Disclaimer: I don't own anything used in this fic. Pouts
Note: This takes place in America, because I know nothing about Japanese schooling and cliques.
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"Ryou! Ryou-san, wait for me!" The silver-haired bishounin paused, adjusting the book-bag slung haphazardly over his shoulder. Turning to see who had called for him, Ryou couldn't see anyone he recognized until a flash of black and red jumped up, letting him know that poor little Yugi was caught within the crowd.
The chibi-sized boy ducked in-between the legs of the mass crowding the hallway, finally catching up to his friend. "Hey, Yugi-kun. What are you doing on this side of the school? I thought you had science on the other end of the building." "I do. I just ran down here to tell you that Malik got ASD and can't take you home today."
Ryou sighed. It wasn't really surprising that the most violent of their group had gotten after-school detention. Again. Malik just didn't seem to know when to shut his mouth. "What did he do this time?" Yugi chuckled softly, letting Ryou know that this was going to be a good one. "Well, you know that preppy cheerleader, Anzu?"
Ryou scoffed. Who didn't? The girl was a ho. "Yes, Yugi. What happened?" "Malik locked her in the ball-cage in PE and, don't even ask how he managed this one, hung it over the pool."
The two shared a look before bursting into laughter, getting many strange looks from the students shoving past them. This was most definitely not the first time that the school officials had been forced to rescue the brunet bitch from some rather interesting places. No one could figure out how Anzu had ended up trapped in a sousaphone case in the band room.
"What did Anzu do/say to Malik to make him that mad?" Yugi hissed as if though burned. "You know how Malik is working on that program?" Ryou nodded, thinking of the oh-so-impossible-to-understand computer program that Malik had been working on which would allow him to hack into almost any computer in the whole world. "Well, Anzu 'didn't see his bag there' and tossed her backpack on top of Malik's."
Ryou winced. "Poor Malik. Anzu deserved what she got for that one." Yugi nodded, quickly. Bzzzzz "Oh! That was the warning bell! Gotta go!" Yugi called, waving back to Ryou as he dashed down the quickly emptying hall. Ryou returned his friend's wave, happily, but his smile dropped as Yugi got farther away and he pulled his hand to his chest. It felt so weird to Ryou; having real friends...
Bzzzzz 'Oh, no! I'm late!' Ryou ran to his history class, meeting a mocking closed door. Ryou sighed, knowing that no one in that class had probably even noticed that he wasn't there. He opened the door, closing it quietly behind him, trying not to bother anyone, but was unable to escape his teacher's cold glare as he entered. "Mr. Bakura! Is it really so difficult to get to this class, on time?"
There was a soft, scathing snicker echoed through the class as everyone laughed at him. Tears welled up in Ryou's eyes as he shook under the injustice of it all. He had only been late once before, and that was not his fault, but the fault of a bully who had locked him in a supply closet in the science lab.
"Well? Are you going to stand there all day? Sit down!" He moved to his seat, head down, stepping over all of the legs thrown out to trip him. He silently got out his book and proceeded to do his work, ignoring the harsh whispers passed about him in all directions. Ryou Bakura: reject of humanity.
Fifteen or so minutes into the class, Ryou was jarred from his work by a sharp kick to the back of his chair. "Stop it," he hissed, quietly, to whoever would be his tormentor for today. A deep chuckle was heard behind him. As usual, Ryou was seen as being about as threatening as a cotton puff. A few seconds later, a spit-wad hit him in the back of the head.
"Oh, yuck!" Ryou said in a normal tone, drawing everyone's attention, as he got the disgusting wad of paper out of his hair. "Mr. Bakura! You haven't drawn enough attention to yourself today?" the teacher questioned, cruelly. "Ma'am, someone threw a spit-wad at me!" he said, incredulously, trying to defend himself.
"Now, I'm sure none of the other students would do such a thing," she told him, patronizingly. "Continue on with your work. Silently!" she added, seeing him ready to protest again. Ryou hung his head, giving up. "Yes, ma'am."
When she turned her attention from him, Ryou turned around, discretely, to see just who was behind him. He frowned at the boy giving him a feral smirk. Bakura Itemri: the devil incarnate.
Ryou sighed, knowing he couldn't be surprised. Bakura had disliked him from day one when someone had confused the more popular boy for the 'cute new student' and asked him out. Needless to say, she had neither approached Bakura nor Ryou since.
'What was that for?' Ryou asked, writing his inquiry on a sticky-note and passing it to the damnable demon. Bakura read the note and wrote coldly on the back 'your friend will pay for what he did to Anzu. You just wait.' Ryou sent a frosty glare over his shoulder, knowing sadly that it would only make Bakura laugh harder.
Of course it had to do with her. After all, she was one of Bakura's faithful little cheerleaders. One of many. After all, who wouldn't want to be seen hanging off of one of the three star football players in the school? Personally, Ryou was often caught wondering why Anzu was so touchy with Bakura when everyone one and their mother knew that she was so in love with the quarterback, Yami Motou.
