The Domino Effect // A Yu-Gi-Oh! Puzzleshipping Fanfiction

Chapter 8

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October 5th, 2004,

          I slid my school jacket on, the morning sun shining through the window and illuminating the room. It had been just over three weeks since the whole "photo" incident, and I was finally returning to school. I finally found what I needed to uplift me, to get me going once again - a new point of view, a friend to support me through the harsh times without locking me away like I was in a fairy tale. Although, I'm not quite sure you could say I found a "friend," but quite a bit.. more than that. I'm not even sure.

I traced my fingers over the scabs on my bare wrist, my smooth skin a much more pleasant feeling than the rough, worn cloth from the bandages before. I didn't miss them much - after all, they were much more noticeable than a few healing wounds. Even with the bandages, some wounds were ones you couldn't simply hide. 

''Bye, Grandpa!''

I swung my backpack over my shoulder before heading out the door in a hurry, waving frantically behind me. I didn't look back, but I didn't have to - I could see my grandfather's worried face from here. I brushed it off, focusing on the sunlight that was approaching the horizon. Cars blared their horns on the road beside me as I made my way toward the school, the worries seeming to come in one ear and out the next. Nothing could bring me down, a surge of freedom flowing through my blood as I was finally able to travel free of my binding bandages. While it may just seem like a simple piece of cloth, it was much more than that - it was a reminder that I had made an unforgivable mistake, many, in fact, and a reminder of the fear within me. Now, that was gone, and I was myself again.

Sure, maybe I was a bit too ecstatic, but it couldn't hurt me more than I already had been before. No matter who, what, or why I felt this way, what mattered is that I did. I suppose, however, that some credit could go to - 

''Ack!''

A force tugged me back by my collar, knocking my breath away as I fell into a pair of arms that wrapped around my waist as they caught me.

''Well, if it isn't Mr. Muto,'' A baritone voice purred into my ear. I pushed the teen away in embarrassment, the early rush hour crowd still flocking by. 

''Yami, please!''

The boy frowned playfully before nudging me and continuing on down the street. ''I'm sorry, Yugi. I suppose I just can't help myself.''

''Clearly..''

I adjusted my jacket, fixing it back to it's previous position as Yami walked alongside me. I felt my heart skip a beat before I shook the feeling, attempting to talk myself out of it in my head. What was I doing, being so gushy around him? The one who left us all those years ago, the one who Mana hates with all her heart and then some? We had been close as children, sure, but nothing more than that. I guess years of separation can take a toll on you, even if that means bringing out feelings no other had managed to create. I had never experienced such hopelessness, such love, towards anyone - that feeling that has you constantly shaking in both excitement and fear, the feeling that -

''Yugi!''

I snapped back to attention, just in time to avoid hitting a lamp post. I shifted over, bumping into Yami and quickly apologizing before returning to my place.

''Are you alright, Yugi?'' He questioned in concern, his hands tucked into his pockets. I nodded nervously, rubbing the back of my neck as I came up with a quick excuse.

''Oh, n-nothing, sorry. Just thinking.''

He looked at me for a moment, the suspicion shining in his eyes before turning back.

''Alright then. Well, come on, or we'll be late.''

°°°

October 5th, 2004,

          I leaned against my locker, whispering sweet nothings to a tall blonde beside me. She, naturally, backed away before slapping me across the face, leaving a red, palm-sized mark which I held onto and whined.

''What was that for?!''

''That was just for being you, Joey Wheeler,'' She remarked with a laugh before punching my arm playfully and walking off. I watched in awe, fascinated yet still in intense pain as I rubbed at the mark. I couldn't help but think I deserved that.

I heard gasps from across the main hall as I turned to see, my curiosity getting the best of me as usual. I scanned across the crowd huddled around the lockers until I finally spotted what everyone had been mumbling about -

And dear Ra did I wish I hadn't looked.

In came Yugi,  his practical clone standing at his side. They huddled together, wading through the crowd that shifted to accommodate them as I watched in shock. Yugi hadn't told me that he was returning, and neither had his grandpa, but that was the least concerning thing about this scene. Why was he with Yami?

And why did he seem ok with it?!

He must've gone insane, I think to myself, frozen in place before a voice mumbled beside me.

''I'm just as shocked as you are.''

I looked over, the familiar blonde now holding a water bottle in her hand and sipping from it slowly. She watched the two boys as they spoke, as if nothing had ever happened. It was a whole new level of shocking, a whole new level of confusion, and on Yugi's part, a whole new level of stupidity.

As the two separated along with the crowd, a girl hopped up to Yami's side enthusiastically, her arms beneath her chest to lift it up and show it off. She seemed to talk Yami's ear off, and he didn't want anything to do with it - but she wouldn't let him go. She curved herself to perk up everything she wanted to show, which was horrible to try and watch. It looked like a total train-wreck from afar.

''Look, Mai,'' I mumbled, nudging her. ''It's her again.''

''Oh, just lovely.''

The blonde took a swift drink from her water before sealing the cap on it tightly and slipping it into her backpack.

''That girl's a total slut, everyone knows she only stays in this dump to get into Yami's pants.'' She scoffed. ''It's sickening.''

I nodded along, watching her poke at the teen.

''I have to go stop this - ''

''Wait.''

I looked over to Mai, confused as to why she would stop me. Did she want her to torment him? Mai always was mischievous, but never so much as to wish that upon someone. She pointed back to them, swinging her backpack onto her shoulder once more and watching alone.

Holy Ra.

The smaller teen had shut his locker and now approached the brunette, his side brushing against Yami he stood so close. I blinked a couple of times to make sure I was seeing things correctly, but the scene only progressed further.

Tea stepped back, standing upright as she looked down and pointed at the child. You could hear her laughter from a mile away, although she tried to make it as friendly as possible. She always was one for friendship, I suppose.

A crowd began to accumulate once more as we watched from afar, unsure of what to think of the situation. What was Yugi -

Mai choked on her water beside me in shock as I quickly rushed to her aid, looking back at the crowd.

Yugi's hand was intertwined with Yami's, a smirk spread across his face as they left down the hall. Yami pulled the teen closer towards him, moving his hand to rest on his shoulders. Tea watched in disbelief as they continued towards their class together, making it very clear they felt no shame in their actions.

''Damn,'' Mai let the words slip past her lips, watching them as well. I let only faint portions of sounds escape me as I thought fearfully.

What the fuck has Yug gotten himself into now?

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