The Warmth of a Soul
Worries of a coffee pot breaker

The gentle rumble of approaching thunder filled my ears as I sat on the couch in the living room of the small house that Marik, Yami, that's what we called Marik's yami, Bakura, and I shared. My legs were brought to my chest, and there was nothing good on TV, but yet I still sat there and watched it. Marik and yami were visiting Ishizu and Odion who had an apartment downtown. Bakura was still at work and wouldn't be home for another hour or so. Atem didn't have faith in Bakura's loyalty to me. We weren't a couple or anything, but ever since Marik, Yugi, me, and our yami's became separate people we haven't exactly seen eye to eye.

He never hit me, but he intended to lose his temper every once in awhile. When he was mad Yami would talk to him if Bakura wouldn't talk to me or Marik. Yami and Marik got along like brothers, they would pick on each other, play fight just like brothers, but me and Bakura were different. Bakura was a free spirit; he hated to be tied down to something or someone. My heart was telling me that he really did care about me, even though he didn't publically showed it, but there was something deep down telling me otherwise. "I'm sorry Bakura, I'm sorry." I buried my face into my knees.

"Sorry for what?" Came a ruff version of my voice. I looked up to see Bakura walk in, close the door, and throw his keys into a bowl that was on a table that was near the door, curiosity written on his face. He was home early.

"Nothing." I replied.

"Don't lie to me Ryou. Now what are you sorry about?" Bakura said as he walked into the kitchen to start dinner. He was the only among us and our roommates that could cook. When Marik and Yami made an attempt at cooking they burned down half the kitchen. It took almost a year to rebuild that half of the room. From there on they were forbidden to touch the stove. "I told you it's nothing Bakura." I said not moving from the couch.

"Ryou…" Bakura warned. Bakura didn't tolerate lying, never had and never will. I couldn't take it anymore; I broke down and buried my face into my knees. I heard footsteps come into the room from the kitchen. "What did you do, did you break the coffee pot again?" Bakura wondered teasingly.

I laughed a little. I didn't know how to use the coffee pot and I ended up breaking it one time when I tried to make me and the guys coffee, and that wasn't just a onetime thing either. "No, I… it's nothing." I refused to look at him as I wiped away my tears. Bakura sighed and went back to the kitchen. Just then the door opened, "Oh yeah, it smells good up in here." Yami stated as he and Marik walked in.

Marik rolled his eyes at his other half and smiled at me, "Hiya Ryou. Did you have fun having the whole house to yourself for a few hours?" Marik asked as he walked over to the couch with his fists shoved into his jean pockets. "Well if you call setting here with nothing to watch fun then yeah." I answered. Marik laughed at my response.

"Ryou broke the coffee pot again." Bakura said from the other room.

"I did not Bakura." I protested, Bakura loved teasing me about that, "God, break the coffee pot one time and ya'll never let go."

"One time?" The other three guys asked.

"Okay three." I corrected myself.

"Well anyway. What's for dinner Bakura?" Marik questioned as me and the Egyptians walked into the kitchen. There at the stove stood a taller version of me. His eyes were sharper, his voice was deeper and ruff, and his hair had more natural volume and body than mine. He deserved so much more than three immature guys bugging the heck out of him and a crappy live. But I didn't want him to leave, he was my best friend, my other half, he understood me more than anyone else possibly could. "Chicken, mashed potatoes, yams, and corn bread." Bakura responded.

"All that, you need some help?" Yami wondered. Bakura looked at Yami and Marik with narrowed eyes. "What? I was just asking."

I smiled at Bakura's reaction, "I'll help you Bakura." I went to the the sink, washed my hands, and began to wash and cut the potatoes.

"Marik, why don't you and Yami go find a movie for us to watch." I looked at the slim Egyptian.

"Fine. Come on Yami." Marik agreed and dragged Yami out of the kitchen by the arm.

"How many do you need Bakura?" I asked my other self as I reached into the bag of potatoes.

"About six." Bakura replied as he marinated the chicken breasts. Suddenly a crash of glass came fron the other room, "Hey! Don't make me come in there I'll get the whuppin' on both of ya'll!" Bakura called over his shoulder.

"Sorry Bakura!" Marik and Yami said like little kids getting scolded by a dad. Bakura was the oldest out of all of us, most mature, he was like the big brother of three little brothers. He might as well be a dad. I giggled as another vase broke and Bakura stomped into the living room, cussing underneath his breath. God, I didn't want this to end. I loved this little family thing we had going on. And if Bakura left things would never be the same. And the only reason he hadn't left to do things he wanted to do was because of me. He wanted to be an actor, he had the potential, but he would never be able to become one if I kept him here. He was stuck stocking shelves at the Ingles downtown.

"Earth to Ryou." A pair of fingers snapped in front of my face.

I zoned back to reality at the third snap, "Sorry Bakura." I apologized as I handed him the bowl filled with the peeled potatoes.

"It's fine. Make the corn bread for me would you." Bakura took the bowl and went back to stove.

"Sure." I went to the fridge and grabbed the milk and an egg, I went the cupboard and got the cornmill, flour, and a bowl. "I'm sorry Bakura." I repeated my statement from earlier as I sat the stuff down on the counter, placed my fists on it, leaned on my arms, and lowered my head.

"You keep saying that but you won't tell me why." He stated. I turned around and wrapped my arms around him from behind. I felt the muscular chest of the taller 'me' through his Metallica t-shirt.

"I'm sorry, I'm the reason you're stuck here with me, Marik, and Yami when you could be an actor and not stocking shelves," I buried my tear claimed face into Bakura's back, "You deserve better than this and if it weren't for me you could have a better life." Bakura's body relaxed as he put down the potatoe masher he was holding.

"Ryou..." Bakura began.

"I really am sorry. Anyway...," I let go of the other me and went back to making the corn bread, "Bakura the chicken's burn'" I poured the milk.

"Shit!" Bakura jerked the chicken breasts from the frying pan and put them on a plate. I couldn't help but grin at how he said shit, I thought it was funny.

"Hey! Don't be burning down the kitchen in there!" Marik teased.

"Yeah Bakura if you burn down the kitchen then you'll have to be frobidden from the stove." Yami added.

"Like you two are the ones to talk." Bakura teased back.

"It was just that one time, okay!" Yami and Marik said in unison.

"God, you baka why couldn't you just keep your big mouth shut?" I scolded myself as Bakura and I finished up dinner. "Now he's definetly going to leave."

We sat down and watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy as we ate dinner and dessert that was chocolate oreo ice cream (my favorite ice cream flavor ever).Marik asked me what was wrong when he saw my depressed face, I told him that it was nothing. Bakura didn't talk to me for the rest of the night. And deep down I knew he would be gone by morning.

To Be Continued...

Hey guys! I know it's been awhile since I wrote a fanfic or updated and I apolgize about that. I've been busy with some stuff.
This is my first Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfic ever so just bare with me.