The rest of the class had passed horribly in a torrent of hissed insults, well-aimed spit-wads, and painful jarring from sharp kicks. The only thought that had sustained Ryou was the knowledge that, once he made it through history, it was finally the weekend.
Bzzzzz! Sound exploded around Ryou as his classmates let the spirit of Friday engulf them. Ryou stuffed all of his things into his book-bad, cautiously avoiding his composition folder, eager to get to the stadium where, once again, Malik would be stuck for an hour doing janitorial work as his punishment.
"It's three o'clock. Do you know where your friend is?" Ryou didn't even twitch, hearing Bakura seething tone. "Depends on which one you're talking about. You see, unlike yourself, I have more than one person I could truly consider a friend, and as it is, I'm late to meet one of them. If you'll excuse me."
Ryou attempted to stand and walk away from the albino hell-raiser, but a clawed hand grabbed his upper arm, squeezing sharply. "I don't think you realize just who you're talking to," Bakura snarled, nostrils blazing. "Let go of me," Ryou said, trying to sound commanding, but a little whine under his words.
"Oh, I'll let you go, alright." Bakura picked him up around the throat and threw him into the wall, students crowding animalisticly, chanting "fight, fight, fight" over and over again. Ryou was surrounded, trapped in a cage of people standing face to face with a man who could break him in half with a snap of his fingers.
"I don't want to fight you!" Ryou yelled, pupils quivering as he assessed the situation to the best of his ability. There was no way out! Bakura grabbed his collar and pulled him so that his face was inches from Bakura's. "I'll make you regret being born, you little wretch!"
The larger of the two pulled a fist back, ready to strike his littler, when he saw a reflection of himself in the deep pools of chocolate brown. At best, he looked insane. Like a monster. He jerked, letting Ryou go with a shove. "Get out of here, you damn brat," he snarled, the crowd of students parting for him as he left.
With no fight to look forward to, the sea of students followed Bakura out of the class, letting the popular boy lead them around like mindless puppies. Ryou leaned against the wall, clutching his chest and panting. Small sobs wracked his breathing. 'Oh god....' Ryou sniffled, grabbing his bag and getting out of that classroom before anyone else decided to try and duke it out with him.
The clock in the hallway displayed bright red numbers, quite visible in the paste-white hallways of the school. 3:15. If he left now, Malik would barely notice that he had been held up. He tossed his things in his locker, ignoring the usual wave of cruel notes that washed over him as he opened the door.
"Hey, bunny. You want to give me a hand with this garbage?" Malik asked when Ryou got to the football field where the Egyptian had to pick up all of the trash to make the stands look presentable for the home game that night. "Sure." Taking a bag, the two worked, silently, tossing candy wrappers and coke cans in the garbage bags.
"You're being quiet today," Malik pointed out, giving Ryou a soft look. High pitch cheers came from the sidelines where the cheerleading team was 'practicing', watching the football team practice. "I'm fine...just had a little trouble with Bakura again." Malik snarled, his hate for the white-haired demon showing.
"If he messes with you again, tell me. I'll handle that coward." Malik had always considered the bullies who picked on Ryou and Yugi cowardly, not even having the bravery to pick on someone their own size. "I will, Malik. I promise." Malik gave him a loving smile, which Ryou returned.
Contrary to popular belief, the two of them were not dating. In all truth, those rumors had most likely been the result of girls like Anzu. Speaking of the prep, she was down on the sidelines, leading her girls in cheers.
"Go, go, go! Go you mighty tigers! Fight, fight, fight! Fight you mighty tigers! Win, win, win! Win you mighty tigers! Go! Fight! Win!" All of the girls erupted into cheers, acting as if though Anzu had done some spectacular thing.
"Hey, Ryou, watch this," Malik growled playfully under his breath. "Hey, Mazaki!" The brunet turned and gave him a scathing look. "What do you want?" "I've got a new cheer for all you little bitches! Wanna hear it? It goes something like this! 'Rah, rah, stuff that bra!'" Malik put his hands on his chest and then jerked them out sharply, mocking the girls.
Enraged cries came from the girls as Malik turned his back to them, chuckling at the names thrown at him. Ryou was giggling behind the hand covering his mouth. Malik flashed him a peace sign.
"You're horrible!" Ryou told him, laughing. Malik grinned. "And?" "Think fast, bastard!" a male called from the field, a football flying at Malik. With super reflexes, Malik blocked his head, the ball falling harmlessly onto the bleachers. Malik glared down at the team, one boy in particular.
"Oops!" the linebacker, Marik Ishtar, said, faking innocence, the insane grin on his face and the flash in his eyes betraying his mocked tone. Malik's eyes blazed with fury. "You want to attack me, you useless jackass?! Then get your fat ass up here and stop hiding behind your lackeys!" Ryou whimpered, clutching Malik's arm. Bakura gave Ryou the world's coldest glare from behind Marik, looking, for all intensive purposes, like a psychotic, looming bodyguard.
