Summary: When the ever popular Yami, Marik and Bakura accidentally meet the Outkasts (a.k.a. Yugi, Ryou and Malik) they get into a very rocky start. But as fate decided it, coincidences keep happening...
Disclaimers: Don't own, don't sue. Duh.
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Chapter Seven: Change of HeartVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Yugi was on his bed that Monday evening, toying slightly will the small teddy bear Ryou had given him for Christmas. There were no classes tomorrow, and he desperately wanted to hang out with his friends.
"Yugi! Dinner!" He heard his grandfather call.
"Coming, Grandpa!" He yelled, and he jumped off his bed, dropping the teddy bear. Then he rushed down the stairs.
"I made your favorite," his grandfather said heartily, smiling. He gestured to the small feast in front of him; with a lasagna dish right in front of his seat. "Take a seat, Yugi."
He nodded. "Thanks, Grandpa. You know I love lasagna." He sat down, and they began eating.
After several minutes of silence, Yugi voiced his opinions hesitantly.
"Grandpa...do you mind if I invite Ryou and Malik for a sleepover tomorrow? We don't have classes, anyway," he added hastily.
His grandfather smiled. "Of course, Yugi. Who am I to stop you? After all, you've been working very hard in school. You tutor someone now, don't you?"
"Yes..." the thought of Yami brought an uneasy feeling over him. After he and Kaiba had discussed a bit about computers, Mai and Tea had come rushing in to ask if they had seen Yami. He had shrugged, but Kaiba had a strange look on his face—he didn't like it one bit.
He was wondering if he should go and call Yami—truth be told, he was a little worried. He knew nothing about the other boy, but he couldn't help but wonder; after all, Yami wasn't the typical Jock. He had proved that the past week. He just didn't know if he was worse than the typical Jock, or better.
"So…how's he doing right now? Improving?"
"A bit," he answered softly. "…I'm really not that hungry, Grandpa. Can I go to sleep now?" To convince his grandfather, he spooned it several more of the food, then dropped his spoon.
"Still not used to using spoons, is that it?" His grandfather asked. "Sorry that I force you to use them. It's just that I haven't used chopsticks so much…ever since I went to Egypt…"
Yugi nodded demurely.
"Well, there's no point forcing you to eat if you're not hungry!" He said, with obviously forced cheerfulness. "Off to bed then, Yugi!"
He smiled, then left the dinner table, feeling guilty. After his grandfather had left for Egypt two years ago, Yugi had taken care of the house himself. He had just returned a few months ago; just as sophomore year started. The distance between them had grown so much. Before, Yugi had been very attached to his grandfather. Now…it was as if they didn't know each other anymore. In fact, he didn't feel comfortable being in the same room with him. It made him feel ashamed of himself.
Yugi shook off the feeling of shame and promised himself that he would try to close the growing gap between them next time. As for now, he really needed to talk to Malik and Ryou.
Once he reached his room, Yugi opened his computer. After waiting for it to patiently load, he logged on into their chatroom.
DarkMagician is logged in Outkasts Chatroom.
MusicAddict: Yugi! You're here!
DarkMagician: Yup.
Downright-Evil: How was tutoring session?
DarkMagician: …Ultimately uncomfortable.
MusicAddict: Why? What happened?
DarkMagician: Kaiba and Yami are having a little skirmish, I believe. I'm kinda worried about Yami. He left so suddenly.
Downright-Evil: You're too nice for your own good, Yugi-kun. I'm sure he's okay.
MusicAddict: How about you, Malik? How was your date?
DarkMagician-evil grin- date?
Downright-Evil: WILL YOU TWO QUIT IT? There is NOTHING going on between ME and that JOCK! Besides, all we did was eat chocolate!
MusicAddict: We'll pretend to believe you…
DarkMagician: For now, anyway.
Downright-Evil: If you keep this up, I'll write something REAAALLLYYY horrible in your epitaph!
DarkMagician: Like what, may I ask?
Downright-Evil: Like…
MusicAddict: At loss for words?
DarkMagician: Man, Marik must be affecting you more than we thought.
Downright-Evil: Oh, shut up! Why don't you tell us about YOUR tete-a-tete with your beloved Jock?
MusicAddict: …Anyone's ever told you that Bakura Ryou just SUCKS in art?
DarkMagician: Not really. What happened?
MusicAddict: Granted, it wasn't as bad as my PAST encounters...the thing I enjoyed most about this afternoon was that he had everything I ever wanted. So he gave me all the supplies I needed…but when I asked him to show me what he could do
Downright-Evil: I don't wanna know.
MusicAddict: Well, even if he sucked majorly at it, that didn't really stop him from trying to help. I guess he was trying to be nice…
Downright-Evil-evil, evil grin- Now whatever could that mean?
DarkMagician: Don't tell me our beloved Jock-hater is having a change of heart!
MusicAddict: AM NOT! I'm just saying he's gotten better! It's not like I've forgiven him COMPLETELY!
DarkMagician: Ahh, denial…
Downright-Evil-smirking innocently-
MusicAddict: Oh, don't make me kill you, Yugi, Malik…
DarkMagician-laughs- Whatever. Hey, since there are no classes tomorrow, wanna hang out at my place tomorrow for a sleepover? Then we could all go to school the day after!
Downright-Evil: Sounds like fun. I'll ask my evil sadist of a sister first, then I'll get back at you.
MusicAddict: Ditto. Except for the fact that I don't have an evil sadist of a sister.
