

Sources for Samhain information are as follows:
CelticSpirit.org
Wicca.com
Eternal SailorM, since she's part of why I went with this particular holiday for the theme ^^

And yes, Jyonouchi can't get a break. Apparently Yuugi explained all the 'fun' aspects of holidays to Atem, who bragged them to Bakura, who now wants the 'real' story from his boyfriend. It's a vicious cycle, really ^^;

Shifting Sands

2005-11-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

Title: Shifting Sands
Theme: 029 (Thing left behind); 094 (Good-bye)
Fandom: Yuugiou/Yu-Gi-Oh
Pairing: Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya
Rating: T/PG-13

He had thought that with the yami no RPG over and done with that ancient Egypt would be put out of his mind forever, especially with the Sennen items lost in the temple's collapse. Yet the pyramids before him looked relatively 'new' and behind him lay the palace that he knew from the memory world. And still, even knowing that he was standing in the past, he was dressed in twentieth century garb; therefore this had to be no more than a dream.

Why he was dreaming of Egypt, he did not know. After all, he hadn't been an item holder, and so far as he knew he hadn't had an Egyptian counterpart in the memory world. He wanted to ask someone, anyone, what was going on, but knew without turning that there was no one around to answer him.

And so he walked. He could have walked toward the palace, but he chose instead to walk the other way. Why? Again, he did not know. It just felt right to walk away from the palace. Strangely, though, as he walked he could almost swear that he heard a second set of footsteps, traveling in time with his. No faster, no slower, just keeping pace.

He was nearly at the pyramids when he stopped walking; the footsteps behind him continued to come closer. He started to turn, only to find the motion aborted by strong arms wrapped around him, pinning his arms to his sides yet not restraining him. A quick glance down caused him to catch his breath, as he recognized the sleeves of his captor's robes.

"Bakura?" His voice sounded odd, almost far away. For a moment it felt almost as if he were watching from somewhere deep inside himself. The thief did not answer verbally, only tightened his hold. He debated for a moment whether to fight free, but in the end opted to wait and see what would happen. After all, this was just a dream.

"Twice now," the thief king finally said; the words made no sense to him and he turned his head slightly, trying to catch Bakura's eyes unsuccessfully. "The first time when I sold my soul. The second when I lost the fight."

"I don't understand," he replied quietly. Somehow he felt like this was important, this was the reason he was dreaming of Egypt tonight. Cautiously he reached up and touched the thief king's hand; immediately the other twined their fingers together.

Bakura didn't seem to hear him. "The first time almost killed me, losing you." He felt his body stiffen, tense, but the other continued talking: "He took you away, promised that you wouldn't be harmed if I swore allegiance to him, only to break you before my eyes. I never got to apologize or to say farewell.

"The second time I have only myself to blame. I could not let him touch you again. I kept my distance, hid any signs that I knew who you had been, and in the end lost you again." Bakura's arms shifted, drawing him closer, and buried his face against his neck. "And I don't know what's worse, having lost you when you knew I loved you or leaving you without ever telling you I still do."

He couldn't respond; he did not know how. Rather than try for words he carefully turned, not breaking free from Bakura's hold, and wrapped his own arms around the man's waist. Almost immediately he felt safe, protected. He believed all that the thief had told him, and mourned that when the dream was over he would be back in Domino, alone once more.

"Bakura," he said softly; when the man lifted his head he leaned up and kissed him. He felt warm inside when the kiss was returned, and moved one hand to rest against the other's scarred cheek. This was only a dream, and in the morning none of what happened between them would matter to anyone except for him.

"I love you," Bakura murmured against his lips before pressing one last kiss to them. "Good-bye, my Jyonou."

He blinked once, and when he opened his eyes again he was peering up at the ceiling of his bedroom. Disappointed, almost heartbroken that his dream was over so quickly, he moved to rise from his bed, stopping short when he heard something clatter to the floor. For what felt like forever he didn't move; then he leaned over to see what it was he had knocked over.

The Sennen Ring lay by his bed, a folded piece of old parchment next to it.

He looked around the room, peered into the corners searching for someone who wasn't there before bending to retrieve both items. He placed the Ring carefully on his lap before unfolding the parchment. It was old and delicate, and the words on it were written in messy kanji:

I am leaving you something to remember me by. I will be waiting for you at the gateway, and we will be together forever then.

"I love you, too," Jyonouchi said softly, folding the note once more and slipping it beneath his pillow. Picking up the Ring, holding it close to his heart, he lay back on his bed and drifted slowly back to sleep.

Where he dreamed of Egypt and shifting sand.

owari

Test Post

2005-11-01T13:27:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 100 Themes, 2 Pairings. This is going to be my blog for my entries to the LiveJournal community 100_themes, for which I've claimed two pairings. The first pairing, that I've written two stories for and used three themes already, is Touzoku'ou Bakura x Jyonouchi Katsuya (aka wrapshipping) from Yuugiou; the second pairing, for whom I have yet to write stories for, is Envy x Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist.

I will shortly be posting my stories thus far here and adding the new ones I complete. When all is said and done, I should have nearly 200 stories posted in this format. I will start on a layout for this blog this evening and upload the first of the stories sometime later in the week.

For now, welcome and thank you for visiting!