Marik just grinned, cruelly, showing of sharp, white teeth. Malik bent over, lavender eyes locked with Marik's, and picked up the ball. Everyone was watching, waiting to see what he would do. Malik turned his back to the masses and tossed the football clear over the back of the bleachers. Giving Marik a little smirk Malik, with a mocking tone, cooed "oops!"
Once again, collective shouts drifted up to the two 'outcasts', but the small victory they had just allowed themselves to enjoy made it worth it. Malik looked down at the football boys, a smile on his face, when a pair of violet eyes caught his own, as Marik stared at him, no emotion, but a hard look, upon his face. Malik's smile diminished as they held glances before he had to look away.
'Damn. His eyes are like fire. Oh god.' Feeling overwhelmed, he staggered, letting his trash bag fall to the floor. Ryou frowned and put a hand to the side of his face, concern reflecting in the chocolate dreams that were his eyes. "Are you alright?" "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Come on, we're going. It's got to be close to four, at least."
Malik took both of the bags, tossing them in the garbage can. As they left the stadium, heading to the lot where his bike was waiting for him, loyally, Malik felt someone watching their departure. He didn't have to turn around to see the blazing purple eyes that followed his every move.
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Yugi walked around the mall 30 minutes later, planning to meet up with his friends, completely oblivious to what had happened back at the school. Pop music blared loudly from some new 'hip' store on the strip, full of girls dressed like the world's most dishonorable kind of slut who were examining new potential purchases.
Yugi kept his head down as he passed the store, recognizing many of the girls in there as cheerleaders. 'Something must have happened to disrupt practice,' he thought to himself, trying to dismiss the idea that whatever had occurred was Malik's fault.
Continuing to walk with his head down, Yugi couldn't really see where he was going. Therefore, it should have come as no surprise when he walked right into someone. Yugi, being smaller than whomever he had collided with, accepted the mass of the force, falling backwards and onto his butt.
"I'm sorry," Yugi apologized, picking himself off of the ground, "I wasn't watching where I was going." The other chuckled. "That's alright, no harm done." Yugi looked up and met the deep crimson eyes of the only person on Earth that could pass for the boy's near doppelganger.
"Oh, gosh, I'm really sorry, Atemu-san," Yugi rushed out, cowering a bit before the boy who could make or break a person in seconds. If one thought Bakura or Marik were sharks in the 'popularity world', they would immediately be shown to Yami Atemu. Money, looks, charisma, and a million sports awards, Yami had it all. The entire school was under the control of him, alone.
Yami placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. Accidents happen. Besides, you're the one who got knocked down. I should be apologizing to you." Yugi blushed bright red as Yami bowed from the waist, with a murmured "gomen nasi". Yugi stammered.
"I-I-I have to go. Bye!" He dashed down the hall, not stopping until he reached the smoothie place where Malik and Ryou were waiting for him in a booth. "Yugi!" Ryou called to him, waving perkily. Malik just acknowledged him with a jerk of the head. "What's up, guys? Did I keep you waiting?"
"Nah. We've only been her for about ten minutes. After wrecking football and cheerleading, there just wasn't anything for me to do," Malik said with a grin. Yugi shook his head. "I should have known." A busty, blonde waitress set down a tray with three frozen treats on it.
"That'll be $4.13," the girl purred to Malik. He crinkled his nose as he looked at her. "Mai? Mai Kujaku?" The girl tilted her head. "Mali?" Yugi tackled the girl with a hug. "Mai!" The blonde laughed, hugging him. "So this is what you're doing now that you've graduated, girl? You must be really bored."
She nodded. "You have no idea. I still have another month before I head off to college, so here I am." "Kujaku, you're on clock! Get to work!" She sent a puppy look to the manager who was yelling at her from behind the counter. He blushed hotly and looked away.
She uncapped a pen and grabbed Malik's hand, writing on it. "'Mai: 135-4621'. Call me sometime, cutie." She dashed off, leaving the boys blinking after her. "Did you notice that she called Malik 'cutie'?" Ryou asked. "Yeah. Did you notice that she didn't even grab the cash?" Spoken too soon. On her next passing, the grabbed the $5 fisted in Malik's hand.
Mai had always been that way. She was a year older than they were, but after a very short fling with Malik that had ended on agreement from both sides, she had been a pretty close friend of theirs. Mai had been different than every other girl in that conformant prison of a school. Instead of dreaming of being a cheerleader, Mai would grope the cheer-bitches....
"Oh, well," Malik said with a shrug, passing Mai's actions of as her being her. "Shop time!" Ryou cheered. Being the most effeminate of the group, Ryou had a penchant for shopping that very few people could match. Their first stop was the entertainment store, where they, upon entry, headed straight to the 'imported music' section.
"Guys!" Yugi called with a gasp; "Bad Luck has a new CD out!" The three boys squealed, grabbing a copy of their favorite J-pop group's new album. "I love Bad Luck!" Ryou cooed, hugging the disk to his chest. "Oh, me too," Malik said, running a finger over the picture of the guitarist, Hiroshi. Ryou sighed, wistfully.