DarkMagician: Ryou, you live alone in your apartment. Don't tell me you're with someone else. -wink-
MusicAddict: I think you both need two clean your minds and get them out of the gutter. Don't worry, I'll bring my soap mind cleaner tomorrow…Dad's gonna come back home for the end of the year. He says he wants me to come with him during the summer…as a vacation.
Downright-Evil: Cool! I bet my sister's going to drag me to a million and half historical places in Japan…lesee, we've finished Tokyo, Kyoto, Okinawa…wherever shall we go to next?
DarkMagician: I take you never really enjoyed those vacations.
MusicAddict: Maybe I can convince my dad to let you come along!
DarkMagician: Okay. Well, got to go now…see you tomorrow!
VVV
After Malik left, Marik felt the coldness of the house returning. The Outkast certainly brightened things a lot more. He soon got bored, so he called Yami and Bakura. Coincidentally, they had just finished their time with their counterpart Outkast, so he invited them to have dinner at his house and to talk.
When Yami came inside the room several minutes later, his eyes were dark. Marik instantly knew something was wrong. Yami wasn't normally cranky. He was the most mild-mannered among them, and he bit back insults as much as possible. But when provoked, the tri-colored-haired boy was certainly frightening.
The two of them sat silently on the foot of his bed. Soon after, the albino made his appearance carrying a sleeping bag. Marik raised his eyebrow.
"I'm sleeping over," Bakura answered shortly. The blond boy understood. Bakura really hated his house. It was too cold, far colder than his own. And he was always happy to accommodate the other boy, because he himself was lonely in his own mansion. Bakura dropped his things on the floor, and sat next to them.
"Hey, Yami, did something happen?" Marik asked suddenly when the silence got too uncomfortable.
Yami's eyes flared. "That stupid CEO brat!" he said, balling his fists and punching the floor in his anger. "Stupid arrogant bastard who thinks he can get whatever he wants!"
"Calm down," Bakura said, rolling his eyes. "Is he still obsessing over you and Joey being partners? You know better than to let him get to you."
"I draw the line when he starts including Yugi into this!" Yami cried out, pissed off. "What makes him think he can do that? I'm not bringing Joey into this! What's wrong with him? It's not like I'm interested in that guy! It's not like I'm interested in guys at all, for that matter!"
"The way you're acting, I wouldn't doubt it," Bakura teased. "Geez…you sound like a jealous boyfriend, Atemu."
Marik shot him a warning glare. "Bakura…quit it."
Yami folded his arms. "I don't want to talk about it anymore," he said darkly. "Everything that happened today…I'll just pretend it never happened."
Marik and Bakura exchanged glances, but didn't comment anymore.
"Well, since you two aren't planning on talking anytime soon, I'll just talk about what we did today," Marik spoke up after a few minutes' silence.
"What happened?" Yami asked curiously, deciding to do his resolution and forget everything that happened today. When Yami thought it over, he always expected Marik to be closest to his own counterpart. After all, they were hanging around with each other for no absolute reason. Yugi was with him because Yugi tutored him, and Bakura and Ryou were only civil to one another because they were project partners.
"I don't know about you, but Malik really makes me feel comfortable," Marik confessed, smirking. "He was actually really easy to get along with. He told me a little about himself, then we went and raided my enormous refrigerator of chocolates, and then we just…talked. It was really strange. As if the house was so…warm." Marik plopped onto his bed. "Even when you guys are here, the house is still cold, in a way. When he went here…it was as if everything seemed to brighten up."
"Yeah," Bakura said softly. "When that little Outkast went to my house…I had to admit…it didn't feel as bad as it used to. I even felt like smiling! He made a lot of random comments about how beautiful my house was…but you know it isn't," He added quietly. The two nodded understandingly, and Bakura continued. "He was also overjoyed at the fact that I have nearly every art-connected item in the house. And he wasn't evil and demented as normal…really strange."
"I guess you made him happy, then," Yami commented. "I've heard from a few friends of mine that Ryou lives alone."
"He does?" Marik said. "How strange. But his parents aren't rich? …I mean, it's understandable if you live alone and you're rich, like the three of us…but he seriously doesn't live with anyone?"
"Nope," Yami said, shaking his head.
"Poor guy," Marik sympathized. "I know Malik lives with his sister…I've been to their house before."
"Why?" Bakura asked, wanting to change the subject. He didn't want to talk about Ryou anymore. It made him feel ashamed of himself, and he didn't want to feel that way. He didn't know WHY he felt ashamed, but he wanted to stop feeling it all the same.
"Random reasons," Marik answered vaguely. "Not really important. But anyway, I'm just glad we got the opportunity to get closer them. They're really nice…just a little strange."
There was another lapse of conversation that passed as the three settled to their thoughts.
"I've always wondered…how did those three get into our school, anyway?" Bakura questioned. "I mean…it's a little expensive here, don't you think?"
The three of them got a sudden realization.
"…Maybe that's why they have to stay in the top three," Marik said uneasily. "Great, now I feel totally as if my conscience is going to kill me…"
"You're not the only one…" Yami said. "For all I know, I might be interfering with Yugi's studies! Now I feel so guilty." He glared at Bakura.
Bakura scowled. "Let's just forget that I ever brought that up, shall we?"
The three nodded, but weren't able to erase that certain idea in their heads.
VVV
Finally, an update! I know you guys are ready to go and bury me right now...so so so sorry! I just got so obsessed with Get Backers and Fruits Basket lately...
I'm making a new GB story (BanGinji) Please read!
RR!