magicalkyou

[magicalkyou]

He seemed nervous? He was nervous. Not that he wanted to be nervous at all, either; his heart just wouldn't slow down and his fingers kept quivering and his stomach was doing acrobatics he could only dream of--

"I--I, um," mumbled Kyou, "Kurusu. Kyou Kurusu, Gauche-san."

And to duel... maybe he ought to side deck for this one.

Geez, this guy was more nervous than the worst of those he dealt with during the WDC, and there were many. Though, worst was the wrong way to put it. “Are you okay? You seem nervous.” Mirroring Kyou’s gesture, he shut his mouth except for a different reason. “Um, what’s your name?”

[magicalkyou]

@sanctumv

That day was a good day for Kyou Kurusu. One of many rare days. The new wig had arrived for Galaxy Queen in the mail that morning, and he had passable enough marks to be granted permission to finish working on her costume. It was spiritedly, determinedly, that Kyou headed home in the afternoon, hands tucked deep within his pockets and around the small bag of white lace hidden within them.

When he approached his house, Kyou froze. An unfamiliar person stood in front of it, gender hard to tell. All Kyou could see were volumes of luxurious silver hair shining in the light, and white slacks over white heels peeking out from below.

Kyou didn't recognise them. Kyou didn't want to stay around just in case he would be seen. So it was very carefully and gingerly that he backtracked before crawling up the fence and attempting to climb over the wall.

[magicalkyou]

The moment his mind began to replay facts and figures, Kyou cursed in his head and tried to stop the overdrive - to no avail. It was instantaneously that he found the lie in the stranger's words, and only seconds after that his frown deepened.

Shady transactions explained the man's aura. Shady transactions explained why he would be so persistent on the matter. But shady transactions did not excuse the fact that it had taken place on school grounds, nor the fact that Kyou had been staking out the area for several days already and he'd never seen anyone or anything nearby. The card had to have been newly placed--and if it was new, someone ought to be guarding.

...But still, with a moment's hesitation, Kyou looked away from the man and stepped to the side. 

"Okay," he said.

It was not his business any more. It never had been.

@photonpulse

A loud sigh and deep breath in gave Kaito time to think; a literal breather. “It’s a valuable item,” was a less-than-powerful response. Then his voice hardened to steel. “It was left here to be transferred to me so the seller wouldn’t be shown associated with me.” Shady business, but the best he could muster.

Perhaps it was a bad idea to have indicated value in the card. It was odd how this boy didn’t succumb to Kaito’s superior confidence. He took a step forward to assert his control. Anything to prevent another stolen soul.

[magicalkyou]

What do you think of Fuya?

Kyou opened his mouth, but it was not to speak. It was trepidation, and an increased prickling on the back of his neck which spawned from the emotions flooding through him and those were from his feelings which were--

"He's an amazing actor," he said, finally, though his words were little more than a whisper. He wasn't sure if it was wise to be telling this all to a face he didn't know, but strangely enough the anonymity helped him form the words he couldn't say. "ESPer Robin. I really look up to him... He--he is my... idol."

[magicalkyou]

...Oh. He'd said that out loud then, hadn't he?

Kyou did not know how it happened, but for some strange reason he'd stopped panicing. He still felt nervous, certainly, but the pressure on his chest died down and rational thought returned to the fore. Ah; that again. Maybe the admission sent the shy part of him into hiding.

"Yeah," he said. It was strange, the lack of stutter - especially outside his own home. But still, the grip on the book tightened, his tongue quickly darted out to lick his lips and the buzzing in his gut sent his gaze to the floor. 

"I really do, Okudaira-san. I think--" You're amazing. Absolutely exceptional. The most beautiful person. "--you're really strong."

@esperobin

Fuuya paused and turned, eyes wide, to face Kyou. Someone… Someone actually wanted…

“Are you- I mean, nobody has ever-“

Calm down calm down calm down “Do you mean that?”

Fuuya looked more stunned than anything, though a nervous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He almost dared to let himself be proud- But surely Kyou was referring only to Robin. And who wouldn’t want to be like the brave hero who saved galaxy after galaxy? Fuuya was only so lucky that he could pretend to be him.

But still, it felt… nice.

[magicalkyou]

Wow. Okay. Just his luck he'd find someone who knew what he didn't want them to know. If he could have any excuse to leave--

"A--ah," he said.

--but did he want to leave, even? There were many excuses - countless other excuses he could have used.

"I'd... like to enter." Aimlessly, he began playing with the bracelet on his left wrist, and felt the courage slowly return. "If that's okay."

He seemed rather adorable, actually. In the ‘oh my God let me be your big sister and take care of you’ sense, of course. But Droite wasn’t very well going to start kidnapping people to be some big sister figure to. That was creepy and illegal, even if they were adorable.

The Carnival. Of course. She should have seen that one coming. Well, he came to the right person. “My name is Droite,” she introduced herself. After all, he introduced himself, as well. It was only fair. “I’m a proctor at the World Duel Carnival, so yes, I know about it. Is there anything in particular you need?”