"Oh, how I wish my music was anywhere near as good as theirs." Malik and Yugi looked at him. "Speaking of, what's been happening with Rage Beat? You don't talk about the band as much any more." Ryou blushed. "Well...I just didn't want to jinx it. You see, because we've finished most of the composing work, our next step is to get some performances."
"And? Have you gotten any?" Malik asked, eyes wide. "I was...going to bring it up later, but we have a performance tomorrow night at The B-Scale. It's a little music club." Yugi glomped him. "That's great! I'm sure you'll do wonderful!" Ryou smiled. "I hope so. I sure am nervous. Everyone is counting on me."
"Well, don't you worry, pal," Malik said, draping an arm over his shoulder. "When you get on stage to give a show like no one's ever seen, Yugi and I will be in the audience cheering like we're on speed." Ryou laughed at Malik's exact wording and returned their hugs. "Aw, thanks, you guys. You're the greatest."
Their group-glomp was interrupted; however, by a scathing remark. "Aw, look. Faggots. Ain't they cute?" The boys' heads whipped to the direction of the cruel comment. Ryou and Yugi gulped and shrunk behind Malik. Ushio.
Malik looked over the gang made up of the over-sized bullock and his little bitches. "Aw, look. Dumb asses. Ain't they stupid?" Ushio growled and grabbed the front of Malik's shirt. "Give me all of your money if you want to live."
Malik looked at him evenly, counting the number of enemies. "One, two, three, four, five, six. Okay, so there's six of you and only one of me." He faked a helpless look. "What am I to do?"
Malik jerked from Ushio's hold, getting him across the jaw with a roundhouse kick. The large man's lackeys stood there frozen as he held a hand against his mouth, blood seeping past his fingers. "Don't just stand there! Get him!" They attacked all at once, not giving Malik any chance to defend himself.
Fighting to the best of his abilities, Malik clawed, bit, and kicked at the group of boys currently trying to, as best as he could figure, remove his intestines. Yugi and Ryou were in on the fight to. "Stop it!" Ryou cried, trying to tug one of the smaller boys off of Malik. "Leave him alone!"
The boy backhanded Ryou, sending him to the floor; face bruised and embedded with a red handprint. Suddenly, every hit seemed to fall in a dimension that Malik had no contact with. This was why he fought. He had to protect his friends...
Malik made a wild slash, feeling skin underneath his nails, and bit down on the first body part to come anywhere near his mouth. As the struggle continued, the number of hits lessened and the force of those hits had divided by half. They were weakening! Malik flung out a clawed hand when he saw someone come at him, then fell to the floor.
While he had been distracted by the attack from one side, a swift kick had been delivered to his ribs. The thugs, ones that Malik thought he had gotten rid of, were holding Ryou and Yugi. He hadn't been winning! They were going after the others!
Ushio stood over Malik and cracked his knuckles. "I'll teach you better than to mess with me boy." Two lackeys held him up for the blow that Malik could guess would fall on either his ribs or face. He sent a look to his friends. 'I couldn't protect them....'
Malik closed his eyes before the fist flying towards his face. But the hit never came. "Ow! Ow, ow, ow!" Malik cracked his eyes open after hearing Ushio's whimpers and gasped. Standing over him was one of the few people he had ever expected to care. Standing over him...was Marik Ishtar.
Who was holing Ushio's fist in his hand, squeezing it! "Let him go," Marik stated calmly to the men holding Malik on either side. When they didn't immediately comply, Marik wrenched Ushio's hand harder. "Now!"
Malik fell to his knees as they let him go. More whimpers of pain came from the direction of his friends as Bakura and Yami easily got the thugs off of their look-a-likes. Marik got right in Ushio's face and growled at him. "Now listen, bitch. I don't ever want to see you messing with them again."
Ushio cried out as Marik twisted his wrist at an odd angle. "Are we clear?" "Yes, yes!" "Good." Marik shoved him. "Get!" Ushio and his lackeys couldn't run quick enough if Hermes had set their asses aflame.
The more 'social' of the two tanned-skin boys leaned down to the other. "Are you alright?" Malik muttered something under his breath as Yami helped Yugi brush off and Bakura begrudgingly tried to place Ryou's spikes into something resembling order. "What did you say?" Marik asked him.
"Why the hell did you have to butt in!" Marik raised an eyebrow. "You should be thanking me, boy. I just saved your ass." "If I'd wanted your help, I would have asked for it!" Malik yelled. "Mali..." Ryou cooed, softly.
Marik got right in Malik's face. "After what you did, earlier, I should have left you to get the shit beat out of you. But I, out of the goodness of my heart, helped you. Show some gratitude!" "You've ruined everything!" Malik shouted at him.
Marik's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" "Don't you get it? If they think we need jerks like you to protect us, then you might as well just paint a bully target on us!" Yugi hugged Malik from behind. Marik frowned. "Ushio won't bother you anymore."
"It's-It's not like he was the worst of our problems," Ryou sniffled. Malik looked like his whole world had crashed around him. "You want gratitude. Well, thanks. Thanks for signing our death warrants."
