Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[fluffydeathdealer]

[It's a bit of a pain, being in a school with no teachers.

Ryou Bakura isn't the type of kid who really likes being too active; he's about on the level of most ordinary teenagers. But after being laid up for so long with the burns to his arms and leg, not only is he extremely restless, but he's sure even his metabolism won't hold up much longer, with the amount he eats. That's why, after checking to see that Henry isn't home to take him up on that training offer, he's decided to try treating this like school and taking an hour or so to do his very own gym class, all by himself. It'd be easier with teachers, but... he doesn't have a choice right now.

Most kids probably would just take the break and be lazy, but right now, Ryou's working hard. Apart from the occasional break, he can be found pretty easily in the east wing, dressed in gym clothes and doing everything from running laps on the track field to climbing ropes.

...though that last one is more like 'falling off ropes'. Stupid mats... they don't cushion that fall at all. Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to stand below him.]

Ow...

[Time for a banana and some water, he thinks.]

Ah, I'm so tired...

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

[How calming... he doesn't remember anyone acting like this around him before. Even Malik's touches to his hair, and those of Karasu, were different. Not so soothing. Not so peaceful. It's harder to keep up his act when he feels like this.]

I think... Kaiba-kun sees everyone in the same way as himself. He's spurred on by rivalry, so he doesn't see why other people wouldn't.

He thinks I'm hopeless, you know? Because I'm always polite and willing to do what people tell me, within reason. I don't see why I shouldn't. But he says that people don't deserve consideration or politeness, because respect is earned, and shouldn't be offered to people who haven't earned it.

[helpusduelist]

[And Henry feels relaxed against him, almost. Unlike the always-alert king feeling he puts out usually.]

Hah... it's hard for him to imagine that others don't think the way he does, is it? I've met a few like that before.

[More soft petting, Henry leaning into Bakura a little.]

And that is where he's wrong, most of all. He is partly right; true respect should not be given out so easily, and must always be earned. But there is a base amount of respect all people should be treated with until they prove that they deserve more or less than that. If you refuse to give even that basic level... then people don't feel inclined to give you respect either, even if you earn it fair and square.

[He leans over, gently placing a kiss on that soft hair, soothingly.]

...By the by...

[fluffydeathdealer]

...?

[He opens an eye at that, feeling curious.]

What is it, Henry?

[helpusduelist]

[The look on his face is absolutely mischievous, matching the grins his Charmers give.]

If you desired affection and contact that much, Spirit, you could have just asked.

1/?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...?

2/?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He figured it out?!]

3/?

[fluffydeathdealer]

What are you saying, Henry?

4/5

[fluffydeathdealer]

Making jokes like that isn't very funny, you know!

5/5

[fluffydeathdealer]

I'm not any such thing!

[howdidhefigureitoutwhythehelldidhefigureitoutitwasthosespiritswasn'titgoddammitthosespiritswhyyyyy]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry just laughs, petting his hair affectionately and not bothering to move away.]

You're an actor among actors, Spirit, but even you can't hide the feeling of your soul. None of us were fooled.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Oy. I'm not a puppy.

[As if on cue, his hair flicks back up into its naturally spiky state, eyes narrowing into that usual manner.]

Too bad... But I wanted to see how easily you could pick it up anyway.

[helpusduelist]

I knew it the entire time, Spirit. I simply saw no problem with letting you get close, seeing as you weren't giving any sense of hostility.

[He leaves his arm where it is, bringing the Duel Disk around to mess with it a bit more. It's easy enough to get out if Bakura wants, but Henry isn't making him move.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

I'm surprised... I didn't realize you and my host were so comfortable with one another.

[Wriggling out of that embrace now, and trying to hide his embarassment. And what better way but with teasing?]

Should I be concerned about what you two do when I'm alone here?

[helpusduelist]

Hah! If it were like that, I would have bedded Jack a long time ago.

[Nope, teasing still doesn't work. Good try though.]

Ryou is much like a child, so is it a surprise I feel that way towards him?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Who knows? You could have been planning a threesome.

[Such a pity. He'd like to see that cheerful face filled with surprise and embarassment.]

Heh... that's because he is a child, remember? You should have seen him when he was younger!

[helpusduelist]

With all due respect, if I intend to sleep for recreation rather than childbearing, I'd certainly not make it a public affair!

[He chuckles, going back to playing with the Disk.]

I may have to ask him about that sometime.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh heh... You'd be surprised. Someone like that, coming from such a lonely childhood... it's impressive, even if it's stupid.

[helpusduelist]

Care to share with me, then?

[fluffydeathdealer]

I've been watching over him for some time now. I can tell you. But it might be better to show you.

[Getting up, he strolls into the bedroom to grab something, returning with a sheet of paper to offer it to him. It's written in Japanese, but it looks like a letter.]

Can you read Japanese? It's fine if you can't. I'll explain what this is anyway.

[helpusduelist]

Not well enough to understand this, no. What does it say?

[fluffydeathdealer]

It's one of my host's letters. He writes them to his only companion in his youth, now long gone.

Amane Bakura-chan.

He writes them, even now... though they're as boring as ever. Letters to the dead. That loneliness of his is like a pit of despair in his heart.

Somehow you've managed to dull that loneliness... along with at least one or two others. But it seems he can't forget.

[helpusduelist]

...I see.

[Writing letters to his sister who had already passed on... it's sad, but touching, at the same time. Ryou... poor child. Henry had known he suffered, but to still hold it like this...

His smile is soft, affectionate, as he carefully hands the letter back.]

He truly is just a child...

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Though it may be surprising, Bakura doesn't handle the letters with the disrespect he usually offers things. He returns it to the bedroom before sitting down again.]

Back then... because of his odd looks, he always had to endure viciousness from others. The usual cruelties of the young... the occasional foolish comment from those that should know better. After the accident that claimed Amane and his mother, it only got harder for him to reach out to others.

That's why he clings so tightly to games of all kinds. Because 'fun' is something he fell in love with.

He was always thinking "I wish this could go on forever".

[helpusduelist]

[Henry closes his eyes, a gentle breath coming out mixed with a smile of an affectionate, if somewhat sad, father.]

Poor thing. Such hardships will never die out, no matter how much time passes, it seems... they just take on new forms.

[Henry's fingers go to his throat, brushing along something hidden under the armor and the cape briefly.]

He truly is something innocent.

[fluffydeathdealer]

It's foolish... That innocence. It seems nothing truly taints it. Even those desires to not be alone... can't be tainted.

He made that clear long ago.

[Innocent... yes, in a way. That boy...]

I tried to grant his wish... and his rejection of it was firm even after facing the consequences of fighting with me.