CHAPTER FOUR

Bitch Better Have My Money

After shoving Bakura into the shower fro he didn't smell all to pleasant after running around in the desert, Ryou gave him an outfit for the day. He felt content with the look after rummaging through his closet, tossing clothes of all sorts everywhere. After looking at the mess he created, he made a mental note to put them back neatly later on.

And by later on he meant whenever the fuck he wanted to.

Bakura came out of the bathroom in a snug pair of dark grey sweatpants and fitting blue Tee that had been too big for Ryou. As the squad was about to leave Bakura slipped on his sandals which fit the outfit. Funny how he could say he was wearing millions of dollars on his feet.

They all packed into Maddox's car and left the apartment complex. Mai and Maddox were in the front, leaving Ryou and Bakura in the back. The entire way there they chatted non stop, Bakura being the quietest of them, like a cat. Ryou complained that he wished he had more money. His profession might have been his passion, but he never knew when people were going to call in due to the small escapes of the shadow realm he'd become used to. His friends suggested that he should get another job and have his ghost hunting on the side, but Bakura thought it was so cute that Ryou whined about this small problem. All he had to do was say the word and the thief could steal whatever his Hikari desired, whether it be souls or shoes.

Bakura observed the 'I gotcha back' speeches from his friends. He mused on their friendship which had only begun hours ago. This experience was just all too fascinating for him. He smiled at this changed though as soon as Maddox knocked him out of his musings as he began to rant about how he could wait to get to know him better, speaking of how 'cool' he sounded. Bakura humored him, saying that it's nice to have some fans with a positive aura instead of the many people of ancient Egypt who wanted him dead.

"Must've been tough being a thief your whole life. Eh?" Maddox commented, driving deeper into the city.

Bakura chuckled. "Well, it wasn't that hard. It's regular to me, and being a thief is quite the exhilarating life, mind you. I won't say I regret my lifestyle."

Now Maddox laughed out loud, merciless to his companion's ears. "Darling! I just love the attitude," Bakura grinned at the man's enthusiasm and accent making it sound all the more dramatic. It tickled him. Maddox turned to Mai. "Now let's just see if we can finding a matching outfit to go with it." Ryou smirked as he caught Bakura mentally groaning. He mockingly patted Bakura's shoulders, silently laughing at him, but also throwing a little bit a sympathy, but not too much, because Ryou couldn't say he was looking forward to shopping with his friends.

And torturing Bakura at the same time.

With shopping bags in hand, Bakura dashed further into H&M. Out the corner of his eye he could spot Mai skittering towards a tall lonely rack, a curtain of long flowing skirts smashed together on it. She looked back and met his gaze. Mai held one silencing finger to her lips as she tried to blend in with her surroundings, crouching low and partially hiding herself in the rack.

They were playing hide and seek. It was silly, but hilarious and fun.

He smiled at her and gazed at his surrounding a quick idea formulating in his brain. He snatched the most obnoxious clothing items available to him and put them on. This included a beige sun hat that seems to be as large as a wheel of a car, a long flowy black cardigan, which he wrapped around himself to hide his non fashionable sweatpants, and a navy blue scarf he used to hide his face. He placed the scarf over his head, and then the hat. As soon as he saw some mannequins on a raised, but small platform, he joined them, kneeling down with his face lowr as if he were posing as a sorrow woman.

Meanwhile, Maddox was right behind Ryou with a grin on his face, that threatened to turn into a laugh... Ryou knew he was there, he could practically taste his essence. And while he did know he was there he didn't say anything and just let him assume he was well hidden, which tickled him a bit as he felt and heard his small feet slither towards him every step he took. He soon found Mai, whom had a pitiful hiding spot. It was obvious in his head that she had panicked and chose the first available space. He found her because he could see her pretty little high heels, that cost her an arm and a leg. He remembered the day she bought those, she was so happy nothing could eliminate her confidence that day.

As soon as she heard his approach, she didn't wait for him to catch her, instead stepping out in defeat, knowing 99.9% she was caught.

"Hooray. You got me." She drawled monotonously. She stood to her full height and glanced over at Maddox, who kept a finger on his lips. She smirked, not knowing that Ryou knew what, or should he say who she was looking at. He delicately smiles as he listen to Mai complain about her hiding spot and how she should've gone further into the store.