The outcasts made to leave, but Marik grabbed Malik's wrist. "Had I known, I wouldn't have done that." Malik kept his head facing the other direction. "Whatever." Malik pulled out of his grip, only stopping for the group to get their Bad Luck CDs.
Bakura growled. "Well that was the biggest waste of my time that I've had to encounter." "Whether they'll admit it or not, they needed help!" Yami protested. "Please! We just wasted our precious time to save the lowest step on the whole damn social ladder. Helping them was social suicide!"
Yami glared at Bakura. "I'm not discrediting what we had to do to get where we are, but that doesn't mean we have to loose all sense of humanity!" Before Bakura, could respond, Marik put his hand between them. "Let's just go." Upon exiting the store, however, a slender hand grabbed Marik's arm.
"It might be a bit too late...but thanks." Marik smiled at Malik. "You're welcome." The corners of Malik's mouth twitched before he turned away and went to where Ryou and Yugi were sitting. "Why did you thank him?" Ryou asked him. "Because, whether I like it or not, he saved me."
"We should probably head home," Yugi said, taking a look at his watch. It was rapidly nearing 5:30, and Friday night traffic was always murder. "I'll give you a ride home," Malik offered to Ryou, who lived less than a mile away. "I'll see you guys later," Yugi told them, giving them both hugs before rushing home to have dinner with his grandpa.
Malik climbed onto his bike, passing a helmet back to Ryou. "You know, Malik...I didn't want to say anything earlier, but it was really brave of you to try and fight all of them by yourself." Malik sighed, pulling Ryou on behind him so the boy would be pressed against him. "I couldn't protect you and Yugi. I couldn't keep you safe."
"Malik, there were six of them, and only one of you! You were very brave, Malik. I couldn't even defend myself...." "You are strong, Ryou." Malik insisted. "A lot stronger than I am. What am I? I few beefed up mussels, a tough guy attitude. But you...." Malik pulled up in front of Ryou's house and got off the bike, turning to face Ryou, leaning in close. "You have a strong heart, Ryou. That's something that no one can ever touch."
He leaned in closer, Ryou looking at him with sparkling eyes, and pressed his lips to Ryou's. The littler boy gasped, then melted into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Malik. The Egyptian responded by deepening the kiss, Ryou moaning as Malik pushed his tongue past his lips. The broke their kiss softly, the albino looking at Malik with tears in his eyes, his lips parted slightly.
"I love you, Ryou." Ryou smiled back. "I love you, too."
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"Let's go on a date!" Malik said, suddenly, from his lazed position on Ryou's couch. Ryou looked up from the blueberry muffins he was making for the two of them. "Are you serious?" "Come on, Ryou. We're young and in love! The world is ours!" He laughed at Malik's enthusiasm.
"Well...okay. It sounds like fun!" Malik grinned and hugged Ryou. "Great! We can go to the mall, and to a movie, and we can get you ready for your concert." Ryou's smile dropped. "Oh, god. Pre-performance nerves. Bathroom!"
He ran out of the kitchen and into the bathroom, emptying his nearly empty stomach. Malik rubbed his back and washed his face with a cool rag. "I can't do this, I can't do this!" "Shh. Shh. You're going to be fine, Ryou," Malik soothed. "You are going to get on that stage and give a show that the angels will come down for. And when you finish, Yugi and I will be backstage waiting to glomp you and dote over you like never before."
Ryou looked at him and hugged him. "Thank you, Malik!" Malik petted his little dove's hair, softly. You bet. Now come on. Let's have breakfast, get dressed, and go have some fun!" Ryou giggled. "Okay!"
After their meal, Malik and Ryou found themselves, once again, at the mall. Which wasn't within itself surprising, considering that in their town there were very few other places to 'hang'.
"Have you decided what you're going to wear tonight?" Malik asked Ryou, casually flipping through some black t-shirts with rude sayings. "Ooh, have to get this one!" he commented, holding up a shirt stating boldly 'you laugh because I'm different, I laugh because you're ugly'. Ryou laughed at the message.
"That is so you, Malik. But to answer your question, no. I have no idea what I'm going to wear tonight." The blonde grinned. "Sounds like you...are in need of a Malik!" he proclaimed proudly. "Oh, really?" Ryou asked, jokingly, "And just what does a Malik do?"
"Why, it makes a Ryou look sexy, of course! Come on!" Malik dragged Ryou from store to store, making him try on over a hundred outfits. "To tight." "To baggy." "To 'oh-my-god, look at me, I swallow'." Ryou blushed as he sat in a dressing stall in only his underwear, waiting for Malik to bring him another outfit to model off for him. "Ryou, you might as well get dressed. There's nothing here. We should try somewhere else."
The albino hurried to get his clothes back on, cheeks still pink. As he exited, Malik took him into his arms. "You look all red, beautiful." "Well...I just get embarrassed while I wait on you." Malik squeezed him. "Sorry. How's this? You can at least take my jacket to cover up in."
He placed his soft, leather jacket over Ryou's shoulders. Ryou flushed, cuddling into the warm coat. "Thank you." They went to the last clothing store in the mall, which just happened to be called 'Rock 'em Out'.
