Fuzzy: Sorry… again… I have to take a tutoring class cuz of the time I spent out of school. So I've been busy catching up on work I missed.

"You're a pompous bastard you know that?" Ryou cried, soaked in mud from head to toe.

"Your point? I wasn't about to allow myself to be covered in mud." Bakura responded.

"So using me as a shield is fine and dandy, but getting a speck of dirt on yourself is against the law?"

"I just didn't want to get dirty, I wouldn't look as good if I was all muddy like you."

"Well YOU'RE not the one who has to be present for my family's dinner party tonight! YOU'RE coming because you feel like it!" Ryou stormed off into the mansion behind him.

Bakura sighed, he'd really screwed up. Okay, so the whole mud thing wasn't the first time Bakura'd put himself before Ryou, but it was certainly the messiest time. Bakura would've gone to help his friend clean up, but if a maid caught him… that'd be bad for his family. If you think about it, Ryou naked while Bakura cleaned him off… His whole family would be called into question for raising a homosexual. Homosexuality was extremely frowned upon in their small country, anyone accused of such nature would be killed by any manner the King and Queen saw fit.

The party was a big deal, Ryou's parents had invited every noble around the town. Supposedly, it was a huge deal, though Ryou had no idea why. Neither did Bakura for that matter, but it was to be a grand celebration! Bakura had many reasons in mind, but none had been confirmed. Bakura wandered back inside the mansion, maybe he could say sorry and make up for what he'd done later.

~XoXo~

"Damn him for getting me all dirty!" Ryou hissed to himself. "I don't have time for this! Mother and Father will be furious!" Ryou continued to grumble as he climbed into the tub, angrily scrubbing mud off until his arms were red.

A knock on the door caused Ryou to stop glaring at the red blotches on his arms. "Who is it?" He called.

"It's just me, brother." Ryou's sister, Amane said back. Her voice was soft, the kind of soft that happens when your throat hurts.

"Oh, you can come in, Amane." Ryou said, smiling as she opened the door.

"He wanted me to apologize for him." Amane said, it was all too obvious who she was talking about. "He said he'd do it himself, but you're in the bath so he couldn't."

"Tell him to go fuck off." Ryou hissed. "And I need him to stay away from me, I can't risk getting dirty again."

Amane giggled. "You two fight like you're married."

"How so?"

"He'll mess up, and you 'll overreact." Her giggles increased as loud as her throat would let them, which wasn't very.

"Oh hush, just go tell him I'll be out in a few." Ryou said with a slight smile.

Amane nodded and left, leaving Ryou to himself. Ryou couldn't admit it, never in a million years, but he loved his friend to an extent punishable by law. In love with, would be the proper term. He had been for a few years now. Even if Bakura was a total jerk, Ryou still loved him. It was unfortunate though; the last discovered homosexual relationship had been drowned, tied to a tombstone with their names engraved on it. Ryou feared what would happen if someone discovered his tastes. He was lucky Bakura felt the same way, or he'd probably die for nothing. Their little "relationship" of sorts, wasn't exercised like most people would think because neither wanted to get caught. So they settled for hugs and the occasional kiss.

"You done in there, Ryou?" Bakura called. "I'm really sorry."

"Almost done, asshole, hold on." Ryou climbed out, drying off and getting dressed in his nicest clothes for the party later. "And stand clear of me, if you get me dirty again I'm gonna tell the chef to cook you up for dinner!"

"Alright! I'll be good! And it's not entirely my fault! Mariku gets a sick kick out of trying to piss me off; he was laughing the whole way back. I bet he thought he got me all muddy."

"Then next time, jump out of the way, do NOT push me into the line of fire!" Ryou opened the door, brushing his white hair.

"I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" He promised.

"Fine, I forgive you." Ryou said.

Bakura wrapped his arms around Ryou's waist, resting his chin on Ryou's shoulder. "Good, I don't like it when you're mad at me."

"You're a dork," Ryou said, shrugging him off. "C'mon, the party's starting soon and if I'm late, Mother and Father won't be happy."

"Fine, too bad I can't escort you down there." Bakura pouted.

"Relax, maybe one day things will calm down and people won't be as opposed to the idea. Then you can escort me wherever you want." Ryou said with a thoughtful smile.

"I wouldn't get my hopes up." Bakura said quietly.

Ryou sighed, "Let's just go, I don't want to upset my parents."

~XoXo~

"There you are, Dear!" Ryou's mother said, hugging her son.

Ryou started, "Sorry it took me so long, Bakura got me all muddy and I had to clean up again and-"

"That's all fine, Dear but we need to get the announcement out now!" His mother said.

Ryou's father called all the guests to attention, his son grabbing something to drink. What came next surprised both Bakura and Ryou.

"We're proud to announce the engagement of our son Ryou, to Lady Kisara." His father said.

The glass fell from Ryou's hands. "What? When did this happen?" Ryou snapped.

"The other night, Dear," his mother soothed, "we had everything set up with her family. You're all set to be married in a month."

"A MONTH?" Was Ryou's shocked reply. "But that's barely enough time for me to even get to know her, a-and I don't think I've really ever spoken to her before. Why didn't you ask me about this sooner?"