Ryou half listened to her as they made their way to scope out Bakura. Each section of the store was thoroughly searched.

But.. they couldn't find him. After double checking everywhere again Ryou grew a little impatient. He wanted to claw at his face like a child out of frustration while he wandered aimlessly with Mai and Maddox trailing behind him. Eventually he stopped in the center of the store that display many of the trending outfits in the store.

"Ugh!" he shouted to himself. "Where could he be?" He paused racking his brain for ideas while going over the rules they made. "Mai, what do you think?" He asked without looking back.

"Psh… I don't know."

"Maddox…." The said man held his breath as Ryou spoke his name. Maybe he was going target him instead of Bakura "Maddox, what do you think. I mean we've searched the whole place."

He stayed silent until Ryou turned and looked at him devilishly in the eye. The scottish man's face dropped and he realized he apparently wasn't as sneaky as he thought.

"How long did you know?"

"Ummm….. Well I'd say it was about the time when I started counting and you," Ryou grinned wildly. "Didn't move."

"Ah really?" He sighed, then put his arm around Ryou. "I guess I have to be better next time." Maddox smiled and pecked Ryou on the cheek.

"Maddox I hunt ghosts for a living. I think I can tell when someone's stalking me."

"Haha!" Mai yelled "That's so- " A scream from across the store cut her off. All of them turned their head in that direction where they could see a tall woman jumping of the stage in fright, waving her hands around frantically. She backed away quickly from a moving mannequin that was tipping its hat… What? The three of them observed as the woman realized their was nothing to be afraid of. She smiled and leaned on her friend's shoulder, laughing as they walked away.

The three of them chuckled as the prank. And the fact that the young woman actually walked up to it on her own tickled them. Ryou now couldn't help himself but discover who it was who terrified that poor human. The three of them stared at the man as he plucked the scarf from his head.

And of course was Bakura.

Without any hesitation the said man twisted his head to the side and gave the dumbfounded trio a wink. Ryou rolled his eyes, moments later facepalming for not thinking of somewhere as simple as that! The white-haired man strutted over to his Yami, with a urge to slap him upside the head and continue waltzing in the mall with their friends.

How lovely this day was turning out.

By the end of the day, when Maddox complained of his aching feet and Ryou hopelessly tried to stifle a yawn, they decided to call it a day. Bakura was extremely grateful for this, because while he did have fun, as the day passed his felt more and more uncomfortable in this environment. It was like a small throb in the back of his head. Just a reminder that this wasn't something he would normally do. He did hide the feelings well enough so they didn't notice much, but at points where he didn't utter a single word Ryou had stayed close to him, holding his hand, or making small soothing gestures.

As soon as Ryou and Bakura got home, Ryou already threw their shopping bags in his room, watching some of the clothes slide out. He stared at the clothes, debating whether or not he should pick them up, and then he peered at his closet, which was also a mess from this morning's scavenger hunt. He sighed and told himself he'd deal with it in the morning and got undressed tossing everything to the side except for his boxer briefs, heading straight for the inviting bed. He could hear Bakura's slow sloppy footsteps, the shuffling of clothes, and he felt the bed sink as Bakura laid next to him.

"Night Ry." Bakura yawned as he flopped onto his stomach.

"Night."

He could hear his Yami's breathing slow, turning into deep inhales and exhales. The rhythm of the breathing should've put him to sleep as well, but it didn't. Ryou tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but it just wasn't happening. He felt like he was lying in bed for hours but when he gazed at his clock. 11:00. Only about thirty-ish minutes had passed. Ryou began to feel frustrated in the the state of being exhausted, but not exactly tired.

He turned to his side and looked at his other half. He was truly gorgeous. Ryou knew he'd thought it a thousand times before, but Bakura was just one damn sexy man. Even in his sleep. After observing Bakura for awhile, and still not being able to fall asleep he felt the need to move. It wasn't any fun to sit in one spot with thoughts buzzing in your head.

Ever so carefully he sat up and scooted of the bed, at the same time trying to keep his body balanced, not to disturb the Thief King's sleep. Ryou treaded silently out the room, stealing another glance from Bakura.

The hallway was just as dark as the bedroom so the wasn't any problem walking through the apartment. The feeling of being in the dark was absolutely delectable. The setting was serene with a pinch of mysteriousness. All in all, to waltz around in the shadows was poignant to Ryou. He should have been shaken but he'd lived with and in the shadows his entire life.