"This is perfect!" Malik stated, looking around. "Mal, with such an obvious title and all, why didn't' we come in here before?" The Egyptian shrugged, digging into stacks of clothed, making a new stack in Ryou's arms.
"If you think I'm cleaning that up, you're on speed," a cool voice said from behind him. Malik gritted his teeth, regretting the notion that he would have to turn to face the demon. "Hello, Bakura. What are you doing here?" "I work here, duh." Ryou ducked into himself, hoping Bakura would somehow over-look him. In school, there were teachers to keep Bakura from hurting him, no matter how few would bother. Outside of school, he had Malik, but he would never forgive himself if Bakura hurt Malik.
"What does a little shrimp like you need big-name labels for anyway, brat?" Great, he'd noticed him. "I'm just trying on some new outfits, Itemri-kun." Bakura 'hrumph'ed. "You should be on your knees thanking me for saving your ass yesterday. Especially after how much of a little bitch you were to me at school."
Malik growled and hugged Ryou. "What is he talking about?" Ryou blushed. "It's nothing, Malik. I promise." "Okay. You go try those on, and let me see how they look." "Alright." When Ryou walked off, Malik glared icily at Bakura. "I don't ever want you to go near him again. Ryou goes through enough without jackasses like you messing with him."
Bakura grinned at him. "What, think I'll steal your bitch? I must admit, he is sexy," he purred, licking his lips. "How narcissistic," Malik scoffed. "Hey, I calls 'em as I sees 'em. Besides, I doubt he'll be with you for that long." Malik sent him an icy glare. "Why not?"
"Because I know of someone that likes you enough to kill the brat if he found out you were with him." "Whatever," Malik said, brushing him off, passing it off as Bakura's usual jeers and threats. "I wouldn't take my warning so lightly if I were you. Unless you want for him to die." Malik paused.
"I don't play that 'well, I have this friend' game. Tell me straight up, who is it?" Bakura grinned. "Oh, but that would ruin the fun of knowing a dirty little secret. So, I'll tell you what. Because I'm a nice guy, I'll give you some hints. 1) He knows a lot more about you than you do about him. 2) He would be able to give you a solid home for the rest of your life." Malik gasped. 'How could he know-' "and 3) He has something you love."
"Well, a lot of good that does me!" Bakura's look darkened. "Be grateful, you wretch. I could have just sat back and watched your toy die." Malik glared but didn't respond. "Malik? I think I've found one I like." Bakura and Malik turned to look at him. "Ryou, you look...you...good god!"
Ryou blushed. "No good? Oh, I thought it was all right. I'll just-" "Don't you dare change out of that. You look wonderful!" The smaller albino was wearing a pair of loose-legged, fairly tight-crotched cargo pants, red sneakers, and a red shirt with a crazy-looking cat doing a very bad job at hiding an ax behind it with the subtitle 'I'm a nice person. Come closer.'
"Even I have to admit, you clean up good, brat," Bakura commented. Ryou blushed brighter than Malik had ever seen and stammered. "T-thank you, I-itemri-san." The little green monster within Malik reared its head. "Come on, Ryou. Let's pay for these and go." "Okay."
As they checked out, Malik noticed Bakura's hand brushing over Ryou's intimately, rubbing their skin together lightly. By the time they were finished with checkout, Malik was ready to kill Bakura. "Remember: he would kill him," the albino prep muttered to Malik as he made to grab Ryou's bag.
"Sure. Whatever you say, freak." He left, leaving Bakura behind, chuckling. Arms wrapped around him from behind and sharp teeth bit his ear, canines slipping into the hole where his earring would usually be. "Traitor. You said you wouldn't tell anyone."
Bakura groaned. "I never said I wouldn't moan help him figure it out. Or did you want him to remain oblivious to how you feel?" A sharp tug on his ear. "That didn't mean I want you telling him that I'll kill his lover. I doubt that will go over well with him." "But what a better way to get them to break up?" "You know nothing."
Bakura turned and grinned at Marik. "Shall we go in back and I'll show you just how much I do know?" Marik smirked. "I'd like that."
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Malik took another sip of his virgin daiquiri. It wasn't bad, but Malik was used to the real thing. Yugi sat beside him, drinking a regular cola. "What time is it?" the smaller asked. "It's about 7. Rage Beat should be on soon."
"Kay." Malik lifted his drink again, only to find it empty. "What the hell?!" He turned to see a face grinning right in his. "Thanks, I was parched." Malik glared at Marik. "Bastard." Marik just grinned wider. "And?" He plopped down at the table.
"Did I say you could sit down?" "Did you say I couldn't not sit down?" Malik just twitched, deciding to give up. "Stupidity is contagious. Go get your shots." "That isn't nice," Marik told him, grabbing his chin. "Maybe I should give you some sugar to sweeten you up."
Bam! Marik was laying on the floor with what would probably end up being a broken nose. Oh well. No one could say he hadn't deserved it. "Nice hit," Yami commented, helping his leveled friend off the floor. "Little bitch," Marik cursed, holding a napkin to his nose.