"Because every time we do, you say no." His father spoke up. "She's a nice young lady and you'll be married next month. No arguing."

"You're not even being reasonable! This isn't a good idea!" Ryou insisted.

"This isn't the time for arguing, Dear, we have company."

"Which is why you brought it up in front of people in the first place! I certainly don't have a problem with a public argument, but you might." Ryou hissed.

"You will not speak to your mother that way!" his father scolded.

"And you will not treat me like a child!" Ryou countered.

"Either you stop this right now or you can go to your room." His father had had enough.

"Then you can send all these people home. I refuse to marry someone I barely know!"

"That's it, you can leave. We'll celebrate without you."

"Not much of a celebration then, considering it's a congratulations for me… or rather, a commiserations party!"

"Go!"

Ryou did as he was told, stomping off through the large room they'd used specifically for this party. Bakura managed to sneak out unnoticed into the hallway. He watched Ryou worriedly as the boy cried quietly as if the news were about a funeral.

"Ryou," Bakura said, keeping up with Ryou.

"How could they?" Ryou raged.

"Ryou, calm down." Bakura said, once they'd made it to his room.

"How could they?" Ryou broke down, crying harder. "They didn't even talk to me about it!"

Bakura pulled his lover into a hug. "Calm down, now. It's not the end of the world."

"Yes it is, if I'm married then it'll be harder to keep my relationship with you a secret. I don't want to give you up." Ryou said, clinging to Bakura.

"There's nothing you can do, Ryou. I'm sorry." Bakura said. "I know it's hard, but you have to."

"Please, no. I can't live without you." Ryou said, looking up at his lover. "Please."

"Alright, little one," Bakura whispered. "But I only have one solution."

"Anything."

"We have to leave the country," Bakura said softly.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"You don't understand, Ryou. Once they find out we're gone, they'll come looking for us. If we're found, you'll have to marry Kisara and I'll never see you again."

"We have to try. Please, Bakura, I can't!"

"No, Ryou. It's too dangerous. At lease here we have food and a place to stay, and we won't get in trouble. We'll have our servants and-"

"You just don't want to give up all the luxuries you have here! Do you even care?"

"Of course I care! Don't ever say that I don't." Bakura took Ryou's chin into his hand. "I just don't want to risk losing you because you decided we need to run. Having the things we have… I'd give that up for you, sure, but it's gonna be hard to leave. It'll be hard to do it on our own."

"Then maybe we can get Mariku and Malik to come along." Ryou suggested.

Bakura sighed. "Alright, but only if we can get them to come with, if they won't, then we don't go."

"Deal," Ryou said, closing the gap between their lips. It was a short, sweet kiss. Any longer than the quick peck meant one second they might get caught.

"I still don't like it." Bakura said softly.

"Think of it this way, if no one can catch us, then I can kiss you more." Ryou grinned.

"Now that's a good reason." Bakura smirked. "Alright, I'll try extra hard to get them to go with us. I'll come get you later alright? You know where I'll be."

"Outside behind the bushes." Ryou said. The bushes was one place they'd loved since they were kids, it often had berries on it and the two would eat away at them, shamelessly spoiling their appetite on the sweet berries.

"I'll leave now, see you later." Bakura said, letting Ryou go.

"I can't wait."

~XoXo~

"Run away huh? Isn't that sweet?" Malik said dreamily. "Mariku isn't so nice, but he might do it. Depends on how fast I can convince him."

"Please, all you have to do is shake your ass and he'll do whatever you want." Bakura rolled his eyes.

Malik snickered, "You have a point, I've got him wrapped around my finger."

"And just how did that happen?" Mariku interrupted, leaning on the doorway.

Malik and Mariku lived with Malik's sister and brother. Isis and Rishid never cared what Malik and Mariku did, supporting whatever choice the two made in their relationship with each other. So Mariku and Malik got away with a lot more than Bakura and Ryou could ever get away with.

"I dunno, I think it's because you think I'm cute." Malik grinned at his lover.

"I do." Mariku responded. "So why is Bakura here?"

"Ryou wants to run away, I assume you heard his parents arranged a marriage without his consent?"

"I have, I went to that party. Ryou's little outburst was cute enough." Mariku said. "So why exactly does him wanting to run away, mean you have to come here."

"I told him that I'd only do it if you two would come with us."

"Aaaand there's the reason."

"It'd be too hard for just the two of us to get away with, especially with his upcoming marriage."

"Sure, we'll do it." Malik said.

"Malik!" Mariku hissed.

"What? I can make it up to you later." Malik said with a smirk.

"… okay, we'll do it."

"We gotta leave tonight, I suggest you get everything you'll need." Bakura said.

The two raced off to their shared room. This would be one hell of a trip.

~XoXo~

Bakura didn't make it to the bushes, he was tackled by Ryou before he could make it. The smaller boy placed kisses all over Bakura's face.

"I knew you'd do it, I knew it I knew it I knew it!" Ryou said with a bright grin on his face.

"Yes, now be quiet, they're waiting for us, but we have to get to the forest before we're spotted. Got that?" Bakura said, Ryou nodded.

The two ran, hand in hand, for the forest bordering the city.

Fuzzy: I really hope you like this story, I liked the idea. Lots o lemons later!