[magicalkyou]

Kyou didn't know how red he was, but he could feel it when the blood rushed to his face and cold fingers wrapped tighter around the bottom edge of his shirt. He made sure to keep his gaze everywhere that wasn't at Gauche - something quite difficult considering the man's bulk.

He opened his mouth. A second later, he closed it silently, and brought his toes together. What could he even say?

“Um,” said Kyou, when Gauche bent down. Kyou didn’t leave, however, despite being given the go-ahead. Yes; he had wanted something, hadn’t he?

Fully prepared for the rejection that would follow, Kyou braced himself and blurted before he could change his mind: “Gauche-I’d-really-like-to—can-I-have-a-duel-with-you?”

[magicalkyou]

Had he been able to cry, Kyou would have cried. But he wouldn't cry. He'd sworn so. Michi--

His vision flashed. He wasn't in the alleyway--he was, but--but at his desk, working on the homework they'd been assigned. And...

"...functions," he murmured, though he didn't know why. "Even: Function f-x equals function f negative-x. I know the answer, sensei. Question 3, function P-x is neither. I--sensei--"

--And then he realised where he was, he remembered where he was, and his stomach threatened to flip inside out and throw up and

"I-- I'm sorry!" Kyou wanted to clutch his throat and his chest when he choked. He was pretty sure there were tears in his eyes - disgusting, traitorous tears. "Please! Just--please... forgive me..."

Bakura scoffed harshly, his lilac eyes hardened and icy cold as he glared the boy down. A of sense wariness tugged at him as he heard talking and laughter not too far from where the two of them were. The Thief King normally wouldn’t mind such interruptions, and quite often took pleasure in spilling some blood, but even he was tired and desperate at this point. He had been walking for days, and as much as he hated to admit it, was in no position to take on more than one person at the moment.

 He growled in frustration, stepping forward so that he was only an arms-length away from the blue haired student. His fingers tightened around the handle of his knife, the blade glinting softly in the dull light.

“I—”

His arm shot out, and he grabbed the collar of the teen’s shirt roughly. He turned so that the student was shoved against the wall, and Bakura held him in place with a tight grip on the fabric. The thief even pulled him off of the ground slightly, a grin taking hold of his face along with a harsh bark of laughter.

“What? You what?” he demanded, a small snarl managing to creep it’s way into his voice. He raised his other arm, the dagger pressing against the flesh of his victim.

[magicalkyou]

Not my usual fan.

From where he'd been eyeing the corridors, Kyou's gaze drifted down to stare at the ground. He remained silent until they passed the next corner; any thoughts of Fuya Okudaira holding his bento and leading them to his dressing room(!) were now gone.

"I..." murmured Kyou, when they began to slow down a little more. He did want to tell Fuya, tell Robin, the great hero of justice. But what if Fuya Okudaira didn't care? Robin, in itself, was merely a role. So...

I want to be like you.

@esperobin

[magicalkyou]

Oh. Of course. That made sense, but...

Kyou couldn't help but frown. Something about the man unsettled him in the most disturbing way possible, whether it was the glare or the arrogance or even the man's physical appearance and sense of style. Kyou had met arrogant people, of course, and come across those with worse fashion, but...

Kyou licked dry lips. He forced his feet to remain grounded, even as his stomach began to churn and the clipped segment of hair to the right of his face re-ignited its ghostly tingle.

"If it's yours," said Kyou, voice wavering. Prove it to me. "Why is it there?"

@photonpulse

[magicalkyou]

"Ah--" said Kyou. "If she can't make it, that's okay--"

He was quickly distracted by a flash of silver, and peeked into a doorway the best he could from where he stood. Yes; his eyes hadn't deceived him. Peeking out from beneath a tarp, it was the Different Dimension Jet Iron in all its glory. Wow.

And then Kyou blinked when he realised that Fuya was talking.

"No, no," he said, hurriedly. That's alright, "I don't mind."

@esperobin

“Would you like to meet her?”

Very few people had wanted to meet Galaxy Queen, Fuuya’s own mother, but he supposed that a guest would want to see as much as they could.

He lead Kyou down corridor after corridor, pointing excitedly to each room that was of importance. Occasionally he would grab Kyou’s hand, leading him sharply around a corner or onto a set.

“Oh! How foolish of me; I never put the lunch you gave me away. Do you mind if we stop by my dressing room? I-I’m really sorry..” Fuuya offered a weak smile, hoping that Kyou wouldn’t be too upset with the delay. 

[magicalkyou]

He was going to die he was going to die he was goingtodie--

What are you going to do, asked the voice in the back of his mind, the one which always tried to keep him rational and calm. What would you do if you could? What would ESPer Robin or ZEXALura do?

ESPer Robin and ZEXALura were stronger than he was. Even Inpachi was strongeer than he. There was no point in fighting. There--

Kyou took half a step back. "I--"

He never finished; there was nothing he could say. His throat had tightened. He couldn't have spoken even it he wanted to.

Bakura’s eyes narrowed, his chesire cat-like grin never wavering from his face for a heartbeat. He watched with satisfaction as his victim’s gaze darted around desperately, and the thief was pleased in knowing that he would either have to surrender and give up what he had, or try to go through him and his blade- most likely losing not only his possessions, but even possibly his life in the process. Either way, he won, and that was just how he liked things.