"If you want a slut, do Mazaki. Or do you want a girl?" he sneered. Bakura glared at him. "Anzu is a girl." Marik's eyes widened with shock. "She is?" Soon, Malik was the one on the floor, laughing sweetly. "My thoughts exactly."
However, when Malik had gotten up, his chair was gone. Or more to the point, Marik was sitting in it. "That's my chair. Move." Marik grinned. "Well, you can sit here, too, baby." Malik gagged. But...looking around the club, he had to notice that there wasn't even a single seat open.
"Alright...but you lay one body part on me and I cut it off. No matter what it is." Marik gulped at the idea of loosing 'little Mari'. "Got it." Malik begrudgingly sat in Marik's lap, only able to hope that Ryou wouldn't want to kill him upon seeing him.
Yami leaned against the table with his elbow rested upon it, used to standing for long periods of time. He decided that, as Marik was quite content seeing just how much he could touch Malik before the boy would whack him and Bakura had never been much of a conversationalist, he would satisfy his urge to talk to somebody by talking to Yugi. "I never quite pictured you to be the type to come in a place like this."
Yugi blushed. "One of my friends is performing on stage tonight. Malik and I are here to give him a little confidence." "That's sweet of you." Yugi's blush could only increase. "We're hoping that if it goes well tonight, it might put Rage Beat on the map." Yami smiled.
"Sounds like you really want your friend, seeing as Malik is being accosted, I'll assume it's Ryou, to hit it big." "It's his dream." Bakura scoffed, eavesdropping. "'Dreams?' 'Wishes?' Someone needs to give this kid a taste of the real world." Yugi glared half-heartedly at him.
"Well, I think that he can do it!" "You do that," Bakura said, evasively. Before Yugi could argue with him, the lights dimmed, and the announcer's voice echoed over the club.
"Welcome to The B-Scale, where we always work to promote new bands. And speaking of new bands, we're honored to have a new group of local teens debuting here. Everyone, welcome...Rage Beat!"
Malik and Ryou cheered loudly as the lights flashed blue on the musicians, the keyboard, drums, and guitar, and the two background singers. A brilliant red light shone on Ryou, who was standing mid-stage with his head down. He looked up to meet Malik's eyes, a little question about his seating arrangement, but willing to over look it.
'Bad Luck' Malik mouthed, knowing they would inspire Ryou's performance tonight. Ryou nodded, and the drummer clicked off beats. "Three. Two. One!"
A brilliant beat filled the air, barely measures into the song and everyone already liking the beat. Ryou closed his eyes, listening for his opening. He opened his mouth, and readied to sing.
(Such a tempting cliff-hanger. But I want to finish this where I had planned to. I just interrupted to say that I, in my spare time, wrote this song. If you like it, please tell me so. Because I would like for my group to try it sometime.)
I want to scream and I want to cry / It takes years for a day to go by / No one really knows me, no one cares / I know sometimes life ain't fair!
Ryou's voice changed from the super timid little whisper that he usually spoke with to a master of vocals. Every word, every syllable was perfectly in tune. Bakura stared up at the little Muse up on stage.
Open my eyes so that I can see / I'm down praying on my knees. Make it stop / Make it all go away / I can't live like this every day / To go on so void of emotion / His heart black as the depths of the ocean!
Ryou felt sweat dripping on his skin, seeing everyone in the club as if they were on another plane of existence. It was like he was all alone, just he upon that stage, trying to sing with weights pressing on his chest. But looking over the crowd, a pair of wood-brown eyes met his own, captivated. Bakura simply stared at him, transfixed by the music.
Do you know the stress I live / How much of me I have to give / The days go by, they never change / Day by day, it's all the same / Don't know how to carry on / If I'm dreading every coming dawn!
Bakura couldn't help but feel that Ryou was singing to him. It was almost like he was calling to him through a tunnel, calling for help. "Ryou," he whispered. The little angel smiled, closing his eyes and loosing himself in the song.
Make it stop / Make it all go away / I can't live like this every day / To go on so void of emotion / His heart black as the depths of the ocean!
'Bakura...if only you knew who I am singing this song for. I can never tell you. I love you. But I can't betray Malik, now that I've accepted his love. I'm sorry.'
So tired, I'm worn out / Filled with shattered dreams and doubt / But I'll continue on in this way / God, grant me the strength to stay / All the many dreams I had / Shall come to nothing on a cold, stone slat!
Make it stop / Make it all go away / I can't live like this every day / To go on so void of emotion / His heart black as the depths of the ocean!
Ryou repeated the chorus one last time, his emotions so strong that there was a trail of tears running down his cheeks. He wasn't the only one. So near everyone else in the club had been brought to tears. There was silence over every person.
The albino looked so sad. They had hated it...oh, god! Ryou was trying so hard to fight back the tears that threatened to once again spill down his cheeks. He pulled his mike off the cord and turned to walk away. Clap, clap, clap. Ryou turned around to see Bakura, eyes shining, applauding him slowly.