Eventually Ryou found himself on the couch in the living room dissecting every part of the time he lived. Why? Because what else would he think of when he alone in an unlit room, devoid of all light? When he thought of the past most thoughts in his mind were somber. The memories cruised in loneliness and bathed in salty confusion. Next of course was the present, which was also held confusion, but instead it was bathing in a witch's pot. Who knows if good or bad would come out of it. Ryou hoped for the best because he could see the good in the pot.

The future though… Ryou was always uncertain with the future. Most times it was never in his favour, and that statement hadn't exactly changed over the years. But now his thief was here. Bakura was here. And maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change for the better. Perhaps now that he was here, the future would be kind to Ryou, and nurture him for all the wrongs it had done to him and the people whom he had loved.

By the time his train of thought broke and Ryou peered at the clock on the stove, an hour had already passed. The young man felt like bursting out in laughter. Oh, how time flies when you're trapped in your own brain imagining what was, is, and could be.

Vaguely, Ryou could feel someone poking the bridge of his nose. He wrinkle it, and turned away from the intruder, burying himself into the large pillow, face first. Ryou could feel the bed sink as he fought to go back to sleep. Silently he cursed Bakura for breaking the beautiful slumber he held onto moments ago. His felt his hair being tossed around as Bakura played with his long strands. It should've annoyed him, but Ryou found himself readjusting himself so he could drift off peacefully. Eventually in his half asleep state, he gave out deep breaths, and was almost fell asleep. Almost.

He reawakened when he felt Bakura straddle his back.

"Ehnn... Bakura...!" He mumbled, failing his arm a little.

"Hmn?" Bakura leaned in close to his ear, with his arms on either side of Ryou's head. "What's wrong?" He asked with clear seduction in his voice. His breath tickled his ear.

Ryou groaned into his pillow the turned his body around to face Bakura with slight irritation and amusement written on his face.

"Get off." Ryou said clearly.

Bakura tilted his head to the side. A small smirk appeared on his face, almost unnoticeable. "And what if I don't want to?"

"I… don't know. I think of something later."

"I wonder if should even be worried." He smiled at Ryou, who returned the gesture. The Hikari lifted his body up with his forearms propped by his side.

"I think you should."

Bakura laughed at the statement.

"What?! You think I can't be intimidating?! You think I can't be in charge?!"

"No, you can be," Bakura dropped his head and kissed Ryou's cheek. "But it wouldn't work on me."

Ryou held his chin with one hand, the other arm still holding him up. With half lidded eyes, he tilted his head.

"Is that so?" He asked. "Well I think you're…" Ryou brought his face closer, their lips grazing over and over again. "...Wrong." Ryou pressed his soft lips on Bakura, but as soon as the kiss started it had stopped. Ryou went to lay back down, but Bakura had other plans.

As fast as the the wind, the egyptian thief had Ryou pinned to the bed with his arms above his head, and ravished his mouth with animalistic kisses. It took mere seconds for a battle of tongues to begin and the two white haired men struggled for beautiful dominance. Hearing each others ragged breath only managed to encourage the their act. It was only that when Ryou wrapped his leg around Bakura's back and smashed their hips together for a couple moments that Bakura felt like he couldn't breath.

"Ryou…" Bakura groaned. He lifted his head only to bring it back down again to trail wet kisses down Ryou's neck. At the juncture he briefly stopped to suck at the pale skin.

"Mhhhmmm… Bite me." Ryou commanded.

Bakura smirked to himself and sank his teeth into Ryou's neck hard enough leave an indention along with the pinkish-red stain. Ryou purred in content as he let his tongue run over the marks he made repeatedly. Ryou let his hands wander in Bakura's short hair when he felt on of the thief's hand lower to caress his stomach. His finger ghosted across him making his sensitive skin tingle in the best way.

Gracefully Ryou brought Bakura's head up and pulled him into a fierce passionate kiss. The kisses once again grew more and more frenzied after each brush of their lips. It was a shame that oxygen was soon needed. They broke apart, and Bakura rolled over, only to wrap his arm around Ryou to bring him closer.

"We should probably get up," Ryou said after an eternity.

"No…." Bakura complained.

Only moments later, they were both practically asleep once more.