The Alternative

Chapter Four

"Yugi seems like a nice guy," Malik brought up casually, spreading his legs out on the soft grass. "I'm sure he'll fit in just fine."

"I'm glad you approve, Malik," Honda rolled his eyes playfully. "He can be shy at times, and quite the nervous nelly, but once he adjusts he'll be good as new."

"Nervous, eh?" Ryou tuned in. "I suppose we have more in common than I thought."

"Well, he just likes it when things work out. He doesn't really care for extra suspense or pressure. As long as he feels like he's in control of what's in his grasp, he's fine."

Jonouchi patiently elbowed Honda in the side. "Speaking of extra suspense and pressure, here comes Yugi!"

And it was supposedly fitting, because poor Yugi was sprinting towards them at full speed ahead with worry engraved on his face.

"Yugi?" They all sang in unison.

The approaching friend slid down onto the grass while gasping for breath. His face was tinted light red and a few drops of sweat were dripping down his cheeks.

"What happened?" Jonouchi pried, placing a hand on his shoulder to placate him.

"I-I—well, I..." his head kept bolting left and right as if he were checking for something. He clenched his fists and pounded them into the grass. "He's following me!" He whispered in caution.

"Who?" Ryou questioned.

"Don't even tell me!" Jonouchi seethed, narrowing his eyes all the while.

"You didn't see him again, did you?" Honda added on hastily.

Yugi swallowed a few large breaths of air and nodded in assent. "He's targeting me and I don't know why!

"WHY I OUGHTTA—"

"Jonouchi! Sit down!" Ryou ordered as calmly as possible. One soft look into the blonde's heated eyes and Jonouchi was able to collect himself. He sat down resentfully, and groaned to show his disagreement of being idle.

"Yugi, I wouldn't take it so personally if I were you," Ryou assured, already knowing who he was talking about and scooting closer to his new friend. "Yami has come after all of us in one way or another."

"He has?" Yugi gazed into Ryou's eyes. "Like how? What has he done to you that makes you want to change rooms so badly?"

The young adult's cherubic face turned solemn as suppressed memories must have surged back into the front of his mind.

"It happened last fall," he stated simply. "I was studying late in the library for a midterm exam that I was going to have the next day...." ~

~Ryou lifted his thermos of hot tea to his lips, smiling as the liquid heated up his body. It was getting too late to focus, but he figured it would be worth it to try anyways.

"I should have just studied in my room," he whined out loud. He could have, but it would have been counterproductive. All of the books he needed to research with were in the library and it was too late to simply check them out. The fact that his roommate invited up friends to drink wasn't such a welcoming thought either.

However, the moment Ryou heard a crash of thunder, he would have most definitely preferred the latter. The dorms were a good five-minute walk away from the library, and though normally it wouldn't be bad, pouring rain would definitely make it uncomfortable.

The white-haired boy lifted his head and took a look around the library. Completely empty. If it wasn't for him activating the motion censored lights, this whole place would be vastly dark.