Malik and Yugi joined in, followed by Marik, Yami, and, soon after, everyone else. Ryou stood there as every person in there cheered for him, clapping and shouting. Ryou smiled and bowed to the crowd, turned, and walked off-stage.
"Oh my god," Yami gasped, trying to catch his breath. "He's incredible!" Yugi couldn't resist the urge to stick his tongue out at Bakura and say the ever-classic line of "I told you so." However, Bakura didn't seem to notice. In fact, he seemed to be in a trance. "Bakura? Are you okay?" Marik asked, touching the edges of his eyes on the back of Malik's shirt before his make-up could run.
"My god...that was amazing." Yugi smiled. "Yes. He's always been an unbelievable singer. And he's been pouring his soul into that song for three years." Marik raised an eyebrow. "Three years? You can write a three or more page long poem in less than an hour, and I can't see writing music as being that hard."
"Well, it wouldn't have taken him as long as it did if there weren't so many occasions where his notebook was stolen, or his bag ransacked, every paper in it torn, his books thrown in the pool." Through all of this, Malik glared icily at Bakura. The albino didn't respond, knowing with guilt that Malik was right.
"Come on, let's go see him!" Yugi cheered, getting up, grabbing Yami's wrist, and pulling him through the crowd. Marik nuzzled Malik's ear. "I think your little friend likes Yami." Malik pulled away with a snarl. "No duh. Now get, you jackass!"
Marik slipped a hand into Malik's shirt, the smaller blushing and feeling it getting very warm in there. "I don't think it will be a problem for me to 'get off', baby." Malik wrenched away from him and looked at him with blazing eyes. "Just leave me the fuck alone!"
He stormed off after Yami and Yugi, leaving Marik standing behind. Marik hung his head and Bakura couldn't stand not to throw in his own two cents. "Maybe you were a little forward for him." Marik glared. "Oh, shut up." 'Don't you worry, Malik. You will be mine.'
Yugi ran into Rage Beat's practice room, glomping Ryou from behind. "You were so incredible! I knew you'd be a hit!" Ryou laughed, hugging Yugi. "Thank you, Yugi-kun. I have to admit, I was really nervous at first. But I just kept thinking 'I can do this, I can do this'."
"And you did!" Malik stated, joining their hug. "You did so good, angel!" Ryou blushed. "Thanks, Malik." The Egyptian gave him a final squeeze and let him go. "We'd better help you guys get all of this stuff out to Kamoru's van," Malik said, drawing the attention of the female-swamped percussionist. "Sure, I'll take you guys out there. Ryou, you just stay here and relax," Kamoru said, kissing his singer's hair.
Everyone started moving equipment out of the room, cleaning up from their show. All except Bakura, who stood in the shadows, watching Ryou. The smaller of the two started humming softly, cleaning the thin layer of makeup off of his face.
"You did really good up there, brat," Bakura commented, nonchalantly. Ryou blushed, brightly, avoiding meeting Bakura's eyes, even in the mirror. "I'm glad that everyone liked it. I've worked really hard to get that song to be any good." Bakura looked away. "No doubt hindered by me, I'm sure."
Ryou put a hand on his arm. "It's alright. I know you don't mean to be like that. It's just how you are." "No, that's the point! It's not the way I am...." Ryou frowned. "It's the way 'they' want you to be...right?" Bakura nodded.
Ryou smiled, sadly. "Do you know the stress I live? How much of me I have to give?" he sang, softly. Bakura blushed, totally out of character. "It sounded like you were almost writing a song about popularity, in a way. It was nice."
Ryou blushed as Bakura stepped closer to him, pressing against him, softly. "It was pretty. Like you are, Ryou." Ryou was experiencing major deja vu, remembering how Malik had moved so close to him, the night before.
"Bakura, please take a step back. I don't like people being this close to me." Bakura glared. "So it's okay with Malik, but not with me?" "Malik is my boyfriend." Bakura cupped Ryou's face.
"I don't care. I want you, Ryou." The darker didn't give him a chance to respond, pressing his lips onto Ryou's, fire spreading over both of their skins, making Ryou feel light-headed. He gasped at Bakura pressed his tongue into Ryou's mouth, slipping his arms around Ryou's waist and pulling him tighter. Ryou whimpered, finding himself unable to form a single thought....
Shatter. They broke their kiss to see Malik. Standing in the doorway with tears running down his cheeks. Shards from Malik's broken glass were on the floor under his hand, a trail of blood running over his skin, dripping onto the floor.
"Malik...you have to believe me. We weren't doing anything." Malik growled. "Bullshit. I never pinned you as the type to be such a little whore, Ryou." "Malik, please! Just give me a chance to explain." Malik cracked him across the face as he approached, attempting to hug him.
"Go fuck yourself, Ryou. It's over." Malik walked out, storming past Marik and knocking him, lightly into the doorway. Ryou sniffled and hiccuped before running into the bathroom, sobbing with tears running down his face.
Marik looked at Bakura. And grinned.
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Well? Was it any good? Please drop me a review! Thanks!