Marik wasn't too fond of hard labor, of any sort. But for now it was necessary. It didn't help that the one day that allowed him to mow the lawn also had to be scorching hot. It was in the evening so the suns rays while still hot weren't as damaging, he took off his sunglasses to wipe over his brow. He gripped the handle of the lawn mower fiercely, his sweat drenched shirt had already been discarded when he went inside to get a drink of water. After that he was back to work, steering the sturdy yet aged lawnmower that his grandfather had bequeathed him along with the house. When the sweat was beginning to slide down from his forehead, he had to pause to wipe it off with the back of his hand once more.
He was almost finished though, and planned to organise a chore roster since he was determined to not be stuck with doing this every time. As the lawn mower sputtered to a finish, he sighed thankfully that it was all done. He trudged over to deposit the grass clippings for Kou to scratch around in. Ryou's idea of course.
It was a decent sized yard, more vertical than horizontal but still tiring work to mow over. As he trudged back to the house he sneakily thought about stealing some of Ryou's ice cream. It's not like Bakura hadn't already been doing that.
Meanwhile...
"Hey, Ryou, you did alot of grocery shopping today." Bakura beamed in a selfishly proud sort of way. He was staring at the shopping items that Ryou set down and put away from a distance.
"It's good to do things, like cooking and having a clean home." Ryou said with an annoyed edge in his tone. One that could have been an accusing one.
Bakura smiled. Wrapping an arm around Ryous neck he pulled him closer and placed a mocking kiss on his temple. "You make such a good little housewife, Ryou."
"Bakura!" Mariks voice was heard from the door way. Piercing violet eyes falling upon the two pairs of eyes before him. One pair looking wide and embarrassed the other pair mischievous.
"Oh, the stripper is here." Bakura joked. The lack of shirt unmistakable. Ryou squirmed a little trying to get out of Bakura hold.
"Shut it!" He snapped back. He was in no mood to be mocked. "I'm going to write-up a roster of what needs doing, and you're mowing the lawn next."
The words sounded obstinate on Bakura ears. He snickered in reply and went to his room without protest. He had one thing to say though as he opened the door to his room.
"Yeah, we'll see." He said ominously and shut the door.
The next day...
Bakura didn't waste any time he had tied the laces on his shoes securely and trudged out of the house. His day began with a mission, one that he was determined to carry out. He smirked at the thought of succeeding with his plan as he headed down the sloping road on foot. Even though he only had this day to find what he sought and considering the local rural landscape it seemed simple and quite possible.
After a couple of hours of wandering around and asking for directions he found a local farm yard that looked like it might do business. As fate would have it a sign on the fence told him just want he wanted to hear. He narrowed his eyes, not trusting the sign on reflex, comparing it to something akin to a mirage in the desert that beckoned him deceptively. He squared his shoulders and went ahead anyway.
Marik had returned home later that evening from paying his phone bill. When he set down his things on the table his eyes took notice of Ryou's seeming curiosity toward something outside. The fixed stare provoked his own curiosity and until it got the better of him.
"What are you staring at out there, Ryou?"
Ryou came back from his fixed trance like stare and quickly motioned Marik to see for himself. Since seeing was believing and he wanted Marik to believe what he saw.
"Wha!? A goat!? Where did that thing come from?" Marik gaped, his shocked eyes on the horned beast eating up the grass. "Wait, let me guess. Bakura went and brought home a goat so he wouldn't have to mow the lawn?"
Ryou giggled, nodding. He thought it was cleverly convenient even if it meant that the grass clippings for Kou wouldn't be available anymore.
Marik frowned as he peered at the new addition to the yard. "I wonder what it cost?"
"Oh...Bakura told me the owner didn't want it anymore, so it was practically a steal. Those were his words, as I recall."
"Then its most likely lame or has something else wrong with it. I'm going to go out and check on it."
Ryou shrugged at Mariks indifference and went over to see what was on TV when no more than a minute later the sound of a door slamming shut and Mariks voice was heard.
"BAKURA!"
Marik stormed into the living room as Bakura made his presense known, his arms crossed as he leaned impatiently against the door frame of his room.
"YOU!" Marik pointed a finger at Bakura. "What were you thinking bringing that feral animal here?! He tried to attack me!"
Bakura uncrossed his arms and walked over to the window. He observed the goat and glared back at Marik. "What did you do to make him attack you? He was fine with when I brought him home."
"I didn't do anything. I just stepped outside and when he saw me he became territorial or something. He was probably fine around you because you two are both the devil incarnate!"
Bakura frowned confusedly. "That doesn't even make sense."
"Shut up! Your getting rid of that feral thing now! Then your mowing the lawn next weekend!"
"Oh really?!"
"Yeah!"
Both Bakura and Marik stared at each other with a vise like grip seeming to lock their eye contact in place.
1 week later...
Marik was standing in the sun once more. The sound of the lawn mower was humming soundly.
Ryou observed this as he sat in the shade while holding Kou in his lap and stroking her feathers. He suddenly looked up and smiled as Bakura pushed the lawn mower past. Noticing a venomous glare in his eyes that could even give the suns own glare a run for its money.
"I guess you really are mowing the lawn today, Bakura." Ryou chuckled quietly enough for Bakura to not hear his humorous words.