He took a few steps closer to the teen, examining what he had managed to catch this time. The short, blue-haired boy didn’t appear to be too much trouble, standing there shaking and unable to speak. He caught sight of him staring at his pale, unkempt hair and he sneered coldly. 

“What’s wrong, cat caught your tongue?” he gave a low chuckle, the noise rumbling in his throat.

[magicalkyou]

"Um," said Kyou, when Gauche bent down. Kyou didn't leave, however, despite being given the go-ahead. Yes; he had wanted something, hadn't he?

Fully prepared for the rejection that would follow, Kyou braced himself and blurted before he could change his mind: "Gauche-I'd-really-like-to--can-I-have-a-duel-with-you?"

Maybe it was his massive physique that was scaring the poor boy so much. Gauche awkwardly bent his knees to match his height just a little better. He was painfully anxious, and seemed to decide against speaking until it was confirmed with his small whisper.

“If you were about to say something, there’s nothing wrong with saying it,” said Gauche calmly. “Otherwise, you can leave too, I guess.”

He wasn’t used to dealing with people like this.

[magicalkyou]

Kyou shuddered when he stared into those glittering, dark eyes. He tore his gaze away; he looked to the street full of people too far, unable to speak, with only the desperation in his eyes to help him flee. Unexpectedly, his arms and shoulders became weak, and his legs tensed - not that he could have done much damage against a madman and his blade.

His heart was beating in his throat. His gaze flickered erratically, never lingering too long for an extended period of time. Oddly, for some strange, inexplicable reason, when he ended up staring at long silver hair he noticed the knots and clumps that could have only belonged to someone who hadn't groomed for an extended period of time.

Well, then. He was at knifepoint, facing a gangster. Or a yakuza. Kyou opened his mouth to speak. Silently, far too aware of the adrenaline pounding in his brain, he closed it without a word.

He was going to die. He was only fifteen... and he was going to die.

Bakura grinned gleefully to himself as he prowled casually after the boy, his lilac eyes glittering darkly. From the look of things, he wasn’t in for too much of a struggle, not that it was really a challenge for him either way.

The paled-haired man matched the younger one’s pace with ease, his glare never wavering from his target. As soon as he had noticed that there was no one else in sight, he lunged forward, roughly pushing himself in between his victim and the opening to an alleyway.

“Going somewhere?” he chided, his tone dripping with cruel amusement. He stepped forward, his fingers wrapping around the handle of a dagger.

[magicalkyou]

At the voice, Kyou stiffened, then slowly turned around. His arm dropped automatically as he did so. The man had appeared from nowhere - there was no way he had been anywhere remotely near, moments ago.

The thought that Kyou was higher only lightly brushed his mind. What the man lacked in height he had in prideful confidence. In the end that was all the difference that mattered.

Kyou shrank under the gaze despite being at the top of the stairs. "Is... it yours?"

@photonpulse

It was a high wall of smooth stone.

Kyou stared at it, his nose centimetres away from the surface, as he took in each and every imperfection in what was otherwise a perfect wall. Splotches where neon green paint drew together, dents and scratches, discolouration from the sun…

Then he blinked as a waft of violet light caught his eye. It was a card, nestled within a crevasse, black-bordered and art difficult to discern. The depth meant it could not have anything but purposefully placed, and Kyou glanced around to see if the owner was nearby.

He shifted the bento box in his hands so that it was held only in his left, and reached out for the Xyz Monster.

[magicalkyou]

"I'm not running away," said Kyou, reflexively, without giving it much thought. Then he cringed. Great, now he'd initialised conversation. Well, asking couldn't hurt.

He turned to face her again, and noticed his fingers' tight grip around his cards and how the edge scored into his skin. Stiffly, he pulled his hand out of his pocket - then realising he had nowhere to put it, awkwardly scratched his hair. It was getting long again.

"A--uhm," he muttered. Why was he talking to her no it didn't matter just get away and-- "I--My name is Kurusu - Kyou Kurusu. Do you... know anything about the World Duel Carnival?"

photonbutterfly started following you

When he saw the woman, he couldn’t help but wonder if she ever considered tying up her hair. Perhaps a high ponytail, to bring out the shape of her face and accentuate the eyes. And her body, those curves were just so enviously—

Kyou quickly looked somewhere else. He got up from the bench without being asked; no, someone like her wouldn’t want to talk to him. Then he pocketed his deck and started walking away.

[magicalkyou]

Fuya Okudaira was everything Kyou expected and more. Fuya Okudaira's smile, dazzling on camera, split Kyou's heart into two and then four when seen so closely in reality.

Fuya Okudaira was simply amazing.

Then Fuya Okudaira gestured for him to enter the D. D. ESPer Robin studios behind him, and Kyou followed after a brief pause. The book under his jacket slipped a few centimetres as he did so, and he quickly pushed it back into place. Maybe... he would ask Fuya Okudaira to sign it later. Maybe.

"Ah--um," he muttered, "is Galaxy Queen going to be there?" Since you're dressed as Robin, I mean.

@esperobin